bannerbanner
Blogs >> Featured Blog Posts >>

Model Rocket Building Blog

Launch! NEFAR Bunnell Blast, November 9, 2013
This past weekend was the N.E.F.A.R. Bunnell Blast, a two day event with a night launch on Saturday night. The Quest AEROSPACE ONE is a great flyer adapted to an Estes D12-5. Towards the end of the thrust phase the model wiggled a bit. Altitude was near 900'. The left rear rudder fin broke off ...
[Read More]

The Estes Rockets Android App, Part 1
I just got an email announcing the Estes Rockets Android App .  It sounds cool: <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QzTZ6jxDeSM/UsdVmKUyiVI/AAAAAAAAUbQ/N38cc4xokFk/s1600/Estes+Android+App.png"
[Read More]

Jupiter bound spacecraft heads to pad
NASA’s Juno spacecraft headed to the pad today on top of a mighty Atlas 5. The Atlas 5 is set to launch on August 5th with a launch window of 11:34 am to 12:43 pm. Updates will posted at launch. Interesting Trivia: The Juno Spacecraft has LEGOs aboard UPDATES:
[Read More]

Falcon hypersonic HTV-2 flight anomaly
America’s latest super weapon. Able to strike any target in the world in less than an hour the recent flight of the Falcon hypersonic HTV-2 proved to be a bit tricky. Launched on top of a Minotaur IV rocket the vehicle flies at an amazing Mach 20 (13,000 mph). Recent news articles are ...
[Read More]

NASA creates HEO
RELEASE : 11-264 NASA Creates Human Exploration And Operations Directorate WASHINGTON — NASA has announced the creation of the Human Exploration and Operations (HEO) Mission Directorate. The new organization, which combines the Space Operations and Exploration Systems mission directorates, ...
[Read More]

Commercial Space
Saw this over at reddit with the caption: Who else would have been fine with this as long as the science didn’t change?
[Read More]

New product : Estes motor adapters
Estes has just released a new product. Motor adapters – both mini to standard(13mm to 18mm) and standard to D(18mm to 24mm). This is a product that has definitely been needed for years. I’ve used spent motors for years(cleaning out used D and inserting standard) or I’ve also ...
[Read More]

Russian Cargo rocket crashes
The Russian Progress M-12M has crashed somewhere in Siberia. Teams are on the way to the crash site. “The engine system’s erratic functioning and its subsequent breakdown occurred during the operation of the third stage at the 325th second of the flight of the Soyuz-U carrier rocket ...
[Read More]

Welcome
Well welcome to my first post. I should start with an intro of my current array of rockets. Here is my collection. There have been many in the past which are gone awol or damaged beyond repair. As you might be able to see, many of these models are in the process of being repainted. So they may not ...
[Read More]

Kosdon O-10,000
This is a web page with the history of the O-10,000 motor. This high thrust 4 inch motor has been used quite a bit for large projects including the thunderbolt posted below. In addition, Rikki Rocket (of poison fame) flew jurassic kik, which was at the time the largest hobby rocket, on the very ...
[Read More]

Sprint and Hibex
Well here you have some of the greatest rockets ever made. Both are ABM missiles, meaning they are to prevent a nuclear IRV from hitting a target. For this reason, and also because they were the low altitude, terminal defense part of the ABM system, they had to be really really fast. This is the ...
[Read More]

CSXT Space Flight
On may 17th of last year, the Civilian Space eXploration Team sent the first amateur rocket into space. After nearly 10 years of attempts, they finally made it. The rocket, an S motor, hit a maximum altitude of about 72 miles, and a top speed of 3,420 mph which is also a record. Here you have the ...
[Read More]

Project Thunderbolt
This is a Frank Kosdon rocket. Two stage, O to M flight. The top speed was over mach 3.5, and altitude over 70,000 feet. Here is the O-10,000 booster stage in operation, that's over 2,000 lbs of thrust for a few sec. Finally, the end of the ballistic coast stage, over 50,000 feet the ...
[Read More]

NCR Phantom 4000
NCR (Out of Production I think) Phantoms have a long history... By far my largest kit at the time, and still the only 4 inch rocket I have made, the phantom 4000 is made by estes. More than just an upscale of an estes kit, this is a real mid power craft. Able to take up to H motors without any ...
[Read More]

Project 463
Project 463 remains the largest hobby rocket ever flown, at 1200 lbs. This web page doesnt exactly do justice to the scale of the thing with the small images... But the first and only flight used only a P and two N motors in the lower stage, and one N in the upper. Update: (6-2008) The links are ...
[Read More]

Best Way to Spend $100 Million
While I could suggest the Encyclopedia Astronautica for so many reasons, as it is simply the best source for space travel and rocketry that I have ever seen, I thought this was an interesting page. Different proposals for $100 million tourism flights around the moon. That would have been an ...
[Read More]

Mars project Phobos EAV
MARS is a British high power - amateur rocketry group. This project uses a kosdon O-10,000 (can you tell I am a bit obsessed with this motor?) and a boosted dart rocket. The goal first of all was to set a new UK altitude record (which they did) and try to attain altitudes above 50,000 feet. For ...
[Read More]

Shadow Aero
Shadow Aero sells ultra high level rocket materials, parts, and custom rockets. They used to sell kits, but these kits are no longer made and they sold out. Their work is at the top of hobby rocketry. Shadow Aero This is a two stage "Shock X2" which is basically a two stage copy of the Shock kit ...
[Read More]

Some rocketry videos
Due to the overwhelming volume of requests (1 person), I wanted to post some rocketry videos. These are high end flights, from Balls, and they are more impressive in person. 3 P motors! Kosdon Q motor Red P motor
[Read More]

We won!
Joint Statement on Appeals Court Decision, February 10, 2006 February 10, 2006 Web posted at: 6:31 PM EST (ROL Newswire) -- Below is a Joint Statement on Appeals Court Decision, February 10, 2006 Received by ROL ***** After nearly seven years of work, we have prevailed in our efforts to remove ...
[Read More]

Water Rockets!
Metal case, CO2 water rockets Water rockets are a great (low cost) way to get into rocketry. Simple water rockes are soda bottles with fins glued on to them. They are very fun, and I have a few myself. More high end water rockets like those seen above, can pass 1000 feet (while the cheap ones are ...
[Read More]

The Reaction Research Society
It would be too hard to list all the great projects in the long history of the RRS, but to put it quickly, it is the oldest amateur experimental rocketry group in the country. (To steal directly from their history page.) Anyway, they have many rockets, including what was until recently the highest ...
[Read More]

Rocket sled
Just a taste of what the wild world of rocket sleds has to offer! Here you see a rocket sled at over mach 4. Note the shock wave visible in air and the incredible friction on the tracks. Edwards AFB Rocket Sled
[Read More]

Spike
The man, the myth, the legend... The... Man. Spike (Spikeson). In rocketry, it is not only those who build and fly the kits that matter. This gentleman, shown here in a one piece Carhart jumpsuit. Sitting atop a tubbed ATV (possible Nitrous Oxide system), Spike gladly recovers distant rockets from ...
[Read More]

Rocket car
Did the first car to break Mach do it in 1979? In a rocket car? Did Budweiser pay for it? Dont take this on face value, but it is an interesting story at least. http://www.bluebird-electric.net/budweiser_rocket_car.htm Update 10-2009:
[Read More]

John Cokers Rocketry Page
John Coker has a large collection of rockets, his web page talks about them all. http://www.jcrocket.com/index.shtml
[Read More]

Dryden Video Collection
The Dryden Flight Research Center has some great videos of aircraft testing. The best is the impact test shown above. Impact Dryden Videos
[Read More]

Rocket Models
Now I should start this post right off by saying that there are many girls and women in rocketry, and they often take a central part. They participate, they fly, and they support launches; any and all things that men do. In any event, this post is not about women in rocketry, rather it is about ...
[Read More]

Best Rocketry Video EVER.
http://Nike Project
[Read More]

Katyusha Rockets
I have decided to post here again, on a serious matter. The Katyusha rocket is one of the rockets being used against civilians in Israel by Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon. Here are some links for more information: Wikipedia BBs
[Read More]

Jamstar!
One of the great high end projects out there is Jamstar. A pretty modest rocket by performance and design, but "mach 2 and 81,000 feet" are some nice numbers. Actually mach 2 is seldom the type of speed you would expect to gain 80,000 feet! One big problem remains however: for some reason they ...
[Read More]

Shuttle Fuel Tank Video
This is a great video in flight from the POV of the fuel tank camera. Note how dynamic the plasma or gas jets are around the shuttle.
[Read More]

Mach Buster
Mach Buster is a project to make the first prop. plane that can go supersonic in level flight. This may just be a way-out there plan that will never work. But I have always thought about this, and wonder why it has not been done in the past. I understand that the shape of the airfoil of props ...
[Read More]

Tiny Post (Just a taste)
"Jim McKinnon's 1000lbf thrust LOX / Jet A Static Test. Jim's injector is using 28 O-F-O Triplets with a O-O-F-O-O Pentad element in the center. The combustion chamber was a surplus Atlas Vernier. The large gauge is measuring chamber pressure." This is from the Reaction Research Society web page.
[Read More]

Performance Rocketry
A few years back, before I put some of my rockets in storage for a while and took some time off from rocketry, I stumbled upon this brand new web page. This vendor, Performance Rocketry, sells some of the finest rocketry products I have ever seen. At the time, it was a dream of mine to find fin ...
[Read More]

Parachutes
Recovery is very important in rocketry. There are many makers of parachutes, from the smallest 4 inchers to the huge 16+ foot 'chutes for the big rockets. Here you see one of the top brands of 'cute: Rocketman.
[Read More]

Downright Ignorant
At the time, the largest hobby rocket ever made (mostly non metal parts - total motor power less than two O motors). Still smaller than project 463, posted previously, but certainly a great flight.
[Read More]

Russian rocket failures
Rocketry is not always safe. Be back in one week! Check out some of my other pages: Bathrooms R2K Micro Images
[Read More]

Tom Sawyer Rocketry

[Read More]

Russian N1
The N1: The biggest rocket yet, also among the most complex, and with one of the worst rates of failure. Was a last ditch effort to carry russians to the moon. N1 Linky
[Read More]

SORAC
The SORAC Project was initiated in 1995 as a Civil Experimental Aerospace endeavor. The first goal is to place a totally non-government funded vehicle into internationally recognized space, 62 statute miles straight up. The group numbers about 30 persons across the USA, with a local contingent of ...
[Read More]

Gregs Altitude Attempt
--Test flight with small motors-- "The goal of this rocket is to achieve a Canadian altitude record in excess of 10 000 feet under the staged rocket category. There are no previous records in the category. If the goal is met, it will be higher than the Tripoli Rocketry Association record as ...
[Read More]

Project Courage
The Courage is a very high performance (dart) hybrid N class rocket project by MB Rocketry that can probably break 30,000 feet. Check it out to see the whole building process and other projects.
[Read More]

Rocket in a supersonic wind tunnel
"This 1963 photograph shows vent flowing cryogenic fuel and T/C Rake mounted on a 1/10 scale model Centaur rocket in the Supersonic Wind Tunnel at the Glen Rsearch Center. The fuel being tested is liquid hydrogen. Such tests were conducted to determine how far to expel venting fuel from the rocket ...
[Read More]

Delta III Solid Rockets Fall Away
There is nothing like the power of solid rockets, but they cost a ton, are less efficient, and are not so great for the environment.
[Read More]

Falcon 1 Onboard Launch
"SpaceX demo2 rocket launch in March. • A privately funded rocket launches from a Pacific atoll Tuesday • The rocket reached space but re-entered the Earth's atmosphere after half an orbit because of a problem during the second-stage burn, an entrepreneur said • Falcon 1 is a 70-foot long, ...
[Read More]

April 28th Launch
I have flown this rocket before and it flew very well (straight), so I decided to fly it again with the largest motor that I could construct to that would still fit into the aero shell. I also decided to add a video camera and a boat tail. Top two photos by Chris Neuhahn and bottom two by Dave ...
[Read More]

OnBoard Video from the Camera Rocket
Here is the video from the rocket. From take-off to apogee the footage is real time, most of the decent from apogee back down to the ground has been cut, and the remaining decent has been gradually slowed down. Thanks to James for the edit. There was some weird behavior with the roll of the ...
[Read More]

More photos from the launch on the 28th
My daughter Grace flew her first rocket at this launch. Here is a Picture taken by my friend Chris of Grace letting me check everything out one last time before loading it into the launch tower. That's Mom and little sister in the background. Dave Allday did a great job taking the picture of ...
[Read More]

Early manned space flight plans

[Read More]

New lathe chuck arrives
I purchased a "new", larger lathe chuck on e Bay a while back and it arrived yesterday. I'm pretty happy with it. I will probably want to remove it from the back plate and take a really light cut on the back plate , then clean everything, and reassemble it. The "new" chuck is much tighter and ...
[Read More]

Shirra and Stafford by Paul Calle

[Read More]

More pictures from last weekends launch.
Here's a couple of pictures from last weekend of the rocket at take off. These were taken by Chris Neuhahn.
[Read More]

The Camera
I was really happy with the video that I got from the launch, but haven't really mentioned the camera that I used. The camera was a Canon SD200 that I got off of eBay for $52. It was a little beat up, but it came with a 512MB card, and works quite well so I've been really pleased with it. With the ...
[Read More]

Launch video from May 20, 2006
Here is some of the video taken of the first time this yellow rocket was flown. In it's first flight it was flown with a smaller motor, no camera payload, and not boat tail. If you look closely at the video, you can see the shadow cast by the exhaust trail shooting out across the desert behind ...
[Read More]

Methane Engine
"NASA contractors Alliant Techsystems and XCOR Aerospace are developing a rocket engine powered by liquid methane. Earlier this year the companies conducted a series of successful test firings of their 7,500 pound-thrust LOX/methane engine . Such technology could one day allow for the exploration ...
[Read More]

Motor Stats
I thought I'd post some quick stats on the motor that I flew on the 28th of April. The motor was designed to produce approximately 425 lbs of thrust for 2.2 seconds for a total impulse of nearly 950 lbs. The motor (nozzle, casing, bulkhead, snap rings, inhibitor, and casing liner) weighted in ...
[Read More]

More video from the April 28th launch
Here is a video taken by Matt Campbell. I also have some still images taken from the video which show some of the key moments. They are from top to bottom: 1. Last minute prep. 2. Arming of the Altimeter and timer. 3. Connecting the igniter. 4. Ignition. 5. Lift off. 6. Clearing the tower. 7. ...
[Read More]

Rocket Launch
My friend Chris was flying his plane near Big Bear, California this past Friday when he and his passenger saw this rocket launch East of their location. I was surprised to see the photo because it appears to be a much larger vehicle than what I would expect to see in that area, or maybe the ...
[Read More]

Unusual Rockets
I regularly search on eBay for unusual rocket hardware. I found this intriguing auction a while back. I didn't turn up much info about this particular small sounding rocket. A quick Google search did turn up this info though...     "Another approach has been developed by ...
[Read More]

Rocket sled?
I honestly do not know exactly what this is. I suspect it is a rocket launched sled used to crash test an object. If that is the case, I suppose the main explosion would either be some charge used to send it on the way, or the sonic overpressure as it broke mach. I suspect that the other sounds ...
[Read More]

Four Inch Diameter SRM
This is a four inch diameter motor that I've been working on for a while now. This motor is very similar to the motor that I flew last month. Both motors used 6061-t6 aluminum for the casing and 12L14 steel for the nozzle. The grain geometry was also very similar, with the major ...
[Read More]

Amateur Icelandic Rocketry
There is some nice amateur rocketry going on in Iceland. Magnus and Smari have built and flown some very nice hardware. You can see their stuff here . They recently fired a very nice looking 100mm motor that looks very similar to my 4 inch design. It looks like the nozzle got some damage, but I ...
[Read More]

Sprint ABM Video
You may remember a post I did a long time ago about the sprint system. This is a great video of the sprint in action. Here is some basic Sprint info for you: "This is the sprint system. It was a two stage rocket with a 1 KT Neutron bomb to take out the IRVs via explosive force and neutron flux. It ...
[Read More]

Interesting Rocket Photos
I recently saw some cool old photos on Dick Staffords rocket Blog , but want to add one more. I came across this photo some time ago and always thought it was really cool. It looks very similar to some of the vehicles that Dick posted photos of, probably from the same place (Wallops or White ...
[Read More]

Project Tupelo
This is project Tupleo, one of the best I have seen so far. See below for the details. "I had this project in mind prior to the start of my two 2002 projects, the M-Python and the Shock Value. This project combines those two rockets into a two-stage configuration. The objective is to get the ...
[Read More]

Large rocket falls back to earth
I love the reaction of the people.
[Read More]

New Nozzle
I recently began working on a new nozzle for the Sugar Shot project. You can read more about the project here . This nozzle is intended to be used for the MiniSShot motor. This Motor is a very ambitious design being a two phase motor like our earlier BEM design and because, for the first time, we ...
[Read More]

Saturn V Large Scale Cutaway
Enjoy this all time great rocket, one of the most sexy yet made. If only we had a few left for large scale missions to mars or the outer planets, or to launch large space telescopes (a folding 30 foot mirror could probably be made to fit on top of a modified Saturn). I know it probably cost a ton, ...
[Read More]

Terrapin Rocket Launch
I recently came across a great Universal Newsreel from 1956, showing the launch of a Terrapin sounding rocket from Wallops Island, Virginia. The site where I found it on is http://www.archive.org/ . There are a number of other interesting Universal News Reels there featuring various rockets The ...
[Read More]

Super nova payloader
This is it! After about 2 years off, I have returned to hobby rocketry. As a result of several issues, the biggest being new BATF regulations that make the hobby of high power very expensive and hard to deal with, particularly for NYC residents, I will start out slow and stick to mid and low power ...
[Read More]

Farside Launch
Here is another Universal newsreel video. This one is of a rocket launched as part of Project Farside conducted by the US Air Force in the late 50s. The first stage consisted of four Thiokol Recruit rockets, the second stage used a single Recruit, the third stage used four Grand Central Arrow II ...
[Read More]

Minisshot Nozzle Update
The nozzle ring is nearly completed. The 24 ring to casing screw holes and the 6 shell to ring holes all still need to be tapped. I'll probably have that task completed before the weekend is over. Indexing and drilling the 24 retention screw holes was more time consuming than I was expecting. ...
[Read More]

Nice Static Firing in Iceland
Congratulations to Magnus and friends. I saw that Magnus Mar Gudnason recently had a successful static test of his new design. Magnus and his friends have done some really nice work and I'm happy to see that he got a good test with this new motor. He has posted a lot of info on the Amateur ...
[Read More]

Warp 9 - A discussion of rocket motors
A rocket gets off to a very fast start on a new type of propellant - Warp 9 Rocket motors come in many different forms. There are disposable motors and re-loadable motors in which you keep some parts and build it yourself each time you fly. These have various pros and cons, and and move from ...
[Read More]

Nose cone parade

[Read More]

LDRS 16 Video
Great video of some flights from LDRS - one of the biggest national high power events during the year. If you cant watch all 8:00 of this video, skip to the last 45 sec. to see a pretty great flight: a huge rocket going very high, but also doing something big rockets seldom survive.
[Read More]

View from a Space Shuttle SRB
Life is hard when you travel back and forth to space all the time, then crash land in the ocean. I bet you would have wanted to be born a monolithic motor : )
[Read More]

Forgotten Launch Footage
A few weekends ago I was going through some camera stuff and realized that I had some video from my last launch on April 28th that I had forgotten about. Actually, I hadn't forgotten about it but after viewing it immediately after the launch I realized that it was badly out of focus and decided ...
[Read More]

Shock (Mach) Diamonds
THE PHYSICS OF SHOCK DIAMONDS Shock diamonds are formed when the exhaust (or any other flow) exits a nozzle supersonically and at a pressure different than that of the ambient atmosphere, i.e., the nozzle is either underexpanded or overexpanded. Because the flow is supersonic, the adjustment to ...
[Read More]

MiniSShot Motor Update
I just completed the mid-bulkhead, pictured in the middle above. That's the last of the major components for the Minisshot motor. There is still a lot to do, not the least of which is to tap the 102 screw holes. It feels good to have the major metal cutting completed though. The next major ...
[Read More]

Minisshot Motor Progress
I started threading the motor components. I've only done the six holes that connect nozzle shell to the nozzle ring, so I have a long way to go. It's exciting that those 12 holes line up so well, though. The nozzle design consists of two main pieces. The purpose is to reduce the amount of heat ...
[Read More]

Static Firing Video
I plan to start posting some videos form the past. I'll post them as I find the time, many of them were shot on an analog camcorder and need to be converted to digital. This one is a close up view of the nozzle during the second firing of the ballistic evaluation motor for the Sugar Shot to Space ...
[Read More]

Norton's Surplus
It's been really busy at work lately; long hours, skipped lunches, etc. I skipped lunch again yesterday, but instead of working through lunch James and I drove over to Norton's Surplus in North Hollywood to look around. Nothing has changed much since the last time I was there. The outside area ...
[Read More]

Early Dual Burn Motor Test
This is a video of a static test that I conducted back in 2005 when I first got involved with the Sugar Shot project. The dual burn concept is not new, but I haven't heard of any amateurs pursuing it. At this size, I don't think you'd realize much benefit. However, in a slightly larger ...
[Read More]

Cluster Bomb (Scatterbomb) Warhead
Not all nose cones are good. With rockets there is a huge contrast - either they are doing something noble for all humanity, like the titans that sent two voyagers into deep space with a gilded disk, a billion year time capsule of humanity, or they carry a weapon of mass destruction. Rockets are ...
[Read More]

Largest RC Plane (maybe?)
I don't know if this is really the largest yet flown, as I have seen others very big. If you count military aircraft, obviously this is not. I do also love the large Jet RCs that I see out there. Anyway this thing is a beast, and it is pretty scary to see this guy hand start each engine with ...
[Read More]

Camera Rocket, v02
I've been thinking about the next flight of the camera rocket . It didn't take me long to come to the conclusion that I wanted to do some thing different, either a larger motor or a different camera orientation. Initially I gave more thought to the camera, because there really wasn't much room left ...
[Read More]

New Motor
Here is a 3D model of the new motor. The insulation is not shown so that the grain assembly can be clearly seen. This motor uses a ring of screws to retain the nozzle and bulkhead that are not yet shown.       Here is a view inside the casing showing a propellant ...
[Read More]

Nozzle Cross Section
Here is a render of the new nozzle for the camera rocket. This render shows the much shorter that usual convergence section, this was done in an effort to reduce overall weight while still keeping the rest of the nozzle fairly "beefy".
[Read More]

Terrapin Nozzle
One of my all time favorite small sounding rockets has to be the Terrapin. Click here to see my earlier Terrapin post including pics and launch footage. Developed at the University of Maryland in the Mid '50s, it is a study in simplicity. It was a two stage vehicle that used existing motors, fins ...
[Read More]

Horsehead Nebula in Orion
Target: Horsehead Nebula in Orion. Uranometria map: 226 Centered at: 5h 38m, -03 degrees Exposure: 30 minutes Film: Hypered Kodak Technical Pan and a #92 filter Also imaged: M42 (the Orion Nebula), M43, NGC 2024 (the Flame Nebula), B33 (the Horsehead Nebula) By: Kent Kirkley (c) The Schmidt Camera ...
[Read More]

Aerospike Engine
A high power type Aerospike motor - basically an inverted bell where the flame is built around a graphite spike. Very nice! I bet hobby motors could use this technology. This is the big kind - bi-propellant. It would be very important to use a motor like this for a single stage to orbit rocket, ...
[Read More]

Static Test
This past Saturday I participated in a sugar propellant class at the Friends of Amateur Rocketry (FAR) facility. Brent Dougherty did a nice job presenting a general overview of how to safely work with and cast sugar based propellants. Thanks to the FAR guys Kevin, Mark, Ted and the others for ...
[Read More]

Nozzle From Recent Static Test
After cleaning up the motor after last weekends static test I noticed distinctly copper coloration to the nozzle. I have noticed this to a lesser degree in the past few static tests that I've conducted. I attributed it to the copper tubing that I have been using for the pressure gauge. It didn't ...
[Read More]

Full X wing footage
A great model, a great attempt that is. It is important to note that these guys are serious rocketry people, this was not just a slapped together project. They simply did not built it well enough - but this isnt just cramming motors into a model and blowing it up.
[Read More]

Composite Propellant Class
Later this month I'll be participating in a composite propellant class at the FAR site. The class is being taught by Dave Reese. Dave's a student at USC and was involved with this awesome project flown at the RRS some time ago. Photo by James Davidson. Here is a picture of some of the 38mm ...
[Read More]

Orion crew exploration vehicle in Earth orbit
"A concept image shows the Ares V Earth departure stage and lunar surface access module docked with the Orion crew exploration vehicle in Earth orbit. The departure stage, powered by a J-2X engine, is needed to escape Earth's gravity and send the crew vehicle and lunar module on their journey to ...
[Read More]

A sub scale SRB static fire
"November 2nd, 2007 An amazing sight lit up and roared in the Utah desert Thursday (11-1-07) and it was witnessed by many wanting to check it out. Alliant Techsystems (ATK) test fired a reusable solid rocket motor, the type that is used to launch the space shuttle. Engineers test fired NASA's ...
[Read More]

Composite motor class
I took part in a composite motor class this past weekend. The class was taught by Dave Reese and was conducted at the Friends of Amateur Rocketry site. The class was a lot of fun and full of lots of useful information. Dave is currently a student a USC and I'm sure that he is very busy but despite ...
[Read More]

Side by Side Comparison
I fired two motors this past Saturday. One was an AP based motor and the other was a KNO3 based motor. Both motors were of approximately the same total impulse, but it wasn't really a fair comparison. The KNO3 motor used Xylitol for the fuel. I first heard about this sugar on Scott Fintels web ...
[Read More]

More nose cones

[Read More]

Phreedom Phiter
This great rocket, flown a few years ago, contains I think 3 Kosdon M-3000 motors, or something along those lines. Very nice sound, would have been better in person. No rocketry people are not perverts, the voice on the video is a normal reaction to such a sound. You all would have done the same. ...
[Read More]

M to M flight
Rump Aerospace takes a two stage 3" diameter rocket to almost 50,000 feet in the rich, colorful and exciting black rock desert.
[Read More]

Armadillo Aerospace
Some great tests from AA.
[Read More]

Camera Rocket Recovery Photos
I recently ran across a couple of photos that I hadn't seen before ( here and here ) of the rocket I launched in April 2007. I found the photos on the Mojave Desert Advanced Rocket Society website located here . I recognize a couple of folks in the web site's photo section from motor classes that ...
[Read More]

Old Launch Photos and Stuff
Going through some old photos and rocket related things recently, I came across some photos from 2002. At that time two of the largest motors that I had were designed around two inch diameter "washing machine standpipe" that I found at Home Depot. I decided to try these pipes at the time ...
[Read More]

Rocket launch in Iran
This appears to be a rocket launched in Iran as part of their attempts to place a warhe... I mean satellite into orbit. There are very many moderate people in Iran, and probably many scientists with great ideas and goals, and motivations... but much like in our country, the crazy ignorant ...
[Read More]

Nice railgun test
"In February 2008 the US Navy tested a magnetic railgun; it fired a shell at 5,600 miles per hour using 10 megajoules of energy. Its expected performance is over 13,000 miles per hour muzzle velocity, accurate enough to hit a 5 meter target from 200 nautical miles away while shooting at 10 shots ...
[Read More]

Amateur Icelandic Rocketry (AIR)
Magnus Gudnason and Smari Freyr Smarason of AIR recently static tested the two motors intended for a two stage project to be launced later this year. Some preliminary test results can be seen on their forum . I think that this could be one of the best "sugar" powered launches to date, ...
[Read More]

Harvesting Aluminum Flake From Paint?
Richard Nakka recently added a page to his site about harvesting aluminum flake from paint. Actually, there are several new additions to the igniter page that I found intersting. I'll defer to Richard's page about the usefulness of flake aluminum as a thermic agent for igniters and the ...
[Read More]

About DTH Rocket Endeavors
DTH Rocket Endeavors started with one individual (me) who looked to the skies. Up in that big, blue expanse the Lord's wonders were displayed, which put a fascination for it in me. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." ~Psalm 19:1. I decided that I ...
[Read More]

Nose Cone Parade
This is the post I do when I don't have anything to post. There is no object in the world or beyond that is as cool, as good looking, as indicative of the speed and power of rocketry, as a nose cone. Nozzles are pretty good, parachutes and fins as well, but no it is the nose cone that makes the ...
[Read More]

Photos from November
Last November my friend James and I participated in a propellant class at the FAR site. James took some great pictures of the days events. The pictures above are of my KNO3/sugar motor and of my AP/AL/HTPB motor. The photo of the composite test was taken during the day but was "stopped down" in ...
[Read More]

Rocket bike
"This project & the bike started off being called "Maximum Impulse", however this changed when I was fortunate enough to secure Gillette as Title Sponsor. This World Land Speed Record streamlined motorcycle was designed and built as a pure rocket propelled vehicle. Capable of carrying three ...
[Read More]

6,453 mph rocket sled
Four stage rocket sled to about 6.5K. Note the impact at the end.
[Read More]

Rocket Challenge - Wild & Weird Rockets
Rocket Challenge originally aired in 2003. It was filmed at LDRS 22 in Argonia, KS. Add SEARS Magazine to your page
[Read More]

Rocket Mystery Solved
I finally found out the name of this Bob Hewes rocket thanks to the post Who the heck is Friedrich Zander? on the Rocketry Blog.  Bob Hewes was a member of SEARS who passed away and his widow donated his rockets to SEARS.
[Read More]

Some introductory stuff for those who love homework...
Rocket motor power designations allowed in California range from 1/4A through M with an 'A' motor yielding a maximum of 2.5 N•s of total impulse (the area under the thrust/time curve). Each successive letter is a maximum of double the previous letter and here's a handy motor letter range ...
[Read More]

RTGs
"A radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) is an electrical generator which obtains its power from radioactive decay. In such a device, the heat released by the decay of a suitable radioactive material is converted into electricity by the Seebeck effect using an array of thermocouples. RTGs ...
[Read More]

Design, buy parts, and build or buy a kit and build?
In 2002 I began considering designs for a level 3 attempt.  Then I bought RockSim and in May of 2006 started designing "Tercero 2": However when I considered the costly and piecemeal approach to buying parts for Tercero 2 it was mentally difficult to get started.  Earlier this year ...
[Read More]

Starting the Nike Smoke build...
First thing's first.  I typically start by sanding the fins but my Delta sander is barely long enough to accomplish this task!: One important note is that I'm both builder and photo-documenter of the build.  I'm learning that actions shots are difficult so I'll often use ...
[Read More]

Crack kills!
Back to that bulkhead diameter problem...  The black gap in the following photo is roughly 1/8" wide at its peak and that's WAY too large to bond well to the inside of the coupler: All four of the provided bulkheads were this diameter and that requires a solution.  Last year I ...
[Read More]

Sanding can blow me
I had two simple goals tonight: 1) sand those bulkheads to fit neatly in the coupler and 2) piece together the exterior parts for a studio photo shoot. Part 1 was quick. Part 2... not so much. I knew the shoulder of the nose cone was too big to fit into the upper payload tube so I'd planned to sand ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Resources
A few people have asked about some of the books I've read about rocketry. Below I've made a list of some of these resources: Without books on rocketry and aerospace, you would not be reading this blog at the moment. Because without the information I needed, I would have become discouraged and ...
[Read More]

CAD learning curve is steep!
I just spent about three hours in Vectorworks assembling this CAD version of the Nike Smoke kit. My intent was to show some of the internal connectivity then add details later but I think I'm giving up here:
[Read More]

Eagleman is Ready
Our newest SEARS member Daymon Campbell A.K.A. Eagleman has purchased a canopy, a range box and built an Estes rocket for the May 10th Launch. He tested out the gear at his home in Chipley and sent along some pictures. See more pictures here. Way to Go Daymon! Greg
[Read More]

Blog maintenence/missing photos
I recently activated my Picasa web album which is were the images uploaded to Blogger are stored. In an attempt to clean up some duplicate images in that album I inadvertently broke a bunch of photo links to some in my earlier posts. I think I've got them all fixed now.
[Read More]

2008 NASA USLI launch in Huntsville a huge success
Read all about it on Rocketry Planet! Congrats to the Auburn Team on the successful Flight and nice paint job too. Note Chris and John in photo.   Photo by Ray Cole. Greg
[Read More]

Current Project: Supersonic Travel
One of my current projects involves a paper tube, a "G" motor, and a big boom. Yep, I'm going to build a model rocket that creates a sonic boom. However, that is easier said than done... Here is the beginning of my technical report on this project: I have discovered that it isn’t ...
[Read More]

Weekend Rocket Activities
This past weekend was full of rocketry. First off I was able to see the fifth Sugar Shot motor test over at the FAR site. Look for more details and photos on the Sugar Shot site as the post test information is reviewed and analyized. My photos of the firing can be seen here . It was also ...
[Read More]

USC Rocket Launch
Here is the video that I took this past weekend of USC's rocket. I placed the camera about six feet away from the launcher pointing towards the sky. It was two stages and got a bit squirrely at booster burn out. The booster was a P-class motor expected to deliver an average thrust of 1300 lb and ...
[Read More]

Art Applewhite Monocopter Kit
The post below was copied from The Rocketry Forum. The Dragonfly Monocopter takes model rocketry in a new direction, a tight, skyward spiral. It leaps off the launch pad with a loud growl and tears into the sky leaving a unique, corkscrew smoke trail. At apogee it hovers for several seconds and ...
[Read More]

Electronics board layout v0
Tonight I shot some studio pix of the planned electrical components and 5.5" square plywood mounting board. This is the layout I'm currently considering (click to enlarge): I'll make sure the dip switches and polarities are correct and tested prior to the flight (but I was lazy in Illustrator ...
[Read More]

First Launch of the Year!
I have about 80 dollars hanging in a tree right now... Yesterday afternoon I suggested opening the flying season with the flight of an unnamed rocket whose official title is "Project 3 Rocket 2." This rocket is sort of becoming the mascot rocket of DTH Rocket Endeavors, and it needs a name. I'm ...
[Read More]

Great success!! I liiiiiiike!
I've had a bad streak of luck in the last few months: In February I made a mistake setting the timer on a two-stage project  (how sweet is the dude in that picture!) and crashed my AltACC 2A altimeter.  That little device served me perfectly for five years and now it's gone. ...
[Read More]

Sugar Shot to Space
The goal of this project is to send a sugar motor rocket into space. This will be a fairly large rocket, and will contain two combustion chambers and one nozzle. In effect, it has the longer thrust duration of a two stage rocket, or a slower burning fuel, by having a booster motor and a sustainer ...
[Read More]

First Launch in several years.
I will be attending a launch this weekend, for the first time since NYpower 2004. This is going to be a low power, notification launch. That means there are some limitations - the rocket has to be under about 3 lbs, the motors installed must be under 80 newtons of thrust, max motor power is a G, ...
[Read More]

How the Story Ends
So... I last left my rocket 50 feet high in a tree in a tangled mess. How on earth was I ever going to get it down? My Dad and I went out there to look at it, my Grandpa and I went out to look at it, scratching our heads in bewilderment, until my Grandpa got the idea to use the forklift. While we ...
[Read More]

5-10 launch report
This was a small FAA notification launch. This is a central CT field, about 125 acres filled with trees and wetlands including a substantial stream. The weather conditions for the day were predicted to be: 30% chance of rain, cloudy, with winds 10 - 20 mph. The actual conditions were a bit ...
[Read More]

Three things...
It turns out that my parents can't make it out to my level 3 attempt on June 7th.  As a result I'm going to push to the June 14th Lucerne Valley launch instead.  This coincides with RocStock XXVII so it should be a good scene.  This will also eliminate the lengthy drive my TAP ...
[Read More]

Mrs. Wilson's Rocketeers
Mrs Wilson’s 3rd grade class at West DeFuniak Elementary capped their science study of Space Exploration with a fun filled morning of model rockets this past Thursday, May 15th.
[Read More]

High-Power Rocket Launch
The next step in my ladder to space would probably be high-power rocketry. These rockets are like model rockets, only much bigger and louder, and can fly much, much higher. This afternoon I went to a high-power rocket launch of Tripoli Minnesota and took a few pictures. The following picture is of ...
[Read More]

A Ladder to Space
A whatta to wha? What do I mean by a ladder to space? Am I going to try to build the World’s Largest Structure Ever Conceived by Man? DTH Rocket Endeavors’ Ladder to Space – noun: A metaphorical ladder consisting of certain steps I must take in different seasons of life to get to ...
[Read More]

Documentation-a-go-go
I just spent almost an entire sunny Sunday working on version 1 of my documentation packet  [updated on 8/8/08]. I sent it to my TAP members and now I'm off to do something else for awhile.  Expect a flood of blog entries covering the build very soon.  Thanks for reading.
[Read More]

TARC 2008 Finals
 TARC is Team America Rocketry Challenge.  The contest is for middle and high school students. Teams may be formed for schools or youth organizations. The pictures below are from the finals held in Virginia last Saturday for the top 100 qualifying teams. Created with ...
[Read More]

Steve Jurvetson: The Joy of Rockets

[Read More]

NASA Space Place: Ozone, the Greenhouse Gas
Kids visit Space Place to check out the games, animations, projects, and fun facts about Earth, space and technology. Ozone, the Greenhouse Gas We all know that ozone in the stratosphere blocks harmful ultraviolet sunlight, and perhaps some people know that ozone at the Earth’s surface is ...
[Read More]

Quick build overview
I've been building for awhile now and there are way too many details to share in a few blog posts.  If you've perused the lengthy documentation packet below you'll understand that I threw away the instructions included with the kit and totally rewrote the build plan from scratch.  I'm ...
[Read More]

The Motor Tube Assembly
Before I realized the video camera wouldn't fit in the sustainer I did a bunch of work to integrate a mounting plate system onto the top-most centering ring surrounding the motor tube: Basically the bottom plate would have mounted to the centering ring, the 1/4"x20 bolt would have ...
[Read More]

The Booster
I then sanded the inside of sustainer tube about 30" up from its bottom, applied a ring of West System epoxy along this ring, and slid the partially assembled motor tube up into the sustainer from the bottom.  I stopped just before the lower centering ring passed the fin slots, poured more ...
[Read More]

Securing the fins in the Sustainer
Ideally all 24 fin/tube interfaces would be covered with a fiberglass/epoxy layer to maximize strength.  I pondered how to best achieve this since the 4" diameter motor tube leaves only about 1.75" of working radius inside the 7.5" sustainer tube.  Luckily I'd previously bought a 25 foot ...
[Read More]

The Payload Section
In parallel with the sustainer I built the payload section.  Here's where those fixed bulkheads came into play.  I epoxied one smaller diameter bulkhead onto the larger diameter bulkhead to tack them in place for subsequent drilling.  I placed the coupler tube over the smaller ...
[Read More]

The Nose Cone
While the nose cone appears to be completely assembled this is not the case. The seams/gaps formed by the two-part mold cavity are pronounced and must be filled for aesthetic and strength reasons. I propped up the nose cone on my sander for support and, using a spirit level, I ensured that the seam ...
[Read More]

O to N two stage flight
This rocket is one of the largest two stage amateur flights to date. Compare this to project tupelo, the two stage shadow aero kit (shock X2), and mostly to the project thunderbolt that used similar sized motors. Performance was huge, above mach 3 (something that the shadow aero web page claims ...
[Read More]

The foam finally arrived!!
Despite reasonable packing the cans arrived pretty beaten up.  In any event progress can now resume.  Here are two shots of the foamed fin spaces and nose cone tip, respectively: I'll need to grind down one fin cell since it rose above the bottom of the fin plane, add a bit more ...
[Read More]

Tube squaring antics
One remaining nagging point about this kit is that none of the tube ends are even/square.  I think the longest these 7.5" tubes are manufactured is 60" so I would have guessed that at least ONE of the four ends would be square and usable as a reference for the other ends -- alas this was not ...
[Read More]

Nose cone final assembly
After I finished filling the nose cone with foam (highly exothermic !) I loosely wrapped some masking tape inside the shoulder as a support, wiped a bunch 'o' epoxy above the tape, and inserted the bulkhead. You can see how irregular the inside of the shoulder is so there wasn't much adhesion: You ...
[Read More]

Productivity!
I had some weird intestinal bug yesterday (Saturday) and had to lie on my couch, queasy, all day long.  I awoke today feeling great and was highly productive having dodged a weeks-long flu or something.  My goal today was to finish the assembly of the nose cone (below), sustainer, and ...
[Read More]

Sustainer final assembly
All that's left to do on the sustainer assembly is the two aft centering rings, the motor retainer, and application of a glob of epoxy to solidify this high-impact zone.        I had to dig out/chisel the foam that arose above the bottom of the fin tabs to ensure the ...
[Read More]

Payload final assembly
This last step was uneventful and unworthy of a photo but I basically epoxied the coupler 6" up into the 20" payload tube.  One cool new thing I tried that worked well was to pour epoxy into the payload tube and wipe it around the inside 6" with a resin squeegee.  This formed a nice ...
[Read More]

Refresh this page!
Some web browsers in some operating systems aren't refreshing this blog when you load the page.  Be sure to reload the page each time to read the latest epic advancements.   [It's sad to note that if your browser doesn't auto-refresh then you'll never see this!]
[Read More]

Space Shuttle Discovery Launch on May 31st
Below is a video of Space Shuttle Discovery's liftoff from 3 days ago: The Space Shuttle is one of the most spectacular things...right up there with tornadoes and corn on the cob...however, I don't think that NASA uses it for a purpose which pays for itself. The Space Shuttle I like, NASA I don't. ...
[Read More]

Why I Don't Like NASA
As I mentioned in my last post, I am not all that impressed with NASA. I know that it's hard to think about the atmosphere and outer space without thinking about NASA, but that's not what I want to be doing when I grow up: working for NASA. . One of the main things NASA is doing is building ...
[Read More]

Recent rocketry order
This order has a new 29: 40-120 case, three loads for this case, extra igniters for these motors, a Big Daddy kit, some glue and some wadding. This cost a fair amount of money, but I had hoped to have all these things for the upcoming launch in about 2 weeks. The motors are all Fs: F52-5T, F22-4J, ...
[Read More]

Who needs sawhorses?!
I need to support these  huge parts while I fiberglass them.  I didn't want to buy/store a pair of sawhorses in my already full garage so I had an idea last night.  I cut two lengths of 2x4", screwed them together, then screwed that pair to the vertical support as seen on the left ...
[Read More]

Funberglassing... I mean fiberglassing begins.
Actually fiberglassing is becoming less tedious the more I do it. I began by building a template in Illustrator for a pair of fin surfaces and the body tube in between. I placed this template on the fiberglass cloth at a 45˚ angle (to maximize strength in the final composite), traced around it ...
[Read More]

Final internal reinforcement
I've seen many a high-power rocket fail at the coupler between the payload and sustainer sections.  Many folks forget to reinforce the inside of the coupler so that's the weak point that buckles under the tremendous forces of flight.  I cut three 2" wide strips of 45˚-oriented glass, ...
[Read More]

Starting a New Project!
I started building this rocket about a week and a half ago, and frankly, I think this one's going to be my best one yet! Here are the specs: -Over 2 pounds -210 Newton-seconds of total impulse (2 G motors!!!). This is the largest amount of impulse that is still considered model rocketry :D -Apogee ...
[Read More]

Tubular nylon linkages
While waiting for some other parts to cure I secured quick links to each end of both 30 foot lengths of tubular nylon: I leveraged the Public Missles technique of: tying a triple square knot (it's probably called something else, however) applying a couple of drops of CA adhesive to ...
[Read More]

Kilz does!
Meet my new favorite rattle-can product: I read an article on " easy fiberglassing " and in the last paragraph they mention this Kilz spray primer.  It's really amazing stuff because it's thick and soupy but exhibits excellent cohesion and doesn't run when you really lay it on.  It ...
[Read More]

Fiberglassing for fun a profit
A wise manager at work once said "if you work on something it gets better." He was really speaking of working on issues but I think this applies to me since fiberglassing used to be an issue for me. As I progress toward the end of this project I'm feeling really good about the journey and the ...
[Read More]

Rail guides
I was all hot to prime the sustainer and finish this beast but I'm glad I lagged because I almost forgot the rail guides!  These standoffs will compensate for the nose cone bulge near its bottom and prevent scraping during liftoff.  I designed this airfoil-shaped standoff to be cut from ...
[Read More]

Documentation packet v2
I just completed an extensive revamp of my documentation packet [updated 8/8/08].  Changes/additions in red include: I corrected the CAD rendering on the TOC page to reflect the actual sustainer tube length of 40". I corrected two schematic wiring errors I added a flight ...
[Read More]

"Modern High Power Rocketry 2" book
I'm putting the finishing touches on the big "torpedo" as one friend calls it and was searching for the latest information on vent hole and static port sizing.  These holes are drilled into the airframe to acclimate internal and external pressure and prevent failures.  In any event a ...
[Read More]

And......... done.
Having arisen at 3:45 this morning I'd certainly hoped to do more posting today.  However we had a company picnic and I was working all day to finish this project up so you'll have to trust that it's now finally complete.  I plan to post the final pics of the electronics board, and the ...
[Read More]

Electronics board
Here's the final physical electronics board layout: The two holders on the left and the two-sided foam tape on the right will hold the three 9V batteries.  I'll also bind all three on the board with zip ties hence the four holes on each side of each battery.
[Read More]

Finished, painted beast.
Thanks to my buddy Doug Vannier for shooting this:
[Read More]

Flight day... Yay then boo!
Alright so first off I want to thank Kurg Gugisberg and "Dok" Hanson for acting as my Technical Advisory Panel members.  I also want to thank my buddy Doug for helping me drag this beast around the lakebed in the heat all day.  His son Brandon shot video of the flight and my friend ...
[Read More]

Failure analysis: I think I know what went wrong
I tried to download the numbers from the altimeter today but found no accelerometer data.  The unit obviously had power throughout the flight, however, since the pressure sensor reported a peak altitude of ~4,900 at 17.6 seconds.  Hmmm.  Now I begin re-reading the ARTS2 altimeter ...
[Read More]

Oops! Almost forgot the cool recovery shots!
Kristine must have shot these and they're great but I forgot to tell her I'd switched to manual focus so they could be sharper. That's entirely my fault, however, and I'm grateful she caught 'em! It all looks fine above right? Doug's on the left in the foreground and I'm repacking ...
[Read More]

Match Rocket
I was not able to attend the latest rocketry launch due to several issues (not the least was a huge storm), but my big daddy kit is in the works so the next launch will be one for the record books. (If flying more 24mm motors = some kind of record, which it almost certainly does not.) To pass the ...
[Read More]

Interesting Rocket Motor
I'm always scanning eBay for interesting or unusual rocketry related items and recently came across this motor on eBay. I've seen other interesting things before like this small sounding rocket that I saw last year. Occasionally something really interesting shows up like this composite motor I ...
[Read More]

Out of Sight, and Gone Forever.
This launch was about a week ago, but I haven't gotten around to posting about it yet. I had this rocket that kind of got me started building large rockets. It was a kit, called "Initiator." I bought it because I wanted to learn how a rocket of its size was constructed properly. This rocket was my ...
[Read More]

Big daddy
The kit is basically finished, this time far lighter than my first Big Daddy from the late 90s. That kit would constantly break the balsa fins (rockets this fat should use plywood or fiberglass I think), so my strategy was more and more epoxy. But that means more weight (limiting the motors you ...
[Read More]

Southern Thunder 2008 Notes
It would be hard to capture all that happened at Southern Thunder 2008. However, I will make some notes. The launch was well attended by SEARS members and friends that have flown with SEARS. Chris Short and family attended. Chris was selling lots of motors. He flew the War Eagle Rocket on a N3300 ...
[Read More]

High-Power Rocket Update
My practice high-power rocket is starting to take shape. I think I'm about 85-90 percent finished: I just need to give it a good paint job, glue the fins in place, and get the payloads. I also might redo the nosecone. I'm not real happy with it. I have limited tools and materials in my workshop, ...
[Read More]

Intent
This site will hopefully be motivation for me to document and complete several rocketry projects. I'm a B.A.R (Born Again Rocketeer) and have just recently (May) started building kits again. Right now I have several projects I want to build up, in no particular order they are: --Bashed 1/3 height ...
[Read More]

Altocumulonimbus
I've named my rocket: Altocumulonimbus. Altocumulonimbus - n. a high-based storm cloud The rocket is pretty much done (besides its payloads). Here are some pictures: The completed paint job looks spectacular My logo, applied lovingly to each fin RRC2 mini altimeter. I purchased this for 79 ...
[Read More]

What damage 4 seconds can cause!
I've learned to respect the time unit of one second.  It's amazing how much impact this miniscule time increment can impact our efforts and lives.  I'm getting my second wind on this level 3 thing and tonight I finally committed the zipper damage to blog memory: Ouch.  That ...
[Read More]

3 week old photo update
Here are some pictures from the launch I did with Kevin and Shawn earlier in June. First up: Apogee Blue Streak on a C6-7, and yes I did get it back. Estes Comanche-3 flying on a D12-0, C6-0, C6-7 All 3 stages lit and it was great flight. This is the 2nd time I've build this rocket, the first ...
[Read More]

She went down in a burning ring of fire...
So after repairing the zipper on the Snarky from the last launch I thought we'd go out and try it again. This time I decided to launch on an Estes E9-4 since I had some handy. Got it all setup, hit the button and it lit! Then it went up about 6" blew out the rear nozzle, slid back down and ...
[Read More]

Static Test Results
I finally got around to looking at the data from the static test from back in April. The motor was mostly comprised of hardware from a previous motor that I lengthened to make room for another propellant segment. That results in the initial Kn rising from 340 to 425. The other big difference ...
[Read More]

Launch on the 4th of July
I have never had such a large body of spectators during a rocket launch! This 4th of July I had a model rocket demonstration for our family's gathering. Here's the video:
[Read More]

A very "Curious" rocket...
My GF (Lori) and I watched the Curious George movie several months ago. She fell in love with George at that time. As I have an interest in rockets I thought I would build her one to try to draw her into the hobby a little more. Here I present my "Curious Rocket" Both flights were straight and ...
[Read More]

To sell or not to sell
I have a bunch of domains, this is about 5 of them, they are Sendmetospace.net .us .org .info .biz Currently I have .us up for auction, but no interest so far. So do I let these domains go (auction), try and build them into something or just let them lapse (not likely) and lose them ? I'm still ...
[Read More]

Art Applewhite Rockets
Art's kits are lots of fun to make and fly - but one of the best parts is that he offers the whole spectrum of the lowest power kits (13mm and smaller) for free. Above you can see a bunch of kits that I printed out on cardstock paper (a few cents a page). You print them out, cut them out, glue ...
[Read More]

How I became a Born Again Rocketeer
Back at the beginning of May Lori and I were trying to come up with something fun to do for my 30th birthday. While at Hobby Lobby we saw some model rockets and I commented on how I used to launch them. She suggested that maybe we build/launch some for my birthday. So I sent out the information to ...
[Read More]

Catastrophic Flight
Oh well. Better luck next time! It wasn't a complete failure. The altimeter worked, the video was salvageable, and the camera can be used in future rockets! View from rocket:
[Read More]

First launch of a scratch built...
This was my first kit bash, officially called The Patient. This was made from the body tube and cone of an Estes Mean Machine. I made through-the-wall fins, papered them and then Cy'd and sanded the edges. I also used epoxy clay to make the fin fillets. It has a built in e-bay for the altimeter. ...
[Read More]

Flew The Patient again
This time I flew it on an Aerotech E15-7W motor. This went to a maximum 1822' feet at 300MPH . The rocket performed well but the ejection charge caused some problems. The chute, e-bay and rocket all came down separately. We located the rocket and chute early on but spent 15-20 minutes trudging ...
[Read More]

XCOR LYNX Mk.1 Suborbital Launch Vehicle
This is precisely the sort of thing I want to be building when I get older and augment more resources! XCOR Aerospace is a private aerospace company (apart from government) which is building a suborbital launch vehicle for the growing market of space-tourism. Sort of like Virgin Galactic , but ...
[Read More]

The Outsider and Vanishing
Vanishing - This is my final prep rocket before building my super-sonic Aspire kit. It will be a minimum diameter 24mm rocket to fly on D+E engines. Last night I started the e-bay, nose cone prep and installed the motor block. I also selected fins from my mass of un-used Estes kits, in this case ...
[Read More]

Supersonic Rocket
I've been working nonstop on my supersonic project, and it's starting to take shape! I've had some great breakthroughs in design and some great ideas on how I can achieve a better flight. The goal for this project is as follows: To build a rocket that flies faster than the speed of sound and ...
[Read More]

The kits have arrived!
The Art Applewhite kits have arrived. As you have seen, I already prepared some of the free kits to build as well. Granted most of these items are in the 13 - 24mm range, but once these kits are complete, I will have more than doubled my fleet. There has been a dead period recently where I have ...
[Read More]

Attended my first High Power launch
I went to the Northern Colorado Rocketry club Research Launch on the 19th and 20th. Their site is located on a national grassland in northern Colorado. It was a beautiful area that reminded me a lot of Wyoming where I grew up. In attendance was a great group of rocketeers that took me in and made ...
[Read More]

Next launch date - 8/2 9AM - Broomfield Commons
I'll be heading out with some friends to do launches on 8/2 at Broomfield Commons park. If you are in the area and want to come launch with us, stop by. I plan on setting up around 9AM and flying for several hours.
[Read More]

Aerospace Projects Exibited in County Fair
Our county fair is over now, and my projects did pretty good in 4H. My practice high-power rocket was awarded reserve champ (second best), and I'm going to state! I am now working hard on rebuilding it for the state fair. It has many of the same features, like similar weight, power, and c ...
[Read More]

Did some work last night
I got my Kevlar supplies finally so I was able to get some more work done. I glued in the Kevlar line and 1/2 an Estes shock cord to Vanishing. A somewhat difficult feet given that its a minimum dia. rocket and the engine block is already in place. Hopefully it will hold. I also tied the lines ...
[Read More]

Rocket Propulsion Elements! Finally!
I've had my eye on this book for about a year now, and I FINALLY purchased it! This will be a resource that will be useful in educating myself about REAL rocket science, not model rocketry (which is great, and poses too many challenges anyone could master in a lifetime, but is just too small a ...
[Read More]

Jason W.'s web page full of science
Jason W. Lots of great stuff in there, science ideas and experiments. The latest project that got my attention was aerogel work. This above specimen is a huge amount of aerogel. Please check out his work on this new brilliant material. Expect to find it in more and more places in the near future. ...
[Read More]

More prep pix from my first attempt
I finally pulled a disc of images that Kristine shot while Doug and I were setting up.  This first shows one of about 20 trips we took back and forth getting everything checked off: The second is Doug and I setting the rail guides into the rail and setting up the electronics (including my ...
[Read More]

The rebuild commences...
Alright so I've reserved an SUV from Budget for August 8th/9th so I'm feeling the pressure to get these repairs done.  Tonight went really well.  I had started last month by simulating cut lengths using Illustrator.  When I was comfortable with these lenghts I then began with the ...
[Read More]

Supersonic Countdown
I've started the countdown clock for my Supersonic Project. If everything goes well, it will be flown later this morning. T -2:00 Take a good, long look. It may never be seen again.
[Read More]

Success! (Sorta)
The good news is that the rocket (I always forget to name them) didn't shred in flight! The bad news is that it wasn't recovered successfully. I think that the ejection charge severed the shock cord and the rocket fell from 4000 feet. The streamer was still in the sky for a very long time, and ...
[Read More]

Booster progress
I spent most of my Sunday working on repairs.  This entry shows that I sanded the new length of phenolic tubing to fit nicely.  I also had to cut the coupler to 10" from 12" to fit the payload coupler.  I sanded all the parts to be adhered (to improve grip) and mixed up a batch of ...
[Read More]

Electronics switches fixed!
To maximize strength I had planned to drill the switch holes forward of the bulk plate. This would have distanced them from the buckle-susceptible region of the payload section aft of the bulkhead near the tube coupler interface.  I then reconsidered and kept it simple since I had strongly ...
[Read More]

Payload progress
I started by cutting the zippered 8" off the top of the payload section: After fine tuning via sanding I then cut both coupler and add-on tube to length and employed the same pre-wetting technique as below on the booster: You can see down into the payload section: I left 8.5" of non-coupler ...
[Read More]

Notes on CG/CP, motor selection, and documentation
The repairs to the booster and payload sections will add roughly 9" of extra length overall. This will change both the center of gravity and center of pressure.  I'll measure/recalculate both and update the documentation package prior to Saturday's flight.  Since I also have to pay ...
[Read More]

Saturday's launch report
IMG_1685 Originally uploaded by ActiveOptics Several people joined me early Saturday morning to do some low-power flights. Justin, Kevin, Jeremiah, Andy and his son all made it out. We flew a lot with several great flights and recoveries. I'll have a nice photo of all the spent motors up later ...
[Read More]

Gap-filled and glassed!
Fiberglassing is becoming less and less painful for me.  I sanded down the primer/paint from the original parts, filled the gaps with epoxy/silica, and applied two wraps of fiberglass.  Both the booster and payload sections went very smoothly. Tomorrow I'll trim, mask, and prime ...
[Read More]

Current Project Update
I've been working hard on my second practice high-power rocket, for my MN State Fair exhibit. It hasn't been named yet, naming rockets has never been one of my best areas in rocketry. But it is similar to my last one in that it has a cluster of 2 "G" motors, the same payloads, and similar weight, ...
[Read More]

Successful Launch!
While not the largest rocket I've ever launched at a meager 8lbs and 4 ounces and a mere 21 inches in length it was definitely in the top three; Big sisters Grace and Lily rounding out the top three. This one is known as Theodoor Stephen after two of his great uncles. Mom, Dad, and two previous ...
[Read More]

"Current Project" Needs a Name
I have to quickly think of a name for this awesome rocket before I launch it on Saturday. Have any bright ideas? I hope to talk to some experienced rocket people at the launch to see what kind of igniter I should use. I don't want to crash this one!! View from the top. I took my cousin's ...
[Read More]

All built!

[Read More]

Updated documentation packet
I've completely revamped my documentation packet to reflect all the changes and rebuild details. I've also dropped in this entire blog (minus this entry of course) at the end of the PDF. I think everything's ready to go. Signing off until Saturday with fingers crossed tightly...
[Read More]

Again with the nosecones
Cant get enough.
[Read More]

Launch Tomorrow
Well, it's going to be a great launch tomorrow, and a perfect day for onboard video: partly cloudy. I like this because the cloud shadows are an awesome sight from above. No wind, no rain or foul weather... And I have a feeling there are going to be some great rockets there. Watch for my post ...
[Read More]

Name
I was determined to name it, so I borrowed a name from my sister's Nanooks in Pajamas . Exporter 2000
[Read More]

High-Power Rocket Launch 8/9/08
Success!! I would say my biggest success! Exporter 2000 flew flawlessly. As you can probably see from the picture one motor came up to pressure a little before the other. Cluster ignition is tricky, but I managed to pull it off. No camera man actually stood this close. This is the frame from a pad ...
[Read More]

Certification complete... GREAT SUCCESS!!
Yesterday's flight went swimmingly well despite the complete lack of water on the lakebed :) All photos ©Jaime Fritsch. Prepping the recovery system. This was one of Jaime's favorite shots. Connecting the electronics board Stuffing the Rocketman 16 foot chute into the deployment bag is much ...
[Read More]

No Video
My video editing software is acting up. I'm sorry, but I won't be able to be posting videos for the foreseeable future, until I can get it working again, or until I get new editing software.
[Read More]

Baby Bertha Fest
Coming in September.... Baby Bertha Drag Races! I've asked all my rocket building friends to build a Baby Bertha kit. Then in Sept. we are all going to get together for a launch day and spend it solely on the Berthas. I think we have enough pads to do a 4+ drag race as well as other fun things. So ...
[Read More]

Skylab
"Skylab was launched 14 May 1973 by a Saturn INT-21 (a two-stage version of the Saturn V launch vehicle) into a 235 nautical mile (435 km) orbit. The launch is sometimes referred to as Skylab 1, or SL-1. Severe damage was sustained during launch, including the loss of the station's micrometeoroid ...
[Read More]

Video From the Ground
I managed to post the video from my perspective. I'm still kicking myself that the onboard video didn't work. Anyway, here's the flight:
[Read More]

United Technologies Center Rocket Motor
This item is currently up for auction on eBay. Unlike the actual (Altair?) motor that I found for sale on eBay recently, this one appears to be strictly a model, perhaps of an actual production motor. It does seem to be proportionally similar to the Altair motor. The model is described as being ...
[Read More]

DTH Rocket Endeavors Website
This is a relatively new blog, and I am still forming ideas as to what it is all about. I have always had a dream of starting a hobby shop. I used to be very interested in model railroading, and still am, but have set that hobby on the shelf for a while. I still want to start a hobby shop someday, ...
[Read More]

N-1
I think Russian rockets are pretty much the coolest of all. The N1 is possibly the most impressive, best looking rocket ever made. The inter-stage open truss design (common in communist rockets) might be a big part of it. Or could it be the conical shape of the thing? Anyway, there is something ...
[Read More]

Exporter 2000 Achieves Purple Ribbon!
Over the labor day weekend I brought Exporter 2000 to the MN State Fair to be judged in 4H. I worked hard on putting together an attractive display and put as much into it as I could. The judge really liked my project, and said that he even learned some about high-power rocketry! I was very ...
[Read More]

Upcoming Launch
I will be attending a METRA (New York State Tripoli club) launch next weekend if weather holds out. A launch report will come soon after. The plan is to fly some of the larger motors mostly, as this will be a high power launch (the last one was a mid power notification launch). The 29mm reload ...
[Read More]

METRA Launch
Documentation of launches is never that great, because I am always focused on the flying. Here is one pic of my table while setting up. The weather was cloudy, with frequent clouds below 5,000 feet. But the wind was VERY low and for me, conditions were just about perfect. METRA launches as a large ...
[Read More]

Art Applewhite Free Kits
I have just finished my free kits from Art Applewhite. All of the larger kits remain to be built, but these 5 are all set to fly! They are all 13mm paper kits printed on 110 lbs cardstock. In a previous post, you were able to see my first attempt. The rest are all of a similar coniform design, ...
[Read More]

Aerospace video collection
These are all videos about aerospace related subjects. I would say that these are among the best videos out there right now. Project farside is a great example of the kind of rocket amateurs could be working on right now. This rocket was steps away from orbit, and a stage or two away from the ...
[Read More]

The Largest Solid Rocket Motors Ever Flown
This is just one of the many cool images from a book titled Nasa: Visions Of Space. A book that combines two of my favorite things; Art and Rocketry. Painted by Maria Epes as part of the Nasa Arts Program , the scene depicts one of the SRB's undergoing recovery testing in July of 1980. I love the ...
[Read More]

Small motor order
I just got a small set of RMS motor loads for my 29 and 24mm hardware. They are two G motors, one E, and 3 D motors. This order was placed at Hobby Linc; probably the cheapest source for small motors there is. I have a limited budget here, but I was seriously considering buying several G motors ...
[Read More]

Baby Bertha Fest and Oktoberfest
I think I'm going to delay the Baby Bertha fest until the spring. I'm not going to be able to get mine built or it organized before November at this rate. I'll be attending NCR's Oktoberfest this weekend. Friday-Sunday rockets all day, I'm excited.
[Read More]

Baikonur Cosmodrome
Some great images from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. As I said previously, Russian rockets are great and the Russian space program is very impressive despite being poorly funded and controlled by a highly corrupt government. Did anyone here know that the Russians flew two balloons in the atmosphere of ...
[Read More]

Launch Report: 10-04
Again I apologize for the lack of images, I generally do not have the time or desire to take pictures during a launch because I am busy flying and enjoying flights! But rest assured, as soon as images and videos are posted to the web page of the local club, I will bring them here. The launch this ...
[Read More]

Cutting Metal
I cut some propellant segment spacer rings this weekend for the Sugar Shot to Space project. It's been a while and it felt good. We moved a while back and I just recently have had the time to build a workbench, shelves, and unpack some tools. My friend Peter and I wired some new outlets on the wall ...
[Read More]

Custom kit
I recently was lucky enough to get a bunch of rockets and motors. An educator had an Estes bulk pack that he didnt want anymore. My plan is to build three rockets from the set: a 2 x 18mm cluster model, a stretched rocket for staging, and this 3 x 18mm cluster. The bag of motors is just a bunch of ...
[Read More]

Launch Tomorrow!
I don't think I ever posted this, but I launched Exporter 2000 in our own sod fields fairly recently. For some strange reason the onboard video failed again! I've been brainstorming possible problems, I have just finished redoing the payload bay for tomorrow's launch. I've got a really good ...
[Read More]

Tripoli Minnesota October Launch
All in all I'd say it was a nearly perfect day. The ONLY problem was that Exporter 2000's video camera failed. Again. I did a few diagnostics afterword and have concluded that the batteries come loose under the acceleration. I tried turning off the camera while recording, but the video worked up ...
[Read More]

Baby Bertha Fest - Coming this Spring
I'm officially delaying this until the spring. Hopefully I can work in another group launch in early November however. I'm still processing the 5,000 pictures I took during Oktoberfest. Hopefully I'll get those up later this week. Lots of great shots.. both pictures and launches.
[Read More]

Amazing Onboard Video
I was searching through YouTube for some videos of high-power rocketry and I found some of the coolest onboard video I've ever seen on a rocket. There's nothing to say about it that accurately depicts how cool it is, so instead of babbling on and on I'll just show it to you: Followed by a close ...
[Read More]

Next cluster
This is a smaller rocket built from the same educators pack of simple kits. Of particular concern with this design is that there will be a large amount of pressure pushing the nose cones apart. This may result in a shred. Large amounts of glue should prevent this. An interesting problem came up ...
[Read More]

MiniSShot Motor Parts
I just finished some grain support rings for an upcoming firing of the Sugar Shot to Space ProtoSShot-M Mark II motor. This will be the second firing of what is essentially the full, dual-phase, flight weight motor for the MiniSShot vehicle. While the motor was pretty sophisticated from the ...
[Read More]

Announcing High-5
Presenting my latest project, High-5, a five motor cluster that goes HIGH!! It is 100% high-power, able to fly on I's J's and K's, no less. This is my first build that cannot be flown as a model rocket. Physical description: Central 54mm motor mount (for I through K motors), and 4 outboard 29 mm ...
[Read More]

More Amazing Onboard Video
Here's another onboard video that is extremely cool:
[Read More]

100th Post
This is a very nice video. It is generally not good practice to fly into or among clouds. The concern is that some aircraft could be inside them. But I personally love cloudbusting. And as this video shows: only by passing clouds can you really get a feel for how fast this (by no means a top ...
[Read More]

Testing a hybrid motor with a spike nozzle.
This is a great project. The hybrid motor uses a solid fuel and a gaseous or liquid oxidizer. Here the fuel is a clear acrylic tube that lets you see inside the chamber. Note how bright it is: the flame that comes out of a motor is often bright, but inside there must be far more radiation. The ...
[Read More]

Last launch for the year
This was a great launch today: conditions were good, wind was acceptable, and most flights were successful. There were a few K flights, and one skidmark. One large rocket was reported to have gone past 10,000 feet. I flew a 24mm hourglass rocket on a D15T-4, the Graduator on an E16W-4 (great low ...
[Read More]

NY Rocketry Field
This is the field that I attend when flying in New York. This is located about 90 minutes north west of the city, in the Hudson valley west of Bear Mt. Note that these images just show 1/4th of the farm. A perfect place for rocketry. Probably on the order of 1000+ Acres.
[Read More]

Phobos Grunt
I wanted to post about this, my new favorite space project. But at the same time, I have a short angry rant. The Russians (!) are planning to launch a very impressive, very daring and risky space project to land a craft on the larger (but still very small) moon of Mars; Phobos. Phobos is about 20 ...
[Read More]

Extra-solar planets!
I cant wait for NGST to be turned on these things. And Kepler! And now we might be getting a dark energy - dark matter mission around 2015 also. Unmanned exploration has been a huge success, for centuries to come we will be remembered probably for many bad things, but also for a few great things. ...
[Read More]

More machining for Sugar Shot to Space project
I recently finished some more light machining for an upcoming static test of SugarShot's ProtoSShot-M Mark II motor. The work included cutting the casting tubes to length and making a new set of support rings. A recent Short Stack motor test utilizing titanium casting tubes revealed that they did ...
[Read More]

November Is a Lot of Things... But Not Rocketry Month.
I haven't written a post in a while, because I've been far too busy with a lot of things on my plate. One of those things is my honors algebra 2 class, where I have been studiously learning the finer points of higher-level math. It is a very important subject to have under your belt if you're ...
[Read More]

Very large object (Kg+) enters atmosphere over Canada.

[Read More]

Orion (Ares) LES rocket test
These are some recently uploaded videos of the LES (emergency escape rocket) designed to pull the manned Orion capsule (with 4 men) off of the Areas I rocket in the event of an abort. I think this will be used from the pad, or low speed flight (maybe to 100 KM or so). This is very high thrust ...
[Read More]

LR-101 Combustion Chamber
A nice looking LR_101 combustion chamber/injector recently sold on EBay. These seem to be getting scarce as the prices are rising fairly quickly. I've seen several of these fired at the RRS. The most memorable one just managed to clear the tower before rust in the internal passages clogged ...
[Read More]

Move over plasma thrusters, black powder is on the job
Check out the following excerpt from NASA Space Flight : Later in the day, Endeavour carried out the deployment of a solar cell experiment Picosat on behalf of the Department of Defence (DOD). The tiny satellite was sent on its way via a spring release system on the cargo bay’s sidewall. ...
[Read More]

New regulatory relief or just a reminder of how good they have been to us? (update - no relief in sight)
First breaking on ROL, this Washington Post article (AP actually) is causing a minor ripple in the Rocketry Force. Here is the first section: In a burst of activity meant to leave a lasting stamp on the federal government, the Bush White House in the past month has approved 61 new regulations ...
[Read More]

Danger, excitement, science, fun, plus Amanda and Nicole
Bill Gurstelle just formally announced his Barrage Garage DVD - THE GARAGE WARRIOR’S ULTIMATE VIDEO GUIDE TO ALL THINGS THAT GO BOOM. On this DVD, Bill and two cute lab assistants walk you through projects such as a potato cannon, a jam-jar jet, and the Mentos fountain. To fire up your ...
[Read More]

The yin and yang of sport rocketry
Every so often, someone raises the question about which activity people prefer more: building or flying. Some voice a strong preference one way or another but many say both equally. I generally have considered myself in the latter category. I bring this up because earlier today I made an ...
[Read More]

Hubble highlight video
(courtesy of Phil Plait )
[Read More]

The girl or the gun?
Rocket Jones points to a video of bikini clad girls slinging lead. Hence the question.
[Read More]

FAA issues final ruling on FAR 101 NPRM FAA-2007-27390
Rocketry Planet reports that the FAA's has issued its final ruling on the NPRM that redefined the classification of, and rules surrounding, amateur rockets (aka sport or hobby rockets). The new classifications, which should go into effect in February 2009, include: Class 1 - Model Rockets ...
[Read More]

Unveiling the Messer-Fo-Shizzle
Well, with chilly but reasonably calm weather I got to painting. Finishing is almost done, needs decals and trim. Recovery system not complete. Fin retainer rivets not in yet.
[Read More]

Three new rockets
These are the latest three rockets from art applewhite, and probably my last build for this year. The shiny metallic one is a 29mm cone rocket. It breaks apart for recovery. Two helix style rockets were also built. I need to make a special launch pad for them: they launch from a 1 inch long rod, ...
[Read More]

It's one of those days....
I went to print the decals for the 'Da Shizzle and found my print cartridge is out of yellow. The meter says it should be near full. Cleaning/testing didn't help. Oh well, just have to replace it. I went to do a backup and my USB drive is not responding. Tried to test it on my son's desktop, but ...
[Read More]

The fix for one of those days...
As one reader suggested, I came close to slamming down copious amounts of beer and single malt. However, I resisted that and the urge to take a hammer to my electronics. Instead, I hit the exercise bike. Besides showing me I need to get back on it regularly (I blame my wife as she made me put it ...
[Read More]

Ammonium dinitramide
I had never heard of this compound until earlier today when I read NASA was investigating it as a replacement for AP in the Ares SRBs. Wikipedia notes it has a slightly higher ISP than AP (good), that it is more sensitive to detonation than AP ( bad ), and is more expensive (bad). Just because it ...
[Read More]

The Messer-Fo-Shizzle has been Rat Finked

[Read More]

UP Aerospace
UP Aerospace is profiled in CNNMoney: Indie space ventured blast off . The side bar provides a short video and some photos about Mojave and some of it's tenants. Here's the main thing I learned. Larson holds a patent on a freight-loading system that slides payload canisters - ranging in weight from ...
[Read More]

Couldn't resist more motors at 40%-0ff (update)
First, I'll point out that it it almost too late to take advantage of Quest's 40%-off sale (see below) so ya' better hurry. I originally had decided that I had enough 18mm motors and thus was going to pass. But then I realized that, although the prices for their 25-motor packs are comparable to ...
[Read More]

More sprint ABM images
You may have noticed that my icon changed from Cadavre, to the Sprint missile. I may change back at some point, but I wanted to lend some support to my rocketry projects which have been revived considerably during the past year, when compared to the relative lull since 2004. Cadavre may return, ...
[Read More]

Cult spacecraft part 1 - X-20 Dyna-Soar
Jeffrey Bell has an interesting article on the X-20 Dyna-Soar over on Space Travel and Space Tourism . Jeffrey recounts the history of the program as it evolved from an exospheric bomber to research spacecraft. The program was fraught with problems and ultimately was canceled. While he agrees with ...
[Read More]

How Much Inhibitor?
On the Sugar Shot project we've been talking about, among other things, how much inhibitor is actually necessary to inhibit the propellant surface. I suspect that it's less than what most of us would guess. A few years back I made several motors that were designed around a readily available ...
[Read More]

Lesbian Vampire Killers
IO9 provides a heads-up about Lesbian Vampire Killers . I like movies about vampires, women, and vampire women, but there's a good chance that the poster is the best part of the movie. Er...well...on second thought, I bet there are a lot of good parts bouncing around.
[Read More]

This workshop RocksOn!
Clark Lindsey reports on Wallop's Flight Facility's RockOn! 2009 hands-on sounding rocket workshop. The workshop sounds like it would be awfully fun, even though it is about the payload, not the actual sounding rocket. ... Teams of 3 will build their RocketSat from a kit in three days and ...
[Read More]

More on-line magazines
It looks like Google Books now is offering magazines, such as Popular Science . Looks like the latest issue is February 2008. Not that up to date, but I'm sure there is plenty of stuff that I don't know about. The oldest is May 1872 !
[Read More]

Forgotten oldie: Hot Smoke and Sassafras
I hadn't heard Bubbly Puppy's Hot Smoke and Sassafras in decades. Despite breaking up in 1972, Texas-based Bubble Puppy has a web site and, of course, a CD. There are several renditions of their hit song on YouTube. Hot Smoke was itself decades ahead of videos and thus most have a montage of still ...
[Read More]

Space Shuttle makes apearance in El Paso
Here's a photo from the El Paso Times showing the Endeavour landing in El Paso atop its carrier aircraft. I've never seen the Shuttle launching, but have seen it atop the 747 four times: once circling as it left El Paso, both in the air over Clear Lake City and on the ground at Ellington AFB, and ...
[Read More]

New Horizons

[Read More]

Flying saucer lovers rejoice!
I see that ARA Press' new book, The Saucer Fleet is out and is being offered at an introductory price of $49.99 until December 31st. This 330 page hard-cover book features detailed information on saucers from: The Day the Earth Stood Still War of the Worlds This Island Earth ...
[Read More]

Saucer Mania!
Here's a photo of my saucer fleet. This includes the Art Applewhite Qubits, Stealths, Cincos, and Scimitars but not things like cones, spools, taller pyramids or 'landers'. Or my new Quest Area 51 SPEV saucer that is due to arrive tomorrow.
[Read More]

Over regulation may be striking more than rocketry (update)
The Make:blog is hosting an article about the effects that the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) will have on small toy manufacturers. In response to the scare about lead in toys made in China, the CPSIA banned lead and phthalates in toys and mandates 3rd-party testing. Sounds good on ...
[Read More]

Under the Unreasonable Rocket's hood
Paul Breed discusses solid catalysts and diffuser plates in today's update .
[Read More]

Quest Aerospace, a class act
Let's see...I bought a bunch of stuff at 40% off. Ordered on a Saturday, it was processed the same day, left by UPS on Monday, and arrived today. You ain't gonna do better than that with a HAZMAT shipment! Besides what I asked for, I got a free MicroMaxx saucer with my Area 51 SPEV saucer, a ...
[Read More]

The biggest Moon in 15 years
Tonight, the Moon is the the closest to earth that its been in 15 years. At 5PM EST the Moon was 221,559 miles away, which translates to it being about 14% bigger and 30% brighter than your average full moon. In fact it was only 118 miles further way than at any point between the years 1750 and ...
[Read More]

Some new books
These books are part of the latest Amazon order. Some of them were only $5 shipped... compared to the stamped prices of 15, 20, 25, or more each. Great deals! The space shuttle book is hardcover, and the sequel to one already in our library. The Praxis books are very nice also, I chose Russian ...
[Read More]

More on ammonium dinitramide (ADN)
After it came out that NASA was investigating ammonium dinitramide (ADN) as a replacement for ammonium perchlorate (AP) in the Ares SRMs, I looked at Wikipedia for a little background on this stuff. I noted that it was more sensitive/hazardous than AP but that it was more efficient and lighter. ...
[Read More]

What can you do with 42,000 LEDs?
The DCist posted this photo of the large LED display that is currently installed in the 200' tunnel that connects the east and west wings of the National Gallery of Art. The LEDs and their control software were concocted by NYC artist Leo Villareal. (photo credit: Flickr user hudson )
[Read More]

AeroTech Announces Creation of ValueRockets.com Webstore
AeroTech has created ValueRockets.com?, a webstore dedicated to the sale of low and mid-power composite propellant rocket motors, kits and parts at wholesale prices. "The goal of ValueRockets.com is to bring entry-level composite propellant rocketry to consumers at the lowest possible cost and ...
[Read More]

Area-51 SPEV
Presenting my Quest Area-51 SPEV saucer. Although this resembles Quest’s original Area 51 Saucer , it varies slightly from the original. This is a SPEV (spare parts elimination vehicle) kit based on a crate of saucer tops that Quest found lying around. The bottom section is redesigned since ...
[Read More]

Spaceport America has the green light from the FAA
Clark Lindsey reports that Spaceport America has received its launch license, opening the way for construction to begin. Read the press release here .
[Read More]

'Links To This Post' unlinked
A while back, I enabled track-back links for my posts. However, I found this feature was picking up a large number of bogus links. I think that posts from some blogs that include mine in a links-list were being listed as track-backs. The bottom line is these bogus links effectively buried and ...
[Read More]

A Short Break From Rocketry and Now a Wild Return
Hi! You can expect to see more blog posts from me in the future. I took a little break from my blog for a while since I had nothing to blog about. But I've decided to do a minimum of four blog posts a month, and I compiled a list of a few topics. November was National Novel Writing Month, as I ...
[Read More]

Cool Shuttle photo
This image, taken from an escort F-18, is of the best Shuttle images that I've seen. At least of the ones that don't have fire and smoke spewing out ;) (via floridatoday.com )
[Read More]

SpaceLoft XL flight parameters
Clark Lindsey spotted a page on UP Aerospace's website that describes the SpaceLoft XL vehicle's flight parameters . A couple of these parameters initially struck me as odd: The apogee velocity is 621 ft/s. Since the vertical velocity at apogee is zero by definition, I guess this is the ...
[Read More]

Eruption + lightning = awesome coolness
Lightning bolts appear above and around the Chaiten volcano as seen from Chana, some 30 kms (19 miles) north of the volcano, as it began its first eruption in thousands of years, in southern Chile May 2, 2008. Cases of electrical storms breaking out directly above erupting volcanoes are well ...
[Read More]

MAKE TV is coming soon
Via Bill Gurstelle: Dear friends and colleagues, Make:Television is coming soon! I've been working hard on a new television series called Make:Television. It will be carried nationally by most PBS television stations starting in January 2009. What is it about? Well, Make is the DIY series ...
[Read More]

I'm on Flickr...well, kinda
I finally used my Flickr account - you can find my photostream here . The crappy 100MB limit didn't even allow my whole Red Glare V album to be uploaded, and I won't be able to add more until next month. To add insult to insult, many photos uploaded sideways despite the fact that they are oriented ...
[Read More]

Aerotech opens new store: ValueRockets.com
Aerotech just launched this web page to sell a small number of mid power items at a very low price. They claim this is to 1.) introduce more people to the hobby, and 2.) help us in these hard times. Among other items, they will be selling E15W and E30T motors will be for $18.90 per 3-pack. This is ...
[Read More]

The building or the spaceship? (updated...twice)
IO9 has posted gallery of buildings that look like famous spaceships . I couldn't help capturing this saucer-shaped building , which is near Hueco Tanks State Park outside of El Paso. There was a similar one on the west side of EP near the intersection of the Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive and ...
[Read More]

Rockets Mag V3 I5 Dec 2008 - the 'Black Rock Edition' (updated)
I call it the Black Rock Edition because most of the enclosed material originated there: one article on the Rocket Mavericks July launch and three on Balls 17. Where else other than Black Rock will you see a full sized, full keg of beer fly? There are two high power build reviews and teasers about ...
[Read More]

EMRR Spaceship Design Contest winners...
... are announced .
[Read More]

Implosion of RCA Dome in Indy
While I enjoy a good implosion, I generally have only posted about those in places I am familiar with. Until now. There are several versions out there and I just grabbed the first one on the queue. You can get the HD version by double clicking on the embedded copy and selecting it from the lower ...
[Read More]

All SystemsGo for Texas teens
Texas teens are learning aerospace science by building and flying rockets. Started in the quiet Hill Country town of Fredricksburg by Brett Williams, an ex-marine scientist, SystemsGo is now offered by twenty-three Texas high schools. The curriculum even includes a design review by NASA JSC rocket ...
[Read More]

When good searches go bad
I was looking for more info on the Fredricksburg SystemsGo aerospace education program and found this: Apparently, this is the album graphic for the Japanese release of All Systems Go's Rocket from the Crypt album. (Hey, sometimes you have to dig up rocket girls from wherever you can find 'em.)
[Read More]

White Knight II
Ack, had to remove the embedded video as it ate up my sidebar. Here's the link .
[Read More]

The Toypedo rediscovered
A Toypedo is a rocket-like rubber pool toy that will glide amazing distances underwater. This was a mainstay in our beach/pool gear but I hadn't thought about it for years. I ran across it the other day and moved it close to some of my rocket paraphernalia. I keep thinking about making a mold from ...
[Read More]

The Dungeon's Top 10 of 2008
All and all, 2008 was a momentous year here in the Dungeon. On a personal basis, it started poorly but ended on a high note. But, since this is a rocketry blog, my top 10 is limited to on-topic stuff. Even though I build lots of neat stuff this year, I'll start with the two simple rockets that ...
[Read More]

ARCA Haas orbital rocket
ARCA (Aeronautics and Cosmonautics Romanian Association) has announced their latest project, the Haas air launched orbital rocket. This is a different-looking bird and would be an interesting scale project. You can read more about this and their other projects here . Here's a summary of its specs: ...
[Read More]

Sprint ABM Silo
This drawing of a Sprint Silo was located online. It is not known at this time if the details are accurate or not, probably this is an artistic interpretation. What can be seen is a piston or sabot of sorts, probably used to eject the Sprint at high accelerations. Note the double walled, ...
[Read More]

Twas the night before Christmas, and...
Ky Michaelson is out sleddin' (via Make )... Our UFO-believin' bubble is burst as we find out that the latest UFO photos are neither real nor a hoax. They are part of a viral marketing for the Sarah Connor Chronicles. All the details are on IO9 . And Bad Santa is really bad ( IO9 again). I hope ...
[Read More]

Merry Christmas!
This season makes me so happy and joyful inside; to celebrate the coming of the Savior and King of the Universe! Jesus is at the center of everything, and He's the center of every area and ambition in my life. I aspire to the skies because he is so cool. I learn math and science to marvel about ...
[Read More]

Turbonique in action
Here's a cool photo of the Turbonique rocket-powered drag axle in action. Via Hot Rod .
[Read More]

Early plans for a lunar mission
"Design of the British Interplanetary Society's BIS Spaceship began in 1937 and was published in January and July 1939. The purpose of the exercise was to prove that a manned lunar expedition could be designed using existing powder rocket technology. The design was reformulated in 1947 based on ...
[Read More]

Nibbles the Astrocat
I saw an interview in a recent issue of Extreme Rocketry Magazine with a "cat" name Nibbles. Some clever rocketeer had built a spaceship for a small stuffed animal--similar to one of my projects, Squirrel's Rocket . This rocket has got me thinking along some challenging lines. It would be a great ...
[Read More]

4 Channel Radio Transmitter
For a long time now I have been wanting to get into another area of aerospace: model airplanes. But it takes a lot of money and knowledge to get into it. Finally I ordered a 4 channel fm transmitter with a double rotor helicopter. I am really looking forward to its arrival! It probably won't be ...
[Read More]

SpaceX's Falcon 9 is fully integrated
Yesterday, SpaceX completed integration of their Falcon 9 at Cape Canaveral. They are understandably excited and hope to have a full erection early in 2009. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.*) I didn't see when the launch is currently scheduled but it should also happen early in the year. I'd like a ...
[Read More]

Houston Med Center - then and now
Then (via Life Mag)... And, now (via telwink )
[Read More]

New Years Eve stunts
From around the web, I see the stunt masters are going to be out in force on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas. At the Rio, Rhys Millen will attempt a back flip in his truck. Robby Madison is going to jump 120' up to the roof of the Paris Casino. After smiling for the camera, he'll jump back down. ...
[Read More]

If you don't know your screw heads, you might be screwed
Make presents a simple diagram showing the 28 common styles of screw heads. There are several I've never even heard of. I guess if I don't have the right drivers by now, I probably don't need them.
[Read More]

Need recommended motors lists... (edit)
I edited the list as I got answers... To populate EMRR's recommended motors database, I need the manufacturer's recommendations for the following kits. If you only know the motor mount size, I'll settle for that. -> American Alliance Rocketry - F17 Phantom -> Contest Craft (by Rob Edmonds) - ...
[Read More]

Robbie, Rhys, and Robbie

[Read More]

NAR website outage
I just saw a note that the NAR's website is down due to a problem with their hosting service. Hopefully, service will be restored today.
[Read More]

Air Command's Recovery Guide
Air Command has compiled an extensive guide to rocket recovery . Although oriented towards water rockets, it provides a comprehensive survey of processes and techniques. For example, we 'pyro' folks almost never plan to use lawn dart recovery (although we end up with our share of them). The guide ...
[Read More]

The Sky in Motion
This video is truly incredible. It shows the beauty of Creation and the Wonder of God without the use of a single word. It's an example of the Psalm 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."
[Read More]

The (not so) big list of 2008 lists
As 2009 approaches, the 'Top 10 1 - 100 of 2008' lists will begin showing up in the ol' newsreader. This year, I will again capture them in a single post. As I update the list, I'm going to try updating the date so it pops to the top of my blog. I'll see how that works out. Now, just like in 2006 ...
[Read More]

To 100K
At all times, there are a baker's dozen rocketry projects from teams and individuals on the edge between level 3 high power, and amateur rocketry. Many of them are attempting flights to near space or space. Some of these can be found in the links list, below and to the right. This is a particularly ...
[Read More]

2009 Goals
Aerospace is a complicated subject, as any rocketeer would readily admit. Thus, I have set a few challenging goals for myself this year, to help boost me into the field. Get Junior Level 1 certified for high-power through the NAR. Get a purple ribbon in Aerospace at the MN State Fair ...
[Read More]

Unidentified historic rocket
This was lifted from YORF . The name on the file is 'Tuckerton Rocket'. Just thought it fit nicely with some of the other oldies that I've found. (The others are identified with the 'Professional Rocketry: Historic' label.)
[Read More]

JP Aerospace Balloon
This is a really nice, but short video from JP aerospace. The apogee is reported at 107,000 feet. The balloon bursts here (most say that UV light exposure is what causes this, the rubber material degrades and becomes brittle in the cold rarefied air in near space, as cold as -90 below), and begins ...
[Read More]

TOGinator....schweeeeet!
How could I not swipe a copy of this photo of Boris and Paul's TOGinator? Click it and take a gander at what a 27 motor cluster looks like. Follow the link to find out more about this and their other cool projects.
[Read More]

EMRR 2009 contest pre-announcement
EMRR has posted a first-look at the 2009 EMRR Challenge , and 2009 Design this Spaceship Contest .
[Read More]

EPA wants to tax bovine greenhouse gas emissions?
When I first saw this, I figured the story's source was The Onion . Nope. The Cattle Network discusses how recent EPA actions may lead to a 'cow tax'. It seems they issued an NPRM asking about regulating greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles. If they then find greenhouse gasses are a ...
[Read More]

What's next, a burrito tax?
It appears someone has actually measured the frequency and volume of cow farts. They also differentiated between dairy and beef cattle. As I was sitting here sipping coffee, I started thinking. Cows may generate more methane than people, but I bet there are a lot more of us than them. Should the ...
[Read More]

First high power rocket received
I received my Binder Design Excel Plus with Av bay yesterday. I plan on building this over the winter months and launching it at Mile-Hi Mayhem in the spring to get my Level 1 Certification. I got a few extra components along with the kit so I'll document the changes I make during the build here.
[Read More]

Retro-oddity: a jet-powered train
The Aérotrain was air-levitated and powered by a Pratt & Whitney JT12 jet engine. Fanboy.com has a nice post with the history of this concept (nice, even though it was jet-powered rather than rocket-powered). The source material includes Wikipedia article and this French site , which is ...
[Read More]

RASAero 1.0.1.0 released
A new release of Rogers Aeroscience's RASAero is now available. Fixed a few bugs. Still FREE!
[Read More]

Rocket-powered karts!
Rocket Karts is a cool page featuring rocket-powered go-karts. The one shown is "Captain Jack" McClure's Turbonique-powered go-kart. This used the bigger 1500 lb motor and would hit 215 mph in the quarter mile.The site speculates that these karts might have led to the NHRA ban on Turbonique. (link ...
[Read More]

Two views of the moon
These are two images of Copernicus crater on the Moon. The first, taken with a space probe, and the other taken with a large amateur telescope. Probably the most impressive thing to see is that the earth based images are quite good. Looking at similar features on the Earth, from the moon, would be ...
[Read More]

Direct 2.0 makes pitch to Obama transition team
NASA Renegades Pitch Obama Team New Post-Shuttle Plan - Popular Mechanics (via Clark Lindsey ) "We got a full hearing today," he says. "If they're interested, they'll call."
[Read More]

Fringe breaks into the real world?
I like Fringe , an ' X-Files -like' show that is set in a world where reanimation, teleportation and other 'mad science' is not only possible but is being implemented. Now, I see Wired Danger Room's report on a US Army conference called the "2008 Mad Scientist Future Technology Seminar." "The ...
[Read More]

Pinewood derby on roids
Like pinewood derby? Want more speed than gravity can provide? Try CO2 rocket cars. Pitsco's Science of Speed site offers all kinds of info of the competitions, the techniques, the science, and the kits. The photo is Alan M's Muffin , which places 12th in the 2008 middle school competition.
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, January/February 2009
Lead article is coverage of the 17th World Spacemodeling Championships that were held in Lleida, Spain. Other than spotting NARHAMSter Ed Pearson, this one didn't really interest me. Nor did the article on the OOP Estes CAMROC. What saved this issue was an article on two DIY centering ring jigs, ...
[Read More]

Obama and space
The blogaverse is full on info on Obama and space - what he may and may not do, what his transition team is up to, who may and may not replace Mike Griffin, etc, etc, etc. Here are two news items I saw this morning. chron.com notes that NASA's new moon rover will act as the caboose in the ...
[Read More]

Goonball XL5 in RockSim-9
Here's a 3-D export from RockSim-9. I still have to tweak the actual measured mass. Without a motor, it seems stable enough with a margin of 0.78. However, I probably will have to add a bit more nose weight when a motor is loaded.
[Read More]

RockSim-9 running problem list (update 5)
Thought I'd document these here. Some may be operator error. All apply to the Goonball XL5 unless otherwise noted. When adding a custom fin to a pod, the plan point graph is blank and display only the origin point. When you try to add a point you get a message saying that you can not divide ...
[Read More]

Falcon 9 - Space X
Looking forward to the first test flight of this large rocket. If the quoted costs per launch are true, this will help make space cheaper for all. But we must not have too many expectations for this first launch, it is likely to fail. But if this one hard starts or shreds, or fails to make ...
[Read More]

Fireball XL5 in RockSim-9
Follow the tag for more on this model.
[Read More]

High-5 Taking Shape
The past few days I've been working on my big project, High-5. I'm hoping to get it finished by this summer, and perhaps I'll even be able to get junior level-1 certified on it! It's a fairly complex design, and employs such gizmos as airstart electronics (already installed) and altimeter ...
[Read More]

Stupid pre-coffee thoughts
Why do I add dashes where they don't belong and leave them when they do? Fireball XL-5 vs. Fireball XL5 and V2 vs. V-2. In internet communications, smileys should be a valid form of punctuation :) Ending a sentence like this just doesn't look right to me :). There was more but I got sidetracked ...
[Read More]

PACS-1 Ejection Motor
I recently got this small rocket motor. It's about the size of a large coffee can. The base says PACS-1 Ejection Motor with a logo underneath that I believe is the Atlantic Research Corporation logo. My guess is that it's from the 60-70's based on the hand engraved serial numbers, coffee ...
[Read More]

Estes SpaceShipOne in RockSim-9
The fins are pretty close in shape and size but may be not be positioned properly. I had fins to measure from my bashed kits but didn't have a built kit nor could I find a set of instructions. I'll have to look around some more. The sims even ran!
[Read More]

Full Moon Over the Alps
The moon won't be this large for the rest of the year; it already reached perigee. Somebody was in the right place at the right time, and managed to catch a jet passing in front of this already awesome scene.
[Read More]

Spudgun and cool Adobe Acrobat application
Bill Gurstelle points to an upgrade to his Night Lighter 36 potato cannon plans. These have appeared in Make Magazine and his Whoosh Boom Splat book. But, Make has now enhanced the plans by including an interactive 3-D model. This is really cool. From within the .pdf file, you can zoom, rotate, ...
[Read More]

EMRR at 11
And the Lord spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy parts bin. Then shalt thou count to eleven, no more, no less. Eleven shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be eleven. Twelve shalt thou not count, neither count thou ten, excepting that thou then ...
[Read More]

Falcon 9 standing at attention
This shot of the Falcon 9, at sunset and with a moon rise, is my favorite from Space X's Jan. 11 update. (as usual, click for full sized)
[Read More]

RockSim 9 issues post - reminder
I know the organization is getting a little convoluted but, just for the record, I am still maintaining my post on the issues I'm finding with RockSim 9. Now, aren't you glad I reminded you (?).
[Read More]

Another RS9 3D render
I'm finding RockSim 9 to be a lot of fun. Here's my latest render...my ancient XR-71 Green Burd . On this one, I'm thinking the stability estimate might be a little pessimistic, as proven by the real world.
[Read More]

How far away is the horizon?
I have heard the answer many times but, before Phil Plait asked and then answered his own question, I also had totally forgotten. The answer is found with some simple math which Phil lays out nicely. I'll leave the details to the reader but will grab just a few of his results. Height ...
[Read More]

More photos posted
I added albums for Red Glare IV, Red Glare II and TRF-3 to my OurPlanet page. I also added some missile-aneous photos to my Flickr photostream . Since I'm volume limited there, I think I'll put most of my rocket photos on OurPlanet.
[Read More]

Got Twitter?
There is no way I want to venture into the maelstrom, but I have to admit that I have been following the preparations for President Elect Obama's inauguration and will be interested to see how it plays out. It sounds like it will be somekind of zoo with an unbelievable 3 - 5 million people ...
[Read More]

Project Farside
These are four stage rockoons that were designed to test space at high altitudes approaching 4,000 miles. A rockoon is a rocket launched at altitude from a balloon, resulting very high altitudes. The goal of this project was to attempt the highest performance possible using state of the art solid ...
[Read More]

Aerospace Engineering at STEP
I'm all excited, because this next semester I'm going to be taking aerospace engineering via S econdary T echnical E ducation P rogram. I don't know much yet; all I know is that its major outcomes are: Introduction to aerodynamics design and testing. Flight systems and areospace ...
[Read More]

XFY-1 Pogo in RockSim-9
Now, with functional outboard booster pods! This is the 2nd RS9 design in a row that worked without me having to remove and re-add the fin's-on-fins. This is a good thing! This changed for me when I registered the program and got the authorization file. Coincidence? More about the model can be ...
[Read More]

Steampunk rocketry = hydrogen powered rocket
From the annals of Make Mag , I find this cool hydrogen powered rocket . The control system uses a 12V 3.3Ah lead-acid battery to generate the hydrogen and ignite the gas. Kinda like an armor-plated version of the Estes Hydrogen Fuel Rocket Set . Dean Wheeler also has a hydrogen powered rocket , ...
[Read More]

XFY-1 Pogo in RockSim-9, redux
On my previous iteration, I formed the upper section of the body (the body's cross section is oblong) with a single thick fin. This left noticeable gaps. In RS-9, you can add components internally so they will seamlessly protrude from a body tube. In the revised model, I started the fin about 1/2" ...
[Read More]

SpaceShipSqrt(-1) in RockSim-9
The wing pods and cockpit worked out nicely. Note that the cockpit components start internally and thus conform to the body tube.
[Read More]

TRF is baaaaack!
The Rocketry Forum 2.0 is back on-line . You have to re-register and at least for now, the old database isn't loaded. So for now, it is a clean slate. TRF is under new management but will largely be run as before, i.e. play nice, nothing illegal, 'G' rated, etc. The new guidelines can be found ...
[Read More]

Alert: TRF server malware (update)
TRF's new host, IX Web Access, has a nifty little script that redirects link-ins from the major search engines to malware ('Antivirus 2009'). Details are here . Update: For now this problem has been resolved, but in general you should beware of odd pop-ups, redirects, requests to scan for malware, ...
[Read More]

Gee'hod RockSim-9

[Read More]

Microblogging from space
A Japanese non-profit group called called the Kansai Space Initiative (KSI) plans to build a small satellite that will be open to everyone. The KaSpl-1 microsatellite will piggyback on another payload in 2013. While the exact capabilities are still being planned, there will be a camera pointing at ...
[Read More]

First scratch RockSim-9 design
I was just goofing around and have no plans to build this. It has motors in the pods but no central mount - not generally a good idea. It's named the SPDN1 (Scratch Pod Design Numero Uno). BT-60 main tube, altimeter in payload section, LOC24mm outboard tubes. 20.2 oz loaded with 3 D12-5's. 891" ...
[Read More]

2nd scratch Rocksim-9 design - mixed results
This is a jet-fighter styled rocket complete with faux-Sidewinders. The good news: I like the general look. The bad news: I hit the problem where the sim won't run. Since this was an exercise only, I don't want to replace all the pod-mounted components just to find which one is breaking it. I ...
[Read More]

2 Stage water rocket

[Read More]

The Barakmobile (actually, "The Beast")
Nice ride, Mr. President. The actual specs are top secret but Wired's Autopia gives us some details: GM says the car occupies the "same footprint" as the current presidential ride, but it is a little taller and the windows a little bigger to improve visibility. Limo One is believed to weigh ...
[Read More]

President Biden (update)
Interesting factoid. Bush's Presidency expired at noon. Barack just got sworn in at around 5 min after. For those 5 minutes, Biden was President. Well, I thought it was interesting. Update: A reader points to a Snopes article showing that the news reporter was wrong on this one. Dang, sounded like ...
[Read More]

2nd scratch Rocksim-9 design - post mortem
Well, the problem with this design bugged me so I started deleting components until the sim worked. I had to delete the Sidewinders as well as their underlying stand-offs. Not worth adding them back and I retained the original. Here is a 2-D view: (jet_fighter_rs9.rkt)
[Read More]

Apogee Rocketry Workshop Video #1: Add Spin Tabs To Your Rocket's Fins
Apogee has kicked off a series of video workshops with a tutorial on spin tabs: This joins their video on building great modrocs .
[Read More]

Aerospace links
I noticed my one remaining Blogrolling list is now totally dead. For a while, they have been having problems and had blocked updates. I don't know if they'll be back. Anyway, nothing I could find could completely read their file format so I grabbed the latest backup (not that new) and edited out ...
[Read More]

More on President Biden
OK, yesterday I reported that a reporter said that VP Biden was the president of the United States for the 5 minutes between noon, when Bush's term expired, and when Barack Obama took his oath. A reader pointed my to a Snopes article debunking this idea. Although I merely skimmed the article, I ...
[Read More]

Manned Venus Flyby
There have been many planned flyby missions for Mars and-or Venus. Much effort was put into these plans, in part because it was expected that Russia would skip the moon in the 1970s and chose a new target which would give them a chance to be first. A manned mission would be one of the best ...
[Read More]

Saving money on magazines
I've been patiently waiting for the latest issue of Launch Magazine for about a month. After not receiving it today's mail, I just remembered reading a thread on YORF that someone's subscription had expired without notice...and the light bulb finally came on! I went back through my blog posts and, ...
[Read More]

Diagram of Lowness
Here's a post from last September (I never got around to posting it): "The other day I was thinking about outer space, how intriguing it is and such. I started to wonder how close I had ever come with one of my rockets to the edge of outer space. The results weren't the most exciting ever. I ...
[Read More]

Four-By
Another weird 'what-if' design...that doesn't even fly in the virtual world :( Four 24mm mounts, each with their own 'chute. (four_by.rkt)
[Read More]

Launching a Better Brain
Launching a Better Brain , by Steve Jurvetson, Harvard Business Review, February 2009. Go Steve! Go rocketry! Read his comments and find related material here .
[Read More]

Something else I hate on the Internet
It seems most often when I find something that I want to look at on Yahoo News, all they provide is a video report. Usually, I only want to take a quick glance and move on. However, with the videos I have to listen to a couple minutes before I get to the gist of the article. The end result: I move ...
[Read More]

Highlights from EMRR on this Saturday
My brief review of Tim Van Milligan's Model Rocket Design and Construction is in today's EMRR update . The 2009 Box o' Parts Contest is ON! This year, you create your own box o' parts, EMRR will audit that box for compliance, and you will receive a couple of random pieces of, well, stuff. The rest ...
[Read More]

Genie missile brain fart
I previously commented about the odd fins on the Genie missile. Well, it appears the answer is that they ain't all there in the photo in that post. (To clarify, it seems they actually fold in to allow the chubby missile to fit under-wing.)
[Read More]

RIP Dr. Bill Wilson
I was sad to hear of Dr. Bill's passing . Although in a different EE sub-specialty, I was privileged to have taken two courses from him - basic transmission line theory and microwave theory. I remember him as the friendliest and most accessible professor that I had. He'd always provide whatever ...
[Read More]

NARAM Live! archives
I've been reporting on NARAM via NARAM Live! for several years. One problem with linking to the site is that, after the event, the content of the main pages are moved to an archive directory. So, here they are. I wonder what the chances are that anybody who finds the old posts will find this one? ...
[Read More]

Project Farside in Popular Science (1957)
Here are some additional materials that I recently found for Project Farside. This comes from the October 1957 Popular Science. The details here are great: note the remarkable little payload probe... this is similar to the Vanguard satellites that were first attempted around the same time. The ...
[Read More]

Great Weekend!
I attended the RRS launch this weekend. It was a great launch and I had tons of fun. Rick Maschek and I fired a motor that was part of ongoing testing for the Sugar Shot to Space project. There were at least 12-13 small Zn/S rockets flown, a 4000lb thrust LOX/kerosene static test, and a variety of ...
[Read More]

New Reading List Item
I think I'm going to order a new book titled "Spacecraft-Environment Interactions" by Daniel Hastings (not me) and Henry Garrett, professors at MIT. It's probably another one of those books I will grow into and refer to throughout college. I might not get much out of it at first, but this book ...
[Read More]

RRS report from Randy's Rocketry
Randy reports on this past weekend's launch at the RRS, with photo's of a Zn/S rocket ( you gotta love that plume! ), a Sugar Shot to Space test, and a LOX/kerosene static fire (I think).
[Read More]

Electric rocketry
This month's Scientific American has an article on electric propulsion for spacecraft . I scanned the article and it doesn't seem to have anything new, but if you are interested in such things it's probably worth the read. Hat tip to Rocketry Planet's forum.
[Read More]

Financial crisis hits sport rocketry - LAUNCH magazine is taking a 'time-out'
As predicted by several people on the rocketry forums, LAUNCH mag announced today that they will be taking a two month hiatus to regroup. In a few day's they'll describe their plan for extending existing subscriptions and providing subscribers with access to on-line content. It strikes me that the ...
[Read More]

High power/low tech - ya' gotta love it
I see the principal behind Inverse Engineering has been good enough to begin documenting his exploits on YouTube:
[Read More]

Ram-rockets in the news
Wired reports on the Navy's Higher Speed Antiradiation Demonstrator (HSAD) project, an upgrade to the AGM-88 HARM missile. The NSAD rocket uses its combustion chamber as a ramjet, making it a 'ram-rocket'. They expect "twice the range of the current HARM at two to three times the average velocity ...
[Read More]

Cool photo of the SS1 cockpit during flight
via digg via Wikimedia - click it!
[Read More]

Artis Magne Artilleriae
Wayne Hill found a reference to this 17th century artillery manual by one Casmir Siemienowicz, General of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Crown Artillery. He also posted Cas' bio: (born)1600 (died)1651 Kazimierz Siemienowicz, born near Raseiniai in Samogitia, was a Polish-Lithuanian commander in ...
[Read More]

GRIN
I just found the Great Images In NASA site. Although not as large as some archives, it has a bunch of rocket and rocket-related photos. Here is a photo of a ram-rocket at NACA Lewis (later NASA Glenn Research Center), circa 1947. Bigger copies can be found here .
[Read More]

Outrage, well expressed
Rocket Jones calls it like I see it.
[Read More]

Pick a Hubble target
Visit the link below to vote on a public Hubble target. Sadly, my 1st and 2nd choices are 5th and 6th right now! I think this is due not to their potential, nor to the popularity of galaxies (my choices are planetary nebulae), but simply to the lousy pictures on the vote site: For this reason, I ...
[Read More]

Spaceport America has a twin
A twin sister, that is. Here's the intro to the announcement I saw first on Res Communis . LAS CRUCES, NM – Officials from the New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Spaceport Sweden to align with Spaceport America as ‘Sister ...
[Read More]

V2...oooops
May 30, 1947 El Paso and Juarez were rocked Thursday night when a runaway German V-2 rocket fired from the White Sands Proving Ground in New Mexico crashed and exploded on top of a rocky knoll three and a half miles south of the Juarez business district. .... CRATER 50 FEET WIDE, 24 FEET DEEP .... ...
[Read More]

How many of the 16 might find their way into your rockets?
Popular Mechanics presents 16 Wild Materials . Ceramic cloth (#2) and paper honeycomb (#16) seem to have the most direct applicability here in the Dungeon. The rest would take some thought.
[Read More]

A Bifurcation of Fireballs
Cross-posted from EMRR's Rocket Family Photo Contest (Entry #3) : Here is my mini fleet of Fireball XL5 models. The scratch-built 'papa' flies nicely on 29mm motors and the 'mama' is my Deuce XL5 , which is a kitbash of the FlisKits Deuces Wild! . A paper model converted for Micromaxx is the ...
[Read More]

Hope they yelled heads-up!!!
(via DRB's, Oops! Weirdest Accidents, Part 5 )
[Read More]

Atomic Rocket
Did you know that every second, the sun puts out 92 times as much energy as hits the surface of the Earth during one year?!?! This and so much more can be found at Atomic Rocket. This page is an interesting mix between sci-fi, and real rocketry. Yes real serious rocketry is in there, don't let the ...
[Read More]

Houston eye candy (just landmarks)
The screen shot to the right is the first entry in the virtual tour of Rice University . You can pan around the images to get a 360 degree view. That shot is of Rice's Lovett Hall which was voted Houston's 2nd favorite building, behind the Astrodome. See all the entrants here .
[Read More]

LAUNCH mag - doomed to failure (?)
Today's Space Review features an article on Launch Magazine's reported 'hiatus' - Launch abort by Dwayne A. Day . The author points out how magazines with good photo and print quality are doomed and takes a detour by explaining how catering to space tourists is partially to blame for the ...
[Read More]

Please, don't pester your FAA contacts with unnecessary paperwork
On February 2nd, the FAA's new rocketry regulations took effect. So, you no longer need to file FAA notifications for Class 1 rockets, as defined below: Uses no more than 125 grams (4.4 ounces) of propellant, ses a slow-burning propellant, is made of paper, wood, or breakable plastic, ...
[Read More]

More video how-to's from Apogee
This is the newest. Tim now has four video tutorials. (dang, I had another typo in a title)
[Read More]

P to N flight
You may recall that I recently posted about an O to N flight to about 50,000 feet. Here is the previous post. Well the same rocket (or slightly modified perhaps) flew on a P motor staged to an N motor, or an RDH8 P6000BB to an AMW N4000BB to quote the page. This is your optimum stage ratio of 4:1. ...
[Read More]

More classic rock via YouTube
YouTube continues to yield classic rock memories. Here are a couple of classics by the fabulous Climax Blues Band. The first is on the quiet side, but is still worth three minutes of your life. I wonder if I can find my copy of FM Live ...on cassette?!?
[Read More]

Turn-on or creep-fest?
This appears to be off-topic day... When I saw IO9 ask, "Half-naked brain-electrocution: turn-on or creep-fest?" .... ....I began thinking how this appears to be the new in-thing for prime time sci-fi TV. Last night, Fringe continued to get Olivia Dunham into her tank. However, now that her ...
[Read More]

It's never to late for Texas and zombies
Rocket buddy brianc reminded me of last week's reports that hackers had displayed public warnings of the coming zombie war . I guess zombie hacks and photos of dope smoking Olympians will keep local law enforcement busy.
[Read More]

Ours was bigger than yours... (update)
Continuing in the off-topic theme, I was reminded that, in 1966, El Paso's 828 foot ASARCO smoke stack was the worlds tallest. Wow. Update: Because this story is of little interest to most (all?) readers, I'll just add the update here. Today's El Paso Times reports that ASARCO has decided not to ...
[Read More]

The zombie plague is spreading!
From Austin, TX to Collinsville, Illinois there are "DAILY LANE CLOSURES DUE TO ZOMBIES." But, if you are from Indiana's Hamilton County, you are lucky. All you have to worry about are raptors. (via MSNBC )
[Read More]

The zombie plague is now world-wide!
George Katz reports that the zombie plague has moved to Oz . I'll report more after I get a snack... of brains !
[Read More]

Remember the Thunder Snitch
Now, THAT'S a saucer! The Thunder Snitch was featured in High Power Magazine, Vol. 15, No. 3, dated (but not delivered) June 2000. This was a class project at the James Bowie HS in Far Eastern Texas. I didn't note the scale, diameter, or weight, but they expected between 350' and 500' on an M1315. ...
[Read More]

Zombies are here too...yawn
Here in Maryland , the hacked messages included a zombie warning and one that said "I love Tony." Zombie messages were interesting, add raptors and I thought "meh", but adding sappy personal messages spoils the whole gag.
[Read More]

The DC Pod Racer, upgraded to RockSim 9
I took some liberties with the colors, and the leading edge of the two tube fins aren't angled, but other than that the model is pretty close to the real thing (at least how it was before its last flight). And the sim even runs.
[Read More]

Cleanin' and buildin' for the '09 flying season
I have a two-car garage but only one car. As such I use this extra space to practice my rocket-nerdiness. I don't often get a cleaning urge, however, so things get dusty, dirty, and messy. I recently started cleaning out this critical garage space in preparation for the 2009 building/flying season ...
[Read More]

TAP pursuit update
As I'd mentioned at the bottom of my L3 cert entry I continue to build experience pertinent to becoming a TAP member for San Diego's Tripoli club.  Dok and Kurt encouraged me to fly more M and larger motors, use a broader range of electronics, and fly hybrids.  Here are some direct and ...
[Read More]

Now, THAT'S a shotgun!
As seen on Rocket Jones , here's a cool video of the XM1028 canister tank cartridge.
[Read More]

Zombies and rocketry, or rocketry zombies
I lifted this image from...well you can guess. Lately, I've posted a lot about the hackers who have been posting zombie warnings on mobile road signs. This image made me think that I could probably be considered a rocket zombie. Motors...motors...
[Read More]

CrayShipOne converted to RockSim9
It's so cool to really be able to sim this type rocket! (yes, this sim runs)
[Read More]

Narcon 2009
This year, Narcon (the Annual National Association of Rocketry Conference) will take place in Connecticut, well within striking distance for NYC rocketry people. I plan on attending, if at all possible. There are several really interesting talks planned for Saturday. The host club appears to be ...
[Read More]

Two Wheeled Rocket
The other day a friend at work rode in his friends Ducati Desmosedici RR , and I got an opportunity to look over this awesome machine in person. Not a true rocket, but an incredible machine none the less.
[Read More]

The Torus
The other day I was looking through The Spaceship Handbook and began wondering about how to model a toroidal structure in RockSim (v9 not required). So here is an experiment...and it was a pain in the butt. I used multiple thin tube fins of varying diameter and thickness. I uses a thickness of ...
[Read More]

The Torus to SpaceStationOne
(Well, the only evidence of The Torus is shown above...I was supposed to rename the file as I saved it. Oh well, no big loss) (for my reference: torus.rkt)
[Read More]

iPowerRocket - the Swiss Army Knife of Rocketry Software
  i PowerRocket is an application for your iPhone or iPod touch that puts everything you‘ll ever need on the range in your pocket. It includes tools for barrowman CP computation, flight simulation, calculating ejection charges and parachutes and a flight log, all in one app.
[Read More]

December LAUNCH Mag - full articles
Via Mario Perdue on YORF, several full length articles from the MIA December edition are now on-line for ALL to read. From Mark and Deb... "As we prepare to bring the print version of LAUNCH Magazine out of hiatus, we wanted to thank you for your patience by uploading more content from our ...
[Read More]

Pioneers 0,1,2
One of the most daring series of flights, from any space exploration project has to be the early Pioneer launches. Between August 17th, October 11th, and November 8th, three very small probes were launched into deep space in an attempt to orbit the Moon and return images of the farside. The ...
[Read More]

Wordle
I just found Wordle , a word-cloud generator. I, of course, have seen the tag-clouds that are common in the blogaverse. Wordle, on the other hand, will make a word cloud out of any entered text, web link, Atom/RSS feed, or del.ico.us user name (although I'm not sure why you'd do the latter). From ...
[Read More]

When satellites collide
They break into lots of little pieces. FlightGlobal reports that an Iridium communications satellite collided with a Russian Cosmos 2251 communications satellite over the South Pole at 1155h Washington DC time on Tuesday. The article title implies the Iridium satellite is owned by NASA, but it's ...
[Read More]

BARCLONE on YORF
There is a new BARCLONE section over on YORF. Although there are several sections, the backbone of the section is the Designer's Studio , which at the time of writing presents 595 rocket designs. Actually, I'm not sure all 595 are in there. If they are not, then they can be found by referencing ...
[Read More]

More on the satellite collision
Astronomer Phil Plait crunched some rough numbers and found the Iridium and Cosmos 2251 satellites, which met unexpectedly yesterday, had a differential velocity of about 1.5 km/sec. Slow relative to their orbital speed but still "pretty dang fast." With each weighing in at around 700 kg, the ...
[Read More]

Rampant broken link alert
Maybe. This morning, EMRR announced that he will be renaming the directories that hold both reviews and RockSim files. I have made ample use of these in the Dungeon, so unless I fix them, there will be a lot of unresolved links, especially in the 'My Projects' category. Since I have no way of ...
[Read More]

Announcement regarding links to my EMRR reviews
I won't bore you with whining, but it appears updating the EMRR addys in my blog will be a royal pain in the butt. After updating the links in a in a few label categories, I have decided I will not be trying to clean these up across the board. There just is not enough blog traffic to these posts to ...
[Read More]

New FAA/AST documents
PJ Blount has compiled a list of recent documents issued by the FAA/AST.
[Read More]

New Mexico to limit Spaceport America's liability
PJ Blont posts about New Mexico's Space Flight Liability and Immunity Act . I'm not a lawyer and I don't play one on TV either but it seems clear such legislation is absolutely necessary to the success of a commercial spaceport.
[Read More]

Sexy observatories
IO9 has posted a gallery of The Coolest Looking Observatories on Earth . And I borrowed one of the coolest shots - of the ESO Telescope in Chile. See the source for a big version.
[Read More]

A mistake in the physics of the satellite collision
Earlier today I posted the results of Phil Plait's analysis of the collision between Iridium 33 and Cosmos 2251. Well, he made a mistake in the physics of the orbits and has posted an update . The bottom line is that the collision speed approached to orbital velocity of ~8 km/s, which means the ...
[Read More]

Concept Ships (update)
Check out the ConceptShips - An online animates spaceship and experimental aircraft art magazine . There is also a companion forum . I was going to swipe a sample image, but I couldn't decide on which one. (via the Essence of EMRR ) Update: I made my way back to August of last year and am ...
[Read More]

Thursday Blogger weirdness - NOT
Some time this evening, something happened to Blogger. Using Firefox, the blog reactions selections have a line break in the middle of the list and there is a big gap at the bottom of each post. Next, the 'subscribe-to' links, well, aren't links. And finally, the followers icons are each on their ...
[Read More]

DoD weighs in on the satellite collision
PJ Blount and Res Communis seems to be in the Dungeon's cross-hairs of late. PJ found and posted comments by U.S. Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In short: the debris field, which will be in orbit for around a year, may require "little bit of d ...
[Read More]

Rockets Magazine V3 I6 Feb 2009 - including FAA analysis
I found this to be one of the better issues of Rockets . It features two solid tech articles - one on chain-stitching 'chute lines and one on molding fiberglass parts. I doubt if I'll use either, but that doesn't mean I'm not interested. The editorial discusses the recent FAA rule changes and ...
[Read More]

Disney - "Man in Space"
" Rare Walt Disney Space series from 1955, speculating about going into Space. Remember, more than 50 years ago, Sputnik hadn't even gone up yet! This intro to the video is done by Disney afficionado, film critic Leonard Maltin!" These are the first three of 8 youtube video clips from this show. ...
[Read More]

More on linking to me EMRR reviews
Earlier , I noted if you follow a link to one of my EMRR reviews and it doesn't work, you can go to the list of my reviews and look for the one that you wanted. I missed one important point...that that link resides in the 'About the Dungeon' section at the top of my sidebar. Like you'd be able to ...
[Read More]

Removed the 'blog reactions' buttons
After having only one 'blog reaction' in the last two weeks, I figured they were pretty much useless.
[Read More]

Pictures of last months launch
My friend James took some great pictures of the zinc/sulphur rockets at last months RRS launch. Zn/S rockets typically leave the ground like they're being shot out of a cannon, so many photos I've seen only include a column of smoke but no the rocket. You can see the rest of Jame's photos ...
[Read More]

Radio Control
I've just recently gotten into radio control (after years of wanting too) with this Eagle Eye helicopter. It's already been a great learning experience, so using my infant knowledge of RC, I'm planning on tackling yet another ambitious project... but more on that later. I won't be able to do much ...
[Read More]

ValueRockets.com e-Commerce Site Now Online
AeroTech`s ValueRockets.com full-featured webstore is now complete and open for business at http://www.valuerockets.com. Featuring an easy-to-navigate design, the store is divided into six major product categories: Single-use model rocket motors, reloadable model rocket hardware, model rocket ...
[Read More]

NAR and TRA high power convergence
NAR Prez Trip Barber reports that the NAR has revised their high power certification requirements . He says: There are now very few differences between the technical requirements of our procedures for Level 1 through Level 3 high power certification and those of Tripoli Rocketry Association. ...
[Read More]

Woohoo, it's build session time
This next weekend I'm going to go to a build-session at a buddy's house. It's the third he's held this year but the first I've been able to make. Besides good company and food, there will be power tools. I've got Lexan, motor tubes and tube fins to cut. I better start planning what else I'll need ...
[Read More]

Constellation construction images
The Boston Globe has a great series called "The Big Picture" in which they post high quality images of some subject. A previous post from the cosmodrome was taken from there. Below, are a few of the images showing construction and preparation for the Constellation flight systems. Much of this work ...
[Read More]

A Pogo-like UAV
I have always thought tail-sitting aircraft are cool, especially the Convair XFY-1 " Pogo " . I just ran across some info on the Skytote UAV : AeroVironment INC of Monrovia, California, manufacturer of solar-powered endurance UAVs described in a later chapter, is also developing a pogo UAV ...
[Read More]

Stand-off Tupolev Tu-123 RockSim9
Here is a stand-off scale design inspired by the Tupolev Tu-123 . While you're standing-off, you might want to take a few more steps back! I really like the way pods let components blend together. I wish I could get 'em to do that in the real world. (scratch_tu123.rkt)
[Read More]

A timely video

[Read More]

More potential fall out from the satellite collision (oops, pun alert)
ParabolicArc reports on another possible impact from the collision of the Iridium and Cosmos satellites - the Hubble Space Telescope. The Chinese satellite shoot-down of 2007 raised the HST's risk of a catastrophic impact to 1-in-185, which exceeds the agency's normal risk threshold. NASA will ...
[Read More]

Finally, some movement in our lawsuit against the BATFE
Hot off the email: On February 17, 2009 the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted the motion that we filed on October 1, 2008 for a hearing on our long-standing lawsuit against BATFE. We requested this hearing to provide an opportunity for Judge Walton to clarify with all ...
[Read More]

Big news from Performance Hobbies
More heat from the email: Hey Gang, I've put this off long enough. I'm manufacturing carbonfiber and G-10 wrapped phenolic and cardboard airframes. We're using two wraps of 6 ounce cloth and they're sanded to a smooth ready to prime and paint finish. Orders are filled in two weeks. They'll fit ...
[Read More]

When rockets fall over
--Photo removed at the request of the owner. The source had it mis-attributed-- Steve Jurvetson has a smokin' hot report from the Valentine's Day ROC Launch. Besides the eye-candy, he reports that the Discovery Channel was shooting a special “When Rockets Go Wrong” show. The ...
[Read More]

The end of rocketry as we know it - NOT
--Photo removed at the request of the owner. The source had it mis-attributed-- Every time someone does a stunt involving rockets, some sport rocketeers express concern about how the stunt will affect the general public's view of the hobby. The same has evidently happened with news of the V2 ...
[Read More]

Revised TU-123 RockSim model (updated)
(scratch_tu123.rkt) click for bigger images I only simmed it on one motor. Note that, as usual, I didn't sweat the details of the design. If I was building it I'd have to iterate the design to determine the actula weight, stability margin, etc. Max data values: Maximum acceleration:Vertical (y): ...
[Read More]

TU-123 video
Here's a video that features the Tu-123 drone:
[Read More]

Nice space posters
My apartment is hardly large enough to hold one of these, but some day in a new place... Posters
[Read More]

Really bizarre, humongous plane (update)
(via leenks.com ) Tagged as an ekranoplan, but that's not what it is. Left it tagged that way anyway. I should have known this would be featured on Dark Roasted Blend - Monstrous Aviation: World's Biggest Airplanes . From that post, I find this is the Russian Ka-7 dating from the 1930's.
[Read More]

Remote sensing may be able to predict the zombie apocalypse
Well maybe. It seems NASA GSFC and UMBC scientists successfully predicted the 2006 outbreak of a deadly virus in Africa, giving local health officials a 6-week warning.
[Read More]

The MotherShip
Started because of this post , inspired by the WhiteKnight II . I was just too lazy to try to make a scale version. I may fiddle with the design a bit more. (Click to see more detail.)
[Read More]

Interesting rocket photos - resurrected
You may remember Ray Dunakin's rocket photography. I had always looked forward to his photos. With most rocket photography, you get similar views of the world - sod farms and dry lake beds lined with rows of cars. With Ray, you usually got remote desert sites with interesting rock formations and ...
[Read More]

A 2.6x upscale of a C6 motor
George Katz referred me to this interesting post from Oz. Normally, I'd think a 2.6x upscale of a 'C' motor should be a small 'E'. But Krusty had another idea :) (photo via Sascha Grant's Flickr stream )
[Read More]

Wanna own your own town?
I see Albert, TX is up for sale again. A couple of years ago it was going for around $2.2M on Ebay, today the price is a mere $883K. How about your own rocket ranch? Naw, not big enough and too many trees.
[Read More]

Name the Space Station's Next Node
I can think of a few names. Nutria Den, Alligator Nest, Red Fish Hole. But I don't think there going to get approved by NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/name_ISS/index.html
[Read More]

Build session post-mortem
I spent my day building, talking rockets, eating, and drinking coffee and beer. Warthog was as usual a great host - thanks bro! The following photo shows most of what I accomplished. I have now have a mostly built Estes Big Daddy. I replaced the 24mm mount with a 29mm one, added a steel fishing ...
[Read More]

Unreasonably good results
Paul Breed reports good results in his quest for the perfect H2O2 catalyst. He had some good test runs using a solid catalyst in an old motor (as opposed to the new motor that he's currently fabricating). I found it interesting that he got pointers from Anthony Cesaroni of CTI fame. That guy gets ...
[Read More]

Kepler
For the longest time, I had thought about large schmidtt cameras with huge CCD surface areas at the primary mirror. Probably, I was not the first to think of it. "Excerpt: WASHINGTON -- NASA's Kepler spacecraft is ready to be moved to the launch pad today and will soon begin a journey to search ...
[Read More]

Reinforcing couplers
You might recall my concern about the level 3 rocket folding under tremendous stress at the coupler interface between the booster and payload sections. I was able to easily reach into the 7.5" space and apply 3-4 layers of fiberglass/resin to that region to prevent failure. Now I'm building Giant ...
[Read More]

First vacuum bagging project
Having watched Dave Triano's composite videos twice I've been ordering all the goodies necessary to create high-strength composite materials with optimal weight. Several mistakes are likely but I embraced my enthusiasm and decided to invent on my very first vacuum bagging project today. My idea was ...
[Read More]

Launch Magazine - Christmas in February edition
Not surprisingly, there has been a lot discussion about LAUNCH Magazine's announcement that they are facing financial difficulties and will be taking a time out. They subsequently posted .pdf files of select article from the December edition, which had been a no-show. Well, last week reports began ...
[Read More]

Update on Aerospace Engineering
You haven't heard from me in a while because of my busy schedule. I'm taking a strategic step forward with this aerospace engineering class, and I wanted to write a brief summary of how that's been going. Before this point, much of my self-directed study has been on rocketry. This class has ...
[Read More]

Steve Eves' Saturn V launch date
I just saw the article on Rocketry Planet regarding Steve Eves' 1:10 scale Saturn V and suddenly it struck me that I've been remiss in announcing the launch date has been set. The big Saturn V will go up on April 25, 2009 at the Higg's Farm on Maryland's Eastern Shore. You can find more about the ...
[Read More]

Laminate plywood
Tired of filling and sanding? Try some plastic or phenolic clad Baltic birch plywood and let me know what you think. (via Toolmonger ) PS - This material may not be that advanced, but this seemed like the best tag.
[Read More]

"Want to say you have flown a rocket at NASA?"
NARHAMS sponsors regular rocket launches at the GSFC Visitor center on Sundays. 'The Prez' points out that the April 5th launch is being billed as a part of GSFC's 100 Hours of Astronomy .
[Read More]

Stupid rocket trick #8
Leave the lid to your Elmer's wood filler loose, especially during idle periods.
[Read More]

The V-2 Bumper WAC has a diamond anniversary (update)
On February 24th, 1949, a two stage V-2 'Bumper WAC' launched from White Sands, New Mexico became the first documented rocket to reach space. It attained an altitude of 244 miles, well above the currently accepted definition of space - 62 miles. Read more on Wired . ( Wikipedia notes that a German ...
[Read More]

Astronaut Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger?
Reportedly, Richard Branson has offered Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger a job at twice the salary of other Virgin pilots. This job offer comes with another option - becoming an astronaut with Virgin Galactic. Branson says, “The man can write his own ticket with me.” S ...
[Read More]

Video games tied to geeky palm disorder
Must...resist...urge...to...make...the...obvious...joke... Here's the report .
[Read More]

4-stage rack rocket static test (update)
Here's a high speed video of the static test of a 4-stage, 18mm rack rocket. Cool. (by Tom Desmarais) You can find lots more info about rack rockets in this post .
[Read More]

Cold power returns with a Sharpie rocket
Office Supplies Rocket - video powered by Metacafe See the instructable for the entire how-to.
[Read More]

Updated Mothership
I angled the upper stabilizers a bit more, added the lower stabilizers, and included a cockpit. next up will be under wing 'engines'.
[Read More]

AeroTech Spring `09 "Level 1-2-3" Certification Promotion
AeroTech is once again offering a special promotion to its NAR and Tripoli Level 1, 2 & 3 certification customers, available only through participating high-power RMS? dealers. The Level 1-2-3 promotion begins March 1, 2009 and includes the H123W-M reload kit for $12.50 (50% off MSRP), the ...
[Read More]

High power 10 years ago
As Feb. 2009 is slipping by, I found the Feb. 1999 issue of High Power Rocketry. So, what was going on in high power 10 years ago? Well, besides me getting into it. Impulse Aerospace started a new branch, Rocket Vision, to sell their new line of mid-low power 'Rugged Rockets' and pads. Alas, ...
[Read More]

Mystery at Salt Flat
Clark Lindsey provides the link to the Mystery at Salt Flat , which explores a facility near Jeff Bezos's test area for Blue Origin in West Texas.
[Read More]

"Giant rockets are fun to ponder" - Clark Lindsey
Yeah, I have to agree, so I thought I'd pass along Next Big Future's In Praise of Large Payloads for Space by Joseph Friedlander Part 1 . I was aware of the Aldebaran and Sea Dragon, but had never heard of the Liberty Ship (aka Nuclear Lightbulb) or the Super Orion. The latter is an extrapolation ...
[Read More]

Noscript alert
If you use Noscript with Firefox, there will be a glitch with the 'following' feature in Blogger. Blogger has fiddled with the way that following is handled by integrating it with Google Friend Connect. Noscript is barfing on a cross-site XSS script to that service. Unfortunately, there is no way ...
[Read More]

Attention non-Blogger readers
Blogger now supports the Google Friend Connect and here is what they have to say: Friend Connect encourages readers to use one account (whether it's a Google account, a Yahoo, AIM or OpenID account) to follow any site - a Blogger blog, a WordPress blog, or any other site that has incorporated ...
[Read More]

Make: 17
I didn't detect anything rocketry related in this issue so I'll merely ape what Make had to say about the issue: Volume 17 goes really old school with the Lost Knowledge issue, featuring projects and articles covering the steampunk scene, makers creating their own alternative Victorian world ...
[Read More]

A Trip to the Grand Canyon
I'm taking a brief hiatus from my vigorous studies. Over spring break my family is going to drive all the way to the Grand Canyon! I've got many hours to kill on the road, so this is my opportunity to make designs for spring! When I come back (on the 4th), I'll probably have a few things to blog ...
[Read More]

Recycled Big Daddy + junk build
This rocket was built with the remains of my Big Daddy that core sampled last year: The base of the nose broke off so I added a Luan bulkhead and a small eyebolt. The body tube is a wrapping paper tube that fits the nose perfectly. The body was a bit flimsy so I reinforced the inside ...
[Read More]

The Moon
These are some landing sites on the Moon.
[Read More]

More on the Iridium-Cosmos collision
Last Monday's Space Review features a good article on the Iridium-Cosmos collision - Billiards in space, by Brian Weeden . Mr. Weeden, an ex-USAF officer who worked in orbital analysis, provides insight into the state of orbital conjunction assessment and, in the subject case, the lack thereof.
[Read More]

new spaced-out magazine launching soon - UniGalactic
Via a post on Rocketry Planet : UniGalactic is an online Space Travel Magazine with one simple mission - research and deliver (in either electronic or paper format) Space Travel relevant content to our subscribers. UniGalactic Space Travel Magazine will be launched in 2009 with the first issue ...
[Read More]

The Mothership refitted with turbojets
I think I figured out the reason some of my RockSim9 sims won't run. I often add complicated pods on pods on pods. I then copy the top level pod to the flip side of the rocket and adjust all the radial distances and angles until they match. I did this when adding the turbojets to the Mothership. ...
[Read More]

Robo-Tonka trucks
The Spaceports blog reports on a plan to use robotic Earth-movers regolith-movers to build lunar landing pads. The 'robo-Tonka trucks' were proposed by Astrobotic Technology and Carnegie Mellon University at last Friday's NASA Lunar Surface Systems Conference . You can get the presentation here . ...
[Read More]

Curt von Delius Sets New J and M-Class Altitude Records With AeroTech Reloads at XPRS 2008 Launch
Curt von Delius, using a modified version of his record-setting Level 3 airframe, crushed his previous ?M?-class altitude record of 37,762 feet by flying it to a GPS verified altitude of 45,328 feet AGL on September 19th 2008 and also set a new ?J?-class altitude record of 19,758 feet on September ...
[Read More]

Brinley's "Rocket Manual for Amateurs" - online
Via Rocketry Planet . Thanks, Darrell!
[Read More]

4x29SS Rocketry Build
I have been busy building my latest creation. It's a modified LOC 4x29SS. It has been reinforced with fiberglass and customized for dual deployment. It has airstart capability and will be capable of flying on up to 4 x I200 motors. That puts it in the K impulse range and around 9,000' in altitude. ...
[Read More]

One-pulse Orion
In a new series of posts, Next Big Future analyzes the feasibility of a nuclear cannon (one-shot Orion) for inexpensive access to space. I'll merely point you to his Project Orion label . If you look at this writing, it will be the top two posts; if you look later, there may be additional good ...
[Read More]

Apogee Rocketry Workshop Video #4: How To Mount An Altimeter In A Small Model Rocket

[Read More]

Mother Ship, adjusted
I updated the turbo-jets after I saw Craig McGraw's Cormes Protectorate Drakken Defender . I tried swiping (copying) the turbos from Craig's design, but they broke my sim. So, I settled for adjustments to the size of the existing components and some added ribs.
[Read More]

Soviet dog flights to space
" Laika (meaning "Barker") - died during a mission (Sputnik 2, November 1957) Lisichka (meaning "Little Fox") and Bars (meaning "Panther" or "Lynx") - died during a test flight on July 28, 1960 Strelka (meaning "Little Arrow") , Belka (meaning "Squirrel"), 40 mice, 2 rats and a number of plants - ...
[Read More]

When space had gone to the dogs
R2K's post about the Soviet dog flights to space prompted me to add a label on Space: Animal Explorers . I have made several posts on Laika - the dog, the book, and the monument. Woof, woof!
[Read More]

Cosmic motors - concept art that should be able to fly
DRB is Featuring the Cosmic Motors Concept Art by one Daniel Simon . That link is actually to DRB's post - you can find Daniel's sites here and here . Although much of his concepts actually have wheels, they all see to fit well into the worlds of spaceships, starships, and rockets...and so they ...
[Read More]

But whos's watching the Watchmen?
Well, it had to happen...I'm posting about the movie Watchmen. So, the obvious answer to the post title is me. And judging from the Friday morning crowd, a lot of others are also. I wasn't very familiar with the story line or characters, having just seen the trailer and read one Wikipedia article ...
[Read More]

Astronomy geek humor
I don't know about you, but I laughed my a$$ off. Via Bad Astronomy via someone else: Emboldened by their success in declaring Pluto not a planet, the International Astronomical Union determined this week by a close vote that February is too short to be considered a true month. It has, however, ...
[Read More]

Saturn Orion references
This is Rocket Science has some interesting Project Orion images , including the modified Saturn booster. I really wanted to post one for my future reference, but am trying to be better about snatching copyrighted images. Request is yet unanswered. This page also has some renderings and includes a ...
[Read More]

Saturn Orion project idea
I think I have the motivation for my next build. I downloaded the .pdfs from my previous post and they include a lot of info on the Saturn V Orion booster. More than I need...I only looked at the diagrams. There are a lot of variants of both the booster and the Orion payload and, since I'm not a ...
[Read More]

New propellant - flour and compressed air
A discussion on the water-rockets Yahoo group asked if talcum powder could be used in lieu of water in a water rocket. (Yeah, I know, it wouldn't be a water rocket.) One respondent came up with a link to a Thai site that presents several videos of a flour rocket. [ raw link ] [ translated (as if ...
[Read More]

UFO turns out to be planet Venus
Planet Venus hung bright in the night sky at the Zeus parade Feb. 19 2009
[Read More]

Kepler Observatory
Last week NASA successfully launched the Kepler Observatory on a Boeing Delta II rocket. Resulting in what may be the greatest launch photo of all time. Awesome picture.
[Read More]

Tripoli Motor Testing Certifies New High-Power Mojave Green Reload Kit
The Tripoli Motor Testing (TMT) Committee of the Tripoli Rocketry Association has certified a new AeroTech high-power Mojave Green? propellant RMS? reload, the L1390G-P. The L1390G-P fits AeroTech, Dr. Rocket? and Rouse-Tech? 75/3840 RMS hardware, delivers a maximum thrust of 408 pounds and ...
[Read More]

Onboard Video
I 've recently purchased a 2.4 GHz video camera from BoosterVision.com. I haven't flown it yet, I'm working on a rocket that will carry it. I think there are a few drawbacks to wireless transmission, and there are a few drawbacks to internal memory. The drawbacks to wireless transmission are that ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, March/April 2009
Just got the new issue and am a little disappointed. Not due to the quality of the articles but their subjects just didn't excite me. Hopefully, this curmudgeonly post will be taken with a grain of salt. Rats, this is the 2nd issue in a row that I've felt this way about. The first feature is a ...
[Read More]

Project Orion
There is a great post over at Dick's Rocket Dungeon on Project Orion. This has to be one of the most exciting proposed forms of space exploration. Using 1950s technology only... it was possible to use Nuclear bombs to propel a large spacecraft at very high speeds. Fast enough to take lots of ...
[Read More]

Flight of the 2.6x Estes C6
Earlier, I posted a photo of Sasha Grant's 2.6x upscale of an Estes C6 motor. Sascha now has flown it...and has the proof -->
[Read More]

Retro rocket car: Opel RAK 2
Here's a photo of the Opel Rak 2's 24 rockets, which held a combined 265 lbs of propellant. This car was developed in the late 30's, well in advance of the infamous V2. Hemming's Auto Blog has a nice article on the Opel rocket cars, including more photos. Astronautix also presents a timeline of ...
[Read More]

Return of EMRR-on-CD
Nick just announced that EMRR-on-CD is back , and is now on DVD. For ten bucks, you can now carry around: 3,448 Reviews/Articles from 830 Authors 29,660 Flight Logs 2,064 RockSim Files 1,653 CP Listings 3,330 Recommended Motors 2,537 Opinions 404 Stories 429 Hints/Tips 819 Rocket Specific Tips 894 ...
[Read More]

Videos and models of the unexpected Iridium-Cosmos meeting
Analytical Graphics has a new web page about the Iridium 33 and Cosmos 2251 Satellite Collision . It feature a really cool (but big) animations and computer models of the the collision. There are some still images, but they aren't nearly as good as the videos.
[Read More]

Google Satellite Tracker
Check Out the Space Station on Google Sat. Tracker Today's spacewalk outside the space station completed successfully. http://tinyurl.com/bloqs4
[Read More]

CNN - Behind the scenes at Kennedy Space Center
Behind the scenes at Kennedy Space Center Going behind the scenes at Kennedy Space Center is like visiting another planet. The employees working on the shuttle fleet speak their own language -- a language made up of acronyms. The orbiter is maintained in the OPF (orbiter processing facility) ...
[Read More]

More hybrid rocket car coverage
Here's a video for a YouTube user appropriately named laffingastv. He/she has a bunch of videos including a somewhat wimpy 1/4-mile run. Hat tip to Chuck_Rudy on Rocketry Planet. Chuck posted this vid after a post regarding the Bloodhound SSC (this link is to a new article that may have more ...
[Read More]

The new killer app: the rocket-powered 'super soaker' (?)
The Wall Street Journal has an article that outlines various proposals for cleaning up the growing quantity of space junk that is building up over our heads - A Cosmic Question: How to Get Rid Of All That Orbiting Space Junk? These ideas include ground-based lasers and garbage collecting ...
[Read More]

ISS evacuation
I see that the ISS crew was temporarily evacuated to the Russian Soyuz capsule today. A 5-inch * piece of space junk was expected to pass within the 2.8 mile 'danger box' around the station. Normally, the ISS's orbit is adjusted to avoid objects but in this case there wasn't enough advance ...
[Read More]

My Next Book

[Read More]

Now you CAN say your rocket is built like a tank!
Here's the announcement from Always Ready Rocketry (ARR): In conjunction with Phenix Tube , ARR is proud to announce Blue Tube , a new airframe material borne from the most unusual source, TANK AMMUNITION ! Highly abrasion resistant, with massive acceleration potential for a spiral wound ...
[Read More]

Latest Joint Statement on the NAR/TRA Litigation with the BATFE
Joint Statement on the NAR/TRA Litigation with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives (BATFE) March 13, 2009 Today Judge Reggie Walton, presiding in our case before the US District Court, heard arguments from both legal counsel for NAR/TRA and the BATFE. At the conclusion ...
[Read More]

Joint Statement on the Litigation with the BATFE
Today Judge Reggie Walton, presiding in our case before the US District Court, heard arguments from both legal counsel for NAR/TRA and the BATFE. At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Walton stated that he was inclined to agree with our position. While this is extremely encouraging, there will ...
[Read More]

Light-bending nano-cups may make cloaking a reality
The ACS Journal NANO Letters has a paper written by Nikolay A. Mirin and Professor Naomi J. Halas of the Department of Chemistry, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and the Laboratory for Nanophotonics at Rice University. The full article requires a subscription but here's the ...
[Read More]

Report from LDRS....6
ZZakk's Lab has an interesting report from LDRS 6, which was held at Hartsell, Colorado in 1987. Dig them shades!
[Read More]

APCP not an Explosive, Rules Judge Reggie B. Walton
District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton for the District of Columbia today issued an order finding in favor of Tripoli Rocketry Association (TRA) and National Association of Rocketry (NAR) vs. the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE). The decision followed a status hearing ...
[Read More]

Flour rockets - no leavening required
When the folks over at Air Command heard about flour rockets , they just had to give them a try. The following video documents several successful flights. Flour Rockets from AirCommand on Vimeo .
[Read More]

Dang, I missed the STS-119 webcast
I waited, and waited, and watched the time...and got sidetracked. The good news is Discovery is up safely.
[Read More]

Space Shuttle Discovery blasts off from the Cape. March 15th 2009. Awesome Photo by: Bill Turner of Tequesta, Florida 160 mile south of the launch site.
[Read More]

Space shuttle Discovery,STS-119 blasts off
Space shuttle Discovery,STS-119 blasts off Sunday, March 15, 2009 at the Kennedy Space Center on a mission to the International Space Station. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel) (Red Huber, Orlando Sentinel / March 15, 2009)
[Read More]

A rocket collapse
Dwayne Day has a short article on the failed launch of an Atlas/Agena-D in today's Space Review - Not a bang, but a whimper . What I want to know is, does this qualify as a CATO? LOL (rhetorical question)
[Read More]

President's challenge design for 20,000+
The San Diego club has a standing "President's challenge" to reach or exceed 20,000 feet. I've decided to take a crack at this at Plaster Blaster on October 3rd. Here's my preliminary design: I have many of the parts already including the bad-ass nosecone so construction will begin shortly. I'll ...
[Read More]

Judge Walton rules in favor of the NAR/TRA!!!
W00t! I can hardly believe my ears. This is big enough that I'm re-posting info from the Rocketry Planet post . That post includes a .pdf of the ruling and undoubtedly a lot of opinion and analysis of what this will mean to us. I am so excited that I posted it before even digesting it myself. ...
[Read More]

Announcing a New 2-stager!
"Untitled" Length: 48 in Diameter: 3 in Payload: camera, altimeter Max. altitude: ~3,000 ft Max velocity: mach 0.5 Max acceleration: 350 ft/s/s No. stages: 2 MMT: 29mm-29mm Intended motors: G64 to F40 or G64 I'm VERY excited about this one. It's my first composite motor staging attempt, and (once ...
[Read More]

WE WON!!! TRA/NAR win there 9 year long lawsuit against the BATFE
Yes it's true! APCP is no longer on the BATFE's list of explosives. Read it all here! http://www.rocketryplanet.com/content/view/2788/30/
[Read More]

NAR prez on Judge Walton's ruling
Fellow NAR Members -- As the result of nine years of hard work by our legal team and the teamwork and leadership of a series of key leaders of the NAR and TRA (especially former NAR President Mark Bundick), and as a result of your generous financial support for our cause, this case is now ...
[Read More]

We won (maybe for real this time)
JOINT TRA/NAR STATEMENT ON THE LAWSUIT VS BATFE March 18, 2009 After a conference with our legal counsel, we provide the following information to our members on how to proceed in the aftermath of the favorable decision by Judge Walton in our lawsuit to eliminate the unjustified regulation of ...
[Read More]

Joint TRA/NAR Statement on the Lawsuit vs. BATFE
After a conference with our legal counsel, we provide the following information to our members on how to proceed in the aftermath of the favorable decision by Judge Walton in our lawsuit to eliminate the unjustified regulation of Ammonium Perchlorate Composite Propellant (APCP) imposed by the ...
[Read More]

Tax executive bonuses at uber-high rates? (update)
Hey! Wait! That was my idea! But then I guess nobody was listening. I won't try to add references but I've heard the administration is considering tax rates of between 90% and 100% on bonuses paid to execs of companies that accepted bailout cash. This was prompted by the news that AIG execs got ...
[Read More]

Just foolin' with old videos
A couple of on-topic clips, taken at the War Eagles Air Museum in Santa Teresa, N.M. And, some cute non-rocket chicks :)
[Read More]

Vacuum-bagged fin half
I was supposed to provide an update on my fin layup weeks ago.  Well I finally cut it out and here's the result: You can see that the perforated film drew too much resin out so the texture undulates rather than being smooth.  You'll also notice the slight profile near the edges so ...
[Read More]

Did Bat Hitch a Ride to Space?
The bat, seen clinging to the external fuel tank of the Space Shuttle Discovery before its launch on Sunday , apparently clung for dear life to the side of the tank as the spaceship lifted off. Closeup of a bat clinging to the fuel tank of the Space Shuttle Discovery during the launch Sunday, ...
[Read More]

Robo-toro...olé!
Via Short Sharp Science .
[Read More]

Animal astronauts - monkeys, dogs and now a bat
I had heard the report that a bat 'stowed away' on Discovery last Sunday, but hadn't seen the photos. Now that I have, I just had to post one. I doubt if he made it to space, but either way I'm afraid he gave his life for the program. ( ABC News )
[Read More]

Joint statement on Judge Walton's decision
I guess this is pretty much what I knew, but it seems more depressing when embedded in a formal statement. That is, despite the initial elation, a final victory is far from a certainty. As expected, there has been tons of discussion on this subject since Judge Walton's ruling was released. There ...
[Read More]

Happy News for Rocket People
There's some big news going around in the rocket community (I've heard this from about five different sources now). The rocketry associations NAR and TRA have been waging a legal battle against the BATFE (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) for several years, which was recently ...
[Read More]

First carbon fiber tube wrap
Last night I finally mustered the energy to lay up my first carbon fiber tube. In this case I reinforced a partially built booster for a 54mm minimum diameter craft. I roughed up the phenolic tube to better take the resin, followed Dave Triano's layup schedule to the letter, and ended up with the ...
[Read More]

On 'backyard' technical education (and formal education too)
"True "Homeland Security" means letting our kids know they can, and must, experiment, discover, and, sometimes blow things up." - Dan Dubno Think this sums up this article nicely and should be enough to tweak your interest. Hat tip to Bill Gurstelle (who has a short synopsis if you don't want ...
[Read More]

Heck Yeh I Made It!!!

[Read More]

AeroTech Unveils New 24mm Single-Use Motor at NARCON 2009
AeroTech is releasing its first new 24mm single-use motor since 2001, the 24 X 95mm Blue Thunder? F32T, during NARCON 2009 in Wethersfield, CT. The F32T features an all-new molded phenolic casing with a built-in thrust ring, a new molded plastic bulkhead and uses a specially-optimized version of ...
[Read More]

Undersea eruption...simply awesome!
This is one of a series of photos of the undersea eruption off the coast of Tonga in the South Pacific. See The Big Picture for the whole set.
[Read More]

NASA's Ares I-X Motors Arrive
A train hauling rocket motors for NASA's Ares I-X mission chugged in to Kennedy Space Center today, marking a key milestone for the first in a series of test flights aimed at qualifying Ares 1 rockets for launching American astronauts. http://tinyurl.com/dyyqnq
[Read More]

It's baaaaaaaaak (LAUNCH Magazine, that is)
Yesterday, someone on YORF noticed LAUNCH's subscription page is back, with magazine deliveries resumine in June. In January, they announced that they were experiencing financial difficulties and would be taking 'a hiatus'. The December issue experienced publishing problems but was eventually ...
[Read More]

X-20 Dyna-Soar Carrier in RockSim9
As I was pulling my X-20 Dyna-Soar Carrier out for tomorrow's launch, I realized that I could refine the RockSim model by adding the X-20's winglets. Its maiden flight showed that something was amiss with the original sims. Since then I added some nose weight and will try again on a D12-5 this ...
[Read More]

Apogalacticon and the army of the dark empire!
We all know Apogee and Perigee from rocketry work, and also those of us in the deep space camp often use the helion, astron, jove, lune... but here are a few new ones to boot. Apogalacticon is the best, and also probably the most crazy orbit you can have in this Universe.
[Read More]

Apogalacticon, the newest enemy of the Fantastic Four or just another astronomical term?
R2K presents a table with a variety of terms for the maximum and minimum orbital distances of various astronomical bodies. For instance, apogalacticon is a star's farthest orbital point from its galaxy's center.
[Read More]

World Record RC Glide Duration (not new)
The longest glide duration for an RC model was a staggering 36 hours and 3 minutes. I discovered this when looking for common glide ratios. It puzzled me for a while, and I decided to look into it. Usually gliders can hitch a ride on columns of rising air called thermals. As the sun warms ...
[Read More]

March Madness mojo
I'm not much of a basketball fan but, if a team I have some association with gets into the NCAA tournament, I'll try to watch the games. That morning, I randomly grabbed a t-shirt since the weather was showing signs of getting to a comfortable range. I had thought I heard Maryland didn't make the ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2009-1
Location: Old National Pike Park, Mt. Airy, MD ( NARHAMS ) Weather: up to 48 degs, wind calm to mild, sunny to overcast Total flights: Today - 10; YTD - 10 Total motors: Today - 10; YTD - 10 The weather was great for March but was a tad chillier than expected. The flight rate started low with ...
[Read More]

Cosmos on Hulu
I hear that the entire Cosmos series is on Hulu. What else would you expect? Hulu is run by brain-eating aliens, after all.
[Read More]

RIP Terps
Bah, maybe I shoulda washed the t-shirt?
[Read More]

Rockets take to the sky in Luling, LA
We had a beautiful day with temps in the 70's and little wind all morning long. Many rockets were flown including this beautiful Cherokee G built and flown by Ray Mancuso . We had a group of students with there TARC projects. Lots of good usable data was gathered and they are well on there way to ...
[Read More]

Narcon 2009
This weekend, I was lucky enough to attend one day of the two day National Association of Rocketry annual conference. The location was in central CT. New York city rocketry people (me and probably one other guy) are very lucky this year; LDRS will also be very close. The host, CATO #581, was the ...
[Read More]

Ahhh, painting weather is here
Today was reasonably warm and calm so I ventured forth the slung some primer on my 29mm Big Daddy and the rebuild of my 58mm JATO bullet rocket.
[Read More]

What, you missed NARCON 2009?
Well, so did I. But R2K didn't and he has a nice report of what he saw .
[Read More]

Smoke on the water, fire in the sky
If you see a massive fireball over the Potomac just north of the Key Bridge on March 25th between 9:30am and 12:00pm (noon), have no fear. The DCist reports that it will just be CBS Paramount will be filming the “Washington Field” .
[Read More]

Big a$$ rocket of the day - 1/3 scale X15
Not really a rocket...yet. But this is a build you may want to follow - PunkRocketScience X15 .
[Read More]

NARHAMS photos
My photos from last weekend's launch can be found here .
[Read More]

Tower construction at Cape Higgs
I see the launch tower at Higgs Farm is going up in preparation for the April 25th flight of Steve Eves' 1:10 scale Saturn V.
[Read More]

Sprint ABM part 3
These are just some new images of the Sprint rocket or the Spartan - Sprint system. There is also a PDF out there (check the Sprint wiki page) with lots of info, but I have yet to read it.
[Read More]

Slow blogging, brief catch-up
Blogging has been slow around the Dungeon. I got Roxio Creator and am copying old videos to DVD. My laptop was of average power two years ago but manipulating multi-gigabyte files eats its lunch. It will do it, but it tends to barf if I try to even surf the net at the same time. Here's a few ...
[Read More]

A poof on the Potomac
DCist has a couple of shots of today's FX explosion on the Potomac. Meh. I wouldn't even have been concerned had I seen it and not been forewarned. But then, thanks to the good folks at MDRA. I'm used to 'M' - 'O' fire and smoke.
[Read More]

On tissue regeneration (egads...an Oprah post)
I actually watched Oprah late last night (technically early this morning). The show was pretty interesting. Oprah regular Dr. Oz talked about life extension . I've heard about calorie restriction for over 10 years so that wasn't new. However, the segment on tissue regeneration was fascinating. The ...
[Read More]

Home made gadget meets bomb squad
The TSA's Evolution of Security blog has a post warning do-it-yourselfers, hackers, and 'Makers' not to try to sneak home made electronics by the screeners. These things look suspicious on the X-rays and their people evidently aren't qualified to tell a harmless gadget from a nefarious one. The ...
[Read More]

It's almost Robot Fest time here in Maryland
Just in case any of y'all have any interest:
[Read More]

The Mythbusters shake, rattle, and roll Yolo County, California
The Mythbusters went out to the country for one of their experiments and got more than the bargained for. They reportedly set off 500 pounds of ammonium nitrate, which rattled the nearby town and broke windows. Unlike the recent stunt on the Potomac . I guess that's a good thing. (via KCRA.com ) ...
[Read More]

Burn Baby Burn !
Another awesome launch picture. Expedition 19 headed to space yesterday on the top of this Soyuz rocket. The Russians have us beat, hands down in launch capability. They sure know how to do it consistently. (See the Video Here)
[Read More]

TRF '1.0' database has been recovered
Today, TRF owner AKPilot announced that another admin, Troj, had recovered the corrupted database from the original TRF (aka TRF 1.0). Access to this data may be a month or more away and it's not clear how well integrated it will be. In any event, this is a good thing as there have been several ...
[Read More]

Is there a new propellant coming?
There is an great thread on YORF about an Estes-Cox patent application for an new propellant. This propellant, Vulcanite TM EB-75, is based on potassium perchlorate and offers an ISP of over double that of BP, approaching that of AP. Like BP, it would be packed, which means existing machines at ...
[Read More]

EMRR stuff
Well, today's update features my first rocket review of the year...for the Area 51 SPEV Saucer . I'm now tied with Chan for the most reviews and IT'S ON! :)
[Read More]

New AeroTech Hobby Line Dealer Announced
AeroTech is pleased to announce the addition of Always Ready Rocketry (ARR) as a new dealer of its hobby line rocket products in sunny Tampa, FL. Randall Ejma, owner of ARR, is very excited about the prospects of being an onsite vendor for local launches at Tripoli Tampa, as well as providing a ...
[Read More]

RDS is back
Every so often the question arises: where is Rocket Dynamic Systems (RDS)? Evidently they went underground due to family health issues. I'm happy to hear that's resolved and that they are back  with a full line of HPR kits, parts and supplies.
[Read More]

Blue Scout Jr.
"The Blue Scout Junior was regarded by the USAF as the most useful of the various Blue Scout configurations. It was used between between 1962 and 1965 by the Air Force to launch suborbital scientific payloads to very high altitudes. The SLV-1B* was effectively identical to the XRM-91, and was ...
[Read More]

The post that never was
Man, I got totally sucked into a pre-April Fools Day gag and came close to posting about it. And no, I ain't about to say what it was.
[Read More]

Knock, knock, anyone home?
Man, my blogging hasn't been this slow for years. I slowed down when I got busy on a non-rocketry project but since I re-emerged I just haven't found much material that has motivated me. That, coupled with few projects in the Dungeon, has decimated my posting rate. I've continued priming my new ...
[Read More]

Estes chief Barry Tunick fields questions
YORF's Scott Hansen has orchestrated a Q&A with Barry Tunick of Estes Industries. Scott gathered questions from YORF member, submitted them to Mr. Tunick, and has received an preliminary set of answers . Here's a few of the most interesting responses (to me). I think the corresponding ...
[Read More]

Critters!
After seen a red fox on out deck last night, I thought I'd note all the critters we've seen on our deck. around 4 varieties (?) of small sparrow/wren-like birds, cardinals, blue jays, orioles, a hawk, a turkey buzzard, crows, doves brown squirrels, black squirrels opossums raccoons ...
[Read More]

Rockets and the environment
Reports about the potential environmental impact of rocket exhaust are popping up all over the interweb today. Clark Lindsey points to several of them .
[Read More]

Pat Gordzelik on the new FAA rules
Rocketry Planet has just published Pat Gordzelik 's editorial on the FAA's recent changes to their amateur rocketry regulations. The changes went into effect last February. This editorial had previously been published in the February 2009 issue of Rockets magazine . Here is a snippet from my ...
[Read More]

Barry Tunick answers a few unasked questions
Scott Hansen has posted an email he received from Estes Industries' Barry Tunick . In this email, Barry addresses issues that he didn't think were adequately addressed in his previous responses to the forum members' questions . I think his email provides a lot of insight into the issues Estes ...
[Read More]

Hobby Works news for DC-area locals
Snipped from an email: The Legend Continues! Hobby Works' famous Spring Clearance Sale starts Saturday April 18th. We're getting ready right now, so stop by the stores and preview the sale. Look for the yellow tags. Look but don't touch - because the savings don't start until the 18th! What's ...
[Read More]

No more Future Space Access
Well, at least not here. I decided to disable my so called Future Space Access Database. There was just too much old, incorrect information there. I suggest searching HobbySpace or The Big List o' Space Links to find out the latest scoop on your favorite space project.
[Read More]

And some more from Estes' Barry Tunick
In this post (again posted by Scott Hansen), Barry continues his "stream of consciousness" while in between hops on a business trip to China. He talks about the size of the company relative to historic levels, why sales at Walmart feed hobby stores rather than harm them, that $7+ motors sell ...
[Read More]

Re-LAUNCH statement
Mark Mayfield and Deborah Martin, the publishers of LAUNCH Magazine, have posted a statement about their return to publication. The short version: they'll be back in June, existing subscribers will get the issues they've paid for, an electronic version will be provided.
[Read More]

Amateur rocketry at Space Access '09
No new info provided, but Clark Lindsey notes that the FAA/AST presented their new amateur rocketry rules at Space Access '09 . Clark has been providing a brief summary of each session.
[Read More]

Neologism of the day
Billionaut Hopefully, this term will be retired soon, being replaced by 'millionaut'.
[Read More]

Interesting interactive pattern generator
subblue has an interactive Flash app lets you play with Guilloché patterns . You can find out more here if you are interested in knowing in a bit more about what's under the hood. I was happy just to twiddle with the slider bars and stare at the screen.
[Read More]

"High Cotton" Rocket Launch
Saturday's launch was awesome with many successful flights including a two stage and my 4x29SS Ultimate flying on two H180's and air starting two G79's. One H180 came up to pressure first then the second kicked in after it had left the rail. So the flight was a little less then vertical. Only ...
[Read More]

The Mocket Man, say what?
This might have been a better post for April 1st, although it appears to be true. Reuters has a story about a rich Japaneses dude who supposedly spent $350K on mock missiles to act as deterrent against N. Korean aggression. The person who found this article comments on Rocketry Planet   ...
[Read More]

RockSim 9 gone wild: USS Enterprise
    I just entered this interesting 'what-if' RockSim design into EMRR's database - a rendition of Star Trek's USS Enterprise. In the comments to his design, Lester Anderson asks that anyone who gets this to work in the real work let him know. Well, I don't think that will happen ...
[Read More]

Electronics inventory update
Dok and Kurt encouraged me to build experience with varied electronics packages.  As such I've been stocking up.  At the time of my L3 cert I was using: Ozark Aerospace ARTS2 altimeter BlackSky AltACC 2C altimeter (BlackSky is now defunct but here's a review on this page ) ...
[Read More]

Belated March launch updates
The March Plaster City launch featured amazing, wind-free flying.  I must say that this is the first year of many when the stars have aligned to allow confident flying so I'm going as often as I can.  I had four flights that day: Vertical Assault 3" on a K185 - 7,076' with ...
[Read More]

April launch report
Yesterday was the April Plaster City Launch. Again the weather was almost perfect so that makes three months in a row for San Diego now! Coincidentally both the March and April launches were preceded with excessive wind gusting to 35+ MPH the Friday before. Then as of Saturday morning calm to mild ...
[Read More]

Back to off-topic - spring yard work
Today was the first day of hard core yard work this year: mowing extracting leaves from around shrubs edging picking up pine cones bought mulch - I usually get it from a sod farm, but there was good sale at Home Depot spread ten bags - the old back needs to break into yard ...
[Read More]

Revisiting an Old Project...
I'm not giving out too many details just yet, but I will disclose that I'm improving my supersonic design. It should be able to withstand higher airspeeds, so the motor of choice will hopefully be the 137 N-sec G80, the most powerful single use model rocket motor available. If I'm brave, I ...
[Read More]

METRA Launch - 4/5/09
Today I attended a METRA launch. Visibility was good, but wind was a steady 10 - 15 mph. Despite the wind, which did eventually die down by 2:00, several dozen flights were launched. Most METRA launches feature a few very large flights, and this one was no exception. Two most notable flights were: ...
[Read More]

An Unreasonable Space Access presentation
Paul Breed links to his Space Access '09 presentation ( slow link alert ) and the corresponding YouTube video. Rocket people are cool. (I wonder if Paul will note the purple background on the video? Sorry, I just had to do it. You may have to read his presentation to understand.)
[Read More]

Gyro stabilization and the big a$$ rocket of the day
Clark Lindsey points to the latest flight of the Gyroc VTVL testbed . This gyroscopically stabilized testbed uses commercially available long-burn model rocket motors for takeoff and landing. While looking at the site, I also found this video of the Blue Peter hybrid rocket , brought to you by the ...
[Read More]

The Commercial Future of Spaceflight
A SpaceX rocket will be the next U.S. vehicle to travel to the space station after the shuttles retire. (Click Here For More Info)
[Read More]

RockSim 9 tutorial
In Apogee Newsletter #232 , Tim Van Milligan guides the reader through the process of designing polyhedral wings in RockSim 9 using the pods feature. Here's what Tim days about polyhedral wings: A polyhedral wing is a special form of dihedral where the wing is angled upward to provide roll ...
[Read More]

Finocyl grain testing
The Sugar shot project has begun testing finocyl grain geometries. Rick Maschek is doing a great job of actually casting the segments. Rick has managed to remove the mandrels with ease , something that is notoriously difficult with complex cores, by cooling it first by running nitrogen through the ...
[Read More]

TED: Three predictions on the future of Iran, and the math to back it up
Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, a consultant to the CIA and the DoD, successfully applies Game Theory to predict messy human events such as war and political power shifts. In this talk, he provides some general background on how he does this and makes three predictions about Iran. I embedded the talk ...
[Read More]

50th Anniversary of the Mercury 7
And then there were seven. It's hard to believe the it has been 50 years. We have come a long way since then. We still have a long way to go. We are still using the technology that was developed 50 years ago to put our astrounauts into space. Who would have thought that it all would work so good. ...
[Read More]

Launch Coming Up
I will probably have the first launch of the year this weekend, provided the weather cooperates (which it looks like it might). I have 2 or 3 rockets ready to launch: 1) Arrow 2 , my most flown rocket with at least a dozen flights, will hopefully fly on a C6-5, possibly even with a D12 booster. 2) ...
[Read More]

Old image from the archives
This image is from about 10 years ago, but shockingly it is a the very same (and only) Graduator that I fly today. But here it had a green nose cone (still have the cone, it is interchangeable with the red one). In any event, the story behind this photo starts with the vendor recommended motors: ...
[Read More]

Computer Rendering of Next Mach Muncher
...And updated information. I was wrong about the projected speed. If I leave the rocket the way it is (without adding weight to the nose, or payloads), it's predicted to go 1800 ft/s! I don't want it to shred or anything, so I will definitely do something about this.
[Read More]

How far away is that big a$$ rocket on the away cell? (estimating size and distance)
Rocket Jones points us to a how-to for a business card sized tool that allows you to make quick estimates of the distance to, and size of, remote objects. Now, how far away is that big a$$ rocket on the away cell? (Bah, I changed the title and text of the post to reflect the measurement of ...
[Read More]

The LA Times tips over the OXCART
The LA Times has a really interesting article about Area 51. With the declassification of the top secret OXCART project, five ex-Area 51 employees can now spill their guts about their experiences there, including speculation about where many UFO stories have originated from. Cool stuff. All you ...
[Read More]

First Launch of 2009
I had some great launches today; no failures! Good launches and good recoveries. Plus, my onboard video worked for once! The quality isn't the best, but I've got it. I'll post it to YouTube and my blog once I get it off my camera. - My altimeter reported a boring altitude on Sky Spy's ...
[Read More]

Onboard Video!
You can almost see my house from this shot.
[Read More]

Space Walking Astronaut Seen From Ground
Astronomy Picture of the Day
[Read More]

Limiting spaceflight liability in Texas (update)
Following in the wake of Virginia , Florida and New Mexico , it appears Texas may also limit the liability of space tourism flights. Clark Lindsey provides several links. Update: Res Communis links to the bill itself in case you are interested.
[Read More]

Space is moving up
This story has made the rounds in the blogaverse, but I thought I'd post about it anyway. It appears that researchers at the University of Calgary have made accurate measurements of the altitude at which space begins. Their Supra-Thermal Ion Imager, which flew on the JOULE-II rocket back in ...
[Read More]

Easter rocket missile-any
Dale Windsor's on-again, off-again model rocket motor history page is on-again . The LDRS-28 featured projects page is coming along nicely. No Polish rocket jokes, please...they've got a B15 , and we don't. Thrustcurve.com now has a McMaster-Carr-like motor browser to help you zero-in ...
[Read More]

Friedwardt Winterberg, Starship Designer
The Next Big Future points to, and comments on, Centauri Dreams' interview with physicist Friedwardt Winterberg . The post has several other links for those who want to dig deeper, and those links lead to more links, and so on. Too much info to assemble a summary, so I'll just add a teaser: ...
[Read More]

From Virginia to the Moon
In 2011, Virginia's Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport will host its first Moon launch. In a history making flight, NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) will be launched atop an Orbital Sciences Corp. Minotaur-V from Pad 0B. LADEE's will orbit the moon for some 100 days, ...
[Read More]

Finocyl Propellant Segments Fired
Rick Maschek successfully conducted a static test of the small test motor which used a finocyl core geometry for the SStS project. This is exciting because of the possibilities that complex core geometries open up. Many of the most impressive small sounding rockets utilize a monolithic grain ...
[Read More]

Sugar-Shot-2-Space and Ares finocyl geometry motors
Richard Nakka reported that the SS2S project test fired a couple of finocyl grain motors last weekend, and Randy Dormans provides a link to a video (with other photos and info too). While on the subject, check out the humongous 12-vane casting mandrel that ATK built for the Ares-I booster.
[Read More]

Steve Eves' 1:10 Saturn V: T - 11 days and counting
I've posted about this huge project fairly often so the regulars have no excuse for not knowing all about it. For the rest of you, you can see the official pages on ROCKETS Magazine's website or the reprint of an article from the February 2009 issue ROCKETS that is now up on Rocketry Planet - One ...
[Read More]

EMRR has gone contest crazy!
He just added another one and just imagine the loot that is up for grabs. Or you can visit the contest pages and see for yourself: NEW! Rocket Video 2009 - ends 9/27 Box o' Parts 2009 - ends 7/6 Elevate Eleven - ends 7/20 Rocket Family - ends 10/1 Design This Spaceship - ends 11/1 EMRR Challenge ...
[Read More]

A compendium of rocket sleds
IO9 presents The Astonishing Speed and Beauty of Rocket Sleds . The subject images are from a compilation on OObject , which provides links back to the source pages. The following photo is one of my favorites. The sled traveling at 4,800 ft/s (3,273 mph). It was photographed by Alan Sehmer of ...
[Read More]

Rocket sleds redux
Phil Plait has fed my rocket sled appetite with coverage of a Mythbusters episode where they tried to find out if a head-on collision of two semis could fuse the metal together. Well, the myth was busted, but in a very entertaining manner. Here are the videos from two angles and in super slo-mo. ...
[Read More]

Reaction Research Society Boosted Dart
Despite being among the most impressive amateur launches ever, I have yet to post about this project. The reason for posting at this time (many years later) is because I was recently given the flight data for this launch. The best article about this boosted dart flight is not online, but rather in ...
[Read More]

Update on the Iridium-Cosmos debris field
So far, it appears the collision could have been worse, with only 823 large pieces cataloged so far. Although the cataloging is still underway, it appears they don't expect to find the1300 that were originally estimated. This makes NASA think one of the two impacted a solar panel or antenna on the ...
[Read More]

Prep day
In preparations for Red Glare VI tomorrow, I lugged rockets and range boxes up from the Dungeon, made sure I had all the motors I'll need and built G185-5, G67-7G, G69N-P, and F39-6 reloads. All less charges and igniters, of course. Below are my planned launches. I scrubbed plans for any high ...
[Read More]

Earth gravity data
Gravity Data "CHAMP (860 days) and GRACE (200 days) satellite gravity data have been combined with 0.5 x 0.5 deg surface data (gravimetry and altimetry) to generate the high resolution global gravity field model EIGEN-CG01C." More details on these two spacecraft: CHAMP GRACE
[Read More]

Launch Report 2009-2 - Red Glare VI
Location: Higgs Farm, Price, MD ( Red Glare VI ) Weather: mid 70's, light breeze Total flights: Today - 6; YTD - 16 Total motors: Today - 11; YTD - 21 The day started well with light traffic and one car ahead of me on the Bay Bridge. I again got to camp with Don Brown under his shade. The weather ...
[Read More]

The Estes Saturn V is the numero uno rocket of all time
At least in the TRF Rocketry Mach Madness contest , which just closed yesterday. The Saturn V edged out the Estes Interceptor for top honors. It was interesting to see how the contest played out. If you log in you can see all the brackets.
[Read More]

Moon to Hide Venus April 22
Click here for more information.
[Read More]

NASA buys 24 seats aboard Russian Soyuz space vehicles
NASA plans on buying up to 24 seats aboard Russian Soyuz spacecraft to fly astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) after the Space Shuttle is retired. NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, intends to contract with Roscosmos for a minimum of 18 Soyuz seats up to a maximum of 24 ...
[Read More]

Steve Eves' 1:10 scale Saturn V is burning up the Internet
Scheduled for launch next Saturday, April 25th at MDRA's Price, MD launch site, Steve's ginormous Saturn V has been covered my many local (to Steve's home) TV channels and many more web sites. Recently, Rocketry Planet's 'reprint' of the ROCKETS Magazine's feature on this project has been picked ...
[Read More]

M750 payload section layup
I had purchased two 48" lengths of 98mm cardboard tubing for the M750 rocket below. However design stuff nags me in my sleep and lucid dreams so, instead, I purchased much stronger phenolic tubing from Public Missiles Ltd. just to be sure. The added weight will probably cost me margin for the ...
[Read More]

Holy Cow!
The new rocketry blog Rockets and Stuff has posted the following video of Neil McGilvray's Cow rocket flying on a P10,000. The title are Brett's words - I couldn't come up with anything better! His blog was added to my reader so updates should appear in my sidebar.
[Read More]

Steve Eves' Saturn V has been Dugg
Run for the hills, your bomb shelter, or wherever, the Rocketry Planet is at risk of exploding after their article on Steve's Saturn V hit Digg .
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine - April 2009
This issue features several articles about, or at least motivated by, the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11. Besides the fact that we sport rocketeers are also space program fans, the tie-in to sport rocketry appears to be Steve Eves' 1:10th scale Saturn V. The main article is about the celebration ...
[Read More]

Two-Stage-to-Orbit ''Blackstar'' System Shelved at Groom Lake?
Has the top secret space plane that supposedly does not exist been shelved? Have you ever wondered why there are so many long runways out in the middle of nowhere? Especially the one at the famous Area 51 site. It would make sense to me that this program has reach it's end and has been replaced ...
[Read More]

Steve Eves' Saturn V hits Fox News
The word is spreading . If Tommy is grilling, maybe he better stock up. On Saturday, April 25, the Saturn V, the rocket that sent men to the moon 40 years ago, will once again lift off from U.S. soil and soar over the Atlantic. Well, not quite over the Atlantic, but nice press anyway. I ...
[Read More]

Some insane images from Saturn
The flagship scale space missions always produce great results. Cassini may be the most incredible planetary mission to date. "NASA's Cassini spacecraft is now a nearly a year into its extended mission, called Cassini Equinox (after its initial 4-year mission ended in June, 2008). The spacecraft ...
[Read More]

Steve Eves' interview on WJFK (updated!)
Via Dave Olson: Steve Eves will be interviewed tonight on WJFK Radio's "Tech 411" show. 8:30pm EDT for 15-20 minutes. WJFK 106.7 FM - Washington D.C. http://www.wjfk.com A reader points out that this website says the launch is on May 2nd vs. the currently publicized date of April 25th. Dave ...
[Read More]

Quote of the day
A fictional space program will always be faster, better, and cheaper than a real space program. - Mike Griffin, Goddard Award Dinner 2009
[Read More]

Build delayed
Recent events in my personal life have been taking up any free time I have. I'm hoping in the next few weeks I can get some build time in and try to get it done in time for the Memorial Day launch event.
[Read More]

Celebrating Easter with a bottle rocket war
Evidently, people on the small Greek island of Chios celebrate Orthodox Easter by launching fireworks at each other's churches during the services. Check out this crazy video. My Big Fat Greek Firework Battle - For more funny videos, click here
[Read More]

In the event Apollo 11 is lost
"On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon. The following speech, revealed in 1999, was prepared by Nixon's then speechwriter, William Safire, to be used in the event of a disaster that would maroon the astronauts on the moon: Fate has ...
[Read More]

Steve Eves' 1:10 scale Saturn V - my photos
I decided to create an OurPlanet album for Steve Eves' Saturn V . I hope to add to this album this weekend!
[Read More]

Tripoli App Submitted
I just paypal'd my funds over to Tripoli. Hopefully I will get my card prior to Mile High Mayhem, but it not I'm sure we can work it out. Still planning on doing my L1 Cert at that time along with my friend Kevin.
[Read More]

Subject for a mid-power, full scale build - The Spike (update)
This 5 lb missile is currently in development. I bet Richard Hickok will be all over this one (if he hasn't already built it). (via Asian Defense ) Update: Here's a video interview about this new missile.
[Read More]

Two more build ideas
I don't think either are actual rockets, but... The center black think might be buildable: But the 'tail sitter' looks more up my alley:
[Read More]

Red Glare 6, documented
The MDRA page is being populated. And like I previously noted, my photos are here . I should submit some to MDRA too, I reckon... Egads, I just noticed the flight of my ill-fated Messer-Fo-Shizzle is the first segment of of Peter Abresh's video entitled The Ugly . IMO, this flight was more The Bad ...
[Read More]

Who's your Big Daddy? updated, already!
Here is my mostly completed, 29mm Big Daddy. 'Mostly' because I won't install the nose cone bulkhead and any required weight until I lay hands on one of Quests new F12 BP motors . (see note below!) They were supposed to be out in the Spring (i.e. around now) but may be held up by the new CPSC ...
[Read More]

Air Force Academy boosted dart a success
I had thought about posting about the FalconLAUNCH VII launch but somehow forgot. But now that Clark Lindsey has a post packed with relevant links, I couldn't resist correcting this omission. The dart, launched from White Sands, was tracked by radar to 354,724 feet (67 miles). Not too shabby and a ...
[Read More]

I have a Tripoli #
I'm officially a member of Tripoli now, I got my member # not 2 minutes ago :)
[Read More]

Pocket Rocket
Woohoo, I finally figured out that you can grab images from Flickr. No stealing and no storage required on my side. Here are some photos of rocket-powered funny car. In the builder's words (photos are clicakble): In the early 80s I built the Pocket Rocket, a hydrogen rocket powered mini funny ...
[Read More]

Worlds Largest Model Rocket Set to Fly Tomorrow
http://wjz.com/local/rocket.saturn.five.2.993924.html
[Read More]

Do Hard Things
Here is a quote from Calvin Coolidge: - ?Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. ...
[Read More]

Worlds Largest Model Rocket Sits on the Pad!
Looks like the real thing. Photo by: Fred Wallace
[Read More]

Largest Model Rocket Flies Successfully
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4l2aFkZ_VM
[Read More]

Steve Eves' Saturn V ROCKED Maryland's Eastern Shore
After testing the winds with a 'tiny' Nike Smoke on a J350, Steve Eves' Saturn was launched into the beautiful Maryland skies at around 1PM local. The central 'P' and eight 'N' motors (that's 'R' impulse, baby - yeaaah) lifted it majestically to around 3-4K feet. At apogee, the rocket was ...
[Read More]

Largest hobby rocket to date
Rocket was about 1600 LBS (a record) flying on one central P motor and 8 N motors. Recovery was good (unlike the last record.) More coverage at The Rocket Dungeon
[Read More]

Focke Wulf Triebflugel
I just found this French web site on tail-sitter aircraft. Besides the more common examples such as the Convair XFY-1 " Pogo ", it features the Focke Wulf Triebflugel concept (shown above). Although intended to be ramjet-powered, it does seem to be suitable for a tri-copter-like rocket. In fact, ...
[Read More]

Details on the Saturn V flight
I decided to go ahead and make a new post and relay some details I've seen about the flight. This thread on TQC#39 has some really good up close and personal shots and so does this TRF thread . TRF user MAXQ reports there was a fairly big zipper on the lower stage, a couple of smaller ones on the ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH Missile
I just received my LAUNCH Missile. Semroc is producing a replica of the missile that appears in LAUNCH Magazine's logo and is sending them to registered subscribers prior to putting them up for sale. I needed something to build :)
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine's photos of Steve Eves' Saturn V launch
ROCKETS Magazine's photos of Steve Eves' Saturn V launch
[Read More]

Updates to the Steve Eves Saturn V links list
FYI, although I've made a few follow-on posts, I have also been adding to the links list on my main launch report .
[Read More]

Shuttle SRB splashdown
Photo from nasa1fan's Flickr set :
[Read More]

Apollo 11 - The Day we saw "Columbus Set Sail"
Read more here
[Read More]

1:10 Scale Saturn V Rocket
I heard about this a little late, but apparently it set a record for size:  
[Read More]

We once had a Rocket
Mike Roberts posted a link to this interesting documentary film on arocket today. Mike reports that it was inspired by Francis Spufford's book " The Backroom Boys " and it's called "We Once had a Rocket". It documents how the engineers responsible for Black Arrow went ahead and launched the ...
[Read More]

Layup... FAIL!! Then success!
Alright so I completed my layup as planned below.  Again the Mylar stuck preferentially to roughly 50% of the cured surface.  It took me 3+ hours (no exaggeration) to peel/cut/scrape/wedge the film off the part.  Note the voids, scrapes, and residue: Having failed to release the ...
[Read More]

Russia mulls rocket power 'first'
Russia's next-generation manned space vehicle might be equipped with thrusters to perform a precision landing on its return to Earth.
[Read More]

Fast food style satellites
Via Parabolic Arc - Satellites, Built to Order in 2 Days . The source post is short, so... Guy Norris has an interested blog post over at Aviation Week about how quickly small satellites can be built these days:   As you read this a satellite is being built to my order in New ...
[Read More]

Goonies!
The Goonybirds were a goofy, "cartoony" line of kits developed by Estes - "The zaniest flying freaks of the universe" (I think that's an original quote). Sport rocketeers have since been kitbashing Baby Berthas and scratch building their own 'Goonified' versions of their favorite kits and real ...
[Read More]

The Double Standard
Ben Ullman just announced the next huge project from the "Outlaws of the East" - a 2x upscale of the Standard ARM. Planned motors include: 1 x Q15000 4 x O3700 4 x N3500 I'm sure this will evolve and watching it develop will be fun. He noted there is a Cafe Press store to try to fund the ...
[Read More]

58mm JATO re-build - head scratching
As I've mentioned, I am in the process of re-building my 58mm JATO (the name being a play on words with NATO ammo designations and JATO rocket boosters). When I built it, I did the 'leave the rear ring off and add internal fillets' trick. On its last flight, the fins (again) stayed in due to my ...
[Read More]

N - Prize
One can hardly improve upon the many posts and articles regarding the N-Prize, which has now been active for quite some time. We have discussed many of the possible plans and debated everything including the value of such a competition; one that is nearly impossible to complete. But all the same, ...
[Read More]

“Russia launched a Soyuz rocket Wednesday carrying a covert military payload believed to be a spy satellite with a high-resolution optical camera.
“Russia launched a Soyuz rocket Wednesday carrying a covert military payload believed to be a spy satellite with a high-resolution optical camera. “The Soyuz rocket lifted off at 1658 GMT from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, according to Roscosmos, the Russian space agency. “The ...
[Read More]

New 2009-2010 AeroTech Catalog To Be Released at TARC Finals
The new AeroTech Consumer Aerospace 2009-2010 product catalog is planned for release during the Team America Rocket Challenge (TARC) finals in The Plains, VA on May 15-16. The 20-page catalog includes new rocket action photos taken by contributors Mark Canepa, Steve Jurvetson and Nancy Snyder. ...
[Read More]

N-Prize reminder
R2K has a short summary of the N-Prize and related team links. I've been snoozing on this one so I appreciate the reminder!
[Read More]

Wanna glue thisTOthat?
The pop over to thisTothat glue advice.
[Read More]

GSFC turns 50
(From the Goddard PAO) May 1, 1959: Beltsville Space Center becomes NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center On a clear March day in 1926, in the middle of a snow-covered field in Auburn, Massachusetts, Dr. Robert Hutchings Goddard changed exploration forever. Launching from a modified music stand, ...
[Read More]

On-board video from Steve Eves' Saturn V
ROCKETS Magazine has updated their Saturn V news coverage with the Fox news story , which includes some on-board footage. They also have posted some flight data from several ARTS flight computers. These data include trajectories derived from GPS data that was ported to Google Earth.
[Read More]

Not Rockets
Other than offering a tiny bit of support to the ongoing Sugar shot project , I've been way too busy to do any real rocketry work. On top of being busy at work, we've decided to replace the floors at home with tile, to the tune of around 900 sq. ft. downstairs and 200 sq. ft. upstairs. I've ...
[Read More]

RAPTORS ARRIVE IN NEW ORLEANS
F-22 Raptor in a high G turn on full afterburner. The F-22 Raptor put on an awesome show.  
[Read More]

UP Aerospace's launch was a partial success
The launch appeared to go off as planned, but Spaceport America reports the vehicle failed to reach its planned altitude of 75 miles. (via KDBC, Las Cruces with a hat tip to John)
[Read More]

Rocket launches ain't horseshoes or hand grenades
Yesterday, I mentioned that UP Aerospace's launch from Spaceport America was a partial success. I basically regurgitated what the source report said without thinking. Reader John points me to a follow-on report that says the rocket appeared to oscillate and come apart shortly after motor burn out. ...
[Read More]

My nozzle is red hot...
Russell Blink posted a few photos of a hot nozzle, right after a static test (one is embedded below). You can find them here but, since these aren't in a separate folder, they will be buried by future photos. For future reference, the title of these are simply 'May 3, 2009'.
[Read More]

Rocket Car Day, Up to Eleven
The results of the 11th installment of Rocket Car Day are now appearing . You can see a bit of the action here . Some photos here and here . Not much coverage so far, but I'm sure more will be posted on their blog and on Flickr. Unguided rocket cars give the NAR shivers, but it appears the Aussies ...
[Read More]

EMRR review wars
As that scoundrel Chas Stevens pulls away in the EMRR review wars...I thought I'd inventory what I have that may be up for review: My Goonball XL5 , should it be stable. The Semroc Launch Missile . I probably wont have much to add to the review that was just posted , but will do one anyway. The ...
[Read More]

Civil war and football
Huh? Is the title saying football is a form of civil war? So, what's really the connection? A friend of the family passes along that their father in law has just published a book on the Civil War that is written using football terminology. Just in case you are a Civil War buff and a football fan: ...
[Read More]

5 New rocketry books
Here are 5 new books from Amazon; Apollo 12: The NASA Mission Reports This book book is one in a large series of books by Apogee that covers many NASA missions in great detail, usually with a CD rom included, at a great price. Most of these can be found on Amazon for a few dollars. Apollo 12 was ...
[Read More]

Get Me Off This Rock
That is this week's theme on Gizmodo .
[Read More]

Fringe propulsion and DC-X model (update)
Here are two items from Clark Lindsey (short, thus quoted). Non-quoted lead-ins are mine, now that I actually read the referenced items. This book is a collection of papers and is "not for the casual reader." (or possibly even for the causal reader :o). The authors want to improve the S/N ratio ...
[Read More]

Rocket car montage
Here's a video montage of Rocket Car Day 11 held in Sydney. Some of the cars actually seemed to go fairly straight. The most interesting and least functional design was the Steve-a-pult. This had the motor on a rotating arm that drove the wheels via belts (probably rubber bands).
[Read More]

Fringe pre-finale recap, the best crappy horror movie I've seen in a while, and a Josefus video
Let's see, yesterday evening I watched Fringe and Feast , a low budget horror flick from Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Wes Craven, among many others. The Fringe episode was great. It really started explaining just what the heck is going on and left me drooling for more. It seems a war between our ...
[Read More]

The Earth from Space
There is a great 24 hour portrait of the Earth from a Clarke orbit, but sadly it can't be embedded. This spacecraft, Echostar 11, is in orbit around the earth at sufficient altitude so that it makes one orbit in about 24 hours. For this reason, it remains over the same part of the earth at any ...
[Read More]

Masten static test video, for mach diamond fans
Clark Lindsey found this video from Ben Brockert and Masten Space : A test fire on the 750lbf engine on the XA-0.1B-750 in hold-down testing. Here the engine is putting out about 800 pounds of thrust. The vehicle will be capable of hovering on rocket power for approximately a minute and a half. ...
[Read More]

UP Aerospace launch video
This must be video day. The following was seen on the 62 Mile Club and also found thanks to Clark Lindsey . The launch doesn't look more impressive than the large HPR launches I've seen. But, you have to realize that the space-bound launch failed and still reached over 8 miles. That altitude is the ...
[Read More]

Minotaur/TacSat3 update
NASA Wallops reports that the launch of the Minotaur 1 carrying the TacSat-3 satellite is looking good with a 70% chance of favorable weather. The launch should go around 8 p.m. EST with the window open until 11 p.m. The webcast is live.
[Read More]

Minotaur/TacSat3 update
Scrubbed - a 70% chance of good weather still means there is a 30% change of crappy weather. This is old news to anyone who was watching. For me the launch was scrubbed due to a clogged toilet and Chinese food. Unrelated, luckily :)
[Read More]

Mini-rocket cars:
Check out these Rocket Powered Matchbox Cars!
[Read More]

Delta II launch at Vandenburg, May 5th
Posted by the Air Force Space Command on Flickr.
[Read More]

Patriot launch
Follow the link to see more in the sequence.
[Read More]

Minotaur/TacSat3 update - launch time moved up
The latest from NASA Wallops' webcast status page : Posted by RCC on 2009-05-08 at 17:35:11 EDT T-5:35p.m. T- 2 hours and counting. Expect to begin moving the shelter from around the rocket in next 30 minutes. Posted by RCC on 2009-05-08 at 15:53:24 EDT New launch time of 7:35 p.m. This to ...
[Read More]

Minotaur/TacSat3 update - launch time moved out
Posted by RCC on 2009-05-08 at 21:42:31 EDT In the final phase of the countdown Posted by RCC on 2009-05-08 at 21:38:04 EDT New launch time is 10:40 p.m.
[Read More]

Minotaur/TacSat3 update - scrubbed at T - 00:02:13
Posted by RCC on 2009-05-08 at 22:50:49 EDT We have scrubbed the launch for tonight
[Read More]

Rockets promote dental hygiene
I was just browsing the latest issue of IEEE Spectrum and saw a modroc...in an ad for IEEE dental insurance. The teaser says, "Remember when you were a child, you imagined anything was possible?" I see the tie-in between that statement and rocketry but the link to dental insurance still elludes ...
[Read More]

4th Time's the Charm!
On Saturday I had the privilege of attending a high-power rocket launch in North Branch, Minnesota. I launched Exporter 2000 with my new onboard video system, and for the first time ever I have video from this rocket! I'm pretty pleased with the results, but the wind was kind of high (~10 mph) and ...
[Read More]

Project NOTS EV-1 (NOTSNIK)
This is, above all others, the sister rocket to my personal favorite; Project Farside. But in NOTS EV-1 launches, the complex but rather small rocket (again very similar) is lofted to modest altitude and velocity by a jet aircraft, rather than the very high altitude but negligible speed of a ...
[Read More]

NOTSNIK
The High Power Rocketry blog has an interesting and detailed post about the title project, which might have been the first, all-solid motor, orbital-capable vehicle. Evidently, there were both air- and ground-launched tests, none of which worked. So, I guess this program was a FLOPNIK (haha). ...
[Read More]

Make mine a Bud (big a$$ rocket of the day)
Speedweiser, King of Speed
[Read More]

Photo of TX-38 SPARM ramjet missile
TX-38 SPARM solid rocket / ramjet missile, ATK rocket park, Utah / 2008 (hat tip to Greg Goebel's Public Domain photo site ) Note: I've followed the occasional discussion of ram-rockets on the various rocketry forums with interest. So, when I found this photo I thought I'd post it. A quick Google ...
[Read More]

Build Progress
Saturday I got some good build time in and some assistance from my friend Kevin. I built the e-bay, 38mm motor adapter, 1/2 of the 54mm motor mount, and slotted the fin can. We also sorted out motor retention, recovery hardware and ejection charges. More building to come this week along with some ...
[Read More]

They ain't just blowin' smoke, but the smoke they are blowin' is cool
A reader just pointed me to this interesting photo on Blackfive . Thanks, Skycopp! (U.S. Army photo by Spc. William Hatto)
[Read More]

Atlantis is Hubble-bound
I was Internetless until a few minutes ago, so I had to watch the Shuttle Atlantis launch on the TV in the ER. (Don't ask - besides the psychosis induced by 7 1/2 hours of sitting on my a$$, all is now well.) Hubble SM4 is a GO! Here's a great photo of the launch! (embedding turned off, grrr)
[Read More]

Had to post this Atlantis STS-125 video
My 2 favorite parts are: About 30 seconds in when the Shuttle rolls and you get a side view showing the massive SRB plumes and the clear, mach diamond laden main engine plumes. Awesome! On-board video at 2:13 seconds when the SRBs separate. Very nice!
[Read More]

Cool EMRR contest entry!
For me, the highlight of today's update is Hans "Chris" Michielssen's entry into the Elevate 11 Contest, aptly named Elevate 11 . The name is not exciting but the number of features with the number eleven is amazing. I emailed Nick and said he should declare a winner and continue the contest for ...
[Read More]

Re: accuracy of info in the Dungeon
I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Rocket Dungeon ain't journalism. My posts, other than those reporting my work and experiences, are derived from one or more sites and are often copies of copies. If there's one thing I learned from the movie Multiplicity , it's that, "You know how ...
[Read More]

Venetia Burney Phair, Girl who Named Pluto, Dies at 90
Venetia Burney Phair was an accountant and taught economics and math to school girls. But the British woman will best be remembered for what she accomplished at age 11, giving Pluto its name. Phair died April 30 in her home in Banstead, England. She was 90.In an interview with NASA in January ...
[Read More]

Compressibile Aerodynamics
I've decided to start a summer-long study of compressible aerodynamics, that is, the compressible nature of a gas at speeds above Mach. It ties in very well with my supersonic projects. I'm going to try starting my investigation using the NASA guided tours . It is my hope to actually conduct ...
[Read More]

Drogue-less recovery, Shuttle style
Here's a video of STS-125's External Tank falling after separation. This was taken from the flight deck to inspect the tank for foam loss.
[Read More]

Can you indentify this rocket?
Source: White Sands Missile Range Museum Can you help identify this rocket? It is an Air Force rocket that was flown as the White Sands Missile Range. To date, I have not been able to find out what it is. And I do not think that anyone else knows. If you can help, please place a comment. ...
[Read More]

Space music video - Plasma
RP user Chuck_Rudy pointed me to the following rocketry/space themed music video on Sinch TV Well worth a look! Chuck notes: They have something called the Occular sound machine , which stores the clips you see and one of the band members changes the clips on the fly. If you go to a Sinch ...
[Read More]

General Atomics unwraps new, Stealth(y) robot war-jet Avenger, son of Reaper, son of Predator
Pic General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI), maker of the famous Predator and Reaper unmanned warplanes, has taken the wraps off a new and still more powerful kill-robot - the "Avenger". The company says that first flights have been conducted successfully this month. (Read More ...
[Read More]

Are 'fizzy' propellants in your future?
Chilled “Fizzy” Propellants for Vapor Pressurized Rockets are being discussed over on Jon Goff's Selenian Boondocks (with a hat tip to Clark Lindsey )
[Read More]

The USAF looks at reusability (again)
Clark Lindsey points to this Aviation Week piece on the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Reusable Booster System (RBS) request for information (RFI). A YORF user found another reference , which includes a link to a white paper that you can download (if you register). I didn't, but I did ...
[Read More]

Rockets Into Space documentary on YouTube
Wayne Hill points out that the 5-part episode of the “Rockets into Space” documentary entitled “The Edge of Space” is available on YouTube. Here is the link to the playlist .
[Read More]

Graphics are being printed
My friend who has a vinyl graphics company is doing some for my rocket. I worked out what I wanted this week and he printed/cut them last night. Sunday we will be wrapping the rocket, this is the first time either of us have done vinyl on a rocket. If this goes well, we'll be wrapping one other. I ...
[Read More]

Slow motion video of unguided rocket cars
The latest documentation from Rocket Car Day 11 is the slow-motion montage embedded below. Safety code? We don't need no steenking safety code! My favorite is the Steve-a-pult. Rocketcar Day 11. Slow Motion Montage from sixty40 on Vimeo .
[Read More]

Shuttle against the Sun
From The Rocketry Blog
[Read More]

Amateur geekiness from the old world (rocket motors!)
Great find! The EGE links to a fantastic British site - The Rockets Red Glare - a very different British amateur rocketry page featuring model rocketry heritage . Although British, it also has motor history from othe European countries; and even a little from America. So far my favorite tidbit is ...
[Read More]

SS2S video compendium
All the Sugar-Shot-to-Space videos have been compiled into a YouTube Channel: moonlighter 1000 .
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry - May/June 2009
This is a great issue. But a slightly odd one. First, the cover shot is cool but it is the second in a row that was not taken at a NAR event (not that I care, just a curiosity). Second, there isn't a single launch report article. I don't remember another issue that didn't have at least one. What ...
[Read More]

Ares 1
To my mind, this rocket is a great replacement for the shuttle because it will be far cheaper and safer.  It is a no brainer to chose large solid motors for a first stage of any rocket system.  They don't get the high ISPs, and the per pound cost of propellant is quite high as well when ...
[Read More]

Joint Statement on the BATFE Litigation
Since the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives has not appealed the decision of the Federal District Court of March 16, 2009, which ordered the agency to vacate their classification of APCP as an explosive, and the period for their ability to do so has expired as of May 16, 2009, ...
[Read More]

Minotaur-1/TacSat-3 scheduled for tomorrow
NASA Wallops reports that the launch of the Minotaur-1 carrying the TacSat-3 satellite is set for May 19th or 20th between 7:35 to 11:30 p.m. EST. The webcast should again be active for your viewing pleasure. Right now, the weather looks great for both days. I hope it's on the later side so that ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH Missile - built!
Here's a photo of my completed Semroc LAUNCH Missile. The stand-out feature is the laser cut fins and rings. The rear ring is notched to accept tabs on the tail vane. Nice! The down-side is that several of the decals flipped over on themselves and were a bear to straighten out. In fact, it is ...
[Read More]

Federal BATFE Permits No Longer Required to Purchase and Store AeroTech High-Power Motors and Reload Kits
Following the resolution of a long and difficult legal struggle, AeroTech is very happy to report that effective immediately all AeroTech high-power (generally `H` class and above) rocket motors and reload kits are now free from regulation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ...
[Read More]

The date to appeal Judge Walton's ruling, which vacated the classification of APCP as an explosive, has come and gone
Hot off the presses. I may actually fly an 'H' motor next month to celebrate. JOINT NAR/TRA STATEMENT ON THE LAWSUIT VS BATFE Since the BATFE has not appealed the decision of the Federal District Court of March 16, 2009, which ordered the agency to vacate their classification of APCP as an ...
[Read More]

Joint Statement on the BATFE Litigation
Oh yes we did! We won! We Won! We Won! We Won! Joint Statement on the BATFE Litigation May 18, 2009 Since the U. S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives has not appealed the decision of the Federal District Court of March 16, 2009, which ordered the agency to vacate their c ...
[Read More]

MOL parts reused in Arizona (?)
In today's Space Review , Dwayne Day explores the possibility that mirrors from the canceled Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) made their way into the unique, 6-mirrored, Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT) Observatory on Mount Hopkins, Arizona. His facts aren't all confirmed, but it is an interesting ...
[Read More]

Hubble SM4 on The Big Picture
Here are 31 amazing images of the mission . Amazing, simply amazing. Includes the Shuttle silhouetted against the sun. Did I say amazing?
[Read More]

Jet flyover alert - a bit late (updated)
Fighter Jets to Fly Over D.C. For Next Two Nights Either the didn't fly over my house or I slept soundly. Maybe tonight. Last year some jets buzzed us at a surprisingly low altitude. Cameras, it seems there's never one around when I need one. Update: Nada, not a peep.
[Read More]

Joint Statement from NAR-TRA
Joint Statement on the BATFE Litigation May 18, 2009 Since the U. S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives has not appealed the decision of the Federal District Court of March 16, 2009, which ordered the agency to vacate their classification of APCP as an explosive, and the ...
[Read More]

UFO over Montgomery County, MD (update?)
Just spotted this UFO hovering nearby. It emitted a cyclic pulse of bright light, which I suspect was some sort of communication. Or, it was a balloon of some sort and was reflecting the afternoon sun. Update: It seems there was a similar sighting in Arizona, which turned out to be a NASA ...
[Read More]

The Milky Way rises
The following is a time-lapse video taken at a star party near Fort Davis, TX . It is a compilation of photos taken every 20 seconds over a 9 hour period. The camera was equipped with a fish eye lens and a red-filter that reveals the rise of the core of the Milky Way. How cool is that? You can see ...
[Read More]

Minotaur-1/TacSat-3 launch successful
Well, last week I waited by my computer with breathless anticipation. But, tonight I was distracted and missed the launch. The launch was successful and Wallops reports that both the TacSat-3 and PharmaSat spacecraft have communicated with their ground stations. (click photo to see a few more)
[Read More]

Graphics 75% complete
I ended up opting to paint the nose cone then apply the vinyl over it as opposed to just wrapping it in vinyl. Due to this change I won't have it finished up until tomorrow most likely. We did get the rocket wrapped from the nose cone shoulder down to the fin can however. It looks really, really ...
[Read More]

Need to get a cable across that gorge?
Via Dark Roasted Blend .
[Read More]

Rocket bathroom fixtures
These Rocketeer-styled faucets are perfect for space fan-atics. However, I think we sport rocketeers might be happier with a port-a-potty styled makeover and a deodorizer with the scent of burned APCP (or BP, as you prefer). Get a good rocket mag and dream of being on the field. Ahhhhhh.
[Read More]

There will be video
Earlier in the month I picked up a Flip Ultra camcorder. I will be using this to video prep and the launch from the ground. It is also small enough to be mounted inside the e-bay if I so choose. Today I picked up an Oregon Scientific ATC2K "Action Cam" This comes with several mounting options, one ...
[Read More]

TRF 1.0 - Back to the Future
TRF 2.0 just announced that the TRF 1.0 Archive is on-line! It's read-only, but at least all that great reference material is again available. Now to see if there's I can easily translate my stored links... Schweeeeeet! All you have to do is follow the old link, replace 'rocketryforum' with ...
[Read More]

