WikiLauncher

Concept in development.

The WikiLauncher is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle placed in a launching ramp connected to a helium filled Latex balloon. When GPS altitude is above 32 km whatever the coordinates, it lifts-off bursting the balloon and follows a parabolic flight up to the 250 km apogee. A correction maneuver is performed spinning the whole rocket before the ignition of the last engine. When orbital speed is achieved, WikiSat satellites like are injected. The remaining parts are burned when reenter in the atmosphere.

Current WikiLauncher Config1 development presented by our student Ali on July/2013

See more info in this "Investigación y Ciencia" article (Spanish).

Engine development program

Engines are filled with APCP (Ammonium Perchlorate Composite Propellant) a solid cylinder inside a commercial steel vessel able to support more than 40 Atm (590 PSI). The cost of Ammonium perchlorate in 140 microns of grain size is about 35$/kg in large amounts and 60 microns is 45$/kg. Using composite material techniques we are able to cast this propellant before the curing then it becomes like concrete but lighter. A light nozzle transforms pressure directly in thrust. The current Stage1 engine prototype has a structure of 200 grams (7 oz.) while inside volume is enough to be filled with 1.7 kg (60 oz.) of this propellant. The propellant mass fraction is about 89%. Our development is based on a correct selection of COTS (Commercial off-the-shelf) of chemical products and vessels. Future WikiLauncher first stage will require even more propellant.

The engine itself is just a convergent-divergent nozzle Class L of 3 kN·s of total impulse able to thrust 41 N (9.2 lbf) for few minutes. The US government regulatory documents surrounding high-powered rocketry is FAA FAR Part 101 while Spanish regulations are collected in the Real Decreto 57/2002 royal decree. Materials are put to the limit in terms of structural and thermal loads. Following picture shows some details about the home made nozzle of only 9 grams (0.32 oz.).

We are running an engine development program to improve low-cost rocket technologies and make it open and free. Some components that are not COTS are manufactured. This is the case of the nozzle that was manufactured by mecanitzats PARES. Current amateur engines have a propellant mass fraction of 50% which is really good. Our current development is even better (89%). Next picture shows the flame of the engine in a field test in March, 2013. Engines are so powerful that we are experiencing over-pressure problems related with bubbles in the solid propellant.

Vetor Control subsystem

The Vector control subsystem is in charge of to ensure the WikiLauncher trajectory stability and to perform the trajectory maneuvers. This subsystem is based on only four cold-gas nozzles providing six(6) degrees-of-freedom.

See more info in this "Investigación y Ciencia" article (Spanish).

WikiLauncher - Latest scientific publications

Joshua Tristancho, "Acceso al espacio low-cost", Editorial Academica Espanola <ISBN 978-3-8484-7482-0> (Jul 2014)

Myriam-Andrea Tarazona, "State of the Art of Degasification Techniques, in the shaping processes of composite materials prepared by resin infusion", UPCommons 7307 (Feb 2014)

Aina Pallarès, "Integration of a Camera in the Femtosatellite Design Cycle and Assessment", UPCommons 7320 (Jan 2014)

Carlos Lopez, "Disseny del sistema d'ignicio d'un motor de combustible solid", UPCommons 2099.1/19230 (Sep 2013)

Ali Baizaee, "Improvements of a vector control system for a mini-launcher based on composite materials", UPCommons 2099.1/20265 (Jun 2013)

Pau Manya, "Study of a Coke Can as a rocket structure and its flutter effects", UPCommons 2099.1/20337 (May 2013)

Alex Delatorre, "Design and implementation of a first stage nozzle for a low cost mini-launcher", UPCommons 2099.1/12941 (Jul 2012)

Yuan Ruizhi, "Study and implementation of the stability and control system of a mini-launcher", UPCommons 2099.1/12940 (Jul 2011)

Roberto Rodriguez, "Study of a nozzle vector control for a low cost mini-launcher", UPCommons 2099.1/12521 (Jul 2011)

Lluis Bonet, "High altitude balloon mission design and implementation for a mini-launcher", UPCommons 2099.1/11694 (Apr 2011)

Ernest Arias, "Design and implementation of a second stage nozzle for a low cost mini-launcher", UPCommons 2099.1/11742 (Mar 2011)

Albert Moga, "Constant pressure combustion chamber for a high energetic solid propellant study as a part of a low cost launcher", UPCommons 2099.1/12346 (Nov 2010)

Roger Jove, "Technical constraints for a low cost femto-satellite launcher", A: 49th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition. Seattle, <doi: 10.2514/6.2011-546> (Jan 2011) -->

Joshua Tristancho, "Implementation of a femto-satellite and a mini-launcher for the N Prize", UPCommons 2099.1/9652 (May 2010)

Joshua Tristancho, "An electromagnetic interference reduction check list for unmanned aircraft system", 48th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, <doi:10.2514/6.2010-882> (Jan 2010)

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: sanketh....@gmail.com

sir

myself sanketh from (INDIA,bangalore) i'm an engineering student of telecommmunication engineering student ,here i impressed about your achivement in femto satellites ,so i decided to give technical seminar about

femto satellite in my final year, but any how i don't have enough information about your femto satellite?,any how i downloaded some PDF files about femto satellites,although i need more info about femto satellite so please do your reply to my e-mail: sanketh.miyer@gmail.com

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: tristan...@gmail.com

Dear Sanketh, have sou considered to take an intership with us in the UPC university in Barcelona (Spain)? Best, Joshua