A Tripoli Technical Advisory Panel Document

By Alan D. Davis TRA L3 #5935

Recovery

The PHASAR will use 2 SkyAngle Cert-3 chutes.

I consider the recovery devices and design the 2nd most critical components of the project with the avionics being 1st. "Getting it up is the easy part, getting it back takes some skill." With that in mind I did NOT cut any corners when designing the recovery system and components. First off is to start with quality and proven components. My choice was SkyAngle Level 3 Cert Chutes. I have used their products in my past projects and swear by their quality. A previous rocket, the Binder Cobra suffered a premature separation during boost on a J-415W and the SkyAngle regular 60" chute held up and brought my rocket safely back to earth with no damage! What a testimony to their product.

The overall design and configuration of the dual deployed recovery systems is having the avionics section situated between the forward payload and rear booster sections. When the PHASAR reaches apogee the avionics bay will seperate from the booster and deploy the drogue chute. Once the PHASAR enters the pre-selected main deployment altitude then the forward payload section will seperate from the avionics section and deploy the main.

The 2 chutes to be used in this project are the SkyAngle Cert-3 drogue chute and a SkyAngle Cert-3 15-25lb. main chute.

The other recovery components used in the system is 9/16" tubular nylon rated at 2000 lbs., 3/8" Quick Links rated at 1200 lbs., Giant Leap 1500 lb. swivels to prevent line wrap, Nomex cord protectors and Nomex chute protectors.

Each section of the tubular nylon is 25' which gives an overall length of the PHASAR when fully deployed at 61.5' Believe me it barely fits in the backyard when fully deployed!

Each end of the tubular nylon was professional sewn with the Giant Leap swivels with an overlap of 6".

Additional photos of the completed recovery system.

I can't emphasize enough here how important it is to use quality products when implementing your recovery system. I consider the best advice comes from my fellow rocketeer's about what works, what doesn't and the pro's and con's of each item. Take time to investigate these items.