Successful Ares parachute test
(click photo for more) From nasa1fan: NASA and ATK successfully conducted an Ares I main cluster parachute test at the U.S. Army Proving Grounds in Yuma, Arizona. The test was conducted on May 20, 2009. It involved three 150-feet diameter parachutes lowering a 41,500 test weight to the desert ...
[Read More]

Pictures & Graphics
I finally took a few quick snapshots of the rocket. Not the best pictures, but I needed something to post before I left for the launch. Before the Vinyl was applied: Full View: Nose Cone Art: Layed Out:
[Read More]

New rocket company says, "be square or be square."
New Way Space Models will do it their way - with square body tubes. They will begin offering their first three kits this summer.
[Read More]

Fembot mania (updated)
Not rockets. NSFW. Blame this post on IO9 and the little red version of me that's sitting on my left shoulder... Well, this post was removed for a while after a complaint from a reader. I just ran across it while clearing out the drafts that seem to spontaneously pop up while I'm composing my ...
[Read More]

More phenomenal Hubble eye-candy
http://gigapica.geenstijl.nl/2009/05/bye_bye_hubble.html
[Read More]

Lenticular rockets: FGG-3/Darque Sol/Pye Wacket
I just ran across this stuff and will present it in the order I discovered it vs. in any logical sequence. First, I saw a brief report about a project called FGG-3/Darque Sol on the Tripoli Pittsburgh site. The FGG-3 , named after Tripoli founder Francis Glenn Graham, is a lenticular rocket. That ...
[Read More]

PEPP Aeroshell info
In my surfing for info on the Pye Wacket , I ran across an entry on the PEPP Aeroshell on the Identified Flying Objects site. (The site is packed with info on all sorts of real UFO-style vehicles.) I have seen many photos of the PEPP Aeroshell but had never seen photos of the motors firing. Here's ...
[Read More]

UFO - the movie
io9 reports that Gerry Anderson's UFO series from the '70s is being made into a movie. I watched the Thunderbirds as a kid but never saw this one as far as I remember. Might be fun nevertheless. And, what's up with UFO's this week? This is my 4th post with some reference to them.
[Read More]

Unknown rocket
I knew the Scale Rockets Yahoo Group didn't know what it is. Then R2K posed the question on his High Power Rocketry blog. And it appears the White Sands Missile Range Museum also wants to know. However, they evidently do know it's a USAF creation.
[Read More]

Odd rocket resource (but not oddrocs until ya' build 'em)
Another offshoot from my lenticular rocket surfing... Designation-systems.net's Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 4: Undesignated Vehicles . The whole site is great, but this section seems to include some of the rarer, odder items. Not all are rare or odd, but how about ...
[Read More]

Speedweiser, King of Speed (big a$$ rocket of the day, again)
If you didn't read this thread the first time I posted the link, then you've been missing out. Not only is the rocket big but is is one of the most complicated builds I've seen documented. There are more wooden ribs and slotted components than you can shake a stick at. The builder, user GiachiG ...
[Read More]

Perfect weather, no launch
Dang. Low 80's. Crystal clear skies. Wind calm to maybe a few mph. Too bad there are no local launch areas around here anymore.
[Read More]

Hwacha say?
Here, the Mythbusters recreate an ancient Korean weapon called the Hwacha using around 200 Estes D12-0s. The fire and smoke was impressive but still doesn't challenge the largest sport rocketry mass launches (which use modrocs pointed in the safe direction - UP!). They did demonstrate that such a ...
[Read More]

Pure unadulterated awesome
The Son of Rocket Jones got that right! Yeeehaw!
[Read More]

Largest Amateur Rocket in MN!
I just happened to turn on my computer and check my email for the first time in six days yesterday, and got the news that Tripoli MN was going to have a research launch that same afternoon. The plan was to launch Big Yeller, a twenty foot tall rocket weighing 180 lbs, the largest amateur rocket ...
[Read More]

German planes, rockets and rocket-planes
Luft'46 has been on my Aerospace Links list (see sidebar) for a while. I thought I'd featured this link in a previous post but so far haven't found the post. Wayne Hill just featured the site on his blog and I though I'd correct any potential omission here. The site is packed with real (and some ...
[Read More]

Happy Memorial Day!
My flag is out. I ate my BBQ (yesterday). I remembered, Yeater. A shot from Rolling Thunder (2008). Over 400,000 bikes were expected this year.
[Read More]

Aerospace web FAQ
"Aerospaceweb.org is a non-profit site operated by engineers and scientists in the aerospace field. The goal of this site is to provide educational information on a variety of subjects ranging from aviation to space travel to aerospace technology. Our primary areas of expertise include ae ...
[Read More]

Soyuz launcher transferred to launch pad
25 May 2009Early this morning, the Soyuz launcher that will bring ESA astronaut Frank De Winne to the International Space Station for his six-month OasISS mission was transferred to the launch pad at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazahkstan. The launch is scheduled for 12:34 CEST on 27 May. More Info Here.
[Read More]

More Air Command high tech low tech
Water rockets use the simplest of fuels. But they don't have top be simple. When I built a water rocket, the components consisted of a tire stem, basswood, foamboard and duct tape. For Air Command , the components include steel, aluminum, PVC, carbon fiber, rubber and nylon. I jealous of George's ...
[Read More]

Cluster monocopter spotted at NSL2009 (update)
Monocopters Yahoo Group member krambo63 provides news of a 7 x 18mm clustered monocopter at NSL. More importantly, he provided photos: see this post He notes: It had flat balsa wing roughly 24 inches long x 3 inches wide. At takeoff, the wing was flat with a constant pitch. However, once ...
[Read More]

Russian Soyuz TMA-15 Launch
The Russian Soyuz TMA-15 spacecraft carrying the crew of European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Frank De Winne of Belgium, Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko and Canadian astronaut Robert Thirsk blasts off from the Baikonur cosmodrome May 27, 2009. The craft is on a mission that will increase the ...
[Read More]

Tripoli Level 1 Certified!
I flew "Neurotic Ape" on a CTI I-345 White Thunder motor Friday afternoon. Due to wind there was a little bit of weather cocking and it was coning a little bit. However it flew up to 1998ft and deployment was just past apogee. I recovered it fairly close to the launch site, returned to the LCO got ...
[Read More]

AeroTech Creates Karl E. Baumann Signature Product Line
AeroTech is pleased to announce that it has created the Karl E. Baumann (KEB?) Signature Line? of specialty and high-performance rocket motor products. Karl is currently AeroTech`s Director of Operations and was Tripoli Rocketry Association`s (TRA`s) first Level 3 certified flyer. Karl certified ...
[Read More]

AeroTech announces the first three items in their new Karl E. Baumann Signature Product Line
AeroTech Information Release 5/28/09 AeroTech Creates Karl E. Baumann Signature Product Line AeroTech is pleased to announce that it has created the Karl E. Baumann (KEB™) Signature Line™ of specialty and high-performance rocket motor products. Karl is currently AeroTech's Director of ...
[Read More]

Cluster monocopter photos
After seeing my post on the 7 x 18mm cluster monocopter that flew at NSL2009, several folks asked be to cross-post the photos. Here they are, with the blessing of BobCox from TRF. Thank you for posting the awesome shots!
[Read More]

For the love of rockets and robots (RG # 72, plus)
Even rockets need a hug. Images removed at reader request.
[Read More]

Web site on "autorotative flight"
TRF user BobCox also posted the following link on the on the Monocopters Yahoo Group. Looks great on first glance, haven't read it yet. Autorotative Flight
[Read More]

D-Fusion Bomb - named, and built
I finally got around to building a rocket form the D-Fusion Denny's drinking cup. The background can be found by following the tag at the bottom of this post. I had previously ground the threads off the lid (aka the nose cone). This left a short shoulder so I was happy when I found 54mm tubing fit ...
[Read More]

Soyuz Docks With the Space Station
DOCKING. The Soyuz TMA-15 spacecraft has docked to the Zarya module of the space station, delivering European astronaut Frank De Winne, Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko and Canadian astronaut Robert Thirsk to the double the size of the outpost's international crew. Read More Here
[Read More]

Odd, sad (fireworks) rocket tragedy
News from Thailand about a man who tragically lost his life at their yearly rocket festival. It sounds like the victim was drinking in the cordoned off recovery zone. Bad idea.
[Read More]

IEEE Spectrum is spaced out
I see the June IEEE Spectrum is packed with space stuff: Do We Need to Go to the Moon to Get to Mars? A Russian Return to a Martian Moon Mars Is Hard Could China Get to Mars First? Mining the Moon India Joins the League of Lunar Nations His Space - about space author James ...
[Read More]

Late Star Tek (2009) review (minor spoiler alert)
I may be the last citizen of the Federation to have seen the movie, but will try to limit the spoiler content anyway. I was pumped by the trailers, had thought Sylar would make a most excellent Spock, and I'm a huge J.J. Abrams fan. Then, after seeing the 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes , I ...
[Read More]

2009: The year of the motor!
A huge set of new motors is on the way down the pipeline at the very moment. Most of them come from Cesaroni , but Aerotech also just announced three end burner motors (one with an extra grain of white lightning propellant to get things started quickly, for boost power.) What we seldom appreciate ...
[Read More]

I'm a 'dog person' but I shouldn't forget the monkeys too
I've posted a few times about Laika and the other space faring dogs who gave all for space exploration (see tag below). Tonight, National Geographic recognizes the monkey astronauts by commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1959 flight of Baker and Able on a Jupiter AM-18 rocket. Unlike some ...
[Read More]

"Rockets Beyond Strange" at NARAM 51!!!
As you all are aware, NARAM-51 is just around the corner. It will be held near Johnstown, PA on August 8 - 14, 2009. I sure had fun at NARAM-50 and #51 should be a blast. Unfortunately, even though it is relatively close, I won't be attending. As you all probably also know, I LOVE ODDROCS ! So, ...
[Read More]

Nice video of flight 7 of Masten's lander
From their blog (short, so I quoted the whole thing - hat tip to Clark Lindsey ): Here it intentionally flies a jig around the center while fighting the tether, and then does 45 degree rotation using RCS before landing. The flight was 30 seconds long.This is the first bipropellant RLV to fly ...
[Read More]

Rockets take to the sky over Luling!
We had a great time today at the SoLaR launch. The weather was perfect. We arrived at the field in Luling about 9:00AM. The grass was a bit high. but I brought the weed eater and soon had a nice clear area for us to launch from. Here is my launch report: SemRoc Repro kit of the Estes Astron Sky ...
[Read More]

Getting antsy for launching
I am anxiously awaiting ESL-133 , and already have my tentative line up: Goonball XL5 on a D13-7 Small Endeavour on a G69SK-7 Starfighter on an H148-4 NCR Archer on an H148-6 Big Daddy 29 on an F35-6 Hat of Death on an F24-P 59mm JATO on a G64-7 D-Fusion bomb on a ...
[Read More]

Going to Join the NAR...
It's hard to believe June is already upon us, but it's going to be an excellent summer for rocketry. I can just feel it. To fly some of my larger project this summer, I've got a bit of a problem. There's no way to get HPR motors until you're 18... unless you join the NAR . The NAR has a special ...
[Read More]

Google loves this blog!
For some reason... High Power High Power Rocket High Power Rocketry Sprint ABM This page only gets at most 50 hits a day, yet it ranks at times above, and others only one below the TRA web page. If only the quality of posts was consistent enough to justify this ranking.
[Read More]

FGG-3/Darque Sol flight update
I've been checking for the flight report on the FGG-3/Darque Sol and see it's now updated. The report includes photos and couple of videos. I'd like to try something similar, but on a smaller scale. Maybe around 18" in diameter. Although building a fiberglass shell is the high tech way to go, I've ...
[Read More]

Mad Tweeting
Or is that Madcow Rocketry Tweeting ...or Twittering? Heck, I don't know. I don't even like Twitter very much but, once I have the account, I might as well get Madcow's updates too.
[Read More]

Madcow introduces mid-power fiberglass kits
I got sidetracked by Madcow's presence on Twitter and forgot to mention that they have two new fiberglass kits . An ARCAS and an Honest John. Both are 2.6 diameter (BT size) and are under $100 bucks without a 'chute and 'chute protector. If I were inclined to but a kit at around that price, the ...
[Read More]

AeroTech Offers Prize for Fastest RMS Assembly Video
AeroTech/RCS will provide a $500 AeroTech gift certificate to the individual who produces a video that demonstrates the fastest assembly of an AeroTech, Dr. Rocket or Rouse-Tech RMS-29/180 motor hardware with an AeroTech RMS-29/180 reload of their choice. The video must show unpacking the reload, ...
[Read More]

Soyuz rendezvous with ISS mistaken for UFO activity.
A bright and fast object seemingly "overtook" the International Space Station May 29, according to several witnesses observing from two different states, according to testimony from the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) witness database. Read UFO report at the UFO Traffic Report index page .
[Read More]

Quest F12 test flight
Here's a video showing a Quest F12 being prepped for flight. This was a private launch hosted by MDRA member, formally known as FooseFest. One of the attendees employee in the sport rocketry 'industry' and got some pre-production motors for testing. This is possibly not the best video from the ...
[Read More]

Another rocket-near-airplane report (update)
Officials in Liberty County (northeast of Houston) and the FAA will be investigating a report by a Continental Express pilot that a “missile or rocket” passed within 150 feet of his plane. He was at 13K feet so, if it were true, this would be a serious HPR-class rocket. So far, the ...
[Read More]

Who's Your Daddy is ready to go
Thanks to the mass number (102 g) provided by rokitflite in this TRF thread , I made a dummy motor using a spent casing and installed the appropriate nose weight. Needs a loooong rod. Has rail buttons :)
[Read More]

X-37B news
Space.com reports that the USAF and Boeing plan to launch the X-37B OTV-1 in January 2010 atop an Atlas V EELV. I like the following photo from the drop tests performed back in 2006.
[Read More]

To boldly go where no one has gone before
Via Yahoo News : A robotic vehicle named Nereus has made the deepest ocean dive ever - 6.8 miles (10,902 meters), a team of scientists and engineers reported yesterday. At this depth, Nereus was able to explore the Challenger Deep - the ocean's lowest point, located in the Mariana Trench in the ...
[Read More]

Rocket video...my head is still spinning
Steve Jurvetson's Photo Synthesis has part 1 of a piece on video rockets . Take your Dramamine for this one:
[Read More]

Another compendium of Ekranoplans
Dark Roasted Blend has another lengthy post on Ekranoplans , from the humongous ones that first caught my eye to personal versions. Here's a chart depicting various versions (image via "Science & Vie").
[Read More]

Cirque de l'espace
Clark Lindsey has a list of articles about the next space tourist - Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil. I am happy to say that I did my small part to make that possible, having seen several of his productions: Mystère , "O" , KÀ , Zumanity , and Dralion . Looking at ...
[Read More]

Update on supposed rocket incident in Texas
Here's another article on the report that a rocket came within 150' of a plane over Liberty County, northeast of Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport. The report notes: Graduation ceremonies were being held about the same time as the pilot reported seeing the rocket, and it could have been a ...
[Read More]

Saturn V F-1 Nozzle

[Read More]

A Trip to the MSP Control Tower...
Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport has been ranked 7th largest in the nation. So it was definately a priviledge to tour behind the scenes the workings of the air traffic control at the MSP airport. The tour was for my aerospace engineering class, and though it was geared more towards the ...
[Read More]

Tourist Touts Commercial Space
New York - Space tourist Richard Garriott believes an "inflection point" is coming in which the cost of access to space will drop low enough to reveal a variety of viable new commercial space ventures beyond just tourism or communications. Read more from Aviation Week Here
[Read More]

A Double Shot, Texas style

[Read More]

"N" power without epoxy?
The typical Level-3 class rocket involves a lot of epoxy and fiberglass, Kevlar, or carbon fiber (or some combination thereof). I've heard of several examples. These are not well documented so I have no references. Although common in amateur circles, all-metal rockets are frowned upon in HPR ...
[Read More]

'Scuse me while I touch the sky (rocket video)
Steve Jurvetson has posted part 2 of his video rocket article on his Photo Synthesis blog. And I stole borrowed the video from his Sledgehammer M1550 flight.
[Read More]

Unreasonable liability concerns impact Unreasonable Rocket
Paul Breed presents the sad story about how his supply of hydrogen peroxide evaporated - Business ethics and cuts by a thousand lawyers . It didn't physically evaporate, but his suppliers will no longer sell to amateur rocketeers. One big lawsuit and it isn't worth the litigation risk for a small ...
[Read More]

AeroTech Offers EFC-1 Electronic Forward Closure in Kit Form
AeroTech is offering its EFC-1? Electronic Forward Closure? recovery system deployment device in kit form as part no. EFC-1K at $99.90 suggested retail. The EFC is a timer-based electronic recovery system deployment module that attaches to the forward end of any AeroTech, Dr. Rocket? or R ...
[Read More]

The "Quadra-tator" potato cannon
Bill Gurstelle reports on a machine (spud) gun seen at Maker Faire 2009. Four tanks, crank operated, gravity fed magazine, 20 spuds/min., 85 mph muzzle velocity. All I wanna know is WHERE'S THE VIDEO!
[Read More]

Cheap access to space: lessons from past breakthroughs
The X-33 is one example of how expensive efforts to lower the cost of space access have been. Read Article Here
[Read More]

Video of my Level-2 flight
I got my Level-2 at LDRS2000 outside Orangeburg, SC. My Great Googly Moogly flew on a J350 that was generously provided free by AeroTech. Recovery was controlled by a GWiz altimeter with motor backup. My paperwork signed by Jeff Taylor. Find more videos like this on Our Planet
[Read More]

"Space Race: Project Orion" on YouTube
The 5-part documentary on Project Orion (the original atomic pulse detonation project) is now avaialble on YouTube. You can access the playlist here . I also embedded it below. These are highly recommended! You can see all 25 of my Project Orion posts (including this one) by following the tag ...
[Read More]

Black Knight Rocket Car in action
The Black Knight: Hybrid Rocket RC Car blog has photos of the hybrid motor mounted in the car and a video of the first run.
[Read More]

Another online CP calculator
For those who don't want to buy a rocket simulation package or download a free one, here is a quick and dirty CP calculator based on Stine's Handbook of Model Rocketry . Hat tip to The EGE .
[Read More]

Project Orion
Below is a youtube video series on Project Orion. I have yet to watch all of the videos. The best part of Project Orion is the fact that it could, with proven technology and reasonably small costs, send people to Mars and beyond in style. Indeed manned missions to Saturn and Jupiter could also ...
[Read More]

"Space Race - Race to the Moon - Vol. 1"
I really liked Volume 2 on Project Orion , so I suspect Volume 1 is also good. Haven't looked at these yet.
[Read More]

Signs of the Black Rock Desert (update)
Update: Check out the links provided in the first comment. The following was a sign indicating the Navy's interests in the Black Rock Desert.
[Read More]

Project 463 revisited
Launched at FireBALLS-005 in August 1995, Project 463 was the biggest sport rocket ever flown at 42' and 1200 lbs. It flew on a P and 2 N's in the booster and a single N in the sustainer, although the sustainer didn't ignite. This huge project was built by Chuck Sackett in his Florida shop. It ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2009-3 (update)
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD ( MDRA ESL-133) Weather: 80's, calm to a light breeze, no thunder bumpers Total flights: Today - 8; YTD - 24 Total motors: Today - 8; YTD - 29 Another great day, with the wife and pooch attending. It started right with no wait at the Bay Bridge. Then, we ...
[Read More]

Update on my Whirlygig-24 variations (minor tweaks)
Based on the performance of my shortened Whirlygig-24 at yesterday's launch , I've adjusted my plans. All use 2' diameter tubes and fly on 24mm motors (some dimensions updated to reflect the fin material I acquired) : Baseline version: tube length = 22", fin root = 3", fin span = 5", fin angle ...
[Read More]

ss-25 "Topol"
Single 550 KT warhead. _________________________________________ *Most recent Google searches to this web page: (Google robot please note this is not spam.) high power model rocket photos high power rocketry high power rocket motors 3420 mph rocket how many g force (I love this one! If you read ...
[Read More]

Video of the Quad Pod II lander
Just noticed you can embed videos from flickr. If I knew this, I forgot. Anyway, this is Dave Hein's gyro-stabilized rocket. More reference links can be found here .
[Read More]

Whirlygig-24 building and re-thinking
I updated my previous post earlier today but now think I'll just re-post the next round of status and thinking out loud. Baseline version: status = flown; tube length = 22", fin root = 3", fin span = 5", fin angle =120 deg from top; 13 flights using D12, E9, EM F20, and F24 motors 'Shortie': ...
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, June 2009 (Saturn V issue)
The lead story in this issue is Steve Eves' 1:10 Scale Saturn V. Having attended the record-setting launch, I'll be setting this one in my 'short stack' of favorite rocket magazines. The two articles are well written and have some excellent photos. My favorite is the sun rising over the Eastern ...
[Read More]

NAR/TRA files suit for fee recovery
Rocketry Planet has an article on the lawsuit, including a download of the entire 118 page source document. Here's the intro/summary: Attorneys for the Tripoli Rocketry Association and the National Association of Rocketry today filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ...
[Read More]

Info on Dr. Rocket's modular aluminum rocket
A while back, I posted about N-Power without epoxy? .One of the rockets I mentioned was Michael "Dr. Rocket" Reiner's modular aluminum rocket. I learned the following from Point 39 Productions video of LDRS XVII (Bonneville, August 1998): The nose, upper body, and fin can were all aluminum ...
[Read More]

Interesting large cluster
Here is Brian Weese's Purple Haze , which flew at LDRS XVII in the Bonneville Salt Flats back in August 1998. It flew on an H180 and 60 Estes 'C' motors arrayed along the entire body. It looked like the central 'H' and many (most? all?) of the 'C's lit. It cork screwed a bit and separated, but was ...
[Read More]

"Better science through miniature golf"
The Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows, Queens, NY now features the Rocket Park Mini Golf course, where kids can learn space physics while playing miniature golf. The course features actual Atlas and Titan rockets that have been there since the 1964 World's Fair. (via the NYTimes.com with hat tip ...
[Read More]

Old Photos
This is a rocket I flew back in March of 2004. My friend Peter and I got a lot of ribbing from the guys as the vehicle was constructed almost entirely from sewer pipe. The motor utilized an unrestricted burning grain, which basically means that it lept off the ground like a bat out of ...
[Read More]

I'm getting ready for Southern Thunder this weekend!
I'm looking forward to the "Southern Thunder" launch this weekend. It looks like we will have good weather. However it will be hot. So if you are attending make sure to bring plenty of water and sun screen. I have been in a build frenzy over the last two weeks. I have my Competitor 5 "The Max ...
[Read More]

How long is yours?
I was contemplating a 24mm 'H'-powered fin shredder. So, just how long is a 24mm 'H' anyway? Well, the 24/250 motor, which will give you either an H200-13 or J365-15, is a mere 15" long. If this isn't enough, try a 19.25" H470-P.
[Read More]

More Old Photos
These are pictures of the very first rocket that I launched at the RRS back in 2002. I hadn't bought a lathe yet and the motors were constructed primarily out of PVC pipe and fittings. It was the largest PVC motor that I have ever constructed and the last before moving on to fully ...
[Read More]

Suborbital Sounding Rocket Goes POP!
I think this launch happened about a year ago. The rocket suffered an anomaly and was destroyed by the RSO. It doesn't sound like what you might expect a rocket explosion to sound like. It sounds more like a firecracker!
[Read More]

Long Awaited Big Yeller Onboard Video
Tripoli MN finally posted the onboard video of Big Yeller to YouTube!
[Read More]

Team Prometheus Balloon to Near Space
Team Prometheus is a team working on the N-Prize.
[Read More]

The ginormous Stratospheric Dreams post
At R2K's request, I went ape shit with the screen snaps. But first, some details about the rocket: The project concept and motors were by Mike Ward and the construction was by Chuck Sackett. 'Flew' after BALLS-005 on its own waiver. Motor was 'S' class. The 320 lbs of propellant was ...
[Read More]

Scary near miss and a lesson on cluster ignition
This was a full scale SAAB that flew at LDRS 17 on a central M and four I's. The I's lit and lobbed the rocket off the pad. The M then ignited when it was oriented in the wrong direction. Lesson: ground start the main motor and airstart the outboards. Oh, yeah, this is also why you have set-off ...
[Read More]

Project 463 construction details
For historical purposes, I decided I'd capture some close-ups of the beast. In order, nosecone-to-thrust plate (L-to-R, top-to-bottom): nosecone on playa, nose section in the shop, upper sustainer body (2' Sonotube), lower sustainer body (four 10" aluminum tubes and plates), fin can with 4" motor ...
[Read More]

My Massive Gassive was featured in the EMRR Corner
EMRR Corner , a regular feature in Apogee Component's Newsletter, highlights rocketry material from, as expected, EMRR's site. The theme of Newsletter #235's EMRR Corner was Let's Cluster Some Motors . The center photo in this Corner shows the business end of the still unpainted 10 x 24mm Massive ...
[Read More]

APCP cost may be rising
Rocketry Planet has learned that, due "increasingly limited supply" of surplus ammonium perchlorate (AP) and the "serious decline" in the quality of surplus AP, AeroTech has announced they will be immediately adding a 10% surcharge on all dealer and distributor motor orders. The MSRP remains the ...
[Read More]

First Day at Southern Thunder
It's hot! I got every thing setup. We should be flying soon. I am taking a break to cool off.
[Read More]

It's not 'research' but what is it?
Last year, I ordered a 3-pack of F24 RMS loads that was missing a ton of parts including 2 of the 3 delay assemblies. I contacted AeroTech and, after emailing some evidence, they promptly replaced the reload pack. I quickly decided that I really liked this motor. Later in the year, I picked up two ...
[Read More]

1st Day of Southern Thunder is in the Books
It was a awesome day. Very hot but lots of flights. I flew my rocket Bones to 3,892' on a AT I435. Here is a picture of Scott Taylor's Armagetin Rockets leaving the pad on a K1000 sparky motor. Were still looking for the rocket. The main came out on top and it drifted a couple of mile away.
[Read More]

A rocket for the desktop..a wooden desk, not the one on your computer
Check out this cool General Dynamics 'nut dish'. Photo embedded from Telstar Logistics; originally seen on Dinosaurs and Robots .
[Read More]

3000 posts = a lot of hot air
I just noticed my previous post was number 3000. It appears I'm doing my share to raise the noise floor of the Web.
[Read More]

Saturday 06.20.2009
The NARAMS ECRM launch was on despite the threat of rain and afternoon thunderstorms. The weather reports looked like there might be breaks in the rain so I staged my stuff last night. This morning I decided to bag it anyway. It was poring here so loading the SUV would be delayed. Then, I figured ...
[Read More]

We Choose the Moon
This should be cool. For 4 days starting on July 11, We Choose the Moon will provide a real-time audio and video recreation of the Apollo 11 mission. There are various ways to share and follow the action. I added it to my Twitter feed.
[Read More]

Max Attack just flew!
I just flew the Max Attack to 8,920'. It was recovered on the field successfully. The motor was a Loki M900 Red Propellant with a 6 second burn time.
[Read More]

The Telstar song
I saw this on Clark Lindsey's Space for All blog . Aside from the significance of the song, it provides a nice montage of space exploration photos:
[Read More]

Stratospheric Dreams
One of my personal favorite rocket attempts of all time was this one; an S motor attempt, that sadly failed in a CATO. Simmed to hit over 100,000 feet (claimed at 115,000), the most impressive part of the project has to be the quality of the parts used. At all times this rocket was built like a ...
[Read More]

Research 3 flight
I few my 4" rocket Research 3 this afternoon with the new 3" booster section. I had a K800 BB motor in it. I also had the camera payload. I got a nice video from it. It turned in a respectable 6,200'.
[Read More]

Photo hosting hiccup - fixed
Blogger experienced a photo hosting problem that zapped some of the photos that I loaded during the middle of last week. They should all be back now. My thanks to Chrisn for commenting. Without people letting me know, problems like this could go unnoticed for a long time.
[Read More]

Third Day at Southern Thunder
Scott Taylors XST Triangle rocket is on the pad. Whit R.
[Read More]

Carl Hicks One Third Scale Patriot
We just flew it on an M2500 Blue Thunder
[Read More]

My Ultimate 4x29SS Flight Ended In Disaster
I flew my Ultimate 4x29SS today with a full load of 2xH180's and I was going to airstart 2xG79's. I had a Missileworks RRC2 setup for dual deployment and a Perfectflite mini timer for the airstarts. I flew my Ultimate 4x29SS today with a full load of 2xH180's and I was going to airstart 2xG79's. ...
[Read More]

99G74 completed
Here's the complete motor, showing the epoxy plug. I borrowed an idea from the world of PVC sugar motors and drilled holes in the case above the grain. These provide glue rivets on the plug. (click the tag to see the previous post)
[Read More]

Rocket rebuild
I recently dusted off one of my oldest scratch rockets from my early BAR days. The body is a 2" mailing tube, the nose cone is balsa turned on a hand drill, and fins were made from scrap wood from a doll house kit I assembled for my daughter. When I looked at the fins and gasped. After a couple of ...
[Read More]

Toypedo rockets, maybe
After many years, I recently found our Toypedo. Its V2-like looks screams rocket . I also recently got an online coupon from Plaza Artist Materials . I seldom buy anything there but I needed some more thin masking tape so I printed the coupon and popped over. I left with my tape and some 2-part ...
[Read More]

"It's been far too long since any human visited the place."
The post title is the last line of Taylor Dinerman's article in today's space review entitled Why is it so hard to go back to the Moon? He points out the political, and funding differences between the '60's and today. And that it will likely be 51 years between the last landing and the next (at ...
[Read More]

HPR on "The Space Show"
Mark Canepa, author of “ Modern High-Powered Rocketry ”, will be this week's guest on Dr. David Livingston's The Space Show .
[Read More]

How to behave on an Internet forum
As an ex-TRF moderator, I just couldn't resist posting this video. (hat tip to UncleVanya, a mod on Rocketry Planet). Internet: Useful Tips : How To Behave On An Internet Forum
[Read More]

Mold making madness
I found a suitably sized cardboard container and lined it with plastic to contain the liquid latex. I also devised a method to suspend the Toypedo over the mold. Earlier, I had checked the volume of material required but I obviously didn't hit 'recalculate'. Mid-stream (the stream being the mixed ...
[Read More]

Breakthrough propulsion references
Picked up from Clark Lindsey (I musta been snoozin' as I missed the Next Big Future posts): A 2004 Air Force report Advance Propulsion Study (pdf) Nuclear DC-X : Recent Nuclear Thermal Rocket Proposals - Next Big Future - June.17.09 Blast Wave Accelerator: Space Launch System - Next ...
[Read More]

Big day in the RLV and Space Transport News
More missile-aneous stuff from Clark . Haven't read them...yet... Asabooster CD004 (pdf) - "a conceptual design for a [VTHL] reusable rocket vehicle able to lift 152 lbs with a total delta velocity of 10000 feet per second vertically (not taking gravity and aerodynamic losses into account)" ...
[Read More]

Nuclear DC-X
I posted links to the source article earlier today, but thought I'd capture the diagram of the proposed Nuclear DC-X/LANTR SSTO Heavy Cargo Lifter. Another diagram shows this vehicle in scale next to the Saturn V and Shuttle. This would be an interesting build.
[Read More]

Toypedo, extracted
There are a few minor flaws, but the mold turned out OK. Hmmm, I wonder if I have enough scrap fiberglass to build a shell?
[Read More]

Selene falls slowly towards the Moon
SELENE (Selenological and Engineering Explorer) JAXA Wiki
[Read More]

First Toypedo half-shell: FAIL (update)
I tried 2 layers of light fiberglass and used the Toypedo to compress the fiberglass against the mold. The quality is bad, but I guess not that bad for a first try. I need enough cloth so I don't scrimp. I also need to fill the bubbles in the mold. Finally, the strength is poor so more layers ...
[Read More]

Nuclear DC-X RockSim model
BT60 based, 18mm mount, plenty stable
[Read More]

An add to the Internet etiquette guide
When tagging uploaded photos, don't apply a keyword to every photo just because it applies to one of them (or even a few). This will not help you find the photo(s) in question and will piss everyone else off. (Of course, people on the Internet generally don't care if their actions piss someone ...
[Read More]

The way I'll remember Farrah

[Read More]

When it's 3th and long, you sometimes fall back to Plan B
And, for NASA, Plan B is Shuttle-C (still? again?). ZZakk's Lab point's out that the timing of this realization is odd. That is, it was revealed during the Augustine Commission's review of Ares I. Take that Team Direct. I'm shaking my head. I am sure there is a down side (there always is). ...
[Read More]

Successful Tests of New Russian Rocket Engine
New Russian liquid-fuel rocket engine 14D23/RD-0124A, built for “Soyuz-2-16” rocket carrier, passed first tests, conditions of which were beyond operation conditions. During last four tests within warranty limits on thrust and fuel component ratio, the engine worked for over 3000 ...
[Read More]

Lensman is coming to the big screen...YES!
io9 reports that efforts are well underway for a Lensman movie. I'm not a huge sci-fi novel fanatic, but E.E. "Doc" Smith's Lensman series is my second favorite after Dune . That means a screen adaptation will could either become one of my favorite movies or suck big time (unfortunately, the ...
[Read More]

Virtuality goes boom 183 times (or something like that)
I have been watching Virtuality , a sci-fi TV movie on Fox, and didn't take note when the name Orion was first mentioned. I was later surprised when I heard that the ship, the Phaeton, was powered by nuclear pulse detonation, ala the 'real' Project Orion . This played a very minor, almost ...
[Read More]

AMATEURS AND ROCKETS-1
I was asked recently if I had lost interest in rocketry. Nothing could be further from the truth; I love rocketry as much as ever and can't foresee ever losing my interest in it. Time constraints have kept me from actually doing much, but I'm always keeping my eyes open for anything rocket related. ...
[Read More]

OpenRocket - a new rocket design/simulation package
OpenRocket is a free, Java-based, open-source simulator program. It features graphical design, 6-DOF modeling, wind simulation, and graphing. The software was written by Sampo Niskanen for his Master's thesis at the Helsinki University of Technology. Hat tip to Clark 'Space for All' Lindsey .
[Read More]

If ya' don't bring your battery...
...ya' can't take photos of your day on the Chesapeake.
[Read More]

Toypedo update
Well, since my last Toypedo update, I formed two paper mache shells and am building a rocket from them. It is going to be ugly with a capital UGLY. I may or may not reveal its ugliness. Although they are the way to go, I'm not going to be building a fiberglass version any time soon. If I need ...
[Read More]

My OnBoard Rocket Video From Southern Thunder 2009
Find more videos like this on Our Planet
[Read More]

RockSim vs Barrowman vs the Toypedo (update)
Last night, I was making a RockSim model of another strange design (more later) and ran into the often asked question: RockSim or Barrowman? As an aside, RockSim can either compute the CP using the venerable Barrowman equations or using a proprietary method that accounts for some additional factors ...
[Read More]

More "The Big Picture" shots from space
The big picture
[Read More]

From rockets to rocks
Steve Jurvetson has handed over the reins of the Photo Synthesis blog. That means no more rockets there for now. The latest post explores Rocks that ROCK !
[Read More]

A look at the Max Launch Abort System
You can read about the actual Max Launch Abort System over on ZZakk's Lab . I've seen several people wonder about this thing's static stability...and it ain't good. Luckily, professional rocketeers can apply active stabilization. Here's a quick-look at a 1:72 scale version. Methinks some added ...
[Read More]

First Multistage Rocket: Complete!
I just finished my first mid-power dual-stage rocket! I've built several low-power ones on Este's dash-zero motors way back when, but now I'm venturing into the world of electronic ignition, misfires and lawndarts. I've got a small electronic timer that activates 2 seconds after the G-switch is ...
[Read More]

Uranium Found on the Moon
By Clara Moskowitz : 29 June 200905:59 pm ET Uranium exists on the moon, according to new data from a Japanese spacecraft. The findings are the first conclusive evidence for the presence of the radioactive element in lunar dirt, the researchers said. They announced the discovery recently at the ...
[Read More]

High speed video of the inside of a water rocket
Air Command has acquired a Casio Exilim FC-100 and have documented the dynamics inside the chamber of a water rocket. Cool!
[Read More]

Presenting the Stink Bomb
Here's my paper mache version of the Toypedo rocket. The quality of the surface stank from the start and continued to deteriorate as, I guess, the middle layers totally dried. I started to try to clean it up but ended up throwing in the towel. I then started wondering about paint and a name. ...
[Read More]

Shuttle-to-DIRECTv3
Just ran across the YouTube version of the v3 animation:
[Read More]

Warning: Fireworks can blow up your mannequin's head
Via the Consumer Products Safety Commission's (CPSC) Fourth of July fireworks safety conference near the National Mall in Washington.
[Read More]

Apogee Newsletter #238 explains the Toypedo
I had mentioned how the default Barrowman CP of the Toypedo was messed up. Apogee Newsletter #238 not only discusses the differences between the Barrowman and RockSim methods but has an example that specifically address the issue at hand (see excerpt below). With a wide body and a relatively skinny ...
[Read More]

The Most Powerful Telecommunications Satellite Ever Launched. Will Enable Satellite Communication From Your Smartphone!
Lift-off of the Ariane 5 ECA of flight V189 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on its mission to place the heaviest and most powerful telecommunications satellite ever launched, Terrastar 1, into geostationary transfer orbit. Deployment of TerreStar-1 Marks Significant Milestone for both ...
[Read More]

Live Tweeting from LDRS
Ack, I never thought I'd use that term. Anyway, Rocketry Planet is providing a feed of LDRS28-related Tweets. So far, I've been underwhelmed by Twitter but maybe this will prove interesting. Brett Keller is reporting live and here are his 1st two posts: tomorrow will be muddy but hopefully ...
[Read More]

2nd test of the InterPlaNet
IEEE Spectrum reports that researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder performed the 2nd test of JPL's Delay Tolerant Internet. This test involved sending images from the ISS to their control center in Colorado. The next proof-of-concept will be performed in October using the the Deep ...
[Read More]

Rocket-powered and mosquito-killing lasers
The current IEEE Spectrum has a nice article on the quest for 100+ KW, solid state, missile-killing lasers. One of the systems described is the Airborne Laser (ABL) . This 1-MW beast, which fills a 747, is a flowing gas laser. These are "powered by burning chemical fuels like those that drive ...
[Read More]

LDRS 28 - a mud bowl
Rocketry Planet has posted more details on the first day of, er, flying. As Brett Keller reported via Twitter , the field conditions are terrible. Darrell has posted some photos, including the following one, which shows some rocket vehicle extraction units (RVEU).
[Read More]

Goonball XL5 review on EMRR
Somehow, the fact that this review had been posted slipped under the Dungeon's radar.
[Read More]

Ham
If I invest hundreds of dollars in a minimum diameter supersonic G-motor rocket that ends up going to nearly the end of the troposphere (just a slight exaggeration), it goes without saying that I will lose a lot of money. So I realized that it would be in my best interest to study amateur radio ...
[Read More]

Tilt sensors
Here's a link to a source for $2 tilt sensors. These appear to employ small metal balls and should basically operate like a mercury switch. In the old days, mercury switches were used for electronic staging. I've heard people had used them for apogee detection but in my experience they would ...
[Read More]

Continuing composite saga
OK so I've worked in chemical engineering-related R&D for almost 15 years now. As such I can attest to the fact that, when you're pushing the limits of your personal or collective knowledge, things can fail. My most recent rocket science failure stemmed from a) the hasty use of b) a handy resin ...
[Read More]

M750 build progress
Can ya tell it's a holiday weekend and I'm fired up?! Happy early Independence Day by the way, my vast readership. Last week I used JB Weld to bond the 98mm Slimline motor retainer to the end of the 48" long booster section and this worked well. I should also note that it took me roughly 20 minutes ...
[Read More]

Success on the most expensive part yet
I'm, like, sorta happy... or something! I test peeled some of the film this morning and the part had obviously cured. When I cut the Mylar™ film free it popped right off exposing a virtually perfect surface! There are still some surface voids in the resin but far fewer than when I first ...
[Read More]

Messer-Fo-Shizzle officially DOA
I finally decided to rebuild the Messer-Fo-Shizzle after it failed to deploy at Red Glare VI . Well, the news was worse than expected. I thought I'd have to trim and extend the upper body, reattach the two fin units that shredded off and re-tack the motor mount(s). It turns out that all the foam ...
[Read More]

Happy 4th of July!
Happy 4th of July to all from the Bayourat and Family. Stay safe and enjoy the fireworks.
[Read More]

LDRS 28 photos (updated)
I'm adding to this thread as new sources are found. The latest will be on top. (posted 7/11 12:22 AM ) And, although only Day 1 is currently listed, ROCKETS Magazine's albums should provide the best photographic coverage. (They should have a video teaser soon also.) Their site is slow at the ...
[Read More]

BBQ, beer and boom

[Read More]

M750 = Em-Sem-Fity or EM-SEM-FITY!?
I've decided to channel my rap alter-ego and name the as-yet-to-be-named-vessel-under-construction "Em-Sem-Fity" or "M750" as 50 Cent would utter it. Which logo do you prefer: mixed or all caps?: You can vote via comment below. And please do.
[Read More]

Ait Command's latest clustered, staged, video water rocket
Real time, high speed (which makes the video slo-mo), and on-board footage from the Acceleron V: All the details can be found here .
[Read More]

It must be video Monday - on-board Shuttle footage

[Read More]

Steve Jurvetson's view of new-space
CNET has an article on Steve Jurvetson, High Power Rocketeer and managing partner of the venture capital firm Draper Fisher and Jurvetson . The article covers his interest in electric vehicles and his belief in 'fringe science'. Here's what he says about 'new space': He's also a fan of space ...
[Read More]

July 16th is the 40th Anniversary of the Launch of Apollo 11
For the next 10 days. The Bayourat Rocketry Blog will count down with interesting Apollo 11 facts, photos, and stories. Please comment with your thoughts and experiences.
[Read More]

The Greatest Machine Ever Built
Forty Eight years ago (May 25, 1961) U.S. president John Kennedy announced the goal of landing Americans on the Moon by the end of the decade. Kennedy's ambitious speech triggered a nearly unprecedented peacetime technological mobilization and one result was the Saturn V moon rocket . Its ...
[Read More]

Did You Know?
"During the cold war, the code to unlock nuclear missiles was 00000000. Strategic Air Command thought the eight-digit combinations necessary to launch ICBMs were for [dumbbells], the kind of fraidy-cats who engage the safety on their personal firearms. So the combination for all the missiles was ...
[Read More]

Twitter disappoints, again (update)
First, let me say that I appreciated Brett Keller's efforts to provide updates from LDRS 28 (his Tweets can be found here ). I enjoyed hearing some feedback from the field. So, this is only a criticism of the media (more its application), not the user(s). When I heard there would be real-time ...
[Read More]

MLAS launch tomorrow
NASA Wallops will launch the Max Launch Abort System between 5:45 and 10:00 AM tomorrow. The 33' tall, 45k lb vehicle is only expected to reach about a mile and should last less than 2 minutes. You can watch the webcast or follow the launch on Twitter . (hat tip to Maryland Weather , NASA photo) ...
[Read More]

LDRS 28 coverage reminder
I've continued to add links as I found them. More to come. Have some I missed?
[Read More]

MLAS launch (update!)
Twitter indicates it happened on schedule but doesn't cover the flight or any results. Anyone know if there was a webcast? I hope a video crops up somewhere. Well, NASA Watch was watching and found an article, with the following photo, in the PilotOnline.com . Click it!
[Read More]

Space Oddity, times four
Clark Lindsey passes along news of a special moon walk release of multiple versions of David Bowie's Space Oddity , which was originally released nine days before Apollo 11’s Neil Armstrong and Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin Jr. took their giant leap. Here's a video for you Bowie fans.
[Read More]

The Next Step. The Second Stage.
The second stage, S-II, would need about a million pounds of thrust and, if also powered by five engines, would call for the development of new 200,000-pound hydrogen-oxygen engines. When bids for the new J-2 engine were solicited, Pratt & Whitney with its ample liquid-hydrogen experience was ...
[Read More]

MLAS launch video (update)
I see there is a video on NASA's Exploration/MLAS page (in the sidebar). You can also access it directly . Cool, I love low and slow. (I wish they made their videos embeddable.) There is more on this vehicle on NASAspaceflight.com . (links from Clark Lindsey's RLV blog ) The video, as expected, ...
[Read More]

I didn't take note...
Of today's unique second in history: 12:34:56 7/8/09. In fact, I missed it twice!
[Read More]

More MLAS launch shots
Via the AP and io9.
[Read More]

Interesting solid rocket designs
"The disadvantage of a solid fuel rocket is the whole block of solid fuel must be located inside a though rocket motor. This implies an excess of weight and of volume. Perhaps there is a way to avoid this drawback." "One could smear a little bit of solid fuel inside the supersonic diverging nozzle ...
[Read More]

Ad Astra plasma engine meets a critical milestone
OnOrbit reports that Ad Astra Rocket Company has successfully run the VX-200 VASIMR plasma engine's superconducting first stage at full power. This is an important step towards 39 day trips to Mars. (via NASA Watch )
[Read More]

Flint's pyro book
Flint, a frequent contributor to the SugPro list, has compiled his rocket/pyro web pages into a .pdf-format e-book . It covers fireworks, BP and sugar motors, and related subjects/devices. Worth a look if you're interested in such things. Read the disclaimer and don't damage yourself or others, ...
[Read More]

Air Turbo Rockets
Air Turbo Rockets (ATRs) are a cross between turbojets and rockets. The basic version is an air breathing engine augmented with a rocket gas generator that drives a turbine and in-turn an air compressor. However, the concept can be extended to an engine that can transition from this mixed mode to ...
[Read More]

5 interesting searches from today
- uk high power rocketry - carbon fiber high powered rocket - G80-13 rocket engine description - Save Igloo - unstable high power rocket video I hope you all found what you wanted!
[Read More]

DIY Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC)
For the space geek in all of us, Echoes of Apollo has plans to build your own AGC. (hat tip to falingtrea on TRF ) While you're at it, check out the main site .
[Read More]

MLAS flying model - WANT
Sounds like Quest may have one in the works .
[Read More]

An existing MLAS flying model! Yeah!
This is too awesome. TRF member wilostr reports on his completed, but not yet flown, 1:20, 19.8" dia. MLAS model (photo stolen from his post). Beautiful rocket. It is built to fly on 3 G80s, and has several custom 'chutes. He provided a RockSim model, whose CP is very close to the actual wind ...
[Read More]

MLAS, MLAS, and more MLAS
I see YORF memebers Gus, sandman (who turned the components of the flying model from my previous post), and Peter "Rockets of the World" Alway got to attend the MLAS launch. It turns out the model builder, Tim Wilson, is the assistant director of NESC , which built the MLAS. You can read their ...
[Read More]

How long a sidebar is too long?
I just added two new widgets to my sidebar, recent posts and recent comments. Dang, the sidebar is getting long. I'm going to leave these for a while and try to decide if their presence will help others navigate around or be useful to me. Since more than 10 posts are already displayed, I'm not ...
[Read More]

Brain surgery ain't rocket science, but it appears rocket science might be brain surgery
And it isn't even April ...LOL.
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, July/August 2009
The main theme of this issue is NARCON 2009. Unfortunately, the descriptions of the sessions can only provide a hint of what was covered. I really would like to have seen the 'dumpster diving' session. There are good articles on GPS tracking and how to outfit your custom paint shop. Tom Beach ...
[Read More]

"Untitled" Set to Launch!
It's embarrasing to have spent so much time and energy on a project you can't even come up with a creative name for. If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment. Later today I will be flying this rocket for the first time in its two-stage configuration. This is the moment of revelation. ...
[Read More]

S-IVB The Third Stage or Earth Departur Stage
The S-IVB (sometimes S4b, always pronounced "ess four bee") was built by the Douglas Aircraft Company and served as the third stage on the Saturn V and second stage on the Saturn IB . It had one J-2 engine. For lunar missions it was fired twice: first for the orbit insertion after second stage ...
[Read More]

D-Fusion Bomb, Block 2
Well, the first version was underpowered on a D12 and unstable. I still am a tad confused but, instead of taxing my feeble brain, I decided more fin area was in order. So I added some quick-and-dirty basswood fins on an extended motor tube. It's actually heavier than the original and has margin of ...
[Read More]

EM-SEM-FITY fin attach
For months now I'd planned to reinforce the 1/4" fins with at least one fascia layer of carbon fiber/epoxy prior to attaching them to the booster. I mentally devised several layup scenarios ranging from vacuum bagging individual fins through stacking all four, stratified, and curing simultaneously ...
[Read More]

Ist eine Rakaten fantastisch!
Sorry I was channeling Brüno for a moment there... So I pieced the beast together and it's looking just as I'd hoped it would: The metal-tipped, filament-wound carbon fiber nose cone doesn't quite fit yet and, since it's the single most expensive part, I plan to finish that fitting ...
[Read More]

Disaster Strikes
I can't get over my absent-mindedness of yesterday. I'm embarrassed to even mention it, but I never even armed the timer before counting down and launching all my hard work up into the sky... It was especially embarrasing since we had some friends over to witness the flight. One thing I have ...
[Read More]

Nose section of new project
P.S. That's 8" in diameter.
[Read More]

Free-range Unreasonable Rocket spotted in the Mojave
Paul Breed briefly reports that his untethered Blue Ball flew and landed well. He provides photographic evidence and says he'll post more when his body temperature returns to normal. That's awesome Paul, congratulations! Hat tip to George Katz for finding and passing along the video.
[Read More]

One down and one to go (blog format discussion)
OK, I'm dumping the list of recent posts but for now am keeping the comments list. In what should be the top comment at post time *, The EGE confirms and reminds me that the recent posts list is redundant. If you have to scroll through the sidebar to find the list...might just as well scroll ...
[Read More]

Is the life expectancy of the completed ISS only 6 years?
This probably isn't news to people who paid attention and could count, but it appears that unless additional funding is sought, that is the case. The Washington Post points out that the Station will be complete and fully manned by the end of next year (2010) and the current plans are to begin ...
[Read More]

What it will take to land on the Moon. The concept of a LEM
A young engineer by the name of John Hobalt came up with the concept that it would require two separate space craft. The Apollo program was moving forward with the one big rocket concept. When John risked his whole career and went over everyones head to prove his concept was the only way. The LEM ...
[Read More]

Videos added to yesterday's posts
Aw heck, I could link to them but since embedding uses no resources... And while I'm at it...
[Read More]

8" MLAS construction notes, part 1
I'm writing this to document how I'm building the nose section. If it works I'll use this for part of an EMRR review. You can follow the MLAS tag if you aren't familiar with what the real one looks like. The ~2.5" body section and shoulder shown in the photo is 8.25" Sonotube. I really could have ...
[Read More]

The Command and Service Modules
      The Command Module is the most complex piece of hardware in the entire stack.   The Command Module has a double structure, comprised of the cabin and the outer wall. For heat shielding, the outer wall is made of stainless steel brazed honeycomb between ...
[Read More]

8" MLAS construction notes, part 2
Still struggling with the internal structure. Decided to build for 38mm 'G' motors. They are stubbier, which can't hurt in this stubby design. Plus they give the option for a G185 should this sucker get too heavy for a mere G64/71/77/80. Here's what the nose section looks like now.
[Read More]

Saturn V, Lunar Module and Command Module cutaway drawings
Via Flightglobal: Saturn V Lunar Module Command Module Includes links to .pdf files.
[Read More]

Apollo 11 on July 16, 1969

[Read More]

Space X does it again!
This was the launch of "RazakSAT," a 180kg sattelite described as a "remote sensing" craft. It includes a solid camera, and was placed in a "NEqO" or Near Equitorial Orbit. Why? Because they want to see things in that area. Source
[Read More]

Name for "Untitled"
Because of Saturday's major disaster, I thought of a name that should suit this rocket. "Double-Trouble" is indicative of its double-stage characteristic, not to mention its miserable life-story.
[Read More]

T-~09:16:00
Crew resting for morning liftoff.
[Read More]

We Choose the Moon - reminder
Remember, We Choose the Moon is providing a real-time audio and video recreation of the Apollo 11 mission. There are various ways to share and follow the action. I added it to my Twitter feed.
[Read More]

We Have Lift Off!
Lift off of Apollo 11. Forty years ago today those are the words that every person watching there television remembers hearing. But what was it like for the three men who road the elevator to the top of a thirty story tall rocket. A rocket that was full of millions of pounds of explosive fuel. ...
[Read More]

Trinity Site history
  Courtesy of White Sands Missile Range The first atomic bomb was tested at Trinity Site on July 16, 1945. Most people are familiar with this and the fact that the National Historic Landmark is on the north end of White Sands Missile Range. However, most are not familiar with the ...
[Read More]

Email from TRA RE. continued conflicts with the BATF
This is a letter sent out recently to certain TRA members. "TRA Prefects: I would like to urgently obtain some information related to any inappropriate BATFE actions which you may be aware of since the court judgment was considered "final" (May 15, 2009). I have already been informed of several ...
[Read More]

Apollo 11 in The Big Picture
40 Apollo 11 photos from The Big Picture
[Read More]

Do you know where Apollo 11 was?
Well, at this date 40 years ago, Apollo 11 was about half way there. Landing will be in a bit over 78 hours.
[Read More]

Blue Scout
Here's a nice photo of a Blue Scout. Click the photo to get to the source. A bigger version is available.
[Read More]

The top 10 Saturn V models
OObject presents their Top 10 Moon Rocket Models . The link goes directly to the undisputed (by my criteria at least) #1 entry - Steve Eves' 1:10 scale Saturn V . You can navigate forward and backward from there. Dr. Zooch's 'ant scale' model and Apogee's 1:70 kit are also represented. Missing, ...
[Read More]

8" MLAS construction notes, part 3
Since my last post, I finalized the decision to go with a 38mm mount. I cut three rings with my Rotozip, each of which was imperfect. The first one, despite 2 measurements, was too small. :expletive deleted: Luckily, I can use it inside the cone's shoulder. The next one was a different diameter at ...
[Read More]

Quote of the day
From Mark Whittington regarding comments from Norman Augustine, who is leading the commission that is reviewing NASA's exploration plans. He means to say things like going back to the Moon cost what they cost, not what some people wish they would cost.
[Read More]

New Lunar Landing Site Photos. First Photos of Landers in 40 years!
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, has returned its first imagery of the Apollo moon landing sites. The pictures show the Apollo missions' lunar module descent stages sitting on the moon's surface, as long shadows from a low sun angle make the modules' locations evident.The Lunar ...
[Read More]

Hmmm, tempting
Cardboardsafari.com is offering a retro sci-fi cardboard Astro Rocket. Laser cut components, 9" W x 21" H. A couple of tubes and some paper skin and you'd have a nice, fat, light rocket.
[Read More]

Progress galore
Alright so I masked off the fins and applied the black high-temp epoxy fillets: I had a scare while preparing the epoxy. It's approaching its shelf life of 6 months and the curative is yellowing. According to Dave Triano the resin:curative ratio is critical so he provides the former in a ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2009-4
Location: Great Meadow, The Plains, VA ( NOVAAR ) Weather: Min 70's to 80's, wind 5 - 10 mph Total flights: Today - 9; YTD - 33 Total motors: Today - 11; YTD - 40 This was a great day, although a little windy. Saw several friends, including Skycopp. Rocket Jones and Maelstrom were missing or ...
[Read More]

Amateur Space Access Timeline
Creamy Robot Goodness presents the following Amateur Space Access timeline. I won't offer any opinions except to say all the items are of interest and/or importance to rocketry enthusiasts.
[Read More]

This just in...
The entire phenolic/plywood/carbon fiber/Kevlar/motor retainer booster section weighs only 4 pounds!! [G's jaw drops] Now it's into the curing oven for a one hour of post-cure on the fin layups:
[Read More]

Really good Saturn V article
Via Jerry Irvine on Rocketry Planet: 'One small step for man,' one massive rocket project for engineers, LA Times, July 18, 2009 . The young scientists who created the Saturn V rocket that powered Aldrin and Armstrong to the moon on Apollo 11 in July 1969 were the unsung heroes in the space ...
[Read More]

Big automotive primer session
After two previously failed car paint attempts the stars finally aligned today. I had queued up six parts that had been sanded and ready to spray prime with Martin Senour Crossfire primer. I carefully sprayed each part with their cleaner, wiped each down, and allowed all to dry. I then sprayed ...
[Read More]

Boring progress update
I cut the motor tube for the 8" MLAS. Wow. The replacement cone for the Stink Bomb is installed. It looks even goofier now. I scrounged a suitable plug for the base of the launch tube and packed an extension wire for the igniter. I attached a screen snap from the video of yesterday's flight. ...
[Read More]

Moonfest at Moffett Field
Steve Jurvetson reports from Moonfest with a photo of one of his flights. He says 1,500 spectators attended. There was, of course, a lot more than rocketry going on. But, nothing better. Flickr user LauraAtkins has a gallery from the event. Here's a line of Saturn V's ready to go. I hope they had ...
[Read More]

Plane Crazy in Mojave
The Mojave Air and Space Port celebrated Apollo 11 this weekend also. Mojave Skies reports XCOR has their Rocket Racer and the original EZ-Rocket, Masten displayed their Zombie lander, and the Mojave Desert Advanced Rocket Society (MDARS) had a bunch of sport rockets on display. Follow the link ...
[Read More]

Ancient rockets, revisited (again)
Erik Gates reports on another show that he has helped out with. He just returned from a photo shoot at Lucerne for an episode of R. Lee “Gunny” Ermey's new series Lock N’ Load . In the 3 days we launched 5 ancient Chinese bamboo rockets and 2 sets of 200 rocket arrow Hwachas ...
[Read More]

"That's One Small Step for Man" 40 years ago today!
Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the surface of the moon 40 years ago today.
[Read More]

LAUNCH Magazine won't return to print
Sadly, their efforts to rise from the grave have been staked by the economy. You can read the official statement on their site.
[Read More]

Touchdown
The Eagle has had landed!!!
[Read More]

Apollo 11 surface activties on a baseball diamond

[Read More]

Missing Stink Bomb photo
I guess if I forgot it, I can't expect anyone else to miss it...
[Read More]

"The Summer of Hell" in Texas
When I saw this photo on Frankensteam's Log , I was sure it was photoshopped. The blogger promised it wasn't but I still didn't believe him/her. The NOAA GOES web addy, date, and time were conveniently logged on the image, so I checked for myself. Sure enough, there is the weather demon blowing ...
[Read More]

Incredible "amateur" discovery on Jupiter
Amateur image of dark spot, now thought to be the result of an impact. Astronomy is second to none among hobbies where amateurs regularly make discoveries. If you get an 8 - 12 inch telescope, live in a fairly good location, and perhaps build you own enclosure... all you need then is a CCD, ...
[Read More]

After nearly 5 years of posting, Google has decided R2K should be suspended
After nearly 5 years of posting, with over 500 posts, Google has decided R2K should be suspended. Hopefully the situation will be fixed quickly, and this post will be removed. Hopefully the next post on this matter will be me commending Google for doing the right thing, and supporting the freedom ...
[Read More]

Who let the Armadillo out? Who? Who?
Well, Armadillo Aerospace themselves, of course. Clark Lindsey points to a video of last Saturday's untethered free flight of their Methane/LOX-powered lander. The video itself isn't that exciting since it is taken from so far away. What's cool, however, is what it means for this year's Lunar ...
[Read More]

Sweet Rocket History
IEEE Spectrum presents a podcast on the Von Braun Group, entitled Sweet Rocket History . Here's the description: They call it rocket science, but at it’s birth it was really rocket play: teenaged boys, getting together to make things soar high into the air. Originating with student ...
[Read More]

Astroland Rocket
Several times per year, I along with my friends and family have visited Coney Island. To see the beach, have a dog, get pizza, take a walk, or do many other things (now one can see a Cyclones game also). For years, there was a rocket above the boardwalk. After starting in rocketry, I couldn't help ...
[Read More]

Aurora Flight Sciences
Besides hosting the Old Rocketeer's Reunion during NARAM-50, Aurora Flight Sciences designs and builds cool flying things. Wired's Danger Room discusses the flight test of their prototype Excalibur VTOL UAV: In a previous post , they link to a video of another cool concept vehicle - their ...
[Read More]

Aerospace Exhibit Going to State!
I made State once again, with my re-built multi-stage rocket "Double-Trouble." The last few days leading up to the county fair I have been sanding, priming and painting it to give it a glossy paint job. What's funny is that the new nosecone came in the mail just hours before bringing it over to ...
[Read More]

Russians launch a Progress resupply ship.
Flying atop a Russian Soyuz U booster, the Progress M-67 spacecraft rocketed away from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1056 GMT (6:56 a.m. EDT). A preliminary orbit was achieved after a nine-minute ascent provided by the three-stage rocket. Onboard commands then extended the Progress ...
[Read More]

8" MLAS construction notes, part 4
Since the last update I drilled the rear CR for the four 24mm mounts, drilled the rear CR's for motor retention and an eyebolt, found misc tubing suitable for the ejection piston and started filling spirals on the lower body. Where this leaves me is needing to finalize the fin extensions. I ...
[Read More]

Port-o-Potty missiles
Text via Wired's Danger Room , photo credit: Raytheon. Missiles in a Box is a collaboration between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, doesn’t look like much. Popular Mechanics compared the 1.5-ton launcher to a “Port-O-Potty-size crate.” The individual missiles are packed ...
[Read More]

I hate it when the motor won't fit
Crap. I had planned to fly my Quest DC-Y Space Clipper on an 18mm reload. The engine hook and block think differently. No time for surgery...gotta find something else to fly the assembled load on.
[Read More]

Apollo 11 astronaut's customs declaration
Res Communis posts about Apollo 11's customs form (see image). I guess I won't gripe about having to fill mine out next time. Hmmm, I thought you had to declare values on these forms :)
[Read More]

Why I love Giant Leap
This is the latest motor purchase, from the Giant Leap motor division. I am excited to get back into high power soon, now that I can store the motors without a LEUP (probably.) To do this, while also keeping my budget within reason, I purchased the smallest CES motor case that will fly H motors; ...
[Read More]

18mm RMS dilemma solved
This photo shows my modified delay charge holder. Instead of the stock cap, that won't fit through my rocket's motor retention components, I made one from a piece of MicroMaxx tubing. I built-up the tube with masking tape so that it's snug in the ejection well. Insert powder, plug with wadding, ...
[Read More]

StickerShock23.com rocks!
The consensus was that the all caps version of the logo won. I contacted StickerShock23.com and Mark quickly replied with a mock-up and a quote. I had mentioned the font in my quote inquiry and Mark cleverly downloaded the font, fed it into his CAD cutter software, and exported a JPEG preview for ...
[Read More]

First successful car paint sesh
Last weekend I'd posted pix of the priming session. Well that primer was ready to sand in 2 hrs so I did. I then enthusiastically proceeded to apply paint and here are the results: I'm very pleased with the outcome this time although there's still room for improvement: I left the primed V2 (white ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2009-5
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD ( MDRA ESL-134) Weather: high 80's to low 90's, clear, 10+ mph winds Total flights: Today - 8; YTD - 41 Total motors: Today - 8; YTD - 48 The day started poorly with lower gas prices and hot weather leading to a long backup at the Bay Bridge (beach ...
[Read More]

Gluing real rockets together
Clark Lindsey points to a NewScientist article about Burt Rutan's patented method for saving weight in the SS2 by gluing the fuel tanks into the airframe. Who else think this makes sense and is cool?
[Read More]

SStS Success!
The Sugar Shot project reached a significant milestone this weekend with the first successful firing of the flight configuration dualphase motor. This is a design concept that many "experts" have said would never work. Congratulations to the team and particularly to Richard Nakka for never losing ...
[Read More]

SS2S success
Richard Nakka reports the successful static firing of a 2-phase test motor (aka the MiniSShot Mark III):
[Read More]

A great SS2S dual burn test!
Wow! The technical challenges that this team is taking on are really impressive. Granted, you are always better off doing a dual stage rocket than dual burn, but it is a cool project anyway! I think they will make space in only a year or two more!
[Read More]

Unreasonable death of a camera (update)
From Paul Breed . Mmmmm, toasty! Update from Paul .
[Read More]

The mask of... V2
Best masking job I've ever done... I should note that I found a masking mistake as a result of shooting this photo. It's fixed now and all we need is black car paint. Bonus: for the ULTRA observant you might have noticed that my masking job is mirrored from the yellow/black paint guide ...
[Read More]

Total repair bill? less than $5
George Katz made the following, highly entertaining music video of his Acceleron Vb water rocket CATOing. It includes full speed, slow motion, shrapnel identification, on-board, and forensic footage. You may read the full report of this event and his other flights here . That video was well worth ...
[Read More]

Whaaaazzzup in the Dungeon?
Still contemplating a source of cheap clear square tubing the the MLAS extended fin set. I've been diverted by non-rocketry stuff and building a beta kit from First Flight Hobbies . Sworn to secrecy but I will say it's a sleek looking small LPR bird. First Flight had previously released the ...
[Read More]

Model jet car
MAKE posts about this cool RC jet car.   The folks at Hobby Media sent us this item: V8 Supercar driver Rick Kelly is a R/C model cars fan and he recently built the Red Bull Mojet T40, a 1:10 scale replica of the Thrust SSC machine that set the World Land Speed Record on 15 ...
[Read More]

My blog is like watching primer dry
Finishing is becoming easier and more rewarding so I continue to muddle through but this remains my least favorite phase. I wanted to share the final approach to booster section greatness with some pics, info, and time stats: Since I used only gravity on the fin reinforcement (no vacuum or shrink ...
[Read More]

Skylon spaceplane concept is reusable, cheap*
Somewhat reminiscent of one of Professor Calculus's creations for cub reporter Tintin , the Skylon is what is known as a reusable launch vehicle for unpiloted space shenanigans. In short, it's a space plane. The creation of Reaction Engines Limited, a British outfit based at the Culham Science ...
[Read More]

Another 'concept vehicle' gallery
Here is an interesting, hypothetical tail-sitting aircraft from cutangus' 3-D gallery . I like gawking at these things and have really been liking the Concept Ships blog. I wonder if these may have been featured there?
[Read More]

Watch dem asteroids
NASA JPL has started a new website dedicated to asteroids, especially those that could hit Earth - Asteroid Watch .
[Read More]

Powerful, gas-powered vortex cannon
I had previously posted about a huge, manual vortex cannon capable of blowing out candles at 180'. Impressive, but not as impressive as the gas-powered version shown in the attached video. Watch the 200 mph vortex ring knock down huts made of straw, sticks, and bricks.
[Read More]

Hobby pulsejets
Check out this pulsejet-powered Long-EZ R/C plane...and make sure yer volume is ON! Now, if I lost my mind and decided to divert money from rocketry, I'd probably want one of these (eventually). Let's see. About $300 for one of these pulse jets or $2k-$3k for a turbine... More pulsejet links from ...
[Read More]

Rocket/jet car for breaking 1000mph
"RAF fighter pilot Andy Green intends to get behind the wheel of a car that is capable of reaching 1,000mph (1,609km/h). Powered by a rocket bolted to a Eurofighter-Typhoon jet engine, the Bloodhound car will mount an assault on the land speed record." These are all fascinating attempts. The risk ...
[Read More]

"Transferring launch control to Viper Pilots; launch when ready"
Randy and Verna's photo of the month documents the latest sortie by their Red Squadron of Battlestar Galactica Vipers. (Photo credit: George Gassaway)
[Read More]

5-year motor usage stats
Just for grins, I fiddled with some stats. (The stats are from EMRR , I just fiddled to display them here.) 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 4 3 8 22 1 2 16 4 12 7 6 2 9 44 17 6 15 13 35 12 16 47 8 22 13 16 15 4 10 4 11 16 7 21 11 12 14 2 1 12 1 3 3 1 ...
[Read More]

The SABRE Engine
The design of SABRE evolved from liquid-air cycle engines (LACE) which have a single rocket combustion chamber with associated pumps, preburner and nozzle which are utilised in both modes. LACE engines employ the cooling capacity of the cryogenic liquid hydrogen fuel to liquefy incoming air prior ...
[Read More]

5-year flights by month
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 10 12 6 7 6 13 25 25 14 8 8 28 22 7 17 17 28 22 18 15 21 7 11 13 4 6 9 14 9 5 Year: JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Again, with a hat tip to EMRR ! BTW, I ...
[Read More]

S.Korea first rocket launch set for August 11
SEOUL — South Korea has rescheduled its first space rocket launch from its soil to August 11 after repeatedly postponing it due to technical reasons, officials said Saturday. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said South Korea and Russia, a co-builder of the rocket, set the ...
[Read More]

From Dusk Till Dawn the album
I've already mentioned that From Dusk Till Dawn is one of my favorite movies but I don't recall mentioning that the sound track CD is also one of my all-time favorites. It is hands down my favorite movie soundtrack. It features my two favorite groups, ZZ Top and Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double ...
[Read More]

EMRR's 2009 Box-O-Parts Contest's submission deadline is past
And the entries are being (have been?) posted . Why is it I always regret having not entered right after the contest is over?
[Read More]

Lack of status
My quest for clear square tubing continues without success. It appears I'll pay for gasoline but not shipping costs. Looks like I need to scrape up some new project as my one active one is stalled. I hope the MLAS doesn't join the growing list of stuff I've started on but have never finished :eek: ...
[Read More]

Building demolition FAIL
I've posted several videos of building implosions. Here's one that didn't work out as planned. (Warning: advertisement included)
[Read More]

Georgie Grechko , age 78, is a Russian cosmonaut who flew three space flights: Soyuz 17, Soyuz 26, and Soyuz T-14. He also has a doctorate in mathematics and is a living legend in Russia. Grechko has gone on the record stating that he believes that UFO visitation is real and that aliens have in ...
[Read More]

Spaceport America/UP Aero/Moog Industries launch
MSNBC reports on the latest from Upham, NM. UP Aerospace launched a 'low altitude' rocket with a Moog Industries payload, which evidently was basically a professional boost-glider. The rocket rose 2,200 feet (670.5 meters) above the desert, arced against the morning sunshine, cut power and ...
[Read More]

A technique that I need to try again
In his latest how-to video, Tim Van Milligan shows you how to laminate your balsa fins with ordinary printer paper. While this doesn't sound like rocket science, I've generally have had poor success with this technique. I've tried white glue, wood glue, and spray-on glue with printer paper, card ...
[Read More]

AeroTech Receives California State Fire Marshal Approvals for Three RMS Reload Kits
The California Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has issued classification approvals for three new high-power AeroTech Karl E. Baumann (KEB) Signature Line RMS reload kits. The specific motors approved are: High-Power RMS Reloadable Motor System I49N-P (#09049P) I59WN-P (#09059P) L339N-P ...
[Read More]

Coefficient-Of-Drag-Tard
Ya learn something new every single day... Jack Garabaldi of What's Up Hobbies informed me of a feature of my ARTS2 altimeter that I didn't even know about. After a flight you download the accelerometer data to your computer and enter pertinent flight info (initial weight, size, etc). The program ...
[Read More]

Build/paint progress and simulation refinements
I've made quite a bit of progress on EM-SEM-FITY in the last few days. I applied car primer to the booster section and found a few more rough areas. I allowed this to dry then sanded down the remaining asperities. Tonight I applied the final coat of primer and that's drying now. Tomorrow I'll spray ...
[Read More]

Electronics bay, sled, and layout
I'm really very happy with the final electronics bay. Again Jack Garabaldi provided these fine components and the results exceeded my expectations. Here are the top and bottom of the sled sandwiched between the two plywood/composite caps for illustration purposes: On the top-most image ...
[Read More]

Video of yesterday's Spaceport America launch (with updated commentary)
Here's a cool report from Spaceport America by KRQE. It gives a good look at Moog's rocket boosted UAV and has great launch and landing footage. At the end it shows the Lunar Lander pads and the Spaceport site. I found one of the Moog rep's comments interesting - they didn't want to spend time in ...
[Read More]

"You Stuck It WHERE!?" Short Film Contest
My family has been getting into filmmaking little by little. This summer we won an honorable mention for "Best Special Effects" for a short film competition featuring the library. Now we are planning on making a film for Post-It Super Sticky Notes. The point of the contest is to see if Post-It ...
[Read More]

Holy early product placement, Batman!
Today, August 5th , I noticed that my local Michael's had their autumn and Halloween products out. Yeah, when it's hot and humid you really feel like stocking up on Halloween decorations. BTW, I scoured Michaels, Hobby Works, Plaza Art, the dollar store, the 5-dollar store, and even Bed Bath and ...
[Read More]

Ares X-1 Assembly
This simple test rocket, in a way the biggest hobby launch ever, will be an early test of a man-rated rocket. Why is this a great rocket in my mind? Because it uses an inexpensive and fairly reliable solid rocket motor in the first stage, then more energetic liquid motors in upper stages. This is, ...
[Read More]

Foam nose cone fab
While the filler is drying, I thought I'd document how I'm making the nose cone for an unnamed and not yet designed BT-101 model. I first cut three rings from a sheet of 2" pink foam using hole cutters. The lower 2 were slightly larger than the tube diameter and the top one was smaller. This ...
[Read More]

BT-101 rocket ideas
I had these two pieces of BT-101 lying around for a while (hat tip to EMRR ) and finally decided to use one. The cone was an issue for this tube. Standard 4" MPR/HPR cones will fit but seem heavy for this light tubing. I thought about transitioning to a smaller tube since transitions are really ...
[Read More]

New sim program: Virtual Range 1.0 for Mac OS X
Matt Wronkiewicz announces the release of a new simulator, Virtual Range 1.0 for Mac OS X. The program computes stability using the US Air Force DATCOM and Barrowman methods. It records maximum altitude, acceleration and time to apogee, and the flight profile is graphed. This program doesn't ...
[Read More]

First Multi-staging Success
My summer-long project of multi-staging rockets has had its first success! I staged Double-Trouble from a 137 N-sec G80 motor to a G71 Redline motor. There isn't any data on this flight since I could spare any more weight for electronics, but I got a video. Even that is so-so; I'm so excited when ...
[Read More]

Tech junk (aka surplus) supplier listing
Here's a list of brick and mortar surplus suppliers by state. And here     are some of the tech junk emporiums that I've previously mentioned.
[Read More]

Denial of service attacks!
I'm sure everyone has heard about the recent denial of service attack that brought Twitter and Facebook down for a while. I hear Blogger was also attacked but luckily Google's protections seem to be more effective. There have been some Blogger problems reported but as far as I can tell I wasn't ...
[Read More]

Car paint + dust + wind = FAIL!
OK so you can't really tell in this photo but the booster has a large number of crater repellencies that I've narrowed down to a serious dust concentration in the air: This was my second attempt to get it right and, while it's better than the first, there will be a third to nail it. Anyway the ...
[Read More]

NARAM Live 2009 is LIVE!
Chris Taylor's NARAM-51 coverage has started . There's not much there yet, but keep your eyes open! This year, he's got a YouTube Channel for his videos. That's good because I've always had codec issues with his videos. BTW, I have always linked to the current site, which generally means the links ...
[Read More]

Dangerous MALFUNCTION!
I was prepping the electronics for the next flight of my rocket yesterday, and when I attached the igniter to the electronics terminal... POOF!!! The igniter fired. Needless to say, something was malfunctioning. I checked the manual, and one thing I saw was that if you switch the battery polarity ...
[Read More]

Gonna need some high build-up primer
Glassing the cone for my forthcoming BT-101 rocket went pretty smoothly. Well, smoothly isn't exactly accurate. What I meant is that I got it done without glassing myself or my workbench. However, after it dried I found a lot of wavy imperfections. I used odd scraps of fiberglass which left a ...
[Read More]

1st BT-101 'what-if' design
(nonami bt101.rkt)
[Read More]

Putting the ODD back in oddrocs (update)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bartholomule/3801011485/ Update: There are two photos of this fleet on UROC's Hellfire site . These can be zoomed so you can check out the details.
[Read More]

NARAM Live - Saturday recap
The Saturday coverage was smaller than normal. I didn't spot any particular shots that I thought were amazing. I did spot a handful of NARHAMs and MDRA regulars. Kenny (Performance Hobbies) actually set out a set of tables. There are some night launch photos in page 3 and a few more on page 4. ...
[Read More]

Rocket competition tips and resources
George Gassaway has compiled a cool competition website for NARAM-51. I especially liked the scale, peanut scale and fantasy scale pages, which include lots of reference links. It's of course too late for NARAM-51, but not for your next project. (hat tip to the bayourat ).
[Read More]

12,744' FTW!
[that's "For The Win" not "F*#k The World"] Yesterday at Lucerne Dry Lake I flew EM-SEM-FITY on a Cesaroni L610-Classic motor to 12,744' and that's a new personal record!: Here are some flame details (hot day, distant shot means serious convective optical warping): That motor burns for 8 seconds ...
[Read More]

MLAS model spotted on NARAM Live
If you look around here you'll see what I think is a small model of the MLAS. I also think this is a vendor booth so I'm wondering if there is a kit out there? The big piece of Blue Tube with cones on it threw me...but there IS a Quest box under the table. If that's Quest's rumored model, the size ...
[Read More]

NARAM Live - Sunday update
There are a 3 pages of photos from Sunday. The last page has photos of the scale and fantasy scale entries. Yes, the MLAS is represented and there is a cool Saturn V outfitted with SRBs. I hope now that Chris has taken note of the MLAS that he shoots the launch. A video would be nice. There are a ...
[Read More]

Bringing a telescope to the people
The Smithsonian's AirSpace blog notes that 2009 is the 400 th anniversary of Galileo’s use of a telescope to examine the Moon, Venus, Jupiter and the Milky Way. This factoid is a side note to the post describing how they are relocating the idle Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory from ...
[Read More]

When I was 12, I would have loved...
...a 200 round rubber band machine gun!
[Read More]

Saucer OOPS --> RIP
You can now find a video of this 'flight' in Peter Abresch's area of the MDRA ESL-134 gallery .
[Read More]

NARAM Live - Monday recap
Here are the Monday photo pages . Nothing there excited me. I liked the micro Saturn V's on the video page , however.
[Read More]

NASA Will Pay Russians For Rides To Station
CAPE CANAVERAL: Nasa plans to use $50 million (R400m) of federal economic stimulus funds to seed development of commercial passenger transportation service to space, agency officials said yesterday. Aspiring operators will have 45 days to submit proposals. The US is retiring its space shuttle fleet ...
[Read More]

Your flights, sliced up at least 9 ways
EMRR just completed a huge update of his site's personal flight profile feature so if you have any doubts that this is the way to keep track of your flying, forget them ! You flight profile now includes: 12 general stats about all your flight logs graphical breakdowns of: all the ...
[Read More]

Videos of my flights from MDRA's ESL-134
You can now find a videos of my flights (Aeroshell CATO, D-Fusion Bomb, and Stink Bomb) in Peter Abresch's area of the MDRA ESL-134 gallery .
[Read More]

Stalled-progress report
The good news is my BT-101 cone is almost filled and primed and is looking good. The bad news is that it is heavy. It and the rest of my first concept for the rocket's design. When I weighed the raw components, I found it wouldn't fly on a D12 (not close) and even on a F35 would require a 55" rod. ...
[Read More]

SNAFU Wednesday
So, this morning I found NARAM Live's Tuesday page wasn't updated. TRF is giving database errors. There are no breaking news reports from the manufacturer's forum at NARAM. And, to top it off, the purple Metalcast clouded up on my scratch BT-101 nose cone. This happened to me before - I think this ...
[Read More]

NARAM Live - Tuesday update
Well, the site error did in fact mean it was being updated, with the first appearing a few minutes after my previous post. On the first photo page , I noticed an Apollo capsule boosting on its abort motors. These are cute but, having seen them before, quickly moved on. Until...I saw the huge ...
[Read More]

Manufacturer's Forum notes
OK, I broke down and listed to the .mp3 of the   Manufacturer's Forum. I skipped along so I could have missed a juicy tidbit... AT - no new news I hadn't heard ARA Press - ditto Balsa Machining Service - now carries AeroTech Motors Chutes by Boe - skipped FlisKits - Jim caught ...
[Read More]

The new nose cone, revealed
I managed to mostly buff out the clouded areas but the finish is not great. I'm going to wait a few days, lightly sand it, and shoot another coat.
[Read More]

Design inspiration comes from the oddest places
brianc reports on his latest design, which is modeled after the image of a fireball from a Perseid meteor . I look all over the place for rocket inspiration, but have never looked to the heavens for it. At least not literally. Way to go Brian!
[Read More]

NARAM Live - Wednesday Stuff
The highlights of page 1 , and of the three photo pages, was Vern Estes and his original Big Bertha - a staple at NARAM. I also liked the 'cherry picker' recovery shots. Here's the best video, a single motor 'bicopter' .
[Read More]

While on the subject of making nose cones...
A while back, someone on some forum (Rocketry Planet?) described a method of making tail cones and transitions by removing triangular slivers of the body tube and pulling the gaps together. As I remember, several people then tried and liked the method. Me too! I made the tail cone for my ...
[Read More]

Naram Live - Thursday
Whut I thunk wuz kool: Page 1 - Starting about 3/4 of the way down: A big rocket with a huge Easter egg as the cone. The NARAM equivalent of a bowling ball rocket? A cool sci-fi looking ducted rocket. Followed by a shot of it bending in flight. A Devo-themed rocket and flier. But I'm not up on that ...
[Read More]

Peace, love, and rock 'n' roll, 40 years ago
Lots of anniversaries this year - tomorrow marks the 40th of the Woodstock Music & Art Fair . Even those of us who didn't attend got a lot of enjoyment from the event. So many good videos to choose from, and here's one:
[Read More]

NARAM-51, stick a fork in it
Friday was the last day of NARAM-51 and NARAM Live has some good coverage of the scale flights. Here's some of what I liked, but the MLAS (which I've obviously become obsessed with) was the highlight. I lifted the attached shot from Chris' coverage. But take a look, there are more. Page 1 ...
[Read More]

So, do I even need/want clear fins on my MLAS?
For some reason, I've been chicken about its stability. However, the RSim model I'm basing mine on was made by someone on the NASA team that directed its development and he stated his model agreed closely with wind tunnel measurements. And now that I've seen that one actually flew , I'm beginning ...
[Read More]

Project Pluto
I've always thought the Project Pluto Supersonic Low Altitude Missile (SLAM) was cool looking and would make a fun scale subject. As I mentioned earlier, there are photos of one flying at NARAM . But before that, there was Mark Schrader's DESCON15 entry . It came in 1st, so I guess others liked it ...
[Read More]

Disaster Strikes. AGAIN!!
Some days are just like that. One launch cost me almost 200 dollars in damage, because I flew every electronic payload I owned in it... and it flopped. I suppose "flopped" is a bit of an understatement. It "THUD-ed." The really scary part is that I have to fix this rocket up in 5 days, because I ...
[Read More]

Lander photo (comments updated)
photo , originally uploaded by Russell Blink . Armadillo's latest lander. Is that a VGA monitor on the top? Update: Clark Lindsey reports that Armadillo will go for Level-2 of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge over the Labor Day weekend.
[Read More]

Large static rocket display planned for Burning Man
If you attend Burning Man 2009 , you will be cable to climb the 25' gantry and cross a 10' walkway into the 42', aluminum, 1940's retro-style Raygun Gothic Rocketship . (Cue the sound of the LP scratching to a halt...it sound like you may go into the ship and down the gantry...ooops.) Inside you ...
[Read More]

What we did before Google Maps...
via Dark Roasted Blend
[Read More]

For someone so interested in the MLAS, I've been snoozin'
I missed most of this YORF thread . The attached photo is what Quest came up with in 8 hours to start testing. :drooling: There's also an inference that sandman, who did the parts for wolsotr's 19" dia. model is making a smaller version of his own. WANT^2
[Read More]

ICBM highway
ICBM highway , originally uploaded by Rowdius .  
[Read More]

Back to the clear fins for the 8" MLAS
Let's see, I documented Tim Wilson's MLAS model as being 19.8" in diameter BUT I now see the Rsim that he provided was actually 10.5" in diameter. The 19.8 figure stuck in my mind even though I used the 10.5 to scale the Rsim. So, my mind said that, if a 19" version came in at a whopping 12lb, ...
[Read More]

Another glaring example of poor spelling
It wasn't something I wrote, but was nevertheless embarrassing. Fixed now.
[Read More]

Steve Eves - backyard genius
The Akron Beacon Journal reports that Steve Eves has received one of Popular Mechanics' 2009 Backyard Genius Awards for launching and successfully recovering the world's largest sport rocket . (This is great, and I won't put word's in his mouth, but I think having his rocket on display at the U.S. ...
[Read More]

Snapple fact #914
A manned rocket can reach the moon in less time than it took for a stagecoach to travel the length of England.
[Read More]

Viper sounding rocket?
After the MLAS launch I must have taken NASA Wallops off my Twitter feed. This morning Peter Stanley posted a report about another launch. Surrounding the main event, a Black Brant IX launch carrying the IRVE payload , they shot Vipers to check out the high altitude meteoroloical conditions before ...
[Read More]

GPSIIR21 Video Highlights
GPSIIR21 Highlights , originally uploaded by Air Force Space Command .   Here is more info from another of this Flickr user's posts: Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla (Aug. 17, 2009) - A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket blasts off with the Air Force's Global Positioning System IIR-21 ...
[Read More]

Popular Mechanics, September 2009
I went ahead and picked up a copy just to see Steve Eves' Saturn V in a mainstream magazine :) I was a little disappointed to find Steve was only given a one page blurb. Still, it was great to see his efforts were recognized! I was also happy to see other rocket references in the magazine. There's ...
[Read More]

Inflatable Re-entry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE) a huge success
When I reported on today's Black Brant 9 launch from Wallops, the IRVE took a back-back-seat, and it shouldn't have. Parabolic Arc passes along that the 10-foot diameter heat shield, which is made from silicone-coated industrial fabric, deployed successfully. I don't know how promising this ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2009-6 (solo #1)
This was my first 'solo' launch in quite a while and, breaking with my previous policy, decided to tag/log this in the 2009 launch sequence. This will make sure I don't mess up my flight counts. Location: Derwood Test Range Weather: 90's, calm Total flights: Today - 10; YTD - 51 Total motors: Today ...
[Read More]

Inflatable Heat Sheilds (Just in time for 2010)
Perhaps the best way to land very large objects on Mars with any kind of efficiency. Now why are there not tons of cool projects like this going on at all times? Why is it that we only try a hypersonic air-breathing flight once or twice a decade? These kinds of research are rather inexpensive, ...
[Read More]

Soviet-Era Spaceships to Fly Commercial Space Missions
An Almaz Reusable Re-entry Vehicle (RRV), like this one shown here, will form the cornerstone of a private orbital spaceflight service planned by the international company Excalibur Almaz. The vehicle was originally developed to support Soviet Almaz space stations in the 1970s. Credit: Excalibur ...
[Read More]

MicroMaxx Alien UFO on 'Roids
Since I have two...I thought I'd cut and grind one of them up. I cut the MicroMaxx motor mount out with my mini-Leatherman and then took the Dremel to the inner ring until an 18mm tube fit. The cuts are shown in the following photos. The connection point for the lower fins were weakened so I added ...
[Read More]

Another use for a small fan blade
From the NARAM-51 sports range .
[Read More]

Inflatable Shield for Earth Reentry Passes Test
Successful Test A Black Brant 9 rocket carries the Inflatable Re-entry Vehicle Experiment from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility. The device released from its rocket and inflated to its full 10-foot diameter in less than 90 seconds. MORE HERE
[Read More]

4" V2 painted but not quite perfect
So several entries below you saw below that the white paint applied perfectly, then I masked (and re-masked 3x), then painted the black. Again dust was my enemy outside and the black ended up severely pock-marked. I patched the diffuse color with a black paint pen and, while not perfect, it looks ...
[Read More]

M750 flight APPROVED... Drag race style!
I completed my altitude prediction report for EM-SEM-FITY on an M750 and our president and range safety officer approved the flight for Plaster Blaster ! (click the thumbnail below for a legible JPEG): Yay. My best prediction is the unweighted average of all the simulations and historic data: ...
[Read More]

How to: Cardboard Frisbee Flying Saucer
Make points to an Instructables article on making this paper Frisbee. I of course would want to add a motor mount.
[Read More]

Goony F104 Starfighter
F104 Starfighter , originally uploaded by blackheartart . If you follow this photo back to the Flickr user's photo stream, you'll see a whole fleet of the cute, 'Goony" airplanes. Sweep those wings back a bit and it might fly. I've got to think about something like this for my next Estes SS1 ...
[Read More]

L610 motor build in only 1 minute!
Clearly this must be a new record: Man I'm fast! :)
[Read More]

The future of solid propellant oxidizers - ice (?)
That's right, plain old water ice. Via PRNewswire (my highlights, photo credit: Dr. Steven F. Son, Purdue University): WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, or AFOSR, have successfully launched a small rocket using an envir ...
[Read More]

Is it a Mongoose?
Looks to me like the Perdue ALICE test rocket is a Performance Rocketry 98mm carbon Mongoose.
[Read More]

Antsy
Scheduling conflict tomorrow. Hopefully will fly Sunday if the cold front gets outta Dodge and successfully deflects Bill. A couple of motors built and a couple of the rockets prepped...
[Read More]

El Paso and Juarez from space
This NASA image really illustrates the difference in population density between El Paso, TX and Ciudad Juaréz, Mexico. Well, I thought it was interesting.
[Read More]

Is There Life After Soyuz?
Russia unveiled an ambitious three-decade plan for a manned space program this week at the International Aviation and Space Salon, MAKS-2009, which opened Tuesday in the town of Zhukovsky, near Moscow. READ MORE HERE
[Read More]

Spray booth as dust buster?
It's seriously frustrating to build something for weeks or months then only to fail on the last step, the paint job, due to dust. I bit the bullet and built a semi-permanent paint booth in a spare area of my house. Fisheye lenses make indoor photography a snap and here's a side view of the booth: ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2009-7
Location: Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD ( MDRA ESL-135) Weather: mid-80's, calm to slightly breezy Total flights: Today - 9; YTD - 60 Total motors: Today - 14; YTD - 72 Paul was there first and had saved spaces for Don and I. As usual, I mooched their shade. I met another on line ...
[Read More]

THE CONCEPTS WERE THERE; SO WERE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. SO WHAT HAPPENED? AND IS ARES NEXT?
By Shelby G. Spires Times Aerospace Writer The American space program has no set goals, faces changing priorities and has axed multi-billion dollar projects every few years. A few examples: NASA spent $4 billion on an advanced solid rocket motor, but killed the program in 1994. The X-33 space plane ...
[Read More]

Particularly Interesting APOD Picture
I always love the pictures posted on Astronomy Picture Of the Day . And these clouds are particularly interesting. Apparently no one knows for sure how they are formed, but every year they appear over parts of Australia. You know, when it really boils down to it, the whole reason I'm ...
[Read More]

Morning Glory clouds on APOD
Via APOD , here are some interesting clouds seen over Australia. Here's the Wikipedia entry describing Morning Glory clouds . Credit & Licence : Mick Petroff.
[Read More]

Cold Power rocketry
The graybeards of model rocketry, and many younger fan-atics, will undoubtedly know more about Vashon and Estes Cold Power rockets than I, and I won't make this a tutorial. These rockets/motors still pop up on EBay and Wes "Dr. Zooch" Oleszewski has several. Wes is a regular at MDRA and flew them ...
[Read More]

Instructables Frisbee Saucer - told ya' I'd add a motor mount
The wife was at bridge. I had finished watching two crappy movies - Evil Dead II and Quarantine . I wanted more excitement so I decided to print a flying saucer. I built a card stock saucer based on the Instructables paper Frisbee . Here's what I did: I downloaded the .pdf format patterns from ...
[Read More]

STS-128 Coverage
Coolstreaming Channel 533 Shuttle Discovery will be making a trip to the International Space Station to deliver its "Leonardo" module. It is slated to launch at 1:10 am EDT. (If you find the embeded video is not working, you can watch it directly on NASA TV )
[Read More]

Movie comment explanation
As an aside in my previous post, I described Evil Dead II and Quarantine as being crappy. I'll leave the synopses to IMDB, but wanted to make a couple of comments. I was a little surprised about Evil Dead II considering I really like Army of Darkness , a.k.a. Evil Dead III . I can only attribute ...
[Read More]

2009 NGLLC: First Attempts (UPDATE)
Update: For the record, this is a cross post, via my Google Reader, from The Launch Pad . 2009 NGLLC: First Attempts : " Today, we are very excited to announce the first group of 2009 Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge attempts! First off, a quick refresher about the prize, which is designed ...
[Read More]

Of Warthogs and Binders (Extreme Rocketry 80)
I just got hold of some issues of Extreme Rocketry . Issue 80's (April 2009) cover story is a report on MDRA's Red Glare V. Author/photographer Mark Canepa really gets around as he is also a big contributor to Rockets Magazine. Mark did a good job on the RG-V article. It features interviews with ...
[Read More]

New Horizons Poster
Check out this cool New Horizons poster. Why post about a probe still about 5 years away from it's visit to Pluto? Well because the probe just recently imaged Pluto (I suspect for the first time) in a short exposure. It is still very far indeed, but at this distance it seems Pluto has become a ...
[Read More]

Underground rocket (?)
Verizon is in the process of installing FIOS in our neighborhood. Yay. Maybe. Anyway, they are digging ~5' L x 2' W x 3' D holes at maybe 20' intervals, and then are using this cool pneumatic boring tool to connect them. It appears to have a piston rammer and moves along on its own. The left photo ...
[Read More]

ATK to Test First 5-Segment Ares Rocket Motor
Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) Space Systems and NASA will make history on August 27 as the new Ares I five-segment first stage is tested, marking the start of a new era of space exploration. What: Horizontal ground test firing of Ares I first stage When: Thursday, August 27, 2009 Time: 1 p.m. ...
[Read More]

Thunder & Lightning mark II
Several years ago it took me 5 years to build and fly my first PML Thunder & Lightning. I was psyched on the paint job at the time and my amazing and beautiful ex took this photo for me: Unfortunately I set the upper stage timer for three seconds rather than 0-1 seconds and that beautiful ...
[Read More]

MicroMaxx Tomahawk recovered
Last week, after launching from my driveway , I lost my Quest MicroMaxx Tomahawk Cruise Missile. Well, I was chatting with my neighbor and discovered that he had found it in his flower bed. Welcome home!
[Read More]

My MicroMaxx fleet
This is my whole MicroMaxx fleet, other than the Nothin' But Tape (duct tape rocket) and RTF Alien UFO and Space Fighter . Reminds me I haven't built one in a long time...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch on the radio
I got this from the Apogee e-zine and don't know the original source. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (August 26, 2009) - Flying model rockets has inspired many youngsters to pursue careers in aerospace, including Patrick McCarthy and Wes Oleszewski, both of whom will be guests on the Aug. 29th edition of ...
[Read More]

District 9 and more
We finally went to see District 9 today. Even though I wasn't keen on the fake documentary format used in much of the movie and can nit pick details that I think could have been handled differently, I liked it pretty well. It ended with great action but overall could have used a tad more. The ...
[Read More]

ALICE details
I extracted some tidbits from: Tyler D. Wood, Mark A. Pfeil, Timothee L. Pourpoint, John Tsohas, and Steven F. Son of Purdue University and T.L. Connell, Jr, Grant A. Risha and Richard A. Yetter The Pennsylvania State University, "Feasibility Study and Demonstration of an Aluminum and Ice Solid ...
[Read More]

Another Great Launch for Discovery
STS-128 is on its way, with no major anomalies to report!   Did you know? NASA plans to retire the Shuttle program in 2010. More on that later.
[Read More]

Now THAT'S an igniter
I received confirmation that the igniter assembly on the ALICE flight motor housed an AeroTech H180 reload. The H180 was head-end ignited. This project is just so cool! (this short post now resembles the English language)
[Read More]

Burning Man - Setup of the Raygun Gothic Rocketship
Burning Man - Setup , originally uploaded by burningmanearth .  
[Read More]

Dark Shadows
The 'gothic' soap opera Dark Shadows , which ran on ABC between from June 27, 1966 and April 2, 1971 was in retrospect probably one of my favorite shows. Being a kid when it first aired, I watched it in the summer and occasionally when I was home sick. Featuring vampires, witches and other ...
[Read More]

Anomaly spoils China's string of successful launches
SPACEFLIGHT NOW Posted: August 31, 2009 Breaking a 13-year streak of successful launches, a Chinese Long March rocket failed to deliver an Indonesian communications satellite to its planned orbit Monday. Carrying the Palapa D telecommunications satellite, a Long March 3B rocket blasted off from ...
[Read More]

Extreme Rocketry has perished
It looks like the economy has again taken it's toll. This notice appears on its web site : Extreme Rocketry Closes Doors After 84 Issues The September-October #84 Issue has been mailed to subscribers and retail locations. It is the last issue of Extreme Rocketry to be produced by Ro ...
[Read More]

Building slump continues
My building motivation has continued to dwindle. The MLAS is still stalled. I haven't found a local, cheap source of the clear square tubing and haven't decided on a 'plan b'. My BT-101 design has also not materialized. I like the cone I built but don't know what to build under it. Today my wife ...
[Read More]

Quote for today
Anything is easy if you don't know what you're talking about. (author unknown) Now, tell me you can't think of an example of where this applies.
[Read More]

STS-114 Space Shuttle Discovery Performs Back Flip For Photography
STS-114 Space Shuttle Discovery Performs Back Flip For Photography , originally uploaded by Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee . I know 'up' doesn't mean much in orbit and any photo editor could recreate this view, but I found this perspective cool anyway.
[Read More]

Astronaut Karen Nyberg
Astronaut Karen Nyberg , originally uploaded by Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee .   Note that the Flickr stream that this and my previous post came from is packed with great photos (link below the photos). Her hair looks like it was out of the movie Max Max, Beyond ...
[Read More]

Good article on 'breakthrough' propulsion
Air and Space magazine features a really good article on advanced propulsion - Mars, and Step on It . Wormholes, warp drive, and space-time waves, oh my. And more realistically, VASIMR and the like.
[Read More]

Ooooh, 2 new rocket mags on the same day
Woohoo, I got both the Sept/Oct Sport Rocketry (with NSL coverage) and the Aug ROCKETS Magazine (LDRS 28 issue) today. Reading and blog posting to ensue. But now I have to fiddle with my new Craftsman rechargable electric line trimmer. (I may end up regretting getting a rechargable, but I'm fed up ...
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, August 2009
Well, that was quick, eh? First, it turns out the rechargable trimmer was quick and easy to assemble, charge and use. Second, I haven't actually read the whole magazine. But, here goes anyway. I'll start by saying that I'm thankful for the photography in this magazine. 54 of the 63 pages are ...
[Read More]

Free issue of Ad Astra magazine
FAIW, getting the free issue requires you provide name, address, email addy, etc. Obviously, they want to gather contacts who might eventually join the NSS. And I don't really blame them. However, I declined on all accounts. Franky, I get enough new-space news from Hobby Space and other on-line ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, September/October 2009
The three main features in this issue are the National Sport Launch, Team America Rocket Challenge and a tech article on building an electronics bay. I like the cover photo of the high power Jayhawk (a fuzzy version is shown here). NSL may not be as big as LDRS in terms of average size of the ...
[Read More]

Berlin TV tower liftoff
Well, not really but still funny. I actually thought it was going to be a CATO...er I mean implosion. (via DRB ) Berlin TV tower - lift off from Fabian Tischer on Vimeo .
[Read More]

Big a$$ rocket of the day - 1/3 scale X-15 dry fit
Via TRF . Will fly at Plaster Blaster .
[Read More]

Quest MLAS waiting for decals
Since I saw Quest's ad in Sport Rocketry, Quest employee Shrox reported they are waiting for the decals and it won't be long.
[Read More]

Ban the shaky cam
I've complained about the 'shaky cam' before, most recently in regards to Quarantine . IO9 classifies its use in a 'the good, the bad, and the ugly' schema. I somewhat agree but would prefer to never see it again. I tend to think that, if the movie is good, I can tolerate it. If the movie is not ...
[Read More]

Look Up: What's in the Sky This Week?
Washington D.C. Skywatchers are in for a treat his month. [Read More Here]
[Read More]

Quest MicroMaxx Alien UFO on 'Roids on EMRR
The review is posted . However, I managed to hose the database entries when trying to link my flight logs :eek:
[Read More]

The Corn Moon in alignment with the Capitol
DCist points out a unique astronomical alignment in The District. (hat tip to Whitney's Bayourat Rocketry )
[Read More]

Don't Look Directly at the Light
Don't Look Directly at the Light , originally uploaded by Karon .  
[Read More]

rocket_laser
rocket_laser , originally uploaded by *christopher* .  
[Read More]

Another Ribbon to Put on My Wall
My project on multi-staging techniques took an Award of Excellence (purple award) at the 4-H State Fair encampment this year. This project has been an incredible learning experience, complete with failures and successes. Soon I would like to move on from 4-H and enter other kinds of co ...
[Read More]

I built a few match head rockets when I was kid...but this is crazy
I love when the bomb-tech explains what you do if there is a problem when fooling with flammable stuff: you "de-ass" the area. By the way, fooling with match heads is both dangerous and less than impressive. Unless maybe you're the Mythbusters. Note Jamie's disclaimer at the end.
[Read More]

Raygun Gothic Rocketgirl #1
IMG_7584 , originally uploaded by oaklandEarthGirl .
[Read More]

Raygun Gothic Rocketgirl #2
IMG_7624 , originally uploaded by oaklandEarthGirl .
[Read More]

The Raygun Gothic Rocketship's business end
IMG_7526 , originally uploaded by oaklandEarthGirl .
[Read More]

My 10 favorite albums
After listening to XM Radio's Classic Vinyl and Deep Tracks , I began mulling over what I thought my favorite albums of all time were. It's so hard; there are so many. Here are a few that changed my life (roughly in temporal order). 1. The Doors - This was my first album, evah. My best friend at ...
[Read More]

New launch guide design - Fly Apart Rail Guides
The latest issue of the Apogee Newsletter (#243) is dedicated to a new concept that Tim is calling Fly Apart Rail Guides. These are the pop lugs of the rail world. They guide the rocket on the rail like standard buttons/guides but release from the rocket after it leaves the rail. No guide --> ...
[Read More]

Designing a New Rocket Motor (step by step)
I have decided to design, build, test, and fly a new rocket motor. Why not just fly one of my existing rockets with any one of the existing motors that I've already constructed? The reason is simple. I really enjoy going out to Mojave and flying rockets but the really fun part for me is the design ...
[Read More]

Gothic Raygun Rocket Launch
Gothic Raygun Rocket Launch , originally uploaded by danoday . I like laser shows and rockets :)
[Read More]

Launch of an Atlas 5 rocket with the classified PAN spacecraft for Lockheed Martin
The Atlas 5 rocket carrying a secretive communications satellite built by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. goverment blasted off at 5:35 p.m. EDT on a two-hour ascent from Cape Canaveral, Florida [More Photos Here]
[Read More]

Designing a rocket motor, by the numbers
Step 1: Pop over to Randy's Rocketry . Step 2: Read the post. Step 3: Subscribe to his feed. (Yeah, you can always just check back on a daily basis.)
[Read More]

Clues about mystery payload emerge soon after launch
A mysterious spacecraft whose mission is cloaked in secrecy left Cape Canaveral atop the hard-to-miss roar of it's Atlas 5 rocket and then revealed a major clue about itself while cruising above satellite-tracking hobbyist a short time later. [Full Article]
[Read More]

Amateur satellite watchers are on the job
Spaceflight Now reports on the amateur detective work being performed to determine the nature of a highly secret satellite that was launched yesterday from the Cape. LockMart's PAN satellite was launched yesterday by an Atlas 5. Using the satellite's trajectory and signals, the amateur skywatchers ...
[Read More]

New Motor Design, SRM
Using Mr Nakka's Solid Rocket Motor Design spreadsheet , I came up with the basic design of my new motor. The dimensions of the motor casing are determined by the casing material. For this motor I have chosen to use the same material that I used in the original motor. The material is steel fence ...
[Read More]

An Unreasonable rocket vacation
Paul Breed reports that he's taken vacation from his day job to focus on rocketry. 51 days and 7 testing weekends to go.....
[Read More]

Another Wallops launch with results visible throughout the region
Here's a recycled PRNewswire release about the launch of the Charged Aerosol Release Experiment (CARE). The joint Naval Research Laboratory and DoD project will launch on a NASA four-stage Black Brant XII and will study the artificial noctilucent cloud formed by the exhaust particles of the fourth ...
[Read More]

Motor Design, Casing
The material that I've chosen for this design is the same as the original; steel. Specifically, fence post material available at the local home improvement store. It has an OD of 2.375" and a wall thickness of 0.049". I've had guys from the high powered rocketry community tell me that steel is ...
[Read More]

Ares I Solid Rocket Motor Test
"NASA tested the new first-stage solid rocket motor for the Ares I rocket. The static firing of the five-segment solid motor, designated development motor -1 was conducted at the ATK test facility in Promontory, Utah." Once again, I am very happy with the use of large solid motors in NASA rockets. ...
[Read More]

4D Tesseract
This isn't related to aerospace per se, but I've been into quantum physics off and on, and things like this fascinate me. This is supposed to be a "shadow" of a four dimensional object. If 3D objects casts 2D shadows, then it makes sense that 4D objects would cast 3D shadows. Now, it's important ...
[Read More]

Static fire of the 5-segment Ares-I SRB
As cool as this is, a burn of 123 seconds is awfully long. Still, it's worth waiting to the bitter end of the video as the announcer provides several interesting factoids.
[Read More]

Steel as a motor casing material
In his latest post, Randy's Rocketry describes the steel casing he is using in his current motor design.  He also explores the use of steel in general.  This discussion is driven by the fact the both TRA and NAR do not allow steel casings.  Randy presents a good argument with ...
[Read More]

Bloodhound SSC's monopropellant rocket motor
Clark Lindsey passes along a link to the BloodhoudSSC's web page that describes the static test of a 44.5 kN (10,000 lb) thrust, H2O2 monopropellant rocket motor.  Video included.
[Read More]

Did it hit Mach, or not?
There's another thread on TRF discussing whether a model rocket can break Mach.  The discussion covers the OOP FSI Mach-1 Dart and the OOP RocketVision Machbuster (mine disappeared on a G55).  The discussion wouldn't be complete without mentioning rocketjunkie's 'EX' 13mm D40 that pushes ...
[Read More]

"Excuse me while kiss the sky"
Hendrix, Sep 11, 2009 , originally uploaded by Russell Blink . Lyrics by Hendrix. Hendrix by Armadillo. Photo by Russell Blink.
[Read More]

Big a$$ rocket of the day - Thunderbird 3
Cool, even if not a flying model. Uploaded on September 11, 2009 by hesterjenna
[Read More]

Armadillo NGLLC attempt today - complete coverage
Armadillo will fly the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge today at the Caddo Mills Airport northeast of Dallas. Weather permitting. Clark Lindsey is all over this event, amassing a list of on-line resources. Post #1 Post #2 (I'm still tagging this as the X-Prize Cup, even though that term ...
[Read More]

Did the NGLLC kill Twitter?
Service Temporarily Unavailable The server is temporarily unable to service your request due to maintenance downtime or capacity problems. Please try again later. Additionally, a 403 Forbidden error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
[Read More]

X marks the spot - one down and one to go
Clark's latest update (#7) .  First leg complete, weather looks good for a return leg.
[Read More]

Return to sender - Armadillo successfully completes leg #2
Clark Lindsey reports via PeterDiamandis : "flight 2 takeoff! and perfect flight back to original pad. Success!" All they have to do is get their lander back to the staging area.
[Read More]

Rocket Motor Design, Initial CAD
Here is the first pass in CAD. I like to get to this point and then live with the design for a while and see how I feel about it after a day or two. I like the overall look of this motor, so I'll probably try to finish the drawing tomorrow. After I finish it, I'll point out some of the features ...
[Read More]

Armadillo flight videos
Lunar Lander Challenge Level 2 Flight 1 Lunar Lander Challenge Level 2 Flight 2
[Read More]

Yes, someone has won the $1M
Armadillo's success does not guarantee them the purse. If another team, ie Unreasonable Rocket or Masten, has a better mean landing accuracy, then they will edge Armadillo out. It's a good day in any event.
[Read More]

Before the rocketry forums, there was...
Sunsite , a link to the olden days of rocketry internet Jerry
[Read More]

Lucerne launch report, 9/12/09
I arrived on the playa at about 8:45AM yesterday to extremely calm conditions. Jack Garabaldi had already opened is awesomely stocked What's Up Hobbies store and I dove right in buying components and new motors. The ROC folks were just beginning to set up the range but this seemed fine due to the ...
[Read More]

Even better videos of Armadillo's successful X-prize flights
These are really good. Check out the flame, the stability, and the gimballing of the thrust at landing. Includes on-board footage of touchdown.
[Read More]

Nippin' at Armadillo's heels
Paul Breed reports his Blue Ball had a 106 second stable hover . His qualification window is October 30-31. If you don't want to follow his blog, he is also on Twitter .  If you don't want to follow either, there's always the Dungeon. Masten's Xombie also is having some success. Ben Brockert ...
[Read More]

CARE launch, tomorrow, Sept. 15, between 7:30 and 7:57 p.m. EDT
Just a reminder to myself. WEBCAST - TWITTER
[Read More]

New world land speed record for RC cars
And, of course, a rocket was involved.  The Black Knight: Hybrid Rocket RC Car blog reports a run at 163.51 mph.  This is a new world land speed RC record beating the previous 161.34 mph set by Nic Case in 2008. My congrats to ziaggy12345.  If you go to the top page to can find ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch's Ant Lifting Bodies, Parts #1 and #2
The good Dr. may have done what the Augustine Commission couldn't...
[Read More]

Armadillo Aerospace Stick Two Landings and Take Home $1 Million
The level two lunar lander X-Prize has been claimed. Armadillo Aerospace out of Rockwall, TX successfully flew there rocket Scorpious Super Mod between two pads then back again. With a half an hour to spare. John Carmack is a founding member and Technical Director of id Software , the company ...
[Read More]

Raygun Gothic Rocketgirl #3
IMG_0132 , originally uploaded by Spaceman Spiffy .
[Read More]

Howard Kuhn: Master Scale Modeler
I got this from a mail list I'm on but the original source is the Scaleroc Yahoo Group. Taking a little time out for a break from the everyday discussions I just wish to inform you that a great US Scale master modeler, Howard Kuhn, is very ill, as reported by his son, Craig Kuhn, on the OldRockets ...
[Read More]

D-Fusion and Stink Bombs on EMRR
D-Fusion Bomb Stink Bomb
[Read More]

Xombie on deck!
Masten will go for the NG-LLC Level 1 challenge this morning.  Here's a video of the Xombie's first untethered hover.  (hat tip to Parabolic Arc )
[Read More]

Steve Eves' 1:10 Scale Saturn V is too big for a single DVD
Liberty Launch Systems (aka Rockets Magazine) just announced the release of their 3-disk DVD set chronicling the project from conception through launch and on to its final home at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
[Read More]

Stalled projects, Things, epoxy casting, and another birdhouse
This post will be a hodgepodge status update on the projects in the dungeon - stalled, active, and new. Yes, my 8" MLAS and BT-101 projects are still stalled.  The MLAS will likely stay that way until I stumble upon the clear tubing I want.  Buying the stuff is still an option, but it ...
[Read More]

Rocket Xombie girls!
As seen on The Launch Pad (credit to Nicky J Rocket Girl) and at the Masten NG-LLC attempt.
[Read More]

Out-of-Context Shaffer Quotes
I recently started a new blog compiling some of the oddest, funniest, randomest, or goofiest quotes from my Honors Physics teacher Mr. Shaffer. He really means it when he says: "I get to be a dork all day, and I get paid to do it!" He really loves his job, as is evident in his teaching. I'm really ...
[Read More]

Cooling glitch makes a zombie out of Xombie...2nd leg aborted
Rats, Clark Lindsey reports that a cooling glitch caused minor damage to the Xombie.  As a result, they didn't attempt the return leg of this Level 1 attempt.  They'll have another go in October.
[Read More]

Cadillac Launch
I don't think of myself as someone who is easily influenced, particularly by advertising, but the other day I saw a car commercial that totally convinced me that I wanted to have this car. I've been considering getting a new car, but a Cadillac . Never! But it seems as if GM geared this commercial ...
[Read More]

Imagined uses for the rocket birdhouses
The Raygun Gothic Birdhouse and the Raygun Gothic HoJo :
[Read More]

2.375" Rocket Motor Design, Nozzle
I haven't done a lot of additional work on the design. I'm not sure that I'll remove the material indicated in red in the first image, back cuts like that can prove to be pretty time consuming. I should be able to shorten the shoulder a bit once I add the bolts into the design; that would make it ...
[Read More]

Lasers and rockets... pretty obvious if you think about it.

[Read More]

Xing outside of Ft Davis, Texas
Xing outside of Ft Davis, Texas , originally uploaded by Oneida Val .
[Read More]

Laser powered flying saucers
R2K snagged the following video. I've seen these on TV and the net, but I can never get enough of this stuff.
[Read More]

Rocket birdhouse building frenzy
Well, not exactly a frenzy but compared to the last month or so the Dungeon is buzzing. I surveyed the rocket birdhouses, began gathering parts I had lying around and listing what I need to acquire. Raygun Gothic Birdhouse I first cut, sawed, and pried the top off.  I found that, with a little ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets - the new oddroc vendor
These are the Odd Models, the ones that'll make your Range Safety Officer call for a "Heads Up!"
[Read More]

MAE students check out Ballistic Barbie rocket
MAE students check out Ballistic Barbie rocket , originally uploaded by Propulsion Research Center .
[Read More]

Launch Report 2009-8
Location: Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD ( MDRA ESL-136) Weather: mid-70's, not too breezy, but the wind was in an unfavorable direction Total flights: Today - 5; YTD - 65 Total motors: Today - 5; YTD - 77 Find more photos like this on Our Planet My Flights: NCR Big Brute on a G64-6 ...
[Read More]

Science is the new ballin'
Not pictured... half a dozen hot ladies losing it.
[Read More]

Black Brant XII/CARE launch
Wallops launched the CARE experiment yesterday evening. I wasn't able to watch, but here is a great video of the cloud dispersal taken from Eldersburg, MD. The artificial noctilucent cloud was formed by the exhaust particles of the rocket's fourth stage at an altitude of about 173 miles. Here is a ...
[Read More]

Another MDRA ESL-136 report, with rocket girls
Rockets and Such reports a successful launch day. He had a successful J350 flight and even brought bunch of rocket girls. They might not have been rocket girls when they came, but they are now.
[Read More]

And yet another MDRA ESL-136 report, with...ants
Dr. Zooch has a humorous report on a "horrific" event - a under-power lawn dart. Luckily, nobody was harmed, even the ant-stronauts, who were released back into the wild. Their Dr. even gave them a Tylenol.
[Read More]

Riding a Slingshot into Space
I had tagged this story a couple of days ago but didn't get around to passing it along. Clark Lindsey reports : A NASA led team is looking at combining electromagnetic launch and a ramjet for the first stage of a system with a rocket powered second stage: Riding a Slingshot into Space: A ...
[Read More]

2.375" Motor Casing Completed
I finished the casing for the motor. I realized that I made a mistake in the CAD drawing that I posted earlier today. There should be six retaining screws for both the nozzle and the bulkhead versus twelve. I also made a slight change to the length of the casing, opting to make it 3/4"shorter ...
[Read More]

TRA streamlines the FAA's Level-3 waiver process and facilitates the Big A$$ Rocket of the Day
I'm sure you remember that last December the FAA issued a new set of rules concerning amateur rocketry. This was lauded by the low and mid-powered rocketry world since there would no longer be any notification requirements for rockets that weigh up to 53 oz (3.3 lb) and which use less than 4.4 oz ...
[Read More]

Thermite: Good for igniters, hard on jack-o-lanterns
(via Make )
[Read More]

A.R.C.A. rockoon project
Based on a post at The Rocketry Blog , I found out about a project (really a series of rockets based on the same fascinating, very novel design) for a many staged rockoon. This large rocket, to be launched from an even larger balloon (rock-oon), is supposed to eventually send a rover to the moon ...
[Read More]

In the Field of Model Rocketry - Pratham Ambla
• My Name is Pratham Ambla, a student of third year B.sc (Electronics) but enthusiast of rocketry, astronomy and space science. A childhood passion for the same leads my association with the Vikram A. Sarabhai Community Science Centre, Ahmedabad since my age of 10 years. • I have been working ...
[Read More]

Raygun Gothic Birdhouse - status
I'm not near the Dungeon so I have to go without a photo.  The rocket is almost there.  I pretty much just need to even up the fins and then figure out how much nose weight is needed.  Here is what I've done so far: Prepping the raw birdhouse:  Removed the top (ie the nose ...
[Read More]

1st Vikram Sarabhai Model Rocket competition - 2003
• First time in India, Mr. Pratham Ambla was introduced and instrumental in organizing the 1st Vikram Sarabhai Model Rocket Competition in 2003, which was overwhelmed by 215 participants from various schools and organization of Ahmedabad by taking part in the competition. • That was ...
[Read More]

2nd Vikram Sarabhai Model Rocket Competition - 2004
• In January 2004, 2nd Vikram Sarabhai Model Rocket Competition was organized at a State Level. • 178 Participants from various places of Gujarat like Visnagar, Vadodara, Anand, Gandhinagar, Dehgam, Ahmedabad, etc took part in the competition. • That was inaugurated by Ms. Mrinalini ...
[Read More]

3rd Vikram Sarabhai Model Rocket Competition - 2005
3rd Vikram Sarabhai Model Rocket Competition - 2005 • As a continuous effort- In February 2005, 3rd Vikram Sarabhai Model Rocket Competition was organized a State Level, with introduction of Double Stage Model Rocket in this competition. • 190 Participants from various places of Gujarat like ...
[Read More]

15th World Space Modelling Championship for Seniors & Juniors - 2004
Good Wishes from Shri Balkrishna Swami (Swaminarayan Gurukul - Ahmedabad) & Prof. D.V. Devani (Socrates Institute - Bodakdev-Ahmedabad) • For the First time in the History of Space Modelling, Mr. Prathamsinh Ambla was Participated in World Space Modeling Championship from the India. He ...
[Read More]

1st Water Booster Rocket Competition - 2005
• First Time in India, Mr. Pratham Ambla was introduce Water Booster Rocket Competition in 2005. • There were 50 Participants from different school in this competition. They will make Water Booster Rocket from Plastic Bottle and launch them towards sky. • He was selected ...
[Read More]

2nd Water Booster Rocket Competition - 2006
• Second time, Gujarat Council of Science City was Organized Water Booster Rocket Competition in 2006. • Mr. Pratham Ambla was conducted Water Booster Rocket Competition in Science City as Resource Person and Jury Member . • There were 100 Participants from different ...
[Read More]

16th World Space Modelling Championship for Seniors & Juniors, 2006 - Baikonur, Kazakhstan
• In 2006, Mr. Pratham Ambla was participated the 16th World Space Modeling Championship for seniors and juniors in Baiknour, Russia. • He has been participated in S3A (Parachute Rocket ) in senior category. In S3A category stood on 15th rank in individual category. S3 A Catagory Rocket ...
[Read More]

Get ready to Lock and Load this Friday
Erik Gates gave us a heads-up on The History Channel's Lock and Load a couple of months ago, and now it it upon us: Friday, September 25 10:00 PM Saturday, September 26 02:00 AM Gunny gets a first-hand look at the "rocket's red glare" as he demonstrates rockets dating back to ancient Chinese to ...
[Read More]

Tripoli Louisiana Kicks Off The Fall Flying Season
NO Wind! I mean there was no wind! None! Everything that went up came straight back down. Unbelievable. What we did have was bugs. It started with the ants. I stood in a pile of them and then did the ant dance. After that the gnats took over. Then it was the mosquitoes. After I applied a ...
[Read More]

Raygun Gothic rocket update
Here's the Raygun Gothic Birdhouse . I got antsy so I clamped my power drill into my vise and ground on the clear fins.  All that's left is the nose weight.  I updated my RockSim model and I don't think much will be required. Update: The 'pilot' image and clear window is not inst ...
[Read More]

Some interesting searches to this page
These are from the past few hours: saturn 5 pictures how high does first stage rocket send space shuttle long high powered rocket high power rocketry altitude record kosdon rocket And dozens of searches for "High power rocketry" or something like that.
[Read More]

Demonstration Program on Model Rocketry - Allahabad
? Demonstration Program on Model Rocketry at Allahabad 1998. ? There were Public Demonstration Lecture on ? How To Make Single Stage Model Rocket? at St. Josephs College - Allahabad. ? There were more then 10,000 People in Lecture so organizer transfer the lecture from Hall ...
[Read More]

Demonstration Program on Model Rocketry - Surat
• Mr. Pratham Ambla was organize One day Model Rocketry Workshop for V.D. Desai Vadiwala School’s students as part of Science Festival - 2006 Surat, this program was Sponsored by GGCL & BG India ltd. • There were more then 250 students from Surat. All ...
[Read More]

Model Rocketry Program in Children Science Congress 2006 - Science City, Ahmedabad
• Gujarat Council of Science City & Nirma university Hosted Children Science Congress in Ahmedabd on 5-7 January 2006. • From all over India, there were more then 500 School Students and Teachers are participated in this Children Science Congress. • Mr. Pratham ...
[Read More]

Special Program organize for Major Thalesimia Patient
With the Support of "Make a Wish Foundation" Mr. Pratham Ambla organized a special program for a young beta-thalassemia patient. The 9 year old boy suffering from beta-thalassemia wanted to make a rocket. He was helped to make and launch a single-stage model rocket.
[Read More]

Astronomy Program
For Astronomical Events doing a program for All.
[Read More]

4 oz
That's how much nose weight was required to get 1 caliber of stability margin on the Raygun Gothic Birdhouse .  After a bad experience with the RockSim model for the D-Fusion Bomb (original version without added fins), I decided to go for the full caliber.  My motors of choice are the F35 ...
[Read More]

2.375" Motor, Starting Nozzle
I managed to start the nozzle. I'm starting with 2.75" diameter stock which is less than ideal; I would prefer to start with some thing closer to the OD of the finished part, but it's what I have on hand. It shouldn't be too bad though since I added a new, larger motor to the lathe a while ...
[Read More]

Nozzle? We don't need no steenkin' nozzle! (Update)
Although I can't quote any equations, I've read several overviews of how rocket nozzles work , specifically the standard de Laval variety, and generally understand concepts like expansion ratios. At least I thought so, so correct me if I'm wrong. Due to the physical constraints of the motor ...
[Read More]

SoLaR Launch Report! There Was No Wind At The Luling Field Today!
I arrived at the field around 9:00AM. The sky was overcast and there was a lite drizzle. The field was soaked and muddy. I hung out for a while waiting for the rain to subside. When it broke I put the truck in 4 wheel drive and headed for a dry spot in the middle of the field. I setup a small ...
[Read More]

Bear-4 mission
"The balloon and camera were launched at 7:44 AM, the balloon burst at 10:51 AM at 107,145 ft. and the camera landed via parachute at 11:40 AM, 89 miles from the launch site after a 3 hr. & 56 min. flight. The camera recorded a total of 4 hrs. & 22 min. of Hi-Def Video before it stopped ...
[Read More]

Build session...good progress
Don Brown hosted another of his build sessions today.  Before I get to my build, I'll say thanks to Don and Anita for hosting...again.  Don grilled brats, provided salad and drinks, and we chipped in for pizza.  We had a a garage-full with regulars Paul, Mike, and Jim as well as ...
[Read More]

Rocket sleds!
Click these last two for full size...
[Read More]

2.375" Motor, Nozzle Progress
I'm making pretty good progress on the nozzle. The black line in the top few photos is about where it'll get parted off. I still need to cut the 0-ring and insulation grooves, do the back cut behind the shoulder, and index the retaining screw locations. Then I'll part it off, flip it ...
[Read More]

Laos Rocket Festival Photo1
Following the rocketry safety code...in the Bizarro World! Laos Rocket Festival Photo1 , originally uploaded by Laos Essential Artistry .
[Read More]

AeroTech Displays 38mm High Power RMS Reload Adapter System at XPRS 2009
AeroTech displayed a new reload adapter system for its 38mm high power RMS? motors during the XPRS launch in the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach, NV held September 17-21. The system allows the use of shorter (lower power) RMS reload kits within a specific motor casing, reducing the number of cases ...
[Read More]

Cam pitch monocopter
Mechanical wizardry from ZZakk's Lab : Ken cp f0 , originally uploaded by jal3net .
[Read More]

Howitzer Lessons
Pneumatic launcher. Rocket exits at 660 G's and 1000 mph. Cool. (There appears to be a problem with the photo linkage on Flickr. You can still click below to get to the image.) Howitzer Lessons , originally uploaded by jurvetson .
[Read More]

2.375" Nozzle Update
I finished the back cut on the shoulder area. In an attempt to get really clean flow into the throat area, the convergent starts at a steep 45 degrees that leads into a shallower 22.5 degree section leading into the throat. This can be clearly seen on the back of the convergent side in the photo. ...
[Read More]

Our Team Member - Mr. Pratham Ambla With Hon. Astronut Sunita William
In September 2007, as Subject Expert - Mr. Pratham Ambla was Conducted Model Rocketry Workshop and also organized Model Rocket Exhibition in LML School, Ahmedabad.    In Presence of Hon. Astronaut Sunita William Students launch the Model Rockets.    
[Read More]

Standoffs and wood stain?
Since Saturday, I embedded a screw in the gap between the motor mounts on the HoJo, attached the mount and a 3/8" tubular nylon shock tether (overkill, but I used what I got), and have started attaching the fins.  Next, I'll need standoffs for the rail buttons.  My default will be to cut ...
[Read More]

Lockheed Martin Samarai monocopter UAV and Ed Miller's monster
Here's a video reportedly from LockMart.  This remote control mono is propeller driven vs. rocket powered, but is still cool.  It has a 30" wing but their goal is to get down to 2"-4".  Via Botjunkie . The article also notes Ed Millers huge three stage, J-J-K, monocopter. Now that is ...
[Read More]

Rocket sleds pt. 2 (well really pt. 3 or 4)
6416 MPH
[Read More]

VeraTech Phantom Sentinel and the Scroton revisited (updated)
Not quite a monocopter but along the same line, VeraTech's Phantom Sentinel is a small spinning UAV.  It appears to be a product vs. in R&D.  Also cool.  (hat to to Ken from ZZakk's Lab )  {In looking for the photo re-posted below, I found I had previously posted about ...
[Read More]

Optimum Mass Research Project
In between AP calculus, AP English 12 and Honors Physics, I'm working on a research project. The official title is "Optimum Mass of a Small Rocket Propelled Vehicle." The basic premise of the research is to find the factors that determine the optimum mass of a model rocket. Does it ...
[Read More]

New N-Prize Forums
I see the N-prize folks now have discussion forums .  In case you don't feeling like looking through the N-Prize site, you can see the abbreviated rules below. The N-Prize offers two cash Prizes, each of £9,999.99 (nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine pounds and ninety-nine pence, ...
[Read More]

HoJo progresso
Well, the Raygun Gothic HoJo is basically flight ready.  Since the last update, the fins were completed, rail buttons were mounted on stand-offs and a couple of rings were added over the main tube.  The Super-Fil fillets are drying. I haven't made much progress on the decoration.  I ...
[Read More]

Direct staging APCP to BP motors
TRF member rocket999 provided a link to the following interesting article: Direct Non-electronic Staging From Reloadable Composite Motors To Black Powder Motors , Jay Calvert, NAR # 71767 C Division, Naram-46, Great Meadow, The Plains, Virginia, August 2004. Jay studied several potential methods ...
[Read More]

Pegasus XL
The next installment in my "just cut and paste rocket crap from Wikipedia" series is all about a fun little rocket, one of the smallest satellite launchers ever. "In a Pegasus launch, the carrier aircraft takes off from a runway with support and checkout facilities. Such locations have included ...
[Read More]

Soyuz launch
Do you not like rocketry stuff? Get me out of here.
[Read More]

Bayourat Rocketry Tests Realtime GPS Tracking Device
GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com I was researching GPS tracking when I found this inexpensive GPS tracking device. The software was free. I have been carrying it around with me testing out the coverage and accuracy. So far so good. I will be testing it in a rocket soon. I just have my ...
[Read More]

Homebrew Rocket Howitzer
Homebrew Rocket Howitzer , originally uploaded by jurvetson . Here's the 'flight' report for the pneumatic rocket cannon that I blogged about a few days ago. Click the photo and learn how trigonometry allowed this shot to be captured. Unlike the Jujubee , which ignited a motor as the rocket ...
[Read More]

HDR photo of the old Apollo launch pad, taken at sunset
HDR apollo center sunset , originally uploaded by maxcap60 . I thought this HDR (high dynamic range) photo of the old Apollo pad at KSC was pretty cool. It struck me as a modern day Stonehenge...an abandoned monument whose purpose is fading.
[Read More]

EMRR review of the Instructables Frisbee Saucer
EMRR review on the flight conversion of the cardstock Instructables Frisbee Saucer .
[Read More]

X marks the spot
X marks the spot , originally uploaded by jurvetson . This is what happens when a 10' tall rocket with a 48 lb nose cone lawn darts. That's the solid clay floor of the Black Rock Desert. Hard stuff.
[Read More]

Hostile Projectiles
The title sounds like a description of some of my projects, but it is actually the name of a new kit vendor .  Their one current offering is the V-23 Bomber Manned Rocket but a standard V2 is in the works.  The discriminator with these kits is that they feature detailed, hollow, resin ...
[Read More]

Delta 4H
"The particular setup for this was sound activated. The lens was destroyed (worth it of course) but the camera survived this one despite being severed from its ratchet straps and thrown to the ground, and the sound device used for this one disconnected from the camera and thrown about 200 feet ...
[Read More]

Even more carbon fiber success
I was finally able to lay up two new 38 and 54mm minimum diameter designs with 2 wraps of 6 oz carbon fiber cloth and cure them in 1 hour with a nearly perfect finish. The key seems to be plugging in the curing oven right when you place the part and then unplugging at exactly 1 hr. I then let both ...
[Read More]

College
College. The very word stirs two coexisting sentiments inside me.   The prospect excites me: to go out into the world to accomplish great and adventurous feats, to know a new life away from everything I've ever known...   And this leads directly into my other view, a ...
[Read More]

Non-pyro deployment set-up
The attached video shows a non-pyro ejection scheme that is being developed for sugar motors.  It employs a bungee-powered plunger that is initiated by a burn string, in this case fishing line. The video provides a detailed explanation as well as some static tests.  I realize that ...
[Read More]

Nothing normal about this rocket
Actually, it had four fins and a nose cone, motors and a 'chute, so I guess I should clarify.  This is the latest creation from Inverse Engineering.  It is staged and clustered - 4 Ks to one L.  All PVC sugar motors. The rocket is mainly PVC also.  All staging and deployment is ...
[Read More]

Some Math Jokes
A geeky mathematics student at MIT was sitting in a coffee shop reading his textbook on implicit differentiation, when in walked an exothermic female. He had always felt awkward about talking to pretty girls, but he thought he could muster the courage today, since it was February 14, a ...
[Read More]

2.375" Motor, Nozzle Update
I pretty much finished the nozzle. I used a parting tool to cut the o-ring groove and the groove where the insulation fits into. I then parted it off, flipped it, and cut the convergent side. I still need to drill and tap the retaining screw holes and I'm planning on adding some "gun blue" or ...
[Read More]

Naval Rail Gun
"Office of Naval Research video of the 31 January test of the world's most powerful electromagnetic rail gun at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dalhgren. Firing at a 10.64MJ energy level, railgun achieved a muzzle velocity of 2,520 metres per second" The idea here is to have, in one or two ...
[Read More]

New FTC rules on manufacturer sponsored evaluations
Angelo Castellano of Sunward Aerospace Group Limited notes on Rocketry Planet that the FTC has released new rules regarding testimonial advertising...and blogging .  Here's an excerpt from the new rules that Angelo posted: Disclosure of material connections. When there exists a connection ...
[Read More]

On the history of Air Turbo Rockets and Robert Hutchings Goddard
Plasma Wind is featuring a great post on the history of the Air Turbo Rocket (ATR). The pioneering work on ATRs was performed by Robert Hutchings Goddard during his time in Roswell, New Mexico. and the article should prove interesting to all amateur rocket historians and fans of Dr. Goddard.  ...
[Read More]

NARHAMS launch captured on Google Maps!?!
A NARHAMS member noticed that it looks like one of our launches was captured on Google Maps .  The launch site is located at the Old National Pike Park, Mt. Airy, Maryland.  There is not enough resolution to 1000% confirm this, but the image shows a group of people with easy-ups on the ...
[Read More]

I just love the LEM (LM)... What can I say?
Not just because I live on Long Island either...
[Read More]

Raygun Gothic HoJo - completed, except...
Except for a plug for the gaping hole in the cone and possibly the name. I gave up on brass/copper tubing or fittings for trim.  I didn't want to  hold up the build as I get close to vacation and it would only add unnecessary weight. So with the help of Don and stantonjtroy on TRF, I ...
[Read More]

Nice new Sprint ABM video
This is probably the best collection of Spartan and Sprint footage on the internet today. If you can find anything new, please help me. What an incredible ABM system, it is really sad that we did not maintain it. Many make the weak argument that ABMs cause instability by breaking down what they ...
[Read More]

Vintage range boxes
In the spirit of the coming Holiday, LA Weekly features a compendium of range boxes...for hunting VAMPIRES! If you can't afford the ones shown, they tell you how to stock your own.  Ooops, I guess the source link would help!
[Read More]

Masten is flying the NGLLC again today
Clark Lindsey reports that Xombie has flown the first leg of the Level I challenge with a total flight time over the required 90 seconds and great accuracy.  Leg #2 is immanent. The following photo shows how close the landing was.
[Read More]

Masten appears to have successfully completed Leg #2
Xombie's second leg was unofficially timed at 91 seconds.  It has been moved back to the prep area to the cheers of the observers.  Again unofficial, but the mean landing accuracy was around 6 inches.  I forget what they get for completing Level-1, other than to go for Level-2. ...
[Read More]

Plugging the holes...without birds
Everyone I ask thinks I should put birds in my birdhouses.  But I already have bats in my belfry and I have already put birds in my other birdhouse rockets.  For the HoJo , I plugged it with a large emerald colored lens.  The Raygun Gothic Birdhouse has a Creeple Peeple pilot behind ...
[Read More]

Another Ares Parachute Drop Test
Ares Parachute Drop Test (NASA, Ares Rockets, 10/7/09) , originally uploaded by nasa1fan/MSFC . This test unit designed only to go down would make an interesting scale model intended to go up :) Reminds me of the Aries "Fat Albert" . Hmm, even the name is similar.
[Read More]

Xombie cookin' the X-Prize
Check out this downward looking camera on Masten's NGLLC run earlier today.  Totally awesome. 
[Read More]

LCROSS to shoot the Moon this Friday
This Friday at 7:30 EDT, the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) will fire its spent upper-stage Centaur rocket into the Cabeus crater near the lunar south pole.  Scientists hope to find water in the tons of debris tossed into the lunar 'sky'. Here is an artist's depiction ...
[Read More]

38mm madness!
There are two crazy 38mm projects being discussed right now in the Rocketry Planet Forums, both of them expected to be (to have been) flown at Balls 18: One is a 38mm rocket built by "Binder Design" (user name, also a well known rocketry company ) to fly on an L5000. Yes thats right... an L. A 68 ...
[Read More]

Rocket weight inflation
Egads, the as-built weight of the Raygun Gothic HoJo is sitting at a whopping 35 oz without motors.  I weighed all the 'major' parts before assembly but it appears that I left something out (like the epoxy, shock cord, etc.).  So, I updated the over-rides and reran the RockSim m ...
[Read More]

Space dreaming (LCROSS)
As expected, the LCROSS lunar impact occurred roughly an hour ago, spewing some 350 tons of moon dirt around 6.2 miles high. I must have had LCROSS on the brain because I dreamed about it last night. In my dream, the plume from the impact was clearly visible in the morning hours with the naked eye. ...
[Read More]

What's next, environmental impact statements for the moon?
National Geographic - LCROSS Impact: Are NASA Moon Crashes Worth the Damage? With about a half million craters already there, I personally am not concerned with today's LCROSS experiment.  I guess if you didn't pick your site at all you could damage the several dozen historic artifacts that ...
[Read More]

New Motor, 3D Model
I'm working on making some animation to show how this motor goes together. I did a couple of cross sectional views that pretty much show just that. In the close up view you can see the nozzle and the insulation (the reddish colored stuff). The original version of this motor didn't use any ...
[Read More]

50 Things I Do When I'm Bored
Try to design a rocket on RockSim to break 100,000 ft using K motors Make up polynomials and then factor them Eat a bowl of cereal Try to find shortcuts to evaluate the nth derivative of a function Make popcorn Watch obscure movies Think about the Universe and wonder if ...
[Read More]

Saturday WANT
Here's a shot of the forthcoming BT-60 V2 from Hostile Projectiles .  If you click and expand the the image, you can see some of the detail on the cast cone and boat tail.   I was thinking about a much larger V2 when this came along.  I guess this will be cheaper and even ...
[Read More]

New Motor, Finished Bulkhead
I finished the bulkhead. I varied from the drawing a bit by adding a pressure port so that I can measure the chamber pressure during testing. I need to order some o-rings and then I'll be able to test fit everything.
[Read More]

Rocket Team
An amazing new opportunity has come my way: My physics teacher, Mr. Shaffer, is the leader of a small club at my school called the "Rocket Team." The goal of the club every year is to build an egg-lofting rocket to enter in the Team America Rocketry Challenge contest. Every year the rules for ...
[Read More]

UFO at China Lake
ZZakk's Lab has unearthed and is analyzing a photo of what appears to be a monocopter...or is it?  Read his post and decide for yourself.
[Read More]

Shameless plug for EMRR Rocket Family contest - VOTE!
EMRR has opened the voting for his Rocket Family photo contest .  Entry number 3 is my family of Fireball XL5 and Fireball XL5-like objects.  'Nuff said ;)
[Read More]

Just a huge BB gun
Parabolic Arc posts on a New Scientist article on a Space Investment Summit presentation on an air boost launcher. (that's a lotta 'on's) John Hunter and two other ex-LLNL scientists have formed a company called Quicklaunch, to develop a more powerful version of a gun they built at LLNL.  ...
[Read More]

Adrian Carbine three stage project
How cool is this project?! The info and some of the pictures below are from early attempts, such as in a 2006 article from Rocketry Planet. However, it appears that a flight took place at the most recent balls launch, and from the looks of the video (seen last at the bottom of this post) the ...
[Read More]

What Happens When Galaxies Collide
A recent NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image captures what appears to be one very bright and bizarre galaxy, but is actually the result of a pair of spiral galaxies that resemble our own Milky Way smashing together at breakneck speeds. The product of this dramatic collision, called NGC 2623, or ...
[Read More]

Paper Plane Making Program
Demonstration Program on Paper Plane making at Allahabad, U.P. Teachers Training Program on Paper Plane making at Allahabad, U.P. Demonstration Program on Paper Plane making at Mundra - Kutch, Gujarat       • Mr. Pratham Ambla - Model Rocketry Club has been ...
[Read More]

Exhibition on Model Rocketry
Explain Model to Mr. M.P. Deomurari (Scientist - PRL, Ahmedabad) Founder of Model Rocketry Club • Mr. Pratham Ambla - Model Rocketry Club, has been developed Exhibition on Model Rocketry. • In this exhibition there were different types of models on rocketry. • Through ...
[Read More]

Really nice footage from a lunar lander prize flight
"October 7, 2009 - Masten Space Systems flew our XA0.1B-750 rocket vehicle in the Northrop-Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge, level one. Both Flights were successful meeting the required flight profiles and time conditions. We are now in a position to claim the second prize award of $150, 000. First ...
[Read More]

Another UFO (YouFoe) from China Lake
Ken is at it again .  Looks like a cross between the Bat Plane, a lifting body, the alien vehicle from Independence Day , and something 'Big Daddy' Ed Roth built. ZZakk's Lab - 2, Rocket Dungeon - 0 If you think know what this thing is, pop over to his Lab and let him know.  I have to ...
[Read More]

Wednesday WANT
The Hostile Projectiles Delta X15.
[Read More]

Iowa State, Here I Come!
Tomorrow I'll be going down to visit one of the colleges I'm considering. In all honesty, Iowa State University is one of my "fall-back" schools. I would rather go to Embry-Riddle or MIT. But it's still decent, and perhaps I'll feel different after visiting the campus. I'll let you know how the ...
[Read More]

Tempest sounding rocket
During the CATS prize, I had been following all of the teams and just hoping one would eventually make it to space with the metal slug, required payload for the prize. No team made it (the CSXT was close), which has always been strange to me. Sure it is easy for me to sit here at a computer and ...
[Read More]

Interesting Rocket Motor
I saw this motor on EBay, the other day. I bid on it, but unfortunately didn't win. The description said that it was 13 inches long by 4 3/8 inches in diameter. There was another (really blurry) photo looking down the nozzle that showed a graphite insert.
[Read More]

2.375 inch Motor Update
I finished drilling and tapping the nozzle and bulkhead. I also got the o-rings, so I'll test fit everything soon. I need to start thinking about casting bases and mandrels for the propellant; I may have some from the previous motor that I can just modify slightly. If not, I'll make some new ...
[Read More]

LockMart spaceplane flies again from Spaceport America
I saw a report on the third flight test of Lockheed Martin's small rocket glider a last week but didn't notice a photo...until now. The launch was from UP Aerospace's rail and the landing was in the designated zone.  (reminder thanks to Clark Lindsey )
[Read More]

Mars

[Read More]

Thunder & Lightning mark II pix
Thanks to Jeremy Rich for these shots of the I357/I211 flight covered below! A reminder that... yes I did get all parts back intact. I don't buy into miracles yet I'll admit that this vessel should not be sitting in my garage ready to fly again immediately!
[Read More]

Reaction Research Society, 1958
I just noticed that the RRS website has a pdf of a 1958 Popular Mechanics article reporting on the activities of the society. It's fun to think what it would be like to have been alive at some point in history, whether it be in the midst of the "space race" or some other time. It's nice to see ...
[Read More]

Iowa State University
Our trip down to Iowa State University was very informative! They're known for their engineering, and once they finish the new biosystems engineering building, they will have the largest engineering complex in the world. Iowa State has a giant subsonic wind tunnel that seniors and ...
[Read More]

AeroTech on Facebook
AeroTech now has a page on Facebook! Follow the very latest AeroTech news, information, product developments and testing at http://www.facebook.com/pages/AeroTech-Consumer-Aerospace/159005948954
[Read More]

Mercury capsule on a rocket sled at China Lake
  (photo via China Lake Alumni, 1962 )
[Read More]

M750 for EM-SEM-FITY
One 9,345 N•s, 14 second burn M-motor now in stock for Plaster Blaster :
[Read More]

Ya' gotta know your motor plug color codes
I can keep the black and white ones straight, but never can remember the others.  So, trial and error is required at every LPR launch.  Via TRF : 1/4A3, 1/2A3, A3 - Orange A10 - Green 1/2A6, A8, B4 - Yellow B6, C6 - Magenta B8, C5 - Blue (these motors have been OOP for several years) ...
[Read More]

CF minimum diameter build progress
So I've made some progress on the Viciously Mean Machine and unnamed 38mm spike below. I've applied Cotronics 4525 high-temperature epoxy fillets to all fin/body interfaces and laid up tip-to-tip carbon fiber reinforcement on all fin pairs with Aeropoxy. I've also post-cured both tubes in the oven ...
[Read More]

CD3 ejection ground test for M750 flight
It worked perfectly with only 12g of CO2!
[Read More]

Ares I-X unveiled
Ares I-X rollout.  Very artsy. And on the pad. Launch is scheduled for Oct. 27 at 8 a.m. EDT.
[Read More]

Top 10 reasons the Dungeon isn't more popular
This post was prompted by the sharp drop off in my readership after a week-long lull in posting during my vacation. In terms of the blogosphere, sport/hobby/amateur rocketry is a niche market. Too much off topic stuff. Spaceflight and science is probably OK but few rocketeers people ...
[Read More]

Introducing...The Beer Garden
In my previous post, I mused about what was wrong with the Dungeon (the blog, not the rocket lab).  The first two respondents basically thought the problem was not enough beer .  So, I thought I'd start blogging about the beers I've enjoyed.  This will be a regular but probably ...
[Read More]

1954 The Earth from space
"This is a photomosaic of the first natural color images of the Earth sucessfully taken from a high-altitude rocket. It image shows a large swathe of land to the south and east of the launch site and a tropical cyclone is visible over Del Rio, Texas. This image is also the first ever taken from a ...
[Read More]

2.375" Motor Update
I've been talking with Magnus from AIR recently about this motor and he has convinced me to use erythitol based propellant. I first heard about erythitol on Scott Fintel's site and the biggest attraction seemed to be ease of casting as well as a decent Isp even at relatively low chamber pressures. ...
[Read More]

House of Reps extends commercial space indemnification
I didn't know commercial launches were ever indemnified at the federal level. Clark Lindsey's post was short, so I lifted the whole thing:  The House passes a bill to extend for another three years the indemnification against third party damages above the maximum probable loss for which ...
[Read More]

AeroTech Unveils New E20W Model Rocket Motor at 2009 iHobby Expo
AeroTech Consumer Aerospace is introducing a new 24mm `E`-class single-use model rocket motor in new retail packaging at the 2009 iHobby Expo trade show in Chicago, IL held during October 22 through 25. The new E20W is the same physical size as a black powder `D` motor at 24 X 70mm, but is only ...
[Read More]

Mars Missions
Just look at that failure rate! Bryan Christie design
[Read More]

Radio controlled monocopter
Here is a video of a $500 radio controlled monocpoter developed by University of Maryland grad students. While the prototype cost $500, productions models may be on toy store shelves by the time the team lead graduates in May of next year. Cool.  I want one. BTW, here's a reference to another ...
[Read More]

3 Micro Sattelites
"Inside Orbital Sciences’ Building 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, this closeup shows the Space Technology 5 (ST5) spacecraft's microsatellites mounted on the payload structure. The spacecraft will be enclosed for launch. The ST5 contains three microsatellites with ...
[Read More]

X-37B to launch atop an Atlas booster
I want to see this one!  This space.com article reports it is manifested for April 2010. (big hat tip to Clark Lindsey )
[Read More]

October launch scrubbed (by me)
Mid 60's and 90% chance of rain.  Bah. Also, it's 50/50 that I'll have at least some conflict with Red Glare in November.  Bah^2  (Still, my fingers are crossed.)
[Read More]

2.375" Motor Update
I've completed a couple of the wooden pyrogen canisters. I also ran a new SRM simulation with KNER propellant. The result of switching from KNSB to KNER is that the burn time basically doubles and the chamber pressure is cut to about half. The drop in chamber pressure results in a bit of a drop ...
[Read More]

A blog post powered by a black hole
The Next Big Future discusses the possibility of using artificial black holes to power future spaceships. This idea is pretty far out there and the conclusion is that it is "at the edge of possibility." I think this concept is far enough over the event horizon that I'll never live to find out. The ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH Magazine, the book
A Rocketry Planet reader got this pre-order announcement from Amazon: Launch Magazine's History of Rockets & Model Rockets Mark Mayfield List Price: $14.95 Price: $10.08 You Save: $4.87 (33%) Release Date: October 28, 2009 Product Description Launch Magazine presents the complete history of ...
[Read More]

Do something, even if it's wrong
There is a lot of discussion about the viability and even sensibility of NASA's Ares rockets and its exploration plans in general.  Most recently, the discussions and arguments have centered around the Augustine Commission and their 155 page report. (The latest post I saw is from Alan Boyle's ...
[Read More]

Iridium-Cosmos, 8-months later
ArmsControlWonk provides an update on the debris field that resulted from February's collision of the Iridium and Cosmos satellites. After 8 months there are still some 1586 cataloged items. (Oops, almost forgot to credit Clark Lindsey for spotting this.)
[Read More]

Ares I-X Press Kit
Download via spaceflightnow .
[Read More]

Unreasonable stable hover
Via Paul Breed on twitter: Stable no faults silver hover! Now to do a perfrormance hover test with known propellant weights. That's great news!
[Read More]

Thermite ignition tests
[Disclaimer: I assume no responsibility for use or misuse of this information. It's available elsewhere on the Internet and I'm simply sharing my engineering interpretation of that information. Use these materials with great caution. Do not mix reactants until just before use. Do not mix or ignite ...
[Read More]

Rockets on Lock and Load
I just watched The History Channel's Lock and Load hosted by R. Lee "Gunny" Ermey. (on-demand)  Took a few notes and took some real-time 'screen snaps'.  This show is worth the price of admission! First a reminder from Erik Gates, who worked on the show: In the 3 days we launched 5 ...
[Read More]

Max Attack Takes To The Sky at High Cotton
The Max Attack flew today on Loki Sparky Power. The motor is a 75mm 6000 newton M1200. What a show it put on as the motor sent my 40lb. rocket to 8,600'. The weather is perfect here in Winnsboro, LA. The temperature is in the 70's and there is no wind. We are having an awesome weekend. There have ...
[Read More]

Repairs, grid fin thoughts, and pending purchases
This afternoon, I ventured into the Dungeon for the first time since returning from sunny, warm Florida.  I surveyed my growing list of partially completed projects and gravitated to the grid fin Crayon rocket.  I had built a annular grid fin for a Crayon bank a while back.  It ...
[Read More]

Simulation of small rockoon launch to orbit
This is a simulation of a very small rockoon launching a tiny payload into orbit. This is interesting because it show how, under ideal conditions, it only takes about O impulse (according to the person posting this in the forum) to get a pico-sat. into orbit. Granted nothing like this may ever be ...
[Read More]

Unreasonable problems
Via Paul Breed on Twitter: Silver ball catalyst pack died mid test. Puts 180 very much in doubt, still trying, but doubtful. He and his team are fighters!
[Read More]

Big launch week ahead (update)
Ares I-X is scheduled to launch from Kennedy Space Center's launch pad 39B at 8 a.m. Tuesday.  The typical Florida weather may be a problem, however.  The window is open until noon.  See it live on NASA TV . Three teams will try to unseat Armadillo in the Northrop Gruman Lunar Lander ...
[Read More]

2.375" Motor Updated
I changed the design again. I decided to optimize the it for KNER propellant by adding two additional segments. The additional propellant brings the motor up to a solid L-class motor and the chamber pressure sims. at right about 1000psi. I'm hoping to have an opportunity to test fire it for the ...
[Read More]

Tripoli Motor Testing Certifies 38mm RMS Reload Adapter System, Five New High-Power RMS Reload Kits
The Tripoli Motor Testing (TMT) committee of the Tripoli Rocketry Association (TRA) has tested and approved a number of new AeroTech products. 38mm RMS Reload Adapter System The previously-announced 38mm AeroTech RMS? reload adapter system (P/N 38RAS) is now TMT-approved and allows the use of ...
[Read More]

Ares I-X/Space Shuttle twofer
In his post on tomorrow's Ares I-X launch (maybe...weather "may be a problem"), Wayne Hill posted the following cool, and historic, photo of both the Ares and Shuttle on their pads.  Couldn't resist cross-posting this!  The next is provided...just because.
[Read More]

Misguided flying saucer
Misguided - both a proper noun and an adjective.  Think it will be stable?
[Read More]

Another twofer
This one comes from NASA/Kim Shiflett via space.com.
[Read More]

NK-33
This is a great little engine, from the N1 program that was cut short. This has the highest thrust to weight ratio of any rocket engine (that does NOT include solid rockets etc.) NK-33 Wiki NK-33 at at E.A.
[Read More]

T-4:00, a close view of the pointy end, and triboelectrification
I'm watching NASA TV and Florida Today during the extended T-4:00 delay of the Ares I-X launch.  Looks touch and go.  They said something about the failure of a range radar, which is mandatory for launch.  I missed the details since the wife turned on the TV.  But they seem to ...
[Read More]

Expecting It's a scrub (updated...twice)
Last opportunity to resume the Ares I-X count was 11:24EST...and the weather didn't cooperate.  Rescheduled for Wednesday. It struck me that this may be NASA's most important unmanned launch ever.
[Read More]

A snapshot of the U.S. Naval Observatory
DCist provides an interesting peek inside the USNO .  Blogger Heather Goss documents a recent tour, from the 12" Alvin Clark refracting telescope that was built in 1892, to original works by Tycho Brahe , to the clock room where you see every piece of timing equipment used throughout history ...
[Read More]

The engineer's desktop before computer desktops
When I started my professional career, I was given a desk in a bullpen and a ton of manuals to read.  There were no PCs or web.  We had drafting tools, parts catalogs, and a plethora of free print magazines.The IC Master was like a bible, except everyone didn't have a copy. Prior to ...
[Read More]

11A52

[Read More]

Unreasonable bad news
Paul Breed reports that The ball is dropped in the end zone .  A tank failure in the Silver Ball has knocked him out of the NGLLC level 2 challenge.  He's still going to prep the Blue Ball and try for level 1.  He laments that it is looking like, after investing 3 years and a ton of ...
[Read More]

Ares I-X flew!
I only found they were going to try again today a few minutes before the countdown was resumed from the T-4 hold.  It looked great and visual tracking was maintained until well after booster separation. Very cool.  Congrats to the Ares I-X team!  Can't wait for some photos. As I'm ...
[Read More]

Watch the Masten NGLLC flights (updates)
Live They experienced problems and the contest window closed. They will try again between 4PM and 5PM EST. I'm unclear if this is an official contest window or if they are just testing. The webcast will restart during this window.
[Read More]

Ares 1-X !
"Ares 1-X launch from Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at approximately 11:30 a.m.. T minus 1:00 on." This is a great rocket because it is: simple, safe, fairly cheap, and never mixes humans with payload. This is a very small step, but a step in the right direction. Hopefully ...
[Read More]

Ares x-1 Launch
There is some good video of this morning Ares launch. The second video as some cool camera angles. Everything apparently went as planned, I guess the payload seperation wasn't as dicey as it looked.  
[Read More]

Ares I-X Video

[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, October 2009
This month, Bob and Neil's editorial discusses the state of rocketry magazines. During the last 4 months or so, we have lost 50% of our rocket magazines - both LAUNCH and Extreme Rocketry succumbed to the economy.  The good news is that ROCKETS is doing well.   Such is the benefit of ...
[Read More]

LRO footage from the moon
Nice image of the Apollo 17 site.
[Read More]

NAR Certifies New AeroTech E20W Motor
The National Association of Rocketry (NAR) Standards & Testing (S&T) Committee has certified AeroTech?s new E20W model rocket motor. The motor features an all-new molded phenolic casing with a built-in thrust ring, a molded delay/ejection bulkhead and ships with a FirstFire Jr.? 2-lead ...
[Read More]

The Unreasonable fat lady did not sing
Paul Breed reports that when the goin' gets tough, the tough grind, bend, and weld their tanks back together.  They may need a couple of more miracles, but their level-2 hopes are NOT DEAD. 
[Read More]

Masten is loading LOX (update)
Live! Update 1:49PM EDT: It looks like they are having the same problems as they did yesterday, which was a communications problem between the on-board computer and the GSE.  This morning, they had one soft start, they refueled, and then had another glitch.  They won't make this window ...
[Read More]

Ares I-X successful, but not perfect (updated)
Space.com discusses the apparent staging problem with Ares I-X.  They cite comments from Mission Manager Bob Ess. He said to CNET, "So far, we're on a path to learn a lot. The separation seemed a little different than we predicted as far as how the upper stage reacted after separation. So ...
[Read More]

Xoie at Mojave
IMG_6765 , originally uploaded by Dave Malkoff . Follow the link to see the photographer's entire set from today's attempt.
[Read More]

Masten loading fuel and helium (updates)
Webcast is not running yet . Update 1:   Launch was supposed to go at nominally 5:50 EDT.  Webcast froze at '1' in the countdown :eek: Update 2: Text feed reports Xoie landed. Not sure of the duration. Then reports of fire. Video back showing blue sky only. Update 3: Unofficial report is ...
[Read More]

Updated posts
I've been doing a bunch of updates rather than creating new posts: Masten NGLLC status Ares I-X status
[Read More]

My Launch Report From High Cotton Oct. 24-25 2009
What a weekend! We had a great launch with lot's of memorable flights. Here is a list of my successes and failures. My first flight was my Apogee Aspire. I had loaded it up with a G79W single use motor. When the button was pushed the rocket exploded off the pad. Then about 10 feet off the rod the ...
[Read More]

Both Masten and Unreasonable Rocket to fly the NGLLC today (updates)
Masten around noon EDT and Unreasonable in the afternoon. I'm all for giving masten another shot, as long as it didn't squeeze Paul and his team. If it did, they should give him a window Sunday, even if that is technically past the competition window. Update:   It appears others agree about ...
[Read More]

NGLLC Judging Protest
John Carmack isn't happy about the unanimous judge's decision to give Masten the extra window this morning.  Read the text of his protest on ParabolicArc .
[Read More]

New images from Project Farside
If you read this high power rocketry blog regularly, you know by now that this was my all time favorite rocket. Indeed as soon as I get back down to DC (have not been since taking rocketry on as a new hobby in the late 90s), I plan to get to this rocket and take detailed pictures. Here are two ...
[Read More]

Rocket Team Update
Our rocket team at school has been making some great progress in preparation for Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) 2010! We "finalized" our RockSim design, and are now going to start collecting parts. I made a fiberglass transition piece this afternoon, and considering that I always have ...
[Read More]

More Unreasonable bad news
I had to scoot so I didn't have the chance to follow Unreasonable Rocket's NGLLC efforts.  I wish that I had missed a successful Level-1 flight, win or lose.  Unfortunately, the Blue Ball had problems on both attempts.  They plan to go down fighting with additional flights t ...
[Read More]

19 cm
Via Twitter: NGLLC09    final unofficial accuracy was 28cm on the first leg, 10cm on the 2nd. Average: 19cm (via @ mastenspace )
[Read More]

My Unreasonable Level 1 Halloween post
This post will hold all my coverage of Unreasonable Rocket's Level-1 attempt.  I'll try to watch the NGLLC Webcast . However, our plans may take me away from the festivities. I still need to carve my pumpkin :eek: I see the two Pauls are going to get an extension to the schedule, so they can ...
[Read More]

Bomarc videos

[Read More]

Remembering the 8X300 Microcontroller
The Signetics 8X300 (originally made by Scientific Micro Systems) was fast when compared to the other microprocessors of the day.  It was implemented in bipolar Schottky and could execute instructions in 250ns.  The only other way to get those speeds was to roll your own semi-custom ...
[Read More]

My Halloween post
Boo! Very simple, before final clean-up: For the record, we only had 15 trick-or-treaters. It was mild but slightly drizzly. Wouldn't have stopped me!
[Read More]

The flight and fall of the Blue Ball
Here's a capture of Unreasonable Rocket's Blue Ball NGLLC Level-1 flight this afternoon. It's wild, it's crazy, and, even though it ran out of fuel, it's awesome.
[Read More]

Lander videos galore
No word on what's up with Unreasonable Rocket's level-2 attempt, but the web yielded several videos of past lander flights by UR and others. Here is a downward looking video from Unreasonable Rocket's NGLLC Level-1 run. Via Ben Brockert's YouTube channel . And Armadillo isn't sitting on their ...
[Read More]

November Fire and Smoke
Verna and Randy have posted their November update to their Photo of the Month and Fire and Smoke features. I always like these and Verna is good enough to ding me when they are updated. This week's photo is of the bow shock on the Ares I-X. That one is cool indeed. Fire and Smoke features my ...
[Read More]

The Silver Ball is dead
On a test run for NGLLC Level-2, Unreasonable Rocket's Silver Ball oscillated around, broke its tether, fell over, and its leg punctured the tank.  My condolences to the two Paul's and their other occasional team members.  I hope they remember how far they came and not how far they had ...
[Read More]

Ares I-X in The Big Picture
Boston.com's The Big Picture offers some of the best photo essays around.  This week, they feature the Ares I-X from cradle to grave, so to speak.
[Read More]

AeroTech Lowers Retail Prices on High-Power RMS Reload Kits
As a result of AeroTech locating several high-quality sources of lower-cost Ammonium Perchlorate (AP) oxidizer, AeroTech has reduced suggested retail prices on its entire line of high-power Reloadable Motor System? (RMS?) rocket motor reload kits. While there are a few exceptions (certain Warp-9? ...
[Read More]

Level 1 Certification
(Stock photo of the Graduator, now over 10 years old.) Today I got my level 1 re-certification at a METRA launch. The cert flight was a LOC Graduator on a pro x H133-9, this is a 163 NS motor with a fast blue propellant. The flight was fast, high, and landed at the edge of the field, just dipping ...
[Read More]

Unreasonable autopsy
This morning, Paul Breed gives his post-NGLLC analysis .  He is happy that he had one "94%" successful flight but laments the lack of resources - time and money.  I am amazed what a mostly-2-person team could come as far as they did.  Bravo!  In the end, it was software ...
[Read More]

Ares 1-X Test flight images
Big picture Ares 1-X Wow!
[Read More]

Quest MLAS - on order (updated...again)
As promised, the Quest Aerospace MLAS became available today. This sport scale kit is 3.5" in diameter, 9" long, uses a foam cone, and recovers on three 'chutes.  I ordered two, one to build stock and one to add a bigger mount.  The stock kit has only one recommended motor, the B6-4. This ...
[Read More]

Awesome aerial footage of the Ares I-X launch
An aerial video crew observed the October 28, 2009 Ares I-X test flight from a Cessna Skymaster aircraft positioned approx. 10 nautical miles away from the vehicle at an altitude of 12,000 feet. The videographer used a gyro-stabilized high-definition camera system mounted to the outside of the ...
[Read More]

NASM to offer free teleconferences
You can read all the details on their site , but here's a summary of the first one: The National Air and Space Museum is holding its first ever virtual conference for educators on Tuesday, November 10 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST.   Since we’re in the middle of the 40 th anniversary ...
[Read More]

Great Ares 1-X footage from the air
This shows the full recovery process. This is just incredible footage, hard to believe that this is even possible. It would have been nice to watch the dummy upper stage crash land also! You have to watch this in HQ mode full screen! Do it! From the Rocket Dungeon
[Read More]

In the Nozzle Exit
The Nozzle Exit is a new blog from sport rocketeer and NASA MLAS team member Tim Wilson.  So far it features info on his original "µMLAS" model, and of course info on the real thing.   I'm following it so updates should appear in my sidebar.
[Read More]

Casting Tools
I haven't had much time lately, but the 2.375" motor project is moving along. The 2.375" motor project...hmmm. I have never a given a motor or rocket project a name. I usually refer to them by color, some key feature, or size like the orange and black rocket , or the camera rocket , or the 2.375" ...
[Read More]

Cool VASIMR graphic from the NY Times
Sadly, they perpetuate the misconception that we have not yet sent men to Mars because it takes too long to get there. No, the trip is already fairly short with normal rockets. We have not gone to Mars because of a lack of interest and money. There are no deal breakers, even using 1960s space ...
[Read More]

Bloodhound SSC motor update
Rocketeers.co.uk has an update on the development of the hybrid rocket motor for the Bloodhound SSC supersonic rocket car.  The blogger expresses his/her " bitterly disappointed that we're spending money and effort on building a one-shot stunt car, instead of useful vehicles ...".   ...
[Read More]

Everything most of us want to know about VASIMR
A case of a picture being worth 1000 words via the New York Times and R2K
[Read More]

Ares 1X Booster Hits Hard After Chute Does Not Inflate
No wonder the booster had a huge dent in it. That chute just shreds. I guess it's back to the drawing board for the chute department.
[Read More]

New Vessels for Plaster Blaster
From left-to-right: 4" Em-Sem-Fit y (also known as " Frank's worst nightmare ") 54mm minimum diameter Viciously Mean Machine (106" long for a roughly 50:1 aspect ratio) 3" Vertical Assault mark II - fixed and freshly painted Me in a sport coat and Prada loafers (so as not to offend those who fear ...
[Read More]

Ares I-Y schedule says a lot
No 5-segment SRB flight test until 2012. (via the Flame Trench ).
[Read More]

The Sun

[Read More]

New Pioneer 0 - 2 Images
Long time readers may remember a previous post about the Pioneer 0-2 program. Above are 5 new images from an image archive that show, in great detail, the design of one of these nearly identical pioneer spacecraft. These were all designed to fly to the moon, and burn a large solid rocket (the ...
[Read More]

Armadillo wants to take you higher
Videos of Armadillos latest flight to 2959 ft (902 m) have made it to YouTube. I like the new pointy look! (spotted by Clark Lindsey , who has another one too)
[Read More]

New NOTSnik images
These are two new (to this blog anyway) images from the NOTSnik project. I could spend the rest of my life just focusing on project farside, NOTSnik, vanguard, and the Thor-able moon shots.
[Read More]

Concept art for Virgin's LauncherOne (updated)
ParobolicArc posts a couple of concept drawings for Virgin Galactic's recently announced foray into the world of small satellite launching.  The first has a cruise missile look to it and the second is more SpaceShipOne-like.  Given the differences and the quality of the drawings I am ...
[Read More]

Quest MLAS - RECEIVED!
My two MLAS kits and a few other parts just arrived.  Not bad for a Monday morning order.  My one annoyance is that we are at the end of the UPS route so, even though my package was out for delivery at 6AM, it was 6PM before it arrived. The kit looks cool, I like its stubbyness and foam ...
[Read More]

Quest MLAS - status and initial opinions
I started the build during TV commercials this evening.   I built and installed the motor mount, built the nose cone assembly less the recovery harness, filled the fins, and began installing them.  So far this has all been fairly straightforward and I'm not sure I'd rate this skill ...
[Read More]

Quest MLAS - more status and opinions
Find more photos like this on Our Planet Here are a few photos. I am applying the fillets and later today will prep the cone. Paint will wait until tomorrow when my 50%-off coupons at Michael's kick in. I won't save much, but it might pat for the gas to get there. I added the ruler to the ...
[Read More]

38mm three stage flight!
Regular readers may remember the last post about a very impressive 38 MM three stage project. Well the final article has just been published about the flight, at Balls 2009. This is a fascinating project because of the great use of composites, complex arrangement of electronics, and overall ...
[Read More]

Quest MLAS - stability
My MLAS, prior to paint, comes in at 3oz. I measured the actual CG and set the overrides. I haven't tried to apply a 'phantom' cone to account for base drag. With a B6, the margin drops to 0.32. With a C6, it drops to 0.26. It's almost hard to believe that CG shift of a mere 0.2 inches will result ...
[Read More]

Run for the hills, The Saucer Fleet has landed!
I just received my copy of ARA Press' The Saucer Fleet , which I won for taking 3rd place in EMRR's Rocket family photo contest .  I loved their Spaceship Handbook and I love saucers, so I was looking forward to this one.  My deepest thanks to Jack Haggerty for sponsoring the contest, ...
[Read More]

New Video Of My Rocket The Max Attack Flying At High Cotton On October 24th, 2009
This video was shot from three different cameras. One was a pad cam setup by Nathan Mumphrey . The rocket is my Performance Rocketry Competitor 5 "The Max Attack" The motor was a Loki Research M1200 "Sparky". It was a awesome day and this was one awesome flight. This is probably the closest I have ...
[Read More]

Moar N1

[Read More]

Loudmouths are coming to a launch near you
And, I'm not talking about select members from the rocketry forums :) I see from their Facebook news feed that AeroTech successfully tested a K345LM 'Loudmouth' yesterday at Plaster Blaster.  The Loudmouth reportedly sounds like a "sparky without the sparks." They also flew the J99N endburner, ...
[Read More]

Big a$$ rocket of the day - 1/3 scale X-15 at Plaster Blaster - RIP
Find out more about this totally awesome but ill-fated project on TRF .
[Read More]

Masten's 'Xoie-II' to study the "ignorosphere"
Aviation Week reports on Masten's plans for their NGLLC prize money.  These plans include adding an aeroshell (for aerodynamic performance and to support reentry) and a new 2,500 lbF engine (vs Xoie's 750 lb).  They are marketing this capability to lift 50 lb payload's to "what Masten ...
[Read More]

The Chickens are Laying!
Don't be alarmed, I'm not ready for the funny farm, but I really am excited. You see, I'd started some research on the strength of the shell of various egg options for the TARC contest, but I couldn't finish it until the chickens started laying eggs. So far I've discovered that a typical ...
[Read More]

Quest MLAS - looking good from 10'
I added two photos of the final product to my OurPlanet album . Not unexpectedly, this is another RTLGF10F (rocket that looks good from 10 ft). The brush-on acrylic paint on the cone looks a tad funky and I proven once again that if there is a way to mess up decals, I can find it. Still, I'm happy ...
[Read More]

Colonial Viper at Plaster Blaster
Now, this is a purty picture! (should be Verna and Randy's next photo of the month) Photo by kbaird ; Title may be incorrect as I thought this was last weekend's launch and the photo data says it was taken then. Cool no matter when it was taken!
[Read More]

Io
How do you say it, Eye-oh or E-oh?
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry Nov/Dec 2009
This is the NARAM 51 edition and my main feeling after thumbing through it is...I wish I had attended!  The coverage is typical to past NARAMs and includes plenty of photos.  It started well with the cover showing a nice closeup of Chas Russell showing off the Pod Bay Door's Sci ...
[Read More]

Soviet Megaplane v. Nazi UFO (concept art)
As seen on IO9 .  The megaplane is based on the Kalinin K-7, which I have previously posted about (note *).  As for the Nazi UFO , I refer you to Google. * Yes, I still realize that this wasn't an ekranoplan, but I'm going to continue to mis-label it.
[Read More]

Mythbustin' the first manned rocket flight
I hear the Mythbusters will be investigating Lagari Hasan Celebi who legend says made the first successful manned rocket flight.  The Chinese Emperor who flew in a rocket chair was probably earlier...but wasn't successful.  My prediction is that the Mythbuster's crash test dummy had a ...
[Read More]

Airframe woes in The Nozzle Exit
The latest post on the Nozzle Exit talks about the airframe for both the model and the real thing: Balsa was used for the core instead of foam in locations where loading dictated (seemed strange to build real flight hardware out of traditional modeling materials - foam and balsa - but there we ...
[Read More]

What to do with MLAS numero dos?
I've been away from the Dungeon and my rockets, but have been pondering what to do with my Quest MLAS #2.  All options will include a lightly glassed cone to make it sturdier and easier to finish.  Maybe a glassed body also.  And a hollow shoulder for an inch more 'chute space. ...
[Read More]

Plaster Blaster 2009 report forthcoming
I'm still editing video, cleaning photos, and reducing data. I hope to have my report done this week. Executive summary: GREAT SUCCESS!!
[Read More]

Narrowing down the MLAS #2
Well, both the 24mm and 4x18mm options will require no more than 3 oz additional nose weight and would reach respectable altitudes.  I'm inclined not to go crazier as I am liking hiking less and less.
[Read More]

X-17

[Read More]

PB2k9: Em-Sem-Fity on M750 - 20,212 feet!
Frank and I conducted the successful M750 drag race just after 10AM on Saturday. Here's a video covering prep and flight: Here's a liftoff photo verifying Frank Hermes' clear victory in this M750 drag race: The flights were quick, impressive, and invisible after the smoke charges burned out. I ...
[Read More]

Assembly of Soyuz mobile gantry is now underway at the Spaceport
November 12, 2009 The assembly process has begun for Soyuz mobile gantry at the Spaceport, which will enable the integration of payloads with Soyuz in the vertical position. The new Soyuz operating base in French Guiana is entering final preparations for Arianespace's inauguration of commercial ...
[Read More]

Interesting fantasy-scale PMC
The Apollo 27 Rocket.  I don't know 100% if Pegasus is the manufacturer but you can also get it from Historic Aviation , which is my preferred plastic model source.
[Read More]

Pb2k9: .38 Spatial in the Skidmark mass launch
I'd planned many flights over the weekend but prep and recovery took much longer than expected so I only had three flights total. The middle flight was on Saturday night and my new .38 Spatial was one of 21 rockets launched simultaneously on the new CTI H123 Skidmark motor. This propellant ...
[Read More]

PB2k9: 7.5" Nike Smoke on M1939
For my 2008 birthday present my parents kicked in half of the cost of an Aerotech M1939 motor. They drove all the way out from Cochise, AZ for last year's Plaster Blaster which was almost completely blown out by wind. We made several other attempts to link up in the ensuing year to get that motor ...
[Read More]

Red Glare 7 is off and running...I guess
Only got home late last night and had no time to stage my rockets and rocket-related accessories.  With the remnants of Ida stalled overhead, the forecast today is 90% chance of rain and winds 15 - 25 mph, so I'm bagging it today.  I'll lug stuff up from the Dungeon today and watch the ...
[Read More]

Launch vehicle reliability resources
I lifted these links from a post on YORF by an actual NASA rocket scientist: Here are some links for those interested in this kind of thing. Pretty good summary of launch vehicle failure statistics here .... http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/reliability2009.txt This is an Aerospace article ...
[Read More]

My House

[Read More]

It looks like there IS significant water on the Moon
NASA just reported that LCROSS detected a large amount of water in the ejected plume.  The 20m crater ejected yielded ~100kg of water along with other interesting stuff, including organics. Not surprisingly, this is causing a lot of excitement in the space community. So maybe the Moon is such ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2009-8 (Red Glare 7)
Location: Higgs Farm, Price, MD ( Red Glare VII ) Weather: mid to high 60's, light breeze, clear Total flights: Today - 7; YTD - 72 Total motors: Today - 10; YTD - 87 The remnants of Hurricane Ike Ida had disrupted Red Glare 7.  Friday was a wash-out, literally, and Saturday was soggy with a ...
[Read More]

Challenging Problems
You're good if you can get these two: Two planes are flying at 32,000 feet moving directly toward a point above a control tower. The first plane is 100 miles from being directly above the tower and the second is 220 miles from being directly over the tower. The angle between them is 120 ...
[Read More]

Space Shuttle Atlantis
Today, Monday Nov 16th, at 1:28PM CST, Space Shuttle Atlantis will be launched into low earth orbit where it will rendezvous with the International Space Station to deliver a heavy payload of spare equipment. With the shuttle program being ended in a few years, only a few scheduled missions ...
[Read More]

More on the UMD's samara monocopter
Here are a couple of cool video describing the small controllable monocopter developed by Evan Ulrich and a few others at the University of Maryland, Aerospace Engineering Autonomous Vehicle Laboratory and Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center (now, that's a mouthful). The first includes dizzying ...
[Read More]

Cool rocketry video
Cool rocketry video
[Read More]

Monday stuff
1. Watched Atlantis STS-129 launch on NASA TV.   2. As best I could, I recreated the MLAS nose weight that I used on-site and weighed it.  It came up to 0.3 oz..   I found an unused washer from my second Semroc V-2 and a couple of thinner ones that added to the right ...
[Read More]

Entries for EMRR's 2009 Spaceship Design Contest are posted
HERE
[Read More]

Semi-Sonic on EMRR
Nick has been up to his ears in alligators but snuck in an update anyway. It includes my review of First Flight Hobbies' Semi-Sonic .
[Read More]

Smoking Nike Smoke nose cone
Along with my MLAS kits, I picked up a couple of Nike Smoke cones and some T35 tubing.  Rokitflite gave me some fin cans a while back and I finally decided to get some compatible parts. The purpose of the Nike Smoke system was to visually test upper atmospheric winds.  Its nose cone was ...
[Read More]

Oh thats right, rocketry is great.

