video 1
video2
video 3
video 4
video 5
video 5.5
Our fifth and final launch day did not go as planned, hence the title of today's post. In all our launches did not meet the day's requirements or were up to our standards, sadly. However, we were able to get footage on our multiple attempts from the day. It was a bitter-sweet type of day but we learned a lot! On our first recorded launch in the air we had kept the same type of rocket design as launch day 4. Although, we followed the same plans our time decreased by 9 seconds! Our first attempt had a 40psi and 850mL water amount but the airtime was only 1.75 seconds, not very ideal when the goal for the day was 10 seconds (video #1). We were a little disappointed and after a few adjustments believed our next attempt would be a success, it was not. On the second we tried with the same plan and hoped it would work as it did before. The second launch was only slightly better with a recorded 4.06 seconds! (video #2) We thought we were going to improve.... It became worse. On the third and fourth try (video #3 and #4), the airtime was not even recordable. This was because our rockets would not launch properly from the launching pad. It was a prime example of human error. Either the set-up may have been effected or it was a defected trial. Both of the time the release clip did not let go of the bottle and the bottle did not launch. Instead, the bottle wither fell to it's side or on the ground of the launching pad. Both attempts had 40psi and about 850mL. After three launches our parachute had detached so we fixed it by applying more duct tape to the strings where they were connected to the bottle and corners of the chute. We went back on the field and set it up again. This was our last and final chance to launch (video #5 and #5.5), we even rolled our parachute in the hopes that it would have deploy effectively. Again, it was not what we had anticipated. By the time we launched our fifth attempt for the day, class was over. There was nothing we could do to improve our time. This project was a good learning experience for the two of us! One important lesson was the fact that you cannot rely on one sole design and expect it to work 100% of the time. Today we used the same rocket design as the other day and found ourselves not nearly as successful or happy nonetheless. Maybe it was the horrible weather or maybe it was the launching equipment but one thing we did learn was to work as a team and class. Even though we weren't able to reach our desired goal, everyone supported and suggested ways to improve our rocket the whole way through. What more can a group ask for from their classmates? Even though statistically today was a fail, the perseverance we had outnumbered any record or grade for the day! We may have been upset we'll always remember day #5 of rocket launching!
*one sad group member after a bad launch day with rocket after 5 attempts*
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