|
Nike Launch Procedure |
Nike
Launch Procedure
Level 3 Certification Flight
Pre-Flight Operations T-72 Hours
1.
Verify resistance of all “Davey
Fire” electric matches.
a)
1.6 ohms nominal
b)
Igniters
i)
Sustainer
igniters (two each)
c)
Ejection Matches
i)
Primary drogue
ii)
Backup drogue
iii)
Primary Main
charge
iv)
Backup Main
charge
v)
R/C Controlled
Main charge
vi)
R/C Controlled
Drogue charge
2.
Dip igniters
i)
Sustainer
igniters (two each)
3.
Make ejection canisters
a)
Primary drogue
X.X grams
b)
Backup drogue
X.X grams
c)
Primary Main
charge X.X grams each
d)
Backup Main
charge X.X grams each
e)
R/C Controlled
Main charge X.X grams
f)
R/C Controlled
Drogue charge X.X grams
Launch Preparations T-3 Hours (in the safe area)
4.
Electronics Prep
a)
Warm batteries
to operating temperature
b)
Load test all
batteries
c)
Install
batteries into electronics
d)
Secure battery
mounting clamp assembly.
e)
Set/Verify
electronics switch settings
f)
Mount sustainer
electronics
5.
Recovery Systems
a)
Roll and pack
chutes into deployment bags.
i)
Drogue chute
ii)
Main chute
b)
Install shunt
plugs
i)
Port side shunts
ii)
Starboard side
shunts
iii)
Topside shunts
c)
Install ejection
canisters & thread igniter wires through conduits
i)
Primary drogue
charge
ii)
Backup drogue
charge
iii)
R/C Controlled
drogue charge
iv)
Primary Main
charge
v)
Backup Main
charge
vi)
R/C Controlled
Main charge
d)
Install drogue
recovery material
e)
Attach drogue
shock cord to nose cone
f)
Accordion fold
drogue shock cord, tape and insert
g)
Insert drogue
deployment bag and attach to shock cord
h)
Attach bitter
end of drogue shock cord to nose cone coupler
i)
Install nose
cone coupler
j)
Insert nose cone
to nose cone coupler shear pins (2 pins)
k)
Attach main
chute bridle to sustainer main section
l)
Install
sustainer main chute recovery material.
m)
Accordion fold
main shock cord, attach to bridle and insert into main body
n)
Attach main
chute to shock cord and install.
o)
Attach bitter
end of shock cord to nose cone coupler.
p)
Insert nose cone
coupler into main body.
q)
Verify full
engagement of nose cone into main body.
r)
Install nose
cone coupler to main body shear pins (4 total).
6.
Motor Prep
a)
Assemble sustainer
primary / backup igniter onto dowel
b)
Verify engines
and reloads are at temperature.
c)
Assembly reload
i)
Ensure last
grain of reload is well scuffed.
7.
Fill out flight card.
8.
Secure TAP preflight checkout
9.
Transport rocket to the pad
At the Pad T-30
10.
Place sustainer onto rail
a)
Slide sustainer
onto rail.
b)
Verify engine
closure tightness
c)
Install igniter
assembly and tape to engine.
d)
Install main
engine
e)
Install
sustainer motor retainer
11.
Connect sustainer recovery electronics
a)
Primary drogue
to Electronics Unit #4
a)
Primary Main
charges to Electronics Unit #4
b)
Backup drogue to
Electronics Unit #5
b)
Backup Main
charges to Electronics Unit #5
c)
R/C Controlled
Main charges to Electronics Unit #6
c)
Install primary
and backup sustainer recovery electronics cover
12.
Erect the launcher
a)
Verify rocket
alignment onto rail support.
b)
“Iwo
Jima” the launcher and lock in place
13.
Clear all unnecessary personnel from the pad area
14.
Arm the rocket
b)
Arm port side
electronics
c)
Arm starboard
side electronics
d)
Arm topside
electronics
a)
Connect main
igniter to launch system. Verification REQUIRED
b)
Remove Shunts
and verify continuity
i)
Port side shunts
ii)
Starboard side
shunts
iii)
Topside shunts
15.
Pose for pictures at launch pad.
16.
Setup the close-up video camera and tripod. Set the
focus and framing. Leave the camera in the standby position.
17.
Return to behind the flight line
Behind the flight
line
18.
Verify shunt plug flag count (three total).
19.
Inform LCO we are “GO FOR LAUNCH” with a hold for
status check.
20.
When the LCO informs us we are the next to launch
a)
Flight-line
camera operator starts flight line camera.
b)
Close-up video
operator starts pad-camera. Adjust focus and framing.
c)
Close-up video
operator returns to behind the flight line.
d)
Man the R/C
chicken switch
e)
Flight crew
reports go/no go status
i)
Close Video
operator
ii)
Flight-line
video operator
iii)
R/C chicken
switch operator
iv)
Procedures
21.
Inform LCO we are “GO FOR LAUNCH”.
22.
Insert shunts
a)
Port side shunts
b)
Starboard side
shunts
c)
Topside shunts
23.
Record altitude
a)
Primary
Altimeter
b)
Backup Altimeter
24.
Power down
a)
Primary &
Backup altimeter
b)
R/C Chicken
switch.
Send
your comments to: 