Great info vid on Armadillo.

Do you know what kind of rocket fuel they're using? Is it methane, like in this one? Just curious.

Upvote for the future possibility of escaping this fucking planet.

I believe their current engine uses LOX (liquid oxygen) and 90% ethanol. They have tried multiple different engine configurations and fuels, so after the LLC is won, they may spend more time looking into some other options again. Atm, they want reliability and stability from what they have working. The LOX chamber on the module is the bottom one, the other being fuel. The white coating on that tank is there as insulation as the LOX is obviously very cold, and the engine is not... Being so cold, LOX can be used in a regeneratively cooled engine design, where the LOX acts as a coolant for the engines throat before entering the engine itself.

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Really they are using LOX now? The last time I checked, admittedly it's been about a year, they were using peroxide.

edited for new info.

And its definitely LOX atm, although peroxide was something they had been using with earlier designs.

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that's a shame - well they've had setback before- I'm sure they'll keep at it.

-Module 1, we need you to remove some of that nasty dust around the launch platform, please.
-Roger that.

Just did a news check (X prize cup news/media is irritatingly restricted) and looks like they've had a crash (new link btw)

That link has a vid, but its at range so you cant see too much. Hopefully better vids will get released.

Looks like the following occurred: Module 1 made a successful first run (90 sec flight time minimum, 50 meters into the air, then over to a pad another 100 meters away and land). They would then have been able to refuel, before making the return trip, for another 90sec flight. This return trip is where the crash occurred, just at the last possible second. They had flown the 100 meters horizontal, and where hovering low over the pad so that an engine failure would mean they were low to the ground, not falling form a full hight, however, the extended low hover + dust made things unstable, and it tipped over on landing. So close, but still very impressive. Its unfortunate that they have been unable to make flights like this, in testing (insurance reasons, safety reasons and license reasons) so simple things like "don't hover too low to run the clock down" could have been learned. In fact, they might have won this last year if they could have done such testing and thus discovered the landing gear/gps offset probs they had. Still, apparently they have a spare Mod so can re attempt the Level 1 challenge for the $350k, and still have PIXELS level 2 challenge to go.

Whatever happens, I'm certain their project/development would continue, but if they can succeed, the prize money and media coverage will be great both for them and the ammeter rocketry community in general. Bring on space for the common person

Quote:John Carmack, team leader of Armadillo Aerospace, later announced the cause of the vehicle's mishap.

Apparently, during the landing phase, a piece of the rocket's engine fell off. The vehicle began to veer due to the problem, with the motor shutting down, causing the craft's touchdown mishap.

Best news feed i've yet found.

Sigh

Armadillo's fourth and final shot at winning the $350,000 portion of the $2 million Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge ended today in flames.

Bugger.

I suppose that "final shot" should be given the caveat of "for this year" as I certainly hope they are back again, even stronger next year. To have come as close as they did is an astounding achievement in itself, and the AST qualification vid shows what they have all ready achieved.

*dead

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