[Read More]

Smoking Nike Smoke nose cone - cont'd
Here's how the Enerjet Nike Smoke cone worked. --^ I removed the tip of the Quest cone and reamed it so an Estes launch lug will fit.  I will adapt the lug to a slightly larger tube to recreate the Enerjet design. Questions remain on how many vent holes, how big they should be and how the ...
[Read More]

Long Q2G2 igniters are shipping
Quest just announced the new 8" Q2G2 igniters are now shipping.  This past weekend, I received first hand confirmation that the original short lead Q2G2s will ignite smaller AeroTech Hobbyline composites.  It will be interesting to see how these longer ones will do on the larger ...
[Read More]

Hints
In case you were curious about the previous two problems but didn't exactly know where to start, here are a few tips: Start with the law of cosines. You need it for the distance between the two planes. Take the derivative of the law of cosines with respect to time. You want to know da/dt (a ...
[Read More]

N2000 min. dia. onboard to 27,000 feet
"Onboard video from my X-98 rocket: 4" dia., 8' tall, Carbon fiber airframe, custom 5:1 VonKarman fiberglass nosecone. 15 lbs dry weight 40 lbs. liftoff weight N2000W motor 388 lbs. avg. thrust 6 second burn 30 second coast 27,500 ft. 2,200 ft/sec (Mach 2) 20 Gs XPRS 2008 launch, sponsored by ...
[Read More]

Odd-crocs
Nope, the title isn't a typo.  This post is actually about crocs, not rocs -  National Geographic animates four Strange Crocs of the Sahara .
[Read More]

Eggsperiment Results
Egg Shell Durability Purpose: A good test of a model rocket’s ability is to fly a raw hen’s egg in its payload compartment and retrieve it unharmed. It is a scalable feature for people in spacecraft . But just like a space agency will pick and choose its astronauts to minimize the ...
[Read More]

Model Rocketry Program - Balasinor
    * Model Rocketry Demonstration program was conducted at Balasinor with the support of JCI - Balasinor. * About 1500 Students were participated in this Demonstration program.  
[Read More]

Model Rocketry Program - Girls Polytechnic
* Model Rocketry workshop conducted at Girls Polytechnic College. * There were 75 participants from polytechnic college. * All participants Made their own Single stage model rocket & Launch them.
[Read More]

The 6th International Conference on Hands-on Science (HSCI 2009)
The 6th International Conference on Hands-on Science (HSCI 2009) Science for All : Quest for Excellence Science City, Ahmedabad – 380360 (Gujarat) India; October 27-31, 2009 * Model Rocketry Club put ...
[Read More]

Multi-position launch controller (plans)
Make Magazine, Vol 20 includes plans for a 10-Rail Model Rocket Mega-Launcher .  The link includes a slide show and the schematic. I'm glad someone else noticed this because my subscription expired with the prior issue.  Go figure.  In prior years they renewed my subscription ...
[Read More]

A compendium of rocket eye candy
Clark Lindsey provides links to two posts on the Daily Kos - Part 1 includes photos and videos of operational rockets and part 2 is dedicated to experimental vehicles.  The split is not 100% consistent, but close enough.
[Read More]

Team Prometheus Update
Team Prometheus , an N-Prize team , has fixed their blog so that everyone (including chrome users like me) can see it. Pictured above is a possible tiny pico-satellite (or actually a femto-sat. I think) for the N-prize mission. Here is the blog.
[Read More]

Celebrating 100 Posts of Blogging Excellence
Happy 100th-post-reading! Our progress in rocket team has come to a stand still until we can obtain a few supplies. I'm not in the middle of any other projects right now, and all I am doing these days is learning calculus, physics, chemistry, and some topics in trigonometry that wasn't even ...
[Read More]

More on Woody Hoburg's guided monocopter
In a comment to an earlier post, Woody notes that he now has a website on his guided monocopter project. I don't know if I previously credited James Houghton as his partner on the project (but I did now). From that, site you can access his research paper and videos of the monocopter in action.
[Read More]

Water Booster Rocket Competition - 2009
Dr. Praful Bhavsar, (Ret. Director - ISRO), Mr. M.P. Deomurari & Mr. Pratham Ambla • APRSAF-16 Water Rocket Event organise by National Science Museum (NSM) of Thailand & Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on 21st to 24th January 2010 at Bangkok - Thailand. • As continuous ...
[Read More]

Venus or bust
"The Mariner program was a program conducted by the American space agency NASA that launched a series of robotic interplanetary probes designed to investigate Mars, Venus and Mercury. The program included a number of firsts, including the first planetary flyby, the first pictures from another ...
[Read More]

Model Rocketry - The Last Frontier
Some interesting rocketry promo video clips from the 1970s. Does the narrator sound familiar to anyone?
[Read More]

Breaking news: the Dungeon is bombarded by Hostile Projectiles
While I was gone for the weekend, my order from Hostile Projectiles arrived!  I got both the V-2 and the Delta X-15.  Here are my initial impressions.  I'll start with the reason I ordered them - the V-2's nose and tail cones and the cone for the X-15.  These are not your ...
[Read More]

Pushing Reg Glare 7 off the queue
What I mean by that is that the first post today will push my Red Glare 7 flight report off my top page (it is obviously still there, but visitors will have to look for it).  I was hoping to replace it with a post that pointed to the MDRA photo gallery.  Unfortunately, the web site ...
[Read More]

Blue Origin quietly marches forward
Clark Lindsey reports that Blue Origin has selected four research payloads for their New Shepard suborbital vehicle.
[Read More]

Rockets of the World
This book just arrived in the mail, and it is great!
[Read More]

Bow to my power (Red Glare 7 update)
Earlier today, I lamented the lack of photographic evidence from Red Glare 7.  It looks like I jumped the gun .  I'm sure my post had no role in facilitating the update....or did it... I felt I could lament the issue but I can't complain since my photos and one video are here . Rocket ...
[Read More]

New details on the X-37B
Spaceflight Now has some new details on the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle and its pending flight atop an Atlas5/501.  It is scheduled to fly from the Cape Canaveral in April 2010. (via Clark Lindsey )
[Read More]

The Saturn Instrument Unit
"The Saturn V Instrument Unit is a ring-shaped structure fitted to the top of the Saturn V rocket's third stage (S-IVB) and the Saturn IB's second stage (S-IVB). It was immediately below the SLA (Spacecraft/Lunar Module Adapter) panels that contain the Lunar Module. The Instrument Unit contains the ...
[Read More]

Solar tsunami!
Maryland Weather has a couple of interesting animated gif's of a solar storm "of hot plasma that is 62,000 miles high, travels at half a million miles per hour and packs the power of 2,400 megatons of TNT."  I'm impressed. These were generated from images from NASA's STEREO spacecraft.
[Read More]

Hostile Projectiles update
Here is the V-2, flight ready and waiting for primer.  I ended up laminating the fins with paper since I couldn't get the fin template off the balsa.  The instructions have you attach the template with 3M Super 77 spray glue and methinks I went a tad heavy on it.  I was worried that ...
[Read More]

Air Force space plane shooting for April launch
In a response to written questions, an Air Force spokesperson said the unmanned spaceship is scheduled for launch April 19 on an Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla. The winged X-37B, also named the Orbital Test Vehicle, is managed by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office under the direct ...
[Read More]

Mach diamonds
Click, then zoom and check out the mach diamonds on the Long March:
[Read More]

Dark matter propulsion
OK, if black hole propulsion wasn't enough, now we have dark matter propulsion - Dark power: Grand designs for interstellar travel, Marcus Chown, New Scientist, 25 November 2009 .  (According to the article, this proposal predated the one on black hole propulsion.)  Unfortunately, ...
[Read More]

Project Constellation Images
More images here
[Read More]

Some cool Cube Sats
Cube Satellites are built around a 10 x 10 x 10 cm chassis, and a baseline mass of 1 kg. These are Nano-satellites, and are designed for amateurs and students to build. Near the bottom of this post are three examples of nearly professional builds from the past, many other projects and resources ...
[Read More]

Black Friday
When Black Friday comes I'll stand down by the door And catch the gray men When they dive from the fourteenth floor When Black Friday comes I'll collect everything I'm owed And before my friends find out I'll be on the road When Black Friday falls you know it's got to be Don't let it fall on me ...
[Read More]

Nike Smoke cone work (and other stuff)
After two days of eating and visiting with family, I ventured back down to the Dungeon.  First up was priming my Hostile Projectiles V2.  I chose Rustoleum red-brown primer since it would not only prime but serve as one of the colors in my planned cammo pattern.  Well, one ...
[Read More]

V-2 status (and other stuff)
Well, a little sanding and a re-coat did the trick.  Trying to sand the base of the cone actually lifted all the primer.  I sanded the exposed areas good before the re-priming.  My dilemma is how to proceed to apply the other colors.  I did a good job (IMO) on the free-form ...
[Read More]

Two big sets of rocketry images
Space Tech Photo Diary - Part 1 Space Tech Photo Diary - Part 2 How this wound up at a political blog I don't really know, but it is a great set of pictures of rockets and space gear. Do rockets look cool to non rocketry people?
[Read More]

2.375" Motor
Well November went by and I didn't get much done on the new motor. I did do a little testing with Erythritol based propellant. My first attempt was a little surprising given the fact that others have expressed that the combination is really easy to work with and cast. I found that the Erythritol ...
[Read More]

New Zealand Has Joined The Commercial Space Race
[Click Here For Video of the Launch] [Click Here For Video of the News Report on the Rocket] New Zealand has entered the space age, blasting a rocket into space just after 2pm on Monday from a launch pad on Great Mercury Island off the Coromandel Coast. The successful launch came after a day of ...
[Read More]

Iridium's NEXT satellites to carry science payloads
Iridium's next generation of satellites will increase the available data rate on their system to over 1 Mbps and will utilize IP protocols vs. the current voice-based format.  They will also allocate space and power to science payloads, which would most likely used by Earth resources ...
[Read More]

V-2 status (and nuttin' else)
It was raining so no additional painting happened.  So, I took a photo.
[Read More]

There are more things in heaven and earth...
Having never been, it is easy to forget how incredible space must be. This is truly the final frontier; the future of humanity. We will set sail on this new ocean, at times dangerously close to the wind, and navigate across the great void. Because we are humans, because we are explorers, and this ...
[Read More]

MLAS aerodynamics appears in the Nozzle Exit
The Nozzle Exit blog describes how the Cp of the actual MLAS was determined, how the Cp of his micro-MLAS model was determined, and why model rocketeers buy sim programs instead of wind tunnels.
[Read More]

EMRR reviews and a new contest
I have four reviews in today's update: The Saucer Fleet Quest MLAS Raygun Gothic Birdhouse Raygun Gothic HoJo Nick also announced a new contest entitled, Roam the Site.  To be consistent with the theme, I'll make you roam his site to find the details. PS - I plan to play, but just for ...
[Read More]

New Zealand sounding rocket to space?
Rocket Lab , a New Zealand rocketry group, has launched a two stage sounding rocket that was expected to reach space. They claim that it did reach space, or strongly imply this (which the media takes as a confirmation, on face value with zero data, I might add.) There has, to date (12/3) been no ...
[Read More]

Great painting weather
However, it was also good yard and gutter cleaning weather.  Unlike the forecast for Saturday's NOVAAR launch - 30% chance of precipitation and a high of 38 degrees. Now if the rain would only shift out one day...
[Read More]

A huge Viper and Merry Christmas
...are this month's offering from Verna and Randy (in their photo of the month and Fire and Smoke ).
[Read More]

The Dungeon's Top 10 of 2009
2009 was a good rocket year, but not nearly as busy as 2008 .  I built less and flew less but still managed to quickly pick out 10 great items and events... 1.  On April 25th at around 1 PM, Steve Eves commemorated the 40th anniversary of  Apollo 11 by making some rocket history of ...
[Read More]

Delta X-15
I built a RockSim 9 model of the Hostile Projectiles Delta X-15.  There are a couple of measurements that I need to confirm (such as how fat the upper and lower stabilizers hand over the rear of the body tube).  I won't provide any numbers until I tweak the model, but it was marginally ...
[Read More]

Team Prometheus Update
Team Prometheus , an N-Prize team , is now offering live footage of their shop via a webcam! Live Stream
[Read More]

Unique, OOP, HPR 'kit' (updated)
In the early 2000's, Carde Systems produced a unique rocket that intrigued me.  I'm pretty sure that it was a complete kit.  What it did provide is a two part molded fiberglass airframe that integrated the nose cone, body, tail cone and fins.  It was set up for rear ejection ...
[Read More]

DCist prepares you for the Snowpocalypse
The DCist blog has a list of tips for dealing with tomorrow's blizzard.  Well, blizzard is probably/hopefully over stating the situation. Here's what the National Weather Service sez about Montgomery County: WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY for MC until Sat PM. 2-4" exp and may be hvy at times.  ...
[Read More]

Eyeglass - a 100 Meter space telescope
For the longest time, I have been wondering if a refracting telescope could be used in space, or perhaps even built there. On earth, refractors have not been built past 40 inches (or about 1 meter), because the weight of the glass causes sagging and lens deformation. In space, not only would this ...
[Read More]

Nice paper models
The Lower Hudson Valley Paper Model Giftshop
[Read More]

Making a list and checking it twice...
Warthog just announced the date for build session 2010-1 so I've started my list of what to bring and what to build.  The theme is intitiator dipping and a swap meet.  So, wires are on the list and I've got to see what I'd like to trade.  My main build project will be my Hostile ...
[Read More]

V-2 camo paint job
Despite all my rumbing about using masks to create the camo pattern for the Hostile Projectiles V-2, I went a little stir crazy and just started sprayin'....
[Read More]

Things that make me say, hmmmm...
This weekend's returning visitor count is the lowest this year, even less than Thanksgiving weekend.  Since my regulars are rocketeers, I'd have thought a good weather and a national or large regional launch would have produced the loweset.  Maybe they are flying in the snow?  ...
[Read More]

Really cool video of meteor burning up
I know this is a few days old, but this video is new to me, nice combo.
[Read More]

Plaster City Launch, 12/5/09
I had three goals for this month's launch: Test my Beeline GPS on a lower altitude flight to visually verify the position data. I also wanted to test a G10 fiberglass support I'd cut to stabilize the otherwise fragile electronics board/antenna. Test thermite ignition on an older Redline motor like ...
[Read More]

Another cool rocket car project: Aussie Invader 5R
  click here for the full size image The Aussie Invader 5R rocket car, in competition with the Bloodhound SSC , is on a quest to beat the current land speed record of 763 mph.  In fact, both projects want to break 1000 mph.  The rocket motors are being developed by New Zealand's ...
[Read More]

Patent by R.H. Goddard
I have been reading Retro Rockets recently, it is one of the new books in the recent buying frenzy over at Amazon, and one of the best chapters covers the work of Goddard. Goddard is now very famous in and outside of the rocketry world, but in his time (largely due to his desire to remain private ...
[Read More]

Retro rocket science resources
R2K features the book Retro Rockets - Experimental Rockets 1926-1941 , a Dr. Robert Goddard patent, and a " quick history of the early rocketeers ."
[Read More]

Great video from Greg Smith
"Finally I quickly prepped my horribly battered and thrice repaired LOC Bullet with a CTI 660J381 Skidmark. I really can't get enough of these loud and impressive motors. The flight was cool and uneventful except the ~1.5 mile walk east since I'd used a 45" parachute. I was able to track it ...
[Read More]

The Frankenstein MLAS
It was resurrected from the dead and is made out of leftover parts, so I think the name is appropriate.  Lets see, what is there to say? 38mm + 4 x 24mm (the 38mm does the work, the 24mm motors would mostly add smoke), separated directly by a piston (piston is hard mounted to lower body), ...
[Read More]

First iteration of the Frankenstein sims
There is good news on the Frankenstein's sims.  I put an early guess of CG and mass into RockSim and added a couple of pounds of nose weight.  This moved the CG to approximately the point where Tim Wilson set his (I believe his sims as he worked on the real McCoy).  I said ...
[Read More]

Confusing or simple? Vote in the comments.
Or vote any difficulty level in the spectrum from counting the sand grains on all the World's oceans, to blinking. I ask because of this thread in the Rocketry Planet Forums. It is no new thing that I am involved in a debate against a few other people about a topic. Again, it was turned into a ...
[Read More]

"Chinese rocket from the air"
Chinese Rocket Fly-by - Watch more Funny Videos Rocket from Jet Does anyone know what this is? Is it even Chinese?
[Read More]

Unreasonable experiment opportunity
Old rockets, ya' can't trash 'em and ya' can't give 'em away.  Or at least that seems to hold for Paul Breed's Blue Ball .  In his latest blog post , he announced that he can get it flight ready with about 8 hours of work and will apply for a waiver for a flight to between 10K and 30K ...
[Read More]

Remembering the Pratt Hobbies D-Region Tomahawk
Memories of this kit popped into my mind for no obvious reason.  This small 25"L x 1.8"D scale kit was unique in that it flew on motors from A through G.  This rocket on a G?  This isn't Sparta, this is madness! It included all the necessary motor adapters and recovered on a ...
[Read More]

Spring 2010 Battle of the Rockets scheduled for March 27
CULPEPER, Virginia USA ? The 2010 Battle of the Rockets Competition is scheduled for March 27, 2010, in Culpeper, Virginia, where Tripoli Central Virginia will be hosting eleven participating teams. The participating teams are from University of Texas Arlington, Oklahoma State University, ...
[Read More]

Propellantless quantum vacuum propulsion
I recently posted about the possibility of black hole propulsion and dark matter propulsion and today I read about another theoretical, highly exotic concept - quantum propulsion.  The short version is you can derive a propulsive force by manipulating the momentum of the electromagnetic field ...
[Read More]

You call that a rocket? This is a rocket!
This shows the assembly and parts of the Saturn V. Click to embiggen most cromulently. (I split the image in half so that Google would accept it and keep it readable. However, the first one is still not so great. Click here for the full size image.) I love this one, does anyone know the source? ...
[Read More]

Rockets are cool, even when they fail... Crazy spiral contrails in the night sky over Norway
Update: The Russians have now taken credit for this rocket. Confirmed Bulava. "A mysterious light display appearing over Norway last night has left thousands of residents in the north of the country baffled. Witnesses from Trøndelag to Finnmark compared the amazing sight to anything from a ...
[Read More]

Cool launch photo of a RBS 15 Mk 3 missile
  This photo came from Flickr user larryzou@ .   More on this missile can be found on Wikipedia . I only looked at a couple of the links in that article and didn't find many details on this bird.  It appears to be a turbojet powered cruise missile with two side mounted ...
[Read More]

Mysterious corkscrew (rocket plume) over Norway (updated)
This photo is too cool and odd to pass up.  I first saw this photo on the Bad Astronomy blog .  At first glance, it looked photoshopped to me too but he pointed to several sources that reported on the event. I bought in to Phil's explanation of a rocket on a corkscrew traject ...
[Read More]

I sputtered and dribbled but still got hard
OK, no crude comments on this crude title.  You KNOW it is about rockets! I have had my West Systems epoxy for around 8 years.  Last Monday, I dispensed 3 pumps of epoxy and hardener to mix with the lead shot in the nose of my Frankenstein MLAS .  I noticed a few minor sputters mid ...
[Read More]

Second iteration of the Frankenstein MLAS sims
The following was posted as a response to the previous post on this subject, but I decided to make a new post too. Both KenKzak and Tim Wilson recommended a bigger motor than I was planning. I mulled over the recommendations and conceded that a bigger motor should be used. I'm still worried about ...
[Read More]

Multi-spectrum view of space
Chromoscope lets the user see space data in different kinds of light; X-Ray, Visible, H-Alpha, IR, Microwave, and Radio. It is a potentially glitchy beta, but is still very cool.
[Read More]

Aerobee technical report
The year was 1997. I was in the 10th grade, or so. Walking into a book store, I make a quick move to the magazine section. (I like the pictures.) After checking the kayak mags, and rock climbing and ice climbing and all the usual, then SOF and gun mags, surf and scuba, I moved to find a radio or ...
[Read More]

No new posts for a a day or two...
...don't mess with the place while I am gone!
[Read More]

X-51A WaveRider Gets Airborne
The US Air Force Research Laboratory's X-51A WaveRider scramjet engine demonstrator completed its first captive-carry flight under the wing of its B-52H mothership from Edwards AFB on Dec. 9. The first free flight is planned for mid-February. The B-52 climbed to the planned launch altitude of ...
[Read More]

A good day surfing for the WaveRider
Aviation Week reports on the captive flight of the US Air Force Research Laboratory's X-51A WaveRider.  The first of four free flights is schedule for March 2010.  The X-51A will be accelerated to Mach 4.5 by a solid rocket booster when the scramjet will take over.  It will then run ...
[Read More]

Frankenstein MLAS inching forward
I bought some new West System epoxy today and, after transplanting the pumps, weighed out just enough leftovers to add another 8 oz of noseweight to the MLAS.  What's left: Test pack the chutes so I don't have to figure it out in the cold on site. Decide on how much powder I need.  There ...
[Read More]

Another Russian rocket spiral
Phil Plait posts about a second spiral missile track that was spotted over Russia.  Reportedly, this one was made by a Topol missile, the land-based version of the Bulava that caused a stir earlier this week .  It was widely thought that the earlier spiral track was due to a failure in ...
[Read More]

Test Date
Looks like I'll finally get a chance to test this motor this Saturday the 19th at the FAR site. Thanks for the suggestion Ben. Here's the starter grain. Easily ignitable, fast burning KN/SU/RIO. For this test a standard BP igniter strung through the nozzle will be used to initiate ignition since ...
[Read More]

Proton/GLONASS-M launch photos
Someone sent me this link with launch photos, so I thought I'd pass it along: http://www.federalspace.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=8580
[Read More]

Stuff that keeps me from rocketry
a head cold (sniffle, cough, sneeze)...a hole in your thumb that won't quit oozing blood...a rescheduled dentist appointment...cold weather...rain...sleet...snow Any launch plans I had for Saturday are scrubbed.  Sunday is up in the air (no pun intended). Crap.
[Read More]

Mach 1
These are two fairly old, but quite interesting articles about supersonic flight in mid power rockets. One discusses the work of a team to go supersonic with small rockets, and the possible results (with potentially overstated confidence I might add), and the other talks about how hard supersonic ...
[Read More]

LMC from the Hubble

[Read More]

Stuff that keeps me from rocketry - update
The head cold is better and the bleeding has stopped but I'm still busy on Saturday and the weather of Sunday will suck.  The current forecast for Price, MD is mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow and highs in the upper 30s. Too cold for me.  Maybe things will change and the ...
[Read More]

Rockets - a catalyst for the personal computer revolution
In an article written for the San Antonio-Express News , electronics guru Forrest Mims III recounts how work on small rockets led to optical flashers and then to the formation of MITS (Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems). Although MITS was initially formed to produce flashers and ...
[Read More]

Operation Credible Sport
"Top secret Iran hostage rescue mission aircraft YMC-130H were three modified Lockheed Hercules Aircraft for Top Secret "Operation Credible Sport", for second Iran hostage crisis rescue attempt. One of the measures considered for a second hostage rescue attempt in Iran was a project to develop a ...
[Read More]

Steampunk rocket lamp
Steampunk rocket lamp , originally uploaded by RiverOtterWidgetStudios . Inspiration for my third Michael's rocket birdhouse (?) I added 'studs' to the window on my Raygun Gothic Birdhouse and think more would be better. Michael's has got to have some suitable studs. Sounds crafty to me.
[Read More]

Extreme JATO - Operation Credible Sport
I couldn't resist cross posting (from High Power Rocketry ) these YouTube videos of C-130 cargo planes equipped with rocket motors pointed in most every direction that could possibly make sense (and apparently some that don't).  I had previously posted one, but these are much better. I'll ...
[Read More]

Doing the Orion attitude control dance (updated)
Update:   there is interesting related discussion on Rocketry Planet . Via SpaceFellowhip: NASA, Alliant Techsystems (ATK) and Lockheed Martin performed a ground test of a full-scale attitude control motor for the launch abort system of the Orion crew exploration vehicle. The test was ...
[Read More]

Stuff that keeps me from rocketry - the latest
Freezing temperatures and up to 24" accumulation :eek: On the plus side, I've started finishing the Frankenstein MLAS, so hopefully when a warmer, dry launch opportunity presents itself, it will fly in style.  That is a good thing since it may only fly once :eek:^2
[Read More]

The Sun

[Read More]

Stuff that keeps me everyone from rocketry - the latest
A note from the club that, like the weather, is always there: Note: We are watching the weather forecasts and will have (a) decision on the status of ESL #139 by 8:00am Saturday morning.
[Read More]

A new edition of Experimental Composite Propellant is on the way
Dr. Terry 'Pr'fesser' McCreary has just announced his plans to publish the 2nd edition of his acclaimed book, Experimental Composite Propellant . The 1st edition is regarded as one of the best sources for amateurs, providing a good mix of theory and practice. The book is, however, fairly informal ...
[Read More]

To 100k pt. 2
Regular readers may remember a previous post about a project called To 100K. This was an attempt to launch a two stage rocket to about 100,000 feet using what appears to be a Pro 150 O motor staged to an M motor. Information about the construction project is detailed indeed, and a rather ...
[Read More]

A cold-power rocket made Gizmodo's top 26 of 2009
{First, I decided that I'm not going to compile a list of interesting 'top lists' this year like I did last year .  Instead, I post separately on those that strike me as interesting.} Gizmodo has compiled a list of their most popular DIY projects of 2009 (26 at first glance) and rocket ...
[Read More]

Gallery from the GSFC visitor center + launch schedule
It's been a long time since I've been to the GSFC visitor center .  Here's a Flickr set of recent photos (not mine).  For any sport rocketry people in the area, NARHAMS hosts a monthly launch at 1 pm on the first Sunday of every month, weather permitting.  The area is loaded with ...
[Read More]

Canada's Space Program
I just got this book off of Amazon for about 50 cents plus shipping. It seems most of these warehouses don't know the value of rocketry or science books so they sell them for next to nothing. Or is it a matter of supply and demand? 50 Years in Space
[Read More]

Notes from the snowpocalypse
Snowpocalypse..I love that term (I already credited the DCist blog ).  The Outlaws of the East bagged the December launch.  And they don't do that often.  I bet someone showed up for the launch this morning...LOL. There was 12" of snow on our lawn at 10:30 AM and more on the ...
[Read More]

Rocketry in the snow
TRF's MarkH is hardcore.
[Read More]

Check out SS2S again
SS2S
[Read More]

Convair Atlas, Unknown USAF variant
BrianC posted these photos to aid in identification of this rocket. Find more photos like this on Our Planet
[Read More]

tin space toy, i adore you
tin space toy, i adore you , originally uploaded by dj bridget .
[Read More]

"Test Complete"
One of the very first large solid rocket motor static tests that I witnessed was out at the RRS nearly ten years ago. That motor was huge, 12 inch diameter if I remember correctly. A couple of seconds into an 8 or so second planned burn the casing failed... spectacularly! The first thing I heard ...
[Read More]

Canadian rocket archaeology
radar domes , originally uploaded by bubbabrador . Here is a tracking facility at Canada's decommissioned Churchill Rocket Research Range . If you track the photo link back to the source, you'll find a photo of an old Black Brant that's on display and some cool icebergs too.
[Read More]

Lift Off! of the SpaceLoft XL
Lift Off! , originally uploaded by Ken's Aviation . If you follow the link back to the source, you'll find more photos from Spaceport America and the April 28, 2007 launch of UP Aerospace's SpaceLoft XL.
[Read More]

Kick-off: 7.5" Der Red Mix
This will be my first scratch-built, upscale design. As a kid I built the 1.6" diameter Estes kit " Der Red Max " and found the design appealing and the decals amusing. I'm not a fan of huge fins so on my design I've taken the liberty of scaling them down to just enable a static margin of 1.16 with ...
[Read More]

After the snowpocalypse of 2009
The front-end loader came through our neighborhood yesterday mid morning.  I already had the driveway mostly cleared thanks to 3 passes with the snow blower the day before.  The nice operator also cleared almost everything from the end of our driveway, pushing it into our side y ...
[Read More]

White Light, White Heat (WARNING: No Rocket Content)
This weekend, I caught parts of HBO's 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert where I saw Metallica and Lou Reed doing Reed's classic Sweet Jane .  Lou Reed's Rock N Roll Animal , now that's an album that should be #11 of my all time favorite albums .  Oddly, enough, I never got a copy ...
[Read More]

Computer Issues and an Update
I'm posting today from a school computer. I regret to announce that my computer is almost permanently disabled. It has a problem where it begins to boot up and immediately shuts off. Some computer geeks at school (that is, geekier than me) are going to see what they can do, but there isn't much ...
[Read More]

Static Test Video
Here is video of the test that my friend James took. Nice quality footage. Apparently I laugh like Santa Clause when rocket motors fail.
[Read More]

Sci-Fi likes blue women
See the gallery at IO9 .  I guess this must be off-topic Monday. {reposted due to potential operator error in blog maintenance}
[Read More]

Saturn's polar hexagon
Has anyone seen the 80s film 2010? :)
[Read More]

10 "future" space propulsion technologies
10 ways to leave your lov... er I mean 10 ways to get going really fast.
[Read More]

Spaceport news
Clark Lindsey points to two video tours of SpaceportAmerica's construction, Jack Kennedy reports of economic spaceport stimulus via the FAA Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching Grants ( STIM-Grants ) and, Jack reports Virginia is upping their spaceport budget.
[Read More]

More MLAS aerodynamics
Tim Wilson has posted more info on the MLAS aerodynamic testing, including photos (link in his sidebar) and an embedded video.  He also links to newly posted flight videos .  These are huge and their server isn't being very responsive...others must have seen his post (?)
[Read More]

Getting an early start

[Read More]

Aerospace Modeling Links
{The length of my sidebar has started to bug me.  To rectify said bugging, I'm moving this list from a Blogger links-list gadget in the sidebar to this post.  I'll add a link to the post in my manually maintained links list, which conveniently includes a slider bar.  This note will ...
[Read More]

On vacation
Off sneaking into houses, be back in a few.
[Read More]

Model Rocketry Program - Lucknow
    ? Sheth MR Jaipuria School organised a two-day workshop on ?Rocket launching and stargazing? at Lucknow on 9th & 10th November 2009. ? A large number of children, their parents and teachers participated in the workshop. ? With the Support of Mr. Sandeep Nigam and Mr. ...
[Read More]

Steve Eves' 1:10 Scale Saturn V BeFunky

[Read More]

A Call to Arms for NARHAMS
Over Christmas weekend, I popped over the the NARHAMS site to update my personal 2010 launch calendar and noticed a theme has been set for the February launch - Russian "Cold War models (green with red star)".  Since the painting of the Frankenstein MLAS has been stalled by the cold weather, I ...
[Read More]

Anchor Retaining Ring for AeroTech 38mm RMS Reload Adapter System Now Available
The anchor retaining ring (P/N 38FCRRA) for the AeroTech 38mm RMS reload adapter system is now available, and is priced at $19.99 MSRP. The anchor retaining ring is an accessory to the previously released 4-piece adapter system (P/N 38RAS), which retails for $29.99. The new retaining ring has a ...
[Read More]

Stupid rocket trick #9
Try to harden a cardstock shroud with CA debonder. Turns out it doesn't work as well as actual CA. Luckily, cardstock is plentiful.
[Read More]

X3 in 1953
X3 in 1953 , originally uploaded by Nevada Tumbleweed .
[Read More]

Steve Eves is out to beat his record
  The CantonRep.com reports on Steve Eves' latest project, a 2-stage Saturn 1B. No details on the scale or motors, but it does say that he hopes to fly the new beast to 2 miles in the Spring of 2011. That is twice the altitude reached by his record breaking Saturn V . I think I may have ...
[Read More]

"The Complete Future"
Here is a page dedicated to Future acrylic floor finish, now branded as Pledge with Future Shine. As a clarification for non-rocketeers, Future is used to seal/reinforce decals and to give a glass-like shine to rockets that already have a good finish. As a clarification for rocketeers  it is ...
[Read More]

Impact Debate at Astrobio.net
There is a cool debate over at the Astrobiology Magazine about the risks and media coverage of potential impacts from space.
[Read More]

January Fire 'n' Smoke
In their January update, blogging buddies Verna and Randy pay homage to Eric Gates, who  passed away before his time on the 21st.  I'll refer you to their Fire and Smoke and Photo of the Day features for the details of this tragedy, but will point out that Eric was one of the big dawgs ...
[Read More]

2010 as a tipping point
1954 ... rotting rockets , originally uploaded by x-ray delta one . At the start of this decade, I choose to be optimistic. So does SpaceVidcast . I thought the cover of this vintage magazine from 1954 was appropriate to the theme (except maybe for the poster's title).  Happy New Year!!! ...
[Read More]

Operation Teapot
Hmm where do I post about nuclear weapons? This is as good a spot as any. Most of the tests in this video are smaller, tactical (or primary) scale explosives. The power of even these small blasts, in addition to very high radiation levels, is still impressive. The amount of effort put into each ...
[Read More]

More on the rockets that launched the microcomputer revolution
In this month's edition of the Citizen Scientist , Forrest Mims III provides more details about his early rocket experiments in Vietnam in 1967 .  His experiments sound impressive and the stories about his encounters with MPs and helicopter gun ships are fascinating. Here's an excerpt: ...
[Read More]

Warthog's Starfighter launch at sunset BeFunky

[Read More]

Unreasonable Rocket 2.0 may look like, well, a rocket
Paul's latest post describes his Notional Next Rocket .  It be pointy and finned and would be headed for 100K+.  He wants to use valves an actuators from his Silver vehicle but the rest would be new.  Go Team Unreasonable!
[Read More]

Steve Eves sounds off about his new project
Steve has provided some info and clarifications about his latest project (via Rocketry Planet): There are some inaccurate info in the article I will attempt to set it straight. The project is a 1:9 scale Saturn 1b total height is 24' 7" tall, the rocket should weigh in at around 600 lbs em ...
[Read More]

Amateur Experimental vs High Powered Rocketry
The other day someone that knew I was "into" rocketry said, "I saw this show on TV where these guys put rocket motors onto a ten foot mock up of Dorothy's house from the Wizard of Oz and shot it into the air". OK...so I saw this show, it was entertaining, but that's not the type of rocketry that ...
[Read More]

Dr. Robert Goddard
Dr. Robert Goddard , originally uploaded by Goddard Photo and Video Blog . Follow the photo link back to find more photos pertaining to the good doctor. Back further to see more about GSFC.
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, December 2009
Among other things, the holidays (along with the cold weather) have pushed my rocketry reset button.  My two ongoing project need paint and that isn't happening any time soon.  To the rescue...the December issue of ROCKETS ! The launch coverage ranges from Queensland, Australia to ...
[Read More]

4 to 1
This image is from a post over at Randy's Rocketry about Hobby vs Amateur rocketry. I love this rocket, it reminds me of some rumors from the past where Dr. Kosdon had planned to fly three or four O-10,000 motors staged to a single O-10,000. That never flew, but if it had (and designed something ...
[Read More]

New Sugar
I ordered a new batch of Erythritol. The previous brand that I used was Zsweet and the new stuff that I ordered is NowFoods. I have used Sorbitol from NowFoods before with very good results. It'll be interesting to see if there are any differences in the casting of the two different brands. I'll ...
[Read More]

The Delta X-15 siren song
I couldn't control myself.  The call to build was just too strong.  I thought about chaining myself to the couch but was too weak.  So, the motor mount, complete with aftermarket Kevlar is built, the strakes are attached to the main wings, and the built-up stabilizers are as ...
[Read More]

N_a_z_i UFO mania
Suddenly, they are every where... They are on the Discovery Channel ...   They are in Sheri's CJS Aviation shop --->  And, they may soon invade the Dungeon --->
[Read More]

Backfin Pale Ale
It's high time I make an entry in the Beer Garden, so I grabbed a Backfin Pale Ale.  This ale is brewed locally in Frederick by the Clay Pipe brewing Company .  It is malty and hoppy and is good enough that I'd have to drink others side by side to see which one I like better.  This ...
[Read More]

"Honey did you remember to baste the nose cone?"
A missile nose cone being tested with intense heat, as part of reasearch on re-entry into the [Earth's] atmosphere from space. Photo: Don Cravens/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images Mar 01, 1958
[Read More]

Rocket blog snapshot
As seen on my feed reader: "Honey did you remember to baste the nose cone?" from High Power Rocketry The 32 D-12 Christmas Tree Launch from The Rocketry Blog
[Read More]

Eclipses Yield First Images of Elusive Iron Line in Solar Corona
Eclipses Yield First Images of Elusive Iron Line in Solar Corona , originally uploaded by Goddard Photo and Video Blog . This shot blew my mind.
[Read More]

MISSILES: Up on Solid Fuel
MISSILES: Up on Solid Fuel I came across this short article from 1958 about Thiokols entry into the field of rocketry. I like this sentence "By 1953 Thiokol had produced solid-fuel engines, ie ., basically cylinders packed with the fuel, for the first full-scale Army test missiles."
[Read More]

Project HyShot - Ramjet research
"The Mission begins with the rockets pointing to the sky in a near vertical position. The payload is shrouded beneath a nose cone to protect it during the ascent through the atmosphere. If suitable atmospheric conditions prevail, the launch sequence begins. A final check is made of all the ...
[Read More]

A small but boring TGIF post (quick update)
 The new Sport Rocketry is out, but mine isn't here and mine arrived today ! Another ~2+ inches of snow and cold weather and wind...bad painting weather unless you have a vented booth.  As much emphasis as I put on painting, I will never have one.  Other than said non-painting, the ...
[Read More]

The Big Picture rocks the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)
Check it out!
[Read More]

The BATFE's new explosives list is out...
And, as expected, it doesn't include APCP (which is now differentiated from explosive mixtures)! Rocketry Planet Article   Commerce in Explosives; List of Explosive Materials (52KB Adobe PDF) The RP article notes that, although equally benign, potassium nitrate propellants do not enjoy the ...
[Read More]

Constellation Year in Review
While I haven't been a big fan of the Constellation program. There still have been many accomplishments made over the last year that deserve recognition. So I am posting the following video in recognition of those that sacrificed over the last year to get the program off the drawing board. Enjoy. ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry January/February 2010
Just to tease those who haven't seen their copy yet, I decided to tell ya' what's in this issue even before I've read any of the articles. But I did look at the pictures, starting with rocket girl Carrie Steele and her awesome X-Wing Fighter :) In the first article, some rocketeers from frigid ...
[Read More]

New Materials Designed To Deal With Hypersonic And Supersonic Hot Stuff
ROCKET SCIENCE New Materials Designed To Deal With Hypersonic And Supersonic Hot Stuff Hypersonic vehicle in the upper atmosphere travelling at Mach 8, indicating heating in the leading edges and inside the vehicle. Source: Professor Michael Smart, Professor John Drennan, David Yu of The ...
[Read More]

Gravity wells of the solar system
http://xkcd.com/681_large/
[Read More]

Q: What's a build session without building?
A:  Good fun chewing the fat (occasionally even about rockets) and chewing good food.  The rocket discussions were fueled by the fact that the other attendees were actually building. Paul gave me a bunch of old and oldish motors, which he'll hopefully enjoy as they blow my saucers ...
[Read More]

The Unwanted Blog
I found some really cool posts over at The Unwanted Blog. Granted, the political and gun posts may not always mesh with what I think, but I am more than willing to ignore that because of all the other cool things. I am also interested in guns, but I don't believe that giving each person a gun will ...
[Read More]

Around the blogs, yesterday
I just got in from an evening with friends and found several blog posts worth commenting on, reposting, or repackaging. But it's late so I'll touch on them briefly... The Sprint ABM is cool and R2K found a great post on The Unwanted Blog about it.  It's packed with info, including details ...
[Read More]

Hobby rocket motor archaeology (updated)
I wanted to document more about the unidentified motor that I mentioned in my build session report .  While I was at it,  I thought I might as well photograph a sampling of my current vintage motor "collection".  Top to bottom: E6-4 (also have an -8) F10-4 G125-20 ...
[Read More]

Q Motor !!!
Q Motor !!! , originally uploaded by jurvetson . Follow the photo link to learn about the eventual target rocket, the Beagle-2 , which will fly on four of these puppies. Three in the booster and one in the sustainer. They expect to hit 250k ft!
[Read More]

Log scale of the Universe aka aythang is aythang
Log Universe
[Read More]

Jacksonville, Florida's Cecil field gets its spaceport license
Have landing strip, need rockets. (paraphrased from Parabolic Arc's post title)
[Read More]

Q motors!
Thanks to a post over at The Rocket Dungeon , we have a great new picture of a Q motor. This appears to be part of Beagle II, simulated below, which is designed to fly to as high as 250,000 feet. ___________________________________________________ This is the upper stage of a two stage rocket, ...
[Read More]

Valor Rocket
Valor Rocket , originally uploaded by Sascha Grant . Sascha Grant has posted several photos of his new Valor Rocket , which was inspired by the rocket depicted in this post . I like the retro styling, which has a hint of Jayhawk in it. Actually, the magazine predated the Jayhawk so maybe the ...
[Read More]

... WASPs and B-17
... WASPs and B-17 , originally uploaded by x-ray delta one . I haven't been finding any rocket girls lately, but at least this has girls and something that flew.
[Read More]

I wanted one until...
I saw the $150 price tag of the Fantastic Plastic Project Orion Battleship .
[Read More]

Project Cannikin - a multi - megaton underground test in Alaska
"The largest underground nuclear test conducted by the United States, Project Cannikin was one of three underground nuclear tests performed at different places on this 43-mile long island in the Aleutian Chain. This $200 million 1971 test was performed to test an Anti-Ballistic Missile warhead, ...
[Read More]

Does your rocketry project have security problems?
Are other rocketeers stealing your ideas?  Are other teams sabotaging you in competition?  Has your reload hardware walked away?  If so, click below...
[Read More]

Preps Continue Toward a Targeted Feb. 7 Launch
Preps Continue Toward a Targeted Feb. 7 Launch Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:28:37 AM CST At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers at Launch Pad 39A began loading fuel into space shuttle Endeavour's orbital maneuvering system and auxiliary power units. The process is expected to be completed ...
[Read More]

The X-37B and Beyond. The Future of the Space Plane
I have been wondering why the USAF created the X-37B? Why has the USAF and NASA gone in separate directions when it comes to accessing space. Basically it boils down to the mission and the money. The USAF is looking for faster turnaround of unmanned missions to LEO and futuristic semi-suborbital ...
[Read More]

Plesetsk Cosmodrome
"The spaceport itself is located much more faraway from any signs of civilizations than its counterpart, Baikonur cosmodrome, and nowadays is believed to be the northernmost spaceport in the world. Decision about construction of the spaceport was put forward in 1957. An aim of top secret project ...
[Read More]

Ya' call that a space cannon? Now, this is a space cannon
Photo credit: John MacNeill/PopSci PopSci has an article on the Quicklauncher , a conceptual 3,600' long, sea-based cannon capable of launching half-ton payloads to orbit.  Ex-Lawrence Livermore physicist John Hunter had built a sub-scale version and has 'done the math' on big ...
[Read More]

USS Curtis Wilbur launched a Standard Missile-2 (SM2).
USS Curtis Wilbur launched a Standard Missile-2 (SM2). , originally uploaded by Official U.S. Navy Gallery . You know the drill...follow the link back to the source to find other related photos.
[Read More]

SM-2 launch at sea
"PACIFIC OCEAN (Sept. 23, 2009) The guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) launches a Standard Missile-2 while conducting torpedo evasion maneuvers during Multi-Sail 2009. Multi-Sail 2009 is designed to improve warfare mission readiness. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication ...
[Read More]

Quicklaunch space cannon presentation (long)

[Read More]

From the Archives
One of the best features from The Rocketry Planet is a large set of PDF documents from professional and hobby rocketry. The latest document is all about fins used on the Nike sounding rocket. (They are very strong.) The Archives
[Read More]

Launch Report 2010-1
Location: Higgs Farm, Price, MD ( MDRA - ESL-140) Weather: temps in the 40's, light breeze Total flights: Today - 4; YTD - 4 Total motors: Today - 4; YTD - 4 I can not believe I actually got out to fly.  In all my days as a 're-BAR', I have never attended an organized launch in January.  ...
[Read More]

The case for microlaunchers
How do we define a microlauncher? What are the possible benefits from going with such small systems? This is an interesting talk contrasting rocketry to date, mostly very large and expensive rockets launching only a few times a year, with a possible alternative. I have not seen the whole video ...
[Read More]

Stupid rocket tricks #'s 10 and 11
Inspired by ESL-140: #10 - Don't check that you monocopter's motor is pointed a little upward. This is the 2nd time I've done this. Grrrr. #11 - Don't heed KenKzak's advice. After viewing the video of the Frankenstein MLAS's demise, I'm pretty sure it was stable. The flight profile during the ...
[Read More]

Your fembot may be sexy on the outside, but she/it is still creepy on the inside
At CES2010, a company called True Companion introduced  Roxxy . I found that more than a little creepy.  However, I do like Hajime Sorayama's Gynoids.  Go figure.  I guess looking is OK but touching isn't :eek: Dark Roasted Blend's latest post, Female Androids' Shape and ...
[Read More]

Paavo John Rahkonen dies at age 79
Saturday, January 16, 2010  > Paavo John Rahkonen 1930-2009 OGDEN, Utah USA — After three years of battling a rare incurable blood disease, American solid rocket propulsion pioneer Paavo John Rahkonen died December 16th, 2009. Rahkonen was born ...
[Read More]

Eureka - A space and rocketry blog in spanish
http://danielmarin.blogspot.com/ Even without being able to understand most of the posts, there is clearly a wealth of information. If you speak Spanish, give this page a visit.
[Read More]

Scale scratch builders may want some Unwanted rocket drawing sets
The Unwanted Blog , among other things, is the front for a commercial enterprise that offers drawings of various aerospace subjects.   The latest is Space Drawing set 22: V-2 rocket engine diagrams . For $5.50 you can download the two detailed drawings of of the V-2's nozzle and ...
[Read More]

When (Xmas) Trees Attack: ESL-140 from the air (updated, and now minty fresh)
The Vimeo video was accidentally deleted...but who cares as long as there is YouTube?  (You can view the other videos via my launch report post or the MDRA gallery .) Check out this awesome video footage from MDRA's ESL-140 . Most of the video was taken from an R/C plane, but there are some ...
[Read More]

Scale BSG Viper MK II Rocket
Scale BSG Viper MK II Rocket , originally uploaded by Rene Dalerta .
[Read More]

Around the world on solar power - Solar Impulse
http://www.solarimpulse.com/ Stats on the prototype aircraft (for RnD of the full scale aircraft.) * Wingspan 63m * Weight 1,600 kg, * Take-off speed 35 km/h * Average flying speed: 70 km/h * Motor power 4 x 10 HP electric engines * Battery specific capacity: 220Wh/kg * Solar cells: 11,628 (total ...
[Read More]

Sieze the Sky
Master modeler Mario Perdue has announced that his new rocketry book, Seize the Sky - A Builder's Guide to Model Rocketry , is out.  The book presents building techniques, a FAQ, and 25 sample builds.
[Read More]

Calling all Starfighter fans
Or, at least anyone who wants to scratch build one.  The Unwanted Blog features a diagram that would be a great guide.
[Read More]

Update on UFO over Norway
This article confirms a previous post here about this sky spiral.
[Read More]

Inert training missile
"A collectors dream, these are brand new European training missiles from the Cold War era that have been sitting in storage for over twenty years and are in pristine Grade I condition. They have not been used and the original markings are still the same as when they rolled out of the arsenal. Each ...
[Read More]

Spaceflight Now | Breaking News | Musk refutes report slamming safety standards
Musk refutes report slamming safety standards BY STEPHEN CLARK SPACEFLIGHT NOW Posted: January 19, 2010 A commercial space pioneer and a former astronaut are answering claims by an independent advisory panel that private companies do not meet NASA human-rating standards and last year's pr ...
[Read More]

Blogger now supports pages
Blogger in Draft just implemented a 'pages' feature to allow us to post stand-alone (persistent? static?) information.  While I long have long been jealous of my Wordpress compadres' ability to create pages, I now am not sure what I want to do with it.  The information on my favorite ...
[Read More]

Hobbico buys Estes
It appears what people have suspected for some time has occurred... Estes has been sold .  It will be interesting to see how they evolve.  As long as they make motors...lots of motors, I'll be happy.  There are so many kits out there that I hardly care what they do or don't bring ...
[Read More]

Paper on rocket motors without nozzles
This article was posted at The Rocketry Planet. It is fascinating to see that rocket engines can work so well without a nozzle. Before learning about this about 2 years back, I had assumed that most of the ISP from a rocket motor came out of the converging, diverging nature of the nozzle. How can ...
[Read More]

Concept Ship Friday (update)
First up is some neat retro stuff from Scott Lowther and his Unwanted Blog.  In his post, About the Landing Boats , he expounds on how he 'derived' the design for the lifting body style landing boats for Fantastic Plastic's Orion Battleship .  I applied the term 'derived' because, ...
[Read More]

Oh that's right; rocketry is great.
I almost forgot but then I didn't.
[Read More]

Cool stuff at NEFAR's Feb. 7th launch
NEFAR Launch, February 7. 2009 (yeah, a year ago) How about an N1900 Sorbitol/Epoxy motor and a steam rocket?  Videos included.  I previously discussed David O'Neil's steam rockets here. Yeah, cool stuff!
[Read More]

Pictures!
Our TARC entry is now complete! Hopefully it will perform as good as it looks. I've never worked with phenolic before, so it was kind of interesting trying to cut the slots: I also have never attached the fins before gluing the whole assembly into the airframe, but I think it works better this ...
[Read More]

. . .or just HAPPY to see you?
. . .or just HAPPY to see you? , originally uploaded by That Ray Guy (Ray Monigold) . Definitely WTF, but WTH?
[Read More]

Warmish, dry, calm weather means:
Primer is going on the Delta X-15 and the SS-7.5 ICBM .
[Read More]

Parasite gliders for MicroMaxx?
If I only have a rocket ship to fly , originally uploaded by peskynoodle .
[Read More]

Chupacabras - goat eating bald raccoons, maybe
I thought I'd posted about chupacabras before but can find it.  So, I'll have to provided some background.  Skip down for news on the latest supposed sighting.  El chupacabra is a legendary animal that reportedly sucks the blood from livestock, especially goats.  The name itself ...
[Read More]

Computer Virus
For the record, I got this virus while researching rockets without nozzles. One search result from Google appeared to be an early patent for this technology. "How great!" I exclaimed, only to quickly change my mind and say : "How craptastic." I recently got hit by the worst virus I have seen to ...
[Read More]

Fun in southeastern New Mexico
Clark Lindsey reports on the Southwest Regional Technology Symposium , which will be held on Thursday, 15 April 2010 at New Mexico Farm & Ranch, Heritage Museum in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Here's a short description.  More details and contact info are in Clark's Post.  Are you an ...
[Read More]

AeroTech Lowers Prices on Five Single-Grain 54mm RMS Reload Kits
AeroTech Consumer Aerospace has redesigned its five single-grain 54mm soda can motor reload kits to use less expensive components and has significantly reduced prices on the entire range of reloads for the Reloadable Motor System? (RMS?) 54/426 hardware. The modifications, which include the ...
[Read More]

T-shirt WANT
Via Jerry Irvine on Rocketry Planet:
[Read More]

Interesting discussion: Sparkies to come under fire at NFPA: Who Made The G?
A few days ago, Rocketry Planet published a great article regarding  the coming meeting of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Technical Committee on Pyrotechnics in Salt Lake City, Utah.  There, the committee members will review previously submitted proposals for the 2011 ...
[Read More]

M power the hard way
Looking back at Chris Pearson's History of LDRS , I see a photo of a rocket that flew on 80 F40's.  Assuming the existing AT F40 data , that's equivalent to a 6248M3032. 
[Read More]

Engineer-speak
Via the FlightBlogger (original source unknown): 2010 Top 25 Engineer's Terms and Expressions (What we say versus what it means)  1. A number of different approaches are being tried. We are still guessing at this point. 2. Close project coordination. We sat down and had coffee ...
[Read More]

Slightly late... Plaster Blaster 1/1/10 launch report
Yeah this has taken awhile but I sorta got hung up editing vid. I marvel that Apple's Final Cut Pro 7 supports neither AVCHD nor Flip MinoHD formats natively. Guess what though -- Adobe Premier CS4 does!! WTF, Apple? Git yo shite togetha. Rant mode off. I didn't think I'd be able to fly this month ...
[Read More]

1938 ... great engineering skill!
1938 ... great engineering skill! , originally uploaded by x-ray delta one . Click-through to access a larger version.
[Read More]

Why ask why...and other build status
Q: Why is it I never seem to take the time necessary to get a (near) perfect finish?  A: Even when I start out with good intentions, I just can't bring myself to stock up on all the proper grades of sandpaper and other materials.  So, I'm pretty much doomed to a C+ or B- finish from the ...
[Read More]

Spirit to be left in place
It seems all future attempts to free the MER Spirit have been called off. The robot will be placed in a favorable angle to the Sun, and may go into low power mode (hibernation) for the local winter season. Even if the rovers "drop dead" right now, with no further contributions to science, they ...
[Read More]

Big-a$$ rocket of the day
On January 24th, the Indian Space Research Organization successfully static tested   the world's 3rd biggest solid rocket motor.  Falling behind just the Shuttle and ARIANE-5 boosters, the S200 delivers a peak thrust of 5,151 kN (1.158M lbF).  I found no suitable photo of the smoke ...
[Read More]

Antimater helped propel Avatar to become the highest grossing movie of all time
The Next Big Future points out that the starship in Avatar was based to a large extent on the theoretical, antimatter-powered Valkyrie spaceship designed by by Charles Pellegrino and Brookhaven physicist Jim Powell.  Reportedly, Dr. Pellegrino was a consultant on the film.  I wish I ...
[Read More]

SLBM

[Read More]

Delta X-15 - ready for flight!
Just don't look at the finish too closely.  I will try adding a couple of layers of Future after the Rustoleum has dried.  After a day, it still smells so I guess it is still out gassing.
[Read More]

TMT Certifies Three New AeroTech High-Power RMS K-Class Motors
The Tripoli Motor Testing (TMT) Committee of the Tripoli Rocketry Association (TRA) has certified two new AeroTech 54mm and one new 75mm Reloadable Motor System? (RMS?) K-class rocket motor reload kits. The new reloads include the K375NW-P and the K480W-P which are both designed for AeroTech, Dr. ...
[Read More]

Rustoleum Professional Primer + Rustoleum Camouflage Paint =
Stupid Rocket Trick #12 - Crazy crazing, man. I'll guess I'll wait a couple of days, sand, and re-coat.
[Read More]

Did MJ land on the Moon?
Moon in the Mirror
[Read More]

Missiles Over Newfoundland? Mystery Continues!
Click Here For Video News Reports CTV.ca News Staff Date: Thu. Jan. 28 2010 6:01 PM ET No one seems to know what two neighbors saw off the coast of Newfoundland earlier this week, but the two are convinced three large bullet-like objects were missiles. And they have photos they say ...
[Read More]

Mystery missiles over Newfoundland
The Bayourat reports on what appears to have been three missiles seen flying over Newfoundland.  This time it was no mystery corkscrew and local residents appear to have had time grab binoculars and a camera. Pointy - ? Fire - ? Smoke - ?  If the reports aren't a hoax, it sounds like a ...
[Read More]

Why is the blame for UFRs always directed towards hobby rocketry?
Post on TRD about missiles seen over Newfoundland Video where they hint about hobby rocketry, which the local government was happy to throw under the bus to deflect legitimate questions. And here is the RocketryPlanet Newsdesk article... oh wait never mind. My prediction? Just one more Sovie... I ...
[Read More]

Apollo 1 ... Challenger ... Columbia
NASA - Day of Remembrance
[Read More]

Bring the rovers back home
This one made me sniffle. http://www.xkcd.com/695/
[Read More]

Stay Spirit! Good rover!
When it got stuck, the Spirit rover had been on Mars for some 2200 days, more than 20 times its original mission lifespan. I didn't note that fact in any of the main stream news reports following NASA JPL's announcement that they will shift their emphasis from getting it unstuck to positioning it ...
[Read More]

Team Name?
I'm going to bring it up next meeting, but I think we need a creative name for our team. If anyone comes up with any good ideas until then, don't hesitate to leave a comment. The same goes with our beautiful nameless feat of engineering. Looking forward to a new semester! Thank heavens I have NO ...
[Read More]

Graphic: Who has what in orbit
Big Brothers , originally uploaded by Michæl Paukner . As usual, click through to see a larger version.
[Read More]

Project Daedalus
Just a sample of some of the cool images of this hypothetical interstellar spacecraft. "Project Daedalus was a study conducted between 1973 and 1978 by the British Interplanetary Society to design a plausible interstellar unmanned spacecraft.[1] A dozen scientists and engineers led by Alan Bond ...
[Read More]

Project Daedalus
R2K has a compendium of photos, data, and links on Project Daedalus, the unmanned, nuclear-powered starship that was proposed by the British Interplanetary Society in the mid 70's.  Follow the tag to see my other posts on this project.
[Read More]

6 months in the life of Armadillo
A reader (thanks George!) pointed me to Armadillos latest status report .  This is big one, covering over 6 months of activity from the first Class III waiver issued by FAA AST, through the X-prize Cup, and on to high altitude hops, their S tudents P erforming E xperiments on A rmadillo R ...
[Read More]

1992 proposal to terraform Mars
From Beyond Shuttle
[Read More]

Space sailing (light sails and solar sails)
______________________________________ I have been reading this book, a more comprehensive collection of space sailing information than the previous. The price is listed at $155 in hardcover, but $5 in soft. So one should go with the latter. Space Sailing by Jerome Wright _______________ ...
[Read More]

EMRR kicks off the New Year
EMRR is updated ! There are 15 new reviews, including mine on the Hostile Projectiles V-2 .  I haven't scoured the site, but the The RockSim Library has new look and some new data and there five, count 'em, five new contests to give you twice the fun!  Hmm, maybe that's 10x the fun? Oh, ...
[Read More]

Juno V
Scott Lowther laments the state of our manned space program by presenting the Juno V and its 16- man orbital return vehicle.  Cool, I had never seen this one.  Interesting concept, even if it had windows on the heat shield :eek:
[Read More]

Unlearned lessons of the X-15
I really don't like reading on a computer.  Especially a netbook.  Maybe a e-reader designed for this would be better.  Anyway, I started looking at "X-15: Extending the Frontiers of Flight" by Dennis R. Jenkins . I made it through the Forward, written by X-15 pilot William H. Dana, ...
[Read More]

Astronaut Major Michael J. Adams
Mike Adams flew the X-15 for 13 months from 6 October 1966 until 15 November 1967, making seven flights. All of these were with the XLR99 engine and he reached Mach 5.59, a maximum speed of 3,822 mph, and an altitude of 266,000 feet. Adams died on Flight 3-65-97. The Air Force posthumously ...
[Read More]

BMS Astron Invader
Nick timed the shipment of my Quarterly Rocket Give-Away swag perfectly...it arrived today!  I'm going to start on the BMS Astron Invader first.  It is an odd-roc glider and is thus more up my alley than the other two kits I won.  PLUS, being a glider, a lot of filling and ...
[Read More]

Space Shuttles abound at Verna and Randy's place
Verna's Photo of the Month features an interesting Shuttle variant.  She's highlighting Dr. Roy Houchin's custom Shuttle, outfitted with a Boostervision camera and scale "crawler" pad. Meanwhile on Fire and Smoke , they are featuring the next expansion to their already cool home - a real Space ...
[Read More]

NASA: Good night moon, hello new rocket technology
By SETH BORENSTEIN The Associated Press Monday, February 1, 2010; 4:11 PM WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is redirecting America's space program, killing NASA's $100 billion plans to return astronauts to the moon and using much of that money for new rocket technology research. The moon plan, ...
[Read More]

#2 Google hit for this search:
"videos of rockets that go high 100000 feet"
[Read More]

M51 by Hubble
Click that pic! (Just don't copy that floppy.) M51
[Read More]

Alien Invader wing assembly
The Invader is distinguished by its odd, UFO-like wing plate.  It has been described as a Flying Pie Plate . Its flight profile has been questionable, so Of Death belongs in the nickname too.  So, that's what I'll call mine. The plate is assembled from three laser-cut pieces.  These ...
[Read More]

Everyone who talked trash about the HST looks like a real jerk by now
Possible asteroid collision
[Read More]

Possible asteroid collision imaged by Hubble
R2K pointed me to this cool photo of Comet-like Asteroid P/2010 A2 (Credit: NASA, ESA, and D. Jewitt (UCLA)).  The Universe Today provides the background about why this is even cooler than just a pretty picture.
[Read More]

Changes to the NFPA modroc code are a done deal (well, kinda)
Update:  I should clarify that there is one more level of approval and the changes won't go into effect until the release of the updated document in 2011. Earlier today, I heard that the NFPA approved the changes to NFPA 1125, Code for the Manufacture of Model Rocket and High Power Rocket ...
[Read More]

AeroTech Receives Seven New California State Fire Marshal Rocket Motor and Reload Kit Approvals
The California Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has issued classification approvals for one new AeroTech single-use model rocket motor in three time delays and six new high-power RMS? rocket motor reload kits, including three Karl E. Baumann (KEB?) Signature Line? reloads. The specific ...
[Read More]

Almost Scientific rocketry...well not really
From the MAKE:blog , I found Almost Scientific's annals of the West Oakland Rocketry Club, a self-professed "Art Rocketry" club.  In the name of 'art', these folks take odd-rocs to the extreme. (Gee, I guess I did a lot of art in the desert when I was a kid.) They will stick a motor in most ...
[Read More]

NARPres comments on the NFPA 1125 revision
Trip's words, my highlights and added comments in brackets (stuff I didn't mention before or didn't catch earlier): Earlier today (February 2) we completed the first of two 2010 meetings of the National Fire Protection Association’s Committee on Pyrotechnics to do the quadrennial review and ...
[Read More]

Only $9 billion
Hey at least we got an Ares 1x flight out of it right?
[Read More]

Buzz Aldrin Released A Statment In Support Of New Space Initiatives.
?Statement from Buzz Aldrin: A New Direction in Space Today I wish to endorse strongly the President?s new direction for NASA. As an Apollo astronaut, I know the importance of always pushing new frontiers as we explore space. The truth is, that we have already been to the Moon ? some 40 years ago. ...
[Read More]

Astron Invader and the possible snowpocalypse of 2010
Invader status: Slight warpapge, previously undetected, was problematic.  Nothing that sandpaper, CyA, a accelerator couldn't handle.  Glide testing/trimming may have to wait for dry ground or dry snow. Well, we got another 5" of snow or so making my estimate of this season's snowfall at ...
[Read More]

English Russia post about Missile Museum
"There is a unique museum located on the territory of the former Soviet Union, and to be more precise, in Ukraine. In the museum there are displayed many exhibits of Strategic Missile Forces. There is no other museum of such kind in the whole world; except one that is located in the USA, but ...
[Read More]

Sunprobe
Sunprobe , originally uploaded by kennetzel .
[Read More]

Man hurt after homemade rocket explodes on his back while sledding
"(CNN) -- A 62-year-old Michigan man was severely burned when a homemade rocket strapped on his back exploded while he slid down a snowy hill on a sled, authorities said this week. The rocket stunt was the grand finale on Saturday during the man's annual sledding party at his Oakland County, ...
[Read More]

Modeling alert: 30 years of future launch vehicles
Clark Lindsey lets us know about Marcus Lindroos' archive about "future launch vehicle" designs that arose between 1963 and 1993 (the intro says through 2001, so I assume there is more to come).  Here are the top-level categories: 1. Early American Reusable Launch Vehicle Proposals (1963-67) ...
[Read More]

Retro engineering safety - goggles...check, gloves...check, bra....
io9 bring us this photo of a model showing off the latest in engineering safety gear.
[Read More]

Video of the RRS 50 Mile Flight at Black Rock
Rocketry Planet has resurrected coverage of a 1993 Reaction Research Society (RRS) amateur rocket flight that reached 50 miles.  The rockets carried an amateur television camera and footage is included.  Flight summary: booster - 13' x 10" ; 475 lbs motor - solid, 14k lbs thrust, 5 sec ...
[Read More]

Russian company eyes offensive military satellite
Leading Russian spacecraft producer Energia has presented a concept of a universal military satellite with offensive capabilities. The 20-ton orbiter with a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years would be powered by a 150 to 500 kilowatt nuclear reactor and will be able to “monitor territories and ...
[Read More]

Hubble images of Pluto's surface
The following video was pieced together from still images taken in 2002 and 2003. Credit: NASA, ESA, and M. Buie (Southwest Research Institute) Pluto, you're still a planet here in the Dungeon. Phil Plait tells us why this is more than eye candy.
[Read More]

Snowpocalypse of 2010 is coming!
Info from the Capital Weather Gang : Here are the top 10 snowstorms on record for Washington, D.C.: 1. January 27-28, 1922 ... 28 inches 2. February 11-13, 1899 ... 20.5 inches 3. February 18-19, 1979 ... 18.7 inches 4. January 6-8, 1996 ... 17.1 inches 5. February 15-18, 2003 ... 16.7 inches 6. ...
[Read More]

More on the Avatar starship
A week or so ago, I posted about how the starship in Avatar was modeled around a theoretical, antimatter-powered starship that was proposed by actual physicists.  I also said I wished I could find some photos of the ship from the movie.  Ask and io9 shall answer . It seems like ...
[Read More]

Russia's future fighter conquers the skies
Russia's prototype fifth-generation fighter made a 45-minute maiden flight on Friday in the Far East, Russian television reported. The flight had been postponed for 24 hours due to poor weather conditions in Komsomolsk-on-Amur where the prototype is being tested. "The plane showed a superb ...
[Read More]

The snowpocalypse of 2010 has begun (nickname update)
We saw first flakes at about 11AM.  It's been snowing lightly now for almost 2 hrs but it has been warm enough that there is no noticeable accumulation on streets, cars, or even our deck (other that what was already there, of course).  I have no way to measure the snowfall until I can ...
[Read More]

HotRod Rocketry Discovery
This is another of the rocket trio that I won from EMRR's Quarterly Rocket Giveaway. Thanks Nick! The Discovery is a 'modular concept rocket', that features three interchangeable fin units. It is part of HotRod's Educators Series and is intended either builders who have previously built a rocket ...
[Read More]

Team India @ APRSAF - 16 - International Water Rocket Competition - 2010 - Bangkok - Thailand
APRSAF - 16 - International Water Rocket Competition - 2010, Bangkok - Thailand Indian Competitior Making Water Booster Rocket Indian Participants - Bijal Lekhadia Indian Participants - Vishrut Patel • APRSAF-16 Water Rocket competition organise by National Science Museum (NSM) of ...
[Read More]

Report from under the sowpocalypse
We we up really late so, when we drug out of bed, we expected snowpocalypse! I haven't been out to measure the depth but have pasted in some readings from the NWS.  And, I just heard the storm has once again been upgraded with 6 - 10" more expected today! 2 ESE GERMANTOWN 25.9 1014 AM 2/06 1 ...
[Read More]

Official statement: Updating NFPA Code 1125 on Rocket Motors
Via Trip Barber on the NAR website .
[Read More]

A snowpocalyptic update
It's tapering off now.  I still didn't get a good read on the depth and the NWS data is latent.  But, a neighbor up the street set up a yardstick and it says 29" .  I'll consider that to be what we got too! After two runs, I have about 75% of the exposed drive/walkways cleared and ...
[Read More]

Locomotive Breath and Balls 18
It seems I only get to Blackrock once or twice a decade, so obviously I only get to learn about Balls 18 from the interwires and youtubes. One really cool project from last year was "Locomotive Breath." Does anyone have stats on this rocket or simulation details? It looks like either a P or a Q. ...
[Read More]

Ranking the snowpocalypse of 2010
Top 10 snowstorms on record for Washington, D.C.: 1. January 27-28, 1922 ... 28 inches 2. February 11-13, 1899 ... 20.5 inches 3. February 18-19, 1979 ... 18.7 inches 4. February 05-06, 2010 ... 17.8 inches, unofficially (Snowpocalypse 2010-1) 5. January 6-8, 1996 ... 17.1 inches 6. February 15-18, ...
[Read More]

M motor on-board video
A nice view of Blackrock from 2 miles up. "This is a test of the booster for an N to N 2 stage vehicle. This is an M1419 motor."
[Read More]

Mark 4
How cool is this kit?
[Read More]

This isn't Sparta, it's SNOWMAGEDDON!!!
We hit the history books with the 2nd major snowfall of the winter and now I hear we are expecting 10 - 20 inches more!!! I fared OK until today when we had to dig out from the mess the snowplows left in front of our house - ~3 feet of icy, compacted snow. I'm tired and will be sore tomorrow. Too ...
[Read More]

Fireball XL5
Fireball XL5 , originally uploaded by isemantics . Here's nice model of the Fireball XL5 from the Supermarionation Flickr pool .
[Read More]

Snowpocalypse 2010-2 may not bring Snowmageddon after all
The Snowpocalypse 2010-2 is being downgraded to 7 - 14 inches.  Yahoo! The totals are going to be greater to the northeast so I suspect we'll be closer to the mid-range.  However, it will be windy - 25 to 35 mph, with gusts over 45 mph. I keep getting the urge to see what various sized ...
[Read More]

Mesquito Sounding rocket
"This is a design concept named Mesquito (purposely spelled wrong). This is a single stage sounding rocket and will launch at 120G acceleration. The motor will burns for two seconds then separates from the payload, called the dart (only 4" diameter, very small). The dart will reach a maximum ...
[Read More]

Breaking news from the snowpocalypse: part of NASM's Garber facility collapses
Just heard on the news that PG County Fire-EMS is reporting that part of the National Air and Space Museum's Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility has collapsed.  The facility, located in Suitland, MD, includes 32 metal buildings.  Hopefully the damage to ...
[Read More]

Snowpocalyptic humor

[Read More]

Sounding Rocket Videos
That post last night made me search out some other sounding rocket videos. "NASA NSROC sounding rocket compilation to Audioslave." "This video is of a Hickman payload launched out of Wallops Island in 2006. The E-field booms are Rob Pfaff's." Dumb music, but great footage. Check out what appears to ...
[Read More]

Atlas
It is pretty impressive to see a rocket family last so long, this was one of the first large orbital rockets, and just about the only to use the unique 1.5 stage balloon airframe design. Granted almost everything is different about modern Atlas rockets, but the legacy is kept alive in some small ...
[Read More]

(the previously un-named snow post) (updated estimates)
It appears the snow has not only buried us but it also has taken over the Dungeon.  The snow will eventually melt and I suppose I will eventually get back to rockets.  Someday... The NWS reports were all over the place.  I'm not sure they are all accurate and with the drifting are ...
[Read More]

The Russians know how to deal with Snowpocalypse
The WebUrbanist has a compendium of wild snowmobiles from Soviet Russsia. 
[Read More]

First Russian Launch From French Guiana Delayed
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The first launch of a Russian space rocket from a site outside Moscow's control has been delayed while engineers test a service tower, Interfax news agency reported on Friday. A modified Soyuz cargo ship had been due to take off before the end of this year from Europe's ...
[Read More]

The snowpocalypse kills the Internet (?) (updated)
Last night, we were watching the boob tube and surfing.  All of s sudden we hear a bang in the distance and both the cable TV and modem went dead.  Soon, we realized the bang was a huge front end loader clearing our street.  The clearing part was good but the operator was dumping ...
[Read More]

Russian nuclear propulsion
Here's a video on Russia's purported plans for nuclear propulsion.
[Read More]

And we thought we had it bad (cold and snowy)
Here's a photo of Niagara Falls completely frozen in 1911. There are people walking across the river and also below the falls.  Now THAT is crazy!
[Read More]

Airborne ABM system test
"For the first time the U.S. military has shot down a ballistic missile with an airbourne laser beam. The experiment, conducted off the California coast, was to demonstrate the future of defence technology. From the moment the missile was launched, it took the jumbo-jet mounted laser, just two ...
[Read More]

ELT and OWL
This is a fun video about the ELT 42 meter optical planned for construction in South America. However, I prefer this plan: The OWL was to be a 60+ meter (ideally 100 meter) optical telescope. Or as one Youtube comment puts it, "a big ass dob." Either way, with the 42 meter model, we can expect ...
[Read More]

First Test Launch!
We just conducted our first two test launches of our TARC entry. We have been really pushing ourselves to get ahead of schedule so that we can fit in as many test launches as possible before the official ones this spring. The snow on the ground complicates things just a little, but it actually ...
[Read More]

Maxus 7
How did I ever miss this video? Maxus rocket: Overall length: 15.5 m Overall mass: 12,400 kg Payload mass: approx. 800 kg Max. velocity: 3500 m/s Max. acceleration: 15 g Propellant mass: 10,042 kg Motor burn time: 63 sec Microgravity: up to 14 minutes Apogee: > 700 km Thrust(max. in vacuum): 500 kN ...
[Read More]

Review: Aerospace Projects Review, Volume 1, No. 3
After reading Scott Lowther's post on the Cole/Helios nuclear pulse rocket , I decided to bite the bullet and buy the download of Volume 1, Number 3 of his Aerospace Projects Review .  I had noticed that it also provided info on a conceptional, lenticular, ramjet-powered aircraft patented by ...
[Read More]

Hey, I Know How High It Went!
I figured there's got to be a way to calculate the altitude effectively. I thought it might have something to do with the descent, since the factors are more controlled than on the ascent (variable thrust hence variable velocity hence variable drag hence calculus). The answer was terminal ...
[Read More]

American Bosch Arma Corporation
I had never heard of American Bosch Arma Corporation until I read Aerospace Projects Review V1N3 .  That issue of APR presents a magazine ad showing a conceptual Atomic Pulse Rocket.  This rocket would be the size of the Empire State Building and would use 1000 atomic bombs to transport ...
[Read More]

How do you celebrate Valentine's day?
DCist shows a group that celebrated by running through the cold in their undies. Yesterday's Cupid's Undie Run benefited the Children's Tumor Foundation .
[Read More]

STS 130

[Read More]

Stardust Spacecraft Reentry Sample

[Read More]

A good selection of brews
I received a nice assortment of brews today.  Haven't tried many yet, but here goes.  Comments appreciated. In the photo: Anchor - Liberty Ale Santa's Butt - Winter Porter Brooklyn Brewery - Post Road Pumpkin Ale Rogue Ales - Dead Guy Ale - This was a pretty amber with ...
[Read More]

I scoff at 3" of snow (update)
They say we'll only get 1" - 3" this time.  Bah!  Remember the good ol' days when a blizzard was a blizzard?  Something to help you remember. (Update:  This event was a total dud.  It snowed hard for a couple of hours but was too warm.  No noticeable accumulation ...
[Read More]

Who you callin' crater face?!?!
Mimas, with the giant crater (and possible future 130 KM optical telescope) Herschel.
[Read More]

Crayon Pack - 8 Crayon rockets
"Since a friend pointed out that my I-ROC looked like a Crayon®, I've had the idea in back of my mind to build a Crayon rocket. Not just a Crayon rocket, but a pack of Crayon rockets! The smallest pack of Crayons I could find had eight, so that is the number. Of course, the eight rockets are ...
[Read More]

No launch after the snowpocalypse
As I expected, MDRA has canceled our February launch since there is still up to 3' of snow on the field!
[Read More]

I'm Back on the Web!
A friend of mine was able to fix my computer, and apparently it wasn't a hard drive failure. All my files are still here, but I had to reinstall all my programs, which is only a minor inconvenience. We're going for our second launch tomorrow. Supposedly the weather is going to be superb.
[Read More]

Controller for sequentially air-starting four parallel-staged rockets
Design News' Gadget Freak features plans for an air-start controller based on a PIC microcontroller.  The controller sequentially fires four output channels with pre-programmed delays and is initiated by a pull pin.
[Read More]

Thunderbolt 38mm FG kit from Giant Leap
Clearly most of the posts around here have been about professional rocketry and space matters (in addition to just random image posting from Google whenever something pretty or cool came up.) This is due largely to the winter season putting things on the back burner for a while. Even when active, ...
[Read More]

Sound ripples in cloud during rocket launch
"Perched on top of an Atlas V rocket, on February 11 the Solar Dynamics Observatory launched into space. About a minute after leaving the Earth, the rocket did two things: it passed the speed of sound, and screamed past a sundog, a rainbow-colored optical effect in the sky caused by ice crystals. ...
[Read More]

Incredible - sonic boom destroys a sun dog
I had seen several posts about this event but, until R2K posted it , I hadn't taken a peek. Big mistake.  This is got to be the coolest video I've seen this year. Solar Dynamics Observatory Launch, Feb 11, 2010 HD VERSION A sun dog is a prismatic bright spot in the sky caused by sun ...
[Read More]

Launch silo
I forgot where I found these. I think they're of an M flight. Possibly at Battlepark?
[Read More]

Comments now only for those with an account
Due to constant and pointless spam (spam without links, what is the point of that?) on these two science related pages, which I consider more mature and kid friendly than R2K (a quake 3 blog), I have made it so that comments can only be placed by those with some kind of username. That isn't ...
[Read More]

More R/C WANT: The HexaKopter
IEEE Spectrum features - Quadcopter, Hexacopter, Octocopter ... UAVs .  But what really stood out was the video of the German MikroKopter (HexaKopter) project. MikroKopter - HexaKopter from Holger Buss on Vimeo .
[Read More]

Nuclear Traction Engine To Take Russian's To Mars
Vitaly Lopota, the head of Russia's Energia Space Corporation, reported when and how Russian spacemen would travel to Mars. In the past few years it seemed like Russia was ready to accept its role as a space power number two. Americans are building a new spaceship and packing their space suits for ...
[Read More]

Possible Medium Class ESA mission for the late 2010s
.2 AU! That is pretty darn close, .1 AU is powerful solar sailing material.
[Read More]

Snowpocalypse, I shake my fist at you
Well, Snowpocalypse was like crack to bloggers.  At least this one.  Yesterday was warmish and sunny and there was a patch of clear ground outside our basement walk-out.  Time for rockets! So, I decided to figuratively shake my fist at mother nature.  By 'fist', I really mean ...
[Read More]

Useless beer factoid
Is I was enjoying my Santa's Butt Winter Porter , I decided to do some reading.  Reading the label, that is.  There I learned that a 'butt' also refers to a large beer barrel that holds 108 Imperial gallons.  From Wikipedia , I see a butt is also equal to: 3 hogsheads, 6 barrels, 9 ...
[Read More]

Windows on the world

[Read More]

Theories on relativistic rockets, antimatter propulsion, and why they may never be feasible
Centauri Dreams has an interesting post on some recent thoughts on the issues noted in the title.
[Read More]

Darkstar lite build
I recently purchased an all fiberglass Darkstar Lite kit from Wildman Rocketry : I needed an easy sport flyer for 29mm motors as my Arreaux is aging. This kit goes together so fast! Here's the AeroPack motor retainer end: And the forward end: And the overview of the motor tube assembly: And, using ...
[Read More]

Problems
Since school is almost all I have time for these days, I thought I'd bring it to my blog now and then. In calculus we are doing sequences, L'Hopital's rule, and improper integrals. Pretty straight forward. Pop quiz: 1. Is 0^0 zero or one? Or neither? 2. Limit as x approaches 1 of x^[1/(x-1)] ...
[Read More]

Rocket math, G-2 on Blue Origin, the retro Air Launched Sortie Vehicle, and a Xombie attack x 4
From around the blogaverse... Clark Lindsey provides a link to a Selenian Boondocks article where the blogger uses some rocket math to show why single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) is difficult.  My brain started to hurt so I quit part way through. YMMV. The Space Review provides some insights to some ...
[Read More]

Sierra Nevada Building On NASA Design | AVIATION WEEK
Sierra Nevada Building On NASA Design AVIATION WEEK Sierra Nevada Corp. has $20 million in federal stimulus funds for its Dream Chaser commercial crew launch vehicle, but the company has already applied many times that amount in NASA funding for its high-stakes effort to build a private route to ...
[Read More]

Falcon 9 on the pad!
Universe Today It looks as if companies like this will be the future for American space launches, particularly when it comes to manned flight and support of manned missions. This rocket is still very far away from offering manned flights, but it is also very far away from nothing. Good luck guys!
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, February 2010
GPS101...Rocket Mavericks 2009...Arizona State Fair...Freedom Launch, Orangeburg, SC...In Memorium Erik Gates...On-board Cameras...Balls 18...UMERG at Balls 18...In Memorium Ken Zeuner...Copper Compounds as Burn Catalysts III Coming to MDRA soon, twice the fun Steve and Vern 1/10th Scale Saturn 1B
[Read More]

Tidbit of the Week
If nothing can travel faster than the speed of light, what if you had a spaceship traveling left at 99.99999% of the speed of light and had a second spaceship traveling right at 99.99999% of the speed of light? Relative to each other, wouldn't they be passing each other at 199.99998% of the speed ...
[Read More]

Slave labor and the V-2
Dora and the V-2 Or why I don't think Von Braun is a hero.
[Read More]

Big a$$ rocket of the day - Melvin
Featured on one of my favorite stagnant web sites, Trailer Trash Aerospace , Melvin was made from two plastic water barrels, a stainless steel salad bowl, 12" sono tube and 3/8" plywood.  Built-in handles helped get the 95lb beast to the pad.  A 5", three grain, KNO3/Sorbitol motor made ...
[Read More]

Two new NOTSNIK images and a scale model
See 1 and 2 for more information about this project. New Ware's NOTS Conversion
[Read More]

Bloom Energy - the future personal/local power generation?
My son mentioned this to me yesterday and I found that there was no shortage of reports available.  However, when I checked their website ( Bloom Energy ), they merely had a non-informative inspirational video.  Today the site is well populated. The tech start-up, lead by Dr. KR Sridhar, ...
[Read More]

odd-roc
_MG_1167 , originally uploaded by Anderson Ranch Arts Center .  
[Read More]

Make your own solar system
My Solar System
[Read More]

Nice shot of the last static test of the Shuttle SRBs
the last big test , originally uploaded by Scott Stringham "Rustling Leaf Design" .
[Read More]

Designer solar systems...for free!
Check out My Solar System from the University of Colorado.  Define up to four bodies in a single plane and let 'er rip! (hat tip to R2K )  They also have a bunch of other on-line sims to play with.
[Read More]

How'd We Miss That?
I recently looked at the official rules for the TARC contest, and it turns out we are supposed to be using a streamer for recovery. That changes things a bit. Quite a bit actually. At first it didn't seem like our design could slow down enought under a streamer, but it turns out there's more to ...
[Read More]

A TGIF hodgepodge post...
The original Rocket Boy gives his 2-cents on NASA's current turmoil - An Open Letter to NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden . He includes a short shopping list of how they should spend their money.  So, many possibilities, so little money.  (hat tip to the bayourat ) Might the Shuttle ...
[Read More]

The Shuttle is waning and Ares is dead (maybe) but...
Even though the Shuttle is slated to be retired and it looks like the Ares is history before it makes any, some cool new hardware is being prepped at Cape Canaveral: First, SpaceX's Falcon 9 with Dragon  qualification spacecraft continues towards its maiden flight.  Here it is on launch ...
[Read More]

More fire and ice
Last Reusable Solid Rocket Motor Test (NASA, Space Shuttle, 02/25/10) , originally uploaded by nasa1fan/MSFC . Last Reusable Solid Rocket Motor Test (NASA, Space Shuttle, 02/25/10) This was the closest shot that I've seen.
[Read More]

Why We Need A Strong Missile Defense System
When Ronald Regan announced the Strategic Defense Initiative. This is what he was trying to protect us from. All it takes is one of these to wipe and entire city off the map. While Mutually Assured Destruction may be a deterrent to a whole country from attacking us with nuclear weapons. It doesn't ...
[Read More]

The speed of a tsunami (updated with links)
You probably have heard that at about 1:30AM EST, an 8.8 magnitude quake hit off the coast of Chile. Fearing that this will send a potentially deadly tsunami across the Pacific at the speed of a jetliner, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for Hawaii. The first waves were ...
[Read More]

Like Avatar with robots instead of the Na'vi
From SpaceRef's description: This video of NASA JSC's "Project M" depicts a Robonaut-based, tele-operated mission to the Moon - one that JSC claims could be accomplished in 1,000 days once the go-ahead was given.
[Read More]

Rollerons aren't just for the Sidewinder anymore
This Rocketry Planet thread was started by a rocketeer who scored a rolleron from an AIM-9 Sidewinder .  Darrell and brianc note that amateurs/sport rocketeers have also experimented with this method of attaining stability. Dave Crisali of the RRS tried one: http://psas.pdx.edu/news/ ...
[Read More]

A Slick Paint Job
We got to use the resources of the tech-ed department to paint the rocket. We only spent about three hours total on it, which wasn't enough priming and sanding to remove the spiral from the phenolic airframe, but the end result was still pretty good. We used black and gold, the ...
[Read More]

Rollerons
Check out this post on rollerons at TORD (DRD)
[Read More]

Space mice (incl. space mouse 3)
This page shows the evolution of a series of altitude rockets, culminating in a three stage rocket called space mouse 3. While this rocket did not fly properly, with a shred in the upper stage, it was on the way to 40,000 feet or so at that point. " After four attempts with the three staged Space ...
[Read More]

I'm Waiting on Pins and Needles!
I still don't know where I'm going to college next year. The reason is that I haven't heard back from MIT yet. It's extremely likely they'll say "no, we don't want you." And they would have good reason. My ACT was only 29 and their interquartile range is from 31 to 35 or something rediculous like ...
[Read More]

Smokey SAM
Smokey SAM , originally uploaded by Herbert Welmers . The test rocket, not CTI's propellant of the same name. Here's a nice shot of four of them mounted in their launcher. Designated the GTR-18 , this small rocket produced a dense smoke trail and was used as a training round. The body tube is ...
[Read More]

Olympics, snow on the deck, windy, rocketry, snow in forecast
I'm sitting here looking at the remnants of our big snows, which is still over a foot deep in one small spot.  I finished the last steps on my Tau Zero prior to painting but the wind is delaying said painting.  Meanwhile, the Olympics are all in the record books and we can get back to a ...
[Read More]

The Dutch Rocket Boys
These 4 rocket scientists have a ton of great rockets, and a few upcoming projects of trully impressive size. This includes a two stage 6 inch to 6 inch rocket (P to P) called the Dust Devil. "Altitude predictions are now between 30 km (100.000 feet) and 90 km (300.000 feet or near Space) ...
[Read More]

A Perfect Time For Budding Aerospace Engineers
As odd as it might sound, I'm excited about NASA's budget cuts. The more the load is taken off the government agency's shoulders, the more it is placed on the private sector's. Already the commercial space industry has arrived, with Virgin Galactic, SpaceX and Xcor, to name a few rapidly growing ...
[Read More]

Steampunk rocket of the day
Check out the cool steampunk-style ACME Spitfire .
[Read More]

Fire and ice from Denmark
Here is a video of a static test of the Copenhagen Suborbitals ' HEAT-1X LOX/paraffin hybrid. Fire from the motor, ice on ground. (as seen on Clark Lindsey's RLV and Space Transportation blog ) Copenhagen Suborbitals: HEAT 1X booster test 28 Feb 2010 from Sonny W. on Vimeo .
[Read More]

How to make the perfect nozzle
PWR Engineering Expect an update on the construction of the 38mm fiberglass rocket soon. Not much work yet because of an extremely tight fit on the slimline retainer - so far 1 mm or so sanded off of the ID and still no fit. Obviously it is made for phenolic airframes and is just way too small for ...
[Read More]

The race to be the biggest (amateur rocketry)
Gizmodo is featuring the work of Copenhagen Suborbitals (C-S) and their HEAT-1X project. (Yesterday, I posted an embedded video of one of their hybrid motor tests. Cool stuff!) The blogger points out that the HEAT series are all-metal rockets as opposed to Steve Eves' 1:10 scale Saturn V , which ...
[Read More]

Our three big snowstorms all (maybe) ranked in Top 10
Frank Roylance has ranked the three big snow storms we saw this winter based on data from BWI airport.  He also discusses how some of the other storms that were previously ranked by the NWS may have actually been multiple storms, since "no snowfall that lasts four days can be considered the ...
[Read More]

Ooop, left something off my previous post
It was a snow post, after all...
[Read More]

Video model rocket how-to's (reminder for newbies)
Just though I'd post a reminder that Tim VanMilligan of Apogee Components now has 32 videos available. Today's Topic: How to Select Rocket Motors for Your Own Rockets - Part 2 of 2
[Read More]

A Martian Airplane?
It wouldn't work. But I spent a whole afternoon thinking about it, just to see if it would be feasible. It might be wasted effort, but just imagine how cool a space probe on Mars would be if it could fly through the atmosphere like here on Earth! I had to look up a couple things. First of all, the ...
[Read More]

The Tycho Brahe capsule
I was focusing on the rocket part of Copenhagen Suborbitals ' work. But the manned capsule is worth a look too.
[Read More]

Finally step 1 completed on the Thunderbolt
The Thunderbolt 38mm Kit is finally on the way to being built. It took me this long because the snap ring retainer, a Gaint Leap slimline , was WAY too small for a fiberglass airframe. I estimated a full 1 mm ID too small. After much sanding by hand, I had to take it up a notch and use the Dremel, ...
[Read More]

Dual deploy water rocket
George Katz shakes his fist at the rocket eating trees.  That is, now that he has a dual deploy ejection mechanism to keep his rockets, and their on-board camera, out of said trees.  Read all about it in his Day 88 launch report . Or, if you want to stay here, the following video shows ...
[Read More]

Da Oith
Imagine some day launching a rocket and getting onboard footage like this?
[Read More]

"Is that a real Corn-Roc, or is that a Sears Corn-Roc?"
First, I'll apologize to Frank Zappa, where ever he is, for replacing 'poncho' with 'Corn-Roc' in the title. I just found that I had never posted a photo of my First Flight Hobbies Corn-Roc .  Mine was a beta test version and I was sworn to secrecy until it was formally released. Here it is: ...
[Read More]

Why Did NASA Build the Shuttle Again?
The Space Shuttle didn't turn out to be the money-saving all-purpose reusable and safe space-truck it was meant to be. It is enormously inefficient, both in the engineering sense and the fiscal sense. For instance, to build the ISS, why didn't they fly the modules and a crew capsule up atop ...
[Read More]

From Wizards Roost to the Space Shuttle, and beyond
Back when the X-Prize Cup was held in Las Cruces, I made several posts about other space and semi-space-related attractions in that general neck of the woods. Here's one of the posts . Well, a few of those are in Texas and not so close.  And, I left out places near Albuquerque and Los ...
[Read More]

Thunderbolt 38mm step 2
The ACME fincan was added today, using more JB weld. The mix out wasted more JB than expected, so a smaller amount was used. Hopefully this will still be enough, about 4 pea sized drops were used, and the can (very tight on this airframe) was forced into place and rotated a few times to spread the ...
[Read More]

A ram-rocket in the news
Via Parabolic Arc , I see the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully conducted a flight test of its scramjet enhanced sounding rocket today.  In today's test, the scramjet combustor was passive.  The goal of the test appears to have been merely to reach and hold an optimal ...
[Read More]

On the exponential progression of information technology
This fascinating video was reportedly played at Sony's annual shareholder meeting. The content is attributed to Karl Fisch, Scott McLeod, and Jeff Brenman. Watch it.
[Read More]

Rocket Racers! DFW, Mar 4, 2010
DFW, Mar 4, 2010 , originally uploaded by Russell Blink .  
[Read More]

Newly Refurbished
Yes, it looks like we're going to be able to pull it off after all. I'm working on a new payload bay that will be able to hold a much bigger recovery device, and some meatier F's are in the mail right now. We should be cooking with Crisco when we get it all put together. Maybe we'll even make ...
[Read More]

137 years of Popular Science...for free
Popular Science now has its 137 years of archives on Google Books. Search the PopSci Archives .  Reportedly works on the iPod.  Worker productivity projected to drop even further.
[Read More]

Tau Zero completed
Well, I took advantage of a couple of dry, warm(ish) days and completed the Semroc Tau Zero .  This is a nice looking, futuristic rocket kit that flies on 18mm motors and recovers via a streamer.  I especially like the cone, which resembles a sleeker version of the Honest John cone. ...
[Read More]

From X-15 To X-51. Hypersonic Testing Continues At Edwards AFB
There?s some pretty exciting stuff going on at Edwards Air Force Base as the flight test center team gets ready to conduct an awe-inspiring X-51 first flight. The plan is to air launch the X-51A WaveRider using an expendable solid rocket booster from under the wing of a B-52, this spring. Lt. Col. ...
[Read More]

Model Rocketry Workshop - IIT - Kanpur Golden Jubilee Celebration 26 - 27 February 2010
• Indina Institute of Technology Kanpur Celebrates its Golden Jubilee from August 2009 to December 2010. • As a part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations, the Department of Aerospace Engineering will be organised its Departmental Day, a two day programme, on 26th & 27th of February, 2010. ...
[Read More]

New highly classified project started (clarification)
It will fly on 29mm motors and will spin wildly.  That's all I can say. The weather is looking up and I hope I can make the next MDRA launch! PS - It is not a scratch build so if I told ya', I'd have to kill ya' fast (i.e. before the designer found out) :)
[Read More]

Cradle of Aviation
If you live in the NYC area, consider visiting The Cradle of Aviation Museum.
[Read More]

Got design motivation?
BARCLONE has, as of 3/5/2010, 722 unique rocket designs . But, don't forget, EMRR has 3,785 articles covering 1,705 commercial products and 2,080 MOPS (modifications, out-of-production, plans, and scratch) rockets. There are also 2,281 RockSim models. For countless scans of commercial products, ...
[Read More]

Books. Are. Awesome.
Partly inspired by The Amateur Geek  and partly inspired by my own love for learning, I have decided to beef up my reading list. While I don't think I could manage a book every single day (I'm a slow reader, and piled high with homework from AP classes), I will attept to complete at least two ...
[Read More]

The best packages are 60 inches long and 4 inches in diameter
As if one fiberglass rocket were not enough, I now have two kits to build! A Wildman Drago just arrived, bundled with a pro 29mm motor (a promotion from a few months back.) However, rather than come with the so-so 3 or 4 grain case, this one came with a somewhat scary looking pro 29 6 grain XL! ...
[Read More]

Tidbit of the Week
Ever seen an illusion like this? It's called the Ponzo illusion . Which line looks bigger? They are actually both the same, but the top one looks larger. This is because the human brain interprets the two slanted lines as parallel, like railway tracks. Railroad ties are all the same size, but ...
[Read More]

Space concept art from Soviet Russia
Teknika Molodezhi - USSR, 1955. io9 has a cool gallery of retro space concept art from 1950's Russia.
[Read More]

The costs of manned space
  Author Claude Lafleur took NASA's reported expenditures, converted them to 2010 dollars, and made a colorful graph.  Such graphs beg for discussion, which you can see on The Space Review .  I didn't try to digest his more detailed page that breaks down how he got his f ...
[Read More]

US piloted programs funding
The cost of manned space exploration @ TRD
[Read More]

France To Pay Russia One Billion For 14 Soyuz Carrier Rockets
Moscow, Russia (RIA Novosti) Mar 09, 2010 France has put aside some $1 billion to buy 14 Soyuz carrier rockets from Russia, French satellite launch firm Arianespace CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall said Tuesday. "We have ordered 14 Soyuzes from the Russian Federation; the contract's cost is about $1 billion. ...
[Read More]

Falcon 9 Static Fire...LIVE!
After a couple of aborted attempts at ignition, they are done for the day. Check in on Spaceflight Now for updates. livestream-Spaceflight Now
[Read More]

Intercontinental Ballistic and Cruise Missiles
http://www.freewebs.com/nuclearUSA/
[Read More]

"The Rocket Project" by Sony
The Rocket Project Building rockets with kids, and using rocketry and computers to teach science and engineering... great! Using this project as a chance to sell overpriced laptops... eh predictable, not so bad I guess. But why the arrogant (and highly misleading) statement about the power of a ...
[Read More]

Test glide ambiguity
Snow cover melted..check. Warm...check. Calm to no wind...check. Time to test glide the Astron Invader . I forgot whether I had balanced the glider WAY back before Snowpocalyse but thought I'd give it a toss anyway. Historically, gliders do the best job of showing how I can't get all my parts glued ...
[Read More]

Swiss Army Knife for geeks and airline passengers
This Victorinox pocket knife includes a laser, a fingerprint recognizing memory stick and a Bluetooth remote control for your presentation slide-flipping laptop....as well as a blade, nail file, screwdriver, scissors, and key ring.  I think I want one.  Even though I don't flip slides ...
[Read More]

Painted the Astron Invader
Following the instructions, I laid on a very thin layer of paint to at least most of the exposed surfaces.  The recommendation was to paint the bottom black for visibility under glide and the top fluorescent to help spot it after landing.  I did half and half on top and bottom.  ...
[Read More]

Upcoming Titan Missions
I wouldn't exactly say that Titan is an "Earth-like" place. It's extremely toxic. Everything about it is extreme. And extremely awesome.
[Read More]

The Clotho Project
How far off the earth's surface does life exist, and what is the nature of the organisms that live there? The Clotho Project , a suborbital biological sampling research project that is being planned by the Rocket  Mavericks in collaboration with several scientific, academic and research ...
[Read More]

Ekranoplan "Lun" up close
Igor113 has a lot of up-close photos of the ekranoplan Lun . As found on Dark Roasted Blend . (Click the attached label to see my other posts on these huge ground effect aircraft.)
[Read More]

New template...formatting tweaks needed
I'm going to shuffle some stuff around and adjust sole of the text colors, etc.  Images in the body will have to be smaller.  I'm going to tweak the posts that reside on the current main page.  Older stuff may not fit and I can't go back to the beginning and fix everything.  ...
[Read More]

More on the blog template
Lost my 'blogscoll' code that added the slider bar to my links list. Probably just as well not to diddle with the code. The double sidebar format has caused me grief, but I kinda like my labels appearing before my eyes. I use them a fair amount but others probably don't. I don't like that YouTube ...
[Read More]

JWST Webcam
Webcam
[Read More]

Stupid new template, grrrr
I only had a few comments on the new template (s) , but the last one made me decide to fall back to my original (at least original as of mid-afternoon).  I decided that the convenience I found with the three column format wasn't worth aggravating my few loyal readers :) ...
[Read More]

Physics Jokes
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity. Why did the chicken cross the road? Issac Newton: Chickens at rest tend to stay at rest, chickens in motion tend to cross roads. Albert Einstein: Whether the chicken crossed the road or the road crossed the chicken depends on your frame of ...
[Read More]

One more try...(updated)
This time, something simple with very few bells and whistles...but with a background image... So far, I'm happier.  Despite even more complicated template code, I got the blogscrolling code in.  Whew. Doesn't look like the blogger widget that displays the recent comments in the sidebar ...
[Read More]

In case you Blogger users were curious about my last few posts...
If you use Blogger in Draft (via the check box on your dashboard), you too can redesign, enhance, beautify, and possible muck-up your blog with Blogger Template Designer .
[Read More]

Decertified motors may be flown at Tripoli Research Launches
Rocketry Planet reports that TRA VP Terry McCreary has notified the prefectures that commercial motors that have been decertified can now be flown at TRA research launches. It's unclear to me whether this is a physical change to the research code ( PDF ), a clarification, or a reinterpret ...
[Read More]

Last One to Launch is a Rotten Egg
Take my advice: don't leave your payload couped up inside your rocket for two months. It kinda stinks when you pull it out to inspect it for your next launch. Even the altimeter is stinky. Needless to say, we are going to need a new egg for today's launch (if the weather holds). We don't want any ...
[Read More]

Odd Blogger problem, and a fix
Earlier today, I tried to access the mail form that I link to here on my blog. This was originally in an HTML widget on the sidebar but I recently moved it to a dedicated page.  I found that clicking the link led to a blank page.  I investigated and found my mail form was in fact still ...
[Read More]

Stay Tuned...
March 14th, 2010 at 1:59 pm EDT is a very important moment. It decides my future. I've applied to MIT, and that is when I find out whether I'm good enough. I certainly hope I make it, but it isn't likely. 10% of the applicants get accepted. Only 6% of last year's accepted applicants had an ...
[Read More]

Sorry for all the recent posts, this blog isn't about me, it's about...
I see Spaceflight Now is reporting that SpaceX may try to fire their Falcon 9 today.  The old video link doesn't work and my computer won't display the iPhone version they have posted.  But you can watch it on their Mission Status Center . T-30 at post time. The Falcon 9's nine Merlin 1C ...
[Read More]

Eagle Comic Cutaways 1959
To see the detail, click through, select 'all sizes', and look at the full sized version. Eagle Comic Cutaways 1959 , originally uploaded by modern_fred .
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry March/April 2010
In this issue:  Performance analysis of 6 vs. 7 tube fin rockets by Larry Brand; a 'bulletproof' Estes build; a Member Photo Blast featuring plastic and cork; Baffles and More ; rockets to teach math; Howard Galloway bio; rocket accessories that won't fit in your range box; NARAM 52. Now...I ...
[Read More]

The Thunderbolt 38mm build continues!
Work on the 38mm Thunderbolt kit has continued now that a new supply of gloves and epoxy has arrived. This rocket uses JB weld and 30 minute Devcon epoxy, the latter never being very popular among the "pro amateurs" but has always been my choice, and will continue to be for ease of use and reliable ...
[Read More]

Falcon 9 is closer to a GO for launch in April
Spaceflight Now is reporting that the Falcon 9 hotfire earlier today yesterday was a success.  It's unclear what other hurdles may be required, although the flight termination system has yet to be installed.  Go Falcon 9!
[Read More]

Cool AeroTech stuff at NARCON
HP-G75 Metalstorm 29mm sparky SU RMS-24/120 RMS-EZ disposable pre-loaded adjustable delay bulkhead for 38mm RMS motors F30FJ and F31R 24mm
[Read More]

The images of Ken Crawford

[Read More]

Happy Pi-day!
I just figured something out. MIT is going to be posting admissions decisions at 1:59. It's pi-day. That's the pi-moment. 3/14 at 1:59. And 26 seconds. 3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375105820974944592307.... The suspense is killing me!
[Read More]

Didn't Make It
MIT turned me down. It was to be expected. It was inevitable. But at least I tried. So now the big question is this: Iowa State or Embry-Riddle?
[Read More]

In Van Horn, Texas, their wide-open (new) space is still pretty quiet
An article in the El Paso Times   notes that, despite some early excitement and anticipation, the proximity of Blue Origin 's facility has not created much of an economic boom in the quiet West Texas town of Van Horn.  Most workers at their facility, which is located about 25 miles north, ...
[Read More]

World's smallest (fantasy) scale model
Takayuki Hoshino & Shinji Matsui,  Himeji Institute Check out the Nano Trek . Nano Space - The final frontier. The space ship Enterprise NCC-1701D of Star Trek was fabricated in one-billionth scale by 30 kV Ga+ focused-ion- beam CVD using phenanthrene gas. ...
[Read More]

Idea for rocket spot landing (ca. 1953)
  The Rocket Catcher , via Modern Mechanix.
[Read More]

Unintended consequences
I wonder if cost of not doing Constellation will be higher than doing it? I haven't given this a lot of thought so don't criticize me too much. Consider this a rhetorical statement. But, maybe it's not a joke. DoD folks are concerned that NASA's cancellation of Constellation, specifically the Ares ...
[Read More]

Hmmmmmmm...
We're getting some interesting results. The first flight was ridiculous.We forgot to drill a hole in the body tube for the altimeter to sense pressure changes, so it told us something ridiculous like 350 ft. The second flight was even ridiculouser. The altimeter gave us a whopping 170 ft. ...
[Read More]

What's UP next at Spaceport America?
A reader, who is part of the volunteer launch crew, reports that the next UP Aerospace Spaceloft XL shot is scheduled for May 1st.  It will carry NMSU NASA Spacegrant student payloads and other stuff.
[Read More]

Rocket Racing in Tulsa
(via Indy Transponder )
[Read More]

Suicide Comet HD Video
Suicide Comet HD Video , originally uploaded by NASA Goddard Photo and Video .
[Read More]

Ur Moms
Rocketry: Officially not as easy as your moms.
[Read More]

Witness The Spectacular Descent And Landing Of Soyuz TMA-17
Through a special arrangement with representatives of the Russian Space Agency, Incredible Adventures now offers VIP admission to one of the rarest events on earth. Be in Kazakhstan June 3rd to welcome home the crew of Soyuz TMA-17. Hear the sonic boom as the capsule makes its re-entry. Watch the ...
[Read More]

Just catching up on hump day
Sleuthing Blue Origin - Clark Lindsey notes that Blue Origin will be getting gaseous hydrogen (GH2) via a DoD procurement . The Next Big Future posts that General Atomics , while not building a nuclear pulse rocket anymore (or are they?), is under contract to develop an Advanced Containment ...
[Read More]

Getting Some New Ideas
We obviously need to have the egg come down much more slowly, so here's the current plan: We encased the egg in a large, colorful plastic Easter eggshell (like for egg hunts) with its very own streamer. The rest of the rocket is rigged to come down with a parachute. There is nothing in the ...
[Read More]

LEGO my rockets
Rockets 5 , originally uploaded by Ty Keltner . So, what glue do you use if you want to fly these?
[Read More]

Space Views, by Walter Cunningham
On his newly update web page , Apollo 7 astronaut Walter Cunningham tells us what he thinks about our space program, and other stuff too.  It includes reprints of the articles that were printed in LAUNCH Magazine (now defunct).
[Read More]

FAR, FAR away
A while back, Paul Breed tweeted (can't believe I used that term) about this week end's activities at FAR , which will include a flight of his Blue Ball, Masten's Xombie, a solid propellant project, a sugar shot to space (SS2S) test, and some HPR.  The Launch Pad reports that Unreasonable ...
[Read More]

So where is my mission to Mars?
From deep in the annals of Popular Science , here is Wernher von Braun's thoughts circa 1965. "Maybe 1986 wouldn't be a bad year, from all angles".
[Read More]

Model Rocketry Workshop - Convergence 2010 - Ganpat University - Mehsana
• Every year Ganpat University Celebrates Technical Event. It's called "Convergence". • Convergence is one of the unique national Event and platform for Engg. students where they shows their skills, learn new things and also participate in various workshops. • This year also Program was ...
[Read More]

Cool video of several Dnepr launches
I didn't realize the Dnepr was so cool. It boosts with a puff, sputter, and odd red ejecta. This and more is all explained on the BBC's Spaceman blog . (spotted by Clark Lindsey )
[Read More]

A reminder from NASM: We have lots of cool stuff
Check out their Trajectories of Space Flight post. Includes several of my favorites including the V-2.
[Read More]

I hold the shuttle in the palm of my hand
I hold the shuttle in the palm of my hand , originally uploaded by Flying Jenny .
[Read More]

Slow posting means more building
Work has started on the 2 inch, 29mm Drago kit. Here is the motor mount assembly, with the top centering ring in place. A notch was cut out of the ring to allow the kevlar shock cord (thinner than in the 38mm thunderbolt) to pass down the side of the motor mount. Everything was tacked in place ...
[Read More]

New York Panorama from high altitude balloon
New York Panorama , originally uploaded by jabella . Click through for the entire photo set from this cool high altitude balloon launch.
[Read More]

Soyuz landing in snow

[Read More]

New views of an old tail-sitter and an idea for a rocket with the fins on the wrong end
Dark Roasted Blend's Retrofuture Transportation showcase, Part 2 includes cars, highways, cities, trains, boats, submarines, aircraft, space ships and space stations.  Tail-sitting aircraft are on of my minor obsessions and they include several shots of the SNECMA - Coleoptere (include the ...
[Read More]

Rail guides
The rail guides have been installed using JB weld. The rocket was held stable using the highly technical "pile of jackets" method. Some of the extra epoxy was used to repair a Stegosaur tail spike fossil. I always mix way more than needed, because it seems that very small amounts tend to mix ...
[Read More]

Sunday rocket reports (added a Blue Ball aftermath photo)
Clark Lindsey found this video of Mastens' Xombie fliying at FAR.  That is an awesome perspective. The flight went to just over 1000' at a speed of 60mph both up and down. Unreasonable Rocket reports bad news via Twitter: Bummer day crashed rocket and favorite food place in cal city(xspot) ...
[Read More]

High altitude balloon images from the Lower Hudson Valley
This was a flight to at least 90,000 feet by a team located north of New York City. Normally these high altitude balloons seem to be flown in some location in the country, flying over farms and a grid of rural routes and highways. In these flights, even with the curvature and dark sky, it is ...
[Read More]

Air Launched Sortie Vehicle, Part 3
The Space Review has the 3rd part of their article  Fire in the sky: the Air Launched Sortie Vehicle of the early 1980s (part 3) , by Dwayne Day. (I mentioned Parts 1 and 2  in a minor way before, but rather than find my posts, here are the links to “Fire in the Sky: the Air Launched ...
[Read More]

"In space, water is even more precious than on Earth." (update...#2)
Another good Space Review article: A spacefaring hydraulic civilization by Taylor Dinerman.  I don't know how important water will be on the moon, but those planning NASA's future should be considering the subject. While on the subject of space water, I see Space.com has an article on lunar ...
[Read More]

Tidbit of the Week--Tidal Locking
  I've been doing a lot of tidbits on the moon lately. I wonder if it's because I've been thinking about the moon a lot lately. I guess so. I never knew why only one side of the moon faces the Earth. I had some weird idea that maybe it was part of the Earth and it broke away and is ...
[Read More]

Spaceflight Now | Breaking News | Private spaceliner takes off for inaugural test flight
Spaceflight Now Breaking News Private spaceliner takes off for inaugural test flight
[Read More]

Flight of the (SS2S) Phoenix
Richard Nakka reports on the launch of the Sugar Shot to Space Phoenix test rocket last Saturday. It flew nicely to about 3K' on a J420R (:eek: a commercial APCP motor!) but came down hard. I've embedded a video and attached the full report. Highlights of recent developments on the MiniSShot ...
[Read More]

Blogger's rights?
The DCist blog , prompted by a minor brouhaha between a local blogger and a local business, points out that Bloggers are not liable for comments added by third parties and have no responsibility to remove them.  The Blogger in question removed a comment after receiving the threat of a ...
[Read More]

Coming to a solar system near you! The JWST!

[Read More]

So, you want to sea-launch your V-2?
Well, apparently, so did the Germans.  Scott Lowther has an interesting blog post on the ?Prüfstand XII? (?Test Stand 12?) concept.  His post includes some background/history and the attached image.  In short, the idea was to tow the launcher to station in a horizontal ...
[Read More]

Rumors of its death may have been greatly exaggerated
Space Shuttles Will Keep Flying Through Early 2011, Report Says , Space.com I Smell A Compromise In The Making , NASA Watch
[Read More]

Things that make you say hmmmmmm (LDRS weirdness)
I never thought I'd see this on an LDRS/TRA website.
[Read More]

Cool video about YAAHAB (yet another amateur high altitude balloon)
(via MAKE:blog )
[Read More]

Put one of these in your garage for a few hundred bucks
Well, maybe not in the garage but on the door. A friend sent me this: A German firm called "Style Your Garage" - creates posters for garage doors that make it look as if it's actually showing the interior of your garage, and what's in it! Prices range from $199 to $399 for the double-door! ...
[Read More]

NAR/TRA to recover some of their fees for APCP litigation
About a year ago, Judge Walton ruled in favor of the NAR/TRA in their lawsuit against the BATFE, thus vacating the classification of Ammonium Perchlorate Composite Propellant (APCP) as an explosive.  Today, he granted a partial repayment under the plaintiffs' motion to recover their legal ...
[Read More]

Orange nosecone
This nosecone and payload bay in one was taken from a cirrus dart kit that is no longer in use. It is about 8 oz, in other words, rather heavy. The cirrus dart uses a solid plastic nosecone. This will be used in addition to the stock nosecone for the thunderbolt 38mm kit when it flies soon. ...
[Read More]

A big congrats to George Katz!
George reports from Air Command that he set two personal water rocketry records.  He set a new altitude record of 810' (246m) using his Acceleron V booster rocket with the Axion IVb sustainer. Wow!  This beat his previous record of 639' (193m) by a good bit.  He also set a duration ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2010-2
Location: Great Meadow, The Plains, VA ( NOVAAR ) Weather:  high 40's; clear changing to high thin clouds; wind 0 - 5 mph Total flights: Today - 8; YTD - 12 Total motors: Today - 8; YTD - 12 I got my flights up in record time despite there being tons of TARC teams flying.  NOVAAR has the ...
[Read More]

NAR/TRA joint statement on legal fee recovery
Full text of the statement: On Friday March 26, Judge Reggie Walton of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled on the TRA/NAR motion for recovery of the legal fees we incurred in our successful nine-year case against BATFE regulation of APCP. The judge rejected the g ...
[Read More]

Astronauts visit Stennis
By Jeremy Pittari, Item Staff Writer The Picayune Item STENNIS — Four of the six astronauts who recently took a space shuttle ride to the International Space Station shared the story of their adventure into low Earth orbit. Visiting astronauts included, Mission Commander George Zamka and Mission ...
[Read More]

Watch your step
--- , originally uploaded by OliviaWasHere .  
[Read More]

Don't Hold Your Breath, But We're Getting Close!
Monday is the day. Tomorrow is our official flight. If we're in the top 100, we go to Nationals in D.C. If not, we just pat each other on the back and say, "Well, it was fun anyway." So far our best altitude was 810 ft. and our best flight time was 51 seconds. (We had a 36 second flight ...
[Read More]

JATOs in El Paso?
On April 11, 1960, a U.S. Navy flying boat headed from San Diego to Baltimore via Pensacola made an emergency landing in El Paso's Ascarate Lake .  The 3000' lake wasn't big enough for the repaired plane to take off, so they needed the help of a good wind and four JATO units.  One of the ...
[Read More]

SS-18 "Satan"
This is the largest ICBM in operation right now, and it can either carry a single very large warhead (to greater than 20 MT), or many MIRVs (to nearly a dozen.) But despite being a weapon, this is first and foremost a badass rocket that is pretty cool. Some day soon, it may simply be used to ...
[Read More]

Spaceflight training on F-104 Starfighters
The Southwest Research Institute reports : As part of the next phase in advancing suborbital research opportunities and their own flight preparations, Southwest Research Institute researchers and suborbital payload specialists Dr. Alan Stern and Dr. Dan Durda have begun a new element of ...
[Read More]

Acceleron V video report (810' on H2O)
George Katz, as promised, has updated his web site with a full report of his record setting (personal) water rocket flight. The update includes photos, altimeter plots, and flight event time lines. And, of course, a cool video with several ground angles, 2 sets of on-board video, slow-motion...the ...
[Read More]

Hot times in DC
The Capital Weather Gang notes that March came and went (almost) without the temperature dipping below 33 degrees.  This record, with readings taken at Reagan National, applies only to Washington DC.  Up here, we did dip below freezing a couple of times.  But still... So, when was ...
[Read More]

Semyorka, The Excellent Seven
This historical video about the Russian R-7 Semyorka is cool even if you don't understand a word of it. (found via Clark Lindsey )
[Read More]

The Results...
The first official flight should have been REALLY SUPER GOOD. We had a 47 second flight time, but our altimeter reported an unrealistic 270 feet. It was a beautiful flight, and had our atimeter worked properly, we would've started packing for D.C. But it didn't. The officiator is going to contact ...
[Read More]

Is the game of life in our future?
The IEEE Spectrum tech talk blog calls game designer Jesse Schell's view of the future The Most Disturbing Presentation of the Year .  Jesse imagines a world where we earn points, ala frequent flier miles, for everything.  Game designers will take over corporate marketing.  Sensors ...
[Read More]

Impact!
Apollo crater
[Read More]

I survived!
From the t-shirt design  by rocketeer 'Adam Selene'.
[Read More]

Radical outreach
In this month's update, Verna and Randy feature the outreach projects and cold weather flying of Glenn Roth and the Radical Rocketeers of NAR Section 712: Photo of the Month   Fire and Smoke  
[Read More]

Is that a rocket in your garage?
Is that a rocket in your garage? , originally uploaded by jurvetson . Here is an in-progress shot of the Beagle IV , 4 x Q-motor, atmospheric sampling rocket. Click through, look at the tags, the select 'all sizes' and look at the big version. As for it's mission, Steve has some food for ...
[Read More]

4x Q motor - The Beagle IV
You may remember a previous post here: Q motors! Here is the flicker update found during the daily visit to TORD. "Beagle IV construction is nearing completion, and I like the anodized metal pre-painting. She looks just like the 3D sim from my earlier post. For a sense of scale, the four Q motors ...
[Read More]

Russians Have Soyuz Blessed By Priest Before Friday Launch of Faulty Spacecraft
According to MSNBC the Russians are blaming malfunctioning escape system on US made hardware. So far they have been unable to duplicate the problem on the ground. By James Oberg NBC News space analyst Special to MSNBC updated 6:10 p.m. CT, Wed., March. 31, 2010 HOUSTON - When astronauts blast off ...
[Read More]

The latent April Fool's Day post
It seems all my cute ideas for April Fools posts only arise when it's not April Fools Day.  That applies to all pranks not just blog posts.  So, I didn't try to pull any. I had considered the standard "I'm quitting rocketry" post.  Or the "I'm quitting blogging"  post. Or even, ...
[Read More]

La Mega Bomba - Sledgehammer Fireworks
Check out this crazy YouTube video of people in San Juan de la Vega, Mexico strapping explosive fireworks to sledge hammers and whacking them on an I-beam.  Embedding is disabled. You may want to skip towards the end.  Found via the (un)Make:blog .  More about this on the Living in ...
[Read More]

Soyuz Burns A Hole In The Blue Baikonur Cosmodrome Sky Enroute To Orbit
Launch today of the Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft. The Expedition 23 crew experienced spotty voice communications during accent but that was the only reported problem during an otherwise flawless launch. The launch escape system (although not needed) appears to have functioned properly despite problems ...
[Read More]

Silicon meets AP
A reader just directed me to The Rocket Project . This is a student designed project sponsored by Sony and Intel and supported by Tom Atchinson of the Rocket Mavericks . Launch is scheduled in 9-10 days as of post time.  The web site is a little heavy on the computer hype, but what the hey, ...
[Read More]

Greetings From Florida!
Greetings, Earthlings! I am writing to you from a camp site in Florida, after a long day of touring the campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Sorry there aren't any pictures, My camera was not connecting to my computer for some reason, so I will just have to use a thousand words or more. ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2010-3
Location: Great Meadow, The Plains, VA ( NOVAAR ) Weather:  mid 70's; clear to high thin clouds; wind 5 - 10 mph Total flights: Today - 7; YTD - 19 Total motors: Today - 7; YTD - 19 I was fortunate for both nice weather and the TARC competition.  The latter resulted in two back-to-back ...
[Read More]

3 Beagle rockets - 12 Q motors!
It appears that the 4Q Beagle rocket is the same as the project Sony rocket. Now this is good news: this is a cool design and if they have some money behind it, and possibly attempt more than one flight (with more than one rocket), the odds of a good flight are greatly improved. It looks like we ...
[Read More]

Didn't find any Easter Eggs, but I did find...
'Flying Jenny' at Cape Canaveral. And Astronaut/Flight Engineer Tracy Caldwell Dyson suiting up in Baikonur. In both cases, you can click-through for more info and related photos.
[Read More]

Binder Design Excel - L1 Cert Flight
Binder Design Excel - L1 Cert Flight , originally uploaded by Sascha Grant . Sascha Grant reports that he just got his TRA Level 1 on a Binder Design Excel. Way to go Sascha!
[Read More]

Soyuz Launch Video In HD!
This is one of the greatest launch videos I have ever seen. Enjoy! Lot's of activity in space this week. With the launch of Discovery this morning there are 4 women in space for the first time in history. This may be the last time for many, many years that we will have 13 humans in space at the ...
[Read More]

Before Ky Michaelson there was Harry Bull
Sport rocketeers everywhere know that Ky not only builds cool kits, manufactures great recovery components, and hosts a big superbowl party but also has strapped rocket motors to most every kind of land vehicle. But I don't think he was doing so in 1931: Rocket Driven Ice Sled Speeds Over Lake ...
[Read More]

Two space launches
Expedition 23 Soyuz, April 2nd. This video has a really cool perspective. (via the Bayourat ) And, this morning's pre-dawn launch of the Shuttle Discovery . (found on Spaceports ) Oh, yeah, there are now a record 4 women in space - on Discovery, former high school teacher Dorothy "Dottie" ...
[Read More]

Everyone needs a robot skeleton sidekick
Tonight, along with all the other hobos, cheeky monkeys, and members of his robot skeleton army, I be watching the debut of Graig Ferguson's robot skeleton sidekick, aka Geoff Peterson.  Geoff was built by Mythbuster Grant Imahara and until now has been top secret (well, at least a little ...
[Read More]

Unreasonable HPR
Paul Breed, after having to cut up and scrap his landers, has decided to get certified on, gasp , a garden variety high power sport rocket kit.  He needs the certs to he can buy motors for some undisclosed project.  He has generally eschewed sport rocketry but, has plans to move on to ...
[Read More]

Cool label, so-so contents
This weekend, I tried some Ed Hardy light beer .  I picked it because of the label and branding.  Made in Mexico.  Typical light beer.  Not bad, but typical.  Probably was overpriced but I didn't pay attention.  Unless you want the label to decorate your rocket, ...
[Read More]

Great (rocket) balls of fire
Here's old Wired article on a novel use for rocket fuel: clearing WMD bunkers (or any other enclosed area that you want to incinerate).  The rocket balls are/would be hollow spheres, made of rubberized rocket fuel.  When ignited, they randomly fly around spreading fire and destruction ...
[Read More]

ROMBUS III nuclear rocket
Scott Lowther provides a preview of his Aerospace Projects Review V2N6 , which will feature the Douglas ROMBUS/ICARUS/Ithacus/Pegasus.  The linked post includes a low res, but detailed, view of the ROMBUS III nuclear Mars rocket.  The Douglas Aircraft Co.'s proposed "Reusable Orbital ...
[Read More]

"Open Graves, Open Minds"
The vampire is my favorite horror theme, and now io9 reports that the University of Hertfordshire in England will be offering an MA in Vampire Literature. My title comes from the their title for a coming conference. Are there really enough people in this field to write advanced-degree-class papers ...
[Read More]

The future of late night TV
I think Geoff Peterson terminates his competition.
[Read More]

The rocketry work continues!
The Thunderbolt 38mm nose cone got the first of several coats of paint, using the fire escape painting chamber. After this, the cone will be sanded again, given another coat or two, and then covered with a thin layer of clear epoxy. It will then be waterproof and crash-proof. Last night, the MMT ...
[Read More]

Fixit tips
I haven't tried to keep a list of the rocketry tips that I use. Maybe I should go the Wayback Machine and see if I can find my old web site's tips pages? Anyway, here are a couple of repair tips. Two old and one new.  To replace a broken shock cord, you can install a Kevlar leader along ...
[Read More]

Deep Space
Deep Space by Apogee Space Books is on the way! Like many space and rocketry books, this one was marked down from $35 to $2. My shelf now has a nice little stack of Apogee books, they make a great collection. Each comes with some plastic disk in the back called a "Compact Disk." Now I do not know ...
[Read More]

Added tips page
I added a tip page (see tab under the banner).  These mostly came from my original web page.  If I post any new tips I'll also add them to the dedicated page.  In addition, I'm going to add links to other tips/hints resources.  So far, I only have two.  I know there are ...
[Read More]

New Esrange sounding rocket video!
"This seven minute video clip was recorded on board the Maser-11 sounding rocket that was launched from Esrange at 0600 UT on 15 May 2008. Maser-11 carried experiments for reserach under microgravity. The vehicle was developed by the Swedish Space Corporation for the European Space Agency ESA. The ...
[Read More]

Comment problems this AM
If you comment (or have commented) this morning and your submission never shows up, it is not because I am ignoring them.  A couple of comments I've moderated have not been attached to the subject posts but are gone from the moderation page.  Also, one of my responses not only didn't ...
[Read More]

Meteoroids kill satellites
The author with the Los Alamos Portable Pulser. (Photo: Chip Simons) The IEEE Spectrum has an interesting article on the danger that meteoroids pose to satellites and other spacecraft -  Space Invaders: Shooting Stars Can Shoot Down Satellites .   The author, Sigrid Close, is a ...
[Read More]

Multiple rocket-gazms - Pro 29 Vmax motors!
I keep trying to stop using so many exclamation points while blogging, but it is just very hard to do with news like this!!!1 At under .5 sec burn time, these are fast even for Vmax motors. (Granted that is probably associated with the lower total impulse class, smaller motors tend to be faster ...
[Read More]

Adventures in Florida
Sunday night was one of the most interestingly spent nights I've ever had. We arrived in Titusville, FL at about 5:00 pm and set up camp right on the edge of the water. Seriously, there was this little ledge about five feet wide that dropped straight off to the water, and we set up there. ...
[Read More]

Comments seem to be working, AM issues not resolved
The comments I referred to earlier are still mucked up.  Snippets appeared in the sidebar widget but those few comments are still are not showing on the posts.  As far as I know, these are not from my regular readers so I guess I shouldn't worry.
[Read More]

(previously untitled {original} Project Orion post)
Scott Lowther has come up with another gem - a Douglas Aircraft concept that would use a conventional biprop first stage and an Orion nuclear pulse upper stage.  Attached drawing borrowed from Scott's blog.  I'm sure he'll have a higher res version available at some point.
[Read More]

A magical Space Shuttle launch over the Disney Castle
Physics Fairies , originally uploaded by jurvetson . Early morning photo by Tinkerbell (a Disneyworld employee), posted by Juvetson with permission. Shared from Flickr based on the indicated CC license.
[Read More]

Tidbit of the Week

[Read More]

Article on project farside
"Space flight enthusiasts talk confidently about trips to the moon, but so far no rocket, even an unmanned one, has climbed more than 0.25% of the distance—about 600 miles, unofficially credited to the Lockheed X17. The first vehicle to make a really big stride into space will probably be a ...
[Read More]

More on the Douglas Orion
Scott Lowther provides more details on the Douglas Orion vehicle.  A few quick points: It has a small, curved pusher plate. Fuel is a thick layer of ablative material on the plate vs. an external 'propellant' that is vaporized and impacts the plate. Bombs are not ejected through ...
[Read More]

Project Farside reference
R2K dug up an August 1957 Time Magazine article about the project Farside balloon-launched sounding rocket.  Customer: USAF.  Balloon by General Mills.  Rocket by Ford Aeronutronic. Motors by Thiokol.  Launch altitude ~100,000'. Target altitude ~4,000 miles. Ain't the Interweb ...
[Read More]

Repair day
After finishing my taxes today I decided to repair several ailing rockets despite needing to build/finish several others. First off I fixed the 4" bullet after an early I366 Redline flight with yet another incredibly short delay. That was the last of the Redline motors I bought 'round about 2002 ...
[Read More]

May 1st. Yeeks.
I am supposed to make up my mind as to where I'm going to school next year by May 1st. I have narrowed it down to Iowa State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, but the biggest deciding factor is, of course, $$$$$. Subtracting grants, scholarships and loans from my financial aid ...
[Read More]

Mini-flood of reviews
EMRR's latest update includes three of my reviews:  Hostile Projectiles Delta X-15 , Nike Smoker , and the BMS Astron Invader .  That leaves 2 more on the pile.  I'm still never going to catch Chan.
[Read More]

Rocket Car Day 12 - "High Doom"
savaged , originally uploaded by agentdeclan . Every year Australian rocket car enthusiasts meet in the dusty back streets of Sydney for a day of racin', duckin' and dodgin'. This year's race was held today. Or is that yesterday down there? Anyway, you can click through the attached photo to find ...
[Read More]

Steamroller, lightsaber, tube and corn cob
Steamroller, lightsaber, tube and corn cob , originally uploaded by Penguin Unearthed . A nice fleet of odd-roc cars from RCD12. Click through, yadda, yadda, yadda.
[Read More]

First launch of 2010
Today was a very nice day for a launch. I had initially planned to launch yesterday, but the wind forecast, at 15 to 20 mph, was just too high to risk a 90 minute drive each way. Today was breezy, but generally nicer. There were, however, some pretty long walks. There were some great flights, ...
[Read More]

X-37B speculation
  I'm fascinated by the possibilities raised by the X-37B. Space.com has another article reviewing what may be going on with the "Flying Twinkie."  Reusable, hypersonic, launch on demand, insertion to almost any orbit, unpredictable until ground tracks can determine the orbit, flexible ...
[Read More]

STS-1, April 12, 1981, do you remember where you were?
29 years, I can hardly believe it.  I was in the MCC babysitting some new equipment.  Although it was just shadowing the ops systems, we staffed it before, during, and a short time afterward. That was SOP for ops systems and I suppose if it had hiccuped it would have been useful to see ...
[Read More]

Sony rocket project on hold
Obviously it is not so easy to fly high altitude rockets, even with Sony behind you. But hopefully this project will get flown soon, and with lots of video footage posted! (And I fear that the footage will be locked down by Sony to make commercials and such, when really it should be posted freely ...
[Read More]

CTI Pro-X N-10,000
How insane is this motor? A 1% N, with about 2600 lbs of peak thrust (2300 average), that burns for 1 second. Granted this is not quite the O10,000 (with less than half of the burn time), but the power here is substantial. This 10 KG motor, in a 10 KG rocket, should have no problem breaking mach ...
[Read More]

Paper rocket launch in Baltimore/fire and smoke at Price, MD
Paper Rocket Launcher , originally uploaded by jonlesser . The Baltimore Node , a collaborative DIY group, will be launching paper rockets at the Mid-Atlantic Mini Maker Faire at Robotfest on April 24th. The public is invited to drop by and launch their own paper missiles. The launcher will be as ...
[Read More]

Bam! Another Update to EMRR
Nick did a nearly back-to-back update , which includes my slightly modified Semroc Tau Zero .
[Read More]

Shock diamonds (Mach diamonds, Mach disks)

[Read More]

Two stage Nike Corona
"Edited video from an amateur rocket launch outside Amarillo Texas (LDRS 25) in June of 2006. The rocket featured is two stages, 17ft. tall, and weighs ~130lbs at takeoff. It has flown twice successfully to ~15.5 K ft and is now retired. The rocket motors are solid composite and manufactured by ...
[Read More]

Meet Robonaut 2
NASA plans to launch this little guy up to the station on board STS-133. Robonaut 2 can be abbreviated R2. Yeah, the first real astrodroid! R2 will work like a human with humans on board the ISS in the Destiny laboratory. He is designed to be able to use the same tools that the astronauts use. He ...
[Read More]

Free-range rocket cars = guaranteed landsharks
On-board video shows that, at Rocket Car Day , ya' better know how to dance! I hope the person that got burned is not too bad off. IMO, tethers/guideline would eliminate the dancing but would make for better racing. Rocket car point of view camera from kazumichi on Vimeo .
[Read More]

RRS Boosted Dart Article Online
Loyal readers may remember a post from exactly 1 year ago today, all about the RRS Boosted Dart. This dart, boosted with an R motor, flew to about 50 miles, nearly hitting space (and it would have been the first by over 5 years.) Check out this initial post for videos from the flight, and a ...
[Read More]

The new 'vision'
There's lotsa talk on-line about Obama's new space policy, which was formally unveiled in a speech today at KSC.  Here are a few of many stories: Obama vows commitment to manned space exploration - Spaceflight Now President Obama's space policy address - Clark Lindsey's RLV and Space ...
[Read More]

The quest for 300 psi
George Katz updates us on his experiments with fiberglass-reinforced PET bottles .  It will be cool to see what his big and complex water rockets can do when pressurized to 300 psi. He recently reported a personal record of 810' on his clustered and staged Acceleron V at a mere 120 psi.  ...
[Read More]

Oh that's right, rocketry is great

[Read More]

X-37B Gets Ready For Launch
The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle is loaded into the 5 meter fairing for it's ride to orbit aboard an Atlas 5 rocket later this month. Since this is a top secret vehicle there is not much published about what it's roll will be. But from the looks of things there hasn't been much improvement in ...
[Read More]

The recovery parachute collection
I recently decided that I have way too many parachutes. The problem is, most kits still come with one in them, and if you buy the same kind of kit, you wind up with the same kind of 'chute over and over again. Any advice on what to do with these? They are not worth that much money... do you think ...
[Read More]

Journeys to the ISS
That's the theme of this issue of Boston.com's The Big Picture . TBP is always worth look. I snatched a copy of of my fav. "Space Shuttle Discovery is seen streaking into space (to the left) as a plume of smoke floats through the air after it blasted off from launch pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space ...
[Read More]

X-37B repost

[Read More]

X-37B new post
Here's a shot of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle being loaded into a 5-meter fairing in preparation for its launch later this month. (hat tip to the Bayourat )
[Read More]

Much more discussion about our new space policy
Res Communis has another lengthy list of Resources on the President's Space Exploration Strategy .
[Read More]

FanWing UAV
Clark Lindsey reports on the novel FanWing flight technology.  Although they have been mostly focusing on UAV's , Clark notes that they have some concepts for manned vehicles on their news page .
[Read More]

Balsa X-37B in the (roach) works
It looks like sandman, owner, operator and head wood turner over at Roachwerks/Excelsior Rocketry is working on a balsa X-37B 'nosecone' .  Attached is a photo of an early prototype.
[Read More]

Planetary Entry Parachute Program (PEPP) Aeroshell
"NASA's Planetary Entry Parachute Program (PEPP) aeroshell, tested in 1966, was created to test parachutes for the Voyager Mars landing program [later changed to Viking]. To simulate the thin Martian atmosphere, the parachute needed to be used at an altitude more than 160,000 feet above the earth. ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2010-4 (Red Glare 8)
Location: Higgs Farm, Price, MD ( MDRA ) Weather:  high 50's; partly cloudy; very windy and chilly Total flights: Today - 2; YTD - 21 Total motors: Today - 2; YTD - 21 As usual, I planned to only attend one of the three launch days.  As it turned out, fate picked Saturday for me.  ...
[Read More]

DARPA's Falcon HTV-2 to go hypersonic on April 20th
Parabolic Arc reports that the Falcon HTV-2 will launch from Vandenburg atop a Minotaur Lite rocket. If successful, it will transverse about 4,100 nautical miles of the Pacific in less than 30 minutes before splashdown. The vehicle is expected to break Mach-20!
[Read More]

Weather hold, still
Hopefully this wont become yet another rocketry page that just goes dead for a few months. With this much money behind it, that seems unlikely. But still, why no further updates? And why no launch attempt? Are they having trouble with the FAA? Weather conditions Article from outside of the ...
[Read More]

New X-37B OTV details and graphic
Clark Lindsey gives latest scoop on the upcoming X-37B flight.  The update is short so I quoted the whole thing.  And swiped the new NASA/ULA graphic. Leonard David reports again on the X-37B/OTV vehicle: Some Details of Secretive X-37B Space Plane Revealed - SPACE.com . See the also the ...
[Read More]

Rocketry with a soundtrack

[Read More]

Could Code Name "Riptide" Be The Merger Of The X-37B And The X-51A
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see where these two technologies need to merge. Just think of the weight and fuel reduction if the booster did not need to carry an oxidizer and could return and land on a runway. Could this finally be the technology required to build a so called "Orbital ...
[Read More]

Red Glare 8 videos
The official and ROCKETS Magazine albums aren't up yet but this TRF thread (starting around post #103) is being populated with photographic evidence of the event.  I won't steal the photos, but once embed code is offered...
[Read More]

Landshark 3.0 (quick update)
After the drowning of version 2.0, I have plans for the next-gen Landshark. I'll post photos of the major components later. But they will be: The fin can is intact and will be reused. I managed to beat out the stuck motor.  Paper labels suck.  Once I got it out, I inserted a RMS case to ...
[Read More]

Fantastic Eyjafjallajokull photo album
The Big Picture has a big album of fantastic photos of the eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano.  Some of the best are the series showing lightning in the ash plume.  The attached is small version of one of the shots by Olivier Vandeginste .
[Read More]

Air-Launch Sortie Vehicle, part 4
The Space Review eatures the 4th and final part of Dwayne Day's series on the AFRL's “Space Sortie System.” (See: “Fire in the sky,” part 1 , part 2 , and part 3 , in previous issues of The Space Review.) This quote says it all: Imagine a 747 in a 60 degree climb, with a cluster of rocket ...
[Read More]

Misc. Links
I haven't instituted posts dedicated to random/interesting links, but maybe I should. I probably won't, but these two are what made me consider it. 15 Bizarre Buildings Around the World - WebUrbanist Never Before Seen Pictures of Albert Einstein's Desk, On the Day He Died - io9 ( ...
[Read More]

More RG 8 coverage
Rocketman248 has a nice album .  And it supports embedding!  Here's Burl Finkelstein's 'Big V2' on an N and 2 O's.  One O lit a tad late, which caused a slightly arced trajectory.  Awesome flight!
[Read More]

Your morning RG 8 fix
Here's a small but nice album.
[Read More]

Mongoose 98 - Black and Blue
This appears to be a Mongoose 98 but with a Rouse Tech aluminum fincan. Time to get a N-10,000 into a rocket like this.
[Read More]

AP Tests + Summer Job Applications + Scholarship Applications + College Decisions + High-Power Rocket Certifications + ... + (-1)^n/(x+2)! + Rn(x) = AHHHHHH!!!!!
After a title like that, I guess I don't really need to say anything.
[Read More]

When rocket designers didn't think small - the ROMBUS Family
Scott Lowther presents a cool diagram (to the right) showing the relative scale of the ICARUS, Ithacus, ROMBUS, ROMBUS F, ROMBUS III, Pegasus, Icarus Jr. to subjects such as the Space Shuttle.  Details coming in his Aerospace Projects Review V2N6. While I'm at it, I thought I'd repeat ...
[Read More]

Spaceport America update
UP Aerospace preparing for their next launch on May 4th.  The video also has some nice shots of the Spaceport under construction. 
[Read More]

Landshark 3.0 progress and decisions
Which nose shape? Tube slotted.  Mailing tube is pretty flimsy.  Use it or buy a tube?  Probably will use it. The nose doesn't look like a Landshark.  Need a new name too.
[Read More]

Space, explained
Daily Kos has a nice article on space - Explaining Space to the Layman (FAQ + Pics!) .  Some facts, some opinion, compiles some nice basic concepts and several interesting diagrams.  I read half before my mind stated hearing "la, la, la, la."
[Read More]

360 degrees of Texas Stadium imploding
Video from inside the stadium as it came down .
[Read More]

New reloads
Today, a shipment from Hobbylinc.com arrived. This web page is a great source for very cheap motors, up to G impulse, with prices often half of those found on every other web page. Granted, they often do not have all of the motors in stock, but for under $100 shipped I got 4 G motors, 2 large F ...
[Read More]

MDRA's RG 8 album is UP
Check out the initial update of photos and video .  I see that Pete Abresch posted the flight of my Landshark 2.0 (labeled as 'Black Rocket')...all the way until it disappeared into the stream. His videos are always excellent so check them all out.  Thanks Pete!
[Read More]

X37-B timeline
T-0:00:02.7 Engine Start The Russian-designed RD-180 main engine is ignited and undergoes checkout prior to launch. ...see the whole timeline on Spaceflight Now ... T+0:17:18 Centaur Cutoff 1 The Centaur engine shuts down following its first burn. The launch will enter a news blackout following ...
[Read More]

SDO first light
This is a truly amazing view of an expanding solar prominence, taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO).  Look almost like CGI special effects.  (Photo by NASA, as seen on Discovery News .)
[Read More]

X37-B appears to be on schedule for launch
As noted by Clark Lindsey this AM.  He also found the ULA webcam link. The live webcast will be provided here starting at 7:32 p.m. EDT.
[Read More]

R hybrid
More images
[Read More]

The X37-B is up there somewhere...
Or, at least that is what Spaceflight Now is reporting . T+plus 19 minutes, 58 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! The Centaur upper stage has deployed the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle following today's launch from Cape Canaveral.  Besides the fact that I was otherwise occupied, I had no great ...
[Read More]

Incredible Solar Dynamics Observatory videos
Nasa Science News Page Wiki entry on the SDO
[Read More]

X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle launches on an Atlas V
Classified spacecraft is in space (don't ask what part, that is classified.) You know, for a secret program, we keep hearing and seeing quite a bit about it! Check out how much the exhaust expands as altitude increases, and also how the Centaur upper stage burns for about 13 minutes. X-37 Atlas V ...
[Read More]

A Thousand Words

[Read More]

X37-B launch
I never said I wouldn't watch it, I said I wasn't excited enough to sit by the computer and watch in real-time... Fox News evidently didn't like people looking at their newscast on YouTube. I guess ya' gotta find the video on your own. Sorry.
[Read More]

A Thursday twofer - the Falcon HTV-2 also launched yesterday
The first Minotaur IV Lite launch vehicle roars into the skies above California carrying DARPA's Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 on April 22, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee) More on the Parabolic Arc . Unfortunately, no reports on the payload :(
[Read More]

Starry-Eyed Hubble Celebrates 20 Years of Awe and Discovery
Starry-Eyed Hubble Celebrates 20 Years of Awe and Discovery , originally uploaded by NASA Goddard Photo and Video . Can't believe it's been 20 years. Closer to 30 years since I first worked on the development of its ground system. Click through if you want to know what you're looking at. :)
[Read More]

Steve Eves' 1:9 scale Saturn 1B @ RG-8
Here is Steve's Saturn 1B.  The white panels in the middle (above the trailer's front tire) are the retractable upper stage fins.  They will be deployed via a CO 2 charge at stage separation.
[Read More]

Falcon HTV-2 (partial) results
Spaceflight Now reports that the Minotaur-4 'Lite' deployed the HTV-2 at more than 20 times the speed of sound.  However, contact was lost around 9 minutes after liftoff.  After deployment, the HTV-2 was to perform a series of sweeping turns to bleed off excess energy and demonstrate its ...
[Read More]

Got rocketbelt? DRB does
Dark Roasted Blend features a compendium of rocketbelts, real and imagined, functional and props. Not an exhaustive list, but still cool. (photo via The Rocketman )
[Read More]

Smartass forum responses
Often when I see a forum post title, some wisecrack pops to mind.  I sure making such responses will just cause unnecessary turmoil so I generally keep them to myself.  Post:  "Cheapest was to get a shoot out?" Ignoring the first typo, which I read as 'way', I wanted to ans ...
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, April 2010
Starts good with a Darth Vader oddroc as the background image on the index page (from Hellfire 14); how to use the Big Red Bee GPS system; part III of the Black Magic Missile works how-to sales article; Curt Newport's Proteus 6 at Balls-17 (85K and Mach 3, not bad); Hellfire on the Salt Flats ...
[Read More]

Dilemma
I just got my financial aid award notice in the mail from the University of Minnesota today. The bottom line is this: if I live at home, my entire freshmen year of college would be completely paid for by grants and scholarships. Essentially free. For Iowa State, I still have to come up with I ...
[Read More]

Extending the Reach of Exploration - Panel breakout session
"Each day brings new discoveries about the world around us. What shape will future space exploration take? How will we go further and faster to deepen our understanding of space? John Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, moderates "Expanding our Reach into ...
[Read More]

Rocket Racers in Tulsa
A1246556_fhdr_filtered , originally uploaded by thefixer . Follow the links for a few more shots.  Clark Lindsey recaps the event .
[Read More]

N 10,000 Drag race
After posting about this new, ultra hot CTI motor , I have been searching for videos of it put into a rocket. Lots of wind and talking in these videos, but boy that motor is everything I expected! And here is a cato - shred using this very same motor:
[Read More]

Der Red Mix's precise design
Last night and this morning I worked up several templates based on my size/position guide (click image for larger version): As this will be my most complicated scratch-built design ever I found it necessary to plan all the part positions precisely up front. I highly recommend either Illustrator or ...
[Read More]

Rocket Racer video
Jeff Foust posted this video; found via the RLV and Space Transportation blog .
[Read More]

MiniSShot launch report
Sugar Shot to Space reports that they launched their MiniSShot test rocket earlier today. The rocket employed a 2-phase sugar motor with an initial burn, followed by a delay/coast period and then a 2nd burn phase. As seen in the attached video, phase one apparently worked nicely but there was an ...
[Read More]

My First and Likely Last Shuttle Experience:

[Read More]

Sony Rocket Project
Now, two weeks later, still no update on this project. There have been good windows since the launch date, but no launch was attempted from what I gather here. One would think that, with all of those Sony Vaio Z series computers with Intel Core i5 processors, they would be able to launch a rocket.
[Read More]

A rocket in a non-rocket contest
Entered in the Mythbusters' weekly duct tape contest on Facebook .  Winners selected each week.  Maybe Nuttin' But Tape will win me nuttin' but bragging rights?
[Read More]

Comments SNAFU
FIXED! BTW, I'm seeing the comments you make but they aren't making it onto the blog.  Even my comments.  Maybe they will eventually work their way through the Blogger database....
[Read More]

Big a$$ rocket of the day
Not big by HPR standards, but huge for it's class.  George Katz points to an album with some great shots of the recent flights of his Acceleron V.  Here is a composite image of the staging action.  Source photos by Andrew Eltobaji.  Click to see a big copy.
[Read More]

Big a$$ (concept) rockets of the day
Scott Lowther has a hat trick of cool articles for sale: Boeing Advanced Multipurpose Large Launch Vehicle (AMLLV) , "perhaps the most powerful {conventional?} booster ever envisioned… in it’s most powerful configuration, nearly four million pounds of payload could be carried by a vehicle with ...
[Read More]

Drum Roll Please...
Buh duh buh duh buh duh buh duh buh duh buh duh buh duh buh duh buh duh buh duh buh duh buh duh......... Stay tuned for my college decision!
[Read More]

First light sail (solar sail) spacecraft: "Ikaros"
(Not in English.) (Short simulation of deployment process, without sound.) (Detailed simulation of deployment process, no sound.) "A rocket carrying the Ikaros -- an acronym for Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation of the Sun -- will blast off from the Tanegashima space centre in ...
[Read More]

USAF Lost Contact With It's New Mach 20 Hypersonic Glider During Test Flight
Launched from Vandenberg AFB, Calif. on April 22, the unmanned HTV-2 was planned to cross the Pacific and impact the ocean north of Kwajalein Atoll in the first of two flights to demonstrate technology for a prompt global strike weapon [Aviation Week]. It successfully achieved separation from its ...
[Read More]

Iowa State University!
I decided. Iowa State is it. I made up my mind, and mailed in the acceptance form. It just means I'm going to have to scrimp and save this summer. $15k should be doable... but I sure hope it doesn't interfere with my certification attempts. I turn 18 this summer, so I included getting certified in ...
[Read More]

EMRR updated, includes one of mine
See the latest here , including my HotRod Rockets Discovery .  While there, make sure you check out the great entries in the Two at Once Photo Contest , which is ending in a couple of days.
[Read More]

Balloon launch CATO
Space.com reports on the spectacular crash of a 400' NASA balloon carrying the Nuclear Compton Telescope (NCT) . The NCT was a gamma-ray telescope built by the University of California, Berkeley. The 'launch' occurred at the Alice Springs Balloon Launching Centre in the northern territory of ...
[Read More]

Follow the bouncing launch pad
Here's a video of a 2.6" 'throw-away' rocket made from unreinforced Blue Tube and flying on a 54mm Aerotech J1999 Warp 9 motor. As if the break-neck lift-off wasn't enough, wait for the slow motion replay and watch the pad.  Yowzers!  Six pounds of rocket and 491 lbs of thrust for half a ...
[Read More]

The Mythbusters liked my little duct tape rocket :)
Awesome!  The Mythbusters liked my Nuttin' But Tape rocket and added it to their Duct Tape Projects photo album (FB membership req'd, sorry)!  I knew I shoulda added a link to The Dungeon.
[Read More]

Rocket Relics
Tons of great images here, mostly of small rocket motors, including a gold plated Surveyor Lunar Lander motor. Rocket Relics
[Read More]

Some recent searches to this page
ikaros light sail high-power low-energy-consumption rocket (sounds very cool!) 100 meter telescope convert phantom 4000 to aerotech (where did you get this Phantom 4000?!?) sounding rocket elliptical orbit lunar (Nice!) small solid rocket motors students n prize plans CTI N ...
[Read More]

Sony Rocket Project
http://discover.sonystyle.com/rocket/
[Read More]

Landshark 3.0 - work has resumed
At the moment, the SuperFil fillets are drying.  I have a short piece of tube to lengthen the body and will probably make a payload section out of it.  But then, I might lengthen the body and eject only the short, spiky  nose. Once the fillets are dry, I'll dry-fit everything and ...
[Read More]

Apollo 11 slo-mo awesomeness
This 8-minute video clip, taken from the Apollo 11 (July 16, 1969) launch umbilical tower, corresponds to about 30 seconds in real-time. (via Spacecraft Films ). Apollo 11 Saturn V Launch (HD) Camera E-8 from Mark Gray on Vimeo .
[Read More]

N prize team profiles
This is an update from the N prize blog. With about 500 days left, this looks like a good time to quickly describe the plans of some notable participating teams. In some cases, information is not available, or not complete enough to warrant much discussion. But let's start with an updated list of ...
[Read More]

AP Week!
This coming week is going to be utterly insane. I have three AP tests in a row, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Stats, Calc and Lit. The following Monday I have Physics. And then... Then I will break my record for a good night's sleep and sleep 15 hours. Here's how I feel about my prospects: Stats - ...
[Read More]

Viciously Mean Machine 0.75
I'm still working on the full 48" payload for the 100% Viciously Mean Machine but, in the mean time, I bought a Performance Rocketry aluminum-tipped, carbon fiber, conical nosecone and it just looks bad ass with the shorter payload. That booster will fit a CTI 6GXL casing so I hope to fly an L935 ...
[Read More]

Der Red Mix tube session and test fit
Tonight I was inspired to drill the extra holes in all four centering rings, cut the motor tubes to length, and mark them precisely according to the plan a few entries below. Everything went together nicely but before I apply any epoxy I realize I need to finalize the electronics bay mounting ...
[Read More]

Guenter Wendt, 85, 'Pad Leader' for NASA's moon missions, dies
May 3, 2010 — Guenter Wendt, the original pad leader for NASA's manned space program who was the last man the Apollo astronauts saw before launching to the moon, died at his home in Merritt Island, Fla., early Monday morning after being hospitalized for congestive heart failure and then ...
[Read More]

Landshark 3.0 rain delay
The payload section, which won't carry a payload, is ready for paint.  Fillets are complete with just a small amount of sanding needed at front and back edges. It looks like today will be too damp to lay on primer. The PML conical nose will be friction fit.  Just to make sure a hard ...
[Read More]

Inside NOTSnik
That is some pretty serious rocket power! Previous posts about this project.
[Read More]

UP update - launch tomorrow
TRF user jsdemar provides a reminder on the launch, some links, and info on the vehicle: Tuesday May 4th, 6AM MT, 8AM ET is the launch time. More info at http://www.launchnm.com/ Live video from Spaceport America at: http://www.launchnm.com/viewthelaunchphp.php The UP Aerospace Spaceloft XL rocket ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, May/June 2010
This issue includes: Coverage of a crayon rocket contest at WHOOSH; experiences from NASA's Student Launch Initiative; a review of the Quest MLAS; a detailed review of a completely modular (bolt together) rocket; how to incorporate your club; part 2 of the series on baffles; and flying FAI.  ...
[Read More]

My crayon fleet
I looked back at the cool crayon rockets in the current Sport Rocketry mag and thought I'd bore you with mine (again). Massive Gassive - ten 24mm mounts CrayShipOne - 38mm mount Standard Cray-ARM - another 38mm mount (actually, the first of the crayon fleet)
[Read More]

China's New Secret Space Plane!
Implied in a report published by China Aviation Journal, China has successfully launched its own space plane prototype, the news came out shortly after the US Air Force announced the successful test of their advanced X37B space plane, which is widely regarded as a next-generation super weapon. A ...
[Read More]

Rockets on a timetable
From a Nov, 1950 Popular Mechanics article. This covers several rockets including the Bumper Wac two stage, record breaking system. Rockets on a timetable posted early this morning at The Rocketry Planet.
[Read More]

UP went up
Early reports are that UP Aerospace 's 4th Spaceloft XL was launched successfully at ~7AM MDT (9AM EDT). Looks like you can watch the replay , but it is long so I won't embed it here
[Read More]

The Bumper WAC, plus more
Here's another cool post on Modern Mechanix about an article in the November 1950 issue of Modern Mechanics - Rockets on a Timetable .  Via High Power Rocketry via Rocketry Planet .
[Read More]

Chinese space plane?
The Bayourat has a post on what appears to be a Chinese space plane. The story appeared on China Aviation Journal shortly after the launch of our X-37B. It even resembles the X-37B a bit. The source report has been deleted and it's unclear if and when more info will be available.
[Read More]

Painting progress
Landshark 3.0 (not renamed, yet) - The tip of the pointy cone is bloody :) The new name will have a vampire theme. Body is primed and has 2 coats of Rustoleum hammered black (as on v2.0).  I'm out of it and am 90% sure that I'll need some more for the final touch-up. SS-7.5 ICBM - Almost ...
[Read More]

UP video
Video from KOAT-TV
[Read More]

16 inch armor penetrating shell
Note the shape of the penetrating cap (center.) For some reason, this rather blunt shape is used for armor penetrating shells of this size. How do these caps work?
[Read More]

Launch at the Baikonur Kosmodrome
The best part about this set of images is that it shows the people and surrounding area of the BK. From English Russia
[Read More]

Awesome Photos | A Visit To Baikonur, Launch of a “Soyuz” Progress
Awesome pictures of a progress launch and visit to Baikonur. The time exposures are most excellent. My hat is off to Dimitry Chistoprudov. I love good photography. Especially good rocketry photography. English Russia » Baikonur, Launch of “Soyuz” Rocket Missile
[Read More]

Got a package full of Odd'l stuff
Odd'l Rockets , operated by Hans "Chris" Michielssen, is dedicated to unique, if not odd, rockets and rocket-related accessories.  He recently asked if I'd be interested in testing out his newly released kit, the Wedgie .  Well, do pigs fly?  {an obvious oddroc reference} So, today ...
[Read More]

The big Cinco de Mayo post
Ate out for lunch so I'm chugging Yuenglings and chompin' burritos at home. Building Odd'ls and seeing who is going to be voted off.... On May 5, 1862, the Mexican army of Benito Juarez defeated a larger French force at the Battle of Puebla.  The  Mexicans (eventually) kept their freedom ...
[Read More]

Nice aviation photo album
Hughes "Falcon" and 2.75 inch "Mighty Mouse" rocket , originally uploaded by aeroman3 . Click through to find the full album. Besides a few rockets, it has the XFY-1 Pogo, F-104 Starfighter, another weird VTOL, a JATO-augmented sea plane...lots of good stuff!
[Read More]

Pad Abort-1 launch deemed a success
Space.com reports that NASA successfully launched the Orion Launch Abort System this morning from White Sands.  The article includes an artist conception of the even and a link to a snap from NASA TV, but I'm waiting for a good video.  Reportedly the system hoisted the dummy Orion ...
[Read More]

Pad Abort 1 animation and snaps
Here is an animation of today's Orion Launch Abort System test. Probably better than live once the boost has started since it shows the full mission profile. collectSPACE also has some snaps from NASA TV. Clark Lindsey indicates NASA has a video, but the link is missing at post time.
[Read More]

More shocking footage of Eyjafjalajokull
I previously posted about the electrical shocks (i.e. lightning) generated by Eyjafjalajökull's eruption. The video below clearly shows the physical shock waves emanating from the crater. Simply awesome!
[Read More]

Stupid Rocketry Tricks #13
This is less of a obvious goof on my part but still is a tale of rocket construction woes.  Today, I went to apply a clear coat on some printed sheets that would become skins for my Odd'l Wedgie . Can #1...empty. Can #2...sprayed for a couple of seconds then clogged.  I tried to get it ...
[Read More]

Abort LES tower test - it worked
Not the best footage ever, the cool part is missing. Any rocket we do wind up using to carry men must, MUST, have an abort system like this in place. Two crews died as a result of a shuttle with no credible early abort, and no capsule. Furthermore, I would like to strongly express my desire that ...
[Read More]

Some images of the LES abort test

[Read More]

Could Russia Be Getting Back In The Space Plane Business?
Many rumors abound since the launch of the X-37B. The USAF's Mini Shuttle. One of the rumors is that Russia is renewing a long since abandoned program called MAKS (Multipurpose Aerospace System). This was a Soviet error space plane program from the 1980's. Back in the 80's the USSR was in a space ...
[Read More]

X-51A Waverider flight scheduled this month
Looks like the the first flight of the X-51A WaveRider hypersonic scramjet flight test vehicle will occur later this month. (Per the NewScientist ).
[Read More]

Nice photo albums of the Orion Launch Abort-1 flight (updated, again)
Embedding is turned off, so you'll have to go there directly .  These shots were taken overlooking the launch site from the San Augustine Pass. R2K also found some. And, for future reference, AvWeek has some too.
[Read More]

Friday build progress report
Now, if I just had a 'solo' launch site...T-to-B and L-to-R: The tip of the Landshark 3.0 . I painted a bit then dribbled some on. The Wedgie , inside and out.  The wraps turned out OK despite having to use spray glue. Typically, the wraps get glued to me, not the rocket. Not perfect, but it ...
[Read More]

Landshark 3.0: "True Blood"
OK, I punted on the name. Keeps the 'Landshark' lineage but picks up the bloody nose cone theme.
[Read More]

I Passed My Amateur Radio Exam!
Finally. I was so peeved when I missed it by one point last year. This time I made it with two points to spare. Phew! I'm now a licensed Technician class Amateur Radio operator! The funny thing is that I almost passed the next exam, too (if you pass the first you can try for the next level without ...
[Read More]

The Polyus
Polyus space battleship
[Read More]

Vintage footage of early American space efforts (1958)
Video 1 Video 2
[Read More]

Modrocs launched from 11K'
JP Aerospace posted the following video which shows what appears to be model rockets launched from a balloon platform. (via Clark Lindsey )
[Read More]

Impact causes avalanche on Mars
Mars avalanche likely triggered by impact
[Read More]

Bill Gates - terraformer (update)
The UK's TimesOnline reports that Bill Gates is funding research into machines that can suck up ten tons of seawater per second and inject it into the atmosphere as microscopic particles. This sun shielding system is supposed to create white clouds to reflect the Sun?s rays.  This is ...
[Read More]

Two more vintage videos
I particularly like this video above because of the on-board footage showing what appears to be some intense paint ablation (from :10 to :13.) Does anyone know a source for more footage like this? It would be great to see the entire flight from this perspective. "The Safeguard Program was a United ...
[Read More]

Tech birthdays: lasers and buckyballs
This year, The laser is turning 50.   While the theoretical foundations of the laser were first established by Albert Einstein in 1917,  the first functioning ruby laser was demonstrated on May 16, 1960 by Theodore Maiman at the Hughes Research Laboratories. { Wikipedia ; ScienceNews - ...
[Read More]

Cruisin'
Click through to see the source...
[Read More]

More LES abort test footage
Thanks to The Rocketry Blog for this one. Once it loads, go full screen!
[Read More]

Great Orion Pad Abort-1 video
Finally! Click through to Vimeo and watch full-screen. Orion Pad Abort 1 Video Highlights from Space City Films on Vimeo (found via Wayne Hill )
[Read More]

Construction progress
I continue to make progress on Der Red Mix's electronics bay and motor tubes. Right now I only have e-bay pix, however, so here they are: The Flip MinoHD camera fits nicely through the side and I have room for both Parrot 2 and Raven altimeters + 2 9V batteries on that removable G10 board. I'm also ...
[Read More]

Project For AP Statistics
In my statistics we won't be having a typical final exam. Our final project is a statistical study or experiment. I have barely even started thinking about it and it's due in about 12-15 days (by the end of school). I am frantically trying to come up with something original, but I'm not getting ...
[Read More]

Live volcano-cam
There are two live cameras pointed at Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano . One is standard/visual and one is apparently a FLIR.
[Read More]

The Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex - SRMSC
(Click to enlarge, well worth the dl.) A loyal (or first time, or sporadic) reader recently sent a link for lots of videos of Sprint, Spartan, and some crazy PAR technology at the web site dedicated to the The Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex. "The Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex was ...
[Read More]

If you're going to play Farmville, you have to follow the rules
These are the rules for the Central Sod variety of Farmville.  Weather tomorrow should be warm and clear but a bit windy.
[Read More]

Dummy test rocket for air launch system
"How do you test whether a large space rocket can be launched out of the back of a cargo plane? If your idea doesn't work, you've lost a very expensive rocket and possibly a cargo plane and its crew too. Answer: You have Hanson Tank build a full size replica of your space rocket to test the idea. ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2010-5
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD ( MDRA ESL-144) Weather: sunny, high 70's, windy Total flights: Today - 12; YTD - 33 Total motors: Today - 12; YTD - 33 The day started badly - the Beltway was backed up shortly after I got on.  It cleared but then got bad again near Rte50 due to the ...
[Read More]

EMRR is for sale :eek:
Nick just announced (well, earlier today) his intent to sell EMRR.  I find this sad but understand why he wants to do this.  His efforts have provided me a useful tool, countless hours of enjoyment, and plenty of goodies along the way. He has paid forward more than any rocketeer can be ...
[Read More]

Searches to this page
future space propulsion high powered rocket for stalite launch vmax motors demand for space rockets in NZ why the name underexpanded nozzle 53 inch high power rocket detailed image of inside rocket flying humans rocket booster pack black and blue mongoose
[Read More]

Possible volcanic ash in Meridiani Planum

[Read More]

LockMart Samari monocopter update
Dave at Creamy Robot Goodness provides a first hand update on the progress of Lockheed Martin's Samari monocopter UAV and points to an AvWeek article .  He also brings video evidence...the first video below  is of a newer and slightly smaller version and the second is of the orig ...
[Read More]

Air Command hosting change and a general lament on linking
Today, George Katz announced that his main Air Command website was re-hosted and now has its own domain.  I updated my links list in the sidebar but, as usual, I won't update individual posts.  The underlying structure will remain the same, so you can merely replace  http:/ ...
[Read More]

Now featuring even MORE progress
Yesterday I added one wrap of 6 oz. fiberglass to Der Red Mix's main airframe using Dave Triano's technique. This is mainly for aesthetics and secondarily for durability. It's very difficult to apply excess resin to this much area so there are many gaps in the otherwise glossy finish. It's also ...
[Read More]

Leaps and bounds
All of a sudden this thing's really coming together. I cut all the airframe holes tonight and everything's piecing together peachily: Despite all my Illustrator pre-work and all the iteration I still managed to aim the camera basically down a fin. It's a 16:9 aspect ratio camera and it's ...
[Read More]

The weirdest use for a rocket motor, evah
The New Scientist reports that researchers at Vanderbilt U. have developed a drug delivery system based on a small solid rocket motor.  The motor activates a piston that releases the drugs from their capsule.  It consists of a MEMS microigniter, diazodintrophenol (DDNP) pyrogen and black ...
[Read More]

Another new rocket app - a microrocket equipped microbot
This Israeli-built Pincher 'microbot' is equipped with dozens of 8" long rockets capable of destroying roadside bombs. The rockets have ?pyrophoric" warheads that combust after penetrating their target.  (via the Danger Room ) P.S. - These would be a good subject for a full-scale ...
[Read More]

Everything I Ever Learned In Physics
This isn't even the half of it! It's been a long haul. s = x 1 - x 0 x = v x t v 1 = v 0 + at x = v 0 t + 1/2at 2 x = 1/2(v 0 + v 1 )t v 1 2 = v 0 2 + 2ax (In two dimensions use x & y components) Net Force F = ma F g = Gm 1 m 2 /r 2 F N = mg sin(theta) F f = mu F N W = Fs E k = 1/2mv 2 W = E kf ...
[Read More]

New image of Titan

[Read More]

TMT CERTIFIES RATT-WORKS TRI-BRID MOTOR!!
Finnally a motor that runs on moonshine! We are very pleased to announce two new certified motors from RATTworks, Dave Griffiths, head gas passer. The following motors are the first in a new technology of hybrid style motors developed by Mr. Griffiths and authorized by the NFPA policy document ...
[Read More]

Harbor Freight raid
I just returned from Harbor Freight, picking up my free flashlight and other boring stuff.  With the departure of my neighbor and his pinch point bar, I've been wanting one of my own.  I borrowed his every year for over 20 years.  But, they can cost up to $75 dollars at places ...
[Read More]

Making 3-D models of your rockets
(If you know how to use 3-D modeling tools, you can hit your 'back' button now.) That is the subject of Issue 261 of the Apogee Newsletter ( find it here ). In this issue, Tim walks you through the steps to draw a 3-D rocket model in Google Sketchup .  At the moment, RockSim 9 is nicely ...
[Read More]

Unreasonable Rocket 3-D printing
  Paul Breed has been working on an engine design that he can have 3-D printed.  I borrowed the attached image from his latest blog post on this project.  He had a plastic version for show-and-tell but when he got the metal version, some of the internal features (cooling ports) were ...
[Read More]

The first RATTworks Tribrid motors have been certified by Tripoli
As seen on Rocketry Planet , it appears that Tripoli Motor Testing (TMT) has certified two RATTworks Tribrids: a 1861K350TR-P (45% K) and a 2170K600TR-P (70% K motor).  For those who don't know what a Tribrid is, it a hybrid hybrid/liquid motor (at least I think the latter describes ...
[Read More]

Random Interweb stuff
I was freaked out by the announcement of the plans to sell EMRR so I saved the shtml pages for all my reviews.  This grabs the text and thumbnail images but not the linked larger versions.  This is OK because I should have them somewhere.  I also downloaded the delimited text file ...
[Read More]

Titan and the rings of Saturn
"This incredible composition was captured by Cassini during its May 18, 2010 flyby of Enceladus. In the foreground, near the top, is the night side of Enceladus' south pole, only about 14,000 kilometers away from the spacecraft. In the middle ground are Saturn's rings seen nearly edge on; with the ...
[Read More]

India Book of Records - Pratham Ambla
? Mr. Pratham Ambla set the new National Records & Nominated in India Book of Records - 2011 - ?Be a First & Only Indian to participate in the World Space Modelling Championship - 2004? ? Now Mr. Pratham Ambla had a two National Records - ?Limca Book of Records - 2006? & ? India Book ...
[Read More]

New idea of what to do with one or more of the retired Shuttles
The nation's museums won't like this (not to mention NASA or other space advocates with a set agenda burned into their mind), but Richard Godwin and Dennis Wingo (whoever these guys are) think parking one or more of them in orbit might be the way to go.  They provide a rationale for doing so ...
[Read More]

More ICBM and ABM images
Martin Miller
[Read More]

Some rocketeers will go to extremes to recover their rockets
...photo embellishment by skycopp ;)
[Read More]

Bang - CATO in Laos
Bang , originally uploaded by Damien @ Flickr . Click through to find more photos of the rocket festival in Laos. Big BP rockets are cool...and way cool when they do this.
[Read More]

Atlantis, ISS, the Sun
Amazing photo of the Space Shuttle Atlantis and International Space Station taken on May 16, 2010 from Madrid, Spain. Full Story . Credit: Thierry Legault
[Read More]

IKAROS and Akatsuki are in orbit
The first solar sail spacecraft is on it's way! (And some other Venus thing.)
[Read More]

New issue of Rice magazine on issuu
I'm mostly just posting this to explore what the issuu online publication site has to offer. The articles probably of most interest to my readers would be: Year of Nano , Star Power , Nanodragsters Hit the Street , and Collision Point (about the LHC). Open publication - Free publishing - ...
[Read More]

EMRR update, and the Raise
EMRR's latest update includes my opinion of the Odd'l Rockets Raise .
[Read More]

Video of a nice RC Shuttle boost glider
Shuttle Returns to the 2008 Circus!
[Read More]

On-line book - Rockets and Spacecraft Propulsion
This time, I'm playing around with on-line publication site Scribd .  These sites seem to have some stuff I'll find interesting but there is so much junk there that you have to do some digging.  Then, I find looking at a 400pp book online pretty painful. YMMV. Rocket and Spacecraft ...
[Read More]

A Look Inside The Hypersonics Lab At Boeings Phantom Works
The X-51A will make its first hypersonic flight attempt Tuesday, May 25, from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. If successful, it will be the longest-ever hypersonic flight powered by a supersonic combustion ramjet engine. A view inside of Boeings Phantom Works. Four Hypersonic test vehicles in ...
[Read More]

A week after the launch...
True Blood and the Delta X-15 have been treated with CA and touch painted.  The Wedgie 's streamer has been trimmed and reattached. And, the Helix 29 has a brand new balance beam.  Thus, all evidence of last week's launch has been erased from the Dungeon.  At least if you don't look ...
[Read More]

Paul is gone, but won't be forgotten
Gone to Aridzone, that is.  Yesterday, Warthog and Mrs. W. hosted a nice going away party for our rocket buddy, Paul.  They covered all the food groups: grilled meat, BBQ, sausage (substitutes for the the bacon group), and beer.  Even better than a build session. Oh yeah, Warthog ...
[Read More]

Some day, I will build a water rocket launcher
And when I do, Air Command will show me how.  Never thought of the check valve, have to find one of them.  Wonder of Harbor Freight has 'em in their large area dedicated to air tools?
[Read More]

John Holdren on the new manned missions
Skipping the Moon is exactly the right call here, and on this I can't agree more. The Moon is a luxury that we cannot now afford, and with triage comes hard choices. But there is one major flaw with this plan; where are the rockets? Seriously, what rocket do we use to send our men into deep space? ...
[Read More]

Having fun with a big box-o-rockets
Earlier, I mentioned that I won a big box of dead rockets at Paul's party.  This reminded me of another facet of my obsession - rebuilding.  I (almost) always fix, rebuild or in extreme cases scavenge parts from those less than perfect (but often cool) flights.  And those I haven't ...
[Read More]

Something Cool
Take a close look at this picture of the sun:
[Read More]

My initial PMFL line up (updated)
With the announcement of the P aul M iller F arewell L aunch at the next MDRA launch on June 26th, I wanted to grab a quick photo of my Paul Miller Recycled Fleet. Left-to-right and back-to-front: The 3 x 18mm Fatboy , complete with a shiny new MDRA logo.  It needs some yellow touch-up paint ...
[Read More]

Best search of the day
"power beamed airbreathing ramjet" I like it.
[Read More]

Apogee Altimeter One
"'AltimeterOne' is the ONE altimeter that you'll use in every rocket you fly to find out how high it went. Why? The four main reasons are because it displays the altitude on an LCD screen, it is so easy to use, it doesn't require a payload bay like other altimeters, and it is small and li ...
[Read More]

X-51A Waverider flight scheduled ....today
Clark Lindsey reminds us that the X-51A is scheduled to fly today. It will be dropped from a B-52 at 50k', boosted by a solid rocket to Mach 4.5, and then will accelerate to Mach 6 under scramjet power.  It is slated to maintain this velocity for 5 minutes. This is not the fastest scramjet ...
[Read More]

PMRRF update
The Paul Miller Recycled Rocket Fleet is complete...at least for the time being.  I inspected, inventoried, and scavenged the entire box.  There are lots of parts for future builds and there are even a couple of flyable 18mm and 13mm rockets, but they have no immediate interest to ...
[Read More]

Titan Missile Museum
Have you ever been inside the control room for a Titan ICBM? Well now you (virtually) can! Titan Missile From: Nonplused.org (with many many more locations.) From Philip B., a prolific member of the R2K team.
[Read More]

Tiny Tim Smoke
Here's the painted Tiny Tim Smoke .  I used black Rustoleum with silver vinyl trim. Unfortunately, my rocket-photography-fu is weak and the glare washed out the detail in the photo :shrug:
[Read More]

X-37B tracking
A few days ago, I saw the first reports that amateur sat-watchers were zeroing in on the X-37B as it orbited the Earth.  Spaceweather posted the attached photo, taken on Sunday night by Gary O. from his home in Fort Davis, Texas.  Very cool.  If you aren't an amateur astronomer, you ...
[Read More]

RG at TARC2010-2
TARC2010-2 , originally uploaded by cpbeyers .  
[Read More]

Der Red Mix - fin reinforcement time lapse video
I sped this video up roughly 50x so as not to bore you. The fins turned out pretty well. They were initially fairly warped so I took them to work and placed them in an environmental chamber at 30C/80%RH to rehydrate the over-dried plywood. As I depleted one partial roll of 6 oz. carbon fiber fabric ...
[Read More]

NAR/TRA recover some legal fees
Quoted in its entirety.  Highlights added by me. On May 24, 2010 we agreed to a settlement with the Department of Justice (DoJ) attorneys representing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) on the issue of recovery of legal fees. This fee recovery was our right ...
[Read More]

X-51A Waverider flight scheduled....today....again
ParabolicArc notes that the X-51A flight was delayed a day.
[Read More]

Atlantis returns!
Via SpaceflightNow , some stats: Atlantis' rich history includes 294 days in space, 4,648 orbits and 120 million miles during 32 flights. On this 12-day mission alone, Atlantis traveled 186 orbits of the planet and 4,879,978 miles. originally uploaded by Flying Jenny .
[Read More]

X-51A Delay
The US Air Force has been forced to delay by 24 hours the first flight of the X-51A Waverider hypersonic scramjet engine demonstrator after a freighter was spotted steaming through the splashdown zone in the Pacific.
[Read More]

Masten flight with engine restart
“We’re extremely excited and very proud to announce that we now have in-air re-light capability,” said David Masten, CEO. “The ability to turn off our engine, re-ignite it in flight, successfully regain control and land was the next big milestone as we expand our flight envelope to include ...
[Read More]

The Wallops Flight Facility's 65th Anniversary Open House
NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility is celebrating its 65th Anniversary with a public open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, June 5, 2010. Exhibits, tours and demonstrations will be conducted during the event highlighting the many research activities by NASA at Wallops. In addition, exhibits ...
[Read More]

FLIGHT INTO HISTORY - The Story Of The X15 Ship #3
This was just received from a reader: The display will include a private collection of artifacts, images and interesting relics relating to this little known chapter in aerospace history and Major Michael J. Adams. Exhibit opens Memorial Day May 31st A field trip to the crash site monument will ...
[Read More]

The X-51A's flight earned a grade of "a solid B" (updated already)
AvWeek is reporting that the flight of the X-51A Waverider was mostly successful. (via Clark Lindsey ) The Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne hydrocarbon-fueled, fuel-cooled scramjet engine was planned to run for 300 seconds, accelerating the X-51A from about Mach 4.5 to beyond Mach 6. The actual ...
[Read More]

Water rocket boost gliders
Here's an album of the first water rocket gliders that I've seen.
[Read More]

Random Tidbit(s)
If only Earth could be orbiting a start in this cluster: Then we might actually have the means to visit other worlds. It this star cluster, called the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules, M13, hundreds of thousands of stars fit into an area about 150 light years across. Of course, the more ...
[Read More]

Air Command Water Rocket Labs is open for business
George Katz just opened an extension to his Air Command site - Water Rocket Labs .  You can search Air Command's Data, do unit conversions, submit your data, and request experiments.  Read George's introduction over on his blog .
[Read More]

X-51A video!
Courtesy of the kind folks at the Edwards AFB:
[Read More]

Xombie air restart
There have been numerous reports/posts about Masten's first in-flight restart of their Xombie vehicle's engine.  However, the latest video really caught my eye.  Beautiful.  (as seen on Clark Lindsey's RLV blog )
[Read More]

SpaceX, your Falcon-9 damned well better work
Jack Kennedy posted the attached schedule, which is extracted from a presentation at NASA's Exploration Enterprise Workshop this past weekend in Galveston, TX.  NASA's related website provides .pdf's of the workshop presentations.  These plans are obviously just preliminary and are in ...
[Read More]

Forget the 6-pack, make mine a 12-Pack
Epoxy filler is drying, no pictures, feel like making a core dump... I'm in the process of making a 12 x 18mm rocket that I'm calling the 12-Pack .  I had been eyeballing the 'stiffy' BT-20 tubes over at Uncle Mike's Rocket Shack for some time and when I saw a TRF thread where someone was ...
[Read More]

12-Pack motor mount

[Read More]

Der Red Mix - fins in place
Today I coaxed the final fin into place and it's curing now: All that's left construction-wise is to JB Weld the motor retainers in place, drill the rail guide holes, load the nosecone tip up with 22 oz of lead shot and epoxy, and tether up the recovery system. Cool! Oh but then I need to fill, ...
[Read More]

Scramjet Powers Historic First Flight of X-51A WaveRider
PRESS RELEASE Date Released: Thursday, May 27, 2010 Source: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne The X-51A WaveRider hypersonic vehicle, powered by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne's scramjet engine, achieved aviation history today by making the longest-ever supersonic combustion ramjet-powered flight. Pratt & ...
[Read More]

Michaels Crafts run
I wonder if our local Michael's are going to stop carrying C11s and D12s?  Last time I was in G'burg they had none and today the Rockville store had them on clearance.  I wiped out their remaining stock at $6 a pack.  And they took an AC Moore 50% off coupon since the price didn't ...
[Read More]

Der Red Mix's attractive derriere. Oui, no?
I JB welded all the motor retainers on last night then dumped in a layer of West Systems epoxy + white pigment on the bottom plate to improve the aesthetics... at least before the first flight chars it up!: I also finished the fin fillets and mounted the rail guides today. She's just about ...
[Read More]

3" nose cone with avionics bay
I needed to add 22 oz of lead shot nose weight into Der Red Mix's nosecone today but only had one ($30 spendy!) tube of 3M DP 8005 adhesive . It's the only material I know of that will stick stuff to polyethylene at room temperature. [Maybe I'll try this much cheaper stuff next time]. Once you pop ...
[Read More]

Little Monster Update
Readers may recall the following post section from below: Little Monster Rocket does not have specific plans, and has not updated this web page in over a year. The FAQ is detailed, however, and contains some interesting discussion. One key question is: "Is the N prize possible?" The authors say ...
[Read More]

No progress today, but...
I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day and took time to actually remember.  No rocketry went on here.  Just fajitas, fixin's and family  :)  I was, however, pondering this coming week's activities and thought I'd document where the 12-Pack stands.  Since my last post, I ...
[Read More]

Rocketry electrical safety
Verna and Randy have dedicated most of the June update of their Photo of the Month and Fire & Smoke features to a very important aspect of rocketry safety - electrical safety. Recovery Safety. I will not attempt to recover my rocket from power lines , tall trees, or other dangerous ...
[Read More]

X-51A Team Eyes Results Of Scramjet Flight | AVIATION WEEK
X-51A Team Eyes Results Of Scramjet Flight | AVIATION WEEK
[Read More]

My Last Day of School
Today is my very last day of high-school. *Sniff* I'm actually a little disappointed, but I'm even more excited to be done! I look forward to the adventures of next year.
[Read More]

A massively clustered Coke Zero/Mentos Rocket Car
Uncharacteristically, I mostly find this to be a waste of good Coke Zero. But as long as it's their Coke Zero and not mine...and the scale of the project IS cool. Via Clark Lindsey - hey Clark, shouldn't this have been on the Space for All v. RLV and Space Transport blogs ? :) Now if they could ...
[Read More]

The fleet is growing faster than I can fly them :eek:
Here is a shot of the 12-Pack .  It's flyable but methinks I'll wait to paint it.  I am thinking about leaving the white primer on the base and painting alternating motor tubes black.  Then maybe add a roll pattern on the fins. Or maybe use trim Monokote instead of paint.  ...
[Read More]

When the cat is away, the mouse will paint their rockets
When I last posted about the 12-Pack, I was neither sure how I wanted to paint it nor when I'd get around to it. What I forgot was that the wife had bridge. And since the TV season is over, I headed to the Dungeon and made up my mind. This photo shows the results from three angles. At first, I had ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Falcon-9 webcast details
From the horses mouth , so to speak: Posted June 01, 2010 This page will host the live webcast of first test flight of Falcon 9. The launch window for the first Falcon 9 test launch attempt is now scheduled for: Friday 4 June 2010 Launch Window Opens: 11:00 AM Eastern / 8:00 AM Pacific / 1500 UTC ...
[Read More]

EMRR update with my reviews and a new contest!
Today's EMRR Update includes reviews of my Odd' Rockets Birdie and Wedgie .  One has a goofy formatting error but the gist should be clear - these are cool kits.  And you can always look at the pretty pictures :)  The errors have been reported and may even be gone when you read this. ...
[Read More]

12 C6's = ?
I am planning to fly the 12-Pack on three central Estes C6-7's (for ejection) and 9 Quest 'long burn' C6's (for boost and I got a lot of them).  It seems a C6 isn't a C6.  The Estes has an average impulse of 4.7 N and the Quest has 3.5.  Based on a quick calculation, the flight will ...
[Read More]

Thinking Outside the Box
Apparently a new skill I developed in 12th grade:
[Read More]

Falcon-9 video
The webcast capture, including video drop outs:
[Read More]

SpaceX Falcon 9 launch
SpaceX Falcon 9 launch , originally uploaded by Matthew Simantov . Click through for additional shots.
[Read More]

The view from the causeway
Spaceflight Now has a wonderful gallery of launch photos taken by Ben Cooper from the NASA Causeway about four miles south of the launch pad. I just had to swipe one.  This is not the best from the exhaust plume standpoint, but I love the composition.
[Read More]

12-Pack essentially done, less custom GSE
It's not worth another set of photos, but I laid 2 coats of Future on, added 2 additional plastic pop-rivets to keep the removable motor mount securely in place, updated the Rsim model with actual unloaded mass and CG numbers, filled the business end with C6's, and confirmed there is still ~1 ...
[Read More]

Falcon-9 photo mania
Here's an AP photo showing what may be condensation as Mach is broken? (via io9 )  And the answer to their question is...partially.
[Read More]

Another great Falcon-9 album
_MG_3205 , originally uploaded by Katie Darby . So awesome. Click through, yadda, yadda, yadda...
[Read More]

12-Pack GSE revealed
I kicked some ideas around and decided that I'll merely wrap the entire Quickmatch cluster in masking tape.  Wow. 
[Read More]

UFO seen over eastern Australia may have been Falcon-9 booster? (updated)
9MSN in Australia reports that there were numerous reports of a yellow-green, swirling, noisy UFO ( U nidientified F alcon-9 O bject) over eastern Australia early Saturday morning (local time). Several photos are provided.   They speculate that it might have been the Falcon-9 booster upper ...
[Read More]

Falcon-9 launch, zoomed in and zoomed out
Zoomed in... ...and out...
[Read More]

A flying sub, the ROMBUS SSTO, a Bell Orbital Saucer...
Scott Lowther has released his Aerospace Projects Review V2N6. His related blog post gives all the details, some tow-res diagrams, and a thumbnail view of the whole shebang.  If my hobby budget wasn't chronically exceeded, I'd grab this one.
[Read More]

SpaceX highlights video
SpaceX has compiled a highlights video of the Falcon-9 launch.  Launch, on-board, staging, to the  Dragon in orbit.
[Read More]

Plaster City @ 108F... but it's a dry heat!
Yesterday was the last Plaster City launch before the summer heat break. However heat arrived early as it was 80?F at 8AM and 108?F when I left at about 3:30PM!! My first flight of the day was the Viciously Mean Machine 0.75 with a CTI J1520 Vmax motor ( static firing video ). I prepped ...
[Read More]

Sony rocket project
About 2 months after the date, the much hyped (and product placed) Sony project has little information, and a progress bar that seems to be missing months. Get one of those super fancy laptops, ready to send a rocket to the Moon, and have it google "Friends of Blackrock."
[Read More]

12-Pack GSE, revisited
I got a comment to my previous post on the 12-Pack saying that, unless I feel like stomping out a fire, large amounts of tape around the Quickmatch may not be a good thing.  I need to see what scrap car airbag material I have left.  A loose wrap of that stuff may work well and should be ...
[Read More]

Armadillo boosted hop with 'chute deployment and engine restart
One its latest flight, Armadillo's pointy Mod lander scooted to 2k', shut down its motor, deployed a drogue, drifted down a ways, released the 'chute, restarted its motor, and landed on target. Here's a 4-pane video of the same footage. (found via Clark Lindsey )
[Read More]

Armadillo Aerospace flight with parachute and restart
"A four pane view of the boosted hop flight on June 5th, 2010 of the Mod vehicle with engine shutdown, drogue deployment, engine restart, safe landing." These teams are really starting to get serious!
[Read More]

Not many people get to view a Shuttle launch from this vantage point
Lt. Col. Gabriel Green and Capt. Zachary Bartoe patrol the airspace in an F-15E Strike Eagle as the Space Shuttle Atlantis launches May 14, 2010, at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Colonel Green is the 333rd Fighter Squadron commander and Captain Bartoe is a 333rd FS weapons system officer. ...
[Read More]

I ♥ sanding!!
It's my favorite. No really. After about 90 minutes of dust generation I turned this rough, UV Primed surface into a very smooth one: I put one final coat of UV Smooth Prime on tonight and the surface is very uniform. I think I filled in all the pinholes so after one more [really fun] sanding sesh ...
[Read More]

Unique View of Expedition 23 Soyuz Landing

[Read More]

Heads or tails?
Here's a video of the bi-plane that flipped on landing at Reagan National this AM.  Happily, pilot and passenger are uninjured.  Those delayed by the event are unhappy.  But not as unhappy as the pilot for breaking his plane.
[Read More]

X-51A Waverider

[Read More]

Vacuum Chamber test goes wrong
1.7 MB PDF - JSC Roundup article from 1967 I am flattered that someone from The Universe Today reads this humble little rocketry page. They should know that I check UT about 4 times per day, it is in the science news folder. One reader there commented that it seems too dangerous to test suits with ...
[Read More]

A Quote
"Often, it pays to bridge the apparent gulf between two seemingly unrelated fields of human endeavor." -G. Harry Stine, Handbook of Model Rocketry
[Read More]

High Altitude Balloon Images
HALO
[Read More]

Hump day rocketry vacuum
Not much going on today in the Interwebs.  I was kinda down about not being at LDRS, which starts tomorrow (or today if this post is slow).  Should be interesting.  I've heard about lots of cool projects.  Plus both US Rockets and Kosdon have booths.  There is plenty of ...
[Read More]

EMRR sale status
Nick has started a thread on TRF to relay status of the sale of EMRR and to provide a place for feedback.  The highlight is he has six interested parties.  I find that encouraging.  Even though I'm still a little saddened about the change, I hope Nick's deal goes through to his ...
[Read More]

Oh God, the madness is creeping back in
And They're coming to take me away Ha Ha They're coming to take me away ho ho he he ha ha to the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time, and I'll be happy to see those nice young men in their clean white coats and they're coming to take me away ha ha - Napoleon XIV (aka Jerry ...
[Read More]

Beagle VI Flight Computers
Flight Computers , originally uploaded by jurvetson . Steve Jurvetson offers a view of the custom electronics that will fly on the Beagle VI rockets as part of the CLOTHO project. These have the now expected features - flight event control, GPS, etc. But they add a new one - remote control of pad ...
[Read More]

LDRS 29 day 1 report
Truth is stranger than fiction. Jerry Irvine is apparently writing LDRS launch reports for Rocketry Planet - Day 1 of LDRS 29 sees high winds with little flying .  Sound like everything but the weather is cooperating.   I hope the weather improves and everyone has a great day tomorrow!
[Read More]

A universe of galaxies
"Thousands of galaxies crowd into this Herschel image of the distant Universe. Each dot is an entire galaxy containing billions of stars. For more than a decade, astronomers have puzzled over strangely bright galaxies in the distant Universe. These ?luminous infrared galaxies? appear to be ...
[Read More]

LDRS 29 day 2 report (update)
Rocketry Planet has a great report on day 2, including 3 slide shows and a video montage of people, places, and, more importantly, things (that means rockets, y'know).  I attached a small thumbnail of one of said things, a big Klingon Battle Cruiser.  Cool, just cool.  Other ...
[Read More]

Discovery, STS-131, from hangar to launch in 3 minutes 52 seconds
Awesome time lapse video via Air & Space : (I had to insert a jump break because the annoying ad would play every time I visited my blog.)
[Read More]

F-104 and Klingon Battle Cruiser from LDRS
DSC01818 , originally uploaded by GraceFamily . As mentioned in my earlier post. Click through to see the Flickr user's entire LDRS-29 album.
[Read More]

LDRS 29 day 2/3 gap report
Here's another small but nice album on Flickr.  It includes shots of several big futuristic/sci-fi rockets.  Looks like PunkRocketScience had a bad day - there is a shot of a badly crunched Interceptor-N.  I'm sure there will be an explanation on TRF after the event. Take the details ...
[Read More]

HAYABUSA Spacecraft re-entry
Cutting across the night sky at more than 27,000 mph, a small Japanese capsule returned to Earth from the surface of an asteroid Sunday and landed in the remote Australian outback. Spaceflight Now | Breaking News | Capsule plunges to Earth after historic visit to asteroid: http://bit.ly/9PqTh5
[Read More]

LDRS 29 day 3 (Saturday) photo album
A reader sent me the link to their nice photo album from Saturday .  Looks like the site was well protected by a Patriot battery.  :D  Was that Mythbuster Kari Byron that I spotted?  Check out the album and let me know.  BTW, the launcher was loaded with 4 of them!
[Read More]

Hayabusa re-enters over Australia
Here's some footage taken from NASA's DC-8. Read all about its journey on Spaceflight Now . Can't wait to hear how the return capsule fared. Its beacon has been picked up and they expect to find it tomorrow.
[Read More]

LDRS 29 day 3 report(s)
Jerry Irvine's day 3 report is up over at Rocketry Planet.  I'll add a link here when Neil posts his. Jerry's report Neil's report Highlights - Student's flying low and slow versions of famous architectural landmarks on G and H motors, an N-powered drag race, high powered rocket cars, Jeff ...
[Read More]

CATO Chutes released into the wild
CATO Chutes is a new manufacturer of hemispherical rip-stop nylon parachutes up to 30" in diameter.  They've actually been around at launches in the Northeast for several years but now are available nationwide via their new webstore.  You can easily figure out who the principal is but ...
[Read More]

ViperLaunch
ViperLaunch , originally uploaded by Mike (Sparky7) Jerauld . Cross posted for Verna and Randy. Click through to see more from TeamViper at LDRS-29
[Read More]

LDRS 29 misc photos from various days
While waiting for the day 4 reports (and maybe Neil's day 3)... TRF post packed with photos - Highlights: Interceptor-N both going up and down; Patriot battery with one hald way out of its tube; big R2-D2; group shots. A Picassa album - Highlights: 27 Squats on 1G 54mm motors (many needed more nose ...
[Read More]

Soyuz TMA-19 Expedition 24 Rollout
BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan — A Russian rocket set to carry a three-person U.S.-Russian crew to the international space station was moved Sunday to a launch pad in preparation for blastoff. The rocket will carry U.S. astronauts Douglas Wheelock and Shannon Walker and Russia's Fyodor Yurchikhin to the ...
[Read More]

Hayabusa recovered
JAXA reports the Hayabusa capsule has been found and "deemed intact at the moment." (via Clark Lindsey )
[Read More]

LDRS 29 galleries at ROCKETS Magazine
I noticed via Neil's Day 3 report that ROCKETS Magazine's galleries are being populated.  They have some really great shots and I can tell their DVD will rock.  I couldn't resist swiping this photo of my favorite Mythbuster, and now honorary rocket girl, Kari Byron.  Check out Day-1 ...
[Read More]

LDRS 29 - J1999 drag race
A bunch of rockets. A bunch of CATO's. Parts everywhere.
[Read More]

LDRS 29 day 4 report(s)
Neil McGilvray's report on day 4 is up on Rocketry Planet. This is the first day that Neil beat Jerry in the launch report drag race, so I don't know if Jerry going to submit one. If so, I'll add the link HERE. What I liked best about today's report (some of which I've posed about already):  ...
[Read More]

Space exploration is pretty great
I want to be a bomb squad astronomer too...
[Read More]

A new perspective on rocketry - the parachute-cam
People mount rocket cameras in many different ways - looking down, sideways, and even upward; in dedicated bays and taped on.  Dr. Zooch even mounts them on booms to give a remote perspective on the flight.  George Katz has come up with a new one - on the inside of his parachute.  ...
[Read More]

LDRS 29 day 5 - the first 'research' day (updated)
No written report - yet - but You can read the Day-5 report AND the ROCKETS Magazine crew has uploaded a few photos from Day 5 .  I think Neil said he was going to fly a huge single use motor (now a days, I count anything over and M as huge).  [Apparently, I mucked up the 2nd link.  ...
[Read More]

Cool paint job
LOC Weasel , originally uploaded by Sascha Grant . Check out Sascha's glittery black paint job!
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, June 2010
What's inside: Review of an Estes Saturn V complete with scale gantry; Pt. 5 of Black Magic Missile Work's electronics series; Rocket girl Haley Allen; Launch report from the Phoenix Missile Works club down south in Winterboro, AL; Terry Johnson describes how to do all three cert levels on the ...
[Read More]

LDRS-29 Day-6 stuff
Well, you can stick a fork in LDRS-29.  There is no report on the closing day yet, but ROCKETS Magazine does have a gallery .  Also, it looks like the launch will be featured on the Discovery Science Channel on July 5th at 9pm CST.  I couldn't find this schedule myself, but we should ...
[Read More]

LDRS 29: A windy but impressive international launch!
I was able to attend LDRS 29 at Lucerne Dry Lake, CA from Friday@11AM through Sunday@3PM. With rare exception it was windy/gusty the entire time and the only relief came between pronounced wind direction changes. We seriously experienced wind from all directions except perhaps South-East. Despite ...
[Read More]

LDRS-29 from the blogger's eye view
Fellow rocketry blogger Greg Smith attended and has a nice launch report .
[Read More]

LDRS-29 - one reason to join Facebook
When I first started Facebook, not many rocketry people/companies/orgs were there.  In fact, I wanted to keep my Facebook account and my rocketry web presence separated so I didn't search any rocketry people out.  Now, NAR and TRA have pages.  Many vendors are on there, including ...
[Read More]

Mythbusters 'Top 25' episode is now on-line
Last night, I caught the second half the Mythbusters 'Top 25' episode...and it was awesome.  Full of rocket sleds, lead balloons and, naturally, lots of explosions.  Via Twitter, I find they have the episode available on-line: MythBusters Top 25 Moments .
[Read More]

"Sweet Sixteen Dragrace"
This is one source for the J1999N story. I am not sure this is the picture we need to show to the world, now that the BATF is (correctly) off our backs. There seem to be a ton of shreds at LDRS this year, not to mention a burn incident involving several people (some of whom were not involved in ...
[Read More]

Scott Taylor's XST III
We will be heading to Souther Thunder tomorrow bright and early. So stay tuned for updates. Live video feed at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bayourat
[Read More]

Secret project flying tomorrow
Weather permitting, of course.  Rain won't be an issue, but wind direction might.  Should get in at least a C11-3 single stage flight in. 
[Read More]

Launch Report 2010-6
Location: Old National Pike Park, Mt. Airy, MD ( NARHAMS ) Weather: Clear, temps in the mid-80's, mild wind Total flights: Today - 10; YTD - 43 Total motors: Today - 11; YTD - 44 The day was great although the wind was vectored right at the closest line of trees.  Fortunately there is another ...
[Read More]

N3300R onboard footage to 17,000 ft.
"Superfluous Launch 6 at LDRS 29 on 6/13/2010 Motor Aerotech N3300R Max Altitude 17764 ft G-Wiz, 17767 RRC2 Max Speed 1427 ft/sec (mach 1.3) Max Acceleration 16G Above Mach from 2.5 to 7.8 seconds after motion Small motor anomaly at 3.9 seconds after motion Flight Length 295 sec"
[Read More]

What's on the workbench, Father's Day edition
Priming my First Flight Mega-Sonic.  This is an BT60/24mm upscale of their Semi-Sonic .  The Semi is cute but the Mega is pretty cool.  Respectable size for a modroc and you gotta love long balsa cones. Prepping motors for the 12 x C6 flight of the 12-Pack.  Peeling the ...
[Read More]

Chasing the N record
(Images from The Rocketry Planet show various high altitude rockets) This brilliant article from the Rocketry Planet has been in my bookmarks for a few months now, just waiting to get posted while on the back burner. It is all about how M and N motors (with a thin layer of rocket sprayed ...
[Read More]

Mega-Sonic!
Note to self (and others who may someday look at this and say 'huh'): Upper fins are on wrong. Not a long story but not worth describing. This was my problem and will not be an issue when these are released into the wild.
[Read More]

V1 and V2 footage from WWII Germany

[Read More]

Take a tour of a WW II submarine
A friend pointed me to this virtual tour of the USS Pampanito . Follow that link and then left click on each page and move the cursor side to side and up and down to get full 360 x 360 degree view of each page. Scroll down to read the explanation of each pic and to select next picture page and ...
[Read More]

Many more virtual tours
I posted about the virtual tour of the USS Pampanito before I navigated around the rest of the site.  Check out the index page for 360x360 tours of other ships, missile silos, historical places, power plants, etc.  No time right now, let me know your favorite (this assume YOU have the ...
[Read More]

The Sony rocket project
Day 100 and X, weather hold. Possibly due to global warming. Some updates would be nice, even if they are just internal for hobby people. Those rockets look outstanding, they appear to be in a 3x P to O config... Either way, near space is almost certain if both stages burn as planned. Check out ...
[Read More]

What I've Been Doing Lately
Not rocketry per se, but I've been working a lot lately to earn money for rocketry. Very soon I will purchase all the supplies I need to build my certification rocket! Here's a video I made (a commercial, actually) that shows a little of what I've been doing lately: As for the rocket I'm planning ...
[Read More]

Moscow Aviation Institute
"Photographs of missilery taken in the aerospace department of the Moscow Aviation Institute. Unfortunately most of the models are classified and couldn’t be shot." Are these used spacecraft, working models, or just mock-ups and boilerplates? One looks a bit like the Soviet LK Lunar Lander. From ...
[Read More]

RockOn launch is ON
  Via the NASA_Wallops Twitter stream: RockOn launch tomorrow. Window 6-9 a.m. Webcast @ 5 a.m. http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/webcast Read abt Rockon http://bit.ly/9BWX6D Eleven university experiments will fly on a Terrier-Improved Orion sounding rocket to around 390,000. One of the participants ...
[Read More]

A peek inside the Moscow Aviation Institute
More at any of the links below. Dungeon <-- R2K <-- English-Russia <-- victorprofessor
[Read More]

Daedalus Staging
See previous post about this project
[Read More]

Blah, blah, blah
RockOn was successful.  I was sleeping.  Waiting for photos from TRF member cjl. Rockets are prepped  for Saturday.  The Paul Miller memorial Drag race is ON.  Warthog, Itchy, Mikey and I will honor Paul's absence. Got a free DVR for a year since Comcast didn't resolve our ...
[Read More]

RockOn Terrier-Improved Orion
Photos by cjl (thanks for letting me post them!)...click and look at 'em full sized...full sequence on TRF.
[Read More]

38mm Thunderbolt
The Thunderbolt fiberglass kit has already flown once. However, it is not quite finished, not even in the build process. The coupler joint between two airframe sections was never quite square, and while it was fine recently on a big G motor, it is worth beefing up for H and above flights (and for ...
[Read More]

More soviet missilery
Strategic Missile Forces Museum
[Read More]

Rocketry (and balloons) on Virginia's Eastern Shore
I'm talking about NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, of course.  Although there is tons of info on the Wallop's web site , CNET's geek gestalt blog now highlights the facility for the masses.  (via Clark Lindsey )  You can follow the labels at the bottom of this post to see highlights ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2010-7
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD ( MDRA ESL-145) Weather: clear, high 80's, wind ~5MPH Total flights: Today - 9; YTD - 52 Total motors: Today - 22; YTD - 66 This was a really good day on the Shore.  Hot, but not too hot.  Enough wind to cool you but not make you walk too ...
[Read More]

Crash landing at LDRS 29
"Seismic rocket launch at LDRS 29 at Lucerne dry lake, California June 13, 2010. 29 pound rocket on a L850. The main chute charge went off at 500 feet, but the charge was not strong enough to eject the main chute. It hit pretty hard, and broke two fins." Very nice spiral smoke trail.
[Read More]

Kosdon O-10,000 in a boosted dart
Altitude was not as expected because of a separation problem. Still, for an O, it did get some pretty decent altitude. Most importantly, the O booster did recover. Here is a post about the motor. And here a post about the project.
[Read More]

Operation Sailor Hat
"Operation Sailor Hat was an explosives effects test conducted by the US Navy at Kaho'olawe Island, Hawaii in 1965[1]. They were not nuclear tests, instead employing conventional explosives (i.e. TNT) to simulate the effects of a nuclear blast. The purpose of these three tests was to study the ...
[Read More]

A big, bad LDRS-29 photo album
Big because there are over 3000 photos.  Bad because you have to wade through stuff like ~40 shots of the same 'chute in the sky. I gave up at page 30 when I found the one showing Mythbuster Kari Byron choking a chicken . That part was good. But it's also bad because the photographer has all ...
[Read More]

Mars animation by Damian Peach
Damian is one of the most talented Solar System amateur astrophotographers on the scene today. Some of his images (particularly Jupiter) rival the work done by professionals.
[Read More]

Mega-Sonic - adjusted
Here is the Mega-Sonic after in-situ surgery on the upper fin set.  The way I had them was bugging the crap out of me. They are still not right, but are closer to what they should be.  If built right, they would have a longer root chord.  I'm satisfied.
[Read More]

The Great Minnesota Air Show
I volunteered at a local air show to represent our high-power rocket club, Tripoli MN. We talked to people and answered questions about rocketry, told them about the club, told them about our monthly launch, and told them all about Big Yeller. Our joke was "Do you wanna sign up for the rocket ...
[Read More]

Zero, zilch, nada
Currently there are no active projects in the Dungeon.  I've surveyed the plastic bottles, tubes, dead kits, unbuilt kits and the parts drawers to no avail.  But, inspiration can strike at any time....
[Read More]

ESL-145 videography!
MDRA video-laureat Peter 'shaken not stirred' Abresch has posted 16 videos from MDRA's ESL-145 this past weekend. These include the Paul Miller streamer launch and my own 12-Pack flight .  The title says it was 12 D12s but it was actually 12 C6's.  I now wonder what I put on the flight ...
[Read More]

AeroTech Cheetah scrap tube luck-out
Yet another dead rocket that I inherited from the infamous Paul Miller is the motor section and nose cone from an Aerotech Cheetah.  I found replacement 1.9" tubing on AeroTech's website but, as usual, decided to root around instead.  I'd have paid the $6+ bucks but decided that I didn't ...
[Read More]

Southern Thunder 2010 Launch Report
With Southern Thunder 2010 now in the history books. The ringing is still in my ears. Every time I close my eyes. I can still see the launches burned into the back of my eyelids. There is something special about the field in Manchester, TN. It's a sod farm that's about 1 square mile. It's like ...
[Read More]

Just arrived
Just got some motors and parts in the mail, ready for the next launch! Got rail guides for one rocket, a 38-29mm adapter for the thunderbolt kit, a 2 grain 38mm CTI case, and the following motors: 225 - H400 Vmax (!) 125 - G131 SS 138 - G106 SK 159 - G125 R That H400 should kick some ass in the ...
[Read More]

CHEETAH
Well, here is the refurbished Cheetah.  It is now about 6" longer than stock.  I painted the top gloss black with a light overcoat of Rustoleum Titanium Silver (ala Sascha Grant's LOC Weasel) .  I wanted to keep the lower section as-is to retain the nice decals, didn't have the ...
[Read More]

Skidmarks
Going away, be back next week!
[Read More]

Beginning Work on Construction of Certification Rocket!
Simple. I am hoping to get certified with as little difficulty as possible, that's why my certification rocket is just a basic 3FNC rocket. So far I have glassed the air frame, cut out the fins and centering rings, constructed and glassed the motor mount, purchased the motor case and spacers, ...
[Read More]

Empty workbench syndrome
Since I don't have anything on the workbench, I've decided to take my wife's advice and re-work one that I already have.  I really like the Raygun Gothic HoJo , but it is a bit underpowered on four D12's.  I don't need extreme altitude but I'm afraid it would have problems if one of the ...
[Read More]

The spirit of Paul Miller just won't give up
I just learned that the Unknown USAF-Decorated Rocket that I inherited from Paul and lost at the last NARHAMS launch was found the next day.  These rockets are the zombies of the rocketry world.
[Read More]

A new rocket motif - steamjunk (?)
I made some progress on the Raygun Gothic HoJo boosters.  It came down to two options: Cut some BT-50 motor mounts and buy some nice cones from Semroc, or Use the scrap, thick walled, 24mm-compatible tube that my daughter scrounged for me and the ends of plastic termite traps for the cones. ...
[Read More]

Rocket model, with model
DSCN4581 , originally uploaded by chooseymomschoose .
[Read More]

Starfish Prime - the mother of all aerial displays
In a fitting tribute to the 4th of July, NPR has an interesting piece on the biggest fireworks display, evah. In the summer of 1962, the U.S. detonated a hydrogen bomb some 250 miles above the Pacific Ocean.  The charged particles from the explosion filled the sky with a rainbow of colors ...
[Read More]

My new 8 x 24mm cluster
I added the four boosters to the Raygun Gothic Hojo...ready to fly at MDRA on Four D12-5's and four C11's.  I haven't computed the single motor equivalent but it should be around a small G and will push her to around 700'.
[Read More]

Yosemite's natural slushie machine
Here is a cool video about the unique Frazil ice flows that occur in the waterfalls of Yosemite Valley during March and April. (hat tip to Rocket Jones )
[Read More]

Happy 4th of July!

