I'm down to the final assemblage of a Semroc Shuttle SST-1 and the question is:

This is the first time I've ever done a B/G with a glider release like this. So, in respect to the slip fit of the obiter's BT to the coupler on the belly of the booster, what kind of fit is too loose and what is too tight? I surmise that a too tight fit will cause the obiter to not release and too loose may cause it to wobble and could make the powered portion of the booster's flight unstable.

Thanks!

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NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

Interesting coincidence.

I just refurbished my SST Shuttle last week. The booster needed to have its rudders glued back on and I needed to build a new orbiter / spaceplane. (The booster is still missing one of the jet pods. I wonder if I still have it?)

I brought it to the Wilsonville launch today, but the wind was too great and I did not want to risk a weathercocking induced disaster flight.

My orbiter fits loosely, which I think it is as it should be. G-forces will keep the space plane sitting on the coupler during boost. The sudden "breaking" of the booster on ejection should allow the orbiter to continue onwards.

Have fun finishing!

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NAR #27085 - Oregon Rocketry - SAM

The clearance distance between the main tube where the glider mount is positioned and the dowel being used to receive the launch lug of the glider could be 1/8 ". This will be OK for the glider support during launch and it will be OK for the glider to release smoothly at the point of the ejection charge. I have the "Bluebird" that is a cruiser/glider combination and the 1/8" is what I used. The glider releases smoothly.

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David Manning
SAM # 0455

Keep it LOOSE !
A typical two-stage booster to sustainer stage-coupler fit is too tight. You want it to easily separate.

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