In some recent posts certain terms and acronyms were used that I am not familiar with. Rather than hijack a thread I thought I would post them here in hope that someone could explain the meaning.

1. In a motor related thread the phrase "...EX side of things" was used. What is the meaning of EX in this context?

2. In the same thread someone mentioned Pepcon. Who or what is Pepcon?

3. In another thread the acronym TARC was used. Who or what is TARC?

- Rich

EX is referring to experimental motors, usually in the context of TRA's EX program (now called "research"), which are predominantly APCP motors, but other chemistries are allowed.

Pepcon was a facility in a western state (Nevada?) where a huge amount of AP was in a fire. At high temperatures, AP (not APCP) becomes a mono-propellant and can essentially explode, which it did in this case.

TARC is Team America Rocketry Challenge, a program for youths to compete for a big time prize at the national level. A generic example is flying an egg to 900 feet and returing it intact with an overall flight/descent duration of 1 minute. Points off for going over/under 900', and for going over/under 60 seconds. It's tough competition, but kids can get scholarships out of the deal, I believe.

HTH.

Doug

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Yes, helps a lot. Thanks Doug.

There are $60,000 in prizes split I believe among the top 10 . In addition the winning team gets a trip to Europe, in this case the Farnborough air show outside of London. This year the Penn Manor team #1 won TARC and won the international rocketry challenge! Info on TARC can be found a t www.rocketcontest.org

And here is a nice piece on the Penn Manor team

http://www.fox43.com/videobeta/0d7e...ketry-Challenge

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...And here's a video clip of PEPCON...

YouTube Link

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I remember the PEPCON explosion. I was stationed at Nellis AFB which is about 20 miles away. At that time I worked midnights and was sleeping. It shook my bed enough to wake me up. I thought that a jet had crashed on base. The explosion took out the Kidd marshmallow factory across the street.

Other chemistries?? I've only heard of BP and APCP. What else is there? Does anyone manufacture a commerical model rocket motor made with "other chemistries?"

- Rich

Other types include zinc-sulfur, sugar-motors and ANCP (ammonium nitrate). Not sure if all these are allowed under TRA's program.

I'm not aware of any pre-made motors of these type, but I think there are some kits (sorta like a cake mix ).

One interesting thing I've learned about all this is that the danger involved is inversely proportional to the specific impulse (Isp), the woosh per pound of propellant. BP is the most dangerous followed by zinc-sulfur then sugar motors, then APCP. Yet, APCP offers the highest Isp motors. And it's extremely durable in storage. So, if I ever get into making my own, I'll do APCP for the safety factor.

Doug

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Sugar motors are allowed at TRA research launches. Not sure about ANCP, but pretty sure Zinc-Sulphur is banned.

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