Terrapin Rocket Team

Spaceport America Cup 2023

Spaceport America Cup 2023

 
 

Our rocket for the 2023 Spaceport America Cup is called Karkinos after the Giant Crab from Greek Mythology. It is 6” in diameter and over 13ft tall! This is also the first year that we will be competing in the 10k SRAD Solids division. We are currently working on designing a 98mm N motor for our flight at the competition using a purple propellant.

This rocket will also be the first to contain our new avionics system which conducts datalogging and telemetry during flight. Karkinos will also include an updated air brake module from Terpulence II which will be test flown multiple times before the competition.

 
 

The first flight of Karkinos at MDRA on January 7th 2023 on a Loki M3464

 

The Second Flight of Karkinos at MDRA on February 4th 2023 on an Aerotech M2500. The main did not deploy on this flight leading to damage of the nosecone. This was also the first in flight deployment of the airbrakes.

 

The third flight of Karkinos at MDRA on March 5th 2023 on an experimental N2500 manufactured by the team. It reached an altitude of 10,330 ft.

 

Wind Tunnel Testing done in the Glenn L Martin Wind Tunnel at the University of Maryland to characterize the Airbrake system.