[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, July/August 2010
This issues is mostly dedicated to NARCON 2010, which was held at Clark University.  Clark was where Dr. Goddard earned his PhD in 1911 so, naturally, Goddard played a big role in this year's event.  There was a tour of the Goddard displays, the keynote was delivered by Mott Linn who ...
[Read More]

Ride it, baby
Rocket to Nowhere , originally uploaded by Desóxido . Photoshopped, but who cares?
[Read More]

Doomed fiberglass rocket?
DSCN3871 , originally uploaded by artworks63 . That is, it appears to be doomed to be a prop for a fireworks stand. Click through for more of these rockets and further back in the poster's stream to see some on display.
[Read More]

Welcome
WELCOME TO THE MODEL ROCKET BUILDING BLOG! While I've been active posting on The Rocketry Forum and EMRR, I wanted a place to archive my construction methods and builds. Everyone has their own "proven" ways of building rockets. This blog is not written to say I have all the right techniques. I ...
[Read More]

TLP Phoenix 1.6" Already Started
Here's how I lined up the fins on my TLP Phoenix. Before gluing the fins in place: Body tube seams were filled with Carpenter's Wood Filler and sanded smooth. When filling body tube seams, I mix the CWF a little thicker than when I would if filling wood grain. It seems to stay in the seam a little ...
[Read More]

TLP Phoenix 1.6" Lining Up Fins
I wanted to be sure the tops of the upper four fins were all lined up. The lower four fins were easy enough, they were flush with the bottom of the body tube. The larger upper fins are spaced 5/8" from the lower fins. After the first upper fin was in place (at 5/8" spacing from the lower) I made a ...
[Read More]

Team India @ FAI World Cup - Great Lakes Cup 24th - 28th June 2010 - Oswego - Chicago
Sergienko Grigory - Russian Competitor - Pratham Ambla Pratham Ambla with S3A Category Rocket Canadian Competitor Pratham Ambla - Brian LeClercq, Pratham Ambla with Presidents of National Association of ...
[Read More]

TLP Phoenix 1.6" Fins Lined Up
After removing the Posicle sticks and clothes pins, here's the in-line fins. Next up are the fillets.
[Read More]

Fire and Forget! In progress build
I'd never built a "Fire and Forget" since my old Estes Streak back in the late 1960s. This was a spare parts build, the main ST-7 body tube was even cut and notched for an engine hook. That nose cone is a Semroc , I don't know the catalog number. Fins were cut from some 3/32" balsa scraps. In the ...
[Read More]

Fire and Forget! Masking Continued
In my builds, masking tape is only used to hold the larger masking material down - in this case, plastic sheet cut from a WalMart bag. I've read where people use aluminum foil and paper for large area masks. The bag works best for me. Regular brown masking tape is best reserved for masking window ...
[Read More]

Fire and Forget! Painting Continued
If I haven't mentioned it yet, I'm using Rustloeum Painter's Touch spray paint from Home Depot. It's about $4.00 a can. They advertise it as 2X Coverage and I believe it is. It'll go on thicker than what you're used to - so be ready. So far it's been very compatible with the Scotch Tape masks. ...
[Read More]

Fire and Forget! Painting Finished
That Centuri C6-7 engine is from the early 1970s. It was in storage in the cool, dry humidity of Northern California up until two years ago. Some may cringe at the idea of flying an old engine - but why not! There's no streamer on this rocket, it's just (as they used to call it) "Featherweight ...
[Read More]

Multi Purpose Dowel Tools
While we're on the subject of masking -   Here's some burnishing tools I use to press down and secure the tape edge before spraying. I wouldn't recommend using your fingernail, You could nick the paint. You'll have more control using the end of the dowel. Simply run the end in ...
[Read More]

CAP rocketry
IMG_8166 , originally uploaded by Squadron 11 PAO .
[Read More]

Since I didn't see any organized fireworks this year
DCist's day after photo gallery
[Read More]

Armadillo's 'Mod' lander gets a roll vane
Here's a video of another flight to 2k' AGL.  This time, roll is controlled by a vane vs. cold gas thrusters. I never get tired of these landers, especially the pointy ones. Note the spurious landing ejaculation. (from Ben Brockert via Clark Lindsey )
[Read More]

Generic Bars and Stars Decal Trim Sheet
Here's what I did with the other half of a 8 1/2" x 11" decal sheet. I needed decals for a large two engine cluster rocket but they only took up half of a full sheet. I know you can print up decals on smaller sized decal paper, but I always seem to need trim pieces. Check out the next "Fire and ...
[Read More]

Fire and Forget! OOPS!
Take a look at that root edge! I don't know what happened here. All the other masking lines looked great. I noticed some roughness at the fillet joint and ran my fingernail over the edge. The paint rolled right off! We'll use one of the decal "bars" from the last post on the Gereric Bars and Stars ...
[Read More]

Needle Files - The best out there!
Well, maybe not the best - but the best at this price. After buying these Diamond Needle files, I haven't used my old metal X-Acto files since. These are far superior and at a great price too. Only $4.99 for the set! (Item # 06988) www.harborfreight.com/5-piece-diamond-needle-file-set-6988.html ...
[Read More]

Upcoming rocket launch
The Reaction research Society's next launch is scheduled for the 17-18 th of this month. This particular launch is specifically set up for the American Institute Aeronautics and Astronautics ( AIAA ) Young Engineers competition. I found this description of the competition online. In addition to the ...
[Read More]

alt.mdra-weather
The MDRA website compiles launch site weather reports from several sources.  Should you want to know the weather on the bay, you can find out from NOAA's station at the Thomas Point Lighthouse .  (Just in case you will be paddling your rocket fleet across the Chesapeake.)  You can ...
[Read More]

Rotary Hole Punch
Here's a great tool for punching the perfect sized holes in centering rings - a Rotary Hole Punch. I bought mine at Home Depot for under $10.00. You can also pick them up at Tandy Leather. This is handy to have around the house to punch new holes in a belt or to shorten the shoulder strap on your ...
[Read More]

TLP Phoenix 1.6" Fin Fillets
The Launching Pad Phoenix kit has cardstock "brackets" that cover up the longer front fin root edge joints. I really only have to be concerned with smooth fillets on the rear, square fins. After two fillets of white glue, I could still feel roughness when I ran my fingernail over the dried ...
[Read More]

Finding the speed of Quest plastic
Not long ago, I decided to fly all my 'collectable' motors.  Next up is a G125-15.  I think I'll put it in my 29mm Quest Nike Smoke .  I'm going to try to restrain myself and keep it in the range box until I happen across an unusually calm day.  The 'Smoke flew once on an ...
[Read More]

Astronomy wins
http://www.smbc-comics.com/
[Read More]

Centuri Trivia
I used to be close with some of the Centuri people, I almost got a job there in the late 1970s! I got to know Bob DelPrincipe (designer, graphic artist, electronics whiz) pretty well. We talked a lot about what goes into producing a kit. I was curious though - How do you ...
[Read More]

TLP Phoenix 1.6" Fin Brackets
The cardstock Phoenix fin brackets fit into the fillet area of the upper fins. Here I'm scoring the fold lines with the back of a single edge razor blade. The back metal guard of the blade is the right thickness and contour for to a sharp fold. Notice I've stuck a few layers of masking tape over ...
[Read More]

Trim Monokote
Pictured to the left is a use of Trim Monokote, the thin chrome bands on my Centuri Groove Tube clone. Trim Monokote is probably the best accent material out there. The Groove Tube was one of the first models I cloned after getting back into the hobby six years ago. I wanted to replicate the ...
[Read More]

Re-envisioning the Tarkus II
The Tarkus II , shown above, was the product of real-time design.  I started with a few interesting components and a couple of  ideas but no cohesive vision for what the finished rocket would look like.  Overall, I was quite happy with the result.  I like the oversize nozzle ...
[Read More]

Saturn V groupies
One rocket girl for each of the F-1 engines. Under the Saturn V , originally uploaded by drjellis .
[Read More]

Rush - Countdown
"COUNTDOWN from the 'Signals' cd by Rush. On April 12, 1981, Rush was invited to NASA to watch the launch of the first Space Shuttle Columbia. They were so impressed and inspired that they came up with this song and video to pay tribute to NASA astronauts Young and Crippen, and the whole space ...
[Read More]

Make Your Own Engine Hooks Part 1
Boy, I'm not going to make any points with vendors with this one! I've been dissapointed by the quality of some of the engine hooks I find in kits. To me, an engine hook should spring back over the end of the nozzle end to hold the engine securely in place - not get an unrepairable bend when I ...
[Read More]

Make Your Own Engine Hooks Part 2
You'll need pliers, a strong wire cutter, metal file and a standard 2 3/4" engine casing. Don't expect your first few tries to be usable. It'll take some practice to get the bend lengths right. Here's how the blade sits in the pliers for the first bend. I'll be bending the metal away and back from ...
[Read More]

Make Your Own Engine Hooks Part 3
In the picture, the bend you just made is to the left, out of frame. Take the engine casing and set it against that first bend. I use the casing only as a measuring device - note the pliers are not butted up against the casing ! You'll need that little space to allow for the bend and clearance ...
[Read More]

Make Your Own Engine Hooks Part 4
Here's the hardest part - cutting off the hook. I use a strong wire cutter. You'll have to "guess-timate" the cut-off length. Practice will get it pretty close. If it's too long, you'll have trouble getting an engine in and out of the rocket. Pinch the cutters at the cut point and hold tight. I ...
[Read More]

Tube Fin Rockets - Revisited
To get a better contrast on your tube stabilized rockets, plan ahead and paint the inside of the tube a different color. Here's the Centuri Groove Tube clone. The outside of the tubes were completely masked off and the inside tubes were sprayed black. Be ready, it's a little hard getting the spray ...
[Read More]

Tarkus II-dot-1
Here is the Tarkus II sporting its new shiny nose cone bottle.  I also added two small cones to the previously empty tubes on the front end. The original offset nose precluded adding cones to these tubes.  You can also see there is no green plastic bottle on the clear upper stab ...
[Read More]

How about an H reload for the 29/40-120 case!?!
Via AeroTech's Facebook page:   RMS-29/40-120 motor just tested at 150 N-sec with a 1.17 sec burn time...now to bump up the propellant to enter the 'H' power range! Sounds like Warp9 to me. Which means no delay or ejection. Which means a new forward closure. But maybe not. A full G or ...
[Read More]

Fuzzy wuzzy (and other LDRS-29 rocket girls)
Click through any of these to get to the source album. It's worth the time if you want more LDRS pics. An unknown RG.  No comments please. DSC_9945a , originally uploaded by El Jefe Torcido . The album has several shots of my favorite Mythbuster.  I think featuring her in 7 posts ...
[Read More]

Rosetta flyby live coverage starts around 12:00 EST
Watch live streaming video from eurospaceagency at livestream.com "On 10 July, ESA's Rosetta will fly past 21 Lutetia, the largest asteroid ever visited by a satellite. After weeks of manoeuvres and a challenging optical navigation campaign, Rosetta is perfectly lined up to skim by at 3162 ...
[Read More]

New 29/40-120 details
The Amateur Geek was right about the propellant used in the forthcoming high thrust load for the AeroTech 29/40-120 case.  Again, via FB: "New Blue Thunder (the high solids, high Isp version). Yes it will have a delay ."
[Read More]

Fire and Forget - GOODBYE!
I went to the monthly NEFAR launch in Bunnell, Florida. The Fire and Forget rocket was one of my first out of eight launches today. The RSO read my description: "Anyone who finds it can keep it to fire and lose again. Say goodbye to my leetle friend!" That 35 year old Centuri C6-7 engine worked ...
[Read More]

Old Engines MPC Mini Jets
Some of my old engines will be used - NOT THESE! At one time I was building display models for Mike Bergenske after he bought out the MPC line and started AVI - Aerospace Vehicles Incorporated. Mike had first started Model Rocket Industries (MRI) before that. I didn't get paid for building the ...
[Read More]

Lutetia seen up close for the first time
Watch live streaming video from eurospaceagency at livestream.com The image with Saturn is very fun. This object is large enough to have significant gravity, this may be a nice place for humans to visit some day. Obviously Ceres is the star, but this is a major object as well.
[Read More]

Tripoli Minnesota July Launch was AWESOME!
It was a great launch: nice weather, several level 3 certification flights (I think 6), a big turnout, no major disasters, you couldn't ask for anything more! Well, you could, but it wouldn't help. I only flew one rocket (twice) but next launch I'm planning several big flights including my ...
[Read More]

Lucerne launch report, 7/10/10
Yesterday started cloudy but windless on the lakebed. I quickly prepped my newly-stable Squat rocket for the drag race my friend KO and I had planned. She was stuck in traffic so I then prepped and flew my Dark Star Lite with the new CTI H410 Vmax motor. That thing is insanely fast!! The following ...
[Read More]

Old Engines Blue Centuri A8-5s
I'd seen blue Estes engines mentioned on a forum last year, but I have a feeling these blue Centuri engines are pretty rare.   Most modelers know that Estes made engines for Centuri. As I understand it: There was a shortage of brown casings so blue casings were sent to Estes for ...
[Read More]

Another Armadillo 'Mod' video
A new 3-pane video of a not so new flight (back on June 26th). Roll vane, (improved) drogue deployment, engine restart. (again via Clark Lindsey )
[Read More]

Tarkus II progress
As you see, I decided on a tube fin for the upper stabilizer. I'm pretty happy with it.  Probably happier than I am with the new nose.  I'm contemplating painting the outside of the bottle.  Now I look at it and it looks like a wine bottle.  I also trimmed the big clear fin so ...
[Read More]

Ares V Payload

[Read More]

Almost H
"RMS-29/40-120 motor just tested at 150 N-sec with a 1.17 sec burn time...now to bump up the propellant to enter the 'H' power range!" "We will be running more tests on the possible 'H' reload for the RMS-29/40-120 motor hardware this week and if successful will submit for certification ...
[Read More]

Carded MMX Estes Sky Writer Downscale
I drew and built this one today. If you'd like the PDF plans, email me at oddlrockets@bellsouth.net and I'll send it right out to you. You can make one right along with this build thread. This is a carded rocket, or a smaller rocket made from cardstock - specifically business card stock. When I ...
[Read More]

Carded MMX Estes Sky Writer Post 2
The fins were drawn slightly oversize. Go ahead and pre-crease the fold line while it's still on the sheet. With staight edge in place, run a dull butter knife or the rounded backside of a razor blade through the center of the fins. This will end up being a rounded leading edge. Cut out the fins ...
[Read More]

Carded MMX Estes Sky Writer Post 3
Find some appropriate cardboard for the interior layer of your laminated fins. I mentioned cereal box cardboard, but most all dry food boxes could work well. This is not corrugated cardboard but the thin wall of a food storage box. Be sure the edges are cut square and true. White glue won't stick ...
[Read More]

I think Shark Week is looming
And not because Craig Ferguson said so. I heard it from DCist . Just when you though it was safe to go back into Silver Spring. Here's a photo embedded from Flickr.
[Read More]

Fixing an Estes Smile Part 1
Here's the fin decal I made for my Franken Goblin. Yeah, it's the Estes Goblin kit icon with added Frankenstein stitches and neck bolts. This rocket is a favorite, made from pieces and parts pulled from the bodies of old "dead" rockets. I have to keep reminding myself - longer shock cords, longer ...
[Read More]

Fixing an Estes Smile Part 2
The dent was filled with Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Filler. It was thinned with a little bit of water, not as thin as you would normally use for filling balsa. I'm surprised how hard the dried CWF is when it's not mixed to a brushing consistency. Here's how it looked after the first sanding with 400 ...
[Read More]

Fixing an Estes Smile Part 3
Here's the fix, in place and ready to fly! In the picture, the nose cone is turned with the patched area facing the camera. As the nose cone is black, I shot it with just black spray right over the repair patch and primer with no white undercoat. If the nose cone were a light color, you should use ...
[Read More]

It's Tuesday and I am in a rocketry vacuum
I have nothing on the bench (again), nothing interesting appeared on my feed reader this AM, the forums didn't have anything, EMRR hasn't updated in a month, and the photos that I submitted immediately after MDRA's last launch still haven't been posted.  But at least it looks like there will ...
[Read More]

Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) launch
100711-N-1004S-192 , originally uploaded by Official U.S. Navy Gallery . Baby blue sky, azure blue sea, orange flame...
[Read More]

Carded MMX Estes Sky Writer Post 4
To roll cardstock tubes, I use Eric Truax's "dry iron" technique. When I first read about this technique I thought it couldn't work. I was very surprised by the great results. Here a smooth coating of white glue is layed across the glue tab. I'm spreading out the glue using the backside of a razor ...
[Read More]

Carded MMX Estes Sky Writer Post 5
Sometimes you'll have to take it a step farther. Heat up water to a boil then turn down the temperature to a very low boil. Steam should still be coming up from the water. Start the roll, stop, then let the paper absorb some steam. Then roll a little more, stop and let it soak up some steam again. ...
[Read More]

Carded MMX Estes Sky Writer Post 6
The iron melts the dried glue on the inside of the tube, sealing it up. It's a little like a glue gun. The glue sticks are dry until heated in the center of the gun. It doesn't take much pressure with the iron to melt the glue. Simply roll the tube over the surface. The picture shows the tube set ...
[Read More]

Carded MMX Estes Sky Writer Post 7
To make the nose cone, I cut a piece from the same 1/4" dowel used to roll the tube. As it stands now, a nose cone made from the dowel would slide right inside the tube. A built up shoulder will fix that later. You could simply just turn the dowel in a pencil sharpener to give it the correct ...
[Read More]

Launch update
Change of plans. Once I started looking into what actually had to be done to prep the camera rocket for this weekends launch, I realized that there was actually more to do than I had anticipated. Coupled with the fact that I'm not going to be able to go out early to cast the the propellant for ...
[Read More]

RAM
See more at the Rocket Dungeon
[Read More]

MMX Quest FLIC - Don't Bother!
I've had a dozen Quest FLICs sitting in a box for a year now. They send them as a "Freebie" with orders. My youngest daughter has some fun with them, flying them with the rubber band launching stick. I've had fun burning through too many surplus MMX engines lately and figured: "What the heck - why ...
[Read More]

Micro Clip Problem on new Estes Controller
I recently retired my old Estes Launch Controller and pulled this one from a new Starter Set. This morning I "Lone Wolf" launched at a nearby schoolyard. When trying to connect up the ignitor leads, I couldn't get a grip on the micro clips! The one at the top is how it came with the Starter Set. ...
[Read More]

Web stats ain't easy
So far today: StatCounter says 103 page visits, Google says 88, and Blogger says 227 In another observation, my overall hit rate has dropped, but repeat visitors are up.  My thanks to all you regulars!
[Read More]

Quest FLICS and Q E-Z Helicopter Conversions
Even though Chris Michielssen said not to bother, I did!  I have collected several of the Quest's rubber-band-launched FLICS Precision Paper Rockets over the last couple of years and really liked the idea of actually using one.  Like Chris, I added a 'full-length' MMX motor tube nestled ...
[Read More]

When a rocketeer gets bored...
Check out this cool Traxxas E-Maxx Flamethrower R/C Truck built by the infamous rocketeer known as rokitflite .  It's long but worth it.  Click through for more details. 
[Read More]

Solo launch report - FLICS and Q E-Z edition
Location: my driveway Weather: hot and raining Total flights: Today - 3; YTD - 55 Total motors: Today - 3; YTD - 69 I only flew the FLICS and my Q E-Z Monocopter . I was going to dig up a couple of more of my heavy MicroMaxx dogs, but it started raining and I packed it in.  Back into my ...
[Read More]

Carded MMX Estes Sky Writer Post 8
Cutting out those curves on the nose cone shoulder wrap is tight, so I got out my hole punch. Set on the smallest tube I could punch out the inside convex curves easily. The outside curves were cut with scissors. Here's the start of the shoulder wrap. Just glue the end and let dry before wrapping. ...
[Read More]

Carded MMX Estes Sky Writer Post 9
Now that the fins are dry, they can be cut out. Using the smaller side (already cut to size) as a cutting guide, use a straightedge and cut through all three layers. The picture shows the back after cutting. The cuts were made from the other side. This way there is no gluing and cutting alignment ...
[Read More]

Carded MMX Estes Sky Writer Post 10
Apply a bead of white glue to the outside and trailing edges of all four fins. This seals the edges and prevents any lifting of the plys . Let dry and sand with 400 grit sandpaper. Repeat with another white glue bead and let dry. You may have noticed I didn't draw any fin positioning lines on the ...
[Read More]

Stellar (Centuri) Wadding
Don't ask me where I found this. I have a second package marked down to $.25! Judging by the marked down price it had to be from a hobby store in the late 1970s.   At the time, Centuri was trying to expand into mass merchandising with the Stellar line. The Stellar kits were boxed, ...
[Read More]

Model rocket car on TV
Tonight, David Letterman had this woman demoing toys.  One was the a rocket car that I thought was called a 'Race Rocket'.  She hands Dave the controller and says to step back because there will be a 'small explosion'.  Dave pushes button and the motor takes the car across the stage ...
[Read More]

Hat of Death status report (update)
Scratch - Sweat-Stained Clifton Tracking Station Hat of Death:    53 flight(s) /26 configurations(s) Your Flights - 2x Est SU D12-0, 4x Est SU D12-P, 9x Est SU A8-3, AT EconoJet F20-P, AT EconoJet F21-P, AT EconoJet F23-P, AT EconoJet F42-P, AT EconoJet G35-P, AT EconoJet G38-P, AT RMS ...
[Read More]

Carded MMX Estes Sky Writer Post 11
I had a Quest MMX engine block left from an old parts order. I tied some 65 lb. Kevlar to the block and glued it in place so 1/8" of an MMX engine would stick out the back end. The Kevlar was run through the body. With 10" past the end of the body tube, I tied a simple overhand knot. In the center ...
[Read More]

Rocketry in the Inbox
EMRR is back after a month hiatus with a respectable number of new reviews.  The winners of the Kitbash Virtual Contest have been announced.  Which mostly reminds me that I need to tale a photo for the Double Vision Photo Contest . Then, I got the latest issue of the E-News news ...
[Read More]

Carded MMX Estes Sky Writer LAUNCH!
That carded rocketry guy Eric Truax beat me to it! The day after I sent him the PDF on this rocket he had it built and flown twice! Thankfully, it was stable. He modified his with a cardstock nose cone and added a little nose weight. With the heavier dowel nose cone, mine didn't need any more ...
[Read More]

Solo launch report - FLICS and Q E-Z edition - redux
Location: my driveway Weather: hot and humid Total flights: Today - 4; YTD - 59 Total motors: Today - 4; YTD - 73  The first flight of the Q E-Z Monocopter saw it head right into the bush adjacent to the pad. The second flight saw it rise to a foot or so as it translate about 6'.  When I ...
[Read More]

AeroTech reports test results for the 29/40-120 H motor
Via Facebook: We fired four motors in two slightly different configurations, total impulse ranged from 162 to 166 N-sec. Burn times were 1.05 to 1.1 seconds. Measured delay was about 14 seconds. Unfortunately this will be a hazmat load as it uses a single grain due to design and regulatory ...
[Read More]

Centuri Superbond Glue
Read the descriptive copy: "The most perfect glue ever developed for model rockets." At NARAM 17 in Orlando, Florida I spent a lot of time with the Centuri Representatives. A young modeler came up to us and recognized the Centuri nametag worn by Bob DelPrincipe. The modeler was excited and started ...
[Read More]

Video of a 29/40-120 'H' static test

[Read More]

EARTHQUAKE details from the USGS
Despite being a mere 9 miles from the epicenter, we slept through it. Via the USGS Earthquake Details * This event has been reviewed by a seismologist. Magnitude 3.6 Date-Time * Friday, July 16, 2010 at 09:04:47 UTC * Friday, July 16, 2010 at 05:04:47 AM at epicenter Location 39.167°N, ...
[Read More]

Bell

[Read More]

Sony Rocket Project
"WE'RE A GO! After months of waiting for good weather,good wind sheer and proper air clearance to come together, the team is set to launch. Mark your calendars for Thursday, July 22. Stay Tuned." Great news from the Sony Rocket Project team! I hope them the best of luck, and hope that they update ...
[Read More]

Inspecting a Sidewinder (update - public service announcement)
Ew, I looked back at this post and started thinking like she was giving this rocket a colonoscopy. If you are over 50 or have risk factors, have you had yours? You should. 100716-N-0754Y-003 , originally uploaded by USS George Washington .
[Read More]

Why ask why?
As I was bringing rockets up for tomorrow, I pondered todays' events, Monday's jury duty, and this popped to mind... ...I like rockets in general.  I drool over, admire, and are a little jealous of the 'big dogs' who build and fly significant projects.  I ponder getting I and J motors ...
[Read More]

Filling the Seams in a Launch Lug?
Some of you might think I'm nuts to go this far for a better finish. Yeah, I do fill the launch lug seams. This is the launch lug I'll use on the OOP Quest Nike Smoke. Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Filler stays in the small seams of the lug better than it adheres on a larger body tube seam. Simply ...
[Read More]

Quest FLIC - It's back!
Look out Dick Stafford! Here we go again! I recieve a small parts order from Quest yesterday. Another FLIC Freebie! This version won't fly with a Micro Maxx engine but with a A10-3T engine housed in a 10 1/2" long BT-5. Recovery is by a small streamer, topped with a plastic nose cone half filled ...
[Read More]

Stinger
This is it! The picture above is the actual rocket, but the paint scheme is just a concept. I edited the picture on the computer. I've never actually done a flame job before, but it seemed like it would be a fun thing to try. The rocket is almost done. I just have to fix the electronics bay ...
[Read More]

Thermosphere Contraction
"(CNN) -- An upper layer of Earth's atmosphere recently shrank so much that researchers are at a loss to adequately explain it, NASA said on Thursday. The thermosphere, which blocks harmful ultraviolet rays, expands and contracts regularly due to the sun's activities. As carbon dioxide increases, ...
[Read More]

MMX Engines - Friction Fitting
It seems I've been flying many MMX rockets lately - for good reasons. I can fly early in the morning before the Florida Summer heat gets unbearable. I can fly them at the (small) nearby schoolyard. It's something to do between monthly NAR section launches. I had too many of these ...
[Read More]

Launch Day
I had a lot of fun at the launch. The new motor performed really well . The flight went well and the chute was deployed at apogee. Unfortunately the parachute separated from the rocket and it came in ballistic. The good news is that most of the motor survived and may give some clue as to what ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2010-8
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD ( MDRA ESL-146) Weather: low 90's, clear, wind ~5-10 mph Total flights: Today - 9; YTD - 68 Total motors: Today - 18; YTD - 91 Another great day...good weather, light traffic (just missed a wreck that closed the east bound lanes of US 50), no lines at the ...
[Read More]

Vintage onboard rocket footage

[Read More]

One Month
I only have one month before my summer ends. I only have one month before I move away to college. I only have one month for high-power rocketry. I only have one month... Despite my glum attitude about having to move away, I am excited about where I'm moving to, if you know what I mean. It's ...
[Read More]

What's Wrong With This Engine?
Take a close look at this engine. Click on the picture to enlarge it. The production date is November 11, 1974.   It was flown this morning, July 19, 2010 For a 35 year old engine it performed beautifully. What's wrong? Can you figure it out? The answer will be posted ...
[Read More]

FLIC A10-3T SUCCESS!
I flew my (F2G2) Quest FLIC Shuttle with an A10-3T engine this morning. F2G2 stands for FLIC Two, Generation Two. In this second version, I glued a 10 1/2" BT-5 right down the middle of the normally rubber band launched FLIC. A plastic nose cone half filled with clay was my stability guarantee. ...
[Read More]

Thoughts on 24mm HPR
I just read a post about the new CTI F240 V-max motor. While this is cool, I have no 24mm rockets that could take this motor. Or any G or H motor for that matter.  From the start of my MPR reincarnation, I put a 29mm mount in any rocket that could use an F240.  I could adapt my 29mm ...
[Read More]

A Little (Personal) Rocketry History
Even though I'd seen an Estes catalog in my seventh grade homeroom class, I was drawn to the Centuri ads I'd seen in comic books. Centuri's ads were flashier and looking back, maybe a little darker. Look at the width of the border, that'll stand out on a page featuring 20 different vendors. This ...
[Read More]

Spaceport America construction progress
This photo is by KRQE News and was found on the Spaceport America Construction Progress blog. I love the desert Southwest.
[Read More]

'Plume-cam' plus Dr Zooch
This past weekend, I sat with Dr. Zooch and was immersed in his video wizardry.  He uses Booster Vison wireless GearCams to make 'Ants is Space' videos, staging videos and much more.  He mounts them on booms to image the staging process and glider separation details.  He also had ...
[Read More]

FLICS Lucky 13
Taking a cue from Chris Michielssen (again), I started building a 13mm-powered FLICS-based rocket.  Initially, I thought that maybe I'd try an 18mm version.  But, holding an 18mm tube in the 'V' formed by the FLICS body sections made it clear that this wasn't a good idea.  I don't ...
[Read More]

FLICS Lucky 13, on paper
I decided to do a RockSim 9 sim on the Lucky 13.  After all, the FLICS body panels are just flat fins. I just attached these 'fins' to a pod and moved it away from the body so that the 'V' is tangential to the body tube.  At first glance, everything was copacetic.  592' on an A3-4 ...
[Read More]

FLICS Lucky 13, complete
I pulled out my seldom used tackle box and found a teeney clamp on weight.  It weighed .04oz and fit nicely on the cone's wire loop.  This moved the margin to just over unity.  Final sims: A3-4 - 582' with an optimal delay of 4.7s A10-3 - 575' with an optimal delay of 4.3s
[Read More]

Don't forget RocketryPlanet's ftp site
I was reading a TRF thread about generating a template for beveled tube ends wherein brianc provided a link to the VCT zip file that is hosted on ftp.rocketryplanet.com .  Man, I don't know how I missed this one! 
[Read More]

What's Wrong With This Engine - ANSWER!
Axe figured it out yesterday. There's a pretty surprising misprint on the engine. It's a 1/2 A3-2T, printed in Green ink overall. Check the top of the casing - UPPER STAGE? Someone at the Estes factory obviously didn't reset that printed area at the top when this single stage engine was ...
[Read More]

Sony rocket project - 11 hours away from T=0
Like Sony laptops, these glasses are shinier than the rocket that sent men to the Moon. A modest setup for such a potentially record-breaking launch. Hopefully they have good camera coverage! Updates include a video explaining why the 2 year delay: And a grain test: This is a very exciting event, ...
[Read More]

Mythbusters use a rocket sled to cut a car in half
I saw this myth this evening and, sure enough, someone posted the sled run on YouTube.  I embedded it below but don't know how long it will be up.  It came from "Episode 131 - Myth Evolution II."
[Read More]

Mini-make talks rocketry
"Did you know you could be a rocket scientist in just one day? Well, a hobby rocket scientist anyways! The field of hobby rocketry is huge, ranging from $5 mini starters to multi-thousand dollar custom made giants that can fly thousands and thousands of feet. Today we'll show you enough to get you ...
[Read More]

T = 0 on the Sony rocket project

[Read More]

Spray Paint Tips
Years back, when I built a scale model rocket, I'd have to go the extra and buy a can of flat spray paint. I had cans of flat white and gloss white, flat black and gloss black. When I re-joined the hobby I had a revelation. I was stuck buying new spray paint and it hit me. Why bother buying two ...
[Read More]

Back into the Backdraft
The Backdraft is probably the most unique rocket kit I've built.  The rocket boosts on a short delay motor, ejects the booster unit, the upper section comes in ballistic and, if all goes as planned, a fuse-activated retro motor slows the rocket and deploys the 'chute. It's flown three times ...
[Read More]

X-15 video from takeoff to landing
"This joint program by NASA, the Air Force, the Navy, and North American operated the most remarkable of all the rocket research aircraft. Composed of an internal structure of titanium and a skin surface of a chrome-nickel alloy known as Inconel X, the X-15 had its first, unpowered glide flight on ...
[Read More]

The Russian space agency, Roskosmos, is putting the finishing touches to the design of a spacecraft, which could carry the nation's cosmonauts into sp
The Russian space agency, Roskosmos, is putting the finishing touches to the design of a spacecraft, which could carry the nation's cosmonauts into space in the coming decades. Russian officials revealed details about the craft at the Farnborough Air Show. The work is a culmination of a multi-year ...
[Read More]

You can never have too much X-15
(via R2K )
[Read More]

Replacing A Screw Eye In Balsa Part 1
After two unstable B6-4 flights on my Groove Tube, I knew I had to add some nose weight.   But, the old screw eye was glued in place into the bottom of a balsa nose cone. Here's the base of the cone after pulling out the old, smaller screw eye. The hole is still too big for the ...
[Read More]

Replacing A Screw Eye In Balsa Part 2
After the glue has dried, cut off the toothpicks close to the base of the nose cone. A little sanding brought them down even with the flat surface. You can see the small hole in the center where the screw eye will fit. The toothpicks will give the screw eye a much stronger grip in ...
[Read More]

Some of my MDRA photos, a video and a tip
Not that these aren't already posted here (plus more) via OurPlanet, but some of my photos have finally migrated to the MDRA archives: ESL-145 and ESL-146 .  I had noticed that none of my submissions for the past several launches had been posted and finally tried emailing the webmaster.  ...
[Read More]

Stinger's Completed Paint Job
Wow. (Even if I do say so myself!)
[Read More]

Sony rocket project launches!
"After seven months, an indefinite weather hold and several launch delays, the Rocket Project team successfully launched a 29-foot, 1,100-pound, two-stage rocket. Stay tuned for more from Black Rock, Nevada." This launch looks strangely slow. The actual configuration is not clear, but it sounds ...
[Read More]

IR footage from ballistic missile
"Thermoteknix MIRICLE TB2-30 Thermal Camera footage on board Ballistic Missile Defense during BMD testing. Ends abruptly with Missile Intercept." Experience this video in a more trippy format if you dare.
[Read More]

On-board video like you haven't seen since the late 60's, far out, man
This is with a hat tip to R2K .  First I'll set the stage. Start the first video, wait for the organ riff to start, and then scroll down and watch the second. Guaranteed to blow your mind! Thermoteknix MIRICLE TB2-30 Thermal Camera footage on board Ballistic Missile Defense during BMD ...
[Read More]

MMX Igniter Installation
Our local NAR Section president, Brian Coyle , first showed me how to use toothpicks to hold MMX igniters in place. They fit easily into the small MMX nozzles and also ended up being a convenient stand-off, raising the model above the blast deflector. Another plus - with the toothpick tip ...
[Read More]

John's EMRR Photo Contest Entry
My friend John Bishop has been a Odd'l Rockets supporter and flyer since I started the company. We get together to trade rocketry stories at the monthly Bunnell, Florida N.E.F.A.R. launches. John had an interest in competiton and I suggested the online EMRR Challenge. The Challenge is a great way ...
[Read More]

Missile Toe Goony MMX Downscale
Here's how to use your last plastic BT-5 sized nose cone. This is a cardstock downscale of the the Estes (Classic?) Missile Toe Goonybird. I hated these things when I was a teenager and for good reason. They were silly, not at all what the designers had in mind. The Estes marketing department ...
[Read More]

New Build: Heavenly Hobbies Resistor 224
The Resistor 224 Planetary Defense Weapon is the latest offering from Heavenly Hobbies. This dual motor, 24mm design features their �Amaze� ejection baffle, laser cut plywood fins, rings and baffles, thick wall tubes, and a single BIG decal. The kit can be built as front or ...
[Read More]

Mad Mike Hughes to recreate Evel Knievel's jump over the Snake River
I just received notice of this via email.  On Friday October 15th 2010, Mad Mike Hughes will attempt to recreate Evel Knievel's famous attempt to jump over the Snake River in his rocket powered X-1 Skycucle .  Mike will pilot his X-2 SkyLimo over the Colorado River. Like Evel's X-1, ...
[Read More]

More Blogger comment weirdness
I just checked my comments mod page and found several old ones.  I didn't check what was going on and just accepted the comments from known readers and rejected the others.  So, some readers may see their comments have finally been posted...or they may get duplicate responses for ...
[Read More]

I want a Kari bag
I never really had much interest in Comic-Con, but I think I changed my mind. Let's see.  Comic-Con or a rocket launch? Kari bag...or more rocket stuff?  Nope, guess I'm still not that interested.  Especially when you get all the scoop on Cowboys and Aliens , Avengers , and True ...
[Read More]

MMX Sky Shriek Goonybird Downscale
This was today's "Day off" project. I thought this would be a good challenge. Six scalloped fins, joined in pairs with wing struts. The old Sky Shriek instructions show slots through the fins. The struts were longer than needed. You slid the struts through slots, glued and sanded off the excess. ...
[Read More]

Coming in Ballistic
Coming in Ballistic , originally uploaded by jurvetson . The sad demise of Steve Jurvetson's big V-2.1. Click through for a bigger view and the action sequence, including the digging that followed. For happier days, see the upward part here .
[Read More]

MMX Sky Shriek Build Tips Part 1
Getting those fin halves to match up can be tough. I only cut out the root and leading edges of the (outside) printed plys. the other edges can overhang for now. In the picture you can see where I cut sharp "Vs" in the leading edge of the cardboard. By lining up the intersection point of the root ...
[Read More]

MMX Sky Shriek Build Tips Part 2
On most of my carded rockets, you can see a triple ply laminate at the edges of the fins. This little rocket has overall black fins. Simply take a Sharpie pen and blacken in the edges. Any white overhang on the underside (strut side) can be touched up now. I recommended punching the tops of the ...
[Read More]

Resistor 224 progress
The Resistor 224 is actually 99% done and waiting for paint.  I was going to get the required primer and clear coat yesterday, but we had the mother of all thunderstorms.  Trees down all over our neighborhood; water restrictions due to pumping station FAIL; 200k+ without power; hundreds ...
[Read More]

Google Satellite Test
Google Satellite Test , originally uploaded by jurvetson . I am personally interested in reports of flying cell phones. In the late '90's, I worked for NASA (as a contractor type person) studying using Globalstar phones on LEO satellites. NASA Wallops has since flown Iridium-based 'phones' on ...
[Read More]

Lone Wolf Launch July 26, 2010
I flew my new MMX Missile Toe and Sky Shriek this morning. Both were stable and landed close to the launcher. These little Goonies fly as well (and about as high) as their original full-sized versions did with an A3-4T. They were fun to draw up and build. I may do the entire series, ...
[Read More]

New Saucer Design - Model Profile
Occasionally I'll post some pictures of something I've worked on from the past. Here's my version of a Saucer, very loosely based on the old Centuri design without the blind embossed surface. It's 7 1/2" in diameter and 3 1/4 inches high. The top was drawn on my laptop and printed to cardstock. ...
[Read More]

Severe Storms Strike U.S. East Coast
Severe Storms Strike U.S. East Coast From Maryland Weather : Winds that accompanied Sunday's frontal passage in Montgomery County reached hurricane force - as high as 80 to 90 mph in some narrowly focused locations, according to the National Weather Service. And the area sustained widespread wind ...
[Read More]

Additional launch Photos
As usual , my good friend James took some nice photos on launch day. I really like this one looking down the launch tower. You can see a few more photos on his blog .
[Read More]

Semroc Releases Ready-to-Build line for NARAM-52
Ready-to-Build™ Kits... We have just released our first ten Ready-to-Build™ kits. These have been in the works for some time and incorporate many ideas and suggestions that have come to us over a fifty year span. I know you are thinking that all model rockets are ready to build. We have been ...
[Read More]

(Minor) Resistor 224 painting issues (a.k.a. stupid rocket tricks)
"Painting is just another name for trouble.  Either you just had trouble, you are having trouble, or you are going to have trouble".  - Me (with a hat-tip to Milt Rosen)  Today's troubles: I thought I had plenty of Metalcast metallic purple, but this stuff seems to take coat after ...
[Read More]

Semroc's latest - 'Ready to Build' but with advanced features
Semroc just released a new line of kits with initially 10 new rockets.  These are largely downscales of, as you'd expect, classics.  The name is a play on words since all kits are essentially ready to build.  What's interesting to me is that, although they were introduced as ...
[Read More]

1 rocket, 2 (of 3) 'P' motors, 2000 f/s video
Video of the Beagle IV/Clotho project at 2000 frames/sec. You can see the flame plume transition from red smoke, to blue thermite, to white aluminum-based propellant. Only 2 of 3 'P' motors lit, hence the angled boost. Recovery was at the horizontal going some 1000mph. No bio-sampling, only dirt ...
[Read More]

Tracking Powder
Ideally I would like to get a radio transmitter for tracking my high-altitude rockets (like Stinger, my high-power L1/L2 certification rocket) but unfortunately I don't know anything about it (even though I have my ham license now). In the meantime, I think the chances of successful recovery could ...
[Read More]

Resistor 224 interim results
Well, the estimate of 80% uniform coverage on the upper body might be about right.  Looks too splotchy to make me happy but I'm not investing in another Metalcast set.  Too expensive for such poor coverage. Maybe I'll try a light over spray with the silver undercoat. I'm happy enough with ...
[Read More]

Random observation on the NAR Member Guidebook
I just received my copy of Volume 8, 2010-2011 Edition.  I've mentioned before that I think this is a great resource for new and old rocketeers alike.  The newbies get a great overview of what sport rocketry is all about and us old timers get a couple of good rocket plans and a bunch of ...
[Read More]

Bhabha crater
64 kilometers wide - Sunset over the central peaks
[Read More]

More on smart phone-enabled DIY space (update)
The Make:Blog has an article on the test flight of the Nexus 1/Android smart phone-controlled micro-satellite. ( see previous post )  Included is an on-board video from the payload, which was flown to 28,000 feet aboard James Dougherty's Intimidator-5 using a CTI N4100 motor.  It also ...
[Read More]

Tools - Long Tweezers
Regular cosmetic size tweezers can help in a build, but you should get something much longer. These tweezers are 6" to 7" long, leftovers from my model ship building days. They were used in tying rigging lines. If you hate making parachutes, these will quickly become a favorite tool. It's much ...
[Read More]

Old Range Box Part 1
This is my first Range Box, going back to 1969. I still use it today. I originally got it with by trading in 3 full books of S & H Green Stamps. A few years back, stores would give out trading stamps, one for every dime spent. You'd fill a up a book with stamps and could either trade it in for ...
[Read More]

Old Range Box Part 2
Check out the old stickers on the inside lid! Those go back to NARAM 17 and 18. The upper shelf holds (clockwise from the upper left) 1. Engine mount adapters and heavy twine. 2. Igniters from Estes and Quest and a roll of masking tape (not in the box) 3. In front is clay weight, smaller launch ...
[Read More]

For purple metallic, over spray ain't the way
I decided to test over spraying the Metalcast purple metallic with the silver basecoat.  I took the top section of my Ringer and gave it a try. I figured the 'finish' on the yarn-wrapped cone looked funny anyway so I couldn't make it look any worse. In fact, I over sprayed the cone too. The ...
[Read More]

Resistor 224...stick a fork rocket motor in it!
It is what it is and that's all that it is.  Ready for MDRA! (Please ignore what >100 degrees and water restrictions do to grass. Permanently dormant :eek:)
[Read More]

If it's time for NARAM and you aren't there, then it's time for NARAM Live!
NARAM Live! main page with links to current and past NARAMs. NARAM-52 Live! - Flying starts Saturday.  Site updates start when Chris gets around to it.  I'll be watching and will report what I think is cool.
[Read More]

Rexus 1 - Student built sounding rocket
I came across this project quite by accident, showing that there are indeed many areas on the internet that remain to be explored. Even after browsing for rocketry web pages since the late 90s! "The REXUS (Rocket EXperiment for Upcoming Students) sounding rocket for testing a new type of parachute ...
[Read More]

Downscale MMX Galaxy Guppy GooneyBird
Here's another in the downscale series I've been working on. This time it's the Galaxy Guppy based on the old Estes GooneyBird #0852. These are actually easy to build, there is no painting involved except for the nose cone. The blue match isn't perfect, but close enough for me. Drawing the mouth ...
[Read More]

The Fleet (Family Photo)
From left: Min-Q (It's a joke. Like Max-Q, only Min-Q. No one got it), Unfinished Thing that is Grossly Overpowered and Wanting a Nose Cone, Exporter 3000, Double Trouble, High-5, Stinger, and (last but not least) me.
[Read More]

Early Saturday hodgepodge post
NARAM-52 Live! is shaping up well.  The Friday non-rocket photos includes a rocket girl.  Would steal it if it actually included a rocket. I cut the fuse for the Backdraft flight.  Looked back and found I cut it a quarter inch too long.  To trim or not to trim, that is the ...
[Read More]

Motivation for a future build (clarification)
Won't be 'scale',  this is just motivation.  Will have to greatly exaggerate the arms and tracks.  Or just add big clear fins. Must search for suitably sized plastic trash. BTW, this came up because I have a suitable head, nose cone, or whatever you want to call it...the top ...
[Read More]

AeroTech G138 has been certified
I've been waiting for this ever since I bought my 29/40-120 case: Aerotech: (HP)G138-14A 29mm x 124mm 157.1 Newton-seconds Total Impulse [note that's 2.9 N from an 'H'!] 190.1 Newtons Peak Thrust 138.0 Newtons Average Thrust Propellant mass: 70.0 grams Blue Thunder propellant
[Read More]

Simple Shock Cord Install Tool
This tool is so simple it almost seems ridiculous to post it. Over the past few months I've been burning through a surplus of Micro Maxx engines. Some MMX rockets have minimum diameter tubing, too small to get my fingers in when trying to pack the Kevlar shock cords. I've used pencils before, ...
[Read More]

NARAM-52 Live! - Day 2 (Saturday)
Some time in the dark of night, Chris uploaded his photos and video from Saturday.  I won't highlight any of them as they were all kind of generic.  It's great that he put his videos on YouTube.  He is a computer media techie and in the old days would always have some new encoding ...
[Read More]

EMRR activity
Today saw a small update and the site reflects that the sale is complete and transition to a new owner is underway. No details on who bought it at this point. Independently, I decided to submit some reviews. I wrote up the 12-Pack , Tiny Tim Smoke , Heavenly Hobbies' HH Simit , and my MicroMaxx ...
[Read More]

NARAM-52 Live! - Day 3 (Sunday)
Highlights of Day 3 : A couple of shots of a tube launched rocket. A canted motor Whirlygig.  Was that Matthew's original ? The flight and demise of what looked like the big Christmas tree rocket from LDRS. A whole page of scale turn-in displays...haven't even scrutinized all of them yet. A ...
[Read More]

Mavericks Sony Rocket Project 2nd Launch
Mavericks Sony Rocket Project 2nd Launch , originally uploaded by jurvetson . If you click through to Steve's page, you can see the full sized version and navigate to additional photos of the launch and launch results. Awesome core sample included.
[Read More]

Level-3: Putting the Cart Before the Horse
You'd think I'd make sure I pass level 1 and level 2 before even thinking about level 3, but I can't help it. I might pass L1/L2 this August. Then I would want to start working on L3 pronto so I can get certified when I turn 21. I was looking at the costs involved, and it ain't cheap. I was ...
[Read More]

Will you see Wednesday's Black Brant X launch from your area?
Via Twitter: NASA_Wallops Will you see Wednesday's Black Brant X launch from your area? Check out this projected visibility map. http://bit.ly/dBIJef The next launch from WFF is a Black Brant X on Wed. Aug 4. Window is 0430-0630 local http://bit.ly/cUiAXA
[Read More]

Lies again from a space attempt
Not a big shock, particularly when so much advertising is rinding on a launch. But when the Sony rocket project page says: And then, a few weeks later, it comes out that the rocket failed to recover the first stage and had a motor failure on the upper stage, it feels a bit confusing. It is ...
[Read More]

NARAM-52 Live! - Day 4 (Monday)
Here's what I liked from Monday's update : The first photo is a Quest DC-Y Space Clipper.  I've got one of those . Chris got his L1, with on-board video . The town hall meeting photos aren't up but I expect them to feature people, not rockets. Boring.
[Read More]

Goddard launches to resume
For years, NARHAMS ran monthly launches at the Goddard Space Flight Center's Visitor's Center.  A while back, it came to their attention that Goddard lies within the Restricted Flight Zone around Washington.  So, the club began working with the GSFC Visitor Center folks to see if this ...
[Read More]

Embarrasing Picture - OOPS! - not Out Of Production
Maybe I should be more careful of how I hold my rockets! Photo credit goes to Roger Smith for capturing the moment.
[Read More]

Launch! - August 3, 2010
I "lone wolf" launched at the local school yard this morning. It's a small field, so small rockets flew. In the picture is the Hot Rod Rockets Bell Bottom, a cone stabilized model built around a BT-5. Straight flight with a A3-4t. Also up were the MMX Sky Writer, Quest FLIC conversion with an ...
[Read More]

New build status, no photos, just senseless rambling
I am progressing with the build of a non-scale Lost in Space Robot.  The basis is the inner tube structure and nose cone from my defunct Stratosphere .  The upper body is the Stratospher's nose section.  I removed the long green rod and mounted an M&M-shaped M&M container on ...
[Read More]

NARAM-52 Live - Day 5 (Tuesday)
This is the most boring NARAM Live! that I can remember. From what I hear, this is inversely proportional to what's going on.   Tuesday on has one highlight - a nice sequence showing a smokey motor blow it's top and spew a dark plume out of the top.
[Read More]

Cloud Hopper Gooney MMX Downscale
Stop me before I Goon again! Well, I'm too deep to turn back now. This one was different. In studying the old Estes catalogs, the rabbit is orange with red outlined stickers for the arms, legs and ears. But the instructions tell you to paint it yellow. I decided to go with the yellow to give it a ...
[Read More]

No build status, no photos, just senseless rambling
I haven't made any more progress but the obvious did dawn on me.  If I don't a suitable plastic body for my Lost in Space Robot , I can always make the whole thing from foam.   That would probably look better but it's not the point of my build.  And turning foam is messy.  ...
[Read More]

Another Purple Ribbon!
This has been one of my last years in 4H. I always enter my latest rocket projects in aerospace, and they tend to do pretty good. This year was no different: Stinger got the purple award and High-5 got an award of merit. I also whipped together a computer program that calculates stability, ...
[Read More]

Gator chases R/C boat
(hat tip to Hobby Works )
[Read More]

Project photos
Well, I finally got the parts and the camera at the same place at the same time. On the left are the guts of my Lost in Space Robot . This project will be stalled until I stumble across more parts.  I may have misled you in my previous posts.  I don't actually go dumpster diving.  ...
[Read More]

Boeing B-47B rocket-assisted take off on April 15, 1954
This just in: Rocketry is great. ________________________________ Here is something not so great, from the interesting world of Christianity. I did not yet take the time to read this whole thing, but at first glance it falls somewhere between crazy and utterly bat-shit insane. But since in appears ...
[Read More]

New photos page
I just added another fixed page (currently the right most link under my banner) to hold some of my favorite photos from The Dungeon.
[Read More]

NARAM-52 Live! - Day 6 (Wednesday)
Today's highlights: Tri-F-O's are always cool. I guess Chris was busy going for his L-2 and wasn't as prolific a shooter as in past years. There's a photo of his flight. No videos yet.  If they show up later, I will likely miss them. If I do and you don't, let me know.  At least if there ...
[Read More]

Four days after the EMRR update...
There's another one !  17 new reviews and a new video contest .  Ooh, the new owner will be busy!  Three of mine made it - H.H. Simit , Tiny Tim Smoke , and the 12-Pack .  That leaves my MicroMaxx FLICS un-posted.  And I have are 4 more pending flight data and vendor ...
[Read More]

More Centuri Pronunciations
A while back I did a post about the correct way to say Centuri. I've never known the correct pronunciation of Lee Piester's last name. Until now -   I was watching the YouTube videos from http://www.naramlive.com/ On Saturday night they had the manufacturer's forum. Carl ...
[Read More]

Sky Hook Build Part 1
I read a post on YORF from Carl at Semroc. He talked about how Bill Simon was at NARAM and signing the Semroc Sky Hook kit giveaways to the participants. Carl wrote he had an extra kit and would give it away for a good Sky Hook story. Stay tuned - I can promise an interesting story and a different ...
[Read More]

Sky Hook Build Part 2
I've always like the look of the Sky Hook fins. There's subtle angles, a rounded trailing tip and a very small concave notch where the trailing edge meets the body tube. The instructions tell you to round all edges except for the root edge. That small notch at the bottom of the root edge would ...
[Read More]

PVC parts for rocket racks and other projects
Formufit has non-standard PVC fittings for your building pleasure. (via MAKE )
[Read More]

Possible New Blog Title
For the past several months I have been toying with the idea of renaming my blog. There is a reason for that. "Exploring Creation with Aerospace" sounds suspiciously similar to Apologia's "Exploring Creation with _____" series of science textbooks. I want my blog to sound more original. However, I ...
[Read More]

NARAM-52 Live! - Day 7 (Thursday)
Once again, the photos are OK but there is nothing that wowed me in Thursday's album .  Not even the coverage of the scale models on page 2.  But, the Day 6 videos are now up and are pretty good. There is one slow-mo of a rocket blowing its top, a couple of on-board videos, including ...
[Read More]

Friday build status
The Spikor is named and is getting primer.  How it got there: As I mentioned last time, the base of the spike section matches a 2.125" mailing tube well.  I made a coupler using the tried-and-true method of sectioning a piece of tube and joining it back together with the strip that ...
[Read More]

Spikor and Son of Spikor
I found an image of the original Spikor, a member of the Masters of the Universe world.  I'll add him to the finished rocket. In addition to the big spike used on Spikor , I also bought a smaller one.  After trimming the hook piece off, I found it fits inside a 38mm tube.  ...
[Read More]

Ooh-la-la
In an attempt to keep this blog PG rated, I took a cue from the Craig Ferguson's censors.  One  photo actually has a rocket and the other just reminds me of sparky motors.  
[Read More]

Sky Hook Build Part 3
The fin on the left has been filled with Carpenter's Wood Filler and sanded smooth. The fin on the has been stained with Walnut wood stain. Contrary to what some believe, Carpenter's Wood Filler doesn't actually seal the wood. Stain will still permeate it and soak into the wood. I'm using the fins ...
[Read More]

Sky Hook Build Part 4
Here's the nose cone - filled, stained and hit with two coats of the clear. After it sets up for a day or two, I'll start with the mask and gloss white. Believe it or not, I found the original sheet of Letraset lettering I used on the Sky Hook contest entry from 1972. It's the "Brush" font. This ...
[Read More]

Sky Hook Entry Story for TRF
Carl from Semroc said there was one more Bill Simon autographed Sky Hook kit left from NARAM . He asked for Sky Hook stories. Here's mine: Back in the spring of '72, Estes mailed Model Rocket News They announced there'd be a Craftsman Contest, With merchandise prizes, all won by the best. I built ...
[Read More]

Earth in color from Aerobee sounding rocket - 1954:
Important Earth images from space
[Read More]

NARAM-52 Live! - Day 8 (Friday) - The End of the Road
So, far, the photos aren't coming up.  Maybe there aren't any because Chris has a lot of short slow-motion clips on his Day 8 play list .  The best is the clustered N1 .  Over all, this NARAM Live! was not as exciting as in past years.  Almost no weird and unusual rockets, few ...
[Read More]

Spikes
I have been thinking about the splikes that I'm using for the Spikor and Son of Spikor rockets.  I'm using them as-is except I'm removing the hook. I was thinking that these could also serve as the core of more conventional cones. At about $3.25 for the 15" and $1.50 for the 10", they are ...
[Read More]

Jolly Roger Model Profile
After staining the fins on the Sky Hook, I was reminded of another recent build. This model does resemble the The Big Red Max, only with a nautical theme. The skull and crossbones carry more of a pirate treatment. The Jolly Roger is a two engine cluster built last year. Here it's flown at a NEFAR ...
[Read More]

Spikor
Here is the Spikor with its green hammered metallic paint job.  This will not doubt appeal to Packers fans.  The green will not help with recovery but I've never let that get in my way. I hit two last minute snags.  The blue tape that I used to mask the fins lifted the color from ...
[Read More]

Spikor decoration
One to pay homage to the rocket's name and one that just seemed to fit.  Actually, two of each.
[Read More]

Rocket flame

[Read More]

Star Snoop MMX Carded Downscale
Here's the last MMX Gooney downscale - The Star Snoop! This is one of the simpler of the Estes GooneyBirds , a three fin and nose cone model. There was a couple of small challenges in the decor - the eye . The nose cone was painted white overall. Just the top was blackened with a black Sharpie ...
[Read More]

Sky Hook Build Part 5
Here's the back end of the body tube after sanding down the primer. That launch lug seems long but that is what originally came with the kit. I'm not sure how I'm going to glue the fins on yet. The finishing of the fins will dictate the method - more on that later. You can see the fin placement ...
[Read More]

The MMX Gooney Family Portrait
Here they are, the Whole Hee- Haw Gang! Thank God that's over! No one can ever say I don't see a project through until finished. I can't take credit for the Zoom Broom on the right. Greg Poehlein did that great downscale last year. All the downscale Gooneys actually fly pretty well with the ...
[Read More]

Ejection Charge Ground Test
Yesterday I pretty much finished all the details that were left to finish on Stinger, so he was officially ready to fly. But I knew that I had to test the ejection charges, considering I had never used anything but motor ejection. The test was a success! The ejection charge system really was a ...
[Read More]

EMRR - updated and on the move
Nick did another quick update, which includes my Micromaxx powered FLICS conversion .  This is a historic update in that it is the last,  one on his server.  The new server will be functionally the same and the re-direct should be invisible.  Nick says he'll send out a notice ...
[Read More]

Son of Spikor begun
There's not much to look at, but I have assembled the nose cone assembly from the 10" spike, a short piece of 38mm tubing, a 38mm coupler, and an eyebolt.  It looks like this will be another scrounged build. I found a 29mm mount that fits in a 38mm airframe and some reuseable fins.  I ...
[Read More]

DIY pyrotechnic bolts
Issue 266 of the Apogee Newsletter explains how to make your own pyrotechnic bolts from nylon toilet seat nuts and bolts.  So, you may not be able to say you used the kitchen sink in your next build, but you will be able to say you used a commode. 
[Read More]

Sky Hook Build Part 6
For the nose cone mask I've gone back to cutting some Scotch tape on my patio window again. I set my compass to a circle size that matched the three fin spacing on an ST-7, or as close as I could get to it. Three half cicles were drawn and cut with a #11 XActo blade. Notice the masking tape on ...
[Read More]

Just Passed 50,000 Hits on YouTube
I think I've been doing pretty well on YouTube. My 27 uploaded videos have been viewed cumulatively over 50,000 times now, and I have attracted 34 subscribers. My highest viewed video has over 15,000 views (and unfortunately isn't even one of the rocketry ones). I hope to continue my work on ...
[Read More]

Sky Hook Build Part 7
Here's how I cut the mask for the fins. I'm back at the patio door glass, the fin is taped to the outside of the glass. This is a simple way to see its shape and (hopefully) cut a mask that will fit the fin. I had to make six fin masks. For consistency, I made dots at the intersection points of ...
[Read More]

Sky Hook Fins Part 8
Here's the fins glued to the already painted body tube. I roughed up the paint over the fin alignment lines for better adhesion. The root edges were tacked in place with white glue. After that dried, thin CA was run down the root edge. White glue fillets followed. After the lettering is added, ...
[Read More]

Sky Hook Build Lettering Part 9
This is from the original Letraset rub-on lettering sheet I used on my Sky Hook entry from 1972. They still rubbed on, but not very easily. 24 point type is actually too small for this model, but it is what I used then. Through High School and college I had plenty of experience doing this kind of ...
[Read More]

Sky Hook Build Finished! Part 10
Here's how it looked when sent to the Estes Craftsmanship Contest back in 1972. If I were to enter in a contest now, the lettering would be at least 30 point for this size of model. Instead of circle masks on the nose cone, I'd do something a little more rakish to match the sharp lines on the ...
[Read More]

Weekend weather watch for Price, MD
Right now, AccuWeather reports mostly sunny with a high of 86.  It will feel like 94, however.  Just as importantly is the wind speed and direction.  Here, they report winds from ESE at 9 mph with gusts to 15 mph.  Other reports I've seen have the wind a bit milder, but I tend ...
[Read More]

More RL10 images

[Read More]

Aerojet announces static test of solid fuel ramjet
ParabolicArc reports on a press release from AeroJet about the successful static test of a solid fuel ramjet engine. The release is fairly content-free. It mentions the USAF/Navy Joint Dual Role Air Dominance Missile (JDRADM) but gives no real info.  What I found most interesting is that ...
[Read More]

The end of Semroc?
I won't try to paraphrase the details, but Semroc has been notified by the counsel representing Hobbico Inc. and Estes-Cox Corporation that they are in violation of Estes-Cox copyrights.  This had far-reaching implications for Semroc and is quite serious. This sounds a bit like a big company ...
[Read More]

The End of SEMROC?
I'm sure by now most have read this thread: http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?p=123088#post123088 It's a sad day for rocketry. After all the good will shown at the recent NARAM, Estes/Cox drops this bomb. How is Semroc a threat to Estes? Of all the reproduction vendors, Semroc has shown ...
[Read More]

End of SEMROC? Thoughts
I really doubt an Estes representative or employee in Penrose had much to do with the letter that went to Semroc . Those decisions were probably handled through the corporate offices at Hobbico . Hobbico can't stop anyone from selling body tubes, but they might ask vendors not to use the Estes ...
[Read More]

New GPS solution for rocketry
µGTU with Antenna , originally uploaded by nullpuppy . The µGTU is a new product from the oddly-named start-up Tragic Little Aerospace . The circuit board holds the GPS antenna, GPS chip set, and a 900 MHz frequency-hopping spread spectrum transceiver. The squares on the background are are 1/4" ...
[Read More]

With luck, Semroc will survive! (update)
I couldn't even read all the posts about the Hobbico/Estes legal notice that Semroc received.  However, it appears  Rick Piester, Vice President of Proprietary Products, Hobbico, Inc. and NAR #20413 introduced himself on YORF and gave some background.  His statement sounded sane and ...
[Read More]

Cheap Igniter Case
I'd read on a forum where someone had found a small plastic case in the fishing department of a sporting goods store. He used it to carry extra igniters to the launch racks.   Not a bad idea. We've all been there before. A burned through or broken igniter would mean a walk back to ...
[Read More]

End of SEMROC? Follow ups
Rick Piester's follow up sounds optimistic, especially the fourth paragraph: http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showpost.php?p=97827&postcount=84 Lets' hope so.
[Read More]

End of SEMROC? What's this?
I just went to the Semroc site to check on some nose cone profiles for an upcoming project. From their home page I went to: "The Classics, 1954-1995" Any model that was previously listed under "Company" as Estes is now listed as "Classics". All other manufacturers, Centuri , AMROCS , FSI etc., are ...
[Read More]

7-Day Forecast for Latitude 39.14N and Longitude 76W
7-Day Forecast for Latitude 39.14°N and Longitude 76°W This was mainly a test for posting via the NOAA site, which has 286 sharing options . The link is for Price v. Centreville but the two sites are close enough for weather purposes (I checked and the reports are the same). This report is ...
[Read More]

Certification Attempt Tomorrow: Gulp.
Tomorrow is my one shot at certification until next year. I hope to use Stinger for my L1 cert on a Cesaroni I285. If I pass L1, I'm hoping to try L2 on a J285. If everything goes correctly, I should go from level 0 to level 2 in just one day! If I pass, I'll come back next year with an L motor! ...
[Read More]

Mapping the Sod Farm
Original image by Google, via MDRA .  Wind vector's s'posed to be ENE.  Distances via Wikimapia .
[Read More]

The jury is in, and the verdict is...Semroc lives!
The jury here is a jury of two, Carl and Rick.  It looks like the legal unpleasantness of late will indeed work out .  So, all the disgruntled rocket geeks can re-establish their orders for the Estes Saturn V :D After a very enjoyable conversation with Rick Piester that we both ...
[Read More]

The End of SEMROC? - Finale!
Carl at Semroc had a phone conversation with Rick Piester of Estes/Hobbico. Here's the link to his post from earlier today: http://forums.rocketshoppe.com/showthread.php?t=7544&page=21&pp=10 A licensing agreement has been reached! I can go to the Bunnell launch tomorrow and all the ...
[Read More]

NEFAR Launch, Bunnell, FL 8-14-10
I drove up to Bunnell, Florida with Roger Smith (JonRocket.com) for the N.E.F.A.R. launch today. I launched five until the heat got to be too much. My downscale Sky Writer flew very high for an MMX engine to the surprise of some. When I was dropping off my flight card someone asked if they could ...
[Read More]

Do It Yourself Baffle Part 1
Some available baffles can cost almost $5.00! You can make them yourself using scraps for a fraction of that price. First up - a coupler made from the some scrap tubing, cut from the same tubing as the main body tube. This model will be made from a Quest 40mm body tube. Cut off 1 1/2" of the main ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2010-9
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD ( MDRA ESL-147) Weather: mostly sunny, low 80's, wind 5mph - 10mph Total flights: Today - 10; YTD - 78 Total motors: Today - 13; YTD - 104 The wind was not as bad as expected and was in a reasonably favorable direction.  It started at about 5mph and ...
[Read More]

Hard-Earned Level 1 Certification!
It has been a very long day. But I am happy to announce my successful level 1 high-power certification! It actually took me two attempts. The reason is that the motor failed on the first attempt. It was rather frustrating. I only brought enough money for two reloads, so I had to skip my level 2 ...
[Read More]

Do It Yourself Baffle Part 2
Here I'm gluing a strip of 110 lb. cardstock to both sides of the slit tube. Cut it oversize and trim up the edges when dried. It won't take much glue. Leave it in the tube when drying. Turn it occasionally to be sure you haven't glued it inside the tube. Under the coupler, that's some homemade ...
[Read More]

Opened my Semroc Little Joe II
My Semroc order arrived while I was launching yesterday.  2 1/2 day turnaround - great for mere mortals, but a day slower than my previous order.  Anyway, most of what I got was just to put away for future builds but I opened the Little Joe II.  The instructions outline the typical ...
[Read More]

Do It Yourself Baffle Part 3
I checked the old Centuri catalogs for how many holes went on each side of the baffle. This is the upper Baffle disk with 8 holes spread out evenly on the outside of the disk. The lower disk (facing the engine) has one hole in the direct center and six holes spaced closely around it. That's my ...
[Read More]

Blog Feedback
I've been doing the Model Rocket Building Blog for a month now. Out of curiosity, I recently added a counter which reports over 100 hits per day. Blogging is easier and quicker than posting on the forums. Uploading pictures here takes 1/4 of the time of the forums with no size constraints. ...
[Read More]

Rockets on cakes in rockets
Rocket on cakes are nothing new. Rocket Team Vatsaas has compiled a whole slew of them, and they have even appeared at the Redstone Arsenal : But now, as fellow blogger Rocket Jones reports, there are now cakes in rockets: During this year's Team America Rocketry Challenge, the Food ...
[Read More]

The evolution of the saucer - the Turbine Rocket Saucer
This is the latest creation from Boris Katan , who is known for some of the coolest clusters around. It uses turbine blades and an angled cluster of motors.  The motors spin it up, it hovers for a bit and then rotates softly back down.   His TRF thread describes the rocket's ...
[Read More]

Enceladus
Enceladus
[Read More]

EMRR transition notice
Via Nick: Many are complaining that their reviews are no longer on the site...  ... yep, true.  I was working on the transfer and deleted the "viewable" files off of the wrong server.  Sorry. NOTHING IS LOST! But, because of the dynamic nature of the site, these will all have to be ...
[Read More]

Inspiration and Free Fonts!
Sometimes finding the perfect font can really set off a rocket. Or vice-versa, looking over fonts might inspire a new design. Here's a font called Munster Bash I might use on my next build. I needed a bold, brawny typestyle to fit it's name. When I make a custom decal I rarely use fonts that are ...
[Read More]

The Grand Whazoo is dead, and plans for a replacement
The Grand Whazoo was an 5' 4" tall, 8" diameter rocket that weighed in just under 3.3 lbs loaded up with a G80. On the 5th flight of the latest configuration, I suffered my first blowby. It ejected a few milliseconds after the attached photo was taken, shredded the recovery system, and lawn ...
[Read More]

My Identity
A good thing to know about one's self is one's identity, especially when said identity will be challenged by the world when one moves to college. So here's mine: Above all, I identify myself with Christ. Since he saved me from sin and God's unbearable wrath, I am pleased to live my life following ...
[Read More]

Poster board, foam board and duct tape, oh my
I have started gathering parts for the Too Rolling (Red)Stoned .  I had wanted to use 8" diameter x 1" thick styrofoam rings in place of foam board.  They were a bit over a buck on-line but Michaels wanted something like 5 bucks for them.  So, I settled for poster and foam ...
[Read More]

Cheap #11 Blades!
I just opened up a new package of #11 blades.   Like everybody else, I can go through them quickly. I buy in bulk. At present, they are $16.99 for 100 from Model Expo. http://www.modelexpo-online.com/product.asp?ITEMNO=EX22611   These blades will fit a #1 X-Acto ...
[Read More]

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned status
Planning for the Too Rolling (Red)Stoned has hit a snag.  My current worry is that this thing can get heavy fast.  Even with paper, cardboard tubes and foam board.  I want to fly it on the 29/180 case and I figure around 6 lb loaded will be as heavy as I'll want to go given the ...
[Read More]

Lucerne, 8/14/10 - Der Red Mix FAIL on maiden flight
Let's start with the onboard video and then I'll explain: First off can you BELIEVE my Flip MinoHD video camera survived that high-speed impact?! That has to be one of the few surviving onboard video accounts of a high-power rocket crash. Props, Flip! OK so this was to be the maiden flight of my ...
[Read More]

Mmm, steamed suet pudding containing dried fruit
A friend sent this photo to me earlier this evening.  I had to Google it to see if it was real (the stuff on the right, of course).  It is.  Best served hot with custard.
[Read More]

9 out of 10 cats prefer carbon
"Like my bike and car body, it looks best unpainted? I was very excited when the boxes arrived today. I was on the rebound after losing my big V-2 and decided to go for the other extreme, performance over spectacle? a minimum diameter, minimum weight 98mm rocket. She should go supersonic, breaking ...
[Read More]

Loading a practice rocket
Fighting Falcons return from joint exercise , originally uploaded by US_Air_Force .
[Read More]

Blog Changes and Improvements
Whether you notice it or not, I'm constantly making changes to the layout of the blog. If you click on the small slide show pictures, you'll go to Picasa where you can see full size images in better resolution. Today on the Picasa site, I added captions so you'll know which rocket is flying or a ...
[Read More]

Prepping for Okctoberfest
Ordered: Darkstar 2" 38mm FG kit 6G Pro-X 819J-354-16A White Altimeter One Kevlar, Nomex pads, ignitors, and misc. build items. Construction: Repaint Excel Plus nosecone Rebuild Excel Plus e-bay Build Darkstar in SD and DD setups Finish Apogee Aspire Fly: Excel Plus on some I motors Darkstar on an ...
[Read More]

Moving In
College is going to be AWESOME!! It took me two days to pack and half an hour to unpack. My dorm room is really nice and my roommate is even nicer. I'd post pictures, but I forgot to reinstall my camera software after my hard drive crashed so... no pictures yet. All is going well. I got my books ...
[Read More]

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - a little progress but lots of stuff to do
Progress: I started cutting and installing the fin mounting guides to the rear thrust plate.  Glue is setting on two, 14 more to go.   Marked the remaining foam rings.  One is cut, six more to go. Scavenged the rail mounting blocks from the carcass of the Grand Whazoo .  ...
[Read More]

Old launch photos/reports
Here is my Grand Whazoo just prior to its maiden flight at a NARHAMS launch in Middeletown Park.  I think I've posted this photo before but, since The Grand Whazoo just bit the dust, I thought I'd post it anyway.  It took a long confab with the club prez, RSO, and LCO to allow this big ...
[Read More]

Papering Fins - Old MRN
I'll be using paper on the fins of the Big Girtha model. I remember seeing the tip years ago. Here's one of the first references I found about papering fins. This goes back to 1969, from Volume 9, No. 1 of the Estes Model Rocket News. The 1969 Estes catalog "Yellow Pages" also talked about ...
[Read More]

Please support me in my efforts to raise $1,000 for the Louisiana Special Olympics.
The local SWAT team is going to hang me off the top of a 26 story building. To help me raise money for the Louisiana Special Olympics. This is a wonderful cause and I need your donations even if it's just a couple of dollars. Every penny counts and my company Performance Computers will match every ...
[Read More]

New format to the LAUNCH history website
It's been awhile since I though about LAUNCH Magazine and longer since I looked for any web presence, but now I see that they (whoever or whatever 'they' may be) have a new look - launchhistory.com .  There are seven articles and a couple of blogs.  I've seen this material before, but ...
[Read More]

Raygun Gothic Rocketship - the models
Almost Scientific is supporting their endeavors by offering models of the Raygun Gothic Rocketship .  They have a laser cut, wooden 'skeleton' model and a paper version.  Both are too expensive for what they are, but hey, you would be supporting the arts.  Nevertheless, I thought ...
[Read More]

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - the first photographic evidence
I cut the fins out and have the lower bulk plate competed.  Although you only see black fins, some of the other faces are white.  I'll alternate white and black poster board to complete the non-scale roll pattern.  I probably won't make much progress for several days due to a ...
[Read More]

Contest - Full Circle
I got a small package in the mail today from Semroc . I wasn't expecting an order, that came last week. I was surprised to receive a special edition Sky Hook kit signed by Bill Simon. That's Mr. Simon on the cover of the instruction booklet. He's looking over a Bomarc model. This ...
[Read More]

Solo Launch 8/21/10
  I still have a few Micro Maxx engines knocking around - today's the day. At the schoolyard I flew the MMX cardstock downscales of Cloud Hopper, Star Snoop and Galaxy Guppy. This was the second flight for the Guppy, first time it wasn't stable. All three of these have balsa nose ...
[Read More]

MMX Igniter on a Square Toothpick
Last night, when I was prepping some models for today's launch, I switched out an MMX engine into another rocket. Before pulling the engine, I gently removed the MMX igniter . I tried to remove the square toothpick first but the igniter came out with it.   Take a close look at the ...
[Read More]

World Spacemodeling Championships - LIVE!
Chris Taylor has once again gone LIVE!.  This time with reports on the 2010 World Spacemodeling Championships held in Serbia.  Team member George Gassaway will be feeding him material. A report on the team's long trip is on the Friday update .  Fellow NARHAMsters Kevin Johnson and ...
[Read More]

On the mend
So I've now overcome the sadness of Der Red Mix and embarked on DRM mark II: Last night I think I thoroughly mastered both the Parrot2 and Raven altimeters via manuals, testing, and marking of the terminals. I will not repeat my mistakes of last Saturday. I decided that DRMII will use all BlueTube ...
[Read More]

EMRR transition notice (update)
Nick reported that, as of about 2PM EST, EMRR was cut over to its new home.  The DNS change will take some time to propagate so the site will be inaccessible for a short while. Update: It's back for me at 7:20PM EST.
[Read More]

Launch Report 2010-10
Location: Old National Pike Park, Mt. Airy, MD ( NARHAMS ) Weather: overcast, mid 80's, humid, wind 5mph Total flights: Today - 12; YTD - 90 Total motors: Today - 14; YTD - 118 This was a great day and was made all the better with the attendance of my wife and Jerry.  The wind wasn't bad but, ...
[Read More]

Sharpie Pen "Tool"
This picture could have been included on the last post.   A handy tool to have is a Sharpie pen. This the old style, wide tip permanent laundry marker. The back white end of the Sharpie is a great burnishing tool. Here I'm smoothing over the paper when covering the balsa fins. ...
[Read More]

New cone for the BNC-R1
Here is the blank for the BNC-R1's new nose cone. I reckon that I should rename the rocket SNC-R1 or SFNC-R1. Or maybe something totally different and more interesting. Anyway, I have a bunch of pink styrofoam plugs from another unnamed and yet uncompleted project. I drilled a few and installed a ...
[Read More]

Iran's version of German V 1
Iran's version of German V 1 , originally uploaded by Douglas606 . I obviously don't support such things politically, but this would be an interesting scale subject for those who like the V-1 (which I like even though I hated its mission too). Click this for more views as well as shots of the ...
[Read More]

Classes Start Tomorrow!
I am very excited to start classes. I've enjoyed the last few days, but I'm ready to start studying! Look for a post on how it turns out.
[Read More]

Ambassador of Death
So Iran has U235. Now they're building unmanned bomber aircraft. And they expect the West not to be suspicious? This new bird's official name is 'Striker,' but President Ahmadinejad introduced it as 'the ambassador of death to our enemies.' Hm.
[Read More]

EO-1 image of Petermann Glacier fragment
EO1
[Read More]

Home Printed Decal Tips Part 1
Here's yesterdays decal print. You can see the Nike Smoke decal, the nameplate decal for the Big Girtha and the " cartoony " line work for an upcoming (nameless for now) project. I'm fortunate to have Corel Draw on my laptop computer. The learning curve on Corel is tough, I'm still learning new ...
[Read More]

Cheap Rocketry Supplies
Years back, I'd been to dollar stores but they weren't part of a national chain. Before today I wasn't impressed. These "wanna-be" stores sold things in multiples of a dollar and many of the brands looked questionable. The cashier spoke broken English.   A new Dollar Tree store ...
[Read More]

Home Printed Decals Part 2
After the decals are printed, you have to add the top coats. The top coat has to be thick enough so the print won't break apart or crack when sliding it off the backing paper. The top coat has to be thin enough so it's edges (when cut apart) won't be that noticeable on the model. You are better off ...
[Read More]

Home Printed Decals Part 3
Be sure your clear top coats have dried thoroughly before trying to place them on your rocket. Fill a small dish with warm water and just a drop of dish washing detergent. Have tweezers and paper towels close at hand. Cut the decal print apart, close to the printed image. After soaking in water, ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, September/October 2010
As you see from the attached photo, the headliners in this issue were TARC and NSL.  I especially liked the NSL reports, which included a lot of nice photos.  Two that stood out were night launches of a G75 Metalstorm and an Art Applewhite Double Helix.  The latter lived up to its ...
[Read More]

Launch Lug Fillet Bubbles
Every modeler has trouble with bubbles in the glue fillet surrounding the launch lug. The angle of the lug fillet area is much deeper than a fin root/body tube joint. Bubbles seem to show up after the lug fillet is dry. The simple solution is multiple glue fillet layers. The picture shows the Big ...
[Read More]

EpicFireworks.com - RED Love HEART ROCKET
EpicFireworks.com - RED Love HEART ROCKET , originally uploaded by EpicFireworks . Don't know the scale, and the fins are undoubtedly too small and occluded under the bulbous front section, but I'd sure like a spent one for conversion.
[Read More]

Experimental Photography
Another thing I do when I'm bored:
[Read More]

Two SpaceX Dragons
Two SpaceX Dragons , originally uploaded by jurvetson . Cross-post from Steve's flickr page: The capsule in the foreground, under construction, will be the first to dock with the ISS. The white one in the background has returned from her Aug 12 splashdown for inspection. Here is her action video ...
[Read More]

Vinyl Trim Tape Tip
When I visited both Estes and Centuri in the mid 1970s, I was surprised when I saw the actual models used in the catalog pages. Some didn't look as good close up and in person. The Estes and Centuri catalog models show a lot of airbrushing. I did ask about how they got some of the ...
[Read More]

Making Daedalus Practical
This web page covers ongoing work on a modern version of Daedalus, by TZF and BIS. One recent post discussed the use of propellant tanks as communication relays that would be dropped off along the way. Each tank would split in half, with one half facing Earth and the other facing the spacecraft. ...
[Read More]

Cool personal watercraft
The Seabreacher personal watercraft are positively buoyant but can dive to about 5'. They are also capable of some interesting acrobatics. Way to pricey to tag as a 'want' item, but still cool. It would probably jack up my lower back anyway. It's worth at least starting the video.
[Read More]

BNC-R1 - repaired and flight worthy
Here is the new BNC-R1 sporting its new bi-conical styrofoam nose cone.  The popped fin was reattached, re-filleted and touch painted.  I also added a new shock tether.  It now has a couple of feet of Kevlar twine mounted in the root of the launch lug (not shown here).  A yard ...
[Read More]

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - progress report
This photo show the entire lower section as it stands (no pun intended). The last glue is drying as I type. A tad of touch up and I can start applying the skins. It's good the fins are replaceable - I already dinged one. If there was any hope they wouldn't suffer damage on landing, I'd cut a new ...
[Read More]

Asteroid Discovery From 1980 - 2010
"View of the solar system showing the locations of all the asteroids starting in 1980, as asteroids are discovered they are added to the map and highlighted white so you can pick out the new ones. The final colour of an asteroids indicates how closely it comes to the inner solar system. Earth ...
[Read More]

The Enzmann Starship Family
I just saw Scott Lowther's post on his forthcoming diagrams of the Enzmann Starship .  A quick search yielded several hits, including a site dedicated to the nuclear pulse starships proposed by Dr. Robert Duncan-Enzmann.This site provides a variety of info, including drawings for several ...
[Read More]

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - the first weight-in
So, I found a suitable platform, hit 'tare' and started stacking.  I placed the body section on first, stacked on three sheets of posterboard, and topped it off with recovery components.  Yup, that should give a good estimate of the weight of the lower half.  The results - 3 lb ...
[Read More]

Rocket Manual For Amateurs Book
This book has quite a history. The Rocket Manual For Amateurs by Capt. Bertrand R. Brinley . Originally published in 1960, this was the second edition from 1968. As the pictures show, the book contains full instructions on how to make steel pipe rockets filled with zinc and sulphur propellants. ...
[Read More]

Upcoming Projects
I got 4 new rocket kits today! Along with a new rocket design for the Odd'l Rockets line, I'll be busy for the next few weeks. One of the kits is the new Dr. Zooch BT-50 based Mercury Redstone Freedom 7. The blog build will highlight the capsule and tower construction. I also have an old MPC ...
[Read More]

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - inter-fin panels
I've started filling in the gaps between the fins.  After I cut the panel, I'm attaching one edge (along the fin root) and letting that dry.  I use a heavy brass ruler to hold the wrap against the supports (the upper foam ring, the lower plywood plate, the fin supports, etc.).  ...
[Read More]

Project Orion models
Scott Lowther had posted a couple of photos (attached) of some models he made for MSFC.  Pretty cool, Scott!  I wish Pem-Tech would get on the ball and finish their Orion kit!
[Read More]

Titan Occulting Binary Stars (NV0435215+200905)
Google lost the image above last time, but that actually drove me to locate and upload a different video of the same event. This one is faster. "What might look like Pac Man swallowing a dot is actually Saturn's moon Titan occulting (passing in front of) a binary star system (named NV0435 ...
[Read More]

Downscale Carded A-20 Demon Part 1
I just finished up a downscale version of the Estes A-20 Demon. The kit #K-58 was sold from 1971 through 1979. The original was BT -55 based and stood 24.5" tall and was flown with a D12-7. 18mm engines could be used with a 20/50 adapter. This Carded BT -20 version stands 14.5" tall. It can be ...
[Read More]

Downscale A-20 Demon Build Part 2
The fins on the Demon don't overhang the rear of the main body by much. I made a 13mm engine mount with the engine hook overhanging the rear of the mount by 1/4". When dry fitting the mount, the model wouldn't stand upright on the fin tips with the engine hook in the way. So a second mount was ...
[Read More]

Hobby Lobby is coming to MD
I saw someone mention that Hobby Lobby is coming to the area, so I checked their web site .  One location is in Laurel near the intersection of 198 and the BW Parkway and the other is in Columbia (9031 Snowden Square Drive).  I'm near the latter fairly often so I'll be able to check them ...
[Read More]

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - wrapping it up
I've decided that building a huge paper rocket requires 6 hands and more coordination that I have.  Furthermore, I've also decided to only document my progress and not the growing list of minor flubs.   The inter-fin panels are finally on.  I found the black poster board is more ...
[Read More]

Downscale A-20 Demon Build Part 3 Fins
This is the cereal box cardboard used for the interior of the 3-ply fins. The printed side should be roughed up for best adhesion. You only have to hit the printed side with some 220 grit sandpaper. I don't sand deep, just scratch it up a bit to remove some of the printing. Be sure you dust off ...
[Read More]

Downscale A-20 Demon Build Part 4 Fins
White Glue has been applied and smoothed out on the underside of the printed area. Here the fin is placed over the straight edge of the cereal box cardboard. You should set down the leading edge fold first, making sure the entire length of the fold is on the edge of the cardboard. Follow by ...
[Read More]

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - half done
Here's a shot of the mostly finished lower section.  I want to clear coat the fins and the one black wrap but that's about all that's left.  Current weight, with 60" 'chute - 3lb 3oz.
[Read More]

Type 1a and 2 Supernova Simulations
"This animation shows a thermonuclear flame burning its way through a white dwarf star. The flame produces hot ash, which buoyantly rises as the flame burns. The ash breaks out of but remains gravitationally bound to the surface of the star and collides at a point on the opposite side of the star ...
[Read More]

Downscale A-20 Demon Build Part 5 Body Wraps
Some builders have luck with just white glue around the backside of a wrap. I'm not that lucky. I prefer to use spray adhesive, it gives you a second or third chance at repositioning the wrap. I never seem to get it right the first time. This Duro Spray Adhesive can is old, maybe over 10 years ...
[Read More]

Downscale A-20 Demon Build Part 6 Trim Plates
Wayne Kellner , designer of the Demon, did some great work. The fin plate trim pieces were a clever design element. Before cutting them out, score the fold down the center dashed lines as before. These are printed on thinner paper so go easy. Again, use the dull tip of a butter knife and ...
[Read More]

The Next Build
Tomorrow (after a quick schoolyard launch) I'll start a new build thread on the Dr. Zooch Freedom 7 Mercury Redstone .   This model has just been released, built around a BT -50 mainframe. Be ready for a comprehensive build, I'll be concentrating on the capsule and tower. ...
[Read More]

Take a left at Titan...
"Provided Voyager 1 does not collide with any stellar objects, the New Horizons space probe will never pass it, despite being launched from Earth at a faster speed than either Voyager spacecraft." That blew my mind for a few minutes there.
[Read More]

Hermes A-1 build plans
I think I'm going to turn the Semroc V-2 that I bought as part of my 'showing my support' purchase into one of these. At least I'll try. This willl require some serious nose weight. Chances are high that I'll butcher the nose cone and have to buy a replacement. (click through for the photo ...
[Read More]

NAIC (now closed) web page
The NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts is now closed, but for about a decade, it was a think-tank that worked on (obviously) highly advanced and even speculative areas such as advanced propulsion (light sails, antimatter, etc.) or giant telescopes (liquid mirrors, Fresnel lenses.) The web page ...
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, August 2010 - LDRS-29 Edition
Hot off the presses, my copy arrived this afternoon.  I immediately thumbed through it and then started reading the last article, which is about Cal-Poly's rocket-buildings.  I took particular interest in these because they are big and used light weight materials - and I'm in the midst ...
[Read More]

The M1 Rocket Engine
Everyone remembers the F1 Pratt-Whitney Rocketdyne rocket engine. Famous for boosting the Saturn V rocket to the moon. But have you ever heard of the M1. It's never flown on a spacecraft but holds the record for the largest liquid fueled single chamber rocket engine ever. This motor was being ...
[Read More]

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - top section started
This afternoon, I made a trek to the container store for some 4" mailing tubes.  They have some cool tubes with full-length telescoping inner tubes.  (But you know this because you fanatically follow The Dungeon and my EMRR reviews). The last time I went, they didn't have the 43" ...
[Read More]

I tawt I saw a Pawl Miller...
I did, I did...at about 1:40 into this video from NARAM-52.
[Read More]

Hermes A-1 - first iteration
Photo - check.  Ruler - check.  As-built Semroc V-2 - check.  Mash this stuff up and shove it into RockSim.  And this is what you get.  Since the Hermes A-1 is not based on a V-2, some additional tweaks may be required.  The upper fins seems a tad undersized, but that ...
[Read More]

Solo launch 8/31/10
Back to the schoolyard for some small, but still fun stuff. First up was the MMX Cloud Hopper . All was great until apogee when the ejection charge blew his head off. I found the body easily and after a little walking I saw two teeth (on the nose cone head) sticking up out of the grass. The MMX ...
[Read More]

"Rocketing to the Moon" - is it possible?
Modern Mechanix features a January, 1930 article from Modern Mechanics in which Dr. Robert Hutchings Goddard explains why he thinks it is possible.  The article states: "To answer that question in the affirmative is to bring smiles to the faces of skeptics without number."  In 2010, ...
[Read More]

The Dungeon's meme
Or, is that "the meme of The Dungeon."  Well, no matter.  I just added a gadget to my sidebar that shows the top 10 posts over the last 30 days.  Right now, five are rocketry-related, four are rocket girls (mostly), and one is about bacon.  Possibly the three best things in ...
[Read More]

Full-Scale NASA and ATK Solid Rocket Motor Test Set for Aug. 31
Full-Scale NASA and ATK Solid Rocket Motor Test Set for Aug. 31 WASHINGTON -- NASA and Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) will conduct a full-scale test of a five-segment, first-stage solid rocket motor at 11:27 a.m. EDT, Tuesday, Aug. 31. The test at the ATK Aerospace Systems test facility in ...
[Read More]

Rocketing to the Moon
Modern Mechanix This was initially posted at TORD.
[Read More]

Daily dose of cuteness - 4 lion cubs born at the National Zoo

[Read More]

Sony rocket project update
These are two nice videos that (probably) show the rocket mavericks launches that may or may not have been the same flights for the Sony Rocket Project. Am I the only one who is still confused about how many of these rockets were launched and what happened to them? The overall impression I get is ...
[Read More]

I Just Had a Thought...
Scientists would be out of a job if there weren't any engineers in the world. What would be the use of striving to understand nature if nobody took the initiative to harness its power? Certainly science is awesome and cool in its own right; but without engineering, it doesn't produce anything (for ...
[Read More]

HEAT-1X/Tycho Brahe
What a ride that would be! Check out the observation dome - imagine sitting in a rocket and feeling the acceleration in that way! Obviously this will be ultra-dangerous for the first few pilots, but well worth the risk. I do wonder how high the G forces will potentially get - and what about spin ...
[Read More]

Red Glare IX is ON!
Per Dave Olson on Facebook: October 22 -24
[Read More]

EMRR updated...lets get this party started
The lead-in to this month's EMRR update is the announcement of Nick's last contest as owner of, and chief bottle washer for, the site.  (I'm wondering what he'll call himself on the site now that he sold the name.)  That is, he is having a retirement party !  This is gonna take tome ...
[Read More]

100 projects for kids (including rockets)
A reader forwarded this link to the Construction Management Degree blog - 100 Awesome Engineering Projects for Kids .  And yes, modrocs are on the list ;)  I haven't read these so proceed at your own risk...there is no safety code for ping-pong ball catapults!
[Read More]

Cakes in rockets alert
Tonight, The Food Network (Comcast MoCo Ch 076) is airing The Ace of Cakes Full Throttle Bakery episode at 10PM TONIGHT.  This will feature a cake payload that flew at TARC in May. Mmmm, cake.
[Read More]

LIVE at the Fillmore-Silver Spring
In the '60's and  '70's, the legendary Fillmore West, in San Francisco, and Fillmore East, in NYC's East Village, were arguably the preeminent music venues.  These theaters saw rise to some of the best rock groups and spawned countless live albums.  Now, it appears there will be ...
[Read More]

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - it's better to be pissed off than pissed on!
I have the core of the top section done, and all it needs is the capsule wrap and upper body wrap.  Unfortunately, I'm a turkey and for the life of me can't get the f-ing capsule right. Grrr.  I tried 4 tools to generate a wrap.  The ones that draw them either can't print across ...
[Read More]

Ace of Cakes report
I just watched the The Ace of Cakes Full Throttle Bakery episode, which was filmed at the TARC finals at Great Meadow (NOVAAR's field).  The show's staff made a 10lb cake and launched it in what looked like a bowling ball launcher (which real rocketeers made).  They used the biggest ...
[Read More]

Fredom 7 Build Part 10 Tower
The LES canister is glued to the three legs of the tower. The three tower legs glue to the base under the strip wrap that was placed up, 1/16" from the bottom. I'd mentioned earlier that I did this step twice. I'll show the change after this assembly is painted red. Notice the angle of the tower ...
[Read More]

On the hazards of liquid motor work
There are several good posts in the source TRF thread, but I'll highlight just one, from bobkrech, on LOX .  For no particular reason, I just found it interesting
[Read More]

Cruise missile test
Check out this 1986 test of a Tomahawk cruise missile. (with a hat tip to the Bad Astronomer )  Phil points out that, even though the explosion is moving faster than the speed of sound, the plane has burst into flames before the explosion has reached it.  He goes on to explain, "When ...
[Read More]

Two new books
Just got these two in the mail: Centauri Dreams Starflight Handbook It is very funny, or perhaps even sad, to see that Centauri Dreams was discarded by the Provo City Library, in Utah. It is a hardcover in mint condition. I guess there is no room for science and exploration? Their loss in any ...
[Read More]

The Earth from the ISS - Time Lapse
"Time lapse footage taken by Oregon State University alum Don Pettit during his time on the International Space Station. This one shows Earth from day to night."
[Read More]

Working on a new template...
Web page should remain in working order during this process, but it may look strange from time to time. Please post any feedback you may have, particularly if something about a future template would make your reading more enjoyable. Colors, pixel count for content, etc. Right now everything has ...
[Read More]

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - getting close
  Well the capsule drama is resolved at least for flight number one.  Minimally, about all I need to do is add the upper wrap.  Currently, the roll pattern is roughed out.  I need to get a brand spanking new indelible black marker to finish it up.  Past that, I'm ...
[Read More]

A different type of rockoon
Rocket Balloon , originally uploaded by rektproductions .
[Read More]

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - the inspiration

[Read More]

The precursor to the HEAT-1X-Tycho Brahe was...The Margin of Error
Clear capsule - check. Fake passenger (albeit a 2 one) - check. Didn't make it to space - check. OK, OK, OK, Copenhagen Suborbital's HEAT-1X-Tycho Brahe is cooler.
[Read More]

Launch! R.O.C.K. Orlando, September 4, 2010
Orlando area NAR Section - R.O.C.K. of Orlando had it's launch today. Pretty good turnout considering the heat. There were probably 15 cars at it's busiest, with lots of families. I flew the A-20 Demon Downscale with a 35 year old MPC A3-4m engine. Great altitude for this BT -20 based model. An ...
[Read More]

Mercury Redstone Flight Liberty Bell 7
I flew my Estes Mercury Redstone on a C6-3. I had a couple of video cameras running. Here is my recreation video of Gus Grissoms Liberty Bell Seven flight. Filmed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at the SoLaR launch July 20, 2010.
[Read More]

Carpenter's Wood Filler Mix Ratios
For simplicity's sake, I'll refer to Elmer's C arpenter's W ood F iller as " CWF ". Years back, I used sanding sealer to fill balsa wood because that's what we were told to do in the kit instructions. Many old school builders still use it and swear by it. I now use (and swear by) Elmer's CWF . If ...
[Read More]

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - ready to fly!
This is the final flight configuration.  With the laundry, it comes in at 4lb 11oz.  It will likely be a few over that on flight day due to the dog barf, motor hooks, etc.  The CP-CG is about what I was estimating - whew.  An H165-5 should still be a reasonable power p ...
[Read More]

Stellar Spiral in HST image
"The Hubble Space Telescope?s Advanced Camera for Surveys has captured a remarkable image of a spiral in space. No, not a spiral galaxy, (and not another Norway Spiral!) but the formation of an unusual pre-planetary nebula in one of the most perfect geometrical spirals ever seen. The nebula, ...
[Read More]

Gemini 9 Reentry

[Read More]

RL 10 test footage with ice formation

[Read More]

Blog Stats - Two Months In
September 5th marked two months of blogging! There is a counter at the bottom of the main page, here's some more accurate numbers. I was surprised by some of the results. July Hits = 2496 August Hits = 2991 Each day this site gets around 100 hits Since the first post, visitor hits were from: 1. ...
[Read More]

Rocket heredity
I think this is where I got my rocket genes!  My dad's outfit, circa 1947.  Via the Ft. Bliss Monitor : The 1st Anti-Aircraft Guided Missile Battalion was organized at Fort Bliss in October 1945. While Operation Paperclip personnel initially did the research and development at Fort ...
[Read More]

LRD-D-1 scale model
Click through to find more of Peter's plans via Flickr! LRD-D-1 scale model , originally uploaded by p_c_alway .
[Read More]

PrISUm
I decided to check into some student clubs and organizations, just to see what opportunities there are to get involved. One thing led to another, and I find myself on Pr ISU m, Iowa State's Solar Car Team. As an aerospace engineer, I will primarily be working on things like reducing the ...
[Read More]

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - NVS escape tower
NVS = not very scale I started the tower build today. The attachment and main support will be a 1/2" dowel that runs between the top of the capsule and the fake escape motor, which will be the 6" end cap from a mailing tube. This structure doesn't exist on the real thing but it makes it easy for ...
[Read More]

Cheap, Dirty Rocket Stand Part 1
I got a little tired of paying $5.00 each for rocket stands. Those laser burned stands look great for models that are on open display. But, for the others stuck in the back recesses of a shelf, I couldn't justify the additional expense. These are cheap and give stability for models that might ...
[Read More]

Small asteroids 2010 RF12 & 2010 RX30 pass in cis-lunar space
"Two small asteroids (2010 RF12 & 2010 RX30) will pass within the Moon's distance of Earth today, September 08, 2010. Both objects were discovered by the professional "Catalina Sky Survey" on September 05, 2010 with the 1.5-m telescope at Mount Lemmon in Arizona." The Remanzacco Observatory
[Read More]

Vostok re-entry
"The initial stages of re-entry are filmed as the capsule begins a series of wild gyrations. The lack of sufficient thruster energy and the spherical shape of the re-entry module gave the Cosmonauts a very wild ride in this final phase of the orbital flight."
[Read More]

"Rocket Malfunction Compilation"

[Read More]

Beamed-energy model rocket
Via Clark Lindsey comes notice of an article in the MIT Tech Review - Microwave-Powered Rocket Ascends without Fuel .  The power source is a pulsed microwave maser that heats the air below the rocket to within 10,000 degrees Celsius.  In the following video, the rapidly expanding air ...
[Read More]

Cheap, Dirty Rocket Stand Part 2
Cut a rectangle from cardboard, 3" X 6". The interior "ribs" of the cardboard should be running parallel to the 3"side - notice the drawn line in the middle. Score halfway through the cardboard, in the middle down the line. This is your fold line Apply glue and fold the cardboard over onto itself
[Read More]

Fire in the hole!
Probably neither the fire nor the hole you were expecting on a rocket blog.  Bacon  jalapeño poppers, via Instructables . The Original Rocket Bacon Dungeon (?)
[Read More]

Dem bones, dem bones, dem _____ bones
In case you don't only read this blog for the pictures (or the rockets), you can read an interview with Kari: Best Job Ever: Kari Byron, Mythbuster .  I only looked at that post for the picture so, if you find anything cool, leave a comment.
[Read More]

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - NVS escape tower - will it be ready by ESL-148?
The answer is probably .  I have dowels and am ready to start cutting them.  I have found all the fudging with the size of things caught up with me.  I had to make some compromises to the the tower pieces to angle in slightly towards the top.  Like I said, NVS all the way, baby ...
[Read More]

Freedom7 Build Post 26 Launch Lugs
The launch lug had to be filled, painted and cut in two before gluing onto the body wrap. Here it's been filled with CWF and sanded to surface. It was then sprayed with gray filler, sanded smooth and sprayed white. After it was cut in two, it was ready to be glued in-line on the body tube. The two ...
[Read More]

Cheap, Dirty Rocket Stand Part 3
Find the center of the cardboard square. Center and mark around an empty engine casing. The picture shows a pen, but use a sharp pencil to get the line close to the outside of the casing. Cut just inside the circle line you just made. Cut through just the top layer of the cardboard. Peel out the ...
[Read More]

Cheap, Dirty Rocket Stand Part 4
Cut a hole for the engine hook about 1/2" from the bottom end of the engine casing. You can either use a Dremel or cut it with a sharp knife as shown here. Run a line of glue around the inside of the cut circle in the cardboard base. To finish up, socket the engine casing in the glued, recessed ...
[Read More]

Deep fried beer - only in Texas
You heard it right, a fellow in Texas has found a way to do it .  Ravioli pouches filled with Guinness and deep fried. Yummmmy.
[Read More]

That just reminded me: rocketry is great.

[Read More]

UFO pop 'gliders'
I've seen many, and built one, rocket with pop gliders.  Here's my Mirror Image featuring two Guillow's Shuttles. But, now I see the Model Rocket Building blog is featuring the OOP MPC Martian Patrol rocket...which has two UFO-style pop gliders. Well, they don't glide as much as float down. ...
[Read More]

Armchair rocketman
My knee's been bothering me and every time it starts to get better I seem to re-irritate it.  So, no grass mowing or climbing down into the Dungeon today.  Gotta get it ready for next weekend's launch.  So, what am I doing? Watching the ROCKETS Magazine LDRS-29 video :)
[Read More]

Two new books (pt. 2)
The science library grows ever larger: Under The Cloud: The Decades of Nuclear Testing "In the 1950s and 1960s, over 100 aboveground atomic bombs were exploded in the Nevada desert. Miller gives us absolutely arresting accounts of most of them. He describes the goals, the explosion, and the yield, ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Bunnell, FL - N.E.F.A.R. 9/11/10
Skies were clear and winds were calm. I counted 26 cars at the launch today. The Big Girtha screamed on a two engine C6-5 cluster. That homemade baffle worked fine, the 18" ripstop nylon parachute looks like new. The Martian Patrol had a first flight on a B6-4.   The ...
[Read More]

Parachute Cutting TIP
Years back, I can remember the frustration of cutting out a thin plastic parachute with a pair of dull scissors. The old instructions simply said: "Cut out the parachute." TIP: Never bother cutting out a plastic parachute with scissors!   Before I get any further - notice the ...
[Read More]

I've been selected to attend the launch of STS-133 at the Kennedy Space Center Press Viewing Area!!!
The Bayourat has been selected to view the launch of space shuttle Discovery (STS-133) from the press viewing area at the Kennedy Space Center just 3 miles from the launch pad. I was chosen from a group of applicants (150 of 3,000) to participate in a NASA tweetup. This is the on-line social ...
[Read More]

Review of ROCKETS Magazine LDRS-29 DVD set
The LDRS-29 video set is comprised of 4 DVDs, 2 with video and 2 containing a slideshow of over 4900 photos.  The 2 hours video is shot in HD and has a Dolby-surround soundtrack.  Both the video and slideshow discs are organized into chapters so you can navigate through them easily. The ...
[Read More]

(Future) big a$$ rocket of the day - Evel Knievel Skycyle
Punk Rocket Science is building one!  He's even getting help from Evel's son, Kelly. How cool is that!?!  Follow the build here .
[Read More]

AeroPac's new virtual classroom - "bringing the playa to the Internet."
As seen on Rocketry Planet: AeroPac's new virtual classroom is up and running http://www.ustream.tv/channel/aeropacs-show Just in time for the 12th annual ARLISS (arliss.org) launch (with over 40 M flights of student robotic satellites) and the AeroPac 100k' XPRS launch ( www.aeropac.org) , the ...
[Read More]

Saturn V F1 engine
"A close-up view of the F-1 Engine for the Saturn V S-IC (first) stage depicts the complexity of the engine. Developed by Rocketdyne under the direction of the Marshall Space Flight Center, the F-1 engine was utilized in a cluster of five engines to propel the Saturn V's first stage, the S-IC. ...
[Read More]

Tether test of the 'Super Mod'
The Super Mod is more powerful, more aerodynamic, and sports shiny new telescopic legs. Last Saturday's test included perturbations to simulate the recovery from aerodynamic impulses. Armadillo says they were ready for a free flight but ran out of time. (via HobbySpace )
[Read More]

Orbital mechanics awesomeness (updated)
This is an illustration of the ARTEMIS-P1 libration orbits. The ARTEMIS (Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence and Electrodynamics of the Moon?s Interaction with the Sun) mission uses two of the five in-orbit THEMIS spacecraft that completed their mission earlier this year. ARTEMIS-P1 is the ...
[Read More]

Flaming duct tape and tower status
First, check out the cool 'Duck Tape' that I found at Michaels.  Cool if you like tape on rockets at least.  And I do! Despite the bum knee, I did venture into the Dungeon yesterday and resumed work on the escape tower for the Too Rolling (Red)Stoned .  I have the structure done ...
[Read More]

Young astronomer

[Read More]

One way one manned mission to The Moon
@ Beyond Apollo
[Read More]

Red Glare IX - one cause, 2 'chutes, tons of rockets
The '2-'chute' logo has been selected via popular vote. The event is shaping up well. Check it out !  As for me, the jury is still out as to whether I'll be able to attend.
[Read More]

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - NVS escape tower completed
Well, it's done!  It is a loose fit and tends to sit a little cockeyed.  I goofed a little on the orientation of the nozzles.  It appears that white may be a poor choice for the color of the center support bar.  Other than that, it's your basic not-very-scale representation of ...
[Read More]

SR-71
The greatest jet ever made.
[Read More]

Early Rocketry in India
http://dhruvah.net/Blog/default.aspx?page=3
[Read More]

Model Profile - The POINT!
Build it, watch it fly - and wonder why? That was the phrase Centuri used in their catalogs to describe the POINT! The catalog page is HERE The Point is a personal favorite with a little history. I bought a mine through mail order in the early 1970s. It was built and readied for launch with a ...
[Read More]

Gone Batty is going to get a boost
As I was rummaging around trying to figure out what to take to ESL-148 this coming weekend, I spotted Gone Batty and the light bulb turned on.  This rocket flies OK on two D12-3's but isn't very exciting.  Just like my Raygun Gothic HoJo on its first flight.  The remedy (besides ...
[Read More]

Super Mod flies to 2k'
I love the retractable legs.  And the fiery part is good too.  Now, go higher! (via Clark Lindsey)
[Read More]

Gone Batty got its boosters
 Take 2 tubes that hold the 2nd grain in the G64 reloads (which are conveniently 24mm).  Find 2 matching cones.  Mark and trim strips from the painted body. Epoxy cones in tubes and tubes on rocket.  Since I didn't want all the motors in-line, I had to block the existing ...
[Read More]

The Crab Nebula
"The Crab Nebula, the result of a supernova noted by Earth-bound chroniclers in 1054 A.D., is filled with mysterious filaments that are are not only tremendously complex, but appear to have less mass than expelled in the original supernova and a higher speed than expected from a free explosion. ...
[Read More]

Modrocs identified as a motivator in President Obama's "Change the Equation" Initiative
Remarks by the President at the Announcement of the "Change the Equation" Initiative, South Court Auditorium, Eisenhower Executive Office Building, September 16, 2010 You can read all of the President Obama's comments at the link above,  but here is an excerpt regarding techincal education ...
[Read More]

Boeing To Build Capsule To Fly Tourist To The ISS
BY JOSHUA FREED Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS — Boeing and a space tourism company announced a deal on Wednesday to sell tickets on rocket rides to the International Space Station. Now Boeing just has to build a spaceship. Space Adventures has already been selling seats aboard the Russian-built ...
[Read More]

Earth from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

[Read More]

It fits...but barely! (update)
Just finished 90% of the packing for MDRA and found one thing I didn't think of when building the Too Rolling (Red)Stoned .  That is, ITS GOTTA FIT IN MY SMALL SUV!  It just barely fit.  But wait, I need to pack stuff under it. So, with the angle of the roof, it won't fit unless ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2010-11
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD ( MDRA ESL-148) Weather: crystal clear, low 70's, wind 5-10mph Total flights: Today - 7; YTD - 97 Total motors: Today - 12; YTD - 130 Another wonderful day, made better by the attendance of my wife, son, daughter in law and pooch.  Thanks for the ...
[Read More]

Cool aerospace images

[Read More]

Thoughts on the refurbishment of the Too Rolling (Red)Stoned
I won't fly it any time soon but will definitely clean it up.  I immediately found yet another thing I should have done.  That is, clear coat the whole thing!  I did so on the top section and it cleaned up well.  But, I can't get the ground-in dirt off the lower section.  ...
[Read More]

The Dungeon is safe (again? still?)
This is an open notice to any readers who use Google's Chrome browser and received warning about malware on my blog.  My thanks to R2K and The EGE for bringing this issue to my attention. The notices were related to the blogrolling-based Space Blogs list.  When The EGE let me know, I ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Small Stuff - September 20, 2010
I walked to the schoolyard to get a few small launches out of my system. Four were launched, a few parents walking their kids to school got some early morning entertainment. The picture to the left is like a cheap advertisement for the Odd'l Rockets line. That's the BIRDIE with ...
[Read More]

XCOR Conducts Supersonic Wind Tunnel Tests
XCOR Aerospace completed extensive supersonic wind tunnel tests for their commercial sub-orbital spacecraft, Lynx. The tests were conducted at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The vehicle was shown to be a safe and stable design under mach conditions, with only a few minor ...
[Read More]

Thawing out the story of ICE
Today's Space Review presents an good article on the ICE spacecraft's close encounter with the comet Giacobini-Zinner. ICE, which was formerly known as ISEE-3 (International Sun-Earth Explorer), was one of the first, if not the first, recycled/repurposed spacecraft (at least that I am aware ...
[Read More]

Building the Max-Q
I just got a beta version of Art Applewhite's Max-Q saucer-like object.  This sports a swappable motor mount with 1 x 29mm, 2 x 24mm, 4 x 18mm and 7 x 13mm options.  Even thought the cat is basically out of the bag on this rocket, I was asked not to review it yet. So, I won't provide ...
[Read More]

Model rockets used to attract lightning
"The Betts lightning rocket patented in 2003 consists of a rocket launcher that is in communication with a detection device that measures the presence of electrostatic and ionic change in close proximity to the rocket launcher that also fires the rocket. This system is designed to control the time ...
[Read More]

The Betts lightning rocket
Fellow rocket blogger R2K found this excellent video of model-sized rockets being used to attract/guide lightning strikes. Unlike some other systems, these do not use a guide line but rather expel a calcium chloride solution to create the conductive path.  R2K includes a lengthier de ...
[Read More]

Too Rolling (Red)Stoned - the movie
  As promised, Peter 'Shaken, Not Stirred' Abresch's video of the  Too Rolling (Red)Stoned is posted in MDRA's photo gallery  Low, slow, but schweeet!  He also caught Gone Batty on 4 D12's. Thanks Peter! Oh, and theres a few of my photos up too (the same ones you saw in the ...
[Read More]

Discovery rolls out

[Read More]

MMX Igniter / Toothpick Debate
Yesterday, there was a good discussion on The Rocketry Forum ( TRF , click HERE , post 12 ) about toothpick / igniter retention in MMX engine nozzles. Apparently , pushing a round toothpick in a round MMX nozzle could lead to overpressure and possible explosion of a Micro Maxx engine. The ...
[Read More]

Rhea and Titan
Make more RTGs... do it now.
[Read More]

blogrolling says their wares aren't mal
Here's an excerpt of what blogrolling had to say about Chrome flagging blogs with embedded blogrolling lists. I believe them but, even though only about 7% of my readership used Chrome, am keeping the Space Blogrolls list disabled until this is resolved.  If you want to access the list, you ...
[Read More]

Career Fair
Due to the recent flooding in Ames, IA, the Engineering Career Fair at Iowa State University had to be moved from its usual location in Hilton Colosseum to giant white tents outside Schemann. The fair took place on the 21st, a day of solid rain. Determined students vying for internships braved the ...
[Read More]

Inventing death: Interview with a (maybe) CIA weapons designer
The following is a playboy article By Laurence Gonzilles. There are plenty of reasons to wonder if this information is factual, but it does contain a discussion of some relevant ballistics technology. As crazy as this guy sounds, there is some interesting information in here. The overall ...
[Read More]

Max-Q ready for motors
I was itching to use the flame patterned duct tape that I bought a while back. Shown loaded with a spent 29mm motor and other swappable mounts by it's side. Photos of top, bottom and side, respectively.  Tentative flights planned:  7 x A10-3, 7 x A3-4 (depending on motor vendor a ...
[Read More]

SciCafe: Life the Universe and Everything with Neil deGrasse Tyson

[Read More]

Pop Quiz
A few guys were studying in our dorm the other day, and somehow the following question came up: Which of the following has more kinetic energy? (a) A fully loaded freight train traveling at 79 mph across country (b) The shuttle orbiting at mach 25 The answer wasn't immediately obvious. We started ...
[Read More]

Cluster-R(ocket girls)
I was looking through an issue of High Power Rocketry from 1995 and spotted an ad for Cluster-R...
[Read More]

Robert Truax on Facebook
Clark Lindsey lets us know that Robert Truax now has a Facebook page posthumously dedicated to him. If you are on FB and your connection is working better than mine, you should check it out.  And for those of you who have said you'd never have an account, this is yet another reason why you ...
[Read More]

Estes Wolverine Downscale "HOW TO" Pt.1
UPCOMING PROJECT - I've been away from home for the past three days and have been posting some Little Joe II steps that have been saved earlier. Until I get back home tonight, here's something I've just started working on. I had a great time downscaling all the GooneyBirds , Sky Writer and A20 ...
[Read More]

Presenting the Frankenchute
No matter how much dog barf or how large a 'chute protector I use, it seems it is often not quite enough.  As a result, the majority of my rip-stop 'chutes, from 12' to 42", have holes in them.  So, I ask the question, "what do you do with your old 'chutes?" I never damage mine, I ...
[Read More]

The man, the pioneer, the legend: Robert Truax (09-03-1917 to 09-17-2010)
Clark Lindsey has posted the text of Robert Truax's obituary .  This guy was even more impressive than I knew.  Clark also has a YouTube clip from a documentary on Robert's life and accomplishments. (Post title swiped from the Facebook page). More on Facebook .
[Read More]

Already antsy to launch, building is in the doldrums
A mere week after ESL-148, I'm already itching to launch.  My October launches are still up in the air and the prospects of missing them is fueling the itch.  I have NARHAMS and then Red Glare the following weekend.  I could make both, or neither. I haven't gotten motivated to build ...
[Read More]

STVs by Shadow Hawk
This has very little to do with rocketry, but I wanted to expose rocketry readers to the types of things posted over at R2K. "Shadow Hawk Vehicles' series of vehicles are what the world has been missing. They are high performance, low maintenance, and ultra luxurious vehicles. The boldly styled ...
[Read More]

Big a$$ rocket of the day: Miss September flying at BALLS
This is the first media that I've seen from BALLS, which is being held deep in the Black Rock Desert this weekend.  Full scale, WAC Corporal with Tiny Tim booster, both on 'P' motors, flying to around 24k'.  I want to see the off-board video!
[Read More]

Hermes A-1 - measure once, scale once, cut once
I went ahead and started the Hermes A-1 kitbash.  I looked back at the spreadsheet that I made to guesstimate the dimensions of the fins and decided it is good enough.  I'm sure these aren't scale competition quality since I worked with a photo on my computer screen, but I think it will ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V Instructions
If you haven't got your Estes Saturn V kit yet, the instructions are available for viewing from the Estes website: http://www.estesrockets.com/assets/instructions/002157_SATURN_V.pdf These instructions are dated from 11/98 and still have some North Coast Rocketry product pictures on the last page.
[Read More]

Bad Estes Instruction Drawings
I put a lot of time into producing the instruction sheets for my Odd'l Rocket kits and other vendors . I know how much time it takes to get everything in it's place. With all due respect to Estes, some of these are pretty funny.   When I was looking through the Estes Saturn ...
[Read More]

After 5+ hours of arduous construction today...
...I completed the following: Der Red Mix mark II - cut, sanded, and JB Welded retainers to all motor tubes. Drilled and marked all centering rings and attached U-bolts to top centering ring. Epoxied top centering ring assembly onto 54mm central tube as a carefully aligned datum for the remainder ...
[Read More]

Hermes (with un-planned fin artwork)
The Hermes is coming along well but still needs fillets, paint and nose weight.  Because the fin tabs were just glued to the end of the stock fins, I laminated them with self adhesive label stock.  I used a full page label that had been run through the printer before I realized I was out ...
[Read More]

72,000'
Apogee1 , originally uploaded by LokiNine . This is the view at 72,000 ft., courtesy of Curt Newport's Proteus 6.5. Found via Jeff Taylor/Loki Research, who undoubtedly provided the power plant. It reportedly recovered well too, some 5+ miles away. Way to go guys! (You will be able to chat with ...
[Read More]

Rocket flight to 72,000 feet
I do not have much information about this rocket, called Proteus 6.5, this was first posted at TRD. Video footage would be great, but I understand this flight did not happen too long ago. Looking at the image from near apogee, that lake looks very much like Pyramid Lake. If so, and assuming this ...
[Read More]

1000 hits!!
Nice. Thanks, readers.
[Read More]

Wolverine Downscale "How To" Part 2
I realize some of this information is known to experienced modelers. It's repeated here for the benefit of a younger builder or anyone curious about the process of downscaling. If you are new to the hobby, you might find yourself spending too much time at JimZ's plan site. You'll find it HERE The ...
[Read More]

Big a$$ rocket of the day - Polaron G2
You know your rocket is big when you can't stand it up in your house.  I think a drag race between the Too Rolling (Red)Stoned and the Polaron G2 would be a hoot!  Read all about it here .
[Read More]

Dr. Jeff Taylor's Rocket Flies To 72,000 Ft. At The Ball's Rocket Launch
Industry News by Planet News Tuesday, September 28, 2010 The Proteus 6.5 rocket was launched from the Black Rock dry lake bed in northwest Nevada on 9/25/2010. Photo: Scott Kormeier. BLACK ROCK DESERT, Nevada USA ? On Saturday, an amateur rocket built by Curt Newport and Loki Research's Jeff ...
[Read More]

The Space Blogs list is officially history
At least here in the Dungeon.  I decided to quit worrying about what the heck is going on with the Space Blogs blogroll.  I took it out and moved the Space Feeds link to my links list (ref. the graphic shown below in my 'Featured Sites' section).  That site features a wide variety ...
[Read More]

Hermes update - not gonna beat the rain (updated)
I was going to finish the Hermes today, but it looks like it is starting to rain...and I do all my spraying outside.  The first primer coat is drying and I was hoping to be able to touch sand and refill here and there before the second coat.  I'm now thinking that the white primer coat ...
[Read More]

USLI
There is a group within the Iowa State Space Society called CySLI, which is a small club that participates in NASA's University Student Launch Initiative (USLI, I call it "Oozli," but I think I'm the only one). I think that this will be one of the coolest activities I will be participating in this ...
[Read More]

Hermes - painting (mostly) done
I have a tad of touch-up to do but it is pretty close.  For better or worse, here's a few of the techniques used.  Please feel free to suggest how I could have done better. I primed it then painted the white base coat. I masked the fins and over painted the edges to seal the tape. When ...
[Read More]

Really big rockets
The Unwanted Blog
[Read More]

Big, bigger and biggest...starships!
Scott Lowther continues to discuss huge spaceships in his post Giants in the Sky, Part 2 .  Here he starts with the Enzmann Starship , which itself would be a behemoth measuring several thousand feet long. He then increases the scale a thousand-fold, ending with spacecraft hundreds of ...
[Read More]

Yes, California is crazy
It appears the California Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) says that model rocket motors can't be reloadable.  And you thought you'd never see 18mm HPR motors.  Read about it on Rocketry Planet . (Yeah, this may not be the case but is makes for a good post.  And, Cali is ...
[Read More]

More on Starship scaling...starting with the Space Shuttle
In an earlier post , I commented on Scott Lowther's post entitled Giant's in the Sky, Part 2.  I have been snoozing because I missed Part 1 .  In Part 1, he starts with the Space Shuttle and proceeds to 'the smallest practical Orion', etc.  (I guess my title shouldn't say 'more' ...
[Read More]

Some early footage from Balls 19
Including that P to P flight from the ground this time, but more importantly what seems like a large hybrid from Jeff Jacob which may be an R motor? If so, a successful R hybrid launch is very important news indeed and should be covered in more depth than it has. Jeff has been trying at this for a ...
[Read More]

It ain't heavy, it's my Hermes
Final tweaks were made to the RockSim model and lead was measured out.  I swapped the stock screw eye for a small eyebolt so will be securely buried in the lead/epoxy slurry. It weighs 3 oz without motor.  Guaranteed to shred it's plastic 'chute. RockSim says a C6-5 will work, a B6-4 ...
[Read More]

ATLAST: Your telescope is weak by comparison
Astronomy Magazine Article Space Telescope Science Institute PDF Article on use for finding life Wiki entry And like most problems in astronomy, the solution is rocket related:
[Read More]

100 percent chance that this guy is selling a book
This new planet is great, but 100% is really jumping to a conclusion without data. It looks good for life, but then again so do Mars and Jupiter. We need to search first, then we can call out the odds. From CNN
[Read More]

BOOBS 19
BOOBS 19 , originally uploaded by jurvetson . "Nuff said!
[Read More]

Very Lucky Photograph
A very lucky photographer camped out under high-traffic airspace with a moon-tracking camera and happened to catch this picture. Taken from Astronomy Picture of the Day ( APOD).
[Read More]

I blame Chris (my first LJ II post)
At least I will some time tomorrow.  That is, after reading and enjoying his detailed posts on the Semroc Little Joe II , I decided to start mine.  The body is moving along well and really wasn't too bad - typical Semroc motor mount, a couple of body wraps and built up fins.  This ...
[Read More]

Wolverine Downscale "How To" Part 3 Fins
A trip over to the Semroc "Classics" page gave me a nearly complete parts listing. Click HERE to see the original size body parts for dimensions. For example: A search told me the BT -50H body was 7.75" long. Multiply 7.75" X .56 (scale factor) and the new BT -5 downsize tube ends up being 4.34" ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! 10/1/10 Bad Day with small stuff
Did you ever have one of those days? Florida is finally cooling off after a long, hot Summer. This morning at the small playground field had clear skies and no wind.   The MMX Cloud Hopper blew his head off again ! I had to walk the landing area a few times to find it. I think a ...
[Read More]

Wolverine Downscale Part 4 "How To" "Decals"
This is a cropped screen capture from my Corel Draw software. I loaded in a copy of the decal scan from the Wolverine instructions on JimZs site. The decal scan wasn't very clean and had yellowed quite a bit. I'll have to re-draw it. In the center is the canopy decal. I drew lines around the black ...
[Read More]

More updates from Balls 19
Because I cannot be there in person, and would not have anything big enough to fly anyway, I have to live through youtube videos, and frequently rejected email requests for more information. Sigh. A nice, high altitude N1000 flight. A set of highlights. It looks like the Proteus 6.5 is in there. ...
[Read More]

China Launches Chang’E-2 to the Moon
"China successfully launched their second robotic mission, Chang’E-2, to the Moon. A Long March 3C rocket blasted off from Xichang launch center just before 1100 GMT on October 1. The satellite is scheduled to reach the Moon in five days, and so far, all the telemetry shows everything to be ...
[Read More]

The Thirty Meter Telescope
"Near the outskirts of Pasadena, California, a team of scientists, engineers, and project specialists is busily planning and designing what eventually will become the most advanced and powerful optical telescope on Earth. When completed in 2018, the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) will enable ...
[Read More]

Little Joe II dowel sanding
Woohoo, sanding the dowels wasn't that bad.  I used a different method than Chris did .  I have not doubt that my dowels have some flattened spots but I'm sure they are close enough!  I laid them on my cabinet door/sawhorse workbench and sanded as I rolled them slowly along.  I ...
[Read More]

Pharaoh's snake (or the spawn from hell?)
Check out the creepy alien life form that grows when you burn Mercury(II) thiocyanate. Well, it's not actually living, but it is creepy. I wondered if that is what is in fireworks snakes and checked Wikipedia.  It appears Mercury(II) thiocyanate was the 'classic formula' but the newer snakes ...
[Read More]

Nice BALLS video montage

[Read More]

Little Joe II - thoughts on the paint scheme (updated, already)
Looking quickly on-line, I basically see 2 variants - one with the bottom 2/3 or so silver and the top section/capsule white (excluding trim items), and one with the whole body silver and a white capsule. The cover art appears to be solid white. And the instructions say the whole body and capsule ...
[Read More]

MD Hobby Lobby alert
Although the corporate web site says they aren't open until Monday, they announced on FaceBook that they opened today (Friday). 9031 Snowden Square Drive Columbia, MD 21046 (410) 290-0845 3333 Corrider Marketplace Laurel, MD 20724 (301) 490-2170
[Read More]

Model Profile - Downscale MMX Sentinel
Here's a favorite, downsized by Bob Harrington. You can find it on Wayne Hill's Rocketry Blog, Click HERE It's based on the classic Estes Kit #1987, available from 1987 through 1994 Check out all the micro detail on the cardstock body tube. This version is BT-5 sized at just over 8" tall.
[Read More]

Humorous Clip

[Read More]

LAUNCH! 10/2/10 R.O.C.K. Section Monthly
Love Bugs were everywhere! Heres the bugs "congregating" on Club President Brian Coyle's tent post. Weather was great, not too hot and winds were mostly calm. We hosted a good sized group with some excited kids flying for the first time. A busy day for me, I got 8 rockets in the air. Roger Smith ...
[Read More]

Superfluous Launch 7
Altitude: 19200 ft, Max Airspeed: 1500 ft / sec - Mach 1.4, Max Accel. 12.4 Gs Recovered 4 miles NW of site with No Damage. Backup drogue charge did not fire. Rocket 122 in long, 5.1 in dia., 60.3 lbs loaded, fiberglass, G-Wiz HCX, Missile Works RRC2. Team Members / Project Contribution: Scott ...
[Read More]

Local NAR Section Promotion Poster
Our local NAR Section - R.O.C.K. of Orlando, Florida had it's annual meeting this last July. I volunteered to make a small poster to promote our monthly launches.   The poster was shown today at our R.O.C.K. launch and should be on display in local hobby shops this next week. ...
[Read More]

Raygun Gothic Rocketgirl #9 - #13
Cassandra Photo Shoot , originally uploaded by HeRM:P P h o t o g r a p H y . The Raygun Gothic Rocketship and rocket girls are two of my blog's most popular themes. Now, if one of the rocket girls would pose wearing bacon, I'd have the perfect storm of blog themes. Click through to access #'s 10 ...
[Read More]

Little Joe II - tower construction has begun! (updated)
So far so good.  I cut all the dowels required for the main struts.  I carefully laid them out in order off to the side.  The kit includes template guides as shown in the photo.  The instructions have you pin them down during assembly. I pinned them to scrap foam board and ...
[Read More]

Wolverine Downscale "How To" Part 5 Art Placement
You'll have to enlarge this screen shot to understand what was done: From previous downscale work I knew the width of the BT-5 body wrap would be 1.77" wide. I drew a box to that width and filled it in with gray. The original kit's fin alignment guide was used for the fin placment lines. It was ...
[Read More]

New Glue-All Formula
Elmer's has changed the formulation of my favorite rocket building glue - Elmer's Glue All. The bottle claims: "New Stronger Formula!" The old bottle (left) is #0372 and made in China. The new formula (right) is #1322 and made in the U.S.A.   I didn't ...
[Read More]

Amateur space balloons are easier than amateur space rockets
Make:blog brings yet another story of an amateur spaceflight. A father and son team from Brooklyn, NY sent their spacecraft to around 100,000'. The vehicle was a 19-inch helium balloon and the payload was an HD camcorder, GPS enabled phone, and a couple of hand warmers. There have been several ...
[Read More]

Why certain people are dangerous for science
It is not only insulting, but downright dangerous to have people like this in powerful positions. Many Americans think science is a waste of time, silly, or at least unimportant. They are dead wrong.
[Read More]

LJ II status and question
For better or worse (and leading towards worse), the tower is all together and installed.  The abort motor nozzles are being installed as I speak.  I think I can pick one angle that won't show off how crooked everything is.  Some of this is inherent tower misalignment and some ...
[Read More]

Wolverine Downscale "How To" Part 6 Nose Cone
After checking the Semroc website, I found there isn't a BT-5 sized Ram-Jet nose cone available. One will be made from an exisiting nose cone. The downsized nose cone will end up being just under 1 1/2" tall (from the shoulder to the tip) or 1.46" tall. Measure down 5/16" from the top of the Semroc ...
[Read More]

The Square Kilometer Array
"Square Kilometer Array (SKA) is a radio telescope in development which will have a total collecting area of approximately one square kilometer. It will operate over a wide range of frequencies and its size will make it 50 times more sensitive than any other radio instrument. It will require very ...
[Read More]

Russian Soyuz spacecraft damaged:
MOSCOW — A Russian Soyuz spacecraft due to launch in December suffered damage to its container in transit, its chief constructor said Tuesday in the latest hitch to the country's space programme. Engineers spotted damage to the Soyuz TMA-20's transport container after it was shipped by rail to ...
[Read More]

Hobby Lobby report
I went by the Hobby Lobby in Columbia, MD today.  They stocked Estes motors from 1/2A through E9 and a small number of kits.  Fewer kits than I expected, but more than Michael's ever did.  However, they only had a few packs of each motor type and in several cases only one.  I ...
[Read More]

Model Profile OOP Centuri BANDITO
Here's a classic I never got around to building the first time around: The Centuri BANDITO Kit #KA-7 was available from 1972 through 1981. The model's main design feature were the long, card stock wedge shaped fins. The fin pattern is HERE from New Century Rocketry website. Thanks to ...
[Read More]

Little Joe II - Frankenstein style
No, I didn't go bonkers and decide to paint it in a Halloween motif.  However, the finish job will be a 'parts is parts' mishmash of (per ROTW): From the wraps down it will basically be the QTV (i.e. silver with the USA decals).  ROTW doesn't show the black stripes specified in the ...
[Read More]

US astronaut excited about upcoming space mission
BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan — U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly says he's looking forward to traveling to the International Space Station this week, and meeting up with his brother there next year. Kelly is scheduled to leave for the space station Friday aboard the Russian Soyuz rocket. His brother Mark plans ...
[Read More]

Wolverine Downscale "How To" Part 7 Nose Cone
After trimming the nose cone down to the ram jet profile, I decided to fill the two pieces separately. The flat top of the lower section would be hard to keep square it it were filled and sanded with the tip glued in place. Before using Carpenter's Wood Filler, a dot of masking tape was taped to ...
[Read More]

Keeping this blog going!
Some of you already know my real job is as an entertainer. The past year and a half have been tough for many, the performing arts has been hit hard. Odd'l Rockets, this blog and rocketry in general has kept me busy. Strange, over the past week, the show contracts have been coming in! Two ...
[Read More]

Downscale Wolverine Finished!
The WOLVERINE Carded Downscale is ready - Go to Wayne Hill's Rocketry Blog HERE and scroll down Or email me at oddlrockets@bellsouth.net and I'll send you the printable PDF   This model is BT-5 based and stands 6 1/2" tall. The wing/fin span is 3 1/4" wide. If you haven't built ...
[Read More]

Monoceros R2 (K)

[Read More]

Visit the Victorian Space Age to bring out the steampunk in your designs
I caught this link via TRF.  Victorian Space Age is dedicated to 19-century sci-fi, including Jules Verne and  H.G. Wells.  Just another potential source of design motivation for the ol' links list.
[Read More]

Little Joe II - stick a fork in it
Well, here it is in probably its best view.  I am not really happy with it but, it is what it is.  The white is Krylon white, the silver is Rusoleum Titanium Metalflake, the black trim is vinyl pin striping, the bottom of the escape motor is brush-on Testors.   The final ...
[Read More]

We Have Lift Off. Lift Off Of Soyuz TMA-01M and Expedition 25
The Soyuz TMA-01M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Friday, Oct. 8, 2010 carrying Expedition 25 Soyuz Commander Alexander Kaleri of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Scott J. Kelly and Russian Flight Engineer Oleg Skripochka to the International Space Station. Their Soyuz ...
[Read More]

Be back in 3 days
http://rocketry.wordpress.com/ http://beyondapollo.blogspot.com/ http://rocketdungeon.blogspot.com/
[Read More]

New Odd'l Rockets Prototype - PIGASUS!
Odd'l Rockets is a small rocket company "specializing" in rockets that are a little different. The one thing I don't have is a Goony ! This newest rocket is based on a model I designed back in the 1970s - PIGAGSUS ! My first version of the Pigasus was closer to the Estes GoonyBirds in size and ...
[Read More]

What Chris does when he isn't making Odd'l Rockets
Chris is the owner of Odd'l Rockets , a rocketry blogger , and an all around great modeler.  This is what he does with the rest of his time.
[Read More]

Wait a Minute, Wait a Minute...
Maybe someone can explain this to me. If the Universe is 156 billion light years across... And if the Universe is 13.7 billion years old... And everything flew into existence from a single point in the Big Bang... Does that mean that the galaxies at the outer reaches of the Universe traveled at ...
[Read More]

Variations on a theme
TRF just opened a new forum section for rocket Galleries .  These are organized by kit type (e.g. Fliskits Deuce's Wild! ) or scale subject (e.g. V-2 ).  The latter will include all renditions of that type or rocket.  These galleries will include stock kits, scratch builds, up- and ...
[Read More]

The Sony Rocket Project Airs Tonight On The Science Channel!
Over the course of a few months, 8 students assisted, by Tom Atchison and the Rocket Mavericks team will attempt to design, launch, and operate a rocket in to space using new Sony® VAIO notebooks. Tonight on the Science Channel 8:00PM Central Time. http://discover.sonystyle.com/rocket/
[Read More]

DVR alert: The Rocket Project
The Rocket Project is airing on Discovery Science Channel at 9PM EST. Eight high school students begin a journey to design, build and launch a rocket out of the stratosphere. As inevitable delays and mechanical troubles set in, even a healthy dose of support and know-how may not be enough to ...
[Read More]

Post mortem on "The Rocket Project"
Well, I must say I was impressed with the project and the show.  The kids did a lot of work under the supervision of some talented amateur sport rocketeers. They did more that I had expected, working on everything from aerodynamics to grain design. As everyone knew, the involvement of Sony ...
[Read More]

Pigasus! Build Part 2 Engine Mount
Nothing too different here, all standard construction. I won't bore you with the details! One thing - I did have to add a glue ring on the outside edges of the centering rings for a better fit in the main body tube. Sometimes a dried bead of glue is just enough to increase the outside diameter of ...
[Read More]

Estes Customizer Mini Engine Set
My youngest daughter gave me this set for my last birthday. The box is a little deceiving. It says in big letters " 12 ROCKET ." The smaller print tells the buyer "Potential Design Combinations." I didn't think I needed another launcher at the time, but I did like how the pad was designed ...
[Read More]

O say can you see...3200 rockets
Yesterday, October 9, 2010, at SHAC Jam, the Sam Houston Area Council's celebration of the 100th anniversary of scouting, the scouts pushed the button on a mass launch of 3,200 modrocs.   Unofficially, 3,130 worked , breaking the previous record of 965!
[Read More]

High Power Rocketry magazine, September 1999 (featuring a rocket Safari and MDRA history)
Yesterday, I pulled out a random back issue of High Power Rocketry ...and it was one of my favorites.  This is mainly because of the features on the 'Safari' launches. I also found a report from Maryland Tripoli's May 1999 launch.  More on these later. The other featured articles in ...
[Read More]

Flying Frisbee - FLOP!
I'd bought a $.99 Frisbee at WalMart for my daughters to play with. They weren't that interested so I thought I'd put it to better use. The central 18mm engine mount tube has centering rings on either side of the Frisbee top. The plastic surface was roughed up and a epoxy fillet ring went on both ...
[Read More]

Pigasus! Build Part 3 Fin Plan
With all the detail on the wing and leg pieces, the fin design took some time. This is my master template sheet used to mark and cut the fins. For strength, the legs and wings will be pieced together. The balsa grain is going a few different directions, I had to plan ahead to eliminate breakage on ...
[Read More]

First free glide of the VSS Enterprise (the first SpaceShipTwo)

[Read More]

Freedom Phiter - 3x Kosdon motors
Additional footage of freedom phiter. This is obviously lifted from a Pad 39 productions video so it may not stay up forever. Got to love the scream this rocket makes on the way up.
[Read More]

Sounding rocket footage - Soarex and others
"View from the on-board camera of the Waverider payload after ejection. The NIACS attitude control system (ACS) designed by NSROC can be seen firing its thrusters and spinning-up as part of its stabilization process. From the SOAREX III launch, a project from NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain ...
[Read More]

AerE 160 Rocket
In my AerE 160 class, we are building small model rockets for our final project. Construction approval is tomorrow, so my group pulled a two-hour build session to get it completed. Here is the result: Yes, it's kind of shabby, but I think it turned out very well for the average skill level of the ...
[Read More]

Wet Sanding Tips
I never knew how to properly wet sand until a few years ago when I started making banjos. Currently I'm building the DynaStar LexxJet from Apogee. It's a big model with plenty of surface to prepare. This single 1" X 3" piece of 400 grit sandpaper was used to wet sand the entire rocket. Some things ...
[Read More]

Pigasus! Build Part 4 Fins
I guess I'm getting spoiled by laser cutting. These took a little while to cut out by hand. Look closely at the grain. These were pieced together for strength. On the left are the legs, to the right are the wings. Here's the pig ears and razorback. Time to mix up some new Carpenter's Wood Filler. ...
[Read More]

X-37B Space Plane Has Gone Missing!
SPACE PLANE GOES MISSING: The US Air Force's X-37B space plane has gone missing. Amateur satellite watchers who routinely monitor the secret mini-shuttle failed to sight it at expected times on Oct. 7th and 9th. It's possible that the X-37B has landed. More likely, the space plane has maneuvered ...
[Read More]

Little Joe II - pre-flight landing damage (stupid rocket tricks #16 & #17)
This model in jinxed.  I think I mentioned that I dropped the LJ II twice during construction.  That number is up to four.  Event number three (and SRT #16) was the capsule only. After painting, the capsule wouldn't come off.  Because it is card stock, I couldn't grab it firmly ...
[Read More]

Plaster City... The DARK launch
No not a night launch... Last weekend it was thunderstorming in the east and the sky was supa dark so I bought an M795 reload for this year's M-moonburner-drag-race , tied KO in an I445 drag race, then high-tailed it outa there before my car got stuck in ex-lakebed sludge: Then last weekend ...
[Read More]

Build progress update
Der Red Mix mark II suffers only from a lack of motivation. I am making progress and the build is far smoother the second time but, honestly, I should have been done by now. Here's the upper portion of the motor tube assembly with the e-bay door. I propped it upside-down in the airframe tube whilst ...
[Read More]

Pigasus! Part 5 Nose Cone
This is the Pig's nose, made from a short length of body tube capped by a thick piece of card stock . This will glue to the top of the nose cone.   The cap is one of those round pieces punched from the middle of a laser cut centering ring. It's a little bigger than the outside ...
[Read More]

Keeping Filler in the Body Tube Seams
It's frustrating when Carpenter's Wood Filler pops out of the body tube seams. Depending on the width and depth of the seam, results are unpredictable. This is an adaption from ideas suggested on TRF posts from BradyCross . In the picture, the dried filler has been sanded down, just above ...
[Read More]

Snark
Snark? Snark. Snark? Snark: "The Northrop SM-62 Snark was a specialized intercontinental cruise missile with a nuclear warhead operated by the US Strategic Air Command from 1958 until 1961. It takes its name from Lewis Carroll's snark. The Snark was developed to offer a nuclear deterrence to ...
[Read More]

Pigasus! Build Part 6 Engine Mount
The engine mount was glued into the ST-18 (1.840" diameter) body tube. The rear ring is recessed 3/4" up from the rear. TIP: On a mount this wide, I don't lay a glue ring in the main tube and slide the mount into the glue. The mount is slid in place, up to the 3/4" line, then add ...
[Read More]

Pigasus! Build Part 7 Fin Filling
If you look at the fin pattern sheet post #2, you know these fins have a complicated shape. With all the inside surface edges of the wings and razor back pieces, it'd be much easier to fill the balsa before gluing onto the main body tube. I wasn't looking forward to filling the inside ...
[Read More]

Bad, but still cool

[Read More]

Nikon small world images...
...are in for 2010. I usually send in an image or two, but never come close to winning!
[Read More]

A rocket matrix
IMG_0025 , originally uploaded by ah7925 . A neat view of the mass launch at SHAC JAM October 9, 2010. Well, technically not of the launch itself, but still cool.
[Read More]

Rocket launch probabilities
I was looking forward to this weekend's NARAMS launch but it looks like life has gotten in the way.  P L =0. I also feel bad for the rest of the club because the weather report is saying the winds will likely scrub it anyway.  Time to replan for Red Glare the following week.  I ...
[Read More]

Pigasus Build Part 8 Nose Cone Weight
The 1/2 oz of clay weight is formed into a snake and pressed into the pre-drilled hole in the nose cone base.   The dowel was used to press the clay forward and level out the top.       The screw eye is turned into the plywood plug, just far enough until ...
[Read More]

Pigasus Build Part 9 Ears
I wanted the pig's ears to have a blown back look. To get the correct angle of the ear on the nose cone "head": 1. 220 grit sandpaper was wrapped around the main body tube. 2. The ears were held at what I thought was the correct angle against the sandpaper. 3. The inside edge of the ear was sanded ...
[Read More]

Enceladus

[Read More]

X-37B Has Been Found In A Different Orbit!
Space Weather reports that satellite watcher Greg Roberts sighted the secret mini-shuttle flying over Cape Town, South Africa, on Oct 12th. An analysis of the sighting by satellite expert Ted Molczan suggests that the X-37B has maneuvered into an orbit 54 km lower than before. This is at very least ...
[Read More]

CT scan of 300 year old watch
"State-of-the-art X-ray scans have revealed the internal mechanisms of a corroded, barnacle-covered pocket watch recovered from a seventeenth-century wreck. The watch looks little more than a lump of rock from the outside, but the scans show that the mechanism inside is beautifully preserved, from ...
[Read More]

The WHISTLER! - that didn't! Part 1
Recently there has been forum posts about whistling rockets. Rockets with split fins like the BSD THOR do whistle. I've heard the THOR whistle at N.E.F.A.R. launches. Bullpups have also been known to whistle. Estes had their SCREAMIN' MIMI design. It didn't whistle loud enough ...
[Read More]

Interstellar light sails
Solar Sails
[Read More]

Bang table from Atomic Rocket webpage
The following has been borrowed from: Atomic Rocket Boom Table Note in the table below, there is some controversy over the exact values of some of these figures. Note also that the largest SI prefix is "yotta-" which is 1 x 1024. For TNT equivalent, the energy of one gram of TNT was arbitrarily ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Small Stuff 10/17/10
I wanted to get in a small launch before leaving for the cruise job tomorrow morning. I can't make any guarantees about regular posting for the next 12 days or so. While the ship claims fast internet connections, they are painfully slow! I'll bring a few small things to work on and ...
[Read More]

The Igniter That Refuses To Die!
Here it is - the IGNITER THAT REFUSES TO DIE! We're getting close to Halloween, what did you expect? Today marks the tenth MMX launch on this igniter. The only way I break these things is when the toothpick retainer is pressed into place. I'll keep reusing it until breaks or burns ...
[Read More]

The Gladiator
At hellfire the three of us got a 2.6in body tube and tip. We went to hellfire not knowing what it was going to be like. Previously Simon and I decided to make the jump into mid power rockets. Our original plans were to get two bt-60 body tubes and a tip. We would fly it on a F32 (a huge jump for ...
[Read More]

U2 flight over CA
"The U-2 Dragon Lady flying over Northern California on July 22, 2010. It's a tactical departure up to 70,000 feet. The Pilot is Lt Col Joe Santucci, Commanding Officer of the 99th Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale Air Force Base."
[Read More]

Take A Quick Hop One Mile Up!
Flight Summary: The flight was a quick hop to 5,238' as reported by the barometric altimeter. The accelerometer calculated the altitude at 5,656' The motor was a Kosdon J450. The rocket was 2" x 64" It's weight was a little over 5lbs at liftoff. The rocket achieved a max velocity of 536MPH. The ...
[Read More]

A Little Joe II for those who hate to build towers
Under a General Dynamics/NASA proposal, the Little Joe II/Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) would have boosted an Apollo LEM to close to 200,000' where the descent engines could be tested in near vacuum and zero-G conditions.  This interesting configuration featured an interesting, bulbous ...
[Read More]

Pigagus! Build Part 10 Fin Primer
Here's the balsa and launch lug ready for their coat of primer. I'll usually place masking tape, sticky side up on a scrap piece of cardboard and lightly set the fins on the tape. I make the tape less sticky by setting the tape on my jeans pant leg and removing it. Lint is left on the sticky ...
[Read More]

A pair of 1:9 scale Saturn 1B's
I see that Steve Eves' and Vern Hoag's Saturn 1B's are slated to be on display at Red Glare IX this coming weekend. Attached is a shot of Steve's from Red Glare VIII last spring.  I hope to get plenty of photos of both of them. Although smaller than his Saturn V (a mere 24' tall and 600lbs), ...
[Read More]

SHAC JAM 2010
SHAC Jam is the grand finale celebration in Sam Houston Area Council for the 100th Anniversary of Scouting. One of the highlight events for SHAC Jam will be an attempt at the Guinness World Record for Most Simultaneous Model Rocket kits ever launched. The existing record of 965 rockets was set in ...
[Read More]

The Soyuz-2.1a (14A14)

[Read More]

Sirius XM-5
"The XM-5 is a high-power, Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS) satellite that will serve as an in-orbit spare in the SIRIUS XM Radio Satellite Radio fleet, ensuring that SIRIUS XM subscribers across North America receive continued high-quality, digital music, entertainment, and data services. XM-5 ...
[Read More]

Pigasus Build, Part 11 Fins
These are the pig legs, one before and one after sanding down the primer. Some builder's lay down more coats of primer than me, sanding between coats. Before the first color overcoat, their surfaces will be gray overall. I spray and sand just enough just to fill any imperfections left after the ...
[Read More]

Fliskits Mystery - Lost Package!
I took advantage of the Fliskits anniversary special. Jim Flis was offering free shipping for the month of September. I ordered a five-pack of MicroMaxx engines for 30 engines in total. With the free shipping, this was a great price. The order was sent in about the 20th of September. I was gone ...
[Read More]

Virtual and physical status reports
Since I didn't immediately see any actual rocket news this AM and I'm not actively building anything at the moment, I thought I'd do my part to raise the noise level on the Internet.  So, here's a quick status on both the virtual and physical Dungeons. In the virtual world, MAKE magazine ...
[Read More]

Get you science on gangsta!
Will be away for a few days.
[Read More]

MAKE: DIY Space
Yesterday, I mentioned that MAKE had posted about Steve Eves' 1:10 scale Saturn V .  Today (barely today, EST) and at my suggestion, they have a follow-on post about Steve and Vern Hoag's Saturn 1B's .  I noticed the attached badge was appended to each of these posts but when I first ...
[Read More]

Installing Untangled Shroud Lines
You can tie on shroud lines without tangling. It just takes a little more time. Don't pull all three line loops through the screw eye (or in this case the snap swivel) at the same time. Pull them through one by one for three separate loops. I mark the centers of the shroud lines with a Sharpie ...
[Read More]

DIY rocketeer backpack
Instructables shows you how to make this rocketeer backpack from trash .  Better photos of the actual pack are included...
[Read More]

Watch JPL Assemble Curiosity
You can watch the Jet Propulsion Laboratory put together the new Mars rover named Curiosity, via continuous live feed from a webcam overlooking the clean room. Check it out! If the embedded player doesn't work, click this link: http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl
[Read More]

Pigasus! Build Part 12 Fin Prep and Gluing
Here's the razorback piece. Before gluing on the fins and razorback, the primer was sanded off the body tube for a stronger gluing area. (This was shown in a previous post) The razorback piece was set on the body tube and its root edge length marked. I want to be sure not to sand beyond the root ...
[Read More]

Make That Sandpaper Last!
You can't wet sand the first coat of primer, the water can soak into the body tube and wood fins. The primer can really load up sandpaper and shorten it's usable life. I've been able to extend the usable life of 220 through 400 grit sandpaper by brushing and knocking off the accumulated primer. ...
[Read More]

Robonaut 2b Is Ready To Launch On Discovery STS-133
Everyone should know by now that I am participating in a NASA TweetUp from the Press Area of the Kennedy Space Center for the Launch of Discovery on STS-133. What you may not know is that Discovery will be carrying the first dexterous humanoid robot to work in space. Robonaut 2 will serve the crew ...
[Read More]

Whistle Rocket Part 2
I bought a hand launched whistling rocket from the nearby WalMart. The entire rocket is made of foam except for the plastic whistle near the nose of the rocket. I don't really know acoustic science, I'll do my best to explain how it works. The launcher is an air plunger made of heavy cardboard. ...
[Read More]

Test Launch of AerE 160 Rocket
  Yesterday afternoon, my group went out to the cross country fields to test our rocket before today's launch (1-4pm). The first flight was rather marginally stable, and it shot off in a random direction with a little wiggle in its trajectory. We then added a little nose weight, and it flew ...
[Read More]

Uroc sport launch
We flew the gladiator here. It was a great launch. Click here to watch it
[Read More]

Hellfire 15
This was my first time seeing high powered rockets. The audio an the camera doesnt say anything about how loud these rockets really are. Click here for the video
[Read More]

Improvement via iteration...
I hate crashing expensive, time-consuming rockets but there is one advantage: the same design turns out WAY better the second time. I wasn't very happy with the carbon fiber fin reinforcement on Der Red Mix last time because the fabric texture was pronounced, I had to pry the fins apart after ...
[Read More]

The Launch
It was a great day, and lots of fun to see all the rocket designs people came up with. There were a lot of great flights... and a lot of failures too! Our rocket performed well, but its second flight randomly went unstable for some reason. We're not sure what was different about the second flight ...
[Read More]

Previous launches
Naive launch: this was our very first launch. Most of our rockets were the inside of tinfoil tubes with cardboard fins and rolled paper nose cones. Most of our engines were C11-7s and C6s. Most of our rockets didn't work. Our grand finale was a two stage. There wasn't a butterfly just a D12-0 and ...
[Read More]

Not two, but three Saturn 1B's appeared at Red Glare
Events not to be discussed here prevented me from attending Red Glare IX.  However, my rocket buddy Warthog promised to send photos for me to post.  He reported that Steve Eves 1:9 scale model was standing majestically on its gantry.  Vern Hoag's was there too, less paint.  In ...
[Read More]

Jetting toward space
New start-up, NanoLauncher, plans to use 'recycled' military jets to launch rockets with suborbital/orbital payloads.  The general idea is not new, but I was not aware of a commercial company proposing it.  More on Space.com . (Image credit: SpaceWorks Engineering, Inc. (SEI) and IHI ...
[Read More]

Mercury Redstone - A Cruise Diversion
I'd printed this one off about a year and a half ago thinking I'd put it together on a cruise. This turned out to be the cruise. Carded rockets are great for travel, I carry a few printouts in a folder. This free Mercury Redstone  printout is available from the Delta Seven Studios at: ...
[Read More]

npr in the news
Now, this is a story I can sink my teeth into! You weren't expecting that other story, were you? (If you've had your head stuck in the end of your rocket or have been hanging out on a farm for the last week, just ignore the 2nd sentence.)
[Read More]

Solar Sail
The heliogyro is one of several possible designs for light sails. It appears to be among the simplest and is well within the bounds of current or near future technology. It would be ideal for moving payloads (unmanned) around the solar system. And yes, they are reusable and can make round trips. ...
[Read More]

October Launch
Spool on a C11-5 Renegade D on a C11-5 Throwback on an B6-6 This is our private launch CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO
[Read More]

The Chandra X-ray Observatory

[Read More]

Pigasus! Build Part 14 Nose Cone
Picture 1: This is the nose cone of the Pigasus. The nose extension is close to a ½" length of body tube capped with a round piece of heavy card stock. Picture 2: The angle of ear pieces were sanded again to give them a more windswept look. Picture 3: The head ...
[Read More]

Run for the hills, Chicken Little, the Ballistic Chicken will be flying soon!
Yesterday, this oddly marked tube arrived in the mail.  It included a customs declaration, ominous 'ID RECORDED' stickers, and some hefty postage.  The content's included a beta version of the Ballistic Chicken rocket kit from I Build Rockets . I Build Rockets is operated out of Australia ...
[Read More]

How the Rocket Boys of Buffalo were funded by NIH
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) isn't known for its rocket work, but it appears they did have a pivotal role in one amateur space program.  In February, 1957, Terrence Boylan sent a funding request to the NIH.  His father was a medical researcher funded by NIH, so the clever 9 ...
[Read More]

Red Glare 9 gallery
_MG_4566.jpg , originally uploaded by Nick DeBrita . Click through for the rest...
[Read More]

Pigasus! Build Part 15 Nose Cone
This is the first time I've ever used pink paint on a rocket. Now the pig is really starting to look like a pig. This is where all the design work starts to pay off. The decals and goggles really finish off the nose end well. I'll have to go back and do some reworking of ...
[Read More]

Some Red Glare 9 videos
Al Gloer has loaded his videos to YouTube .  Here's one to whet your whistle - Tom Hier's 95% Harpoon on three experimental 'M' motors!.
[Read More]

Ranger Ray's Rocket
This is my last entry while on board the ship. I'll start again when I'm home on October 31. Here's another I printed out last year. This long cruise gave the opportunity to put it together. This is Ranger Ray's Rocket from : www.lansbergen.net There's also a review on EMRR showing a conversion to ...
[Read More]

Practice Genie round on trailer
Practice Genie round on trailer , originally uploaded by wbaiv . Couldn't resist another photo of the Genie. Someday, I gotta build one of these. A smaller one of course. I wonder how hard it would be to convert a real one for flight? I know I could find an MDRA'er to build the motor :)
[Read More]

I dream of Genie
Here's one launched from one of my favorite aircraft, the F104 Starfighter. Check out the interesting retractable launch mechanism and that huge plume!  And this has some interesting footage too. OK, I couldn't resist adding my favorite genie, Jeannie.
[Read More]

New EMRR extension site...have YOU voted yet?
Roger Smith, EMRR's new owner/operator, has rolled-out a website where he will add new features to EMRR. My.RocketReviews.com requires registration, but that isn't too big a deal and you can reuse your login info from the base site, if you have it. (I normally don't do this but my EMRR acc ...
[Read More]

New Books in the Collection
I picked up space rescue and under the cloud on amazon. Science books always start out very expensive, but like any book the price comes down to nearly nothing if you can wait a year or two. And I can! :) I stopped in at a library book sale, and was happy to find some other books for $1 or so, ...
[Read More]

More Red Glare IX coverage
Bender! (before the hard left turn)
[Read More]

Halloween 2010 in the Dungeon
I only got around to carving one of the three pumpkins that we bought and thought I'd post it for tradition sake.  I cut it early for my grandson, who loves this character (consider this a reader quiz).  The thin bands really didn't hold up and it will be in the trash before the big ...
[Read More]

Those were the days, my friend
I cobbled this image together as part of Nick's retirement from EMRR.  It depicts some of the stuff I received through contests and as a helper of some nine years. Thanks, man, it was fun! Roughly from the upper left and moving clockwise: Model Minutes G-200 Carrier ARA Press Spaceship ...
[Read More]

Last launch of the year!
Getting ready to do some serious rocketry tomorrow, including an H400, my first ever Vmax motor.
[Read More]

The official Red Glare IX album
MDRA's Red Glare IX album is up!  Take a look and check back often.
[Read More]

Mercury Redstone Part 2 Engine Mount
I'm finally home from the cruise with normal, fast computer downloads! While on the ship, I built two of the small, carded Mercury Redstone models. One non-flying version was a gift to the Cruise Director. I kept the other for flight conversion. On the model I brought home, the fins weren't glued ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Small Stuff Halloween, 10.31.10
I launched some small things at the soccer field this morning. Perfect conditions - cool and no breeze at all.   The MMX downscale Missile Toe flew, landing just a few feet from the launcher. The MMX Sky Writer had it's 12th flight. Perfectly straight boost as always. My ...
[Read More]

Estes Shock Cord Mounts TIP
I'm not a big fan of the Estes "Tea Bag" shock cord mounts. I never had any pull out at ejection, they just tend to be too bulky in a smaller diameter tube. Years ago, Estes would pre -print the shock cord angle (shown below) on the card stock mount. They dropped this "angled" method and now leave ...
[Read More]

Red Glare IX: the ROCKETS albums
Start on the Friday page and the navigate forwards.
[Read More]

On-board video...from pumpkin chunkin'!
Check out this video from the pumpkin chunkin' event sponsored by the U.S. Space and Rockets Center in Huntsville.  Although the chunkers weren't the big dogs found at the World Championships , the event was a lot more accessible to the spectators.  About 10-seconds in begins the first ...
[Read More]

Launch report
Today was the last launch of the year, and it saw decent sky conditions but excessive wind. The wind was around 15 mph, and resulted in several lost rockets for the day. I was lucky to have recovered all of my rockets, as you will soon see. No pictures this time because most of my efforts were ...
[Read More]

Where's Waldo Dave Weber?
Here's a nice panorama of Red Glare IX.  To find Dave, click the thumb, go to the 'actions' pull down menu, click 'view all sizes', and select the biggest one.
[Read More]

Rms 29/40-120
Tons of people ask me what is a Rms 29/40-120. An Rms is a cheaper alternative to single use engines. Instead of buying an engine already built you buy a metal case and make the engine your self. This doesn't mean making the propellant. You buy a reload which has the propellant in a paper tube it ...
[Read More]

UV Smooth Prime aging... fail.
For the second time I'm reminded that the yellow cross-linker included with the UV Smooth Prime product has a maximum shelf life of only a few months. On Friday I opened the little jar to find a rubbery solid therein. The white primer itself seemed fine so I rolled the dice and slathered it on Der ...
[Read More]

Mercury Redstone Part 3 Centering Rings
The fit of the rings was near perfect on the outside of the body tube. The fit of the BT-5 tube was too tight. Here I'm peeling out a layer or two of paper from the inside of the centering rings. Look closely and compare the wall thicknesses of the two rings. I took off too much paper on the right ...
[Read More]

Quest Launcher Fix
I'd always like the looks of the Quest "Lift-Off" launcher.   I bought a Quest starter set from EBAY for a very low price. Heck, the price of the entire starter set was $6.00!! The shipping was $11.00. Still a great price. The fit of the legs into the center hub were a little ...
[Read More]

Palamino 3-2
Palamino 3-2 , originally uploaded by axeman3d . Click the link above to see additional angles.
[Read More]

TubeSat Personal Satellite Kit
http://interorbital.com/TubeSat_1.htm "Planet Earth has entered the age of the Personal Satellite with the introduction of Interorbital's TubeSat Personal Satellite (PS) Kit. The new IOS TubeSat PS Kit is the low-cost alternative to the CubeSat. It has three-quarters of the mass (0.75-kg or ...
[Read More]

Tiny but well engineered Harpoon model
What I'm talking about is a Rolf Stabroth's 7.875" x 92.5" version (assuming I converted from metric properly). This amazing model is this month's feature over at Verna and Randy's place .  Rolf's, which flew beautifully on a J800, is 7.875" x 92." x 22lb.  By my standards it's not ...
[Read More]

The Walking Dead has more viewers than the apocalypse has zombies
Well, maybe not, but 5.3 million zombiphiles ain't chicken feed. This evening, I caught the premier episode of AMC's The Walking Dead and was blown away.  This show was really great.  I say this assuming all my readers like zombie movies as much as I do, of course.  If you have no ...
[Read More]

Tuesday water rocket entertainment
George Katz put together this video for his Day 97 Flight Report . He flew his Acceleron V three times, attaining the impressive altitude of 864'(263m). The video includes ground footage and on-board video from both the booster and sustainer. His videos always manage to put a smile on my face.
[Read More]

Mercury Redstone Part 4 Fins
With the mount in place, the fin under hang is too wide. I simply trimmed it back until the root edge touched the body tube. The fins glued and the fillets are drying. With the engine in place you can see a slight overhang. If I were to build it again, I'd set the motor mount another 1/16" inside ...
[Read More]

Mercury Redstone Part 5 FINISHED!
A 5/16" hole was cut into the back of the heat shield shroud and clay was loaded into the capsule.   The white shoulder coupler was a roll of 110 lb. card stock . The shock cord mount (from the post a few days ago) was glued to the inside of the shoulder coupler.   I ...
[Read More]

Ballistic Chicken progress
I managed to get the Ballistic Chicken built.  It was simple and that was good.  I won't be able to paint it for a while but I won't be launching for a while either so there is plenty of time.  It looks much better painted yellow with it's decal .
[Read More]

Another Harpoon build
After seeing my previous Harpoon post , Warthog provided me a reference to another - a 3" model by yet another German, Jan Kersten.  This one is smaller still, but is amazingly detailed and well documented.  You can find his build thread here ( translated to English? ).  The ...
[Read More]

Finally! Great sanding success!!
On the way home today I decided to stop off at Home Depot and buy some form of different hand sander than the two B&D 'Mice' I have now. I surveyed all their sanding wares and, in the end, I selected the Rigid R2501 sander for $50. It has a vacuum function with an enclosed cloth bag and claims ...
[Read More]

Mercury Redstone Family Portrait
Here's all three of my Mercury Redstones,   From left to right: 1. The carded Redstone just built on this blog. 2. Dr. Zooch Freedom 7 (BT-50 based mainframe) 3. Dr. Zooch Mercury Redstone (BT-60 based mainframe)   The large Zooch Redstone is a close as you'll get ...
[Read More]

Reinforced Snap Swivel TIP
I'm just finishing up the Apogee Dyna Star LexxJet kit. It's really an impressive design. The parachute on this rocket is HUGE, 32" across. I attached it 1/3 the way down the shock cord to prevent tangling. It'll tie to a snap swivel just in case a smaller parachute is needed. The only snap ...
[Read More]

New Engine Designation Idea
I've sent a email to Rick Piester at Estes with this suggestion.   This idea was inspired by the old Centuri engines. I wanted to make an additional improvement. The Centuri engine power designation was printed eight times (horizontally) around the lower third of the engine. At ...
[Read More]

EPOXI Mission's Close-Up Views of Comet Hartley 2
EPOXI Mission's Close-Up Views of Comet Hartley 2 , originally uploaded by NASAJPL . Pretty cool shot!
[Read More]

Laser ignition of APCP propellants
AeroTech recently posted the attached video to FaceBook .  It shows the ignition of various AT propellants using a 1.1W hand held Survival Laser . Gary mentions the possibility of head-end ignition via a quartz window.  Although this sounds cool, I guess protective goggles would be added ...
[Read More]

Hartley 2 flyby
The comet as seen by the largest single telescope on Earth, the Arecibo. The deep impact camera. "This morning, NASA's Deep Impact (EPOXI) probe flew past Comet Hartley 2 only 435 miles from the comet's active nucleus. The spacecraft has since turned its high-gain antenna toward Earth and data are ...
[Read More]

NaNoWriMo
I'm actually writing a novel again this year. I skipped it last year because I was very busy, and even though I'm just as busy this year, I'm going for it. This year it's science fiction again. In short, it is about some college students interning at the Dellanop Outpost, which is a space ...
[Read More]

Searches to HPR

[Read More]

What's the Argument?
Two days ago on YORF, a builder had questions about how to fill the inside exposed tube spirals on tube finned rockets. Many great builders responded with suggestions. I put in my two cents. This response came in: "You guys have GOT to be kidding here and this MUST be some sort of JOKE. Filling ...
[Read More]

Discovery on the pad for the last time - in 3D
USA Today has four 3D panaorama views of the Shuttle Discovery in the VAB and on the pad for its final flight.  Awesome and sad at he same time.
[Read More]

Rocketjunkie's saucer gets a night launch upgrade
Holy Close Encounters of the Third Kind ! TRF member Rocketjunkie has rebuilt his big 98mm-powered saucer and, in the process, added a bunch of LEDs for night launch flying. He will fly it on another of his EX N800 motors. You can read the whole re-build thread here .
[Read More]

A fire marshal's rocketry nightmare?
Hat tip to Sherry...
[Read More]

Discovery's Launch Postponed
The last flight of the Space Shuttle has been postponed until later this November. The reason is for a major hydrogen leak. Oh well. (I'm secretly glad, because I would have had to miss the launch on NASA TV, it would have been coincident with my calculus class).
[Read More]

Corium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corium_(nuclear_reactor)
[Read More]

LAUNCH! NAR R.O.C.K. Monthly November 6, 2010
While central Florida has been cooling off since the middle of October, today we all felt the first real cold of Winter. The wind was blowing hard enough that many switched out parachutes for streamers and decided on smaller engines. After last month's fireball CATO on my MPC MARTIAN PATROL , I ...
[Read More]

Cleaning Up! TIP
I was going to do a model feature on the blog and had to clean a rocket up for pictures. This Zooch Saturn V has a white finish, dirt and fingerprints show up easily.   Anytime I clean up, I'll use a white eraser. Or, a white eraser is used on white paint. I know, some of you ...
[Read More]

Discovery's Emotional Roller Coaster
Wow, words cannot describe what I have been through this week. I'll try to explain but my head is still spinning from the emotional rollercoaster that we call "human spaceflight". I arrived at KSC last Saturday to attended a Tweetup held by NASA for the social networking site Twitter. I met many ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Part 8 S-1 Tanks
Here's all six of the white rolled tanks. The best four will be used on the model. The last two are still drying on the dowels. Only one dowel is supplied with the kit, I had another left from an earlier Zooch Saturn 1B build. This is the dry test fit of a tank against the spider ...
[Read More]

New / Old Finishing Trim Material
At the recent Orlando R.O.C.K. NAR section launch we had two new fliers, Jason Dembroski and Art Almquist . This is Jason with with his two stage Red Star from Red River rocketry. Jason is a great builder and designer. He knows how to make smooth transitions and epoxy fillets. ...
[Read More]

Spacey stuff on the web
This minimalistic post is all that I can muster at the moment.  Three items worth further looking. NASA Langley video of re-entry vehicle wind tunnel tests.  I found these oddly entertaining. (via Clark Lindsey) O.S.O. the OpenSource Space Program. I'm dubious, but will watch to ...
[Read More]

Big a$$ cluster of the day - Hell Boy
Boris Katan is one of the kings of clustering.  His latest spawn is Hell Boy , a Polecat 5.5" Fat Man , converted to fly on nineteen 24mm motors!  The attached photo, stolen from Boris, shows the Hell Boy boosting on 19 D11-P motors, which is the equivalent of an I209-P.  'I' ...
[Read More]

More from Hartley 2 flyby

[Read More]

Mighty morphin' Comet Hartley 2
(via R2K )
[Read More]

Awesomeness in College Park: UMD's Space System's Lab
Clark Lindsey spotted this cool Washington Post article:  Gear-head nirvana: U-Md. space center is voted one of nation's 'most awesome college labs' .  The lab includes a 367,000 gallon Neutral Buoyancy Research Facility, which simulates the weightlessness of space. The only other one in ...
[Read More]

Mercury Redstone Capsule Re-make
After the last tower was crumpled from a long delay and late ejection, I printed off another and made a new one. This time around I made some changes. In this new build, the LES Canister Module (the red tube on top) was glued into the tri -fold tower. On the first try, I ...
[Read More]

The latest creation from The Rocketeer Formerly Known as MrCluster
NARHAMster and TRF member 'Micromeister' is now best known for MicroMaxx rockets.  His creations are amazingly detailed and finished so the materials are indistinguishable from plastic.  (He does PMC too, so some ARE plastic.) However, John has been involved in just about every aspect ...
[Read More]

ASLI project Pathfinder 1B
(Great pic, but get that cute girl out of the way of the airframe!) "The Pathfinder rocket provides a unique and completely safe platform for student and academic researchers, seeking a true ?hands on experience? of space mission style operations. Being 100% free of any explosive pr ...
[Read More]

Relative mass of solar system objects

[Read More]

DoD admits there was a UFO over California (or at least won't deny it)
Space.com reports on a "mystery missile" that was seen launching off of the Los Angeles coast yesterday evening.  The Navy denies it was theirs and Vandenberg Air Force Base officials said that no launches had been scheduled.  The Pentagon either doesn't know or more likely just isn't ...
[Read More]

More on the California UFO (i.e. the 'mystery launch')
The discussion continues on Space.com .  And TRF member bobkrech provides his theory : This event was probably a classified target test missile launch from San Nicolas Island. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Nicolas_Island http://www.navair.navy.mil/ranges/SE...SEA/FS_SNI.pdf Target test ...
[Read More]

California UFO: " ...leaving, on a jet plane... "
Wired Danger Room provides expert analysis that says the 'mystery missile' was probably a jet that was moving towards the observers. This phenomena has been reported before, especially when the event is over the ocean, where the trail starts at the horizon.  They also mention that the plume ...
[Read More]

Mystery rocket off California is just a jet contrail
"Pentagon can't explain apparent mystery rocket off California coast The Pentagon is unable to explain images of what appears to be a high-altitude rocket launched off the coast of southern California at sunset Monday, officials said." CNN At what point do we realize that the public is willfully, ...
[Read More]

Lesson learned: Inspect thoroughly then comment
At Plaster Blaster 2010 this last weekend I was asked to inspect the connections in a friend's electronics bay. I immediately noticed that the stripped portion of the e-match wires were too long and likely to short out. I requested the fix then didn't dig much deeper due to other distractions. In ...
[Read More]

Plaster Blaster 2010: A new personal record of 21,915'!!
This last weekend's Plaster Blaster 9 launch featured amazing weather, many cool projects, more spectators than I've ever seen at Plaster City, and my parents even drove out from AZ to visit. Nice! As always I'd planned more flights than I'm capable of completing on this three-day weekend. At a ...
[Read More]

Budget Igniters
I fly on a budget and try to save money where I can. I think everyone agrees, igniter prices are too high. Quest Q2G2 ingiters are now $7.19 for six or $1.20 each! Estes Igniters are $5.99 for six or $1.00 each. But, the Quest MicroMaxx igniters are $2.39 for six or $.40 each! These are retail ...
[Read More]

DoD agrees the California UFO was a jet
As numerous aerospace pundits were mentioning yesterday , Space.com is reporting that the DoD says that Monday's 'UFO' was indeed a jet plane .  I guess the FAA controllers' radars didn't show any unexpected objects...i.e. it was expected.  At least that's their story...and their are ...
[Read More]

Forget the 'Mystery Missile', who remembers the 'Monthly Missile'?
For some reason, reading a headline about the 'Mystery Missile' made the name 'Monthly Missile' pop into mind.  The Monthly Missile was an entry in the R.M.R. DesCon8, which was conducted as a spin off of the old rec.model.rockets newsgroup. The theme was 'flounder parts', which meant: use ...
[Read More]

Spaceport America in late October
I love the southeastern New Mexico desert.  Spaceports are nice too.  See more on the Spaceport America Construction Status blog.  (attached photo is to their credit)
[Read More]

The last post on the California Mystery Missile (NOT)
Roger, aka the EMRR 2.0, posted this on TRF : The http://www.contrailscience.com/ site (which has photos of other contrails that look like the "mystery missile") crashed because too many people were visiting it yesterday. So the sites's owner copied the article to a blog site at http:/ ...
[Read More]

It was flight 808
808
[Read More]

Radio Operated Dozers at Chernobyl

[Read More]

N 10,000 videos
"Greg launches 4 inch dia. carbon fiber rocket using Cesaroni N10000 V-Max 98mm motor. (Mach 1 at 700 feet and Mach 2 around 1100 AGL)" "Jack Garibaldi and James Dougherty duke it out at LDRS 29 with identical full-scale Patriot missiles flying with Cesaroni N10,0000 motors." "My ...
[Read More]

Sunrise at WWII Memorial
Sunrise at WWII Memorial , originally uploaded by keviikev . Thanks to all that served. Miss you O, D, and F.  (This stunning photo seemed a good way to convey this thought.  Click through to see the photog's other work.)
[Read More]

Vashon Flashback!
Tonight on YORF I read a post from Doug Sams . He was talking about water rockets from a company called Park Plastics. Check out the YORF thread HERE He mentioned a great website where you can look up old Sears Catalogs: http://www.wishbookweb.com/ I thought I'd check and found the 1969 Sears ...
[Read More]

Vinson Massif

[Read More]

Nope, maybe it was UPS902
http://uncinus.wordpress.com/
[Read More]

Timy tims
The only flammable thing used in this is match heads. Click here to watch
[Read More]

AGM-158 JASSM Cruise Missile
"The JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) is an autonomous, long-range, conventional, air-to-ground, precision standoff missile for the U.S. Air Force and Navy. JASSM is designed to destroy high-value, well-defended, fixed and relocatable targets. JASSM's significant standoff range keeps ...
[Read More]

So what happened this weekend?
I was out of pocket and am just starting to explore the Interweb. Here's a few things that caught my eye. Discussion of the 'California Mystery Missile', which turned out to be a jet plane, continues . It's good to see more rocketry exposure in MAKE , even if it is slightly oriented ...
[Read More]

New 24mm G motors
Machbusters and altitude motors all, particularly that G150... looks like a mach 1.4 motor. Or the G65 for altitude attempts. Pro 24
[Read More]

Big a$$ rocket of the day - 40" night launch saucer
Here's rocketjunkie's N800-powered night launch saucer! ( full build thread ).
[Read More]

Interesting EX sugar motor
Out of ZZakk's Lab comes a description of a unique EX sugar motor. This one is a modified moon burner and features a canted nozzle to provide FlisKits Deuces Wild! -style focused thrust.  (Ken points out that this motor pre-dates FlisKits.) 
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, November/December 2010
Although it almost didn't survive my grandson, I am finally looking at the latest issue of Sport Rocketry. (I only got it a few days ago but, more typically, I at least scan it right away.)  This issue mainly covers NARAM-52, which was held in Colorado.  As usual, most of the contest ...
[Read More]

Yes, women like telescopes

[Read More]

Gravitational telescopes
I have always been fascinated with the ability of solar system objects, the Sun and planets mostly, to function as large telescope lenses. However, I have been unable to find much information about this technology, including the math behind it until now. There is one serious limitation to this ...
[Read More]

DARPA Now Knows What Happen To The HTV-2
It took six months, but the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency finally has a handle on what caused its hypersonic weapon prototype to ?terminate? itself over the Pacific Ocean back in April. The findings have paved the way for a fresh round of tests for the Mach-20 flier, potentially ...
[Read More]

Thursday's Delta IV Heavy Launch To Deploy Largest Satellite Ever.
Seen here perched on the pad behind me. A Delta IV Heavy is readied for launch. According to Spaceflight Now it is carrying the largest satellite ever launched into orbit. The spy satellite (only known as NROL-32) is being deployed for the National Reconnaissance Office. It will reportedly be the ...
[Read More]

Mars hopping rockets(?)
The Next Big Future reports on a unique concept in which rocket powered rovers would gather fuel from the  Martian atmosphere, heat the fuel with radioisotope thermal source, and boost/hop across the Martian landscape. NBF notes that the Opportunity rover covered 25 km in 7 years whereas a ...
[Read More]

Another hopping rocket concept
By Rocket Through Space , originally uploaded by EastMarple1 . While thinking about short rocket hops, how about London to NYC in 28 minutes?
[Read More]

Light at the End of the Tunnel! ...Or is That a Locomotive??
Okay, just kidding. But I can see the end. Only a couple days until Thanksgiving break, and then there are only about three more school weeks until the semester is all over. It's been a long semester, or a quick one, depending on how you look at it. Long, considering all the stuff I've learned and ...
[Read More]

Gaseous Hydrogen Leak Repairs Completed. Testing To Follow.
At NASA's Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, technicians are completing repairs on space shuttle Discovery's ground umbilical carrier plate (GUCP). On Nov. 17, the hydrogen vent line was reattached to the GUCP. That vent pipe carries excess hydrogen gas safely away from Discovery to a flare ...
[Read More]

SR-71

[Read More]

ALCOTOO propellant
A year and a half ago (or so), I was fascinated ALICE propellant , which was being done by Dr. Steven Son's team at Perdue (with collaborators at Penn). ALICE is an acronym for ALuminum and ICE.  Who woulda thunk you could essentially burn water? Dr. Son's team had actually built and flown ...
[Read More]

3-D printed fuel grain
While on the subject of 'exotic' hybrids, I see Clark Lindsey has spotted an article on creating complicated channels within hybrid fuel grains using 3-D printing (aka stereolithography): A Rocket Engine that Prints Its Own Fuel - Technology Review .  The attached image shows one example. ...
[Read More]

Another unique hybrid motor innovation - inject the gas at the business end
[I should have included this in my previous post, since they share a common source ( Clark Lindsey, again ).] The Staged Combustion Aft-Injected Hybrid (SCAIH) is being developed by hobby rocketry's own Cesaroni Technology Inc. (hey, I might as well let the cart draw the horse).  As shown ...
[Read More]

Red Glare - "This is it—the big one."
Mark Canepa has written a nice description of MDRA's biannual Red Glare launch.  See that, as well as a look at the nine runners up, in High Power Rocketry's Top 10 Biggest Regional Launches over on Rocketry Planet.
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, October 2010
In my short reviews/overviews of ROCKETS, I have often lamented that there isn't a wider variety of articles.  For example, I'd like to see articles about professional rocketry, historical amateur rockets, liquid motors, etc.  At MDRA's September launch, I chatted with Neil about the ...
[Read More]

Small, odd return to rocketry
Since I haven't been able to do any 'serious' rocketry, I started a small, very small, project.  I don't know if it will work, so I won't go into too many details.  It uses 6mm MicroMaxx tubing and FlisKits balsa cone.  Fins will be very light, material is TBD.  The motor will ...
[Read More]

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, as applied to X-planes
Clark Lindsey reports on a FlightGlobal article which says that NASA has retrieved both of the X-34's from storage at Dryden and moved them to Mojave.  It looks like this was done in the dead of night. Hmmm.  Now the space conspiracy theorists can get off the California Mystery Missile ...
[Read More]

I couldn't attend the launch, but I'm wearing my T-shirt anyway!
I was unable to attend MDRA's ESL-150, which is being held this weekend.  The weather looks pretty good and I'm crossing my fingers for milder than predicted winds.  In any event, I'm wearing my pink Red Glare IX (which I also missed, grrrr) tee as a show of support.  I hope my ...
[Read More]

Q&A with Vance Coffman
I got to have a conversation with the former CEO of Lockheed Martin! It was cool. About eight of us freshmen in aerospace engineering were in attendance, and we asked him questions about his life, his career, his education (he started at Iowa State), and he gave us advice on doing well in the ...
[Read More]

Make high altitude balloons
http://makezine.com/24/weatherballoons/
[Read More]

Big Daddy
We bought the Big daddy kit. Its one of my favorites. Its 3 inches wide and 19in tall (our widest rocket.) We might fly it on a D engine but we gave it a new 4 foot shock cord so it could take an aerotech E or F. It has a 24" parachute which we think is overkill for this. I wouldn't be surprised ...
[Read More]

Patriot Family
Here is our Patriot family. They are 30mm, 42mm, 50mm and our unfinished 66mm. The 30 and 42 have 18mm engine mounts for Bs and Cs, the 50 has a 24mm for Ds and the 66mm has a 29mm engine mount for Fs and Gs. We've flown all of them except for the 66mm one. We wont be flying that for a while maybe ...
[Read More]

Disappearing act
Delta IV Heavy launching from CCAFS. Disappearing act , originally uploaded by Flying Jenny .
[Read More]

EVE starship design contest
Conceptships is a great source of spaceship graphics and is one of the many items in my feed reader. The latest post presents the blogger's favorite entries from deviantART's create a starship contest that was held for EVE Online .  I haven't visited deviantART in a long time since I haven't ...
[Read More]

X-Plane updates - news and rumors
Clark Lindsey updates us on the status of the X-34 and speculates about the X-37B . NASA Dryden has released a press release confirming that the two X-34's have been moved to Mojave, where Orbital Sciences personnel will determine if they are flight worthy.  No word on what their plans are if ...
[Read More]

F-15 Quiet Spike
"Quiet Spike is a collaborative program between Gulfstream Aerospace and NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center to investigate the suppression of sonic booms. An eventual outcome of the project is to develop technology that may allow next generation supersonic transports to overfly populated areas ...
[Read More]

NanoEX, ready to fly
I completed the NanoEX and may give it a go tomorrow.  My confidence in this hair brained scheme is low, but we'll see.  I connected the nose to the body with a short piece of thin Kevlar twine and made a card stock fin can from Art Applewhite's BicStic pen rocket plans. I tweaked the ...
[Read More]

Plane crash in Brooklyn?
40.703788,-73.938291 Are people in this project building a jet to fly them away to some tropical island? Is this the set for LOST the film? Note the different colors blurring behind the jet, obviously it was moving very quickly past the ground while the satellite tried to image it. But it is still ...
[Read More]

Delta IV Heavy Blasts Off From Canaveral Air Station With Largest Satellite Every Launched To Orbit
A Delta IV Heavy Rocket. America's largest launch vehicle. Launched a classified spy satellite only known as payload NROL-32. According to the reports from the National Security Agency the satellite is the largest ever launched. With a span of 100 meters (328 feet). The launch of the Delta IV ...
[Read More]

Maybe the NanoEX should have been named the FemtoEX
Total success would have been it merely clearing the rod.  Partial success would have been discernible upward motion.  Total failure was gas generation only. It didn't even make a satisfying 'woosh'.  I will try one more thing just because I have nothing better to do. :(  I flew ...
[Read More]

Static model of the Pluto SLAM
Scott Lowther is developing a cool resin model of the Project Pluto Supersonic Low Altitude Missile (SLAM) (I attached his drawing, click to expand.) for Fantastic Plastic. I really like this missile (as a model, not the real thing). Too bad resin models are so pricey.
[Read More]

Reduced expectations - the FemtoEX
Alright already, quit laughing at me!  The new version is the motor with a card stock fin can, small lug taped on, and a toothpick nose cone.  My current expectations of the NanoEX is that the motor-only version will lift 2.385" but never leave the rod.  It turns out that cleaning ...
[Read More]

The Turbine Rocket Saucer...at night
Boris Katan added LEDS to his Turbine Rocket Saucer .  Powered by 6 D11-P's.
[Read More]

Computer history - the Gatling gun single step
In the mid-1950's, a group of Rice professors wanted a computer to simulate fluid flow. They didn't want to travel to Los Alamos to use the powerful MANIAC II. So, they built their own. The "The Rice Institute Computer", later the R1, began operation in 1959 and was fully functional by 1961. The ...
[Read More]

Bus bomb

[Read More]

Cool Raygun Gothic Rocketship model from Down Under
Fellow rocketeer Sascha Grant is putting his nifty laser cutter to good use.  His current project is a skeleton-model of the Raygun Gothic Rocketship , which was built for Burning Man and is now on display on San Francisco's Emarcadero.  Dude, you have to tweak this thing so it'll take a ...
[Read More]

Historic high power
Ace kits circa the early 80's or so.  Not big by today's standards and possibly not even HPR by today's definition, but interesting nevertheless.  Especially the Desert Squid (front row, 2nd from right) and the one 2nd from the left. (Update:  These were MPR by today's d ...
[Read More]

Mid power Patriot
The Mid power patriot is 100% done.The paint job was really hard to do and the painters tape was were using REALLY sucked (the blue scotch tape kind) . The black paint started bleeding down onto the body and made it look horrible. We bought some white-out and went over the leaks with a couple ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 FINISHED!
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Here's the mid body with the launch lug standoff. All the fins and nozzles. This was another great build from Dr. Zooch . I learned quite a few things in the process. Next time I'll pay more attention to the instructions and scale data sites!
[Read More]

Parachute Attachment TIP
Awhile back I read a forum post about tangled shroud lines, asking how to untangle them. You can eliminate some tangled lines by moving the parachute attachment point away from the nose cone. With the nose cone so close to the shroud lines, the nose cone can pass through the open lines at ...
[Read More]

CTI Pro X F240 (24mm)
I just placed an order for a complete 24mm pro x case set, and three of these F240 motors. Boy it was not cheap... but it should be great next year to fly them. For the record, please do not end videos the instant a rocket takes off, and certainly not in the middle of a kinda creepy sounding ...
[Read More]

High Power Rocketry magazine, June 1998
Here's a recap of yet another old issue of HPR magazine. Upon searching for some background on one article, I actually found an old Rocketry Planet article announcing that this issue was shipped, along with the previous issue, in July 1998.  That would make this one a mere month late, which ...
[Read More]

Shaping Tool TIP
Here's one of the best balsa shaping tools available. I first used an emery board in the 1970s when forming airfoils on the Estes V-2 fins. In the instructions, it was suggested for fin shaping. Back then we only had the small brown garnet, coarse "files". I should clarify - a fingernail file is ...
[Read More]

Interesting rocketry photo album
I just found an interesting Flickr album containing scans of some photos of the Space Services Inc Conestoga I and related facilities. The photos are not sharable so none will be posted here. However, I found an promo image via SSI's subsidiary Celestis . The Celestis images are better quality, ...
[Read More]

Chase the U2

[Read More]

Back to Work
Okay... So I just have to pull through three weeks of studying and taking final exams. Then it's home again for another three weeks. I have to work hard now. I've got so much going on at once: Chemistry test; long, drawn out calculus homework; coming up with money to stay in school; very difficult ...
[Read More]

More vintage political incorrectness
The Unwanted Blog features some vintage photos of a sexy blond suggestively posing with an F-102.  (photo credit: from the SDAM via Mark Nankivil)  Scott notes (and possibly laments?): These are pretty much exactly the sort of photos the USAF doesn?t use for publicity anymore. I ...
[Read More]

New old rocket quote of the day
Rocket science aside: Trajectory is a crapshoot. - John Abell in Wired/NYT
[Read More]

A small extraterrestrial life post
I'll lump a few news stories here, in one convenient location.... The blogaverse is abuzz with news about NASA's scheduled and clearly announced December 2nd news conference in which they will announce a "scientific finding" that "will impact the search for extraterrestrial life."  Space.com ...
[Read More]

{title deleted...no smart a$$ replacement)
ParabolicArc post about Elon Musk's new old lady, actress Talulah Riley.  I didn't like the tone of my post and decided to remove my inane rambling.  I wish Elon and Talulah all the best, whether on earth, Mars, or anywhere in between. Go Space-X!
[Read More]

American Spacemodeling, January 1989
American Spacemodeling , January 1989 is my oldest surviving rocket magazine.  It is 15 pages in length (excluding the unnumbered back cover) and contains numerous diagrams.  However, the only photos were on the front and back covers.  This predecessor to Sport Rocketry was ...
[Read More]

Preparations underway for first landing of X-37B
30th Space Wing Public Affairs 11/30/2010 - VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Preparations for the first landing of the X-37B are underway at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Space professionals from the 30th Space Wing will monitor the de-orbit and landing of the Air Force's first X-37B, called the ...
[Read More]

Downscale Carded Estes Patriot
Here's the newest Carded Downscale: The Estes P A T R I O T It's build around a BT-20 airframe and stands 11 5/8" tall. A printed body wrap and carded fins eliminate all painting except for the nosecone. The nosecone is a BNC-20AH available from Semroc.com I built mine for 13mm engines and ...
[Read More]

Concrete
Recently, in my "Chemistry for Engineers" class, the instructor was talking about concrete, and how it is ubiquitous in engineering applications. My roommate, who is in electrical engineering, and I, an aerospace engineer, exchanged glances. We were both imagining the use of concrete in our future ...
[Read More]

SETI from deep space - Dr. Claudio Maccone
Regular readers will remember a previous post about solar system gravitational telescopes. Here is a relevant presentation by the author of a book and papers on the topic. Sadly the book, at more than $100, is a bit out of my price level. But the talk is pretty detailed. I will wait for used copies ...
[Read More]

The price of MPR - then and now
I bought my first mid-power rocket, the NCR Big Brute, in 1990 or 91.  The other day, I was looking at the catalog that I ordered from and lamented the fact that I didn't buy a lifetime supply of their kits.  The Big Brute is a short 4" rocket that sports a 29mm mount.  Back then, ...
[Read More]

Newest Launch Accessory TIP
Here's my newest piece of launch gear. I picked them up on clearance for $1.00 each. I had bought them for working in the yard.   Continually kneeling down to connect up an igniter can over work a touchy knee joint. These garden pads help soften the job.   At the last ...
[Read More]

A 5 x G160 rack rocket
The rocketeer currently known as rocketjunkie has built and flown a lot of cool stuff.  Here's a video of a 5-stage rack rocket flying on Rocketflight Silver Streak G160's.  All 5 stages lit but there is no word on recovery.
[Read More]

REVIEW: Apogee Components Model Rocket Design and Construction
I just picked up and began re-scanning this book and had wanted to post something about it.  Since I had an existing EMRR review, and considering the site's current state of flux, I decided to experiment with cross posting.  One thing I have already decided is that I'm dumping the ...
[Read More]

MicroMaxx Launch Rod Standoff TIP
In the past, there have been forum posts about how to adapt a MicroMaxx sized launch rod to a standard launcher. Quest sells a MMX launcher, but it is their standard "Lift-Off " launcher with adapters to accommodate the smaller rockets and igniters . Sometimes a simple solution is best. Brian ...
[Read More]

X-37B Secret Space Plane Returns To Earth Under The Cloak Of Darkness
At 1:16AM PST last night the X-37B secret space plane burned a hole through earths atmosphere in a fiery reentry and landing at Vandenberg AFB. The mini shuttle touched down autonomously on the 15,000' runway that was originally built for returning space shuttles. This mornings landing completed a ...
[Read More]

Davy Crockett scale data
I've previously discussed the fact that I wanted to build a flying model of the M388 Davy Crockett nuclear projectile.  It is still on my long list of things I'll probably never get around to building.  Today, Scott Lowther posted some additional information on this nasty little booger, ...
[Read More]

X-37B landing video
Congrats to the USAF, Vandenburg, and Boeing on the successful landing of the X37-B OTV-1 . Not much is known about its 225 day mission except that it changed orbits several times. However, we do know this was our first unmanned, orbital spacecraft that landed horizontally.  (via Clark Lindsey ...
[Read More]

Robert Goddard and the Smithsonian
The NASM's AirSpace blog explores the relationship between Dr. Goddard and the Smithsonian, including a look at some of their current exhibits.
[Read More]

Space-X update
Earlier today, Space-X test fired their Falcon 9 rocket's nine Merlin engines. Despite numerous reports of its success,  SpaceflightNow is reporting that the test aborted before the engines reached the required full thrust for 2 seconds.  They may try again at around 3PM EST.  ...
[Read More]

X-37B landing photos
Space.com has a series of  photos of the X-37B as it is processed on the Vandenburg tarmac.  On this one, note the deployed airbrake and the discoloration of the upper thermal insulation.
[Read More]

Delta IV

[Read More]

Another X-37B video
This one shows the FLIR landing video and some of the post-processing.  I went ahead and quoted the text included with the video. I found the video link on the ParabolicArc . The U.S. Air Force's first unmanned re-entry spacecraft landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base at 1:16 a.m. PST today, ...
[Read More]

USAF Space Command Releases Video Of The X-37B Space Plane Post Landing Safing Activities

[Read More]

Sad Saturday morning
I'm sad that I couldn't attend the Warthog build session today....there won't be many more. I'm sad that I probably won't be flying in December for numerous reasons. I'm sad the Shuttle is so delayed, that it is being retired, and that we have no replacement in queue. The only things left to cheer ...
[Read More]

SpaceX further cheered up my Saturday
 On the 2nd try today (and 3rd overall), they successfully performed a full duration (2 sec.) static fire of the Falcon 9 Merlin engines.  Pending a full review of the test data, I assume the COTS-1 launch is still a 'go' for Tuesday, Dec. 7th.  Visit HobbySpace for a video of the ...
[Read More]

On the X-37B applications and usefulness
I didn't fully digest all the articles poopooing the X-37B as a DoD boondoggle.  Nevertheless, I generally believe, as some others do, that we just don't know enough about what they are doing to pass judgment.  Clark Lindsey points to the latest article that presents the pros and cons of ...
[Read More]

Pre-Estes North Coast Rocketry component question
I have a question about the nose cones that the original North Coast Rocketry used in their kits.  Before I post on the rocketry forums, I thought I'd try here.  In the 1990-91 time frame, I bought my first MPR kit - the Big Brute .  This 4" kit came with an Ace blow-molded ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Orlando R.O.C.K. Section 12/4/2010
Ten carloads of space modelers joined us at the monthly Orlando R.O.C.K. section launch. At the left of the picture is Tom Dennon's Mom launching the BIG DADDY . Roger Smith captured all the smoke at ignition. My Dr. Zooch SATURN 1 had it's great first flight on a B6-4. Straight up with full ...
[Read More]

OMG, a flying Pogo on a stick!
As y'all know, I like tail-sitting VTOL aircraft and in particular the Convair XFY-1 Pogo (see my flying version here ).  Scott Lowther just posted about NASA LaRC's rocket-powered aerodynamic testing of the Pogo .  As noted, this was a common technique prior to the proliferation of ...
[Read More]

New Orlando Group Launcher and Pivot
At yesterdays' Orlando R.O.C.K. monthly launch we all had a great surprise - A NEW LAUNCH RACK! Not just any pivot base, but something I hadn't seen before. That's a billiard ball sandwiched between two pieces of wood. The ball was drilled to accommodate up to a 3/16" launch rod. The wing ...
[Read More]

The Dungeon's Top Ten of 2010 (updated)
Here is my yearly recap of what I think was most significant in and around the Dungeon.  As originally mentioned, I jumped the gun on posting the list. It's now 100% complete!  In no particular order:   The flight of the Too Rolling Red Stoned at MDRA's September ESL-148 ...
[Read More]

Nativity scene of the day
This is so awesome that I will forgive the use of hash browns.  After all, hash browns are tasty and go well with bacon and sausage. (Via Geekology , with a hat tip to Sascha)
[Read More]

Cheap Sandpaper!
This sandpaper pack sells for $2.59 at Harbor Freight. Seven sheets of 9" X 11" comes out to $.37 a sheet. Much cheaper than what I find at Home Depot or Lowe's at $1.00 a sheet. I don't ever remember seeing 500 grit sandpaper before. I go through a lot of 400 grit. It felt close, I thought I'd ...
[Read More]

Man Builds Planetarium in Backyard

[Read More]

A hydrogen-fueled, scramjet-powered X-15D
This is a photo of Scott Lowther's master for a forthcoming Fantastic Plastic ?X-15D? . This looks pretty cool and is new to me, looking different than the X-15 SERJ (supercharged ejector ram-jet). Prior to the X-15 program's abrupt cancellation in 1968, the Air Force was drafting ambitious ...
[Read More]

Rocket quote of the day
(Building rockets is) "super-frickin'-damn-hard."- Elon Musk (quoted part) I got this from Alan Boyle's latest article on SpaceX.  Mr. Musk estimates the probability of full COTS-1 mission success (Dragon gets to orbit and is recovered) is 60% and notes that, historical, the reliability of ...
[Read More]

Quest MicroMaxx SVSS Fixes
I recently bought the Quest MicroMaxx Super Value Starter Set (SVSS). Quest had a holiday sale and at $36.00 it was too good to pass up. This included 50 MicroMaxx engines, a controller, MMX launcher and eight "little plastic bricks" to fly. As the story goes, Bill Stine designed the plastic ...
[Read More]

Quadrotor ball juggler
Here's a cool video from the Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control showing a quadrotor flying robot juggling a ball.  I don't know that juggling one item is technically juggling.  If so, I'm a juggler too.  No matter, the quadrotor is pretty awesome.
[Read More]

X-37B Secret Space Plane Had 7 Collisions With Debris While In Space.
According to Defense Department spokesman Richard McKinney. There were multiple collisions with space debris during the X-37's 244 days in space. The only physical damage seen so far has been seven areas where space debris collided with the aircraft. It also blew out a tire upon landing. McKinney, ...
[Read More]

A snapshot of the Dungeon's readership
Out of the top ten most viewed posts over the last 7 days: 5 are about the X-37B 2 are about bacon 1 is about rocket powered Pinewood Derby cars 1 is about rocket girls, and 1 is about fembots Side notes:  The 'fembots mania' post has been in the top five, and has ...
[Read More]

Hack your Canon camera for rocket photography!
IEEE Spectrum recently featured an article on the Canon Hack Development Kit (CHDK).  CDHK is a series of scripts that reside on your camera's removable memory card.  These can be configured to load manually or automatically and don't modify you camera's internal firmware. So, if you ...
[Read More]

Falcon 9
"CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A private company launched a spacecraft into orbit Wednesday, 12/08/2010 in a bold demonstration test for NASA that could lead to the first commercial space station supply run next year and eventual astronaut rides. The Falcon 9 rocket, owned by Space Exploration ...
[Read More]

Falcon 9 Demonstration Flight
Today SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 vehicle, to demonstrate its reliability as a Commercial Orbital Transportation Services vehicle (COTS) for NASA. The launch was successful.
[Read More]

Good Shroud Line Thread
Here's a great shroud line thread available at most craft and sewing supply stores. 100% cotton thread is hard to come by. This thread is 74% Polyester, 26% Cotton. It's comparable with parachute shroud line sold by many vendors and supplied with their parachute kits. Just be sure to look for: ...
[Read More]

Summary of the SpaceX post flight press conference
I didn't listen so some points are cryptic, but here goes anyway.  Via Craig McGraw on YORF . Interesting note #1 -- the second stage has an apogee of 11,000 miles... Interesting note #2 -- An LES is a cool thing to have... Interesting note #3 -- the next generation of Dragon is a lander ...
[Read More]

TRA-LA High Power Rocket Launch SCRUBBED!
The Tripoli Louisiana High Power Rocket Launch scheduled for this weekend has been scrubbed due to a frontal system passing through the area. The system will bring high winds and rain into the area so it was decided to postpone the launch till next weekend. Dec. 18 -19. I hope everyone can make ...
[Read More]

Quote of the day
I'm surprised more folks don't keep hogs for pets. Hogs are just dogs wrapped in bacon. -- Spokes (via Ted )
[Read More]

Naval rail gun footage
"A theoretical dream for decades, the railgun is unlike any other weapon used in warfare. And it's quite real too, as the U.S. Navy has proven in a record-setting test today in Dahlgren, VA. Rather than relying on a explosion to fire a projectile, the technology uses an electomagnetic current to ...
[Read More]

The Navy sets a railgun record...with video
Check out this video of the Office of Naval Research Electromagnetic Railgun, located at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, firing at 33 megajoules.  The projectile was reportedly moving at Mach 8 and would have been capable of traveling 110 miles.  Alan Boyle notes that ...
[Read More]

Tongue of the Ocean from the ISS

[Read More]

45 minutes of shuttle engineering footage
"hotographic documentation of a Space Shuttle launch plays a critical role in the engineering analysis and evaluation process that takes place during each and every mission. Motion and Still images enable Shuttle engineers to visually identify off-nominal events and conditions requiring corrective ...
[Read More]

The latest Red Glare IX video
Nick Alexopulos made this Red Glare IV video for class project. As MDRA member Brett noted, this is video emphasizes the people over the rockets.        
[Read More]

A Space Shuttle video retrospective (long)
This video compilation was prepared from engineering footage of the STS-114, STS-117, and STS-124 missions. Credit: Matt Melis at the Glenn Research Center.
[Read More]

Videos by 40390576
Some of the best rocketry and space videos on Youtube must be those hosted by 40390576. Sadly this youtuber does not allow embedding of videos, so here are some of my favorites in link form: Saturn 1 LOX tank interior view Saturn 1 LH tank interior view SA-6 Staging outside view I came across ...
[Read More]

Air Command whips out their big 10 foot (big a$$ rocket of the day)
George provides this sneak peak at the Polaron G2 with its "21L of goodness."
[Read More]

Paper rocket conversion resource update
I just found out about the Paper Modelers Forum . Although rockets make up a small subset of the content and the only flying models are probably of the stomp variety, this should be a great resource if you are interested in paper model conversions.  For instance, I see that the Lower Hudson ...
[Read More]

Level one Cert
Simon and I found out that we could get a license to fly on H and I engines. This wound Quadruple the amount of power we could put in a rocket. To get a license the hardest part is the certification flight.That means to get a license you have to complete a successful flight on a H or I motor. ...
[Read More]

Der Red Mix mark II... For The Win!
Last weekend I flew DRM mark II for the first time on a central L730 Classic and 2 x I345 White Thunder air-starts 1 second after the L burned out. I couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. First off there was pretty much zero wind all day at Plaster City though that came at the cost of a ...
[Read More]

Megastructures on a planetary or solar scale...or even bigger?
Yesterday (in most time zones), Dark Roasted Blend explores Megastructures: Bigger-Than-Worlds .  This is a photographic compendium of Dyson Spheres , Ringworlds, dams that span seas, and other hypothetical megastructures.  For instance, the Dyson Sphere, which was first described by ...
[Read More]

There isn't a jalopy in this bunch of rockets
It looks like Pete Alway's Rockets of the World is featured on Jalopnik .  That's big time e-publicity, but too bad they didn't provide a link where people can order the book. Click the photo above for the big one. Click the 1st link for the ARA Press/Saturn Press web site.
[Read More]

Orbital + Virgin = CCDev 2
Space News reports that Orbital Sciences Corp. is teaming with Virgin Galactic to bid on the the second phase of NASA's CCDev commercial crew transport effort.  Orbital is expected to propose an Atlas V-boosted  lifting-body spacecraft capable of carrying at least four passengers to ...
[Read More]

Bonus Space Shuttle awesomeness
Here are the deleted scenes from the video Ascent - Commemorating the Space Shuttle .  Watch it, and if you missed the original, go watch it too !
[Read More]

Titan cryovolcano flyover - Cassini
"This movie is based on data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft and flies over an area of Saturn's moon Titan known as Sotra Facula. Scientists believe Sotra is the best case for an ice volcano - or cryovolcano - region on Titan. The flyover shows two peaks more than 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) tall and ...
[Read More]

Rockets of the World by Peter Alway
If you like what you see, consider buying the book.
[Read More]

How To Move A Secret Space Plane? With A Chevy Truck Of Course!
Photos by Boeing Last week, the U.S. Air Force's X-37B unmanned space plane landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California after completing a top-secret 220-day orbital space mission. It was towed from the runway by a 1994-1998 Chevrolet C/K 3500. The X-37B resembles the U.S. space ...
[Read More]

Nike Hercules Missile (5 tons x 11 m)
Nike Hercules Missile (5 tons x 11 m) , originally uploaded by Luigi FDV . Nice silhouette! The exhaust plume ain't bad either.
[Read More]

Mega-Review: Art Applewhite Standard Flying Saucers (VERY LONG)
Because of their similarity, I decided to conglomerate all my reviews of Art Applewhite's 'standard' flying saucers is one easy-to-reference location.  These are the ones that have an opening around the motor tube (unlike the Delta Saucers which are solid aeroshells).  Also, these are all ...
[Read More]

Mega-Review: Modified Art Applewhite Standard Flying Saucers (LONG)
Art's standard saucers fly great, but sometimes you just want to try something different. Details are hidden below the page break. Convert a 38mm, 12" saucer to a 3x 24mm cluster. Brief: When he was Beta-testing his 12" saucer line, Art graciously provided sent me several sets of blank white ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! 12/15/10 Follow-up!
I could clearly see the back yard where the upper half of the Cyclone had landed. I typed up a letter and left it at the front door of the house. Tonight while driving home I got a call. The caller, Louis, said he found it in his back yard. He told me to come by tonight and pick it up. I ...
[Read More]

Soyuz TMA-20 Launches From Baikonur Cosmodrone
The Soyuz TMA-20 rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010 (Dec. 16 in Kazakhstan), carrying Expedition 26 Soyuz Commander Dmitry Kondratyev of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Cady Coleman of the U.S. and European Space Agency Flight Engineer Paolo ...
[Read More]

Interesting satellites in the news
Clark Lindsey point us to the ServerSky webpage.  These folks are proposing moving Internet and computational services to orbit via a constellation of tens of thousands of 20cm wide, 0.1mm thick satellites that incorporate solar cells, thrusters, radios, and processors.  They admit there ...
[Read More]

Further analysis for DRM II's first flight
I was chatting with my aerospace buddy Chris at work today and, having seen the blog entry and data below, he was as confused as I about the barometric altitude curve shape. I normally plot barometric altitude as that's accepted as the official peak. Accelerometer-based altitudes can suffer from ...
[Read More]

Review: Madcow AQM-37 Jayhawk
My review of the Madcow   AQM-37 Jayhawk is below the page break.  You can also find out more about this kit by following the tag at the bottom of this post. Enjoy! Brief: This is a nice scale model of the Navy's AQM-37 Jayhawk. It features high quality components and flies on 29mm ...
[Read More]

Computational neuroscience in 2010...and in 1956
The last paper issue of IEEE Spectrum featured an interesting article on memristor-based artificial neuroscience, specifically the MoNETA (Modular Neural Exploring Traveling Agent) .  Sorry to tease, but the on-line version seems to be MIA and the subject is way to deep for me to summarize ...
[Read More]

Home for the Holidays!
I have successfully finished out one full semester of college. Now it is time to go home for three whole weeks! What a satisfying feeling. I have learned a lot. Here is a non-exhaustive list: FORTRAN is a ridiculous programming language (unless you need to process massive amounts of data). ...
[Read More]

Review: First Flight Hobbies Corn Roc
The Corn-Roc is a limited availability kit from First Flight Hobbies . Click through the page break for my review of this interesting oddroc. Brief: This is a seasonal oddroc based on a Styrofoam ear of corn. It is a cool-looking, sturdy rocket and looks better in person than in photos. My beta ...
[Read More]

Review: First Flight Hobbies Under Dawg (Beta)
The First Flight Hobbies Under Dawg is a large (58" x 2.22" - 5.6oz) , 4FNC, 2-stager.  It features a BT-70 body that transitions to BT-60, an appealing set of booster/sustainer fins and a small set of fins on the upper body.  This adds up to a sharp-looking, impressive modroc that flies ...
[Read More]

Review: First Flight Hobbies Mega Sonic (Beta)
The First Flight Hobbies Mega-Sonic is an upscale of First Flight's Semi-Sonic. The Mega is BT-60-based and flies on 24mm motors. This was a beta test build so later production models may vary slightly. As usual, my review lurks below the page break. Parts The Mega-Sonic's body includes two ...
[Read More]

New CHEAP Cutting Board
I'm always looking for great buys on building tools and supplies . If I find something, you'll hear about it on this blog. This is nothing new to most builders. I've just never owned one. I cut squares from the sides of old shipping boxes to build on. I've seen these "self healing" mats for sale ...
[Read More]

Review: Odd'l Rockets Wedgie
The Odd'l Rockets Wedgie is a tetrahedron (3-sided pyramid) that flies on 18mm motors and recovers via a rear-eject streamer. I want to thank Chris for letting me test out this cool oddroc kit. Mine is s/n #2! Construction: The Wedgie comes professionally packaged in a plastic bag with the cover of ...
[Read More]

Review: Odd'l Rockets Birdie
This is Odd'l's take on what is possibly the original oddroc - the flying Badminton Birdie. Birdie + 13mm Mini Motors = quick and easy flying fun. Construction: The kit included the shuttlecock, a BT-5 motor tube, a dummy motor, a wooden disk/plug, one centering ring and a launch lug. It is rated ...
[Read More]

Review: Odd'l Rockets Raise
The Odd'l Raise is an adjustable standoff for 1/8" rods. One of them apparently dropped into the box when my Wedgie kit was shipped so I thought I'd add a short review. You can now put your clothes pins back on the line. Comments: The Raise is a merely a coil spring with a short piece if brass ...
[Read More]

Review: First Flight Hobbies Semi Sonic (Beta)
The First Flight Hobbies Semi-Sonic is a sleek 18mm rocket that sports three split-fins (6 fins total) and a long balsa nose cone. Mine was a beta test-build, so some minor details may vary.   Construction: The nose cone came pre-weighted with a hefty eye-bolt. This is a good way to ensure ...
[Read More]

Review: Art Applewhite 29mm Helix Monocopter
The 29mm Helix is the latest member of Art's Helix fleet , although I'm sure he's planning to up the ante.  This version provides some very impressive flights!  Construction: I won't go into as much detail as I have is previous reviews.  First, this was a beta version and I know some ...
[Read More]

Reviews: Heavenly Hobbies Resistor 224 (and H.H. Simit)
The Resistor 224 Planetary Defense Weapon is the latest offering from Heavenly Hobbies . This futuristic, dual motor, 24mm design features their ‘Amaze’ ejection baffle, laser cut plywood fins, rings and baffles, thick wall tubes, and a single big decal. It has two main fins with winglets at ...
[Read More]

Product reviews, past, present and future
You may have noticed the recent flood of product reviews here in the Dungeon.  Until recently, I haven't posted comprehensive reviews of the rockets I build.  Instead, I conglomerated info from my individual posts and submitted a review to EMRR.  Since EMRR has a new owner and is ...
[Read More]

Avrocar flying saucer documents are available
Scott Lowther has scored some documents on the Avrocar VTOL “flying saucer". The attached image is a low res teaser.  If you like to collect such things, need some scale data, or just want to help Scott's cat out, you can buy the full res versions on CD .
[Read More]

Review: Sweat-Stained Clifton Tracking Station Hat of Death
The Hat of Death is a UFO-type rocket made from an old fishing hat. The hat is removable in case I forget a ball cap - wouldn't want to sunburn the top of my head. Logging 57 flights to-date on motors from 'D' through 'G' (including some clusters), the Hat of Death has become my signature rocket ...
[Read More]

Review - Whirlygig-24
When I first saw Matthew McFarland's Whirlygig in FlisKits' Deuce Bash Contest, I immediately knew I had to build one. This is a 24mm version of this odd, helicopter design. Since there was little theory to help determine stability (how do you swing test this anyway?), I built mine out of ...
[Read More]

More fembots, and a femme with a bot
Since my other fembots post is so popular... Here's a shiny retro fembot via Dark Roasted Blend's new post entitled Amazing Automatons: Ancient Robots and Victorian Androids .   I found many of the others a little creepy since, for some reason, they reminded me of evil ventriloquist ...
[Read More]

18mm Engine Size Comparison
I'd noticed some engine mount movement in the Quest Chinese made A6-4s. Look at the difference in the length of these three 18mm engines. The blue labeled Quest engine is German made. It is just under 2 3/4" long. The Quest in the middle is a newer Chinese made engine. It is 1/8" ...
[Read More]

News about Armadillo's 'tuber'
Dave Salt posted this comment here [on RLV and Space Transport News blog] regarding Armadillo's plans: I'm told that "tube vehicle" will be based upon Super-MOD design/technology but evolved to support CRuSR FOP missions and is currently being assembled. It's scheduled to fly from Spaceport America ...
[Read More]

Zeitgeist/attitude adjustment
Lets see, my flood of product reviews has helped boost the ratio of on- to off topic items in my top-ten posts to 8-to-2 (see sidebar, this ratio is subject to immediate change).  My original NSFW fembots post is still number one and a bacon post is still in there.  Also, I'm tired of ...
[Read More]

Reviews of two V2's
Semroc's V2 xKit is a reproduction of Estes K-22, which was originally released in 1965. Like the original, it flies on 18mm motors and features balsa nose and tail cones. The xKits don't come with instructions but, since they are classics, copies of the original instructions are available ...
[Read More]

Review - Public Enemy Ultra Fayboy (3")
The Public Enemy 3" Ultra Fatboy was my first high power rocket and was purchased for my TRA Level-I certification. I picked this kit primarily because of its sleek design and capability to fly on mid-power motors (adapter not included). There are quite a few rockets fitting the latter requirement ...
[Read More]

Review - Great Googly Moogly
The Great Googly Moogly is a 8" x 75" scratch built rocket that I used for my TRA Level 2 certification at LDRS 19 in Orangeburg, SC. However, I began building it almost a year earlier, before even getting my Level-1 cert. Many of the building techniques used were new to me, and a few were ...
[Read More]

Review: Too Rolling (Red)Stoned
The Too Rolling (Red)Stoned is is a semi-scale version of a Mercury Redstone. It is a large, light rocket that is built using card stock and foam board and is basically a 4” rocket in an 8” rocket’s skin. This review will emphasize the general build techniques rather than providing a ...
[Read More]

Review - North Coast Rocketry Big Brute
This is a review of the pre-Estes version of the classic stubby mid-power rocket. It included a standard 29mm motor tube and flush-mount plywood fins.   Parts list: * NC-39 (Ace) nose cone * BT-39/17 airframe tube * SC-2 shock cord (elastic) * PC-2 parachute (24" rip stop nylon) * MT-1 motor ...
[Read More]

Review - The Grand Whazoo
The goal of this project was to build an eight inch diameter rocket that was light enough to be flown on a mid-power motor. I decided to use foam board for the fins and centering rings, and thick paper for the outer skin. After playing around with RockSim, the design evolved into something ...
[Read More]

(Space) budgets are made to be broken
In this week's Space Review, Todd Neff discusses one fundamental flaw in estimating cutting edge projects -  Space budgets are made to be broken .  On the final frontier, humans will always be learning to walk. This subject seems to come up every so often around the dinner table ...
[Read More]

Mega-Review: Art Applewhite Delta Flying Saucers
At the time of this posting, Art Applewhite is offering no less than 10 versions of his Delta Saucer design, two of which are free downloads.  This is a cluster of reviews covering three of them:  13mm Delta, 24mm Delta, and the 24mm Ultra Delta.  I also have the big 38mm/54mm Delta ...
[Read More]

Comparison of Art Applewhite's 24mm Saucers
Now that I have captured some of my old reviews, I decided to see if Blogger could handle the table used in the original comparison article. The first row includes links to the posts that present the full review. I'll link to the Super Cinco if and when I port it over. Standard Delta Ultra Delta ...
[Read More]

Apollo 11 - almost lost due to software errors, saved by a ten year old
Thanks to several movies, including Ron Howard's hit of the same name , the general public is well aware of Apollo 13's story .  The short version: rocket launches, capsule heads to moon, oxygen yank ruptures, astronauts get really cold and move to command module, ground crew devises a jury ...
[Read More]

F240 motors have arrived
Normal package. Rocketry package.
[Read More]

Review - Art Applewhite 18", 38mm and 54mm Delta Flying Saucer
This is a review of a pre-production version of Art Applewhite's 18", 38mm and 54mm Delta Flying Saucer .  Its construction varied somewhat from the production model. Nonetheless, it is representative of the performance you should expect. I have tried to indicate where the production model ...
[Read More]

Merry Christmas All!
OH, ROCKET - TREE Space Modeling Parody of Oh, Christmas Tree Oh, Rocket-tree Oh, Rocket-tree, How lovely is thy smoke trail, Oh, Rocket-tree Oh, Rocket-tree, Fly Vertically without fail. With C6-3, we’ll rubberneck, At peak of flight, a rear eject, Oh, Rocket-tree Oh, Rocket-tree It landed ...
[Read More]

Enzmann star ship
Can a small black hole power an interstellar voyage?
[Read More]

Winter solstice lunar eclipse of 2010
This eclipse was notable because it took place just hours before the December solstice, which marks the beginning of northern winter and southern summer. The last Dec. 21 total lunar eclipse occurred in the year 1638. The next winter solstice eclipse is due in 2094.  Learn more on Alan Boyle's ...
[Read More]

Blog and Odd'l Rocket News!
I was surprised and honored to be part of Wayne Hills Rocketry Blog Top10!   Wayne is nice enough to host the PDFs for me. His blog includes the Ultimate Paper Rocket Guide. You can check it out HERE . I hope people are building and flying these downscales. More will come as the ...
[Read More]

Review: CrayShipOne
This Crayon bank rocket was obviously motivated by the SpaceShipOne, but is not anywhere close to scale. It is also my EMRR MonsterROC contest entry and flies on 38mm H motors. Major components/materials: * 4" diameter bank (now produced by Fantazia Marketing) * 3/16" Luan plywood * 1/4" tubular ...
[Read More]

Skylon SSTO
http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/skylon.html
[Read More]

Review: Fireball XL5
This is a fantasy-scale model of the Fireball XL5 spacecraft, which was the subject of an old TV show. My motivation came from a thread on the The Rocketry Forum. Inspired by a model being developed by Steve Rogers, I began thinking about the pile of parts that I got from LOC as my DESCON 9 prize ...
[Read More]

Model Rocketry Workshop - TECHNOZION X - NIT Warangal
Model rocketry workshop - Technozion-X, NIT Warangal on 24th - 26th September 2010 NIT - Warangal conducted Technozion-X event during the 24th - 26th September 2010. Model Rocketry Workshop and Model Rocketry Competition were the part of this event. 276 participants around the Region from the ...
[Read More]

Cyclone Build Part 1 Back Story and Websites
Here's one I found on Wayne Hill's Rocketry Blog at: http://rocketry.wordpress.com/ This is a fascinating model featuring maple seed (helicopter) recovery. At ejection, the upper half is a monocopter and returns helicopter style. The lower stabilizer unit has two fins and helicopters in. I've ...
[Read More]

Cyclone Build Part 2 Parts
Here's (almost) all the parts after cutting them out. The model will be built in two separate assemblies according to Mr. Mills instructions. First up in the build is the single finned Spin Unit (to the left) The 1/8" dowel fin weight is not shown. The two finned Stabilizer Unit (on the right) ...
[Read More]

Review: Fireball XL5 Paper Model
This is a paper model of the Fireball XL5 that I converted to fly on MicroMaxx motors.  Unfortunately, the link to the plans is dead. * One sheet of white cardstock * BT-5 tube * BT-5 coupler * 6 mm tube * ¼" piece of a spent MMX casing * Hand-cut cardstock centering rings * Section ...
[Read More]

Review: Upscale BLU-97B Cluster Bomb
This is a description of my G-powered upscale of the Estes BLU-97B Cluster Bomb. The body consists of two 5" Quaker Oats bins. Here it is next to it's Estes cousin. The nose cone tip was turned from 2" pink Styrofoam using a hand drill clamped in a vise. I first cut circles top and bottom with my ...
[Read More]

It's cold so you probably could use some Canned Heat for Christmas
As a big Canned Heat fan, I couldn't resist sharing this one. (with a hat tip to Jack Kennedy )
[Read More]

Review: Goonball XL5
This 'goony' version of the Fireball XL5 sci-fi spacecraft is based on the Estes SpaceShipOne kit. That rocket is now my favorite kits to bash. The modifications included replacing the stock fins, replacing the stock recovery system, and modifying the nose cone. The motor mount is stock. Parts ...
[Read More]

Review: Deuce XL5
The Deuce XL5 was my Descon-13 entry and, for the record, the following were the attributes as they applied to the contest: no Micro-Maxx, x2 cluster, sci-fi, comedy(?), most parts from a Fliskits Deuces Wild The Deuce-XL5 is a kitbash of the Fliskits Deuce's Wild. After building a stock ...
[Read More]

NORAD Santa tracking reminder
No time for a more substantial post, but I thought I'd at least post this Santa tracking reminder . Merry Christmas !
[Read More]

Happy Holidays! From Bayourat Rocketry.
Here's wishing you all a fun festive holiday season and best wishes for the New Year. May all your rocket dreams come true.
[Read More]

Frog Otolith Experiment - Frogs in space
"The Orbiting Frog Otolith (OFO) was a NASA space program which resulted in the successful launch in 1970 of the Orbiting Frog Otolith spacecraft (OFO-A mission), sending two bullfrogs into orbit for the study of weightlessness. The name, derived through common use, was a functional description of ...
[Read More]

Model Rocketry Workshop on Children Day Celebration at Poeisis Achievement Foundation
Model Rocketry Workshop - Poeisis Achievement Foundation on 14th November 2010 Etv Coverage on Children Day Celebration - 14th November 2010 Poiesis Achievement Foundation, a children talent development organization based at Ahmedabad, India is dedicated to instill Achievement Motivation ...
[Read More]

Cyclone Build Part 3 Vent Hole Punch
First up, you are to punch a hole in the longer BT -20 for an ejection charge vent. This went much better than I thought it would. The smaller side of the hole punch is inserted as far as it will go into the tube. The punched hole was easy and the cut edges were round and sharp! Trivia: Just a ...
[Read More]

Cyclone Build Part 4 Fin Spar
The fin spar spacer is glued between the two long fin spars. I cut mine a little oversize so I could sand it down to the outside edges once all three parts had dried. I made sure that the inside spacer's 90 degree edge sat in the right position as the original, slightly smaller spacer. I clamped ...
[Read More]

ISRO rocket fails during launch
"This is the dramatic moment when India's ambitious space programme suffered one of its biggest setback when an advanced communication satellite exploded within a minute after its launch. A stunned Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) did not give the reason for the blast in the sky but an ...
[Read More]

Cyclone Build Part 5 Spar Contour
When sandwiched together, the spar is 3/16" thick. While it could have been glued to the body tube as is, I wanted a better root edge fit on the BT-20. I wrapped 220 grit sandpaper around a BT-5 tube and sanded the body tube curve into the wide root edge. TIP: Notice I didn't sand around a BT-20. ...
[Read More]

Cyclone Build Part 6 Spar Contour
The instructions specify a 15 degree angle of the spar. This is critical! You can have a variance of + or - 1 degree. If the angle is much wider the the upper unit won't rotate. If the angle is narrower, the engine exhaust will scorch the fin. The picture shows the spar assembly glued in place. I ...
[Read More]

Building three simultaneously = efficiency!
I'm taking advantage of my two-week break from work to complete construction on: 4" Extreme DarkStar - This was my gift to myself this year after seeing KO's success with the all-fiberglass kit. I've decided to break this one in with the pink M1676 Pro75 motor . Madcow Rocketry 4" fiberglass Nike ...
[Read More]

Cyclone Build Part 7 Main Fin and Dowel Weight
The main fin is glued between the spars. Clothes pins were used again to clamp the fin in place while the glue dried. The dowel is glued on the trailing edge. The tapered end overlaps the fin spar.
[Read More]

Cyclone Build Part 8 Launch Lug and Nose Cone
The launch lug is glued beside the spar, even with the end of the body tube. To protect the base of the nose cone from the ejection charge, I coated the base with white glue and let it dry. The nose cone was then glued in the front of the BT -20. The upper spin unit is complete. Next up, the ...
[Read More]

GSAT-5P rocket failure
"Here's a fiery portrait of India's second failed launch of 2010. The GSAT-5P, launching a new geosynchronous communications satellite, broke up in the first stage and exploded. How did this happen? According to press accounts, the GSAT-5P rocket developed an error soon after launch and took on ...
[Read More]

CATO!
Here's a cool photo of India's GSAT-5P CATO. Via, of all places, io9 .
[Read More]

Review: Quest MLAS
This is semi-scale sport model based on NASA's Max Launch Abort System (MLAS). It is quite stubby, being 3.5" in diameter and a mere 9" long. It has only one recommended motor, the B6, and recovers in two parts on three parachutes. Parts included in the kit: * One 3.5" D v 5.5" L tube * One ...
[Read More]

Review: The Whole Enchilada
The Whole Enchilada "The rocket that is the meal!" The idea for The Whole Enchilada came into being one Sunday afternoon while cleaning out the frig. We had leftover tortillas that had been in the freezer way too long. Then the idea to use the stale tortillas hit me..... Ingredients 1. ...
[Read More]

Reviews: Recycled daiquiri glasses from Las Vegas
If you've ever been to Las Vegas, you couldn't have missed that about a quarter of the people wandering the Strip seem to be sipping on long plastic doohickeys filled with colored liquids. These jumbo, spiked versions of the Slurpee are themed to various casinos and venues.  I'm always ...
[Read More]

Cyclone Build Part 9 Engine Mount Prepping
Right now I'm on a cruise ship going down the Mexican Riviera. Internet connections are slow on board the ship, so only one posting. On the days when the connections are good, I'll do my regular two postings, but this morning - just this one! The instructions tell you to use the Estes Mini-Engine ...
[Read More]

15415

[Read More]

Review: Hostile Projectiles Delta X-15
This is sport scale model of an X-15 variant proposed by North American Aviation. More accurately, it is fantasy scale since this stretched, delta-winged version was never produced. Like the other offerings from Hostile Projectiles , this kit features a hand crafted resin nose cone. It flies on ...
[Read More]

Review: Lindberg 1:48 XFY-1 "Pogo" (PMC)
Convair's XFY-1 "Pogo" was an experimental tail-sitting VTOL aircraft from the 1950s. It actually flew but never made it into production. I had a model of it as a little kid and always liked its unique look. I recently found they are once again available. I got mine from Historic Aviation but have ...
[Read More]

Review formatting issues (?)
I am posting this to apologize for any formatting snafu's that may crop up in the reviews that I'm importing from EMRR.  Among other things, the "alt =" data from image links are picked up when I'm copying the text. I have tried to weed these out but I'm sure I'll miss some.  I'm also ...
[Read More]

Cyclone Build Part 10 Engine Mount
A 1/8" wide slit is cut in the BT -5 for the engine hook, 3/16" from one end. The engine block is glued in place and rests against the upper bend of the hook. The shorter 5/20 ring is notched to slide over the engine hook. The shorter notched ring is slid over the engine mount tube until it is ...
[Read More]

Cyclone Build Part 11 Engine Mount
This is from a little farther along the build. I didn't get a picture of the engine mount glued in the lower, shorter BT-20 tube. At this point in construction I haven't glued the stabilizer fins on yet. The engine mount is glued in the shorter BT-20 so the longer adapter sticks out of the top by ...
[Read More]

Speech Recognition Troubles
Somebody can't come up a hot tip of Baja hot spots to protect the bond does the courage to the public can call toll T2 PP pop up all below are all now that a scale of the downside schedule as a nose on July downs and he's a White House line in July to October that has cost is an enigma has the ...
[Read More]

Review: Essence Aerospace Technologies - Lambda-Class Shuttle (18mm)
This 18mm version of the Star Wars Lambda-Class Shuttle was produced in limited quantities by Essence Aerospace Technologies (EAT).  EAT was an off-shoot of Essence's Model Rocket Reviews and has been out-of-production for many years.  It was (and is) one of the most innovative rockets ...
[Read More]

Review: THOY - Snipe
The Snipe, which flies on a cluster of three 24mm motors, is a typical MPR kit. I received the Snipe in 2002 as a prize in EMRR's Fantasy Rocket Photo Contest.  The manufacturer, THOY, has been out of business for many years and is now considered one of the classic HPR/MPR manufacturers.  ...
[Read More]

Review: Model Minutes - XFLR-7
The XFLR-7 was a paper/foamboard kit patterned after the Tintin rocket from the Destination Moon comic. This is a cool design and should be considered a classic. Although the kit is now OOP, existing stock may be around for a while, so I decided to submit a review anyway. I hope that my ob ...
[Read More]

Cyclone Build Part 12 Fin Gluing
While the instructions don't say to do so, I rounded the leading and trailing edges of the fins before gluing them onto the lower body tube. The two lower stabilizer fins are spaced at 18mm apart. I drew 18mm tick marks on a paper wrap and marked the center at 9mm. The 9mm mark was centered over ...
[Read More]

Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy: Vista
This is a 4 meter survey telescope that can image in the IR. There are now several exceptionally powerful survey telescopes being constructed or in active use, including the exceptionally powerful PAN-STARRS telescopes with a 1.4 gigapixel detector in each. They, collecting TBs of data per day, ...
[Read More]

Review: Hostile Projectiles V-2
This Hostile Projectiles kit is a sport scale BT-60 V-2 that flies on 18mm motors. The main thing that differentiates this kit is the hand-cast resin nose and tail cones. These are not your daddy's resin cones. They are thin walled and not much heavier than solid balsa (if at all). The initial ...
[Read More]

Review: Shrox Industria - SHX-15
Any 'rocket scientist' will immediately recognize the similarity between the SHX-15 and the actual X-15 rocket plane. I assume the new name just absolved Shrox from keeping to scale. This cool rocket flies on 24mm motors, and is made from top-notch materials. (This kit is long OOP. However, Shrox ...
[Read More]

Review: MRC - Iron Man
The out-of-production MRC Iron Man Heavy Launch Vehicle is 2" in diameter and 23.5" long. This review is a reverse-engineered description of this vintage kit.  I inherited it from a buddy who moved away so all I did was fix it up.  Mine now has a fixed 24mm mount. Construction: The ...
[Read More]

Review: AquaBottleBat
This is a basic 29mm "el cheapo" tube fin rocket inspired by Larry Brand's BottleBat 3.0 . Like the original, this one is made from a mailing tube and uses a bottle for the nose cone (an Aquapod, what else?) Construction: The parts list: * 3" mailing tube (~17.625) with liner (~26") * one Aquapod ...
[Read More]

Review: Mini V-2
My Mini-V2 (2nd from left) is a semi-scale model based on BT-50 tubing. I was motivated to build this V2 after seeing plans for a BT-20 version that appeared in the January 1989 issue of American SpaceModeling. The Mini-V2 is a simple model and was constructed using "scrap" materials laying around ...
[Read More]

Review: North Coast Rocketry (by Estes) - SA-14 Archer XL
The NCR Archer was a sport scale kit that resembled the RIM-67A Standard Missile. I really love the styling and this remains one of my favorite rockets.  It is a big 4" kit that was intended to fly on the NCR/Estes F62-4 and G70-5 "Darkstar" motors (the G70 was never released).  These ...
[Read More]

This Year In Space!
Happy New Year Space Fans!
[Read More]

Review: 21st Century Toys - F-104 Starfighter
I bought this huge 1:18 scale F-104C kit from Sheri's Hot Rockets. It is almost 39" long (including the nose antenna), comes pre-built with only a few snap together sections, and is highly detailed. Moreover, they come pre-painted so I was pretty sure mine would look nice. They come in classic ...
[Read More]

Review: Public Missiles - Small Endeavour
The Small Endeavour is a simple single stage rocket designed for G - I motors. It is based on PML's Quantum Tube, has a 38mm motor mount, uses piston ejection, and sports a cool split-fin design. Construction: Parts list: 1 - Pre-slotted Quantum Tube airframe 1 - Nose Cone 3 - Lower G-10 fins 3 - ...
[Read More]

Review: Shai-Hulud (Desert Squid type rocket)
I found the description of 'desert squids' on Tripoli-Pittsburg's Website. These are rockets that use dowel rods in place of fins. They look cool and since I had some BT-80 tubes and rings, I decided I'd build one pretty much like the model described on the website. My model features a BEAUTIFUL ...
[Read More]

Mega-Review: Art Applewhite Helix Monocopters (13mm, 18mm and 24mm)
The Helix is an extremely simple monocopter design that uses a section of  tubing as the central hub. If you have built one Helix, you have built them all. I know that sounds corny, but they all have the same basic components and construction techniques. As a result, some of the material from ...
[Read More]

2010 in lists
H A P P Y 2 0 1 1 ! ! ! Want to know what's in and what's out for 2011?  Check out The List:2011 from the Washington Post .  It seems like every year there are more things in both columns that I have never heard of.  That just means I'm OUT.  How can you take a list that ...
[Read More]

Online education
As a scientist and educator, I frequently find myself using internet resources. This is not just for research or my personal edification, however. I often provide such resources to students and learners. Online, one can find a spectrum of webpages from formal graduate courses all the way to ...
[Read More]

Cyclone Build FINISHED!
Here's the finished CYCLONE! The longer adapter / coupler needed a wrap of masking tape for a good fit. Be ready, the performance of the helicopter recovery will be better than you would expect. I almost lost the upper unit with just a 1/2A3-2t! This Cyclone model will soon be produced as a kit ...
[Read More]

Arreaux/Christmas launch
For Christmas I got a Rms 29/40-120 reload case, a G76-7G reload, an Aerotech Arreaux mid power kit and a mid power Nike smoke. On Christmas day I started putting together the Arreaux (pronounced arrow). The kit had really good quality parts and was well designed the fins went through the body ...
[Read More]

Model rocketry in Russia
Via the Federation of Russian Spacemodelling Sports , here is a 3-volume book on model rocketry.  Dust off your translator. http://www.frms.ru/images/stories/f...book/ssmr_1.pdf http://www.frms.ru/images/stories/f...book/ssmr_2.pdf http://www.frms.ru/images/stories/f...book/ssmr_3.pdf
[Read More]

Review: Upscale Big Brute
  My first mid-powered rocket was the North Coast Big Brute . I love that stubby rocket and when it came time to decide how to use some of the 5.38" tubing that I won from LOC, an upscale Big Brute was the natural decision. I decided to incorporate several features I'd been wanting to try, ...
[Read More]

Review: Twice Removed From Yesterday
Twice Removed from Yesterday is a 4" diameter, 38mm rocket (as well as a song by Robin Trower). The main thing that is different about its construction (at least in my fleet) is the motor mount. The motor mount includes a LOC baffle and a homemade retainer made from a PVC fitting. The rocket ...
[Read More]

Review: A trio of post-BAR LPR designs
This review covers three LPR rockets that I built after becoming a BAR - The GI Joe , the Tiger Shark , and the XR-71 Green Burd . GI Joe This is a scratch rocket built with parts from an Estes "Designer's Special". It features a BT-55 to BT-50 transition and a rear "nozzle". This rocket was built ...
[Read More]

Close counts in horseshoes, hand grenades...and the Dungeon
No rockets, but at least there are flying objects...   (hat tip to Warthog!)
[Read More]

Greg Smith's quest to spend even more money on rocket science...
http://hawtakshun.blogspot.com/ (BTW I did notice the blogspot address there, hawt akshun... what was this blog supposed to be in the first place? Anyway, rocketry is better.)
[Read More]

Review: Standard Cray-ARM
This is a review of my first Crayon rocket. I decided not to go with the typical clear fins and instead went for a 'goony' version of the Standard Missile. This one used an original 'Ralphco' brand bank. These Crayon banks are now available from Toys-R-Us, although they are now produced by another ...
[Read More]

Review: Mini Marz Lander Launcher (M2L2)
For this 2-stager, an Estes Mini Marz Lander serves as both the nosecone and second stage. The main rocket has a 29mm motor mount, while the Lander flies on 13mm motors. This review will focus on the method of adapting the Lander to the booster rocket. Now, with new photos! * One Estes Mini Marz ...
[Read More]

Another Bunny in orbit around the moon
Via io9 :  On January 13, a photo of DeDe Lind (Playboy's Miss August 1967) that was smuggled aboard the Apollo 12 command module 'Yankee Clipper' will be auctioned by RR Auction . Bidding starts at $1000.  See the source of auction links for a more detailed description.  The winner ...
[Read More]

Review: FAT BOI-NK
The FAT BOI-NK is a scale version of a popular fat rocket. The body is made from foam rubber and the fins from foam poster board. I wanted to build something out of a pool noodle for a long time, and this contest finally inspired me to do so. The FAT-BOINK employs the patented boink recovery ...
[Read More]

"Astrobiology" by Jank
Astrobiology went sextuple platinum within 24 hours of going viral on youtube.
[Read More]

Review: Mirror Image
I couldn't believe it when my wife spotted the Guillow's foam Shuttles on clearance at Michael's Crafts. I am finally getting her fully trained to spot rocket components. Anyway, I bought two more of them. I found the review of the Twin Shuttle and decided to build something similar. Mine uses a ...
[Read More]

Review: Estes - Strike Fighter
I built this kit in the late 1980's. This model really looks cool and, despite the number of parts, was not that difficult to put together. It is a futuristic space fighter reminiscent of something from Star Wars or maybe Battlestar Galactica.  A copy of the complete instructions, ...
[Read More]

Jabiru Mk 2
A Jabiru by any other name is still a Jabiru. Jabiru Mk 2 , originally uploaded by p_c_alway .
[Read More]

Peligro
i.e., violators might blow themselves up. This is a warning sign off of El Paso's Trans-Mountain Highway, at the edge of Ft. Bliss' Castner Range. The Army tried to clear the range, but who knows what they may have missed. I have hear reports that you could hear explosions when there were brush ...
[Read More]

.357 Magnum rocketry
Issue #277 of Apogee's newsletter features a DIY pyro parachute release mechanism based on a .357 Magnum or .38 Special cartridge.  Bullet, powder and primer not required. Well, at least the powder that came with the cartridge.
[Read More]

Note to the reader asking about rail buttons
I just cleared my spam folder and noticed, one millisecond before the messages were all permanently erased, that the subject of one of them mentioned rail buttons.  OOPS, that didn't sound like spam.  So, if you are a reader here, I apologize and hope you'll re-send the message.  If ...
[Read More]

Recent searches to HPR
I am happy to report that hits to this web page have increased quite a bit in the past few months. Still painfully slow, but now getting close to 250 hits per day. That is some kind of progress (from the starting point of only a dozen or so hits per day.) Here is what everyone wanted to see in the ...
[Read More]

Review: Grizzly Behr monocopter
In preparation for a line of monocopter kits, Art Applewhite published the plans for a monocopter made from Popsicle sticks. I didn't have enough Popsicle sticks, but I did have a few paint stirrers. They advertised Behr paints, hence the name. The Grizzly Behr flies on 18mm motors. Construction: ...
[Read More]

Review: Art Applewhite - Whirlwind Monocopter (24mm)
The Whirlwind Monocopter is the 18mm Dragonfly's bigger brother and flies on 24mm motors. I had the opportunity to build and test a beta version, which was known as the Cyclone. The differences between the beta and production models are minimal. Construction: Wing: Basswood, 2" x 10" long Balance ...
[Read More]

Amazing Astrophotography
I'm sure most of you have seen this amazing photograph of the Earth's 2 largest satellites (one natural and one man made) silhouetted against the moon.  It was featured on NASA's APOD and has made it way swiftly through the blogaverse.  You can click the image to see a bigger version, or ...
[Read More]

New rocket fuel: KNO3 + S + C + Pb (circa 1929)
As seen on my favorite source of retro technology news, Modern Mechanix . [Pb may have been my addition and the powder may have been smokeless (?); not sure how to tag this post.]
[Read More]

What happened to the Brontosaurus?
It appears that it not only went extinct extinct 150 Million years ago but it also got Plutoed some where in the late 20th century. When my grandson became fascinated with dinosaurs, I began to notice that the Brontosaurus wasn't listed in his books. Then he got some toys and the Brontosaurus ...
[Read More]

A pair of book reviews: The Spaceship Handbook and The Saucer Fleet
The Spaceship Handbook and The Saucer Fleet are complimentary works by Jack Hagerty and Jon Rogers and are both published through the ARA Press .  The Spaceship Handbook provides information on theoretical, fictional, and real (but not developed) spacecraft and is an essential reference for ...
[Read More]

Review Index Post
In my quest to cross-post my EMRR reviews, I'm now up to 96 reviews here in the Dungeon. Not all are cross-posts as I now have 10 that appear only here. You can find the full list on the My Rocket Reviews page. These reviews are dusted off and have been brought up to date where needed! The reviews ...
[Read More]

Big, Fun, Scary Adventures for 2011
Unlike New Year's resolutions, BFS Adventures are something that last all year. They are akin to resolutions, but are more... adventurous. So here are mine: Get level-2 certified for high-power rocketry Earn at least $5000 dollars by working, and at least $5000 dollars in (non-ISU) ...
[Read More]

Two reviews: Raygun Gothic Birdhouse and HoJo
These are two reviews of scratch rockets inspired by the Raygun Gothic Rocketship , which debuted at Burning Man 2009 and is now on display in San Francisco's Embarcadero. When I found the rocket-themed birdhouses at Michael's, I couldn't resist. In fact, they were on sale so I couldn't resist ...
[Read More]

In the Twilight Zone?
Or maybe the Bizarro Universe? I once again climbed down in to the Dungeon and spent some time rummaging through parts and fondling rockets that could be modified.  I found no motivation and thus will just visit (and eat) at tomorrow's Warthog build session.  All I have to do is prime ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, Jan/Feb 2011
This issue was thinner than other recent editions and I found it fairly boring. It featured mostly the 2010 World Spacemodeling Championships. There are a few interesting photos of scale models but that's all that interested me. Other than that there are two, two-pagers on a L-3 rocket and on ...
[Read More]

Zooniverse
With this web page, you can help sort astronomical images. The above picture shows an image of a Hubble observed galaxy (one of thousands.) With simple steps, the user helps describe the object. This kind of system is needed because already we have images of millions of objects, and with future ...
[Read More]

Review: SpaceShipSqrt(-1)
When one of my rocketry buddies decided to hold a building session, I was scrambling to decide what to work on. I decided to use a 50% off Michael's coupon to grab an Estes SS1 kit for bashing. I turned it into a retro-styled spaceship with more conventional fins and wing-tip pods. I also converted ...
[Read More]

Warthog Build Session 2011-1
Warthog hosted another of his most excellent build sessions. In random order: "Big Chili" (Vince) worked on an RC rocket glider. "Tater Salad" (me) worked on a robot - Danger Will Robinson! "Hot Dog" (Don aka Warthog) was recycling a big candle. "Mac 'n' Cheese" (Jim) built an, um,  kit. Can ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! NEFAR Monthly Bunnell, FL 1/8/2011
We had wind gusts nearing 20 m.p.h. at the NEFAR monthly launch in Bunnell, Florida today. I only got two rockets in the air, but there was plenty flights of interest. First up for me was the UP! CUP with a C6-3. Even with the wind, boost was straight up. That cup really amplifies the noise of the ...
[Read More]

VATOL F18
Scott Lowther discusses the VATOL (Vertical Attitude Take Off and Landing) concept. This one is new to me. VATOL planes would 'land' tail down, but were not tail sitters like the Pogo .  Instead, they would land belly-first on an vertical platform.  To facilitate this, the nose section ...
[Read More]

Review: SpaceShipY
This is a sci-fi-style model inspired by the Star Wars Y-Wing Fighter. When I converted an Estes SpaceShipOne into the SpaceShipSqrt(-1) , I had the fin set left over. Mix these fins with a pill bottle from Target, and you have the SpaceShipY. This model has a 24mm mount and is night launch ready. ...
[Read More]

Giant Leap Rocketry Releases The Mariah 38 Kit. With New Shotgun Recovery System.
Shotgun recovery. Dual Deployment from one seperation point. Looks like a very interesting concept. Kit come with the following items. SHOTGUN RECOVERY SYTEM™: Dual-deployment but only one separation point (but can be flown in single-deploy configuration). 38mm airframe, minimum diameter design. ...
[Read More]

Perfectly Centered Yolk
This is the first time I've ever seen an egg like this. It's like it was boiled in outer space or something. Yeah, that's what kind of lunch I have. Hot cocoa, boiled egg, and chocolate Santa.
[Read More]

Review: El Cheapo Pyramid
This is a simple mid-powered pyramid that flies on either one 29mm motor and/or three 24mm motors. The finishing matches the construction materials--'el cheapo'. Construction: The parts list: * four carrugated cardboard triangles, 12" base and 13.75" sides * plywoods square, 4" x 4" * one 3.25" ...
[Read More]

Review: Lobbin' Bobbin
I've had reading about spool rockets on r.m.r for a long time, and had a big plastic spool stashed for several years. Someone had built a similarly sized spool with a 29mm mount, which only reached an altitude of about 100 ft. I decided I wanted a bit more altitude, so I built mine with a 38mm ...
[Read More]

Book Review: "Monocopters" by Francis G. Graham
"Monocopters", by Francis G. Graham, provides a brief history of "single-winged, powered vehicles". It is 70 pages long, including the index. Graham, for you rocket history types, was one of the founding members of what is now the Tripoli Rocketry Association (circa 1964). He is now a physics ...
[Read More]

EMRR transition observation
While continuing to cross-post my EMRR reviews, I tried to access my custom Flight Profile.  The link now redirects to my flight logs on my.rocketreviews.com.  Although the nice graphs are gone, I'm glad I captured some of the data on the Flight Stats page. 
[Read More]

Review: Talk Radio
This rocket is made from a sports water bottle that was donated by a local talk radio station, hence the name. It has a 24mm mount, recovers by parachute, and uses 'plate fins'. 'High tech' features of this 'low tech' rocket include a Kevlar cord and positive motor retention. Construction: A ...
[Read More]

Mega Review: Art Applewhite Double Helix Monocopters
Art's Double Helix is new twist on the monocopter (pun intended)--it has two wings and flies on two motors. In fact, it's more or less two Helix Monocopters stuck end to end. Technically, it's not a monocopter but a bi-copter.  However, I will tag it like the single winged originals.  ...
[Read More]

TIP - Cutting Square Engine Hook Slots
I know some will read this and think it's a little extreme. I try to do my builds with clean internal and external construction. When cutting a 1/8" long slit for the upper bent end of the engine hook, try this for a stronger, square rectangle slit. Mark the motor mount tube location with a ...
[Read More]

Saturn 1B launch announcement
Via Neil's ESL-152 announcement: Special Note: This is your chance to become part of rocketry history. MDRA will be launching Steve Eves’s 1:9-scale two-stage Saturn 1-B and Vern Hoag’s 1:9-scale Saturn 1-B at Higgs Farm, in the Spring of 2011 . This is your opportunity to support and help ...
[Read More]

Making Programming Tutorials
I believe that many of my readers wouldn't be interested in this, because I have an inkling that half of my readers already know how to program, and the other half probably isn't interested in learning the skill, but anyhow, I just thought I'd share a link to my YouTube playlist of tutorials on ...
[Read More]

First Build Photo’s and commentary
Welcome to my Triipoli Rocket Association Level 3 certification  Rocket blog! I plan to use this as a way to organize the photo’s and interrogatory around the build.      Obtaining my Level 3 certification will allow me to fly larger projects with larger M and above ...
[Read More]

The Sky from Death Valley

[Read More]

Turning the Nuclear Sledgehammer into the “Questionable Investment”
I have had the rocksimfile for the rocket for quite a while, and made a few modifications 1) a few cosmetic changes to wings and fins to make them look ‘sleaker’ 2) remove mid centering ring, drill holes in forward centering ring, and fill booster section with Mega Foam prior to ...
[Read More]

COmmence Building
I have a few habits when it comes to building kits…. The first habit is I  ALWAYS read through all of the documentation before starting a build. I’ve learned the hard way that not all directions are accurate, and how something looks in one section, may be very different in a ...
[Read More]

Review: 'Scuse Me (While I Kiss the Sky)/Vlad the Impaler
The 'Scuse Me started life as a minimum-diameter, 38 mm, all fiberglass rocket. It was a very simple, basic design and was very rugged and high performance. 'Scuse me, while I kiss the sky'...-Jimi Hendrix  I reworked the original review and added the rebuild, which I named Vlad the ...
[Read More]

Review: Margin of Error
I really love the 5" Quaker Oats bins (and I like the contents too - tastes good, helps your cholesterol, and even is relatively low carb). My previous rocket was made out of three bins (four if you count the one I cut up for couplers) and used a clear plastic Easter egg for the nose cone. I made ...
[Read More]

Bayourat Rocketry's Countdown To The Launch Of Discovery And STS-133

[Read More]

Phobos from Mars Express

[Read More]

Mega Review of Micro Projects: Six MicroMaxx Rockets
I decided these little things were too small to warrant their own posts, so I grouped a bunch of them together, including the Quest Tomahawk Starter Set, Heller 1/300 X-15 PMC, and several scratch builds (My Little Cupcake, Micro Slam Dunk, Micro Darmok, and the MicroMech-X).  I've got more ...
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, December 2011 (BALLS 19 edition)
As noted, BALLS 19 is the main theme of this edition.  There is the main play-by-play article by Neil, part 2 of Curt Newport's article on his Proteus 6.5, and two others.  There is also a basic tutorial on CATOs, an excellent build article on a 3x upscale Orbital Transport, and the last ...
[Read More]

Son of the Blackswift
Wired Danger Room reports on the possible revival of the Blackswift (or son-of-Blackswift) Mach 6 satellite launcher/spy plane/bomber/flying laboratory.  I didn't know it existed, much less was canceled.  Take-off from a runway on jet power, rocket to Mach 6, cruise around on a scramjet, ...
[Read More]

Dirk Gates on ForbesTV
Dirk talks about big toys for big boys .  Nice interview with nice Gates Bros' rockets.
[Read More]

Mega Review: Two MicroMaxx Monocopters and One Bi-Copter
In 2002, I had become interested in monocopters and had MicroMaxx fever.  So, why not a MicroMaxx Monocopter?  I experimented with two versions.  Art Applewhite took interest and said that, if I came up with a kit, he'd sell it through his site  However, my progress was slow and ...
[Read More]

Mega Review: Component Reviews
This is an aggregation of all my old EMRR reviews of miscellaneous components: Giant Leap Rocketry - Honeycomb Composite Fins Giant Leap Rocketry - Slimline Retainer (38mm) Hartle Engineering - Solid Resin Nose Cones Roachwerks Custom Turnings - X-20 Dyna Soar Nose Cone Kit (BT-60) Matt's ...
[Read More]

NEFAR Launch Videos, January 8 Launch Bunnell, FL
To look at the NEFAR January Launch videos, you'd think it was an Odd'l Rockets promo! Once again, Jimmy Yawn took some great videos You can check them out at the NEFAR site HERE On the left is the Odd'l Rockets Break-Away ejection sequence. You can see it break into tethered sections at ejection. ...
[Read More]

Three Launches Scheduled For The Same Day, January 20th 2011
Wow, There are three launches scheduled for the same day. It's going to be a busy day at mission control centers around the world. First Up: Japan H-2B - HTV2 Launch time: 0629 GMT (1:29 a.m. EST) Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan The Japanese H-2B rocket will launch the second H-2 ...
[Read More]

Starship Enterprises rocket history
Starship Enterprises was a manufacturer of some interesting kits.  In January 2001, the company changed names to Fat Cat Rockets.  Best as I remember, both entities were owned and operated my Chuck Sackett and Mike Ward, who are known for some really big projects (Down Right Ign ...
[Read More]

Fins!
Fins… Fins… You’ve got to love fins. In this case, I am using a material I’ve never used before. Both the fins and wings are made from “fly-lite”. This is a Giant Leap brand aerospace composite material that consists of an inner layer of nomex honycomb, ...
[Read More]

WHAT????
One of the first things we're going to be doing in my AerE 161 class is to make a simple computer game. This sounded kinda cool, until I heard that we would be doing it... ... in FORTRAN??? UnFORTRANately, FORTRAN doesn't do anything with graphics, sprites, or anything. We have to be a little ...
[Read More]

Complexity in rockets & in program architectures
Clark Lindsey has an interesting discussion of the title subject. When a rocket fails, the resulting investigation will not find the cause to be a previously unknown instability in the antimatter pods or some other profound imperfection in our knowledge of how rockets work. The cause will ...
[Read More]

Long March 2F
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_March_2F
[Read More]

Mega Review: Vintage Estes
This post covers the following out-of-production Estes kits: Helio*Copter (Kit #1995) Sizzler (Kit #1906) Starter Set Skinny Mini (Kit #0880) Space Shuttle (Kit #1284) Helio*Copter (Kit #1995) This rocket in BT-55 based and flies on 18mm motors. The nose cone uses ...
[Read More]

Reviews: Estes GBU-24 Paveway III and BLU-97B Cluster Bomb
Here are my reviews of the GBU-24 Paveway III and BLU-97B Cluster Bomb kits. GBU-24 Paveway III This is a semi-scale model of the GBU-24 Paveway III laser guided bomb. It flies on 18mm motors and recovers under a 12" chute. You can find more info on the actual bomb [ here ] . * One BT-55, 10 ...
[Read More]

Before The Dungeon
 
[Read More]

Quest FLIC Kevlar Replacement
Sure, I could have built another Quest FLIC , but I like the Shuttle decor. I thought the Kevlar had broken off at the engine block. It actually burned through a few inches above that. Looking back, that line looks a little thin. I pulled it out the back with long tweezers and cut it off with my ...
[Read More]

"Gloria" - America's first air mail rocket
Popular Mechanix presents the May 1936 issue of Popular Mechanics , which reported on America's first rocket mail attempt.  The rocket, named Gloria , was actually a rocket glider. The motor was developed by the Rocket Airplane Corporation of America and vehicle was designed by the ...
[Read More]

Upper airframe coupler and centering rings
yes, I know, I said I would post about the AV-bay next. Well, I stopped work on the AV bay, as I am rethinking my recovery plans, which has me rethinking my electronics decisions. I’m not changing my electronics choices, but I may use the third bay for a tracker instead of the Altus Metrum, ...
[Read More]

Reviews: Two Birdhouses (the original ones)
After seeing David Jarkey's flying birdhouse, I grabbed several coupons and went to Michael's Crafts. I bought a couple, one hexagonal and one round, on a 2-for-1 sale (and used the coupons for some motors). This post will describe V1 , which flies on 29mm G motors, and V2 , which flew on 6 ...
[Read More]

What to see...

