OCR Text |
Show A TEST ON LENGTH OF STORAGE FOR AVALAUNCHER - FIN ASSEMBLIES During the winter of 1963- 64 users of the avalauncher often asked how long a complete fin assembly could be stored and still remain functional. The question couldnot be answered because no information was available. This winter a simple test was run in an attempt to get an answer. Test procedure was as follows: On November 17, 1964 individual components were collected which were necessary to make up 10 complete assemblies. Fuse was cut to a length of 8 inches. All components were assembled and glued to the fin just as would be done for a firing mission. The assembled fins were dated, put in a cardboard box and put in the storage room. The storage room was a bedroom which was generally kept closed off from the main portion of the living quarters. Generally the room was kept cool but would reach 65 degrees F. when, occasionally the area was used as a workshop. A thermometer was installed in the storage space and temperatures were recorded at intermittent intervals throughout the test program. Relative humidity was not recorded. At intervals of approximately a month some of the test fin assemblies were put into a regular firing mission group of fins. After a storm the normal number of projectiles fused for an avalanche control mission is about 10. This means that during each firing mission 8 fresh fin assemblies and 2 test assemblies were fired for a control project. On December 17, 1964 the first test was fired. Two of the fins dated November 17 and 8 fresh assemblies were fired. In each assembly all com- |