MDRA Launch — 2/4/2024 · Spark Rocket Lab

After action review — 2/4 launch

The packing checklist worked pretty good. There was some friction with the way categories were organized. Example: We had extra batteries for avionics as a check item, but those went in the avionics storage box, which is also a pack item.
We should have a high-level list for all the boxes that get packed and sub-lists for the boxes and what goes in them. That way there is no confusion when packing, and we can have better labeling.
Need a single person that is a Launch Director. The launch prep checklist should have a single person assigned with the responsibility of researching those items and disseminating as a team. We did it as a team and it was not effective.
Recommended personal gear should be a part of the launch director’s weather discussion. There were a few missed items like Rob’s beanie.

GPS tracking almost turned into a disaster because the battery connected reversed polarity to the switch. The battery connector has a tab so it only goes in one way, but the pins connected long enough in reverse to really heat up the connector. The switch would not work immediately afterward. After 30 minutes, we tried again and the switch worked but the polarity of activation switched. We left the battery connected and came back the next day. The battery was drained and would not turn on. It turns out the switch is now draining current. It will need to be replaced.
Camera installation is painful in a few ways:
- Covers are nearly impossible to install. The thumbscrews are installed blind with a hand in each side of the av-bay tube.
- The cameras have to go in together along with the straight cover because of the wiring. This is awkward as well.
- When you install the av-bay you have to work the rods and igniter wires around the camera assembly. It would be nicer if there was a more convenient way.
Need to rethink the camera situation. Either a hatch or some sort of slidable cover that can be locked into place.
If you use a hatch, you can install the electronics for the cameras on the rods and then connect to the cameras after the av-bay is buttoned up on each end.

Having a rocket completely prepped the day of, ready to go on the pad, is the way to go. After watching so many people struggle with their rockets, it’s definitely a must-have.
Need a tote / defined toolbox with the launch prep items that can go out to the pad. It needs slots and pouches for things like sandpaper, magnets, dikes, etc.
Need procedures for setting up cameras. One ground camera wasn’t positioned correctly and the other was positioned correctly by sheer luck. Need templates for distances and angles.
Not having a way to verify the rocket cameras were on was a major pucker factor.
Need a step stool to better reach the mag switches. Rob was holding the template on his tiptoes for quite a while.

The upward-facing camera suffered an SD card error. It wrote the log file but wouldn’t write video. Need to figure out why it threw the error and how to prevent it / test for it.
Need to rethink the main chute configuration. The main chute came out of the deployment bag at apogee. It got snagged on the main line and was held partially closed until the TD-2 fired. Blowing both Peregrines and the shock of the airstream likely flipped the D-bag upside down and out of the small section of body tube. We need a different configuration. Adding 4 in of body tube to keep the D-bag completely in the body tube at all times may be enough.
Launch harness was hard to locate. Rob suggested adding reflective tape. Making sure the pickup team knows it’s going to get flung forward of the pads may be enough.

Need a set of picks added to the cleanup list.
Need a second rocket stand in case we launch two or more rockets. One stand for cleaning and one for launching. Also need to figure out storage.
If we are launching multiple rockets, do we clean up after each rocket or prioritize getting all rockets in the air? If we are cleaning up while or before conducting flight ops, we should have instructions / SOPs and a designated cleanup team.
Need checklists for rocket shutdown and cleanup.
Need a hand cleaning gel/cream for after cleaning rockets. Nate suggests Goo Gone and extra water for rinsing (this can be avoided if we used gloves).
Add a roll of regular paper towels to the checklist.