[Read More]

Enter with caution...
Saturn-500F makes the move to Pad 39A on May 25, 1966
[Read More]

More to see...

[Read More]

Stickers and badges
 
[Read More]

Giant 'chute
"The team developing the landing system for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory tested the deployment of an early parachute design in mid-October 2007 inside the world's largest wind tunnel, at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California. In this image, two engineers are dwarfed by the ...
[Read More]

WSGT

[Read More]

9m tracking antenna at the USNA
This antenna was relocated from the Goddard Space Flight Center in the late 80's.  Originally part of the Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network, it had been used in the Network Test and Training facility (NTTF) prior to its relocation.   (At least I think that's what this is.) 
[Read More]

Are Quadrotors the precursors to Skynet?

[Read More]

EMRR transition observation
My reviews now seem to be accessible from the new site, including the scratch/plans/MODS, etc.  To look for yours, click 'Site Features' on the left, select 'Rocket Kit Reviews', and select 'By Reviewer'.  As noted on the bottom, some items listed may not be yours.  In some cases, ...
[Read More]

Review: El Tubo Loco
This is another simple, "el cheapo" tube fin rocket based on my patented tube can concept. A tube can is a fin can with tube fins of course, built using the telescoping inside tube from a Container Store mailing tube. 'Real' rocket coupler tubes can also be used. Construction: The parts list: * 4" ...
[Read More]

Review: DG&A Lazarus
The DG&A Lazarus was a straight-forward high power rocket kit with a 38mm motor mount. It would make a good Level-1 cert rocket and has a small payload bay suitable for your electronics. Unfortunately, DG&A is OOP. Construction: The Lazarus came in its own shipping box. The components ...
[Read More]

Review: Ringer
This is a ring-fin design that flies on 29mm motors. It uses several unique components: a poured foam, yarn wrapped cone and an engine bell built from Aquapod water bottles. The body is a 3" window tint tube. This is reportedly the same material as PML's Quantum Tubing. Construction: Nose cone ...
[Read More]

Globalstar antenna @ Waco
This was the genesis of the Sweat Stained Clifton Tracking Station Hat of Death . (Photo credit: Bill Dusterwald)
[Read More]

Leidenfrost effect shot at 3000 frames per second

[Read More]

Model Profile OOP Quest HL-20
I bought two of these HL-20 kits directly from Quest during a clearance sale a few years back. At the time they were $4.99 each. I had built and flown the old Centuri X-24 Bug in the early 1970s. This model looks to be a revised version of that original design. Some interesting features: 1. ...
[Read More]

Zero to eight hundred in .5 seconds
As shocking as the title is, it's true. At the rocket's fastest speed it will be flying faster that buckshot fired from a shotgun. The small rocket is practically bullet-proof. It's less than an inch in diameter and about 10 inches tall. Originally, the rocket had balsa fins and a stubby plastic ...
[Read More]

First report from the MDRA Christmas tree recycling event, 2011

[Read More]

LAUNCH! TTRA Tampa, Florida January 15, 2011
This was my first time flying with the Tampa Tripoli Rocketry Association. Roger Smith drove me and and all the rockets to the site located near Plant City, FL. It was a great sized field with plenty of cows. First in the air was the Odd'l Rockets CYCLONE with a 1/2A3-2t. This new prototype ...
[Read More]

Mid power Nike Smoke
As I mentioned in an earlier post, Simon and I got a Cosmodrome Nike Smoke for Christmas. It's heavenly building from a kit and not scratch building because everything is there and I don't have to worry about ordering the parachute or the engine mount. The parts were good quality. The fins and ...
[Read More]

Review: Art Applewhite Qubits
The Qubit is another saucer-like object from Art Applewhite's lab . Once built, the Qubit resembles a cube that flies with one of its corners facing upward. I say the Qubit resembles a cube because the bottom faces are missing, which allows the motor mount to be recessed into its body structure. ...
[Read More]

The best waste of a K motor...
...is a Christmas Tree spinning on a 'K' Skidmark .
[Read More]

Fillets & Foam
Once I had all three fins tacked on, it was time to make the internal, and external fillets. I decided not to use the same adhesive epoxy I had used to tack on the fins, and build the motor tube. While I really like the E-120HP, once cured, it is almost impossible to sand. [...]
[Read More]

It's a football field and an airstrip
Rice Field, circa 1917 (via the Trout family)
[Read More]

Review: Semroc - Golden Scout
When buying some parts and supplies, I decided to go ahead and grab a Golden Scout to commemorate Vern and Gleda Estes' 50 years of contributions to this educational and fun hobby. Without their efforts, sport rocketry might not even exist today. To celebrate this anniversary, Semroc organized the ...
[Read More]

Review: Aardvark Rockets - AIM-4C Falcon
Aardvark Rockets was a manufacturer of low and mid-power rockets. Most of their products were scale but they also had a few sport fliers. Their mid-power line was acquired from Blackhawk R&D. This post reviews their BT-50-based scale model of the AIM-4C Falcon that flies on 18mm motors and ...
[Read More]

Japan's Launch Of The HTV2 Delayed
The launch of the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 2 (H-IIB F2) with the KOUNOTORI2 (HTV2, a cargo transporter to the International Space Station) onboard has been rescheduled as clouds including a freezing layer (please refer to the following figure) that exceeds the restrictions for suitable weather are ...
[Read More]

Blasting MMO with heat to test near-Sun performance
BepiColombo's Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO) in the Large Space Simulator at ESTEC, The Netherlands. The octagonal spacecraft is Japan?s contribution to BepiColombo and will explore Mercury's magnetic field. Credits: ESA/JAXA
[Read More]

Arrow camera facing backwards
Travel distance is 145 meters.
[Read More]

USLI Testing Proceeding Interestingly
Our USLI project is progressing on schedule. We completed the building and launch of a scale model of our launch vehicle, which went very well. Even in a light breeze it was very stable and flew straight and true. Both flights were very consistent, and had almost identical trajectories. I tried to ...
[Read More]

Mythbusters rocket sled redux
I was just watching a replay of Part II of the Mythbusters' Demolition Derby special episode in which they destroy cars in head-on collisions between two semi trucks, by dropping them from the sky and, most importantly, with rocket sleds .  I think I've posted about this before and the video ...
[Read More]

East coast night launch advisory - January 22
Via SpaceRef (link and highlights are mine) WALLOPS ISLAND, VA - A Terrier-Oriole suborbital rocket is schedule for launch January 22 for the U.S. Navy from NASA's Launch Range at the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Based on the approved range schedule, the rocket is set for launch ...
[Read More]

Review: McCoy's Micro Wonder Works - microBomarc
This scale model of the Bomarc surface-to-air missile flies on MMX II motors and uses streamer recovery. The model was built from plans drawn by John McCoy, aka micromeister .  The plans are available on the Yahoo MicroMax group (along with a lot more). If interested, you can learn more ...
[Read More]

Mega Review: Scale Paper
This post presents four scale paper kit conversions.  A couple fly great, one OK, and one was mainly a curiosity. Mercury Redstone ( Delta-7 Studios ) Little Joe I (Cards in Space) SpaceShipOne ( Currell Graphics ) Airship R-100 ( Currell Graphics ) Mercury Redstone ...
[Read More]

Mega Review: When a Stock Saucer Isn't Enough
This post will describe goofy modifications to otherwise normal flying saucers. Three started life as Art Applewhite paper kits and one was a Quest MicroMaxx 'brick'. Crew Exploration Saucer I really like my Art Applewhite 6" Delta saucer . However, since it appears that it will last for many, many ...
[Read More]

Bunny Yeager
Any relation to Chuck? BE050615 , originally uploaded by webgox .
[Read More]

The Ol' Commander
Back To The Ship! , originally uploaded by paul.malon . 1. "Southbound" (Hoyt Axton, Dawson) - 2:20 2. "Don't Let Go" (Jesse Stone) - 2:40 3. "California Okie" (Kevin "Blackie" Farrell) - 2:48 4. "Willin' " (Lowell George) - 3:38 5. "The Boogie Man Boogie" (Billy C. Farlow, George Frayne, ...
[Read More]

Delta IV Heavy Launch of the NROL-49
I'm trying the 'deep linking' trick with this video (i.e. append #t=??m??s to the link). On my system, the first click doesn't play the video but, when the start frame returns, a second click jumps the 50 sec in. I'm on FireFox so your experience may vary. For a mere 50 seconds, this doesn't save ...
[Read More]

El-cheapo helicopter rocket in MAKE
MAKE Magazine, Vol. #25, and now the MAKE Blog , features plans for a $5 Heli-Rocket .
[Read More]

Reviews: Micro Viking and Micro Titan III-C MOL
This post presents a review of semi-scale Micro Viking and Micro Titan III-C MOL  models. Micro Viking This is an easy to build, semi-scale model of the Viking sounding rocket for MMX-II motors. While waiting for my Nano Rocketry kits and tubes, I decided to rummage around my junk pile ...
[Read More]

Reviews: Bic Pen-Rocs
This post present two rockets based on BiC® pens.  Once is scratch and one is from Art Applewhite. Double Tree Pen-Roc This is a total rip-off of the cool Bic Arcas from DesCon7 . The rocket was named after the hotel chain that "donated" the pen. Parts: * one Bic pen * clear ...
[Read More]

Lagger: Plaster City 1/1/11 Launch Report
The coolness of the date of this launch was exceeded only by the complete lack of wind and excellent flying conditions all day. The primary reason for this delayed report is that I was trying to improve the video I shot that day to no avail. My pictures sucked too so that's awesome. Fiberglass Nike ...
[Read More]

Model Profile OOP MPC Nike Patriot
This rocket was introduced to the MPC line in 1970. The same design was sold through Quest as the Nike K for many years. It stands 22.5" tall with the lower body tube diameter at 1.340" or 35mm. The weight is 2.35 oz. Here's a little history from the SkyHighHobbies .com website: MPC was started in ...
[Read More]

"Home, home on the range, "Where the Ajax and Hercules soar..."
Back in the 60's, the Army at Ft. Bliss, TX hired cowboys to heard cattle.  They rode the (missile) range, not to keep cattle inside the one million acre area, but to keep them out. (via The Morgue )
[Read More]

Review: Art Applewhite - Stealth D5 (Beta)
This was a Beta test version Art’s popular Stealth Qubit that was specifically designed exclusively for the new Quest D5-P 20mm diameter, long burn motor. The motor's long burn and thin wall, combined with a lot of spinning, led to questionable flight profiles and even a case burn through. As a ...
[Read More]

Scale of planets and stars

[Read More]

Review: Deanston Marauder
This is a ducted, stubby, 24mm-powered rocket that sports replaceable foamcore fins. It flew nicely, but recovery was less than optimal. The name Deanston came from the source of the larger tube--a bottle of single malt scotch. Construction: The rocket used a central BT-60 centered in a larger ...
[Read More]

Review: Massive Gassive
This is a cluster rocket based on a Crayon bank, which will help eat up my stash of D12-0s. It has one central 24mm motor mount surrounded by a ring of six motor mounts. On three sides, there is an additional 24mm mount, for a total of 10. The name of this rocket just popped into my head one day. I ...
[Read More]

New Kit Logo Development
I'm currently developing three new kits and one accessory for the Odd'l Rockets product line. Years back I worked as a graphic artist in a hometown print shop. I spent too many hours working on a phototypesetting machine. Needless to say, I'm picky about type fonts and how they are set. I try to ...
[Read More]

... early test rocket- late 1940's
... early test rocket- late 1940's , originally uploaded by x-ray delta one .
[Read More]

More footage from arrows in flight

[Read More]

Review: 58mm JATO
The 58mm JATO is a 29mm-powered rocket that resembles a rifle cartridge. The lower section is 3" in diameter and it transitions to 54mm. I bounced around between names and settled on this one, which is a take off on ammunition nomenclature such as 5.56mm NATO. Of course, all my readers know what a ...
[Read More]

Review: Boot Hill
This is a Halloween-themed oddroc based on a toy coffin. It features a 24mm mount and patented Coffin Lid Recovery . Construction: The parts list: * One pine (basswood?) coffin from Michael's * Three wooden headstones, also from Michael's * LOC 24mm tubing * One spent 24mm casing * Scrap plywood ...
[Read More]

Mega Review: A Semroc Flood!
This post covers several from my Semroc Fleet: Gee'hod SLS Sky Hook Recruiter Space Probe LAUNCH Missile Gee'hod This is the latest in Semroc's line of Groonies (Grown-up Goonies). Inspired by the "insanity of 9/11 and its aftermath", the Gee'hod is a parody on fanaticism. It has lots of fin ...
[Read More]

Armadillo goes totally tubular
Armadillo's Ben Brockert has more info on Armadillo's latest .  Their rockets are looking more and more like rockets (i.e. long and pointy). Here's is a photo from weldsman's Flickr stream. (two hat tips to Clark Lindsey ) DSCF3166 , originally uploaded by weldsman .
[Read More]

Rocket Monuments and Monuments to Rockets
The Web Urbanist presents a compendium of Rocket Signs: Space Race Monuments Of The USA & USSR .
[Read More]

Mega Review: Parachutes
This post presents reviews of various parachutes, several of which were received via EMRR.  A couple are out-of-production (OOP) and are only included for historical purposes. RocketChutes - Nylon Parachutes (12" and 18") Aerocon - Surplus Nylon Parachutes (36" and 66") Giant Leap - ...
[Read More]

Mega Review: Motors
Here are my motor reviews from EMRR. AeroTech G77R (updated!) AeroTech G79W (updated!) Quest D5-0 Plugged Ellis Mountain SU J110 (out-of-production) Ellis Mountain SU J228 (out-of-production) AeroTech G77R This is a brief review of Aerotech?s G77 Redline reload kit for the 29/120 case. The ...
[Read More]

Mega Review: Art Applewhite Catch-All
This post presents several additional Art Applewhite products: Cone Rocket Hourglass 24mm Super Cinco MicroMaxx Flying Saucer Plans Cone Rocket As the name indicates, this rocket is a simple cone that flies on 24mm motors. This seems to be the next logical step after the Delta saucer design, which ...
[Read More]

Fuzzy Blog Header
I was trying to load a new header on the blog, something I put together for Valentine's Day. No matter what I did or what format was loaded, it still came up out of focus. Here's the statement from Blogger: "Some users have reported that header images have degraded in quality after uploading. ...
[Read More]

Delta IV Secret Payload Found In Orbit
The secret cargo carried into polar orbit Thursday aboard the first California-launched Delta 4-Heavy rocket was a crucial replacement satellite for the nation's surveillance and security network, amateur sky-watchers say. The Delta 4-Heavy launch was hailed a success, which marked the ...
[Read More]

Delta IV Heavy NROL-49 Launch Highlights
From CollectSpace via the Bayourat . Whitney also relays that amateur satellite watchers now are tracking NROL-49.
[Read More]

XXX
First shalt thou build. Then, shalt thou count to XXX. No more. No less. XXX shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be XXX. XXXI shalt thou not count, neither count thou XXIX, excepting that thou then proceed to XXX. Official LDRS-30 Site TRF LDRS-30 ...
[Read More]

Reviews: Three Simple Rockets
From easiest to hardest:  RTF, ARF, 3FNC Estes - Patriarch This is a RTF model that resembles a Patriot missile with clear fins. It flies on 18mm motors and includes a twist-lock motor retainer. None, it's RTF. My son found this rocket so I didn't even have to attach the chute. I'll rate it a ...
[Read More]

Mega Review: r.m.r. DesCon
This post presents several of my DesCon entries.  I've listed all of them below.  Shaded items with links point to rockets documented in other posts. DesCon 07 - Skyrocket A rocket made with left over fireworks parts. DesCon 08 - Stratosphere Made from a plastic daiquiri glass. 'Never ...
[Read More]

Reviews: Estes SpaceShipOne
After many months with breathless anticipation, the Estes SpaceShipOne® finally arrived (circa 2005, this is a republished review). This kit is a 1/30th sport-scale kit based on a BT-200 tube, which is 2" in diameter. This was the first time I noticed the SS1 being attributed to Mojave ...
[Read More]

Review: Pratt GO Box
The Pratt Hobbies GO Box is a simple, sturdy launch controller that is powered by your car's battery. (Which you conveniently charged on the way to the launch!) After a slight glitch with my home brewed launch controller, I found myself in the market for a replacement. I had seen a prototype of ...
[Read More]

TIP: Champagne Flute Nose Cones Part 1
If you're like me, whenever I'm stuck shopping I always look for things that could be made into a rocket. Today I was at the Dollar Tree store. I walked past the Valentines Day junk and saw this plastic champagne flute. I'd read of others making nose cones from plastic glasses before but had never ...
[Read More]

AV-BAY
This may sound strange, but one of the main reasons I was attracted to this kit was the TRIAD AV-BAY with three separate 2.5” x 8” sealed bays for electronics. Electronics are one of my favorite parts of large rockets, and this will give me the opportunity to cram a whole lot more ...
[Read More]

SStS set to start work on next phase
Sugar shot to Space is set to begin work on the next phase of motor/rocket development called DoubleShot . With a motor coming in at around 6 1/2 inches in diameter and utilizing approximately 200 pounds of propellant it should be a good show.
[Read More]

The best of the r.m.r. DesCon
Here are rockets that I think are worth checking out - for the first time or again.  Links are to the new EMRR (except for my entries).  There are so many good ones that are not listed. 3-Stage Cluster Cone   - Art Applewhite (...of Death?) And Now For Something Completely D ...
[Read More]

Big a$$ rocket of the day - 1/2 scale MLAS
That will make it 9' in diameter and over 15' long!  You can follow the progress of this project on the Arizona Rocket Consortium blog.  The Nozzle Exit is best portal for MLAS info.
[Read More]

Phobos from Mars Express Spacecraft
Animation of Martian moon Phobos made from five images taken by Mars Express spacecraft (HRSC camera). Artificially colorised to approximately true global color. Date 9.1.2011. Rotation at speed ~1°/s. Get ready for Phobos Grunt!
[Read More]

Reviews: A Pair of FlisKits
In my opinion, these are new classics:  A.C.M.E. Spitfire and Deuces Wild! Deuces Wild! Just another quick review of The Rocketry Forum's favorite kit...large fins, 2 canted 18mm motors, 'nuff said! I won't repeat all of this information, I'll just be pointing out what I think are the ...
[Read More]

Review: Heavenly Hobbies - Backdraft
The Heavenly Hobbies Backdraft is a BT-60-based, 24mm-powered rocket that on face value looks like a standard 2-stager. If you've read the previous reviews, you'll know that there is one major difference--the upper motor is used as a retro rocket. Heavenly Hobbies calls this the TailWind delayed ...
[Read More]

Rocket Videos: Tape v. DVD
This post describes the Point 39 Productions LDRS XIX (on VHS tape) and the ROCKETS Magazine/Liberty Launch Systems Red Glare IV (on DVD) videos. Point 39 Productions - LDRS XIX Ever since leaving LDRS 19 (held July 1-4, 2000 near Orangeburg, SC), I had been awaiting Point 39 Production's ...
[Read More]

Review: Qmodeling Stiletto
This is one of QModeling's Mega Retro Series (MRS) kits. It's a 1.68:1 upscale of the classic Estes kit and flies on 24mm motors. It is a great looking kit and the parts are of exceptional quality. Construction: The kit came nicely packaged with most small components in their own bags (e.g. all ...
[Read More]

Model Profile - Jimmy Yawn's Ornate Rocket
That's Jimmy Yawn at the last Tampa TTRA launch.   Jimmy takes great video and pictures for the Bunnell and Tampa, Florida launches.   He's holding the "Metamorphose" a rocket with a very elaborate paint scheme.     Jimmy's girlfirend hand painted ...
[Read More]

New Estes 2011 Catalog
The new Estes Catalog is out! I haven't seen one in the hobby stores yet, but the online version is available HERE   Sure, there are new kits, some great designs too - Check out the MIRV and QCC Explorer. The Mosquito 2 pack is another great offering. But I'm probably more ...
[Read More]

The Thunderslushpocalypse of 2011!
We are just finishing up the first major snow of the season.  We only ended up with 7 - 8 inches of heavy snow on our deck, but that amount has wreaked havoc on the roads, with gridlock and all freeway lanes closed.  My son-in-law has been on the road for 6 hours and is only half way home ...
[Read More]

Review: Quickburst - Rocket Rack
This is a brief review of QuickBurst's 18" PVC rocket rack. This is a simple product and there isn't much to add to QuickBurst's own description: The 18-inch Rocket Rack is made of lightweight, strong, durable 1/2 inch Sch 40 PVC pipe with 3/8-inch thick foam insulation at key areas for padded ...
[Read More]

Reviews: Two General Modeling Books
This post presents reviews of the Modeler's Notebook Model Design & Blueprinting and the CultTVMan Ultimate Modeling Guide to Classic Sci-Fi Movies . Modeler's Notebook - Model Design & Blueprinting When this book was discussed on The Rocketry Forum, I knew I wanted a copy. The book is ...
[Read More]

Reviews: Three Nike Smoke-like objects
This post describes: a Quest Nike Smoke modified for 29mm motors; a cloned, stretched Smoke with a functional nose cone; and some Nike Smoke parts merged with a Tiny Tim booster. Nike Smoke (29mm) When it comes to flight profiles, I almost always prefer a ?low and slow? flight. You see more of the ...
[Read More]

New Estes LED Launch Controller
Estes has already sent out new LED launch controllers to TRF members for testing. Their reviews are now being posted - here's mine: At Jaunuary's NEFAR launch in Bunnell , Florida, John Bishop gave me one of the new Estes Launch Controllers with an LED light. Estes had sent John some starter sets ...
[Read More]

Russian Progress M-09M Rolled Out And Readied For Launch Tonight 7:30PM CST
A Russian Soyuz rocket and Progress cargo freighter has been rolled to the launch pad for tonights planned liftoff at 7:31 p.m. CST.  The Progress M-09M spacecraft is scheduled for docking to the station's Pirs compartment on Saturday at 9:39 p.m. EST. It is loaded with 3,080 pounds of ...
[Read More]

Worst rush hour traffic ever - Thunderslushpocalypse of 2011
Worst rush hour traffic ever , originally uploaded by BrianMKA . Car lights, snaking off into the wasteland.
[Read More]

Review: Squishy Foam Rockets
Rigid foam is commonly used in rocketry, mostly for custom nose cones. However, you don't see flexible foam rubber, such as that used in pool noodles, very often.  Way back in 2001, EMRR conducted a Stomp Rocket™ photo contest . All though the title pointed to the commercially available ...
[Read More]

Review: Three Estes MODifications
This post includes: Big Dipper Daddy Fat Boy 7x18mm Motor Eater Phinagain Cruise Missile Big Dipper Daddy I bought this Big Daddy (on sale, of course) as a test-bed for a Micro-Hybrid motor. This required an extension of the motor mount, and the capability to house electronics in the nose cone. ...
[Read More]

Review: Giant Leap Avionics Bay (4")
This avionics bay is made to be used with Giant Leap’s 4-inch flexible phenolic tubing. It also fits in LOC’s 4” tubing, but you should check the detailed dimensions on Giant Leap’s web site before planning to use it with anyone else’s tubes. It features dual threaded rods and an O-Ring ...
[Read More]

TIP! Engine Marking Idea
This wasn't my idea, I wish I could give credit where it is due.   At the last TTRA launch I saw a Estes igniter tape strip marked with the engine type. What a simple, smart idea!   I tend to load my rockets a few days before I fly them.   Sometimes they'll ...
[Read More]

Remembering Challenger - 25 years later
Challenger, STS-51-L, lost January 28, 1986 (L-to-R, top-to-bottom) Ellison S. Onizuka, Mission Specialist Sharon Christa McAuliffe Gregory B. Jarvis, Payload Specialist Judith A. Resnik, Mission Specialist Michael J. Smith, Pilot Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, Commander Ronald E. McNair, Mission ...
[Read More]

Russian military undecided about whether to match latest US spaceplane
Vladimir Isachenkov, The Associated Press MOSCOW - The Russian military closely monitored last year's flight of a new U.S. spaceplane but hasn't decided whether it needs a similar craft, a top general said Thursday. Russia's Space Forces chief, Lt. Gen. Oleg Ostapenko, was quoted by Russian news ...
[Read More]

Project soar
High altitude balloon images from: Project Soar
[Read More]

Review: Loki 38mm Motor System
This is a review of Loki 's 38mm line, circa mid-2005. Loki Research has been manufacturing EX hardware since 2001 and has had a hand in some of the largest projects flown over the past few years. Well, I am happy to say that as of December 2004, Loki has started offering reloads for their 38/240, ...
[Read More]

The future of the Future Space Assess Database is here
Once upon a time, I thought I create and maintain a database of all 'new-space' companies (the so-called Future Space Assess Database).  I started publishing it to a web page and later moved is to Google Docs as a shared document. Then, I mirrored the Docs page back on my web page.   I ...
[Read More]

24 hours in one image
24 Hour
[Read More]

Review: Three scratch saucer-like objects
This post documents three totally different saucer-like designs.  The Half-Spool Jack-o-Lantern is made from a used CD-ROM and a small jack-o-lantern, the Instructables Frisbee Saucer is a paper design made from, well, a DIY paper Frisbee, and the Quadrophenia is a quasi-scale lander inspired ...
[Read More]

Review: Powered FLICS
When I read that Hans "Chris" Michielssen had converted a Quest FLICS rubber band powered rocket to MicroMaxx power, I immediately gave it a try. I too have had a stash of these freebies with no plans for what to do with them. I have converted them for MicroMaxx and 13mm power. MicroMaxx FLICS ...
[Read More]

Reviews: MODifications to the Apogee V2 and Semroc Tau Zero
On the 10.5mm Micro V2, I added a stretched fin section (the Blitzkrieg Booster ) to allow it to fly on 13mm motors. On the Tau Zero, I merely put the fins on upside down. This is now a designer approved option. So sayeth YORF's Jay "Centuri Guy" Goemmer :D Micro V2 What? No more 10.5mm ...
[Read More]

Reviews: Two Cognis Aerospace kits
This post reviews the Cognis Aerospace Lunar Lander and Eenie Meanie. Cognis is long since OOP. Lunar Lander This is review (circa 2002) of a pre-production version the 24mm Cognis Lunar Lander, the LLV 201. Its unique design is based on a 6" Styrofoam ball, legs made from wooden struts, and ...
[Read More]

Armadillo Aerospace going for space
"Last year we started work on a new vehicle planform, which we're calling the tube rocket. From our perspective it is a Supermod whose 36 inch spherical tanks have been replaced by 15 inch cylindrical tanks with a common bulkhead. Otherwise it is quite similar to our other vehicles; low pressure ...
[Read More]

TIP - Fitting Centering Rings
Sometimes the centering rings supplied in a kit are loose in the body tubes.   You know it won't take much for a better fit.   You can build up inside or outside diameters with fillets of glue. I've added a thin glue fillet to the inside edge of a centering ...
[Read More]

Patriot FINISHED!
    View from the back end showing the launch lug placement.   Install your preferred recovery device and you are ready to fly! I put in a 1 3/4" wide X 32" long crepe paper streamer.   This is the PATRIOT ready for it's first launch on a ...
[Read More]

Scratch: Gone Batty
This is a Halloween-themed rocket with jack-o-lantern nose cone and bat wings. The original flew on two 24mm motors. After two flights, I decided it needed more power so I added two 24mm outboard pods. Four D12's are much better than two! Construction: The parts list: 1. 1 ~6.5" diameter hollow ...
[Read More]

Reviews: Two scratch stand-off scale models
The Little Joe I is stand-off and the Talos is quasi-scale (i.e. even less accurate). Little Joe I This is a very stand-off scale model of the Little Joe I. It is 2.6" in diameter, has a 29mm mount, and is based on a custom-turned Mercury capsule that was donated by an anonymous guest for the ...
[Read More]

Review: Model Minutes - G-200 Carrier
The G-200 was a large paper rocket that flies on 24mm motors. The diameter of the lower tube was about 2 3/8" vs the 2" in the specs--just a skosh too small to fit a Fat Boy cone. It featured a clear payload section (one of the few non-paper components) and two build options. The Orbital Launcher ...
[Read More]

Review: Shadow Composites - Video Set
The three volume Shadow Composites video set presents basic and advanced fiberglassing techniques for rocketry.  I received  the videos as my DESCON 8 prize. Although I am not the most qualified reviewer in this area, I thought I would share my opinions anyway. The three VHS videos each ...
[Read More]

Review: Two models made from Aquapod bottles
Aquapods are short, stubby, bulbous bottles whose shape is self-described as orbastic .  These things scream ROCKETS ! I've used them for a nose cone , a tail cone , and for the bodies of the following rockets... Aqua-Lander This is a "lander" style rocket built from an Aquapod water ...
[Read More]

Review: Killer Bee
The Killer Bee is a 3" diameter rocket that I built around a set of Aerospace Composite fins from Giant Leap Rocketry. It sports a 29mm motor mount and zipperless construction. Construction: The following are the major components used: * 1 LOC 3" plastic cone * 1 3" tube, 14" long * 1 3" tube, ...
[Read More]

Team Selene
"Our Mission Our team name, ?Selene? stems both from Greek mythology and Selene, the wife of the team's founder. We have assembled a talented and enthusiastic group of Chinese and German engineers and technicians who are intent upon winning the Google Lunar X Prize. Our goal is to land a ...
[Read More]

Off To Do Battle With Homework

[Read More]

And... FINISHED!!
Today I finished primary assembly of the Extreme DarkStar (right) and there's the final Nike Smoke my parents bought for me (left). [Update: While I was authoring this entry I figured out they'd shipped the wrong DarkStar fins to me. Awesome now that's it's friggin' built! The Nike Smoke is fine, ...
[Read More]

DAGR Guided Rocket
"The 2.75-inch (70mm) DAGR guided rocket is a precision-strike munition that effectively neutralizes lightly-armored vehicles, rooms within a structure and other high-value targets. DAGR offers strike capability with the reliability of a HELLFIRE® II when increased loadout or reduced weight is ...
[Read More]

The fire breathing Snowzilla of Bel Air
The spawn of Thunderslushpocalypse!
[Read More]

Conosphere motors
In his latest blog entry , Scott Lowther describes a unique motor geometry proposed by JPL in 1972.  In the conosphere concept, the solid rocket motors in a multi-stage rocket would be nestled in one another. This strategy would optimize the use of space in the rocket.  For example, ...
[Read More]

Mixed Signals From China On The Successful Test Of An X-37B Type Space Plane.
Several news sources are reporting the successful test of a Chinese Space Plane. According to Chinese press reports China is also testing a similar spacecraft to the X-37B and is making progress in building an “upper-atmosphere” jet fighter, an official said last week, adding to a flurry ...
[Read More]

Reduce the volume of solid rocket stages
This is a method of reducing volume and perhaps also improving mass fraction by altering the shape of solid motor casings and using parts of the case as the nozzle for the next stage. This design was called Conosphere in a 1972 JPL study. This reminds me a bit of the lower stage Sea Dragon ...
[Read More]

Review: 12 Pack
Just your basic 3" rocket with twelve 18mm motor mounts. Made with mailing tube and an Aqua-Pod water bottle as a nose cone. Construction: The basic components are six 'stiffy' 18mm tubes from Uncle Mike's , a 3" mailing tube with telescoping inner tube from the Container Store, an Aqua-Pod water ...
[Read More]

Review: D-Fusion Bomb
Denny's serves(-ed) kid's drinks in this cool retro-styled rocket cup. I whined until our waitress gave me one. I originally wanted to make this fly on 29mm motors without added fins. The dimensions of the base made me change to 24mm. I then designed a RockSIM model without added fins and it looked ...
[Read More]

Scratch: G125
Basically, this is G125 motor with fins and a nosecone. Would your RSO let it fly?   I guess I'll fess-up now - this was not my idea, nor is it a ?live' G125. A year or so ago I ran across a picture of a rocket, whose body was a spent motor casing. Being a wise-#@!, I thought it ...
[Read More]

Review: Landshark 2.0/3.0
My original Landshark (V1.0) flew on 38mm Js and sported some cool shark fin-shaped fins from Giant Leap. Since there was little hope it would ever fly again, I decided to reuse the fins on a much smaller and lighter model. The new version is 3" in diameter and flies on 29mm power.  Version ...
[Read More]

Mega Review: Four missile-aneous scratch builds
This post includes: Scrap Rocket 2 - once of my oldest, no wadding required One Shot - may not have broken Mach, but who could tell? Mini-Toobah - my tiniest tube finned rocket Spikor - one of my newest, so all my readers already know about it Scrap Rocket 2 The SR-2 was ...
[Read More]

Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming...
Phew!  My obsessive-compulsive quest to port my reviews to the Dungeon is just about complete.  There are a handful that I didn't want to move over right now and one that is awaiting a flight. The latter is my Tarkus II , which got a major face lift since its first flight (even though ...
[Read More]

Q-13,000 Flight to Mach 2

[Read More]

New Launcher!
I finally got a (camera) tripod launcher.   After making an adapter (more on that later) to hold 1/8" and 3/16" rods, I went to the soccer field to fly a few this morning. What a difference! I'm off the ground, not putting any more strain on my knees. I have much better ...
[Read More]

A big V-2 history post
The images below document a V-2 launch circa 1950. They were part of an article in the October 1950 issue of National Geographic, which was written by Clyde T. Holliday.  Mr. Holliday  was an employee of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab under contract to the Navy.  Click to ...
[Read More]

One man's CATO is another man's OOPS
In today's Space Review:  Launch failures: the ?Oops!? factor by Wayne Eleazer.  The consequence of an "oops": a piece of debris from a Thor splits a trailer home in two. (credit: USAF)
[Read More]

Apollo Command Module Panel
Steve has some nice toys! Click through for the tagged version, a rear view and some history. Apollo Command Module Panel , originally uploaded by jurvetson .
[Read More]

Laminate, Laminate, Laminate……
Sounds strange, but I like laminating things. Kevlar, Carbon Fiber, Fiberglass…. doesn’t really matter. Once you understand the process, it opens up a lot of options in both Rocketry, and the real world. In Rocketry, Laminating can provide key missing strength, stiffness, or just ...
[Read More]

Micro Zoom Broom Nose Weight
That's the trouble with MicroMaxx Goonies - they need nose weight to be stable! I obviously traded out a nose cone to one of my other downscales and never put nose weight in this one. No wonder it went unstable at the last soccer field launch! This BNC-5 nose cone came from BMS. You can tell by ...
[Read More]

24 million lbs. thrust Rocketdyne L-24 AH
Read more at the Unwanted Blog
[Read More]

Aquapod
Tempted to get an Aquapod launcher to launch water rockets made from the bottles of the same name . (Am I boring, or what?)
[Read More]

Moving the Buran
From what I understand, this orbiter was on display in Gorky park for a while. Sadly, it appears as if the orbiter and an Energiya booster were both crushed in a hangar collapse in 2002: BTW, check out the rear end of this orbiter that simply refuses to quit: English Russia
[Read More]

Is heaven hotter than hell?
Physics can tell us! http://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/hell.htm
[Read More]

ESA Is Set To Have A Milestone Year In 2011
2011 will mark a revolution for Europe in space. Before the end of the year, next to the heavy Ariane 5, two launchers will complete ESA's portfolio: Soyuz and Vega will have their inaugural flights from Guyane. With Ariane, Soyuz and Vega Europe will be able to launch any satellite into any ...
[Read More]

It's Groundhog Day...
Phil says the Rocket Babe saw snowflakes ...so there's 6 more weeks of building season!  Also, check out the Star Trek dog and the story of America's first astronauts - Miss Baker and Miss Able .
[Read More]

Patriot Downscale Build Part 2 Body Wrap
The BT-20 was cut a little oversize, to around 8 1/4" long. I like to trim and sand the tube down after the wrap is in place. It's easier not worrying about matching the top and bottom of the wrap to the length of the tube. A pencil line was drawn down the length of the tube with an aluminum angle. ...
[Read More]

Patriot Downscale Build Part 3 Fin Overlay Leading Edges
TIP: I don't cut "halfway through" the card stock to make a fold like some instructions would have you do. I make a indented line down the fold line. While the fins are still on the printed sheet, score the fold (leading edge) line. In the end this will give you a rounded leading edge on the three ...
[Read More]

Note from Performance Hobbies
Since I've seen this email cross-posted to an open forum at Kenny's request, I thought I'd post it here also. Hey Gang, Great news! I'm selling Aerotech 29mm through 98mm reloads 25% off and you don't have to pay shipping, or hazmat. You also don't have to prepay and wait a month, or longer. It ...
[Read More]

Rocket and mountains
Rocket and mountains , originally uploaded by popoki1 . Nothing else to say...
[Read More]

Carl Sagan battles astrology
Ninjerktsu
[Read More]

Patriot Downscale Part 4 Fins
Making a three ply fin is explained over this and the next post. You should read both before proceeding. For better glue adhesion, remove some of the print from your cereal box card stock . A few passes of 220 grit sandpaper will do the job. Be ready, this makes quite a bit of colored dust. Glue ...
[Read More]

Patriot Downscale Part 5 Fins
Set the fin over the straight edge of the cereal box cardboard. Be sure the folded leading edge of the overlay is all the way down on the cereal box edge! Check both sides of the leading edge overlay to be sure. Burnish over the fins with your favorite hard smooth tool. I use a Sharpie pen quite a ...
[Read More]

About 1200 possible new planets
Yet one more science problem solved with huge cameras and rocketry. But seriously, it is great news. We now know that planets are normal and common. It is only a small leap to suggest that life is also probably quite common. I am generally pessimistic about space exploration during my lifetime, ...
[Read More]

Sometimes I Wonder...

[Read More]

Odds & ends & nosecones
Spent much of the day cleaning up from the snowstorm. My four kids were school free yesterday, so I spent the day shoveling, and playing in the snow with them. I did find a little time for the rocket. The picture on the left is the original plastic nosecone. The one on the right [...]
[Read More]

Partriot Downscale Build Part 6 Engine Mount
While the fins are drying, the engine mount was made. This rocket will use "t" or 13mm mini engines. This is a standard mount, the engine will be a friction fit. The BT-5 tube is 1 3/4" long. The 1/4" long engine block was cut from a used 13mm engine. The 5/20 centering rings are 1/4" long and cut ...
[Read More]

Patriot Downscale Build Part 7 Fin Edge Dressing
If there is any warping of the fins, iron over them with a dry (no steam) iron. This should take out any turns. Cut out the fins on the thin line from the "smaller" side. I try to design my card stock models so one side of the fin print is larger than the other. This insures full print coverage ...
[Read More]

Stonehenge to STEREO: How We See the Sun [video]
Stonehenge to STEREO: How We See the Sun [video] , originally uploaded by NASA Goddard Photo and Video .
[Read More]

Vladimir Shevchenko films Chernobyl
"This film shows the terrifying images captured by the Russian filmmaker Vladimir Shevchenko on scene at Chernobyl those dreadful days in April 1986. Shevchenko later died suffering from the radiation he exposed himself to. Although his name is not among the official casualties of the accident, ...
[Read More]

TIP: Champagne Flute Nose Cones Part 2
It's the fourth of February, you have ten days to pick up some of these from the Dollar Tree store before they remove them from the shelves on Valentines Day! To see the first part of the cheap nose cone story click HERE These nose cones are made from clear, red plastic champagne glasses. At $1.00 ...
[Read More]

Apparatus for Attaching Two Spacecraft Under Remote Control
"Toroidal bladders are inflated to grasp a rocket nozzle from the inside. An apparatus called a "pneumatic stinger" has been developed to enable a first spacecraft, operating under remote control, to grasp a second spacecraft that is in orbit or other unpowered flight. The pneumatic stinger, which ...
[Read More]

TIP: Champagne Flute Nose Cones Part 3
To make the shoulder (or coupler) cut a 1 3/4" length of the main airframe tube. Cut a line through and straight down the length of the tube. Set this split tube into the nose cone allowing it to overlap tightly against the inside wall of the nose cone. Mark the overlap with a sharp pencil. ...
[Read More]

TIP: Champagne Flute Nose Cone Part 4
After a little sanding with 220 sandpaper on a block, I got a tight butt joint if the cut shoulder piece sides. I would probably rough up the inside walls of the plastic and epoxy the shoulder into place. While the fit of the nose cone is very close to the outside diameter of the Quest 50mm tube, ...
[Read More]

Patriot Downscale Part 8 Launch Lug
The launch lug can be covered with a paper band. I've cut some 24 lb. paper into a rectangle just a little longer than the 1" lug. The starting edge is glued down the lug. After that dries, roll the paper around the lug to find the overlap point and cut off the excess. Here, I'm smoothing a glue ...
[Read More]

Fly Me To The Moon! Moon And Back Trip Is Feasible, Say Russians! $150 Million Dollars Per Seat Price Tag
Moon And Back Top Russian Official Says Negligible Upgrade Needed For Lunar Trip MOSCOW, Russia - Space tourists can really get the opportunity to fly around the Moon and return to the Earth in the Soyuz spacecraft, Roscosmos Human Spaceflight Directorate Head Alexey Krasnov told news media today. ...
[Read More]

"Oral Histories From the Pioneers of America's Space Program"
These file present oral histories, in interview format, from some of the engineers responsible for our early manned space program including, but not limited to, Guy Thibodaux, Max Faget, and Paul Purser. I haven't read these yet and didn't even research the site these are hosted on.  But they ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Orlando R.O.C.K. February 5, 2011
Look at the angle on the flag! That gives you an idea of how much the wind was blowing on Saturday, February 5, 2011 in Oviedo , Florida. Time for smaller engines and streamer recoveries. The Odd'l Rockets CYCLONE flew with an Estes 1/2A3-2t engine. It was fast off the pad with a good, long ...
[Read More]

Patriot Downscale Build Part 9 FINISHED!
      View from the back end showing the launch lug placement. Install your preferred recovery device and you are ready to fly! I put in a 1 3/4" wide X 32" long crepe paper streamer. This is the PATRIOT ready for it's first launch on a 1/2A3-2t. It's a great looking ...
[Read More]

On testing planes on rockets:
Over the years, I've seen numerous photos of what appeared to be models of aircraft attached to rockets (ref: Photos of odd, interesting, vintage rockets ).  One reader (R2K) posed the question of why rockets were used instead of wind tunnels.  Well, I ran across this quote in  " ...
[Read More]

KpachbIX MypaBbeB
From the mind of the mad rocketeer known as Dr. Zooch:
[Read More]

Warthog Build Session 2011-2
The subject build session was conducted yesterday. My thanks to the host and the givers of food and beer.  If you weren't there, you probably won't be interested in what's here.  In fact, I mostly am posting this for future my own reference. Last time, I forgot all the tips I supposedly ...
[Read More]

New Quest Engines on the way?
Posted on TRF from Oliver - European Rocketeer : "But seriously, our German Quest distributor is currently developing a new engine line. From what I heared , Bill Stine just visited him last year so we may see this engines comming to the US sooner or later. I just saw first prototypes last Friday ...
[Read More]

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Foods
This object is an onion seen sliced and rotated. Pumpkin. http://insideinsides.blogspot.com/
[Read More]

New Quest motors on the way? I'm not holding my breath.
Chris Michielssen posted the following from a discussion on TRF. Posted on TRF from Oliver - European Rocketeer: "But seriously, our German Quest distributor is currently developing a new engine line. From what I heared, Bill Stine just visited him last year so we may see this engines comming ...
[Read More]

Plaster City Launch - Feb. 2011
We benefitted from yet another late-winter, wind-free launch in the Imperial desert this last weekend. We're tremendously lucky to live in SoCal. I decided to be a Luddite and fly only motor ejection this weekend (no electronics) so I could fly more rockets and concentrate on video and photography. ...
[Read More]

TIP: Champagne Flute Nose Cone Part 5
From gagreen on TRF : "got mine today great find... has anyone else notices that removing the heart and a little sanding to the base and stem make a pretty good looking display for mmx rockets?" What a great idea! This is one of those things I wish I'd thought of. I'll have to buy some more cheap ...
[Read More]

Mini-Review: Negative Camouflage
[This review is 'mini' because it's about an old rocket, the rocket was destroyed, and my memory isn't that great.  But, hey, it's not like I haven't built around 300 rockets in recent post-BAR history.  How can I be expected to remember them all?] This was a BT-60 rocket with a 29mm ...
[Read More]

The Ares 1... er I mean Liberty rocket
"The bottom part of the proposed Liberty rocket would be based on the solid-fueled boosters that help get the shuttle off the ground. The top half would use the liquid-fueled core-stage technology and engine that powers the Ariane 5. The concept has been put forward by ATK from the US and Astrium ...
[Read More]

The Liberty - Frankenstein rocket
ATK and Astrium (an EADS Company) are teaming to respond to NASA's Commercial Crew Development-2 (CCDev-2) procurement. I grabbed this diagram from R2K .  As shown, their Liberty rocket is a conglomeration of ATK's 5-segment Ares-I design topped by an Ariane 5-derived 2nd stage.  ...
[Read More]

New rocket term of the day: missilier
Ben Brockert snaps a shot of the Tube Rocket with the fins on: It looks so much... missilier with the fins on - Twitpic (via Clark Lindsey )
[Read More]

Ares 1 To Be Reborn As The Liberty Rocket
NASA's scrapped Ares I rocket may see new life as part of a new private launch vehicle to provide commercial flights to space for satellites, cargo – and maybe even people, the companies proposing it announced today (Feb. 8). The five-segment solid rocket was developed by Alliant Techsystems ...
[Read More]

Endeavour may endeavour to keep flying
I was intially drawn in by this great image from the orbiter. But this article asks some good questions: Will NASA continue to fly two shuttles until 2017? And at what cost? Universe Today
[Read More]

High Power Rocketry magazine, October 1999
Last night, I had a few minutes to kill so I randomly grabbed an old issue of HPR.  I'll briefly review the contents and point out that the last item is really what prompted me to post. The cover article is about the construction and flight of a beautiful 12" diameter IRIS.  Sonotube, ...
[Read More]

The tides come in the tides go out

[Read More]

Big a$$ rocket of the day - OuR Project 94k
New, via Rogers Aeroscience : The series of technical articles on the OuR Project R Rocket which were published in the July 1997 issue of High Power Rocketry magazine. The OuR Project R Rocket, which had a total impulse of 260,000 Newton-seconds, reached an altitude of 94,000 ft above ground ...
[Read More]

OuR R motor project
About 13 years ago, this was the rocketry article that got me back into the hobby, and into HPR for good. It was my rebar moment. I walked into Barnes and Noble and saw a huge rocket on the front of a magazine: Just like the RRS R motor boosted dart article, this one had comprehensive analysis and ...
[Read More]

Dates set for the Saturn 1B launch and Red Glare X
I just received notice that Steve Eves' and Vern Hoag's big Saturn 1B's will fly on April 16th and that Red Glare X is set for the previous weekend, April 8th-10th.  Mark your calendars and watch the MDRA web site for all the particulars. This post provides the details about the rockets and ...
[Read More]

RASAero 94,000' Project Added To There Web Site
News Release by Rogers Aeroscience Wednesday, February 09, 2011 WORLD WIDE WEB ? Rogers Aeroscience is pleased to announce that a new free download on the OuR Project R Rocket 94,000 foot flight has been added to the RASAero aerodynamic analysis and flight simulation software website. ...
[Read More]

Black and white space drawings
Simon Atkinson
[Read More]

Rheinmetall/Oerlikon 35-1000 Air defense Gun
"35mm caliber Swiss-german revolver cannon, it fires a sophisticated tungsten fragmentation promity fuze high explosive amunition. The rate of fire is 1050 rpm and the muzzle velocity 1170 MPS."
[Read More]

JPL
I ran a half marathon this past weekend which wouldn't normally have anything to do with rocketry. This race however was in Pasadena, CA and about halfway through the race I realized that I was running through the Arroy Seco wash right behind the Jet Propulsion Laboratory . Ok, maybe not exciting ...
[Read More]

Oops. Someone didn't hire FlisKits.
Another quote from " Oral Histories From the Pioneers of America's Space Program, Part 2 " by Dr. Davis-Floyd (U.Texas) and Dr. Cox (NASA JSC). When we were evaluating the proposals to build the Mercury capsules, we used a numerical rating system to rank the contractors. I was in charge of the ...
[Read More]

The role of risk avoidance in getting back to the moon
Yet another quote from " Oral Histories From the Pioneers of America's Space Program, Part 2 " by Dr. Davis-Floyd (U.Texas) and Dr. Cox (NASA JSC).(highlights are by me) I?ll make another prediction that?s not original with me because Bob Gilruth said it long before I did. He said, ?Next time ...
[Read More]

1,235 Kepler planets
Kepler Exoplanet Candidates from blprnt on Vimeo .
[Read More]

EMRR transition observation (update)
I just noticed that a 'Flight Stats' link has been added to the 'My Stuff' section on the new site . The Good: First, I think that it's great that flight stats are being implemented. Plus, info is provided for all years, not just the past three. The Bad: Some of the underlying source data is ...
[Read More]

STS-133: NASA Considering Soyuz Flyaround to Photograph Discovery and ISS
February 10th, 2011 by Pete Harding NASA managers are investigating a proposed plan that would see a Soyuz spacecraft undock from the International Space Station (ISS) during the upcoming STS-133 mission in order to take photographs of the orbital outpost, along with its record number of attached ...
[Read More]

First Orion Capsule
"The Lockheed Martin Orion team at NASA?s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, La., inspects the first Orion crew module known as the Ground Test Article (GTA) prior to shipping to Lockheed Martin?s Denver facilities. In Denver, the GTA will be integrated with an encapsulating aeroshell to ...
[Read More]

PRISMA (Prototype Research Instruments and Space Mission technology Advancement)
While checking out rocketry images, I came across the above white-hot combustion chamber and nozzle. This turns out to be one small part, a thruster, from this proposed space mission: "PRISMA is a Swedish-led technology mission to demonstrate formation flying and rendezvous technologies (in-orbit ...
[Read More]

What does a star shell look like up close?
Next time use a bigger charge!
[Read More]

New parts from I Build Rockets
This weekend, I received a small envelope from Sascha down at I Build Rockets .  But it was packed!  I got an assortment of his new parachute anchor kits and 6 pairs of BT-5 resin cones/engine bells.  The anchor kits include a 3/32" laser-cut anchor, a hook eye, a swivel, and a ...
[Read More]

TIP: New Engine Storage Box
This isn't a new idea, just new for me. I'd always kept my engines in my old range box. Not every engine I have, but just what I might need at a launch. At schoolyard launches I run the risk of a young spectator reaching in my range box and taking an engine or two when I was away ...
[Read More]

Gemini Titan-V

[Read More]

An Ariane 5 Rocket Sits Ready To Launch On Pad 3. On Top, ATV-2 Johannes Kepler.
It's all systems go in Kourou for the launch of ATV-2. Let's hope the weather is not a factor. It is the rainy season there. It's important to the STS-133 Space Shuttle Discovery mission that the ATV-2 docks wih the ISS on time. This mission will set a new heavy lift record for the Ariane 5 ...
[Read More]

The Bloodhound SCC, HTP, and HTPB
If I knew this, I'd forgotten it.  The Bloodhound SSC will use a 'different' kind of hybrid engine - catalyzed High Test Peroxide (HTP) + good ol' HTPB. Clark Lindsey found an article about it:  Tobacco, Flesh and Testing from Outside the Box .  If you forgot other details about this ...
[Read More]

Gemini Titan-V, Option 2
I just moved the fins from on the strap-ons to in between them.  I thought the first version would be more unique, but I think I like this one better.
[Read More]

Gemini Titan-V, Option 3
Looks like a five finned, one motored, Dyna-Soar-equipped Deuce's Wild!  The fin style may change, but they need to be BIG to counteract the Dyna-Soar's forward wings!
[Read More]

Launching a rocket off a ramp
Probably not... but maybe? I came across this fun clip while looking for X-20 DynaSaur videos:
[Read More]

In my dreams...
Last night, I dremt about an MDRA launch.  As usual, my memory of the dream wasn't very persistent.  However, I remember the details of one flight.  I was going to fly my RocketVision Machbuster (the real one was lost many years ago) on a G-something.  I took it to the 'pads' ...
[Read More]

On a wing & a prayer
Unfortunately, I tore my calf muscle about a week & a half ago skiing in Utah, which has really put a damper on rocket building and pretty much everything else. Worse, I have taken a lot of my OLD rockets out of storage  few weeks ago (a Brutus, Maximum Thrust Thunderbird, and a few [...]
[Read More]

FORTRAN Game -- It Actually Works!
I finally finished the FORTRAN game for my aerospace engineering 161 class... the test was last Thursday. Apparently I did pretty well on it, because I scored 120%. FORTRAN is a beast to work with if you're trying to make even the crudest of graphics, but with patience and creativity, you can get ...
[Read More]

New strap-on booster courtesy of I Build Rockets
Before and After :
[Read More]

Stardust visits comet Tempel 1
There is a good post over at Bad Astronomy.
[Read More]

Titan-V, Option 4
Fins adjusted to somewhat resemble the Dyna-Soar Titan-1 variant depicted here .  I just noticed that the previous Option 3 was identified as a Gemini Titan-V even though it had a Dyna-Soar in place of the capsule.  Oops.
[Read More]

Model Profile - FlisKits Cutaway Engine
This was definitely a different build. It's a large size cutaway that could easily be used in a classroom. It sure beats the small, old Estes cutaway engine provided with the clear Phantom kit. Jim Flis ran a contest in TRF a while back. A construction thread on the cutaway engine was in progress. ...
[Read More]

It’s alive!
The weather was beautiful yesterday in the Chicago area – a Balmy 52 degrees! I moved the rocket to the garage, but couldn’t resist putting it together for the first time. I still have a fit problem between the nosecone and sustainer, but finally looks like a rocket. It’s ...
[Read More]

ATV Johannes Kepler operating flawlessly. After a spectacular launch viewed from the ISS
ATV Johannes Kepler was launched today at 22:50:55 CET by an Ariane 5 to dock with the ISS ESA?s second Automated Transfer Vehicle, was launched today evening from Europe?s Spaceport in Kourou, in French Guiana, at 22:50:55 CET by an Ariane 5 to deliver critical supplies and reboost the I ...
[Read More]

Crunch Time!
Our University Student Launch Initiative entry has encountered a little bump in the road. We decided we had to abandon our old rocket due to some structural issues, so we're going to have to build an entirely new launch vehicle. The really challenging piece? Our first launch is going to be in the ...
[Read More]

Excellent photos of the HL-10 Lifting Body X-24B (plus more)
I grabbed this photo from a thread on the Replica Prop Forum . Although it focuses on the HL-10, the thread also has some photos of other lifting bodies and X-Planes.  I have seen a lot of them, but many were new to me.  It's well worth wading through.  I also need to see what else ...
[Read More]

Hot bodies: Lifting, half-cone, and a lenticular
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/photo/M2-F1/HTML/EC62-175.html
[Read More]

NGC 2841

[Read More]

Messenger solar system portrait
NASA - Messenger I am very impressed to see the Moon in this image, obviously looking away from the Sun has advantages, but all the same the Moon is only a bit smaller than Mercury. This reminds me of a similar portrait from far out looking inward (or rather down from above.) NASA - ...
[Read More]

UP! Cup Mystery Smoke
Here's one of my favorite shots from the February Orlando R.O.C.K. section launch. Roger Smith (rocketreviews.com, payloadbay.com and jonrockets.com) takes some incredible launch pictures.   Check out the smoke from the back of the (soon to be released) UP! Cup odd-ball rocket. ...
[Read More]

High power vs Model rockets
You can see why we want to hurry up and get licensed. We feel so puny next to the 7 foot tall rockets that hit 10,000 feet and have a sound that shakes the ground. Compared to our Estes rockets that will hit 800 feet and make a sound like a faucet being turned on for two seconds. Click here to ...
[Read More]

Updates on the NAUTILUS-X
For you more detail-oriented space enthusiasts,  Robot Guy reports on the interchange that he had with Mark L. Holderman of NASA-JSC regarding the NAUTILUS-X presentation.  Mark also provided an updated presentation , which RG has posted to Google Docs. 
[Read More]

Painting weather came and went
Today, our winds were something like 40mph sustained with gusts to 60+mph.  But Thursday and Friday were decent.  The results are below.  The process (just for the record): Painter's Touch primer, 2 coats, wait a day; then 'New' Krylon Yellow (p'tuey), 2 coats.  It covered well ...
[Read More]

TIP: Budget Wadding
Well, maybe it's not entirely "homemade" but it is cheap! Recently there were forum posts about modelers trying to make their own homemade wadding. Trying to get the right mix of Boric Acid on a tissue paper roll can make a mess, hardly worth the effort. Many prefer using ...
[Read More]

Tampa Area T.T.R.A. Launch February 19, 2011
Here's just a few of the spectators that came out to watch the rockets fly yesterday at the T.T.R.A. Tampa launch. I've never liked the term " rocketeer ". Terry Johnson hit the nail on the head by calling today's gathering a "Gaggle of geeks". Manuel Mejia flew his CINEROC 21 . There's a video ...
[Read More]

Surgical tools
Pictured below are the tools I used in performing the recent trans-tubal resection of the shock cord mount in the Ballistic Chicken .  Specifically, the curved blades.  These can both be used to pry and are sharp enough to cut away the paper. If you are gentle and go slowly, no sutures ...
[Read More]

Sand, Prime, Repeat
The good news is the new pads for my sander came in (picture on left). The bad news is that means I have a LOT of sanding to do. I took advantage of the weather last week to start the lengthy process of sanding, filling, priming, and sanding again to get a nice smooth [...]
[Read More]

Pre-Flight Data Capture Form
I brought the booster section and AV-Bay up to bong this weekend to show my latest progress, and one of my TAP sponsors asked to see my pre-data capture form. Of course, I didn’t have it, so I’m posting it here to make it easily accessible the next time he asks    
[Read More]

Water rocket stagecoach spaceship
Clark Lindsey reports on another reference spaceship design, the Space Coach , which was first described in a paper published in the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society .  In a real sense, this would be a water rocket.  Water plays a central role in its propulsion (the rocket ...
[Read More]

I.Q.S.Y. Tomahawk Information
The next build will be the Semroc IQSY Tomahawk, Kit. # KD-2 This is a 10th scale model, the second in Semroc's DeciScale series. Before we get started, check out the Harry Stine drawings at: http://www.jcrocket.com/images/tomahawk/tomahawkplan.jpg   Or, the old Centuri ...
[Read More]

Rocket fans, mark your calendars
Glory Date: Wednesday, Feb. 23 Time: 5:09 a.m. EST Location: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Coverage: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv (3:30 a.m. EST start) Space Shuttle Discovery Date: Thursday, Feb. 24 Time: 4:50 p.m. EST Location: Cape Canaveral, Fla. Coverage: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv   X-37B ...
[Read More]

The space critic
http://www.space-critic.com/
[Read More]

Space Shuttle Discovery's Final Flight. STS-133 A Mission Preview
By WILLIAM HARWOOD CBS News KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Three-and-a-half months after the shuttle Discovery was grounded by potentially dangerous cracks in its external tank, the orbiter is finally back on track for launch Feb. 24 to deliver critical spare parts, supplies and a final U.S. module ...
[Read More]

If you don't attend a launch, do rockets still fly?
Since I couldn't attend last weekend's ESL launch, I thought I could at least post a few photos. Warthog sent me these: The "Christmas in February" Candle on an I211W and his IRIS was on an I225FJ.  
[Read More]

TIPS for Tying Shroud Lines
Parachute tape disks can be tough. You've got to weave the line through the disk and then tie a square knot. Here's a few tips: 1. Don't touch the sticky side of the disk. The oils on your skin will diminish the adhesion. 2. Use your knife blade to hold the disk. In the picture at the left, you ...
[Read More]

Back to Baby Math
It's rather funny: the higher up in mathematics you go, you often revisit "duh" topics, usually to illustrate a point. Today, in my diffy q's class, copied from the blackboard verbatim, was written this: a + x = b -a + (a + x) = -a + b (-a + a) + x = -a + b 0 + x = -a + b x = b - a ax = b a -1 ...
[Read More]

A brief history of the British Interplanetary Society
Project Daedalus - Credit and copyright: Adrian Mann Paul Glister posted a short history written by Kevin Long, physicist, aerospace engineer, and co-founder of Project Icarus:  British Interplanetary Society: Then and Now - Centauri Dreams .
[Read More]

Bye bye Discovery
Space Shuttle Discovery STS-133 , originally uploaded by NASA Goddard Photo and Video . Feb. 24, 2011 - STS-133, the 38th and final mission of Space Shuttle Discovery , OV-003.  Click through for more photos.
[Read More]

Student balloon project images Discovery from above
Alan Boyle reports on the Robonaut-1 balloon project, which imaged Discovery/STS-133 from the stratosphere.  The project was a joint project by between the Challenger Center for Space Science Education and Quest for Stars .  The balloon payload included a smart phone, however, the team ...
[Read More]

Wanted Dead or Alive: Amateur rocket GPS tracked to >100K ft
Rocketry Planet reported on a bounty offered by John Carmack of Armadillo Aerospace : Earlier this week, the gamer-turned-aerospace developer posted an offer of $5,000 for the first rocket to exceed 100,000 feet above launch altitude that could provide a GPS serial log of the flight with at least ...
[Read More]

More Sales and Scout Stuff Clearance Update!
I received my bulk pack engine order yesterday! After I had originally posted here about the clearance sale at ScoutStuff .com I followed by posting the sale information on The Rocketry Forum. While I only ordered two bulk packs of engines, many bought much more! Some were disappointed ...
[Read More]

If a balloon pops in near-space, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? (Robonaut-1)
A: Depends on your payload.
[Read More]

Opportunity Pancam / MI Merges
This combines my love of microscopy with space exploration. All Mars rovers should have microscopes on them, just as all senior citizens should have life alert. Sadly, no fossils yet. "The images on this page were made by combining MI (intensity) and Pancam (hue / saturation) information. The MI ...
[Read More]

Scale of solar system objects and stars
A similar graphic was posted previously, but this one ends with a nice twist.
[Read More]

Rhea and Dione
NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
[Read More]

Semroc IQSY Tomahawk Build Part 11 Launch Lug
The body tube was marked for the four fins and launch lug. The rear of the fins are glued .150" from the end of the body tube. I decided to use a forward wrap of masking tape around the body tube and align the front fin tip along this tape edge. After I had glued the first fin in place, I realized ...
[Read More]

Model Profile Semroc Nighthawk
It was designed by Gene Street and available from Estes from 1967 through 1973. The catalog number was K-34. I can remember seeing this boost glider for the first time in the second Estes 1969 catalog. When I got into rocketry, Estes ran out of the standard color cover catalogs. They released a 8 ...
[Read More]

HMS Liverpool's Sea Dart launcher
HMS Liverpool's Sea Dart launcher , originally uploaded by Solan1487 .
[Read More]

New Rocket Motor
I recently fabricated the motor casing for a boilerplate version of the next motor in the series for the SStS project. This next phase of the SStS project represents a significant step up in scale; here is the material needed for the casing of this new test motor: The casing material is steel ...
[Read More]

Aaaaaaachooooo!

[Read More]

Video of Project Daedalus
"The world's first engineering study of an unmanned spaceship to explore one of the nearer stars was made by a technical group of the British Interplanetary Society between 1973-77. The target selected for the exercise was Barnard's Star, nearly 6 light years distant from Earth. The contributors ...
[Read More]

WANT: pointy things
They are probably metal and thus verboten, but how cool would these retro ('50's-'70's), East German TV tower models look on top of your rocket? (via DRB )
[Read More]

Semroc IQSY Tomahawk Build Part 12 Fin Placement
Here's the lug placement after fillets, priming and sanding. Before spraying the gray primer, thin masking tape strips were set over the fin alignment lines to leave bare tube for a better gluing surface later. All four fins are in place. A thin fillet was applied. the instructions tell you to ...
[Read More]

Apogee Peak Of Flight Newsletter Article
My article on Advanced Finishing Tips was posted yesterday in the latest Apogee Peak Of Flight E-Zine. The suggested paint scheme for the DynaSoar LexxJet is a classic but hard to pull off using masking tape and a spray can. In the article I show how to get better results using MonoKote Trim ...
[Read More]

More from Robonaut-1
In this video (about half way in), you can see Discovery's plume dissipating in the upper atmosphere.  Too bad there isn't a video of the launch itself (or at least a segment thereof). 
[Read More]

Probable label issues
I've noticed this for some time now, but it just struck me that there may be lasting effects... When I start entering a label in a post, blogger pops up a list of existing labels containing that entry.  You can then click the one you want to enter.  However, I have noticed that Blogger ...
[Read More]

New Motor Nozzle
I started on the nozzle last night and realized that this really is going to be a big motor. The piece of metal that I started with for this one piece of the nozzle started out at 16 lbs. the other piece starts out at around 4 lbs which means that I'll need to machine away some 17 lbs of metal to ...
[Read More]

Amazing ground images of ISS and Discovery/STS-133
Astro photographer extraordinaire Thierry Legault has captured some amazingly detailed images - Mission STS-133 (Discovery) .  His page includes both stills and Flash-10 animations, one of which is in 3-D.  He instructs the viewer on how to merge the images by squinting, however, my ...
[Read More]

Semrock IQSY Tomahawk Build Part 13 Fin Plates and Telemetry Wrap
I pressed a piece of paper into two facing root edges to get the (body tube span) width of the fin plates. It was right around 5/8". Using the scale data I started drawing the fin plates, bolts and the telemetry antenna wrap. Using scale data from four different sources I found that: Three fins ...
[Read More]

Easter = Egg Loft Capsules!
Recently I got an email about the blog: "Write about new stuff - we've been building rockets for years and you write about things I already know!" This blog isn't necessarily aimed at the master builder, or someone who has "been there, done that." Not everything in this blog is new, just some ...
[Read More]

Semroc IQSY Tomahawk Build Part 14 PDF Details
Using the N.A.R. scale data (Thanks Brian!) I've drawn up the black band (with the telemetry antenna and bolts) and fin plates. This picture to the left is a . jpg of the full size PDF . Don't enlarge this . jpg to use on the model! Email me at: oddlrockets@bellsouth.net and I'll send it to you ...
[Read More]

Splish splash
110301-N-7237C-009 , originally uploaded by Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet .
[Read More]

100K rocketry challenge
(Kosdon Thunderbolt) John Carmack, of ID fame, is offering $5,000 for the first team to fly above 100,000 feet (done several times before) while meeting several other conditions: "You must publicly register the project on the "aRocket" mailing list with a description of the vehicle at least 30 ...
[Read More]

Loki Research up for sale
Nothing on his web site yet, but Rocketry Planet reports the following from Jeff. After more than six years of running Loki Research, LLC, I've decided to move on. In spite of a generally poor economy, the business has been doing well. However, I have lost my lease at the current factory ...
[Read More]

Semroc IQSY Tomahawk Build Part 15 Detail Wraps
The fin plates are printed on 110 lb. card stock . Pre -crease the fold lines before cutting them out. Round the center area of the plate in the heel of your hand with a dowel. The curvature will help match the body tube. Apply a thin coat of white glue to the back and press in place. Use the ...
[Read More]

Semroc IQSY Tomahawk Finished!
This is a long rocket with classic lines. On the left is the final, darker print of the telemetry wrap. All that is left is a coat of clear. Lesson learned on this build: Plan ahead - glue the launch lug higher up on the body to be out of the way of the fin plates.
[Read More]

Glory mission launch failure
"NASA Launch Director Omar Baez said the countdown and launch went smoothly until the point at which they should have received data indicating that the fairing had separated from the vehicle. Once more data is analyzed, the teams hope to have a better understanding of what went wrong and where in ...
[Read More]

X-37B OTV-2 to launch tomorrow (Saturday, March 5th)
Since there isn't much to say besides the new date/time, I'm merely republishing yesterday's post. The OTV-2 space plane is slated to launch tomorrow from the CCAFS atop an Atlas V.  The launch window opens at 4:09 p.m. EST.  More details and a link to the webcast is available on the ULA ...
[Read More]

500,000!
Despite the failure of the previous hit counter, recent estimates put the total page views for this page at more than 500,000 views to date. The actual number was passed some time this month, but it is certainly over that number by today. Most of these views were people simply searching "High ...
[Read More]

All-solid Nova design
The Unwanted Blog is the ideal place to find new and strange rockets, and this post is no exception. The proposed, but never built, project is for a Nova class launch vehicle that is made of large, seemingly monolithic solid motor units in every stage. Like a giant project farside rocket scaled ...
[Read More]

Rocketrek Magazine Back Issues
A while back, I received an email from Chris Timm . He asked if I was the guy who submitted articles for the old Rocketrek magazine. Chris had some back issues and asked if I'd be interested in them. I hadn't seen these for over 30 years. I didn't remember writing that many articles. My submitted ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Magazine Archaeology: The Tripolitan
This morning, Chris Michielssen posted about an old rocket magazine named Rocketrek . Chris evidently was a contributor and notes that he hadn't even seen an issue in 30 years.  I, personally, had never even heard of the magazine.  Chris says he'll be posting some of his content to his ...
[Read More]

Trina's Rocket
Trina's Rocket , originally uploaded by therealdjflux .
[Read More]

X-37B OTV-2 is is orbit...at least we think it is
We'll have to wait for official confirmation from the unofficial amateur sat-watchers, but it sound's like the X-37B is in orbit.
[Read More]

Life found in a meteorite? Probably not.
The Journal of Cosmology has posted an article called "Fossils of Cyanobacteria in CI1 Carbonaceous Meteorites" by Richard B. Hoover, Ph.D. NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center. Now the quality of this work should stand on it's own, and at first this scientist is able to talk the talk. However, as a ...
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Section Launch March 5, 2011
We had about ten loaded cars show up for the monthly R.O.C.K. launch in Oviedo , Florida. The winds were brisk so most parachutes had spill holes cut or switched out streamers. Here's my newly shortened CORKSCREW rocket launching with an A3-4t. You could really see the spin when it was slowing ...
[Read More]

Half-a$$trobiology or proof of life? (updated)
There is quite a ripple in Internet Force regarding the report that Dr. Richard Hoover, an astrobiologist at NASA?s Marshall Space Flight Center, claims he may have found fossilized bacteria in a meteorite.  I don't feel compelled to summarize the details or speculate, but a photo and ...
[Read More]

Alien life pt. 2 (probably not ^2)
Mr. Plait, who was far gentler than he had to be the first time, delves into the topic more in this post, and it is not looking good for the article, author, or journal. Bad Astro (As in "Your love is like bad astronomy. Bad astronomy is what I need.") One quote from the article recalls my ...
[Read More]

Hubble revisits proto-planetary nebula CRL 618
"Observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope show a previously unknown richness of detail in the intriguing proto-planetary nebula CRL 618. CRL 618 is a superb example of the transition taking place in the later stages of the life of a star like the Sun after it has lost most of its mass ...
[Read More]

More Nozzle Machining
The nozzle is progressing well; I finished the divergent section and should be ready to finish off the other side in the next few days. I was only able to bore it out to a depth of about 5 inches, so I left the throat diameter rough. I'll take it to the final dimension once I'm working from ...
[Read More]

X-37B clues
Short Sharp Science discusses some Boeing patents which may provide clues to part of the X-37B's mission -  Secret space plane has solar stowaway .  The first patent is for a quickly retractable solar array (see image) and the second describes the design and operation of the spaceplane's ...
[Read More]

Electronics (step 1)
I’ve been slowly getting back to work. This weekend I spent some time to mount the electronics into the tri-AVbay. As you can see from the progression below, there isn’t too much to mounting the electronics. I positioned the Altimeter (in this case, a Marsa4), put mounting marks ...
[Read More]

Patriot Missiles are the new license plates
The Danger Room discusses how parts of the Patriot Missiles are assembled by 23-cent/hr prison labor.  The labor is provided through UNICOR : "UNICOR, Federal Prison Industries is a self-sustaining, self-funded corporation established in 1934 by executive order to create a voluntary ...
[Read More]

Launch, Anybody?
As you may or may not know, recently our USLI team decided to scrap our old design for the vehicle and start from the ground up. We are modifying a Wildman kit to accommodate our three parachutes (one drogue, one main, and the parachute for the controlled descent pod). The rocket is completely ...
[Read More]

Nice Discovery slide show
  See the full sized version of this image and 19 more here .
[Read More]

Rocket Primed
I’ve gone through several more sanding / priming steps. Also managed to fit the custom nosecone to the sustainer. It’s starting to look like a real rocket! Unfortunately, it’s still cold in the Chicago area, so I’ve been forced to prime outside, then quickly bring ...
[Read More]

Rocketplane girl!
With a big hat tip to Brian...presenting Miss Edwards. via NASA DFRC circa 1962
[Read More]

Rare, vintage sounding rocket photos
Hydra-Sandhawk, from the private collection of Fred Seward, who was the PI of the science experiments on the launches. This thread on NASAspaceflight.com features vintage photos of various sounding rockets, including the Bullpup-Cajun, Aerobee 75, Dualhawk (S ...
[Read More]

New Version of Open Rocket, 1.1.4
Download the FREE software HERE I've played around with the trial version of RockSim before. I fly Odd-rocs, it usually seemed like too much work to input all the non-standard parts. I hate learning new software, but this time Open Rocket went easier for me. A few RockSim files were loaded into ...
[Read More]

ISS and Shuttle against the Sun
Date: 07.03.2011 Subject: ISS transit 1 frame @ ISO 100, 1/1000s GPU Optical 102/640 APO Herschel Prism Telextender Meade 2x, Canon EOS 550D Pixinsight, PS CS5 Author: C?t?lin Fus http://www.catalinfus.ro/
[Read More]

More Nozzle Machining...
I'm working on the convergent side of the nozzle now and I've updated the design a bit. Not much of a change; just using a couple of angles leading into the throat region vs one and thinning out the excess material while still leaving enough where the nozzle will take the most abuse.
[Read More]

Garvey Prospector 18A
Clark Lindsey has an update on the latest Garvey / Cal State Prospector 18A flight.  This nice sized LOX/ethanol rocket carried several science experiments and 50lb of steel ballast.  It flew with a short burn and reduced thrust to allow it to fly on a Class-2 waiver.
[Read More]

Rocket propulsion and launcher reference material
Dunn Engineering from Vancouver, Canada has a small web page containing Information for the Rocket Propulsion and Launcher Community .  Included is an e-book entitled LEO on the Cheap - Methods for Achieving Drastic Reductions In Space Launch Costs (Air University Research Report AU-ARI-93-8 ...
[Read More]

Estes 2011 Catalog Price Comparisons
I finally picked up a copy of the 2011 Estes catalog and compared some prices with the 2010 catalog side-by-side. Some interesting price reductions from last year: Der Red Max has gone down in price by $4.00 to $16.99 retail The Star Trooper has been reduced by $4.35 to $6.59 retail The I ...
[Read More]

Amateur sky-watcher day
Today, I spotted two interesting stories about the cosmic beings known as amateur skywatchers (aka astronomers and sat-watchers).  The first comes from the Bayourat's Twitter stream via BoingBoing: Interview with Ted Molczan, citizen satellite sky tracker . Ted works from an urban setting ...
[Read More]

EMRR progress - sorting out the URL's
In yesterday's status email, Roger announced that the original EMRR URL ( www.rocketreviews.com ) now points to the new site.  It looks like the interim my.rocketreviews.com redirects there too.  That's good, because I have both formats and both seem to be working! He also has re ...
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, Feb. 2011
How many times since ROCKETS first appeared in my mailbox have I complained about the contents mostly being launch reports?  Well, a lot.  Less when there was coverage of launches I attended, but still a lot.  Today, I can happily report that this was not the case with this ...
[Read More]

Working on March 2011 Plaster City launch report...
...and have been since Sunday. I finally have some 60 fps liftoff vid and I'm trying to get some good slow mo out of it yet continue to struggle. Here's an otherwise unrelated video of what my new camera should be capable of for reference (The 7D is a close cousin to my camera).
[Read More]

TIP: Removing A Stuck Friction Fit Engine Part 1
Today I didn't try to "pull" this one until I got home - it was STUCK! This is the new Corkscrew rocket, my version is BT-5 based. I rarely build models with the thinner BT tubing, they are easily crimped when removing a stuck engine.   To get the engine to release from the body ...
[Read More]

NAR and Tripoli meet with the BATFE
Earlier in the week, representatives from both national sport rocket organizations met with the BATFE in Washington D.C.  The meeting was requested by Burl Finkelstein, an attorney and NAR/TRA member.  After the removal of APCP from 'the list', there are other regulated items used by ...
[Read More]

Frogtape use and misuse
When I first saw FrogTape brand masking tape (the light green stuff), I decided to give it a try. After all, it has PaintBlock technology. That sounded impressive. I forget what I may have read about it, but I do know I didn't research it much. I have used it numerous times and have decided it ...
[Read More]

Wind = Disappointment
Down in Princeton, Illinois there is a wind speed of 20 mph with gusts of up to 40 mph. Needless to say, the launch was canceled. I got my rockets all ready to go, and now they must remain grounded. What a pity.
[Read More]

Tutorial info on high altitude winds
When I think of high altitude balloons, I generally just think the balloon will start moving with the ground winds and then transition smoothly to higher level winds such as those in the jet stream.  This apparently is fairly naive.  The Rocketry Planet thread about the Armadillo100K ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! N.E.F.A.R. Bunnell, Florida March 12, 2011
The weather at NEFAR was about as good as it gets yesterday. The temperature was in the mid 70s and winds were from 5 - 10 mph. The PIGASUS rebuild finally flew on an Estes C6-5. I was concerned about the swept back ears and card stock goggles might effect the vertical flight, ...
[Read More]

Will they try top-kill or golf balls next?
"TOKYO ? Japanese officials struggled on Sunday to contain a widening nuclear crisis in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake and tsunami, saying they presumed that partial meltdowns had occurred at two crippled reactors and that they were bracing for a second explosion, even as they faced ...
[Read More]

Nuclear rockets and tests at area 25
BREN (Bare Reactor Experiment, Nevada) Tower Located at Area 25 - Jackass Flats, Nevada Test Site. Nerva nuclear rocket test footage: (Action begins at 3:35.) And check out this great Soviet video about nuclear thermal rocket engines:
[Read More]

Test of EMRR flight log widget
Pretty cool. The new EMRR site can generate widgets (animated GIF's) of either your recent flight logs or images from your gallery.
[Read More]

Test of EMRR's gallery widget (updated, now working)

[Read More]

NERVA testing videos
R2K dug up some historical footage of the NERVA Nuclear Rocket Engine facilities, including some test firings. As a bonus, he posted a video about Soviet nuclear thermal rocket engines.  The NERVA vids are kind of slow and have no sound.  The Soviet one has more 'action', but is in ...
[Read More]

Pigasus! Reborn
If you've followed the blog, you might remember the PIGASUS project. I'd built a Gooney Pigasus (the winged pig) back in the mid 1970s. I tried to design a new version a few months back. Then I ran into a few problems. When the glued wings had dried, they had fallen into the center at the top. I ...
[Read More]

Motor Update
Not much progress this weekend. I've finalized the nozzle design and finished machining the first half of the nozzle. I orderd some stuff from McMaster-Carr including the screws that I'll need to retain the nozzle and bulkhead in the casing, those that will attatch the two nozzle pieces, and the ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, March/April 2011
This issue really makes up for the last one (which I thought was the least interesting issue since I re-joined the NAR).  Here's a cover-to cover walk through: The cover features the Rocket Girl, flown by a rocket girl.  Carol M. got her level-2 at NARAM-52 with this rocket. The inside ...
[Read More]

Pigasus! Reborn Part 1 Fins
Did you ever design a rocket, and after gluing it all together wish the fins were bigger or smaller? This was the case with the first Pigasus build. I condensed the length of the wing fins and pig legs. As the glue dried on the first build attempt, the wing fin tips rotated to the center line. ...
[Read More]

TIP: Removing Friction Fit Engines Part 2
For any new fliers out there: If you have used a friction fit to keep your engine in place, try and remove it immediately after the flight. It'll slide out much easier when the engine is still warm! I know this doesn't make any sense. Heat makes things expand! Take a look at the lower end of an ...
[Read More]

Static test of the day
Check out the high speed/slo-mo footage at about 1:35 in.  Description attached to the video: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has completed a series of hot-fire tests of the 52,000-54,000lb-thrust Bantam demonstration engine for a"pusher" launch abort system on Boeing's CST-100 spacecraft, ...
[Read More]

First Moon Landing, One Shot, 1969, Apollo 11
"This is one shot, starting about 10 minutes before touch down. Seen trough the right window of Lunar Module (LM). Landing on the Sea of Tranquility : 20 July 1969 20:17,40 UTC. Video starts at 40 000 ft above the Moon surface. "You are go to Continued Power Descent"."
[Read More]

ALWAYS start by flushing your cache
Earlier today, Firefox quit displaying embedded YouTube videos that use the 'iframe' tag. Chrome worked.  Older, 'pre-iframe' embedded videos worked. The on-line help said to try clearing the cache.  That fixed it.  I wonder why I can't remember to always try that first? Ad ...
[Read More]

Three views of the Moon
Credit: NASA/LRO/LOLA
[Read More]

The New RocketReviews.com Blog
Welcome to the new RocketReviews.com Blog. This blog is intended to let you know about updates to RocketReviews.com and present the latest rocketry news. The blog format allows us to quickly share information. You can subscribe to RSS feeds to be notified of new posts ...
[Read More]

Photos in More Places
It’s a minor update, but I think it adds a little class to the RocketReviews.com site …. I added large photo to the start of Kit pages and Rocket Gallery pages.  The photo displayed is selected at random from the photographs attached to the kit or rocket.  If no ...
[Read More]

What the heck is coning, anyway?
Per the archived EMRR glossary : Coning - An unstable flight condition in which a rocket's spin causes the rear portion of the rocket to describe a circle. Coning greatly increases aerodynamic drag and reduces peak altitude. It's one of things that you'll know when you see it.  I've ...
[Read More]

Static test of the day
Stig didn't fly today as planned, but they did another static test. Click thru for a big version. (photo by Ben Brockert, found via Clark Lindsey )
[Read More]

Pigasus! Reborn Part 2 Better Root Edge Adhesion
Because the wings are not being glued straight away from the center line of the body tube, I had to be sure the root edge mount was strong. The fin lines have been marked and extended down the body tube. many instructions have you extend the lines all the way down the body tube. This is usually ...
[Read More]

Launch Lug Dressing and Seam Filling
The ends of a launch lug usually aren't cut clean. Sand and square them up with 400 grit on a sanding block. Reshape (and re-round) the ends using a smooth, sharpened, dowel. Simply rotate the dowel in both ends of the lug. I fill the lug seams off the model. Two toothpicks are used to hold it ...
[Read More]

Rockets and Motors at Bargain Prices
Chris Michielssen’s Model Rocket Building Blog reports that the Boy Scouts’ official online store is closing out their model rocketry products.  Included in the sale are bulk packages of Estes motors (24 motors) for about $20 and Educator’s packages of Alpha III ...
[Read More]

Pigasus! Reborn Part 3 Fin Positioning and White Spray
Here's a rear ham hock view to show the leg and wing positions. You can see why I wanted the wing's root edge joint to be strong. The open front end simply got a roll of paper to keep the paint out of the tube. Here's how the backside was masked. Gluing the engine mount, the rear centering ring ...
[Read More]

Whistle Rocket Second Try!
On The Rocketry Forum, Mr. Ray G. made a whistling Baby Bertha rocket using the old style plastic fishing bobbers or snap on floats. I picked up this package at a WalMart , 12 bobbers of various sizes for $1.79. The picture shows what's left after I cut up half of them. The rocket shown here was ...
[Read More]

VW's transparent factory

[Read More]

Air and Space article on Mojave and its rocket denizens
As seen on Clark's RLV and Space Transport Blog : Air & Space has an excellent article about Mojave, including the Mojave Spaceport and the FAR site , and the various NewSpace style organizations working there such as Garvey Spacecraft , Masten Space , Firestar Technologies , Scaled and ...
[Read More]

Countin' my chickens before they hatch FLY
The literal count is one, one Ballistic Chicken. But what I was getting at in the title is that I have laid out and prepped my rockets for tomorrow; and I even built a couple of reloads.  Last time I prepped for a launch, I had emergency surgery.  Never the less, I threw caution to the ...
[Read More]

STS-133 SRB Recovery

[Read More]

A bunch of moons and Mercury
Really great image from the Planetary Society Blog showing SS objects of similar sizes.
[Read More]

Pigasus! Reborn Part 4 Masking
The wings were to be left white. Scotch tape was used along the root edge. Above that, masking tape and a piece of plastic grocery bag was folded over the top. Where's that pink spray paint? After the mask was removed, here's the result, waiting for home made decals and wing feathers.
[Read More]

March Sport launch
There were hardly any flights here. There was 2 K550s, our G76, several As Bs and Cs. We took a lot of pictures. Most of the people didn't fly because the winds were gusting over 30mph. VIDEO HERE Here is some photos though.
[Read More]

More Chernobyl Footage
Set to music by one of the all time greats; Neil Young.
[Read More]

Saturn S-II ready for test-stand

[Read More]

Radiation table XKCD
http://xkcd.com/radiation/
[Read More]

Modified X-51A Waverider Ready for Next Hypersonic Test
United States Air Force engineers currently plan to fly the second X-51A Waverider hypersonic flight test demonstrator as early as next Tuesday, programme officials said earlier this week. "We are proud of the first flight results, and at the same time we understand the inherent risk in a ...
[Read More]

Pigasus! Reborn Part 5 Printed Trim
I'd already drawn up the wings from the first build attempt. I simply printed them up on 110 lb. cardstock and cut them out. They'll be glued on the wing fins using a glue stick. The goggles took a bit of tweaking to get right. These are a double thickness of 110 lb. cardstock for rigidity. These ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch Saturn SA5 Wadding Flight Prep
I had a heck of a time packing the parachute in my Dr. Zooch Saturn SA5 rocket for last week's R.O.C.K. launch. Looking in from the top, you can see there isn't enough room for the parachute, wadding and the adapter shoulder. I have plenty of my home-cut crepe paper wadding. See HERE I rolled it ...
[Read More]

Spitzer image of center of Milky Way
"Stars Gather in 'Downtown' Milky Way The region around the center of our Milky Way galaxy glows colorfully in this new version of an image taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. The data were previously released as part of a long, 120-degree view of the plane our galaxy (see http://www ...
[Read More]

Steve
Steve is so far our biggest rocket it is 3in wide and about as tall as the gladiator. It weighs about 25oz and takes 29mm motors (mostly Gs). It was short lived though, We launched it Saturday in about 15mph winds on a G76-7G. It flew perfectly and instead of weather-cocking, it flew in the same ...
[Read More]

DFR Technologies Releases Five New Scale Delta Kits
DFR Technologies has released five new model rocket kits.  All are scale models of the Delta series of rockets. The Delta II kit (DII-18) is a 1/72 scale model of the Delta II-7925H configuration which launched the rover Opportunity to Mars in 2003, the Planet Mercury Messenger ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2011-01
Location: Price, MD ( MDRA ESL-154) Weather: partly cloudy, low 50's, wind 0 - 5 MPH Total flights: Today - 11; YTD - 11 Total motors: Today - 21; YTD - 21 I left very early under the light of the Supermoon.  I crawled out of bed earlier than normal to meet Warthog at Batter Up for a big plate ...
[Read More]

Waverider, redux
The second flight of the X-51A Waverider is scheduled for Tuesday, March 22, 2011. It will be dropped over the Pacific by a B-52 at 50k'. Its booster rocket will take it to Mach 4.5 at which time the scramjet will take over for the jump to Mach 6. More from the Bayourat and on Spaceports .
[Read More]

Review: I Build Rockets' Ballistic Chicken
Watch out Chicken Little , the Ballistic Chicken is loose!  The Ballistic Chicken is a basic 3FNC, 18mm-powered rocket...with a cool chicken-head nose cone. It is the first offering from Australia-based I Build Rockets . This was a beta test build, so the final kit may vary slightly. (I ...
[Read More]

Pigasus! Reborn Part 6 Finished!
PIGASUS! This was my third try making a "Gooney" Pigasus. The first was built in the mid 1970s. I tried again a few months back, but had problems getting the fins to align properly. Most of the framework was from the Semroc Groonies series. The head was already finished from the previous build. ...
[Read More]

Taking Pictures - Lone Wolf Launching
In an Email, I was asked how I take launch pictures. In my case - it's a lot of luck. I don't take launch pictures at the monthly section launches. I can't get close enough and my camera only has a 4X zoom. I leave those lift-off pictures to the guys with the good cameras with faster shutter ...
[Read More]

Jacques Valier Advanved Rocketry At The Cost Of His Life
Alamogordo Daily News By Michael Shinabery, New Mexico Museum of Space History Newspapers worldwide announced Jacques Valier's May 17, 1930, death, although details varied and were mostly wrong, said "Max Valier: A Pioneer of Space Travel" (NASA/1976, translated from the original German p ...
[Read More]

Review: Tarkus II
The motivation for this 29mm, sci-fi-inspired rocket began with a container from a bottle of Highland Park single-malt scotch. The truncated oval tube screamed spaceship. From there, the rocket design proceeded in ‘real-time’. The name arose part way through the build and came from Emerson, ...
[Read More]

Kennedy Space Center staff makes space shuttle orbiter
This time-lapse video shows employees at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., taking a few moments to assemble for a historic aerial photo outside of the Vehicle Assembly Building. Thousands of workers stood side-by-side to form an outline of a space shuttle orbiter. The event was organized in honor ...
[Read More]

Shaped charge vs armor
"Those are bird strikes. Sparrows, to be precise."
[Read More]

JWST Sunshield
1/3rd scale shield "The James Webb Space Telescope has a unique shield to protect its sensitive instruments from the heat and light of the sun. The sunshield is like an umbrella popping open on the shores of the cosmos that allows the instruments beneath it to see far into the universe. Like a ...
[Read More]

Fear the rocket
This week's episode of House began with two kids launching what could  have been an Estes or Apogee or equivalent Saturn V.  It flies up, stages (?), and bursts into flame.  Plenty of CGI afoot here.  It comes down in the woods and starts a grass fire as it hangs from its ...
[Read More]

Review: Hermes A-1
This review explains how I converted a sport scale Semroc V-2 xKit to a Hermes A-1. Construction The following parts are required: One Semroc V-2 xKit, using the scale fin option 3/32” balsa stock Thin Kevlar twine Motor hook Mylar sheath to hold the motor hook (optional) Lead shot I’ll start ...
[Read More]

Review: Semroc Little Joe II
This 1/70 scale Little Joe II is one of Semroc’s “Retro-Repro” line of kits. It includes a separately bagged Apollo capsule kit and is billed as a Skill Level-4 “Master” kit. The base rocket is probably a ‘3’ but in my book the capsule is a ‘5’. I guess it all averages out. This ...
[Read More]

These are not the droids you're looking for.
- Obi-Wan Kenobi. 'These are the rockets you're looking for.' - Tim VanMilligan Actually, the latter is my interpretation of his his video entitled Marketing Model Rocketry .  He recently attended a sales conference in Las Vegas, which described how casinos use Jedi mind tricks to get you to ...
[Read More]

Reviews on the new EMRR
Yesterday, I submitted my first new review (the Ballistic Chicken ) to the new EMRR.  Today, it was published - that's some turn around!  I really like this mode of publication vs. the batch mode on the old site.  So far, I haven't seen an email auto-notification that the review was ...
[Read More]

Update (Sidewinder Nozzle Comparison)
This past weekend was busy and didn't leave a lot of time for rocketry. I did manage to get the first half of the new nozzle off the lathe and start on the second half. The first half of the nozzle is pretty hefty; I have to remind myself that this motor will produce over 1,600 lbs of thrust with ...
[Read More]

Model Profile - Eric Truax Carded Patriot
I finally finished up and flew my carded Patriot. It's 10 1/8" tall and the body diameter is .736" or a BT -20 size. This is an Eric Truax design available HERE Scroll down and click on Eric Truax's Patriots - DPILEGGI Sorry, this is the best way I found to get the link. I picked the version with ...
[Read More]

Space shuttle, station pioneer remembers exploration dream that faded
by Mike Pierson Air Force Space Command Public Affairs 3/23/2011 - PETERSON AFB, Colo. -- As the last space shuttle mission approaches, one of the fathers of the world's first reusable spacecraft discussed how the shuttle program began in the 1950's as part of a dream to explore beyond the moon ...
[Read More]

eBay
I saw this Estes Vashon V-1 cold power rocket engine for sale on eBay recently. I don't ever remember seeing these as a kid but I think I would have been drawn to it. A blackpowder motor is cool but this stuff looks like "real" rocket hardware. I found this 1969 Popular Mechanics article ...
[Read More]

Old Estes Plan - The Orange Bullet
I came across this plan on the Shasta Plan site and on a publication for sale on Ebay . You can follow the Ebay auction of the 1960 Estes publication: "Model Rocketry" HERE You can see the entire booklet on the Ninfinger site HERE For some more background, read the third paragraph in this letter ...
[Read More]

New RockSim Page
I've added a RockSim page to the header bar, which points to all of the RockSim files that I've loaded onto EMRR.  I created the page because, while the new EMRR does a good job organizing new RockSim data, it can't list all my files originally loaded to the old site.  I found that I had ...
[Read More]

Future Armadillos
ParabolicArc posted these slides, which were presented by Armadillo Vice President Neil Milburn at the 14th Annual FAA Commercial Space Transportation Conference.  I love clusters! BTW, Clark Lindsey passed on a note from John Carmack about the first Stig free flight: Looking good for ...
[Read More]

Project Icarus Image Gallery
http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/gallery_icarus.php
[Read More]

Northern Lights in Russia

[Read More]

Seattle Museum Of Flight Already Building a Home For A Retired Shuttle.
STACIA GLENN; Staff writer Published: 03/25/1112:05 am | Updated: 03/25/11 4:01 am Read more: http://www.thenewstribune.com/ A mixture of confidence, optimism and fear of jinxing their chances keeps Museum of Flight employees from discussing the possibility of not receiving one of the ...
[Read More]

Nautilus-X animation and fan video
Clark Lindsey found this nice animation of the Nautilus-X.  If you follow the link to his site, you'll also find a fan video made by an enthusiastic teenager.  While that video doesn't provide any new info, it does a good job of summarizing what the spaceship is all about.  (You can ...
[Read More]

Compendium of V-2 footage
RocketryPlanet has posted seven videos of German and U.S. V-2 launches .
[Read More]

Mini Big Bertha PDF Now Available!
Here's the latest downscale: The Estes BIG BERTHA Over the years, the Big Bertha paint pattern has changed. This one is from the 1969 Estes Catalog. I remember this catalog page well. It was one of the few full color pages in that year's catalog. Most of the other rockets shown were airbrushed and ...
[Read More]

SmartBird - the latest in stealth drone technology
German scientists at Festo have built an ornithocopter drone that looks like a bird in flight.
[Read More]

Footage from prototype helicopters - Bell 1940s
"Various model of helicopter prototypes conceived by Lawrence Dale Bell in the US from 1941 to 1945, including shots of a chilling accident happened to a test pilot during a take off attempt. He was wearing no helmet and no seat belts, so he was very lucky to survive with a broken shoulder and ...
[Read More]

Hey there, blimpy boy
The dirigible is pretty great, but really the ladders are blowing my mind the most. Can you imagine being at the top of one? What if it starts to roll away?
[Read More]

Back to building
I finally slithered back down into the Dungeon and started some building.  I cut some fins and built four boosters with the I Build Rockets resin cones and nozzles.  I decided to go with 4 fins and boosters vs. 5.  So, the name of this build, Titan-V, needs re-thinking.  I also ...
[Read More]

Sometimes ya gotta just give up on the video...
I spent a whole bunch o' time since the beginning of March trying to get my new camera's video footage slowed down to look all cool. Ultimately I think that even 60 fps is inadequate to slow a fast rocket down. I punted on all the slow mo and just authored the best video I could here: Again I only ...
[Read More]

Submitting A Review to RocketReviews.com
Reviews are, of course, the heart of RocketReviews.com. Currently the site features more than 4000 kit and product reviews submitted by visitors to the site. You can support the site, and the rocketry community in general, by submitting reviews of kits you’ve built and rocketry-related ...
[Read More]

Happy Birthday G. Harry Stine!
Here's a great YouTube video on the G. Harry Stine legacy - HERE I met Mr. Stine at my first NARAM in Orlando, Florida back in 1975. He took the time to meet and talk with all the "star-struck" space modelers . I remember he didn't turn down my offer to help him find his ...
[Read More]

G. Harry Stine stuff
Chris Michielssen reminds us that today is his birthday and reminisces about their encounters.  He also points to the following video, which I think I've previously posted.  But, it's worth posting again.  Finally, this YORF post provides G. Harry's bibliography via three text ...
[Read More]

Terrestrial Planet Finder
"Terrestrial Planet Finder is a mission concept currently under study by NASA for a potential future mission suite. TPF would study all aspects of exoplanets: from their formation and development in disks of dust and gas around newly forming stars to their suitability as abodes for life." NASA-JPL ...
[Read More]

" 'Crying in Rage' " (updated)
NPR has a fascinating but sad account of the loss of Cosmonaut Vladimir Kamarov , who died in 1967 when the parachutes in his Soyuz capsule failed to open.  That failure was he last in a long series of hardware and policy failures, which doomed Kamarov before his mission was launched.  ...
[Read More]

Building an un-named rocket
Fins are filled.  Lower body tube is marked and glassine is scraped.  Long motor/stuffer tube is built.  The mount features three homemade rings, a motor hook with the top tab bent up to allow longer motors, an I Build Rockets plywood shock cord mount, and a steel fishing leader. I ...
[Read More]

Reactor In-Flight Test (RIFT)
Scott Lowther is on "Nukes-R-Awesome" roll.  He presents the RIFT vehicle, a concept for a nuclear rocket that would have been launched atop a Saturn V and ignited sub-orbitally.  It would then plunk into the Atlantic Ocean some 1300 miles downrange and "safely" sink to the bottom.  ...
[Read More]

Bid on the First Production UP! Cup Kit from Odd’l Rockets
The UP! Cup will soon be released as a Skill Level 2 kit by Odd’l Rockets.  This unique rocket kit is an excellent choice for flying in small fields. It leaves and thick column of smoke as it rises majestically on a B or C motor.  At apogee, the motor mount ejects, coming down ...
[Read More]

"The Greatest Show on Earth: The Search for the Apollo 11 Tapes
The following are excerpts from a private email.  It's space related and only of potential interest to those who will be around Houston on the indicated dates. I didn't try to independently confirm the times, etc.   The purpose is "to encourage the NASA release of the already enhanced ...
[Read More]

Add an Event to the Event Calendar
The RocketReviews.com Event Calendar feature displays calendars of past historical events and upcoming rocketry events. It also allows visitors to find launches and clubs in their local area. If you are a member of a club that is sponsoring launches, you can help others find out ...
[Read More]

Another Ariane 5 completes its initial build-up in French Guiana
March 24, 2011 – Ariane Flight VA202 Initial assembly has been completed for the Ariane 5 launcher that will orbit a dual-satellite payload of the ST-2 and GSAT-8 satellites on Arianespace’s third heavy-lift mission of 2011 from the Spaceport in French Guiana. This build-up milestone occurred ...
[Read More]

More about the un-named rocket
Pods are primed, will wait a day or so to lay on the gloss-white.  Each will get three silver vinyl stripes and I'll hand paint the nozzles silver.  Fins are being attached.  I'll paint the body without the pods and will mask their attachment points. Payload coupler is asse ...
[Read More]

Rose Center Anniversary Isaac Asimov Debate: Is Earth Unique?
"Join astrophysicist and Hayden Planetarium Director Neil deGrasse Tyson as he hosts and moderates a panel discussion dedicated to the perennial question "Is Earth Unique?" With what we now know about the stars in our galaxy and the planets that orbit them, we can begin to address this question ...
[Read More]

RIFT Pt. 2
KIWI-->NERVA-->RIFT-->Flight Tests   (Don't forget to tell Castro to duck.)
[Read More]

Starlight Build Part 10 Canard Taper
  The nose canards were tapered to a diamond shape.   The (before) penciled canard is on the left.         Here's both tapered canards. The root edge profile is on the left, the outside edge taper is on the right.   The outside of ...
[Read More]

Old Model Kits
I just came across this website. Check it out HERE I hadn't seen this many old plastic kits in a long time. Sure, some are outrageously expensive, but if you've got to have it, in some cases it's cheaper than Ebay. Under model rockets I found: Holverson Silver Hawk $26.00 Estes Pathfinder $26.00 ...
[Read More]

Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport progress
The DCist blog had a photo progress report on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport .
[Read More]

Quadrocopter Ball Juggling
The latest Quadrotor hijinks from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology :
[Read More]

Japanese HTV-2 Departs Space Station
From Aviation Week By Mark Carreau HOUSTON ? Japan?s HTV-2 cargo capsule departed the International Space Station on March 28, signaling a post-earthquake resumption of command and control over major ISS operations by flight controllers at the Tsukuba Space Center, northeast of Tokyo. The ...
[Read More]

Level one certification plans
Kaelan and I are trying to get a level one certification this year. We purchased a 4.0in nose cone and body tube and tip from a Uroc member at the March sport launch for $20. We will fly it on a low H to about 1600', should be a good flight. Apogee components (actualy cesaroni) is having a deal ...
[Read More]

Imaging Fomalhaut b (with a hat tip to TPF)
"NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has taken the first visible-light snapshot of a planet circling another star. Estimated to be no more than three times Jupiter's mass, the planet, called Fomalhaut b, orbits the bright southern star Fomalhaut, located 25 light-years away in the constellation Piscis ...
[Read More]

MDRA donates $1k to the Japanese earthquake/tsunami relief effort
As posted on ROL...I hope my last donation was a part of it! MDRA has expanded its role outside of the rocketry community in the past couple of years. The Red Glare series of launches have served as the vehicle to extend a hand to those less fortunate. With the selfless participation and generous ...
[Read More]

Messenger
Check out the little impact crater to the left of the giant Debussy crater (bright rays). This small crater, with very dark rays, is called Matabei: These dark rays may be material that was excavated and broadcast across the lighter surface. More interesting would be if they represent the debris ...
[Read More]

Starlight Jayhawk Build Part 11 Shock Cord Mount
While the shock cord mount should work fine, I thought the card stock was a little thin. I re-cut another from 110 lb. card stock. My mount is to the left. This mount is based on the old G. Harry Stine design used in the MPC kits. The round elastic cord is knotted and laced through. Notice the ...
[Read More]

New / Old MPC Launcher and Controller!
Look what I just won on Ebay ! Yeah, I know, all I need is another launcher. That's the thing I love about Ebay , it's all the stuff you couldn't find or afford as a kid. But, if you don't bid above your budget, sometimes you get lucky. Some of the launcher innovations was a micro clip gantry and ...
[Read More]

Earth and Moon from the Elektro-L spacecraft
Credit: NPO Lavochkin Elektro-L
[Read More]

Some MRI, MPC and AVI Questions Answered!
It seems I've been touching on a lot of MPC information lately. I've got a MPC launcher and controller coming from Ebay. I've done posts about the MPC (Stine) Shock Lock mounts. I'm still flying 40 year old MPC Minijet engines with great success. On a whim, I made a few searches and found the ...
[Read More]

Ariane V VA201 Shuts Down On Pad Prior To Launch
Kourou, March 30, 2011 In the last seconds of Ariane Flight VA201?s launch countdown as the Vulcain cryogenic main stage engine was being ignited, the checkout process detected an anomaly on the launcher, interrupting the final countdown. The Ariane 5 launcher and payload immediately switched ...
[Read More]

Big a$$$$$ rocket of the day - JPL Solid Propellant NOVA vehicle
The NOVA was a series of conceptual vehicles which would have competed with the Saturn V using all solid propulsion. YORF user luke skywalker has provided a flood of info on the NOVA , starting with excerpts from a 1962 JPL study entitled "The Applicability of Solid Propellants for a NOVA class ...
[Read More]

More info on large launch vehicle concepts, circa 1961
YORF's luke skywalker has evidently been playing  a lot on the NTTRS.  His earlier post entitled Saturn Studies Summary--Large Launch Vehicles System Oct.1961 , provides a summary of an 800+ page report.  Again, he has generated a summary description and has extracted many ...
[Read More]

Stenis Test Stand Passes Review for Next-Generation Rocket Engine Testing
Forty-five years after its first Saturn V rocket stage test and 35 years after its first space shuttle main engine test, the A-2 Test Stand at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center achieved a milestone in preparation for its third major rocket engine test project. A facility readiness review in ...
[Read More]

Igniter and Micro Clip Tips
Before igniters had thin bridge wires, you had to connect micro clips as close to the nozzle as possible. From the 1969 Estes catalog (Yellow Pages) you can almost read the words "Attach clips close to nozzle." Now you can connect the clips towards the ends of the igniters , out of the ...
[Read More]

OMG! CATO Among New Words in Oxford Dictionary
Major news media outlets recently reported that the new words added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) for 2011 include several time-saving online abbreviations. Abbreviations such as LOL, OMG, and IMHO are familiar to most people who have spent any time on internet ...
[Read More]

Kepler stars
These are Stars found to have planets around them. The color and size of each star tells you about the class of star (Oh Be A Fine Girl Kiss Me Long Time PLease etc.) and you can see the dark spot of each planet as it makes a transit. They all look like eggs. From Centauri Dreams
[Read More]

(We hope) Something Big is Coming!
Unless this is an April 1 gag...a 27 engine Falcon Heavy will be announced on April 5th.
[Read More]

In Praise of Sears
I haven't always been the biggest fan of Sears in recent years, but in light of some of my recent experiences, I won't go into any of that!  I just managed to fix my 20+ year old Craftsman lawn mower for about $4.50.  It was simple but I couldn't have done it without Sears providing ...
[Read More]

More on the Reactor In-Flight Test (RIFT)
YORF's luke skywalker is giving Scott Lowther a run for his money on the RIFT with his post NASA Study Summary: RIFT nuclear Saturn stage 1961 .  Follow the 'RIFT' tag, below, to see my related posts and get the links to Scotts posts.
[Read More]

OpelRac2
OpelRac2 , originally uploaded by Bloemendal Fotografie . Click through for additional views of this vintage clustered rocket racer.
[Read More]

Art Applewhite Rockets introduces the Forte' launch controller
My long-distance rocket buddy, Art Applewhite, just announced his latest product line - the Forte' Launch Controller.  The product is billed as a "simple, safe, reliable and compact", self-contained,  four-pad launch controller.  It features a high-impact, water-resistant case ...
[Read More]

How do winged things on the tip of your rocket affect its stability?
That's what was studied in "AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS FROM MACH 1.50 TO 2.86 OF A LIFTING ENTRY VEHICLE ALONE, WITH ADAPTER SECTIONS, AND WITH A SATURN LAUNCH VEHICLE," Aug. 4, 1965, NASA TM X-1125, # 3 1176 01328 5292. This report is the subject of YAYT (yet another YORF thread) by the ...
[Read More]

Direct Flight Apollo Study: Two Man Apollo Spacecraft
This post is a summary of  another of luke skywalker' s NASA report summaries (except this time it's on TRF): Direct Flight Apollo Study: Two Man Apollo Spacecraft .  This study looked at using modified Gemini and 2-person Apollo capsules to land directly on the moon.  Well, I guess ...
[Read More]

30 meter space telescope
Parts 1 and 2 at The Unwanted Blog. This would be a giant leap beyond the capabilities of the ATLAST telescopes, each far more powerful than Hubble. Large space telescopes, even a 16 meter class telescope (considerably more modest, ready to launch on one Ares V) could work with a 100 meter ground ...
[Read More]

Rockets are great

[Read More]

WMD from Iraq
We found them! "They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat."
[Read More]

ESA Hands Over Kourou Soyuz Launch Pad To Ariane Space
The Kourou Spaceport, in French Guyana, South America now has a new, fully-operational launch pad, that is capable of supporting the take off of Russian-built Soyuz rockets. Yesterday, March 31, the complex was officially handed over to Arianespace. This marked an important milestone towards ...
[Read More]

I Won a Competition!!
Of four people that entered the Iowa State Space Society's model rocket beauty contest, I came out on top, shockingly. Especially considering the fact that I decided to enter and started building only yesterday. It was modeled after a rocket propelled grenade, and it flew like one, too. I packed ...
[Read More]

What are religious conservative republicans saying about science?
"waste of my time, waste of my teacher's time and a waste of space" Source There is a vast cancer of ignorance spreading across this country. Just to remind you, Lott's mother was a teacher. And his most famous statement? "When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. ...
[Read More]

Rocket women
Why are you not reading The Rocket Dungeon right now?
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Orlando R.O.C.K. Section Monthly, April 2, 2011
Sorry I didn't do my blog posts Saturday morning. I had an early start to get to the April Orlando R.O.C.K. section launch and didn't get back until late! Here's a good start to the Orlando R.O.C.K. launch today. The Odd'l Rockets UP! CUP was launched with a C6-3. We had lots of kids at the launch ...
[Read More]

Fire Eater
Fire Eater , originally uploaded by Erik Charlton . How could you not love this shot? (The rocket's owner need not respond.)  Click through to see another photo taken a second later.
[Read More]

Saturn V (NERVA SRBs) (updated)
luke skywalker 's latest NASA report summary is of the "Modified Launch Vehicle (MLV) Saturn V Improvement Study Composite Summary Report" from July 1965.  Here are figures showing configurations with 1) a NERVA nuclear upper stage, and 2) four strap-on 120 inch SRBs.  Muahahaha! ...
[Read More]

Saturn V with Orion
With all the summaries of old heavy lift launcher concepts floating around, I thought I'd re-post a couple of diagrams of the Saturn V with Orion nuclear pulse propulsion modules.  Detailed references can be found here .
[Read More]

Blown out again + new blog gadgets + cute buddy
The March Lucerne launch was windy enough that I didn't even unpack my car upon arrival.  Then, yesterday, the Plaster City weather report looked prohibitively windy so I fought the urge to again torture myself via long-drive-no-flying and stayed home.  I plan to hit Lucerne next weekend ...
[Read More]

Eyes on the skies: Eastern Range tracks every launch.
The Jonathan Dickinson Missile Tracking Annex, north of West Palm Beach, is operated by Computer Services Raytheon. (William Laakkonen, Martin County Amateur Radio Association) During the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-133. The launch countdown was put on hold and then realeased at ...
[Read More]

A glimpse into the Eastern Test Range
The Jonathan Dickinson Missile Tracking Annex, north of West Palm Beach, is operated by Computer Services Raytheon. (William Laakkonen, Martin County Amateur Radio Association) The Bayourat spotted a Florida Today article (not FF4 compatible?) on the USAF's  Eastern Test Range. Despite being, ...
[Read More]

Massive rocket indecision
OK, so I now have my still un-named rocket primed. Progress! Well, not so fast!  As I was pondering my recent posts about 'what-if' Saturn variants, I noticed the similarity my SRBs have to the UA-1205 boosters proposed for the MLV-Saturn V-4(S)-A-3 (as shown in the center figure here ...
[Read More]

First launch of the year! (pt. 1)
Today was my first launch of 2011, a METRA launch as usual. The conditions were warm, but windy. I had 4 flights, with only a few minor problems. But the most important news is that I have finally made my first on-board rocket footage using the small spy camera purchased last year. The footage is ...
[Read More]

Spring flowers (and rockets)
"Poppies on Castner Range" by Oneida Val - Castner Range is a decommissioned firing range that is now owned by the city of El Paso. Not strictly a rocket range but it saw its share of small ones. This one isn't embeddable, but it isn't spring without Texas Bluebonnets ! (and it features actual ...
[Read More]

Revising Your Reviews
When you are logged into RocketReviews.com you can click “My Reviews” in the “My Stuff” block to see a list of your reviews and the status of each of the reviews.  The Status values are: DRAFT – You are still working on the review SUBMITTED – You have ...
[Read More]

More Shock Cord Mount Ideas Part 1
In a recent YORF post, James Jason Wentworth ( Blackshire ) came up with a great variation of the G. Harry Stine "Shock Lock" shock cord mount. Anytime there is a post by Jason, I always read it thoroughly. In the past he has come up with great innovations such as a new style 13mm to 18mm engine ...
[Read More]

Checklist and a sponsorship!
Sorry for the lack of updates. work and travel have taken over a bit. T-2 weeks and counting until lift-off! I’ve added a page for my pre-flight checklist. you can see it here: http://mylevel3.wordpress.com/pre-flight-checklist/ this is a work in progress, so let me know if you think ...
[Read More]

Using the WYSIWYG Editor
When entering blocks of textual information into RocketReviews.com, a “What You See Is What You Get” (WYSIWYG) editor is displayed. The WYSIWYG editor works much like a miniature word processor, allowing you to enter and format text. Tool Buttons   A row of tool buttons ...
[Read More]

First launch of the year! (pt. 2)
Conditions for the first METRA launch of the year were warm and clear, but windy. The wind did not fall below 10 mph at any time, and often gusted dangerously close to 20. As a result, I flew four rockets with motor combinations that would not result in excessive altitude. First to go was the 38mm ...
[Read More]

Build progress...woohooo!
It broke 80 degrees today and was relatively calm, so I flung paint.  I have some more decoration to do on the vast whiteness of the body tubes and am leaning towards installing the SRBs as planned.  No progress on finding a name.
[Read More]

More Saturn Orion
Scott Lowther is continuing work on his book on the Orion nuclear pulse rocket(s).  Today he gave a glimpse of the last ?official? Orion designs.  The Philco Mars landers might have been launched by a modified Saturn 1C.  Once suborbital, the nuclear pulse engine would take the ...
[Read More]

Legos, they aren't just for rocketry anymore

[Read More]

NEW Odd'l Rockets Products Available
  The CYCLONE Kits are now available!   If you've been following this blog, you should know this rocket well. It was designed by Jonathan W. Mills, PhD.   I can guarantee you've never seen a rocket recover like this one before! I was so impressed by it's performance, ...
[Read More]

Anybody recognize this?
Scott Lowther is thinking big this morning, and has a question for you .  (Look carefully at the 'little things' in the middle of the image.)
[Read More]

Tale of Cosmonaut's death "rife with errors"
Last month, I posted about npr's review of the book Starman , which tells the story of the tragic death of Russian cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov in 1967.  Shortly after I posted, there were indications that the facts, as stated, may have been in error.  Today, Space.com outlines the ...
[Read More]

Convair B-58 Ejection Capsule
Convair B-58 Ejection Capsule , originally uploaded by james.gordon6108 . Rocket sled!
[Read More]

New Odd'l products announced
Chris Michielssen announces three new products from his modroc company, Odd'l: The Cyclone is a mini-motor-powered rocket that utilizes 'mapleseed' helicopter recovery. The Up! Cup , is made from, well, a styrofoam cup. And finally, the Adeptor is an accessory that attaches to a ...
[Read More]

Ultra-strong Neodymium Magnet
These demos were just so-so, I think you could do more cool stuff with them. I would love to see two giant magnets fly together (under safe conditions.) You can buy these magnets here: United Nuclear
[Read More]

Falcon Heavy
As I always say, most problems can be solved by the careful application of rocketry. But what we need now is heavy lift, and this rocket may play an important role in providing that. The LEO payload is about 50 metric tons. This is probably big enough to launch a small ATLAST telescope, maybe even ...
[Read More]

OPEL ROCKET BIKE
OPEL ROCKET BIKE , originally uploaded by Thomas Brodowski . Rocket bike!
[Read More]

SRB-Boosted Ground-Launched Saturn V upper stage
The latest document summary from YORF's luke skywalker discusses "Selected Methods for Uprating Saturn Vehicles" (circa 1966).  He points out that the coolest thing in this report is the SRB-Boosted Ground-Launched Saturn V upper stage. Basically, it's a Saturn V second stage with four 120 ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Live may cover Red Glare X and the Eves/Hoag Saturn 1B extravaganza
Rocketry Live , the sister site to NARAM Live, may feature photos and video from both events.  While 'may' doesn't sound exciting, it'll only cost you a mouse click to check. Red Glare X, April 8-10 (also watch the MDRA photo album , TRF , and RP for photos and reports) Steve Eves' and Vern ...
[Read More]

Thunderbolt 38mm on-board footage
Finally uploaded, this is the first ever video taken by the tiny "spy cam." The motor is a G106 skidmark by CTI, and the rocket is a fiberglass kit with an Acme fin can. The launch occurs at 20 seconds, and nothing happens past about the 50 second mark except me picking up the rocket to turn the ...
[Read More]

JATO
I just recieved an old rocket motor off of eBay. Sometimes refered to as JATO motors (jet assisted takeoff motor) or by the more accuarate acronym RATO (rocket assisted takeoff motors) these small motors have always caught my interest. Mostly because they were among the first, if not the ...
[Read More]

50th Anniversary Soyuz Launch Honors Yuri Gagarin
See more at English Russia
[Read More]

The British Interplanetary Society wants your ideas for huge space ships
Call for Papers ? World Ships: The Long Journey to the Stars
[Read More]

Ever Forget A Launch Lug? TIPS
Did you ever finish a rocket and realize you didn't glue on a launch lug? Here's a simple way to "finish" a launch lug without painting it. Cut some 20 lb. paper a little longer than your launch lug. To check the wrap width, roll the paper you just cut around the lug and cut the width 1/32" short. ...
[Read More]

More Saturn V derivatives
No time to read... check out this post . Makes you wish NASA had practiced their Saturn-calculus even more...(silly pun of the word 'derivative')
[Read More]

Red's "Lunik" Hits The Moon
I presume this is Luna 2 in September, 1959: Youtube suggested the following video, from a bit before the first (it has nothing to do with 1946):
[Read More]

4 Alcohol - LOX engines tested on one stand!
"Michael, our biz VP, said at ISDC that we show the good and the bad. Which reminded me that I was planning to share this video when we flew, and we've flown. This is a test on March 30th 2009, the first time we tried to fire all four engines at the same time. We'd tested them all individually; ...
[Read More]

Electronics for Our Payload
Shockingly, the USLI launch is in just one week. We have very little time to complete the electronics for the payload, and with many, many roadblocks, we just might be pulling some long hours in the coming days. So here's the rundown: We were using a program called MPLab to program the MCU, but ...
[Read More]

RocketReviews.com is Moving! But, our address is staying the same . . .
RocketReviews.com is moving. But, with any luck, you won’t notice. We’re moving the web site to a new server. The current server is a few years old and one of the hard drives has started to act up. The drive hasn’t failed, but is giving “SMART” reports that indicate ...
[Read More]

Long Government Shutdown Could Delay Space Shuttle Launch
Tariq Malik, SPACE.com Managing Editor, Space.com Tariq Malik, Space.com Managing Editor, space.com ? Fri Apr 8, 4:45 pm ET If Congress fails to settle on a national budget by midnight tonight (April 8), forcing a partial shutdown of the United States government, the impact on NASA will r ...
[Read More]

Silver Spur3 - Student Rocket
"It features an all carbon fiber motor case, ablative fin leading edges, and a titanium nose cone tip. Flying on an O5000, it flew to about 50000 ft and reached a maximum speed of about Mach 3.3." "The USC Rocket Propulsion Lab is a group of largely undergraduate students ardently focused on ...
[Read More]

Tiny hummingbird nest
Link
[Read More]

More Pictures from the April 2nd R.O.C.K. Launch
The pictures from my blog post on April 3rd were taken by Roger Smith. I took some pictures that day too, but they were lost along the way. They were found and here they are! (Besides, I should post these, I told the group they'd be on the blog! ) Here's Carl Campbell from DFRTech.com. That's his ...
[Read More]

Pratt & Whitney J58 (A-12 and SR-71) with a tiger tail

[Read More]

We Have GPS!
Yesterday we got a lock on satellites with our GPS unit, wired together most of our electronic components on a breadboard, and outlined our entire code in C++, all in one day. It was a very productive day. Today, hopefully we will finalize the rough draft of our code, and hard-wire our board ...
[Read More]

Red Glare X, Day 1 via Rocketry Live
Red Glare X, Day 1, Page 1
[Read More]

Random MDRA Red Glare X
MDRA Red Glare X , originally uploaded by BrianWh . Click thru for the rest of the series.
[Read More]

The end of an era
This computer, P4 2.0 with 512 Megs of rdram, was constructed in 2002. Since then, it has played (and won most of) 20,000 games. Some of the hardware will be added to the Museum of Modern Art, the rest may be retained and buried with my ashes in space. But most of it is going on the street to find ...
[Read More]

Old OOP MPC Launcher & Controller Part 1
This is a recent Ebay purchase. Here's how the box looked after I opened the outside shipping carton. The cardboard was water damaged. It looked like it had been stored in a barn with a leaky roof! I'll report on the controller and launcher in upcoming posts. Here's some of the "extras" that were ...
[Read More]

A "minor" accident?
Many would have you think the meltdowns are disasters on unprecedented scale, others that they are just minor accidents. One thing is certain; these meltdowns are second only to Chernobyl as the worst nuclear accident. Furthermore, the number of evacuations has increased to several other towns, ...
[Read More]

High Power Telecsope
A few browsers (facultative grazers?) have come to this blog searching for "high power telescope." Sadly, there are only a few telescope posts around here. But before rocketry, and before kayaking, amateur astronomy was my thing. Sadly, telescopes don't really work on "power" but rather size. They ...
[Read More]

Monday Miscellany
Reader Artemi sent me another link from Russia . I haven't had time to fully explore it but it looks like it has a lot of rocket aero-philately (rocket mail) related posts.  I didn't run the link through Google Translate for you this time. For all the space cadets who grew up in the ...
[Read More]

Payload Taking Shape
The CDV is starting to come together. I've been working on some of the functionality of the design, and composed this drawing: The idea is to guide the payload in the style of a skydiver, pulling on the parachute shroud lines to cause it to drift in that direction. This is accomplished with ...
[Read More]

Another RG X album
_MG_0363.jpg , originally uploaded by Nick DeBrita . Click through to see Nick's entire album.
[Read More]

April 12th Marks the 50th Anniversary Of The First Human To Orbit The Earth
Yuri Gagarin's space flight was 108 minutes that changed the world. It was the first time a human looked down upon the earth from orbit. So take some time out and celebrate the moment. http://yurisnight.net "Circling the Earth in my orbital spaceship I marveled at the beauty of our planet. ...
[Read More]

Tuesday Missile-any
I see Loki Research will be sold to an employee and will live on. Dr. Frank Kosdon passed away last week at age 70.  RP has a nice article on his legacy . Hope the weather holds for the Saturn 1B launch next weekend. The MiniSugarShot-2 launch is set for Saturday, May 7th, with a ...
[Read More]

Old OOP MPC Launcher & Controller Part 2
Here's what the Lunar- Lectric controller looked like in the box illustration. Mine was just slightly different. The package shows a white top piece. Mine was gray. The box launch button is square, mine was round. Certainly not a big deal, just a different version. It's smaller than I thought it ...
[Read More]

Water rocket CATO at 250psi
Attached is a summary video from Air Commands's Launch Day 103 .  The rocket scientist in you will like the description of their new side deploy mechanism, which is controlled by custom electronics.  The rest of us will like the slow-motion CATO footage.
[Read More]

The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) music video
The IEEE Spectrum reports on the Navy's X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS). This drone reportedly is so autonomous that you won't even need experience with R/C planes to fly it.
[Read More]

Structure of the Payload Complete, Programming Complete, Leaving Tomorrow
The payload is finished. The electronics are all soldered down. The program that runs it all has been completed in its first revision. The rocket has been painted snazzily. The only downside to this progress is that we worked until one in the morning, and I had a diff eq quiz at eight in the ...
[Read More]

Really nice postage and promotional space art
How cool is this stuff? First posted at TORD.
[Read More]

Enterprise to be hosted in NYC!

[Read More]

Old MPC Launcher & Controller Part 3
Two flat head screws secure the gray top to the handle. The inside looks very clean. To the right (forward of the unit) are the two sides for the key contact. The launch button sides had to be sanded a little so it wouldn't stick in the hole when depressed. The two red handle sides are held ...
[Read More]

Going on a Cool Adventure
This morning we are embarking on an exciting trip down to Huntsville Alabama where all our hard work over the past year will come to fruition. Did I mention that NASA is ridiculous sometimes? Like, for getting a waiver for 5600 feet when the altitude goal is 5280 feet, and then restricting teams ...
[Read More]

Documenting a Build at RocketReviews.com
At RocketReviews.com, you can create a “Build” to document your progress building a kit or completing another kind of rocketry project. A Build is a journal, similar to a “Build Thread” in one of the rocketry forums. As you work on the project, you can add entries to the ...
[Read More]

The chosen one has returned ...
Picked up the rocket from the Ultimate Paint Shop today. All I can say is: WOW!     The good news is they did a FANTASTIC job! Look at the paint on those fillets – all of my other rockets will look horrible in comparison. Oh well The bad news is I have two days [...]
[Read More]

Hump day hodgepodge post
Houstonians and some ex-Houstonians can't believe JSC isn't getting a Shuttle Parabolic Arc presents The All-Female Symbolic Crew (via Mars500 and Yuri?s Night).  A virtual crew still qualifies for an actual rocket girl post.  The weather is looking iffy for this coming ...
[Read More]

Old OOP MPC Launcher & Controller Part 4
Now, onto the launcher itself. This is an amazing piece of work! It's quite a bit larger than the Estes or Quest equivalent. I figured out why the white wires were cut, stripped and bare. These connect up to the gantry! Simply bend the springs until the coils open up, then insert the bare wire. ...
[Read More]

DFR Tech Delta II Build Part 1 Parts
I'll be building this as a display model for Carl Campbell. Carl owns DFR Technologies and produces a new line of Delta kits. Here's all the parts! Check out the custom nose cones. Nine (count 'em nine) SRM boosters. You can fly this with 18mm engines in the central core and as many as six A10-pt ...
[Read More]

Louisiana TARC Team Makes It To The Finals!
The list has been published! It's official! The team from Centerville, LA is in the finals and will be competing on the National level in the Team America Rocketry Challenge. The Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) is the world's largest rocket contest, sponsored by the Aerospace Industries ...
[Read More]

Russia's TP-82 Space Gun
"The three-barreled Toz TP-82 was carried into space by Soviet and Russian cosmonauts until 2006 when the ammunition expired and it was replaced with a regular semi-automatic pistol. The top two barrels chambered 12.5x70mm (about 40 gauge) shotshells and the lower barrel chambered 5.45x39mm. A ...
[Read More]

F'ing lasers... how do they work?!
Here a laser is used to disable an outboard motor at sea. Clearly this will be helpful when fighting pirates and drug boats. Just one more reason why people who go against the coastguard or US navy are out of their noggin.
[Read More]

Old OOP MPC Launcher & Controller Part 5
Here's a few odds and ends I didn't include in the previous posts.   Two of the three legs fit well into the triangular base. The third leg would fall out every time I picked up the launcher.   The small circle in the middle is the bottom of the launch rod friction fit ...
[Read More]

DFR Tech. Delta II Build Part 2 Prepping Parts
All the open ends of the body tubes got a strengthening coat of CA. Lately I've been setting a drop of CA on a scrap piece of cardstock. A Q-Tip is dipped in the CA. While it's still wet, the CA is rolled around the end of the body tube. This is a cleaner, easier way of putting an even coat of CA ...
[Read More]

Day One: NASA, Rocket Prep and Inspection
 The first day was the "fun" day, and we got to go behind the scenes of many of the NASA facilities there at Marshall Space Flight Center. Of the more interesting that we did was the friction stir welding, the life support systems facility, and the ISS Payload Operations Center. We then ...
[Read More]

Testing of JWST flight mirrors
http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/images.html Is it rude to suggest that the James Webb Space Telescope makes your telescope, and by association you, look lame? No it isn't.
[Read More]

Red Glare X, Day 2 and 3 via Rocketry Live
All three days of Red Glare X photos and videos are now up on Rocketry Live! In the name of news coverage, here are a few samples: Before After Warthog's Big Starfighter
[Read More]

Lalala I can't hear you!
Pretty much your standard level of creationist discourse.
[Read More]

WISE images
From NASA "Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) is a NASA infrared-wavelength astronomical space telescope launched on 14 December 2009, and decommissioned on February 17, 2011 when its transmitter was turned off. The US$320 million mission launched an Earth-orbiting satellite with a 40 cm ...
[Read More]

Cluster-up that Saturn 1B, boy!
luke skywalker reviews "Orbital Launch Potential Saturn IB using SRMs."
[Read More]

More Shock Cord Mount Ideas Part 2
While Jason Wentworth (Blackshire) used standard copy paper, I wanted to try some Tyvek. This is used in strong envelopes, you can't tear through it every easily. THE TYVEK DID NOT WORK! I had an extra Express Mail envelope I never used. The entire big envelope is made of Tyvek. It does say on the ...
[Read More]

DFR Tech Delta II Build Part 3 Engine Mount
The Bt-20 engine mount tube is marked and notched at 2 1/2" for the engine hook. Centering ring marks are made at 1/4" and 1 7/8" from the rear of the tube. (The upper mark in the photo is not correct. It should be farther down towards the end of the tube.) I notched the lower centering ring using ...
[Read More]

A-10 runs in Afghanistan danger close to US troops
Twice the plane gives an altitude deviation warning. The fact is, the A-10 was not able to achieve the kind of precision needed here and a helicopter would have been the better call. Have to admire the pilots for handling this kind of situation, one can feel the pressure from just watching the ...
[Read More]

Day Two: Rocket Fair, Rain, and Post-poned Launch
This post is about yesterday. The rocket fair was half the fun. I enjoyed seeing all the projects other teams came up with. This team was able to power there electronics with the exhaust of the motor. MIT came up with a UAV. It was originally going to be autonomous, but not anymore. Arizona State ...
[Read More]

Live Streaming Tomorrow
The launch tomorrow will be streamed live, so anyone that's interested can see it live: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-msfc There will also be a Twitter page: http://twitter.com/#!/SLI_1MILEHIGH Stay tuned! We hope to launch as EARLY as we can tomorrow, possibly as early as 8am.
[Read More]

DFR Tech. Delta II Build Part 4 Engine Mount
The forward ring was marked bagged separately. It is pre -drilled for the screw eye. The screw eye is set into the hole. Don't screw it in past the threads! Be sure it is turned to the side so it'll fit into the body tube! Set the screw eye with epoxy. This is the underside view of the forward ...
[Read More]

TTRA Tampa LAUNCH! April 16, 2011
Here's the official wind speed indicator of the day. Judging by the turned back ears on Q.T., the winds were 15 - 20 m.p.h. PIGASUS! made it's Tampa debut flying true with a Estes C6-5. The picture proves I "stuck" the landing. Astron Mike came with plenty of impressive gliders. Here's his BOMARC ...
[Read More]

Incredible Launch Photos Of The April 14, 2011 Atlas V Launch From Vandenberg AFB, CA
                                             & ...
[Read More]

Initial teaser Saturn 1B videos from Rocketry LIVE!
It sounds like Steve's didn't stage but recovered intact (mostly?) but Vern's bit the dust.  This is only the 2nd set of evidence I've seen.  More later.
[Read More]

More videos of the Saturn 1B's
Results were as previously reported.  Steve's didn't stage but recovered.  Vern's drag separated.  Wish I could have been there.
[Read More]

More Shock Cord Ideas Part 3
Continuing on with Jason's shock cord design, Here's what it looks made with 24 lb. paper. The shock cord was laced through the three holes. The lower half was folded over and glued over the shock cord. I like this design because it is thinner than the Estes Tri-Fold design. The shock cord is not ...
[Read More]

DFR Tech. Delta II Build Part 5 Engine Mounts
This is the finished central engine mount. You can use as many as six A10-Pt (plugged 13mm engines) in the SRMs . Six engine blocks are glued into six BT -5 SRM tubes. I used a dowel to get the glue into the tube. The dowel was marked a little short of 2 1/2". A glue ring was applied around the ...
[Read More]

Full Saturn 1B coverage from Rocketry LIVE!
Photos , prep Videos , and Flight Videos
[Read More]

More rocket aero-philately (rocket mail)
Via Artimi, here is a clearer presentation of the link I previously posted.  There are a lot of rocket mail images, but these include other space fan art too. http://www.fandom.ru/about_ fan/zubakin_2.htm http://www.fandom.ru/about_ fan/zubakin_3.htm http://www.fandom.ru/about_ fan/zu ...
[Read More]

How to Ship an Obelisk
"In the 19th century Egyptian rulers gifted several large 1500BC obelisks to Paris, London and New York, all of which are still standing today. We already know how these things were erected, but how did they get there? The images above and below (from a 1878 article in the French magazine "La ...
[Read More]

Chasat II
No information right now, let me know if you have a page for these guys. A bit of frost at altitude, but overall very good video. Would have been nice to see the recovery also, or at least a few highlights from it. Here is the camera they used.
[Read More]

USLI Recap
I must say, that was probably the most fun and exciting launch I have ever been to! All the rockets were so unique and high-powered. It's rather unfortunate we didn't get to stay for the entire thing, but what we were able to see was amazing. Our own launch was not too bad. Everything recovered ...
[Read More]

DFR Tech. Delta II Build Part 6 Seam Filling
In this kit there is a lot of tubes to fill! One main tube and nine SRMs ! Here I'm dragging a small drop of thinned Carpenter's Wood Filler down a body tube seam with a dull knife blade. This method uses less filler and directs the filler right into the seam. The SRM Attachment Mounts are 1/8" ...
[Read More]

Starlight / Centuri Jayhawk Follow-Up
Before it's first flight, I did add some clay weight inside the nose cone of the modified Jayhawk kit.   The nose cone shoulder was already glued in place so I drilled a hole to stick the clay worms in.     I cut off two pats of clay. Total weight of the ...
[Read More]

An ocean on Titan?
Europa has always held a special place in my heart. It is only logical that we should orbit it, scan it with powerful radar, then land on the surface. Some day, we should also attempt to melt through the ice if that seems possible, and explore the oceans below. Europa is a great place to look for ...
[Read More]

Frank Kosdon
Frank Kosdon passed a few days back. He is well known for rocket motors as well as a few rocket projects include the one pictured above (Thunderbolt.) Frank worked on the OuR project; something that helped get this blogger started in HPR. You can read more about his rocketry work at the link ...
[Read More]

Houston, we have a problem
tough weekend for the Questionable Investment. Had to scrub the launch on Saturday due to bad weather. Sunday was a beautiful, sunny day, but 25-30 MPH winds. Looking to reschedule for early May (possibly the 7th, weather permitting)
[Read More]

Fire on the mountain, as seen from the McDonald Obervatory
The University of Texas' McDonald Observatory , located West Texas' Davis Mountains, was closed last week due to wildfires. This photo, taken by Frank Cianciolo, shows the controlled burns that were performed on the 17th. Very surreal.
[Read More]

FGM-148 Javelin missiles misfire
These cost about $40,000 each. Did a fun tax calculation; last year I personally contributed about $2,000 to the armed forces. Wonder why it costs so much? Well clearly to keep Iraq from invading us. This is the largest single budget item. A few hundred times larger than things like NASA. ...
[Read More]

Estes Phantom Electro Launch on EBAY
Occasionally I'll check EBAY for the rocket listings. Here's a very rare find you might not see again.   The Estes Phantom Electro Launch. You can follow the bidding HERE The old Electro launchers were red plastic, the hand-held controller was black. The square base held the ...
[Read More]

DRM Delta II Build Part 7 SRM Supports
The lengths of the nine SRM Supports sticks were a little off.   All nine support sticks were set side by side and the bottoms evened up on a flat surface.   While the ends were even, all were taped together. This left the upper ends like the picture above.   ...
[Read More]

Tupolev Tu-143
"The Tu-143 was introduced in 1976 and strongly resembled the Tu-141, but was substantially scaled-down. It was a short-range tactical reconnaissance system and had a low-level flight capability. It was truck-launched with RATO booster, recovered by parachute, and powered by a TR3-117 turbojet ...
[Read More]

Tupolev Tu-143
R2K posted these photos of the Soviet Tupolev Tu-143 reconnaissance drone.  His post has some particulars plus the source link.
[Read More]

New photo galleries - RG-X and Saturn 1B
I see ROCKETS Magazine has a Saturn 1B launch day gallery and that MDRA's Red Glare-X photo album is being populated.
[Read More]

March sport launch
Really great launch. Weather was perfect, hardly any cloud coverage, low winds. We flew our Cosmodrome Nike smoke on a F52 Blue thunder. It was a great flight but the parachute didn't come out. The only damage was a fin that popped out of it's slot and a dent in the balsa nosecone. There was a lot ...
[Read More]

Propaganda posters of Soviet space program 1958-1963
USSR Space Propaganda I first saw these at The Rocketry Blog.
[Read More]

Red Glare X is coming to a TV near you
Bob Utley just announced that WBOC-16 will be featuring Red Glare X on the next episode of Outdoor Delmarva .  The show will air this coming Saturday at 7:30PM.  Those of us who don't reside on the Eastern Shore will be able to view it on-line at the link above..
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Scoolyard, April 20, 2011
It's a little before 8:00 a.m. and already HOT! No breeze at ground level yet. To test the system the MMX ZOOM BROOM was up first. Vertical boost and nose blow recovery. There was a little drift, it landed 50 feet from the launcher. My Quest POWERED FLIC flew next with an A10-3t engine. ...
[Read More]

DFR Tech. Delta II Build Part 8 SRM Supports and Nose Cones
Here's a SRM support before and after the gray primer sanding. I wanted to smooth, primer then sand the support pieces before assembly. It's be impossible to smooth and seal them after all is glued together. Enlarge the picture and you can see the rough edge on filled the nose cone shoulder. The ...
[Read More]

My first rocketry video - frame by frame analysis
No not the whole thing, which is mostly 5 minutes of a rocket sitting on the ground as I scramble to recover it... but here are a select few frames from my first attempt at onboard rocketry footage. As previously stated, this is a modest offering and much work is needed to ensure future videos ...
[Read More]

700th post - New template
Working on a new template, let me know if there are any problems including slow loading and poor performance, or anything that is broken or looks strange.
[Read More]

Saturn I Block II, Saturn IB, and Saturn V, in "EXCRUCIATING detail"
luke skywalker provides a summary of "Apollo Systems Description Vol. 2 Saturn Launch Vehicles" . To gauge what 'excruciating' means, check out the following diagram of the Saturn V S-IC.
[Read More]

April, 2011, Newsletter
  Don’t Forget the Reviews! With all the other features available at RocketReviews.com, reviews may not have been getting the attention they deserve. Rocketry reviews, after all, are, and always have been, the heart and soul of RocketReviews.com. So, I recently made a few minor ...
[Read More]

DFR Tech Delta II Build Part 9 SRM Nose Cones
I know, I should have rounded the SRM nose cones before filling and spraying the primer. I referred to a few Internet pictures of the Delta II to get the nose cone shape. See HERE I sanded off the tip from one nose cone to use as a master for the other eight cones. I wanted to be sure they were ...
[Read More]

DFR Tech. Delta II Build Part 10 Fin Marking Guides
The body tube was marked using a guide for 9 fins. TIP: To check the accuracy of any provided marking guide: Wrap and mark as usual. Picture 1: Notice the two "X"s on the wrap and body tube. This is a starting point reference. Picture 2: Now turn (spin around) the marking guide around the tube to ...
[Read More]

And, retiring the Shuttle was a good idea, because?
A few weeks ago, in the shadow of Discovery's final flight, we heard the cost of Soyuz seats was going up.  I don't think anyone was surprised.  But, I felt better when NASA noted that the increase was in line with inflation. [Please comment if my facts are off.]  Today, Keith ...
[Read More]

Rocketry is great

[Read More]

MIRV

[Read More]

DFR Tech. Delta II Build Part 11 Launch Lug Prep
The two 3/16" launch lugs were slid over a dowel for seam filling. Thinned Carpenter's Wood Filler was brushed on and sanded off. After sanding off the filler, the lugs were set back on the dowel and sprayed white. When the paint is dried, a gluing line will be sanded off for best adhesion.
[Read More]

DFR Tech Delta II Build Part 12 SRM Mount Gluing
The SRM attachment mounts were glued in place using an aluminum angle to insure they were straight TIP: If you don't have an aluminum angle, I'd recommend getting one for fin line marking and for applications like this. As you are gluing, you are covering up the lower end of the alignment line ...
[Read More]

An unknown rocket with a Dyna-Soar on the end
I attached the SRBs to my latest project (still un-named) and rigged up a harness to allow the top section to come down parallel to the ground.  As you'll see below, it is not perfectly parallel.  I decided just a skosh of up-angle would be good.  I still have to attach the shock ...
[Read More]

There Are Five Vehicles Competing To Succeed The Space Shuttle
By Frank Morring, Jr. Washington U.S. spacecraft engineers with federal funding will pursue at least five different ways to replace the space shuttle in the next few years, from capsules that harken back to the 1960s to a spaceplane and a vertical-takeoff-and-landing craft that flies to orbit ...
[Read More]

Daedalus static build
I haven't seen any sport rocketry activity from Steve Neill and Hostile Projectiles for some time (here are reviews of my HP builds: V-2 , Delta X-15 ).  Most of his recent blog activity has been dedicated to large, complex, sci-fi static models with no apparent sport rocketry applic ...
[Read More]

Days of Future Passed
OK, that's the new name for my Dyna-Soar based build.  I rejected all my ideas for names that that resembled real rockets (Titan and Saturn variants, etc.). My thanks to Justin, John and Graeme!
[Read More]

DFR Tech. Delta II Build Part 13 Pre-Paint Masking
I am building this model in sub-assemblies, painting before gluing it all together. It would be difficult to get good spray paint coverage between all the SRM tubes and nose cones. All the gluing surfaces should be masked off before painting. You can see the 3/32" wide masking tape strips down the ...
[Read More]

DFR Tech Delta II Build Part 14 Prepared Sub-Assemblies
Here's everything ready for the final assembly. Depending on the model, I'll build in sub-assemblies. When starting a build, look ahead to the finishing and decide if it's easier to pre-paint the components. On the Delta II, I wanted complete spray coverage on all the inside areas. All parts (SRMs) ...
[Read More]

Red Glare X on Outdoor Delmarva
I'm hiding the video below the jump break.  The embedded video loads slowly and seems to eat resources so I don't want it loading every time I go to my blog.  However, it is worth viewing so, if you're on my main page, click on through!
[Read More]

Milky way time lapse videos

[Read More]

Semroc SAM Club
I was never able to register for the Semroc SAM club benefits. I don't know if there was a snag in the website, or what. Recently I got an Email invitation to join. This time I got through and was registered as member #180 Here's what I received as a welcome gift in my most recent order to Semroc ...
[Read More]

DFR Tech. Delta II Build Part 15 Engine Mount Gluing
I used a wide tip permanent marker to darken the inside tube that'll be exposed once the engine mount is in place. I only had to blacken a little over 1/4" in. Keep the pen inside the tube and off the white outside, lower edge. I decided to line up the engine hook with one of the SRM supports. A ...
[Read More]

Rice U. built the detector that found antihelium-4
I had seen reports that scientists, using the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York, had discovered antihelium-4, the heaviest antimatter particle found to date. Now I read: Physicists at Rice University and their collaborators have detected the ...
[Read More]

Going to fly a Saturn V? Better read the manual!
The Saturn V Flight Manual SA-503 , that is. Not the actual manual, just another nice summary by luke skywalker.  The following provides a nice overview, including all the motors/engines.
[Read More]

UGC 9128
"Galaxies come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, with most being classed as either elliptical or spiral. However, some fall into the miscellaneous category known as irregulars, such as UGC 9128 shown here in this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image. UGC 9128 is a dwarf irregular galaxy, which ...
[Read More]

Pratt & Whitney J58 (A-12 and SR-71) with a tiger tail (shock diamonds)
Back, by popular demand, images of the Pratt & Whitney J58 - famous from use in the A-12 and SR-71. Check out the tiger tails! These are incandescent exhaust cones with shock diamonds within.
[Read More]

Full scale V-2 model
Rocketry Planet posted an article on a full scale V-2 model that was built for the Classic Fighters Airshow at Omaka Airfiel, New Zealand.  The article describes the V-2 'flight' in the future tense, but the slideshow shows the 'launch'.  One responder indicates that this probably wasn't ...
[Read More]

Art Applewhite intoduces the X-Fire (pronounced cross fire)
Kinda like a Double Helix with the wing(s) in the middle.  No separate balance beam required.  X-Fire!
[Read More]

FlightLogs Web Service
Note, this documention is provided for developers of software applications which interface with RocketReviews.com. It is not useful for most visitors to RocketReviews.com. The FlightLogs web service provides access to a user’s Rocket Gallery and Flight Logs. The Rocket Gallery is a list of ...
[Read More]

Accessing the FlightLogs Web Service
Note, this documention is provided for developers of software applications which interface with RocketReviews.com. It is not useful for most visitors to RocketReviews.com. Accessing the Web Service The FlightLogs web service is accessed using SOAP, the Simple Object Access Protocol. The address of ...
[Read More]

FlightLogs Web Service – RequestAccess Method
Note, this documention is provided for developers of software applications which interface with RocketReviews.com. It is not useful for most visitors to RocketReviews.com. Requesting Access Call the FlightLog service’s RequestAccess method to authenticate your application’s access to a ...
[Read More]

FlightLogs Web Service – GetRockets Method
Note, this documention is provided for developers of software applications which interface with RocketReviews.com. It is not useful for most visitors to RocketReviews.com. GetRockets Method GetRockets Input AppID (string) – Your Application’s ID Email (string) - The Email address of the ...
[Read More]

155mm howitzer gets some - M198?
The sound of rounds flying to target must be pretty terrifying if you are on the wrong end.
[Read More]

DFR Tech. Delta II Build Part 16 Fin Gluing
I figured it would be easier to glue the clear fins in place before the SRMs. Some 15 minute epoxy was mixed on a scrap piece of card stock. These clear fins are attached through the wall. The only real glue will be on the root edge and onto the engine mount tube. If you haven't used epoxy before, ...
[Read More]

Big Order and Next Build!
Estes has lowered the prices of it's Saturn V kit by 20%. On the Estes website, that puts the price down to $80.00 retail. I did some online searching and found the kit for under $50.00! I ordered two, along with some nose cones and engines. This brought the order total to just over $100.00 to ...
[Read More]

Before Endeavour Can Launch To The ISS on STS-134 A Russian Progress Craft Must Launch And Dock First
     A Soyuz-U rocket is rolled out today with the Progress M-10M supply ship loaded with supplies and experiments bound for the ISS. Much like the launch of Discovery on STS-133 depended on the successful launch and docking of the HTV cargo ship. The ...
[Read More]

Project Icarus - 10 articles from Discovery News
Here's the intro to the list of articles presented in Project Icarus: Reaching for Interstellar Space : Project Icarus is an ambitious five-year study into launching an unmanned spacecraft to an interstellar destination. Headed by the Tau Zero Foundation and the British Interplanetary Society , a ...
[Read More]

Full scale V-2: Built to burn?
One RP reader smells gasoline. Figuratively, of course, he wasn't there AFAIK. I just find it a shame that people would spend the effort to build such a cool prop and feel they had to burn it up. Not that I don't like fire and explosions. It seems some museum would have liked to keep it.
[Read More]

A cooler, albeit smaller, Big V-2 (flight 3)
_MG_0028.jpg , originally uploaded by Nick DeBrita . Built to fly! 480 lbs; Predicted alt: 9,000' Motor: 60,000Ns (mid-'P') PS - 'Smaller' in the title somewhat cryptically refers to my previous post .
[Read More]

I Just Stopped Grinning
... because it is the week before finals, a week appropriately termed "Dead Week." It is rainy and gloomy, and studies hang over students' heads like dark, ominous clouds. But with gritted teeth I forge onward, with the knowledge that the light at the end of the tunnel of my freshman year is just ...
[Read More]

V2 on P power
TORD
[Read More]

Drag separation on MARS
The Monroe Astronautical Rocket Society (NAR 136) has a nice tutorial on drag separation .  It even has an Excel spreadsheet/calculator.
[Read More]

FlightLogs Web Service – GetRocketAttributes Method
Note, this documention is provided for developers of software applications which interface with RocketReviews.com. It is not useful for most visitors to RocketReviews.com. Each rocket in a user’s Rocket Gallery has a list of attributes describing the rocket. To get a list of the attributes a ...
[Read More]

FlightLogs Web Services – GetRocketValues Method
Note, this documention is provided for developers of software applications which interface with RocketReviews.com. It is not useful for most visitors to RocketReviews.com. Call the GetRocketValues method to get the values of the attributes for the specified rocket. GetRocketValues Input AppID ...
[Read More]

FlightLogs Web Services – GetRocketRecommendedValues Method
Note, this documention is provided for developers of software applications which interface with RocketReviews.com. It is not useful for most visitors to RocketReviews.com. For attributes of type STRING and STRINGMULTIPLE, you can retrieve a list of “recommended values.” The recommended ...
[Read More]

FlightLogs Web Service – AddRocket Method
Note, this documention is provided for developers of software applications which interface with RocketReviews.com. It is not useful for most visitors to RocketReviews.com. If the user wishes to record the flight of a rocket not already in the user’s Rocket Gallery, call the AddRocket method ...
[Read More]

FlightLogs Web Service – GetRocket Method
Note, this documention is provided for developers of software applications which interface with RocketReviews.com. It is not useful for most visitors to RocketReviews.com. To retrieve the RocketID of an existing rocket, call the GetRocket method. GetRocket Input AppID (string) - Your Appl ...
[Read More]

FlightLogs Web Service – SetRocketValues Method
Note, this documention is provided for developers of software applications which interface with RocketReviews.com. It is not useful for most visitors to RocketReviews.com. Call the SetRocketValues method to set/update the values of the attributes for the specified rocket. SetRocketValues Input ...
[Read More]

FlightLogs WebService – DeleteRocket Method
Note, this documention is provided for developers of software applications which interface with RocketReviews.com. It is not useful for most visitors to RocketReviews.com. Call the DeleteRocket method to delete the specified rocket from the user’s Rocket Gallery. DeleteRocket Input AppID ...
[Read More]

FlightLogs Web Service – AddRocketFlight Method
Note, this documention is provided for developers of software applications which interface with RocketReviews.com. It is not useful for most visitors to RocketReviews.com. Call the AddRocketFlight method to add a flight to the user’s Flight Log. AddRocketFlight Input AppID (string) - Your ...
[Read More]

Gravel (button) Mines
"Gravel mines, also called Button mines were small U.S. made air-dropped anti-personnel mines. They were used extensively during the Vietnam War as part of the McNamara Line. They were also used as a rapid-deployment area denial expedient, to provide a barrier during combat search and rescue ...
[Read More]

FlightLogs Web Service – SetRocketFlightValues Method
Note, this documention is provided for developers of software applications which interface with RocketReviews.com. It is not useful for most visitors to RocketReviews.com. Call the SetRocketFlightValues method to update or add attribute values for a flight in the user’s Flight Log. ...
[Read More]

FlightLogs Web Service – GetRocketFlights Method
Note, this documention is provided for developers of software applications which interface with RocketReviews.com. It is not useful for most visitors to RocketReviews.com. Call the GetRocketFlights method returns flights of the specified rocket. GetRocketFlights Input AppID (string) - Your ...
[Read More]

FlightLogs Web Service – GetFlights Method
Note, this documention is provided for developers of software applications which interface with RocketReviews.com. It is not useful for most visitors to RocketReviews.com. Call the GetFlights method returns flights from the user’s Flight Log which where flown in the specified date range. ...
[Read More]

FlightLogs Web Service – GetManufacturers Method
Note, this documention is provided for developers of software applications which interface with RocketReviews.com. It is not useful for most visitors to RocketReviews.com. Call the GetManufactures method to get a list of the Manufacturers in the RocketReviews.com Product Index. GetManufacturers ...
[Read More]

FlightLogs Web Service – GetProducts Method
Note, this documention is provided for developers of software applications which interface with RocketReviews.com. It is not useful for most visitors to RocketReviews.com. Call the GetProdcuts method to get a list of the products produced by the specified Manufacturer. GetProducts Input AppID ...
[Read More]

FlightLogs Web Service – GetRocketFlightAttributes Method
Note, this documention is provided for developers of software applications which interface with RocketReviews.com. It is not useful for most visitors to RocketReviews.com. Each flight in a user’s Flight Log has a list of attributes describing the flight. To get a list of the attributes a flight ...
[Read More]

Saturn 1B's on TV - tonight!
Everyone,         Balitmore WJZ TV 13 will be running a story on the Saturn 1b's. I don't know why they waited till today before they did something. But we have been told it will be shown between 5:40 and 5:50 and then between 6:30 and 6:40......        ...
[Read More]

Submit Entries for the 2010 (now 2011) Design This Spaceship Contest
You can submit your entries for the 2010/2011 Design This Spaceship contest at: http://www.rocketreviews.com/20102011-spaceship-design-contest.html The above page shows a list of the current entries followed by a description of the contest and prizes.  Click on the “Click ...
[Read More]

Saturn 1B's on Baltimore TV
The video should appear below the jump break (in case it acts like the previous embedded video). The full CBS13 article can be found here .
[Read More]

NCR Archer at Great Meadow
Found with a few stray photos on my camera's internal memory.
[Read More]

Why people visited this page today
High power rocketry - 88 Milky way time lapse - 19 High power rocket - 13 Explosion - 12 Q motor - 11 Elektro-l - 10 Project 463 - 8 Vladimir petrovich demikhov - 8 Notsnik - 7 Sr-71 - 7 Right on readers! It is early in the morning, but already things are rolling with some great searches here. I ...
[Read More]

DFR Tech. Delta II Build Part 17 SRM Gluing
If you look closely at the back end of the SRM tube you can see a pencil tick mark over and around the back end of the tube. You'll be gluing this tube centered on the SRM supports strip. Because it completely covers the alignment line, this tick mark will give you a centering reference. I'd ...
[Read More]

Project Morpheus, morphed from Armadillo's Quad lander (?)
I heard of the Johnson Space Center's Project Morpheus . Here's an excerpt from their web site: Morpheus is a vertical test bed demonstrating new green propellant propulsion systems and autonomous landing and hazard detection technology. Designed, developed, manufactured and operated in-house by ...
[Read More]

Project Morpheus VTB Flight Complex
Click to see a bigger image. http://a.yfrog.com/img616/1255/af1gs.jpg
[Read More]

A nice 8" MLAS model
The Arizona Rocket Consortium is planning a huge 1/2 scale MLAS model.  They recently built and successfully flew an 8" model.  Unlike my Frankenstein MLAS (also 8" Sonotube-based), theirs featured 4 canted motors, a deparately deployed capsule, and...it actually worked!  Here is ...
[Read More]

Milky Way time-lapse compilation
With some kind of Enya music.
[Read More]

Sticking a square peg in a round hole (cool transition generation)
Rocketfreak outlines a cool method of making square to round transition sections.  Starts with a nifty online calculator , imports to Google Sketchup with a 3rd party add-on , filddle around a bit, print it, piece it together, and then fold paper.  Peter provides all the details.
[Read More]

Small orion spacecraft and project pluto
All this and more at http://damonmoran.blogspot.com/
[Read More]

A dozen 12-meter Orions (plus a lot more) update
R2K turns us on to the work of Damon Moran with 12 Mini-Orions and a detailed diagram of Project Pluto.  I borrowed the prior but direct you to the source for the Pluto, 'full-sized' Orions, a ramjet concept, and more.  Who's up for an Orion atop a Falcon Heavy? Update: Reader R2K point ...
[Read More]

DFR Tech Delta II Build Part 18 SRM Gluing
To keep the spacing consistent between the SRMs, I used a dowel and set it between two tubes. The dowel was first sharpened and then the tip sanded off until the tip rested between the tubes. It was slid from end to end insuring the space between each tube was the same. Here's all nine of the SRMs ...
[Read More]

Project Morpheus: "This is why we test."
Houston, we have a control problem.  Click through to YouTube for the full account.
[Read More]

The definitive Estes Saturn V build review
Chris Michielssen has started a series of posts on the Estes Saturn V.  Based on his prior review series', if you plan to build one, this will be a must-read.
[Read More]

HD Video Of The Roll Out Of Progress 42 Before It's Successful Launch To Orbit
The ISS Progress 42 resupply craft launched Wednesday morning to replenish the International Space Station. Launch was at 9:05 a.m. EDT (7:05 p.m. Kazakhstan time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The Russian cargo craft will dock to the Pirs docking compartment at 10:29 a.m. Friday. The new cargo ...
[Read More]

Boredom in Math Class Has Some *Interesting* Results
I got bored in Diffy Q's today, so I made up a new function. It is a sort of step function, but it increases so fast that it blows your mind. I had to make up some new notation for it. Here it is: f(x) = x! x What it does is it takes the number x and puts it through x number of factorials. Thus, ...
[Read More]

Fire in space
"When you mention burning hydrogen, many people think of the nearly invisible rocket exhaust from the Space Shuttle's three main engines. The last thing you would expect is that a burning droplet of alcohol would produce enough water to put itself out. Or that a fireball the size of a pinhead ...
[Read More]

Easy Star Multiple Rocket Launcher
This is an RC glider that was converted to rocket power with fireworks. Probably a violation of safety codes... but still very fun. "I got a few boxes of 25 shot Saturn Missile Battery fireworks on the way home. As you can see they unpack nicely. The fuse just runs right through the bottom and you ...
[Read More]

The Earth from Space
English Russia
[Read More]

TRMM 3-D View of Deadly Storms
(You better have fast internet to get this gif...) Credit: NASA/SSAI, Hal Pierce A simulated 3-D flyby of the TRMM satellite around severe storms on Aprill 28, 2011. The Universe Today
[Read More]

Seam Filling "How-To" from George Gassaway
George Gassaway is a master builder and competitive flyer. If you really want to see how it's done, check out his website at: http://homepage.mac.com/georgegassaway/GRP/GRP-home.htm On that website George also has contest tips and winning plans. Recently on the Rocketry Forum he explained a seam ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V Part 2 Prepping Parts
The BT-101 tube wasn't cut clean. It wasn't a big deal to clean it up, just a few passes with some fine sandpaper on a block. I'm not faulting Estes, cutting a tube this size is difficult. There could easily be some shifting of the tube and blade by the time you rotated it once in the cutter. ...
[Read More]

Project Morpheus: Live via UStream
Via Twitter: We are now ready to live stream the next test - most likely on Tuesday. http://morpheuslander.jsc.nasa.gov/live/ . Big thanks to PAO for their help.
[Read More]

New "X-rated" rockets in the fleet
The Art Applewhite Rockets X-Fire (pronounced cross-fire) is a  dual motor bi-copter (i.e. it has two wings).  The X-Fire line has  replaced the Double Helix.  It also uses a tube as the kit's 'backbone',  however, the wings are parallel to this tube instead of being ...
[Read More]

PIGLET-SUS PDF Now Available!
The MicroMaxx PIGLET-SUS PDF is available! Shoot me an email and I'll send it right out: oddlrockets@bellsouth.net Why not? It's free - (I'll blog the build someday)
[Read More]

The Hurt Locker
There are lots of bad war films, a bunch of so-so films, and a few good war films. This one was supposed be good, but having just watched it today, I can honestly report that if I saw it in the theater, I may have walked out. Not only is in the "meh" category of films (boring, simplistic, flat), ...
[Read More]

Pigs in space?!
Make
[Read More]

Nike Cajun Sounding Rocket
"The Nike Cajun, which first flew on July 6, 1956, used a surplus military Nike booster and a Thiokol Chemical Corporation Cajun rocket motor sustainer. It could lift a 34 kilogram (75 pounds) payload to an altitude of 160 kilometers (100 miles). Replaced by the Orion research rocket, the last ...
[Read More]

Saturn 1B Projects video in the works
A teaser for the ROCKETS Magazine's forthcoming video on Steve and Vern's 1/9th scale Saturn IB's is up on the launch day photo album .
[Read More]

SBIRS GEO 1 To Launch May 6, 2011 On An Atlas V Rocket From Canaveral Air Force Station
The first space-based infrared geosynchronous surveillance satellite SBIRS GEO-1, will launch atop an Atlas V rocket. It will provide the U.S. military with missile warning, military defense, and battlefield awareness capabilities. The first Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] - built Space Based ...
[Read More]

In Soviet Russia...
... Jet almost kills you ! "Tu-154-B2 first flight after being stored for 10 years. Shortly after takeoff control system went nuts, and plane almost lost control. Pilots managed to land the bird in one piece. Rumor is aileron feedback problem - system treated any aileron motion as external force, ...
[Read More]

Osama Bin Laden Killed - Buried at sea
As expected, he was alive and well in Pakistan this whole time (since he was allowed to leave Afghanistan by delayed military action.) It has been a long time coming, too long really, but it is done. Bin Laden was found in a compound, a "mansion" in Abbottabad. The fact that he was in a nuclear ...
[Read More]

"Make This Your Year To Ride The Rocket"!
"Make This Your Year To Ride The Rocket"! , originally uploaded by paul.malon . Timewarp! This Oldsmobile ad seems to have been inspired by my banner, which was inspired by my Big V-2 History post.
[Read More]

S19 Guidance system
"These systems use aerodynamic control surfaces (canards) as actuators in the forward end of the rocket. We have developed four generations of S19 type systems, beginning with an analog one and going digital around 1990. The latest generation is called S19L and uses ring laser gyros and a ...
[Read More]

More information about the HIBEX ABM Tests
"HIBEX (High Booster Experiment) was a 2-year research project to investigate the technology of a very high acceleration, short range anti-ballistic missile interceptor, for hard point: defense. The HIBEX missile achieved nearly 400 g peak axiai and over 60 g lateral acceleration, reaching a ...
[Read More]

Verna and Randy's Rockets reminds us that rocketry isn't the most important thing in life
Most of the time, I'd say that was blasphemy. However, in this month's Fire and Smoke , Verna and Randy pay tribute to the victims of the April 27th tornadoes, which devastated the south.  I am so happy my fellow bloggers/rocketeers escaped unscathed and my thoughts prayers go out to those ...
[Read More]

Featuring....Women in Aerospace
A reader (hat tip to Brian C.) pointed me to this web site, and rocketry sure fits. Women in Aerospace (WIA) is dedicated to expanding women's opportunities for leadership and increasing their visibility in the aerospace community. Our membership ­ women and men ­ shares an interest in ...
[Read More]

What rocketry people want to see?
According to Google, that is. Maybe they mean Esrange instead? Well that I can do:
[Read More]

Does anyone know this rocket engine?
Post in the comments if you do.
[Read More]

Project Morpheus loses some of its wiggle
While "not perfect" Test #3 was better than #2.
[Read More]

Jump Mike Jump!
Mad Mike Hughes reminds us of his coming jump: Hey guys! I'm still putting the pieces together for the rocket jump. When you have a moment, come check out my website at www.madmike.org or visit www.jumpmikejump.org for details.   I see that Mad Mike cross-posted my previous announcement ...
[Read More]

Homing Overlay Experiment
"Lockheed Martin Space Systems heritage in missile defense dates back to the first successful hit-to-kill intercept of a mock ballistic missile warhead outside the earth?s atmosphere on June 10, 1984, by the U.S. Army?s Homing Overlay Experiment (HOE). The Homing Overlay Experiment was a ...
[Read More]

The state of amateur rocket safety, circa 1934
There has never been any scientific problem so dangerous that no experimenters would tackle it. Modern Mechanix posted an article from the January, 1934 issue of Science and Mechanics (full text available in the linked post):
[Read More]

Project Morpheus, tethered test #4, LIVE
I caught yesterday's hover test of Project Morpheus via their UStream feed .  Lots of waiting for a short flight event.  They Tweet in real time so I'll probably check status there before bringing up the video feed.  The live video page also embeds the Twitter feed to provide status ...
[Read More]

The Russian ABM - Gazelle SH-08/ABM-3
"The Gazelle (SH-08/ABM-3), also known by its Russian designation, 53T6, is a short-range, high-acceleration interceptor missile designed and manufactured by the Soviet Union.(1) At present, 68 Gazelle interceptors are deployed around Moscow as part of System A-135. In 1978, the Soviet Union ...
[Read More]

04-01930 Ryan RPV Chart
04-01930 Ryan RPV Chart , originally uploaded by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives . UAV's circa the 1950's. Click through to find quite a few photos of the Firebee .
[Read More]

04-01959 Ryan Firebee c. 1950s
04-01959 Ryan Firebee c. 1950s , originally uploaded by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives .
[Read More]

Three new Art Applewhite rockets
To add to my already large collection of Applewhite rockets, including the free 13mm kits pictured below, I have purchased a 24mm long Hourglass and a 24mm Super Cinco, both in orange. The last Cinco was sadly lost when it fell into a ditch and melted (it was a 100% paper kit.) But before that ...
[Read More]

May 7th attempt
Well, the weather doesn’t look too good for a launch, but I’ll go up to see what the field looks like. My TAP members will be up there at a university launch event. Launch will be held at the Richard Bong state Recreational area just over the boarder in Wisconsin (http://dnr.w ...
[Read More]

Three new Art Applewhite rockets (pt. 2)
And here they are, ready to fly. Each kit takes about 30 minutes to finish. The hourglass will be reinforced further because it is to fly on E and F motors. That simply means an additional layer of glue in certain critical areas.
[Read More]

Discovery Canada coverage of the 1/9 scale Saturn 1B's
Discovery Canada has some really great footage of Steve and Vern's Saturn 1B's .   Make sure you go full screen!.
[Read More]

VS29 S3B Viking Hotel Del
This photo brought back many memories. As a kid, I would sit on the beach and watch the airplanes land at the North Island Naval Air Station. You'd see them off shore in the distance and they would eventually cross the beach (to the left of the posted image) as they landed. They were fairly low at ...
[Read More]

Armadillo Supermod testing has begun
While JSC is tweaking their methane-powered version of the Quad, Armadillo has begun testing their pointy, fin-legged Supermod.  It spat "A bit of fire ... but not as much as we wanted."  Looks cool.  Suitable for modeling.
[Read More]

45th Space Wing Successfully Launches First SBIRS GEO-1 Satellite
May 7, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. - The U.S. Air Force's 45th Space Wing successfully launched a United Launch Alliance-built Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle at 2:10 p.m. today from Space Complex 41. The Atlas V rocket carried into orbit the Space ...
[Read More]

Launch!
What a great time. Special thanks to everyone who came out, and Tripoli Wisconsin for letting me ‘cut in line’ at the university launch.  
[Read More]

Model Profile - Semroc THUNDERBEE
So, I bought a box of 1/2A3-4t engines in the recent Scout Stuff clearance sale. Here's the perfect rocket to burn through all those engines. From Semroc , it's the THUNDERBEE , the first release in their "Thunder" series. Check it out HERE . The original Thunder rockets were designed by Bill ...
[Read More]

VISTA fusion spacecraft - LLNL
This is one possible form of future space propulsion. VISTA ? A Vehicle for Interplanetary Space Transport Application Powered by Inertial Confinement Fusion This plan does not offer exceptional performance, but does offer good performance. (Nothing like the distant future fusion rockets such as ...
[Read More]

DFR Tech Delta II Build Part 19 Wraps
I got the new vinyl wraps for the Delta II. These are a good improvement over the self adhesive paper wraps. They are bright, clear and precut. I did the usual line down the body tube for lining up the edge of the wrap. The vinyl holds well, but you can peel it off and re-position if your ...
[Read More]

Sugar Shot to Space - Mini Shot 2 flight report
Richard Nakka distributed the flight report for last Saturday's MSS-2 flight.  The 2-phase motor appears to have worked nominally and the upper stage was recovered in decent shape.  They will have to analyze the on-board data to know exactly how it performed. I cross-posted the entire ...
[Read More]

The women of RC
Flickr
[Read More]

BrahMos cruise missile
"BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. It is a joint venture between Republic of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO-Bangalore) and Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroeyenia who have together formed BrahMos ...
[Read More]

Ryan : X-13 : Vertijet
Ryan : X-13 : Vertijet , originally uploaded by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives . Click through for tons of photos of this tail-sitter.
[Read More]

Ryan : X-13 : Vertijet
Ryan : X-13 : Vertijet , originally uploaded by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives . Couldn't resist a photo of an airshow in DC.
[Read More]

DFR Tech Delta II Build FINISHED!
DFR Technologies DELTA II Finished! The Delta two has a flat finish, except for the teal wrap which is gloss. I paint my models with clear and then hit it with a dull coat after the decals or wraps are applied. On the Delta II, I masked off the teal wrap and clear fins before spraying on the dull ...
[Read More]

Estes to begin offering composite mid-power motors!
There are two threads on YORF describing the new Estes products that were unveiled at the NRHSA hobby show in Las Vegas - NEW Estes Pro Series 2 kits !!!! and More new Estes stuff from the Las Vegas hobby show .  New kits (some with plywood rings and fins, and an ABS twist-on motor ...
[Read More]

Seminar announcement (MD/DC/NoVA area)
As spotted on MDRA's website: "Investments in our Future: Exploring Space through Innovation and Technology," an Evening with Dr. Bobby Braun, NASA Chief Technologist     Kossiakoff Center, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab Wednesday, May 25, 2011 6:30 ...
[Read More]

Convair : XFY-1 : Pogo
Convair : XFY-1 : Pogo , originally uploaded by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives . Click through for 285 photos. Mostly of the XFY-1 with a few of the Lockheed XFV-1(Pogo Stick)
[Read More]

School's Out for the Summer -- Time for Summer Goals!
Get certified for level 2 high-power rocketry! Create a video game (that's another post) Make a short film (we're thinking Steampunk :) Earn lots of money by getting a good job. Apply for lots of scholarships. The last two are the most boring but are also probably the most ...
[Read More]

Estes To Release New PRO SERIES II Rockets and Motors
At the NRHSA hobby show in Las Vegas. Estes showed off there repackaged Aerotech motors and a new line of PRO SERIES II rockets. Estes was the only rocketry company in attendance. Here are pics and info for their new PRO SERIES II rockets and accessories:
[Read More]

Estes "Pro Series II" - New rockets and motors
Estes is coming out with some composite motors that look quite a bit like motors from Road Runner Rocketry. But they are being made by Aerotech. Basically, Aerotech has a slightly modified line of motors that are being distributed by Estes. That can potentially be a huge deal for expanding the ...
[Read More]

30 min. or less

[Read More]

...and again. Plus Sport Rocketry Cover
Everyone brace yourselves... Plaster City was once again blown out!  I arrived at 9:30 on Saturday morning to find gusts at 20MPH.  Two brave flyers still flew L motors and it turned out that this was a surface wind topping out at about 500'.  I was still marginally disgusted with ...
[Read More]

Exploding transformers
"Several electrical transformers exploded and sparked east of downtown Fort Worth, TX Tuesday night, making the city look like it was under attack. Although electrical service provider Oncor has not provided an update on exactly what happened, it is presumed that lightning from one of the storms ...
[Read More]

Soyuz high over Ekaterinburg, central Russia
"Space launch Soyuz rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrom as seen from Ekaterinburg. Distance to launchpad is about 2000 km. I shot it with old Panasonic HDC-DX1 on tripod from my balcony." This video is not loading right now, so here is the direct link: Live Leak
[Read More]

Space Death 2 - Onboard
"Space Death 2 flies on an M1550, two K700s, tw0 K540s, and two J570s. Two side boosters drop off after burnout of the two K540 Metal Storms. Nibbles did a ride along and parachuted down as the main deployed"
[Read More]

Atlas Missile Launches
Is that an aerospike on the nose?
[Read More]

EBAY Auction Cox Starter Set
Here's another rare EBAY find. This is the complete shrink wrapped Cox Model Rocket starter set. It featured their RTF Honest John. The Cox rockets were made from the same tough plastic as their control line airplanes. The launcher looked a little "Apollo-ish". Much like the old Estes Ele ...
[Read More]

UMD builds a human-powered helicopter
Maryland Weather posted this video of a coed-powered helicopter built by students at the University of Maryland's Clark School of Engineering.  I find this pretty awesome.  The video is long, the action is stuck in the middle, and the 'flight' isn't that visually impressive.  Still ...
[Read More]

Big a$$ floating radar station
Check out the Missile Defense Agency's Sea-Based X-band Radar (SBX) vessel as it enters the Strait of Juan de Fuca near Seattle. (The know the tag doesn't really fit, but I'm using it for a catch-all for antennas.)
[Read More]

Atomic energy for the farmer

[Read More]

Landing on Titan
"This movie, built with data collected during the European Space Agency's Huygens probe on Jan. 14, 2005, shows the operation of the Descent Imager/Spectral Radiometer camera during its descent and after touchdown. The camera was funded by NASA. The almost four-hour-long operation of the camera is ...
[Read More]

A psychedelic Saturn
Dream Rocket Various Images , originally uploaded by The Dream Rocket Project .
[Read More]

CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope
CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope , originally uploaded by Sascha Grant . I like antennas. This one is especially cool because of the building that houses its drive. Click through to see other shots.
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry Magazine, May/June 2011
Now, THAT'S a Fat Boy! Love the AeroTech J500 Mojave Green. In this issue: Electronics:  MAWD Telemetry and the Garmin Astro GPS. A awesome build article on an ASP, complete with launcher! How to get 500 modrocs launched in one day. (Well at least 497.) A report on the Waimea Aeronautical ...
[Read More]

Giant Leap Rocketry - 38mm Mariah
Looks like a cute little kit at a good price (about $90.) Not sure if I need any new kits just yet, however... Contact us to see your products on HPR.
[Read More]

What does 2,800 lbs of thrust look like?

