Big tank. Big tests. Big milestone.
Nova Stage 1 proto-qualification is complete.
46 structural objectives verified, plus key fluid systems, avionics, software, ground systems, and ops demos. (More detail in our linked blog post.)
This is where new rockets often find the hard stuff; Nova (and the Stoke team) handled it. Our local partners at the @PORTOFMOSESLAKE , the Grant County Sheriff's Office and Public Works department, plus our vendor Norco made sure we had the support we needed every step of the way.
Ad Astra.✨
https://t.co/TFKfrM2n2B
Testing is LIVE in Moses Lake, for both our Stage 1 structure and Zenith engines. Proud of the teams who are working relentlessly to drive us forward on the road to launch.🛣️🚀
@Keroloxrp1 Awesome! Make sure to really focus on understanding fundamentals and never stop building. Projects and the rocket team helped me keep my sanity (in a way)
Sneak peek inside our Stage 1 tank, putting the finishing touches on our integration campaign.🤩 Next week, this flight article will ship to our test site in Moses Lake, WA for protoqualification testing. Enjoying the views at Kent while it lasts!
@akhilshh Depends on confidence of design, resources, and project goal. I’ve seen campaigns test everything independently and then move to integrated tests, and also campaigns that go directly to integrated tests but slowly ramp up power. Up to you
Testing update!
Overall solid day with lots of good things and some not great things:
- DAQ and test stand functioning well
- pump hit speed record at 4000 rpm
- hit 100 psi of head rise for 2 seconds before seizing (FOD)
- pump is cleaned and ready for more testing this week!
@m_wal76 Good eye, the leading edge is not a machined wedge, the trailing edge is due to a machining error during a facing op that took off a bit too much material