Comments
Upon ignition everything looked good until the rocket was about 30 feet above the launch pad. At that point the rocket separated violently but with no damage. Post-flight, the motor was inspected and disassembled. The case and closures were perfectly fine - no visible damage, bulges or cracks. The only noteworthy observation was that the delay grain/ smoke charge insulator was completely burned and turned to ash when normally it would still be intact after a normal flight. Apparently, pressurized hot gases blew by the delay grain and out the hole in the top of the forward closure causing the premature separation.