[Read More]

Proteus 6.5 onboard video footage
One can see stickers peeling away from the rocket as drag increases drastically. Also, the very end of the coast stage (probably mostly sub-sonic) lasts significantly longer than one would expect. There are two likely reasons for this. Firstly, the rocket is coasting in the rarefied gases of the ...
[Read More]

A tour of MARS
Life at the Frontier reports on an AIAA tour of the the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) , which is co-located with NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's eastern shore.  His post includes several nice photos and an overview of what's going on down there (no need to repeat myself, ...
[Read More]

ESA Assumes Control Of The New Soyuz launch complex at the French Guiana Space Center
A ceremony was held on Saturday, May 7 at the Soyuz launch complex (ELS) at the Guiana Space Center (CSG) in French Guiana, as Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, received the ?keys? to the launch complex from Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director-General of the European Space Agency ...
[Read More]

Another big antenna
A reader pointed me to this large 76m radio telescope at the Jodrell Bank Observatory . So why not post it? BTW, there are many photos accessible through web searches.
[Read More]

Endeavour - the end of an era
Launched April 16, 2011 - 8:56am EST
[Read More]

George Katz double-dog dares all you dihydrogen monoxide-powered rocketeers
  Ten challenges (even with their own individual mission patch).
[Read More]

STS-134 Shuttle Endeavour just before sunrise
STS-134 Shuttle Endeavour Just before sunrise , originally uploaded by Chris Hagood Photography .
[Read More]

Endeavour, busting through
These can now be found all over the Interwebs. Check out Stuck in Customs , the original source of the awesome photo on the left.  The photographer of the one on the right, Stefanie Gordon, now has a Flickr album , which even has a short video.
[Read More]

Space Shuttle Endeavour - Final Flight
I go to work and miss a great launch. This photo looks slightly 'shopped.
[Read More]

Burning natural gas sinkhole
"Darvaza, Turkmenistan - While drilling in 1971, geologists tapped into a cavern filled with natural gas. The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, leaving a large hole with a diameter of about 70 metres. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided to be burned off. Geologists had hoped ...
[Read More]

Micromeister has gone nuts
And bolts and washers too .  
[Read More]

A tribute to Major 'King' Kong...yeehaw
   
[Read More]

Project Ganymede - a P hybrid rocket
"This rocket will be a 6" diameter all aluminum rocket similar to the Defiance-H, only I'll use an all aluminum fin can as well as a more elaborate nose cone with telemetry and deployment from an electronics bay in the nose cone. I'll stick with the slip coupler N2O feed design plumbing through an ...
[Read More]

Giant meteorite creates a bolide fireball over Canada

[Read More]

I Found a Way to Post!
In case you hadn't heard, Blogger had a little "oopsidaisy" on the 11th, and I have not been able to log in to it ever since. I just found a way to get around this: Even though I still can't log-in to Blogger Dashboard, I can still go to my blog, click on the edit icon of one of my posts, and then ...
[Read More]

Big motors - static tests
I always wonder how someone can spend the time (and money) on a large P or Q motor, and then not fly it. Even putting it in a giant rocket and getting a few thousand feet isn't really my style, but at least it is going somewhere. A Q motor can hit 100,000 feet! It is also interesting that static ...
[Read More]

Carbon fiber rocket on an N2850
"My carbon fiber rocket with GPS transmission from the prototype G-wiz avionics bay screams to Mach 2.17 on a CTI N2850 motor, reaching about 33K ft. It was a perfect flight, with computer deployed airframe separation at apogee, and main parachute deployment at 800 ft. The GPS readings show us ...
[Read More]

All Fixed
My blog is better now. Thank you Blogger for your eventual fix. FVU9662RZK8S
[Read More]

Two nice onboard videos
RAC3 BRUJA 2 Onboard Video 13,000 feet RAC4 BRUJA 2 Onboard Video 18,000 feet Not much info on these rockets, and what is out there is in Spanish. AND they wont allow a blogger to embed the videos. All the same, they are two really nice flights to high altitude. Well worth the look. I get the ...
[Read More]

Timelapse of Tenerife in the Canary Islands
Including some of the Milky Way and stars. Must be a great place to hike!
[Read More]

Tim Covey's O Hybrid - Balls 16
"Not in bed with your wife, man..." "I'll take this over any woman!" In most situations, this would seem ridiculous. But an O hybrid, with a 30 second burn? I understand completely. Get some!
[Read More]

Robert DeHate 2 stage - P10,000 - N4,000
Robert has flown several very large two stage rockets. Here are two previous posts describing his projects in more detail: O to N Flight P to N Flight
[Read More]

The SpaceLoft XL-5 flight is on deck (or on the pad)...NOW
Via Clark Lindsey : Don't forget that the UP Aerospace launch of their SpaceLoft XL rocket at Spaceport America will be webcast on Friday morning . The launch is scheduled for 7:00 am MDT (9:00 EDT). The UP Aerospace home page says, The launch crew successfully conducted the mission dress ...
[Read More]

Arianespace - Ariane V Flight VA202 Live Web Cast
The 58th Ariane 5 to be launched from the Spaceport has rolled out for Arianespace?s dual-payload flight tomorrow from French Guiana, carrying satellites for Asia and India. For this third Arianespace mission of 2011, the heavy-lift Ariane 5 was transferred from its Final Assembly Building to ...
[Read More]

Best-Ever Snapshot of Black Hole Jets [HD Video]
Best-Ever Snapshot of Black Hole Jets [HD Video] , originally uploaded by NASA Goddard Photo and Video .  
[Read More]

SpaceLoft XL-5 flight video
Not more interesting than many high impulse high power flights, but worth a video even if only to spot a glimpse of the desert I love. The SL XL uses a CTI SU S50,000 C-Star motor. Webextra: Student Spaceport launch: krqe.com
[Read More]

SpaceLoft XL-5 flight video
The associated news story This is a CTI S50,000 motor, I wonder how much such a thing costs? Stage it to a Q for a mission to 200 miles perhaps? (Funny how my first instinct is, after a high performance amateur rocket flight, to think of ways to make it go higher.) You can read more at The Rocket ...
[Read More]

Military jet with large flame exhaust
Anyone have an ID on this one?
[Read More]

Space Junk
Orbital debris is a topic of much concern. At several thousand miles per hour, even a small object like a pebble could do serious damage to a spacecraft or a spacesuit. That's why NASA's Orbital Debris Program Office tries to catalog, predict and control the activity of space junk in LEO. There ...
[Read More]

Yes, rocket nozzles can be art
"Sometimes I get rather unusual requests. In this instance this is a rocket nozzle. My job was to make it appear as if it had been used & had the high heat pattern it would have after being burned. This nozzle was used in a display." http://www.shortysartandsign.com/Artwork.html
[Read More]

Lockheed Martin
"Lockheed Martin is currently developing its technology solution for Space Fence, a program that will revamp the way the U.S. Air Force identifies and tracks objects in space. Space Fence will use S-band ground-based radars to provide the Air Force with uncued detection, tracking and accurate ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! TTRA Tampa, May 21, 2011
To be honest - the low power pads at the TTRA launches could use some repair. While waiting for the only two available LPR pads, the line was cut into and crowded by a dozen enthusiastic boy scouts. I decided to come back later when two more LPR pads opened up. The Odd'l Rockets WEDGIE flew well ...
[Read More]

Creating and Managing a Photo Album
RocketReviews.com allows you to create and manage Photo Albums. As you might easily guess, a Photo Album is a collection of photos. You can share photos of your rockets, rocket launches, rocket projects – anything rocketry related. To create a Photo Album, you must first be a registered ...
[Read More]

Laser achieves 26 terabits per second data rate
(Not the actual laser, just a cool looking one.) "Researchers have set a new record for the rate of data transfer using a single laser: 26 terabits per second. At those speeds, the entire Library of Congress collections could be sent down an optical fibre in 10 seconds. The trick is to use what is ...
[Read More]

Archive of scientific illustrations
It has already been established that science owns your face and may have impregnated your cousin and not called back. And here is just one more reason why: http://scientificillustration.tumblr.com/
[Read More]

Photoblogs about science and space
Today, I was led to two cool photoblogs.  I like the way Tumblr handles its archives, so that's where I'll point you.  From there, you can get to any post.  To see the entire archive, you can either keep scrolling down, or select a month via the menu.. F' yeah, space ...
[Read More]

Soyuz Fly Around Will Happen Today
The long awaited fly around of a Soyuz capsule to photographically capture the completed ISS with a shuttle docked will happen today. With the undocking of the TMA-20 spacecraft. Returning the Expedition 27 crew to earth. The Soyuz spacecraft will undock and back away from the station. Then the ...
[Read More]

Space Balloon - HD Cam filming from the Stratosphere
"The balloon went to an altitude of more than 100,000 ft. (to compare: a big airliner has an flying altitude of 35,000 ft.) It traveled approximately 80 miles before the balloon burst and the payload fell to Earth by parachute. The GoPro HD survived ambient air pressures as low as 1/100th of an ...
[Read More]

New non-toxic monopropellant to be tested on ISS
Parabolic Arc reports on a new propellant being developed by Odyssey Space Research, known as NOFBX®.  This new monopropellant  is reportedly made from widely available, inexpensive chemicals; it is safe to handle and has a good Isp and safe byproducts.  More details are in the ...
[Read More]

New Launch Vehicle?
Tomorrow at 3:30 pm Eastern Time, NASA will have a press conference in which it will discuss a new decision that will affect the future of deep space manned exploration. THIS SHOULD BE GOOD NEWS. So you should watch it live tomorrow on NASA TV . EDIT: It won't be on NASA TV. It is a telec ...
[Read More]

Reg. US. Pat. Off.

[Read More]

SR-71 Afterburner Flame
Somehow this is my most popular post of the year. Where are all these readers coming from? Over 1000 views of this post alone since April.
[Read More]

3-D printed modroc (update)
Sascha Grant from I Build Rockets pointed me to this Thingaverse item - a 3-D printed 'D'-powered model rocket .  I want one! Or three. Update:   There's more info here .
[Read More]

Rocketry.

[Read More]

Toy robot in [near] space
"The robot and rig reached a height of 95,000 feet above earth to film the blackness of space and the curvature of the earth, before the pressure popped the weather balloon and it came back down to earth. We then found the robot and camera in a field 11 miles away using a mini GPS tracker." ...
[Read More]

Home-made rocket almost hits cameraman
I don't endorse anything about this video, but it is fun to watch.
[Read More]

Rocketeers Helping Others
On the home page of RocketReviews.com, you will now see a list of rocketry-related items up for auction on eBay.  The sellers of the items are donating a percentage of the sale to a charity through a program eBay runs called eBay Giving Works. The list will only be displayed when there ...
[Read More]

Virgin Galacitc's SpaceShipTwo First Flight Tests
SpaceShipTwo underwent a "drop-test" earlier this month from the White Knight aircraft. The goal of the test flights were to test the "feathering" reentry technique in which the ship effectively folds in half, providing vast amounts of drag while being dynamically stable.
[Read More]

Working on rockets...barely
Gave my X-Fire bi-copters a clear coat and finished up the shock system for the Days of Future Passed (my Dyna Soar equipped rocket - see tag).  I'm itching for the Sod Farm in June!
[Read More]

Slowcop speed reports
Boy this page is slow loading, and Slowcop can help tell why: HPR speed report
[Read More]

Make a rocket car
There are some potentially dangerous projects on this website, so be careful. Instructables.com
[Read More]

A gallery celebrating our failures
Via TRF: Well that didn't work... Failure Gallery
[Read More]

Endeavour - STS-134
"A camera mounted on each of space shuttle Endeavour's solid rocket boosters capture the launch of the orbiter on STS-134 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on May 16, and documents the SRBs' separation and subsequent landing in the Atlantic Ocean." Posting will likely stop until after the long ...
[Read More]

Convair Nexus
"LEO Payload: 450,000 kg (990,000 lb). Status: Design 1962. Gross mass: 21,820,000 kg (48,100,000 lb). Payload: 450,000 kg (990,000 lb). Height: 122.00 m (400.00 ft). Diameter: 45.70 m (149.90 ft). Span: 50.00 m (164.00 ft). " http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/nexus.htm
[Read More]

Nexus VTOL, circa 1962
R2K's High Power Rocketry features a bunch of images/diagrams of Convair's proposed Nexus.  I linked to one of them.  For me, this gave a better indication of its size than a list of specs. But, here they are anyway (via Astronautix ): Status: Design 1962. Gross mass: 21,820,000 kg ...
[Read More]

More minor rocketry in the Dungeon
I painted both of my X-Fires in a camo scheme.  On recovery, these sit low to the ground but luckily they don't stray far from the pad and should be easy to spot on mowed grass.  I also fondled my stash of motors, which made me all the more antsy to fly.  In the last 8 months I've ...
[Read More]

OSIRIS-REx

[Read More]

Epic Cluster Rocket Launch
Love the outboard motors! Epic Cluster Rocket Launch , originally uploaded by jurvetson .
[Read More]

New Goblin Kit From Semroc!
I always look forward to a new release from Semroc. This time it's my all time favorite - THE GOBLIN Check out the specs HERE I'll usually download the instructions and check their altitude predictions. The picture at the right is from the Semroc online catalog. I've got quite a history with this ...
[Read More]

Rocketguy Videos on YouTube
Did you ever wonder how to open up a kit bag? "Nose cones roll, be careful with that." Grab a beer, and check out the video HERE If rocketry ever needed a spokeperson, he's the man. He said "package" eleven times, I counted. But wait, there's more! This is only the first video in the series. ...
[Read More]

Relativistic Phase Displacement Space Drive
Here's a description of the embedded video. ( via ) It is a brief explanation about a relativistic space propulsion system which uses a lattice/matrix of Phase Displacement Space Drives, producing crisscrossing pattern of Phased Standing Waves, to generate a sequence of spinning waves for ...
[Read More]

Bono Mars Glider
"In 1960, Philip Bono, a Space Vehicle Design Specialist with the Boeing Airplane Company Aero-Space Division, envisioned a Mars spacecraft that outwardly resembled the U.S. Defense Department's X-20A DynaSoar single-seat orbital glider, which was under development at this time (image at top). ...
[Read More]

Shuttle at night
Noob: "Why are we spending so much money in space when we need it down here?" NASA: /pwned.
[Read More]

F-104 Starfighters to launch nanosats
Parabolic Arc reports on a NASA press relief about their plans to launch  nanosats from F-104 fighter jets based at KSC. The Starfighters (also the name of the company that owns and operates them ), would fly to Mach 2 at 60,000 feet and then launch a 19-foot, 900-pound rocket.  More ...
[Read More]

General Electric Moose: Manned Orbital Operations Safety Equipment
"MOOSE, was originally an acronym for Man Out Of Space Easiest, that was later changed to the more professional-sounding Manned Orbital Operations Safety Equipment, was a proposed emergency "bail-out" system capable of bringing a single astronaut safely down from Earth orbit to the planet's ...
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, April 2011
I'll start with what I think was the most significant news contained within the pages of this issue.  In a short but deep article, David Chance reflects on how "rocketry can teach you lessons about life."  Among the various stories, he relates that just a few days after Red Glare IX, ...
[Read More]

Archived Goodness (1) from Dark Roasted Blend
Dark Roasted Blend just posted what promises to be the first installment in a series of looks back into their extensive archives.  From hedgehogs to Ekranoplans and lot more, Archived Goodness 1 features 21 sets of archived awesomeness.
[Read More]

Vipers attack in the South!
This month, Verna and Randy are all about Vipers !   Lotsa Vipers!   (Someday, I'll build one.)
[Read More]

For you European rocketeers: the Festival of Rocketry 2011 is ON
The Festival of Rocketry 2011 , sponsored by the United Kingdom Rocketry Association , will be held Friday July 15th 2011 to Sunday July 17th 2011 at a site half way between Stratford and Banbury in the West Midlands ( map ). This event is billed as "Europe's biggest model and amateur rocketry ...
[Read More]

Part 2 of The Jarvis Illustrated Guide to Carbon Fiber
Pushing the limits of Carbon Fiber rocketry
[Read More]

Tribute to Endeavour and final landing videos

[Read More]

Helium-3 fusion fuel from gas giants
Harvesting fusion fuel from Uranus - by Adrian Mann Discussed further at Centauri Dreams.
[Read More]

Jupiter C (Juno 1) reentry test
I suspect this was either Jupiter C RS-34 or RS-40, each the launch of a scale-model reentry vehicle to test this rocket as a ballistic missile. If correct, the launch date would be sometime in mid 1957. At this time, the Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA) under Von Braun was openly offering to ...
[Read More]

Martin Jetpack test flight - 5,000 feet
"To demonstrate flight high above the ground and the concept of the ballistic parachute as an emergency safety system, the Martin Jetpack was flown to around 1500m (5000ft), brought down from this height and an off-the-shelf ballistic parachute was deployed.The aircraft was flown by James via ...
[Read More]

Endeavour STS-134 re-entry shot from Yucatan, Mexico
Brianc pointed me to this simple but moving video shot in Merida in Yucatan. As he said. "OMG Goosebumps." I can't believe the Shuttle era is waning.
[Read More]

Excellent STS-134 launch shot
Stolen from Facebook: Sent to me by my friend Bob Schaeffer: Last Shuttle "ENDEAVOR" flight from KSC - 5-16-2011. A photo of Monday's shuttle launch, from the best seat in the house, an F-15E Strike Eagle at 26 thousand feet over the east coast flying protective combat air patrol for the ...
[Read More]

Morpheus Lander, and you thought Skidmarks were bad (BG)
You can't really tell from the video, but the 5th hover test of the Morpheus Lander also started a big grass fire.  Via Facebook: Big thanks to the JSC Fire Protection Services, Houston Fire Department, Webster FD, Seabrook FD, and others who put out the grass fire today. The good news is that ...
[Read More]

Cassini at Saturn; images in video form
This Cassini image may be the greatest astronomical image ever created, and we all happen to be in the picture with Saturn (just look for the slightly off-blue dot.) (Click to zoom in. Do it now.)
[Read More]

New"STRONGER" Formula Elmer's Glue All
There was a pretty good exchange on TRF about the new "stronger" formula Elmer's Glue All. At left is the older formula bottle, #E372 In the middle, the new "Stronger Formula" #E1324 On the right, School Glue #E308 Here's what was posted on TRF : OLD DUDE: Everyone knows you should not use yellow ...
[Read More]

Copenhagen Suborbitals Heat X1 Tycho Brahe launch
Copenhagen Suborbitals apparently launched today.  There's a nice video here but I haven't translated the site yet.  Looks like the 'chute tangled a bit.  You gotta love a submarine launched rocket. Via Fox News: The rocket soared about 2 miles into the air -- somewhat more sideways ...
[Read More]

Urdmentia Arms depot explodes
"Fifty seven people have been injured, and two elderly citizens died of suspected heart attacks."
[Read More]

Finding Those Old Kit Instructions and Plans
Most all who build and clone model rockets know of these sites, There may be a few here you haven't seen: On The Rocketry Forum, Bradycros was looking for kit instructions on the Estes Website. Here's a short version of his post: ". . . I clicked on nearly every box on the home page and got; ...
[Read More]

Cooling of nosecone by boiling of metal or salt filler
"A nose cone that is cooled by having a metal, a salt, or other filler impnated in the pores of the material from which the nose cone proper is made and a chamber that is filled with a solid mass of the same metal or filler that is used for cooling the nose cone. The metal or filler filling the ...
[Read More]

Nazi Rockets - V1 and V2

[Read More]

Printed rocket: Fins - Top view
Fins - Top view , a photo by MakerGear on Flickr.
[Read More]

Links and nuttin' but links
In no particular order: Here's a Flickr album on the flight of the the Copenhagen Suborbitals' HEAT 1X-Tycho Brahe flight: - Mission 2011 . And more HEAT 1X-Tycho Brahe videos, via Clark Lindsey . A funky 3-D video of Armadillo's latest hover test of the Supermod (also found on Clark's ...
[Read More]

Finally... amazing Plaster City conditions!
I had 4/4 successful flights at Plaster today with excellent conditions. I gathered so many photos and so much video and data that I'll plan to post thorough updates for each likely as separate entries.  Oh and I finally used my Big Red Bee Beeline GPS unit, Frank!  I'm spent so it's a ...
[Read More]

HEAT-1X launch - Copenhagen Suborbitals
Very cool looking rocket, but the 'chute did not work as expected. They have a ways to go before putting a person in there, obviously, but this is a great leap forward. Recovery is always hard, but making large motors work reliably is the hardest part Here we also see the pulsing in the burn ...
[Read More]

Rainbow ants ready for circle of death
I don't know the science value of this, but here you have it... A bunch of multi-color ants drinking sugar water with dye in it. Then comes the inevitable circle (or is it spiral?) of death.
[Read More]

DIY Launch Controller
Did you ever want to build your own? After getting off the ground with my camera tripod launcher and Adeptor HERE I thought it'd be interesting to make my own (more professional look and feel) launch controller. From the simple (plastic housing) - http://home.earthlink.net/~rbogerjr/ To the ...
[Read More]

An Unreasonable status report, with videos
Paul Breed reports on his latest foray to the FAR site .  It sounds like he had a good motor test and took a bunch of videos.  Time and equipment haven't let him edit them but he posted one ground-based video and one from his R/C helicopter that is loaded with autopilot software developed ...
[Read More]

Now, with 50% fewer typos in post titles...
I just found how to make Firefox spell check all fields, not just the large ones.  Now, I should only have typos in my titles if I don't pay attention, the typo is also an actual word, or the typo is also in the dictionary. I estimate this will be about a 50% improvement.
[Read More]

Two stage rocket N4000 to M1350 - 50,000 feet
In the Jim Jarvis photostream.
[Read More]

Reminds me of an Iron Butterfly concert
Somersaulting CME [Video] a video by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr.
[Read More]

Rollout Of Soyuz TMA-02M
The Soyuz TMA-02M spacecraft is raised into vertical position at the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Sunday, June 5, 2011. The rocket is being prepared for launch June 8 to carry the crew of Expedition 28 to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi) ...
[Read More]

Air Strike in Benghazi, Libya by NATO Forces 3/05/2011
Ammunition Depot was the target, mostly secondary explosion. Looks like dozens or even hundreds of tons of HE were involved in the secondary. If only huge explosions could spread freedom, we would be in great shape!
[Read More]

Pratt & Whitney J58 (A-12 and SR-71) with a tiger tail
So here is the deal; the above post is daily getting more hits than all of my other posts combined. (It has more than 300 hits today, compared to 290 hits for the next top 4 posts.) Even other SR-71 posts! Some of those other SR-71 posts were longer, more detailed, and honestly better. I don't ...
[Read More]

HEAT1X-Tycho Brahe inaugural flight
Onboard footage. Boy what a ride! Chute came out but tangled up, next time use a Rocketman perhaps? (The lower video is slow motion.) I can clearly see the unstable combustion resulting in some kind of pogo in the rocket. This kind of flight would probably have knocked a person out, or at least ...
[Read More]

Alkali metals doing crazy things

[Read More]

Dr. Robert Goddard photo set
NASA GSFC just added additional photos to their Robert Goddard album . One sample is shown below. Dr. Robert Goddard , a photo by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center on Flickr.
[Read More]

Thierry rocks STS-134
Thierry Legault amazes us once again with spectacular ground images of STS-134/Endeavour and the ISS .  Follow the link for more images and animations.
[Read More]

Solar Dynamics Observatory footage of huge solar flare
"I woke up to this event, aptly described in an email from a colleague - "Never seen anything like this before - spectacular". It really is just amazing! Here are videos of a prominence eruption from 304, 171 and 211 Angstrom channel cameras on SDO. Also included is a video from the LASCO C2 ...
[Read More]

ISS and Shuttle images
Thierry Legault
[Read More]

Wireless launch controller plans on Gadget Freak
Gadget Freak Case #188: Rocket Controller Goes Wireless
[Read More]

Puyehue and Cordon Caulle erupt
Puyehue-Cordón Caulle Volcanoes
[Read More]

PROFAC - PRopulsive Fluid ACcumulator
"Profac, PRopulsive Fluid ACcumulator, was described by its inventor, Sterge Demetriades, in the pages of the British Interplanetary Society's Journal as long ago as 1959. In this concept, a nuclear electric vehicle would orbit in the Earth's atmosphere - only 75 miles (120km) up - scooping up the ...
[Read More]

Rocketry at Maker Faire NC
I see that the newly formed Triangle Amateur Rocketry Group will give rocketry some exposure at Maker Faire North Carolina . The Triangle Amateur Rocketry Group was created in April 2011 with the specific goal of educating youth in the Triangle area on the excitement of model rocketry. Our team ...
[Read More]

Light show courtesy of Chile's Puyehue volcano
I love lightning and volcanoes but have been slow in posting these. Better late than never. (not the original source, but I got them via R2K )  
[Read More]

Avro "X-Wing" VTOL Jet Fighter Proposal for USN (1956)
See the entire 73-page proposal on Retro Mechanix .
[Read More]

CH-64 Chow Hunda Missile
Another cool item from Retro Mechanix is the CH-64 Chow Hund Missile, a anti-arcraft missile designed after WWII by imported German engineers.  The 4 page article is well detailed and includes 8 scanned diagrams.
[Read More]

Schwerer Gustav and Dora - Railway siege guns
Specifications: Weight 1,350 tonnes Length 47.3 metres Barrel length 32.5 metres (106 ft 8 in) Width 7.1 metres (23 ft 4 in) Height 11.6 metres (38 ft 1 in) Crew: 250 to assemble the gun in 3 days (54 hours) 2,500 to lay track and dig embankments 2 Flak battalions to protect the gun from air ...
[Read More]

Odd hodgepodge of stuff
In X-Men: First Class , I found what might be the optimal range safety scenario: Make your rockets out of ferrous metals and hire Magneto as your RSO.  BTW, I really liked the movie. I couldn't ID the rocket that the girl is sitting on in my last rocket girls installment.  I knew ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH Magazine is back online
After being down for over a year, LAUNCH Magazine's website is back on-line.  The word is that the magazine will be reincarnated in an on-line format, with reprints of past articles and, more importantly, new content.  Rocketeer Mario Perdue is helping Mark and Deb Mayfield (the ...
[Read More]

TIP - Tying Untangled Shroud Lines Part 1
This is one of the 8 sided parachutes from the Saturn V build. Notice the shroud lines aren't tangled. Tying the lines without tangles is fairly easy, it just takes a few more minutes. The trick is to not tie all the lines through at one time. Take them one by one, watching for twists along the ...
[Read More]

Rocket Exhaust Plume Phenomenology
Rocket Exhaust Plume Phenomenology
[Read More]

NSL @ Lucerne 'blows'
When I arrived at 9:15AM yesterday it was already too windy for my tastes.  KO prepped her L3 flight and got it on the pad at 1PM only to have the range shut down at 1:30 due to excessive wind.  I'm hoping she stayed overnight and tried again this morning as only minimal setup time would ...
[Read More]

Great-grandmother dies, and a flower is born
These are from the same aquarium. The young guppies are not eating her body, but the snails are. This plant has been growing for about four years, but has not flowered before today. This is some kind of Spathiphyllum, which is hardly exotic. The plant started life as a tiny little thing that was ...
[Read More]

TIP Tying Untangled Shroud Lines Part 2
Without twists in the doubled line, feed it into the snap swivel eye. Take the loop over the top and pull tight, keeping the center mark in the middle. You might need tweezers to get the loop to the bottom of the swivel eye. Continue with the next doubled line being aware of how the line sits in ...
[Read More]

Chris completes his Saturn V
...and sets a record for the longest series of blog build posts... 71 .  Check out #71   for his lessons learned.  What I learned is that this is too complicated a build for my lack of patience. Good job Chris!
[Read More]

Cleaning time
Just a little wifey humor  
[Read More]

New 'boink' rocket planned
I bought this foam rocket at a local Target for 2 bucks.  The body is ~18" long and appears to be made from a pool noodle or at least is the same material.  The hole through the middle looks too big for a BT-50 and too small for a BT-60, but I just quickly eyeballed it.  It has 4 ...
[Read More]

29mm minimum dia. drag race (G motors)
"My all carbon fiber rocket (the left) going up against Jared's fiberglass rocket at the National Sport Launch on the Lucerne Dry lake bed. Simulator said 7500 feet @ Mach 1.28 I believe it was somewhere around there but i cant verify it because there was no electronics on board. I did end of ...
[Read More]

Squid FFU project recorded in space (HD onboard video)
"SQUID FFU ejection and start of deployment of wirebooms. The apogee is reached at 82 km above earth. During the first 60 seconds of the video the camera is covered by the FFU which then is ejected. The material was capture using a GoPro HD action camera with a custom made aluminum casing." ...
[Read More]

June Launch Report <-- Boring Title But VERY Interesting Article
No matter what safety precautions you take, at the end of the day getting beaned on the noggin with an Aerotech Sumo coming in ballistic at a couple hundred feet per second is bad for your health. Just saying. Despite that little incident (the victim is doing well now, but everyone was freaked out ...
[Read More]

'StratoShuttle' aims for 120,000 ft
The folks at Quest for Stars are at it again. To follow up on the Robonaut-1 and Senatobia-1 balloon flights, which successfully imaged the launches of STS-133 and -134, the team plans to launch a UAV to 120k ft.  The StratoShuttle is a balloon launched UAV with a 5-to-6-foot wingspan. ( via ...
[Read More]

EBAY Auction Cox Starter Set
Here's another rare EBAY find. This is the complete shrink wrapped Cox Model Rocket starter set. It featured their RTF Honest John.   The Cox rockets were made from the same tough plastic as their control line airplanes.   The launcher looked a little "Apollo-ish". Much ...
[Read More]

New Camera!!!
I bought a keychain camera from Ebay recently. It can be taped to the side of rockets for on board flights. It should be fun to play with. Im going to do some testing at the park with my Big Daddy rocket on a C11-3 just to see if the camera works. if it does then I will post a video on the blog. ...
[Read More]

J-2X Development Engine E10001 Makes The Trip To Test Stand A-2
Source: http://www.nasa.gov It wasn't too many years ago that there was this thing about asking sports heroes after winning the big game, "So, what's next?" They would always dutifully answer "I'm going to Disney World!" I guess that that whole thing is passé since I've not heard it in ...
[Read More]

New hardware!!!
We bought a new case recently (now we have 2) it is a Pro38 2g case made by Cesaroni. I bought it used for just $28 so it was a great deal. The case takes mid-size H motors and can be adapted to use some high G motors. The H reloads retail for around $30 so the flights are not cheap and would be a ...
[Read More]

155 mm Advanced Gun System (AGS)
AGS Wiki WWW.navweaps.com
[Read More]

Scientific American - 8 Wonders of the Solar System
SCI AM
[Read More]

New Youtube Channel!!!
So i was tires of mashing both our "movies" and our rocket videos on just one channel so I just made my AKS rocket's official Youtube channel. Check it out HERE . We plan to put up more videos, more often, especially since I just bought the camera for onboard flights. It does not have anything on ...
[Read More]

New Version of Open Rocket V 1.5.5
The newest version of Open Rocket is now available! You can find it here: http://openrocket.sourceforge.net/ This is version 1.5.5 and includes updates to the printing system for use on Windows. If you haven't downloaded this free simulator you are missing out! While it doesn't have all the ...
[Read More]

Not UFOs: Soyuz (?) Rocket Launch
Sojuz (?) Rocket Launch , a photo by Not-UFOs (??-???) on Flickr. Click through for Not UFO's gallery of things that are, well, not UFOs.
[Read More]

Another 3-D printed rocket
Available from Thingaverse . Dang, I want one so badly. But not badly enough to buy/assemble a 3-D printer. MakerBot Rocket Assembled , a photo by Tony Buser on Flickr.
[Read More]

Ullage motor
This is a Saturn V 3rd stage ullage rocket with a few thousand lbs of thrust. More from Ray Cunningham.
[Read More]

Pictures and Video!
It's amazing what you can find doing some patent searches. Here's one from March 6, 1973, that's the date the patent was approved. The application was submitted July 21, 1971. Enlarge the picture and you can see the inventor names as Lawrence Brown and Leroy Piester. Page two shows a generic Mark ...
[Read More]

Old Centuri Baffle Patent
It's amazing what you can find doing some patent searches. Here's one from March 6, 1973, that's the date the patent was approved. The application was submitted July 21, 1971. Enlarge the picture and you can see the inventor names as Lawrence Brown and Leroy Piester. Page two shows a generic Mark ...
[Read More]

Second X-51A hypersonic flight ends prematurely, As Scramjet Engine Fails To Ignite
by 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs 6/15/2011 - EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A second test of the X-51A Waverider flew Monday in the Point Mugu Naval Air Test Range over the Pacific Ocean, bringing significant hypersonic research data in a less than successful flight test. The hypersonic ...
[Read More]

Centaurus A
"Resembling looming rain clouds on a stormy day, dark lanes of dust crisscross the giant elliptical galaxy Centaurus A. Hubble's panchromatic vision, stretching from ultraviolet through near-infrared wavelengths, reveals the vibrant glow of young, blue star clusters and a glimpse into regions ...
[Read More]

Armadillo postmortems on the Stig and Dalek
Armadillo has posted very detailed flight reports on the 'tube rocket', Stig , and the finned SuperMod, Dalek . Both flights went up from Spaceport America and both failed. "Failed' may be a harsh term since I'm sure the lessons learned were important, and, that's why you test. The report is ...
[Read More]

Pool Noodle 'boink' rocket - status update
First off, I found that the name Ankyo, followed by a long series of numbers, is marked on a fin. Sounds like a rocket name to me.  So, the rocket is now named the Ankyo234 (using the first 3 numbers in the series). I entered the design in RockSim and fudged around with the materials ...
[Read More]

Drabocket V1
Drabocket V1 , a photo by Tony Buser on Flickr. 3-D printing will present unlimited options. [drooling]
[Read More]

Blast Off of the World's Largest Water Rocket
This rocket was built for the NPL's Water Rocket Challenge 2011 . The rocket was made from over 100 bottles and was over 11 feet long. Blast Off of the World's Largest Water Rocket , a photo by National Physical Laboratory on Flickr.
[Read More]

Team America Rocketry Challenge
Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) is an annual rocketry competition for students in grades 7 through 12. Sponsored primarily by the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) and the Aerospace Industries Association, TARC is designed to encourage students to study math and science and pursue ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Clubs? Who Needs ‘Em?
A recent discussion in an online rocketry forum turned into a debate on the merits of joining and participating in local rocket clubs. Surprisingly, most of the comments were in support of the tenuous contention that clubs are a good thing. How these posters came to the conclusion that ...
[Read More]

Sure Shot Igniter Patent
Irv Wait from Rocket Development Company developed this igniter that went on to become the Centuri Sure-Shot igniter. it was filed in 1965 and approved in 1969. The illustration at the top / middle looks like an Enerjet style where the pyrogen is coiled at the top of the propellant. I used many of ...
[Read More]

Rocket launch travel alert
Excerpt from baybridge.com: Due to the Anne Arundel County Burn Foundation's Benefit Motorcycle Ride, motorists should expect high traffic volumes on Saturday, June 18, at approximately 10 a.m. when the group is expected to reach the bridge.  The MDTA will direct the group to the far-right ...
[Read More]

Some sick nosecones from Wildman
More info at Rocketry Planet.
[Read More]

Harry Stine Shock Lock Patent
This is the approved patent for G. Harry Stine's Shock Lock or shock cord retainer. This one goes back to 1970 when he was with MPC. I remember seeing these first in the old Minijet kits. It's a simple and clean design. Page two is interesting. The drawn model is the old Dirty Bird design with a ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2011-2
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD ( MDRA ESL-157) Weather: partly cloudy, high 80s, wind 0-5 MPH Total flights: Today - 10; YTD - 21 Total motors: Today - 12; YTD - 33 The traffic through Annapolis and approaching the Bay Bridge was heavier than I've seen in 2 seasons, but it only cost me ...
[Read More]

Propulsion man
Sport rocketeer and Master's student David Reese is featured in Purdue University's engineering newsletter:  Rocket man: One man's passion for propulsion .  Check out his web site, TDK Propulsion .
[Read More]

You can do this, or you can do that (post-launch update)
As noted in my launch report, the Ankyo234 was, well, unstable.  Is my RockSim model was flawed? The fins too floppy? The nose weight shifted?  The model certainly may not reflect the odd shaped body with it's twisted channels.  The fins are very floppy and this could explain why ...
[Read More]

T-90 tank slow motion
"Slow Motion video of a Russian T-90 main battle tank fireing its 125mm 2A46 smoothbore tank gun."
[Read More]

What's left
This is what's left of my Big Brute: 29mm mount with Gorilla mount and shock cord. (I even removed the motor block, which I put in when I didn't know better.) One fin. Rail buttons. 'Chute, Nomex pad (removable anyway). It was a good run, old pal.  Your memory and parts ...
[Read More]

SuperMod rocket launch and crash
Ground footage. Onboard footage. "The first and only free flight of the Armadillo Aerospace SuperMod rocket, nicknamed "Dalek". It was exterminated. Instability caused by unexpected gas in the fuel inlet led to the engine shearing its supports and creating a significant yaw force on the rocket, ...
[Read More]

Schwerer Gustav and Dora - Railway siege guns - Videos

[Read More]

Michael's run leads to new rocket plans
I had an hour to kill while I was out, so I went to a Michael's.  I found this store did in fact have some Estes kits (mostly RTF and starters) and a selection of 13mm and 18mm motors, including the Blast-Off Flight Packs.  I guess I need to keep an eye out for those 50%-off coupons. I ...
[Read More]

June '11 @ Plaster City: Polecat Aerospace Super Raven x 2
For once I finished the video for these flights last week but have been remiss on my posting punctuality.  In any event I built the very pointy Super Raven kit from Jack Garibaldi at What's Up Hobby and it's a good time!  At this month's essentially wind-free Plaster  City launch I ...
[Read More]

DIY rocket powered UAVs...from 1930
Via Modern Mechanix - "How to Experiment with Rocket Ships", Modern Mechanics, February 1930. Home-made rockets can be easily prepared and attached to almost any model airplane for successful experiments in flying rocket ships.
[Read More]

L1 BUILD COMING SOON!!!
Im about to start work on my L1 certification rocket. all the parts get here safely and all I need is the Epoxy. I am using a combination of 30min epoxy, 5min epoxy, wood glue and fiberglass to build the rocket.
[Read More]

Saturn Towers
I've built a lot of towers over the years. For comparison, here's the Saturn towers from various kits. On the upper left is the BT-20 based Dr. Zooch Saturn V tower. It's really a silhouette tower, made of four sided card stock. Still, very strong and effective at this size. In the middle is ...
[Read More]

Could Kepler Detect Alien Artifacts?
Discovery.com
[Read More]

S.D. Xanadune Build Part 11 Trim Stripes
1/16" wide strips were cut from the Contact paper for trim. (I should mention the while the Contact paper is called a "paper" it's actually a thin vinyl. ) I wanted to have angled trim strips going around the nose cone and lower engine mount bodies. The only problem, the vinyl strips won't lay ...
[Read More]

Adding a Tip
One of the most popular features of the classic EMRR site was its list of rocketry tips. Most of the Featured Tips from the classic site have been imported into RocketReviews.com in the Rocketry Tips and Tricks section. In addition to browsing tips entered by others, you can post articles ...
[Read More]

MRBR-1 progress
 When I last reported, I mentioned that I needed parts to continue.  Well, I decided that I could make do with parts and scrap on hand.  I made a motor mount from a tube that covered a grain in an AT RMS load and a couple of rings that I scrounged from my junk box.  This fits ...
[Read More]

Great TAP success!!
Debra Koloms just informed me that I was promoted to Tripoli's L3 Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) and I'm elated!  I could not have attained this honor without Debra and the board's advocacy, the sponsorship of Jack Garibaldi, the support of Paul Snow and Kurt Gugisberg, and letters of ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V Specs and Pics
Andrew B. emailed me about my build and asked for some Saturn V finished specs. Here's my stock build measures up next to the Estes numbers from the box spec card: Estes finished weight: 11.0 oz. (empty, no engine or wadding) My build finish weight: 11.53 oz. (empty, no engine or wadding) My build ...
[Read More]

Shoot now, focus later
I found out about a revolutionary new type of camera, the Lytro .  This camera, due to be released later this year, differs from typical cameras by capturing the entire light field of a scene. The light field is defined by color, intensity and, most importantly, the vector direction of the ...
[Read More]

MRBR-1, completed
I was torn between painting it like the image on the tag or some more real-rocket-like scheme.  I didn't do either, but somewhat blended these options.  I didn't really fill anything except the hole where the tag was stapled to the body.  I shot one coat of white primer and sanded ...
[Read More]

Gustave Eiffel probably would shudder
I completed Phase 1 of the Eiffel Tower, er, build.  I didn't figure a way to implement a recovery system, so there isn't one.  One good thing about MDRA is they are amenable to trying things like this.  Especially in low power.  The pads are far away from the LCO and further ...
[Read More]

Rocket finished!!!
My L1 certification rocket was just finished today. The build went smoothly with no problems. I am expecting to fly it on a Cti H163-7WT at Hellfire 16. It should get about 1600 feet. The only thing Im worried about is the parachute not opening or the parachute getting tangled. Here is the stats ...
[Read More]

Nose Weight Comparison
Two years back I entered the EMRR Box O' Parts Contest. I received a box full of spare parts and a few rocketry memories - a few things I hadn't seen for years. One find was an old Estes lead nose cone weight, seen on the left. This was the same style of weight I first saw in a Estes Wac Corporal ...
[Read More]

V-2 on the USS Midway
USS Midway , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr. Click thru for a few more shots.
[Read More]

V-2 on the USS Midway
USS Midway , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr. Liked this shot more...
[Read More]

Giant Leap Rocketry Releases the MARIAH-54
The Mariah-54 is a minimum diameter 54mm kit from Giant Leap Rocketry. Like its smaller cousin (the Mariah-38)  the Mariah-54 features Giant Leap’s new Shotgun Recovery System. This means that the Mariah-54 is dual-deployment but has only one separation point to reduce drag and increase ...
[Read More]

Kitinger balloon jump from over 100,000 ft.
Repost?
[Read More]

Gale crater is target for curiosity rover (MSL)
Learn more about this crater here: Martian Chronicles
[Read More]

Patriot rocket launch
Launched my Patriot a couple of weekends ago on my first Gorilla Rocket Motor. This is Jim’s version of an AMW skidmark – I think he may have actually created a better version! Certainly better then the CTI skidmark, or Aerotech metalstorm.
[Read More]

U.S. Air Force Minotaur 1 Rocket (updated with launch window)
U.S. Air Force Minotaur 1 Rocket , a photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr. "An U.S. Air Force Minotaur 1 rocket carrying the Department of Defense’s Operationally Responsive Space office’s ORS-1 satellite is scheduled for launch June 28, 2011 from NASA’s Launch Range at the ...
[Read More]

Arduino
Got an Arduino for my birthday, and I'm sooooo excited! Okay, so you're probably thinking "What the heck is an... arr.. arr... thing?" Well, I'll tell you: It's an open source electronics prototyping platform, so I can make my own rocket payloads and robots and whatever else strikes my fancy. We ...
[Read More]

Chat With Deputy Administrator Lori Garver About NASA's Future
Want to learn more about NASA's future? Ask NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver on Tuesday, June 28 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. EDT during a live video chat broadcast on NASA's UStream TV. Astronaut Mike Massimino will pose questions from the public, submitted on Twitter using the hashtag ...
[Read More]

Vern Estes Motor Patent
Here's a patent illustration for the Estes model rocket motor. There has been an argument regarding whether it should be called a engine or a motor. On this patent it is called a "Toy Rocket Motor". This patent was filed July 24, 1959 and approved March 24, 1964. I don't quite understand the ...
[Read More]

Stuff that's on my mind - satellites, the asteroid, yada, yada, yada
Spying on the spies - Astro photographer Thierry Legault has images of the X-37B space plane and the Keyhole and Lacrosse satellites .  Includes background info on each. Space.com reports on photos of  asteroid 2011 MD .  I found the photos were underwhelming.  Trying ...
[Read More]

Planetary Penetrator
"Kinetic micro-penetrators are very light self-contrained spacecraft that impact the surface of other worlds at high speed and bury themselves into the surface a few metres. The advantage is that because of the low mass, they are potentially a low cost way of exploring other worlds. The UK ...
[Read More]

Never Say Never
That's the probable name for my new project, the concept of which was hatched since my early morning post.  In that post, I poo-poo'ed the idea of using coffee bins for a rocket.  Or, it might be called the Recipe for Disaster . Take the leftover guts from my destroyed Grand Whazoo ...
[Read More]

Wildfires near Los Alamos
Credit: AP/SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN This eerie scene of desolation was taken near the Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM, where the first atomic bomb was developed.  Although the wildfires are threatening the facility, officials claim that the buildings that hold ...
[Read More]

Turkey's First Near Space Balloon Flight
"StratosphereFairEnogh is about launching a weather balloon project.On 3rd of June 2011, i wanted to be the first in Turkey to send a weather balloon with a payload with 2 video cameras to record the whole flight to the stratosphere layer of the atmosphere.The hardest part was to find the payload ...
[Read More]

TRF Forum Bully?
Before I go on, I should clarify something about the building techniques I use. Here's a condensed version of what I wrote in the first blog post, almost one year ago: "Everyone has their own "proven" ways to build rockets. This blog is not to say I know all the right techniques. It's what works ...
[Read More]

Atmospheric flare from a Minuteman III test launch
Taken from the Subaru telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii: Atmospheric flare from a minuteman III ICBM missile from Kanoa on Vimeo .
[Read More]

Minotaur 1 ORS-1 launch is ON
Posted by RCC on 2011-06-29 at 13:54:35 EDT The countdown has started for the launch today of the Air Force Minotaur 1 rocket carrying the ORS-1 satellite. The launch window is 8:28 to 11:28 p.m. The wether is not expected to be an issue for today's launch as it was last night with the huge ...
[Read More]

Coin-sized spacecraft at MDRA?
Via the club prez.  If you're a member, you can attend.  If not, you can join.  If you join, you can fly rockets.         On the July 21 club meeting, we will have a guest speaker, Dr. Mason Peck. He will give a presentation on:  The ...
[Read More]

Unexpected free Estes motors
A coworker is moving on to a new job, and left behind some stuff. I quickly pushed past the cameras, computers, cellphones, gift cards, and other crap... and went directly to these two gems:
[Read More]

Minotaur 1/ORS 1 launch seen in suburban Maryland
The launch was clearly visible from my driveway although it may not have been noticeable to the casual skywatcher. It was still pretty cool. Unfortunately, my photographs didn't do it justice.
[Read More]

Light to zero blogging alert IS CANCELLED
Starting last night, the laptop I use doesn't let me publish.  I tried all the normal stuff but nada.  I, of course, cursed Blogger.  When the problem persisted this morning, I tried another computer...and you can see the results.  I haven't seen any issues with any other ...
[Read More]

George Gassaway's Seam Filling Technique Applied
Oh boy - another Saturn V! Actually, I'm building two Apogee Saturn Vs for a customer. In quality and size, this Saturn is a big step up from the Estes kit. Recently, I've been using the seam filling technique suggested by George Gassaway where you direct the primer/filler into a narrow strip ...
[Read More]

Before Wadding There Was . . .
I'm not a big fan of Estes Wadding. When packed correctly, it does work well. I just don't like paying $4.99 retail for treated toilet paper. So, I make my own from cheap crepe paper. See HERE In 1954, Orville Carlisle devised a Parachute Wrapper. Note the paper cap on the bottom. This is from the ...
[Read More]

Have you seen Badd Azz Rocketry's rockets?
Badd Azz Rocketry is a new vendor out of Spartanburg, S.C.  I don't feature many of the new vendors that have been popping up, but Eric1's offering are worth a look.  I'd seen them pop up on TRF but until now hadn't read the threads. He says that his kits include "everything you need ...
[Read More]

Never Say Never update
Amazing.  The guts of the Grand Whazoo was a perfect fit.  The top bin is a ~6" tall version (the typical grocery store size). This is what the business end looks like.  The Grand Whazoo's fins extended far below the body so having the retaining hardware hang out made no di ...
[Read More]

Never Say Never fin ideas
In no particular order: Clear - Probably the most expensive because I'd have to but some Lexan. 'Manta Bomber' style (pods on two wings, each of which has a ring fin at its base) - Most likely to break on landing. Framed foam board - Light, cheap.  Some damage possible on landing. A long piece ...
[Read More]

Have A Safe And Happy Fourth Of July!!
Here are some fireworks to celebrate with! Let the BBQ begin!
[Read More]

Oops!
I fixed the oops here but, if you follow my blog on a feed reader or Twitter, you'll see it anyway.  I'll explain.  I plan my flights on draft posts that later become my launch reports.  This evening I hit 'publish' instead of 'save draft'.  I hate it when I do that.
[Read More]

Making Nose Cones from a Body Tube
Here's a link from a rocketry forum, one of the better D.I.Y. YouTube rocketry videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-rfazz1Z3c This is a interesting technique on how to make a nose cone from the end of a body tube. It's very well explained by RocketmanBKK from Thailand. I tried to make a body ...
[Read More]

How to make a nosecone from a body tube
Chris Michielssen found this nice how-to video (from RocketmanBKK) .  Like Chris, I have also done something similar.  Mine didn't turn out as nice either. 
[Read More]

More info on the Brown Mfg. Rotary Space Ship (monocopter)

[Read More]

X-15 Space Record Plane Flown To 59-mile Mark 1962 Universal Newsreel
Also information about Echo-1.
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Orlando R.O.C.K Monthly, July 2, 2011
It was great to fly with the Orlando group again. Brian and Tom always run a well organized launch. All nine pads work flawlessly. We had 23 flyers today. Lots of families, lots of flights. Flying with us today was Brent York. Brent started Rouge Aerospace. When you have the chance, check out his ...
[Read More]

Working
This summer is much less "fun" than other summers, because I have a more-than-full-time job working on a sod farm. I worked almost 60 hours last week! In the HEAT! I have survived so far, but unfortunately my rocketry work hasn't. I have just one week before the next HPR launch to prepare my ...
[Read More]

One Year of Model Rocket Blogging!
Today marks the 1 Year Anniversary of this blog! 850 posts and 50,000 hits! On average, the blog is now getting 275 hits per day, 8,250 hits per month. Blog hits increase by 500 each month. From last week, here's the hits from around the world: United States 1,170 Canada 117 Germany 66 United ...
[Read More]

Are you flying your flag?
  Eat grilled meat, drink beer, watch fireworks, give thanks.
[Read More]

Ejection seat tests
25% chance of career ending injury? 5% chance of death? These are very violent events.
[Read More]

Rotary Space Ship
This photo was uploaded by a reader. I mostly wanted to try embedding from Picassa.
[Read More]

30 years of Space Shuttle missions
Sources: NASA, RSC Energia, White House Office of Management and Budget, SpaceX. By Alberto Cuadra - The Washington Post .
[Read More]

The Texas Gulf may yet see its spaceport
Parabolic Arc reports on a new (?) player in the saga of the South Texas Spaceport: Mystery Company Could Build New Spaceport on Texas Gulf Coast .  The last time the possibility of a South Texas Spaceport came up was back in 2008 (see tag, below).  Back then, there were funding and ...
[Read More]

Post Flight Data Analysis From The X-104 Morganza Project.
Upon my return from the Southern Thunder Rocket Launch and the successful flight of my X-104 Morganza project. I have been pouring over the data returned from the Raven flight computer. The Raven has a dual axis accelerometer, barometric altimeter, and temperature sensor all in a small circuit ...
[Read More]

How not to launch a water rocket

[Read More]

A Tale of Two Saturns Part 1
On a recent trip back home to California I found my old Estes Saturn V. The pictures of the unfinished Estes Saturn were taken in the attic of my Grandparents ranch house in Moss Landing, California. On the forums, there were questions about the differences between the two versions of the Saturn V ...
[Read More]

Twilight of the Shuttle reference posts (updated with part 3)
Wayne Hill has started a nice series of posts on the Space Shuttle: Twilight of the Shuttle, Part 1 - The Beginning and Stats; Notes on early Shuttle concepts and statistics about the one that was built.. Twilight of the Shuttle, Part 2 - A Shuttle Modelers Reference; This is really ...
[Read More]

EMRR's 2010/2011 Design the Spaceship Contest
The 2010 Design this Spaceship contest was delayed by the sale of EMRR but has been resurrected as the 2010/2011 Design the Spaceship Contest . Most entries are up and voting should commence later in the month. Two teasers: Peter Stanley's Velvet Ant and Jim Bassham's The Blue Fighter .
[Read More]

Nose cone-from-tube experiment
I didn't completely follow the method outlined in the video attached to this post .  Here's what I tried, what worked, and what didn't.  The attached photo is as of the last step. Start with a free  2.1875" dia. tube (thanks Stephen!) Mark 6 equally spaced spots around the tube near ...
[Read More]

Real-time design
In a prior incarnation, that title would invoke thoughts of hardware, embedded software, interrupts, etc.  Now it just implies that I have a general thought of what I want to build and start cutting stuff up and piecing it together until I'm satisfied.  ('Satisfied' is sometimes too ...
[Read More]

Stuff we won't be able to do after the Shuttle is retired
Besides the obvious, i.e. the basic ability to fly human spaceflight mission totally on our own, James Oberg discusses the capabilities that we're losing: Six Things We Lose With the End of the Shuttle Program, IEEE Spectrum .
[Read More]

Semroc IRIS Build Part 3 Fin Taper
The Semroc instructions tell you to sand a taper to the leading edge. That's a little vague, I wanted this rocket to at least "look" scale. I found some instructions on JimZ's site for the Estes IRIS kit. You can see it HERE . A small portion of the instructions are to the right. It shows a ...
[Read More]

Giant storm on Saturn

[Read More]

STS-135 Atlantis Prelaunch (201107070022HQ)
STS-135 Atlantis Prelaunch (201107070022HQ) , a photo by nasa hq photo on Flickr.
[Read More]

Strange advertisement
What do the planet images mean?
[Read More]

STS-135 launch coverage
As luck would have it, if Atlantis launches on schedule I won't even be able to watch it live.  Watch on NASA TV or get the latest status (and video) from Spaceflight Now .
[Read More]

Ellis Kansas Declared ‘Rocket Town’
The city council of Ellis, Kansas, passed a declaration to call the city “Rocket Town” on July 28, 2011. The declaration is in honor of the fourth anniversary of Big Creek Rocketry, a rocketry education program offered through the Ellis Public Library. At the city ...
[Read More]

The last launch
 
[Read More]

Starship Epsilon at Centuri
I was reading through TRF archive and came across a thread by Bob Sanford. Bob worked for and developed the Initiator design for Enertek and later Aerotech. He took a trip to Phoenix and Centuri in 1974. He took pictures of the Centuri store, it was located in the front of the Centuri facility. ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry July/August 2011
The issue starts with an series of articles on NARCON 2011, which was held in Seattle.  As usual, there were a number of sessions I'd have liked to have attended:  the 'Early Composite Motor Forum' with Mark Mayhle (?), Gary Rosenfield, Randy Sobczak (?), and Matt Steele; Matt's talk on ...
[Read More]

The first launch (STS-1)
I was rearranging some files and ran across the packet I received from Ford Aerospace prior STS-1/Columbia.  Most of the material appears to be a part of the press kit.  One day, I'll scan the whole thing.  
[Read More]

It's space month at Thingaverse
It's space month at Thingaverse .  To see all the 'things' in that category, just click on the image in the linked post.  I, of course, am most interested in things that you can stick a modroc engine in, several of which I've already posted about (see the post tag).  There are ...
[Read More]

Turn out the lights, The party's over...
STS-135 launch from NASA KSC (embedding disabled)
[Read More]

Atlantis punching through the cloud deck
Another phenomenal shot from Quest for Stars' StratoShuttle ( photo source ).  Hope they have a video(s) soon.
[Read More]

Need to Help Save the James Webb Space Telescope
"JWST was supposed to be finished by June 2014 and to cost about $5.1 billion. An independent review panel, however, last fall determined it would likely cost $6.5 billion and not be finished until September 2015. This is of course not a good thing, but it?s nothing new. In fact, there was a NASA ...
[Read More]

Fail. Again.
I was able to get off work for this Saturday for this month's Tripoli MN high-power rocket launch. The plan was to try and certify level 2 again, since I failed my first attempt last month. I'll cut right to the chase and tell you I failed once again. I swore that my system was fool-proof. It was ...
[Read More]

Radiation exposure spectrum chart

[Read More]

Air Command's Servo Timer II, it's not just for parachute deployment anymore
Enter the Pan Cam .  They installed a servo, a battery, and a Servo Timer II in a box with a tripod and camera mounts.  Add a remote reed switch and you've got an inexpensive tracking camera. (Existence of a camera and tripod is assumed.)
[Read More]

Never Say Never complete and ready to fly
To recap, the Never Say Never came to be when I found out that the guts of my crashed Grand Whazoo fit nicely in the big plastic Folger's coffee bins that my son scavenged for me.  Then, I found that the nose from the also defunct Birdhouse, Ver. 2 was the right diameter (overall and shoulder ...
[Read More]

Superb Space Shuttle HDR shots
Trey Ratcliff commemorates the Shuttle program with some of his favorite HDR (high dynamic range) shots - Best of NASA .  I repeated three of them below. Check out his blog for even more and for a description of how he works his magic.      
[Read More]

Space t-shirt of the day
Who ya' callin' a rocket knurd?  
[Read More]

University of Brasilia's team is now in the N-prize
http://hybridteam.wordpress.com/ Here are some of the projects from this "hybrid team." ____________________ "The LILE Program is the first project of Hybid Team and the aim was the launch of two small sounding rockets ,began in 2005 , LILE 1 and LILE 2 the first hybrid rockets ever launched in ...
[Read More]

Centuri Letra-Line 2 Controller
This is my Centuri Letra-Line 2 Launch Controller from the early 1970s. This had the same plastic handheld housing as the Centuri Letra-Line 1 but the "2" version connected to a car battery for those rare cluster launches. The Letra Line 1 was an orange plastic, the Letra Line 2 was black. You can ...
[Read More]

In praise of motor blocks
I started with Estes rockets and, of course, they all had motor blocks and hooks.  This was good because there was only one length motor in each motor class and they made life easy.  When I moved up to mid-power, my mind set was that motor blocks were a standard component so I put one in ...
[Read More]

Got them old blog layout blues
Changes 'under the hood' in Blogger have made it difficult for me to find the full list of my blog labels, which I reference occasionally during my posting efforts.  So, I added the full, painfully long list back to the sidebar.  I also ditched the recent posts and recent comment ...
[Read More]

Old Centuri Launcher LIA-77
Oh boy! More old crap! Here's my favorite launcher from my teen years - The Centuri LIA-77 You can't tell by the picture, but I sanded the band saw cut legs smooth and hit them with brush coats of Deft. On one of the legs is a Centuri decal. This one is missing the bent metal Centuri blast ...
[Read More]

"L3 First Try!"
I've wanted to author a primer to help those aspiring to their Tripoli level 3 certification.  After sharing the initial draft I incorporated feedback from KO and Frank and here's the result: L3 First Try! v1.0d.pdf Enjoy and let me know if you have any additional feedback or questions.
[Read More]

Hubble is an incredible telescope
Four images of Neptune taken a few hours apart by the Hubble Space Telescope on June 25-26, 2011. Credit: NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
[Read More]

Death by Sun
The Solar Dynamics Observatory AIA imager (observing in extreme ultraviolet light) actually spotted a sun-grazing comet as it disintegrated over about a 15 minute period (July 6, 2011), something never observed before. The angle of the comet's orbit brought it across the front ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Golf!
I received an Email from Doug Frost - a.k.a. Frog Dust. I knew Doug in the late 1970s when I flew with a Santa Clara area NAR section. Doug was our section president. That's Doug on the right. The picture was taken from the Centuri Magnum Jayhawk instructions. After a twenty year hiatus from ...
[Read More]

SFS (VFA) 204 - F/A 18 Hornet and GE F404 engine

[Read More]

Astronautix, the Encyclopedia Astronautica, is down indefinitely
Via Clark Lindsey: "Due to a persistent denial of service attack" the great space encyclopedia site Astronautix has been taken down. I sure hope it comes back. I've got tons of links to it. Ditto here.
[Read More]

Cleaning Up - TIP!
I've used the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers with good results on the walls of my house. It never occurred to me to use them on light colored rockets. These Scotch Brite erasers less expensive than the Mr. Clean brand. After all that handling, the lower white area (with the flags) on my Saturn V was ...
[Read More]

Soyuz Delivers 6 Satellites for Globalstar's Constellation
Soyuz Flight ST23 - Arianespace successfully orbited another batch of six spacecraft for Globalstar's second-generation satellite network this morning on a mission performed with the medium-lift Soyuz launcher from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The flight was carried out on Arianespace's ...
[Read More]

F-104 Starfighter
F-104 Starfighter , a photo by rreis on Flickr. Good view of the JATO.
[Read More]

Standard Missile (SM 2)
20110614ran8209535_003.JPG , a photo by seawavesmag on Flickr.
[Read More]

Apollo Mission Control voice panel
Apollo Mission Control , a photo by RadioKate on Flickr. I worked on the MCC voice system when I first got out of college. Not what I wanted to do but I learned how the company did business: How to respond to contract task orders and work with the drafting/manufacturing/technical docum ...
[Read More]

Parallel Staged - D-12-7 and 2x C6-0s
"PCR rocket, parallel staged. D12-7, 2 C6-0s, boostervision camera. Ground video, onboard video, onboard at 25% speed."
[Read More]

Hot reporter a bit too close to rocket launch
"Canadian billionaire and circus entrepreneur Guy Laliberte has blasted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome with the 21st mission to the International Space Station. RT's Gayane Chichakyan was there for the lift-off."
[Read More]

Check out this recap of the America's secret space assets
Wired's Danger Room presents a photo gallery of America's Secret Space Arsenal .  Most seem to be known to exist, but that doesn't mean much is known about them.  Pictured: A drawing from a patent application reportedly depicting Misty . "It could be a figment of the collective ...
[Read More]

A New Workshop!!
My dad has given me permission to use a corner of the former horse shed as a rocket workshop! This could be a great investment of my spare time for future projects. It is also a great place to store my rockets, especially as they grow in size. So far all I have managed to do is clean out a spot ...
[Read More]

How is hpr wadding (aka dog barf) made?
"Commonly used by model and high power rocket fliers to protect the recovery system from the ejection charge. It's biodegradable and fire resistant. Most other recovery protecting materials are a litter problem."
[Read More]

How cellulose insulation, aka dog barf is made
[via R2K ] We rocketeers are interested because this is what we use to keep ejection charges from melting/burning our shock tethers and parachutes.  That and reusable Nomex, Kevlar, Nomex/Kevlar, or car airbag parachute protectors.  Or both dog barf and a parachute protector.  Or dog ...
[Read More]

Dyna Soar/Titan II drawings for you scale fanatics
Scott Lowther is offering BIG detailed images of the Dyna Soar/Titan II.  Teaser below, details in his posts: Part 1 and Part 2 .  
[Read More]

Russian News Video Of The Soyuz Launch With 6 GlobalStar-2 Satellites
Following successful injection of 6 Globalstar-2 satellites into the targeted orbit by Russian Fregat upper stage, the control of the spacecraft was taken over by the customer. Soyuz-2-1a with Globalstars lifted off at 06.27 MSK from Baikonur. Injection of the Globalstar satellites completed at ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2011-3
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD ( MDRA ESL-158) Weather: clear, mid 80s, wind 5-10 MPH Total flights: Today - 7; YTD - 28 Total motors: Today - 7; YTD - 40 The weather was nearly perfect today.  Lighter winds would have been better but at least the wind's direction kept the rockets ...
[Read More]

Throwing metal things into an MRI
Not sure the story here, but they had an MRI hooked up to truss system and ratchet winch. Also note the amount of force on some of these objects... towards the end a metal chair wound up pulling at 2,000 lbs!
[Read More]

New Workshop Build Pictures
Oo looky here! Is Daniel about to build something? It sure looks like it. But what?     Hm. What is this?       Aha, it's starting to look like...   A workbench!   And a stool from the scrap wood: ...
[Read More]

Semroc IRIS Build Part 15 Fin Tabs
After spraying the fins a white undercoat, I noticed the laser cut sides of the fin tabs weren't accepting the paint. They still looked brown. I hit the sides with a light coating of white glue. After the glue dried, it was lightly sanded. White paint was sprayed into the spray can cap and brushed ...
[Read More]

What! No Blog Posts Yesterday?
Sorry, I wasn't able to do any posts on July 16. So far I've been able to keep up the blog when away doing shows. I was in Elsah, Illinois doing a BIG show. Well, big for me anyway. Sure, I had my laptop. But, on the isolated college campus the available WiFi signal was spotty at best. But great ...
[Read More]

NARAM-53 at T-5 days, 8 hours
The NAR's annual model rocketry contest event, NARAM-53 is now less than a week away.  I haven't heard anything but assume Chris will cover it on NARAM Live .  This assumption is only based on the fact that he has covered the previous 13 NARAM's. If he covers it, I'll cover his posts. I ...
[Read More]

Launch Of A Delta IV Rocket With A GPS Block 2F Satellite
Here is a highlight video of the launch of a Delta IV rocket carrying a USAF GPS Block 2F satellite. Saturday July 16, 2011
[Read More]

Astronomy from the Edge of Space
"A team of rocket scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Space Astronomy Laboratory talk about innovative developments such as the Star Tracker 5000, which offers important applications for the national space program. The device accurately orients spacecraft by tracking star fields ...
[Read More]

Re-building the Ankyo234
As you may have noticed, I flew the Ankyo234-1 last weekend.  This time, it went up nicely and gravity did its thing.  As Neil McGilvray likes to say, "we've never left one up there, yet."  However, it didn't bounce like I had hoped.  Just too floppy I guess.  When I got ...
[Read More]

Trident strike

[Read More]

Complex L2
You better believe it. It's time to bring out the big guns. I ordered some supplies from Public Missiles last week, and today a big box was waiting for me on the dinner table when I got home from work. Inside were two 4" body tubes, three coupler tubes, and a nose cone. I am planning to build a ...
[Read More]

Estes A8-3 Burn Through
After the July 18 launch, I was removing the Estes A8-3 engine from my Squatty Body. Here's what the casing looked like. To the right (nozzle) side you can see lots of charring and what looks like a hole. I made a long cut down the length of the casing and unrolled the paper. It's clearly a burn ...
[Read More]

Food under the microscope
http://carenalpertfineart.com/
[Read More]

Ankyo234-2
Here's the re-build, ready to fly.  I decided to use a streamer instead of a 'chute.  The streamer is 120' of caution tape with a thin strip of duct tape to beef up the attachment point.  I didn't look up the rules of thumb for streamers to see if this length is overkill. This ...
[Read More]

Hubble finds 4th moon around Pluto! (P4)
"Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope discovered a fourth moon orbiting the icy dwarf planet Pluto. The tiny, new satellite ? temporarily designated P4 -- was uncovered in a Hubble survey searching for rings around the dwarf planet. The new moon is the smallest discovered around Pluto. It ...
[Read More]

alt.astronautix.com
Old version of the Encyclopedia Astronautica, circa 2001 .
[Read More]

Sample image from TSA's less revealing scanner software
 
[Read More]

Comet C/2010 X1 (Elenin) replaced with brown dwarf
"What if we replace comet C/2010 X1 (Elenin) by brown dwarf with mass about 0.05 of Solar mass? This video demonstrate time interval from 2000 to 2020 years. As you can see, dramatic changes in the orbit of Saturn would have started 3 years ago. But at this time all planets are on it's nominal ...
[Read More]

TIP: 13mm A10-3t vs. 18mm A8-3
Blackshire (his avatar name on YORF) came up with a great two-part 13mm engine mount adapter. This adapter breaks in the middle. The engine slides in, nozzle down, in the lower half against a lower engine block. The upper half slides over the exposed top of the engine. In the upper top half of the ...
[Read More]

STS-135 Landing
width="640" STS-135 Landing , a photo by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center on Flickr. 'Nuff said!
[Read More]

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne's Next Generation J-2X Upper-Stage Engine
CANOGA PARK, Calif., July 20, 2011 ? Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has successfully completed a chill test and 1.9 second ignition test of NASA?s J-2X engine at John C. Stennis Space Center, Miss. The J-2X upper-stage engine is in development to power NASA?s next era of human spaceflight. Pratt ...
[Read More]

Estes catalogs, 1968 through 2011
Estes has hired an intern to scan their catalogs (and a couple from Centuri) back to 1968.  Estes Catalog Archive [found via The Rocketry Blog ]  
[Read More]

Mach Mobile
O.K I just finished my 29mm Minimum diameter rocket. It will get about about mach 1.05 on the G75 Metalstorm Motor I'm Planning to use.
[Read More]

Images of Atlantis
Astro photographer Thierry Legault captured several amazing images of Atlantis/STS0135 and the ISS in solar transit. One photo shows Atlantis a mere 21 minutes before reentry. Here's one sample. And, the ISS/Expedition 28 crew took the first and last image of a Shuttle during reentry. (Credit: ...
[Read More]

NARAM 53 Live!
NARAM will be live again at: http://www.naramlive.com/naramlive-2011/ Once again Chris Taylor will be covering the NARAM. I've attended three NARAMs back in 1975, 76 and 77. For those who can't be there in person, NARAM Live is the next best thing. I always looked forward to the Scale viewing. ...
[Read More]

Atlantis on The Big Picture
Couldn't decide which one to feature....check them all out HERE !
[Read More]

Friday lamentations
I'm not at NARAM-53 I'm not at NY Power The Shuttle is gone It's 105 degrees out but it feels like 115  
[Read More]

Crayons… Finally!
Well, after almost a year, I finally finished the crayon rockets. Hopefully we will have a drag race tomorrow at Tripoli Wisconsin. Don’t tell the little one’s, but it isn’t a fair race. All of the crayons have a 29mm motor mount, except one, which has a 38mm motor mount.
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch comments on the state of our space program
Wes Oleszewski, aka Dr. Zooch, has an article on the Aero News Network: Guest Commentary: The Dream WAS Alive - Doubt Replaces the Shuttle . He promises a follow-up article on his experience at the STS-135 press site.
[Read More]

100% Cotton Shroud Lines
Earlier, I'd found a good shroud line thread before HERE . This was a 76% polyester, 24% cotton blend. Recently, I found this at a JoAnne's Fabric in Orlando Florida. It's the closest thing to the old style Estes/Centuri shroud line material. I've always searched in the general thread section for ...
[Read More]

It's official + dedicated e-mail address
I created a dedicated e-mail address for prospective L3 flyers yesterday (masked to prevent spamming d-heads from e-mail fishing):      TripoliL3TAP[at]gmail.com In sending that change to Debra I noticed that Tripoli's TAP page has been updated to include myself and Richard King ...
[Read More]

Onboard footage crash!!!
I wont say anything more, just click HERE
[Read More]

Gravitational waves
Reading a book about gravitational waves - possibly the next great leap in astronomy. Ripples on a Cosmic Sea.
[Read More]

NARAM scuttlebutt
Royatl has posted some info from the NARAM-53 Manufacturer's Forum [via YORF]: Quest will have new MicroMaxx starters. Quest Thunderjets could appear Fall 2012. (Echoes of NARAM-50...still not holding my breath.) BMS will have a small relay launcher packaged in an index card box. Chris Pearson is ...
[Read More]

The most powerful agency on the dreams of a nation is currently underfunded..
Guest Commentary: The Dream WAS Alive Doubt Replaces The Shuttle By Wes Oleszewski Opinions and Rants #36: The Death of American Science - Retrospace
[Read More]

NARAM Live, Day 1, Saturday
There are several pages of launch photos and one of the manufacturer's forum .  Saw some NARHAMSters, the TRF banner, the Estes booth, and this big upscale Explorer Aquarius.
[Read More]

Russia Declares Victory In Space Race As U.S. Retires Shuttle And Sidelines It's Manned Space Program
With the end of the Shuttle program and the sidelining of Americas manned space program. The Russians move ahead towards space dominance. Russia is working on two large-scale space projects simultaneously, including the next generation of the Soyuz spaceships and a principally new space system ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 1 Parts
I bought this one on Ebay. I'd read about a build by JeffyJeep on YORF and there was problems. I was interested to see if I got one of the older kits. I understand corrections have been made. It's a Shrox design and looks like a downscale of the Dynastar Firefox SHX HERE . Shrox designs are always ...
[Read More]

3-D printed parts are coming to a rocket near you
I have made several posts about flying 3-D printed rockets (see post tag).  There is now an interesting thread on TRF about printed parts .  One poster has a link to another thread where he presented a printed transition wrap for his Saturn V.  The source is Shapeways , a 'p ...
[Read More]

NARAM Live, Day2, Sunday
NARAM Live, Day2 - On Sunday, the NARAM activities included FAI quals, sport flying, and scale turn in.  Chris didn't cover the sports range, which reportedly wasn't busy (again).  I find that odd since that's where I'd be hanging out if I had attended.  Most contest rockets don't ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 2 Engine Mount
In Step 1 you mark the engine mount tube. You are instructed to place the yellow motor mount tube over the square in the instructions, right over a printed ruler. The ruler is wrong! The drawn square is smaller than the enclosed yellow engine mount tube. I extended the printed ruler lines with a ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 3 Engine Mount
Before getting into Step 2 - I am not a big fan of the thin Quest yellow motor mount tubes. I understand the history behind them. Harry Stine used this yellow motor “sleeve” so 18mm engines would fit into the 20mm metric MPC tubing. They are strong when glued into a 20mm tube. But when they ...
[Read More]

Design the Spaceship Contest Update
Voting for the Design the Spacecraft contest will begin in a few days.  Between an earache and some work at my real job, I got tied up and haven’t finished cleaning up the entries and setting up the site for voting.  But, I will try to get that done before the weekend.  My ...
[Read More]

Planning for the Big Brute replacement/clone
When I heard rumors that North Coast Rocketry might be back in business (now projected for an October 1 start), I decided I'd wait to see if they offered this kit.  It appears, however, that they won't offer any of the original designs.  So, I'm once again planning to clone it.  ...
[Read More]

NARAM Live, Day 3, Monday
Today saw more contest flying and the town hall meeting . The sport range was slow again...I suppose that will continue.  Too bad, most of the interesting stuff from NARAM has been historically been there. YMMV. (This post was only made for completeness.)
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 4 Engine Mount
The Kevlar and elastic shock cord is tied together with a simple overhand knot. Step 4 The Kevlar is tied to the blue thrust ring. I’d recommend notching the blue thrust ring before tying the Kevlar to it. The kit includes some thick Kevlar. Without cutting a notch into the ring it would bulge ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 5 Tube Marking
Step 6 Don’t mark the center tube (20 mm engine mount tube) for the fin lines yet!!! Wait until after the motor mount is glued in place. This way you won’t have to worry about lining the engine nook up with a drawn pencil line. It seems you never have enough time to get a mount in place while ...
[Read More]

Detailed recap of the NARAM Manufacturer's Forum
Check out posts 3 - 6 in this TRF thread . Some points I found interesting from the Estes section: The Estes rep said the quality of their black powder is not as good as it used to be and this limits the motors they can make and the delays they can offer in the ones they can make. I find ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Part 6 Tube Cutting
Step 7 The only tubes that require a miter cut are the two outside exposed tubes! The center tube (motor mount tube) is under the two other larger tubes. Why bother cutting an angle in the front of it? Wrap, pencil mark and cut with a sharp knife. I’ve read where builders have had problems ...
[Read More]

NARAM Live, Day 4, Tuesday
Coverage of the 4th day of flying included Micromaxx (1/8A) streamer and the auction. There are also a couple of interesting FlisKits or Fliskits-like objects from the sports range - the multi-streamer UFFO (Styrofoam cup UFO in case I have the kit name wrong) and a long Styrofoam cup rocket. Too ...
[Read More]

When model rockets attack real rockets...
The following video is from the July 17th launch at the Goddard Space Flight Center's visitors center.  The video shows a small model rocket kissing the slightly larger Thor Delta .  Boink! [ via ] The Goddard public launches are conducted by NARHAMS on the first Sunday of each month at ...
[Read More]

SpaceX to send Dragon to ISS on November 30th
SpaceX has received tentative approval from NASA to send a Dragon spacecraft to the ISS on November 30th.  This will be after combining two previous planned flights into the single November 30th launch. The plan is for the spacecraft to arrive at the ISS on December 9th. This would ...
[Read More]

Estes releases scanned catalog repository
Estes now has full catalogs posted back to 1969. According to Estes “We have a summer intern who has been patiently scanning old catalogs and has most back through 1970 posted. Wow 40 years and counting. We hope to have all before the end of the summer.” There are even a couple Centuri ...
[Read More]

Last Shuttle Lands
Great early morning landing of the last shuttle. I feel sad that we are at the end. Post your comments to the Shuttle Tribute Wall …also on Rocketry Blog today – Updated Sounding Rocket page
[Read More]

TARC rules comparison 2011 to 2012
There are some interesting rules changes for the upcoming 2012 T.A.R.C. If this analysis is accurate the teams will need to build lighter. There is also a limit to total impulse that would require “F” motors. This analysis is from Heavenly Hobbies which does a great job of breaking ...
[Read More]

Semroc releases five new kits for NARAM-53
My favorite little rocket company just released 5 new rockets for NARAM-53. Moon Glo? Shrike? Aerobee 150? Arcas? Baby Orion?
[Read More]

Capture the Flag
During the Obama conference with STS-135 and the ISS crew: STS 135 brought a flag up from the STS-1 flight and presented it to the ISS crew. "We'll present the flag to the space station crew and it will hopefully maintain a position of honor until the next vehicle launched from US soil brings US ...
[Read More]

Sagan Series #6 ? End of an Era
Another great video in the Sagan Series
[Read More]

360 Panorama of the Shuttle Flight Deck
Here is a great interactive 360 degree panorama of the Shuttle Flight deck: 360 Panorama
[Read More]

Wallops dual launch
This morning a dual sounding rocket launch took place at Wallops island. The launch was of a Black Brant V and a Terrier Improved Orion launched 15 seconds apart. The two sounding rockets will be flying to approximately 98 miles. According to NASA- “The project is studying neutral and ...
[Read More]

STS 135 Launch picture

[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Part 7 Engine Mount
Jumping ahead to Step 8 Don?t glue the mount in place yet! Here?s what the engine mount looked like when trying to slide the mount in with the tape wrap. I use black electrical tape. Believe me, this wouldn?t work with a wrap of masking tape either. The tube sizes are just too close. I carefully ...
[Read More]

TIP: Doing Paint Touch Ups
For the longest time I would spray some paint in the spray can cap, dip my brush and touch up a mistake. But after a few sprays in the same cap, new paint could dissolve some of the previously dried paint. The brush could pick up the old paint and it was transferred to the model. I tried spraying ...
[Read More]

Astronautix.com is back, at least for now
Encyclopedia Astronautica
[Read More]

Doin' the ol' nose cone shuffle
At the moment, I have nothing on the workbench (actually, its covered with stuff, just no active projects).  My Lost In Space Robot is stalled. I'm happy with the 'head'/nosecone section, but I have decided to start over on the rest. So, I have been poking around the Dungeon, surveying the ...
[Read More]

"Have mercy, Been waitin' the the bus website updates all day..."
I've been waiting for various amounts of time for: The NARAM Live Wednesday update (hope this means it's big and full off odd-rocs). The ESL-158 photo gallery (maybe nothing has been submitted). Announcement of the June issue of ROCKETS Magazine . It's now July, almost August. I ...
[Read More]

More about my home made cones
Hope this inspires the scratch builder and odd-rocketeer in you.  Clockwise, starting with the big gray one: 5.5" dia., made from two sizes of floral foam cones, glassed with a plastic tip. Never used. 4" dia (sized for BT-101), turned from pink foam, glassed.  Also not used. ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Part 8 Engine Mount Gluing
The seam still showed after the CA treatment. I applied some Carpenter?s Wood Filler and sanded smooth. Ideally, I should have did the seam filling before the coat of CA for better adhesion of the CWF. Still, it stayed in the seam. Step 8 has you apply the glue ring, then thread the Kevlar and ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 9 Tube Gluing
Steps 9 and 10 Here's what you should have after gluing. While the instructions say to feed the shock cord and Kevlar through the front of the tube, again set it out the back, away from any glue and so it won't bind between the tubes. The motor mount tube is marked and glue applied. In the picture ...
[Read More]

NARAM Live, Day 5 and 6, Wednesday and Thursday
Launch Day 5 included more contest coverage and some sports flights .  Not as many as I'd have liked, but beggars can't be choosers.  I do love those 4" Quaker Oats bins! Launch Day 6 was posted at the same time and is mostly contest photos.  He has some photos from George Gassaway, ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 10 Gap Caps
Step 11 TIP: Make a center mark on the gap caps before cutting them out. You?ll need it as a reference to get it on the center tube center line. I wish the gap caps were die cut from heavier card stock. This thin card stop was to floppy. You are given a spare though. I should have cut out both and ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 11 Gap Caps
Step 12 The instructions have you mark the front end of the center tube 1/8" from the top of the miter cut. Without making this miter cut, I have no reference to make this mark. Using the center tube miter guide I found this mark point to be 7/8" from the front of the center tube. Wrap a straight ...
[Read More]

The Cyclops Saucer
I built this saucer as a night launch rocket. It flew well but the wind blew it into the trees. Never seen or heard from since.
[Read More]

When will we see another big American rocket?
"ATK engineers take a look at the company's final booster motor for the space shuttle program in Box Elder County, Utah. For more than 30 years, NASA's space shuttle program has been a cornerstone of Utah's economy. That era ended with Atlantis, which ends the shuttle program. The Salt Lake ...
[Read More]

Virtual tour of the NMUSAF
The National Museum of the United States Air Force has a nice virtual tour .  You can find their V-2 in the WWII area, second button from the top in the far left (display # 030).
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 12 Mitre Tubes Fit
Here’s a test fit into the nose tube. You can see in the picture it is too large for a slip fit. As explained in the previous step, applying CA glue will stiffen it up enough to be sanded with 400 grit on a block. It did take a little sanding to get a good fit. The CA coat did help make the gap ...
[Read More]

Dressing Up Launch Lugs
Here's the 1/4" diameter launch lugs on the Apogee Saturn V kit. This 3" long lug was cut in two for two 1 1/2" lugs. Standoffs are already glued on both pieces. Even though these are larger 1/4" diameter lugs, you can also finish up 1/8" and 3/16" lugs as shown here. I usually will sand the ends ...
[Read More]

Jeff Taylor and Curt Newport to try for 100K' and the Carmack Prize
Ben Brockert, of Armadillo Aerospace, provided an update on the Carmack Prize, including the rules, the background, and information about the only announced launch attempt.  Jeff Taylor and Curt Newport will fly their Proteus 7 at BALLS (9/30/11-10/2/11).  They are shooting for the 100k ...
[Read More]

Space Shuttle display
This is a display that I put together after the Challenger disaster.  It includes individual mission patches (of the sticker variety) from STS-6 through -51L.  I didn't receive patches for STS-1 through -5 so I grabbed a sheet from the GSFC visitor center.  It also includes ...
[Read More]

NARAM Live, Day 7, Friday (The End)
Well, NARAM is wrapped up and I was disappointed on the lack of coverage of the sports range.  By all accounts, it was not nearly as busy as in prior years.  Others have voiced that they hope future NARAMs don't cut back based on this years' experience. I concur wholeheartedly and am ...
[Read More]

Phobos Grunt close to launch!?
As you may remember from a previous project , this is not only a highly ambitious attempt at a sample return from Phobos, but also one of my favorite projects. There have been delays, however, and reasons to worry about the ability of Russia to make this mission happen. For example, their Mars ...
[Read More]

Dollar Tree Rocket Stuff!
I found these two at the Dollar Tree store in Orlando, Florida, $1.00 each. The one on the left looks to be an easy conversion for a "Pop Fly" style rocket and should turn out much lighter than the OOP Estes version. Someday I'll build it with a parachute on the bat body and a streamer on the ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 13 Wings and Fins
This small front wing piece had to be cut down the middle. There was no laser cut line down the center of the two pieces. I drew that center line with a pencil and straightedge. This missing laser cut wouldn't be a problem for an experienced builder, but a first timer would be scratching his head. ...
[Read More]

Russia Awards Contract For New Spaceship
According to the Russian Space Agency, the Energia Corporation has won a tender to develop a manned spaceship to replace the Soviet-era Soyuz system. There will be versions for Earth orbit and for travel to the Moon and Mars. The launches will be from a new spaceport near Russia's Far Eastern ...
[Read More]

An Unreasonable view of NewSpace 2011
Paul Breed attended Space Frontier Foundation's annual conference, NewSpace 2011 , and gives us his impressions of the state of the industry (old and new players, the economy, etc) - Back from newspace 2011 . I like the conferences banner.  
[Read More]

Spacecraft on a chip
I missed the talk about this subject at the last MDRA meeting.  Today I found an article on Centauri Dreams - A Swarm of Probes to the Stars .  The article also provides a link to the related IEEE Spectrum article, which was written by Dr. Mason Peck...who also spoke at MDRA! Cornell ...
[Read More]

Yarn wrapped cone experiment - results
The pluses - It looks like a usable cone.  It's nice and sparkly in the sun (better live than in the photo). The minuses - It's not perfectly uniform.  The surface is not smooth.  The deck need cleaning and sealing. I won't try to fill in the gaps since that will wash out its ...
[Read More]

Vesta looks great!
NASA's Dawn spacecraft obtained this image of the giant asteroid Vesta with its framing camera on July 24, 2011. It was taken from a distance of about 3,200 miles (5,200 kilometers). Dawn entered orbit around Vesta on July 15, and will spend a year orbiting the body. The Dawn mission to Vesta and ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 14 Gluing Wings and Fins
Step 16 Before gluing the fins to the body tube, all balsa grain and launch lug seams were filled with thinned Carpenter?s Wood Filler and sanded smooth. The angle of the wing fins will be hard to glue to the body. I sanded an angle to the root edge for more gluing surface but it didn?t help much. ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 15 Strake? What Strake?
Step 20 You are directed to glue the Strake on the center line of the nose tube. There is no Strake piece on the laser cut balsa sheet! I did my best to cut one out using the cover art picture. The back edge of the piece was cut to a 45 degree angle to match the angle of the mitred nose tube. It ...
[Read More]

"Peering inside the flame" - a fused image of STS-135
So, what's a fused image, anyway?  Via NASA Ames : Image fusion is a technique which begins with image files taken simultaneously at nearly identical angles and positions, each with different filters. The images are processed through minute alignment and warping to match camera angles ...
[Read More]

Build Pictures for the 2-Stager!
I have made TONS of progress on my recent project since my last post. The exterior of the sustainer stage is finished, and the inside of the booster stage is finished. I have yet to put in the altimeter bay, recovery system and staging electronics housing on the sustainer, and still need to glass ...
[Read More]

rocketreviews.com is down
The RocketReviews.com web site is currently offline.  There was a serious problem with the server. Since I was already in the process of moving all of the sites I host to a newer, faster server, I decided the best thing to do was to go ahead and move everything off the old server at once. ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 16 Priming and Filling
Here's the nose cone after priming and sanding. You can see just a bit of the molding line left with primer filling the shallow areas. From Step 21 The wing tip tubes are glued and place and fillets applied. Both the tubes and launch lug seams were filled and sanded smooth using CWF. Even after ...
[Read More]

TIP! Cheap Clear Plastic Fin Stock
It never occurred to me to find clear plastic fin material from a cheap picture frame. This one came from WalMart. With this style frame, you can clearly see it is made out of plastic. There is no wooden frame surrounding the sheet plastic. The plastic is about 1/16" thick. Sure, it's a little ...
[Read More]

Estes Asteroid Hunter debut at NARAM-53
Via Wallyum on Flickr. He has lots of NARAM photos!
[Read More]

Harbor Freight trip
I went to Harbor Freight today, coupons in hand: I intended to pick up their oscillating multi-tool that was on sale for $19.99.  Found it had no attachments.  The version with attachments and a plastic carrying case was $39.99, $31.99 with a coupon.  By the time you count the ...
[Read More]

rocketreviews.com appears to be back
rocketreviews.com
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 17 Scotch Tape Masking
I won't buy the expensive specialty masking tapes. I use Scotch Tape with good results. Before I get too far on masking, remember - You'll never get a clean masking line and color separation if the surface under the mask isn't smooth! Preparing the surface (smooth fillets, filling seams and balsa ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 18 Black Paint
A plastic grocery bag was used to mask off most of the model. Cut off the bag handle, Stick over the nose cone end and tape in place. I'll have to go back and paint the black rudder underneath the model. At first glance I thought the only black was only on the rear tail fins. At the front of the ...
[Read More]

India's New Drone Space Plane
Seems as though space plane drones are all the rage these days. With the US's X-37B. Russia, China and now India have entered the space plane drone business. India's IDRW blog posted an intriguing image (above) earlier this week of what appears to be India's answer to the Boeing X-37B (picture ...
[Read More]

More Clear Fin Material
I stopped by Hobby Lobby to buy some A10-3t engines with a 40% off coupon. In the frame shop, I asked about clear plastic. The employee showed me what they had. It was 1/16" thick, about the same I bought at WalMart a few days ago. The then walked me over to the "glass etching' section of the ...
[Read More]

Ladies love rockets

[Read More]

Almost certain signature of water on Mars
NASA animated GIF And yet a manned mission is still decades away.
[Read More]

When supercells collide...
...they form a "tsunami in the sky". Check out DRB for more photos of this an other supercells. (image credit: Mike Hollingstead )  
[Read More]

Saturn V attack!
Coming to a hobby shop near you (as close as your keyboard). Via Quest Aerospace .
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 19 Decals
This kit just gets more and more interesting. Mistakes, measurement errors, misspellings, no strake piece, badly cut parachute, thin gap cap stock - the list goes on. Don't get me wrong, I have had great experiences with other Quest products. I called Quest when I realized there wasn't enough ...
[Read More]

The New BMS MIGHTY D Launch Controller
Here's the newest from Balsa Machining Service: The MIGHTY D 12v Launch Controller It's a innovative design - 12 volts of power in a 7" long X 5" tall box. It'll fire any igniter from a Micromaxx to a Copperhead. Inside the bottom of the black box are 8 "D" size Alkaline batteries for the igniter. ...
[Read More]

Spectrum-R

[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 20 Decals
The decal instructions are vague! The pictures are small and it's hard to tell where the decals go. The face card art didn't help much either. If you are building this model, be ready. The decals adhere quickly! Have a small brush handy so you can keep the decal edges wet for repositioning. The ...
[Read More]

RocketReviews.com is Back!
A few days ago, the server on which RocketReviews.com and other sites are hosted crashed.  Since I was already in the process of moving to a new server, I decided it was better to get RocketReviews.com working on the new server than to give CPR to the old server. The new server is a ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Orlando R.O.C.K. August 6, 2011
We hadn't seen any effects of tropical storm Emily in Central Florida - yet. It was HOT though. Forecasters said it would reach 95 degrees but with the humidity it would feel like 104. They got that one right. Still, there was no wind. The breeze was just starting to pick up when we were breaking ...
[Read More]

OpenRocket
I just downloaded OpenRocket, which is an open source rocket design and simulation software. So far I love it much better than RockSim, and it is absolutely free. RockSim has some quirks that are very annoying. While OpenRocket is somewhat less glossy and perty than RockSim, it does the job well ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2011-4
Location: GSFC Visitors Center ( NARHAMS ) Weather: clear, mid 90s, wind 0-5 MPH Total flights: Today - 10; YTD - 38 Total motors: Today - 10; YTD - 50 This is the first time I have attended one of the Goddard public launches so I didn't know what to expect.  The site is about as far away as ...
[Read More]

Big a$$ project of the day - Eric Gates Memorial Saturn-1B
I just found out about the 1/10th scale Saturn-1B that is slated to be built and flown in honor of Eric Gates at BALLS 20 -- http://www.saturn1b.com -- Flickr album . 22' tall, 27' in daimeter, 2-stage, 22 motors, ~1 ton total vehicle weight, projected altitude of 27k' AGL. Booster: five 152mm ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 21 Canopy Decal
After pulling off the yellow and red "wing" decals I figured I'd just place the remaining decals wherever they felt right. Heck, it's already missing two sets of stars and bars. After all the frustration building this kit, I didn't feel like using up a sheet of decal paper fixing the mistakes. I ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort FINISHED!
Even with a few hang ups during the build, this is a sharp design when finished. The landing gear door decals were too long to fit near the center of the wings, so I let them overhang and trimmed off the excess. I don't know if this is the correct location for the decals, I just guessed. From the ...
[Read More]

Under the Hood
I’ve benefited greatly from the availability of open source software while building the RocketReviews.com web site. The site runs on a server using Linux as the operating system and Apache as the web server.  The database server is MySQL and PHP is used to interpret most of the ...
[Read More]

Under the Hood - Content Management System
Most web sites like RocketReviews.com are built on top of a Content Management System (CMS). There are a number of popular CMSs such as Drupal and WordPress. But, instead of starting with an existing CMS, I decided to develop my own for RocketReviews.com. Of course, I didn’t start completely ...
[Read More]

Under the Hood - Action Classes
The CMS for RocketReviews.com is built around the concept of “Actions.” An Action represents a web page displayed to the user or a group of related web pages. For example, RocketReviews.com has a “Reviews” action for displaying pages related to rocketry reviews. ...
[Read More]

Under the Hood - Menus
Menus – the main menus displayed by RocketReviews.com are also defined by classes.  When the CMS displays an Action, it loops though the Menu Blocks defined by the Action.  Each Menu Block is defined by a class in a source file in a specific menu block directly.  Each Menu ...
[Read More]

Under the Hood - Friendly URLs
To determine which Action to execute, the CMS looks at the action parameter passed in the URL.  If you’ve used RocketReviews.com, however, you may have never seen “?action=xxxxx” in a URL for the site.  This is because RocketReviews.com uses “friendly” ...
[Read More]

Another Design the Spaceship Contest Update
I’ve updated the site to support voting in the Design the Spaceship contest.  I still have to manually add one additional entry then do some testing to make sure everything works.  I’d also like to give the contestants a couple of days to review the entries to make sure ...
[Read More]

Spool Rocket Build Part 1 Parts
In all the years I've been flying rockets, I've never built a true spool rocket. The closest I've came was my entry in the Rocket Reviews 2009 Two Stage Challenge competition. I made a two stage odd-ball combining a Squirrel Works Pie In The Sky and a Badminton Birdie. The Birdie was painted ...
[Read More]

Spool Rocket Build Part 2 Engine Mount
I set a 2 3/4" long, 18mm casing in the 3" long motor mount tube, with 1/4" of the casing extending out the back. To notch for the engine hook, I place the rear bend of the hook over the end of the casing. The front bend of the hook will be the slit location. TIP: Todd (Bradycros on TRF) posted a ...
[Read More]

Orion Capsule Gets Worst Case Scenario Hydro Impact Drop Test
I don't think I would want to land upside down in the water on my way home from space. This is the third Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) water landing test conducted at the Hydro Impact Basin at NASA Langley Research Center. This test represented the worst-case scenario for landing. The ...
[Read More]

Under the Hood - Animated GIFs
RocketReviews.com uses GIFEncoder by Laszlo Zsidi to dynamically create animated GIF images for widgets and other purposes.  When I ported the site to a new server running PHP 5, the code failed with the following error: Catchable fatal error: Object of class GIFEncoder could not be ...
[Read More]

YAHP (yet another hodgepodge post)
A reader provided links to photo essays about the Russian museum of the "NPP Zvezda" aerospace corporation. http://maksimzaitsev.livejournal.com/37521.html ( translated ) http://ru-cosmos.livejournal.com/805118.html#cutid1 ( translated ) Parabolic Arc has update on Firestar ...
[Read More]

42 inch Dobsonian telescope
This may be the largest portable amateur telescope in the world. It would be incredible to look at some deep sky objects through this. Dr. Erhard Hänssgen - 42 inch (107 cm) f/4.5 Dobsonian telescope in 2002. 42 inch telescope
[Read More]

Spool Rocket Build Part 3 Engine Mount
So you know what is upcoming, here's the final motor mount assembly looks like before gluing to the CDs. Go ahead and add a wrap of tape over the engine hook to keep it in place. For contrast, I used a marker on the rings before gluing them in place. A black and white striped motor mount might ...
[Read More]

Spool Rocket Build Part 4 Drilling The CDs
Center an engine casing on the CD, and trace around it using a fine point permanent marker. The molded circles on the CD will help with centering the casing. I tried to enlarge the center hole too quickly and cracked one of the clear CDs. So I pulled two new CDs and started again. It's easier to ...
[Read More]

Fixing and changing
After last weekend's launch, I was short two fins and one nosecone with streamer.  I cut two replacement fins for the Mini Patriot from 1/64" glass - thin, light and cuttable with scissors.  It is once again ready to fly.  To fix the Eenie Meanie, I rummaged through my box of ...
[Read More]

Unknown boost glider from the late 1960's
The attached image roughly depicts a boost glider that I built in the late 1960's.  I think I followed a plan but am not sure.  It flew great and was one of the few rockets that I had wanted to keep after dropping out of rocketry during college.  However, it disappeared along with ...
[Read More]

Spool Rocket Build Part 5 Motor Mount and Lug Hole Position
When you get close to the correct diameter, 220 grit wrapped around an engine casing can help sand the hole large enough to fit the motor mount tube. Dry fit the motor mount assembly and check the fit of the tube and centering rings against the CDs. No Epoxy yet! A hole is drilled in both CDs to ...
[Read More]

Spool Rocket Build Part 6 Lug Holes Drilling
Look closely at the center hole on the bottom CD. You can see where the notch was cut for the engine hook movement. The launch rod hole was started by spinning the tip of my hobby knife on the disk mark. After drilling through the other side, the hole diameter was widened with a small diamond ...
[Read More]

Falcon HTV-2 is on-track updated
DARPA was giving some mission status via Twitter and reports that they lost telemetry after the HTV-2 successfully entered the glide phase about 30 minutes ago. The attached graphic depicts the flight phases from its launch atop the Minotaur IV, through its Mach-20 re-entry, and on to said ...
[Read More]

Lockheed F-80A JATO launch
Lockheed F-80A , a photo by kitchener.lord on Flickr. I don't know about you, but I love JATO's :)
[Read More]

Doing the Space Shuttle shuffle
Orbiter kiss , a photo by Flying Jenny on Flickr. I have heard that the NASM's Udvar-Hazy annex will have two Shuttles on display for a short period - the Enterprise and the Discovery. They currently have the Enterprise, which will be off to New York, and will be getting the Discovery. If so, I ...
[Read More]

Under the Hood - Templates
RocketReviews.com uses the Smarty template system to define the layout of the web pages displayed by the web site.  Smarty one of the ways the “Application Layer” and “Presentation Layer” of the web site are kept seperate.  This allows the functionality of the web ...
[Read More]

Under the Hood - Image Management
Images are important to RocketReviews.com. The site permits users to upload images which means that it has to deal with multiple sizes and types of image files. Users can also upload non-image files such as PDF files and Rocksim data files. The RocketReviews.com Image Manager is used to ...
[Read More]

Video of friction welding

[Read More]

Spool Rocket Build Part 7 Gluing CDs
Mix up a small amount of epoxy. Here it's applied it to the flat surface of the centering rings for gluing to the lower CD. Press the CD onto the epoxy bead and let dry. When gluing the upper CD to the upper centering ring, be sure to line up the launch rod holes. I used a length of rod to make ...
[Read More]

A Tale Of Two Saturns Part 2
Part 2: On a recent trip back home to California I found my old Estes Saturn V. The pictures of the unfinished Estes Saturn were taken in the attic of my Grandparents ranch house in Moss Landing, California. On the forums, there were questions about the differences between the two versions of the ...
[Read More]

HTV-2 Collects Only Nine Minutes Of Data Before Communications Are Lost
Source: DARPA We don't know what happen but the HTV-2 collected unique data during several phases of the flight. DARPA attempted to fly the fastest aircraft ever built. The Agency?s Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 (HTV-2) is designed to fly anywhere in the world in less than 60 minutes. ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Planet's Darrell Mobley has passed away
This news was announced this morning on Rocketry Planet .  Although it hasn't been 100% confirmed that this is the same Darrell, the location is correct and several RP members have mentioned that they haven't been able to contact him.  Follow the link above to read everyone's comments. ...
[Read More]

Darrell Mobley
I just read that Darrell Mobley has passed away. Darrell ran the Rocketry Planet websites and forums. I was fortunate to meet Darrell once at a NEFAR launch in Bunnell, Florida. Like so many in the rocketry community, he was eager to talk rockets. One of the best, I was impressed with his clean ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Loses Another Friend
Darrell Mobley created Rocketry Online, one of the first rocketry web sites on the internet.  Later, he started Rocketry Planet which has become the premiere site on the web for rocketry news. Rocketry Planet also hosts one of the most popular rocketry discussion forums. ...
[Read More]

Recovery velocity tips
Via Bob Krech on TRF.  Good basic stuff, now easier to find. Smaller, lighter model rockets can normally descend at a higher velocity than a heavy high power rocket. The surface is important. At grassy field will support a higher descent rate than a sun baked playa or asphalt. ...
[Read More]

New composite motors coming
As discussed on YORF , a new line of composite motors have been developed by the German manufacturer Klima.  These are currently being CE certified.  Here's the most interesting revelation from Bill Stine (Old Rocketeer II): The new Klima line of motors will distributed exclusively by ...
[Read More]

Quest to Offer Composite Motors
Bill Stine, of Quest Aerospace, just “spilled the beans,” revealing that Quest is working on getting the proper paperwork in place to import composite rocket motors manufactured by Klima GmbH.  Kilma is a fireworks manufacturer and model rocket retailer in Germany. The new ...
[Read More]

Getting ready for LDRS XXX
Well, I’m scrambling to finish a few rockets for LDRS 30. I’ll be bringing at least 6 rockets. 3 oddrocs, and 3 ‘traditional’ rockets. Here’s a few photo’s       This X-15 is probably one of the most difficult builds I’ve ever done. I had to ...
[Read More]

Spool Rocket Build Finished
Here's the finished Spool, ready for launch with a C6-3. This should be a great small field flyer with either a B6-2 or C6-3. I have plenty of C6-3 engines to fly. The first flight report is HERE
[Read More]

Launch Report 2011-5
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD ( MDRA ESL-159) Weather: partly-rainy, high70s, wind ~5 MPH Total flights: Today - 10; YTD - 48 Total motors: Today - 13; YTD - 63 I almost blew off the launch as I sat and watched the rain pour down at home.  However, the forecast for the ...
[Read More]

Hopefully the 3rd Time's the Charm
Today was supposed to be Tripoli MN's August launch, but due to bad weather it got postponed until Sunday. Tomorrow I plan to launch the upper stage of my new Complex-L2 project for a level-2 certification attempt. I'll be flying it on a CTI J381SK, and it should reach 3000 feet. This will be my ...
[Read More]

Email from South Africa
Recently I received an Email from Heinrich in South Africa. He came across my Estes Saturn V build when doing some image searches. I sent him the PDF scans of the shrouds and some downscaled plans. Check out this paragraph regarding getting engines sent to South Africa: I am in South Africa and ...
[Read More]

Rocket Mail from South Africa
Recently I received an Email from Heinrich in South Africa. He came across my Estes Saturn V build when doing some image searches. I sent him the PDF scans of the shrouds and some downscaled plans. Check out this paragraph regarding getting engines sent to South Africa: "I am in South Africa ...
[Read More]

Big a$$ project of the day
Overheard at MDRA in the aftermath of a rain shower:  20' tall, 20" diameter, 150lb, N2000.  Custom tube, 1/16" thick.  Lots of discussion on non-standard building techniques internally.  The guy had pages of mechanical engineering calculations to show it will be strong enough ...
[Read More]

Reworking the upscale Cluster Bomb
At this weekend's launch, the 'chute on my Upscale BLU-97B Cluster Bomb tangled and it came in hard..  One foam board fin was totalled and, upon closer inspection, the nose cone (thin glass over pink foam) had a crunch and there was a slight compression crack along the tube spiral.  The ...
[Read More]

Fail #3
The failures this summer are beginning to get comical. Sort of like a running gag. I have no explanation for this failure, but it is obviously some sort of altimeter error, or user error pertaining to the altimeter. As you can see in the video, the drogue charge did not fire at apogee, and then ...
[Read More]

NARAM Live Manufacturer's Forum Videos
All the NARAM Live Manufacturer's Forum videos are on the site and running! Go right to the NARAM Live YouTube Channel HERE Just look for the videos that don't have many views to see the ones that were added on August 11th. There are lots of new products from all the vendors.
[Read More]

Another Shroud Line Idea
Here's another "too much attention to detail" aspect of how to tie on shroud lines. I use square knots to tie on shroud lines. I've yet to have one come loose. While making this parachute for the Quest AS-1 Escort kit I decided to have the ends of the adjacent lines face each other. To do this, I ...
[Read More]

Caption This Week 3 (8/15 thru 8/19)
Caption This Week 3 (8/15 thru 8/19) , a photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr. It's rocket bunker and a coffin (if things really go badly). (Homage to Saturday Night Live's 'it's a desert topping and a floor wax" skit.)
[Read More]

Cobra
Member : Bill Earls Club : AeroPAC Altitude : 30,000' Motor : N-2501 / N-3180 Project Goal : This is my L3 project!!
[Read More]

Nibbles Lander
Member : Kurt Gugisberg Club : Rocketry Organization of California Web Page : http://home.earthlink.net/~kurtgug/id17.html Altitude : 2000 feet Motors : J570 central--H180 airstart--H128 airstart Project Goal : Nibbles the World Famous Astro Cat is testing his Lunar Lander in preparation for his ...
[Read More]

Luck Runs Out
Member : Darryl Paris Club : AeroPAC Motors : L952W, (2) J350W, (2) I200W Project Goal : To build something other than three fins & a nosecone by constructing a big, complex multi-staged rocket with multiple clustered air starts and catch it all with on-board video. This is no mach buster but ...
[Read More]

Mercury Joe: Project Pilgrim
Member : Jamie Clay Club : AeroPac Altitude : 2200' Web site: MercuryJoe.com Facebook Page Project Goal: To land the Freedom 7 capsule upright on its own landing legs!
[Read More]

World War II images in color
The Atlantic
[Read More]

Micro Clip Strain Relief on a Camera Tripod Launcher
Here's another advantage to using a camera tripod as a LPR launcher. TIP: Tie the wire leads around the angle arm for strain relief. This keeps the weight, or any additional "pull" off the igniter. If you tie them off at the right length, the clips will actually fall away from the engine at ...
[Read More]

High altitude balloon tourism
"José Mariano López-Urdiales, the founder of zero2infinity, is offering what he calls the ?near-space? experience of viewing the planet and the space beyond it from 36 km [22 miles] above the earth. He hopes to have the first passengers aloft in the near-space vehicle called a ...
[Read More]

The Black Brant Flies again (with Chili)
Member : Peter Clay Club : AeroPac Motor : Research M Construction Photos (on Facebook) Project Goal: This years XPRS will mark the 7 th “Birthday of my Black Brant II. At last years XPRS on it’s 9 th flight I blew a hole right through the side of her upper airframe. One of the e-charges was ...
[Read More]

Astroboy: Take three!
Member : Jamie Clay Club : AeroPac Altitude : Good question to ask. Motors : Aerotech single use Fs (or maybe Gs) Facebook Pictures Project Goal: To make Astro Boy fly a good stable flight and THIS time get the parachute out!! This is the third year, and we all know third times the charm! :)
[Read More]

All hail the Anti-Hail Rockets
I have heard of several examples of rockets being used in lightning research but this is the first I've heard of small rockets being used for weather modification.  A long list of links for cloud seeding/anti-hail rockets was provided by YORF member blackshire as potential subjects for ...
[Read More]

"Between a rocket and a hard place"
Lost &amp; Found , a photo by jurvetson on Flickr.
[Read More]

Solar System Family Portrait
http://www.microbot.ch/html5/
[Read More]

Honoring people and animals in space
  Via ... more info
[Read More]

Life Magazine A Look Back: Rocket-Propelled Rides
Jet packs, bikes, cars, an ejection seat, a sled... did I miss anything ?
[Read More]

Turbonique, lots of Turbonique
TheTunersGroup  has a nice article on the Turbonique rocket-powered superchargers and drag axles. I've covered a lot of this stuff before (follow the tag, below), but they have some additional references.  In my favor, they didn't include links to Ky "The Rocketman" Michaelson's site ...
[Read More]

A Little Too Much Up Elevator?
Mr. Urban sent me this YouTube video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVYUL6A72so It's worth a watch or two or three.
[Read More]

Samarai and Flexrotor UAVs in the news
IEEE Spectrum reports on two of my favorite items, monocopters and tail sitting aircraft: Weird UAV Demos: Lockheed Martin's Samarai and Aerovel's Flexrotor . I've commented on the Samari monocopter drone a few times over the last three years or so.  It is cool that it can navigate a ...
[Read More]

Year of Astronautics - Russia
A TRF post was made by "Round" a Russian model rocket enthusiast. "The year of 2011 named in Russia as The Year of Astronautics. These rockets have been made as gifts to children." Check out the TRF posts and pictures HERE An interesting YouTube video follows HERE At the 1:10 mark you can hear: ...
[Read More]

ARCA IAR - 111 simulation
Cool idea, very similar to Notsnik. "The problems and delays faced by ARCA while attempting to to launch rockets using balloon carriers prompted the development of an alternative launching device. The IAR-111 Excelsior rocket plane had been secretly in development since early 2010. The IAR-111 ...
[Read More]

Lost decal image and secret payload (updated...already)
My Upscale Cluster Bomb has a new fin and a new coat of paint.  I searched my computers for the decal image that I made from the Estes Cluster Bomb sheet, but couldn't find it.  I wonder if YORP or JimZ has a scan of the decals (thinking as I type)?  Either way, it will be ready for ...
[Read More]

@Astro_Ron Captures This Meteor From The ISS
This photo of a Meteor entering the Earths atmosphere was taken by astronaut Ron Garin. I met Ron or @Astro_Ron as he is known on Twitter. He came out and spoke to us at the STS-133 launch and #NASAtweetup. What a site this must of been from the orbiting outpost. One of those things that makes ...
[Read More]

The Cluster Bomb facelift is complete
As noted early this morning, I found a scan of the Estes decals.  I upscaled a few of them and filled in the background with what I thought was a suitable green.  It turns out that it wasn't that close, but then the whole model isn't in great shape.  I decided that it was close ...
[Read More]

Leopard
Member : Bill Earls Club : AeroPAC Altitude : 31k' Motor : CTI K-300 Project Goal : This is my altitude record attempt. Leopard was launched last year to 21,607ft on an L935. This year I am putting it up on a K-300 long burn to a projected altitude of 31k. Since last year I removed some weight and ...
[Read More]

Goldy LOCS
Member : Steve Kendall Club : AeroPAC Motor : G to H Project Goal: Most likely will be flown forst flight on a SU For G motor, and, if the paint survives and the winds are favorable, maybe a small H. Paint technique : Candy Gold over silver with Airbrush highlights Project Note : This is a LOC ...
[Read More]

Flower Power (Small Endeavor)
Member : Donald Blair Club : AeroPAC Altitude : 3500' Motor : I211-w Project Goal : To obtain my Level 1 (oh please, oh please)
[Read More]

Selling rocket parts to Jay Leno (and new-space companies too)
Parabolic Arc's Doug Messier interviews Carlos Guzman of rocket surplus mega store Norton Sales .  Most surplus stores don't deal with ITAR, the FBI, low-riders and Jay Leno.  Norton is one of those places that I'd place on my bucket list if I had one. (found via Clark Lindsey ) P.S. - ...
[Read More]

Big a$$ project of the day - Wildman & Crazy Jim's "Flying Circus" 2011
"Wildman" Tim Lehr and "Crazy" Jim Hendricksen are known for their extreme projects. In a TRF thread , Tim presents one of his LDRS projects, a 12" diameter, minimum diameter, 'Mega" project.  Tim describes the project as: "A single use Carbon fiber P-motor. Should fly it to over 20,000ft. ...
[Read More]

The latest Blogger formatting craziness
A couple of days ago, something happened with the way Blogger handles non-alphanumeric codes.  On parsing the text, it is replacing the obvious ASCII versions with their HTML character string. This is messing up the formats of new posts and, now, even old ones.  I first noticed it when ...
[Read More]

Interesting Onboard Video from Last Launch
A friend of mine had this interesting flight of a cluster-ignition Patriot with several onboard cameras. Some sort of weird motor failure caused the flight to go terribly wrong. The only plus is that it made for some very entertaining video...
[Read More]

Return of the Night of the Return of the Son of Rocket Jones
I haven't seen much from Ted in a while.  Maybe some gardening stuff.  Anyway, he's back with some posts resurrected from his old(er) blog.  He's posting his 'built it' series, starting with a good ol' rubber band gun .  Useful for kids, fathers and grandfathers (or any ...
[Read More]

Gumby and Little Joey I
Member : Jamie Clay Club : AeroPAC Motors : Cluster of 4 F-40s with one central I Avionics : Perfectflite MAWD Project description : Like Mercury Joe, LJ1 recovers in three components - booster, capsule and tower with a video camera on the tower, with Gumby at the helm.
[Read More]

Angelfire
Member : Vern Knowles Club : Tripoli Idaho Rocketry Altitude : 23,000' Motor : N1000 Web page : Angelfire & www.vernk.com Project Goal: Primary goal is to just have fun! This will also be a test flight with a new version of a GPS telemetry system that provides real time flight data an ...
[Read More]

Needle Jr.
Member : Bill Earls Club : AeroPAC Altitude : 20,500' Motor : CTI J-530 Project Goal : This is my Needle Jr. Project. It is a 38mm minimum diameter rocket. It is 27"L and weighs less than 20oz. All carbon fiber and a metal strip under the fiber along the root edge of the fins. This rocket is ...
[Read More]

Insanity 2.5
Members : James Marino & Dave Riamondi Clubs : AeroPAC, LUNAR Altitude : 30,000' Motors : M2500AF to M1950AF Project Goal : To successfully stage a PR Competitor 4 off the top of a PR Competitor 5 booster using research motors and a custom machined aluminum interstage coupler system. And to ...
[Read More]

Back to School
Classes I am taking this semester: AerE 261 Introduction to Performance and Design Astro 150 Stars, Galaxies and Cosmology Phys 222 Classical Physics II EM 274 Statics of Engineering I will also be involved in USLI again which will give me a credit in AerE 290. I am also looking for an on-campus ...
[Read More]

Shuttle over the Organs
Borrowed from Facebook...  
[Read More]

SONY Project Shiphunt
Well SONY is back with a new, ill conceived student-exploitation campaign that selects a few students, and pretends that they and well placed Sony computers did something cool. Last time it was to launch a really impressive two-stage rocket: SONY Rocket Project During the rocket projects, the ...
[Read More]

Kestrel
Member : Jason Trotter Motors : D10-7 (1x), A10T-0 (6x) Altitude : 1600' Project Goal : This is my first self-designed rocket. It is a single stage, cluster. All 7 motors are minimum diameter, with a central 18mm and 6 outboard 13mm motors. Project Note : This rocket is being submitted with the ...
[Read More]

TIP - Shroud Lines - AGAIN!
Maybe this post should be called "Teaching an old dog new tricks". I've avoided the pre-assembled red parachutes that Estes had sent with their kits. These parachutes were substituted when traces of lead were found in the ink used to print the checkerboard patterns. I was under the impression that ...
[Read More]

TIP: Transporting Bigger Rockets
I bought one of these neck rings if I ever needed to take a nap in my car. I've found a second use for it. Recently I had to take an Apogee Saturn V to the UPS Store to have it weighed for shipping. My home scale was too small. I wanted to lessen the chance of it rolling and also protect the white ...
[Read More]

The N.R.L. Is Set To Launch A Miotaur IV Sept. 27, 2011 From Kodiak Launch Complex
Published: August 22, 2011. Naval Research Laboratory WASHINGTON--The Naval Research Laboratory's Tactical Satellite IV (TacSat-4) is scheduled to launch from the Alaska Aerospace Corporation's Kodiak Launch Complex, Tuesday, September 27, 2011, aboard an Orbital Sciences Corporation M ...
[Read More]

Earthquake in New York?
Or was it just local construction? I work in a VERY large building (approx six square city blocks) and it just shook. Yikes.
[Read More]

WANT: coolest pool floatation device...ever!
 
[Read More]

For the record...(updated)
Two items popped up today, yielding a bunch of hits to some old posts.  So, I decided I might as well make some mention of them. The first item/event was the 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered near Mineral, VA. I was driving at the time and didn't feel it.  My wife claims she thought she ...
[Read More]

The Next Build - The 260 Space Booster - Backstory
The 260 SPACE BOOSTER This one goes way back, from the 1965 Estes Model Rocket News, V5 #3. For years, it's been my "I'll build this one day" rocket. It features a BIG nozzle and clear fins. You can see the plans and the entire MRN issue at: http://www.oldrocketplans.com/mrn/mrn_v5_n3/MRN ...
[Read More]

Astro 1 Downscale - Free PDF!
I've just finished a new downscale of the Centuri classic: The Mini ASTRO 1 It's BT-5 based and stands 8.5" tall. The colors are based on the duo-tone Centuri catalog pages from the early 1970s. The body is a wrap, you print it out on 24 lb. paper. I glued mine in place with a glue stick. The seam ...
[Read More]

New build: "Zoomie" P-51D
Recently, TRF user Daddyisabar posted a thread on his Estes SpaceShipOne to P-40E kit bash.  I am a big fan of the SpaceShipOne as a subject for kit bashing (ref. Goonball XL5 , SpaceShipSqrt(-1) ).  I loved the P-40E and had another SpaceShipOne.  So, I decided to try a P-51D.  ...
[Read More]

Russian Progress ISS Resupply Ship Disintegrates Over Siberia
A Russian freighter bound for the International Space Station (ISS) disintegrated over Siberia after failing to separate from the third stage of its Soyuz-U carrier rocket. 

The failure apparently occurred approximately 325 seconds into the flight after the Soyuz-U launched from the ...
[Read More]

Zoomie P-51D update
Today, I installed the motor mount in the tail cone.  I used polyurethane glue, which seems to work well on plastics. Instead of the SuperFil, I filled the gap between the tail cone and the motor mount with Testor's Contour Putty.  Much easier for a really small volume and it should work ...
[Read More]

Full Disk Image of Earth Captured August 24, 2011
NASA / NOAA GOES-13 satellite image showing earth on August 24, 2011 at 11:45 UTC (7:45 a.m. EDT) Hurricane Irene is visible over the Bahamas in this image. Irene is headed northwest at 12 mph towards the East Coast. Credit: NOAA/NASA GOES Project
[Read More]

ISS Crew May Be Cut From 6 To 3 Due To Grounding Of All Soyuz Flights
NEW YORK, August 25 (Itar-Tass) — The crew of the International Space Station (ISS) may be cut from six to three members if the situation with the launch of Russia’s Progress cargo spacecraft is not clarified for a long time, head of the NASA ISS programme Michael Suffredini said on ...
[Read More]

Big a$$ project of the day...this is what I call a supersized serving!
Check out SMR ground testing the ejection charges on his recycling container Jayhawk, the JayCoke Zero .  You can read all about the build here (direct link to the page showing the full view, with the Coke decal, see post #119). While on the subjects of Jayhawks, SMR has a whole fleet one ...
[Read More]

Insane giant hail
Probably the most intense hail storm I have ever seen.
[Read More]

Zoomie P-51D, update 2
I have attached the the wings, fins and all related structures.  Along the way, I readjusted the cockpit and intake sections.  They looked OK but sat too far forward (stability issue).  Next, I added some sections of FirstFire tubes under each wing.  Either will work as a ...
[Read More]

Modroc to launch in the eye of Irene :eek:
Dr. Zooch reports that, should Hurricane Irene pass over his Rocket Headquarters, he will fly a Titan IIIC into her eye. Wes, I hope you stay safe.  This sounds a little like fooling with Mother Nature to me.  But if you have to be in the eye, you might as well fly a rocket.  (via ...
[Read More]

Science vs. Religion
I think I found a good quote that sums up the incessant conflict between science and religion: "Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind." ~Albert Einstein
[Read More]

Sometimes you're the mountain and sometimes you're the airplane
Attached is a photo of an engine from a B-36 which crashed into mount Franklin, El Paso, TX on December 11, 1953.  Reportedly, the engine is still up there.  ( via )
[Read More]

Zoomie P-51D, update número tres
As you see, I got the silver base coat on.  I probably should have laid on another coat but I got antsy.  Due to Hurricane Irene and Fajitafest, I won't  be able to get back to her until Monday and I have a case of build fever.  Next, I grabbed a Sharpie and highlighted the ...
[Read More]

13mm A Compared to a 18mm A - Again!
Jason (Blackshire on TRF) had brought up price comparisons between the 3 pack of 18mm A8-3 engines and the 4 pack of 13mm A10-3t engines. Currently, a four pack of A10-t engines are $10.29 or $2.57 per flight (retail) Currently, a three pack of A8-3 engines are $10.29 or $3.43 per flight (retail) ...
[Read More]

Design This Spaceship Contest – Time to Vote
Please take a few minutes to review the entries and pick your favorites in the Design this Spaceship Contest. You have until September 7 to visit and cast your votes. The entries are all excellent, so you’ll enjoy reading about them and viewing the photographs.
[Read More]

Zoomie P-51D, update 4
Irene may have kept me from the painting booth that is my back yard, but she didn't stall my progress.  In between preparations for Fajitafest, I managed to press forward. I didn't have black brush on paint, but I did have a jumbo sized Sharpie.  I think they look good enough ...
[Read More]

Hyperion
Credit: NASA / JPL / SSI / mosaic by Emily Lakdawalla
[Read More]

A Saturday Afternoon Well Spent

[Read More]

Model Rocketry Workshop - Zephyr 2011 - IIT Bombay
  Model Rocketry Workshop - Zephyr 2011, IIT Bombay IIT - Bombay conducted Zephyr event on 29th January 2011. Zephyr is the annual Aviation festival of IIT Bombay is a pioneer herald of Aerospace for engineering ...
[Read More]

Model Rocketry Workshop - Kurukshetra 2011 - Anna University
Model Rocketry Workshop - Kurukshetra 2011 - Anna University   3rd - 5th February 2011 College if Engineering, Guindy, Anna University - Chennai Conducted "Kurukshetra -2011" event during the ...
[Read More]

Space Shuttle Atlantis silhouetted against the moon
Canon20d_AtlantisReturn 046.jpg , a photo by Vincent P Greenwade on Flickr. Click through for some additional shots of Atlantis.
[Read More]

The DEW line (Distant Early Warning.)
"The Distant Early Warning Line, also known as the DEW Line or Early Warning Line, was a system of radar stations in the far northern Arctic region of Canada, with additional stations along the North Coast and Aleutian Islands of Alaska, in addition to the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Iceland. It ...
[Read More]

Vintage rocket stamp
 
[Read More]

Fun with magnets!
After a particularly bad experience with BP, I thought there had to be a better solution to rocket recovery than initiating a explosion inside the rocket. I want hot gases to exit the nozzle, not the nosecone! I’ve been playing with several third party solutions. The first was was the Chute ...
[Read More]

The International Space Station May Have To Be Abandoned!
We have had a manned presence in space for the last 15 years straight. But all good things must come to an end. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The International Space Station may have to be abandoned -- just temporarily -- later this year. A NASA official says it's because of last week's ...
[Read More]

Flight of the JayCoke Zero
Flight on a Cesaroni L3150 Vmax, drag separation, tree recovery.
[Read More]

Storm of the century! One killion dead!
After the pornographic coverage of this storm, it seems the craptastic media is unwilling to let go just yet. "38 dead!" is the headline now. (Despite the fact that... there are about 70 million people within 350 km of Hurricane Irene's path. The US death rate is approx 800/100000/year. In the 48 ...
[Read More]

Siberians To Sue Over Toxic Space Debris From Failed Launches
Leaders of an indigenous Siberian ethnic group on Tuesday announced plans to sue over a recent failed Russian space shot that, they claim, scattered toxic rocket debris over their tribal homeland. "Our representatives have met with Moscow attorneys and we will definitely sue," said Maria ...
[Read More]

Hobby Lobby run
Earlier today, I went to HL with a 40% coupon in hand.  Since the rocketry stuff was on 30% sale anyway, I used the coupon for a pack of Testor's clear decal stock.  I'll experiment and hopefully (*) will get decent decals for my Zoomie P51-D.  I didn't get the Testor's clear coat ...
[Read More]

DARPA to fund Interstellar Space Travel
The is the best news I’ve read in a while. Not much money though. Hopefully it will lead to some new technologies or enhance some great propulsion concepts.Do we have any Zephram Cochranes out there? DARPA is Funding Interstellar Space Travel
[Read More]

The BayouRat Is On His Way To LDRS (Large and Dangerous Rocket Ships) Join Us Live
I am headed to Argonia, KS for a week of high flying rockets. Join me as I video blog my experiences. Lots of great stuff. Karie Byron of Myth Busters fame will be there taping a show for the Science/Discovery channel. I'll try and go live from the event but with limited cellular access it may be ...
[Read More]

LDRS in (near) real time
Bayourat Rocketry plans to document this year's LDRS.  He'll try to broadcast live from Argonia  but, if his cell service doesn't cooperate, he'll record a nightly show.  Check out his UStream channel for either live or nightly broadcasts.  Rumor has it, Kari will be b ...
[Read More]

Very quiet around here
The post rate is way down for several reasons, largely because I have been working weekends this summer and have not gone to a single launch. Hopefully I will get in one or two more launches before the end of the year. But not any time soon, check out our launch location after the storm: Pine ...
[Read More]

Dare to Rock
Member : Ken Biba Club : AeroPAC Motor : H180 Altitude : 2500 agl Project Goal : A mini bowling ball rocket with a 2lb mini Elvis Presley "He Dared To Rock" bowling ball. Simply irresistible.    
[Read More]

XPRSso Love
Member : Ken Biba Club : AeroPAC Motor : N1000 Altitude : 45,000' agl Project Goal : Current N single stage record holder. Flying again ... just maybe to get that extra 1k'!
[Read More]

Be Very Afraid
Member : Ken Biba Club : AeroPAC Motor : M1315 Altitude : 20,000' agl Project Goal : 16 lb Bowling Ball Supersonic Dual Deploy 3" min diameter carbon airframe. What more really needs to be said?
[Read More]

A pair of launch site photos
R2K posted this shot of the Pine Island, NY launch site after Irene.  Rowboat required. Here's a photo of the Goddard Spaceflight Center showing the site of the monthly public launch conducted by NARHAMS (in the rocket garden behind the visitor's center).  Original photo found on ...
[Read More]

Two Estes Photon Probes, Old and New
I hadn't planned on buying two Estes Photon Probe kits. I picked up the older one on the left from Ebay pretty cheap. This version #2043 was sold from 1991- 1993. I was at Michael's yesterday buying engines with a 40% off coupon. I saw this new re-issue Photon Probe in a clearance bin. It was ...
[Read More]

New Parachutes for the Jolly Roger
I was prepping my Jolly Roger rocket with two C6-5s for the upcoming Orlando R.O.C.K. launch. There was small white specks all over the upper body. I didn't know where those were coming from. As I was cleaning them off, it finally hit me. I had sprayed a white skull and crossbones on the two black ...
[Read More]

Rocket Gallery: Proton images
Here are two excellent photos of a Proton Rocket I came across today.
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, June 2011
The big article in this issue is about the two huge Saturn 1B's that flew from MDRA back in April.  I have posted lots of info about these projects but, if you want to know what else is between the covers, you'll need your own copy! Other features include: Part 5 of Frank Hermes' ...
[Read More]

Update on the quirks in the Blogger editor
A little over a week ago, I was bitching about Blogger doing silly things with HTML tags both in the editor and the sidebar.  This is an update about the editor weirdness.  I have no basis to see if the sidebar is acting up. So, I was having issues when pasting embedded YouTube clips ...
[Read More]

September 2011
Saturday, September 24 from noon till 4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

Tim the Rocket
Member : Sam Fineberg Club : AeroPAC Motor : CTI K260 Classic Long Burn Altitude : 12,000' agl Project Goal : My first time playing with K's. I have a K2045 to use as a warm up before I try to exceed 12K! Details : Airframe: Performance Competitor 3 Electronics: PerfectFlite StratoLogger Recovery ...
[Read More]

Two Estes Photon Probes, Old and New
I hadn't planned on buying two Estes Photon Probe kits. I picked up the older one on the left from Ebay pretty cheap. This version #2043 was sold from 1991- 1993. I was at Michael's yesterday buying engines with a 40% off coupon. I saw this new re-issue Photon Probe in a clearance bin. It was ...
[Read More]

Blue Origin flies, and rains fire on the desert
Parabolic Arc posted comments and photos from Jeff Bezos about Blue Origin's recent flight activities.  Three months ago they had a successful 'short hop' liftoff and landing flight and, last week, attempted a Mach 1.2 flight to 45k ft.  That went unstable and was aborted by their range ...
[Read More]

Zoomie P-51D, the final update
Well, other than a final clear coat, I guess this rocket is done.  The final trim scheme is a very 'goonie' version, incorporating a V2 rocket girl logo, an MDRA logo, and  numerical designation matching the motor she will fly on. As I mentioned earlier, I bought a pack of Testor's clear ...
[Read More]

Prototypes should be allowed to fail
In the wake of the reports about Blue Origin's crashed vehicle, Clark Lindsey reminds us that new-space companies don't have a monopoly on lander crashes.  That's why they test.  We can be glad that NASA did not cancel the Apollo lunar landings because of mishaps during the program's ...
[Read More]

LDRS Day 1
Wow – I never realized Kansas could look and feel like Mars! Temperature today was 103 degrees, wind gusts of 25 mph, with a consistent breeze filled with dust and dirt ensuring no part of your body or equipment was going unpunished. Because of the Wind, I was a little worried about sending ...
[Read More]

Blue Origin suffers setback
First reported by the Wall Street Journal, Blue Origin lost a spacecraft on August 24th. According to the reports the craft had to be destroyed after control was lost after the craft surpassed Mach 1 at was at about 45,000 feet. Blue Origin is owned by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos. “Three ...
[Read More]

Pegasus
Member : James Dougherty Club : AeroPAC Altitude : 45,000' AGL Motors : Aerotech N-1000, Ceseroni N-58000 CS Project Goal : Test out new Real Flight Systems GPS-TWO rocket electronics && telemetry system. Test out multiple base-station/modem configurations. Test out air-frame and launch ...
[Read More]

Review: Testor's Clear Decal Paper
I ran across some Testor's clear decal stock at Hobby Lobby.  It purportedly is intended to be used with a 'Decal System', which includes clear bonder and some software.  I decided to try it and use what I have: Graphics programs, HP dot matrix printer, Krylon clear coat, and Future ...
[Read More]

September ROCK Launch in 3D
I took some 3D photographs and videos at the September, 2011, ROCK launch. I’m still figuring out how to edit and share them. But, here’s a preview ...  
[Read More]

More of the ROCK Launch in 3D ….
If you have a pair of red/green (anaglyph) glasses, put them on to view this image ...
[Read More]

Vintage kit instructions
Scans of the instructions for: NCR Big Brute; circa the mid 1990's (pre-Estes); my first MPR Pratt D-region Tomahawk; it came with adapters so it could fly on motors from an A8-3 to a G64-10; mine flew on an A8-3, G35-7, and F10-8 (lost) Public Enemy Ultra Baby Fatboy (3"); got my L-1 ...
[Read More]

LDRS-30, Tiki Hut oddroc
IMG_9720 , a photo by megram on Flickr. I had heard about this...er...rocket. Twitter user bayourat was involved and reports it won the oddroc competition. Want...more...details. (And a photo or two of Kari.)
[Read More]

Another shot of the Tiki Hut
Tiki , a photo by trbobrick on Flickr. Remember, if you click through to the owner's album, you might find more related photos. Including one of Kari ;)
[Read More]

ARA Press to publish book on nuclear propulsion
Scott Lowther, of the Unwanted Blog and the Aerospace Products Review , has been the source of many of my posts over the last year or so. Many of these have been about Project Orion (one of my pet subjects) and other proposed nuclear-powered spacecraft. He has been working on a book on the ...
[Read More]

This rocket sucks
Day 247 , a photo by megram on Flickr. At least it could if it had been plugged into an electrical outlet. Yup, it started life as a shop vac.
[Read More]

LDRS 30 Day 2 & 3 : Argonia dirty
Short update… Need to get to bed for the long trip home. Day two was just as hot and dirty as Friday. Local’s told me Argonia Kansas just passed their record for days over 100 degrees. When I got back to the hotel Friday night, I took off my sandals to the ugliest [...]
[Read More]

Full scale Mercury Redstone!
1961 ... 'Freedom 7' first Mercury flight! , a photo by x-ray delta one on Flickr. 1961 ... 'Freedom 7' first Mercury flight!
[Read More]

Fin patterns
In case you have designer's block.  Full size was 8 1/2" x 11" but I shrunk the file size.  These are provided mostly for motivation anyway.  
[Read More]

Scanning more kit plans...NOT
I grabbed my stash of old kit plans with the intent of scanning some of the old ones.  Unfortunately, I found them to be in pitiful shape.  Thinks like fin patterns and marking guides were all cut out and they have their share of paint smudges and dried glue puddles.  I lost ...
[Read More]

Anvils and rockets
Just watch the Discovery Science Channel show on anvil 'tossing' .  The basic idea for the standard competition is to set a 100lb anvil upside down on tamped and leveled ground.  Fill the opening with a pound of black powder.  Put another 100 pounder on top.  Light fuse and ...
[Read More]

The Alpha Mini Book of Model Rocketry
Came with the Sizzler Starter Set. All you needed to get started. Besides the kit, launcher and motors, of course. Sign that safety code!      
[Read More]

Asteroids 1980 - 2010

[Read More]

Mothership hovering over Austin, TX
Credit: Lewis Leibovich/KXAN Austin  
[Read More]

A pair of historic research rockets
(via Aeroman3 )
[Read More]

More historic research rockets
The first launch from NACA's Wallops Island facility.   Rocket to test Project mercury drogue 'chute.    
[Read More]

LDRS-XXX, where are da photos?
A few days ago, some nice photos began to show up on Flickr.  Thanks to the owner's generosity, these were embeddable...and a couple were embedded.  Then they stopped.  Some nice photos are beginning to show up on TRF.  These are not embeddable and I don't really like asking ...
[Read More]

What is a holeum?
http://arxiv.org/ftp/gr-qc/papers/0309/0309044.pdf
[Read More]

More LDRS stuff
Tap, tap, tap.  I'm impatiently awaiting all the photos people have said are out there.  Here are a few more LDRS items from here and there.  There are certainly a lot more than this but I haven't pointed out every 3FNC rocket or long distance launch shot. Dave Hein posted ...
[Read More]

Gumby ARLISS
Members : Peter and Jamie Clay Club : AeroPAC Altitude : 12,000' Motor : M 1419 Goal : To fly as many student projects as possible!
[Read More]

Minerva
Member : Aaron Stanley Club(s) : Lunar, AeroPAC, SARG Motors : TBA Altitude : 25-30,000' AGL Project Goal : To break 20k
[Read More]

Carbon Assault
This photo was her maiden flight, hitting Mach 1.5 on a L935 Imax. Member : Steve Jurveston Club(s) : AeroPAC, TCC, Lunar, Rocket Mavericks Altitude : 14,000' AGL Motors : K300, K1440 L640 dual thrust Web Page
[Read More]

Mach 2 or Bust
Here you see her maiden flight on a N2850 Blue to Mach 2.2 Member : Steve Jurveston Club(s) : AeroPAC, TCC, Lunar, Rocket Mavericks Altitude : 32,000' AGL Motor : AMW 2801 Skidmark Project Note : The 48" vintage Skidmark is a glorious motor. Much titanium sponge spewage to enjoy. I am looking ...
[Read More]

Rock It!
Member : James Sampayan Club : AeroPAC Altitude : 4 to 5,ooo' Motor : H733 Project Goal : Just another gig in the high desert. Will play an encore flight of that classic tune "H73J". Maybe try to shred the solo of that other popular song, "I161W".
[Read More]

Yet more from early Wallops
Recently, reader Artemi pointed me to A new Direction - Wallops Island Flight Test Range The First Fifteen Years .  This 700+ page document is jam packed with photos and info about odd and wonderful rockets.  I have just scratched the surface as I hate reading on-line.  But, I did ...
[Read More]

The BayouRat Has Returned From LDRS Where We Launched A Full Size Tiki Bar On Rocket Motors
I just got back from Argonia, Kansas and the Large And Dangerous Rocket Ship Launch where the Tripoli Louisiana Club. Now known as the "Cajun Coalition". Launched a rocket powered Tiki Bar Hut. It was a most impressive flight to an altitude of 1,000ft. The launch was a success as all 4 ...
[Read More]

God bless 'merica!
After hearing Obama (aka the republican who is called a liberal) proclaim this one nation under god, and end his speech last night as he always does, with a "god bless you" and "god bless" this country... despite the fact that he is obviously agnostic at best (certainly no more religious than G.W. ...
[Read More]

Stupid rocket trick #18
It's been a while since I made one of these posts.  Not that I haven't done anything stupid in between, I just haven't done anything that stood out. Except maybe leaving the ejection charge out on my Big Brute's last flight but that's another story. Today's trick is about decals: Waste a ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, September/October 2011
While the lead article is  on TARC, it is the other articles that I found interesting. Jeff Taylor has a nice build article on the Deimos, a futuristic kit provided by Sirius Rocketry.  The kit features pods on the wings and can fly on 'D' through 'F' power. Looks nice!  Next, ...
[Read More]

Delta X-15, all decalled up
As mentioned earlier, I have the decals on my Hostile Projectiles Delta X-15, the USAF/MDRA version.  I took several photos, all of which are pretty poor quality.  Couldn't decide which to post, so I posted them all!          
[Read More]

Everything You Wanted to Know About Sound in 12 Minutes
I like it when people are smart and creative and humorous and competent and comprehensive.
[Read More]

World rocket pens : H-IIA, Saturn, Soyuz
world rocket pens : H-IIA, Saturn, Soyuz , a photo by trust no one on Flickr. Now, these would make awesome MicroMaxx conversions!
[Read More]

Grail Launch Success
NASA’s GRAIL mission to study the moon from crust to core successfully lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Pad SLC-17B at 9:08 a.m. Twin spacecraft GRAIL A & GRAIL B have deployed and are on their way to the moon. This is 148th  successful Delta 2 rocket launch. ...
[Read More]

Mobile Service Structure roll back
"Time exposure showing the Mobile Service Structure rolling back from the Skylab 4 Saturn 1B on November 15, 1973." [ via ]  
[Read More]

Neil's LDRS-XXX Cow
Looks like it even recovered. Credit: Ray Lapanse .  Click through for more shots.  
[Read More]

Men in space

[Read More]

Mission Acomplished
I got mt L1 certification at Hellfire 16. Worked perfectly. HERE IT IS!!!  On The Pads    
[Read More]

HELLFIRE 16
Hellfire 16 was great. We headed up at about 7 am and got there about 10am on friday. Friday morning was quiet with the largest motor being an N. I was LCO for a while before I was kicked off because it was a Research launch and anyone under 18 was not allowed past the flight line. After flying we ...
[Read More]

Rocket Science 101
I'm going to start a video series on YouTube on basic rocket science. Nothing too complex or too basic; I will be starting with concepts like Newton's laws and gradually get more complicated to describe the motion of a rocket. At the end, I will give an introduction to the actual engineering of a ...
[Read More]

Chinese Successfully Test Their Space Plane To Mach 15 Speeds From 60 Miles Altitude
By Craig Covault Cape Canaveral, Fla.- Details emerging from China indicate the Chinese have likely flight tested for the first time a secret 4 ton winged spaceplane that was rocketed into a 60 mi. high suborbital trajectory for test of reentry systems starting at Mach 15. Continued ...
[Read More]

LDRS-XXX photo update
I am still surprised how few photo galleries I've found.  However, what's there is good!  Ray LaPanse continues to populate his albums . And, ROCKETS Magazine has their mega-sized albums up.  The Saturday album killed my computer, so I still have a lot to look at!
[Read More]

Apollo 12: Proof that lightning really does strike twice
In the latest issue of Apogee's Peak of Flight Newletter , Issue # 295, author Bart Henin describes how two lightning strikes nearly aborted Apollo 12 less than a minute into launch. How things had gone to hell so quickly was anyone’s guess. Mission rules said Apollo 12 should have ...
[Read More]

Good Luck JWST

[Read More]

Belated: K740 C-Star = Must try!
From the June '11 Plaster City launch... I finally got around to editing this simple onboard video: The boost was loud and fast and I think I trimmed the delay to about 15 seconds.  The coast to apogee seems supa long.  I would have dropped in some frame grabs but the source video was ...
[Read More]

JWST saved for at least one year
Discovery.com This will probably be enough time to reach a level of completion that will prevent wholesale cancellation. However, like Hubble, there is still the chance for severe delays post completion.
[Read More]

Belated: L585 with perfect dual deploy!
My fourth and final flight at Plaster City's June '11 launch was my new 4" fiberglass Extreme DarkStar.  I've sort of resisted the 75mm motor class for a decade but now I'm into it.  I ran some calculations and the cost in $/N•s is identical between 75mm and 98mm reloads (~ ...
[Read More]

A cool polyhedric rocket
[Via Ray LaPanse ]     
[Read More]

When Things Go Terribly Wrong. Spectacular Rocket Motor Failure Video
During my recent trip to Argonia, KS and the LDRS rocket launch. I witnessed the failure of a large amateur rocket motor. The motor case ruptured at the thread grooves that were cut too deep and the motor over pressurized showering the area with burning propellant. The rocket was named ...
[Read More]

TIP - Installing a Screw Eye Straight
Did you ever install a screw eye only to find out later it is crooked? It's not really a big deal, but here's a way to get it in straight and centered. Take a few extra moments and mark the center with a light pencil mark. Turn the nose cone and visually check the center from other sides. Adjust ...
[Read More]

Video of 'P' motor CATO at LDRS
Bayourat Aerospace and Rocketry has a video of the CATO of Troj's 'Insane Project'.  That's an impressive array of rocket confetti and showering propellant!
[Read More]

Fork Rocket Ready to Launch
Why would anyone want to do this? To do strength of materials testing on forks, of course! I had no idea how to categorize this post.  I guess it goes under sport rocketry since modroc motors were obviously involved. Fork Rocket Ready to Launch , a photo by WEBstaurantStore on Flickr. ...
[Read More]

Underwater water rockets?
While jumping from video to video, I stumbled across this one from my favorite water rocket site, the good folks at Air Command.
[Read More]

Personal Pages
RocketReviews.com’s Personal Pages are like the site’s biography or “Who’s Who” page mixed with a personal blog. Your personal page provides highlights of the information you have submitted to RocketReviews.com. Each registered user of RocketReviews.com has a ...
[Read More]

TIPS: Cutting Out Parachutes
I've never understood why parachute instructions direct you to cut out the parachute with scissors! I can't cut through the sheet plastic even with my best, sharpest scissors. The thin plastic just folds up between the scissor blades. Set your metal straightedge over the dashed line and cut down ...
[Read More]

Level-2 Certified After All?
I got my new Tripoli Rocketry member card in the mail yesterday, and lo and behold, it says "cert level 2." I tried for level 2 three times last summer, and *supposedly* failed each time. Evidently one of those flights (probably the last one) was not such a failure after all.  
[Read More]

Rocket Science 101 Course Syllabus
  Rocket Science 101 Course Syllabus Professor: Daniel Taylor Hastings                 Aerospace Engineering              & ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2011-6
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD ( MDRA ESL-160) Weather: cloudy, high 60s, wind ~5 MPH Total flights: Today - 4; YTD - 52 Total motors: Today - 4; YTD - 67 The day started poorly with drizzle and Terp-football-induced traffic on the Beltway.  However, once past US-1 it was clear ...
[Read More]

Rocket Science 101: Definitions/Parts of a Rocket

[Read More]

Space Shuttle document scans
My wife stumbled across some of my Space Shuttle memorabilia and I scanned a handful of the items.  I posted one here, and the rest are on Facebook (link is supposed to be public).  
[Read More]

Pulse jet powered amateur rocket flies
Here's a video of  the first flight of a pulse jet rocket.  That's a bit of an oxymoron since it's not rocket powered.  WTH, it looks like a rocket to me.  I've seen lots of videos on home made pulse jets, but I didn't realize they could be built light enough for vertical ...
[Read More]

Sugar Shot 'Q' motor CATO
The Sugar Shot to Space "DoubleSShot" test motor went boom.  It was a 115,000 N-sec Q-motor with over 160 pounds of propellant.
[Read More]

Despite very slow post rate...
... there are still a decent number of visitors to this page every day. Generally they are searching for a few of the most popular terms found here: Liberty rocket 89 Schwerer gustav 50 Explosion 30 High power rocketry 19 Project pluto 14 Gustav gun 10 Sr-71 10 Sr 71 9 Boosted dart 7 Rocket nozzle ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Tampa TTRA September 17, 2011
This weekend was the Buccaneer Blast at the Tampa TTRA monthly launch. It's a two day event, Saturday was the regular club launch, Sunday was for research. We arrived around noon. There was a typical good turnout. This is Brian Urban with his 1/10th scale ASTROBEE 1500 . Brian is a craftsman and ...
[Read More]

"The Shadow"
Hand made fiberglass tubes and nose cone. Custom machined end closures.  Non-pyro piston ejection.  Propellant is dihydrogen monoxide. The Shadow .
[Read More]

Personal RSS Feeds
Links to “Personal RSS Feeds” are listed on each Personal Page. These are links to RSS feeds containing summaries of the latest Builds, Reviews, and other submissions to RocketReviews.com by the owner of the Personal Page. Most browsers now have a way to subscribe to an RSS feed so ...
[Read More]

Russia Denies SpaceX Plans To Dock Dragon Capsule To The ISS In November
MISSION CONTROL (Moscow region), September 16 (RIA Novosti) The U.S. private space capsule Dragon will conduct a flight near the International Space Station (ISS), but docking between them is not planned, Vladimir Solovyov, head of the Russian segment of the ISS mission control center said on ...
[Read More]

Mini-Nuke at LDRSS-XXX
Thanks God it was a dud...parachute came out and everything.  My kind of rocket.
[Read More]

Raisin' Maize Build Part 1 Parts
Here's an appropriate build for the Fall season. A flying Corn Cob, or as I named it Raisin' Maize ! This is certainly not my idea. First Flight Hobbies came out with variations on their Corn-Roc design in 2008. I haven't seen the Corn kits being available for two years. First Flight was emailed ...
[Read More]

Fat Crayon bank dreams...or nightmares
I'm starting to think about what I'm going to do with the 28" long, 5.875" dia. Crayon bank that Skycopp gave me.  I want to do something out of the ordinary.  So, what else is new? The most conventional idea I've had thus far is to make something like the APSoda rocket that flew at ...
[Read More]

Sleep well, Marylanders, DCists, and Virginians (update: duck!)
This may not be new news, but I just checked the projected UARS track and it appears the only passes that are even visible on the 23rd through the 25th won't bring the debris field over our area.  Disclaimer: The tool I used may assume a nominal orbit and the re-entry process may cause a ...
[Read More]

Out Of Control Satellite The Size Of A School Bus Is Going To Re-Enter Earth's Atmosphere And Crash!
UARS, a NASA satellite the size of a small bus, will re-enter Earth's atmosphere later this week producing a brilliant fireball somewhere over our planet.  Best estimates place the re-entry time during the late hours of Sept. 23rd over a still-unknown region of Earth. Observers ...
[Read More]

Raisin' Maize Build Part 2 Nose Cap
I really didn't know how to tackle this. A nose cone (or nose cap) has to be cut into the top of the corn cob. About an inch and a quarter down from the tip, my knife tip was stabbed straight into the cob body along the edges of the kernels. The blade tip went in to about the midpoint. Following ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets Now Available from Sirius Rocketry!
I'm proud to announce a new vendor carrying Odd'l Rockets products: SIRIUS ROCKETRY Click on the logo to go to the Odd'l Rockets page. Be sure to check out all three Interogators, the U.S.S. Atlantis, the S.S. Cestris and one of the largest Saturn V kits out there!
[Read More]

100 Subscribers!
My YouTube channel has just crossed 100 subscribers. I post all kinds of videos from rockets to programming. Check it out! http://www.youtube.com/user/DTHRocket
[Read More]

Raisin' Maize Build Part 3 Reaming the Interior
I don't know if this is how First Flight Hobbies accomplished this. Here's the way I cut a hole for the BT-5 tube. Get a 1/2" diameter brass tube and file the edge sharp. If the brass tube wasn't sharpened, the cob drilling would be very difficult. Push and turn the sharpened brass tube from the ...
[Read More]

Raisin' Maize Build Part 4 Cleaning Up The Bore
Here's what the tube will look like coming up from the bottom through the top. You can see the cut Styrofoam inside the sharpened brass tube end. Wrap some 220 grit sandpaper around a BT-5 and remove some of the excess Styrofoam from the inside edge of the upper cut hole. To give yourself a better ...
[Read More]

Raisin' Maize Build Part 5 Nose Block Gluing
Gluing the adapter into place will be tricky. Use epoxy to glue the adapter into the hollow in the nose cap. The internal BT-5 has not been glued in the cob yet. Right now, it is a little longer than it needs to be. Slide the BT-5 into the cob body. Slide the adapter into the top of the BT-5 tube. ...
[Read More]

Old launches
I was recently asked to go through some old photo’s, and found a bunch of old launch photo’s from loved, but long forgotten rockets. Here are a few:   This was a Rocketry Warehouse Halloween special which included a ‘pumpkin’ parachute.. This is an upscaled Es ...
[Read More]

Out Of Control Satellite Will Probably Miss The United States
UARS RE-ENTRY UPDATE: NASA's massive UARS satellite remains on track to re-enter Earth's atmosphere during the late hours of Sept. 23rd. The fireball will probably miss North America, according to latest estimates of UARS orbital elements, but almost every other continent falls under a possible ...
[Read More]

NASA's Current Program Called An "Embarrasment" By Neil Armstrong! "The Space Program To No Where"
WASHINGTON — Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, told lawmakers Thursday that the end of the space shuttle era has left the American human spaceflight program in an "embarrassing" state. "We will have no American access to, and return from, low Earth orbit and the ...
[Read More]

Raisin' Maize Build Part 6 Cutting The Internal Tube
While the epoxy dries, the nose cone was taped down to be sure it stayed closed. After all was dried, the nose cap was removed with the coupler glued in place. The internal BT-5 was slid through and above the main body probably 1/2" higher than where it will be glued. The nose cap and coupler were ...
[Read More]

Physics in the news
I have nothing rockets to post about, so.... Well, despite rumors to the contrary, hardhats may yet be required. "U pdate for 4:30 p.m. ET Sept. 23: NASA revised its forecast since this report was first posted to note that the Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite was not sinking as quickly ...
[Read More]

Raisin' Maize Build Part 7 Tissue Glue Putty
This model does not have an engine hook. The engine will stick out the rear by 1/4". To keep the engine in place at ejection, a single wrap of masking tape will go around the BT-5 tube (extending out the back) and around the exposed nozzle end of the engine. TIP: To make sure the masking tape wrap ...
[Read More]

Raisin' Maize Build Part 8 Nose Weight
The plywood ring was pulled from one of my Odd'l Rockets Sputnik kits. The diameter was sanded down to fit tight in the coupler. A small hole was drilled for the screw eye attachment. The plywood disk was glued in place against the clay weight. I picked out a large screw eye. When in doubt with an ...
[Read More]

RIP UARS (updated)
NASA confirms that UARS went down in the Pacific over night.  And, a sat-watcher in Blaine, WA reportedly has the shaky-cam video to prove it .  Zoomed out footage showing in going to pieces would have been cooler. Update:   I posted this early on my way out of the house.  A ...
[Read More]

Build Session!
Warthog hosted another great build session.  It was fun to talk rockets, eat pizza, and look at what the other attendees were building.  I made good progress on my Big Brute replacement.  I cut the body tube to length, slotted said tube, installed the motor mount that was recovered ...
[Read More]

Raisin' Maize Buils Part 9 Adding Color
This was the only small Styrofoam corn cob left in the Hobby Lobby store. It was red with black highlights, pretty boring and not how I remember "Indian Corn" when I was a kid. With a Q-Tip dipped in orange paint, I painted random kernels. After that dried, some yellow was sprayed on a paper ...
[Read More]

Raisin' Maize Build Part 10 Fin & Lug Gluing
I did my best marking the body for three fins. A corn cob doesn't fit any available fin alignment guide. Slots were cut for the fins using my aluminum angle as a guide. The fins were cut from 3/32" thick balsa. I had to go back and widen the slots. Not a big deal - the fit was very tight and ...
[Read More]

RSA-2048
25195908475657893494027183240048398571429282126204032027777137836043662020 70759555626401852588078440691829064124951508218929855914917618450280848912 00728449926873928072877767359714183472702618963750149718246911650776133798 5909570009733045974880842840179742910064245869181719511874612151 ...
[Read More]

Raisin' Maize FINISHED!
This was a fun break from the norm. After the pictures were taken, it was prepped with a A10-3t engine, the only engine I would use in it. The Raisin' Maise has been flown twice. First as a test and more recently at the last TTRA Tampa launch. It was a spectator favorite.
[Read More]

On this date…Soyuz T-10-1
On September 26th 1983 the Launch Abort System on the Soyuz was put to the test on a real launch. The Soyuz T-10-1 was poised for a launch to send the crew to Salyut 7 space station then suddenly at T-90 fuel spilled from the base of the rocket and caught on fire. The crew [...]
[Read More]

Psychedelic rocketry, man
AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles on a cart ready for loading on the flight deck of the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) operating in the Red Sea during 'Operation Desert Storm', January 17, 1991 , a photo by aeroman3 on Flickr. AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles on a cart ready for loading on the flight deck of the ...
[Read More]

Hmm, I smell a new project
a dummy fires out of a mock-up of a cockpit during testing of the escape system for the LTV A-7BE Corsair II at Naval Weapons Center (NWC) China Lake, California , a photo by aeroman3 on Flickr.
[Read More]

Finishing up the 29mm Estes Big Daddy
I originally planned to fly this rocket on the Quest F12 BP motor.  Since it now appears that this motor will never exist, I decided to finish it up. This merely involved permanently affixing the plywood bulk plate in the nose cone and giving it a couple of coats of Krylon clear gloss.  ...
[Read More]

Dr. Robert Wilson, Fermilab, and the Webb Telescope
Scientific American's Cocktail Party Physics blog posted an interesting article about particle physics pioneer Dr. Robert Rathburn Wilson - Protons and Pistols: Remembering Robert Wilson .  If you're at all interested in science history, it's worth your while.  I transcribed the ...
[Read More]

China Takes A Big Leap Forward In Manned Space Technology As There First Space Station Module Rolls To The Launch Pad
China’s human spaceflight program is gearing up to take a highly significant “Leap forward in Space” after their “Tiangong 1” prototype space station was rolled out to the remote Gobi desert launch pad at the countries Jiuquan Satellite Launching Center in Gansu ...
[Read More]

Simulating square rockets
In Apogee Newsletter #296 , Bruce Levinson begins to explore how to simulate square bodied rockets, such as those offered by New Way Space Models .  He starts with a standard round rocket with the same frontal area.  This gives a 'best case' in terms of performance because it doesn't ...
[Read More]

Just when you thought it was safe to take off your hard hat
Phil Plait relays NASA's final word on UARS : It came down "over a broad, remote ocean area in the Southern Hemisphere, far from any major land mass."  Despite a 300-500 mile long debris field, it all landed safely out to sea. Of even more interest, Phil notes that the German satellite ...
[Read More]

The Sun
More Here
[Read More]

DVR alert: Rocket City Rednecks
Rocket City Rednecks debuts tonight at 9PM EST on the National Geographic Channel . Meet the self-proclaimed Rocket City Rednecks. They’re five “backwoods” guys from the rocket city: Huntsville, Ala., home to NASA’s Marshall Flight Center and the birthplace of the ...
[Read More]

Primer woes
I've been filling/sanding/priming/sanding by Big Brite clone and need to make a note to myself: Next time, buy something other than Rustoleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover 2x .  I have had this problem before, but only remembered after I repeated my mistake.  That is, the primer develops ...
[Read More]

Missile test footage from chase plane (inc. impact)

[Read More]

BALLS 18 is around the corner
BALLS 2011 - 'normal' waiver 112.5k', 150k' with BoD approval, higher with a L-2 waiver (?). 'Nuff said!  
[Read More]

Changes to rocket motor shipping regulations
Below the page break, you'll find the National Association of Rocketry's (NAR) statement on the termination of DOT's rocket motor shipping exemption. Several weeks ago the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) decided that, based on a 2010 change in some obscure shipping safety test ...
[Read More]

Man, 26, charged in plot to bomb Pentagon using model airplane
From CNN This guy was probably crazy, and I have doubts about the success of any bomb small enough to fit on even the largest RC planes (perhaps 10 lbs?) but my first reaction was "good thing he wasn't planning on using rockets..."
[Read More]

Rocket City Rednecks moonshine rocket post mortem
If you haven't seen the episode and are worried about spoilers, hit your back button now.  However, I won't spoil it much since the attached promo photo pretty much already did that. The idea is that they had a few days to build a moonshine and nitrous oxide powered rocket, including ...
[Read More]

Letter from NAR President, Trip Barber
Several weeks ago the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) decided that, based on a 2010 change in some obscure shipping safety test procedures, it should terminate a special shipping exemption that it has granted since 1978 to companies and vendors who ship model rocket motors and igniters. ...
[Read More]

FSI E60-4 motors
FSI E60-4 motors , a photo by stefan_e_jones on Flickr. Click through to see other vintage FSI products.
[Read More]

SpaceX sprouts landing gear
This is a great little video. Enjoy! “Reusability is key to the dramatic cost savings that will enable advancements in human exploration of space. The Dragon spacecraft is a fully reusable and SpaceX is working toward the goal of delivering the world’s first fully reusable launch ...
[Read More]

Moonshine motor (updated)
Update: Someone on TRF pointed out that the flight motor may have been a RATTWorks Tri-bid.  That actually makes a lot of sense to me.  If so, they may or may not have used their hooch. Skeptics. They will ruin yer fun every time. :) In between watching the other new episodes of Rocket ...
[Read More]

Design This Spaceship Contest Winners
Visit the Design This Spaceship contest page to view the winning entries in the contest. Thanks to all who entered and voted in the contest. All the entries are amazing!
[Read More]

Print Flight Cards at Home
A new feature of RocketReviews.com is an online tool for printing Flight Cards at home. The Flight Cards tool generates a PDF file which you can download and print before a launch. To save time at the launch, you can enter your name and other information that so that the cards are pre-filled with ...
[Read More]

Suicide by rollercoaster
Euthanasia Coaster from Julijonas Urbonas on Vimeo . "The three-minute ride involves a long, slow, climb -- nearly a third of a mile long -- that lifts one up to a height of more than 1,600 feet, followed by a massive fall and seven strategically sized and placed loops. The final descent and ...
[Read More]

Adding Ping Pong Balls Part 1
Artist and rocket designer Shrox has been given credit for being the first to use ping pong balls in rocket designs. Take a look at the FlisKits Alien8 kit to see how they can add to a great design. Click HERE Cutting holes in a ping pong ball can be problematic. Take your time and you can get a ...
[Read More]

PayloadBay.com's Online Rocketry Tools
I received an email a couple of days ago reporting a problem with one of the Online Rocketry Tools at PayloadBay.com. It turns out that all of the tools were broken due to an error in restoring a backup of the web site. I’ve fixed the problem and the tools are now working again. In the ...
[Read More]

Simulation of a portion of the Universe at some stage of evolution
Bolshoi Simulation from UC-HPACC on Vimeo . This is part of a much larger simulation that suggests the evolution of the Universe is understood pretty well at this point. I have doubts about it, but it is sure looks pretty. "The standard explanation for how the universe evolved after the Big ...
[Read More]

BALLS 20
Internet connectivity seems to be alive and well in or near the Black Rock Desert. I've seen several reports, but this is the first eye candy. The Bayourat posted this video of a 3-stage,  N-N-M flight.  Hard to see on my small screen, but the up part looked good!
[Read More]

October 2011
Saturday October 22 from noon till 4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

Adding Ping Pong Balls Part 2
Here the cut "cap" is being cut free from the ping pong ball. As mentioned in the last post, don't bend and pull the cap to be cut off. Continue around the cut circle until it comes off on it's own. Because I cut inside the pencil line, the hole diameter will have to be widened slightly. I'm using ...
[Read More]

Uncle Mike's Rocket Shack and Odd'l Rockets!
Odd'l Rockets are now being carried by Uncle Mike's rocket Shack! You can check out the site listing HERE Think ahead to the holidays - Odd'l Rockets kits and accessories are a great stocking stuffer! A big welcome and thanks to Uncle Mike!
[Read More]

Smokey Sam launch
Although not embeddable, here's a nice launch shot of a Smokey Sam .  From there, you can find several other launch shots. The Smoky Sam is a small, solid foam rocket that is used to simulate actual missile attacks during training exercises. Here's of a bank of them. Smokey SAM , ...
[Read More]

Big Brute clone completed
Well it's ready to fly.  As expected, it's a little heavier than the original but should be stable on a 'G' reload without extra nose weight.  The final touches included seasonably orange paint, orange rail buttons with black bolts (on the other side), and the compulsory MDRA sticker.
[Read More]

I Smell a Project

[Read More]

UP! Cup - Up Grade
All new Odd'l Rocket UP! Cup kits will be including vinyl tape decor. You can easily decorate your UP! Cup just like the launch picture shown here. If you have an older release of the UP! Cup kit that didn't include the vinyl trim, send me your address at: oddlrockets@bellsouth.net and I'll send ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Orlando R.O.C.K. Section October 1, 2011
We were expecting winds up to 15 mph but things were relatively calm! The launchers were set up on the West side of the field. Many new fliers cut spill holes in their parachutes. I understand only one model was lost. Jim and Francine Carter joined us from Titusville . Jim owns the Propa ' Place ...
[Read More]

New Rocket! (the hobo)
I completed "The Hobo" a few days ago. It is a PML Phobos I got for my birthday. Here is the stats: Diameter: 2.1in Weight: 32oz unloaded Fins: G10 (fiberglass) Tube: "Quantum Tube", a grey, hard plastic. Motor mount: 38mm Motor Retention: Threaded rod & nut First flight will be on a G80 ...
[Read More]

Balls 20 rocket launch - N to N to M three stage rocket
This looks like 50,000 ft or more.
[Read More]

DIRECT Project 2 - Leviathan-140
Via Clark Lindsey comes news of the latest idea from the DIRECT team: the Leviathan-140 Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle . The '140' in the name represents the number of metric tons that it would put in LEO orbit.  Its two stages would both be reusable and would feature a unique multi-chamber ...
[Read More]

100k ft is tough after all
Ben Brockert posted on Twitter that none of the 11 teams at BALLS who trying for John Carmack's 100k prize were successful.  About half didn't launch.  The Bayourat has a YouTube video of Jeff Taylor and Curt Newport's entry shredding. The video didn't show any detail so I didn't look it ...
[Read More]

Adding Ping Pong Balls Part 3
Remove the ball from the tube. Set the ball down on the cut hole. The hole will keep it from rolling away on a flat surface. Set your tube on the top of the ball, center the tube between the tick marks you made in the last step. Draw another line around the tube with a sharp pencil. Score, remove ...
[Read More]

Rocket Science 101: Basic Math

[Read More]

Jakob’s Hybrid R10000 Rocket Launch
Jakob’s Hybrid R10000 Rocket Launch , a photo by jurvetson on Flickr. Steve Jurvetson notes that the up part was great but the airframe went "over the hills and far away."   This was Jeff's 7th attempt at an 'R' hybrid.  Lots of engineering and persistence went into this ...
[Read More]

X-37B OTV-2 update
Space.com notes that, as of last week, OTV-2 had been in orbit over 206 days on its way to its full 270 day mission.  Although its mission is still top secret, the Air Force will say that it is doing well and they are learning a lot. At a recent conference, Boeing reps noted that the X-37B is ...
[Read More]

BALLS!
Eye candy provided by daveyfire .
[Read More]

Model Profile - Dr. Zooch Saturn 1B
I've yet to fly this one, the Dr. Zooch Saturn 1B. This 1B is very detailed but in a manageable size. The tower is made from dowels and thin wire. Wrapping the eight Redstone tubes took some time, but well worth the effort. The engine bells have wrapped thread for the "hat band" details. I've seen ...
[Read More]

Balls 2011
Back from Balls, report here.
[Read More]

Video of Jeff Jakob's huge R10000 hybrid flight
This may not super-duper exciting to the casual observer since it is fairly far away and much of the burn is only audible. BUT, the significance of this launch won't be lost on sport rocketeers. Steve incorporated his stills at the end of the actual video segment.
[Read More]

The Ladies of Rocketry
My Girls have been after me to start a local rocketry club. I’ve been resisting, as I know it will be a lot of work, and they are all already over-scheduled. There is no denying the fact that girls and rockets are a natural fit.        
[Read More]

Review: Zoomie P-51D
Recently, TRF user Daddyisabar posted a thread on his Estes SpaceShipOne to P-40E kit bash.  I am a big fan of the SpaceShipOne as a subject for kit bashing (ref. the Goonball XL5 and SpaceShipSqrt(-1) ).  I loved the P-40E and had another SpaceShipOne.  So, I decided to try a ...
[Read More]

R-10,000 hybrid flies again!
After many years of struggling, this team has once again launched a giant R hybrid. It may not seem like much, but this is a HUGE rocket and it is 'bound to break at least 10 miles altitude. "Jakob’s Hybrid R10000 Rocket Launch An amazing launch for Jeff Jakob and team. This nitrous and ...
[Read More]

Spaced out hump day news
Via io9 , I learn of two new sun-studying satellites.  The ESA's Solar Orbiter, to be launched in 2017, will orbit closer to the Sun than any other satellite.  Since it is orbiting the Sun, it will be able to measure particle ejecta and magnetic fields around the Sun's poles. It will get ...
[Read More]

More Links to Rocketry Kit Instructions Added
I recently added many new Rocketry Kit Instruction Manuals to the Rocketry Plans and Instructions database of RocketReviews.com. Included are about a dozen direct links to PDF scans of some Estes model rocket kit instruction manuals that I have not seen posted on any other rocketry web sites. ...
[Read More]

TTRA September Launch Photographs
My photographs from the September, 2011, TTRA launch have been added to the RocketReviews.com Photo Album.
[Read More]

Iowa State University Professor Wins Nobel!
In my Classical Physics II class, we took a day to talk about superconductors. Fascinating stuff. But on this one slide in the presentation we see this pretty picture: So apparently this guy named Dan Shechtman won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry today. This is kind of a big deal, because how ...
[Read More]

Video shows fireball and Zenit booster
A wide field meteor camera at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center recorded this spectacular meteor breaking up in Earth's atmosphere on Sept. 30, 2011, 8:37 p.m. EDT. Also visible is a star-like object moving slowly toward the upper middle of the field of view -- the upper stage of the Zenit ...
[Read More]

More videos from the Balls 20 rocket launch
"Boosted Dart Project at BALLS 2011 Rocket Launch. Motor casing burn through, dart airframe seperates from tail cone, Recovery harness seperates, Booster comes in ballistic, Interstage lands under parachute. All parts landed down range." And below, the onboard footage: "Onboard HD video of BALLS ...
[Read More]

Centuri Finless Rocket Plans from Jim Z's
Here's a fun one: http://www.spacemodeling.org/JimZ/finless.htm I've had great luck with the 13mm BT-5 based Hot Rod Rockets Bell Bottom, I wanted to make one for 18mm engines. I remember seeing this one in the mid 1970s and decided to give it a try with a few changes and updates. I'll start the ...
[Read More]

The Boys are back in town...Public Enemy Fatboys are back!
Way back in the early 1999, I was just getting back into rocketry (again).  This time around there were computers and the Internet.  I scoured the Net for information on high power rocketry (HPR) and found Thrust66.com (now, via the WayBackMachine).  It was packed with Public ...
[Read More]

NASA Has Chosen The Michoud Assembly Facility To Construct Major Components Of Its New Heavy-Lift Rocket
Sen. David Vitter PR – Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. David Vitter made the following statement congratulating NASA for choosing the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans East to construct components of its new heavy-lift rocket. Earlier this month, NASA unveiled the design of the ...
[Read More]

Current build
Is stalled.  Needs a nominally 11" tall action figure, Barbie, GI Joe, skeleton, or whatever.  Must have articulating hips and knees.  Budget for this item is $1.06.  Yard sale time?
[Read More]

Printable Flight Logs
You can now download and print a flight log for each rocket in your “Rocket Gallery.” The flight logs are intended to be printed on standard 8.5 x 11″ paper which can be hole-punched to store in a notebook. The flight logs include a summary of the flights already entered and ...
[Read More]

Crowdsourcing the next great UAV
Via the Wired Danger Room : Darpa is holding a contest to design the military’s next spy mini-drone. So far, the entrants include a flying pogo stick, a sail that lands on mosques, and an unmanned laser shooter. Those are some of concept videos submitted to UAV Forge , a Pentagon ...
[Read More]

Shooting thick bulletproof glass with various rounds

[Read More]

More from BALLS XX: Video of the 'R' hybrid plus
I picked this video up from a post in the SugarShot email list. Good coverage of the Jeff Jakob's 'R' hybrid and another nice launch too. In the message, the poster mentioned there were a couple of sorbitol/diesel flights. Never heard of those, but if you can fly tar I guess diesel might work too. ...
[Read More]

Pitsco School Rocket from Ebay Lot
This was one of those Ebay purchases I made a low bid on, but never expected to win. For just over $20.00 I got ten of these kits, quite a bargain for the BT-50 tubes, nose cones, parachute kits and engine mounts. No instructions, engines or igniters were included. There won't be a blog build on ...
[Read More]

View the Most (and Least) Popular Reviews
The Top Reviews link under the Features menu displays a list of the “Top” (most viewed) 25 reviews at RocketReviews.com. it also displays a list of the 25 “Bottom” (least viewed) reviews. If a review that you wrote appears in the “Top” list, please feel free ...
[Read More]

EXCELLENT BALLS video - Qu8k flies to 121k ft (updated)
Here's a really good , but long, video detailing the flight of Derek Deville's Qu8k (pronounced "Quake"). It includes some build details including the totally amazing complement of electronics, multiple launch angles, even more amazing on-board footage (although I skipped through the final ...
[Read More]

Model Rocket of the Week: Astro-1
Many rocketeers from the golden age of rocketry were brought into the sport through beginners kits. The most famous kit was probably the Estes Alpha but many chose the Centuri Astro-1. The Astro-1 appeared for the first time in the 1969 Centuri catalog. Centuri designed the Astro-1 to be an ...
[Read More]

BALLS 20 - Carmack Prize Attempt - High Altitude 120,000ft. Rocket On-board Video
On September 30, 2011 at 11:08am, Derek Deville's Qu8k (pronounced "Quake") launched from the Black Rock Desert in Nevada to an altitude of 121,000' before returning safely to earth. Above 99% of the atmosphere the sky turns black in the middle of the day and the curvature of the earth is clearly ...
[Read More]

BOATLIFT - An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience

[Read More]

Apollo 15 - Saturn V
Just scanned from my stash of NASA and NASA-related memorabilia.  
[Read More]

Pitsco School Rocket from Ebay Lot Part 2
That small screw eye was turned into the center molded lug. The eye is recessed inside the shoulder of the nose cone, a first time builder would have a hard time tying the thin shock cord string on the eye. The inset picture shows the fit of the nose cone in the BT-50. The base of the cone ...
[Read More]

Don't mess with Air and Space
A group of protesters, possibly affiliated with the Occupy DC movement, reportedly tried push past security with signs and other paraphernalia that isn't allowed inside.  DC and Park Police were called and there may or may not have been macing of said protesters.  The upshot is the ...
[Read More]

Derek Deville Qu8k
I'm usually a low power guy (Es and Fs were high power once, right?) but hold great respect for high power rocketry, especially when it is so well done. Check out the videos and website listed below. Derek Deville posted his attempt at the Carmack Prize at BALLS. This was a Q engine launch. Some ...
[Read More]

Carmack Prize Attempt – Qu8k at Balls 20
I have been meaning to write about this for days. This is the incredible Carmack Prize Attempt launch of the Qu8k rocket at Balls 20. This is one of the more exciting amateur launches reaching 121,000 feet and travel up to 2180 mph. It goes to show you how as individuals near space is within ...
[Read More]

Climax!
TMN-2719.jpg , a photo by goseid on Flickr.
[Read More]

Coming Soon! 3/16" Raise Spring from Odd'l Rockets
Here's the latest product test from the Odd'l Rockets accessories: The 3/16" RAISE SPRING! The original 1/8" launch rod Raise Spring is at the top, the new 3/16" Raise Spring is at the bottom. I've had plenty of requests for the larger springs, they should be available soon, keep an eye on the ...
[Read More]

Drones and nuttin' but drones
Here's a photo of the Navy's new, 'UFO-like' X-47B UAV.  Coming to an aircraft carrier near you in 2013. More info can be found here . Follow the post tag to see the music video. Since originally posting, I found a top view (below).  Has wings, not quite UFO-shaped. I'm sure you've heard ...
[Read More]

Qu8k Rocket - Launch to near space with full recovery!
(Short video) (Long video) This rocket was a Q 18,000, 8 inches in diameter, and 167 inches long. Burnout was 3,200 fps on this 320 lbs rocket, and it took about a minute and a half to reach apogee. Recovery was only 3 miles downrange. This project shows how important good onboard video is to ...
[Read More]

Update on the new North Coast Rocketry
Matt "ManofSteele" Steele has been posting some updates on YORF. He had planned on an October 1st launch but reports he is behind because he was in Europe for business (my hear bleeds) and was set back by Darrell Mobley's passing (I have no idea why that delayed him). Here is the latest news: ...
[Read More]

Rocket Science 101: Basic Physics of Rocketry

[Read More]

Simulate (more) angular airframes in RockSim
In last month's Apogee newsletter, RockSim-meister Bruce Levison instructed us on ways we might simulate square rockets in RockSim.  I this month's edition, #297 , Bruce extends his work to other angular cross sections, from a triangle to a dodecagon.  Past 12 sides, I suspect there ...
[Read More]

Tablet test post
Just playing around with the HP tablet that my son bought when HP got out of the business. Having some data entry issues. Basic typing isn't too bad but editing is a pain and I haven't figured out spell check. Blogger kept giving me 404 errors when I tried to log in but then all of a sudden I was ...
[Read More]

Supersonic skidmark rocket
There is no sound in the world greater than a big skidmark motor.
[Read More]

Two stage N to M rocket - 49,000 feet at Balls 20
"The launch of my two stage rocket MinFluous at Balls20. 49K ft., Mach 2.7, CTI N3180 to Kosdon M1450, 84 lbs. All parts except one camera recovered. No structural damage."
[Read More]

Estes Pro Series Nike Smoke to debut
There are posts about this forthcoming kit both on TRF and YORF .  It will debut at the iHobby show in Chicago in about a week.  Specs: 29mm mount, F26 to G80 motors, 41.75" tall, 3" OD, 500g without paint or decal, nylon 'chute, blow molded NC, 2-part through-the-wall plastic fins ...
[Read More]

The Most Amazing Video I Have Ever Seen
Go full screen at 1080p!
[Read More]

Cosmic rocket - toy rocket
Found this little guy at the dump over the weekend. It has a rubber nose, and comes as part of a kit designed to run on baking soda and vinegar: Amazon listing. Any ideas on how to modify it for 13mm bp motors? The rubber nose would allow for a two way ejection system, or perhaps a rear ejection? ...
[Read More]

eBay: Vintage Centuri Buck Rogers Starfighter and Centuri Laser Lance
As I browsed eBay looking for “weird, wacky, or way-cool” listings, I came across two kits which may be of interest to collectors and others. Both are offered by the same seller who seems to have discovered a stash of old Centuri Buck Rogers kits. Centuri Buck Rogers Starfighter ...
[Read More]

SStS Motor Casing
I have purchased a piece of tube to fabricate a new motor casing for the Sugar Shot to Space DSS effort.   The DSS motor and test setup were among the finest I've ever seen, it's a shame that the motor failed but the team has a good idea of the failure mode and how to avoid it.  ...
[Read More]

Defending the redneck
Well, I just checked back in with the TRF threads ( #1 and #2 ) about the Rocket City Rednecks and found that Dr. Travis Taylor, aka the Ringleader , has joined and is giving more info about the show.  Well, and defending it too.  The TRF posters have been pretty much united in their ...
[Read More]

Model Profile - Dr. Zooch Titan IIIC
Here's another great build and great flier from the Dr. Zooch line. The silver nose cones are painted with aluminum. It's not as shiny as silver paint, but after handling and a few flights, silver paint get dulled quickly. When you fly this one, be sure the (removeable) flame fins are turned so ...
[Read More]

Have You Ever Wondered What The X-37b Has Been Doing On Orbit?
It’s called NanoEye and it’s basically a prototype for a tiny class of spy satellite that the Army hopes to develop. The 20 kilogram NanoEye is meant to be cheap, maneuverable and able to take high-resolution pictures for small ground units in combat — kind of like the micro ...
[Read More]

SpaceX test Merlin engine at new test stand
Here is a great photo of a Merlin engine test at the brand new dual test stand in McGregor, Texas. The company purchased the McGregor, Texas, testing facilities from Beal Aerospace.  
[Read More]

If I were 2.72 miles tall...
...the view might look something like this: Here's the onboard video from my M1230 Imax flight this last Saturday at Roctober/Lucerne Dry Lake (best in 720p, full screen)(note the ill-fated desert beetle scaling the igniter just before the flame deluge): This was my first solid, high-altitude ...
[Read More]

Red Glare XI
Per Bob Utley: Wanted to let you know that Red Glare XI will be November 18-20, 2011. You can register now on-line and get a room at the Sleep Inn under Red Glare XI for the discount rate.
[Read More]

LAUNCH! TTRA Tampa, FL October 15, 2011
October 15th is the first day when the Summer heat seems to let up a bit. Humidity was low and comfortable, but the winds were gusting up to 15 mph. Here's John Mack's TRI-LATERAL chad staged model. Three naked engines on the first chad stage, two B6-4s on the outside with a C6-0 in the center. A ...
[Read More]

Bah
Yesterday, my motivation to drive and hour and a half each way to launch rockets fizzled.  I saw the projected wind speeds and decided not to go.  Murphy says they will be mild, which is good for those who did venture forth.  Also, I only really wanted to launch one rocket - my ...
[Read More]

Eclectic Menagerie Park - Texas Pipe Supply
A huge armadillo, Snoopy, King Kong, and rockets, oh my! The Eclectic Menagerie Park was created by the owners of Texas Pipe several years back as a way to give back to the community. The art work displayed on this page is located at Texas Pipe's main facility in Houston Texas. It faces ...
[Read More]

Air and Space Magazine alert
Someone of TRF posted that the November issue of Air and Space will have an article on TARC, entitled The Lodi Rocket Rebels .
[Read More]

Effect of long-term high pressure CO2 on acrylic
"I left my supercritical CO2 chamber charged up with 750 psi liquid CO2 (not supercritical) for about a week. I then depressurized the chamber, and opened it. At first, the acrylic seemed fine with just minor surface crazing. After a few hours, I was surprised to find the acrylic had deformed in a ...
[Read More]

Phobos grunt - things are getting grunty around here!
Roscosmos.ru
[Read More]

Spaceport America officially opens
According to Richard Branson’s blog , Spaceport America officially opens today. “The first astronauts to join us on Virgin Galactic flights will be there with us, along with our Virgin Money Australia and #spacecheetah competition winners.It promises to be a momentous occasion and ...
[Read More]

Titebond Molding & Trim Glue Test Part 1
On the rocketry forums, builders had raved about how well it filled gaps and thicker, non-shrinking fillets. I tried Titebond Molding and Trim Glue before, my results weren't as good. The problem was, I was smoothing a Molding and Trim Glue fillet the same way I would a fillet of Elmer's White ...
[Read More]

Titebond Molding and Trim Glue Part 2
Recently I decided to give it another try: I went to the Granger's website to find the glue. It was in stock, but there was none at the Orlando warehouse. I didn't want to pay $8.00 shipping on a $4.00 bottle of glue. I called Lowe's again. They found it in the store. I asked them to hold two ...
[Read More]

MAKE salutes Mike Dorffler
The MAKE Magazine's blog features Mike Dorffler, creator of the Estes Cineroc, who passed away last year.  The author reminisces about his rocketry days, including the 1970 Estes catalog, Mike, and his Cineroc. Along the way he points to the catalog scan on Ninfinger and Rocketry Planet's ...
[Read More]

Five stage solid motor rocket reentry test video
This is a very cool video posted over at TORD. It appears to show the assembly and flight of a five stage rocket, possibly reentry tests to prepare for the Atlas ICBM warheads. It reminds me of the X-17 series of rockets, but those rockets did not have so many fins on each stage, and were also ...
[Read More]

Halloween is looming, so it must be time for a ZOMBIE POST
A few days ago, season 2 of The Walking Dead kicked off.  I am a big fan of this show.  The scene where our favorite group of survivors hid under cars to avoid a herd of zombies was intense.  There was also plenty of gross zombie head bashing.  Just because I'm a fan, it ...
[Read More]

Titebond Molding and Trim Glue Part 3
I'm building the Quest Striker AGM and the Estes Mini Honest John right now. The Striker fins got a single Titebond Molding and Trim Glue fillet (top picture) the HoJo got multiple layers of Elmer's white glue. While many builders have had success with the Titebond M&TG, I didn't see any real ...
[Read More]

Pi calculated to 10 trillion places on a desktop pc
This is most impressive because it was run on a home PC that, though beefed up in some areas (nearly 100 gigs of ram, 44 tb of HD space) is still recognizable as a pc. I recall running pi on my computer to thousands or millions of places (one ten-millionth as far as this.) Pi is mathematically ...
[Read More]

University Student Launch Initiative -- We Made It Again!
Our proposal was accepted, so Iowa State is now one of 42 universities competing in USLI. The University Student Launch Initiative (USLI) is a NASA competition for universities across the country to design, build and launch a high-power rocket to an altitude of 5280 feet (1 mile). The rocket is ...
[Read More]

Ballistic Chicken Insanity
Ballistic Chicken Insanity , a photo by Sascha Grant on Flickr.
[Read More]

Satellite Broadband Just Got Infinitely Better Thanks To The Launch Of ViaSat - 1
A Proton M rocket roared of the pad last night at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. It carried an amazing commercial satellite. The ViaSat-1. The ViaSat-1 is capable of providing up to 40MB download speeds and 10MB uploads to the North American continent. Including Alaska and Hawaii. It is ...
[Read More]

How hard can it be?
This is both the title of a National Geographic Channel series and a rhetorical question about navigating their website.  Surrounding the heated discussion about the Rocket City Rednecks , I forgot to look for the rocket episodes on the title show.  Luckily, Clark Lindsey reminded ...
[Read More]

INCOMING! (ROSAT update)
The DLR website provides us the latest update on ROentgen SATellite (ROSAT) :  Reentry is estimated to be between October 22nd and 23rd; 30 individual pieces weighing a total of 1.7 tons may survive to impact; the debris trail will extend some 80km along the track. Remember, the 1:2000 ...
[Read More]

JSC's consolation prize: Parts of Pad 39B
Space.com reports that  NASA's Johnson Space Center received the 65-foot (20-meter) long orbiter access arm and its integrated "white room," an environmentally-controlled chamber.  The components came from Shuttle Pad 39B and hosted more than 50 crews over two decades of oper ...
[Read More]

The mystery 5-stage rocket has been identified!
An anonymous reader identified the 5-stage rocket in the video that I posted about earlier in the week: This appears to be an Aerolab Jason Argo E-5 -- see http://www.rocketryonline.com/jimball/alway/eighteen/jason.jpg
[Read More]

SStS motor casing
  This new casing is a bit longer than the previous casing that I made and it really dwarfs my lathe.  It's coming along nicely though.  In the top photo you can just make out the Dremel attached to the tool post, it holds a #1 center drill that I use to mark the hole ...
[Read More]

A close look at supercritical carbon dioxide CO2
"I built a pressure vessel from aluminum and acrylic, and filled it by placing pieces of dry ice inside. The dry ice melts under high pressure, and forms a liquid and gas phase. When the vessel is heated, the CO2 becomes supercritical -- meaning the liquid and gas phases merge together into a new ...
[Read More]

The most advanced point-and-shoot digicam
Since I last posted about the Lytro "Light-Field" camera , the details of the product are out and they are taking advance orders for shipment early next year. The camera is a small rectangular aluminum prism, with an f/2 zoom lens and a 2" square touchscreen. The controls include a power button, ...
[Read More]

Ramjet of the day
Found via DRB's Feel Good Issue #4 :  A Leduc 0.22-01, fitted with a Turbomeca Atar D.3 turbojet, 1956 - more history here )  
[Read More]

Batter Up Build Part 1 Parts
Yeah I know - the Estes POP FLY rocket was too cute for many. Still after reading reviews on Rocketreviews.com, many say it was fun to try to catch the ball at recovery. I got my bat and ball for $1.00 at the Dollar Tree store. The bat handle looked to be a close fit for a BT-20. The bat is just ...
[Read More]

Liftoff! First Ever Soyuz Launch From South America
The first Soyuz has lifted off from French Guiana, initiating a 3-hour 49-minute inaugural flight for Arianespace’s medium-lift launcher that will orbit the initial two spacecraft in Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system. Soyuz departed the Spaceport’s new ELS launch ...
[Read More]

P 10,000 to N 4,000 two stage rocket
A new thread is up about a typically insane two stage flight from Robert DeHate. Check out previous posts here. "Launched 9/30/2011 at noon, Black Rock Desert, NV 2-stage P10000 to N4000, all composite airframe and fins. 12.5ft tall, 185 pounds on the pad. Altitude ~80K (no GPS data recovered yet, ...
[Read More]

Batter Up Build Part 2 Drill and Interior Tube
A BT-20 was centered over the end and traced around with a fine point Sharpie pen. Using a new blade, the interior of the BT-20 diameter circle was removed. If this circular cut fits the tube well, it should give enough support. There is no way to insert any centering rings inside the body of the ...
[Read More]

Model Profile Dr. Zooch Atlas Agena
On the Zooch website you are reminded: "This kit is NOT for beginners- nor is it for people who don’t bother to read the text." The cardstock flares around the nozzles will take a little more time but are do-able. I've flown this one many times with great success. The flame fins were painted ...
[Read More]

New documentary film “American Rocketeer” to debut at Caltech
Frank Malina, Theodore von Karman, Jack Parsons and Tsien Hsue-Shen are among the men cast the story of the beginnings of JPL. In a new documentary by Blaine Baggett called “American Rocketeer” the story is told of this group  and the beginnings of JPL. Link to great ...
[Read More]

JREF’s TAM 9 meeting in Las Vegas - panel discussion
TAM Panel - Our Future in Space from JREF on Vimeo .
[Read More]

More Schwerer Gustav and Dora images - Railway guns
High Explosive Weight of projectile: 4.8 t (4,800 kg) Muzzle velocity: 820 m/s Maximum range: 48 km Explosive mass: 700 kg Crater size: 30 ft (10 m) wide 30 ft (10 m) deep. AP Shell The main body was made of chrome-nickel steel, fitted with an aluminium alloy ballistic nose cone. Length of ...
[Read More]

Batter Up Build Part 3 Kevlar and a Coupler
With the bat body being over 18", I had to couple two lengths of BT-20 to reach from bottom to top. I only had a ST-7 coupler in my spare parts box. The ST-7 tubes are a little wider than an Estes BT-20. It was split and the edges sanded down on my sanding block with some 220 grit. It was sanded ...
[Read More]

Batter Up Build Part 4 Nose Cone Shoulder
I found a plastic nose cone shoulder from a Starlight nose cone. It's base was traced around the ball with that fine point Sharpie. Like on the bat body, the hole was widened with a sharp knife. I had to use epoxy to glue the shoulder in. The interior BT-20 was cut to extend 1/8" out the top and ...
[Read More]

New documentary on the early days of rocketry at JPL - "The American Rocketeer"
I saw a post about this a while back but since it didn't seem to be available here, I didn't mention it.  But now, I feel the need to keep up with the Joneses.  As usual, Clark Lindsey does a great job gathering links...so I swiped his whole post (in the name of journalism :roll ...
[Read More]

Batter Up Build Part 5 Locking Rings
I cut a 1/4" length of ST-7. This was glued over the back end of the extended BT-20. This locked the tube onto the handle of the bat. An engine block was pushed into place with an engine casing. The engine will extend 1/4" out the back, beyond the ring just glued in place. There is no engine lock ...
[Read More]

Cleaning Up - Post Launch Part 1
I try to keep my launcher and controller clean, but it does require some maintenance after a launch. At the launch site, I'll wipe all the black residue off the blast deflector with a paper towel. When I get home I'll clean it up a bit more. This is a cheap, soft brass bristle brush. You can buy ...
[Read More]

Cassini does it again!
Titan, Dione, Pandora, and Pan. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
[Read More]

Boost glider launches from Wallops, circa 1952
Here's another cool, long, worthwhile, historic video from NACA/Langley/Wallops: Rocket Model Flight Tests B-58 Program (the NASA Cultural Resources videos can't be embedded).  It's really interesting how the NACA engineers apparently bolted two rockets together and attached a B-58 model on ...
[Read More]

Another airplane model on the tip of a rocket
0.13-scale Rocket Boosted Model of the McDonnell F4H-1 launches from Wallops
[Read More]

Homework for my readers
The NASA Cultural Resources (NasaCRgis) YouTube Channel has turned out to be a treasure trove of historic aviation (mostly) and rocket (some) videos.  I'm out of time and energy to search more right now.  If you find any good ones (other than the three I just posted about, please ...
[Read More]

Northern Lights seen in Potomac, MD!
Via Space Weather : AURORAS IN THE USA--NOW! Northern Lights have spilled across the Canadian border into the contiguous USA. Observers report auroras as far south as Arkansas , Tennessee , Missouri , Kentucky , Indiana , Maryland , New York , Ohio and central California. The display was caused ...
[Read More]

Batter Up Build Part 6 Fin Design
I thought I'd have some fun with the fins. A piece of paper was set next to the bat handle to get an idea of a workable size. The Estes Pop Fly had clear plastic fins. On a themed rocket like this, I wanted themed fins. After looking online, I found some baseball cards. they were set side by side ...
[Read More]

Cleaning Up Post Launch Part 2
Take the kinks out of your controller lead wires by folding a paper towel, pinch it over the wire and pull the wire through. Don't pull the wire near the controller body, you don't want to pull on the inside connections. Here's the wires after taking out the kinks and loosely coiling them. Don't ...
[Read More]

Videos of the rocket-boosted XFY-1 Pogo
Upon further digging, I found videos of the rocket-powered aerodynamics testing of  0.133 scale rocket powered Convair XFY-1 "Pogo" models. I previously have posted a couple of still shots of the Pogo-equipped rocket but the videos show a lot more detail.  I am still surprised to see a ...
[Read More]

Rocket guts!
The AIM-9R Sidewinder , a photo by skyhawkpc on Flickr. The AIM-9R Sidewinder
[Read More]

Future of Aerospace Rocket Flight Camera Footage
"Future" rocket flight camera footage from the July 30, 2011 United Launch Alliance Intern Rocket Launch. ULA Interns Rock-It! United Launch Alliance (ULA) Future of Aerospace rocket: United Launch Alliance, Ball Aerospace Interns and High School Students Launched Colorado's Largest Rocket, ...
[Read More]

JP Aerospace sets airship altitude record (updated)
In a press release sent to Clark Lindsey , John Powell of JP Aerospace announced that their Tandem airship successfully flew to 95,085 feet. With two balloons and two six foot propellers, ground controllers put it through a series of maneuvers. After one balloon burst, the second was released and ...
[Read More]

Batter Up Build Part 7 Fin Skins
Here's how the baseball cards will fit over the 1/16" balsa. Notice the square fold over the leading edge of the balsa. The root edge tabs are the gluing surfaces to the bat handle. The interior balsa was cut a little large and will be trimmed off after the skin is glued and dried. The balsa was ...
[Read More]

Blogging the return of NCR
You should be able to find all the latest info here . So far, nothing that hasn't already been mentioned here. That could change at any time.
[Read More]

Recap of How Hard Can It Be's "homemade rocket" episode
This post is mostly real-time notes taken while watching....spoilers ahead!  It was a fun show and I recommend you watch it.  If you can't or already have, read on! The stated goal goal was to build and launch a rocket to space in three weeks.  They started by demonstrating  ...
[Read More]

2,025 mph 38mm carbon fiber rocket!
"38mm carbon fibre mach madness rocket, flown to 18,000ft on an Aerotech J570. Max velocity was 2970ft/sec, or 2025mph. Recovered undamaged 2km from the launch site. Mach 1 was broken less than 100ft off the pad, max velocity reached 2.0 seconds after launch. 112G's were pulled at liftoff." 112 ...
[Read More]

Recap: Rocket City Rednecks "Double Barreled Rocket"
Another spoiler-laden post based on my notes.  A laptop and the ability to pause and rewind shows in real-time  are key to compiling info while watching! Thanks to the World Series, my regular Wednesday night shows were either preempted or are reruns. So, I decided to watch the new ...
[Read More]

Better Up Build Part 8 Contact Cement and Fins
After the fins are dry, the overhanging balsa was trimmed off. Here's the fins ready for gluing. I'll be using contact cement to glue the fins to the plastic bat handle. If you've never used contact cement be ready for a quick grab! Contact cement is applied to both surfaces being joined. In this ...
[Read More]

Coupler Tip from Jeff Gortatowsky
This was one of those things I never thought about, but is important especially with the new (tight fitting) red Estes couplers and quick grabbing glues. TIP: Put several wraps of tape around the coupler where it should stop. Then twist in with one motion. The tape lets you get aggressive and ...
[Read More]

Nazis in Space
As the buzz increases over the cloud sourced (crowd sourced) 2012 movie release of the Nazi space epic “Iron Skies” , its time to look again at how close the Nazis came to having a space presence. Time Magazine: How a Movie About Nazis from Space Got Made Iron Skies - *** ...
[Read More]

R-10,000 hybrid part two: How do you find an R rocket?
From a private plane.
[Read More]

Batter Up Build Part 9 Contact Cement and Fins
Here's the first fin on the handle of the bat. Remember, for contact cement to work, both adjoining surfaces get a brushed coating. Let the wet cement dry until it is dull, it should be dry to the touch. Position carefully before pressing the parts together. The quick, strong grab will surprise ...
[Read More]

Cleaning Up Post Launch Part 3
An Email from Andrew Ballard: Another way to keep things looking clean is a can of dry lube. Especially if you start when your parts are new. The idea is similar to using Pam cooking spray on pots and pans. I use this industrial type on a 1010 rail launcher. It goes on dry to the touch, non ...
[Read More]

Misbehaving Hard Drives and Backups
A problem with the file system on one of the web server’s hard drives caused RocketReviews.com to be down for about 12 hours recently. The operating system detected an error writing to one of the hard drives so it marked the drive as “read-only” to avoid more errors. Ironically, ...
[Read More]

Are two N motors enough for space?
It is always shocking to see how much altitude the pros (NASA, NACA, others) have gotten with motors in the M to R range. Yet within our hobby we routinely see R motors fail to break 100,000 feet, and even performance O motors struggle to pass 50,000 feet. The Super Loki Dart, something like a ...
[Read More]

"Large And Dangerous Rocket Ships" Hosted By: Kari Byron
Come see us fly some very large and odd rockets. In the wildest, fastest, most exciting hobby on the planet! As a member of the "Cajun Coalition" team from South Louisiana. We built a full size Tiki Bar Rocket for the "Odd Rocket" competition. So tune in and cheer us on as we reach for the sky. ...
[Read More]

Rocket nosecone math
+   =   + To explain, I used the nose cone from El Tubo Loco for my Big Brute clone. The foam board fin can on the Carrot Top was looking ratty, so I remounted the carrot to fit the El Tubo Loco ...
[Read More]

Lander work at MSFC
Clark Lindsey updates us on the status of robotic landers at the Marshall Space Flight Center: The Robotic Lander Development Project at Marshall Spaceflight Center has been doing some Lunar Lander Challenge style test flights with their Mighty Eagle prototoype: NASA Robotic Lander Test Flight ...
[Read More]

Batter Up FINISHED!
Yeah, I know - it's a green bat! I don't care, it was just built for fun, something different at the group launch. Just over 27" tall and 3.75 oz (no engine) It'll fly with B6-2, C6-3 or C6-5 engines. It should be a big hit with the kids. The Batter Up has been flown twice since the build was ...
[Read More]

Engine Hook Idea from Greg Poehlein
Recently a member of the OldRockets@yahoogroups.com was asking about an engine hook that seemed too short for a newer Estes E engine. Greg Poehlein responded back with a great new idea of putting a reverse bend in the top of an engine hook. Thu, October 20, 2011 1:15:23 AM[OldRockets] Re: Estes ...
[Read More]

Rocketry

[Read More]

Estes E12 certified!?!
The following motor has been certified by NAR Standards & Testing for general use as a Model Rocket Motor effective September 29, 2011. ************************************* Estes: E12-0,4,6,8 24mm x 95mm 27.24 Newton-seconds Total Impulse 33.29 Newtons Peak Thrust 11.17 Newtons Average ...
[Read More]

Model Profile Dr. Zooch Atlas Agena
On the Zooch website you are reminded: "This kit is NOT for beginners- nor is it for people who don’t bother to read the text." The cardstock flares around the nozzles will take a little more time but are doable. I've flown this one many times with great success. The flame fins were painted ...
[Read More]

Titan III Research and Development 1967 USAF
"Describes characteristics and capabilities of Titan III launch vehicle and its components. documents assembly of Titan III at Cape Kennedy and preparation for launch. also explains Titan's versatility in carrying a variety of space vehicles." The Titan III was essentially a Titan II (a 2-stage ...
[Read More]

October launch!
a few weeks ago we had our UROC October launch. Simon was unable to make it so I took Kade instead. I flew my "Hobo" on the G80 skid. There were lots of great flights. All photos were taken by Kade.   WATCH VIDEO HERE!   BYU Rocket on a K550W ...
[Read More]

Minor Updates
Just added a small write up for Balls 2011 and added a page for a new rocket Shovel Ready.
[Read More]

How good are your speakers?

