Pioneer 00's self-made rocket successfully launched and recovered

　　I want to use rockets to deliver express delivery in the future

　　"The future can be expected!" "I finished my freshman year!" Recently, a video of the successful launch of a student-made solid rocket went viral on the Bilibili video website (Station B). In less than a day, the video has reached 416,000 views. The current reading volume exceeds one million, and the barrage messages exceed 6,000. The video released at the same time in Douyin has received more than 8 million views.

　　In the video, a cool-looking rocket with a transparent body stands in a clearing waiting to be launched. When the countdown started, the engine ignited, the rocket lifted off with tail smoke, and fell after flying 190 meters. The parachute successfully opened, and the rocket landed smoothly and was recovered. Afterwards, the video fully demonstrated the entire process of a rocket from independent design, to fluid simulation, manufacturing, testing, control, and finally launch and recovery.

　　The author of this video and the designer of the rocket is named Liu Shang. He studied aerospace engineering at the School of Aerospace Engineering of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics and just finished all the freshman courses. All the steps in the video are completed by him independently, and the amount of professional knowledge involved makes netizens shout "Professional God"!

37 videos to overcome difficulties step by step

　　This rocket is about 96cm tall, 9.5cm in diameter, and weighs 3.1kg. The different parts used light-curable resin, bakelite, nylon, PC plastic, carbon fiber, stainless steel and other materials. It was made by Liu Shang during the epidemic at home during the online class. .

　　As early as October last year, Liu Shang had such a vision. "At that time, I saw a posture control rocket made by a well-known foreign enthusiast'BPS.space', which inspired my inspiration. However, the initial idea was very rough and there were many knowledge points that I did not understand."

　　On October 19, 2019, Liu Shang released the first related video "Small Vector Nozzle Posture Self-stabilizing Solid Rocket" through his station B account, showing the process of making a model rocket as a prototype of a solid rocket.

　　Liu Shang introduced that at first it was only intended to make a simple rocket model, without considering various practical factors in the design, but as the model was gradually completed, the idea of ​​using a solid rocket motor to make this model fly.

　　In the comment area of ​​the video, Liu Shang wrote: "I will continue to do this project. This is a process full of difficulties and challenges, and it is also a long-term process. It requires me to continue to learn and continue to go. Explore and keep trying, but as long as I keep going, I might succeed someday."

　　In more than half a year, through self-study and communication with enthusiasts, Liu Shang illuminated the "skill tree" of mechanical design, 3D modeling, engine, fuel, programming, flight control algorithm, 3D printing, and finally realized the success of the rocket. emission. The 37 videos on the account of station B recorded the development process of Liu last step by step.

　　"Thrust Vector Control (TVC)", "Attitude Control", "Modular Design", "Reusable"...These are the "bulls" of this rocket. The rocket uses a TVC engine made by Liu Shang. The nozzle of the engine can be deflected in different directions, and as long as the direction is changed slightly, the rocket can be lifted straight into the air. This TVC engine is one of Liu Shang’s most satisfying designs this time, and it is also a big breakthrough among folk rocket enthusiasts. In addition, the engine uses "C-type" fuel bores and has a stable thrust; with its own landing gear, it can take off without the aid of a launcher.

　　For Liu Shang, installing an attitude control system for the rocket is also a new attempt. With it, the rocket after launch will automatically adjust its attitude in the air based on the data received by the sensor. The rocket has also completed the switching of thrust vector and canard control in the air, without remote control in the whole process.

10 months of trial, find the answer in failure after failure

　　In the development, the part of the vector engine takes the longest time. In the past 4 months, Liu Shang has experienced several failures.

　　The first major problem is the design of the vector nozzle of the engine. Liu Shang, who has insufficient knowledge in this area, referred to many books. After the design was completed, he and his friends completed the fluid simulation of the thrust vector. The final simulation results are in good agreement with the experiment.

　　"The other is the fuel issue. I don't know enough about fuel." Liu Shang said. The development process requires a lot of experiments to verify and improve, and the safety of rocket fuel is the top priority, and no mistakes are allowed. "Although there are dangers, they are all controllable. During the test, they will find a place with no one, find a shelter in advance, prepare a fire extinguisher, and remotely ignite."

