RockAlt Readme file

RockAlt version 1.3

November 1, 2003

Author: David Stribling  (rocketguy101@hotmail.com)

The program has been re-compiled in VB 6.0.

A file dialog box has been added to allow the user to scan file directories and either enter a new file name, or select and existing file to save the results.

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RockAlt version 1.2 

Improvements were made to the data input boxes, but this version was not published.

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RockAlt version 1.1

October 30, 1999

Author: David Stribling  (dstrib@texhoma.net)

This program will calculate the approximate maximum altitude and coast time for a model rocket, using formulas from the Centuri technical report TIR-100.

It is written in Visual Basic 5.0 and is intended to be a quick and dirty method to create the plots that were found in the original Centuri report.

For a given average thrust, burn time, propellant weight, and motor weight, the program will either calculate the maximum altitude and coast time for a given liftoff weight and CDA, or will generate curves for various liftoff weights and CDAs (drag coefficient multiplied by the frontal area of the rocket).   

All inputs are ounces and seconds, output is feet and seconds.

The "Chart" option will generate a comma and quote delimited text file that can be imported into a spreadsheet program to draw the charts.

Version 1.1 has the additional capability to generate charts internally.  They aren't as fancy as the charts that can be produced in, say, Excel, but they can be printed off as a quick means to predict altitude and to pick the correct delay for your motor.

As I am still a novice at programming in VB, I am sure there are lots of improvements that can be made.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions, or suggestions.

Thanks
