Perchlorathon April 2005

I had originally planned to put the Nike up on a 54/1400 K700F, but we had a 4700 N-sec white load to fly, and the Nike did have a 3" motor mount, twist my arm =) We put it on the pad, and after arming electronics, installed a Thermite igniter 2/3 of the way up the back end of the motor, hoping to get it off the pad nice and quick. Check for aircraft, and announce the flight. We're the biggest thing at the launch today. 5...4...3...2...1... I slam down the button. The copper thermite fired happily, blowing the rocket 6" in the air, but the motor didn't ignite. Hmph. We replaced it with one of Peter&Steve's "Satan Spawn" igniters that they had been using to light their AN motors. After a recycle of the cameras and another aircraft check, I called out the count again, and this time, the motor lit up with authority, and pounded my poor, brand new Nike into the sky. It toyed with Mach (1107 ft/sec) and coasted to apogee, where the drogue and main appeared (note to self: back off on apogee charge next time). It drifted down on the lakebed about a mile out, the RRC beeping out 10,623 feet. Not bad for a first flight!