30K SRAD ... A NEW CHALLENGE

Supersonic Speeds up to Mach 1.88

Minimum Diameter Airframe with 6" O-Class Motor

New Launch Site: Midland, TX

Helios:

Vehicle Length: 12' 7"

Vehicle Diameter: 6"

Vehicle Loaded Weight: 140 lbs

Max Velocity: Mach 1.88

Max Acceleration: 16 G

One... Big... boom

"Shoutout Maryland for the thump you felt in your chest."

"They won the whole competition last year... and then that blew up."

"We love the blowing up ones... We got a lot of Maryland fans up here."

"Did you happen to catch the Maryland team yesterday? It blew up. It was all over the pad."

Analysis

It is suspected that the motor grains bonded poorly to the casting tubes during casting due to surface prep issues.

This resulted in the outer grain surface not being inhibited, causing the entire grain surface to light. 

The massive increase in burning area caused an equally massive spike in pressure, causing the pressure vessel to fail. 

The graphite nozzle insert was disintegrated, and the forward closure was shot out of the casing. In addition, a large, dinner plate size piece of the motor casing peeled off. 

The Airbrake and lower airframe was destroyed, but the upper half recovered via parachute after charges detected a failure. 

Click through the slideshow to see more.