Over the last 7 years we've had plenty of opportunities to learn from our mistakes.
To date around 1 in 10 of our launches results in some kind of off-nominal performance, so here is a small compilation of some of those valuable lessons:
00:22 - Need a recovery system
00:34 - What's stability?
00:41 - Don't put fins too far forward
00:45 - Don't launch near water
00:49 - Nozzle seals can partially block the nozzle
00:55 - Nozzle seals can partially block the nozzle
01:05 - NOAA doesn't always work
01:17 - You can re-inflate crushed bottles
01:21 - Flight computers need to be turned on
01:36 - Clothes lines chop rockets in half
01:47 - NOAA fails often
02:05 - Don't make fins too small
02:16 - Not all stagers release
02:30 - Staging when pointing down is not a good idea
02:46 - Rockets can bend during high acceleration
02:58 - Servo releasing doesn't guarantee an ejected chute
03:16 - Clustered rockets don't need a nozzle partially blocked by a seal
03:31 - Don't put in too much pressure
03:51 - Properly released parachutes can tangle
04:08 - Robinson couplings can weaken bottles and act as nozzles
04:24 - Pressuring vibration can cause early launch detection
04:31 - Don't deploy parachutes at high speed, without a strong shock cord
04:52 - Don't try to land with an unreleased stager
05:36 - Secure your nosecone properly
06:15 - Parachutes are useless when not deployed
06:30 - Don't over pressurise a rocket
06:53 - You CAN fold a rocket for better transportation back home
07:11 - Slow acceleration can fail to be detected as "a launch"
07:24 - Stuck nosecones don't help with recovery
07:57 - Airflow can be significant in pushing a parachute out
08:19 - Acceleration + pressure can cause a rocket to go boom mid flight.
Music:
"Climb to Elera" & "Permafrost"
by Dan-O at DanoSongs.com