Dog Deployment

[stefanj]

Interesting, morbid design problem.

My fine old Belgian sheepdog made her final ride to the veterinarian on Tuesday. No tragedy; she had a long full life and was eating disgusting things found under bushes just last weekend.

Kira hated rockets passionately, but -- HA HA DEAL WITH IT MUTT -- I'd like disperse a spoonful or two of her ashes from a high power rocket the weekend after next.

I don't want to just spoon ashes into the parachute compartment.

Loosely wrapping the stuff in a square of wadding is a possibility, but I don't like the idea of the wad not opening up.

So . . . a packet with strings attached so it is ripped open?

Ideally I want all the ashes out, nothing clinging to shock cord or shrouds.

[ShieldWolf]

If the rocket is big enough, use a muffin/cupcake wrapper. Prep the rocket as normal, but after loading the parachute, stuff the wrapper in, add the ashes, then place the nosecone on top.

When the ejection charge goes off the wrapper will be ejected. Since it's an open cup the ashes will scatter, and since it's just a piece of paper, it will flutter down harmlessly.

[stefanj]

This is a 3" kit I'm thinking of.

Rather than a cupcake liner, a coffee filter might do the trick.

[tbzep]

Put some dog barf (pun intended) in, then the chute, then a little more dog barf, then the filter folded in on itself and then a bit more dog barf to keep it closed. If you don't use some more dog barf over the top to help keep the filter folded over, you will most likely get some ash released in the rocket at burnout. Besides, I got to say dog barf four times in one 100% on-topic post. :cool:

Edit: You don't even need to use a filter. I've used Estes wadding to hold tracking powder on several occasions. Just don't twist or fold too tightly where it becomes a paper wad.

[ghrocketman]

Sorry for your loss.
I can't imagine living without a good dog.
I have a 13.5 yr old Cocker Spaniel, Macy, that is a prototypical show dog (Champion parents)
and also a new 6mo old Boston Terrier puppy, Lucy, that is a fireball of energy.
Total opposite personalities, but both great.

Good luck with the launch of your pal's ashes.
Sounds like a great way to honor your four-legged pal.

[stefanj]

I picked out the rocket, a LOC Caliper ISP. I have a week to practice packing. Hopefully I'll get the cannister of ashes before then.

Dog barf is a fact* of owning a dog, so it is entirely fitting if a bit of Kira's ashes drift down from 5,000' clinging to dog barf.

Kira hated rockets but she'd approve of getting scattered around the high desert, which she liked hiking around:
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8707/17096703460_4e00e31e70.jpg


* This fine pocket gopher Kira found got turned into barf, which she then ate again!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4067/4311353641_80690a521d.jpg

[tbzep]

I like that dog! She was pretty, energetic, useful, and above all, she sounds like she was a hoot!

You may as well go to the hardware store and get some colored line chalk to practice with if you can launch some between now and then, even low power flights.

BTW, I just read a little about her breed. Did she like to head-butt you? :cool:

[Rocketflyer]

I picked out the rocket, a LOC Caliper ISP. I have a week to practice packing. Hopefully I'll get the cannister of ashes before then.

Dog barf is a fact* of owning a dog, so it is entirely fitting if a bit of Kira's ashes drift down from 5,000' clinging to dog barf.

Kira hated rockets but she'd approve of getting scattered around the high desert, which she liked hiking around:
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8707/17096703460_4e00e31e70.jpg


* This fine pocket gopher Kira found got turned into barf, which she then ate again!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4067/4311353641_80690a521d.jpg

That LOC Caliber ISP is a very good flyer, and can easily top 5K. Haven't flown HP for some time now. What motor do you plan to fly it on?

[stefanj]

Kira was half Belgian sheepdog, half . . . whatever. Maybe Newfoundland, because her head was round instead of pointy. She did like leaning her head on people, and sticking her head between their legs, which was freaky but meant she liked them.

I don't have time to raise a Belgian puppy from scratch correctly, so I'll get another breed next time. Who knows, maybe another trained Groenendael will show up at the humane society again, but that would be like lightning striking twice.

* * *

I have a couple of 38mm I and H motors. I could do a practice run with chalk on an H and then do the I. Mile high club!

This will actually be my first trip to the central Oregon Brothers launch site since I adopted Kira. I saw her adoption listing on the website while I was out there. Sped home and picked her up ELEVEN YEARS TO THE DAY before the day I hope to loft her ashes. FULL CIRCLE!

* * *
OK. ONE MORE show-off link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7Ltw3FDYfI

[ghrocketman]

Looks like a great pal.
Couple pics below of my two pals.

[stefanj]

Hah! That puppy looks excellent. Probably had to wait for her to collapse for the day for that photo.

[stefanj]

I did some painting this weekend.

The one in the middle is the Estes Scion. As you can see I still need to finish painting the nose cone tip. I'll use trim monokote and/or Contact paper for the other wraps.

On the right in an NXRS Commemorative Kit, made by Binder Design for the Oregon Rocketry high power launch last year.

The LOC Caliper ISP is actually an Olde Rocket. I bought it in 1992, when I won a LOC gift certificate in a raffle at LDRS. I re-certified with it, and next week it will loft a spoon of Kira's ashes to altitude.

(FYI "Ashes" is kind of a misnomer. They look more like concrete mix.)

[stefanj]

I guess I'll use this thread to cover my other builds until Saturday's ash-loft.

Here's an Estes Scion!

I used masking for the fin tips and Trim monokote for the wraps.

I'll need to redo some of the black wraps. I started with something that wasn't really adhesive wrap, more like carbon paper if that makes sense.

[stefanj]

Me and the Dog Lofter rocket (A "Caliber ISP" by LOC/Precision):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stefan...posted-public/

Loading ashes (in a coffee filter) and a wad of Kira-fur into the rocket's parachute chamber:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stefan...posted-public/

Video of the launch (using an Aerotech RMS I218R-M):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stefan...7624384568387/

Unfortunately I lose track shortly after lift-off. The club president also made a video of the launch; hopefully his turned out better.

The deployment was successful. There was no trace of fur or ashes in the rocket.

The rest of the ashes, which fill a small tin (which a friend suggested looked like something Great Aunt Gertie would buy her Olde Fashioned hard candy in) will get distributed around Kira's old stomping grounds via spoon.

[ghrocketman]

Glad the honor-lofting of your great pal was a success.
Anyone that says canine 'pets' are not 'family' will never understand.