Development of a Solid Propellant Rocket in the Frame of the Cabo Tuna Mexican Program

Abstract

This work presents the experimental results of launching of Fénix I-2 “Alejandro Pedroza Meléndez” (F2APM), a Mexican manufacture single-stage solid propellant rocket motor from Cabo Tuna Range in Charcas, San Luis Potosí, México. The solid fuel sounding rocket motor was KN-Sorbitol propellant type. The rocket performed its flight at perfect weather and visibility conditions, reaching a maximum altitude of about 6 000 m. Engine and flight trajectory showed very good agreement with the theoretical data measurement obtained from captive-fired experiment. At burnt-out, locked-in resonance increased drag limiting the maximum vertical reach.