Bloodhound rocket test success

4th Quarter 2012 News & events

The Bloodhound project is aiming to break the world landspeed record in 2013 on the Hakskeen Pan north of Upington and has now successfully tested its unique hybrid rocket system for the first time. It is the largest of its kind ever designed in Europe and the biggest to be fired in the UK for 20 years. During the test the rocket burned for 10 seconds, generating over 62 kN of thrust. Sound levels at the rocket nozzle reached 185 dB, many times that of a Boeing 747 at take-off.

Initial results show that peak thrust of 62,3 kN was achieved with the Cosworth F1 engine at a lower throttle position, delivering more than the Bloodhound engineers were expecting and giving them even more confidence in the system. The rocket’s smooth combustion is the result of a groundbreaking computational fluid dynamics study that mathematically maps the burning fuel grain within the rocket chamber. The test represents the most significant milestone yet for the Bloodhound project as it develops the world’s first 1600 kmph/Mach 1.4 racing car.

Bloodhound’s engineers were able to evaluate the performance of the complete rocket system for the first time. This comprised the Cosworth CA2010 F1 engine; high test peroxide oxidiser tank; custom designed gearbox and software; and Falcon hybrid rocket designed by 28-year-old self-trained rocketeer Daniel Jubb.

The experiment was conducted inside a hardened air shelter with data and video streamed live to an adjacent building where the engineers, guests and media watched it live on a big screen.

For more information visit www.bloodhoundssc.com

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