On February 1, 2020, I flew with Scott Borden, Mark Spedding and Doug Botos to the Friends of Amateur Rocketry (FAR) test site in the Mohave desert to view the launch of the Lady Elizabeth Rocket. The rocket is the culmination of the multi-year San Diego State University Rocket Project and was named in honor of my aunt, Elizabeth Jane Jackson Woodcock.
Elizabeth Jane Jackson Woodcock (Aunt Betty to me) stylishly dressed as always!
From the SDSU Rocket Project Website:
"Our Lady Elizabeth Rocket was initially designed for the FAR/Mars launch competition hosted by FAR. For this rocket, our engineers developed our first-ever, student-designed, liquid oxygen, and liquid methane regenerative engine. At our last static hot fire, the engine had an average thrust of 510 lbs. The rocket weighs 141 lbs dry.
Our rocket is named after Elizabeth Jackson, the late wife of Dr. Richard Woodcock, both are great friends of the SDSU Rocket Project. Elizabeth Jackson was larger than life and an avid supporter of education and students. By supporting Rocket Project, she has allowed us to be innovative and create a learning environment that is unique, rewarding, and beneficial to not only students but the entire university."
Scott and Richard (A.K.A. Dr. Woodcock) helped fund the student club which made the rocket possible. We visited the rocket lab in November 9, 2019 for the unveiling of the rocket.
The Rocket Team, and some of the donors and sponsors
Dr. Richard Woodcock with the Lady Elizabeth Rocket
The students with the help of Richard's suggestions added some artwork to commemorate Elizabeth.
Aunt Betty (Lady Woodcock was known for wearing high heels into her 90s
Betty almost always looked great and loved a strong vodka martini
Scott, me and Dr. Woodcock signed signature panel mounted to the tail of the rocket
The signature panel detached during launch and was slightly singed.
It was likely due to minor fuel leak.
Scott Borden inspects the rocket
Some of the team explaining technical details to Richard
Maja of Virgin Galactic inspecting the finish on the rocket
At the FAR/Mars for the Launch
Scott, Mark, Doug and I flew early in the morning to California City and were picked up by students who drove us to the FAR/Mars launch testing site. We invited the pilot of the plane along to watch as well. Another private plane with 5 people also flew up to watch the launch. The students drove up the night before and would drive back to San Diego after the launch.
About 1/2 of the drive from the airport was on unpaved roads. Luckily the weather was near perfect with pleasant temperatures and almost no wind. The previous and the proceeding day were very windy.
The SDHS Rocket team T-shirt
Some of the sponsors of the rocket including Scott Borden. and Richard & Elizabeth Woodcock
The rocket on the launch pad. Several other solid fuel rockets launched prior to SDSU's
This is the trail from one of the solid fuel rockets.
It went straight up but the cross winds at different altitudes quickly distorted its exhaust trail.
A closer view
This is one of the bunkers where we took cover during the launch.
Due to the pressurized fuel and potential for explosion everyone had to be inside the bunkers during launch.
On the solid fuel launches they weren't quite as concerned about an explosion.
Finally the Launch
Below is the incredible video of the 13,300 ft high flight and recovery taken from a GoPro camera mounted on the rocket. It only spun a bit after the recovery parachute opened. The students walked on foot across the desert to recover the rocket that landed at least a mile away. The payload included a photo of Lady Elizabeth that was undamaged during the flight.
Flying to and from the Launch Site
To get to the launch site Scott chartered a Cessna Conquest and a pilot to fly us from Montgomery-Gibbs Airport to California City in the Mohave desert. The weather was perfect and we had a good view of the San Diego and Orange County coastlines and then L.A. and San Gabriel Mountains.
La Jolla with I-5 in the middle of the photo
Somewhere along the Orange County coast
Scott on board during the flight
Still a bit of snow left on the high peaks, but there was almost no new snow in January
The dark line against the hills is one of the many aqueducts that feed water to the Los Angeles Basin
Landing in the Mohave. The black area are solar-electric farms. I had no idea there were so many
There were also very large wind farms on the west facing mountain slopes with a touch of snow on one of the higher peaks. We could see the snow capped Sierras in the distance just before landing.
Nice salute to our Aunt Betty.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wonderful videos of The Lady Elizabeth. I miss her so.
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