Ray’s Rockets

Ray’s Rockets http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging.html This page is still under construction. You can find more information about building and flying multi-stage rockets in my booklet, “A Guide to Staging High Power Rockets”, published by Rocketeer Media. Return to Ray’s Rocketry Page ThreeStage A three-stage rocket using standard, “inline” staging. The first stage uses tumble recovery. The second and third stages have parachutes which are deployed by their motors’ ejection charges. On this model, I used timed lengths of Thermalite fuse to ignite the second and third stages. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging.html#0 7201c5f2-e026-4205-9d8e-3dcd4d57f372 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/ThreeStage/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/ThreeStage/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">ThreeStage<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_4">A three-stage rocket using standard, “inline” staging. The first stage uses tumble recovery. The second and third stages have parachutes which are deployed by their motors’ ejection charges. On this model, I used timed lengths of Thermalite fuse to ignite the second and third stages.</span></p></div></div> This large rocket has eight small boosters on the sides, which drop off after their motors burn out. This type of staging is called “parallel staging”. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging.html#1 158aa5b8-44ad-4d68-8a6c-497edd4e2aa1 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/HAKOcluster2/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/HAKOcluster2/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_4">This large rocket has eight small boosters on the sides, which drop off after their motors burn out. This type of staging is called “parallel staging”.</span></p></div></div> This is one way of connecting the first and second stages of rocket. The interstage coupler has eight carbon fiber rods which insert into holes in the tail of the second stage. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging.html#2 63b6ab82-72b7-40e6-b539-be7f30f54c36 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/IntStageConnect2/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/IntStageConnect2/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_4">This is one way of connecting the first and second stages of rocket. The interstage coupler has eight carbon fiber rods which insert into holes in the tail of the second stage.</span></p></div></div> This interstage coupler contains the electronic timer used to ignite the second stage. When in use, the igniter leads would be connected to the two terminals just above the access panel. The hole below the power switch provides access to the button on the timer which is used to adjust the delay. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging.html#3 0008ff12-0ccd-4089-aa90-d32ceb3d6aa9 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/IntStageConnect3/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/IntStageConnect3/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_4">This interstage coupler contains the electronic timer used to ignite the second stage. When in use, the igniter leads would be connected to the two terminals just above the access panel. The hole below the power switch provides access to the button on the timer which is used to adjust the delay.</span></p></div></div> With this setup, the igniter’s leads are connected to the timer terminals only after the rocket is placed on the pad and ready for launch. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging.html#4 cacb9625-c010-4510-9ae4-8c78edc666c6 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/IntStageIgniter1/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/IntStageIgniter1/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_4">With this setup, the igniter’s leads are connected to the timer terminals only after the rocket is placed on the pad and ready for launch.</span></p></div></div> This larger rocket has the timer mounted in the tail section of the second stage. This permits the use of a very simple interstage coupler. On the downside, the timer is limited to use with this rocket alone -- a coupler-mounted timer can be interchanged between rockets. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging.html#5 4e7a598b-00d6-4f83-b903-3dbf267b0c6d http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/StageConnect1/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/StageConnect1/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_4">This larger rocket has the timer mounted in the tail section of the second stage. This permits the use of a very simple interstage coupler. On the downside, the timer is limited to use with this rocket alone -- a coupler-mounted timer can be interchanged between rockets.</span></p></div></div> A third method of staging is “parasite staging”. This involves mounting complete rockets onto the side of a large booster rocket, using a special bracket. The small rocket’s launch lug fits over a short rod on the forward end of the bracket. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging.html#6 82b19a15-62fa-484c-846b-b5e74f88b1c4 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/03-23TriStarBracket/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/03-23TriStarBracket/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_4">A third method of staging is “parasite staging”. This involves mounting complete rockets onto the side of a large booster rocket, using a special bracket. The small rocket’s launch lug fits over a short rod on the forward end of the bracket.</span></p></div></div> 0The parasite mounting brackets have fin-like structures with notches. These hold the tail of the small rocket. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging.html#7 90e01b2f-9ef4-43f0-b125-f99d0a034dc0 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/04-03TriStarWires/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/04-03TriStarWires/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">0<span class="style_4">The parasite mounting brackets have fin-like structures with notches. These hold the tail of the small rocket.</span></p></div></div> A simple interstage coupler, reinforced on the inside with fiberglass and notched to fit around the fins on the second stage. This rocket used Thermalite fuse to ignite the second stage. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging.html#8 7f0766d0-0b6f-412f-bb1f-8db9cc5b90c4 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/StageCoupling1/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/StageCoupling1/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_4">A simple interstage coupler, reinforced on the inside with fiberglass and notched to fit around the fins on the second stage. This rocket used Thermalite fuse to ignite the second stage.</span></p></div></div> The coupler installed in the second stage, ready to accept the booster. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging.html#9 5d67f131-716e-4206-9672-2b5a42667b7e http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/StageCoupling2/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/StageCoupling2/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_4">The coupler installed in the second stage, ready to accept the booster.</span></p></div></div> This is the traditional method of using Thermalite for reliable ignition of clusters and stages. Unfortunately it is no longer manufactured and has become harder to obtain these days. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging.html#10 fb26596b-3a6d-478f-887f-126150844682 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/Thermalite1/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/Thermalite1/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_4">This is the traditional method of using Thermalite for reliable ignition of clusters and stages. Unfortunately it is no longer manufactured and has become harder to obtain these days.</span></p></div></div> Using Thermalite for accurate timing of second stage ignition. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging.html#11 2509c56e-35ab-42c5-b943-d20980d5c110 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/Thermalite2/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Staging_files/Media/Thermalite2/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_4">Using Thermalite for accurate timing of second stage ignition.</span></p></div></div>