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Demonstrator 2B Flight

The Demonstrator 2B rocket ,was launched on 9 September 2004 from Cape Midia Air Force Base. It was the first time when a Romanian civil rocket was launched from a military launch site. This flight was recorded for the Ansari X Prize Competition.

Demonstrator 2B launch video

September 9: Demonstrator 2B was designed to be launched with a wind speed of about 14 km/h, but on September 9 the digital weather station indicated an wind of about 50-60 km/h with turbulences. The launch in those conditions was impossible because the calculated safety zone was way out. The team recalculated the launch configuration and the fuel quantity was drastically reduced to 19.6% from the maximum capacity, in order to land in the designated safety zone. Further more the reduced fuel quantity allowed us to obtain a higher speed and acceleration during on the launch pad, an important factor in those windy conditions. The modifications were communicated to the Command Center and the team requested the take-off approval for. The vehicle was launched and the event was broadcasted live on many TV stations.

September 10: The ARCA Team members arrived to the Command Center to read the flight data. The preliminary data indicated that the launch data are: 1000m altitude, 630 km/h, 2100 m range. In those extremely conditions the recalculated trajectory with only 10 min before the launch was a major success. The Command Center specialists congratulated us because the vehicle landed exactly at the safety zone limit.
ARCA team members wishes to thanks to the sponsors, to the Defence Department, the Air Force, the Launch Site representatives and the Flight Research Center.