Having achieved some basic science with the Aerobee engine and reaching low space, I want to shift to the Sonner 2 plan. This rocket uses the A-4 engine to achieve higher apogee and also carry some larger science payloads to build up our research program. We have been luck with rockets so far and this one is actually pretty solid, so I am hopeful we can get some new stuff here. Sonner 2's simulation took it to an apogee of more than 430km.  This is not high space yet (that is crazy high in RSS, over 37,000 km) but will get me some good new science from the RoverDude mod and I will follow that up with a recovery mission for bio samples. Sonner Delta (uses Sonner 2 craft) Getting some contract work in here as well. March 27, 1951.  Partly cloudy. Need to break 280 km (should be no problem if the engine does not fail). Will get some good science up top.  Recover later. 3509 dV.  Gets me up there! 437.5km achieved in apogee. Electric charge ran out.  Was unable to transmit all of the available science.  NO recovery is possible.  Hopefully, enough science top add another one to the R&D effort. Contract fulfilled. <Sonner 2 Success> At this point there are a few options.  I could run a couple atmosphere flights with the additional science experiments to build up science a bit (maybe a Sonner 1B) which is the most likely.  They won't be real expensive but they will provide some value.  I will use these as recovery tests as well (more science). I could also look at fulfilling some other sounding contracts but I am not sure they will be worth it.  Both the engines I am using are as reliable as they need to because they won't be used long term so unless these pay more than they lose.  Plus, moving to recover low space may require a better craft than I currently have. I am researching orbital rocketry (less than 6 mos to complete) so it may make sense just to wait for that to complete so I can test flight those newer engines and build data while fulfilling contracts and adding science. Pondering... So the orbital rockets have 114 days to go.  I may give a try for a Sonner 1B craft. The Sonner 1-B has only 1356 of dV, so it may not make high altitude.  Either way, we will get some science from it.  I could also use the Sonner 2 as a base craft and try and recover the science as well (easier when I have retro rockets to slow descent or heat shields). May 1, 1951 14:16 (mid morning) Sonner Echo Simple science recovery with a parachute attempt (hopefully making the upper atmo level). Sonner 1-B craft (same as 1-A with a heavier payload, less dV) Made it to 40km (not enough for high science) and did recover the payload. To get higher I need to use the Sonner 2.  I will remove some of its size and parts to make it a bit leaner and have the payload be able to separate.  I am pretty sure it can handle high altitude recovery but low space may be too extreme a heat issue.  Worth a try I think. Sonner 2-A is smaller with a detachable payload.  The dV is down to 3017 on a smaller rocket overall.  Going for low space.  I will kill the engine once that is achieved to try and survive reentry.  Let's see what happens. Sonner Foxtrot May 19, 1951.  12:13 early morning. Shooting for about 150km apogee. Stopped at 457dV, initial apogee at 187 (should go lower). Only drops to about 184km.  Maybe too high? I was able to pull it off!  Yes! I got more than 20 science! I may use this for my bio recovery as well since that worked. Important note was that it did not work that great.  Had to open the chute at the last second to save it.  No room for error, it came down hot. <Low Space Science> Sonner Golf (using Sonner 2-A again) High altitude non-bio science mission. June 10, 1951, 15:16 late morning. Went to 90km.  Good mission. 9.8 science earned. I think I want to try a bio recovery mission with this craft. The Sonner 2-A was refitted with bio science and a new parachute.  It actually got a bit lighter so I made the tank a bit smaller.  The dV is 3011. Sonner Hotel A mission to recover bio science from low/high altitude and low space. July 10, 1951, 10:41, morning Perfect mission. Went to about 160 km.  The large payload slowed itself down just fine. More than 16 science recovered (I have 63 now!) I am ready to start testing orbital engines which should be ready in a few days! <Near Bio Science> Working on a Sonner 3 craft based upon the AJ10-37 engine.  The sims have not been going well.  I am trying wider fins and a straightup launch (it has been turning near the end of its fuel so more weight at the top may help as well). I want to avoid more weight because it is only 3746 dV now, and it may not get apogees I want. I added weight but it was not the key.  It still started fluctuating wildly when the fuel got low.  Very odd.  I may try a different setup (new Sonner)  as I am not sure the long term value of this engine testing yet. I shifted to the Sonner 4 based upon the Vanguard X-405 booster engine (XLR50).  The simulation did much better and can accommodate my sounding rocket contracts.  The  contracts will not pay as well though because the engine is more expensive (650 vs 150) but they will work and let me get some high contracts as well as build an engine I can use for my orbital satellite. After some sim tests, I have adjusted Sonner 4 to have 4592 dV (with 4 cameras to try and get a shot). The tank is 10m in length. Sonner India based on Sonner 4 craft (4592 dV) August 16, 1951, 18:07 (a bit cloudy/foggy) Going for a medium sounding contract that pays for test flight data on the Vanguard engine.  Hopefully some nice shots as well. Need to reach 150 km apogee.  Should be easy if the engine does not fail. Our apogee is 839km+.  Good for contract and a few more monetary rewards for accomplishments. Good mission. <Sonner India> Sonner Juliet Slightly enhanced Sonner 4 craft (4713 dV) Sept, 1951 More testing of Vanguard paid for by a medium (250km) contract. 1m 21s thrust planned. 903km apogee should get us another accomplishment level! Sonner 4A simulated (game crashed). Before the crash, I reached more than 1100 km with the new two-stage rocket that includes a triple cluster of Baby Sergeants that also need to be tested.  So, when I restart, I can do another medium sounding contract to increase their tests and then I should be getting close to have a satellite I can put into orbit! I created a new Sonner 5 craft to try and reach higher levels.  When all goes well (no engine failures) I can get above 2 mm (2000 km) with this new craft.  [add details on craft here] Sonner Kilo (using Sonner 5x, 7391 dV) Oct 26, 1951 12:00 Made it to about 1.7mm and got a medium contract to help pay for the engine testing. Spin problem which was adjusted for the next flight. Range destroyed. Sonner Lima (using Sonner 5x) Dec 8, 1951, 22:24 evening launch. 2.3mm apogee!  No failures! This satisfied both a medium and high contract and built our engines up so that we can try orbital with a satellite (as that research is almost complete). <Sonner Lima>