Official Armadillo Q&A thread

I thought about that too, but I just can't see the difference between a streamer and a smaller parachute. I imagine those Estes rockets having a lower centre of gravity, with the fins and the engine on the bottom and a plastic nose cone that is lighter than the cardboard body (I think, i've never actually flown one). So they already are pretty stable and only need a little bit of help, so that a streamer is enough. I'm not sure the mod is comparable.

I don't think the drogue is too big, I think that it is too small. With a smaller drogue those oscillations would be full rotations. The drogue simply does not have enough leverage over the dynamics of the craft. They either need a bigger one to pull harder and overcome the aero forces on the bottom of the craft or they need to have a rigid mounting point higher up than the current nose.

But, since it IS oscillating that means that they are at least close on their sizing. Their best bet might be to simply streamline their landing gear just a hair. Perhaps make the feet a teensy bit bit narrower.

That said I am an electrical engineer doing web programming. you can take your grain of salt now.

~Daniel

Well. This is an significant and exciting development!

http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=21313

Since Ben usually did the Masten update, perhaps he'll start feeding us from the Armadillo side now.

Wow! That is a development! A bit of a shock too, Ben poured heart and soul into those Masten rockets. I was kind of hoping though, that if John were to pick up anyone after he put the industry on notice, that it would be Ben.

After a month of orientation and a couple months of rapid development I expect nothing but great things out of Cado Mills. It will also be reassuring to have another expert coder looking over John's shoulder. Especially with having to flight certify the code for human occupants.

How long is Ben sticking around Mojave to tidy up and hand over knowledge? I doubt he would just up and leave.

All the best to Masten and AA!

~daniel

New video of a 2000' flight with an aerodynamic roll-control vane. This is the flight mentioned on the hobbyspace.com blog a couple of weeks ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q-cO3z6BsI
http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=21539

Thanks for pointing us to the video and article!
Having Ben Brockert at Armadillo now raises my hope for more regular coverage of activities.

Funny to see the chute trigger just when it landed :)

the drogue chute was funny

SweeT! I always look forward to any little tidbits they drop for us ... I didn't know the roll-control vane was something they were working on. And lol @ the chute.

We now have an official YouTube channel. Any videos we post from now on will be posted here, and many if not all of them will have HD resolutions. The first video uploaded is from the second engine-out flight where the drogue had a four-point harness which is more stable than the first engine-out test.

Thanks Matt!

How's the new kid working out for you?

so what has pixel been up to these days... or should i say RR-1
http://robonaut.jsc.nasa.gov/future/

hopefully this is no repost

I have a question that may sound a bit silly - I'm thinking of making a no-budget SciFi series, and I've got no rockets; do I have permission to use Armadillo footage in it for the lander?

So, creative commons - I can deal with that. Thanks.