Biofuel Rocket. Someone launched the Biofuel rocket on July 11th at the FAR rocket test site near Cantil, CA, east of Edwards Air Force Base. The fuel was a renewable JP-8 developed by the EERC at the University of North Dakota for the Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson. The fuel was developed under a contract with DARPA . The fuel was procured for us by Bob Allen at the Fuels and Energy branch of the Air Force Research Lab at Wright Patterson. The Biofuel worked quite well, propelling the rockets to a speed near Mach 1. The rocket propulsion system exceeded expectations, unfortunately our fins were not ready for the challenge, they broke off at about the same time the vehicle ran out of propellant. We don't know the exact sequence of events, but the parachute was torn off and the rocket crashed. Our predictions for the flight indicated a maximum Mach number of about .9, so we were not concerned that the airframe was not capable of supersonic flight. We have flown these type of fins, tanks, engine and pressurization system before with no problem. Therefore, we think the Biofuel might have too high of a specific impulse. The problem may also have been due to a hot (112 F) day, making the polyester resin that was used on the fins soft and the air thin, so that the fins were not as stiff as the should have been and there was less aerodynamic drag.
News 
Market Data 
Discover 
