15:31 GMT (11:31 am EDT): John Carmack just briefs about the failure: The engine burnt through while throtteling up due to a stucked fuel valve. As they don’t know the exact reason, they have to scrub for this year.
14:39 GMT (10:39 am EDT): The next FAA flight window will open at 17:00 GMT (1:00 pm EDT). The contest window usually about 30 minutes earlier, so that Armadillo can drive to the launch pad.
14:37 GMT (10:37 am EDT): The fuel valve stuck during ignition. Armadillo will switch the engines, so they scrub for this flight window.
14:32 GMT (10:32 am EDT): In case the engine was damaged, Armadillo has a spare engine in Las Cruces. They are depressurizing and detanking QUAD at the moment.
14:24 GMT (10:24 am EDT): It seems that the craft tipped over.
14:23 GMT (10:23 am EDT): Engine start and abort of QUAD.
14:17 GMT (10:17 am EDT): Lift-off is expected in 2 minutes.
14:09 GMT (10:09 am EDT): Propellant loading complete, pressurization begins.
14:02 GMT (10:02 am EDT): Ethanol fueling is complete, LOX loading begins.
13:58 GMT (9:58 am EDT): Fueling has begun on Pixel/QUAD. Same to MOD it uses Ethanol and LOX as propellants.
13:45 GMT (9:45 am EDT): Armadillo unloaded their craft and begins preparations for fueling.
13:31 GMT (9:31 am EDT): Armadillo’s truck is underway to the launch pad.
13:28 GMT (9:28 am EDT): Armadillo is ready with their Quad/Pixel craft for the Level 2 attempt.
October 25, 2008
21:48 GMT (5:48 pm EDT): Armadillo successfully wins the Level 1 Lunar Lander Challenge. The first flight window for Level 2 will open on Saturday at 14:00 GMT.
21:23 GMT (5:23 pm EDT): They got a successful second flight. Now they have to return to the staging area in time.
21:21 GMT (5:21 pm EDT): Lift-off of MOD.
21:08 GMT (5:08 pm EDT): LOX loading and pressurization is underway. The flight is expected in about 5 minutes.
20:53 GMT (4:53 pm EDT): New Mexico Governor Richardson just announced that Rocket Racing League and Armadillo will team up for a new company to offer spaceflights from Spaceport America. Test flights are expected to begin early 2009.
20:35 GMT (4:35 pm EDT): Armadillo is on its way to the pad. In case the succeed they will get the $350,000 Level 1 first place prize.
20:19 GMT (4:19 pm EDT): Armadillo will be allowed to resume their flight from earlier today. They will have 64 minutes left in their window which will be resumed when they start LOX loading. They have to do then the second flight and return to the staging area. This was made because of the smaller FAA flight window than the contest window.
19:31 GMT (3:31 pm EDT): TrueZer0 informed that the vehicle is a total loss. The failure was due to vehicle spin. When the limit was exceeded the flight was aborted.
18:10 GMT (2:10 pm EDT): The small fire is out the crashing vehicle caused after its 18 seconds flight. Armadillo will be next at 20:30 GMT (4:30 pm EDT).
18:05 GMT (2:05 pm EDT): Failure and crash of the craft. It tipped over several seconds into flight and crashed into ground.
18:05 GMT (2:05 pm EDT): Liftoff of Ignignokt.
18:02 GMT (2:02 pm EDT): The craft is fully pressurized and ready for launch.
17:50 GMT (1:50 pm EDT): The vehicle is being pressurized. Launch is estimated “pretty soon”.
17:45 GMT (1:45 pm EDT): The TrueZer0 team got the go for flight.
17:42 GMT (1:42 pm EDT): Fueling is complete.
17:30 GMT (1:30 pm EDT): The FAA flight window opened. Ignignokt can now be fueled.
17:02 GMT (1:02 pm EDT): The clock has been started.
16:51 GMT (12:51 pm EDT): TrueZer0 is getting ready for their attempt. It will be the first time they fly their craft untethered. The FAA flight window will be 90 minutes, the contest window the usual 150 minutes.
