This week, Tim got the chance to visit Ursa Major (https://www.ursamajor.com), a rocket company in Northern Colorado, as a guest of Brahm Soltes. He got to see the test stand with their 5000-lb thrust "Hadley" rocket motor installed, but unfortunately he missed a test firing of it by about an hour (so sad). He had expected they would do one or two rocket firings a month, but they do several per day. Tim so enjoyed the tour.

He also did a high-power rocketry build session with many of the engineers after work. They will be going for their Level-1 certification in September using a 3" diameter scratch built design.

This company is still relatively new, but they are legit. Their rocket motors will be used on many of the future launch vehicles. As much as they are testing, Tim has no doubt they will be hugely successful.

TTV Video #4:

We released the fourth part in the assembly of the TTV rocket kit. This one is a lot of fun, because you'll see the intricate engineering that went into the development of the engine mount that connects to the ebay sled. In this episode, the ebay is assembled and then an odd-looking framework is attached to one end. This framework acts as a spacer and places the engine mount tube the correct distance from the ebay so that the ejection charge gasses pass through the intigrated baffle correctly. The framework also has a blast plate that protects the igniter runway tube from the heat of the ejection charge. It looks complicated, but when you put it together piece by piece in a jigsaw-like manner, it becomes a piece of artwork. Too bad you can't see it once the model is completely assembled. It is one of those curious things you'll have fun describing to your friends on the rocket range.

We're trying something new in order to celebrate the readers of our newsletter. Every week, we plan on giving away a free kit (shipping not included) to those subscribers that interact with our newsletter by clicking on the links. This week we gave out an Antares Explorer kit.
You'll have to check the email next week to see what's coming next!

Rocketry Tool of the Month - Dental Spatula

Our August Tool-of-the-Month is something we had made specifically for us. It is a dual use tool that you will find exceptionally useful in your rocketry projects. One end of this tool features a finely-crafted dental spatula, ideal for mixing and precision application of adhesives (like RocketPoxy), filler putty, or thinning out wood filler with water. You'll find that it mixes everything thouroughly and quickly, especially if you are using small amounts like you typically use in rocket construction. Since this tool is stainless steel, clean up is a breeze. You can wipe it off immediately after use, or let the adhesive harden and simply scrape it off with a hobby knife.

On the other end, you'll discover a specialized scraper or chisel, engineered to remove excess materials, smooth out surfaces, and refine intricate details on your rocket model. It is razor sharp, and can be sharpened if it become dull.

This dual-functionality makes it an invaluable companion during assembly and finishing stages of rocket constructin, enabling you to achieve professional-grade results every time.

While you can buy it separately, you can have this tool free when you order $75 worth of other merchandise before August 31st. Visit this link for additional instructions to claim your free dental spatula.

What is Coming Up Next Week?

The next Peak of Flight Newsletter is a guest article by David Anisman about repairing his Zephyr kit after a motor CATO. This is a great article about problem-solving when something doesn't go quite right - which most rocketeers can relate to. See how he removed the motor mount without damaging the fins, and more.

Check your email in-box next Tuesday to find out how he did it.