January 2016 — News

On January 22, 2016 we tested the first carbon composite tank, manufactured for Lin Industrial by IVIM company. We have already told about the tank. It is much smaller than rocket tank, because it is only needed to fine-tune the technology.

Lin Industrial continues building a rocket to test the CS at supersonic speeds (currently it is flight tested at subsonic). In late December a successful flight was made by SVZ-1 rocket, which is to be the base for building a supersonic rocket, while on January 6, 2016 Lin Industrial tested a new solid motor.

MDT solid motor with thrust of about 8 kgf (~80 N) burned at the static testbed for about 19 seconds.

Before the New Year, on December 29 our rocket for testing the control system prototype made its flight. At Lin Industrial we traditionally call it "flying testbed", because the rocket has no independent value, but serves for testing the control system.

The rocket was not a modified old design, but an entirely new device. Among the conspicuous differences (except color, of course) — smaller cameras and tail section designed to contain four engines. Due to extra engines the testbed flight can last longer, therefore there is more time to validate the control system.

Today we publish an extended description of the "flying testbed" version 2.0.

A rocket for subsonic tests of the prototype of space launch vehicle control system (flying testbed) flew on December 29, 2015.

Choice of the optimal rocket shape is a tricky business, even if the rocket with no side boosters is shaped like a rod. If you make the rocket thinner, then the drag area is reduced, but the rocket length is increased, the flowfield is changed for various angles of attack.

On December 24, 2015 SVZ-1 test rocket completed a successful flight.

IVIM company, a partner of Lin Industrial specialized in manufacturing of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer and fiberglass parts, made an experimental carbon composite tank.