Cardstock Challeneging Project . . . VSM-40M / SHEFEX-II ! ! !
 

If anyone out there likes to "Scratch-Build" cardstock projects, here is one for you . . . VSM-40M / SHEFEX-II .


Dimensions coming next . . .

Dave F.

Dimensions . . .

Yes, there will be a Dropbox link with MUCH MORE data . . . Files are uploading now ( See next post for link !

Dave F.

LINK to DROPBOX data . . .

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2lmyqkky...qyVF6mZkNa?dl=0

Dave F.

Interesting...(I'd seen that vehicle before, on an ESA webpage I think, but the launch photograph wasn't quite close enough to show its forward section's faceted sides). Astra's Rocket 3.0 https://astra.com/ also has a faceted payload fairing (both it and the VS-40M / SHEFEX-II have such Zeppelin-like [having polygonal cross-section] forward sections).

A few pics . . .

Ah--she's definitely rigid airship-like, similar (if the forward section) to Joseph Speiss's rigid airship (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Spiess and [video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP3nrDUb3es ]), the only French rigid airship, which had perhaps 12 sides, unlike the 8 sides of the VSM-40M / SHEFEX-II's forward section. Also:

I see that the rocket tested sharp-edged re-entry vehicle and control surface shapes (see: https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf...HapGCq8Q4dUDCA0 [Dr. Marc Murbach at NASA has also tested such sharp-edged, reinforced ceramic shapes on sounding rocket and Minuteman ICBM practice flights]). They will facilitate highly-maneuverable glide re-entry vehicles, aerograv-assist spacecraft for planetary missions, and hypersonic-cruise aircraft and missiles.