　　In June, the engine test failed twice in a row, and Liu Shang lost thousands of dollars, which also dealt a big blow to him. After some adjustments, he kept discussing with the fuel experts among his partners, and finally solved the problem by adjusting the formula and freezing the fuel surface.

　　Bai Xunzheng, a class of 2019 aerospace student of China Southern University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, is Liu Shang's friend. After Liu Shang proposed the idea of ​​making rockets last year, Bai Xunzeng has been communicating with Liu Shang.

　　Last year at the Aerospace Academy Games, Bai Xunzheng discovered that Liu Shang was learning about microcontrollers on the playground by himself. “He quickly broke through knowledge points, especially during the epidemic, the research progress was advancing by leaps and bounds.” Bai Haozong said that Liu Shang's personal ability is beyond doubt, but there are many aspects involved in controlling rockets, and it is impossible to take into account every point. "The mutual help and communication between fans is a very important link."

　　Liu Shang said that fellow hometown and netizen Liu Yibing was the one who helped him the most. From the initial engine processing to the video post-production, Liu Yibing participated in almost every test and the final rocket launch on site.

　　Liu Shang also often shared his development progress and difficulties in the exchange group formed by fans, and communicated with the members. Because he often immersed himself in research until two or three o'clock in the morning or later, the next morning he went to class as usual, and the group of friends called him "Liver Emperor".

　　"This rocket has not yet reached the highest performance." Liu Shang said that through the sensors and positioning modules installed on the rocket, he collected various data from this flight and will continue to improve the program algorithm. "My ultimate goal is to use rockets to deliver express delivery." Liu Shang introduced. To this end, he determined a three-step R&D strategy: "attitude control, flight trajectory control, fixed-point soft landing."

Love for 7 years, endless pursuit

　　As early as in junior high school, Liu Shang had launched a self-made rocket and used self-made drone for aerial photography. "Photography, video production, model aircraft, flying through airplanes, rockets, exoskeleton, he plays everything." Bai Xunzong said.

　　Thanks to the strong support of his parents, Liu Shang can devote more energy to his interests. On weekdays, the books that Liu Shang reads are all professional books he collected. The room is also full of equipment and tools for making models. Liu Shang himself feels "a little crazy".

　　In Liu Shang’s room, there is a SpaceX poster. SpaceX founder Musk is Liu Shang’s idol. In junior high school, Liu Shang learned that SpaceX's recyclable vertical take-off and landing rocket was instantly attracted, and his love for various science fiction movies affected his research direction.

　　"I just want to make something fun, cool, and valuable to society." In Liu Shang's view, there are reasons for the popularity of the video. "In the past, everyone thought that only foreign netizens could play rockets, so watch them in China. I felt quite pleasantly surprised at the meeting. If I can continue to succeed, it should be very encouraging."

　　After the video was released, "BPS.space" also noticed Liu Shang's achievements and commented: "Unbelievable, this is an extraordinary work!"

　　"Different from the'painting style' of other freshmen's WeChat Moments, Liu Shang's Moments recorded his every step of growth on the path of spaceflight." said Zhu Xudong, Liu Shang's undergraduate tutor and deputy dean of the School of Aerospace Engineering. After learning about Liu Shang's enthusiasm in aerospace science and innovation, the college contacted professors in related fields to give him special guidance. It is understood that the undergraduate tutor system is a training system for the School of Astronautics to select specialized instructors for students. When undergraduates enter, 4 students in each dormitory are assigned a professional instructor.

　　During his freshman year, Liu Shang joined the school’s model aircraft team. Shi Mingshuang, a teacher of the model aircraft team, guided Liu Shang with his self-made rocket to apply for the innovation project of the aviation characteristic science and technology innovation base, and obtained financial support from the school.

　　In 2014, Liu Shang, who was still in junior high school, wrote in Qzone: "I think the things that attract me the most are model airplanes, rockets, and chemistry." For 7 years, he has always insisted on his passion, "My pursuit I have not stopped, and hope to turn love into a career in the future.

　　Correspondent Zhang Zilue Ni Zihan China Youth Daily · China Youth Daily reporter Li Runwen Source: China Youth Daily