At 12:15 on March 29, 2014, Interorbital Systems’ Common Propulsion Module Test Vehicle (CPM TV) thundered off its mobile launch unit on its maiden flight. The rocket’s 7,500-lb thrust engine performed flawlessly propelling the 1200-lb rocket to Mach 1+ within seconds over the FAR Launch Area. The 30-foot long CPM TV rocket is a boiler-plate test version of the identical rocket units that will make up Interorbital’s modular orbital launch systems.
This version of the CPM TV was initially guided by a unique cable guidance system that utilizes guide-arms attached to the bottom edge of the fins. Cables attached to the guide arms are wound around pulleys and a common drum, allowing the cables to unwind at the same rate, keeping the rocket flying straight until the fins become effective. This launch system is a low-mass equivalent of a 180-foot long launch rail. The pyrotechnic guide-arm release system, which worked perfectly, is identical to the stage-release system that will be used by the IOS NEPTUNE orbital launch systems.

A standard CPM is designed to burn for 150 seconds which is enough to carry a 320-pound (145-kg) payload to 192-miles (310-km). Because of the maximum altitude restrictions at the launch site, the burn time had to be limited 10 seconds and ballast had to be added to the rocket to increase its weight. Due to a center of pressure anomaly, the rocket reached 10,000 feet, which was half of its calculated altitude. The rocket’s health and recovery system adapted to the problem and returned the rocket and its payloads safely to the ground.

The following commercial payloads were on-board:

National Cheng Kung University (Taiwan)
M2M2SKY/Boreal Space (Brazil/California)
Google Lunar XPRIZE Team SYNERGY MOON (California/International)
John Frusicante’s (Red Hot Chili Peppers) album ENCLOSURE (The Record Collection, Malibu)

All payloads were recovered still functioning and intact. The rocket sustained minimal damage and will be used re-used on the next test flight in which the CPM will be finless and guided.

Systems Tested:
Propulsion System in flight; Cable Launch Device (CLD) and Pyrotechnic Staging System (PSS);
Telemetry; Health and Recovery System; Wireless-encrypted CPM controller

Academy Award-winning Sound Designer Hamilton Sterling of Helikon Sound conducted an elaborate sound recording of the launch event. A GoPro camera was mounted on the rocket and the video will be posted later. Below is a still photo taken from the rocket just after launch. The CLD guide-arms and cables are visible in the picture.

See You Soon, On The Moon!