[Read More]

Here's my little Halloween post. Boo!
My Jack-O-Lantern didn't turn out as well as planned.  Probably due to lack of planning.  So, I'll start with Space.com's gallery of spacey lanterns . Here's the STS-114 punkin carved by Liz Warren. While talking about the ghost of the Space Shuttle, check out this video.  Crank up ...
[Read More]

SpaceVision 2011
This update is late in the coming, mainly because of brief and puzzling start-up problem with my computer, but I'm back up and running now and ready to post. The Iowa State Space Society is a chapter of the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space organization, which has a national ...
[Read More]

Five inch target rocket at China Lake's museum
Five inch target rocket , a photo by skyhawkpc on Flickr. Interesting rear view. I've asked the poster for its designation/name.
[Read More]

Throwable panoramic camera ball
This ball is covered with many small digital cameras. One toss up, and it will take a 360 by 360 degree spherical image of the world around it. I think this would be great as a rocket payload if it could have a timer and take a picture at altitude. Or how about an image every few seconds on the ...
[Read More]

Update on new German motors and the Estes E12
Via TRF : German model rocket distributor and manufacturer Robert Klima ( Raketenmodellbau Klima GmbH ) will offer 18mm, 24mm and 29mm in both 70mm and 95mm length.  The propellant is termed "white powder" and is pressed like BP.  One goal is to get full class impulse from the motors ...
[Read More]

Throwable ball cam
R2K found this video on what may be the ultimate rocket camera payload. The ball is covered with cameras and generates a 360 x 360 degree view of the world.
[Read More]

The Sagan Series – Part 8 – Gift of Apollo
The whole series is here: The Sagan Series
[Read More]

Kick Sat
"Would you like to have your own spacecraft in space? I'm Zac Manchester, a graduate student in Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University. Over the last several years a few collaborators and I have designed, built, and tested a very tiny and inexpensive spacecraft called Sprite that can be built ...
[Read More]

Fat Crayon Bank progress
Will fly on 29mm.  Centering rings, nose cone core, and nose cone shoulder made from 2" Styrofoam.  One ply thrust ring will also hold the motor retention stuff.   Maybe I'll make a PVC retainer if Warthog is good enough to share the parts and techniques he used.  (He ...
[Read More]

An Editorial Summary Of The LDRS Show
An Editorial  By: Ken Good "For five days, more than 2,000 rockets burst into the sky with a billow of smoke, racing thousands of feet straight up in a matter of seconds. In fact, the FAA has no choice but to divert all air traffic around the entire event!" Hmmm.. OK, right. That blurb is ...
[Read More]

CWF Filler Mix Ratio for Body Tube Seams
I've never had great luck filling body tube seams with Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Filler or C.W.F. About this time last year I tried to find a good mix ratio of CWf and water. Here's the post from last year HERE. A good brushable, sandable mix turned out to be: 2 1/2 parts CWF to 1 part water This ...
[Read More]

New Air Command YouTube Channel
Air Command Water Rockets has set up a new YouTube channel.  This will consolidate their videos from all across the web into one easy to find place.  The new ones will go there and George will begin populating the channel with the older ones. http://www.youtube.com/user/AirCo ...
[Read More]

Launch is a go for this weekend!
Preparing for the last launch of the year. The motor collection is still pretty big, hopefully quite a few of them will be gone by next week. 3x D15-4T 1x F12-5J 1x F52-5T 2x F240-VX 1x G53-5FJ 2x G76-4G and 7G 1x G125-R 1x G131-SS And a bunch of D and smaller Estes motors. The keychain camera ...
[Read More]

CalTech Target Rocket
I previously posted a photo of the business end of this rocket. The poster didn't have many details and said it was known as the CT target rocket . Tonight, I decided to look further and found both another view from the same photographer as well as a .pdf with some details. This was the first ...
[Read More]

New MicroMaxx Offerings from Quest
I received a parts order from Quest today. In the box was a full color flyer advertising "Affordable Model Rocketry for Groups" Featured is a new "All Inclusive Class Pack" of 12 tumble recovery MicroMaxx models, launcher, controller, 12 engines and igniters. These rockets have Alpha style fins ...
[Read More]

MLRS demo

[Read More]

The reason we have away cells
Here's a video of a full scale Phoenix model that gets ignorant on an 'O' motor. Luckily, the carnage stayed safely away from the crowd. It is believed that the rocket had flown but this was bigger (i.e. heavier) motor and the flier had concern about its stability. This is hearsay but I think it's ...
[Read More]

Tales of the STIP!
Geeked on Goddard reports on project at the NASA Science and Technical Information Program (STIP) intended to remind us about its on-line archive of technical reports .  STIP is creating faux pulp magazine covers for various projects from NASA's history, starting with the 1966 technical ...
[Read More]

Re-launching LAUNCH
Mario Perdue announces that he has cleared up the old LAUNCH Magazine website and has loaded .pdf files of the last full year of the print magazine.  The site is ready to publish new material!. LAUNCH Magazine On-line
[Read More]

1964 ...green dawn lift-off!
1964 ...green dawn lift-off! , a photo by x-ray delta one on Flickr. Would need clear fins!
[Read More]

All glass steam engine
"This Model of Stephenson's Steam Engine was made in 2008 by master glassblower Michal Zahradník. Highlights: * The crankshaft is glass. The piston is glass. The counterweight that makes the wheel spin evenly is glass. * There are no sealants used. All is accomplished by a perfectly snug ...
[Read More]

Aerobee pellets - shaped charges on sounding rockets
This project, launched just days after Sputnik 1, was the inspiration for my N-prize project proposal: Explosively formed projectile on a rockoon. Simply put, this was a modification of a project based on launching grenades with captured V2 rockets. I don't doubt that, like Project Farside , there ...
[Read More]

Aerobee rocket launched metal pellets into interplanetary space
On his HPR blog , R2K relays the interesting story of the first attempt to launch an man-made object into interplanetary space. His post has additional discussion. See also http://calteches.library.caltech.edu/181/1/zwicky.pdf . "On October 16, 1957, the Aerobee rocket was launched by the US ...
[Read More]

... Atlas options!
... Atlas options! , a photo by x-ray delta one on Flickr.
[Read More]

Launch report pt. 1
The launch today was good, with very clear conditions and moderate to low winds. I was able to fly the Wildman Drago on an F240 and then on a G125. These two first flights each included a digital camera, and videos were recovered both times. They must be processed (minimally) and uploaded to ...
[Read More]

Launch report pt. 2
Skip to :30 for the action (I am too lazy to edit the video right now.) My half-finished Wildman Drago flew on a G125 red CTI motor carrying a small digital camera, a $12 unit found all over Ebay as a "security camera" or keyring camera. My first ever video, posted a few months back, was on a ...
[Read More]

Rocket Science 101 -- Quiz 1

[Read More]

Launch report pt. 3
The following images are from a Wildman Drago on a G125 red motor from CTI, the video can be seen below. Starting from near apogee, there is a pretty good view of the farms. The ejection charge was once again visible through the airframe. The nosecone appears in this frame ...
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 1 Parts
This is another one of those "one day" rockets. I first saw it in the Centuri catalog when I got started back in 1969. I thought it was a big model back then. A three engine cluster and almost two feet long! Back then it was expensive at $3.50. That was a lot of newspapers to throw. It still ...
[Read More]

Derek Deville interviewed on Slashdot
Derek answers questions about his Carmack Prize attempt at BALLS XX.  (hat tip to Clark Lindsey )
[Read More]

YU55, government statement of alien life, EAS and a conspiracy theory!
I have reason to believe that our government has been in contact with an alien civilization.  It is unknown whether Washington has been infiltrated by alien agents or is merely hiding this fact from the public "for our own good." The web has been abuzz with news that asteroid 2005 ...
[Read More]

Watch the 2005 YU55 flyby live
The SLOOH Space Camera will provide live coverage of YU55 starting at around 4PM EST.
[Read More]

Arduino controlled Saucer
I built this saucer for the annual MWP 9 Night launch. Since the night launch has a limited FAA altitude ceiling, traditional rockets just don’t cut it. The RGB LED’S on the saucer are controlled by an Arduino controller which I can control with my phone via Bluetooth. Cool to change ...
[Read More]

Phobos grunt launch footage
Today is the day for Fobos-Grunt aka Phobos Grunt aka Фобос-Грунт (I think?) to launch on a historic mission to dock with Phobos and then attempt to return a sample to the Earth. This is among the most daring unmanned missions of all time. Here is the video footage of the launch from a ...
[Read More]

Saturn 1 and Defender Comparison
It looks like the Defender took it's design profile from the Saturn 1 series from the early 1960s. The white fin strips running between the black engine tubes give the illusion of the alternating black and white Redstone engines. The lower checkerboard roll pattern is in the same location as the ...
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 2 Balsa Parts Prep
Sure you can build a rocket right out of the bag, but I try to take some extra time and clean up the pieces. This is the largest balsa reducer from the Defender kit. The base of the shoulder is pretty rough and pitted. Here's the same shoulder after sanding with 220 grit on a block. The outside ...
[Read More]

Phobos grunt stuck in parking orbit
Sadly the spacecraft has not even made it to a Mars transfer trajectory. There is a small chance that it can be repaired and make the Earth escape burn, but time is running out because it will both lose the launch window, and run out of battery power. The odds were always stacked against this ...
[Read More]

Aerotech vs. CTI
                                  Aerotech vs. Cesaroni (up to 54mm motors)    For those of you who dont know what both ...
[Read More]

J-2X engine tested for 500 seconds
"Another key component of NASA's new Space Launch System, the J-2X rocket engine, is put to a 500-second firing test at NASA's Stennis Space Center on Nov. 9 The J-2X rocket engine will help carry the Orion spacecraft and its crew, cargo, equipment and science experiments beyond Earth orbit. The ...
[Read More]

At Armadillo, the rockets are beginning to look more like rockets
Credit: Phil Eaton/Armadillo via Clark Lindsey  
[Read More]

On Super Balls and composite solid rocket fuel
File this under interesting trivia.  It appears that the classic Super Balls of my childhood were (are?) mostly comprised of polybutadiene, with the other components being used to cure the polymer, speed up the cure process, etc.  The rocketeers out there will recognize that hyd ...
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 3 Parts Prep
The wide end of the other reducers were sanded even with their corresponding body tube diameters. The interiors of the tube ends were treated with thin CA applied with a Q-Tip. The CA was applied about 1/4" down from the top. Sand the dried CA with 400 grit sandpaper to remove any roughness. Use ...
[Read More]

Hobby rocket motors used to boost satellite
Credit: Aerospace Corp Rocketry Planet reports that the grains and nozzles from four AeroTech E28T RMS motors were installed to boost a picosat in orbit. The P ico S atellite S olar C ell Testbed 2 (PSSC-2), built by the Aerospace Corporation for the US Air Force, was ...
[Read More]

http://www.sorac.org/
Wanted to visit a rocketry page from way back. This is what I found: http://www.sorac.org/ Boo, hiss.
[Read More]

1/9 Scale Delta II Rocket Launch – Plaster Blaster 10

[Read More]

Titan II

[Read More]

What's new at JP Aerospace?
Rockoons and high-altitude airships
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 4 Engine Tube Gluing
The three engine mount tubes were set side by side and flush at the bottom. From the top, you can see the three tubes are slightly different lengths. They'll have to be the same length for the centering ring to be glued on top. The two taller tubes were sanded down with 220 grit on a block. Before ...
[Read More]

11.11.11
On facebook, Ryan suggested I post this one today! If you've seen it before, my apologies. If not, it was kind of funny planning and building it. This was my entry for the 2009 Elevate 11 contest sponsored by EMRR. The contest was for the eleventh anniversary of EMRR and a tribute to the Apollo 11 ...
[Read More]

Happy Veteran's Day (and Binary Day too)
My thanks to veterans past, present and future!  My flag is flying, is yours? As for the Binary Day part, look at the post date/time!
[Read More]

500 second J-2X test at Stennis Space Center
NASA completed a 500 second burn of the new J-2X rocket engine recently at Stennis Space Center. The J-2 has a wonderful lineage that was pinnacled by its succesful use in the Saturn V S-II and S-IVB stages. “The new J-2X is designed to be more efficient and simpler to build than its Apollo ...
[Read More]

{insert sound of a record scratching to a stop}
I have been playing with fin styles for my big crayon.  From a typical 4 fin arrangement to 3/4 fins with winglets like the Jayhawk to a near minimum diameter ring fin like some people use on water rockets.  I had wanted to keep it very light, but it needs big fins, nose ...
[Read More]

Convair Little Joe II
Convair Little Joe II , a photo by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives on Flickr. The SDASM just uploaded a ton of space and rocket scans. Navigate forward and backwards(mostly)from the linked photo to see the latest uploads.
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 5 Paint Plan
After reading reviews on the Defender build, others had suggested painting the interior engine mount tubes before gluing everything together. Looking at the face card illustration, the three interior tubes are all black. I should mask the gluing surfaces and pre-paint this tube assembly. The lower ...
[Read More]

A NAR Section Newlsetter Done Right!
If you are ever looking for inspiration on how a section newsletter should be produced, check this out: http://www.masa-rocketry.org/planetonline.htm This is the website to go to with a good cup of coffee. Great reading, great graphics and a great resource. "At NARAM 50, the MASA Planet was ...
[Read More]

Dauphin full scale on an O5100 and two L motors
"Team-O-Canada launched a full scale model of a French sounding rocket called the Dauphin on one CTI O5100 and two L2100's."
[Read More]

News coverage of JP Aerospace "space chair" footage

[Read More]

2011, the year of uncontrolled reentries
First UARS, then ROSAT, and now Phobos-Grunt. The apparently dead Russian Mars probe is now expected to reenter sometime around November 26th. That's 3 tons of hardware, ten tons of fuel and oxidizer (unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide), and a small amount of radioactive ...
[Read More]

Coming to Red Glare XI
DSCF0535-13.jpg , a photo by Nick DeBrita on Flickr. Nick DeBrita's 1/6 scale Mercury Redstone: 100 lbs; Predicted alt: 8,000' Motors: 1x M2400T, 4x K1100T
[Read More]

BayouRat Rocketry Releases New Mid-Power Rail System
http://bayouratrocketry.com WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF ANOTHER NEW PRODUCT! OUR MID-POWER RAIL SYSTEM! Are you tired of 1/4" rods wiping your mid power rockets all over the sky. With today's high thrust motors you need somthing more sturdy. We have the answer. The Mid-Power ...
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 6 Adapter Filling
There are two reducers and one nose cone on the Defender. To get a good, clean seam between the end of the balsa and the tube brush on filler just a little bit over the edge where the tube will sit. Notice I've pulled the tube slightly away from the reducer before brushing on the filler. Then push ...
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 7 Adapter Filling
After the filler has dried, I used a sanding block with 400 grit sandpaper to smooth it out and bring the filler almost down to the balsa surface. Sanding with the block guarantees a smooth conical surface. the top edge of the block is taking down the lip formed by the raised filler in the last ...
[Read More]

Inverted Space Shuttle booster concept
Scott Lowther presents  this "interesting inversion" of the Shuttle stack, having two tanks for the SME's and a single SRB.
[Read More]

Rocketry Euphemisms
Ben Brockert of Armadillo Aerospace offers some great rocketry euphemisms in a talk at SpaceVisions 2011. When things go wrong there are many terms rocketeers use to describe the situation. Many of my readers will be aware of CATO (catastrophic motor failure) but what about these: Rapid Unplanned ...
[Read More]

Meteor Jr.
Scott Lowther has posted photos of the Meteor Jr. spaceship concept designed by Darrell Romick of Goodyear Aerospace, circa 1957.  The model is on display at the NASM's  Udvar-Hazy Facility. Scott has more photos and you can read about it here .
[Read More]

Productive Sunday
I'm a week late on my Plaster Blaster 2011 entry but I'm still waiting for a few elements to come together.  I'll foreshadow a problem with an otherwise great M840 drag race flight last weekend: my Slimline motor retainer ring would not unscrew due to an impact with some harder soil. ...
[Read More]

Model rocket onboard footage

[Read More]

.50 BMG Flechette anti-tank round - DU (Depleted Uranium)
"The auctioneer claims that it is only one of twelve built and the only other known example resides at the Ford Benning sniper school. The .50 BMG Flechette rifle project was contacted out by DARPA in 1960′s. The projectile consisted of a saboted depleted uranium dart weighing 11.9 gram ( ...
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 8 Centering Ring and Kevlar
I found it easier to center and line up the CT-KV-60 centering ring with pencil tick marks on the ring and body tubes below it. It's very easy to glue this ring to one side so use some reference marks to keep it centered. White glue was used to fill in the gaps at the top of the ring and body tube ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Bunnell Blast November 13, 2011
The Bunnell Blast is a two day event, November 12 and 13. I wasn't able to attend Saturday's launch. The day was busy finishing up with a night launch. Here's some highlight's of the Sunday activities. Gary (the Dolphin) Dahlke flew the two stage DIRTY HARRY'S MAGNUM FORCE with a K454 in the ...
[Read More]

Photos of the night
A snowy launch from Kazakhstan and a waterfall, moonbow, and aurora from Iceland .
[Read More]

The Eye of Sauron as seen by STEREO

[Read More]

Expedition 29 Preflight in a snowstorm
Expedition 29 Preflight (201111140002HQ).jpg , a photo by nasa hq photo on Flickr.
[Read More]

The Clear Lake Project
Here is an interesting photo from the Rice Space Science Department, circa the early 1960s.  Most interesting is the map that clearly identifies Rice University as the owner of the property that became the Johnson Space Center.  On a related note, this is the 50th ...
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 9 Fin Strips
The fin strips are white and go between the three internal engine mount tubes. I would guess the Centuri designers were trying for a Saturn 1B look. These fin strips will be painted white before assembly and slid between the shorter ST-16 tube at the bottom and the longer ST-16 tube at the top. ...
[Read More]

Hobby Lobby Clearance Items!
My first stop at the Hobby Lobby in Orlando is the clearance aisle. I picked up three Estes Wizard kits for $2.87 each! Two days later I found a Photon Probe for $11.97. You can't just glance over the clearance merchandise. To find these took a little digging. Not bad for a rocket guy on a budget. ...
[Read More]

Alternative fuels
The guys at Air Command decided to try some alternative fuels in their water rockets. Since most of these didn't have any water in them, I guess I should call them air rockets v. water rockets. They and others have previously tried flour as a fuel.  This time, they went a bit over the ...
[Read More]

Pick one from Column A and one from Column B...
Scott Lowther presents this McDonald Douglas graphic on Shuttle options (circa 1971).  He refers this to a 'Lego' approach.  What popped into my mind was the old adage about Chinese food menus.  Either way, I'd like the see how they combined and rated the resulting options. ...
[Read More]

Goddard Prototype?
I saw this on ebay this morning.  The seller suggests that this is an early regen engine prototype that came out of  Robert Goddard's workshop.  That would be cool!  The seller makes no claims of having any proof to go with it and with a price tag of $325,000 and a short 3 ...
[Read More]

How to make aerogel at home - but it is not so easy...

[Read More]

I posted my Plaster Blaster 2011 shots from Sunday
And you'll find them here .  I also cleaned up my M840 drag race GPS data and plotted in Google Earth (looking east): More info coming this week-ish so hang tight.
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 10 Fitting Fin Strips
The three smaller fins were glued into position on the shorter ST-16. This fin can assembly was dry slid (no glue yet) over the three engine mount tubes. In the first picture you can see the fins strips are taller than needed. The bottom edge of the strips was sanded down using 220 grit sandpaper ...
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 11 Fitting Fin Strips
When setting in the strips, be sure they stick out straight away from the center line of the model. This is how the larger fin will sit against the inside strip. There's a small step in the root edge that overhangs the front edge of the tube and contacts the long strip. I'll have to sand the two ...
[Read More]

CTI O 25,000 Vmax motor
"Static firing of an O25,000 Vmax motor. Single-use Pro130. 6,000 pounds for 1.2 seconds." An O25,000 staged to an N 10,000, if such an arrangement could ever be made strong enough, could realistically be expected to break mach 4 no problem. A great way to test new high temperature composite ...
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 12 Large Fin Gluing
As the root edges were individually fitted, the body tube and fins were numbered in pencil. Note the smaller three fins (that don't overhang the front) were glued on earlier. Here's a good fit of a fin on the inside strips. The strips are not glued in place yet, they are friction fit held in place ...
[Read More]

New Mini Big Bertha Fins
After losing my mini engine Big Bertha at a previous schoolyard launch, I printed and made another one. I wanted to make a post about the carded, 3 ply fins. The fins are printed on 110 lb. card stock. When printed they are like a butterfly wing, one side is a "reflection" of the other, joined at ...
[Read More]

Army hypersonic success
Space.com reports that the Army's AHW (Advanced Hypersonic Weapon) had a flawless first flight, streaking across the Pacific at "several times the speed of sound." To be considered hypersonic, that would mean at least Mach 3.  It was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility by a three ...
[Read More]

Nevada Test Site photo gallery
If you are interesting the history of nuclear testing, NERVA and other propulsion programs, photos of explosions, and big holes in the desert, you may like Nevada National Security Site Office's Flickr stream .  Being secure , they won't let me embed or otherwise steal the photos even though ...
[Read More]

"A Multiverse of Exploration: The Future of Science 2021"
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.  - Arthur C. Clarke   Here's an interesting chart put together by Davis Pescovitz and his colleagues at the Institute for the Future . Rather than paraphrase any more info, I ask you to check out his article on ...
[Read More]

Why R2K is still the hit king
Despite the fact that it has been inactive for almost a year now, and despite all my efforts to maintain a good post rate here, http://r2000.blogspot.com/ still gets more hits than this blog does. And here is why... the R2K search keywords from today: 4 barrel shotgun - 681 eating babies - 437 ...
[Read More]

The latest lander videos
Early Prototype New Shepard Vehicle Blue Origin has a couple of videos from a test flight earlier in the year.  While there, you might want to poke around the rest of their newly updated site. Also, Masten has video from a down looking camera on the November 16 ...
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 13 Painting The Fin Can
I had started spraying primer and noticed there was no launch lug! It was glued next to a larger fin and filleted with the Titebond M & TG. This fin can assembly will be painted off the model, slid on and glued afterwards. I didn't have anything of a larger diameter to make a painting wand, so ...
[Read More]

Model Profile - Dr. Zooch Ares 1 "Stick"
Here's a real favorite build, the Dr. Zooch Ares 1 "Stick" This is a great first time semi-scale build. The wraps add detail and strength. Dr. Zooch has recently lowered the price on this kit. Unlike other Zooch kits, the flame fins are glued on for display and flight. The flame color is from an ...
[Read More]

New rocket:
me with the rocket the butt the rocket details later coming soon!
[Read More]

Launch Report 2011-7 (Red Glare XI)
Location: Higgs Farm, Price, MD (MDRA Red Glare XI, day #1) Weather: clear; high was in the low 40s; wind 5 MPH, mas o menos Total flights: Today - 5; YTD - 57 Total motors: Today - 5; YTD - 72 I left early in rush hour. Since I avoided the Beltway, the trip only took 15 minutes more than usual. ...
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 14 Nose Weight
I looked up the Centuri Defender instructions at: http://www.oldrocketplans.com/ Here's step 11 from the instructions. With three C6-5 engines, the recommended nose weight is .27 oz. Here's the clay weight from the Semroc kit. The clay square weighs in at .55 oz. In order to fit the clay into the ...
[Read More]

BALLS 2011 - State of Decay On Board Video
Not sure what the specs are here, and if there was supposed to be an upper stage as well. Looks like an airstart in there.
[Read More]

Sonic testing on soda-can rocket airframe
Read more at http://nprize.blogspot.com/
[Read More]

Antirocketry!?!
The Antirocketery Challenge, conducted by WOOSH , involved "extremely inefficient, extremely frivolous [rockets], ..., and ends in the destruction of the rocket so it can't fly again immediately after the flight" and "has to happen without violating any of the safety rules of rocketry." Case ...
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 15 Upper Mask
Here's the entire upper section of the rocket in gray primer. This half is an easy mask, most of the color is in the roll pattern decals. The uppermost section is painted black, halfway between the 3" long ST-5 tube to the top of the nose cone. This is the mask, Scotch tape at the color separation ...
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 16 Fin Can Mask Part 1
Clear Scotch tape was set on my glass patio door. Since the fin can is already painted white, I wanted the edges of my clear tape easy to see. A permanent marker was used to draw a line down the middle of the tape strips. Cutting down the middle also gives you two masking pieces and a clean edge. ...
[Read More]

Tampa TTRA Launch November 19. 2011
I almost didn't go to the Tampa TTRA launch today. I had a evening show scheduled and realized the venue was only ten miles from the TTRA site! So, it was a launch in the afternoon then banjos at night. Lonnie flew the perfect subject for a GoonyBird, an ANGRY BIRD . When a Goony flys this stable ...
[Read More]

New Blue Origin videos surface
Jeff Bezos and his Blue Origin endevour are the quiet participants in the commercial space race. These just release videos of the “New Shepard” suborbital vehicle test flights are really exciting. ABOUT NEW SHEPARD: This is a much larger VTOL craft than we saw in the Lunar Lander ...
[Read More]

Big A$$ Rocket of the Day
_MG_4157 , a photo by Disaster_Guy on Flickr. Nick DeBrita's 1/6th scale Mercury Redstone flew Saturday on an M2400T and four K1100Ts. Click through to see the rest of the excellent RG XI photos.
[Read More]

And even more landers in the news
I have this fascination with lander style rockets - Armadillo, Masten, Blue Origin, Unreasonable Rocket, JSC's Morpheus and, now, MSFC's Mighty Eagle.  I love the way the latter appears to sputter as is preps for take off. (seen via Clark Lindsey's RLV and Space Transportation Blog ) Speaking ...
[Read More]

LR91-AJ-11 rocket engine - thrust chamber - Titan IV
105,000 lbs of thrust.
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 17 Fin Can Mask Part 2
Instead of completely covering the white fins and body tube with masking tape, I use plastic grocery bags. Here I've cut a square piece large enough to cover the fin. It's a little smaller than needed to cover the body tube. This last uncovered edge is for the masking tape. A strip of masking tape ...
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 18 Fin Can Mask Part 3
Here's the complete mask on the fin can, ready for the black paint. Before spraying, press down the edge for a better seal. I've been using a sharpened dowel with good results. The dowel has a blunt point. I don't want to take a chance and scar the balsa. TIP: When removing tape, try to pull the ...
[Read More]

I just had a big plate of rocket étouffée
Now, you can get yours served up by the Bayourat and his Cajun Coalition .  Check out the before, during, and after of the infamous Tiki Bar .
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 19 Fin Can Mask Part 4
Here's one of the rounded leading edges that didn't turn out as well as the others. It seems there is always one! This is a simple fix. TIP: You can take your knife and carefully push the black paint back onto itself! That is - if the paint hasn't set up. Don't try this tomorrow when the paint ...
[Read More]

Dollar Tree Rocket Stuff!
I know, everybody has done a Crayon Bank conversion before - except me. It was only $1.00, 2 3/8" diameter by just under 24" long. It should be good to go with a 24mm stuffer tube and through the wall clear fins. I thought this might make really good streamer material - "No Tear Toilet Paper!" ...
[Read More]

10, 15, 20?

[Read More]

The ice tornado of death!
For the first time ever, a BBC cameramen has captured the formation of a brinicle . Described as either an 'ice finger of death', an 'icicle of death' or an 'ice tornado', a brinicle is formed as brine from sea ice sinks. Fresh water around the sub-0C brine freezes and forms the brinicle. ...
[Read More]

Possible Internship at XCOR Aerospace
Last night I got an email from Aleta Jackson at XCOR Aerospace indicating that they are interested in taking me on as an intern. I'm all excited! But I have to call today and verify the details, and figure out what it would entail. I'll keep you all posted on the details as they become more ...
[Read More]

In an alternate reality, KSC could have been in Southeastern New Mexico
Via the El Paso Times'  Tales from the Morgue -  1961: Moon Man Shoot Would Place Eyes of World on White Sands Base . The date is 196?. The place: White Sands Missile Range. A colossal rocket is poised; The countdown ends. With an ear-splitting roar the spacecraft rises above the ...
[Read More]

Started something for the MDRA Christmas Tree launch
In an uncharacteristic demonstration of optimism, I have started a rocket for the MDRA Christmas Tree launch, which is typically held in January.  It will loosely resemble a tree and will fly on a undermined number of black powder motors.  It won't be as fun as a K550 ...
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 20 Assembly
Because I didn't follow the instructions I had to make some special considerations before gluing everything together. For one, alignment of the launch lugs. The motor mount tubes got a roll of masking tape 1 1/8" from the top. This is how far down the upper body tube will be glued. After I made ...
[Read More]

NEW Odd'l Rockets COMBO KIT!
Remember the Estes MiniBrute Combo Kits? Here's the new Combo Kit from Odd'l Rockets! Both a little different and a perfect addition to the Odd'l Rockets line. Just in time for a Christmas stocking stuffer! On the left is a Bruce Levison design winner - The CORKSCREW That offset ring provides ...
[Read More]

Thanksgiving Day questions
How to paint it green?  How to make it fuzzy? Should I hang bobbles on it?  What to stick on top? You know, all the important things. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!
[Read More]

PB2k11: Third annual M Moonburner drag race details
After posting two foreshadowing images below I'm finally getting around to documenting our nifty drag race three weeks ago.  I had trouble editing the Flip Slide video in Final Cut Pro 7.03 for some reason so I threw this together in Final Cut Pro X: [I'm not really a huge fan of that ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Materials
I'll be comparing different materials to use for rocket body tubes (airframes). Most rocketeers will favor one more than another. When switching from LPR rockets to MPR and HPR rockets, knowledge of airframe materials is essential. I'll be comparing 1 foot of 4in tubing as far as price goes. ...
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 21 Assembly
The long strips were slipped underneath the upper body tube section and between the black tubes. The upper end of the strip goes 1/8" under the upper tube. Look underneath the lug and you can see the pencil mark at 1/8". Glue was applied under the lower end of the strip. Before it set up, the fin ...
[Read More]

Refinishing the Centurion Part1
My Semroc Centurion has been through a lot! Once it was pulled from a puddle and water poured out of the upper tube. The forward edges of the fins were chipped and dented. The nose cone had two "smilies". Still it was very structurally sound. I wasn't happy with my first attempt on the build. The ...
[Read More]

OpenRocket 1.1.9 released
“OpenRocket 1.1.9 has just been released and is available at the normal location:  http://openrocket.sourceforge.net/ For this version Richard Graham has implemented geodetic computation methods, which take into account the curvature of the Earth, calculates latitude/longitude/altitude ...
[Read More]

MDRA Red Glare XI, the Official Album
I have pointed to a couple of RG albums, but haven't tried to keep up with them all.  However, I will point out that the official MDRA archive has awakened from its fall slumber and is being populated - Red Glare XI Photo Gallery .
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 22 Ends and Edges
Here's how the back end lined up and glue was applied at all motor mount and ST-16 contact points. The front page of the instructions shows a color rendering of the Defender. It looked black and white to me. But in step 28, you are told the lower payload section is painted silver. I would have ...
[Read More]

MSL launch today
UPDATE: Beautiful launch! Watched Launch in HD on TV. Thanks ROKU! UPDATE2: Centaur burn then vehicle separation sends vehicle out of orbit and toward Mars The Mars Science Laboratory is poised on the launchpad atop an Atlas V and is scheduled for launch at 10:02 a.m. EST. ...
[Read More]

November 2011
Saturday, November 26, from noon till 4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Build Part 23 Decals
The checkerboard roll pattern decal intersected the upper launch lug. There wasn't enough decal to go around the lug so it was trimmed down on one side. Whenever I print up custom decals on my ink jet printer, I always print some extra thin trim lines. These were placed where the illustration ...
[Read More]

NEW Open Rocket Software Version 1.1.9
The newest version of Open Rocket is now available! You can find it here: http://openrocket.sourceforge.net/ If you haven't downloaded this free simulator you are missing out! While it doesn't have all the features of RockSim it's still a great freebie. For some Open Rocket tips from an earlier ...
[Read More]

Reloadable Motors Case
I’ve been on an organizing kick lately – trying to make storing and transporting my rocketry stuff easier. Based on a suggestion in The Rocketry Forum (Gun case or reload case!), I ordered a Plano Gun Case from Amazon.com to use for storing and carrying my reloadable motor casings ...
[Read More]

Top ten reasons for lack of posting
C'mon, you really didn't want to hear about it, did you?   Meanwhile,  MDRA's RG XI photo gallery has grown some.
[Read More]

Amateur astronomer captures disk around distant star
This is a very challenging thing to do, particularly with a 10 inch reflecting telescope. Impressive indeed!
[Read More]

Beer in (near) space
Meh, every balloon flight that goes up without a rocket is a waste :)
[Read More]

Semroc Defender Finished!
COOL retro model with a three engine cluster! Lessons learned: Look and read ahead in the instructions. The decal hitting the upper launch lug could have been avoided by gluing the lug higher up. If I checked the finishing instructions the payload section would have been painted aluminum before ...
[Read More]

Refinishing the Centurion Part 2
The nose cone smilies were filled with the CWF mix of 4 parts CWF to 1 part water. Here it is after sanding to surface. After sanding the fillet areas, epoxy fillets were added. The fins were sanded removing some of the original white paint. I didn't go near to the bare wood. I sanded right over ...
[Read More]

The square kilometer array
This will be one of the most important leaps in astronomy to date. Sadly the USA was not even a serious contender for hosting this project, as we continue to fall behind in high technology and science. It is worth mentioning that a similar, highly ambitious project was planned here called ...
[Read More]

Visitors to Mars
And now we can add MSL to the list:
[Read More]

Refinishing the Centurion Part 3
After fillets and a little sanding, here's the end result. I wouldn't normally use epoxy on a low power model, but I was happy with the look. There's a little orange peel in the finish, but that should come out after some rubbing and polishing compound. This is the upper launch lug with the same ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 1 Parts
A friend ordered and built the Mars Snooper in the 1970s. I remember he had trouble with the three shrouds and balsa coolant vanes. Wish me luck! Here's all the parts. Some were ordered from Semroc, others I had in my spare parts box. In the lower right corner are the six "pod" nose cones. I'd ...
[Read More]

2011 Rocketeer Unique Gift Guide
Of course the first thing that comes to mind for Holiday gifts for Rocketeers is more rockets! That is a given but perhaps you are looking for a more unique gift that enpowers the mind of your own rocket scientist or you simply want ideas to put on your wish list. Signs from Retro Signworks [...]
[Read More]

Internship at XCOR!
I had a very interesting Thanksgiving break. During the first couple of days I was contacted via email about a possible internship at XCOR Aerospace. I called the next day and learned about what it involves. It sounds... AMAZING! XCOR is based in Mojave, California. Mojave is a small town of maybe ...
[Read More]

Sport rocketry and JPL: Re-Launching History
"A rocket hobbyist builds a WAC Corporal replica to honor aeronautics pioneer Frank Malina."  Click this link - the embedded video didn't work on my 'puter.
[Read More]

MDRA tree project update
This will be yet another image free, and likely content free, post.  No reason to snap a photo until its done. First, the answers to the questions I posed to myself: Cheap foam-safe acrylic craft paint. It isn't going to be fuzzy. It will have no bobbles.  They would just add ...
[Read More]

Refinishing the Centurion Part 4
I wanted to add stripes down the body sides like Centurion had in earlier Centuri catalogs. They were cut from red electrical tape and laid down the body tube. It took a few tries to get them straight. Sight down from the rear of the tube. For now, the ends were left long. Electrical tape can ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 2 Engine Mount Prep
I've brought this up before. The end edges of the TA-2050 coupler are cut at a slight angle. You can see the gap between the coupler and 2050 ring. With 220 on a block, sand this edge flat. After sanding, here's the improved fit of the 2050 ring on the flatter edge of the coupler. You'll just have ...
[Read More]

Ultralight nano metal material
"Ultralight (
[Read More]

You can never get enough Project 463
 Click on the 'Project 463' tag for more info on this 'ground breaking' project.
[Read More]

You also can't get enough photos of JATOs
Republic F-84E-5-RE Thunderjet rocket assisted takeoff on Feb. 21, 1952. , a photo by aeroman3 on Flickr. Republic F-84E-5-RE Thunderjet rocket assisted takeoff on Feb. 21, 1952.
[Read More]

Launch Lug Fillet Bubbles
After again trying Titebond Moulding and Trim Glue, I've gone back to white glue for fillets. The Titebond M& TG doesn't leave bubbles, but I found it left raised lines on the fillet sides. I feel I get better results using multiple layers with white glue. This is a single fillet on one side ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 3 Shrouds and Pods
I used my adjustable hole punch to cut the ends of the ovals. The top and bottom of the lug cut out holes would be very hard to cut with a knife. After the end holes are punched, the middle curve areas are cut with a sharp knife. The three shrouds are formed as I've done before using a dowel and ...
[Read More]

Iranian anti Ship missiles destroying their target in the Persian Gulf

[Read More]

MSL Parachute Test
This is a huge 'chute that will apparently take the entire payload (minus heat-shield) from the end of the ballistic entry sequence, to before the operation of the skycrane system. I keep thinking this would go great with a S motor project. Maybe a full scale V2?
[Read More]

Schwerer gustav and dora railway siege guns
Close to 10,000 people have visited this post, making it by far the most popular. Over 100 views today alone! If you were searching for this topic, please leave a comment and let us know what you are working on.
[Read More]

The Tree, revealed
Here are a couple of shots of my yet unnamed entry into the MDRA Christmas Tree launch 2011 (trees from 2011, to be held in 2012).  I found a stash of circular color coded stickers.  Unfortunately, I ran out.  I had enough to finish 2 1/2 out of 4 sides.  I printed out some ...
[Read More]

Holiday cheer from Verna and Randy
This month, Verna and Randy take you from the North Pole to Mukluk Land and present images of a V2 over the UK.  Your  mileage may vary because the update is not formally announced. They relate various seasonal promotional devices such as plastic igloos, sexy elves and Santa's Rocket ...
[Read More]

X-37B Will Remain In Orbit Longer Then 270 Days
The US Air Force’s secretive X-37B space plane, launched on March 5, 2011, was designed to fly for 270 days. Day 270 came yesterday, but the military branch has decided to prolong its mission, with no sign of landing the craft any time soon. “It’s still up there,” Major ...
[Read More]

A new angle on the Space Shuttle?
At least one I haven't seen for a while. Stolen from Facebook.
[Read More]

"What Happened To The Dreamworld?"
"What Happened To The Dreamworld?" , a photo by paul.malon on Flickr. More than just a missing jet-pack...
[Read More]

Nat Geo's Best Space Pictures of 2011
Image courtesy NASA, ESA, M. Livio and the Hubble 20th Anniversary Team (STScI) It seems every year the Christmas shopping ads get earlier and earlier.  Now the end-of-year 'top xx' lists are starting early too.  National Geographic just identified their ...
[Read More]

EMRR Combined Motor Totals Tool
I didn't know about this until earlier this evening, but EMRR has a nifty motor totals tool .  This tool lets you mix and match motors in clusters and allows for delayed ignition and staging. Here is an example of a G79 with 8 D12 airstarts in my Margin of Error . Stage 1: 1 x ...
[Read More]

Pitsco School Rocket from Ebay Update Part 3
Fred Schector on TRF bought 400 of the Pitsco School Rockets from a San Diego school equipment liquidator. He let his feelings be known about these kits. When I bought ten of these on Ebay, I assumed the main body was a BT-50 tube. I'd only opened one bag to check out the parts and hadn't glued ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 4 Engine Mount
Here's the finished engine mount, viewed from the front. I could tie the Kevlar to the thrust ring, but on this build I am going old school and using a tri-fold mount. I don't know why, but steps 5 and 7 show the TA2050 and ring assembly being glued in place a second time! To accommodate the three ...
[Read More]

Tree (the rocket, not an actual tree) recovery mechanism complete
I figured out a kluge to add an...er...recovery system to my MDRA Tree (still no real name). I tied a length of rubber band shock cord to one of the motor mounts.  I wanted it sproingy in the event that the 'chute actually deploys. A 12" nylon 'chute will be attached to this cord.  If ...
[Read More]

Huygens thermal multilayer insulation

[Read More]

A Handy Little Scale
  Getting accurate weights of individual parts is important when choosing a motor for a rocket and for modeling and simulating a rocket in Rocksim or OpenRocket. For larger rockets, especially, it is sometimes difficult to weigh parts on a flat scale. So, here’s something else I ...
[Read More]

Orion, Our Future Spacecraft Undergoes Simulated Space Testing
It's not every day that America designs an entirely new spacecraft. Rarer still is the creation of a vehicle that can carry man, not just machine, beyond the earth's gravitational pull. In the history of the world, there have been only eight such human transports: the Vostok, Voskhod, and Soyuz ...
[Read More]

New Tripoli Research rules
Via an email list, Alan Whitmore (Prefect, Tripoli East NC), announced that Tripoli will be rolling out a new 'research' safety code.  The details are sketchy, but it sounds like this will allow for separate research and model rocket launch areas.  In the latter, minors and NAR/CAR ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 5 Lug Hole Marking
In Step 7, the instructions have you: "Cut a 1/4" hole in one of the RA-2060 spacer rings in the position shown in figure 7B." Huh? That's a little vague. I punched a smaller 3/16" hole that would give a better fit of the 1/8" diameter lug. Line up the two upper shrouds around the RA-2060 ring. ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 5 Lug Hole Marking
In Step 7, the instructions have you: "Cut a 1/4" hole in one of the RA-2060 spacer rings in the position shown in figure 7B." Huh? That's a little vague. I punched a smaller 3/16" hole that would give a better fit of the 1/8" diameter lug. Line up the two upper shrouds around the RA-2060 ring. ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 5 Lug Hole Marking
In Step 7, the instructions have you: "Cut a 1/4" hole in one of the RA-2060 spacer rings in the position shown in figure 7B." Huh? That's a little vague. I punched a smaller 3/16" hole that would give a better fit of the 1/8" diameter lug. Line up the two upper shrouds around the RA-2060 ring. ...
[Read More]

Semroc Shroud Line Instructions
The instructions included with the Semroc parachutes have you lace the shroud line through the sticky disk tie it while off the parachute. After the line is tied on, then it is stuck to the parachute. I can't do it this way. By the time I've tied the line on, the disk has lost much of it's ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 6 Lug Hole Punch
The hole was punched using the largest cut tube my rotary punch, 3/16" diameter which fits the 1/8" launch lug perfectly. I found I had to widen the hole, my punch might be getting dull. A sharpened dowel worked great to slightly open the hole. Here's the first fit of the lug through all three ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Orlando R.O.C.K. Monthly December 3, 2011
Check out the angles on the launch rods! We had wind gusts over 20 m.p.h. There was a few holds while waiting for the winds to die down. A few models drifted and landed in trees to the West. Karey Mozier flew his beautifully made Model Minutes M.O.M. rocket with a B6-4. Roger Smith took the ...
[Read More]

Flight line at Balls 20

[Read More]

Four (quad) barrel shotgun

[Read More]

More on the new Tripoli Research rules
My previous post on the subject was inaccurate .  My main excitement came from the prospect of NAR members being allowed to fly commercial motors at TRA research events,.albeit in a segregated fashion.  This, however, does not seem to be the case.  Rather than believe anything I ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 7 Nose Cone Weight
Jumping ahead to Step 12: The lead nose weight (Semroc #NCW-1) was slightly wider than the inside diameter of the upper BT-20D tube. The outside edges of the weight were easily filed down to a smaller diameter. There is two screw eyes in the parts list. One holds the lead weight high in the ...
[Read More]

TIP: Cleaner Mask Edge Lines
Recently I've had some problems with paint lines chipping and tearing when removing the masking tape. Who knows why? The paint may be yet another formulation or it could be a change in the weather. This is one way to help with the problem. After spraying the second color, run your knife down the ...
[Read More]

A ton of balsa nose cones
Sunward
[Read More]

Duh! Phantom or Rocketry For Dummies
Remember the old Estes demo model, The PHANTOM? It had a clear body tube where you could see the positions of the parachute, wadding and cutaway engine. My version is called Duh! PHANTOM . You can't see anything inside this body tube. But, everything is clearly labeled from the outside. The ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 8 Shroud and Lug Fit
The lug fit through the #1 shroud was very good. The fit on shroud #2 and #3 needed some tweaking. Here the shrouds are dry fitted over the engine mount and 2060 centering ring. The lug was slid in place. The card stock was carefully trimmed around the lug with a sharp knife. I simply trimmed down ...
[Read More]

The memory is the 2nd thing to go...
AND I CAN"T REMEMBER THE 1ST!   It appears that I can't remember the details of over 5000 blog posts.  Two of the last set of rocket girls look familiar.  I apologize if they are repeats.  I though about this because I found an old photo of one of my rockets.  Just before ...
[Read More]

Armadillo flies to 137k ft (updated...already)
Parabolic Arc reported that Armadillo's Stig-A "Tube Rocket" flew to 124,000' from Spaceport America [as noted below, the altitude was actually 137,500'].  Love the Mach diamonds and, in the background, snow on the Organs! Almost immediately after I posted, George Katz provided a ...
[Read More]

Rocket Firefall
Rocket Firefall , a photo by jurvetson on Flickr. Click trough to see more shots of the flying flamethrower, get a link to the video, and see some of the aftermath.
[Read More]

Another Stig-A video...and a name morph
Clark Lindsey directs us to another video of this past weekend's Stiga flight.  It's similar to previous one but shows some additional footage of the prep and recovery.  He also points out that "Stiga" is Swedish for ascend or soar.  In previous news, this "tube rocket" ...
[Read More]

RocketReviews.com Tag Cloud
“Tag clouds” (or “word clouds”) are displayed on many web sites in general and, specifically, on most blog sites (including this one). A tag cloud is a visual way of representing the “tags” assigned to posts or pages of a web site. Usually the size of the font ...
[Read More]

Qian Xuesen, America's cast-off scientist becomes China's father of rocketry
One of the most important contributors to technological advancement during the Mao era, revered father of Chinese rocketry Qian Xuesen (also known as Tsien Hsue-Shen), might never have built China’s first missile launchers had the US not forced him out in a fit of red paranoia. Born in ...
[Read More]

Armadillo’s Stig rocket reaches 140,000 ft
December 4 2011 launch of Armadillo Aerospace Stig-A at Spaceport America. Apogee is near 140,000 ft above sea level. More details to come at http://www.armadilloaerospace.com/
[Read More]

STS-51C Launch IMAX Camera Footage

[Read More]

Jetex Mig 15 Comparison to Centuri Mach 10
Here's a picture from an Ebay listing: JETEX 50 MIG 15 WITH A 15.25 INCH WING SPAN THESE PLANS INCLUDE HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN CLEAR AND LIGHTWEIGHT CANOPIES PLUS FREE JETEX FUEL FORMULA! Compare that design to a Centuri Mach 10 clone I never finished. I used to wonder where a designer found their ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 9 Shrouds and CA
After all the trimming is done, reform the shroud again making sure it is perfectly round. I do this before treating the card stock shroud with CA. You wouldn't want to permanently glue the shroud into a bent oval shape! Reform it before coating it with the medium super glue. Your shrouds and tail ...
[Read More]

Armadillo Aerospace Stiga Rocket Launched To 137,500 ft. / 41.91km
The launch of Armadillo Aerospace's reusable suborbital sounding rocket Stiga. Fueled by liquid oxygen and denatured ethanol, the rocket reached 137,500 feet above sea level. The rocket was launched from Spaceport America on December 4 2011 at around 11:30AM. There were some dents on landing, ...
[Read More]

2011 had a record 12 weather events that cost over $1B each
Check out NOAA's recap of Extreme Weather 2011 .  Those were just the big ones, not just the uncommon/odd ones such at the Virginia earthquake that damaged the Washington Monument and National Cathedral.  What a year!
[Read More]

This might be the end of backyard cannon shooting as we know it
Mythbusters cannonball incident
[Read More]

'Mythbusters' cannonball busts through house
"Strangely, it missed the trash cans, tore through a cinder-block wall, bounced its merry way down a hillside, barreled 700 yards through a suburban California neighborhood, smashed through the front door of a house, bounced up the stairs of the house and, without knocking, penetrated a bedroom ...
[Read More]

Fused launch photos show details of rocket flame
These wonderfully detailed images of the last shuttle launch were taken using a process of combining different camera images with different filters into one high definition image. The pictures and subsequent video show wonderful details of the exhaust plume. These were done by Louise ...
[Read More]

Armadillo Aerospace launches "Stig-a" to near space
"The launch of Armadillo Aerospace's reusable suborbital sounding rocket Stiga. Fueled by liquid oxygen and denatured ethanol, the rocket reached close to 140,000 feet above sea level." What a great flight this is! And the footage is particularly nice. It is cool to see just how little drag the ...
[Read More]

Armadillo Aerospace Reaches 137,000 ft with "Stiga"
I've been following this company for a while, and am very impressed with what they can do. It is a very small company with only a handful of employees. One of them, (Ben Brockert) is an alumnus of Iowa State, and I met him down in Boulder Colorado during the 2011 Space Vision conference.
[Read More]

TIPS: Brush Cleaning Part 1
If you keep care of your touch up brushes, they can last for years! My mother was a professional fine artist, I learned how to clean expensive detail brushes when I was young. I've seen kids (and adults) clean a brush by smashing the bristles up and down against the bottom of the thinner bottle. ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 10 Ring Adjustment
Because of a glue fillet on the engine mount (at the top of the 2050 ring), this 2060 ring wouldn't butt up against the adapter assembly. Fot a better fit, I cut an angle on the inside edge of the ring hole. Here's the much better fit of the 2060 ring against the 2050 ring of the mount adapter. ...
[Read More]

Lander go boom
This day in 1968, LLTV 1 (Lunar Lander Training Vehicle #1) crashed at Ellington Field.  [ NASA Fact Sheet ] After the crash, LLTV 3 was tested in Langley's 30x60 wind tunnel.
[Read More]

Two nice CF rockets
G motor altitude attempt @ The Rocketry Forum 29mm 2nd stage @ The Rocketry Forum
[Read More]

The astrovan

[Read More]

Will SpaceX be selling model rockets?
Will SpaceX will enter the world of model rockets pretty soon? A 18mm model version of its Falcon9 with Dragon spacecraft is listed at Amazon.com and is listed as by SpaceX but doesn’t show a release date. I have found no official confirmation other than the Amazon listing that verifies ...
[Read More]

SpaceX to build modrocs too?
Wayne Hill spotted an interesting Amazon listing  and asks, " Will SpaceX be selling model rockets? "  The listing is for a 1:88 scale model of their Falcon 9, which will fly on 18mm motors.  The listing is supposedly by SpaceX (unconfirmed) and states, "Designed by SpaceX, and ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 12 Pods and Fins
Here's the cross section airfoil of the largest fin. Shaping was done with 220 grit sandpaper on a block. The nose cones were glued into the pod tubes. Sand their shoulders to the diameter of the BT-5 tubes. I went ahead and filled the balsa, tube seams and the body tube breaks. The assembly on ...
[Read More]

TIPS: Brush Cleaning Part 2
Put a little water in the palm of your hand and one drop of dish washing detergent. After taking off most of the paint with the thinner, gently roll the brush in the wet soap. In the picture you can see some red paint still coming off the brush. Without this final step, there would still be some ...
[Read More]

Shake table testing of JWST mirrors under various vibration stresses
"The James Webb Space Telescope will experience intense forces as it launches into space. To ensure that the different parts of the observatory won't suffer damage during this stage of the mission, engineers shake them rigorously. These two- to three-week-long vibration tests are performed on ...
[Read More]

Wally Schirra Collection Photo
Wally Schirra Collection Photo , a photo by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives on Flickr.
[Read More]

Wally Schirra Collection Photo
Wally Schirra Collection Photo , a photo by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives on Flickr.
[Read More]

The SpaceX Falcon 9 model, confirmed
via their Facebook page
[Read More]

Open Rocket Basics Manual
As seen on TRF: Jeff Pummil has written a basic manual on how to get started in Open Rocket! You can download the manual HERE If you've been frustrated with your first attempts, this is what you might need to get over the new interface hump! This is something I wish was available when I first ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 12 Gluing the Shrouds
In Step 8A you slide the #1 shroud down onto the 2060 ring already glued to the installed engine mount. The picture to the right shows the dry fit. Looking ahead to the illustration in Step 8C, the BT-20 engine mount tube extends out the back of shroud #2 about 5/16". With shroud #2 dry fitted, my ...
[Read More]

Parachutes with retro rockets

[Read More]

Giant ship propeller

[Read More]

Parachutes with retro rockets
Hat tip to R2K .
[Read More]

Heliorelics
I just added heliorelics.org to my list of aerospace modeling links .  This site is mostly dedicated to the '60's space race but also has some info on missiles and WWII airplanes. It has tons of photos taken at many aerospace museums around the country.  I haven't really explored much of ...
[Read More]

Mythbusters cannonball trajectory map
So what exactly did the mythbusters cannonball do?
[Read More]

SpaceAholic
I also added  SpaceAholic.com  to my list of  aerospace modeling links . The site presents the owner's extensive collection of space artifacts and includes a lengthy list of releated resources. My preeminent objective is in the preservation of America’s early space ...
[Read More]

Mythbusters FAIL, NOT
Untitled , a photo by paranoidroid on Flickr.
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 13 Low Shroud #3
Shroud #3 is slid on from the bottom. If you have a tight fit around the BT-20 motor tube it may be hard to slide on. It's not in the instructions, but I added a thin 2050 ring inside the shroud and over the 20 tube for strength. It'll also help keep the shroud round. If you use a ring, sand the ...
[Read More]

Launch! NEFAR Monthly, Bunnell, FL 12/10/11
Low clouds and wind gusts up to 15 m.p.h. were present for most of the day. Carl Campbell of DFR Technologies flew his Semroc SATURN 1B twice, with an E18-4 and a E20-4. Both beautiful flights with a slower liftoff and at an altitude you could follow for the entire flight. That's the Apogee ...
[Read More]

Ignoring the NOTAM
Paul Breed's autonomous(?) helicopter hovering over the FAR launch site....  
[Read More]

New Rocketry Vendor 3D Rocketry Launches
3D Rocketry has just launched  its online store. 3D Rocketry is owned and operated by Bill Carpenter. These are some beautiful rockets with a really unique fin design. The store has launched with two cool 29mm models but coming soon are 24mm and 38mm designs for both low and high power ...
[Read More]

Huge cloaked spaceship by Mercury, or...
In this video, taken by the SECCHI suite aboard STEREO, it looks like an object appears adjacent to Mercury as the CME passes by.  The poster deduces that it must be manufactured (ie alien-made) and cloaked.  While this explanation would be the most interesting, instrument scientists at ...
[Read More]

Thinking out loud
I have no rockets actively being worked on.  But, there are a bunch of stalled projects that I have lost interest in.  Someday, I'll get a train transformer to finish a big hot wire cutter and I'll restart the Bulbous Foam Rocket . I need to scrounge some more 'found items' to continue ...
[Read More]

"Black Ceremony"
This is likely the best daytime pyro show that I've seen. (I actually am not sure I've ever seen anything like this.) The show commemorated the opening of an exibition of the work of Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang at the Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art in Qatar. (hat tip to wikkit on Twitter) ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 14 Fin Fit
I was afraid this might happen! The fit of the large fin on the tube and upper shroud is pretty close, but take a look at the vane. I'll have to cut eight more larger vanes out of some 1/16" thick balsa. The forward fins and strakes fit together very well. The hand drawn template on the JimZ site ...
[Read More]

Funny Underwater LPR Launch Video
Looking for a quick laugh? You can find it on YouTube HERE It looks like an Estes Alpha III that's been waterproofed. Listen to the launch sound at about :58 seconds in. One of the comments said it: "Sounds like farting in the bathtub!"
[Read More]

The Whirlpool Galaxy
A composite image of the Whirlpool Galaxy (also known as M51). The green image is from the Hubble Space Telescope and shows the optical wavelength. The submillimetre light detected by SCUBA-2 is shown in red (850 microns) and blue (450 microns). The Whirlpool Galaxy lies at an estimated distance ...
[Read More]

Phobos Grunt update
The almost inevitable end is near: Phobos grunt will be destroyed upon reentry as seen in this artist rendition. But questions remain - will Russia try again? When will humans recover a sample from the Mars system? December 8, 2011 Dear Colleagues, As you may already know, the launch of the ...
[Read More]

Sanding Laser Cut Fin Edges
These are the fins from the Quest Tomahawk kit. This laser burn was dark because the fin stock was a very stiff balsa. To the right is the fin sheet facing up as it was cut. The black burnt lines (and cut) is thicker than than the picture below. This is the flip side of the same balsa sheet. ...
[Read More]

Visitors from around the World
This page, initially only a modest side project, has taken over most of my blogging time. High Power Rocketry has a daily post rate of greater than one, and is closing in on 1,000 posts. Most of the readers are from North America, but a significant number are from other parts of the World. Here ...
[Read More]

Only The Shadow knows
Air Command's The Shadow  includes custom fiberglass tubing and nose cone, lots of machined parts, rail buttons, a custom launcher, and home grown electronics.  Sounds a lot like your typical state of the art HPR kit.  But, you won't find any pyro compounds inside - it's a ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry November/December 2011
The main theme of this issue is NARAM-53, which was held last summer in Cincinnati, OH.  As with most contest coverage, I mostly liked gawking at the photos of the sports range and, in this case, PMC models.  There was also more NASA SLI/USLI coverage and a report on a grade school ...
[Read More]

Filling Body Tube Seams
This has been covered before. I'm re-writing the entry as some may have some problems with it. Don't just look at the pictures - be sure to read the copy! I've seen a few pictures posted of seams being filled using the new filler seam mix. One builder used a plastic spoon. The filler was thick and ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 15 Fitting The Vanes
Here's the first new vane after fitting. The outside edge is larger than it needs to be for now. After I'm sure all the inside edges fit well, the outside edge will be trimmed to fit Shrouds 1 and 3. Each vane will be individually fitted to it's own position going around the lined Shroud #2. ...
[Read More]

Higgs Boson fever
The search for the Higgs Boson has been in the news a lot lately and my feed reader exploded with reports today. Evidently, this spike was spurred by a big reveal by physicists at Europe's Large Hadron Collider. Here's a just a smattering of what popped up this morning. WARNING: If you read all the ...
[Read More]

Stratolaunch - the largest airplane ever
"Stratolaunch Systems is pioneering innovative solutions to revolutionize space transportation. Watch the video or visit http://www.stratolaunch.com to learn more." It looks like a large Pegasus. The real question is the cost per launch, and they really need to get it down to a few million per ...
[Read More]

Any orbit, any time
That's the tag phrase of Microsoft founder Paul Allen's newly announced space venture, Stratolaunch Systems . Their twin boom mothership will use six 747 engines. The 1.2M lb beast will, along with it's rocket system, be capable of delivering manned and unmanned orbital payloads weighing up to ...
[Read More]

Paul Allen’s Stratolaunch System
With a wingspan greater than a football field and powered by six 747 engines the Statolaunch Systems’s carrier aircraft creates a giant rocket launching platform in the sky. The carrier aircraft designed by Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites looks like the White Knight aircraft on steroids. This ...
[Read More]

package
            this was waiting for me when I got home.     for those of you who dont know what this is. This is a Wildman Darkstar kit. It's all fiberglass and usually retails for $125. I got it for ...
[Read More]

What to do with the Tree after Christmas
I’ve been purposely neglecting my blog as have been pre-occupied with learning electrical engineering. This was prompted by my failure with leds for a night launch rocket. So I’ve been experimenting with some techniques shared on forums and a dummy guide to electrical engineering. Since ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 16 Fitting The Vanes
A line was drawn on the vane connecting the outside edge to the widest points of Shrouds 1 and 3. This over hang was cut off. Here's the fit of one vane after sanding. Just the shroud edges got a light coat of CA applied with a Q-Tip. Throughout the shroud assembly, I was careful not to get CA on ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 17 Upper Fins
Step 6 of the original instructions has you glue the upper fins on first to the BT-20 above the adapter. Then glue on the fairings and round the outside edges. No, not this time! After you've built many rockets, you tend to build for easier filling and finishing. If the fairings were glued on ...
[Read More]

ESA's Vega Rocket On Track For Launch In January
The European Space Agency will finish its so-called "year of launchers" a few weeks short of realising the maiden flight of its third vehicle, but the Vega light rocket remains on course for a January 2012 launch from ESA's Kourou, French Guiana spaceport. Vega, designed to launch satellites of ...
[Read More]

Helium balloon from California to Mediterranian
The California Near Space Project launches conventional high altitude flights, as well as long range attempts (where the balloon travels at lower altitudes for long durations.) It appears that the latest launch is still going strong, now south of Italy. You can track flight K6RPT-11 here. Some of ...
[Read More]

More Rapatronic Camera Images of Nuclear Tests
"The rapatronic camera (a contraction of Rapid Action Electronic) is a high-speed camera capable of recording a still image with an exposure time as brief as 10 nanoseconds (billionths of a second). The camera was developed by Harold Edgerton in the 1940s and was first used to photograph the ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 18 Gluing The Forward Fins
The upper BT-20 tube was sprayed with primer and sanded. After sanding to the tube surface, I could see the new mix ratio for filling the body tube seams is working well. The tube was marked for three fins and the line run up the tube. That line was then used as a guide and the primer was sanded ...
[Read More]

Photo gallery: new-space, new-old-space and old-new-old-space
DRB 's latest gallery (as of post time, of course) features photos of Active Space Programs in Iran, Brazil, India, Japan, China, Israel... is it going to get crowded even without USA or Russia? As the title implies, this features photos from the 'new-old' (i.e. state sponsored) players ...
[Read More]

Spacey stuff on Thor's Day
Both of these come from Geeked on Goddard:   Ho-Ho-Hubble for the Holidays , and Comet Lovejoy plunging into the sun .  Check out the Hubble cosmic angel:  
[Read More]

Wow it's actually 16,547 page views!
Google just redesigned the profile page for Blogger.com and it now clarifies that the 'page' views I've been tracking are actually profile views.  So that counter in the lower right of this page is correct.  Thanks for reading, peeps!
[Read More]

Rumors of Lovejoy's death have been greatly exaggerated

[Read More]

World's first permanent hobby rocket launch site!
Rocketry Planet user Rocketball lets us know that nearly 2 years ago, the Australian Rocketry Association (ARA) section 6 successfully established the world's first permanent model rocket and high power launch site. Rockets can be launched 7 days a week during daylight hours with a altitude limit ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 19 Trimming The Long Lug
The instructions have you glue the long lug through the shrouds then trim the lug flush with the angle of Shroud #1. I didn't want to run the risk of cutting into the shroud so I decided to trim the lug off the model. The lug was slid into place and pencil marked around the oval perimeter of the ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 20 Filling The Lug Ends
When sanding the lug to the correct angle, some of the inside skin of the lug doesn't get sanded off. It rolls inside the lug and should be taken off. Using a sharpened dowel, the rolled edge is pushed up and over the edge of the lug. Now it can be sanded off with 400 grit on a block. The dowel ...
[Read More]

Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Hitchens dies at 62 Also at NY Times
[Read More]

Mohr Rocket - Boosted dart system
"Engineer Ernst Mohr of Wuppertal, under the auspices of the German Rocket Society, developed a sounding rocket that was designed to reach altitudes of 50 km. A solid rocket motor with 7800 kgf would take the separable payload section to a speed of 1200 m/s. The booster had a diameter of 0.30 m, a ...
[Read More]

Mohr Rocket
As spotted on High Power Rocketry . "Engineer Ernst Mohr of Wuppertal, under the auspices of the German Rocket Society, developed a sounding rocket that was designed to reach altitudes of 50 km. A solid rocket motor with 7800 kgf would take the separable payload section to a speed of 1200 ...
[Read More]

Test Site-Point Loma
Test Site-Point Loma , a photo by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives on Flickr. General Dynamics/Convair Astronautics Test Site on Point Loma. Click through for additional photos of the facility.
[Read More]

Test Site-Sycamore
Test Site-Sycamore , a photo by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives on Flickr. General Dynamics/Convair Astronautics Test Site at Sycamore Canyon - Atlas 2D Firing at S2
[Read More]

Mercury 7
Mercury 7 , a photo by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives on Flickr.
[Read More]

The New ESA "Vega" Rocket Will Launch An Experimental Earth Return Vehicle
Europe’s ambition for a spacecraft to return autonomously from low orbit is a cornerstone for a wide range of space applications, including space transportation, exploration and robotic servicing of space infrastructure. Part of this goal will be achieved with IXV Intermediate eX ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 21 Early Primer
The nozzle vanes were taped to a sheet of cardboard for spraying. The outside edge of the fins are facing up, the root edge is stuck to the sticky side of the tape facing up. Off the top of the vanes is a thin strip of tape covering the small edge that'll glue under Shroud #1. After a shot of ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 22 First White Coats
Here's the first coats on the upper section of the Snooper. Everything was going as planned, I was spraying Rustoleum 2X Painter's Touch, gloss white. Out of nowhere, the can started spattering! I ended up with a pebbled, flat finish! Luckily it sanded off pretty easily. Maybe I got a bad can, ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH Mag On-Line Edition - updated?
My news reader had a half dozen or so hits from LAUNCH this morning, including Walt Cunningham's op-ed, " A Tribute to Happy Warrior ."  This was at least new to me.  If interested, you might poke around the site.  No time now...off to MDRA...
[Read More]

Comet Lovejoy survives a swing around the Sun
This is remarkable not only because of the intense amount of heat at .25 solar radii, but also because of the strong gravitational gradient involved. But there is no reason why a large object, made of ice and rubble, should not have a shot at surviving this flight. Imagine melting 10 meters of ...
[Read More]

Zooming in on the center of the galaxy
"This zoom sequence stars with a view of the Milky Way. We zoom in towards the crowded central region, in the constellation of Sagittarius (The Archer). By shifting to an infrared red view we see through the dusty clouds in this direction and get a close up view of the objects orbiting the ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2011-8
Location: Higgs Farm, Price, MD ( MDRA ESL-163) Weather: mostly cloudy; high was 41; wind 10+ mph Total flights: Today - 5; YTD - 62 Total motors: Today - 8; YTD - 80 I broke my standard rule of not flying when the temperature isn't 50 degrees or so.  I wanted to see if my FatBoy29, ...
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, August 2011
I'll first address the timing of this issue - it's late.  The guys at ROCKETS have had some glitches and have gotten behind.  However, they report no serious problems and expect to catch up in 2012.  Next, I'll point out the highlight of this issue - I have begun supporting the ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 23 Gluing Main Fins
The three main fins were glued onto the lines printed on the shroud. Above the fins, the wrap of masking tape helped make sure the fins are all at the same height on the main body tube. Remember, the root edge gluing area was masked before the primer was sprayed. This will give a better glue bond. ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Tampa TTRA December 17, 2011
Robert Synoski flew his upscaled BIG BERTHA with a Gorilla K1185. He estimated the altitude to be between 2,000 and 3,000 feet. This was a well done build with vinyl by StickerShock. Enlarge the picture of my Dr. Zooch SATURN SA-5 . This is how it landed. After a straight boost with a C6-5, at ...
[Read More]

Blog Hits!
Yesterday this blog reached 100,000 hits. Dramatic pause . . . Woo Hoo!
[Read More]

The Shadow - a water rocket built with HPR components
"This is the build log of our next rocket project called "The Shadow". This water rocket doesn't use PET bottles or FTC tubes as the basis for a pressure chamber. Many of the construction techniques are borrowed from the model rocketry world. Rather than scattering the development details of this ...
[Read More]

NASA Dependent On Russian Soyuz Space Taxi For At Least Five More Years
(Reuters) - Budget cuts in a program to spur commercial space taxis will likely keep the United States dependent on Russia to fly astronauts to the International Space Station until 2017, NASA's head of space operations said. But the newly revamped program, intended to provide a commercial ...
[Read More]

Avro Blue Steel missile
Avro Vulcan with Blue Steel missile , a photo by Lonely01 on Flickr. The Blue Steel was a British air-launched, rocket-propelled nuclear stand-off missile. I find it's lines quite pleasing. There are plenty of photos out there.  A good subject for a stubby model rocket (less than 10:1 ...
[Read More]

Reworking the FCToD
As I mentioned in the launch report , the Flying Christmas Tree of Death survived to fly another day.  For the up part, there isn't much to change.  I'll hope for less wind and maybe slightly angle the rod with it.  However, it is clear that I need another way to get a 'chute out. ...
[Read More]

December Rockets
After a great semester, I now have three whole weeks of holiday to kill. I've already dived into a couple rocket projects, one that I've been working on for a while now, and one that I've been wanting to start for just as long. The rocket that I got my level 2 certification on was actually ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 24 Pods
The pods were sprayed with primer off the model. I'm holding onto the nose cone tip, my hand is inside a grocery bag. The back half of the pod was sprayed. After it dried, the sharp side was sprayed. After it dried, the primer was sanded. The pod was set against the fin and marked for the trailing ...
[Read More]

Top 10 for 2011
I had 280 launches in the past year, 85 flights more than in 2010. Of the 24 builds completed in 2011, these are my top picks. Click on the BOLD NAME to go to the finished pictures or blog post. Counting down from Number 10 - 10. Downscale Carded PATRIOT I did four downscales this past year, the ...
[Read More]

Noticed in ROCKETS Magazine
I noticed an interesting ad in the latest issue of ROCKETS . An individual is advertising inert, cold war era soviet missiles and liquid rocket engines as follows: SA-6 Gainful , SA-2 Guideline , SA-5 Gammon and the liquid engines. Good for museums and private collectors alike. ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 25 Gluing Outside Fins
The outside fins were hard to align. Even with a pencil line and "double glue" these fins liked to slip and slide all over the BT-5 pod. In the picture it doesn't look centered, but it is. These fins got four fillet layers like the rest of the model. Here's how it looks up to this point. I'll ...
[Read More]

Defender Post Flight 3X C6-7s
After a launch, I'll inspect, repair and clean up any soot. The three friction fit C6-7 engines were pulled from the Defender right after the flight. TIP: Hard to believe, but it's easiest to pull a friction fit engine from the engine mount tube while the engine is still warm, immediately after a ...
[Read More]

VJ-100 manned rocket
Retro Mechanix relates the story of  Stanley Hiller, Jr , an award-winning helicopter genius who also designed a manned rocket.  The source article originally appeared in the March 1950 issue of Mechanics Illustrated.  It reports that a sub-scale model of the VJ-100 used a Rolls ...
[Read More]

Stratolaunch, what is is good for?
Some would say , "Absolutely nothing. Uh-huh!"  When I heard about Stratolaunch Systems and its founders, I was excited largely because it would just plain be cool for such a system to exist.  The reactions I've read have been varied, however, it sure seems like the naysayers far ...
[Read More]

Tiny fan and coin vs current
"Single phase submicro brushless motor, made from rewound wristwatch coil wire and the A1442 speed controller ic chip. Magnet is .5mm x 1mm, smallest available, shaft from .007" music wire, hypodermic tubing for bearings. Propeller is 8 mm diameter, made from basswood." "5 cents vs 200 amps"
[Read More]

Desorption-Assisted Sun Diver Missions
"Desorption-Assisted Sun Diver Missions Gregory Benford1 and James Benford Abstract. Solar-driven sails which can also accelerate by "boil off" of coated materials offer new high-velocity missions. These can take advantage of high temperature characteristics of the sail by using the large solar ...
[Read More]

Video of the Flaming Christmas Tree
Although not published on the main page, the photo gallery for MDRA's ESL-163 is being populated.  You'll find Peter's video of the Flaming Christmas Tree of Death  (and a still photo, too). W00t!  There's also a video of the G64 CATO in the Hat of Death .  No w00t ...
[Read More]

Christopher Hitchens Tribute

[Read More]

Holiday wishes from Mr. Sulu
Just has to share this.  I grabbed it from George Takei's Facebook feed.  
[Read More]

Happy Holidays 2011

[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 26 Re-Mask and Spray
At the top of the fins pod edge I rolled the fillets over the top with a toothpick tip. Enlarge the picture to see the rounded joint. The lower half of the model is ready for the white coats. A casing and dowel is in the engine mount for a spraying wand. Rolled up paper is in the top of the body ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 27 Decals
This is the Snooper decal as copied from JimZ's: http://www.spacemodeling.org/JimZ/estes/k-20.pdf In this form with the blue-ish background it won't be useable. If printed from this scan, the cut-out decals would have a light blue edge. But there is plenty here to re-draw the decals. It was loaded ...
[Read More]

Robot
Hey check out this cool robot.
[Read More]

So, how will Stratolaunch stack up?
Parabolic Arc just posted this cool graphic to compare Stratolaunch with other US space launch systems.  The graphic is sorted by LEO lift capability.  Visit the Arc for the actual numbers and a similar graphic that includes international launchers.  As you see, Stratolaunch is a ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 28 Masking the Shrouds
This is going to be a harder mask than normal. You've got to mask around fin root edges and the top of Shroud #1. This is clear scotch tape. It was stuck down to my patio door glass. A thick, permanent marker line was drawn down the middle. With a straightedge the tape was cut down the length ...
[Read More]

Merry Christmas Y'all
Reprinted from last year - OH, ROCKET - TREE Space Modeling Parody of Oh, Christmas Tree Oh, Rocket-tree Oh, Rocket-tree, How lovely is thy smoke trail, Oh, Rocket-tree Oh, Rocket-tree, Fly Vertically without fail. With C6-3, we’ll rubberneck, At peak of flight, a rear eject, Oh, Rocket-tree ...
[Read More]

Space launches infographic
Via visual.ly .  Spotted on the Unwanted Blog .  Look below to whet your interest but follow the link to explore the details. via
[Read More]

USAF jet collides with Santa's sleigh
USAF jet collides with Santa's sleigh , a photo by wortenoggle on Flickr. NOTAM FAIL? Revenge by the family whose grandma got run over by a reindeer? Or, just a cool display between Easton and St. Michaels!
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 29 Upper Mask
I wanted to duplicate the Mars Snooper paint job from this Estes catalog page. The upper section mask won't be an easy one. The tips of the white triangle areas go to a thin point. To find the centers between the fins, a piece of paper was pressed into the root edges of two facing fins. The root ...
[Read More]

My Older Build Threads on TRF
Before I started this blog, I posted some of my Dr. Zooch builds on The Rocketry Forum. Here's the links to the Zooch build threads: Dr. Zooch Soyuz http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=5213 Dr. Zooch Atlas Agena B http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=9576 Dr. Zooch Explorer 1 ...
[Read More]

The yearly NORAD Santa tracking post
You and your kids and their kids and so on can track the Jolly Old Elf's progress here .  Merry Christmas!
[Read More]

Flaming Christmas Tree upgrade is underway
I searched high and low and didn't come up with the 'U' shaped tubing that I needed.  The radius was just too small.  So, I built an enclosed cavity above the motor mount in question using piece of an old cardboard yarn bobbin.  It is roughly a quarter of a conical section and ...
[Read More]

Stiga post mortem
Armadillo employee Ben Brockert has posted a ton of details about the Flight of the Stiga .  The Stiga was 32' tall, 15.25' dia.and weighed about 1,600 lb.  It pulled 3.85 G's on its way to Mach 2.47 and 135,400' AGL.  Their report was very transparent, providing the good as well ...
[Read More]

High speed footage - Crossroads shot Baker
Note the initial hypersonic shockwave, a dark circle propagating through the water. This hydraulic shock, initially many miles per second, was powerful enough to crush the hulls of ships nearest to the blast.
[Read More]

The full story of Stig-A from Armadillo Aerospace
"On Sunday morning, 4 December 2011, Armadillo Aerospace launched the tube rocket "Stiga" (aka STIG-A) to approximately 140,000 feet above sea level from Spaceport America. The rocket took just under 2 minutes to reach apogee and landed twelve and a half minutes after the launch. The landing point ...
[Read More]

NASA video from ISS of comet and Earth
"International Space Station Commander Dan Burbank captured spectacular imagery of Comet Lovejoy as seen from about 240 miles above the Earth’s horizon on Wednesday, Dec. 21. Burbank described seeing the comet as “the most amazing thing I have ever seen in space,” in an ...
[Read More]

SC Precision airfoil rail guides
I just got sample set of  SC Precision's new 10-Series Airfoil Rail Guides for 1" rails. Thanks Scott!  The larger 15-Series guides debuted at Red Glare XI and seemed to be a hit.  Scott's rail guides are CNC machined from black Delrin to a true NACA airfoil shape. This ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 30 Upper Mask
This is one of the three sides with the Scotch tape in place. The black marked side is facing in. The cut "tapered arrow" point is on the inside. It takes some time to get the strips straight. Sight from the rear to be sure the tape goes in a straight line. The remaining open area in the center ...
[Read More]

Removing Small Oversprays
It never fails - You can be careful with your masking, but paint can still find a way to the surface. You could scrape it with a knife blade, but that would leave a divot in the paint and dull the sheen. After the paint has thoroughly dried, I use a white eraser to remove the bulk of the black ...
[Read More]

Another Soyuz-2.1b Rocket Launch Failure Friday Dec. 23, 2011 May Delay Next Progress Launch
The Russian space program suffered yet another setback on Friday after a Soyuz-2 vehicle failed to put a communications satellite into orbit, resulting in debris from the probe crashing back to Earth in a Siberian town located roughly 1,400 miles from Moscow. According to BBC News Science ...
[Read More]

Decorations at Masten
The folks over at Masten know how to decorate for the Holidays.
[Read More]

Quote of the Day!
This about sums up why I fly rockets: "These weren’t clunky plastic toys powered by vinegar and baking soda, or a rubber slingshot; they were actual rockets that ascended on a pillar of smoke and flame." Stefan Jones This quote came from an article Mr. Jones wrote for MAKE Magazine, ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Build Part 31 Assembly
All eight nozzle vanes were glued in place on the masked lines. This was the look I was hoping for, a high contrast that draws attention to all the nozzle detail. In the Estes catalog pictures, the nozzles and vanes were painted black. From a few feet away you wouldn't notice the vanes at all. The ...
[Read More]

Space Shuttle launch at night

[Read More]

Is That Santa? No, Just Soyuz Rockets Falling From The Sky!
The mysterious fireball observed above Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and France on Christmas Eve was the re-entry of the third stage of a Soyuz rocket that transported three astronauts to space, the Royal Observatory of Belgium said Sunday. A Russian Soyuz rocket carrying the astronauts ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Finished!
Decal printing will have to wait. I didn't want to use up a full sheet by only printing 1/3 of it. This was a harder build than I thought it would be. Aligning the shrouds and getting the vanes on in a different color presented some challenges. Masking the upper body tube took time but the final ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Revisited
I've only flown the Quest Escort AS-1 one time. I looked back on my July 7th flight on RocketReviews.com. Here's what I wrote: Not very stable. The rocket flew off at an angle with some wiggle in the back end. The recommended Quest A6-4 delay was too long. The rocket was coming in nose down for a ...
[Read More]

Soyuz reentry over Europe (not a comet)

[Read More]

KH-9 Hexagon - Declassified in Sept. 2011
Specifications Data source: The Encyclopedia of US Spacecraft and NSSDC Launch vehicle: Titan IIID/34D Total weight: 11,400 kg (25,000 lb), with mapping camera 13,300 kg (29,000 lb) Reentry weight: 5,330 kg (11,800 lb) max. Diameter (main body): 3.05 m (120 in) Length (with mapping camera): 16.21 ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 1 Parts
This is one I picked up on EBay. I read the build reviews on RocketReviews.com so I would know what to expect. The centering rings are thicker than what I've seen on some other Quest kits. The engine hook is spring steel! It doesn't bend when flexed. So far, things are looking good. These are the ...
[Read More]

Phobos Grunt will reenter atmosphere in about 2 weeks
That is not too shocking; we have been expecting this sad day for a while now. But the expected location of the landing is pretty interesting: Freaking Afghanistan! What happens when some of the most advanced technology (though perhaps not advanced enough) in the World lands in one of the most ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Blog 2011: A Year in Review
As 2011 comes to a close and I begin a 6th year of blogging on Rocketry I thought I would take a look at the top 10 most popular items I blogged on in 2011. 10. STS 135 Launch picture – The last shuttle majestically rises into the sky. Blog entry from July 8, 2011 9.  Lockheed ...
[Read More]

The Dungeon's Top Ten of 2011
In no particular order.... Early in the year, I completed transferring reviews from the old EMRR (see the My Rocket Reviews Page ).  I transferred (and updated) all but eight and, while I was at it, added a few exclusive reviews.  I've since added a few more, some of which were ...
[Read More]

The Flaming Christmas Tree v1.1
The newly revised recovery system is complete, as shown in the attached photo.  As I mentioned before, the upper portion is connected to the lower via two plastic tubes.  These are not optimal, as plastic doesn't like hot gasses.  However, it was designed (and I use the term ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 2 Engine Mount
Part C is the blue engine mount tube. It's much longer than the parts illustration shows. The test fit of the supplied centering rings wasn't good. The upper ring is on a ST-7 tube. The lower blue tube from the kit shows the loose fit of the centering ring. I'm substituting the ST-7 tube. It's ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 3 Engine Mount
The engine block was notched for a better fit over the top bend of the engine hook. Even with the better fit over the ST-7 tube, the centering rings were hard to get straight. TIP: Use the back end of your straightedge for a true 90 degree angle. Turn the tube and check the ring against the ...
[Read More]

Monocopter Mk2
Monocopter Mk2 , a photo by Alexander Kroll on Flickr. Check out this cool carbon fiber monocopter. If you click through you will find additional photos.  You can also read all about it here .
[Read More]

The Hayden Letters
"In 1950, the Museum's Hayden Planetarium began accepting reservations for the first trip into space as part of a publicity campaign for its exhibition Conquest of Space. Letters poured in from around the world with requests to book trips to the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, and beyond, capturing the ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk Build Part 4 Nose Cone
Skipping ahead to Step 16 you need to cut a hole in the nose cone base to install the clay weight. Instead of just hacking a hole in the base, draw your cut lines first. A razor saw can cut quick sometimes, depending on how thick the blow-molded plastic is. Cut slow and follow your pencil lines. I ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk Build Part 5 Cleaning Up Parts
After sanding down the raised nose cone mold seams, there was still some seams below the surface. These got a bead of medium CA and allowed to dry. The CA will stay in the seams after sanding down with 220 grit then 400 grit sandpaper. Sorry Quest, but this had to be the worst body tube I've ever ...
[Read More]

Belated thanks to Mike "Sparky" Jerauld!
Near the end of this year's Plaster Blaster event Sparky asked me to check out a rocket he was trying to identify.  My jaw dropped when I realized he'd found my minimum diameter 38mm design! I'd lost it several years ago at Plaster City on a CTI 512I285 classic motor.  This flight ...
[Read More]

Falcon 9 Model Rocket Kit Now Available from SpaceX
SpaceX’s flying scale model of their Falcon 9 rocket is now available from Amazon.com. The 1/88 scale rocket is about 23″ tall and uses clear plastic fins for flight which may be removed for display. According to the description at Amazon.com: On December 8, 2010, SpaceX became ...
[Read More]

The Shuttle Motion Simulator finds a new home
CollectSpace reports that the Shuttle Motion Simulator (SMS) has been donated to Texas A&M University where it will be used to develop new space equipment and operations procedures.  It reportedly will be available to all majors as well as the public.  I find this so awesome. ...
[Read More]

Shuttle memory
When I started at JSC, the landing imagery on the Shuttle motion base simulator wasn't computer generated (I assume it was at the end of the program).  Instead there was a multi-story model of the landing area.  There was a TV camera on an Y-Y-Z drive that would display the scenery in ...
[Read More]

Estes Alti Trak for $4.99
Amazon.com currently has the Estes Alti Trak Altitude Finder for $4.99 over 60% off the list price of $12.99. Shipping is free for orders over $25 and for Amazon Prime members. Since Amazon’s prices change daily, please visit Amazon.com to verify the current price.
[Read More]

50th Anniversary of the Space flight of Belka and Strelka - 2010
50th Anniversary of the Space flight of Belka and Strelka - 2010 , a photo by audiopineapplepostcards on Flickr.
[Read More]

China releases space plans through 2016
“BEIJING (AP) —China plans to launch space labs and manned ships and prepare to build space stations over the next five years, according to a plan released Thursday that shows the country’s space program is gathering momentum. China has already said its eventual goals are to have ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 6 Air Scoop
Jumping ahead to Step 14: I scanned the supplied air scoop and printed two on some thicker 110 lb. cardstock. The fold lines were scored using the backside of a razor blade and a straightedge. Notice I've taped over the sharp side with a few wraps of masking tape. I used the edge of my metal ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 7 New Shroud
I needed a new shroud, the supplied shroud won't fit around the new ST-7 motor mount tube. Go to www.payloadbay.com and then to "tools". At the shroud tool input the measurements: Tube 1 = 1.57" (The Quest 40mm tube) Tube 2 = .759" (The ST-7 engine mount tube) Length = 2.16" (The height of the ...
[Read More]

New digital scale
Just picked up this digital scale, a 200 gram capacity .1 gram precision unit. There are many uses for this, but I mostly wanted it to help with the mixing of epoxy. It seems pretty good, calibrated well with 1 dollar bills (1 gram on the mark every time) and coins - a dime is supposed to be 2.27 ...
[Read More]

Last look inside Atlantis before the lights go out (plus more)
collectSpace has posted a series of cool photo's inside (and below) the Space Shuttle Atlantis.  I thought I had heard that NASA had already powered her down, but evidently the lights were on as of December 19th.  If I were in charge at NASM, I'd get with NASA and find how to ...
[Read More]

Forgive them lord, they know not on what kind of science blog they doth advertise...

[Read More]

Lucerne - December 2011 launch report
Despite the cold morning it was sunny and clear most of the day with essentially zero wind.  Every once in awhile Madre Nature gives back. For awhile now I've been wanting to fly the AT I59 Warp9 end-burner with a cored White Lightning kicker on the nozzle end: Per the instructions I used ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 8 Shroud Support Ring
In Step 6, a stiffener ring is glued inside the shroud. Cut a notch for the engine hook. It'll be too tight a fit otherwise. Be ready, it'll take a few tries to get it straight. Use very little glue in the fillet. White glue could shrink it up and leave a ring. I applied the glue with a toothpick ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 9 Shroud Fitting
This shows the new tape width and position to allow clearance for the stiffening ring inside the shroud. I ended up adding cardstock strips all the way around the rings for a better fit. One thickness of 110 lb. cardstock gave a better fit. The Quest instructions show a gap between the wide end of ...
[Read More]

Learning to fly with helium balloons
Cluster Balloon.org
[Read More]

Boris Chertok’s Rockets and People
After the recent death of one of the icons of the Soviet Space Program, Boris Chertok(Learn more from previous post), I thought readers may enjoy this. The NASA History Program now has Boris Chertok’s Rockets and People available online. “This memoir by a towering figure in So ...
[Read More]

A bunch of free scale plans
Lacrosse dims , a photo by p_c_alway on Flickr. Peter Alway has published a new batch of scale plans to his Flickr account. I embedded the Lacrosse as an example but you can click through to find the following: Redstone Block II Tactical Missile, Nike Hercules, Sidewinder AIM-9B, Sidewinder ...
[Read More]

2011 Recapitulation
Way back in the beginning of the year I came up with three "Big, Fun Scary Adventures," referred to herein as "BFS Adventures." The first of these was a concrete goal: to obtain my level-2 certification for high-power rocketry. The story of this adventure was a long and comical one: My first ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk Build Part 10 Shroud Form and Fill
While the glued edge is still wet, the card stock shroud is pliable. Use a clean dowel to roll over the edge. You can mold the card stock for a better fit around the tube. To fill the seam, thinned CWF is brushed on. Here I'm using my thumb to direct the line of CWF over the open seam and removing ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 11 Fin Glue Prep
The fins were cut from 1/8" balsa. The instructions never say to round the edges, maybe they were looking for "squared" sharp edges. But, at this thickness, they looked clumsy. After the previous filling and priming, I rounded the leading, trailing and outside edges. I'll have to refill and prime ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 11 Fin Glue Prep
The fins were cut from 1/8" balsa. The instructions never say to round the edges, maybe they were looking for "squared" sharp edges. But, at this thickness, they looked clumsy. After the previous filling and priming, I rounded the leading, trailing and outside edges. I'll have to refill and prime ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 11 Fin Glue Prep
The fins were cut from 1/8" balsa. The instructions never say to round the edges, maybe they were looking for "squared" sharp edges. But, at this thickness, they looked clumsy. After the previous filling and priming, I rounded the leading, trailing and outside edges. I'll have to refill and prime ...
[Read More]

Alternatives for Boost-Phase Missile Defense
From Google Books
[Read More]

Happy New Year!
The content and sentiment have little in common.   For this first post of 2012, I thought I'd list the last few items I 'starred' in my reader, but didn't post about.  I only included the reasonably on-topic items. Alternatives for Boost Phase Missile Defense - High Power Rocketry ...
[Read More]

2012 RocketReviews.com Vertical Wall Calendar
The 2012 RocketReviews.com Vertical Wall Calendar features a dozen exciting photographs of rocket launches. Each photo is 11″ x 11″ and printed in dynamic color on 10pt heavyweight high-gloss paper. Click Here to Visit CafePress to Order Your 2012 RocketReviews.com Calendar The ...
[Read More]

Rocket name change and a prediction for 2012
In this months Fire and Smoke , rocket blogging friends Verna and Randy give their perspective on our impending doom in 2012.  That is, it won't happen and we should focus on the really important things in our life, such as family.  Then, they proceed to discuss the Flaming Christmas ...
[Read More]

Post rate may be slower for a while
Because the following items are arriving soon: Antec Sonata III Antec Earthwatts 500W Power Supply MSI P67A-G43 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s GIGABYTE GV-R667D3-1GI Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-90G 2.5" 90GB SATA III MLC CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600 ...
[Read More]

AVIATR
AVIATR
[Read More]

Indexing every rocket kit ever made
The Rocketry Forum and Rocketry Online's InfoCentral have collaborated to develop "a comprehensive catalog of all rockets offered to the public in kit form, RTF or plan. All of them."  This is a big undertaking and the first iteration is now available in .pdf form: The Rocketry Index . ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 12 Gluing the Fins
Sorry I missed the blog posts yesterday! I was in transit and am home now. Things should be back on track for the time being. The fins were glued onto the shroud. I found myself gluing the fins upside down. Be sure you check the balsa grain direction and the illustrations to get it right. One fin ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 13 Re-Gluing the Upper Fins
The wing fins were cut off without too much difficulty. You can forget about reusing the launch lug! You are best off trimming it down to the surface, not trying to cut it off at once. Here's what's left of the launch lug fillet on the wing fin. This was trimmed and sanded down to the surface with ...
[Read More]

Ebay is actually working!
Selling a minor item, mostly to get more rocketry money, and the results are a bit shocking... By the end of the listing I expect about 80 watchers and 250 views, hopefully they bid the item up to $200. I had soured on ebay recently because of items that did not sell well, and the fact that most ...
[Read More]

Zeiss 200mm giant binoculars
These were probably made by Zeiss during WWII, so that means they were made on behalf of the Nazis. It falls among a plethora of other giant things like guns, probably made with slave labor.
[Read More]

The cosmic energy inventory

[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 14 Air Scoop
From the kit bag, the air scoop was printed on thin cardstock. Too thin for me. I scanned and reprinted it on 110 lb. cardstock. Still, I felt it needed to be a bit thicker. I always print off a couple of shrouds, this time I did print off a few air scoops. From the extras, I cut out sides and top ...
[Read More]

Silver Spur 3
I think there was a post about this rocket including the video below, but I can't find it right now. What is new to this blog are some of the images from before the flight. The Silver Spur 3 flight employed some interesting construction techniques, particularly the use of ablative leading edge ...
[Read More]

Phobos-Grunt, imaged from Nice, France
Thierry Legault once again has spun his magic and captured ground images of the Phobos-Grunt .  His web page indicates that the Phobos-Grunt is not spinning but is moving backwards with respect to the Sun and it's solar panels.  His page goes into great detail on the equipment he used ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 15 Air Scoop
The paint will have to be scraped down to the bare tube for the best glue bond. After positioning the scoop, it was traced around with a sharp pencil. The picture shows the scoop moved away from the pencil line. The paint was scraped inside and up to the pencil line with a hobby knife. That was ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 16 Air Scoop
TIP: While the glue is not quite dry, you can coax any bulging out of the slightly wet glued card stock with a toothpick. At the back of the scoop at the point of the fold, both sides wouldn't lay flat. A view from the front of the air scoop. Titebond Molding and Trim Glue was used for fillets ...
[Read More]

North American Aviation XB-70 Valkyrie engines
This image from Up-Ship.com The Valkyrie is one of the most insane jets ever made, in some ways more extreme than the SR-71. It was expensive, huge, dangerous to fly, and ultimately not particularly useful as a weapon because of ICBMs. But those are just minor reasons in the face of this: Stats: * ...
[Read More]

Tags Added to Rocketry Product Index
With thousands of products listed in the RocketReviews.com Rocketry Product Index, the biggest challenge faced is how to organize the information. One of the first things I did when revamping the EMRR web site into RocketReviews.com was to add “attributes” to the rocket kits and ...
[Read More]

Tree House
My sister and I have always wanted to build a tree house, ever since we knew what a tree house was. But we never had the time, money or know-how... until now. A lot of kids will go out with a hammer and some nails and some 2x4's they found in the garage and try to build a tree platform... But we ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SWLCM Build Part 17 Paint Match
I'd read reviews where other builder's have had problems matching the paint colors to the decals. The cap on the Rustoleum 2X red is a pretty good match to the red on the decal. I took the decal sheet to Home Depot and the Navy Blue looks to be a near match. I hate buying a new can of paint for a ...
[Read More]

This Girl Snuck Into a Russian Military Rocket Factory
"Her name is Lana Sator and she snuck into one of NPO Energomash factories outside of Moscow. Her photos are amazing, like sets straight out of Star Wars or Alien. Now the Russian government is harassing her. It was easy to get in. She just went there, jumped over the fence and got right into the ...
[Read More]

Well, if the X-37B is spying, we still don't know on what
In his blog post entitled Bloopers in Space , Jim Oberg responds to a recent article in Spaceflight , the magazine of the British Interplanetary Society , which claims the X-37B's mission is to spy on China's newly launched Tiangong-1 space station.  Nice try, but no cigar. ...
[Read More]

RIP Lowell Randall
The last surviving member of Robert Goddard’s ace rocket team and rocket scientist for the US Space program died at the age 96. He retired from White Sands Missile range in 1978 but continued to assist part-time as an engineer until 1990. In September of 1941 Goddard hired Lowell Randall as ...
[Read More]

Reminds me of the Millenium Falcon and the Death Star
CREDIT: NASA    
[Read More]

Useful websites
A lot of learning goes on online in rocketry, whether you're just starting building rockets or if you have been in the hobby for a while. Here are my personal favorite rocketry websites. If you just want to research a kit you are thinking of buying, if you dont know how something works or if you ...
[Read More]

North American AGM-28B
North American AGM-28B , a photo by james_gordon_los_angeles on Flickr. I'm a couple of days early for Elvis' birthday, but..."You ain't nothin' but a Hound Dog. "
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 19 Masking
The red has been shot and this is the mask for the blue. Once again, I'm using Scotch tape for the line masks. Over the top and around the fins are cut up squares from a grocery bag. I know now why the instructions never mentioned rounding the fin edges. It'd be much easier to mask square edged ...
[Read More]

Dr. Goddard's Last Surviving Team Member Passes Away At Age 96
LAS CRUCES - Lowell Randall, described by his friend and biographer Joe Gold of Las Cruces, as "the last surviving member of a team of great pioneer rocket scientists who launched the U.S. space program," died Tuesday at Good Samaritan Las Cruces Village, Home Health Center. He was 96. A ...
[Read More]

Steve Kristal's Wrap Tutorial
Steve Kristal (Gus on YORF) recently did a great tutorial on how to apply the self-adhesive wrap in the new Falcon 9 kit being sold by SpaceX. "Applying wraps to body tubes is fairly easy to do if you remember one guiding principle: Start from the middle, not from the edge!" The picture tutorial ...
[Read More]

More stars from the feed reader
Steve Kristal's [body] Wrap Tutorial  - Model Rocket Building (link to YORF) Dr. Goddard's Last Surviving Team Member [Lowell Randall] Passes Away at Age 96 - Whitney's Bayourat Rocketry Blog Los Alamos Runs Asteroid Defense Simulation - Spaceports (Cray's Cielo computer, ...
[Read More]

Wallops launch alert
Via Maryland Weather , of all places: NASA is hoping to conduct a test flight of a suborbital rocket from Virginia's Wallops Flight Facility on Jan. 11. The two-stage vehicle, with the friendly sounding name Terrier-Improved Malamute, is being developed to support NASA science missions. Liftoff ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, January/February 2012
I was glad this issue arrived after the previous issue went AWOL and had to be replaced.  I feared there was a hiccup after renewing my membership but any worries I had were unfounded. This issue starts with a nice two-fer build article on a Dark Star Lite.and a Talon.  Boris Katan has ...
[Read More]

Computer parts have arrived!
After a few hours, the basic hardware has been installed and Windows 7 is in also. Tomorrow I will have to get the networking up and do all of the updates, downloads, etc. The Antec Sonata is exceptionally quiet, as is the stock cooler from Intel. Things were not perfect, and as always there are ...
[Read More]

SpaceX: Going Solar
“For its first mission to the International Space Station, SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft will use deployable solar arrays as its primary power source for running sensors, driving heating and cooling systems, and communicating with SpaceX’s Mission Control Center and the Space ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 18 Masking
After reading some reviews of the Tomahawk on RocketReviews.com, I knew the mask would be interesting. Step 18 is a little vague. "Cut a 3/16" strip of masking tape with a hobby knife. Apply the strip of tape even with the top of the right and left fins." Huh? You've really got to dry wrap the red ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 19 Masking
Sorry, Entry 18 and 19 were out of order. The NEW #18 post is below (this already posted #19) and all is in the right order now. The red has been shot and this is the mask for the blue. Once again, I'm using Scotch tape for the line masks. Over the top and around the fins are cut up squares from a ...
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 20 Decals
As careful as I was to match the 3/16" mask to the decal, the first red curved decal didn't match the masked back shroud. To match the width, I had to split the decal. I'll patch it with red decal scraps later on. The long horizontal stripes are pieced together. There is five separate pieces that ...
[Read More]

January ROCK Launch Photos
I’ve posted my photographs from the January, 2012, ROCK launch in the ROCK Launches Photo Album. A comfortable temperature, clear skies, and, for the first couple of hours, no wind at all, the weather was as close to perfect for rocket launching as I’ve ever seen. Carl launched ...
[Read More]

Sunday links and the like, on and off topic
Back in the 1970's, before there was Mike's Hard Lemonade or Zima,  there were cheap flavored wines such as Ripple, Boone's Farm, and Annie Green Springs.  These were actual wines vs. malt beverages.  Today, even the drinks marked by liquor companies such as Smirnoff or Bacardi ...
[Read More]

The Rocket Chronicles 1964 – 1978
A delightful collection of vintage model rocketry by the Rocket Boys of Southern California. This was part of their program The Rocket Parade. This is a fun video. Enjoy! The Rocket Boys are Greg Carpenter, Steve Grimm, Bill Hersey, and Jim Steffen   10 years later -Rocket Parade 1988
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Launch January 7, 2012 Part 1
Here's what the racks looked like for most of the day! Cool weather, almost no wind and lots of families. I counted 20 cars, the most I've ever seen at a R.O.C.K. launch. Edit: I've just been emailed, there was 22 families and 44 attendies! Brian and Tom have smooth running section launches. Tom ...
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Launch January 7, 2012 Part 2
Carl Campbell flew the new Space X FALCON with a B6-4. This looks to be a well engineered kit, especially around the clear fins. They snap in place for flight and remove for display. The sunbeams shine through the fatback and ham hocks on the PIGASUS launch with a C6-5. Even with the near calm ...
[Read More]

January 2012
Saturday, January 28, noon-4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

Building the SLR
Fireman Rocketry
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build Part 21 Decal Patching
You'll probably have some decals that aren't quite long enough. Save any scrap pieces, you'll need them. Under the wing fin I had a gap. A 3" long strip of the blue decal was cut away from where it intersected the launch lug. A small piece of that strip patched the gap. One of the four red strips ...
[Read More]

Astro Baby Rocket Tips
Astro Baby (on TRF) is building his second rocket kit, the Estes Long Tom. Astro Baby's first name is Mel. Bear in mind, this is his second rocket build. I was amazed at the things he wrote about. These are simple but very smart ideas that an experienced builder could learn from. Here's some tips ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Products Deals Finder
I’ve added a “Deals” option under the RocketReviews.com Features menu. About a month ago, Amazon.com listed the Estes Saturn V kit for $35 – a discount of almost 65% off the kit’s list price. The highly-discounted price didn’t last long, but many were still ...
[Read More]

USB pen camera
This camera was $16 shipped from Ebay. It comes with an 8 gig internal card, and actually works as a pen if you would want to be a spy. The size of the thing, and the fact that it has a bunch of holes all over the side, may get you in trouble with the KGB or Mafia to be honest. But since my brain ...
[Read More]

Massive MLRS salvo

[Read More]

80 rockets in about 30 seconds
I count two banks of 40 rockets being fired in the first 30 seconds or so.  Hat tip to R2K's High Power Rocketry .
[Read More]

Quest Tomahawk SLCM Build FINISHED!
Many of the points brought up in the RocketReviews.com builds are consistent with my experience. Matching up the decal color to the red and blue spray paint would be difficult unless you did a custom color and shot it through an airbrush. The decals are tough. There's many pieces to line up, the ...
[Read More]

Valentines Flute Glass Nose Cones
To get ready for the next build (and to buy some really cheap 50mm plastic nose cones) check this EBAY listing click HERE These were on sale at the Dollar Stores last year, but I've yet to see them for this Valentine's Day season. It looks like somebody is always selling them on EBAY. These are a ...
[Read More]

Nova Class I, II, and III
Scott Lowther presents NASA's Nova concepts in a series of Aerospace Project Review blog posts: Class I , Class II , and Class III .  I've attached a lo res copy of the Class III page, mostly because of the cute, stubby, air-breathing ram-jet or maybe a ram-rocket (on the left).  You can ...
[Read More]

ISS gets hardware and software upgrades to support inaugural Dragon visit
The six-member crew of the International Space Station (ISS) have been hard at work over the past few weeks, performing multiple hardware and software upgrades in order to ready the station to support the new fleet of commercial resupply vehicles, ahead of next month’s inaugural visit of ...
[Read More]

Interesting Space Shuttle concept
08_00995.jpg , a photo by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives on Flickr. Here's an interesting concept with the 'shuttle' being surrounded by two canted tanks. The SDA&S Archive just posted a ton of photos of proposed shuttle models and concept art. There's at least one more that I'll ...
[Read More]

When 6 engines are better than three
08_00991.jpg , a photo by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives on Flickr.
[Read More]

I think I destroyed Flickr (or at least part of it)
I was just favoriting a bunch of retro Space Shuttle concept photos on the San Diego Air and Space Museum's photo stream and successfully embedded a couple.  Then, all of a sudden, they were gone.  The photo set that they were in is there but the series of photos are AWOL.  I mostly ...
[Read More]

Black Powder Storage and Transport
Looking for a safe and convenient way to store and transport the black powder used for ejection charges, I found the Traditions Performance Firearms Muzzleloader Composite Tubular Flask with valve (black) at Amazon.com. It cost less than $15 and arrived in two days since I have an Amazon prime ...
[Read More]

Explorer Aquarius Upscale
More at http://www.starleopard.com/
[Read More]

Candle burning in space

[Read More]

What’s a Soyuz Launch Like?
Andre (top), Oleg (bottom) and I prepare to depart. By: Don Pettit — Soyuz From: http://blogs.airspacemag.com/pettit/ As a newly arrived astronaut candidate in 1996, I was sitting in my first Space Shuttle mission debrief, listening to a crew report to the ...
[Read More]

Lego Saturn V
Me next to the Saturn V , a photo by TheBrickMan on Flickr. Check out this almost 19' tall model made from around 120,000 Lego bricks!
[Read More]

China Launches Second Satellite Within One Week!
China successfully launched meteorological satellite Fengyun-II 07 at 8:56 a.m. Friday from its southwestern Xichang Satellite Launch Center. Capable of providing continuous meteorological monitoring and sending maritime and water resource data, the satellite is expected to play an important ...
[Read More]

JATO of the day: Teledyne Ryan UAV, Drone, RPV
Teledyne Ryan UAV, Drone, RPV , a photo by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives on Flickr. San Diego Air and Space has restored their Space Shuttle history photos. At least some of them. Flickr is acting funny right now (new photos aren't showing up at the front of the set they're stored ...
[Read More]

Rocket Propulsion Elements
I have had this book ever since junior year of high school, but have never been able to just sit down and read it through and through. (You see, in high school, there was a lot of math and science background that I was missing in order to even understand it!). Well, during Christmas break I ...
[Read More]

Rocket Lingo (what them words mean) Part 1
I use rocket words as part of my every-day language. You will routinely hear me talking about "lawn-darts, Launch lugs, centering rings, cato's, BARs, etc". These words are so common for me that some-times I forget that some people dont speak rocket so here goes: CATO: When a rocket fails ...
[Read More]

Saturn V

[Read More]

Rocket gals # 95
~35 degrees + wind >10 mph = launch scrub + rocket girls  My main page is getting long so I'll hide 'em below a jump break... This is supposedly Carrie Fisher and her stunt double.  
[Read More]

Lego Space Shuttle
Lego Rocket , a photo by livewoods on Flickr. Since the Saturn V was so popular.
[Read More]

Hacking a Titan 1 at Moffett Field
I just spotted this project. A group of people, including NASA Watch 's Keith Cowling, are restoring a Titan 1 missile at NASA's Moffett Field.  You can read about the Titan 1  in general and this one in particular on the NASA Hack Space blog (which also isn't a NASA site).  Here's ...
[Read More]

Operation Rocket and the beginning of the Gambian Space Program
This is a great inspiring video. A shout out to Destin for this great video. ( Destin graduated from the University of Alabama’s Mechanical Engineering Department. He’s currently working on a Master’s degree in propulsion so he can officially say he’s a rocket ...
[Read More]

Giant Leap Mariah 38 on Ebay
This is very tempting, particularly to buy and use for my first dual deploy experiments, but even a lowball offer ($120) seems like too much. I plan to build a level 2 cert rocket next month - and it will be a 3" x 78" all fiberglass rocket for a total cost of about $140. Ebay Listing - ending in ...
[Read More]

Soviet lunar landing

[Read More]

Brass Propellant Discs
Watch what happens when you ignite wafer thin brass discs. Steve and co. are using the brass in an EX project. The discs are the leftovers. Brass Propellant Discs a video by jurvetson on Flickr.
[Read More]

The Restart Page - Reboot under different OSes
http://www.therestartpage.com/
[Read More]

Phobos Grunt has crash-landed back to Earth
The odds of recovering any pieces are slim. Phobos-Grunt plunged to Earth into the Pacific Ocean on Jan 15, 2012 - Predicted Crash Zone Maps shows orbital track of Phobos-Grunt on Final Orbit before crashing to Earth in the Pacific Ocean west of South America on Jan 15, 2012. Atlantic Ocean was at ...
[Read More]

Christmas tree launch 2012
I wimped out and stayed home. Brrr. Now, I see next weekend will be in the 50's here. The rocket gods must be angry at me to bracket a freezing launch weekend with two unseasonably warm weekends.  Oh well, I'll be in Warthog's garage next weekend anyway. I hear despite the cold and high winds ...
[Read More]

Saturn V business end, up close and personal
Found via  Hobby Works  on Facebook.
[Read More]

Video from the January ROCK Launch
I created the following short video from high-speed (slow-motion) footage of the January ROCK launch I took with my Casio EX-F1 camera.  
[Read More]

Old Red Max Clone
This was the first model I built when I got back into Rocketry, a clone of the Estes Der Red Max. Estes was a few years away from the re-release. I did a little research online then ordered parts from ASP and decals from Tango Papa. At the time, I thought I did a pretty good job of filling the ...
[Read More]

USLI -- Subscale Launch
We are required to prove our design by building a small scale version of our rocket and launch it. It was a fun weekend putting this little thing together and launching it. This Monday was rather windy in Iowa, but as you can see in the video at the bottom of the post, it performed rather nicely, ...
[Read More]

JSC donates Space Shuttle Full Fuselage Trainer
It appears NASA JSC is donating another Shuttle training resource.  The Fuselage Trainer will be given to the Seattle Museum of Flight later this week. ( PRNewswire )  Glad to see more of the Shuttle support equipment going to good use.
[Read More]

Onboard footage from N altitude flight
Video footage - lots of spin! I bet this rocket would have broken 50,000 feet, possibly 10 miles even, without the conning and spin.
[Read More]

Project Mercury scans
dec61 (33) , a photo by leeshelp on Flickr. This Flickr user has posted a set of photos that he scanned from original slides. Very nice!
[Read More]

Christmas Tree Launch 2012: The official video
Or at least as official as it gets:   Christmas Tree Launch .  You may also enjoy the other videos and photos .
[Read More]

Wadding Tamp Tool Part 1
I usually use a dowel to get wadding down inside a body tube. I'll try to pack it down a bit to get a better seal but still leave it loose enough to blow out easily enough at ejection. The dowel I kept in my range box did an adequate job, but I decided to make a simple tool that could work better ...
[Read More]

Google+ Hangout: Phobos-Grunt re-entry
On January 15, 2012, the Russian spacecraft Phobos-Grunt re-entered over the Pacific ocean and burned up. During this time, I reported the event live with Planetary Society science journalist Emily Lakdawalla on a Google+ Hangout. So what has Phobos-Grunt been up to? The final landing zone was in ...
[Read More]

"Number One Rocket Man"
Modern Mechanix features an article about Dr. Robert Hutchings Goddard from the May, 1938 edition of Scientific American :   Number One Rocket Man - A Silhouette of the Shy Massachusetts Physicist Who Pioneered in Rocket Research . . . Much to His Distress He Broke into the Noisier Newspapers ...
[Read More]

March to the Moon image archive
Gemini images Mercury images
[Read More]

SOPA Soap Opera
SOPA Soap Opera , a photo by jurvetson on Flickr.
[Read More]

Wadding Tamp Tool Part 2
By using this tool you can gauge how deep the wadding will go inside the tube. Here I'm holding the dowel outside the body tube to the depth I want the wadding to go. Hold that position on the dowel and push the wadding in to the depth you were holding on the outside of the body earlier. If you ...
[Read More]

Apollo Lunar Landing Mission Poster
Here is a classic poster from 1967 of the Apollo Lunar Landing mission.  Image is available at Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
[Read More]

SpaceX Dragon Capsule Is Capable Of Long Duration Space Flight
Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX was selected by NASA to resupply the International Space Station after the agency ended its Space Shuttle program last year. SpaceX received an initial $1.6 billion contract for a minimum of 12 flights, with an option to order additional missions. However, in ...
[Read More]

Post number 1000
Despite being around for many years, this blog has only today arrived at the 1000th post. Most of these posts have come in just the last three years. Thanks to all the loyal readers; without your interest, the minuscule Google payments alone would not justify maintaining a regular post rate. The ...
[Read More]

RS-25D Engines at KSC
RS-25D Engines at KSC (NASA, Space Launch System, 01/12/12) , a photo by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center on Flickr. The 15 remaining SSME's are ready for shipment to Stennis Space Center, Mississippi for re-use in NASA's Space Launch System.
[Read More]

Delta IV Night Launch January 19, 2012
There's some great advantages living in Central Florida. Last night I was able to walk out my front door and watch the first launch of 2012, the Delta IV from Cape Canaveral, a little over 50 miles away. Night launches are always spectacular. Depending on the flight trajectory, you can watch the ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars - TGIF edition
PWR [Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne] ad zaps SpaceX - RLV and Space Transport News (PWR has a good track record but that alone won't fend off the Falcon 9.) "Britain's Got Talent" could win ride on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo - Cosmic Log (I think they should record a track while up ...
[Read More]

TIP: Better Nozzle for Titebond Molding & Trim Glue
Here's a tip suggested by Jeff Roberts (Luke Strawwalker or OL JR) on the Rocketry Forum: "... Grab a few of the regular "school glue" type twist-cap nozzle applicators and install them on all your wood and white glue bottles, even the TMTG. They make the glue MUCH easier to apply with precision ...
[Read More]

Warthog build session 2012-1
Warthog successfully conducted his first build session of the year despite Mother Nature's attempt to ice us in. He provided his signature pulled pork BBQ and a coleslaw that was as good as I've ever had. He helped set up his plunge router so I could make some rings for my Fat 6" Crayon Bank. I ...
[Read More]

Under v. over expanded flow
Via Ben Brockert's Twitter feed : If you compare the plume shape and mach disc locations on  Twitpic #1  versus  Twitpic #2   and reference  Aerospaceweb.org  you can see the [Stiga's] nozzle is now over expanded, whereas before it was under expanded.
[Read More]

The Libya Rocketry Association
"I am working on a plan to make (tourist rocket sport) in Libya and open the door for the world amateur rocketry to come over and shoot their rockets with me on the Libyan desert and by the sea side..." I have to admit that I get bad flashbacks when I think about amateur rockets in Libya ...
[Read More]

My First Wikipedia Edit
I never thought that the first time I would edit a Wikipedia page it would be on "Genocide." But I saw the most hopelessly out of place line I've ever seen on Wikipedia. So I deleted it. It was: "[So and so] was here!" I'm so proud of myself.
[Read More]

RS-25 SSME

[Read More]

January was windless on flying days!
I'm way behind in my blog posts but wanted to note that all my previous whining about wind was offset by two brilliantly wind-free Saturdays at Plaster City and Lucerne, respectively.  Video, photos, and data are on the way soon.  Mother Nature and I are BFFs  again. Keep up the ...
[Read More]

Photos from the January, 2012, Tampa Tripoli Rocket Launch
The year started off great for TTRA with nice weather for the first launch of the year.   The day began with light winds and a mostly-clear sky. As clouds moved in later, the wind actually let up a little.   Several boost gliders took to the air including this one from Astron ...
[Read More]

Tampa TTRA Launch January 21, 2012
My small car as loaded down in preparation for a show in nearby Dade City. I flew as many as possible before leaving at 2:45 p.m. Here's some highlights of the Tampa TTRA launch last Saturday - Check out the inset picture of the engine mount on Brian Urban's Scratch built X-15. The entire engine ...
[Read More]

Roll your own with 'RolaTube'
This may not make it to your workbench or range box, but I found it quite interesting. British company RTL Materials  has developed “bistable reeled composites”, which roll like a tape measure but unfurl into a rigid round tube structure. Here's a demo by Mike Judson of ...
[Read More]

Test your vision
Try the test
[Read More]

SpaceX's next-gen rocket
SpaceX just posted a simulation showing a 'next-gen' Falcon 9/Dragon capsule launching and then  autonomously returning  to its launch site.  This includes the capsule and both booster stages.  Cool concept.  And ambitious.  But that's one thing SpaceX isn't ...
[Read More]

1959 - Missile designed with HITCO in mind!
Thing is, this missile has a very strange design including "blast tubes" and plastic fins. On Ebay Now
[Read More]

Reader stars and other links of the day (CME update)
1958 - Missile Designed with HITCO in Mind - High Power Rocketry (Ad from an early composites company.  The original is for sale on EBay.) Strange Forgotten Space Station Concepts That Never Flew - Wired (via Clark Lindsey ) I was going to post about the current auroral ...
[Read More]

http://www.aame.in/
Aerospace news from India
[Read More]

Delta-IV WSG-4
Delta-IV WSG-4 (8) , a photo by Mike_Killian on Flickr. I referenced this photo when it was featured on Space.com. I love the composition.
[Read More]

Amazing Finishes from Steve Bradley
Once in a while there's some standout work that should be recognized! Here's some beautiful finishing by Steve Bradley. You can see the rest of his work on TRF HERE From his TRF post: "Thank you, it was fun now that it's over. I forgot to mention, the little diamonds at the top of the nose are ...
[Read More]

The daily feed reader stars and links post
Starships Inc. status update - RLV and Space Transport (They plan to launch sub-orbital nanosats this year and orbital payloads within a year. I love F-104s. Update via NASA .) 50-man Space Base Crew - Beyond Apollo (Another unrealized space station plan.) Rocketarium released four ...
[Read More]

Blame it on too many rockets
At the last build session, Warthog asked about the status of my F-104 Starfighter .  I respond that it suffered some damage on the last flight and that some of the plastic joints needed to be re-glued.  Today, I pulled it out to do the minor repairs.  Well, it appears that I had ...
[Read More]

Minimum diameter fiberglass build tutorial
Over on TRF, Crazy Jim is describing how to build Wildman's minimum diameter Space Cowboy kit .  This 54mm fiberglass kit features surface mounted, diamond airfoil fins.  These fins are capable of handling any 54mm motor with no added fiberglass reinforcement.  The kit reportedly ...
[Read More]

Rustoleum 2X Gloss White Paint Problems!
There's a lively debate of TRF about how the builder is being blamed for paint results like this: This is my Estes Mini Honest John on October 16, 2011. The Rustoleum 2X Gloss White paint came out in spatters, very rough and a flat finish. And the upper end of my Mars Lander dated December 17, ...
[Read More]

Day of Remembrance, 2012
Apollo One, AS-204, lost January 27, 1967 Lt. Col. Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, USAF Lt. Col. Edward H. White II, USAF Lt. Roger B. Chaffee, USN Challenger, STS-51-L, lost January 28, 1986 Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, Commander Michael J. Smith, Pilot Judith A. Resnik, Mission ...
[Read More]

Solid Propellant Burn Rate Enhancement in Rocketry
A REVIEW OF SOLID PROPELLANT BURN RATE ENHANCEMENT BY MECHANICAL METHODS DAVID REESE Abstract. The inclusion of metal fibers in a solid propellant grain has been shown to increase its bulk burning rate dramatically, and is a technology that was applied in several early sounding rockets. This ...
[Read More]

Project High Jump Boosted Dart
How do I always miss the great projects? Here is video footage of the attempt: The motor failed during burn, resulting in a shred and recovery failures. This flight was one of several proposed Carmack 100kft projects. You can read more about these projects here. The specs for Project High Jump ...
[Read More]

Zombie-X AK-47
Zombie-X AK-47 , a photo by jurvetson on Flickr.
[Read More]

USLI -- Critical Design Review
We just put the finishing touches on our Critical Design Review report and PowerPoint presentation! Hilarious fact: the documents finished uploading to our website just three minutes before they were due. But we put a lot into it, and if you're interested you should go check it out on our website: ...
[Read More]

Reader stars 'n' interesting links
Seems like this is becoming a regular feature for those things I found interesting....but not interesting enough to make a dedicated post. Project High Jump Boosted Dart - High Power Rocketry (Discussion, photos, video...CATO.) Nuclear Katyusha Launching - Next Big Future (NBF reviews his ...
[Read More]

T-Rockets or Tethered Rockets
Now for something really different! Ted Mahler has been experimenting with Tethered rockets. Check out his website HERE The website has plans and complete instructions for your own tethered flights. Watch the video HERE Ted's black powder tethered rockets are much better than the Space Derby ...
[Read More]

Vesta!
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA
[Read More]

Reaction research society two stage rocket
One problem with having over 1000 posts is that I can't remember if this is a repost or not. I think this rocket was mentioned previously, either while talking about the never flown 4 O 10,000 to 1 O 10,000 Kosdon project, or perhaps talking about Project Farside. If anyone can remember, post in ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars and interesting links
Atlas 5 rockets smash into bridge - Space.com (Well, they were in a barge at the time.) Remembering the Apollo 1 Fire (Infographic) - Space.com Rocket (and sci-fi) girls have invaded the rocketry forums Tank Girl on TRF Dr. Amy Mainzer (and other female scientists) also on TRF ...
[Read More]

PVC pipe fittings...by Estes
I was browsing the 'Coming Soon' section on the Estes website and ran across their new 29mm motor retainer . A pair will list for $8.99.  I guess that will save you from cutting and grinding a pair from a 3/4" compression coupling ($3.67 at Home Depot).  Actually, for a couple of ...
[Read More]

Can a lighter-than-air spacecraft enter orbit?
Among many other relevant technologies, JP Aerospace is investigating the use of low thrust, high ISP ion thrusters to accelerate their spacecraft from near space to orbit. These are not traditional rockets made out of metal, but rather lighter-than-air spacecraft which float to high altitude ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars and interesting links
Can a lighter-than-air spacecraft enter orbit? , High Power Rocketry - Intriguing concept.   JPA is more qualified than I on all all accounts, so I won't bother rambling about it. The website as an .pdf and animation describing the concept. NASA Wallops Flight Facility in 2011 ...
[Read More]

Stepped Launch Rods
Recently there was some posts about "Stepped" Launch Rods on TRF. Here's some I had on hand: The first two pictures are from older Quest Starter Kits, back when Quest had the three leg PVC launcher. The upper, smaller diameter rod end is tapered slightly to make joining the rods together a little ...
[Read More]

Epoxy Fillet Tutorial by Crazy Jim
Wouldn't you know it, right as I'm trying to get a hold on epoxy techniques, Crazy Jim is doing epoxy fillets on one of his Wildman Space Cowboy rockets on TRF. The Space Cowboy is a 54mm minimum diameter rocket. "With medium sized 38 & small 2 grain 54 motors it will reach altitudes over ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars and interesting links
Oddroc of the day: Kinder Surprise Rocket , on Sascha Grant's Flickr photostream Armadillo flies STIG-A to 137kft, makes "hard landing" , RLV and Space Trasnport - via Jeff Foust via NM Spaceport Authority; propulsion...check...parachute's....D'OH! (noting the STIG-A v. Stiga naming issue ...
[Read More]

Curiosity of the day: a fractal antenna
MAKE describes a uniquely shaped, DIY antenna for digital TV.  References:   Instructables , Wikipedia , patent (viewer req'd) .  There are plenty of links about these things, including a how-to video .  
[Read More]

A Realistic Interstellar Explorer
1.0 Introduction "For more than 20 years, an “Interstellar Precursor Mission” has been discussed as a high priority for our understanding (1) the interstellar medium and its implications for the origin and evolution of matter in the Galaxy, (2) the structure of the heliosphere and its ...
[Read More]

How to Advertise on RocketReviews.com
I recently received a couple of emails asking how to purchase advertising on RocketReviews.com. We don’t directly sell advertising, but you can advertise your products or services on RocketReviews.com in one of several ways as described below. List your products on eBay - Since eBay is ...
[Read More]

Tumbling rockets
Tumbling Rockets from Ralf Vandebergh on Vimeo . Presentation of pioneering imagery in the project called 'Tumbling Rockets''. Contains some examples of obtained high resolution imagery of tumbling orbiting Rocket Stages using a 10 inch telescope during the years 2010/2011. Featured objects ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars and interesting links
2012 Team America Rocket Challenge , NASA Hack Space - Or, visit the TARC homepage . Apogee Newsletter 305: Why Should You Airfoil Your Fins? by Doug Hennin - The link is currently on the top of the page.  If you wait until the next issue is out you'll have to scroll down.  Or, ...
[Read More]

X-15 with B-52 flyover
X-15 Rogers Dry Lake , a photo by amphalon on Flickr. Rogers Dry Lake, Calif. in September 1961.
[Read More]

Russian Flying Submarine
Russian Flying Submarine , a photo by amphalon on Flickr.
[Read More]

Experimental Beriev Ekranoplan
Experimental Beriev Ekranoplan , a photo by amphalon on Flickr.
[Read More]

Anatomy of a guided bullet
Sandia Labs has developed and demonstrated a self-guided bullet.  The bullet replaces rifling with small fins and can be fired from hand-held guns.  A laser tracking optical seeker and an embedded 8-bit CPU adjusts the bullet's fins at 30 samples/sec. The attached photo shows how much ...
[Read More]

NAR Membership Materials
I received my new NAR membership card in the mail today. Along with the card was a listing of NAR Sections by state and the insurance information sheet shown at the left. This sheet is a simple breakdown of the insurance policy, clearly showing coverage. It's going in my range box to every launch, ...
[Read More]

Next Manned Soyuz Mission To The ISS Postponed One Month. Phobos-Grunt Failure Blammed On Space Radiation.
Source: Reuters By Alissa de Carbonnel MOSCOW Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:09pm GMT (Reuters) - Russia blamed radiation on Tuesday for a computer glitch that doomed its Mars moon mission, but space industry experts cast doubt on the findings of an investigation into the crash of what was to be Moscow's ...
[Read More]

SpaceX test the new SuperDraco Engine
Hawthorne, CA – Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has successfully test fired SuperDraco, a powerful new engine that will play a critical role in the company’s efforts to change the future of human spaceflight. “SuperDraco engines represent the best of cutting edge ...
[Read More]

Telescope size comparison
Telescope size comparison , a photo by NASA Webb Telescope on Flickr. Size does matter.
[Read More]

SpaceX SuperDraco static test

[Read More]

Sounding Rocket Onboard Footage
"On March 23, 2011, two on-board cameras followed a sounding rocket on its journey from Earth to space and back again. The rocket was launched to measure solar energy output and calibrate the EVE instrument on the Solar Dynamics Observatory. " The spin helps keep the rocket stable through a long ...
[Read More]

Friction Fitting Engines Part 1
Friction fitting engines with masking tape has been around since model rocketry began. I remember reading some old Model Missile instructions that had you wrap rubber bands around the engine for a friction fit! This is not my idea, I wish I knew who first suggested it. Wrap your engines with tape ...
[Read More]

Reader stars and interesting links
More Winter? Punxsutawney Phil Sees His Shadow , Live Science - I wonder what 6 more weeks of winter means when you hardly have had any already?  My prognostication is that we'll have 9 extra days of coldish temperatures and the rest will be unseasonably warm.  Further, there will be ...
[Read More]

STIG-A ballute in space
ARMADILLO PR — Following detailed analysis of the downlinked telemetry and audio/video recordings from both ground based cameras and a camera that was recovered from the rocket, Armadillo Aerospace has determined that the maximum altitude attained by the STIG-A rocket in the January 28th ...
[Read More]

Armadillo launches the STIG-A rocket to 50 miles
Parabolic Arc No videos yet, but I will post them as soon as they come up. For now, check out these two videos of the previous flight. Warning, the volume is loud in both. (Because they both have rockets in them.)
[Read More]

The viral Blue Marble 2012
Most Amazing High Definition Image of Earth - Blue Marble 2012 , a photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr. "A 'Blue Marble' image of the Earth taken from the VIIRS instrument aboard NASA's most recently launched Earth-observing satellite - Suomi NPP . This composite image uses a number ...
[Read More]

A giant rocket nosecone made from sonotube
Construction details at the rocketry forum.
[Read More]

Feed reader stars and interesting links
Mavericks, Paton Group, and Inspirtech to open 5 Space Education Research Center s, ROL - "The Mavericks Civilian Space Foundation, The Paton Group, and Inspirtech LLC today announce the formation of a strategic alliance whose mission is to establish a Space Education Research Center ("SERC") ...
[Read More]

Tonopah Test Range
Tonopah Test Range , a photo by NCReedplayer on Flickr. Nike booster, don't recognize the sustainer.  Here what I found (via lazygranch.com's Tonopah page ): Thanks to the efforts of rec.aviation.military usenet readers, the consensus is this missile is a combination of a  Nike ...
[Read More]

Friction Fitting Engines Part 2
This is my Semroc Defender with a three engine cluster of C6-7s. Here I'm twisting the engine as I slide it in the engine mount tube. The "barber pole" angled tape wrap made it easier to install the three friction fit engines. Your opposite hand is probably the most important part of fitting a ...
[Read More]

New computer and pile o hard drives
This will be the last post ever made on the old computer, a P4 2.8 Win xp system. The new computer is ready, and all files have been moved over. (Yes that is the limit of my cable management.) It is interesting to see that all of the HDDs above don't even add up to the storage contained within the ...
[Read More]

Interesting variants of classic missiles
RB24B RB24J RB27 RB28 , a photo by AdurianJ on Flickr. From the attached description: From the left: AIM-9B, AIM-9J, AIM-26B, AIM-4C. The AIM-9J or RB24J in Sweden was first built in the US as an AIM-9B and delivered to Sweden.  In the 1970's the front parts of these ...
[Read More]

Engine Hooks - Through Time
Engine hooks have gone through some changes over the years. Estes and Centuri both introduced this style of "Quick Change Engine Hooks" in their 1969 catalogs. Estes with the Alpha and Centuri with the Astro 1. It was spring steel in a simple, elongated "C" shape. Installing an engine, they worked ...
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 1 Parts
The Mini Honest John parts are all pretty standard, except for the blow molded nose cone which is as long as the main airframe tube. The laser cut fins seem very small. Some TRF posts have talked about the rocket being unstable so .20 - .25 oz. of clay nose weight will be added to the nose cone. ...
[Read More]

Mars Is In Retrograte. Best Viewing For 2012 Coming In March.
That most fascinating of planets – the red planet Mars – starts to retrograde or go westward in front of the backdrop stars on January 25, at 1 Universal Time (UT). For clocks in the Central Time zone in North America, the Martian retrograde begins today (January 24, 2012) at 7 p.m. ...
[Read More]

Formula 75 rocket kit has arrived
This kit will be my level 2 certification rocket. The Formula 75 is about 75mm x 48 inches with a 38mm motor mount. It is all fiberglass, including the highly impressive nosecone (more on that in a moment.) The kit arrived in a bag with the basic parts only: a nosecone with shoulder and bulkhead ...
[Read More]

Triple Trick of Disaster
2011-06-10-NSL2011-0004.jpg , a photo by InDanaPt on Flickr. NSL 2011...A L850 to staging to three parallel H128s. Click through for more photos including the launch.
[Read More]

Q: So, where's my Mach10+, scramjet-powered transport?
A: On the Aerospace Projects Review Blog  
[Read More]

Hydrogen peroxide engine on Ebay
Thrust - nominal 50lbs with 85-90 % hydrogen peroxide Design Chamber Pressure - 300psi Material - seamless 347 high temp columbium stainless steel. Weight - 380 gram +/- 1 gram Outside Diameter-- 1.500 inch +/- 0.002" Inside Diameter -- 1.365 inch =/- 0.005" length ~ 4.5 inches total Listing
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 2 Engine Mount
Here's the parts for the engine mount. I marked the yellow space tube at 5/16" from one end. Instead of putting glue in the BT-5 motor mount tube and pushing the block into place with the yellow tube, I slid just the yellow tube in up to the 5/16" line. The tube was taped in place holding it ...
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K. Section February
The Orlando R.O.C.K. section had a record breaking attendance at the February launch! The final stats are being added up. After a building session last week, we had students from the Princeton Elementary School join us. Lots of Estes Gnomes flew with 1/2A3-4t engines. Roger Smith was there with ...
[Read More]

ROCK’s February 2012 Launch Video
Over 110 rockets flew at the February ROCK launch.  Many were Gnomes built by kids at Princeton Elementary.
[Read More]

Building, flying, and attempting to recover a 98mm min. dia. rocket
"98mm hand layed fiberglass rocket flying on a N1397 motor" "Tuff Enough..98mm min dia hand layed fiberglass rocket flying on a N1700 Swamp Gas. Flew to 37K 2.2 mach" Recovery of hpr rockets is always difficult, and the challenge grows exponentially as altitude increases beyond 10,000 feet. My ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars and interesting links
Masten's Xaero extended hover test - RLV and Space Transport  (video) X-1 pilots including Neil Armstrong - xplanes Super Bowl 2012 Commercials: Watch All of Them Here - Mashable - At least 54 of them.  I didn't see the ads for the movie Battleship  or Audi's LED headlights ...
[Read More]

Work on the formula 75 - nosecone
I have scuffed up most of the epoxy ready surfaces, other than airframe. These were all cleaned with soap and hot water, then carefully dried. Instead of purchasing a nosecone eye bolt as planned, I decided to use an extra Giant Leap 38mm anchor. This includes a strong eye bolt system as well as a ...
[Read More]

Johns Hopkins Long Range Ram Jet Missile Study (1946)
Retro Mechanix features a 9-page summary of a ram-rocket study performed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics lab.  They studied four configurations in three sizes.  A diagram of the internal configuration of each design is included.  Here's a diagram depicting the general external ...
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 3 Engine Mount
The fit of the thick adapter rings was very loose on the BT-5 engine mount tube. A line of white glue was applied to the inside of the ring to build up the edge. After it dried, the ring had a better fit. Because the bottom ring will be flush with the BT-50 main body tube, sand it flat with 220 ...
[Read More]

Mars Snooper Decals
Decals were (finally) printed up for the Mars Snooper on the same sheet as the Scavenger name decal. In the picture to the right a positioning template was made out of cardstock. This helps place the fin number decals in the same relative position on all fin sides. It also insures the side of the ...
[Read More]

Masten makes technological advances
Since winning the X-Prize for the Lunar lander Challenge  back in 2009 Masten Space Systems has continued to make technological advances. Specializing in VTVL(Vertical Takeoff Vertical Landing) vehicles it has a number of test projects on the burner. In 2011 Masten signed a $400,000 contract ...
[Read More]

1st US jet in service to fly Mach 2
This was sent to me via Twitter: 1954: Lockheed F-104 Starfighter makes 1st flight. 1st US jet in service to fly Mach 2. Click [ here ] to see a bigger version.
[Read More]

X-1-3 Being Mated To EB-50A Superfortress
X-1-3 Being Mated To EB-50A Superfortress , a photo by amphalon on Flickr. Click through for the history behind the photo.
[Read More]

Feed reader stars and interesting links
MIT`16 EA Tube Goes to Near Space - YouTube - A 16-year-old accepted into Massachusetts Institute of Technology launched her admissions letter 91,000 feet to the edge of  space  and videotaped its journey.  The video's description gives all the tech details.   You can ...
[Read More]

Relative amount of hydrogen and helium required to support a man

[Read More]

TIP: Cutting Equal Length Shroud Lines
If you ever get a kit that tells you: "Cut the shroud lines into three equal lengths" Here's a way to cut them equally without getting out the yardstick. Loop the line over your hand as shown. The loop at the top right goes over your index finger. Hold onto the loose line end at the left between ...
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 4 Engine Mount
This kit uses the standard tri-fold shock cord mount. That method works okay, but could obstruct the parachute at ejection especially in smaller diameter body tubes. I upgraded to Kevlar and an elastic shock cord. A small hole was drill through the upper adapter ring. 135 lb. Kelvar was fed ...
[Read More]

A sport rocketeer and his space toys
VC turns office into Apollo museum - CNET   VC (venture capitalist) and avid sport rocketeer Steve Jurvetson has the desire and means to fill his workspace with space artifacts.  Follow the link above to see the photos or visit his Flickr album . Here's the latest , "... the red ...
[Read More]

Drops of water orbit a knitting needle in space
"Expedition 30 astronaut Don Pettit uses knitting needles and water droplets to demonstrate physics in space through 'Science off the Sphere.' This is part of the first video in a series for a partnership between NASA and the American Physical Society to share unique videos from the International ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars and other interesting links
Shark-eating shark snapped in Australia - Short Sharp Science   Joyeux anniversaire, Jules Verne! - Smithsonian Libraries  - Happy 189th! More on Armadillo STIG-A flight - RLV and Space Transport News - Mostly a pointer to Space.com's article. Don't think there is much there ...
[Read More]

XF-91 Thunderceptor
XF-91 Thunderceptor , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr. Via Wikipedia: The Republic XF-91 Thunderceptor was a mixed-propulsion prototype interceptor aircraft, developed by Republic Aviation. The aircraft would use a jet engine for most flight, and a cluster of four small rocket engines for added ...
[Read More]

“How to Build Model Rockets” at NAR.org
Chris Michielssen’s “How to Build Model Rockets” tutorial is now featured on the home page of the National Association of Rocketry’s web site. The series of articles is the first reference listed in the sites’s “More Rocket and Rocketry Information” ...
[Read More]

Team America Rocketry Challenge Featured at White House Science Fair
Each year, about 7,000 students from middle and high schools across the nation compete in the Team America Rocketry Challenge. Each team designs, builds, flies, and tests a model rocket that must reach a specific altitude and duration as determined by a set of rules which change each year. Teams ...
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 5 Nose Cone
The blow molded nose cone was very well made. A slight seam was down the length both sides. This seam could be easily sanded smooth with no gap filling. It's hard to make out in the picture, but the nose cone widens at the tip, it doesn't follow the curvature to the top. This was sanded smooth to ...
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 6 Laser Cut Fins
At group launches, sometimes you'll see flying models with the burnt laser cut edges under the paint. The tabs haven't even been sanded off. If the tabs are left on, the root edge gluing surface won't be as strong. The attachment tabs will slightly raise the root edge off the body tube. You don't ...
[Read More]

Horse gas masks
Many people seem to visit this page after searching for "horse gas mask" or other similar google searches. So here are a few more.
[Read More]

Chrome 17 broke Blogger (updated)
Update: Had to tweak the cookies exceptions. Don't know what happened in Chrome 17 that required this but all's well that ends well. Any page that allows me to comment on my own posts doesn't recognize that I'm signed in.  So...if I don't respond to a comment, don't take it personally. ...
[Read More]

Test - embedding Tweets
And, just posted today - the ebook versions of Chertok's Rockets & People, Volume IV, The Moon Race. #free here: go.nasa.gov/A7Pct3 — NASA History Office (@NASAhistory) February 9, 2012
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 7 Fin Shaping 1
From the instructions: "Use alternative fin profile for a more scale like appearance." (That's the way it's worded.) The dimensions are wrong. 5/32" or 40mm? They meant to say 4mm. 17/32" or 135mm should read 13.5mm. Enlarge the picture to see the detail. When you sand this profile, the fins will ...
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 8 Fin Shaping 2
While the pictures show one side of the fins being sanded, here's what the leading edge would look like. As mentioned before, I don't sand to a knife edge but leave the top a little square for strength. After the sharp tapers of the leading and tailing edges are established, then flatten the upper ...
[Read More]

Landmark launch in rocketry: Centaur set for Flight 200
I borrowed my title directly from  Spaceflight Now , which features a nice article on the 50-year history of the venerable Centaur and its Pratt and Whitney RL-10 powerplant. The history of the Centaur reads like the history of American unmanned spaceflight.  The first ...
[Read More]

mindset photo’s

[Read More]

Xaero kicks out the jams in a successful free flight

[Read More]

The Darkstar
Over the past few weeks, Ive worked on my darkstar kit and have completed it. I'm not a huge fan of the green but, whatever.     Here's the stats Diameter: 2.1in Body Tube: G12 Fiberglass Fins: 3/32in Fiberglass Weight: About 5lbs MMT: 38mm Nose Cone: Spiral would ...
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 9 Fin Shaping 3
When sanding the upper and lower surfaces flat, it helps to set the block edge to the side of the high point pencil line. While sanding, constantly check the diamond shape profile on the root and outside edges for continuity. Here's the finished fin. In this picture, the balsa coloration makes it ...
[Read More]

Design X - Icelandic student project
Amature icelandic rocked witch reached about 1400 meters. There are also many construction and post-flight images here: As well as images of propellant cooking: Here is a crude translation: "Design - X is not yet complete, although the last Wednesday it was oral examinations ...
[Read More]

Northern Lights over US & Canada from International Space Station
Uploaded by SpaceVidsNet on Feb 11, 2012 Recent imagery taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station from Jan. 29-Feb. 3 includes several flights over the clear nighttime United States and views of the aurora borealis as seen during nighttime flights over Canada and the Pacific ...
[Read More]

Armature Icelandic rocketry: Design X
High Power Rocketry posted about a rcandy-based project conducted by students at Reykjavik University.  The have their own website but R2K's post  is easier to follow, even with your translator running. He posted photos and  the YouTube of their 2008 flight to 1400 ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Way To Go! Don’t Mess With Texas … Science Students | The White House: 1.usa.gov/ytSMio #spacetweeps #nasatweetup — Whitney Richard (@bayourat) February 11, 2012 - Hiller VJ-100 - Unwanted Blog - Scott is thinking about kitting this retro-futuristic space ship ...
[Read More]

Ad for the new Klima motors
The new line of the Klima composite (secret formula) motors were presented at the International Toy Show at Nuremberg, Germany. These will supposedly be marketed in the US by Quest. That's the good news. The bad is that they likely won't be out in Europe this year. And you know the availability ...
[Read More]

"Always wanted your own regen rocket motor?"
Rocket Moonlighting has designed a small liquid motor around a stainless steel printed chamber and is offering to add to his next order.  As with most hardware, the price drops as the quantity increases.  At 11 lbf, it seems this would only be suited for demonstration and educational ...
[Read More]

Masten Xaero Free Flight Video
Xaero has finally been set free from tethered flight and in this new video rises into the sky for a 22 second textbook flight.  
[Read More]

My New Gloss White Paint
After all the bad luck I had with the Rustoleum 2X Gloss White paint I may have found a new white. This is the generic Duplicolor Gloss White available at auto supply stores. I'm calling it the "generic" white - smaller cans of gloss white are sold that match individual white tints from different ...
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 10 Engine Mount Install
Gluing an engine mount doesn't get much easier than this. Apply a light bead of glue with the end of a dowel 1 1/2" inside the end of the body tube. The instructions show a glue bottle being used to lay the glue bead. You'll never get the glue nozzle that far inside the tube. Use a scrap stick or ...
[Read More]

Flight of the Shadow
Air Command is teasing us with news that the all-fiberglass Shadow  flew a couple of times.  Can't wait for the flight details and videos.
[Read More]

The 5th Annual International Rocket Weekend, 1996
The 5th Annual International Rocket Weekend August, 1996 Kelburn Country Centre, Ayrshire, Scotland. I came to this page searching for an image of this rocket: The Comanche 5, that supposedly flew on a D12 - D12 - D12 - C6 - C5 - C6 to 4,000 feet! This image shows Marcus Lauder, the ...
[Read More]

Maiden Flight of the ESA’s Vega Launch Vehicle
The maiden flight of the ESA’s Vega launch vehicle is scheduled for Monday February 13th. The Vega  VV01 flight window is between 5am and 8am ET. The rocket will carry a payload consisting of 2 Italian Satellites(LARES and ALMASat-1) and 7 CubeSats from European universities. The Upper ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
NASA considers outpost beyond moon's far side - MSNBC - Exciting stuff here! The old Vega ...the new Vega .  Launch is scheduled for 2/13/2012 between 5AM and 8AM EST.  Watch it here . Commanche 5 - High Power Rocketry - R2K found this 5-stage D-D-D-C-C rocket.  That's ...
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 11 Gluing Fins
The trailing edges of these fins glue even with the end of the body tube and centering ring. Extend the pencil marks around the back and onto the centering ring. When fins are glued even with the back, you totally cover the penciled fin position lines. With the lines on the rear you have something ...
[Read More]

Extreme Performance Rockets (from 2007)
These are oldies but goodies, and a few of them are newies to me. Including these two: This rocket looks like a giant egg lofter (perhaps for ostrich eggs?) but is actually a 6 inch can-sat launcher with a minimum diameter bottom for 4inch motors. This flyer is the king of low-weight altitude ...
[Read More]

Model Profile - Dr. Zooch Space Shuttle
This Zooch kit will improve your cardstock building skills. It's a rewarding, well engineered challenge. The nose cone has an off center weight to keep the boost vertical. The Shuttle glider does glide well, in a lifting body style. At ejection, an elastic line lifts the rear wing raising the nose ...
[Read More]

Vega launch successful

[Read More]

Project Pluto on Discovery Wings
R2K ran across a set of videos on one of my favorite subjects, the Project Pluto nuclear ramjet cruise missile. I'll embed a YouTube video as a teaser, but he has the whole show.  As he points out, the following video is truncated and the sound track isn't synced with the video. &nbs ...
[Read More]

Vega qualification flight
Here's a nice video of the launch. When the optical track is lost, the coverage switches to a simulation of the mission. (found via ParabolicArc )
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Antarctica's Lake Vostok is Test Case for Exploring Icy Jupiter Moon - Space.com Iridium 33 and Cosmos 2251 three years later: where are we now? - Space Review - Well, the debris field is still there.  On a positive note, US STRATCOM’s Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC), Russia ...
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 12 Paint Problems
I've been using the Rustoleum 2X Painter's Touch paint with good results - up until now. After fillets, the HoJo was primed with Duplicolor Gray and sanded smooth. I followed that up with a nearly empty can of the Painter's Touch gloss white. That ran out and I opened up a new can. The picture ...
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 13 Fin Mask
Looking at the Peter Alway drawings, three of the HoJo fins are painted black. With the wedge taper of the fins, this is not one of the easier masks. I used my standard Scotch tape strips to mask the fin at the root edges. The tape was marked with a black marker then thin strips were cut on glass ...
[Read More]

The Shadow flies to 947 and 1017 feet
Air Command has posted a detailed report on the flight of their large, all fiberglass, water rocket.  This thing is amazing.  It looks like, and is constructed like, your typical level-1 class HPR rocket.  Here's the video detailing the flights.  It includes ground and on-board ...
[Read More]

The Shadow - first two flights
Regular readers may remember a previous post about a water rocket that is built like a HPR rocket. The rocket flew twice, once with good recovery and once with a failed recovery. Both flights were very fast and achieved about 1000 feet apogee. Most impressive is the amount of thrust, and the short ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Painting the Tip Of A Nosecone, by Chris Michielssen - Apogee Newsletter - I'm not a very good painter yet, amazingly enough, I have done a fair to middling job at painting nose cone tips.  But, Chris' method will make it easier and with even better results. I'm sure he's featured this ...
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Build Part 14 Fin Mask Reveal
This is two facing fins where the masked came out clean. Not all the fins came out this good! I will have to go back and touch up some masking "tears." There wasn't any bleeding under the tape but some of the black lifted and tore a small bit. I usually try to remove my tape before it gets too dry ...
[Read More]

Apogee Peak Of Flight Article Newsletter #306
My third article for the Apogee Peak Of Flight newsletter was published yesterday. You can see it HERE This article explains how to create that sharp paint line around the perimeter of a nose cone. The cover page features the Odd'l Rockets Corkscrew! The nose cone on the left is the finished nose ...
[Read More]

Future of Aerospace Rocket
"United Launch Alliance (ULA) Future of Aerospace Rocket: United Launch Alliance, Ball Aerospace Interns and High School Students Launched Colorado's Largest Rocket, Payloads, Saturday, July 30, 2011 from a launch site near Pueblo, Colorado. Interns from both companies--representing the future of ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Apollo diagrams - The Unwanted Blog - Apollo Command and Service Modules and the Apollo-Soyuz “The Machines That Made The Jet Age” - MAKE - What could you do with 50k TONS of compressive force? Meet Rube Goldberg (Feb, 1959) - Modern Mechanix -  Agreed! RT @ astroengine : Headline WIN! RT ...
[Read More]

Bell X-1A, Maj. Chuck Yeager, Mach 2.44, Dec. 12, 1953
Untitled , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr.  
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 15 Scale Factor for Masking
The real M-50 Honest John diameter is 23". The model diameter is a BT-50 at .976" 23" divided by .976" = a scaling factor of 23.56 All the measurements on the Peter Alway drawings will be divided by the scaling factor of 23.56 Instead of painting the model an overall Olive Drab, I decided to paint ...
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 16 Nose Cone Mask
To really get a grasp of how to mask a nose cone, go to the Apogee Peak Of Flight newsletter HERE I wrote an article in much more detail on how to do a nose cone mask. The article shows a simple one color mask around the perimeter of a nose cone. This mask is much more complicated, there are four ...
[Read More]

A XOMBIE/GENIE free flight and a peek at XEUS
Here's a video of Masten's XOMBIE under control of Draper Lab's GENIE control system. Dispatches from the Final Frontier  wasn't the first to post this, but it was the first to discuss the proposed XEUS lander (at least the first I've seen of it). The XEUS would be a multi-engine, du ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links (updated)
Aurora Rocket Fuel Box via Sascha Grant on Flickr - A retro two part rocket fuel similar to vinegar and baking soda or Diet Coke and Mentos. Fizzy! UPDATE: Apparently, this 'fuel' was used in the Aurora Mark III Interceptor.   More on YORF . Spray-on Nanoparticle Mix Turns Trees Into ...
[Read More]

Icarus Rocket Launch
Icarus Rocket on-board video from the 2011 ULA Intern Rocket Launch event in Pueblo, Colorado on July 30, 2011. Includes both real-time and slow-motion replay. Max altitude ~4000 ft. Video shot from on-board GoPro HD Hero payload designed and built by George Mitsuoka. Icarus Rocket designed and ...
[Read More]

Shuttle Mock-up on the move
I got this photo as part of a slide-show provided via a private email list. Evidently, the Space Shuttle Mock-up is being  moved from the KSC Visitors Center to Space Center Houston.   It will travel to JSC by barge into Clear Lake and be offloaded onto NASA Parkway for transport to ...
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 17 Nose Cone Masking
The mask for the black band around the nose cone was a little more complicated, it has a masked on both curved sides. The Scotch tape was cut on the window as before and marked with a wide permanent marker. Those strips were cut to around 3/16" wide and place on either side of the recessed bands ...
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 18 Nose Cone Masking
As this mask was closer to the tip, the masking strip of tape wasn't very wide. Even though the mask strip was cut in a smaller tighter curve, I had to cut it to about 1/8" wide to conform to the nose cone. I used grey primer for the light grey. The picture shows the tape being pulled down and ...
[Read More]

The saga of HAM - first great ape in space

[Read More]

Kármán Vortex Street
Science fiction site io9 features an interesting article on the phenomenon known as the Kármán Vortex Street . This phenomenon manifests as a repeating pattern of turbulence as a fluid flow passes a body. The attached video is a pretty example and the io9 article includes some cool ...
[Read More]

Ham the astrochimp - a real Trailblazer
(seen via High Power Rocketry )
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 19 Body Roll Pattern
John Boren from Estes R&D posted the original proposed decal pattern for the Mini Honest John on YORF a while back. You can see the PDF HERE All the bars are right at .25" wide. A copy was printed and used for placement of the stripe pattern. I used my favorite black trim material, Contact ...
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Build Part 20 Body Roll Pattern
For a reference, two copies of the HoJo body decal were printed on 20 lb. paper, not decal stock. One was used to keep track of the roll pattern. The top third of the second sheet was cut off and wrapped around the body for a spacing guide. This took more time than I thought it would. The cut ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Warning...time sensitive tweet alert! Some quality wonkiness for wx lovers. RT @ stuostro :Models struggling cuz of this: yfrog.com/h8qgznp — Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) February 18, 2012 Today in 1977: Space Shuttle Enterprise makes its 1st captive flight atop ...
[Read More]

Spectacular On-Board Video Of ESA's New Vega Rocket Launch Feb. 13, 2012
13 February 2012 PR 3 2012 - Vega, ESA’s new launch vehicle, is ready to operate alongside the Ariane 5 and Soyuz launchers after a successful qualification flight this morning from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. With Vega extending the family of launchers available at ...
[Read More]

USLI -- Fiberglass Layups
We are trying something new this year, attempting our own composite layups of both the body tubes and the fins. The approach for the body tubes was simple: Just wrap the fiberglass around the tubes, rubbing the epoxy into it and rubbing the air bubbles and defects out along the way. We made five ...
[Read More]

Frenzy Massive kit + Pro98 6GXL casing on deck
I still owe two launch reports from January but did not fly in February (I've been traveling). In the interim I wanted to preview what I'm hoping to fly at BALLS 21 this September: That Frenzy Massive kit is 10.5' tall (3.23m for those down unda) once construct and you see the Pro98 6GXL casing ...
[Read More]

Build your own SpaceX Falcon 9
Are you a fan of SpaceX or just a space modeler or rocketeer looking for your next build? Why not build a SpaceX Falcon 9 in time for its first launch to the IIS in April? You have a options when it comes to the build. First option is you can buy the official model [...]
[Read More]

Mini Honest John Finished
The model is still due for a coat of dullcoat. If you haven't tried the blackboard Contact Paper yet, it is a great trim material. The six foot roll was about $6.00 at Michael's crafts. I'll tie in the 12" parachute and add .25 oz. of clay weight inside the nose cone. About one half of the ...
[Read More]

Tampa TTRA Launch, February 18, 2012
I almost didn't make the drive to the Tampa TTRA launch on Saturday. Back in Orlando there was low cloud cover and a 50% chance of rain predicted for the afternoon. I had visions of my car stuck being stuck in the mud. Arriving at the Plant City launch site, the cloud cover looked to be much ...
[Read More]

Mensch in the Moon: The Lost Story Of Abe Silverstein
This article was first published by Jewish Ideas Daily ( http://www.jewishideasdaily.com/ ) and is reprinted with permission. Right now there are two Americans aboard the International Space Station, and their only way home is to hitch a ride in the Russians' Soyuz capsule, a ramshackle remnant ...
[Read More]

Today is the 50th anniversary of Friendship 7
"On February 20, 1962, Glenn piloted the Mercury-Atlas 6 "Friendship 7" spacecraft on the first manned orbital mission of the United States. Launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, he completed a successful three-orbit mission around the earth, reaching a maximum altitude (apogee) of ...
[Read More]

FAR February 2012 and Incredulous Update
Had a nice launch this weekend, see some pictures with a small report here. Also a little more information added on my new rocket Incredulous.
[Read More]

The Sprocket Rocket and other lomographic cameras
I do a fair amount of Internet trolling for rockets and rocket related subjects.  One thing I am always getting hits for is the Sprocket Rocket.  I could tell this was off topic in spite of having 'rocket' in its name so I had ignored it until fairly recently.  What I find is that ...
[Read More]

John Mack's Cluster Igniter Tip
At the Tampa TTRA launch, I asked John Mack what the small drawn dots meant on the Estes igniter paper tabs. He explained those were tested and matched igniters. When John pics igniters for use in clusters, they are tested using a small multimeter. All three of these igniters had 0.8 ohms ...
[Read More]

Friendship 7, re-created on Twitter
At least 2 twitter re-creations of Glenn's flight 50 years ago today @ glennschool & @ LizMSuckow - are there more? — NASA History Office (@NASAhistory) February 20, 2012
[Read More]

Formula 75 build continues
Construction on the new kit continues apace. First, the upper centering ring was notched to allow the kevlar line to fit between it and motor tube. The kevlar was epoxied to the fiberglass motor tube, as was the centering ring. During this step, I selected JB weld for heat resistance. I do not ...
[Read More]

NAR Membership Goal Reached
From the NAR Electronic Rocketeer Issue #44 - I am delighted to report that the membership of our NAR has now reached the goal that we set in 2008, an active membership of 5200. This is the largest that the NAR has been in the last 12 years; our records from the "boom" days that we went through a ...
[Read More]

50 years after John Glenn's flight, The US Has To Buy Rides To Space
Reuters/Cape Canaveral, Florida Fifty years after John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth, Nasa no longer has the ability to fly astronauts in space, a decision Glenn lays squarely on the shoulders of the Bush administration. Glenn’s groundbreaking flight on Feb. 20, 1962, put ...
[Read More]

Into the heart of the aurora
Great launch Sat. from Poker Flat Research Range in Fairbanks, AK. (Credit: C. Heinselman/SRI) More pics soon.   twitpic.com/8mx3vu —- NASA Wallops (@NASA_Wallops) February 21, 2012    
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Rare amateur video captures Challenger tragedy up close - New Scientist TV RIP, Raygun: Pentagon’s Laser Plane Laid to Rest - Wired   Deconstructing a Mystery: What Caused Snowmageddon? 1.usa.gov/zeW88a — Mike Larsen (@Marleybonez) February 22, 2012 ...
[Read More]

Rocket-boosted P-51D Mustang
Retro Mechanix features a report on the evaluation of two P-51D Mustangs that were retrofitted with liquid rocket motors.  The fuel and oxidizer were held in fixed wing tanks (on opposite sides).  The fuel tank held a mixture of analine and furfuryl alcohol and the oxidizer was red ...
[Read More]

Semroc Booster 16 in the Centurion
The old Semroc Centurion was refinished recently. I wanted to use the Semroc Booster 16 I built and reviewed three years ago HERE While I now cover the open back areas of rockets so paint won't get inside, the Centurion still had paint all over the engine mount from the first time it was finished. ...
[Read More]

New Estes 2012 Catalog
This morning on TRF, Bob Sanford (Initiator001) announced the new Estes 2012 catalog is available for download on the Estes website HERE Items already shown on the forums are the Pro Series, Nike Smoke, V2, Solar Warrior, Asteroid Hunter, Dark Energy and E12 engines. Two not unveiled until this ...
[Read More]

What's new with Estes in 2012?
This morning Model Rocket Building discussed the new Estes 2012 catalog (pdf) that just appeared on their site.  Most of the new stuff that interested me has been discussed here and I'm sure all of it has been discussed on TRF and YORF.  The new re-branded AeroTech composite motors ...
[Read More]

Stiga Flight 2 to 95km by Armadillo Aerospace
We finally get the video footage of Stiga's second flight on Jan. 28th.  The highlights: the upward looking pad cam; skip to about 3:30 in to see some photos of the earth and the recovery gear; the last 30 seconds showing the lawn dart.  More on Armadillo's site , including some major ...
[Read More]

Masten Space Systems latest Xaero Free Flight
“Upon completion of Xaero’s free flight hover earlier this month, she performed yet another successful free flight to an altitude of 61 meters on February 17th, 2012. The exterior view of the flight reveals a bobble at apogee, as well as a slight rocking motion after touchdown. Despite ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets, and other interesting links
Space.com featured a video of a fireball from an all-sky camera.  But the annoying commercial negated the coolness of the video so I chose not to post the link. Google Underwater Sea View - Google Maps Mania - Google Maps is planning to do an underwater 'Street View' of the great ...
[Read More]

Jeff Smith's Root Edge Squaring Tip
Jeff (Jeffyjeep) Smith is a true craftsman. Many of his finished rockets have been sold to collectors on Ebay. Here's a tip from a Estes Scamp build he did on TRF. "While holding the basswood fin against a small aluminum angle stock for squaring, I prep the root edge of each fin for mounting to ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
The World’s Largest Museum to 3D Print Copies of Priceless Artifacts (video) - Mashable -  The Smithsonan is embarking on a project to digitize some 137 million artifacts. That should take a while! The article references that they want to digitize the items so they will be viewable ...
[Read More]

Landmark launch in rocketry: Centaur makes Flight 200
Spaceflight Now Atlas Launch Report Landmark launch in rocketry: Centaur set for Flight 200 The venerable U.S. upper stage rocket -- the Centaur -- that created the pathway to the Moon and every planet across the solar system will be making its 200th flight next Thursday in a milestone ...
[Read More]

Liftoff of MUOS-1
Liftoff , a photo by Flying Jenny on Flickr. Featuring the 200th flight of the Centaur upper stage .
[Read More]

Back from vacation
After a week away in Louisiana, it is both sad to leave and great to be home. It certainly helps if you get home and find a tiny box by your door that has these two inside: I am very happy to report that two of the new Estes plastic retainers have arrived. These are called "Pro Series II" ...
[Read More]

Oops...add a caption....
TF-9J 1964 , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr.
[Read More]

Stiga flight 2 - to 95km by Armadillo Aerospace
Recovery on this flight was less than optimal, but it is great to see the rocket performing as needed for spaceflight. The footage from about 3:30 until reentry shows really cool micro-gravity and a lack of atmospheric drag. One can see a parachute just float around, along with small particles, ...
[Read More]

Space Junk Ball Falls In Brazil. Possibly A Helium Tank From An Ariane 4 Upper Stage
Sao Paulo, Feb 26 (TruthDive): A piece of space junk of a spherical shape, crashed down in the village of Anapurus in the state of Maranhao in Brazil. The object weighed approximately 30kg and measured 1m in diameter. “I heard the noise and I went out to see what caused it. I thought it was ...
[Read More]

Wasted Balsa
I was going to build a Ranger using some parts from a Baby Bertha kit. This is two of the fins included with the Baby Bertha kit. Two sheets like this are in the kit. I thought I could use these for the Ranger, but these fins are a just slightly smaller and are cut from 3/32" balsa. The larger ...
[Read More]

Soyuz images at English Russia
"On Friday, A Soyuz-2.1b rocket carrying a Meridian spacecraft, lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 4.08 p.m." Many more images at English Russia. This link was provided by Derek Deville.
[Read More]

The Space Launch System: "not for the faint of heart"
Or, in my words:  System trade off studies are not for sissies. Scott Lowther posted a couple of slides from a November 2011 presentation on NASA's Space Launch System .  The first displays the configurations that were considered.  Unless you have worked on a trade study for a ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Soyuz images at English Russia - High Power Rocketry Gerd Ludwig's "Long Shadow of Chernobyl" project - The Big Picture - Stunning, eerie images of decay and suffering. Neil Armstrong at NSRC - Parabolic Arc - On why NASA had it harder than Burt Rutan. BIT by precious BIT - The Space ...
[Read More]

Fire Truck (and a glimpse of a plane through the smoke)
Fire Truck , a photo by mvonraesfeld on Flickr. Yeah, I know, it's a jet not a rocket.
[Read More]

MDRA'er is one step closer to space
As announced on MDRA's Facebook page: Folks, one of our members, Savan Becker, made it into the Video Finals for the Seattle Space Needle's Space Race 2012 Contest. He has been told he is currently in 6th place and is looking to get more votes. The grand prize consists of a suborbital ...
[Read More]

Make your own nebula
Neon Flames
[Read More]

Crap, dynamic views broke my template (update)
I read that Blogger Dynamic Views were supporting sidebar widgets. Well, they weren't supporting mine.  Plus, I made a second change before reverting to my original template.  As a result, my format is FUBAR.  No customizations, widths and colors off.  No time to fiddle ...
[Read More]

Formula 75 - the fins are in!
The fins have been installed in the rocket. The image above shows some water drops inside, the whole thing was cleaned after a final sanding. After the parts were fully dried, the fins were tacked on with CA, and secured initially with a small application of JB weld. A pour of 5 minute epoxy was ...
[Read More]

Update on Happenings in the Private Space Industry
SpaceX: The famous SpaceX is gearing up to launch their new Dragon capsule up to the International Space Station. The flight was originally planned for December of last year. One thing led to another, and they are now planning to launch this spring. Yesterday (2/27) the capsule was integrated with ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Apogee Peak of Flight Newsletter (#307) - Forefathers of Rocketry, Part 1 - Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Robert Goddard and Hermann JuliusOberth NSRC 2012: Panel with suborbital spaceflight firms - RLV and Space Transporation Blog - The future of sub-orbital space looks rosy.  Photos ...
[Read More]

JSC's Morpheus Lander Hot Fire #5

[Read More]

Marc G's Interchangeable Engine Mounts
Marc Goldstein (Marc_G on the Rocketry Forum) has come up with a very smart method for interchangeable motor mounts. In the picture at the right, short half round dowels are glued directly opposite the root edges of the fins, inside the body tube. Click to enlarge the picture and read the copy ...
[Read More]

ESA Prepares For The Launch Of ATV-3 "Edoardo Amaldi"
The third ATV, to be launched to the ISS in early 2012, is named after famous Italian physicist and spaceflight pioneer Edoardo Amaldi. The Italian space agency, ASI, proposed naming ATV-3 after the Italian physicist Edoardo Amaldi (5 September 1908 – 5 December 1989). "He started working in ...
[Read More]

Mylar streamers 2 x 41 inches
The rocketry bender continues with two mylar streamers. I intend to use these on mid and high-power flights. The plan is to increase visibility with sporadic flashes from the streamer. If it works, this will be a regular addition to all high-altitude flights.
[Read More]

Leap day rocketry news
Verna and Randy celebrated leap day by announcing their March blog update. This month's Fire and Smoke features rocketry Down Under including, among other things, the story the first and only permanent sport rocketry range and high power rocket girl Samantha Termini. As I previously noted, the ...
[Read More]

Vice President Biden Visiting Howe Hall, ISU
It was such a late notice. Last Sunday we received a cryptic email from our adviser informing us that the Make to Innovate (M:2:I) labs would be closed all week this week. This was horrible timing since we have to finish the USLI rocket by its March 10 test launch date. The email didn't even ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Methane engine on Morpheus vehicle - RLV and Space Transportation Blog - It's good to remember the Morpheus lander runs on methane (and LOX). Includes links to IEEE and PopSci. RockOn! 2012 - NASA Hack Space - NASA Wallops is looking for a few good men and women for their summer rocket ...
[Read More]

Morpheus Hot Fire 5
Morpheus Hot Fire 5 , a photo by Morpheus Lander on Flickr. Had to post a still photo too. Awesome exhaust plume with mach diamonds. I also like the way the background warps due to the heat and fumes.
[Read More]

Stratovision!
Untitled , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr. Never heard of this before.  From Kemon01's description: Before satellite TV and cable, there was Stratovision. Surplus B-29 bombers could broadcast signals for over 200 miles from a 28-foot fold-down antenna while flying at 30,000 feet. It was ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets, and other interesting links
'The ZipSter' Planning Space Diver Powered Rocket Flight on Interorbital Booster- Spaceports - German SkyDiver Olav Zipser will ride a Interorbital Systems’ SR 145 rocket to 131,000 ft., then dive back to Earth in an attempt to break Joe Kittinger’s 102,800 ft. high-altitude jump ...
[Read More]

Falcon 9 Passes Fuel Up Test At KSC
Photo credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. (Part of the NASA COTS Program) Had a full up, fuel up test with the countdown stopping at  T-5. This is just before the 9 Merlin engines would be ignited. This was the first in a series of tests in preparation ...
[Read More]

Rocketry News Bits for this week: 2/27-3/2
Rocketry News Bits for this week New Morpheus test successful Youtube Stolen NASA laptop contained space station control codes msnbc.com Smithsonian plans 4-day festival to welcome space shuttle Discovery to its  ...
[Read More]

Estes Transroc Owners Manual
"The TRANSROC is a miniature, multi-purpose transmitter sold in kit and preassembled form by ESTES INDUSTRIES for use with model rockets." From Spacemodeling.org
[Read More]

PVC and aerosol rocket cannon
"This video demonstrates how to fire a rocket under the power of a flammable aerosol. Hairspray or a flammable spray deodorant are the fuels of choice. The total cost of this project assuming the tools needed are already available is about $25. For that price you can make 4 rockets for the ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Quiet day in the Dungeon...not so much in the mid-west and south: The Henryville tornado by The face of the Storm.  NWS has issued 269 tornado & 335 severe t'storm warnings today. Check out unbelievable map: 1.usa.gov/zoDyan — Capital Weather Gang (@capi ...
[Read More]

Model Profile - DOM Top Secret
This design was a real game changer. Designed by Bret Simpkins it won the Estes Design of the Month competition. The plans were featured in the Model Rocket News (1973?) Volume 13, #2. You can see the plans HERE I remember the wing/fin arrangement was different than anything I'd ever seen in the ...
[Read More]

Estes 2012 Catalog - Laser Cut Wood?
Does anyone else find it interesting that the LPR kits in the new 2012 Estes catalog list "Laser cut wood ?" Some forum posts have commented on how heavy the balsa nose cones were in the earliest releases of the Classic Series kits. (The balsa nose cones are now substituted with plastic nose ...
[Read More]

Formula 75 finished!
With the last centering ring and slimline retainer installed, the rocket is essentially finished. I will pour some 5 minute epoxy over this ring for extra strength and cosmetic purposes, and also epoxy the rail guides. It is unfortunate that the retainer necessarily sticks out so far, but the ...
[Read More]

JATO of the day: B-24 (1946)
1946 , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr.
[Read More]

Old Shock Cord Mounts - Before Kevlar
A while back I got an email from a Mr. Hamblin asking how to install a shock cord in a smaller diameter body tube. Here's the response I sent him: Old School: You could always cut two slits in the body tube (about 3/4" from the top, or under where the base of the nose cone shoulder will be) and ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 1 Parts
Lots of parts in this one! Three nose cones and one pre weighted balsa adapter, Eight body tubes, the largest is a BT-60 size, An elastic shock cord is included but no Kevlar, Black Letramax centering rings, Three zip bags with all the small parts. Some parts of interest: The pre-weighted adapter, ...
[Read More]

Estes Pro Series II motor retainers - final review
After finishing up the level 2 rocket, I used a bit of JB weld to install rail guides, reinforce the airframe join in the 38mm Thunderbolt, and mount two of these motor retainers. All in one mix! That is one benefit to using a slow epoxy like JB weld; no rush to finish projects as you use it. Here ...
[Read More]

USLI -- Build Update
Today is the last bit of respite I have until spring break, so I decided to sneak in a little blog post! So here it is, enjoy it. Cutting fin slots.   Dry fit. Admiring the magnitude.   Epoxying the ...
[Read More]

Model Rocketry - it's a matter of perception
Credit: Buzz Nau via Facebook  
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Thierry Legault & spacecraft imaging - Space for All - Links to a 2-part interview with my favorite amateur astrophotographer. You can find all my posts about his work here . Estes Pro Series II motor retainers - final review - High Power Rocketry Apollo Access Arm - Unwanted Blog ...
[Read More]

JATO of the day
Fat Albert, C-130 JATOs, up close and personal. Via tbzep on YORF.  
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 2 Shroud
I scanned all the wrap sheets so I could print out more if I screwed anything up. The boat-tail has a glue tab attached. I went the other route where the tab is cut off so both straight edges of the boat-tail will touch with no overlap. Another tab was cut and glued onto one edge of the boat-tail. ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 3 Centering Rings
TIP: Anytime you get a black laser cut centering ring, chances are it's made from the Letramax material. Laser cutting leaves these ring edges very sooty. Wipe off the edges with a paper towel. Trust me on this, that black soot will get on everything! Most all the Dr. Zooch kits have a rounded ...
[Read More]

Time lapse of Vegas sprawl
I find this pretty awesome. There are 3 other cities/areas I'd like to see this done for.
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
The secret is out. This is what everyone in VTVL rocketry is actually working toward. forgifs.com/gallery/d/1537… — Ben Brockert (@wikkit) March 5, 2012 The 5 launches in 5 minutes is part of the ATREX mission.  The window opens on March 14 and runs through ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 4 Engine Mount Shroud
Both the rings were just a little loose on the engine mount tube. I built up the inside diameters with a ring of white glue. This is the motor mount ready for the boat-tail to go over the lower end. The forward ring was glued down from the top of the engine tube so I could fillet it on both sides. ...
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Launch Monthly, March 3, 2012
Last Saturday's launch was warm with wind gusts over 20 mph. There was a few holds between launches. Still, we still had over forty participants. The winds didn't stop Mark Birnbaum from flying a two engine C6-5 cluster in his SILVER BIRD . A beautiful build and flight. Check out the ejection ...
[Read More]

Sounding Rockets
ATREX - Sounding Rockets , a photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr. "The ATREX launches will take place between March 14 and April 4. The five rockets will release a chemical tracer that will form milky, white tracer clouds that allow scientists and the public to "see" the winds in ...
[Read More]

Fabulous SpaceX Fan Art
Stanley Von Medvey has taken us in the near future with his fantastic SpaceX fan art. I say “Please give us more, sir!” Stanley Von Medvey is a freelance concept artist and illustrator, and owner of Studio Hemogoblin. He works and lives in Chicago. Stanley’s Blog and bag ...
[Read More]

Various types of shotgun rounds
This video includes birdshot, buckshot, flechettes, dragons breath, door breaching rounds, buck and ball, and ball and chain "bolo" rounds.
[Read More]

Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center
Explosions.
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Booms ...brought to you via High Power Rocketry (and the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center at New Mexico Tech. Year anniversaries: Fukushima (March 11), X-37B OTV-2 (March 5). “Is @ KariByron sitting in an ejector seat? What's that yellow handle do? yfrog.com/ ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 5 Fairings
I jumped ahead to the engine fairings - I pre-formed the fairings so they might glue easier to the BT-5 sized tube. As I've done before, a dowel was rolled over the fairings with a dowel in the heel of my left hand. The instructions show the fairing cut out on their black outside lines, glued onto ...
[Read More]

Mylar Balloon Parachutes
Over the years I've made many parachutes out of black trash bags. They've always worked well and are cheap compared to pre-assembled parachutes. The forums have mentioned making parachutes from mylar balloons but I'd never tried it. This is a red metallic balloon from the Dollar Tree store. A one ...
[Read More]

Space Shuttle - "The Sweet Escape"
With a hat tip to Sascha, here is a cool, albeit photoshopped, image of the Shuttle. The Sweet Escape by Richard Silvera
[Read More]

High Cotton Rocket Launch Report
We had an awesome turn out for our launch this weekend. Both NAR and Tripoli members attended this co-hosted launch. It was the first SoLaR launch since we lost our field in Luling and TRA-LA's regular March launch There was a film crew on site with this high speed camera. I saw some ...
[Read More]

Apollo 11 Mission image - View of Lunar Module separation from theCommand Module
Apollo 11 Mission image - View of Lunar Module separation from the Command Module , a photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr.
[Read More]

Welcome to the B reactor video series
Atomic Heritage has a whole bunch of videos talking about the reactor used during the Manhattan project to create plutonium from uranium. This was one of the first reactors ever built, and as such was a prototype in the extreme. Furthermore, it was a very large reactor compared to the few other ...
[Read More]

April 2012
Apr 28, noon till 4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Learn more about the real rocket girls on NASA JSC's History Portal - March: Women's History Month . Welcome to the B reactor video series - High Power Rocketry - Includes several videos about the reactor used during the Manhattan project to create plutonium from uranium. Shooting ...
[Read More]

How long can reloadable motors be stored?
What if you assemble an RMS motor and the launch is canceled? How do you store it, and for how long?
[Read More]

Up and Down – RocketReviews.com’s Roller Coaster Ride
RocketReviews.com was down a few times over the past few days after the primary hard drive generated I/O errors. Once an I/O error is recorded, the operating system sets the drive to be “read-only” to prevent corruption of the data on the drive. When this happened, RocketReviews.com ...
[Read More]

ROCK’s March Launch
I’ve posted photos from ROCK’s March, 2012, launch in the RocketReviews.com Photo Album. I arrived early to show off the new Mobile-edition of JonRocket.com.   For a day in early March, it was quite hot. But, “in like a lion” held true as high winds plagued us ...
[Read More]

Slashdot Interview with Derek Deville about Qu8k
Slashdot has a wonderful video interview with Derek Deville. Derek walks us around the shop and talks about the construction of the Qu8k rocket. It’s great how much support Derek got from his employer Syntheon LLC. Kudos to them. Story and Video here
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 6 Toenail Trimming
By leaving a little balsa on the side of the fairing piece, I was able to sand the root edge to the contour of a BT-50 tube. Sanding against a BT-50 tube will get the contour closer to the curve of the small end of the boat tail shroud. Just take off some balsa and get a rough fit for now. This ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 7 Fairing Fit
The inside rear edge of the fairings got a coating of CA applied with a Q-Tip. This was sanded smooth with 400 grit on a dowel. It'd be best to do this before the toenails are glued to the pencil line 3/16" from the rear. You'll have to shape the fairings to a tighter curve to fit the curve of the ...
[Read More]

Proving the Principle - A History of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory
inl.gov Q: Hey what is the deal with all the nuclear stuff all the time? Isn't this a rocketry blog? A: Before rocketry and after kayaking, nuclear power (including weapons) was a major hobby for me. Obviously as an armchair enthusiast only. Old hobbies die hard, and as the Internet expands, the ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Proving the Principle - A History of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory  - High Power Rocketry Blog follower and fellow rocketeer Sascha pointed me to:  Romanian Teenager Puts Space Shuttle Back in Space - MAKE .  This story has been around the blogs ...
[Read More]

2 Blackbirds and a Starfighter
Untitled , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr.
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 8 Fairing Fit
Check the fit of the fairings on the rear shroud. The tip and rear might fit well, but the sides might not lay down. You can "coax" the sides in by rolling a clean dowel over them. Check the fit as you use the dowel. (This picture is from my first try at the shrouds - the printing is on the ...
[Read More]

Semroc Centurion with the Semroc Booster 16
I'd refinished my Centurion a few months back - epoxy fillets, new paint, decal and trim. That Semroc Booster 16 has been sitting on the shelf for two years. I finally got some 13mm A10-0t engines for it. Everything looked good at the staging. Roger Smith caught this picture right after the upper ...
[Read More]

Past, Present, and Future of NASA - U.S. Senate Testimony
"Currently, NASA’s Mars science exploration budget is being decimated, we are not going back to the Moon, and plans for astronauts to visit Mars are delayed until the 2030s—on funding not yet allocated, overseen by a congress and president to be named later." Testimony to the U.S. ...
[Read More]

Estes 2012 Full Catalog released
The Estes 2012 Full catalog has been officially released.  Pro series motors (as seen above), Nike Smoke(42 inches!), semi-scale V-2,  and the Astron Skydart II are among the new items available. Catalog can be downloaded here Looks like Hobbylinc has the Pro Series Motors at 35% off
[Read More]

Delta IV Heavy will launch the first flight test of the Orion Spacecraft
Scheduled for 2014, Lockheed Martin announced that the Delta IV Heavy will be used to lift the Orion spacecraft on Exploration Flight Test 1. The unmanned capsule will be launched to an altitude of more than 3,600 miles. This is about 15 times further that the low orbit International Space Station ...
[Read More]

Amateur Rocketeer Derek Deville's Qu8k Rocket Flies to 120,000+ Feet (Video) 156
Derek Deville is a rocket hobbyist. A lot of us have messed with Estes Model Rockets, which start at about $13 for a pre-assembled rocket that can go 800 feet straight up. Derek's rockets are on a whole different level. His personal rocket altitude record is closer to 33 miles, which is about ...
[Read More]

MIRV Warhead Nosecone
Is this what an RV outer shell looks like? Looks kinda short here, is this the forward half that holds the physics package?
[Read More]

29mm Minimum diameter Blue Thunder G80T
Loving this build over at TRF
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
ARCHANGEL: CIA’s SUPERSONIC A-12 RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT by DAVID ROBARGE  (.pdf) - Check out the diagram on page 36 showing some variants of the A-12, including the SR-71 and 2-seater versions too.    The aurora over Norðurljós Iceland 08.03.2012 - NASA ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 9 Wrap Prep
Looking close at the corrugate wraps, the edges were a little rough. These are easy enough to trim with a knife and straightedge. Any time you have a precut wrap, or if you are trimming them yourself, double check the width by matching up the ends. As careful as I was cutting the wrap into two ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 10 Corrugated Wraps
I decided to use the optional Saturn V style wraps supplied in the kit instead of the corrugated wraps shown below. It's up to you which to use but I wanted to show the gluing of the original corrugated wraps. If you are painting the core tank orange, glue on the wraps now. If you choose the ...
[Read More]

Neutron star compared to New York City
"This illustration compares the size of a neutron star to Manhattan. The crushed core of a star that has exploded as a supernova, a neutron star packs more mass than the sun into a sphere just 10 to 15 miles wide." Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center The crazy thing about a neutron star is ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 11 Feeder Line
One of the dowels is cut to 5" in length for the feeder line. The picture shows the backside of the dowel. I sanded the back flat for a better fit against the body tube. The instructions say you can cut away the corrugation to fit the front and rear of the the rounded dowel. I felt I'd get a ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build part 12 Orion BPS & LAS
Jumping ahead to Step 5: The nosecone tip is sanded down to a flat 3/16" circumference. This gives the LAS dowel a stronger hold on the nose cone. Before drilling, find the center of the flat top. I used the sharpened LAS dowel to press in a mark for better centering of the drill. A 3/16" drill ...
[Read More]

Balls 20 - 2011
I think this is the first time I have posted this video. Better late than never! It includes footage of the the 4 Carb Yen, a N5800 - N1100 two stage flight to over 100,000 feet, conducted by Jim Jarvis. This flight, with a slow upper stage and significant staging delay, is the closest test yet ...
[Read More]

A-Bomb test at Yucca Flats 1957
This post is an attempt to keep up with the Joneses or, more accurately, to keep up with High Power Rocketry . Lately, R2K has been posting some interesting historical videos about our atomic/nuclear program.  So, this is the Dungeon's response :) A-Bomb test at Yucca Flats 1957 , a ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 13 Engine Bells & Party Hat
The small engine bells were pre-formed on a dowel in the palm of my hand. These are small so help was needed to hold them closed while the glue tab dried. The glued tab was clamped shut with long tweezers. I made sure I grabbed the tweezers without the serrated ends! The fit of the the Party Hat ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 14 new Fairing Position?
A few weeks back I visited Dick Stafford's Rocket Dungeon. You can see this entire post HERE This is the latest artist rendering of the SLS as shown on Space.com. Enlarge the picture to see the features. The SLS has already gone through some artistic changes since it was first proposed. I was most ...
[Read More]

A selection of videos from this weekend’s MDRA launch
Mike Passaretti’s maiden flight of a scratch-built “SM-XMR SAM” 6″ diameter, 8.5ft tall, 35lb rocket. Motor is an Aerotech M1500G. 2nd Video: Nike 1/2 scale launch this weekend at MDRA by Dan Michael. The rocket was launched on an Aerotech M1939W. Video here(Facebook video) ...
[Read More]

MDRA: 3; Me: 0
Well, it looks like I missed my 3rd MDRA launch of the year.  The club had most excellent weather for ESL-166 this past weekend.  The flight reports began trickling in yesterday (ain't the Interweb wonderful!). Since it was at our Price field it meant big motors and cool flights. ...
[Read More]

Storms From the Sun
Storms From the Sun , a photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr. Nice graphic!
[Read More]

Quadrotor goes 'Back to the Future'

[Read More]

The Space Shuttle is truckin'
Peterbilt ad from the 1970's, via DRB .  (All rocket girl fans should follow the link!)  
[Read More]

The remarkable 848 videos of Youtube's webdev17
There are so many millitary, aerospace, and other vintage videos that I can't possibly post them all. Can't even find and post the best yet, because I am not done looking around. Here are few good vids: The best part has to be the old school music and sound effects. This very much reminds me of ...
[Read More]

You gotta love this sign
074 , a photo by deepthirteen on Flickr. On the road through the WSMR, rockets get the right of way :) I have posted this a few times before, but I find it so cool. Unless maybe I was stuck behind that gate. I've been by there several times but have never been inconvenienced.
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
The Shuttle is gone but not forgotten:   Fuck Yeah Space Shuttle (Note: indents often mean the item came from Twitter.  Could ya' tell?)--- ▼ ATREX launch from Wallops has been set for midnight to 1:30 a.m., March 15 . 5 rockets in 5 minutes nasa.gov/mission_pages/… ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 15 SRB Skirts
In the instructions, the SRB skirt is slid on and glued after the SRB wraps are glued in place. Because the SRB skirts are slid on the T-20 tube from the bottom, the smaller end of the skirt is larger than it normally would be. With the smaller hole a bit wide, you can slip it over the T-20 tube ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 16 SRB Skirts and Paint
After all the shaping, the exposed edges of the skirt support ring are a little fuzzy. I applied some medium CA with a Q-tip to harden up just the outside edges that will be seen, not over any areas that will get glued later. These were both sanded smooth with 400 grit sandpaper. I would have ...
[Read More]

USLI -- Full Scale Test Launch Success! (Mostly)
Last Saturday, five guys from Iowa State's USLI team made the trek down to Princeton, Illinois to do a full-scale test launch of our system. In summary, the launch was 90% successful, despite the 19mph winds! The rocket reached a maximum apogee of 4653 ft. (arching into the wind, of course). The ...
[Read More]

Bill Tindall: Tindallgram Memos
"Tindall wrote over 1,100 memos between 1964 and 1970 for both Gemini and Apollo. There are copies of many of them available in several different archives but there is not a complete set. One of Tindall's friends put together a set of 185 Apollo Tindallgrams just after Bill died in 1995. The ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
JSC's methane-fueled Morpheus Lander (built by Armadillo) performed another tethered hover today.  Although longer than the last one, it was not different enough to warrant a separate post.  You can find the earlier video either through YouTube or via my Morpheus tag, below. ...
[Read More]

Americana Spray Clear Acrylic
I tried the Future Acrylic clear coating a few times before. Many rave about the results on forum posts. I was frustrated not able to get the finish others have written about. I'm able to get a good gloss on a rocket by spraying a heavier final color coat. You've got go be careful though, a little ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Heats Up...Signs On Two Of The Hottest Markets
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has signed contracts with Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) and Satélites Mexicanos (Satmex) for two launches aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. “This announcement marks SpaceX’s first launch contract in Mexico. It is also the second launch ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
After 244 Years, Encyclopaedia Britannica Ditches Print Edition - IEEE Spectrum Remember to stay up tonight: ATREX launch from Wallops has been set for midnight to 1:30 a.m., March 15. 5 rockets in 5 minutes nasa.gov/mission_pages/… —- NASA Wallops (@NASA_Wallops) March 12, 2012 NASA animation ...
[Read More]

Just for luck
During the Shuttle Program, Snoopy was the symbol of manned flight awareness and safety. His nose was especially good luck. Especially when presented by a rocket girl.  
[Read More]

SpaceX is 10 years old today
Hard to believe but SpaceX is 10 years old. Link to the Birthday highlights page SpaceX Tags from the past
[Read More]

ATREX scrub
Since I've mentioned these launches a few times, I thought I should post an update. Just so you don't sit outside in the cold weather waiting. Wait, it was almost 80 degrees today...ignore the comment about it being cold :) NASA has scrubbed tonight's launch attempt for the ATREX mission because of ...
[Read More]

What is the smallest motor that can fly an 8 ft tall, 10 inch dia. rocket?
How about a G40?
[Read More]

Check out this huge USLI flight on an L motor
At DTH Rocket
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 17 SRB Skirt Glue and Paint
Here's the SRB white areas after painting. Everything is still a dry fit, no glue. The nose cone was removed and set aside for later gluing. The inside of the SRB tube has no paint in it so the flame fin assembly can slide in easily. Take a look at your rings. If there is any roughness on the edge ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 18 SRB Wraps
The Zooch instructions have you apply glue to the outside 1/2" of the back of the wrap. I didn't have much luck with this in the past so I use spray adhesive. Using white glue on the back of the wrap gives you one chance to get it aligned. Using spray adhesive you have a couple tries to set and ...
[Read More]

Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 animation video with voice-over
Scheduled for 2014  
[Read More]

Saturn V in flight
NASA photo of  the Saturn V carrying Apollo 6. Found (again) on FYSE .  
[Read More]

ATREX scrubbed again
"The ATREX mission has been rescheduled to no earlier than the night of Saturday, March 17, due to the high probability of unacceptable weather on March 16. A decision on whether to count for March 17 will be made late Friday afternoon." - NASA
[Read More]

Orion ReEntry Test Flight Profile. With Voiceover By: Jay Estes
This animation depicts the proposed test flight of the Orion spacecraft in 2014. During the test, which is called Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1), Orion will launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla., perform two orbits, reaching an altitude higher than any achieved by a spacecraft intended for human use ...
[Read More]

Brand new kit - Formula 98
The Rocketry Warehouse has just announced a new kit, called the Formula 98. This is the big brother to the Formula 75 that I have just finished. I would love to buy one of these next, but even if the price is similarly affordable, say $115, it will have to wait for next year as the rocketry buying ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Only two items, but they are good ones. Riding the Booster (Shuttle SRB) Up and Down in 400 seconds (with enhanced sound) - This is really awesome, especially the first 200. (Another hat tip to R2K .) Video of a 8' tall x 10" dia. rocket flying on a... G40 - seen via High Power Rocketry - ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 19 SRB Bands
Be sure your hands are clean before applying the bands. Any dirt or oil on your skin will transfer to the white cardstock. It's hard to cut the strip widths consistent. I cut out many strips any and threw away about half. Don't worry, there's plenty of area in the printed black blocks you cut the ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 20 SRB Bands
You can see the rough edge around the shoulder of the nose cone. I cut the uppermost white strip a little wide so it would overlap the top and cover the rough lip of the nose cone. This is the overlap strip in place, covering up the rough balsa lip. Near the bottom, two of the band strips are a ...
[Read More]

On this day in 1926
On this date back in 1926, Robert Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket on his Aunt Effie Ward’s farm in Auburn, MA. The rocket flew to an altitude of 12.5 m (41 ft), landing 56.1 m (184 ft) away in the snow. Goddard, Henry Sachs(a Clark University machinist), his wife Ester ...
[Read More]

ATREX moved until at least the 18th
Weather, you cant live without it and sometimes you can't launch with it.
[Read More]

Launch report 2012-1
Location: Cape Oli Weather: Very warm...partly cloudy. Total flights: Who counted? Total motors: none :)  Just a pair of steely-eyed rocket boys flying an air rocket!  
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, March/April 2012
This great issue includes: Ad for Estes Pro Series II MPR rockets...building a micro-controller-based LED flasher...rocketry in Slovenia (with rocket girl and flying Big Ben)..."cracking the math" of fin flutter... Der Zwei-Dekker Max  two-stage Red Max conversion...3-stage, MPR, 1/9 scale ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 21 Engine Mount Gluing
The line at the top is your index line. The corrugated or Saturn V style wraps start on this line. The seam on your boattail shroud should also line up on the index line. This way the seam won't be noticed at the side, under the SRBs. The lower line is the Feeder Line placement line. The engine ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 22 LAS Nozzles
The small LAS nozzles are actually cut from the back end of fancy toothpicks. These are small, and could be easily lost. Keep them in the bag! I've already dipped them twice in varnish, wiped off the excess and sanded to surface. It's a good idea to seal these nozzle pieces, they will look quite ...
[Read More]

VERA: a "potato gun on steroids"
This thing is pretty awesome. "VERA [Variable Energy Research Accelerator]is a low cost, low acceleration, compressed charge combustion gun featuring a 40 foot (12.2 m) barrel and a 19 inch (483 mm) bore. VERA was designed to minimize payload acceleration forces, accommodate large and/or oddly ...
[Read More]

OpenRocket desktop 12.03 and Android version released
fresh from the OpenRocket team: “Hi, The next version of OpenRocket has just been released. This is a very special release in several ways. First, the version numbering scheme has been changed.  The new version number indicates the year and month in which the release was made, which ...
[Read More]

Interested in making your own rocket motors?
Image from Sugar Shot to Space. Experimental rocketry, EX for short, has been around longer than hobby rocketry. Experimental rockets were among the first modern rockets to be built, including the first bi-propellant rocket built and flown by Robert Goddard about 86 years ago. One must be ...
[Read More]

New MPC Rockets
MPC is getting back into the rocket business. This time with licensed models featuring KISS and Star Trek. These pictures were found HERE These look to be "Almost Ready To Fly" models. There is nothing really groundbreaking here, two new plastic fin cans and nose cones. Dimensions of the KISS ...
[Read More]

VERA: A low cost, low acceleration transonic impact gun
First seen on The Original Rocket Dungeon. "In the world of ordnance system development the need for system and subsystem testing under dynamic conditions is obvious. A number of approaches have been used by various agencies throughout the years. Rocket sleds. Powder guns. Compressed gas guns. ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Carolina Sugar Workshop - Tripoli South Carolina Weather craziness MT @ wunderground Warmer today in International Falls, MN 79 than Cabo San Lucas on southern tip of Baja, Mexico 75. — Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) March 19, 2012   More craziness: ...
[Read More]

Here's a F6F closeup of the round showing pylon details.
Here's a F6F closeup of the round showing pylon details. , a photo by aeroman3 on Flickr.
[Read More]

TTRA’s March Launch
I had nothing to fly, but decided to attend the March TTRA launch as a spectator. And it turned out to be a great day for watching rockets fly.   Can you ask for more than a bright, blue sky and almost no wind? We’ll, I guess it could have been a little cooler. You can see the ...
[Read More]

Corona - CIA photo-reconnaissance satellite
"This film concerns the Corona program that produced the world's first photo-reconnaissance (spy) satellites. The film was produced by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and premiered at the "Piercing the Curtain" conference in May of 1995. The film provides an in-depth examination about how ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 23 LAS Nozzles
For just a slightly better glue joint, the angle cut side of the nozzle was contoured with a small rat tail diamond file. This gives a better surface contact at the gluing surface. A line was drawn around the LAS dowel at 7/8" from the tip. The four LAS nozzles were glued just touching the line, ...
[Read More]

Tampa TTRA Launch March 17, 2012
You can see how many cars were lined up for the Tampa TTRA launch on March 17. Sorry, no launch shots yet! Lonnie Buchanon preps his new, larger Angry Bird for a drag race with my PIGASUS . Both had C engines, a C6-3 in the Angry Bird and a C6-5 in Pigasus. I knew I should have painted my pig ...
[Read More]

SpaceX on 60 minutes
Just wondering what you guys thought of last nights 60 minutes story on SpaceX? If you haven’t had a chance to see it  CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 25 Saturn V Wrap Prep
This is the lower end of the core tank after sanding the primer down. This lower end took a couple of primer coats and sanding to get it where all the seams were filled. The Saturn V scheme will require some planning and masking. All the wraps were dry set in position (no glue) and marked for ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 25 Saturn V Wraps
This picture better explains the longer cut of the lowest wrap. This is another dry fit before the spray adhesive. You can see where the lower edge of the wrap will cover up the boat tail/body tube seam. TIP: I've read where others have had problems with the spray adhesive getting everywhere. If ...
[Read More]

Xenology
Xenology.info "Xenology: An Introduction to the Scientific Study of Extraterrestrial Life, Intelligence, and Civilization (First Edition, Xenology Research Institute, 1975-1979, 2008). Topics include the history of the idea of extraterrestrial life; comparative planetology, stars, and galaxies; ...
[Read More]

A First Look at the New MPC Rockets
MPC, which produced model rocket kits from 1969 to 1978, is coming back. Round 2, a “collectibles” company which has re-issued classic toys and plastic model kits, is producing new model rocket kits under the MPC brand. The new MPC’s first kits are a series of easy-to-build model ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
As of post time, the ATREX launches are on, with a window between 12:00AM and 3:00 AM EST (i.e. in a couple of hours).  Chances are the weather at the observation sites in NJ and NC may yet result in a scrub. Watch it here . Vought Aircraft Heritage Foundation Retirees Finish Vought ...
[Read More]

Sealab - Experimental underwater habitats
"SEALAB I, II, and III were experimental underwater habitats developed by the United States Navy to prove the viability of saturation diving and humans living in isolation for extended periods of time. The knowledge gained from the SEALAB expeditions helped advance the science of deep sea diving ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 26 SRB Gluing
Use white glue to attach the SRBs! White glue dries CLEAR, yellow glue dries YELLOW! Glue was applied to the area of the SRB bands. There is a slight separation at the band seam which gives a little more gluing area. I applied glue at all the points where the SRB wrap met the cardstock wraps on ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build part 27 Launch Lug Gluing - Oops!
I didn't glue on the lugs back in Step 2A. I waited for two reasons: 1. I fill the lug seams and knew the lugs would be painted white before gluing in place. Adding the Saturn V wraps changes the way you would paint the model. You mask, paint white and then add the wraps. 2. The instructions were ...
[Read More]

More retro goodness (WARNING - Topless photo included)
After I started scanning some of my old photos, I began poking around the net for sources of old, retro, and vintage photos.  Here's a few items that caught my eye.  This may become another semi regular feature here. Sources: The Selvage Yard , The Arcade Flyer Archive . ...
[Read More]

A big post of motor sports girls
Mostly retro.  Mostly Jungle Pam.  Via:   Sex and Speed ,  H.A.M.B. ; Other references: Jungle Pam Rides Again! , Jim "Jungle Jim" Liberman on Wikipedia .               ...
[Read More]

Ring-fin rocket, or....
Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle 2 1979 , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr.
[Read More]

Retro rocket pics
It appears vintage photos of rockets are few and far between in general nostalgia albums (i.e. not air and space related).  Today, I spotted three.  The last has been posted before, but is one of my favorites (April Dancer, the Girl from U.N.C.L.E.).     ...
[Read More]

Project Daedalus in Xenology
"If technically advanced alien civilizations can build starprobes and send them to Sol, how long will it be before humanity can construct and launch interstellar messenger vehicles of its own? A small group of engineers and physicists, all members of the British Interplanetary Society (BIS), ...
[Read More]

Invest in Science
I want to give Kudos to Phil Plait over at Bad Astronomy for this excellent article on Investing in Science ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 29 SRB Struts
You will need the add the SRB struts for strength. These keep the SRBs on the core body when you slide in or pull out the flame fin assemblies. I sealed and painted the dowel white before cutting into eight 1/2" long pieces. The angle was sanded onto both ends of the dowel. For a better seam and ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 29 SRB Struts Oops!
My placement of the launch lugs was wrong! I didn't want them down the middle of the core tube and thought a side placement wouldn't make them so obvious. I glued them to the side allowing for the launch rod clearance between the SRB skirts and engine fairings. I didn't read ahead seeing the ...
[Read More]

Add To Your Fleet With New Kits Released From SemRoc
New Kits... We have just released four more kits for the spring. The Bandit™ has been in the works for some time. The internal baffle or ejection ducting system is one of the most elaborate engineering designs from the early days. Most of the "beauty" of this kit is hidden inside, but the ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Video: Demo of explosive polymerization - No comments about the residue, please. Semroc has three new Starship kits: Vega, Excalabur, and Correy . Historical note: Blue Scout / X-15 - Citizens in Space - Missions that never were. Project Daedalus in Xenology - High Power Rocketry ...
[Read More]

More vintage rocket photos
As harvested from the Hokey Ass Message Board .   Starting with Mercedes' cool steam rocket sled booster: The 'before' shot:        
[Read More]

Wacky vintage photos of women
Eye protection, like that displayed by inventor Hugo Gernsback, may be warranted.  (Well, not really.)           (Photos  found via the  Hokey Ass Message Board .)
[Read More]

Misc vintage photos (LONG!)
Totally random things that I liked. (Again, via the H.A.M.B. ) Slim Pickens (Dr. Strangelove set?)   Turn right, Clyde.   Lone wolves.   Chuck ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 30 Feeder Line & Engine Bells
If using the Saturn V wraps, you have to wait to glue on the feeder line. The shaped feeder line dowel was sealed and sanded with two coats of varnish. It was painted before gluing on the core body. Instead of cutting away the cardstock wrap to fit the ends of the feeder line dowel, I made ...
[Read More]

AKS Rockets
http://www.aksrockets.blogspot.com/ is a great source for build reviews as well as lots of general rocketry information.
[Read More]

Your daily dose of vintage miscellany (LONG)
Starting with something you don't see everyday: A-12 perched upside down for radar testing.   V-1 pulse jet by Ford!?!   P-80 JATO, 1946   P-80 armed and ...
[Read More]

And, a dose of vintage rockets...
...and, rocket-related accessories.  Last rocket batch from my stroll through the H.A.M.B.                    
[Read More]

Worlds largest computer
"The AN/FSQ-7 is physically the largest computer ever built, and will likely hold that record for the future. Each machine used 55,000 vacuum tubes, about ½ acre (2,000 m²) of floor space, weighed 275 tons and used up to three megawatts of power. The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment ...
[Read More]

Avco nosecone test

[Read More]

DF-89B with Snark Missile
DF-89B with Snark Missile , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr.
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Build Part 31 Engine Bells & Decals
Instead of the recommended Testor's #1180 Steel I used Testor's #1145 Gunmetal Steel. It's not quite a full black and looked great on the nozzles. For painting, the nozzles were stuck down to some masking tape, sticky side up. The small end of the nozzle was set on the tape. This kept the paint ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch Flame Fins Part A
I don't try to cut all the sharp edges of the flame fin pattern. I use a straightedge and cut straight lines just at the points of the outside edges. I don't usually use a pen to trace around a fin pattern. Ink can show or "bleed" through a final paint color. I used a pen to illustrate how I cut ...
[Read More]

Epoxy nightmare
Word to the wise... do not go to bed until after the epoxy has cured.... unless you like to sand... twitter.com/unrocket/statu… — Paul Breed (@unrocket) March 24, 2012
[Read More]

Another plane on a pole
Have Blue on a ground test stand , a photo by james_gordon_los_angeles on Flickr. This is the Have Blue, predecessor of the F-117, on a ground test stand.  Click through for some history and a lots more photos.
[Read More]

James Cameron has reached the Earth's deepest spot
At approximately 3:15 p.m. ET, filmamaker and National Geographic explorer James Cameron began descending solo to Earth's deepest spot. The Mariana Trench's Challenger Deep is almost 7 miles (11 km) below the Earth's surface. All the details are on the NatGeo site .Here's the latest status that ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch Flame Fins Part 2
The sharp angle bend over the edge of the block was used to sand the tight inside corners. These don't have to be as sharp as the fin pattern shows. All six fins don't have to have the same profile. After sanding two fin sides together, the pins are removed. Don't worry, the CWF will easily fill ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch Flame Fins Part 3
The fins got a coat of thinned CWF and were sanded with 400 grit on a block. The angled and round side of the block were used to sand the concave lines of the leading and trailing edges. A second coat of CWF was applied on the leading and trailing edges. I was trying to square up and made the ...
[Read More]

What? No Posts on March 25?
Sorry about that! I was in transit between the cruise ship and home. I'll be home for a while and posting on a daily basis.
[Read More]

Aeronaut 2011 Supersonic Launches

[Read More]

Web Updates
The past few months we have been making big changes to the Meatball Rocketry site in hopes of offering some useful products for sale, as well as making future content updates easier.  I hope you like our new look!  Please ...
[Read More]

Full-Size AGM-84 Harpoon Missile
Working on my major project for the Thundersrtuck Launch starting this Friday, March 30. Launch will be around 3pm March 30th. This is a full size AGM-84 Harpoon Missile. diameter: 11.5″ Height: 16 ft weight: Approx 200 lbs fully loaded motors: 3 6 grain 75mm M class motors,  ~ ...
[Read More]

Semroc Spring 2012 Collection
This season’s rockets from Semroc for the able rocketeer. Retro-Repro™ Bandit™ Retro-Repro™ Starship Vega™ Retro-Repro™ Nomad™ Retro-Repro™ Blue Bird Zero Can’t wait to get my Blue Bird Zero. I’ve been flying the paper ...
[Read More]

Underwater Missile Launch
I understand this is a Russian naval launch, but what kind of rocket exactly? Is it launched out of water because the ship cannot handle the blast?
[Read More]

