MLAS: Max Launch Abort System

I was intrigued by 's Peter Alway's article in the July / August 2025 Sport Rocketry regarding NASA'a MLAS: Max Launch Abort System.

If this rocket interests you, the Wikipedia on the MLAS includes a video of the flight, with some great photos of the rocket being built.

There are several scale flying model's that have been documented here on TRF, a quick search of "MLAS" in the title. Quest made a version of the MLAS, but it's not true scale model of the real rocket

The MLAS Rocket

So I opened up OpenRocket and using the dimensional data that was provided by made a 4.148 inch OD version of the rocket, since that's the body tube I have available. Awesome job on the drawings Peter.

I used the Base Drag Hack, the rocket has a 5:1 length to diameter ratio.

My version will fly on (4) 24mm motors, contained in the Boost Skirt, and there's a C6-3 in the capsule. It's a typical Lakeroadster style rocket, utilizing a custom turned Redwood / Pine nose cone and 1/4" plywood fins, sanded down to 3/16" th. I'll cant the front fins 10 degrees to induce some spin, to help with coast stability.

I did a quick study in CAD to see if there is room for the motors, and to see how the header would need to be made to route the booster motors to light the sustainer. Looks doable.

 

2025-07-28 Spent some time today fine tuning the internals of the design... specifically staging and parachutes.