BFR (Big Freakin Rocket)

Some members in our chapter in the past year have started to get involved in amateur rocketry. Two have recently received the Class One high powered rocketry license and one just recently received his Class Two license. These classes are licenses to be able to purchase, handle and launch the large rockets and motors associated with amateur rocketry. They require building and successfully launching a rocket in that class under the watchful eye of a National association of rocketry member also certified in that level. So far as a chapter we have had 6 attempted and 6 successful high powered flights some reaching altitudes of 4000ft. We really seem to be coming into our own as far as amateur rocketry is concerned.
This semester our chapter has taken on one of the largest and most ambitious projects we have ever attempted. Our goal is to build and launch a 24ft tall high powered rocket. The end product will be a 12 inch in diameter and 150 lb beast estimated to reach altitudes of up to 9,000 ft! To help put this in perspective, if you were to strap this motor to your back (and act really aerodynamic) you could get a few thousand feet of the ground as well. The rocket will be equipped with redundant altimeters and parachute deployment devices along with two onboard cameras to document the launch. The propellant itself weighs around 30 lbs. To date this is one of the largest launch attempts by any college organization and ranks pretty high among amateur rocketry everywhere.
So far we have completed most of the airframe and ordered over $1000 in parts. The total cost will be over $2000. Our proposed launch date will most be (most likely) in Oct of 2011 or if everything goes perfectly maybe even April!
To launch this rocket other that the daunting task of actually building it, one of our members must be Class Three certified. This last and highest amateur rocketry certification is much more difficult to attain requiring strict documentation of the build and understanding of the physics that go along with the launch. He will be launching his new 8.5ft scale replica of a patriot missile to do so. Over the next couple months with the help of several members in the chapter he will be conducting several test flight on less powerful rocket motors. This is to test the electronics and rocket stability before attempting the certification launch.
Amateur rocketry is a fun way to get involved in engineering project and if you are interested go to the National Association of Rocketry website and find a local club launch near you.