Columbo is an experimental rocket build by Bert Kimpe and Els Heynssens, with kindly support of Didier Claeys, Pascal Cornelis, Ivan van Limbergen and Jan Volckaert.

Objectives

Test the new Titus 500 PVC motor
Propellant: KNO₃/Sugar/Sorbitol

Motor: Type: Titus 500 (PVC) Burn time: 1,5s Total Impulse: 520 Ns Propellant mass: 450 g KNO3/dextrose Capsule: Tube: fiberglass/epoxy 1.5 mm mass motor full: 3500 g length: 1235 mm diameter: 66 mm nosecone:160 mm, fiberglass/epoxy fins (4): fiberglass/epoxy Recuperation: servomotor, activated by timer/break wire parachute: cross 0,55 m2 descend speed: 10 m/s Stability: CP: 982 mm (from top) CG : 905 mm (from top) Static margin: 1,2 calibers Cn: 12,1 estimated Cx: 0,5 Flight: Launch rail: 3,5 m Launch angle : 85° Rail exit speed: 21 m/s Culmination: 830 m, 13 s Max. speed: 144 m/s Max. Acc.: 130 m/s2 Landing: after 95s Impact: 292 m

Experiments

• R-DAS flight computer
  • altitude
  • acceleration

Flight Results

Columbo was succesfully launched on Saturday, August 16, 2003 @ 18:25 GMT during the Belgian Launch Campaign 2003.

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Photos

For photo's, please see our Gallery.