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TRIPOLI Pittsburgh

Launch Report

August 17, 2025

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Flyers: 15

Flights: 32

Last year about this time, TR flew a Semroc Mars Lander that he had obtained from Rob Camele a few years back. After the flight, John Haught approached TR with a proposition.

John had a partially completed 2x upscale Mars Lander that he had been working on from a Tango Papa kit that had been kicking around his workshop for years. The Lander could use a few 3D printed parts, and John asked if TR could design and print them.

John gave the partially completed Lander to TR and he designed and printed a new nose cone and some tail shrouds and a nozzle that doubled as a motor retainer for the 38 mm motor.

Anyone who has flown a Mars Lander of any scale knows that balance is critical and weight usually has to be added to the upper portions. This ended up being something of a problem due to uncertain build history.

After determining the balance situation, rough painting was completed and internal recovery equipment was installed and a test flight was all that was left.

John Haught

TR Garman

Mars Lander - 2x Upscale

Test Flight 1

The Lander lifts off from the high power pads on an H-123 reloadable white propellant motor.

The hot pink parachute was made for another rocket but turned out to work well for a test flight of the Lander. Upon making touch-down, the Lander stuck the landing by standing on all four legs without tipping over.

Other parachute solutions will be tested out at the coming launches.

The John Haught - TR Garman Tango Papa 2x upscale Mars Lander (hows that for a mouthful?) will have final painting work completed along with application of decals that mirror the original Mars Lander in the next coming months.

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