What is KONG?

Kong was RIT Launch's Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) that competed in Spaceport America, New Mexico. It won the category of best payload. Kong implemented a novel airbrake system into the deployable payload. The purpose of this is to test the effectiveness of the air brakes and collect data on how the drag force changes as the air brakes open. This data will then be used to design an airbrake to implement into a future IREC rocket to hit a specific apogee.

Mission Goals

Reach 10,000 ft with a COTS motor
Use a single-bay deployment for both the drogue streamer and main parachute
Engineer a deployable payload with an airbrake system
Design an SRAD Flight Computer for future rockets to ride-along in the IREC rocket

Rocket Specs

Length:          118 in
Mass w/ Motor:  67.7 lb
Stability: 2.01 cal
Apogee: 9,976 ft
Max Velocity: 915 ft/s
Max Acceleration:       286 ft/s^2
TWR: 8.3

Award Winning Payload

-The payload will be removed from the rocket through a sabot
-The sabot will be pulled out using shock cord
-After a set amount of time the air brakes will open
-The force of the fins will be measured by a load cell
-Stability maintained through small streamer
-At ~2750’ the Main streamer will deploy allowing for a slower than 30 ft/s decent at 1500’

Check out the Competition Video