Prospector 1 / Kimbo-VI

Launch Date:  3 June 2001

Highlights:  First joint mission with California State University, Long Beach (CSULB).   100% successful recovery.

Payload(s):  Analog telemetry experiment.

More details below.

Photo by Adaptive Designs

After a one-day delay due to excessive winds, the CSULB/Kimbo team successfully launched and recovered the Prospector 1 / Kimbo-VI test vehicle on Sunday morning, 3 June 2001 at the Reaction Research Society's Mojave Test Area.  The 1000 lbf-thrust engine developed by CSULB students finally ignited on the third attempt after the usual last minute pad fixes and powered the vehicle to an estimated altitude of 8,000 feet.  The parachute systems worked perfectly and all three components of the vehicle were recovered soon afterwards with no visible damage found.  We will be collecting images and reviewing the flight data and intend to post more information both here and on the CSULB web sites in the next week or so.

The Kimbo-VI is a derivative of the successful Kimbo-V vehicle that flew in January 2001.  Also known as the Prospector 1, the K-VI is being developed in cooperation with Cal State University - Long Beach (CSULB) and the school's local chapter of the AIAA.

The technical goals include the evaluation of the vehicle's performance when water is added to the ethanol fuel.  The flight telemetry system is also being upgraded to enable the determination of engine burnout and which propellant tank empties first.

This project is also providing CSULB engineering students hands-on hardware experience that will complement their classroom education. In particular, a team of ME students have developed a 1000 lbf-thrust engine that will be used on the first flight.  More details can be found on both the CSULB Aerospace Engineering Department and student AIAA web sites.

CSULB students mounting the Kimbo-VI / Prospector Aeroshell on the airframe, with Chris Thompson looking on.

Click here to read more about the Kimbo-VI/ Prospector 1 static fire test results.