NLD28 picture page
Wednesday 22 October started with loading the van in Alblasserdam.
After arriving at the launch site the van was unloaded.
As usual the first thing which was done, was erecting the big launch tower.
Lifting the launch rail in place requires a lot of manpower.
The smaller HPR tower was also erected.
As was the motor test stand.
DARE's new motor test stand had to be dug in. They were lucky as a militairy wheeled loading shovel helped them out.
After the hole was dug by the machine Mark Uitendaal posed as if he had dug it with the shovel.
With the motor test stand in place, the hole was filled.
A blast deflector was also placed.
Next the certification began, starting with the M-HOF2.
The M-HOF2 project is a collaboration of DARE and its sister organization EMoCie. It was designed to lift a R/C-glider to an height of 1km.
A collection of rockets (from left to right): DARE's CanSat Launcher v5, Harry Advokaat's Nut and Pleun Punt's shortened D-Region Tomahawk and Flying Saucer.
Peter Heeren prepares the NAVRO test motor.
HPR motor preparation with Pleun Punt, Harry Advokaat and René Hofsteden.
DARE members and their dug in motor test stand.
Sleeping was again in another hotel: "Golden Tulip de Beyaerd" near Hulshorst.
The evening was great as usual.
The Thursday started early at ASK 't Harde.
Harry Advokaat had to finish his motor preparation, as a part of the motor casing was missing on Wednesday.
Pleun Punt too, had some final preparations to do.
The rocket show with René Hofsteden's AMRAAM 3, Pleun Punt's shortened D-Region Tomahawk and on the ground the lower half of DARE's CanSat Launcher v5.
Motor test stands and launch towers during the rocket show.
The command post van before the launches.
The upper half of DARE's CanSat Launcher v5 is prepared with a thorough checklist.
DARE's CanSat Launcher v5 fully assembled.
René Hofsteden's AMRAAM 3 in the launch tower.
The CanSat participants are standing ready for their launch.
The launch of DARE's CanSat Launcher v5 on a DX1-EE motor.
Just after the deployment of both CanSats.
The CanSat crews check their data.
René Hofsteden's AMRAAM 3 in flight on an AeroTech I211W.
The deployment of René Hofsteden's AMRAAM 3.
DARE's CanSat Launcher v5 was very soon recovered and following the data was retrieved.
Pleun Punt optimistically activates the R-DAS of his shortened D-Region Tomahawk.
Harry Advokaat and his Nut.
Harry Advokaat is not nervous before the launch of his Nut.
The launch of Harry Advokaat's Nut on an AeroTech I200W.
Harry Advokaat listens the R-DAS' beeps after his Nut was recovered.
One of the CanSat crews is interviewed by a reporter from the Teleac Radio 5 show HoeZo-radio, which was aired 29 October.
The other CanSat was also recovered.
Harry Advokaat too was interviewed for the HoeZo-radio show.
Pleun Punt slides his Flying Saucer over the launch rail.
Pleun Punt's Flying Saucer on (or should it be around?) the HPR launch towers rail.
Gregory Spirlet of EMoCie checks the R/C-glider.
DARE's MHOF-2 is ready for launch.
Olga Motsyk just before she pushes the button for MHOF-2's launch.
A DX1-EE motor lifts off DARE's MHOF-2.
DARE's MHOF-2 in flight.
The failed deployment off the MHOF-2.
Just before the MHOF-2 crashed.
The official countdown clock.
The launch of Pleun Punt's Flying Saucer on an AeroTech H128W. Note the size of the motor's flame compared to the Flying Saucer.
The Flying Saucer in flight when the motors thrust is ending. Note the spiral movement in the last meters of flight.
The Flying Saucer at apogee. UFO like "rockets" all turn around and descent upside down.
The Flying Saucer landed close to its launch tower.
The recovered Flying Saucer and remains of the MHOF-2.
DARE's motor test stand and in the background, the NAVRO's one.
The test of the first Stratos booster motor.
The badly placed relays box of the NAVRO ignition system after the first motor test.
Peter Heeren connects the igniter of the NAVRO Kalinitrox test motor.
NAVRO's motor test CMT0804 in progress.
The thrust curve of CMT0804.
The combined thrust curves of CMT0801, 03 and 04.
Peter van Gemert returns the first Stratos booster motor to the spectator area.
Hein Olthof and Mark Uitendaal place the second Stratos booster in the motor test stand.
The test of the second Stratos booster motor in progress.
The thrust curves of Stratos booster motor tests B3 (blue) and B4 (red).
Preparation of the test of a Stratos sustainer motor.
Just after ignition, the Stratos sustainer motor is blowing away much sand. The darker "smoke" is actually sand.
The test a little later.
The thrust curve of Stratos sustainer motor test S3.
Sand in the smoke path of the test motor was scorched.
The NAVRO launch towers were quickly disassembled.
The lower half of Pleun Punt's shortened D-Region Tomahawk was quickly made safe after the failed launch attempts.
Closing the hole of DARE's motor test stand took some more time than digging it.
Back in Alblasserdam Tim Houmes did a very good job cleaning the launch equipment.
After cleaning the launch equipment it was stored in our storage container.
