Space Cowboys 2024 built two identical vehicles for competition. Rango Mk0 is a COTS fiberglass rocket weighing 81lbs on the pad. It would serve as our backup vehicle if something critical happened to our competition model. Rango Mk1 is the first 100% custom rocket from Oklahoma State University. It is constructed of 95% carbon fiber by weight, and has a takeoff weight of 66 lbs. This model contained 210 golf balls and would be our best shot at winning the competition. 

Rango Mk1 used an Aerotech K1800 motor in the booster. This provided us a 0.25s window to be within 20 degrees off vertical in order to light our sustainer. 

Thanks to previous launch insights, we determined the best way to separate our stages was to allow the induced drag on the vehicle to separate the booster and sustainer sections.

Passing the logic within our window, the Aerotech L1000 motor in the sustainer was able to light!

As seen, our main parachute did not make it out of the nose. Due to the strength of our custom wound tubes, Rango Mk1 hit the ground at 60ft/s without major disqualifying damage. This was not the case for other custom rockets that landed at similar speeds. Our custom tubes stood up to one of the harsher scenarios it could experience during the flight with this fast landing.

Acknowledging bias, Rango Mk1 had one of the best flight paths of the competition with a max angle of only 12 degrees before turn at motor burnout.

Rango Mk1 flew to a max altitude of 3,698ft with a 21.6lb payload of 210 golfballs. This size payload earned us a competition score of 81,356, landing us 3rd place against 19 registered teams in The Argonia Cup.