Invictus Design Updates - Post Flight 1

Invictus' first flight proved many aspects of the vehicles design, such as the first stage motor mount (even though it fractured, it still performed well), and the rocket structure itself. However, after the flight, some important changes will be realized.

Invictus will be moving to a two-stage design, instead of the three-stage design that flew on Flight 1. This is because the third stage does not provide any performance gain and, in some aspects, actually worsens the performance of the vehicle. Cutting out the third stage will allow for more fin area to be present after staging and help decrease vehicle weight, which will increase stage 1 thrust-to-weight ratios and increase our apogee in the end. This freed weight will also make it possible to mount payloads in a version of the rocket with lighter fins and a shortened second stage tube. This could be anything from an altimeter, to a gyroscope, to a 360 camera. Overall, the switch to a two stage architecture will heavily improve the design of Invictus in the long run.

Ad Astra Per Aspera, Vehicle 1.