DX-1 ReVamPed

From Dare

The DX-1 Revamped was a modified version of the DX-1 Rocket. The modification was a new recovery system, the so called Vamped Parachute. This parachute could change its size with an ingenious system. The purpose of this system was the design of a recovery system that would be able to control it’s descend rate. Also the rocket was fitted with new composite body parts and finns.

New Composite hull and finns

The whole launcher recieved new body parts. The thickness of the body parts where increased with a factor 2,4 from 1,5 mm to about 4 mm. This was achieved by applying a honeycomb shaped foam between to layers of glass fiber. This resulted in a much higher stiffness of the rocket, hopefully increasing the performance. The fins of the DX-1 where made out of aluminium and were not that easy to install. The new fins are composed out of the same material as the body parts. A large plate of glassfiber was produced and the fins were cut out. They were attached to the body by using epoxy and a reinforcing layer of glassfiber.

Vamped Parachute

The new recovery system had a line attached at one end to the top of the parachute and the other end was attached to an electric engine. By changing the length of the line the parachutes size could be modified. When the line was fully stretched the parachute fully deployed delivering the most drag, because of the large effective area, and the smallest rate of descend. With the line at its shortest the parachute was partly folded in it self, resulting in less effective area, less drag and thus a higher rate of descend.

This system it would be possible to launch rockets top higher altitudes but still use only one parachute system. In the Netherlands it regulations state that a rocket that flies higher than 1 kilometer should use a double parachute system. A drogue chute for the initial ‘controlled’ descend from apogee to about 200 meters and the main chute for the final distance making sure the rocket doesn’t crash into the ground with a to high velocity. The Vamped-Chute should have done the same but with only one parachute. The advantage would be that there is only need for one recovery system.

Launch

The DX-1 Revamped should have been launched in may 2005 on the Nero launch day. This launch was however cancelled because of early closing of the launch window and some delays in the morning of Nero-rockets. The DX-1 Revamped was rescheduled to be launched on the October launch. The rocket-engine started perfectly and the DX-1 Revamped left the tower in a perfect straight line. The flight was nice and stable until it disappeared in the clouds. At apogee however the sound of the explosive bolt was absent leading to the conclusion that unfortunately the recovery system had failed.

The likely cause for this failure wasn’t the vamp system but explosive bolt. It was probably not prepared well and thus failed to eject the hatch that closed off the parachute bay. After two successful launches and recovery’s this proved to be the end for the first sophisticated DARE rocket. The rocket has never been recovered and is probably still somewhere in the field of the ASK ‘t Harde.