ROCKET DAY AT MANCHESTER AIRPORT
We’ll be exhibiting the 9 metre Skybolt rocket at the Manchester Airport Runway Visitor Park on Sunday June 13th.

In addition to Skybolt which will be on display from 10 am – 4 pm, some of our team will be on hand to talk about the Starchaser Project and we’ll also be putting on our Rocket Factory 1 workshop where visitors of all ages will have the opportunity to build and launch their own compressed air powered rockets.

The Runway Visitor Park is one of the North West's most popular outdoor attractions; adjacent to the busy runways of Manchester Airport, it's the very best place to see aircraft take off and land.

With around 600 aircraft movements each day, there's always something to see.

The Park is home to the G-BOAC Concorde and has a fantastic outdoor area that includes DC-10, Trident and Avro RJX aircraft exhibits as well as a gift shop and restaurants.

Normal entry charges will apply and we recommend you book aircraft tours in advance.

In order to ensure that the above is completed this year (we’re aiming for the end of august 2010) we need to raise a further £20,000 to help cover the costs of rocket fuel, insurance and logistics etc. So for the first time ever we’re making tickets available for those who might be interested in attending the launch.

There will be 400 tickets printed and we are offering these in exchange for a donation of £50 (for each ticket) towards our eco-rocket launch costs. In addition and prior to the launch, we’ll also invite every ticket holder to an exclusive presentation / prelaunch briefing where they will have an opportunity to meet the Starchaser team and view the rocket up close.

Tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis and you can apply for as many as you like but since numbers are strictly limited and we have just mailed this offer to some 3000 people, we would suggest you do it sooner rather than later!

To reserve your ticket please fill in the enclosed application form and forward together with your payment to our usual address.

Terms and conditions apply to this offer so please make sure you read and understand them.

We look forward to seeing you at what promises to be a very exciting launch.

Please follow this link for further details

Please click here for further images

MANCHESTER KIDS TO BECOME ROCKET SCIENTISTS FOR A DAY
Manchester United Kingdom The regions school pupils are being offered a unique chance to name a new rocket as part of an innovative pilot study that will take rocket science into the heart of the classroom.

Manchester based Starchaser Industries has joined forces with Tameside Council to create the Tameside Rocket Science Challenge in which children are being asked to come up with a suitable name for Starchaser’s new 5 metre, eco friendly rocket ship.

In addition, up to 40 primary and 10 local secondary schools are being offered the opportunity to take part in this dedicated Science Challenge. Taking the form of a bespoke educational enrichment package the study will build upon Starchaser’s existing educational outreach activities which support science, technology, engineering and mathematics within the national curriculum.

The innovative new rocket, the engine of which was developed with £130,000 funds from a North West Development Agency grant, burns recycled polythene as fuel, producing a colourless, smokeless exhaust. It is to be flown later this year from Morecambe Bay and it is hoped that it will pave the way for safe, clean access to the final frontier.

As part of the school’s package children will be able to learn about the workings of this and other rocket engines through Starchaser’s spectacular and “explosion” studded Propulsion Lab science show and they will also be given the chance to build and safely launch their own model rockets as part of Starchaser’s Rocket Factory 1 Workshop. Both activities will include follow on class work that also links to numeracy and literacy.

Tameside Councillor Ged Cooney, Executive Member for Lifelong Learning said: “This unique chance to study will place Tameside pupils at the forefront of practical learning about science and space and rocket technology.

“It will be a tremendous boost to their learning, inspiring children about science and encouraging many young people to consider taking their studies further as they move on to higher education and careers in this high-tech industry.”

Steve Bennett, Managing Director of Starchaser Industries said: “We travel the length and breadth of the UK delivering a range of educational packages to some 200 schools every year. But partnering with Tameside Council will enable us to engage with an unprecedented number of children in the local area, where we will use the excitement of rocketry to turn more youngsters on to science related subjects”.

It is anticipated that the successful completion of the study which will run from January to March 2010 will provide a framework for rolling out further innovative educational enrichment activities to more Tameside schools in the future.

Any school interested in participating in the scheme should contact programme coordinator Matt Shewbridge on 0161 882 9922.

For more information please contact Starchaser on 44 (0)161 882 9922 or Email info@starchaser.co.uk.

HYBRID PROJECT UPDATE
HYBRID PROJECT UPDATE
Phase two testing on our Eco-Friendly hybrid rocket engine project has been completed. The “large” engine has performed flawlessly over two campaigns of 12 tests where the full thrust of 1000 kgf has been exceeded. The nominal burn time for each test was 8 seconds. Fuels tested were;

1) High Density Polythene HDPE (white)
2) High Density Polythene HDPE (black)
3) Polypropylene
4) Acrylic / Perspex
5) HTPB / Recycled Car Tyre mix (30%)
6) HTPB / Aluminium mix (10%)
7) HTPB (original fuel for comparison)
8) Ultra High Molecular Weight Polythene (UHMWPE)

Exhaust gasses from all the above have been captured and transferred to an independent laboratory for analysis.

Please click here for further images

Please click here for latest test report (Members only)

Please click here for 23 further images (Members only)

HYBRID PROJECT UPDATE
Incorporating aluminium into the fuel matrix for test firing 7 was particularly spectacular as the burning metal in contact with the High Test Peroxide provided quite a firework display. Despite the pyrotechnics however, the small engine and test equipment remained totally intact.

Starchaser’s R&D team are currently gearing up for candidate fuel number 9 which is the ultra high molecular weight polythene that will also be combusted in a stream of decomposing High Test Peroxide.

Please click here for video of test 7

Please click here for frame grabs of test 7

HYBRID PROJECT UPDATE
Phase one testing on our Eco-Friendly hybrid rocket engine project has been completed. A full report is available in the member’s area. Phase two is now underway which includes the testing of eight different fuels in our “small” hybrid engine.

Fuels currently under evaluation include HTPB rubber, white polythene, polythene + carbon, polypropylene, HTPB + tyre rubber, HTPB + aluminium, acrylic and ultra high molecular weight polythene. In each case a sample of exhaust gases are being trapped and analysed. The most environmentally friendly fuels will then be further tested in the one tonne thrust engine.

Please click here for videos

Please click here for further images

Please click here for latest test report (Members only)

Please follow this link for further details

Please click here for further images

HYBRID PROJECT UPDATE
The first test of our Eco friendly hybrid rocket engine took place on the 25th February. Test results showed good resolution and the one tonne equivalent thrust engine performed well. The engine was then refuelled and fired again on the 4th and 11th March. At least one further firing is planned before the equipment is used to validate alternative fuel sources.

Please click here for further images.

Please click here for videos.

Please click here for the press release.

PHYSICS WITH SPACE TECHNOLOGY OPEN DAY
An open day was held within the School of Science Computing and Engineering at Salford University on Wednesday 18th February. The day showcased the Physics with Space Technology Degree Course to around 50 potential students... Please click here to continue reading and for images.

For course details please click here LINK TO PDF

HYBRID PROJECT UPDATE
We are pleased to report that our 1 tonne equivalent thrust hybrid engine is now complete.

The fuel grains have been created and the catalyst pack has been heat treated and installed. Flow rate calibration testing using deionised water has now begun and these will be followed by hot firings within a few weeks. A full gallery of images are in the member’s area.