15:53 GMT (11:53 am EDT): The first flight was concluded too early because the landing velocity was reduced too late. Armadillo will go again for Level 1 later but John Carmack is quite pessimistic if Armadillo will get that launch window at all.
15:31 GMT (11:31 am EDT): TrueZer0’s window will open at 17:00 GMT (1:00 pm EDT). Armadillo’s second window will open then later at 20:30 GMT (4:30 pm EDT).
15:28 GMT (11:28 am EDT): Armadillo aborted the attempt and are detanking MOD.
15:23 GMT (11:23 am EDT): MOD has to lift-off until 15:29 GMT.
15:17 GMT (11:17 am EDT): The flight was 97 seconds.
15:14 GMT (11:14 am EDT): Successful “first” flight. 16 minutes remaining.
15:12 GMT (11:12 am EDT): Second liftoff of MOD.
15:05 GMT (11:05 am EDT): Pressurization is underway.
14:59 GMT (10:59 am EDT): 30 minutes remain in the flight window.
14:56 GMT (10:56 am EDT): Ethanol has been loaded, now the LOX is being pumped into MOD.
14:51 GMT (10:51 am EDT): Armadillo is ready for fueling MOD.
14:48 GMT (10:48 am EDT): The clock has been stopped as long as the judges are out at the pad.
14:43 GMT (10:43 am EDT): Armadillo has 45 minutes left in their time window for the two flights.
14:39 GMT (10:39 am EDT): Although the flight went well, the required 90 seconds flight time wasn’t achieved. Armadillo now tries to fly another two legs in their remaining time.
14:38 GMT (10:38 am EDT): The flight was concluded before the 90 seconds limit.
14:36 GMT (10:36 am EDT): Liftoff of MOD after a second ignition attempt.
14:35 GMT (10:35 am EDT): Armadillo requested permission to flight. All is set for launch.
14:28 GMT (10:28 am EDT): Fueling is complete and the tanks will now be pressurized.
14:23 GMT (10:23 am EDT): MOD will liftoff in about 15 minutes. Fueling is still in progress.
14:10 GMT (10:10 am EDT): Armadillo unloaded their vehicle onto the starting pad. The next step will be loading the craft with fuel, LOX and ethanol.
13:57 GMT (9:57 am EDT): The timer for Armadillo has been started.
13:52 GMT (9:52 am EDT): Armadillo prepared their craft and is waiting for the official start. Level 1 calls for the crafts to fly 50 meters upwards, translate 100 meters and hover 90 seconds and then land. Then the craft can be refuelled before again flying upwards 50 meters, hover and translating 100 meters back for the final landing. The two teams each have two and a half hours time to accomplish this task.
13:48 GMT (9:48 am EDT): There will be 3 flight windows today, the first is for Armadillo’s Level 1 attempt, the second is reserved for TrueZer0’s run on L1 and the third in the afternoon is for Armadillo and Level 2.
13:45 GMT (9:45 am EDT): Armadillo currently prepares their vehicle. The official start time will start shortly.
12:30 GMT (8:30 am EDT): The broadcast will start in 1 hour.
Two teams will compete for the Lunar Lander Challenge 2008, Armadillo and TrueZer0.
Team name: Armadillo Aerospace
Vehicle name(s): MOD & QUAD (PIXEL)
Team leader: John Carmack
Team members: James Bauer, Tommy Bishop, Russ Blink, Phil Eaton, Joseph Lagrave, Neil Milburn, and Matthew Ross
Fuel: LOX, Ethanol and Helium
Level(2): One and Two
Vehicle Weight: 1340lbs and 2250lbs, respectively
Thrust: ~1800lbs and 3000lbs, respectively
Team name: TrueZer0
Vehicle name(s): Ignignokt
Team leader: Todd Squires and Scott Zeeb
Team members: George Johnson, Todd Squires, Scott Zeeb, Josh Johnson
Fuel: H2O2 and N2
Level(2): Level One
Vehicle Weight: 475lbs
Thrust: 650lbs
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