ASRI SSRP Zuni Payload User's Guide

[Luke Weston]

As we discussed earlier, this is the ASRI SSRP Payload User's Guide, which some of you are probably interested in reading.

http://www.asri.org.au/system/files/private/ASRI-SSRP-PUG-ver1f20090903.pdf

Here are the short Cliff Notes:

The standard ASRI supplied payload module internal bay is 500 mm length and 117mm internal diameter.
The Zuni rocket motor itself has a mass of 27 kg, 15 kg of which is just the propellant grain itself (double-base cordite).
The maximum allowable payload mass is 22 kg. (Now you really start to get the sense that this isn't your typical hobbyist high-power ammonium perchlorate rocket motor).

As well as technical vehicle requirements and specs, some administration details for the ASRI SSRP program are also included in the above document.

Also, you might find this pretty interesting:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/67871380/ASRI-Flight-Packages 

Some interesting things to take away from this file:

- They have used an actual, working set of electronic datalogging hardware in the Zuni. It looks a little bit crap in some places, but it's an example that already exists.
- A lot of their electronics assembly and packaging and wiring and pressure sensor tubes etc. looks a little bit agricultural... if that successfully survives the stresses of launch then I think nearly anything will survive.

- I love that steel nose cone assembly. Check out the pictures of the nose cone. This really shows you that this rocket is serious business.

"Firstly, it was discovered that there was a minimum payload mass limit of 10kg. The original design of a thin walled aluminium cone was significantly inadequate (3-4 kg). As such, the nose cone material was re evaluated and was changed to mild steel. The nose cone was made from a cylindrical block of mild steel with a cross sectional diameter of 15cm. The final mass of the nose cone was approximately 10 kg."

Cheers,
  Luke