da Vinci Project

The Rocket will be tethered to a fully reusable, piloted helium balloon and floated to an altitude of 80,000 feet. The sequence starts with ground launch of the balloon with the da Vinci project rocket tethered 720 meters below the base of the balloon at a 80 degree up angle.

Approximately 60 to 80 minutes will pass to arrive at the 80,000 foot launch altitude. Following a series of launch procedures, a 120 second automatic countdown sequence is initiated and the engines are ignited. The computer is in full control of starting the engines.

Immediately on engine start the rocket releases from the balloon tether and for the next 8 seconds an 80 degree angle flight occurs followed by thrust vectoring to 90 degree up angle for the balance of flight.

Main engine cut off occurs at 206,000 feet - at most 4G's and a maximum speed of 2,670 miles per hour (1.19 kilometers per second) have been reached. The rocket continues up to apogee - about 100 seconds or 75 miles (120 kilometers) - and then begins free fall for 105 seconds. Total zero G time is about 3.5 minutes.

A reentry ballute is deployed T plus 15 seconds after apogee and includes the base area high temperature cone which doubles as the landing absorption cushion to protect the engines.

During the ascent (and descent) stages, a fully gimbaled camera platform attached to a helium balloon follows and films the rocket.

The main GPS guided parafoil deploys at 25,000 feet. When the landing occurs the inflated cone at the base slightly deforms - rocket falls to one side and is supported by the 52 degree angle main ballute.