Ukrainian scientist-chemist Serhii Pipko has been interested in rocket engineering for more than 40 years. Headed by NAURocket – student design bureau of experimental rocketry. Sergey became interested in rocket design in the 5th grade when his friends showed him how to make an engine from celluloid wrapped in aluminum foil. After school, he entered the KNU Faculty of Chemistry. Shevchenko. After studying, he defended his thesis and then returned to work in his main department.

Serhii and like-minded people brought together enthusiasts from NAU and other universities and organized NAURocket, a student design bureau for experimental rocket construction.

In 2018, they launched their first products: three rockets with a length of 1.5 m and a diameter of 75 mm rose to an altitude of about 600 m, and these were the first successful launches of student rockets in Ukraine. A total of 5 missiles were designed at that time.

Serhii Pipko spoke about the launch of the jet drone as follows: “There is no need to disassemble and assemble the catapult, it can be launched from anywhere with a very short guide or without any guidance. For example, just standing behind a pickup truck or truck for a minute. A launch of several unmanned aerial vehicles per minute “You can fire a volley.”

“The overload when launching a rocket is much less than in a catapult, since the acceleration goes not only to the guide, but also after separation from it. As a result, by increasing the mass of the payload, you can reduce the strength of the body and make it lighter. But if you need a large payload, you can make a big one,” explains the scientist.

What looks simple in the launch video is not easy to implement in reality.

“If there are two or more accelerators, there is also the possibility that they may not start at the same time and may stop working more than once. This may cause the drone to go off course or spin. The problem can be solved, but it is quite difficult, so it is better to install a single accelerator” Pipko writes.

The scientist explained several options for accelerators:

• the accelerator is attached to the tail of the UAV;
• the accelerator is attached to the bottom of the drone, closer to the tail and at an angle to the axis;
• The accelerator is mounted horizontally below the UAV, but the rocket engine’s nozzle is tilted downwards.

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