The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) has released the raw video footage of the Flometrics, Inc., rocket launch, fueled by EERC-developed renewable jet propellant-8 (JP-8). View the full-length video clip.The launch was conducted on a hot summer day in the Mojave Desert just outside of San Diego. The fuel burn was so successful that the rocket approached Mach 1 (the speed of sound) and reached an altitude of about 20,000 feet.
The rocket was built by Flometrics, Inc., a product engineering company specializing in fluid dynamics and thermodynamics based in San Diego, California.
Flometrics President Steve Harrington said "The demonstration worked very well, and we were pleased with the fuel. In fact, it performed better than expected. The initial launch was a little explosive, which we call a hard-start, but it ended up working very well. The rocket appeared to have reached the transonic regime close to Mach 1. The data are currently being evaluated for more details on this exciting flight."
View the actual news release for more details on the rocket launch.