Interesting missile launch (air-water-air)
I wonder if this was planned or was the result of a launch failure? Interesting in any event. (Hat tip High Power Rocketry )
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch Flame Fins Part 4
Here's an image of a Shuttle launch. Notice the color changes in the flame. It goes from a very bright white, to yellow (maybe a slight orange also) to grey smoke. I've made a few sets of Zooch Flame Fins before. A first attempt at the left looks almost "cartoonish". I had the right idea but the ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch Flame Fins Part 5
Three flame fins glue on each SRB fin tube assembly. They are spaced at 90 degrees to each other. It's almost like a four finned rocket with one fin missing. The open area of the tube faces the central engine mount. Mask off the small centering rings and spray the fin unit white. On the left is ...
[Read More]

ATREX flew and spewed (x5), while I slept
I had to get up early so I couldn't wait until the launch site winds subsided. :(  Wallops set up a Flickr group to gather photos. Here's a recap of the sciency stuff. In case you're interested in more than the eye candy. @ nasa_wallops with a little post-processing, I can see two in ...
[Read More]

SStS casing part three
Unfortunately the existing casing for the latest motor, a single-burn boiler plate motor, was accidentally damaged prior to testing, so I'm fabricating a new one.  Nothing new; cut to length, true ends, drill, drill, drill... Hoping to make it to the firing and take lots of pics. ...
[Read More]

Shuttle Launch
The Shuttle Launch Like You Have Never HEARD It Before Thanks to Skywalker Sound.  Great video, and accompanying sounds, of a shuttle launch.    I suggest that you play it loud.   http://gizmodo.com/5893612/the-shuttle-launch-like-you-never-heard-it-before ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Desert Wings, Aviation in the American Southwest - Mostly about military aircraft, but does include info on ordinance (i.e. missiles). Armadillo's big tube - RLV and Space Transportation - No much here, but it serves to keep their new project on my radar. Operation Teapot declassified ...
[Read More]

Tampa TTRA Launch Pictures, March 17, 2012
Roger Smith (JonRocket.com and RocketReviews.com) took some great pictures at the last Tampa TTRA launch. While this blog concentrates on LPR rocketry, Roger took many more pictures of Low, Mid and High power launches HERE The first launch of my SUPER ALPHA with a C11-5. Drag race of Lonnie ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch SLS Finished
As far as I could tell, three NASA meatball logos are place 120 degrees from each other. You can see the small, vertical UNITED STATES decal set on either side of the upper core tube. The kit provide you with a United States flag printed on cardstock. I found a flag online and added it to the ...
[Read More]

Shuttle Humor
This was on the Shuttle dock on the Boeing 747 that carried the Shuttle.
[Read More]

Jeff Bezos - Rocket archeologist
Bezos Expeditions , the organization that is developing the 10,000 Year Clock , is also going to attempt the recovery of   Apollo 11's F-1 engines . I'm excited to report that, using state-of-the-art deep sea sonar, the team has found the Apollo 11 engines lying 14,000 feet below the ...
[Read More]

Able and Baker fly into space
On May 28, 1959, aboard the JUPITER AM-18, Able, a rhesus monkey, and Miss Baker, a squirrel monkey, became the first monkeys to successfully return to Earth after traveling in space. Able was born at the Ralph Mitchell Zoo in Independence, Kansas. They travelled in excess of 16,000 km/h, and ...
[Read More]

B-52B nostalgia
Here are a few B-52B Stratofortresses from the 95th Bomber Wing, circa 1959. The 95th was based at Biggs AFB in El Paso. I got the photos and descriptions from Desert Wing's BUFFs page . The first three photos are of s/n 53-388, the first City of El Paso .  The fourth photo is of the second ...
[Read More]

New Estes Parachute Shroud Lines
I was checking the shroud line attachment knots on two of the new Estes 12" parachutes. On one parachute, two of the six loops were a little big. I was going to re-tie the knots so all six were more consistent in size. While using my tweezers to gently take the knot apart, the line broke! Checking ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 1 Parts
On the left is how the Ranger looked in the 1968 Estes Catalog. Inset on the right is the Ranger shown in the 1971 catalog. This build will have the 1971 paint scheme. Here's the parts for the build: Originally I wanted to build the Ranger from a Baby Bertha kit. The fins are very close. But, I ...
[Read More]

Casing continued...
The new casing for the DDS boilerplate motor is nearly complete, just a little more sanding on the bulkhead end (on the right in the photo), and it's ready to go.
[Read More]

USA Wind Map
"An invisible, ancient source of energy surrounds us—energy that powered the first explorations of the world, and that may be a key to the future. This map shows you the delicate tracery of wind flowing over the US right now." http://hint.fm/wind/
[Read More]

Hypnotize yourself with the Perpetual Ocean and a real time Wind Map
First up is the Perpetual Ocean , a visualization of surface currents around the world between June 2005 and December 2007. A short version is embedded below and you can find the full length version on GSFC's page . After you come to, you can take a gander of the real time map of the surface winds ...
[Read More]

Mark-1 space chamber
Click to see the full res. "Capt. Catercia Isaac checks out the inside of the Mark-1 space chamber Oct. 5, 2009, at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. Capt. Issac is a physicist and the flight commander of the 718th Test Squadron. The Mark 1 Test Facility is a state-of-the-art space environment ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
The  Battle of the Rockets  is coming March 31st. In a sense, Valyrian steel is real (sans magic). #GameOfThrones plays off real sword science: on.msnbc.com/H0Bxyx — Alan Boyle (@b0yle) March 30, 2012 Retro Future: Glorious Transportation Update - DRB Libration ...
[Read More]

HPR Design Post on TRF
Sean A. (GrossApproximator on TRF) really summed up my feelings about many HPR designs: "All the high power rockets I see look very similar to one another. Nose cone; tube; fins. Some are big, some are small, and some are honkin' huge. Some have simple paint jobs while others have more complex ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 2 Engine Mount
The original Ranger had the cluster tubes glued side by side. I wanted to add engine hooks instead of simply friction fitting with masking tape. Any type of engine hook retention might get in the way when all three engine tubes are glued together. Three wraps of tape or mylar rings would make the ...
[Read More]

Super Loki Dart booster on sale - $600
"It represents a significant part of the 60's Space program and is a definite piece of history as the government fired a limited number of these rockets up 40-50 miles doing high altitude meteorological research. Everything that this rocket accomplished was a result of the first 2.2 seconds (the ...
[Read More]

Project Sabot-Cam: Punkin Chunkin Camera Payload
"Project: the "SABOT-CAM" Client: Discovery Channel, "Punkin Chunkin World Championship" Objective: Capture the perspective of a pumpkin, in HD-Video, as if you were shot from the worlds biggest pumpkin cannon. No CG, but real footage from a camera carrying projectile. The projectile must travel ...
[Read More]

“Popular Technics”, March 1960
tumblr_lyijb7o3qH1qf71bqo1_1280 , a photo by walt74 on Flickr. Solar sails gathering near Titan, Saturn’s biggest Moon. Cover of “Popular Technics” a Hungarian monthly scientific magazine, March 1960.
[Read More]

More about the Apollo 11 engine recovery project
Space.com came up with this nice infographic. I'd still like to hear more about the search process. And, of course, the plans for recovery too. "If they're intact, they're like 9 tons each...That is not going to be easy to bring to the surface." - Curt Newport to MSNBC.com's Alan Boyle. Curt ...
[Read More]

Old electronics magazines...
I dug up two ancient copies of EDN magazine - one dated November 20, 1976 and one dated October 14, 1981. EDN was a trade magazine that, despite having a cover price, was free to those in the industry. I didn't check but doubt if it still in print.  It does, however, exist on-line: ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 3 Engine Mount
Once the cardstock and engine hook are straight, burnish down the glued card strip with a clean dowel. The supplied engine blocks were a little short at 3/16" long. I notched the engine tubes at 1/4" before checking. Not a big deal, they won't be seen once glued inside the model. With the upper ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
For those who love bacon to death - hat tip to Brian I just had a fishing attempt try to steal my password. It said Twitter timed out. But it was not the twitter site. — Whitney Richard (@bayourat) March 30, 2012 RAND’s Apollo Back-up Plan (1965) - Wired Science ...
[Read More]

To celebrate spring, she wore a teeny weeny black and white bikini!
I was feeling a little down since it got chilly again. The high 70's in mid-March spoiled me I guess. Hopefully, this will bring back spring fever. Goldie Hawn       Raquel Welch ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 4 Engine Mount
These engine mount tubes are thin BT-20 based and the outside surfaces a little rougher than I would have liked. A layer of 24 lb. copy paper was glued around the tubes. This is strictly structural and added a lot of strength to the low ends of the tubes. Looking back, it would have been easier to ...
[Read More]

Just Because
A weekend project with my roommate (as if I have the time for it :) USLI: tomorrow we hope to conduct a tethered test flight of the quadcopter payload. Look for a video on that soon!
[Read More]

Space furnace for micro-gravity experiments
"A space furnace like this heats samples of the intermetallics while they are on board the rocket. At around 1600 °C titanium aluminide melts. As the molten sample cools, it turns solid again. Deeper understanding of how titanium aluminide behaves during this process will lead to improved ...
[Read More]

Conservative distrust of science
It is interesting to see that the general public had a pretty good, ca .5, relationship with science around the time Apollo ended. I bet if you went back to the 50's and 60's, the numbers would be even better. When you stop exploring in a way that is visible to the public, they will no longer grow ...
[Read More]

The history of electronics, in Electronics
The third and final trade magazine that I saved is the April 17, 1980 Commemorative Issue of Electronics .  This issue traces the history of electronics from it's start through the end of the 1970's.  I thumbed through the issue and scanned a small set of the photos for your ...
[Read More]

USLI -- Payload Electrical Fire!
We tried our first tethered test flight today... ended in disaster. But we learned a lot, and as far as we can tell none of the components are fried.
[Read More]

alt.Space_Shuttle_concepts
Space_Shuttle_concepts , a photo by james_gordon_los_angeles on Flickr.
[Read More]

Battle of the Rockets 2012
20120331-IMG_4114 , a photo by Pirate_J on Flickr. Click through for the whole set.
[Read More]

The wind speed map as a rocket tool?
When I mentioned the wind speed map ( http://hint.fm/wind/ ) last week, I was focused on the ethereal, dynaic patterns.  I didn't really think about what it would be useful for.  Well, today I zoomed in the Maryland's Eastern Shore (home to MDRA's fields).  It suddenly ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Why we love to fear dragons - Cosmic Log - I posted this because I just watch the finale if Season 1 of Game of Thrones .  Season 2 starts tomorrow.  That show really needed dragons. V-2 found in the mud No Kari, you are rock star not a porn star. Please send me a signed photo, ...
[Read More]

More on the proposed rocket-boosted Mustangs
I first discussed the rocket-boosted P-51D Mustangs a couple of months ago.  The source I cited had a lot of info on the program, which was cancelled before the Mustangs actually flew.  I see Kemon01 has dug up a photo of one of the static tests. Awesome find! Rocket Mustang , a photo ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 5 Engine Mount
I did sand down the tube even with the shorter engine blocks. This won't effect the fit or finish of any upcoming parts. The pencil lines were extended over the top of the three engine mount tubes. Apply a line of glue on a pencil line and assemble the engine mount tubes. Bear in mind the position ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 6 Engine Mount
The old "Tissue-Glue Putty" won't do on this clone! Here's a better way to block the ejection charge from going out the back. The engine mount kit included a plywood disk with three holes cut in it. I wanted to show how to adapt a more standard 50/60 centering ring for an ejection charge block. ...
[Read More]

The Rocketry Forum Seized by BATF!
http://www.rocketryforum.com/
[Read More]

April Fool's Day on TRF
This notice greets you on The Rocketry Forum this morning - April Fools Day. Click HERE Be sure to read the small print in the third paragraph. Very Funny!
[Read More]

A change of direction for the Dungeon
After much thought, I have decided to change the theme of my blog. I realized that I really don't like rockets and space much and, instead, will only post old photos that I find on the web or that I scan myself. I will leave my banner until I create a suitable replacement.  Please follow the ...
[Read More]

Titanoboa vs. T-Rex
(Note, also not rockets!)
[Read More]

Virgin Volcanic
Virgin Volcanic , a photo by jurvetson on Flickr. A perfect post for a non-rocket blog!
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 7 Engine Mount
I've hated the Estes "Tissue-Glue Putty" since I first tried it unsuccessfully in 1969. From the Estes Ranger instructions: "Moisten small wads of facial tissue with glue and pack them into the gap areas between the engine holder tube and the body tube and into the hole between the holder tubes in ...
[Read More]

April Fool's Day Launch, 4/1/2012 - Rockets and Catfish
I don't need an excuse to launch - any holiday works! April Fool's Day seemed appropriate for what happened. First and second up was my tree branched damaged CENTURION , launched twice with B6-4s to 325' altitude. I was testing out a new engine retainer. (More on that later!) The retainer worked ...
[Read More]

Technology '77 and '78
I found a couple of old issues of IEEE Spectrum, the Technology '77 and '78 issues. These were heavy on words and light on photos so I merely scanned the covers. As I thumbed through them, I jotted down a few things that were hot back then. DEC advertised that their T55 could do a ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
April Fool's Day Launch, 4/1/2012 - Rockets and Catfish - Modell Rakate Buildink - While I mowed my grass, finished my taxes and blogged off-topic, Chris flew rockets and played with a live catfish. IBM’s Big Data Challenge: A Telescope That Generates More Data Than the Whole Internet ...
[Read More]

In case there is any doubt about the main theme here!
With a big hat tip to Kemon01 .
[Read More]

Atomic Power Review
"NUCLEAR ENERGY NEWS, INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS. COVERAGE OF EVENTS WORLD WIDE, INCLUDING NEW PLANT CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION OF PLANTS NOW IN SERVICE, AND SHUTDOWN AND DECOMMISSIONING OF PLANTS. APR EMPHASIZES THE TECHNOLOGY OF NUCLEAR ENERGY, AS WELL AS THE HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT T ...
[Read More]

Hypersonic Wind Tunnel
"In September of 1959, JPL held a press conference to celebrate the opening of its new hypersonic wind tunnel, the third wind tunnel built at JPL from 1947 to 1959. A JPL engineer is shown positioning a scale model of a missile in the tunnel's 21 x 21 inch test section. The two horizontal ...
[Read More]

Semroc Starship Vega
The Starship Vega made its debut in the 1973 Estes catalog. It’s futuristic design made it an instant hit. Assembled, the rocket is about 20-inches tall and just under an inch in diameter. Semroc’s kit features a quality balsa nose cone, laser-cut … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch Space Launch System (SLS)
NASA’s proposed follow-on to the Space Shuttle program is called the Space Launch System (SLS). At the heart of the SLS is a large booster rocket. Based on NASA artist conceptions, Dr. Zooch has produced a flying model rocket kit of ...
[Read More]

The moon landing +25 years: Can we go back?
The latest item that I dug out of my small stash of old technical magazines is the July 1994 Issue of IEEE Spectrum, which was dedicated to The Moon Landing: A 25th Anniversary Perspective . This issue reviews the Apollo 11 mission, how we got there, and what might be next for manned visits to ...
[Read More]

Now, this is something you don't see at your typical high power launch!
In their April blog update , Verna and Randy highlight a launch at the most unlikely of spots - just off of an active airport runway.  Normally, we have to be 5+ miles from an airport.  However, the boys and girls at the SEARS club obtained permission to launch at the Pensacola ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
NASA's Deep Space Module study - RLV and Space Transport -  More about a NASA study of a deep space habitat system based on ISS modules. A behind-the-scenes peek at the Apollo Command Module scale model at the NASA Goddard Visitor Center - Geeked on Goddard There's so much awesome in ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 8 Nose Cone Seam Prep
After sanding the high lines of the nose cone seams down, some shallow seam remained. Medium CA was applied and let dry. This is the nose cone surface after sanding down the CA set in the seam troughs. The seam shallows weren't that deep and other fillers probably wouldn't stay in place. The ...
[Read More]

Old Centuri Shock Cord Mount
Here's another way to do a shock cord mount, this time from the old Centuri SR-71 Blackbird kit. The "two identical shock cord fasteners" could easily be cut from 110 lb. cardstock. On the JimZ site, the fastener looks to be 1/2" X 1". I would probably make it a little larger. This type of mount ...
[Read More]

Copenhagen Suborbitals discuss their new rocket engine
“The TM65 Tordenskjold is Copenhagen Suborbitals’s third liquid propellant rocket engine. The engine produces between 65 and 90 KN trust, which is equivalent to the order af 200,000 Horsepower. The engine will be tested in may 2012 and will be Copenhagen Suborbitals’s 12th test af ...
[Read More]

The moon landing +25 years: Some of the players.
T The IEEE Spectrum Moon Landing issue highlighted several people who made significant contributions, many of which I had never heard of (or at least whose names I'd forgotten).  So, here are some of players, with a just few of their accomplishments. President John F. Kennedy - ...
[Read More]

Underwater Atomic Test: Operation Wigwam
"Operation Wigwam involved a single test of the Mark 90 Betty nuclear bomb. It was conducted between Operation Teapot and Operation Redwing on May 14, 1955, about 500 miles southwest of San Diego, California. 6,800 personnel aboard 30 ships were involved in Wigwam. The purpose of Wigwam was to ...
[Read More]

Belated: Plaster City January 2012 launch report
I've really got to post these entries right after the launch.  Otherwise these protracted delays result.  Ugh.  I decided to keep it simple that day and fly motor ejection only. I captured two onboard video segments: Super Raven on CTI 867J244 White and DarkStar Lite on CTI 298H159 ...
[Read More]

The moon landing +25 years: BIS's Lunar Space-ship, NOVA and the evolving Apollo
Here are some more snippets from the July 1994 Moon Landing edition of IEEE Spectrum. I mentioned in the previous post that the British Interplanetary Society's 1929 "Lunar Space-ship" study was cited as a predecessor to Apollo.  The proposed booster would use solid rockets as liquid ...
[Read More]

Fire and smoke at the Capistrano Test Site
The Capistrano Test Site , established  in 1963 for development of the Apollo Lunar Module Descent Engine,  was owned by TRW of Redondo Beach until TRW was absorbed by Northrop Grumman in 2002.   Via the San Diego Air and Space Museum Archives .
[Read More]

Rustoleum Response to Cottage Cheese Spray
Here's my email to Rustoleum after having bad luck with a batch of 2X Gloss White: Dated: March 30, 2012 Product used for: Model Rocket finishing I use 2X Painter's Touch to finish models. After two bad cans of Gloss white (shot out like cottage cheese!) things seem to be back to normal again. I'm ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 9 Primer and Sand
After sanding down the primer on the nose cone, you can see where it was left in the small shallow areas. This is the seam area where the medium CA was sanded to surface. Before this primer was shot, the body tube seams got some CWF, a thicker mix than was brushed on the fins. Some builders will ...
[Read More]

Sounding rocket launched towards aurora

[Read More]

Part of a LOC King Viper on Ebay
The Ebay listing ends in 48 hours. This is the rocket. The rocket does not appear to come with fins, but does include two nosecones that both look a bit short for the King Viper. I think what you have is the fincan from the king viper, some longer body tube, and two shorter noscones.
[Read More]

"They Major in Missiles" at WSMR
This is a recruitment film for the co-op program at WSMR and will mostly be interesting to WSMR fans or people from the area (including El Paso).  The attached description provides an overview of the range and the surrounding area. Rocketry fun starts about 5:30 in. Hat tip to High Power ...
[Read More]

USLI -- Interesting Developments
I just want to say, the higher the barrier, the epic-er the win. Or at least, the stronger you get. Based on the early deployment of our payload, we are being required by NASA to conduct another test launch. No big deal. Anyway, I am going to have no life outside of USLI and the occasional ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 10 Fin Marking
I went "old school" and made my own fin marking guide. A 2 1/2" wide strip of paper was cut from some 20 lb. printer paper. Be sure you cut the strip in a true rectangle, it's just easier to line up the ends. Cut it longer than you'll need, more than a full wrap around the tube. Wrap, mark and cut ...
[Read More]

Nike Tomahawk - Another "One Day" Build
I was looking through an old AVI catalog on Ninfinger's: HERE and ran across the old Nike Tomahawk kit. The specs say it's a 35mm below and a 20mm body tube above. It looks to be a composite of the old MPC Nike Smoke (35mm) and Tomahawk (20mm kits. Both plastic fin units are available from Quest. ...
[Read More]

A near-optimal 54mm rocket
This is Senza Confini , a nearly optimal performance 54mm rocket that is suitable for altitude competition on 54mm L motors. As you can see above, this rocket is basically a motor, electronics, and a nosecone. All too often, minimum diameter rockets are extremely long. That empty space is a waste, ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets Website is Up and Running!
You'd think HTML would be easier by now! After some frustrating down time - The ODD'L ROCKETS Website is back! You can visit it HERE There's a new (well, new for the website anyway) Combo Kit, updated information and new Photo Gallery pictures. I also cleaned up the look and got rid of all the toy ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links (long form edition)
A near-optimal 54mm rocket - High Power Rocketry Marissa Mayer: Google’s Chic Geek - IEEE Spectrum MEMS Switches for Low-Power Logic - IEEE Spectrum - Just when you thought elecromagnetic relays were relegated to your cluster launcher. Deflecting Asteroids - IEEE Spectrum - Could ...
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, February 2012 (V6I6)
This issue was dedicated to LDRS-30 and nuttin' but LDRS-30.  Good to see the issues flowing again. 'Nuff said!
[Read More]

Your TGIF installment of missile-aneous photos
Lions and tigers and bears, OH MY!   Flying semi trucks, courtesy of one of April 3rd's twisters near Dallas!   Lifting the 2nd stage of a Saturn V   ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 11 Fin Line Prep
After looking online, I found a Rocksim file for the Ranger. This file only had a single 18mm engine so it was closer to a Big Bertha with an added payload section. I added the two other engines to get the center of gravity position. With three C6-7 engines loaded, the C/G was about 5" from the ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets Website is Up and Running!
You'd think HTML would be easier by now! After some frustrating down time - The ODD'L ROCKETS Website is back! You can visit it HERE Or at http://www.oddlrockets/ .com There's a new (well, new for the website anyway) Combo Kit, updated information and new Photo Gallery pictures. I also cleaned up ...
[Read More]

BLU-82 Commando Vault daisy cutter
"The BLU-82B/C-130 weapon system, known under program "Commando Vault" and nicknamed "daisy cutter" in Vietnam and in Afghanistan for its ability to flatten a forest into a helicopter landing zone, is a 15,000 pound (6,800 kg) conventional bomb, delivered from either a C-130 or an MC-130 transport ...
[Read More]

Motor Casing complete
Completed Motor casing for SStS motor test.
[Read More]

Estes displays the Maxi-humongous Alpha
Here's a shot of their booth at the NSTA.  
[Read More]

ATV-3 Approaches the Station
Via NASA: In this photo taken from the International Space Station, the European Space Agency’s Automated Transfer Vehicle-3 (ATV-3) is seen on approach for docking. The unmanned cargo spacecraft docked to the space station at 6:31 p.m. EDT on March 28, 2012.  
[Read More]

Estes Display at NSTA Convention
From Dick Stafford's Rocket Dungeon: Check out the GIANT Alpha from the Estes display. These pictures are from the recent 2012 National Science Teacher's Association in Indianapolis. Pretty clever to integrate a clear glass sign-up table around the body of the rocket. Kudos to whoever designed ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 12 TIP: Gluing Four Fins Without The Wobble
Three fin rockets are like a three legged stool. All three legs make contact with the floor and they never wobble. Four finned rockets are like that chair around the kitchen table. One chair aways wobbles. I have made a few four finned rockets over the years that wobble when set standing on a flat ...
[Read More]

Round 2 of the battle of the Saturn 1B's is ON!
Until this is formally announced, I won't post any details of where and when, but here's a teaser: The first attempt at launching two massive 800 pound 1:9 Scale Saturn 1B’s was filled with scores of Cool and Really Cool moments. The attempts were too cool leave the rockets relegated to ...
[Read More]

The incredible rockets of XPRS
Barely through level 1 rocketry, and slowly working towards level 2, it is still fun to dream about what could be, some day. These XPRS blogspot pages show many large hpr rockets, some of which are designed for extreme performance. Here is a sample: Team: Mike Yamamoto & Bill Inman Club: ...
[Read More]

Three stage cigar tube rack rocket
"New way to stage rockets without drag." Doubt this is legal per NAR/Tripoli regulations because it is a metal airframe, and because there is no apparent recovery method. Rack rockets are not new, but this is a cool idea all the same. Who knows if the upper stage motor develops any meaningful ...
[Read More]

The 'Fremont Experience' is cool, but this would have been friggin' awesome
Back in 1992, there were plans for a FULL SIZED replica of the Star Ship Enterprise in downtown Las Vegas, including all the key rooms and areas from the original series.  The Vegas business community and Paramount Licencing were all on board.  However, when it ...
[Read More]

Ranger Cone Build Part 13 More Fin Gluing TIPS
With the trailing edge angle of the Ranger fins, it's hard to line up the fin flush with the end of the body tube. Here I'm using the same fin marking wrap as a height guide to be sure the front edge of the fins are all at the same height. Before applying glue fillets, erase the extended pencil ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 14 Epoxy Fillets
In regards to the width of fin fillets, a rule of thumb (for me anyway) is: The width of the fillet forming dowel is twice the thickness of the fin stock. The Ranger's fins are 1/8" thick, so the fillet smoothing dowel is 1/4" diameter. These methods are based on the epoxy tutorial by Crazy Jim on ...
[Read More]

F4D-1 NAS China Lake 1958
F4D-1 NAS China Lake 1958 , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr. Is that a NOTSNIK under her wing?
[Read More]

North Korea's First Satellite Launch. A Rare Glimpse Into The Communist Countries Space Program.
First reports from Sohae launch pad Foreign reporters in Pyongyang to cover the planned launch this week of North Korea’s Unha-3 rocket were given a tour of the Sohae launch facility on Sunday. The launch pad, previously only see through the lens of satellite photos, was opened to the ...
[Read More]

Feed reader stars, tweets and other interesting links
Scale model of the Saturn I launch vehicle. - Harry S. Truman Presidential Library - This shot shows a scale model in a Langley wind tunnel.  Gotta test your launch pedestal too! According to FYSE , the library holds hundreds of  historical  photos from  James E. Webb, ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 15 Epoxy Fillets
1. Have everything ready before mixing up the epoxy. From Crazy Jim Hendrickson: "Yes, denatured alcohol. Not rubbing alcohol...it can contain up to 20% water." Denatured Alcohol in a small cup, a clean 1/4" smoothing dowel, plastic gloves and plenty of paper towels. 2. On wax paper, squeeze out ...
[Read More]

Easter Launch April 8, 2012 Bang!
This is probably the last cold front Florida will see this year. When I got to the field at 7:40 a.m. it was cool, clear and no wind. Two Sandhill Cranes were at the field when I arrived. These are big birds, over four feet tall when standing up. I gave my Centuri FINLESS another chance at ...
[Read More]

April FAR activities
Clark Lindsey spotted the attached video of the April 7th activities at the  Friends of Amateur Rocketry launch site in Mojave.  Much of it is merely embedded photos and it starts slowly with some construction activities. The sweet spot starts a minute in with the launch of ...
[Read More]

In Texas, the spaceports are moving south
Texas is full of proposed spaceports, most of which have never materialized.  In fact, the one with the least published information - Blue Origin's site - is the only one that is operational. The Brazoria Spaceport, on the coast and southwest of Galveston never got going (not shown on the ...
[Read More]

Laser explodes firecracker inside balloon!
"The balloon used in this demonstration was not fully inflated. Fully inflated balloons will not behave in the same manner. The laser does not pop the transparent balloon because the energy of the laser beam light passes through it virtually unhindered. In the bonus clip the balloons pop because ...
[Read More]

Project Mercury 1st Quarterly Report Oct-Dec 1959
"The first Project Mercury quarterly report covers testing of Mercury spacecraft aerodynamics using models fired by a gun (at over 10,000 mph) and in wind tunnels (mach 14), escape tower tests in wind tunnels and launch tests with the Little Joe solid rocket booster, Little Joe construction, ...
[Read More]

No Decals in the Estes Pro Series II Kits?
While the new Estes Pro Series II kits don't include a big decal sheet, you can get the paint schemes from the Estes website: HERE "Free Pro Series II Paint Schemes Download these paint schemes for free, and paint your high powered rocket like a pro." These roll patterns aren't really hard to do, ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 16 Smooth Finish Prep
Before any gray primer was sprayed, the inside rear of the body tube was masked. I didn't want any thick primer on the inside of the tube to interfere with gluing the engine mount in later. After a primer spray, 220 grit was wrapped around a dowel and ran over any high spots in the epoxy fillet. ...
[Read More]

Space navigation
"This film illustrates the methods that were used for determining space trajectories, locating a spacecraft's position, and navigating both manned and unmanned spacecraft between Earth and other planets. The footage shows, through animation and live photography, the use of computers and other ...
[Read More]

NIEMI/Antey S-300V 9K81/9K81-1/9K81M/MK Self Propelled Air Defence System / SA-12/SA-23 Giant/Gladiator
"The highly mobile Antey S-300V and S-300VM remain one of the most lethal area defence SAM systems ever developed, firing hypersonic missiles designed to engage aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. Designed from the outset for high mobility and effectiveness against targets at all ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
New name, same conglomeration of links from social and anti-social media: Briefs: Laser com demo on Loral sat - RLV and Space Transport - Clark posts about SS/L teaming with GSFC on a laser crosslink demo. It's cool that their commercial spacecraft bus has room for science/experimental ...
[Read More]

AIM-9 Sidewinder explodes over F-89 ground target 1979
AIM-9 explodes over F-89 ground target 1979 , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr.
[Read More]

Underwater Atomic Test, Mark 90 Betty A-Bomb: "Operation Wigwam"
"Operation Wigwam involved a single test of the Mark 90 Betty nuclear bomb. It was conducted between Operation Teapot and Operation Redwing on May 14, 1955, about 500 miles southwest of San Diego, California. 6,800 personnel aboard 30 ships were involved in Wigwam. The purpose of Wigwam was to ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 17 "Baffle" Coupler Fit
I took a tip from the online Ranger instructions at the Semroc website. Semroc uses a "half baffle" placed 4" down from the top of the lower BT-60 tube. This is a single plate baffle glued to the top of a coupler. This is actually a good idea. If Kevlar was tied low to the engine mount it might ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 18 Primer Over Epoxy Fillets
Before any more primer was sprayed over the epoxy fillets, the inside rear of the body tube was masked off. I'll be gluing the engine mount in after the painting is finished. One great thing about the Duplicolor primer is the nozzle. You can turn the tip and spray wide or in a finer line. I set ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Has It's Eye On A South Texas Location
It could possibly be for a reusable rocket system. It would be a first in Space Systems Technology! This would lower cost to orbit considerably.
[Read More]

Here we go again...
"On April 2, 2012, at around 11:50 am CDT, dozens of people in and around San Antonio, Texas witnessed a bright object streaking across the daytime sky. Most likely a fireball — a particularly large, bright meteor — the object was visible across a very large area. It even made the ...
[Read More]

Viewing a rocket launch from a Quadcopter
An onboard video made by a quadcopter of Dan Welling’s M powered “Bits ‘n’ Pieces” rocket at a St. Louis Rocketry launch. The motor was a CTI M1790 skidmark motor (98mm 4 grain) and reached an altitude of 11,140 ft AGL. Read more here
[Read More]

Vintage motor sports girls 2
Since my first post of vintage motor sports girls is so popular, I decided to have a follow-up. The following a three of my favorites from Nigel Smuckatelli's album .
[Read More]

Links roundup
Check out this pic! Graphics depicting the various ferry flights the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft has made. flic.kr/p/bLDLT4 — NASA HQ PHOTO (@nasahqphoto) April 11, 2012 NASA SST model - Aerospace Projects Review Here's a real Ball Buster . It wasn't all that cold but we ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 19 Roll Pattern
The entire rocket was painted a gloss white undercoat. One fin and the payload section got a thicker coat of paint. White is the finish color on that one fin and payload section. I saved the fin marking guide. It will be used to mark the tube for the upper roll pattern. There are four vertical ...
[Read More]

Orbital’s Antares rocket begins testing
It’s important to keep in mind that SpaceX is not the only commercial space program that is scheduled to visit the ISS this year. Orbital has the Antares rocket that is scheduled for it’s COT’s demonstration flight in the 3rd quarter and it’s first trip to the ISS as a Cargo ...
[Read More]

Yuri’s night 2012
It’s that time again. Tonight go to party!  “Circling the Earth in my orbital spaceship I marveled at the beauty of our planet. People of the world, let us safeguard and enhance this beauty — not destroy it!” Yuri Gagarin, 1st person in space Yuri’s Night ...
[Read More]

Digital Space Art by Terry Sunday
"In the 1970’s, the Martin Marietta Corporation (now Lockheed Martin) in Orlando, Florida, built what is still today one of the most incredible guided missiles ever to fly. The Sprint was a part of the only anti-ballistic missile (ABM) system that the United States ever deployed. Co ...
[Read More]

The scale of everything (very cool)
http://htwins.net/scale2/scale2.swf?bordercolor=white When I first saw this link, I thought it was going to be the old(ish) animation that takes you from far out space to the earth and on to the micro scale.  Instead, it is user controllable view of the scale of things, from the smallest ...
[Read More]

Belated: January '12 Lucerne Launch Report
Catching up... For once I'd planned realistically and took only one complex flight with me on that day. This would be my first five-motor clustered air start in Der Red Mix II.  I fired a CTI 1874K740 C*Star on the ground, then 2-sec delay, then 2 x 282H399 White Thunder , then 2-sec delay, ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
NASA Preps Atomic Clock for Deep Space GPS - Space.com - Accurate and stable clocks are central to position (orbit, attitude) control and communications and this will help immensely on both accounts.  Very cool. (I also thought I read somewhere that chip-scale atomic clocks will b ...
[Read More]

North Korean rocket launch tested superstition and Milt's Law
Just about every news outlet is reporting that North Korea's Unha-3 rocket was launched and that it failed.  I thought that I heard it was just after the 1st stage burn.  But, no matter. 1. The launch was on Friday the 13th. 2. Milt's Law: Rockets are just another name for ...
[Read More]

A teaser.
H410 vmax + 1 roll of 2x2 carbon fiber+ Shockwave nosecone @ hellfire= 1000mph.      
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 20 Payload Roll Pattern
After all four long stripes were set down, the stop wrap of paper is removed. You can see how well the square tops have lined up. Cut the overhanging ends off the back. Don't cut them close, you'll trim them with a sanding block later. Keep these, they are used for the smaller checkerboard pieces. ...
[Read More]

Wildfires near New York City
Last Monday was an ideal day for hiking, and I went on a nice 10 mile trip. But this comes at a cost; with the dry weather and high winds, there is an increased fire risk. There have been a bunch of wildfires in the region, one in NJ, one in Harriman State Park, and a huge one on Monday near the ...
[Read More]

Found a seed attached to a chair from China
This small seed was found on a chair packaged and shipped from China. It is likely that this seed actually comes from China (though possible that the chair was repackaged here in the US.) The seed was placed in sterile potting medium and incubated on a grow-stand for a few days. Nothing ...
[Read More]

North Korean Launch Attempt Fails
The television broadcast informed the North Korean public that the satellite did not enter orbit, confirming neighbouring countries' claims that the long-range rocket launch ended in failure. "The DPRK launched its first application satellite Kwangmyongsong-3 at the Sohae Satellite Launching ...
[Read More]

USLI -- A Way Overdue Update (1/2)
I'm moments away from giving a short demonstration of our USLI project to a bunch of industry bigwigs. This is a 100% impromptu encounter. Had I known I'd be doing this today, I'd have taken a shower and dressed up. Yikes. This is kind of the story of my life right now. But, as usual, hilariously ...
[Read More]

Flight report 2012-2 (updated)
Location: Higgs Farm, Price, MD (MDRA Red Glare XII , day #1) Weather: Clear blue skies, high in the mid 60's, wind started at around 10+ but calmed late in the day Total flights: Today - 6; YTD - 6 Total motors: Today - 12; YTD - 12 The skies were nice and clear and the temperature was ...
[Read More]

USLI -- Overdue Update (2/2)
Did ejection charge firing with shear pins this afternoon: As you can see, all went well. We are driving all the way up to Minnesota tomorrow (Saturday) to mount a second test flight. Fingers crossed, hope all goes well. We're planning on taking some more onboard video as well, so stay tuned for ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 21 Payload Section Roll Pattern
A longer strip just over 1/4" wide was cut. Wrapped around the top of the tube, it was set over the tops of the smaller squares. I've learned through past experience, self-adhesive trim can shrink and leave a gap. It's best to overlap it slightly. Don't worry about the overhang, just be sure the ...
[Read More]

Centuri Vulcan Prototype and Production Kits
The top picture shows the Centuri Vulcan as seen in the 1971 catalog. The bottom picture is my finished clone. Look close and you can see the differences in the body graphics. After building the clone, the catalog picture above is obviously a prototype. Centuri used the same prototype picture ...
[Read More]

More on the Space Shuttle's final missions
CollectSpace reports on the Space Shuttle's final crew patch, which will commemorate the delivery of the Shuttles to their final resting places.  The patch was designed by pilot Jeff Moultrie who is the chief pilot of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA).  The patches will be worn by ...
[Read More]

ISS Astronauts Train For Dragon Docking
HOUSTON — U.S. and European astronauts Don Pettit and Andre Kuipers, as part of a temporarily downsized International Space Station crew, are preparing for the arrival of the SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule, which is awaiting a tentatively scheduled April 30 liftoff on the first attempt at a ...
[Read More]

Vandenberg AFB 1960
Vandenberg AFB 1960 , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr.
[Read More]

Red Glare action: Tom Heir's 1/6 scale Mercury Redstone
The rocket looked awesome and the flight was one of the best of day one. It flew on a central M1939W and four K550Ws. Tom reports it flew to 5,760' and four K550Ws and was recovered with no damage.
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 22 Nose Cone Paint
You've gotta' love a simple mask - the nose cone is red. There's a few things you can do to sharpen up the black and red color separation line. Mask off the nose cone shoulder just below the stepped lip. You'll be spraying the red a little below the raised lip. When done this way, if the nose cone ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 23 Yellow Paint Mask
The Ranger's catalog paint scheme is a little different. One fin and one fin only is left white. This is the mask, covering up the single fin. A second piece of Scotch Tape is on the leading edge curving over the rounded tip at the body tube. A WalMart plastic bag was cut into squares to cover the ...
[Read More]

MD-21 mothership/D-21 drone accident
Here is footage of the fatal crash after a D-21 ramjet drone was launched at Mach 3 from a mothership called the MD-21 (a modified A-12).  The footage was taken from another A-12 as it was the only plane that could keep up. Both pilot, Bill Park and LCO Ray Torrick ejected, but Ray died at ...
[Read More]

Discovery Readied For Mate to SCA (KSC-2012-2218)
Discovery Readied For Mate to SCA (KSC-2012-2218) , a photo by nasa hq photo on Flickr.
[Read More]

Explosive launching of barrels into the air

[Read More]

Paper rocket at the edge of space
This 1/48th scale Gemini capsule (Ton Noteboom’s design) was flown to 95,000 feet on a balloon by  JP Aerospace. However this is not the highest one of Ton’s model has been flown.Astronaut John Grunsfeld took a model of Ton’s Hubble up in the ...
[Read More]

USLI -- Test Launch 2.0
Yesterday three of us on the CySLI team drove up to the Tripoli MN research launch to conduct a second test launch of our rocket. In brief, mission success. We had ordered another L1115 which was supposed to be here last Thursday, but it never came. We ended up launching on a smaller motor ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 24 Black Paint Mask
The black area is one fin and the body tube areas on either side of the black fin. This mask isn't really that hard to do, it just take a few extra minutes to lay the Scotch Tape over the rounded leading edge tip. The end results were good with very little to clean up on the edge. Using an X-Acto ...
[Read More]

TIP: Removing the Nozzle from a Used Engine Casing
If you don't have a engine casing handy, it's pretty easy to remove the clay nozzle from a used engine. After a launch I save used engines if they are fairly clean. Do all this over a trash can! Your marital status will remain intact. From the top end of the engine, remove all the black powder ...
[Read More]

Black Brant nose cone

[Read More]

Red Glare XII/ESL-167 photo- and videography
While you are waiting for the official gallery to get posted, you might want to watch this TRF thread:  http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=29431&page=5  (link starts at the launch reports).  I already posted the embedded video of Tom Hier's 1/6 scale Mercury ...
[Read More]

Forty Years Ago Three Men Left The Bounds Of Earth For A Voyage Of Discovery. Apollo 16
This is one of the greatest Documentaries of the Apollo program I've every watched. Enjoy.
[Read More]

11.5" Little John on a P7200 Green
"At MDRA's Red Glare 12, Ryan Sebastian, David Reese, Andrew Diehl and I flew my 11.5" (stretched) Little John on our 50,000Ns Infinity Propulsion P7200 Green motor. The motor burned for 7 seconds and pushed the 270lb rocket to an apogee of 15,900' at just under Mach 1. The rocket recovered ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 25 Black Body Stripe
There is one black stripe running up the body from the side of the lowest black block to the right of the single black fin. It's the same width as the upper payload section stripes, just over 5/8" wide. Notice I've made a small 45 degree cut in the corner. This will lay over the rounded yellow fin ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 26 Single Baffle Plate
Trace around your coupler onto heavy card stock. I'm using a very thick mat board material using in picture framing TIP: Ask for scrap mat board at a framing store. They usually have smaller center pieces left over from custom framing orders. You can buy it for next to nothing or if they have a ...
[Read More]

NASA says everything looks good for SpaceX April 30th launch
MEDIA ADVISORY : M12-070 Coverage Set for NASA/SpaceX Launch and Mission to Space Station CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Following the completion of NASA’s flight readiness review, the second SpaceX demonstration launch for NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program ...
[Read More]

Four stage rocket - Comanche 4
"This flew at LDRS 29 in June 2010. Total length was 25 feet, 110 lbs. on the pad. Used all Cesaroni motors, starting with a M-2505, K-1085, K-1085, and an L-995 in the 4th stage. Unfortunately, the recovery harness wrapped around the sustainer, the chutes never inflated."
[Read More]

SpotTheShuttle2012
Today, the Space Shuttle Discovery , perched atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), buzzed DC on its way to Dulles Airport and its final resting place in the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center . We fought the traffic, eventually parking on the curb of  the traffic circle just ...
[Read More]

Star Shaped Core
  I've been trying to come up with a way to create a star shaped core without the need for a machined mandrel and a way that would also reduce the risk of having to deal with a stuck mandrel.  The above image illustrates what I came up with.  I'm currently making a ...
[Read More]

Shuttle flyover
I am going down to DC for a week, mostly for business, but I have two days off and will spend much of one at the Museum of Natural History, and the other at the Air and Space museum. Will take pics if I remember the camera! Not sure if the shuttle will be visible by next week, but if so, tons of ...
[Read More]

German V-2 Nosecone on Ebay?
Any experts out there know if this is real or not? It looks really thick and heavy for a nosecone, not sure what I am looking at here! On Ebay "Extremely rare WW2 V2 nose cone, the first 16 inches of the rocket, the very apex point, still containing some of the electrical system inside as you can ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Space Shuttle launch set to Countdown by Rush Link Lattte 178 - DRB A still photo from Armadillo Stig-Stiga engine test today, because rockets are pretty. twitpic.com/9b1gn3 — Ben Brockert (@wikkit) April 17, 2012 Spaceport America Milestones: Record Rocket Launch, ...
[Read More]

Launching an X-15 from an XB-70
"The proposed X-15A-3 was a stretched, delta-winged version intended for extended duration flight at Mach 6+. As with the X-15 and X-15A-2 versions, the plan was to launch the X-15A-3 from a B-52 underwing pylong. However, North American Aviation proposed launching it from atop a B-70 bomber. The ...
[Read More]

USLI -- Departure!
After some long hours of preparation, we are finally embarking on the Great Trip To Huntsville. Looks to be an awesome adventure! Look for a post every day about our progress.
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 27 Single Baffle Plate
Cut a slot for the 1/4" wide shock cord attachment. Apply a glue coat to both sides of the disk and let dry. The glue coat helps protect the card stock from the ejection charges. Center and glue the disk to the coupler and let dry. If you cut the disk out on the pencil line it should be slightly ...
[Read More]

New Quest Water Rockets
From the Quest Website HERE Available in June, 2012 Quest Water Rockets are the perfect low-cost flying rocket without the hassles of traditional solid propellant rockets! There's no fire danger (the rocket fuel is water) and no HazMat fees to ship them! There's no-cost per launch - You can fly ...
[Read More]

Interesting vehicles
You don't appreciate a big steam engine until you stand next to it! Kind of like the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls and a 'P' (or larger) rocket launch. Not that I think the steam engine is as impressive as those things, it's just that it is cooler than  you can get from a ...
[Read More]

Nike Ajax Restoration
I ran across this blog detailing a Nike Ajax missile restoration effort currentlly taking place at the former Nike battery site NY-56 in Hancock New Jersey. http://ny56nikeajax.blogspot.com/ I've seen one of these up close at the local VFW...big, cool missle. There are numerous pics of ...
[Read More]

Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Drop Test Vehicle (SRB-DTV)
Untitled , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr.
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 28 Baffle Plate Install
I may have mentioned a few posts back: This is a single "baffle" plate. It doesn't protect the parachutes from the ejection charge. It's there to prevent the parachutes (and wadding) from traveling back to the rear of the model during acceleration. The single plate also gives you a place to attach ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Billionaire-Backed Space Venture Planetary Resources to be Unveiled April 24 - Space.com - The new venture, named Planetary Resources , "will overlay two critical sectors — space exploration and natural resources — to add trillions of dollars to the global GDP," said the press ...
[Read More]

The official Red Glare XII photo gallery
http://www.mdra-archive.org/photos/RedGlare12/
[Read More]

Discovery and Enterprise at the Udvar-Hazy Center
Today, Space Shuttle Discovery was formally signed over to the National Air and Space Museum.  The highlight of the ceremonies was the opportunity to see two Shuttles, Enterprise and Discovery, together at the same time. We arrived at the Udvar-Hazy Center at about 10:45 and were happily ...
[Read More]

Nice Engine Firing!
      I happend across this video earlier today and I couldn't help but notice that the mountains in the background looked awfully familar.  Once I heard the countdown, I knew I was right.  Ten years or so ago I'd heard the same voice calmly proclaim ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
The Skylab Trainer Is Still Rotting in Huntsville - NASA Watch - Very sad.  It seems like some small museum or restoration group would be happy to take it off NASA's hands. For Those About To Launch, We Salute You - MAKE - Plans for a "10 rail mega launcher." Printable Spacecraft - ...
[Read More]

Discovery and Enterprise, the last 50 yards

[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Part 29 Engine Mount Gluing
I wanted to center the engine mount between the fins. One motor tube would be centered, the others would fall evenly between the other fins. Look closely at the base of the yellow fin. The engine mount was slid in place - no glue yet. A small pencil mark was made at the center of the fin. Another ...
[Read More]

Pratt & Whitney, Rocketdyne To Resurrect 40 Year Old 6,000kN F-1 Engines For SLS Boosters
By: Zach Rosenberg Source: Flight International Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and Dynetics have announced a resurrected F-1 engine as their entry into the advanced booster engineering demonstration and/or risk reduction (ABEDRR) programme, a precursor to selecting advanced boosters for the ...
[Read More]

Sugar Shot to Space motor casing
This is a scaled-down test motor for the Sugar Shot to Space project. At each step, this team is testing larger motors, working their way up to the full-scale project. This latest development is exciting because it means that the space shot is not too far off. The SS2S team plans to fire a very ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Asteroid takeout—a one-billionaire mission to bring a 500-ton asteroid to Earth by 2025 - ars technica  - A spoiler on  Planetary Resources's big reveal? Apollo Science & Sites (1963) - Wired Science Astronauts revisit the shuttle debate - Cosmic Log - I also don't ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Finished
The two 12" parachutes have been assembled and have snap swivels added. One parachute was tied to the shock cord on the lower half. The other joined to the screw eye on the nose block. Remember: With the single plate baffle, you will need flameproof wadding to protect the parachutes. The nose ...
[Read More]

Ranger Clone Build Finished
The two 12" parachutes have been assembled and have snap swivels added. One parachute was tied to the shock cord on the lower half. The other joined to the screw eye on the nose block. Remember: With the single plate baffle, you will need flameproof wadding to protect the parachutes. The nose ...
[Read More]

Talon 2 flight anomaly
TRF
[Read More]

USLI -- Travel Update: Awesome Tours, Awesome Rocket Fair, Launch Delayed
I was originally planning to post an update every day, but right now is honestly the first time I've had a moment of rest since the outset of the journey. We were supposed to be launching today. In fact, we were planning to have our rocket on the rack fifteen minutes ago, but the launch was ...
[Read More]

Space Shuttle internal eye-candy (and some more from Udvar-Hazy)
National Geographic has posted an unique look at Space Shuttle Discovery as it was being decommissioned: Space Shuttle in Extreme Detail: Exclusive New Pictures - Explore Discovery's flight deck with a new 360 panorama .  That panorama is a 2.74 gigapixel, zoomable image and there ...
[Read More]

Web Updates
We’re making some progress in uploading some 3D-printable designs to our Shapeways shop. Part of getting things ready is making linked image maps that show the different variations or scales of the various products. This should help customers navigate the … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Web Updates
We’re making some progress in uploading some 3D-printable designs to our Shapeways shop.  Part of getting things ready is making linked image maps that show the different variations or scales of the various products.  This should help customers navigate the options easier than by ...
[Read More]

Ramblings on my mind
Despite having prepped 13 rockets for today's NARHAMS launch, I decided to stay home and work on the yard.  It's supposed to rain everyday for about a week and I was busy all last week.  I normally would be regretting that decision as I take a break and look out over the mostly sunny sky ...
[Read More]

Christmas in April
Here's a good shot of the flight of the Flaming Christmas Tree of Death at Red Glare, courtesy of Neil McGilvray and ROCKETS . ( Christmas in April was its alias for this one launch.)    
[Read More]

New Personal Altitude Record – 42,305′
This weekend I smashed my previous record with my latest build, check it out here.
[Read More]

12" dia. carbon fiber body tubes
TRP
[Read More]

A time-lapse of Planet Earth
"A time-lapse of Planet Earth, created from images produced by the geostationary Electro-L Weather Satellite. The images were obtained beginning on May 14th, and end on May 20th. The images are the largest whole disk images of our planet, each image is 121 megapixels, and the resolution is 1 ...
[Read More]

Screw Eyes in Kits
I received an email asking about screw eye sizes. Sometimes I'll go a bit larger than the use the screw eye supplied in the kit. The smaller 1" long screw eye was in the Estes Phoenix Bird kit, a BT-55 sized model. The threads are low and probably wouldn't grip well in a soft balsa nose cone ...
[Read More]

Attention All Rocket Scientist! $3 Million Nano-Sat Challenge Announcement.
Space Florida established the Space Florida Small Satellite Research Center (SFSSRC) as a non-profit entity to support sponsored research efforts in small satellite utilization and to conduct the Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge (Challenge) as part of the National Aeronautics and Space ...
[Read More]

Bombers, JATOs and JATO-boosted bombers
Dark Roasted Blend has posted a new series on Heavy Bombers: Fearsome Angels of the Cold War . This post includes four awesome photos of B-47's being boosted by JATOs.  There's also a cool drawing of the B-52 "El Paso" and a B-52 flying low along along a beach.  Despite my affinity for ...
[Read More]

Boiler Plate Motor Parts
I did some simple modifications to the SStS DDS BPS Motor in anticipation of an upcoming firing.  This is a nice looking motor and I can't wait for the firing...should be cool!  Here is a photo of one of the parts in the lathe and the same part being test fitted in the motor casing. ...
[Read More]

N flight to 42,000 feet - with some delamination on fins
    Some stats:  -6:1 Fiberglass von Kármán cone -Featherweight Raven2 (with perch), BRB RF beacon, BRB GPS (all in the nosecone) -Primary and redundant apogee charges in surgical tubing -Single 60" section of FWFG tube  -.093" fins with two layers ...
[Read More]

"Russkiye Vityazi” (Russian Knights)
"The Sukhoi Su-27 (Russian: Сухой Су-27) (NATO reporting name: Flanker) is a twin-engine supermanoeuverable fighter aircraft designed by Sukhoi. It was intended as a direct competitor for the large United States fourth generation fighters, with 3,530-kilometre (1,910 nmi) range, heavy ...
[Read More]

Countdown to SpaceX COTS 2 flight – 1 week to Liftoff
UPDATE: Launch is likely to be pushed back another week due to more testing needed for the Dragon docking code. The historic flight of the first commercial transport to the ISS is only one week from liftoff. SpaceX stands poised to make history next week if things go according to plan. Of course ...
[Read More]

Photo Album T-Shirts, Posters, Postage Stamps, and More ….
When viewing an image in the RocketReviews.com Photo Album, you may see a link under “What You Can Do” for ordering a t-shirt, printed photo, poster, genuine US postage stamp, or other product featuring the image. The currently link appears only under images you have uploaded to ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Falcon 9/Dragon Launch Delayed One Week - Parabolic Arc Graupel alert! - DCist - before this Spring, I had never heard of graupel. More info in coming out about Planetary Resources in advance of tomorrow's (Tues. the 24th) unveiling: Planetary Resources Outlines Plan for Asteroid ...
[Read More]

Airframe? Just use the motor...
    75mm 98mm 125 mm
[Read More]

Links roundup
Intrepid Museum/Space Shuttle Enterprise - The Enterprise is now slated to be moved on Friday the 27th.  This site seems to be a good source of updates. The big space news today is the formal announcement of Planetary Resource's plans to mine asteroids.  I was away ...
[Read More]

Amateur Rocketeers Reach For The Stars
Found via Steve Jurvetson's Flickr photo blog . Evangelizing rocketry... It should run tomorrow at 7:30pm. But the HD video link went up today. [embedded below] My favorite part: the opening clip where my son whispers excitedly to the camera… with the evidence of our powdered donut ...
[Read More]

Apollo 11′s Source Code
If you are a rocketry and computer geek like me the following website will send a spark through those sleepy synapses. The Virtual AGC — AGS — LVDC — Gemini page is dedicated the Guidance systems aboard the Apollo Moon missions. “The purpose of this project is to provide a ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Pictures: Huge "Snowballs" Seen Piercing Saturn's Outer Ring - National Geographic Pondering the dark side of Commercial Cargo How Safe Does a Rocket Have to Be? - IPinSpace  (found via Clark Lindsey ) How NASA Will Handle Commercial Cargo Accidents - ParabolicArc Apollo ...
[Read More]

Extraterrestrial Stampede
Extraterrestrial Stampede , a photo by S.R. Breitenstein on Flickr.
[Read More]

RIP Sin-I Cheng
After a career spanning 5 decades it is sad to hear the passing of Sin-I Cheng. He was a pioneer in rocketry helping us to understand the complexity of fluid dynamics in liquid rocket propulsion. In later years he helped us to understand aerodynamics of fast moving gases like air over an airfoil. ...
[Read More]

Cotronics epoxy and ceramic adhesives
As high-end hobby rockets begin to exceed mach 3, and in a few cases even probe the lower hypersonic regime, good conventional epoxies like aeropoxy may not be enough. For certain rocket surfaces, such as fin leading edges, there are a few possible solutions. The most obvious choice is to ...
[Read More]

Can Planetary Resources be highly successful without mining asteroids?
That is the subject of two posts from The Next Big Future : Planetary Resources Arkyd 200 will be nodes of a Hypertelescope able to resolve down to one kilometer on exoplanets out to about 10 to 20 lightyears Planetary Resources could take megapixel images of exoplanet and makes billions by 2020 ...
[Read More]

Links roundup (expanded version)
Sugar High from Notes from the Technology Underground - Pointer to Bill's Gizmodo article . " One of the awesomest pairings around is the stuff known as rocket candy. Made from a common chemical and powdered sugar, rocket candy is easy to make, impressive as hell, and a possible first step ...
[Read More]

Leo's Collection
  Check out this most impressive rocket collection here, at Leo's Leisure Site.
[Read More]

Shuttle Enterprise Flight To New York (201204270017HQ)
Shuttle Enterprise Flight To New York (201204270017HQ) , a photo by nasa hq photo on Flickr.
[Read More]

SpaceX – Static fire before launch
“Hawthorne, CA – On Monday, April 30, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) will webcast a static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket’s nine powerful Merlin engines in preparation for the company’s upcoming launch. The webcast, available at spacex.com, is set to begin ...
[Read More]

Re-building in the Dungeon
I finally finished the repair of the Landshark, which was badly damaged during tree recovery operations. At 40', all we could do is snag the cord and pull.  (Hat tip to Bill Cann! I couldn't have wrangled it by my lonesome.) I replaced the front section of body tube, cleaned up cracked ...
[Read More]

Starting on the Air Serpent
I found this cheap pool toy at Target and thought it reminded me of a rocket :)  I initially thought it would be short and stubby but, after I cut its head off, decided that the integral piston could be used for ejection.  Since this option will require a longer stroke, I'll be adding a ...
[Read More]

Space Shuttle Endeavour 360° VR Panorama
Space Shuttle Endeavour 360° VR Panorama , a photo by jurvetson on Flickr. Steve just posted several 360° circular panoramas of Space Shuttle Endeavour (click through to see the rest). These were each generated by Everscape from four fisheye photos. Everscape also has a nice 360° ...
[Read More]

Shuttle lands in New York
Away for the week in D.C... was not able to see this bird take off in the morning, but will certainly visit her when she arrives in Manhattan.
[Read More]

Balls 21 – September 20th – 22nd
This will be my first adventure to Balls in Black Rock Desert. I have been to that area before for Burning Man, a whole other world. This KQED/PBS documentary shared on YouTube got me thinking about the upcoming event. KQED/PBS Documentary Nice to see several women rocketeers in the documentary. ...
[Read More]

Air Serpent progress
When I tried to dry fit the lower body/motor tube, I found the plunger was a bit loose and I don't think it is 100% straight.  To ensure it doesn't bind, I decided to use actual 29mm motor tube for the bottle section.  This is slightly larger and also will let me use small 29mm motors ...
[Read More]

Building again!
On the left Megan's kindly rebuilding my Madcow 4" Nike Smoke. Middle is my DarkStar "Heavy Duty" motor tube assembly. Right is the booster tube for my upcoming 2000MPH president's challenge on a CTI M3100. That is, by far, the best carbon fiber layup I've done yet. Megan helped a great deal but I ...
[Read More]

MD-21 mothership with D-21 drone
Untitled , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr. The MD-21 was the designation for the modified A-12. Follow my tags for related posts. Click through for additional photos.
[Read More]

Links roundup
A Lyrid meteor shower look back: Exploding fireball scatters debris over central California - Capital Weather Gang - Includes a photo of the daytime fireball and tells the story of the only person who has been hit by a meteorite. Planetary Resources: More Than Just Asteroids - NASA Watch - ...
[Read More]

Just back from DC - The USA Science & Engineering Festival
I have been away this week at the USA Science and Engineering Festival. This is a giant (ca. 3,000 exhibitor) festival that takes place in the equally giant DC convention center A - C halls. Much of the time, I was working, but during breaks I was able to mingle and explore. There were ...
[Read More]

"Welcome to the current state of the U.S. manned space program."
Verna and Randy start their May Photo of the Month feature with a double dose of rocket depression.  They remind us of lost glory with a view of the venerable Pad 39 and state clearly my feeling on the Shuttle retirement: Yes, we know the shuttles were due to be retired and should have ...
[Read More]

Estes Phoenix Bird Part 1 Parts
The original Centuri kit had an ST-13 tube, larger diameter than the BT-55 tube in the kit. The Centuri Phoenix Bird was 26.3", this reissue kit is 24" tall. The fins are based on the old Enerjet 1340 plastic fin can, still used on the Estes Eliminator. I can't  figure why Estes didn't ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Conroy “Virtus” Article - Unwanted Blog  - Scott points to his article on ".... a twin-fuselage heavy lift aircraft built from B-52 parts meant to serve as the Space Shuttle Carrier Aircraft."  See it in the March/April 2012 edition of Horizon (AIAA Houston's newsletter). ...
[Read More]

Endut! Hoch Hech!

[Read More]

Levitation-Melting Method of Induction Furnace
"Achieving minimal contamination of conductive material during manufacturing proves to be a difficult task. One successful technique is known as levitation melting. This technique produces small quantities of electrically conductive material by suspending and then melting the material with ...
[Read More]

Tripoli Offering Space-Flown Membership Cards
The Tripoli Rocketry Association is offering a limited number of membership cards which were flown on Up Aeropace's SL6 launch from Spaceport America on April 5, 2012.  More details below. Tripoli Rocketry Association is pleased to announce the availability of Space Flown Membership cards ...
[Read More]

Air Serpent, update numero dos
Here is a rundown of the status.  Suggestions are always welcome. Head/nose cone -  Here you see the shoulder mounted.  It will take a couple of additional pieces of masking tape to snug it up at flight time.  It's hard to see on my small screen but there are black tabs ...
[Read More]

New Estes Pro Series Launcher
The new (well, reissued) Pro Series II launcher (#3552) is now available from the Estes website: HERE   It's PVC pipe based. This launcher has a two-piece 60" launch rod and an offset round blast deflector. I've built PVC tripod launchers before, the hardest piece to find is the 3 way PVC ...
[Read More]

SpaceX upcoming launch and mission timeline
UPDATE: SpaceX says May 7th date is unlikely. Press release soon. Here is the timeline and NASA coverage information. Monday, May 7 (L-0 day): NASA TV live coverage begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at approximately 10:30 a.m. Spacecraft: SpaceX Dragon Launch Vehicle: SpaceX Falcon 9 Target ...
[Read More]

"Rocket geek has stars in his eyes"
Way to go Sascha! Dandenong Leader Article , a photo by Sascha Grant on Flickr.
[Read More]

Shapeways Test -- NC-5
I wanted to order a test print from Shapeways using their popular White Strong & Flexible (WSF) material to see just how visible the powder grain and print layers are for a small nose cone with a little bit of ...
[Read More]

Shapeways Test- NC-5
I wanted to order a test print from Shapeways using their popular White Strong & Flexible (WSF) material to see just how visible the powder grain and print layers are for a small nose cone with a little bit of detail.  See some close-up shots of the grain below.  The cone pictured is ...
[Read More]

National Rocket Science Association Malaysia
      "NRSA is a neutral, non aligned regulating body on policies and procedures pertaining to amateur rocketry in Malaysia. We also provide assistance to NRSA members on forming State Rocketry Groups and how to manage their organization. State Rocketry Groups ...
[Read More]

Geordi La Forge
 
[Read More]

Air Serpent progress and concern
Here it is, dry fit, and without lugs and trim fins.  I made a RockSim model to get a feel on stability and found it is pretty close as is.  I need to install the final parts and the 'chute, re-weigh it, and update the model.  The bad news is it is getting a bit heavy for the ...
[Read More]

Apollo 11′s original press kit
I guess I’m feeling nostalgic and posting a number of Apollo 11 related items. Came across the original press kit from the Apollo 11 mission in the NASA History archives. This is a gem of a document exhibiting the style and simplicity of 1969. The document is entirely black & wh ...
[Read More]

Pursuit of Light

[Read More]

Links roundup
Planetary Resources getting SBIR funding to achieve 100 times improvement to 0.1 arcsecond small space telecope pointing - Next Big Future Link Latte 179 - Dark Roasted Blend National Rocket Science Association Malaysia - High Power Rocketry May not be safe, but humongous black powder ...
[Read More]

Firebees in hanger DF-ST 1964
Firebees in hanger DF-ST 1964 , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr.  
[Read More]

Chuck Yeager and his Jeannie.
Chuck Yeager and his Jeannie. , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr.
[Read More]

"François Arago: the most interesting [and badass] physicist in the world!"
When he was seven years old, he tried to stab a Spanish solider with a lance. When he was eighteen, he talked a friend out of assassinating Napoleon. He once angered an archbishop so much that the holy man punched him in the face. He has negotiated with bandits, been chased by a mob, broken out of ...
[Read More]

ReEntry Breakup Recorder (REBR)
At the Science and Engineering Festival, there was a booth showing off a program called R.E.B.R.  "Casualty expectation for reentering space hardware is computed using reentry-survivability models that, in general, have not been validated against flight data from orbital reentries. In ...
[Read More]

Teach the controversy!
  The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes , Political Humor & Satire Blog , Video Archive It really isn't fair to make fun of simple people like this, but it sure does feel good.
[Read More]

Yves 'Jet-Man' Rossy soars onto Letterman
Yves Rossy's    latest flight was over Rio de Janeiro and tonight he appeared on The Late Show.
[Read More]

Rebuilding the Vulcan Part 1 Canopy
After that "Fireball B6-2" engine reamed out the inside of the Vulcan, I decided to make another and get it right this time. The canopy should have been made correctly. The instructions tell you to crease it around the front curve of the windows. The front crease is a half circle with straight ...
[Read More]

Space Age Railroad - US Air Force Rocket Powered Sleds
  "The U.S. Navy successfully tested a surrogate STANDARD Missile-3 (SM-3) Kinetic Warhead (KW) for its theater wide missile defense system. The test was the last in a series of four developmental sled tests conducted at the High Speed Test Track at Holloman Air Force Base in ...
[Read More]

Rebuilding the Vulcan Part 2
I had hope to re-use the fins and air scoop on the rebuild. But, cutting them off the cone body made a big mess. I could use the rear bulkhead. It was cut, removed and the edges sanded to clean it up for gluing again. The picture on the left shows the angle of the rod if the launch lug were glued ...
[Read More]

Older Quest Launcher
After posting about the new Estes Pro Series II launcher, I got out my old Quest PVC launcher. This launcher was included in a Quest Space Clipper starter set I bought on Ebay for $10.00. Quest sold this launcher in their first catalogs in the early 1990s. Those black stripes are simply a ...
[Read More]

Playing at Plaster
It’s been a while since I’ve been to Plaster, and there was lots of good flying to appreciate. This weekend welcomed two fliers to Level 3, one to Level 2, two to Level 1, and one junior NAR christened. Congratulations and git yo high power on! It was especially satisfying to see G in ...
[Read More]

Launch report - Level 2 certification - H410 video
  Today I attended a great METRA launch. The wind was near zero, but clouds were low for much of the day. Despite this, I was able to take my level 2 test and fly the Formula 75 on a J285 motor. There was minor damage to the rocket (zippering, will report on this in more detail later) ...
[Read More]

Musk Has His Eye On Mars
It was bad SA television that gave Elon Musk part of his mysterious edge. As a 10-year-old he read whole volumes of the Encyclopaedia Britannica after emptying the family bookshelves — anything to avoid another episode of ChiPs or Die Man van Intersek. Avoiding sports and bullies just as ...
[Read More]

Design Inspiration - Quest Stiletto
Did you ever wonder where some of those great design ideas come from? I think Shrox may have found the basis for the Quest Stiletto from the Douglas X3 Stiletto on the right. It looks a lot like the same profile with the wings set back to the rear. Heck, it's even got the same name! I ...
[Read More]

Frames from the H410 video
It is always fun to get onboard footage and then watch a flight one frame at a time.  This is particularly helpful when using a motor as fast as the H410.  I have selected a few interesting frames below.  Thrust was only captured in a few frames (technically it should be 15 frames ...
[Read More]

Nike Missile HDR
Nike Missile (cold war) INDY049 rsfw , a photo by IndyMcDuff (busy processing) on Flickr.
[Read More]

First Launch
I was out at the FAR site helping out with a SStS static firing and took my son along.  It was his first time to the site and I think he loved it.  I certainly did.  I had a lot of fun watching him explore the area.  He scoured the facility looking for "treasure" at one ...
[Read More]

MDRA member one step closer to space
MDRA member Savan Becker is one of five finalists in the Space Needle contest.  The winner, who will be selected Wednesday, will win a trip to space provided by Space Adventures: The competition is on for chance to fly to space - msnbc . (seen via Space for All )
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, May/June 2012
This issue features several build articles: A 5" diameter Gemini-Titan built from a Revell cone and clear plastic tubing, the LUNAR multi-position launch controller (complete with schematics and parts list), an HPR upscale of FlisKits' Stingray and a 3xG, 1/158 scale model of the ...
[Read More]

Avengers!
I, like millions of other comic book/action film fans, saw Marvel's The Avengers last weekend. I thought it was great but won't bore you with a review ( Rotten Tomatoes ).  See it, just see it! While the U.S. military didn't participate in the film , it appears NASA did: If you saw ...
[Read More]

Curing Oven
The past few I weeks I have been working on repairing Incredulous, stripping the remaining carbon fiber off the fin can and sanding like crazy. I took a break and started working on an oven capable of curing some higher temperature epoxy systems. There are still some tweaks to be made, but as of ...
[Read More]

Funky Glue Putty = F.G.P. Part 1
On TRF, Mushtang is doing a great build of the Dr. Zooch Saturn V. There's been posts about making "FPG or "Funky Glue Putty" for use in the Dr. Zooch kits, especially on the Saturn V engine bells. I didn't have much luck making FGP the first time around. A few more minutes and made a few more ...
[Read More]

What TV show are aliens watching?
A graphic showing what aliens would be watching on TV if they're monitoring us right now.
[Read More]

Links roundup
SugarShot2Space's DoubleSShot static test motor CATOs - 85lbs of propellant in a 6" case. Long but interesting. High speed video starts 5 minutes in. Briefs: X-37B update; Blue Origin & DC-X; What's patenable - RLV and Space Transport  - Links within links. Texas govt ignores ...
[Read More]

JonRocket.com Goes Mobile
Look for the JonRocket.com trailer at launches in the Central Florida region. We attend the ROCK launches in Oviedo, FL; the NEFAR launches in Bunnell, FL; and the TTRA launches in Plant City, FL. Since, we’re not able to attend ...
[Read More]

FGP = Funky Glue Putty Part 2
Draw the drying glue back to the center, picking up all the smaller pieces and stings of glue into a small blob. Roll your index finger rounding out any irregularitys into a round ball.   Instead of a round motion with your index finger, switch to an up-and-down rolling ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Strangest Tanks in History, Part 1 - DRB Strangest Tanks in History, Part 2: First World War - DRB Oops! Air Force Drones Can Now (Accidentally) Spy on You - Wired Danger Room Frederick, Maryland Prepares for G8 Summit at Camp David, Fears Protests and Riots - DCist  - I'll avoid ...
[Read More]

Chernobyl

[Read More]

Castor 30A rocket motor
  Castor
[Read More]

ATK announces the details of their Liberty rocket
(via  Space.com ) ParabolicArc provided the following synopsis of the announcement.   Clark Lindsey has now posted the press release. Kent Rominger, VP, Strategy and Business — Space Launch Systems, ATK ATK has a complete system ...
[Read More]

More on the ATK/Astrium Liberty project
Clark Lindsey has posted more info about ATK/Astrium's Liberty project, including a link to a post on NASASpaceFlight.com and the  new Liberty website  (the source of the attached figure). He points out that the website is light on details and heavy on claims about safety ...
[Read More]

Grand Turk Mercury Exhibit
On my recent cruise through the Panama Canal I got off the ship to walk the stores at Grand Turk, the capital of the Caicos Islands. Just above the line of palm trees I saw something that looked familiar . This copy is from the Grand Turk Website: Splashdown Grand Turk” is a 3,50 ...
[Read More]

M2-F2, the 6-Million Dollar Man, and the M2-F3
Air and Space has an article entitled,  A Crash Made Famous on TV . Every child of the 70's remembers the opening scene from the show The Six Million Dollar Man  showing Steve Austin crashing.and setting him up for bionic fame  [ video clip ]. The video clip was the actual ...
[Read More]

Ride a SpaceX Dragon to a Bigelow Space Habitat
SpaceX and Bigelow have agreed to a joint marketing effort that would allow people to fly in a Dragon spacecraft and be taken to a Bigelow habitat. News release follows: “Hawthorne, CA, and Las Vegas, NV– Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and Bigelow Aerospace (BA) have agreed to ...
[Read More]

Rocketry inflation: The rapid increase in the cost of our hobby
Let no one say that high power rocketry is cheap. It has always been expensive to fly large rockets, and that is fine. No one expects to send a 6 ft tall, 4 inch thick rocket to two miles and the speed of sound for nothing. Yet compared to the hobby when I first started, in 1998, prices seem much ...
[Read More]

943 Yard Mountain Goat Shot
Note the clearly visible trail of the bullet through the air, in a gentle arc towards the target.
[Read More]

A jet with flares and stuff
 
[Read More]

Centurion Re-Build AGAIN! Part 1
The leading edges of my Semroc Centurion fins were badly nicked up after going straight into a tree. It's normally very stable but this time was staged using the Semroc 16 Booster. High winds and a tip-off at staging made it go horizontal. Sure, I could order up another kit ...
[Read More]

Houston's Space Shuttle consolation prize is scheduled for arrival
Earlier, I posted about the Space Shuttle mockup's departure from KSC .  Space Center Houston has announced that it will arrive in Clear Lake by barge on Friday, June 1, 2012.  This will kick off "Shuttlebration Weekend" at the Center. On Sunday the 3rd, it will make the 3 hour trek down ...
[Read More]

Testing the new blogger with a rocket image
      It works.
[Read More]

The latest tech in meteorite hunting: zeppelins
Space.com has an interesting photo essay on the hunt for meteorites generated by the April 22nd daytime fireball that thrilled Western Nevada and California.  What I found most interesting was the research aircraft! NASA researchers Alan Ehrgott, Mike Koop, and ...
[Read More]

Riding the Booster
Footage from STS-117 and STS-127; sound remastered by Skywalker Sound (Lucasfilm).
[Read More]

Wally Schirra Special Collection
Wally Schirra Special Collection , a photo by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives on Flickr. Click through to see the whole collection. You will have to navigate both forward and backward from this photo.
[Read More]

The ultimate paint incompatibility (?)
Reminder to self: NEVER buy another can of Rustoleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover 2X primer! I have had some problems with this primer but this tops them all.  When finishing my Air Serpent , I used epoxy fillets and filled the fins with Fill'n'Finish.  After sanding and wiping down, I ...
[Read More]

The shockwave 29
The Shockwave 29 is a high performance 29mm rocket. I wanted to gain experience building a rocket out of carbon fiber. I came up with a 1.26in wide, 24in tall mach buster. The body tube is 3 wraps of 2x2 twill carbon fiber. The fins are a homemade combination of 6oz fiberglass and 2x2 twill carbon ...
[Read More]

TARC featured on tonight's "On the Road"
The Team America Rocketry Challenge , the finals of which are being held tomorrow in The Plains, VA,  was the subject of Steve Hartman's "On the Road" segment on tonight's CBS news. Steve traveled to Presidio, TX to interview a science teacher and her TARC team. It was a short, but nice piece ...
[Read More]

For Texas rocketry club and their inspirational teacher, the sky is just the beginning
  “Where the Rio Grande and the Rio Conchos meet in west Texas is believed to be the oldest continuously-cultivated land in America. But the most precious crop you’ll find there today is dreams ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Launch T zero now confirmed as 4:55 am Cape Canaveral time on Sat, May 19. I will be tweeting live from mission control. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 12, 2012 Homing Overlay Experiment - Unwanted Blog - Is it cheating to increase your probability of impact by increasing ...
[Read More]

Spartans, V2s and Nikes, oh my
Spartan and V2 , a photo by Birdman of El Paso on Flickr. Follow the link to see more shots of these missiles and some others. And other cool stuff at Ft. Bliss too.
[Read More]

Centurion Re-Build AGAIN! Part 2
The pieces are set into the recesses and medium CA glue touched onto the joints. This allowed the glue to run into the seam. Sand the edges to match the rounded edges of the fins. a block is used to sand the sides flat with the sides of the original fins. CWF was brushed onto the fins and some of ...
[Read More]

World's smallest cannons

[Read More]

Madison West High School Team Wins TARC
A team from Madison West High School blew away its rivals Saturday, winning first place — and a free trip to London — in the Team America Rocketry Challenge. The four-member team beat 99 others in the finals at the national competition held in The Plains, Va. The winning team gets ...
[Read More]

Students from Madison Wis. win 2012 TARC
Press Release AIA: “Students from Madison West High School in Madison, Wis. placed first at the 10th annual Team America Rocketry Challenge finals Saturday, besting 99 teams from across the country to earn the title of national champion in a contest that puts kids on track for careers in ...
[Read More]

Plastic engine prototypes
  http://rocketmoonlighting.blogspot.com/
[Read More]

Popping 100 balloons with a laser
 Here is a world record submission video of 100 balloons falling like dominoes in a single file line. If confirmed, this will have been the most balloons in a single file line consecutively popped from end on with a single fixed visible laser beam to date. Using a 750mW - 1000mW (1W) Spyder ...
[Read More]

Incredulous Rebuild – Part 1
When I first built Incredulous I intended to fly it on longer burn motors to high altitudes at relatively lower velocities. This was a poor plan, so for the rebuild I’m going to be more deliberate about making a high performance rocket that can stand the high temperatures associated with Mach ...
[Read More]

Centurion Re-Build AGAIN! Part 3
I wanted to keep the primer only on the fins. A piece of card stock was held near the root edge to keep the primer off the body tube. The top of the body tube had a bad crease. The dents were filled with medium CA and sanded smooth to surface. Here's the same area after sanding. It'll need one ...
[Read More]

HIFiRE hypersonic scramjet flight report
ParabolicArc passes on a announcement from NASA Langley about the successful flight of the HIFiRE-2 (Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation Program) vehicle, which is a joint effort between NASA, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Australia’s Defence Science ...
[Read More]

Will SpaceX launch May 19th?
NASA has updated their TV schedule to include the mission objectives for the SpaceX COTS 2+3 flight . NASA has given its approval for the launch on May 19th. Scheduled for 4:55AM ET. This is promising however SpaceX has failed to release any updates on its official site since May 7th . I ...
[Read More]

Tiangong-1 solar transit
Astrophotographer Thierry Legault captured this image of the Solar Transit of Tiangong-1 .  China's Tiangong-1 is around 50 times smaller than the ISS and the solar transit lasted under a second. So, while the resulting photo isn't as clear as one of the ISS, it certainly was no small ...
[Read More]

TARC via Rocketry Live!
You can find the large album of photos and videos [here] (along with older events too).
[Read More]

The Shockwave 29
"The Shockwave 29 is a high performance 29mm rocket. I wanted to gain experience building a rocket out of carbon fiber. I came up with a 1.26in wide, 24in tall mach buster. The body tube is 3 wraps of 2x2 twill carbon fiber. The fins are a homemade combination of 6oz fiberglass and 2x2 twill ...
[Read More]

Expedition 31 Soyuz Launch 201205150004HQ)
Expedition 31 Soyuz Launch 201205150004HQ) , a photo by nasa hq photo on Flickr.
[Read More]

Centurion Re-Build AGAIN! Part 4
  I didn't want to remove any more of the red electrical tape trim than I had to.   Masking tape was set down over the red trim, but the edges weren't burnished down. This way some of the new white spray paint could creep under the edge of the tape (without painting over the ...
[Read More]

Not Fighting Alone
  I've been "out of it" for the last couple weeks. I'm trying to take it easy and think about some big questions (i.e. "WHAT'S GOING ON???" and "WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY LIFE???")(which haven't been answered yet). I don't have to know exactly where I'm going this summer, I just have to keep ...
[Read More]

Teledyne Ryan UAV Drone RPV
Teledyne Ryan UAV Drone RPV , a photo by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives on Flickr.
[Read More]

X-15A-2 launch from B-52 with ablative coating and external tanks.
X-15A-2 launch from B-52 with ablative coating and external tanks. , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr.
[Read More]

USLI -- Launch and Reflections
Where I last left off, I was in Huntsville, Alabama with the Iowa State USLI team. The launch had been postponed to Sunday, which was pretty disappointing because it meant we were going to have to leave early in order to get back to Iowa in time. We woke up on Sunday at 4:30 to check out of our ...
[Read More]

Missile defense, then and now
This morning, Modern Mechanix features an interesting article by Willy Ley: Missile vs. Missile, A rocket expert looks at our chances of withstanding a missile invasion  (09/1947).   This article, written in the shadow of the the V-2 and at near the start of the atomic age, provides ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
NASA Finds A New Way To Use Old Spacecraft , NASA Watch (5/16, Cowling) - NASA is lending their Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) to CalTech, who will operate it using private funding. I, like Keith, think this is pretty cool. Juggling Robot Takes on Two Balls With One Very Fast Hand , IEEE ...
[Read More]

Estes 29mm motor retainer
Finally got out to a launch, testing this plastic motor retainer on an H410. In the first image below, you can see the motor installed before flight. It looks crooked, but that is just the yellow cap. And the second image shows the retainer after a flight and recovery. There was no damage, just a ...
[Read More]

Zipper damage on Formula 75 flight
During my level 2 flight, recovery appears to have been a second or two early, and perhaps also more horizontal than ideal as the rocket did veer a few hundred feet into the wind while coasting. Sadly because of clouds, it was hard to track the rocket through apogee. If I had added a camera, it ...
[Read More]

More comments on Rustoleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover 2X Primer
I have a few additional comments on this primer.  Just in case I forget to tell myself not to buy more or if I find it on a really good sale :)   I sanded down the crazed spots and proceeded to paint the lower section of the Air Serpent.  I used both the 'new' Krylon and ...
[Read More]

Mercury Redstone (MR-1), launch, November 21, 1960
Mercury Redstone (MR-1), launch, November 21, 1960 , a photo by MrDanBeaumont on Flickr. Click-through to see the history behind the photo. Good stuff!
[Read More]

TR-1 Rocket
With my sons first visit to the desert to view a rocket launch and to help out with the static test of the Sugar Shot to Space's latest motor a few weeks behind us, we've decieded to build a rocket.  The last new motor that I designed, built and flew was this one: ...
[Read More]

The next MDRA club project starts with...
...two tubes, 24" in diameter and 21' long. Follow the project here .
[Read More]

1965 ... just push this button!
1965 ... just push this button! , a photo by x-ray delta one on Flickr.
[Read More]

Hobby Lobby report
Had a chance to pass a HL today, 40%-off coupon in hand.  Wanted E12s...found none.  Back-up plan was E9's...found none.  Drooled over their new Pro-Series MPR kits, especially the 3" Leviathan.  They had one each F50, G40 and G80.  I suddenly realized that the F50-6 is ...
[Read More]

WSGC Regional Rocket Competition Launch
I don't remember which school did this rocket, but it crashed down maybe 30 feet from me. It was scary! Our own rocket never launched that day. It was horrible weather and things kept breaking or not working.
[Read More]

TR-1 Rocket Motor initial CAD
  Here is our initial CAD of the new TR-1 motor.  Pretty much the same layout as my first N-class motor.  Bates grain consisting of six segments, with a half inch spacing between segments.  The motor will utilize approximately 28 lbs of propellant.  I will be making ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Just passed final launch review with @ NASA . All systems go for liftoff on Sat morn. Webcast live at spacex.com . — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 17, 2012   Sunday's Solar Eclipse 'Ring of Fire': Where and How to See It , Space.com (5/17, Rao) - Won't be visible here on ...
[Read More]

Metal Purchase
  I picked up some metal from Industrial Metal Supply  before work yesterday. I got some 7" diameter 6061 and 1018 for a test motor I'm building for SStS and some 5" diameter stock for the TR-1 motor.
[Read More]

I build rockets, in the news
  http://www.oflittleinterest.com/
[Read More]

Space art by Don Dixon
  There are hundreds of images found  here , including of spacecraft, solar sails, and the image at top; a space-based SETI telescope.
[Read More]

SpaceX Launch Update Center
Please check regularly – this post will be updated often Launch Currently Scheduled for May 19th 4:55:18 EDT The Falcon 9 currently stands vertical at Launch Complex 40 at CCAFS Launch Review Complete – All systems are go There is only a one second launch window for May 19th (could be ...
[Read More]

Hawk Missile Batteries
Photos of Hawk missiles abound on the Internet, but here are three that caught my eye recently. The first, found on the H.A.M.B. , reportedly shows a deployment on the Florida coast during the Cuban missile crisis. The car is a 1961 Chevy Impala. After seeing photos of some of these launching, I ...
[Read More]

60,000 feet in 60 seconds
"We are team of well-rounded and talented college students from Southern California that would like to build a record breaking amateur rocket. We have the skills, but unfortunately, not the money to do so. We have successfully flown to 30,000 ft in 30 seconds in April of 2012, and set a National ...
[Read More]

Mach 2
One of my goals this summer is to break Mach 2. When I got back from school earlier this May, I started work on a new rocket that should be up to the job. It's a 38mm minimum diameter rocket made of hand-laid fiberglass in my very own composites lab. Rocksim predicts a top speed of Mach 2.3 on a 6G ...
[Read More]

Air Serpent
Well, I decided to finish up the Air Serpent for this weekend's MDRA launch. I did so at the expense of some of the finishing details.  Some of these can be added should she fly and recover.
[Read More]

Links roundup
If you're up (and I won't be), you can watch the Falcon 9 launch on NASA TV .  Countdown coverage starts at 3:30AM EST with the launch currently scheduled for 4:55 AM EST.  Pucker factor is at a 10. Falcon 9/Dragon Launch: Yet more articles/commentary , RLV and Space Transport ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Test Launch, Abort
This morning at 4:55 am EDT, SpaceX attempted to launch its Dragon capsule aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on a mission to dock with the International Space Station. There was only a one second window so there wasn't any margin for error. Unfortunately, upon ignition one of the engines failed to ...
[Read More]

Rats, Falcon 9 was scrubbed
Via   SpaceRef : Right up to t-minus 0.5 seconds it looked like there was going to be a launch. Unfortunately the Falcon 9 computer shutdown the rocket just as it was set to launch due to a high pressure reading on engine number 5, one of nine engines on the Falcon 9 first stage. The next ...
[Read More]

Safe Rocket Recovery?
About a year ago I exchanged some emails with John Pursley on the subject of rocketry construction and what it means to recover “safely.”  He posted some similar thoughts on his blog later in the year.  Some of what he ...
[Read More]

May 2012
May 26, noon till 4 PM. Continue reading →
[Read More]

Hideo Itokawa
Did a quick talk today about the asteroid Itokawa, visiting it with manned missions, blowing it up with nuclear weapons, etc... While doing background research, I found this great image of the asteroid's namesake.  The rocket here is a Kappa - 9.  This variant of the sounding rocket was ...
[Read More]

Copenhagen Suborbitals to test fire its biggest engine to date
On Sunday May 20th Copenhagen Suborbitals will test fire its TM65 Liquid Propellant rocket engine.The engine produces between 65 and 90 KN thrust, which is equivalent to the order of 200,000 horsepower. The Engine will be fired at 7 pm Copenhagen Time (1pm EDT). Stay tuned here for more detailed ...
[Read More]

Yesterday's blog posts?
Yesterday I couldn't get a Internet connection. We were at sea and too many guests were checking their emails. Today I'm in Seward, Alaska. The Zaandam does a U-turn later today on it's way back to Victoria, B.C. My show went well, despite the band speeding up tempos on every other song! The next ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2012-3
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD ( MDRA ESL-168) Weather: high 60's to low 70's, overcast, wind 5-15 mph Total flights: Today - 11; YTD - 17 Total motors: Today - 11; YTD - 23 Motors by class YTD: C - 6; D - 4; E - 6; F -2; G - 5 The crowd was small, the weather was comfortable, most of ...
[Read More]

History of the Talos Missile Warhead
Including the design and function of a continuous rod warhead.     This unknown explosion shows a test of such a continuous rod warhead:  
[Read More]

Links roundup
Bi-liquid Success at Copenhagen Suborbitals , Wired Science (5/21, von Bengtson) - Report and photo of the static test of their TM65 LOX/alcohol engine. Gallery: Andrews Air Show , DCist (5/21, Austermuhle) Spectacular ‘Ring of Fire’ Solar Eclipse Caught on Video , Mashable ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Dragon Capsule Is Now In Orbit!
The third launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket occured today, May 22nd 2012 at 07:44 UTC from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral in Florida. The rocket carried the SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft into orbit on it's second mission, COTS 2+. This launch occurred after a scrubbed attempt on May 19th ...
[Read More]

Copenhagen Suborbitals test fire video and images
Copenhagen Suborbitals successfully test fired the TM-65 —————————————————– TM65 firing image credit:Copenhagen Suborbitals ——
[Read More]

SpaceX COTS 2 Demonstration Flight Now In Orbit
The launch of the Dragon capsule this morning was a success, and it is now in orbit in pursuit of the International Space Station. It was an exciting moment for all at the SpaceX facility, and cheers could be heard at every step from ignition to solar array deployment. I was excited too, and ...
[Read More]

Big Daddy post flight ramblings
As I mentioned in Sunday's launch report , I flew the 29mm-powered Big Daddy on a G40-10.  I didn't build it to specifically fly on G class motors, but somewhere along the line I added enough nose weight so it could (relative to the CP/CG).  By not planning for such a flight, I didn't ...
[Read More]

This isn't your father's satellite launcher
Clark Lindsey finds more information on Boeing's recently announced small-sat launcher concept - Pictures of Boeing's scramjet 3-stage small-sat launcher . The pictures are actually just concept art at this at this stage.  Follow the link for more info and images. Credit: ...
[Read More]

How to flip them off
Well, not off, but OUT.  In the latest issue of Apogee's Peak of Flight Newsletter ( Issue #313 ), Tim Van Milligan discusses how to make flip-out fins.  Cool.
[Read More]

Fancy meeting you here...
Went to JFK airport last night to pick up a family member. The airport is very large, almost like a small city, complete with it's own highway system. On the way to terminal 7, I happened to drive past a hangar with a shuttle orbiter in it! (The picture above is not mine, no time to snap a shot ...
[Read More]

Odd-Roc’s
I fellow park flyer commented the other day that my blog doesn’t adequately  represent my rocket collection, and frankly, he’s right. My girls are enamored with finding things around the house and yard and asking “Dad, can you turn this into a rocket”. The answer is ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Odd-Roc's , MYLEVEL3, (5/23, alexzogh) - I love the flying owl.  Dragon COTS 2+: Images of launch, from Dragon , RLV and Space Transport (5/23, Lindsey) - Several neat launch shots from afar, including one taken from Disney's Epcot.  I also like the ones taken from the Dragon in ...
[Read More]

Build the USS Enterprise in 20 years? (The NCC-1701 one.)
Not usually one to mix science and science fiction, I nevertheless think this is a cool idea and a useful mental exercise. "This website proposes something truly inspiring. It is this: We have the technological reach to build the first generation of the spaceship known as the USS Enterprise ...
[Read More]

PSA – Don’t Do This!
My friend posted this on Facebook and I laughed hysterically. Rocketing is a fun yet serious hobby, follow the safety rules for best results!
[Read More]

100-year starship projects
Tonight,  High Power Rocketry points us to a proposed fantasy-scale project that would Build the Enterprise .   The term fantasy-scale, borrowed from NAR contest rocketry, implies a flying model of a fictional or proposed, but unflown, subject.  The term fantasy further implies ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Launch Update Center
Please check regularly – this post will be updated often 5-24-12 Upcoming 5-25 Berthing: 2 a.m. – SpaceX/Dragon ISS Rendezvous and Berthing Coverage – JSC (All Channels) 1 p.m. – Mission Status Briefing – JSC (All Channels)   ———— ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft Completes Key Tests In Quest to Visit Space Station
Provided By: SpaceX Most Difficult Challenges Still Ahead May 24, 2012 Today, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) Dragon spacecraft completed key on-orbit tests as part of a historic attempt to be the first commercial company in history to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station. ...
[Read More]

Bren tower demolished
    "BREN Tower was a guyed steel framework mast, 1,527 ft (465 m) high, on the Nevada Test Site in Nevada, USA. "BREN" stands for "Bare Reactor Experiment, Nevada."[1] The structure was owned by the Department of Energy and maintained by National Security Technologies. ...
[Read More]

Hi, I'm Dick and I'm an addict...
Well, I made another coupon run to Hobby Lobby.  Still no E12's (not out yet) or E9's (out of stock).  They had one F23, one G40, and one G80.  I bought the latter with one coupon.  I have no immediate need for it and have often bitched and moaned about how much these cost but, ...
[Read More]

Paper model resources
I just saw a TRF post about the paper stomp rockets from Alaska Paper Model Works .  These look pretty cool and look like good subjects for conversion to motor power.  They offer a set with plans for a simple stomp launcher.  These models are sold through ecardmodels.com , which ...
[Read More]

Space X
  Congratulations to Space X.  Everything seems set for them to complete this historic journey to becoming the first commercial company to dock to the International Space Station.  Best of luck in the coming days.
[Read More]

March Plaster City - Bullet on I435
Nothin' fancy here but this flight was turbo!:
[Read More]

ISS wrangles the Dragon capsule
Eatlier this morning, the ISS' robotic arm successfully grabbed the Dragon capsule.  Evidently, there was glitch in the capsules lidar that was seeing an unexpected reflection off the station. The capsule stationed itself at 70m from the station vs. the planned 30m. Flight engineers fixed the ...
[Read More]

Print and build your own paper Dragon Spacecraft
In honor of today’s successful arrival of the Dragon spacecraft at the ISS  it seemed only natural to build a paper model. If you follow this blog you know that I have already built a flyable paper model of the Falcon 9. Link here: Build your own Falcon 9 I found that Ton Noteboom has ...
[Read More]

Estes Ventris build, part 2
I started by actually reading the instructions. They are well illustrated and understandable, although there are several typos (e.g. two step '4's in the motor mount build).   The parts are accounted for, except for possibly the decal.  This isn't includes pictorially in the ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Dragon Capsule Docks to ISS
They've done it! The Dragon capsule has berthed with the International Space Station, making SpaceX the first commercial company to ever dock with the ISS. "Today marks another critical step in the future of American spaceflight," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. "Now that a U.S. company ...
[Read More]

BREN Tower Pt. 2
Well lots of readers are visiting to see the BREN tower video, over 1,500 today alone. The previous post even made the front page of Reddit for a while!  (Impressive to me but nothing to those who run certain other rocketry blogs...)  Not being one to skip out on a new audience, or ...
[Read More]

Just how big is the super moon?
Comparison of angular diameter of the Sun, Moon and planets with the International Space Station and human visual acuity. To get a true representation of the sizes, view the image at a distance of 102.6 times the width of the largest (Moon: max.) circle. For example, if this circle is 10 cm ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Shuttle Replica Departs Kennedy for Ocean Voyage to Houston on a Barge – Enterprise is Next , Universe Today ( 5/24, Kemer) - The replica is named Explorer and it's on its way to Houston for Shuttlebration . MT @ SpaceX : #Dragon power /comm systems are now hooked up to #ISS —all ...
[Read More]

Estes Ventris build, part 3
Motor Mount (cont'd) - I drilled a hole in the top ring prior to installation and decided not to permanently install the motor mount sleeve above the top ring. It serves no real purpose on the mount and might be useful for other builds. I added a Kevlar leader to the top ring with epoxy and ...
[Read More]

Project Thunderbolt - O 10,000 to M 3,700 two stage rocket
Aluminum nosecone and transition - among the best options for high performance hobby rockets.  Perhaps only second to steel or exotic metals like titanium for overall performance and strength at mach 3+.   Similarly, aluminum fin cans find an ideal balance between heat ...
[Read More]

No Posts on Sunday!
I probably won't get any blogs posts in tomorrow, I'll be traveling from Victoria, B.C. to Orlando. Posts (and building) will start up again on Monday.
[Read More]

Launch Report 2012-4 "Lucky 13"
Location: Old National Pike Park, Mt. Airy, MD ( NARHAMS ) Weather: mostly sunny, hot (96 on the field!), wind 0-5 mph Total flights: Today - 13; YTD - 30 Total motors: Today - 13; YTD - 36 Motors by class YTD: A - 2; B - 2; C - 15; D - 4; E - 6; F -2; G - 5 A light crowd, nice weather and lack of ...
[Read More]

Rockets at Orlando Mini Maker Faire
Press releases and ads for the Orlando Mini Maker Faire mentioned “Rockets!” (with the exclamation mark). But, the web site for the event did not explain what kind of rockets. So, I attended the event expecting to see water rockets ...
[Read More]

Harbor Frieght
  I'm starting to be able to make more time for rocketry and inevitably that means more machining.  In the past year or so most of the machining that I've done has consisted of indexing and drilling holes...a lot of indexing.  I use a Dremel rotary tool  in the ...
[Read More]

Back on Twitter
A while back I took a leave of absence from Facebook, Twitter, and all social media. While I still disdain Facebook, I decided to rejoin the Twitter community since it appeals better to my blogging senses. It's also a great way to survey what's going on in the world aerospace, and just the world ...
[Read More]

Space X Falcon Pre-Build Uh-Oh!
I received an email asking if I'd build the new Space X Falcon kit for a client. We both agreed on a price and the kit was sent to my home. I looked forward to the build. I started the build without problems until I got to the self-adhesive body tube skins. The first wrap (out of three tries ...
[Read More]

Mach 2 Rocket Launch Today
It's going to be a little soggy in the field today, but a great day to launch rockets. I'm planning to launch my Mach 2 rocket. I did a nice black paint job after a lot of priming and fine wet sanding. It will never look this nice again.         I'll be sure ...
[Read More]

Estes Ventris build, part 4
Construction is complete except for the motor retainer.  There are two items of note. I decided to make a cord protector from a scrap of car air bag material.  I covered about 5 inches of the Kevlar leader with a couple of  wraps, swabbed on some 5-minute epoxy, and compressed ...
[Read More]

Issues associated with a hypersonic maglev sled
(This image has nothing to do with the article below.  The one below discusses conventional rocket sleds that employ maglev technology, while the image above is a spacecraft launcher that is extremely hypothetical.  But hey, it looks cool.) "Magnetic levitation has been explored for ...
[Read More]

Space X Falcon Build Part 1 Parts
Here's all the kit parts. The molded nose cone and fin unit are very clean. The large wrap is well printed on gloss stock.   The parachutes feature the Falcon 9 logo. The picture on the right shows the back end of the fin unit. The centering ring and single baffle plate are laser cut ...
[Read More]

Could Prayer Be Behind The Success Of The Soyuz Program?
Last week, vivid photographs were released of a Russian Orthodox priest annointing the Soyuz, the crew, and even the press in advance of the May 15 launch to the International Space Station from Baikonur Cosmodrome. Blessing the crew is a tradition that began in 1994 by request of ...
[Read More]

Father and son throw rocket away
(Sound warning during flight.)  Obviously this was a crowded area for flying. But the fact remains, no one should ever touch a rocket unless they own it. There are safety concerns on larger rockets, and sometimes very valuable parts fall out that can be left behind if the recovery team is not ...
[Read More]

Explorer en-route to Space center Houston
Shuttlebration is coming.  Photo via Tookies, the best hamburger joint in the Houston area (or possibly everywhere).  
[Read More]

Unattended ground sensors (UGS's)
Back when I started work in the late 1970's, a co-worker had a military surplus motion sensor from the Vietnam war.  It looked like a rock with a short wire antenna hanging out of it.  At the time, I thought it was a cool desk-top conversation piece.  I now know these have ...
[Read More]

Successful Launch, Failed Recovery
After a fantastic liftoff, the rocket disappeared into the sky. I quickly set down my camera and picked up the receiver. I caught a signal to the southeast, and hopped into the car with some friends to go chase it. Two hours of driving around did not yield a single signal, and the rocket was given ...
[Read More]

Estes Ventris build, part 5
I have been pondering the color scheme since I bought the kit.  I decided against the tiger stripe scheme that I originally thought of.  For this size rocket, I saw hand painted stripes going horribly wrong.  Although the recommended scheme looks fine, I confirmed on TRF that the ...
[Read More]

CTI Pro54 Skidmark Flight On-Board
"On board footage from a post Level 2 certification flight, dual deployment 4X88" Quantum airframe on a CTI pro54 6G k motor. Top speed was 841kph. 808 Keychain camera."  What is up with that spin? It stopped suddenly, then started, and stopped again?
[Read More]

Manhattanhenge
Manhattanhenge
[Read More]

Another Shuttle Mockup
Credit: Bill Novak I just learned that the old Rockwell/Boeing Downey facility is now home of Downey Studios , an independent film studio (an has been for a while). The site was established in 1929 and was home to the Navajo Missile, Apollo Spacecraft, and the Space ...
[Read More]

What adhesive should I use? Part 1
Building bigger and bigger rockets requires stronger and stronger adhesives. Many of the glues I used in LPR arn't suitable for high power applications. Over the past few years ive gained experience of what adhesives should be used when and where. I believe that all adhesives have a place in ...
[Read More]

New Estes Kit Instructions Online
I don't visit the Estes website very often, unless I'm looking up a kit specifications. There are plenty of new kit instructions posted - at least new since I was last there. Even some yet-to-be released kits have their instructions available for viewing: http://www.estesro ...
[Read More]

Space X Falcon Build Part 2 Engine Mount
I relaced the small sticker made to hold the engine hook in place. I thought it was too small. It's shown above the longer strip I used. The longer strap was cut from some of the border area on the large sticker sheet. The upper centering fing is glued between the two laser cut guidelines around ...
[Read More]

MiniCube - $320 to near space
  "The MiniCube is small plastic box five cm on a side. On the base is a standard camera tripod mount. You put your project inside the cube and mails it to JP Aerospace. We carry it to the edge of space then send it back to you. When you purchase a MiniCube you will get a MiniCube and a ...
[Read More]

Intelsat Signs First Commercial Falcon Heavy Launch Agreement with SpaceX
Advanced Vehicle Provides Expanded Options for Operator of the World's Largest Satellite Fleet Washington, DC / Hawthorne, CA May 29, 2012 - Today, Intelsat, the world's leading provider of satellite services, and Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), the world's fastest growing space launch ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Short list this time...busy weekend...hit 'publish' instead of save... Hypersonic Flight , AirSpace (5/30) - A short review of the hsitory of hypersonic flight, starting with the BumperWAC on February 24, 1949. The WAC part was the first man-made item to reach hypersonic speeds (>Mach 5). ...
[Read More]

Return of SpaceX Dragon
Upcoming return NASA TV Coverage “The Expedition 31 crew of the International Space Station spent much of the day Tuesday working with the SpaceX Dragon cargo vehicle, reviewing procedures for the departure of the first commercial spacecraft to visit the station and packing it with items for ...
[Read More]

Scheduled landings
SpaceX's Dragon is slated to splashdown in the Pacific tomorrow at 11:44am EST. NASA TV coverage should start at 10:15. ( Rocketry Blog , 5/30) The X-37B OTV-2 is sceduled to return "during the early- to mid-June timeframe". It was launched March 5, 2011 so that means it will have been up ...
[Read More]

A mach 2 custom fiberglass rocket
"In which I launch my fiberglass 38mm minimum diameter rocket at a Tripoli MN research launch... and lose it. No surprise! A 32-inch rocket at 10,000 feet? We had several theories as to why we lost signal. It could have landed in water, come in ballistic and buried itself, or simply landed in a ...
[Read More]

SStS Machining
I'm currently trying to finish up a test set-up for the SStS project that will allow us to test a single grain segment with the star core that we've used for the last two motor firings.  It's simply a short section of the casing material with two end closures, one made of Aluminum and the ...
[Read More]

TR-1 Motor
I haven't had a chance to do much work on the TR-1 motor...I'm satisfied with the design and am ready to start machining.  I just need to finish machining the hardware that I mentioned in my previous post. I modeled the nozzle in 3D.  I find that this helps with the machini ...
[Read More]

Estes Ventris build, part 6 (done!)
I will spare you the additional whys and wherefores of how I got to the finished product...the results are self evident.  The holographic decals look great and really shine in the sun!  The last two photos are a failed attempt to capture this effect.     ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Dragon Prepped for Fiery Re-entry , ParabolicArc, (5/30, Messier) One moonshot team buys up another , Cosmic Log (5/30, Boyle) Quote of the day: "Engineering is doing something poorly and then doing it again less poorly." — Ben Brockert (@wikkit) May 31, 2012
[Read More]

Space X Falcon Build Part 3 Nose Cone Sticker
The wraps are very sticky. You'll only have one chance to get it right. Knowing that, I decided to make the nose cone wrap a little less tacky. I set the sticky side down on my pant leg and lifted it leaving some fibers on the adhesive backing. Look close and you can see the fibers left behind on ...
[Read More]

Space X Falcon Build Part 4 Before the Body Sticker
I ran into a snag when removing the backing of the body wrap. The larger sticker edges are pre-cut with a margin around the cut edges. I lifted away the backing and the sticker tore! The pre-cut edges weren't cut deep enough to allow it to come off the backing paper. I went ahead and applied the ...
[Read More]

Even more on Rustoleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover 2X Primer
In my previous posts (click "...Tips" tag at the bottom of this post), I described the crazing problem that I experienced. Well, I am now doubting myself and my results.  There is a whole TRF thread on this primer and nobody has complained about the problems I saw.  In fact, they praise ...
[Read More]

Radioactive Fallout and Shelter 1965 HEW Civil Defense

[Read More]

Space X Falcon Build Part 5 Body Sticker
Another new body wrap sticker was sent out by the kit manufacturer. From Gus' tutorial: Measure and mark the center of the printed side of the wrap just at the top and bottom. The backing is lifted off while tearing it at the mid point along a strait edge. Move the backing sheet away from the ...
[Read More]

Space X Falcon Build Part 6 Launch Lug
The instructions would have you simply glue the launch lug on the cut recess on the body wrap. I decided to cover the translucent lug with white paper. The paper was cut slightly longer than the supplied lug and pre-curled with a dowel in my palm. The paper was adhered with a glue stick. The ...
[Read More]

Incredulous Rebuild – Part 2
Last night I completed a four hour post-cure of the booster section to finish the rebuild. I am happy with the way the layup turned out, but a bit disappointed with how the capped leading and trailing edges turned out. I loosely followed Jim Jarvis’ guide (seen here), but ran into some issues ...
[Read More]

Supercavitating ammunition
"With DSG Technology’s MEA Supercavitating Rifle Ammo, you can fire at an underwater enemy target from above the water, an above-the-water enemy target from below the surface, or at an underwater target while you are also underwater. For example, a U.S. Navy SEAL diver can perform an ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Dragon COTS 2+: Video of Dragon from drogue chutes till splashdown , RLV and Space Transport (6/1, Lindsey) - While I am thrilled with the Dragon mission and all that it implies, I wasn't that excited about the video. YMMV. Supercavitating ammunition , High Power Rocketry (6/1, R2K) - I ...
[Read More]

Hobbylinc - great experience
As soon as I heard that the Estes E12's were in stock at Hobbylinc , I placed an order for some  along with an F32 (for the Ventris should weather conditions dictate a lower flight) and two packs of the Estes 29mm retainers.  Here is how the order went: Placed the order the night ...
[Read More]

Space X Falcon Build Part 7 Nose Shroud Line
If the kit has one "gotcha" this is it. You are directed to tie a knot in the thin white cord. The knot is supposed to hold this line inside the nose cone behind the hole near the top. The hole is way too big for a shroud line knot. You could double or even triple the knot and it will still slip ...
[Read More]

Space X Falcon Build Part 8 Cord Prep
Both sides of the Kevlar and elastic shock cord get tied loops. The "baffle" plate has a small hole to the outside of the larger holes. At one time, I would guess the smaller hole was supposed to be a Kevlar anchoring point. The Kevlar is looped through two of the larger holes on the plate. NOTE: ...
[Read More]

Johnson Space Center Houston Mockup Space Shuttle Explorer
Johnson Space Center Houston Mockup Space Shuttle Explorer , a photo by PeaceLoveScoobie on Flickr. Docked and (almost) ready to be loaded for its trip down NASA Road 1. (We spent our last night in Clear Lake in the Hilton that's seen in the background.)
[Read More]

Links roundup
Space Shuttle Replica Docks in Houston Lake, Launches 'Shuttlebration' , Space.com (6/2) Shuttlebration tag on Flickr and on the Clear Lake, TX group Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) , NASA GSFC Fact sheet:  Global Hawk unmanned aircraft , NASA DFRC Briefs: ...
[Read More]

R.O.C.K. Launch, June 2, 2012
After a few days of big rain, the burn ban was lifted in the Orlando area. The R.O.C.K. group hasn't flown for a few months because of it and many came ready to fly. With Brian handling launch duties it was a smooth running operation. Greg Welch brought one of his EBAY purchases. That's an ...
[Read More]

Space X Falcon Build Part 9 TIP: Gluing In the Baffle Plate
TIP: I learned a valuable trick on this build - How to install a single baffle plate deep in a body tube. Normally, I'd glue a baffle plate onto a coupler and slide the plate/coupler assembly into the tube. I wish I knew this technique when I tried to install a single centering ring in the upper ...
[Read More]

Another great shot of Explorer docked
Here is a great shot of Explorer from Space Center Houston 's Facebook page.  You can see NASA Road 1 and it's causeway over the tip of the lake.  Whenever there was a tropical storm the lake would flood the road there, although it looks like it might have been built up a bit.  JSC ...
[Read More]

Building rockets like Dr. Frankenstein (that's Franchensteen?)
Here is a photo of the latest progress on a 'Frankenstein' rocket that I've been working on for several years.  The latest progress is merely filling and sanding. Several years ago, my original, stock Big Daddy lawn darted.  The base of the cone was sheared off with the 'chute being ...
[Read More]

SStS Test Parts Finished
I finished the test parts that I was working on and Rick picked them up yesterday afternoon.  He and Paul were going attempt the first test this weekend.  I was scrambling to get the parts done in time for this weekend, the steel bulkhead took a bit more time than anticipated, but ...
[Read More]

2010 EMRR Challenge Winners Announced
Do you remember 2010? Bell-bottom jeans, cell phones the size of a loaf of bread, the new Atari 2600 ...
[Read More]

Custom 4" High Power Rocket on Ebay
 "This is a custom built Rocket ,modeled after the Ultimate by Loc Precision.Its Dual deploy ,54mm Motor Mount,4" dia,67" tall,24" Sky Angle Drogue,60" Top Flite Main Chute.No Altimeter.Lower Airframe has Easyglass Sock Laminated on it.Slimline Motor Retainer." Hmm...
[Read More]

Igniter Install TIP
Some of you may know about and already practice this. When installing an igniter, (before the plastic plug) I'll usually turn the wires away from the launch lug. On minimum diameter models, the launch rod is already close to the engine and igniter. This keeps your micro clips away from the ...
[Read More]

Space Shuttle Enterprise needs a body shop
There are plenty of cool photos of the Enterprise's barge ride on its Flickr group , including the following by user John Skelson: Keith Cowling reports that the barge operator(s) clipped a dock with the Enterprise's right wing. Oops! Via:  http://images.spaceref ...
[Read More]

X-15 Rocket Plane Onboard Time-Lapse Movies
"Edited footage from onboard time-lapse motion picture cameras looking aft and pointing toward the nose make a quick flight seem even faster as the X-15 launches from its B-52 mother ship, accelerates and climbs, and descends to a fast landing on Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards AFB, Calif."
[Read More]

"Where did model rocketry really start?"
Issue 314 of Apogee's Newsletter features an article with the same title as this post.  Written by sport and professional rocketeer William Colburn,  the article features several familiar names - G. Harry Stine, Orville Carlisle and Vern Estes.  It also traces model rocketry's ...
[Read More]

"X-15 Rocket Plane Onboard Time-Lapse Movies"
" The X-15 rocket-powered research aircraft could fly faster than 4,000 miles an hour and reached the edge of space in the 1960s. Edited footage from onboard time-lapse motion picture cameras looking aft and pointing toward the nose make a quick flight seem even faster as the X-15 launches from ...
[Read More]

Launch report 2012-4 (solo)
Location: My driveway Weather: sunny, warm Total flights: Today - 7; YTD - 37 Total motors: Today - 7; YTD - 43 Motors by class YTD: MMX - 5; A - 4; B - 2; C - 15; D - 4; E - 6; F -2; G - 5 I built a beta test version of a top secret 13mm saucer-like object.  While the glue was drying, I ...
[Read More]

ROCK’s June 2012 Launch
After a couple of scrubbed launches due to dry weather, ROCK returned to fill the skies with rockets in June. Flyers were anxious to turn in their flight cards and take their rockets to the launch pads. One of the ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
As I'm sure you all know, Ray Bradbury passed last night.  He was 91.  Here is an essay he wrote back in 2000: " Why NASA?... " McDonnell Douglas Phase B 12-Man Space Station (1970) , Wired Science (6/6, Portree) 6 Years , Air Command Water Rockets (6/4, Katz) - Six years of ...
[Read More]

Hermes Solid Rocket Motor
I bought number of Thiokol publicity/advertising brochures on ebay a while ago. There are a lot of interesting photos including the one above that shows Harold W. Richey posing with the "milestone" Hermes rocket motor which was fired in December of 1951. In that firing the motor fired for 41.2 ...
[Read More]

Venus transit of 2012 (updated)
Update:  I added a photo at the bottom by French astrophotographer Thierry Legault.  His photo shows Venus as well as the HST!  How awesome is that?!? (no answer required)  The image has been reduced in size.  Check out his site for a larger version and the technical ...
[Read More]

Quest, The History of Spaceflight Quarterly
The sport rocketeer currently known as the Rocketoholic , points us to a the website of Quest, The History of Spaceflight Quarterly .  Published by the University of South Dakota, it appears the magazine has been around since 1992. My magazine budget is depleted but if you have an extra ...
[Read More]

Hinode Views the 2012 Venus Transit
This is a great shot of the (now slightly over-hyped) transit of Venus. Did anyone out there see it? It was cloudy in the NYC area but it was possible to catch it for a few moments.  "On June 5, 2012, Hinode captured these stunning views of the transit of Venus -- the last instance of this ...
[Read More]

Another great shot: HST and Venus cross the Sun
    This gem is from  Thierry Legault.  
[Read More]

Long exposure ISS images
    Today must be image dump day... This is from the  NASA Flickr account.
[Read More]

Formula 54 to Blackhawk 29 custom rocket
At TRF.
[Read More]

Latest hobbylinc order
  Included here is some epoxy, two packs of C11 motors, one pack of the new E12 estes motor, some E28s and some F39s.  Also I wanted to throw in some 13mm motors as I nearly ran out last year.  Some 1/4th A cuties are in there also.  The C11 motors will go into the Viper ...
[Read More]

New Paper Rocket Download from Art Applewhite
New 13mm and MicroMax paper rocket is now available from Art Applewhite.  The Pinwheel “It based on the Pinwheel toy I played with as a kid. We didn’t have X-Box’s back then. (about the MicroMax)The one page file comes with complete instructions and patterns for making 3 ...
[Read More]

SMBC comic with rockets in it
SMBC
[Read More]

Vulcan Fin Tip Reinforcements Part 1
After a few flights, the air scoop fin tips on the Vulcan are getting a little bent up. These will need some sort of reinforcement if the rocket is to last. Toothpicks were cut in half at a sharp angle to fit the angle of the scoop. Just cut an angle for now, you'll be able ...
[Read More]

Jet crash test footage
"In 1984, NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center and the Federal Aviation Administration teamed up in a unique flight experiment called the Controlled Impact Demonstration to test a promising fuel additive for retarding or suppressing fire in a real-world aircraft crash-landing scenario. When ...
[Read More]

Vulcan Fin Tip Reinforcements Part 2
Slide the angle cut toothpick down into the outside crease of the air scoop. Keep sliding down until the angle cut of the toothpick is even with the angled top of the air scoop fin tip.   While the card stock fin is wet with glue, you can press and reshape some of the creases. ...
[Read More]

High Frontier
The High Frontier, Human Colonies in Space, by Gerard O'Neill. Depiction of "Island Three" concept, a 3km radius cylindrical space habitat. Last year the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) gave out several copies ...
[Read More]

Shuttle arrives in New York Harbor
 
[Read More]

City built within an extinct volcano at sea
"Vertical cities are skyscrapers where thousands of residents can live. Among other vertical cities concepts, there is the volcanic vertical city. The city is built inside the crater of a dead volcano."           See more here  
[Read More]

Launch Report 2012-5
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD ( MDRA  ESL-169) Weather: sunny, high about 90, wind 5 mph Total flights: Today - 7; YTD - 44 Total motors: Today - 9; YTD - 52 Motors by class YTD: MMX -5; A - 4; B - 2; C - 17; D - 5; E - 6; F -3; G - 6   This was another great day at the Sod ...
[Read More]

More SpaceX Fan Art
More SpaceX fan art from Stanley Von Medvey. Please see previous post with art here. See this and more at http://stanleyvonmedvey.com/
[Read More]

The Legacy of Discovery
(Image: Mark Avino, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution) The chance to see the Air France Concorde, the second world war Hawker Hurricane and the undeniably evil-looking airframe of the SR-71 Blackbird is not to be sniffed at. But the newest exhibit at the Smithsonian's ...
[Read More]

1960 ... orbital bomber proposal
1960 ... orbital bomber proposal , a photo by x-ray delta one on Flickr. Looks like North American's Space Bomber.  Check out the post tag for more info on lenticular flying vehicles.
[Read More]

JATO of the day
North American XB-45 , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr.
[Read More]

Rocket Reviews
Getting lots of hits from EMRR, this page in particular.
[Read More]

The Crow 75
The build thread is at TRF.
[Read More]

Giant gun (not the gustav rail gun) with soldiers sitting on top
 
[Read More]

Links roundup
Very few links today...busy weekend with no Internet...touching up the dings from last Saturday's launch...planning for another launch...yardwork.  Didn't even try to catch up with my feed reader, Twitter or Flickr. Early supersonic NACA configuration , Unwanted Blog (6/13, Lowther) ...
[Read More]

Apollo Testing
Apollo Testing , a photo by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives on Flickr.
[Read More]

Lunar Schooner Spacecraft 108
Lunar Schooner Spacecraft 108 , a photo by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives on Flickr.
[Read More]

Little Joe Rocket Testing
Little Joe Rocket Testing , a photo by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives on Flickr.
[Read More]

X-47B spotted on Maryland freeways
Credit: @Julieelondon Last night, an X-47B drone made its way down I-270 and around the Beltway on its way to Naval Air Station Patuxent River.  Evidently, it prompted numerous UFO reports and was a big deal on Twitter. That was despite the fact that it was ...
[Read More]

"Amateur Rocketeers Reach For The Stars"
"When QUEST first started production on the television story, 'Amateur Rocketeers Reach for the Stars', I had no idea that the amateur or experimental rocketry was so popular today. Before the producer of the story, Chris Bauer, pitched the idea, if someone had mentioned rocket-building to me, I ...
[Read More]

We Are Planning to Be at the June 16 TTRA Launch
The weather forcast for Saturday, June 16, 2012, is looking good and JonRocket.com plans on attending the TTRA launch near Plant City, FL, on that day.  The launch is a two-day affair this weekend, but we will, most likely, only ...
[Read More]

June 2012
June 23, noon-4 PM. Continue reading →
[Read More]

Looking Back Ten Years...
It seems unreal to me that ten years have passed since Jess and I traveled to Pennsylvania for our first Sport Scale event at RAMTEC-10 in 2002 with the Black Brant XII and the Iris.  She was pregnant with Ben ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2012-7
Location: Old National Pike Park, Mt. Airy, MD ( NARHAMS  ECRM) Weather: sunny, high about 80, wind 0+ mph Total flights: Today - 11; YTD - 55 Total motors: Today - 12; YTD - 64 Motors by class YTD: MMX - 6; A - 5; B - 3; C - 24; D - 5; E - 8; F -3; G - 6     Other than a slow ...
[Read More]

X-37B, OTV-2 has returned from its 15 month mission

[Read More]

Hmm nothing much going on...
I may have finished the Internet...   So check out these cool, semi-steam punk rockets that do not fly!     "May I present small missles that no rocket pack should be without. Not modelled after sidewinders, that may be next. Made from brass candle sticks, ...
[Read More]

00 buckshot
For self-defense obviously...
[Read More]

Drone come home and China in Space
I won’t spend too much time on either of these since they are being covered heavily by the news outlets. Drone come home The X-37b finally returned home from its latest mission after a whopping 469 days in orbit (she has some miles now on her odometer).  This latest “super secret ...
[Read More]

Domino chain reaction
 "A domino can knock over another domino about 50% larger than itself. A chain of dominos of increasing size makes a kind of mechanical chain reaction that starts with a tiny push and knocks down an impressively large domino.  Original idea by Lorne Whitehead, American Journal of ...
[Read More]

Shenzhou-9 Launches Into Space With China’s First Woman Astronaut
AsianScientist (Jun. 16, 2012) – China broke into a celebratory mood on Saturday night at 4:09 p.m. (IST) with the successful launch of the Long March 2F rocket carrying the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft and a three-man crew from the Jiuquan launch complex. The nearly 55-meter two-stage rocket ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
I've still been busy and haven't been looking at a lot of random stuff on the web.  Here's all I have: ARB test Flights , Air Command (6/18, Katz) - Ttesting  Air Reservoir Boosters (ARBs), aka  auxiliary  air reservoirs. Cool Photos: X-37B on the Runway After Landing ...
[Read More]

Plaster City April '12 launch report
I'm going to stop adding 'belated' as you're more than smart enough to deduce perpetual tardiness on my part.  In general I lag on these updates because I want the video to appear polished so that's the bottleneck.  In the future, if I have time, I'll add accouterment. Otherwise I'll ...
[Read More]

Bunsen burner flames
  The latter three look a bit like rocket exhaust, but no they are not.  Hey and that last one looks familiar somehow...
[Read More]

New Products Added
In the past few days, we’ve added many new products to the JonRocket.com online catalog and we are planning to add more in the days to come.  We’ve added a number of exciting products from Estes including the mid-power Leviathan Pro ...
[Read More]

Build status or the lack thereof
This is a rambling rant, so you might want to go elsewhere NOW! I currently all excited about flying again this weekend at NARHAMS new alternate launch site.  The weather is looking good and, if I get out, this will make June my busiest launch month since NARAM-50 in 2008.  I also have ...
[Read More]

MARS Kosdon O-10,000 boosted dart
Attempt at UK altitude record, failed to achieve expected 50,000+ feet, but still performed well enough at about 30,000 feet apogee. Previous article about this project.
[Read More]

Links roundup
Archtype Rocktry has come out with an inexpensive solution to doing dual recovery from one hole - the Cable Cutter. Modrocs on TV tonight!  Auction Hunters on Spike -  features Apogee's Tim Van Milligan and, reportedly, Vern Estes. Briefs: Houston comm'l space panel; SpaceX ...
[Read More]

Various USSR era missiles
Can you recognize any?
[Read More]

Save with Lower Shipping and Handling Charges
For a limited time, we are experimenting by offering a lower shipping and handling charge of $6.95 on orders shipped within the US.  Of course, orders of $40 or more still ship for free!
[Read More]

Lower Shipping and Handling Charges at JonRocket.com
For a limited time, JonRocket.com has lowered its standard shipping and handling charges on US orders to $6.95. Orders of $40 or more to US addresses will still ship for free. Located in Oviedo, Florida, JonRocket.com is an online retailer of model rocket products from many manufacturers. ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
SS1 flew to space on June 21, 2004 , RLV and Space Transport (6/21, Lindsey) - Can't believe its been 8 years. I'd have liked to have been able to post about SS2 going to space by now. Meteors vs Airplanes , Unwanted Blog (6/21, Lowther) - Is the odds of getting hit by a meteorite even ...
[Read More]

Nerrf rocketry launch this weekend!
This year as last, NERRF is hosted by Metra.   I understand that the launch starts today, and runs through the weekend.  I plan on attending Sunday as long as weather conditions hold up (and they probably will.)  No great plans really, probably going to put the Thunderbolt 38 up ...
[Read More]

F-35B Joint Strike Fighter or undisclosed space fighter?
When I first saw this on Facebook, for about 10 msec I thought this was concept art for a space fighter. The underbelly pod looked like a cockpit and both the nose and inverted stabilizers seemed vaguely familiar.
[Read More]

Dare Mighty Things -- Curiosity Landing Procedure
Just imagine you're a Martian for a minute. You're standing out in your yard, and this... "thing" drops out of the sky on a tether. I'm looking forward to seeing how this thing works on August 5th.
[Read More]

Challenges of Getting to Mars: Curiosity's Seven Minutes of Terror
"Team members at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory share the challenges of the Curiosity Mars rover's final minutes to landing on the surface of Mars."
[Read More]

Unidentified soviet jet with shuttle craft
Ан-225 МРІЯ  ?
[Read More]

The MachMobile38
A few weeks ago I completed the construction of my newest rocket: The MachMobile38.  The MachMobile38 is a minimum diamter 38mm rocket, capable of flying on anything from an E to 800 feet, to a large I motor to around mach 1.8. The MachMobile is both light and strong. It weighs around 7oz and ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Items from Alaska
I'm heading home after a two week cruise. In this Anchorage Alaska hotel, the Internet connections are a little faster than the ship.   Wherever I go I keep an eye out for rocketry related items. This morning I was killing time waiting for transportation to the ...
[Read More]

Coming Soon from Estes
There are plenty of kits coming soon on the Estes website: http://www.estesrockets.com/ On the left is the JETLINER, a Goony style model. According to the description, it'll reach 150' with an A10-3t. The instructions are already online for this one: http://www.estesrockets.com/media/i ...
[Read More]

Shaped charge made with martini glass

[Read More]

Launch Report 2012-8
Location: Carroll County Agricultural Center, Westminster, MD ( NARHAMS ) Weather: scattered clouds, mid-80's, wind 0-5 mph Total flights: Today - 11; YTD - 66 Total motors: Today - 16; YTD - 80 Motors by class YTD: MMX - 6; A - 5; B - 5; C - 29; D - 6; E - 18; F -4; G - 7 This was my first launch ...
[Read More]

Changes to comment settings
Like so many blogs before me, I've been forced to restrict comments due to a sharp increase in spam.  I didn't turn them off, so we'll see what happens.  Unfortunately, I'm not entirely sure who will and won't be able to comment.  So, to all my regular users who won't be able to, ...
[Read More]

TIP: Cleaning Up Flat Finish Paints
I've mentioned these Eraser Sponges before. Here you can see how well they clean up - even on a flat finish. Enlarge the inset picture to see the dirty decal area before. Flat finishes can easily pick up dirt and oil from handling. The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (or in this case the Scotch Brite Easy ...
[Read More]

You learn new things every day!
 
[Read More]

Where do astronauts hang out?
 
[Read More]

June was great!
This month, I managed to get out to three days of organized launches and held one 'solo' launch. This was the most flying I've done since NARAM-50 in 2008. I made 36 flights and burned 44 motors.  The weather was nearly ideal for all of these launches.  I also managed to work around the ...
[Read More]

CajunCoalition - Andrew Grippo - Tripoli Louisiana - High Speed Launch
Here is a little rocket candy for you all to enjoy!
[Read More]

Happy Birthday Hermann Oberth
Today is the Birthday of one of the major fathers of modern Rocketry, Hermann Oberth. Born in Romania on June 25th 1894 he became obsessed with Jules Verne’s novel “From the Earth to the Moon” when he was still a child. Later transplanted in Germany Oberth became the great ...
[Read More]

Facebook Integration
Facebook Integration has been added to RocketReviews.com. If you enable this option, the flights, builds, build entries, and reviews that you add to RocketReviews.com will be summarized and posted to your Facebook page automatically. The Facebook post will include a brief summary of the flight, ...
[Read More]

Gamera II HPH World Record Flight: 50 seconds
"Gamera II is the second human powered helicopter from the University of Maryland's Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center. Video evidence suggests the helicopter, piloted by Kyle Gluesenkamp, flew for 50 seconds! The team is pursuing the American Helicopter Society International's (AHS) Igor I. Sikorsky ...
[Read More]

Rocketaholic provides an amateur rocketry blast-from-the-past (updated)
Rocketry blogger, the 'Rocketaholic', just dug into his archives and posted photos from a Reaction Research Society class and documentation of his Systeme Solaire SS67B-2 liquid fuel rocket .  These are interesting posts and are worth your time.  If you have a big computer screen you ...
[Read More]

System Solaire SS67B-2 liquid fuel rocket
Remember this rocket?
[Read More]

Plaster City May '12 launch report
I've had this Pro54 6GXL L935 Imax reload laying about doing nothing for some time now. I elected to put it to work and then retire my trusty Loc 7.5" V2 after this fine flight: That was the first and last onboard V2 footage I'll generate with that particular projectile of German design. ...
[Read More]

Boeing CST-100
The  CST-100  is Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program entry is represented here in a new NASA CCP video brief. The CST-100 crew capsule is a spacecraft design proposed by Boeing in collaboration with Bigelow Aerospace. The spacecraft resembles the Orion however it is smaller but still ...
[Read More]

Zapping Rocks with Lasers to Save the World
  "The means for potential deflection techniques for asteroids range from nuclear weapons to gravity tugs. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Laser Bees are intriguing because studies indicate they may offer the ability to move asteroids comparatively quickly. Much work must be ...
[Read More]

Reworked a couple of rockets
I haven't decided on a new build but have done some tweaking of a couple of rockets. First up is my oft-reworked BNC-R1 from the mid '80's.  It started with a custom turned balsa nose cone. This was my first hand turned cone after I became a BAR.  A couple of years ago, the cone ...
[Read More]

What We Talk About When We Talk About Voyager 1
  "The biggest news last week had nothing to do with presidential elections, overseas financial crises, or fiddly football coaches. The really big news, the only news that will be popularly remembered 500 years hence, was that a human artifact was, for the first time, on the verge of ...
[Read More]

The history of LDRS...captured here
Today, the Rocketaholic cross-posted Chris Pearson's history of LDRS on his blog (from Rocketry Planet under a Creative Commons License with Attribution).  I have referred to the same article as posted on the Tri-City Skybusters ' site as part of a commentary on the old, pre-HPR, term MRT ...
[Read More]

The history of LDRS and modern HPR
"The LDRS story actually got started a number of years before the first LDRS was held in a northern Ohio farm field. Here's how it began..." Click here  to hear the rest of the story.  Fascinating to look back and see just how far the hobby has come over the years.  Since joining ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Even rockets are better with bacon: The 1/10 scale Pig Rocket is ready to launch! , Cajun Coalition (6/27, Button)  CNC Machining is incredible. Introducing the 1/3 scale Pig Rocket! , Cajun Coalition (6/27, Button) Getting there. Second slice of the 1/3 scale Pig Rocket! ...
[Read More]

How does a solid rocket motor work?

[Read More]

B612 Foundation's Sentinel infrared space telescope
Today, the space blogoverse is afire about the B612 Foundation 's announcement that they will be building the first private deep space satellite, the Sentinel Space Telescope , I snipped an excerpt and embedded a video and you can find the entire press release on the  RLV and Space ...
[Read More]

Fixing up the Backdraft
I'm still rooting around the Dungeon waiting for motivation.  My latest tangential project was to renovate my Heavenly Hobbies Backdraft .  This crazy rocket boosts on a 24mm motor and recovers with the help of a 24mm retro motor.  I have  successfully   flown it four ...
[Read More]

Astronomy tabloid

[Read More]

NERRF launch report
Well NERRF was great this year! It was like a normal METRA launch but with a few more people and a few more pads. Also, the rate of K, L, and M flights was pretty solid. The weather conditions were hot but the winds were near zero! I flew the thunderbolt 38 on an H400, Viper IV on two E12 motors, ...
[Read More]

A Look Inside a Composite Rocket Motor
I don’t normally re-post things found in other rocketry blogs, but the video posted recently in R2K’s High Power Rocketry Blog is just too cool not to share. The video is an animation which illustrates the assembly and function of a typical APCP composite propellant rocket motor as ...
[Read More]

Planning a Micro Hybrid flight
Yesterday, I found that I have one NOX cartridge left so I'll fly the Micro Hybrid in July.  I normally fly it in an Art Applewhite saucer but thought I'd try something that had fins.  I began working on a 'boink' style rocket using a pool noodle. However, my noodle remnants ...
[Read More]

The micro hybrid rocket is done
Not much to see but here it is. I call it the Ankyo-mcH .  Ankyo is the manufacturer, 'mc' is a pharmaceutical term for micro (can't easily type the scientific symbol), and H is for hybrid). However, I might rename it Derecho in honor of last night's killer storm!
[Read More]

Range Box - BUCKET!
Kelly Greer (Stratos 283 on TRF) found a great use for a fishing tackle bucket. From his post on TRF: "I don't carry near the supplies to launch as most rocketeers do, but I wanted something with a few tackle box type organizer compartments with the ability to carry some bigger pieces such as a ...
[Read More]

Popping balloons in a weightless space environment

[Read More]

Adventurous People
I'm starting a new series! I'm pleased to introduce Adventurous People , a series of interviews with, well, people who lead adventurous lives. So what exactly defines an Adventurous Person? Adventurous Person -- s.o. who has a propensity for exploring new places, learning new things, meeting new ...
[Read More]

July is here!
And, soon it will be time to wish the U.S. of A. a big happy birthday!  To get a jump on this, I invite you to visit Verna and Randy's Fire and Smoke .  Here, they honor Randy's father and offer up a pile of plastic model conversions, including several of mine (blushing). Emmett Louis ...
[Read More]

Delta IV Heavy Launches NROL-15
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., (June 29, 2012) — A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) lifted off from Space Launch Complex-37 here at 9:15 a.m. EDT today. Designated NROL-15, the mission is in support of ...
[Read More]

Air Command's Shadow II water rocket flies to 1239 ft
Here's a composite video of  two flights, including regular, slo-mo, and on-board segments.  Awesome rocket...way to go Air Command! Two launches of the Shadow II water rocket. The first flight was launched at 400psi and the second at 420psi. The first flight attained an altitude ...
[Read More]

More on the new Estes retainers
I just retrofitted my Estes-era NCR Archer with one of these retainers. The motor mount extended just far enough to fit the retainer perfectly. It was also quite snug, which boosts my confidence in its effectiveness. Unfortunately, the cap extends below the airframe and thus makes the rocket ...
[Read More]

Parachute Tape Disk Reinforcement
Sometimes in a parachute kit you'll get paper reinforcement disks. It's easy enough to check, try and tear one. Paper tears, the plastic disks won't.   Paper disks should be replaced. If not replaced, at least reinforced.   The disk was set on the corner of the chute ...
[Read More]

Web Updates 7/3/12
I am still making minor adjustments to the Meatball Rocketry web content to bring things up to speed.  Some interesting items: I just added a PDF version of the 2005 R&D report on the PVC Spider, to replace the HTML ...
[Read More]

Web Updates 7/3/12
I am still making minor adjustments to the Meatball Rocketry web content to bring things up to speed.  Some interesting items: I just added a PDF version of the 2005 R&D report on the PVC Spider, to replace the HTML version that was previously available.  (link) I finally got around ...
[Read More]

More comment restrictions
After another huge barrage of comment spam, I have changed my permissions again.  To my blogging friends who can no longer comment, I apologize.
[Read More]

Semi-scale 4" Harpoon build
I finally decided on something to build with the BT-101 and custom foam nose cone that has been sitting around gathering dust. I ran across some photos of the AGM-84 Harpoon and decided my nose cone looks pretty close to the proper shape. This will be no better than semi-scale because I started ...
[Read More]

SR-71 Blackbird with Discovery in the background
SR-71 Blackbird , a photo by Scriptunas Images on Flickr. What a great shot to catch both given the lighting in the museum!
[Read More]

Video: Masten Xaero 444m flight

[Read More]

SpaceShip2 has been evolving
Aviation Week discussed the evolution of the strakes on the inboard of the SS2 vertical tails.  Not a huge bit of news, but I am always confused about what to call those things (mainly when describing the winged rockets that I've built*).  SS2 started with one small strake, they added a ...
[Read More]

Pondering the Harpoon build
Just random thoughts. Nothing is set in glue. I think I'll set the lower centering ring in the distance of the lower fin root, 3.5".  The motor tube with the Estes retainer will move the motor about 3/4" further back, well within the margin for the Krushnik effect. I'll add a piece ...
[Read More]

Blog Post Stats
Today is the Second Anniversary of the Model Rocket Building Blog! Each day the blog gets about 500 hits worldwide. All Time Pageviews is 182,602. There have been 1,577 posts, averaging two posts per day.   Here's the TOP 10 searches: 10. TIP: Budget Wadding Feb 20, 2011 117 ...
[Read More]

First build status for the Harpoon
I found that I actually had suitable balsa since the fin span is fairly short (3.5").  The fins are all cut and two of them are laminated with printer paper using 3M Super-77.  I found a 3.625" tube (grits container) that will work well for the tail end. I think I mat try to make the ...
[Read More]

Testing the LGM-118A Peacekeeper

[Read More]

A bunch of MIRV (multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle) images

[Read More]

Links roundup (mostly off-topic stuff)
Been slacking on the random Internet surfing.  Here's all I have: Dude, here is your flying car ! Wisconsin freeway buckles due to the heat, SUV takes off. Whoa! Testing the LGM-118A Peacekeeper , High Power Rocketry (7/4, R2K) - The best part is the multiple shots of them leaving ...
[Read More]

Masten’s Xaero 444m Free Flight
The evolution of Masten’s Xaero is turning it into a really cool looking rocket. This is a nice video with several great angles and a nice view out the window. “Masten’s Xaero returns to the skies to complete a flight to 444 meters AGL – a record for Xaero and the company. ...
[Read More]

U Camelopardalis ejecting outer atmosphere - HST
It took me a moment to realize it... but this is a real image! This is a shot from Hubble showing a giant carbon star that has had, let us say, some indigestion. More specifically, it has ejected a large amount of gas due to a burst in helium fusion. Someone explain to me how we did not ...
[Read More]

Video: 3-D printing a fin can
Here's a video from the Cajun Coalition showing a fin can being printed.  This fin can is part of a modroc from Thingaverse . It takes 3 hours to print it on the  MakerBot .
[Read More]

Talos Missile Handling
 "The Defense Atomic Support Agency Presents Technical Training Film Bulletin Number 45, Part II - Talos Missile Handling, Cruiser Installation - No Date - 13:00 - Black&White and Color - The Talos missile, fired from a Navy Cruiser, could carry either a conventional or nuclear warhead. ...
[Read More]

Arturo's Desert Eagle: The 800 lb gorilla of the paper airplane world
Builder/sponsor: Pima Air and Space Museum Named for: 12 year old Tuscon resident Arturo Valdenegro Weight: 800 lb Length: 45' Wingspan: 24' Altitude at launch: 2703' Top speed: 93 mph Free flight: 0.93 miles This is pretty awsome. Looks like they could have trimmed it a tad better, however. I'd ...
[Read More]

Harpoon progress report #2
I'd like to blame my schedule delay on storm cleanup/repairs, continued 100+ degree heat and a power outage due to an over heated substation.  But I can't. First off, I realized that, if I add a ~3.5" stuffer tube between the motor mount and the end of the body, then the allowable engine ...
[Read More]

The Museum of Cosmonautics in Kaluga
        More at English Russia.
[Read More]

Launch Blown Out
So the last launch attempt never materialized. We woke up early and the surface winds were a pretty solid 20mph, not ideal for an attempt to 46,000′. We packed up and started to head out when my fuel pump died a mile down the (dirt) road. We had to get towed back to Mojave, total [...]
[Read More]

Space Shuttle swarm: All 135 launches on one screen
This is so awesome! Turn up the volume!
[Read More]

O hai!
 
[Read More]

Harpoon progress (Warning: Photo-less post)
I finally decided to have the Harpoon separate at the nose cone.  To keep the pressurized volume down, I built a stuffer with some suitable found tubing and a thick card stock ring.  I had already cut the ring but had to do some trimming to make it fit in the coupler.  A ...
[Read More]

ROCK’s July Launch
Light winds produced a good day for flying rockets as ROCK held its monthly launch on July 7. Brian delivered the safety briefing then announced the first flight. The two-stage Estes Solar headed straight up.  But, just as the first stage ...
[Read More]

Harpoon build status #4
Here's a photo showing the progress to date.  The lower fins are in and have trim pieces attached.  These are not very scale-like but should look OK once painted the same color as the body.  They should also help strengthen the fins. I also cut a trim piece from a section of the ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
FISO: Nuclear thermal propulsion for crew missions , RLV and Space Transport (7/8, Lindsey) - Presentation by Stanley Borowski, Chief, Propulsion and Controls Systems Analysis Branch, NASA Glenn Research Center [ slides ] Watch Out: 15 Eerie Abandoned Observatories , Web Urbanist (7/8. ...
[Read More]

The Stub 2.0
The stub 2.0 began as an "Im bored" project. I had a few extra hours to kill, a 2.6in tube and some fiberglass cloth. Having nothing to do, I glassed the tube out of bordem. I found a nosecone, one from my old 2.6in patriot that I had scraped. I had some scrap plywood and a few extra centering ...
[Read More]

West Texas may yet get its spaceport
Today, XCOR and the Midland Development Corporation formally announced that XCOR will be relocating its R&D effort to Midland, TX.  They will also occupy a hangar at the Midland International Airport (MAF) and the city of Midland will be applying for spaceport status with the FAA. ...
[Read More]

Odd-Ball Igniter TIP
Just when you think you've got it all figured out - I had a hard time connecting up the clips to the engine sitting up inside my Odd'l Rockets 13mm UP! Cup at a recent launch.   With the rocket high up on my camera tripod, the old micro clips wouldn't grip the igniter wires. ...
[Read More]

50th anniversary of Starfish Prime
50 years ago today the U.S. detonated a nuclear weapon 250 miles up in space. This was the Starfish Prime test.The warhead launched by a Thor missile reached an altitude of  680 miles and was detonated on its downward flight. A total of 27 small rockets were launched to obtain data ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, July/August 2012
This month's cover photo features Sather Ranum's awesome odd-roc named JayCoke Zero . Made from a Coke bottle shaped recycling bin and resembling a Jayhawk missile (kinda), the 110 lb rocket flew on an L3150 Vmax motor.  Inside, the issue covers the latest Student Launch Projects ...
[Read More]

My First LDRS -- It's Official!
Yep, it's true. After a few weeks of uncertainty whether it would actually happen or not, it is finally official, and I am leaving tomorrow morning! LDRS -- Large and Dangerous Rocket Ships -- is the annual Tripoli Rocketry Association meet. It's the biggest high-power rocket launch in the ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
50th anniversary of Starfish Prime , Rocketry Blog (7/9, Hill) - See also my earlier post: Starfish Prime - the mother of all aerial displays . Cochon a.k.a. The Flying Pig  - Build Photos, Cajun Coalition (7/9, Button) A mighty roar , The Space Review (7/9, Day) - A new look at the ...
[Read More]

Every shuttle launch ever, in one video.
Grand Finale 2010-11 from McLean Fahnestock on Vimeo .
[Read More]

Hitting a relativistic baseball (at .9 c)
  At XKCD
[Read More]

Links roundup
I don't have a link yet but will be looking for a blog post, or three, about Ken's latest adjustable pitch-wing monocopter, which he calls the Wig-Wag. Look out for it over on ZZaks' Lab . The History of Hydrofoils , Dark Roasted Blend (7/10, Abrams) Sci-Tech: More about the D-Dalus ...
[Read More]

Testing of shuttle nosecone in oven
 
[Read More]

Virgin Galactic to launch satellites
LauncherOne, Virgin Galactic’s new satellite launching system is poised to enter the new commercial payload sector as an affordable alternative. “Virgin Galactic’s goal is to revolutionize the way we get to space,” Branson said. “I’m immensely proud of what we ...
[Read More]

Pluto to us Earthlings: I may not be a planet, but I have 4 more moons than you do, suckas
The Hubble Space Telescope has found a fifth moon orbiting Pluto.  P5, aka S/2012 (134340) 1 , was found while the HST was scouting for the New Horizons spacecraft, which is expected to zip by Pluto in about 3 years.  P5 is the fourth moon that HST has discovered. The biggest, Charon, ...
[Read More]

Area 51 - Groom Lake - Nellis warning signs
        Lots more here!
[Read More]

My First LDRS -- Safe Arrival at Campsite
After an 18+ hour drive, I finally made it to Middlesex, NY and set up camp. It was a fun drive. I stayed the night in Cleveland in a parking lot of a Wal-Mart Supercenter o.O No problems, no break-downs, no getting lost. It went very well. Now I am here at the campground trying to relax before ...
[Read More]

Estes D-Region Tomahawk Model Rocket Kit – 41% Off at Amazon
The RocketReviews.com Deal Finder this morning is showing the Estes D-Region Tomahawk Model Rocket Kit at more than 40% off the list price at Amazon.com. And, shipping is free if you are an Amazon Prime member.
[Read More]

Links roundup
Boris Katan's HellBoy, set up to fly on 19 E9's NASA Johnson Space Center’s Shuttle II (1988) , Wired Science (7/12, Portree) A Bugatti spaceship from Elysium has crashed into the San Diego Hard Rock [Sdcc2012] , io9 (7/11, Newitz) Briefs: More LauncherOne; Skylon legalities; ...
[Read More]

Harpoon status in a nutshell
Prime, sand, fill, repeat....
[Read More]

Harpoon motors and Estes retainer issues
The other day, I went to Hobby Lobby hoping to use a coupon on an F50-6 motor. It appears I have no will power even though SU motors are more expensive than reloads. They had no F50s (i.e. they sold the one they keep on the racks) so I bought an F26-6FJ, which is also a recommended motor for the ...
[Read More]

Ally bank - sponsor
Does anyone else get Ally bank on the sidebar? It may just be my personal cookie profile, but I am glad to see them there.  This is an excellent online bank.
[Read More]

New design for long-term space hab
Frankly, getting back to pushing the deep-space envelope is overdue. Manned space exploration needs to move on to high-Earth orbits, lunar missions, and beyond. We gave the whole LEO thing a try for a few decades, and have precious little to show for it. There are designs on file for missions ...
[Read More]

Subjects for full scale modeling
A thread on TRF reveals some of the new generation of small munitions: Raytheon's new mini-missile could be a great scale project! At about 2' long, this would easily be modeled. The Griffin Small Tactical Munition (STM) comes in two flavors: The 'A' version is intended to be dropped from ...
[Read More]

My First LDRS -- First 2 Launch Days
I've had two awesome days at LDRS!!! It is simply heaven on earth here. There are so many AMAZING projects here. N's and O's are commonplace, and M's are practically ubiquitous. At Tripoli MN, when a level 3 rocket goes up it's the highlight of the whole day. Here at LDRS there have been some ...
[Read More]

First LDRS-31 report
At least, the first I've seen.  DTH Rocket has posted a report on the first 2 days of LDRS-31 : My First LDRS -- First 2 launch days .  I let you read the whole report but will swipe one photo. Muahahaha. "Tim Lehr shenanigans. Nuff said."  
[Read More]

Thoughts on finishing the Harpoon
I love building rockets but usually lose steam when it comes to finishing them.  I could use to do more sanding on the fillets and tail cone on the Harpoon...but I probably won't.  That means it should get a coat of paint in a few days.  I've decided on Rustoleum Semi-Gloss.  I ...
[Read More]

Ball bearing factory
     
[Read More]

Launch! Bunnell NEFAR, July 14, 2012
I hadn't flown a rocket in a while, so I headed up to Bunnell, Florida for the monthly N.E.F.A.R. launch. Mike Armstrong brought a few of his growing V2 collection. This is the ASP V2 with an Estes E9 engine. .   My first flight of the day was the BIG GIRTHA with a cluster of two ...
[Read More]

"In the words of Crazy Jim - "Let the mayhem, chaos and carnage begin!""
That pretty much described today's L900 Dark Matter drag race at LDRS. My "Gone to Plaid" (Ludicrous Speed's badder brother) is the rocket on the right just taking off from the pads  - Tile, text and photo by MDRA'er Stan Senesy.    
[Read More]

Videos Uploaded 7/15/12
I finally got around to transferring some analog videos to digital recently, so I went ahead and uploaded much of the rocketry-related content to YouTube, including several Saturn I test flights (2003-2005) and the related PVC Spider R&D tests.  I ...
[Read More]

Videos Uploaded 7/15/12
I finally got around to transferring some analog videos to digital recently, so I went ahead and uploaded much of the rocketry-related content to YouTube, including several Saturn I test flights (2003-2005) and the related PVC Spider R&D tests.  I even added video from the Dyna-Soar/Titan ...
[Read More]

When snowmobiles fly
Here's a photo of Crazy Jim's snowmobile at LDRS.  At least it sounded like the up part went well. Photo credit: Stan Senesy.
[Read More]

Three stages all in one motor!
I have been posting for years about the Sugar Shot to Space (SS2S) project, which employs dual-phase motors.  That is, a motor that has two burn phases.  Today, IEEE Spectrum reports on Multi-stage Micro Rockets for Robotic Insects .  This work was done by a group from the Harvard ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
BAfacts Archive , Bad Astronomy (Plait) Press Kit for the Mars Science Laboratory landing , NASA JPL, July 1012 (.pdf file) August 5th is the big day. U.S. Rocket Academy Gives XCOR a Big Texas Welcome , ParabolicArc (7/16, Messier) - More on XCOR's move to Odessa. Payload integration ...
[Read More]

Kelvin vs Fahrenheit vs Celsius conversion

[Read More]

I am 75% happy today
I don't know if that's exactly accurate, but I just got back from Facebook, where I saw where some guy flew three 'N' flights at LDRS.  For an hour or two my rockets will feel inadequate.  We also lost power last night for about 4 hours.  To add insult to injury, when it came on I ...
[Read More]

eBay: Estes Original Pro Series Rockets, Launch Pad, and Controller
A seller on eBay is currently offering an Estes Pro Series “bundle” which includes the Impulse, Maxi Force, Patriot, Terrier/Sandhawk, and Jay Hawk Pro Series kits along with the Command Control Launch Controller and the Power Plex Pad.  
[Read More]

eBay: New “First Edition” NCR Kits
North Coast Rocketry is making a comeback with the release of several new rocket kits. ”First Editions” of these kits are currently offered on eBay. These are one-of-a-kind items used to check the final version of the released kit. Each “First Edition” kit comes with a ...
[Read More]

DIY 18mm retainers (updated)
The latest edition of the Apogee Newsletter ( Issue #317 ) describes how to make screw-on 18mm retainers from pint sized water bottles.  The article, written by Chris Michielssen (master modeler, owner of Odd'l Rockets , and blogger at M odel Rocket Building ), provides a detailed ...
[Read More]

18mm Retainer Article In Apogee Peak Of Flight #317
  The Apogee Peak Of Flight Newsletter features an article I co-wrote with Geoffrey Dean Jackson or GDJ. (His signature on the Rocketry Forum) http://www.apogeerockets.com/education/downloads/Newsletter317.pdf   All the inspiration behind the 18mm water bottle ...
[Read More]

SpaceX : Mission Highlights Video
A video just released of the mission highlights from the ISS mission.
[Read More]

Entering space
  Just started reading this book by Zubrin.  It is not exactly "the case for mars", in that it does not dedicate the entire book to planning for specific missions.  What it does do is carefully examine the possible human future in space.  It also, perhaps most im ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Five Men Agree To Stand Directly Under An Exploding Nuclear Bomb , NPR (7/18, Krulwich) - Includes a video of the quintet of volunteers standing under a 2 kT bomb exploded at 18,500 ft above them. The article attempts to determine what became of them.  Some commenters dispute the details ...
[Read More]

Chinese moon rocket details emerge
There is an excellent article over at American Space about emerging details on the rocket that will used by China for moon missions. The Long March 9 (CZ-9) is being developed under two options. Option A (preferred – 321 foot tall) is an oxygen\kerosene rocket while Option B is an o ...
[Read More]

The saying is no longer "when pigs fly"...it's now "when pigs land (softly)"
Here's a recovery video of the Cajun Coalition's Cochon (aka Pig Rocket). Beau is still teasing us and holding back the launch segment. My wife said the Cochon should have bees stuffed with actual bacon bits." I personally think that would have just been a waste of that bacon.  You can catch ...
[Read More]

July 2012
July 21 from noon till 5 PM. Continue reading →
[Read More]

Four HPR rockets on Ebay
They are already out of my price range, but worth a look:       3" DIAMETER FIBERGLASSED 38MM MOTOR MOUNT PLYWOOD FINS   3 INCH DIAMETER FIBERGLASS 38MM MOTOR MOUNT DUAL DEPLOY     4 INCH FIBERGLASS 54MM MOTOR MOUNT DUAL DEPLOY KEVLAR ...
[Read More]

TR-1 motor casing
      The summer has been busy so there hasn't been a lot of Rocketry getting done.  I have been working on a test rig for the SStS program that will be used to test tensile strength of propellant which will have varies additives designed to increase its ...
[Read More]

Carbon Fiber Fins
I wanted to take a stab at making some carbon fiber fins from scratch, and here are the initial results. I used 10 layers of  5.9oz  plain weave carbon fiber with Cotronics 4461, which is supposedly stable up to 500 degrees after a post cure for 4 hours at 250 degrees F. The ...
[Read More]

Model R/C Predator JATO take-off video

[Read More]

Adventurous People -- Nick Macomber
At LDRS 31, I had the pleasure of meeting Nick Macomber, who flies the Go Fast Rocket Belt. Nick Macomber flies the Go Fast Rocket Belt at events and functions all over the world. His passion for Adventure led him to a keen interest in rocket belt technology and someday hopes to design a jet-engine ...
[Read More]

The line up for Hellfire 17
Hellfire is just around the corner. I'm already making checklists, comparing motor prices, looking over my budget and doing final adjustments to rockets. Last year I focused on getting as much flights in as possible. I was always frantically running around. This year I'm just going to sit back and ...
[Read More]

2013 TARC Rules released
From the AIA: The 2013 Team America Rocketry Challenge offers a new challenge to the student teams. Here are some of the highlights for the 2013 contest: 1.Target altitude of 750 feet 2.Duration of flight should be between 48-50 seconds 3.Payload is one raw egg placed horizontally 4.External ...
[Read More]

BayouRat Rocketry Launches To 9,000' At Southern Thunder
Here is a on-board video from my last launch. The rocket was  5" in diameter and 12' tall. The motor was 3" x 28" and contained 7lbs. of APCP propellant. The rocket flew to 9,000' at just over Mach 1 and was successfully recovered. BayouRat Aerospace and Rocketry will be ...
[Read More]

LDRS 31
  Another LDRS 31 has come and gone. As usual, the hosting club put together a really nice event. The first day was much like my first day at LDRS 30: hot and dusty. You can always tell the weather by how my feet look at the end of the day. I was scheduled to [...]
[Read More]

Gun bless 'merica
For the low low price of 15,000 dead citizens a year, you too can keep your country safe from: 1.)  The King of England 2.)  Communists, nazis, and liberals 3.)  Misc. minorities who plan to rob you or defile your women 4.)  Your own lack of confidence Major shootings since ...
[Read More]

Tampa TTRA Launch July 21, 2012
It was HOT today in Plant City, Florida at the monthly Tampa TTRA launch. Hot enough to where you'd rather sit under the shade of a tent than chase rockets. Here's my RED MAX waiting for a pad assignment. It flew well with an Estes C6-5 to an estimated 625'.     ...
[Read More]

Cool steam rocket
B4-1V01 steam rocket (via Space Fellowship ) PS - Just noticed the oxymoron in this post's tile. LOL
[Read More]

Testing the Estes Pro Series II Igniters
There have been many online reports of people having problems using Estes’s new Pro Series II igniters to light composite motors such as the new motors from Estes. Some people have even reported a 100% failure rate using the new igniters. Others, however, have found that the new igniters ...
[Read More]

Aerospace Engineering?
"Aerospace Engineering? I'm considering a major in aerospace engineering. Does anyone have any experience in it, or know anyone who does it?" - A question by Tim Smith, which I answered 7/23/12 at 12:33 in the morning, on Yahoo Answers: YUP!! I love aerospace engineering. Here's my take: I ...
[Read More]

My First LDRS -- In 31 Seconds!
This is basically just a photo dump from my trip, put to some accelerated Gustav Holst, with a surprise at the end. Enjoy!
[Read More]

Fire, smoke, a slow spin and the mother of all airbags
This video from NASAtv summarizes the launch and deployment of the Inflatable Reentry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE-3).
[Read More]

The best laid plans...
The best laid plans often go awry and I can't say my Harpoon plans were best laid. It's looking more and more like the Harpoon will fly without any decals or markings. It is painted and the pop rivets are holding the pieces together. All it needs is rail buttons in order to fly at this weekend's ...
[Read More]

Inflatable heat sheild tested at Wallops
"The Inflatable Reentry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE-3) was successfully launched from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore on July 21. IRVE-3 is part of the Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator or HIAD project -- within the NASA Space Technology Program's Game ...
[Read More]

Former Astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly to space, has passed away
On June 18, 1983, Sally Kristen Ride, PhD flew to space and the history books aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. She inspired us all. Below is a statement from Sally Ride Science 's website.  You can find more about Sally on ParabolicArc , Space.com , and her  official NASA ...
[Read More]

More LDRS-31
Seems like the photo documentation has been slower coming this year. I haven't really scoured the Internet but will point out a few sources that I've run across. I may update the list and re-post as I find stuff. Jim Flis' LDRS-31 album - A large paper rocket, an 'N'-powered ACME Spitfire, Boris ...
[Read More]

God Speed Sally Ride, Rest In Peace
AMERICA'S FIRST WOMEN IN SPACE!   In a space agency filled with trailblazers, Sally K. Ride was a pioneer of a different sort. The soft-spoken California physicist broke the gender barrier 29 years ago when she rode to orbit aboard space shuttle Challenger to become America’s ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
today in 1950: 1st rocket launch from Cape Canaveral. The rocket was a Bumper 8, a German V-2 captured after WWII go.nasa.gov/OWjKLz — NASA History Office (@NASAhistory) July 24, 2012 X-15A-3 Structural Temperatures , Unwanted Blog (7/24, Lowther) Top 5 "Earth as Art" ...
[Read More]

Essential Tools: Cotton Swabs
This seems like a rediculous post - but lately I've ended up using these on every build. I buy mine at the Dollar Store or get a cheap generic brand. You'll be throwing them away anyway so don't buy anything too expensive. I use one anytime I can't comfortably reach an area with the ...
[Read More]

Interns to launch Colorado’s largest model rocket
The 2012 Intern Rocket Launch at United Launch Alliance and Ball Aerospace is scheduled for July 28th in Pueblo,CO. Interns will launch a series of large rockets including one called the Future Rocket at 300 lbs and 25 feet in length it is purported to be the largest model rocket launched in ...
[Read More]

The Future Rocket (and others) will fly this Saturday
The Rocketry Blog reminds us that the ULA/Ball interns will be flying rockets this weekend, July 28th, near Pueblo, CO.  You can go watch but you'll have to register (may be too late?).  All the pertinent details can be found on ULA's 'next launch' page .  The attached graphic ...
[Read More]

Chinese confirm robotic mission to moon in 2013
According to Beijing Morning  Post, Chang’e 3(named after Chinese goddess of the moon) will launch in 2013 on an ambitious robotic mission to the moon. The soft landing made by a lunar landing craft will include a robotic rover. The rover includes a nuclear battery with an expected 30 ...
[Read More]

Armadillo gets their Operator Launch License for the STIG
  SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Armadillo PR) — At Newspace 2012 hosted by the Space Frontier Foundation in Santa Clara CA, Dr. George Nield, Associate Administrator for the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation, presented Neil Milburn, Armadillo Aerospace’s VP of Program ...
[Read More]

Schwerer Gustav 80 cm rail gun
              How many times can a person post about the same gun? Well more than thrice! Weight 1,350 tonnes Length 47.3 metres (155 ft 2 in) Barrel length 32.5 metres (106 ft 8 in) L/40.6 Width 7.1 metres (23 ft 4 ...
[Read More]

Space X models back in stock!
Before I start - Today I leave on my last Alaska cruise this season. Another week of frustrating crappy Internet connections! I'll be back in Orlando on August 4. Until then, if I miss a post or two, you'll know why. Brian Coyle (Our Orlando R.O.C.K. NAR Section President) sent ...
[Read More]

LPR/MPR kit news
Yesterday, Matt Steele posted that the first batch of the new NCR kits have been shipped to Apogee, which is the only distributor.  He will also have a few at NARAM-53, should you be going.  The kits include the futuristic SR-99 , the classic-styled  Lance Delta  (styled after ...
[Read More]

Masten Xombie test Mars EDL Trajectory
“We’re excited to release this footage of Masten’s July 25, 2012 Mars landing trajectory test flight on Xombie. The flight reached 476.5 meters in altitude and translated 500 meters downrange. The test was carried out for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to test the ...
[Read More]

Clustering STIG modules for higher performance
  By utilizing many STIG-A type modules in a cluster, it will be possible to achieve two and maybe even three stage flights.  This can greatly increase altitude and performance.  The proposed STIG - VII seen above appears to approach the performance needed for ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2012-9
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD MDRA  ESL-170) Weather: clear, 90's, wind 0-5 mph Total flights: Today - 8; YTD - 74 Total motors: Today - 9; YTD - 89 Motors by class YTD: MicroHybrid -1; MMX - 6; A - 6; B - 5; C - 31; D - 6; E - 21; F - 5; G - 8 The weather turned out great ...
[Read More]

NARAM-54 is underway
As expected, NARAM Live! is going to cover this year's event.  There is also a YORF thread  being populated with news and photos.  I am interested in the price of the new NCR kits and whether there is any news on the Klima motors that Quest plans to distribute.
[Read More]

NARAM Live! - Saturday
NARAM Live! has the photos from yesterday posted.  They are clearly from the sport range - it's good to see that LDRS does not have a monopoly on odd-rocs! I included a photo of a really cool alien craft that you sci-fi fanatics might recognize.  I just know it is quite odd. There is a ...
[Read More]

BMS IMP Kit - $.99 !
  Bill Saindon of Balsa Machining Service announced a new kit last night at the NARAM manufacter forum. It's the IMP , a BT-5 based model made for 13mm "T" engines. Featherweight (or tumble) recovery. Only $.99, this is the lowest priced model rocket kit on the market! This ...
[Read More]

Land speed record vehicles up to the 1980's
Dark Roasted Blend has started a series on vehicles which set land speed records.  So far, two parts of the series have been posted with the third presumably covering the 1990's to the present.  As usual, DRB has a lot of photos but you can find even more if you follow the source links ...
[Read More]

These aren't your kid's stomp rockets
There is a new(ish) thread on TRF about Air Pressure and Paper Stomp Rockets (Mike Bauer) . So, what's different about these? Answer: They are BIG (as you can see from the attached photo).  The thread continues to describe the models and the launcher and there is a pointer to a propane ...
[Read More]

Frenzy Massive progress
This weekend I took several more steps toward my N1975 flight at Black Rock dry lake in September .  The Madcow Frenzy Massive 's coming together quite nicely: 1) Attached AeroPack motor retainer to aft centering ring 2) Completed nosecone assembly 3) Complete Ebay assembly (but still need to ...
[Read More]

Armadillo receives FAA launch license for STIG-B
Armadillo Aerospace is one step closer to flying a rocket into space after receiving a launch license from the FAA on Thursday. During a brief presentation at the NewSpace 2012 Conference in Santa Clara, California, FAA associate administrator for commercial space transportation George Nield ...
[Read More]

X-47B makes first flight out of Pax River
" PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (NNS) -- The Navy made Pax River history July 29 after it conducted the naval air station's historic first flight of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator. "  
[Read More]

World's slowest, most expensive dune buggy
"NASA engineers take the Curiosity test rover to California's Mojave desert to learn how to drive on Martian sand dunes."
[Read More]

Land Speed Record Vehicles
  1   and    2
[Read More]

ASP Engine Adapter 13/18 Part 1
A build blog about an engine mount? The Aerospace Specialty Products (A.S.P.) 13/18 Engine Adapter is different enough to justify it. Lots of parts - For such a small adapter (13mm to 18mm) Four centering rings and a central long coupler will make one strong mount.     ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Falcon 9 build - parts and initial thoughts
A few days ago, I mentioned that I had ordered a Falcon 9 kit from SpaceX. A mere 4 days later, it showed up at my door.  This was none too soon as my interest in detailing the Harpoon has waned.  One day, I'll find some vinyl tape or a sheet of Trim Monokote and my interest will ...
[Read More]

Wildman rocketry darkstar on Ebay
On Ebay.   As always, the price is really too high for me.  $250 for a starting bid on a rocket that sells in kit form for $125.  Sure there are parts and labor that went into it, a ton actually... but twice retail?!
[Read More]

N1 rocket at English Russia
  This is one of the best looking rockets of all time, and certainly could have become reliable with enough time and effort.   Stats from  Wikipedia:     Height 105 metres (344 ft) Diameter 17.0 metres (55 ...
[Read More]

Countdown to Curiosity: 4 Days
What will happen? 7 Minutes of Terror Watch it Live
[Read More]

The fuel is cheap, but the GSE can be expensive
Air Command has an interesting article on SCUBA equipment , as applied to water rockets.  I've become half-way interested in continuing my work on a PVC cannon for air rockets and have been thinking about air supplies.  As expected, SCUBA gear is the Cadillac of air sources. ...
[Read More]

This NARAM-54 post stinks (update)
And, you thought trees, corn and soybeans suck  Via the TRF post, I see that the NARAM field has a hazard that stinks both figuratively and literally -  a waste water treatment pond.  ECayemburg reports on the loss and subsequent recovery of his Tarantual from what he calls " THE ...
[Read More]

ASP Engine Adapter 13/18 Part 2
Press the peeled rings into place using a flat surface. I'm using the flat side of my sanding block. Using a flat surface like this guarantees the ends are flush. TIP: You should take down the raised "burrs" along the inside of the centering rings. This makes fitting the ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Verna and Randy's August 2012 update: Fire and Smoke - Spider webs don't belong on rockets or in your life; Trip Barber's exit interview; TARC 2013; the loss of one of their rocket friends - RIP Jack Kale Jr.; and a heads-up on the imminent landing of the MSL/Curiosity Rover (5 A ...
[Read More]

Countdown to Curiosity: 3 Days
William Shatner on the Curiosity Landing Curiosity Rover released as next Hot Wheels toy Curiosity(MSL) Fact Sheet
[Read More]

Colorado > than NY?
Up-Ship.com  recently suggested as much.  Right after the latest of  several  mass shootings in CO.  Why does he say so?  Well because people in Colorado went out after the mass shooting, and got more guns.  While the people in NYC again questioned why Americans ...
[Read More]

Soyuz Progress Launch, Rendezvous And Docking In Just 5 Hours and 43 Minutes
A mere 5 hours and 43 minutes after launch from Baikonur the Progress M-16M docked to the International Space Station today August 2nd 2012 at 01:18 UTC. This was a test of a new fast approach which in future may be used on manned Soyuz flights to negate the need for crews to stay in a cramp Soyuz ...
[Read More]

NARAM-54 is in its home stretch
NARAM Live! has posted a bunch of photos from Wednesday , including a couple of sets from other rocketeers.  There is also a tally of the contest standings. I saw several shots of NARHAMSter Chris Kidwell holding a largish tube fin rocket. I don't see him very often but have never seen him ...
[Read More]

ASP Engine Adapter 13/18 Part 3
The coupler assembly is glued on the center of the BT-5 motor mount tube. The third ring is glued flush with the forward end of the BT-5 tube. (not shown) You have to cut out a piece of the fourth, low ring to allow the engine hook movement. Make one cut and set it over the engine hook to mark ...
[Read More]

Puppy science
 
[Read More]

Countdown to Curiosity: 2 Days
Video about the scientific instruments on Curiosity Curiosity to search for organics Details on MSL(Wikipedia) more great links 3 DAYS - 4 DAYS
[Read More]

Estes V2 Build Part 2 Engine Mount Prep
Step 1 has you glue the engine mount together. I was reading a build on RocketReviews.com by Steve Lindeman: http://www.rocketreviews.com/estes-v-2-3228.html He thought one centering ring location was wrong. For his mount to fit correctly, the middle ring was glued at 7" from the end, ...
[Read More]

Cutting Lugs TIP
In some kits, you have to cut the long launch lug in two. You could saw back and forth with a new razor blade, but chances are you'd probably cut it at an angle or crush the lug. For a clean cut, slide the dowel down a scrap dowel for support. (I had to add a few wraps of masking tape to the ...
[Read More]

Lenticular Reentry Vehicle (LRV)
Fellow rocketeer Sascha Grant has pointed me to an interesting eBay action, which purports to be a big bag-o-parts for a lenticular aircraft . You can 'buy it now' for a mere mega-buck! A simple web search identifies the attached photo as the Lenticular Reentry Vehicle (LRV).   Mi ...
[Read More]

Countdown to Curiosity: 1 Day
MSL official web site Everything you need to know all on one page Great Landing Infograph by JPL  NASA Spacecraft including Curiosity on your iPhone Spacecraft 3D App for iPad-iPhone All previously reported links Video about the scientific instruments on Curiosity Curiosity to ...
[Read More]

Google Streetview in and about the VAB
The Vehicle Assembly Building as viewed by Google Maps Streetview I've had no time to explore...but I will!
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., August 4, 2012
I'd just got off the plane from Anchorage and headed over to the August Orlando R.O.C.K. launch. Brian said there was 34 registered flyers today. The group has gotten large enough for a third set of four pads - the new C rack! It rained here and there, most rockets landed close down the ...
[Read More]

This Frenzy Massive's sorta tall...
I resumed building today, completed the following, and everything's curing in my warm garage: Frenzy Massive: Designed the EBay sled template in Illustrator, traced and cut that from 1/16" G10, JBWelded brass tubing on the bottom, taped the tubes in place, and threaded into the cavity ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
MSL: When We'll See the First Images from the Surface of Mars , IEEE Spectrum (8/5, Ackerman) - Photos of the surface are always cool but I want to see decent/landing photos from the Mar Reconnaissance Orbiter's HiRISE camera! ... comprehending the incomprehensible! , Atomic ...
[Read More]

MSL Curiosity Mars rover landing T-4 hours
Coverage at Bad Astronomy Coverage at the Planetary Society Best of luck Curiosity!
[Read More]

Far Launch Report
Yesterday I went out to the desert, here’s some pictures below. For the full report click here.
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets at NARAM 54
  Those are Odd'l Rocket kits and accessories hanging along the top of the Sirius Rocketry tent at NARAM 54 held last week in Muskegon, Michigan. David Miller sold some kits, I had a order waiting for me when I got back from Alaska. Check out all the NARAM pictorial coverage at: ...
[Read More]

Curiosity Arrives Safely on Mars!
    After 7 minutes of waiting on pins and needles, the Mars Science Laboratory is now safely on the ground. The first thumbnails have already come in just minutes after the landing, and scientists are just itching to start getting data! This mission has been a major ...
[Read More]

Mars looks good!
    Mars MSL Curiosity Rover NASA - JPL Here is how the whole thing went down:
[Read More]

Curiosity is on Mars
9 AM August 6 Landing Recap News Conference Statement by the President on Curiosity Landing on Mars “Tonight, on the planet Mars, the United States of America made history. The successful landing of Curiosity – the most sophisticated roving laboratory ever to land on another planet ...
[Read More]

Has an Apollo 13 secret been revealed over 40 years later?
An interesting thread appeared on Reddit recently where a 97 year old ex-deputy chief of media relations during the time of the Apollo 8 and Apollo 11 dropped a real bombshell claiming that an unknown MIT student came up with the idea to slingshot Apollo 13 around the moon and save the mission. ...
[Read More]

MRO captures MSL 'chute!
      See more at TPS blog by Emily
[Read More]

MRO/HiRise capture the MSL/Curiosity's descent
While its nice to see the early photos of Mars taken by the MSL/Curiosity Rover , they mostly just show that the rover is alive.  For me, the following is much cooler!  (Via High Power Rocketry  -  Emily's Blog  - NASA/JPL - Mars Reconnaissance  ...
[Read More]

Lightning is crazy!
"A positive cloud-to-ground lightning flash triggers upward positive lightning leaders to form from three television towers in Rapid City, South Dakota. Filmed at 9,000 images per second, the video shows positive leaders descending from the thunderstorm with one connecting to ground. The resulting ...
[Read More]

I normally don't like the recovery segment of on-board videos
But here is a cool stop motion video made from 297 images taken by the Curiosity Mars Descent Imager (MARDI).  This covers the period from heat shield separation to landing - about 2.5 minutes.
[Read More]

MSL Pictures
I actually stayed up until one in the morning last night watching this stuff unfold. Even my heart was pounding during those last 7 minutes of terror. You may have seen that previous video I posted about how complex the landing sequence is. If any one thing malfunctioned, the entire multi-billion ...
[Read More]

Irony...
 
[Read More]

Dirigibles
    "The golden age of the passenger airship came to an abrupt halt on May 6, 1937 when the Hindenburg scorched the night sky over Lakehurst, New Jersey. Stunned by newsreel footage of the disaster, the public understandably lost faith in the zeppelin as a secure mode of ...
[Read More]

[MSL] Video from Curiosity As She Landed on Mars
This is a low-res video. Stay tuned for the hi-res version. Incredible!
[Read More]

Links roundup
The Steam Aerial Navigation Company, circa 1850 ( via ), x planes (8/7) X-48C Takes to The Air , NASA Watch, (8/7, Cowling) Not on Facebook? Employers, Psychiatrists May Think You’re a Psychopath , Mashable (8/7, Fox) Zaptacular Navy pt. 2 , Unwanted Blog (8/5, Lowther) F-104A ...
[Read More]

Naram 54 - Naram Live!
  Once again, Chris Taylor has posted great pictures from the NARAM 54 meet: http://www.naramlive.com/naramlive-2012/naramlive/index.html For those who couldn't be there it's great photo coverage.         Starting on Page 5 of Friday's coverage ...
[Read More]

Inventing the diamond anvil
NIST.GOV
[Read More]

Russian Proton Rocket Fails To Reach Target Orbit
  MOSCOW -- Russia's space pride suffered another blow Tuesday when a booster rocket failed to place two communications satellites into target orbits, a mishap that came a day after NASA successfully landed a robotic vehicle on Mars. Russia's Roscosmos space agency said the Proton-M ...
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, April 2012 (V7, I1)
It appears the ROCKETS Magazine machine is running again. They have gotten a bit behind but the editors assure me they are working hard to catch up and that subscribers will get all the issues they have paid for. Now, on to the content. The first item of note is my second installment of product ...
[Read More]

Countdown to Balls 21
Monty my rocket assistant cat approves of my latest purchase. He checks out all rocket activity happening in and around my house. I now understand Greg’s statement about his quest to spend even more money on rocket science. I’m not quite at the same spend level, as I’ll be ...
[Read More]

Estes V2 Build Part 9 Camo and Paint Ideas
  Here's the G. Harry Stine V2 drawing from an old NARTS Plan Program: www.oldrocketplans.com/narts/GERMANV2_102.pdf This is the paint pattern I hope to do.         While looking for pictures and scale data I ran across this - From the V2rocket.com ...
[Read More]

August 2012
August 26 from noon till 5 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

Morpheus lander crashes on first free flight
Looks like the Morpheus lander has just crashed on its first free flight. Morpheus main site Last tethered flight
[Read More]

Morpheus Lander's first free-flight ended badly
This has pretty much beaten to death today (no pun intended), but I guesss I'll pile on.
[Read More]

Links roundup
Trimming the X-24A , Unwanted Blog (8/9, Lowther) Spotted: U.S. Army Blimp the Size of a Football Field [VIDEO] , Mashable (8/9, Li) NASA NERVA art, 1963 , Unwanted Blog (8/8, Lowther) The photos keep rolling in so these are now dated...but they are still awesome. First Color ...
[Read More]

Paper Stomp Honest John
About a week ago, I posted about Mike Bauer's large stomp rockets - his biggest is ~6 feet tall!  I since found his website, AlaskaPaperModelWorks .  He offers three plan packs in increasing size (although not the 6-footer). These are all available as downloads via eca ...
[Read More]

Estes V2 Build Part 11 Semi Scale Fin Shape
From the G. Harry Stine scale drawings, I enlarged the scale fins to the same root edge length as the kit fins. For stability, the kit fins are wider than actual scale. "Stacking" the fins together gave me better reference point so I could make small adjustments that are closer to the real ...
[Read More]

Kosdon P 10,000 on Ebay
I took a short break from rocketry and wound up missing tons of crazy stuff!  Combine this kit with an all-motor N 5800, with a 20 second staging delay, and I think you could have a decent space shot on your hands. "This high performance, aluminum and composite project was designed by ...
[Read More]

Lightning strike makes power line explode in sparks
 
[Read More]

Irony: Morpheus died, but the Xombie lives
"Building on the success of the 500 meter downrange flight on July 25, we're excited to announce the completion of a flight that reached 476.5 meters in altitude and translated 650 meters downrange on August 9, 2012. Like the July 25 test, this test was completed for NASA's Jet Propulsion ...
[Read More]

Paper Stomp Honest John, 24mm conversion
  Although I have converted several paper models for flight , I had never tackled one as large as the Honest John paper stomp rocket from  AlaskaPaperModelWorks . It's even bigger than the Model Minutes G200 Carrier . I had two copies printed. While I was building the stock ...
[Read More]

NARAM 54 Manufacturer's Forum
The NARAM 54 Manufacturer's Forum videos are ready for viewing http://www.youtube.com/user/naramlive53 Scroll down to N54 Day 2 VIDEO 1 0:00 ARA Press 2:35 NARTS 4:00 BMS 13:50 Red River Rocketry 16:50 Aerotech 32:00 Semroc 48:30 New Way Rocketry VIDEO 2 0:00 Quest/ERockets.biz 5:00 ...
[Read More]

Accelerator rocket (v1 and 1.1)
      " What do you think of this? Pictured is a CTI 5 grain case that with the spacer will hold a K2045 VMAX. The 24 inch body tube stops at the fin can and will be trimmed back to approximately 15 inches. A hardpoint anchor in the motor spacer will connect a ...
[Read More]

24mm Paper Honest John, Part 2
I made good progress on the 24mm paper Honest John today. As I mentioned in the previous post, I attached three centering rings to the 24mm tube. I didn't fully think out the recovery harness but attached a short Kevlar leader to the top ring so I could keep going. I recently found a small plastic ...
[Read More]

Misc. MSL images
 MARDI image of falling heat shield    Surface of rover showing pebbles kicked up by landing      Self-portrait taken with mast camera   All images from NASA/JPL
[Read More]

Copenhagen Suborbitals LES Test
Preliminary reports say that the Copenhagen Suborbitals Launch Escape test did not perform as expected. The launch was successful but  there were stability problems with the vehicle and it tumbled end over end while still under powered flight. All other aspects of the test worked as expected. ...
[Read More]

Copenhagen Suborbital's Tycho Deep Space LES test flight
Includes pad cam and on-board footage. I haven't read much about the launch. What the heck is that sand on-board? Low-tech ballast?
[Read More]

24mm Paper Honest John, part 3
Today, I continued building the nose cone by adding the lower sections. The third section (larger-to-smaller diameter) went on well but I hit a snag with the lowest section (straight tube section marked with 'US'). Since I had installed a lower bulk plate, I couldn't make sure the tabs were flush ...
[Read More]

Bizarre shotgun loads
Lots of strange shotgun loads including washers, screws, bbs, wax, and home-made flechettes.
[Read More]

MSFC's Mighty Eagle Lander flies again
It appears MSFC's Mighty Eagle Lander has begun another series of tests .  In this series, the autonomous, hydrogen peroxide-fueled,  lander will perform hover and translate maneuvers. Here is a shot of the Mighty Eagle along side the historic Saturn-1C Static and F-1 test stands. ...
[Read More]

Mighty Eagle lander flies again
NASA’s protoype robotic lander, Mighty Eagle, took to the skies again at Marshall Flight Center. “The lander is equipped with automated rendezvous and capture technology that contains a camera that allows the vehicle to locate its target and image processing software that generates ...
[Read More]

Micro Bullying on TRF
This is a copy of a message sent to a "Micro" Rocketry Forum member. I sent this letter after many negative responses to forum posts I've made over the past five years. Insults directed at me were funny at first. Then I noticed I wasn't the only target. ...
[Read More]

N 5800 minimum diameter attempt at blackrock!
The specs:  Aluminum fin can: 3/16 inch heat treated 6061 fins Fins were beveled on the leading and trailing edges Fins were welded onto a 1/8 inch fin can that fit directly over the motor case High heat epoxy was used to smooth fillets for aerodynamic purposes Nose cone: Performance ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Curiosity rover: Martian solar day 2 , 360cities.net (Bodrov) - This is really cool! U.S. Air Force’s Plug-and-Play Satellites , IEEE Spectrum, (August 2012, Lyke) Finding a new species on Flickr , Flickr Blog (8/10) - Here's the abstract from ZooKeys: A charismatic new species ...
[Read More]

Centuri V2 Kit #KS-19
The Centuri V2 kit was one I wanted, but never ordered. It was a little larger than the Estes BT-55 model. The Centuri version was built around the ST-16 tube and stood 14.2" tall. This picture is from the 1971 Centuri catalog. It seems every manufacturer has had a V2 kit at one time. From ...
[Read More]

Missile Man
"THE BIG PICTURE" covers training of the Army's missile man -- In this era of both missiles and missile men, THE BIG PICTURE covers training activities at three of the major centers in which the Army's missile men receive their highly specialized training. The United States Army, as almost ...
[Read More]

Oryx 2.0: A Planetary Exploration Mobility Platform
      Worcester Polytechnic Insitute's 2012 RASC-AL Exploration Robo-Ops Competition Team
[Read More]

Fin flaws spell death for rockets (and hypersonic planes)
  The US Air Force reports that the latest flight of the X-51A Waverider failed due to a problem with a control fin.  The Waverider separated from its rocket booster but crashed before the scramjet was started. Don't think this is a new photo, but it is a cool one. (seen via ...
[Read More]

Ultra Cheap Drying Stand TIP
I didn't have anywhere to stand the V2 after spraying on the first white coat. I had the dowel (painting wand) in an engine casing locked in the engine mount. The low end of the dowel was sharpened from an earlier build. The pointed end of the dowel was simply punched into a cardboard box! ...
[Read More]

Latest uploads on Youtube Channel
I have been trying to get more serious about maintaining the youtube channel these days. The videos now have well over 1,000,000 hits, and I will be uploading lots of government archive videos. Some videos will be posted here on HPR, but the best bet is to visit my channel directly: R0CK3TSM0K3
[Read More]

Your daily dose of awesome: Imaging at a trillion frames per second
I normally warn readers about long videos but all you'll get on this one is encouragement. Watch the video! First, from the video's description: Ramesh Raskar presents femto-photography, a new type of imaging so fast it visualizes the world one trillion frames per second, so detailed it shows ...
[Read More]

Xombie 750m Mars EDL Divert Trajectory
On their blog, Masten discusses the latest Xombie flight. And, of course, there are videos. Xombie went to new heights, moved at faster speeds, and translated further. "As far as we know, the 750 meter translation flight represents the longest terrestrial translation flight ever undertaken by ...
[Read More]

Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL), re-purposed
During the Shuttle program, the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL) was used for training purposes and to integrate changes to hardware and flight software into the orbiters. Containing 100% accurate cockpit and avionics, SAIL was identified as OV-095. I didn't know this, but the ...
[Read More]

Earth + Mars bffs
 
[Read More]

Links roundup
Von Delius Blasts Tripoli J and K Records On Same Day , ROL (8/16) - JMAX, AT J510W to 23,735; KMAX, CTI K300 to  31,643'...way to go Curt! Latest uploads on Youtube Channel , (8/16) -  Retro space videos enclosed  Missile Man , High Power Rocketry (8/15) - Another retro ...
[Read More]

24mm Paper Honest John, completed
Earlier today, I was in the Dungeon for something else and decided to dry-fit a rod in the newly installed lug.  I discovered I had forgotten something...the through-the-nose launch lug. Glad I checked! The model is long enough that I could have used a standoff to keep the rod from poking the ...
[Read More]

JMAX and KMAX destroy altitude records!
 JMax flew on a J510W (AT) to 23,735 feet AGL, accelerating at 80 gs to mach 2.7.  This altitude is comparable to the performance of a conventional minimum diameter M motor.  The JMax is about the size of a LOC Aura, and I would guess not much heavier either (without motor.) ...
[Read More]

Opensat: South Korean Artist Song Hojun Creates DIY Satellite from Recycled Parts
"South Korean artist Song Hojun has created his own DIY satellite from scratch – and he’s planning to launch it into space this coming December. Song created the satellite from assorted junk he found in back-alley electronics stores in his home town of Seoul, and over the course of ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
A Lomographic Look at Mount Sharp , Lights in the Dark (8/18, Major) Dinosaurs at NASA , NASA Watch (8/18, Cowling) - It turns out, a dinosaur track made by an armored nodosaur has been unearthed at GSFC. Keith proposes that NASA excavate the site robotically as practice for work ...
[Read More]

Missile flight safety

[Read More]

The Moon - a giant globe
    http://publicdomainreview.org/
[Read More]

The biggun’s
My wife and kids are off at the inlaws this weekend, so I thought it would be a good day to do some clean up. I pulled out all of my rocket’s larger than 7.5” diameter for a group shot   From left to right: 7.5" / 10ft Patriot : 10" / 9.5ft Maximum Thrust [...]
[Read More]

Launch Report 2012-10
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD MDRA ESL-171) Weather: mid-70's, wind 0+ mph, cloudy Total flights: Today - 6; YTD - 80 Total motors: Today - 6; YTD - 95 Motors by class YTD: MicroHybrid -1; MMX - 6; A - 6; B - 5; C - 32; D - 7; E - 23; F - 6; G - 9 The trip to-and-fro was quick, the ...
[Read More]

New Estes Kit Instructions Posted
Bryan B on YORF posted links to upcoming kit instructions on the Estes website. "The Centuri seems to have the PNC-50BB with nozzle so Black Brant III clones should be easier. It's also weird seeing 'Centuri' and 'Estes' on the same rocket. The Black star voyager will have to go in the 'Build ...
[Read More]

Estes V2 Build Part 24 White Spray and Sand
After the first white color coat, I had to go back and wet sand with 400 grit. The picture shows how much sanding was done, in some places down to the grey primer. It's hard to get sand flat on the rear of the tail cone. There was some fillets lines that needed to be taken down. ...
[Read More]

The Atom Strikes - Trinity, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki
This rather sterile treatment of the bombings shows a great deal of physical damage to infrastructure, while totally ignoring the harm to humans there. Still, it manages to be quite disturbing after a while as much because the matter is never addressed. The city is just empty looking. The now ...
[Read More]

R/C submarine fires MicroMaxx missiles
This is way cool.  Three MicroMaxx motors outfitted with dowel nose cones are fired from a scratch-built R/C sub.  (seen via TRF)
[Read More]

Rocket explosion
I gather this is a "cato" or explosive failure of a Titan 34D rocket. Mr. McClure, what does CATO stand for?
[Read More]

Links roundup
AIRFest 18 ! Vern and Steve's 1:9 scale Saturn 1B's will fly again. How about a 1:3 Mercury Redstone?!? Cretaceous Footprints Found at Goddard , NASA GSFC (8/20) - More on the NASA Nodosaur Rocket explosion , High Power Rocketry (8/20) - CATO or cato? Watch as Curiosity touches down ...
[Read More]

College Halfway Point.
Being at the midpoint of any endeavor yields some interesting perspectives. Admittedly, I may be here as long as five years, but the view is still the same. I have come a long way from where I started and I have a long way to go until the finish line.   My journey started out strong ...
[Read More]

Manned Spaceflight Instrument Panels
Just like your modern car dashboard manned spacecraft have elaborate Instrument panels for operation, computing and guidance. Historically these have become much more elaborate over time and they monitor and control a vast army of instruments. Take a look at these historic panels and the increased ...
[Read More]

Titan III Research

[Read More]

Launch Report 2012-11
Location: Mattie Sepanek Park Weather: 75 degrees, wind 0++ mph, partly cloudy Total flights: Today - 3; YTD - 83 Total motors: Today - 0; YTD - 95 Motors by class YTD: (Air -3); MicroHybrid -1; MMX - 6; A - 6; B - 5; C - 32; D - 7; E - 23; F - 6; G - 9 Today, I launched the AlaskaPaperModelworks ...
[Read More]

Gloria Ramirez
  Wiki
[Read More]

Cyclone Egg Lofter!
Mike Debreceni (MarmotFL on YORF) has taken the Jonathan Mills Cyclone design to new heights - as an Egg Lofter! Here's Mike's launch report from YORF - "This Saturday, we held our egg loft duration contest. I'm proud to say that my 2X upscaled Cyclone won , with a flight duration of approx ...
[Read More]

Frenzy Massive - first fin pair curing...

[Read More]

Combat fighting with handguns
Correct grips; three basic firing positions; firing quickly and instinctively.
[Read More]

Carbon fiber fins for an N5800 project
      This last image shows the fin sanded down significantly.  These are extremely thick fins, nearly half and inch at the base.  I have little doubt that they are strong enough, but how about adhesion to the rocket?  The OP suggests he may just do ...
[Read More]

Big a$$ rocket of the day - 6" bottle rockets in Thailand

[Read More]

Latest Masten Xombie Mars EDL flight
Great multi-camera view of the latest Masten Xombie EDL test flight. This time the flight takeoff and landing sites were 750 meters apart and the flight apogee of 476 meters. “Less than a week after the successful completion of the 650 meter down range flight on August 9, Masten successfully ...
[Read More]

MSL Curiosity Descent Footage HD

[Read More]

Two kludged-up air rockets
I wanted to try a few smaller air rockets but I didn't want to fiddle with a graphics program, didn't have plans for smaller rockets that would fit my 1" barrel and didn't want to buy more stuff to adapt a smaller barrel. So, I this is what I came up with. The small one was based on a plan ...
[Read More]

Estes V2 Build Part 27 Masking the Roll Pattern
Working from the G. Harry Stine drawings the black areas were temporarily marked with black electrical tape. If you've ever done a roll pattern before, you know it's hard to remember where you are. The black tape helps me keep track as I rotate the body and check the drawings. To ...
[Read More]

Boosted dart?

[Read More]

New line of sight

[Read More]

The range goes green
"Test of a Nike-Zeus intercept of a Nike-Hercules missile at White Sands Missile Range is shown. Each phase of the test is explained."
[Read More]

Launch Report 2012-12
Location: Mattie Sepanek Park Weather: 82 degrees, wind 0++ mph, partly cloudy Total flights: Today - (3); YTD - 80 Total motors: Today - 0; YTD - 95 Motors by class YTD: (Air -6); MicroHybrid -1; MMX -6; A -6; B -5; C -32; D -7; E -23; F -6; G -9 Yesterday, I threw together two quick air powered ...
[Read More]

Cosmos space exhibit in Moscow, 1969
      "There used to be an interesting exhibition hall in Moscow, it was called “Cosmos” and was devoted to the Soviet achievements in space development. Boys of those days were often taken there by parents. Leaving they were sure they wanted to become ...
[Read More]

Apollo Reentry Simulation
 
[Read More]

XCOR to Open New Operations/Manufacturing Facility in Florida
  XCOR Aerospace announced Thursday that it would be establishing a new base at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for manufacturing and testing of the company's Lynx suborbital spacecraft. Good news for me, this means as many as 150 new jobs through 2018. I *should* be graduated by ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
EEG-Actuated Watermelon Exploder , MAKE Magazine (8/24, Baichtal) The range goes green , High Power Rocketry (8/23) - Historic rocket video. New line of sight , High Power Rocketry (8/23) -  Historic rocket video. Saturday Night Gratuitous Eye Candy Thread , TrackForum.com - Lots ...
[Read More]

Ares 1 Nose Section Fix Part 1
After I "Stuck the Stick" I had a choice of building a new kit or fixing the damaged nose section. For some new blog entries, I decided to fix it. After cleaning off the card stock wraps, here's how the nose section looked after it was pulled from the ground. The nose tip dowel was loose and ...
[Read More]

Space Age Railroad - Rocket Sled Track at Holliman
Sorta a repost, but now it is my copy of the footage!
[Read More]

Neil Armstrong, First man to walk on the Moon R.I.P.
Sad story today. Neil Armstrong has died today at the age of 82. According to the reports he  underwent a heart-bypass surgery earlier this month to relieve blocked coronary arteries. Let us remember him this way.   ABC Report
[Read More]

Godspeed, Neil Armstrong
Neil Armstrong, astronaut, Apollo 11 Commander and first man on the moon is gone at age 82. Via ABC news . Check out his official astronaut bio . A statement from his family is available on neilarmstronginfo.com .
[Read More]

Ares 1 Nose Section Fix Part 2
This unthinned, thicker CWF is harder after drying and needed 220 grit to sand it down. This 220 grit is probably closer to a 300 grit, a little finer than the standard 220. The block was used to keep the sides straight. To square the edges of the shoulder lip, the scrap BT-50 was rough ...
[Read More]

Remembering Neil Armstrong
This picture from National Geographic probably represents most homes on July 20, 1969 - kids on the floor, crowded around a black and white TV trying to figure out the fuzzy images. From PBS: Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon, died Saturday, according to a family ...
[Read More]

Neil Armstrong tribute at the Freedom Launch
Jim Scarpine is planning an inpromptu tribute to Neil at the Freedom Launch, which is being held over the Labor Day weekend at Orangeburg, SC.: If anyone and any version of a Saturn V for a tribute launch for Cmdr Armstrong, I will provide motors. Lets do this, maybe several times. I won't be able ...
[Read More]

Honey Badger don't give a shit...
[ link ] ...but I do.  Only about 14 more holes to drill, some fillets to apply, and paint to be sprayed and I'm done with this beast! And I went though many, many syringes, cups, gloves, and wipes injecting foam into the fin area of this and my DarkStar Extreme Heavy:   I'm glad ...
[Read More]

Shield of Freedom

[Read More]

Kiwi - Nerva nuclear thermal rocket program
            "The main objective of project Rover/NERVA was to develop a flight rated engine with 75,000 pounds of thrust. The Rover portion of the program began in 1955 when the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission's Los Alamos ...
[Read More]

Ares 1 Nose Section Fix Part 3 Shroud Fitting
I didn't refer to the instructions so the shrouds weren't glued on in the recommended order.. The service module wrap was dry fitted around the straight, flat side of the nose cone. After marking it took a bit of trimming to get the right fit. The service module wrap was ...
[Read More]

PhoneSat 1.0
SpaceRef has an article about NASA Ames PhoneSat project.  PhoneSat is a based on the standard 4" Cubesat and reportedly costs a meager $3500. The off-the-shelf hardware includes the HTC Nexus One Android smart phone with its cameras, sensors, GPS and radio.  They have 'shaked ...
[Read More]

The quest for pyro free parachute deployment
Pyro free deployment is, in my opinion, one of the 'holy grails' of sport rocketry.  The 'pyro' rocketry folks (of which I am one) have had some success with compressed gas and mechanical approaches.  However, they tend to me heavy and relatively complicated (when compared to an ...
[Read More]

Laser Safety

[Read More]

A Tribute To Neil Armstrong 1930-2012
The following video was put together for the first general meeting of the Iowa State Space Society to honor one of our favorite space heroes. Hope you enjoy. Neil Armstrong, NASA engineer, test pilot and astronaut, the first man to set foot on the moon, passed away from cardiovascular ...
[Read More]

Paper Stomp Saturn V
After my last launch, I reworked the rocket that sprung a leak and built another minimum diameter, bare bones air rocket. This one is about 34" long with a 24" pressure tube.  In its flight configuration, the upper 6" forms a shock piston which hopefully will minimize the damage due ...
[Read More]

Ares 1 Nose Section Fix Part 4 Shroud Fitting
This rebuild of the Ares nose section will be made up of shrouds from a later version of the design. The only scan I found was from a different version. These shrouds are more complicated. Before gluing any of the shrouds, re-round them using a dowel. Get them as round as you ...
[Read More]

More Vladimir Demikhov dog head transplant images
          Although this seems cruel, one should keep in mind that these dogs were not killed, although some died during the development of this method, they were usually returned to their bodies unharmed.  In addition, this research provided ...
[Read More]

Hurricane Katrina vs Great Red Spot
 
[Read More]

Links roudup
ROCKETS Magazine is experimenting with e-publication. If you subscribe and haven't received an email, contact the editors. If you got the email, hope you are having better luck than I. How big is Hurricane Isaac?  Hurricane Isaac battering southeast Louisiana, northern Gulf coast , ...
[Read More]

Oops
Apologies for posting a report on September's MDRA launch. I keep my launch line-up in a draft post and accidentally hit 'publish' instead of 'save'.
[Read More]

Great, Cheap Shaping Tool
I've used these on the blog before. These are four surfaced nail files from the Sally Beauty Store. Beauty Secrets 4-Way File #169210 $1.19 each. There is two surfaces on each side, four surfaces in total go from 100 to 400 grit. These are washable. If it loads up, brush over it with ...
[Read More]

BSTC two stage project "Black Streak"
"Black Streak is a project managed under the auspices of the Bolton Science and Technology Centre (BSTC). With this project we have created a reusable rocket for launching high school science projects. The first phase, which was funded by a one off grant from the NWDA, was to create the ...
[Read More]

N5800 fins now installed
The N5800 project now has all three fins attached to the airframe.  The nosecone and fins use high temperature epoxy, the airframe is essentially a standard carbon fiber airframe.  Now the challenge is to assemble the payload and recovery, electronics, and most importantly, to reinforce ...
[Read More]

Ares 1 Nose Section Fix Part 5 Screw Eye
  When the screw eye was removed it pulled out balsa and made a hole too large for the screw threads. I had to plug the hole with something stronger.   Three toothpicks were glued into the hole. After the glued dried they were cut off flush with the base of the nose ...
[Read More]

Hemorrhagic fever - Extremely graphic footage
This video has nothing to do with rocketry, but I am desperately trying to get my youtube channel up to snuff. That means uploading more videos from my archive, and hopefully reaching out to new viewers. This video is graphic; it contains footage of a person being dissected in a postmortem ...
[Read More]

Paper Stomp Saturn V, completed
I finished up the cardstock Saturn V from AlaskaPaperModelWorks.  The finished model is 2.875" in diameter and 28.8" tall, including the nozzle bells. This is only a semi-scale but this equates to approximately 1:138 scale. First, I'll backtrack and identify the parts that are ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Backyard Ballistics NEW EDITION now available ,  Notes from the Technology Underground (8/30) - Now with more booms. Check out my review of the 1st edition here . Russian-Kazakh-Ukrainian Moon Rocket? , Spaceports (8/30) NASA Launches Radiation Belt Storm Probes , Spaceports (8/30) - ...
[Read More]

Tiny dead mouse
  Found this poor little guy on the sidewalk.  That is my normal sized pen for scale.
[Read More]

RBSPM @ APL
The pair of Radiation Belt Storm Probes Mission satellites were built by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, MD. They are the 65th and 66th spacecraft built and launched by APL since 1961.  I didn't know they had built that many. Very cool. Their RBSPM site has ...
[Read More]

Grover Aerospace
See more  here.
[Read More]

Vern Hoag's 1:9 Saturn 1B at Airfest
The 700lb scale Saturn 1B flew again at Airfest on four N5800's. No word on whether recovery was successful or on Steve Eves' version.  More info on this rocket and its first flight can be found on MDRA's Saturn 1B page .
[Read More]

Free Applewhite MMX and 13mm Pinwheel Part 1
  Here's the latest free rocket from Art Applewhite - The Pinwheel. Available in MicroMaxx and 13mm engine versions, it's a free download ready to be printed. Stop by Art's website at: http://www.artapplewhite.com/free.html Be sure to read and agree to the liability and ...
[Read More]

Asbestos and hyperbaric chambers
"Join the navy, where you can take on heroic exposure to asbestos and then do some chamber dives to help fix your lungs!" Speaking seriously, these two videos are simple and quiet, fun to watch on a Sunday morning.
[Read More]

Links roundup
Unexpected visit by the grand kids...no time to build, blog or fly. So, before the links get too stale... Verna and Randy's September update features odd photos , Neil Armstrong, Curiosity and spacejunk , and a non-rocketry  road trip .  AIAA Houston Horizons, July/Aug issue ...
[Read More]

LIVE! from the World Space Modeling Championship
Rocketry Live! is photo blogging from the WSMC in Slovakia !  
[Read More]

Free Applewhite Pinwheel Part 2 Cutting It Out
Here's the backside of the "A" piece. You can see the cuts and fold lines. Note: The dashed lines on the "B" piece don't get creased. Those dashed lines are the glue positions for the folded tips on the "A" part base. The small center hole is for the MMX launch rod. It was made using the rotary ...
[Read More]

Space Shuttle breaking through clouds
Something tells me this may be 'shopped...
[Read More]

V-2 rocket footage
       
[Read More]

Links roundup
V-2 rocket footage , High Power Rocketry (9/3) Live Hangout with me at RocketFest! , Bad Astronomy (9/3) - Fundraiser for Huntsville's US Space and Rocket Center - Rockfest Check out T.I.'s MSP-430 LaunchPad - A MPU development system for $4.30! U.S. Water Rockets offers their ...
[Read More]

Bare Necessities: N5800 competition entry
"This is the "Mudd Team"'s entry into the N5800CS competition. We are flying ours at XPRS (pending no tragedies in the remaining construction process). It was designed to be such that we could build it ourselves (well, by myself mostly, but that's a different story) at Harvey Mudd College ...
[Read More]

Magnificent CME Erupts on the Sun - August 31
Magnificent CME Erupts on the Sun - August 31 , a photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr.
[Read More]

Rocket status including a new, smaller air Honest John
The weather and my personal schedule have continued to delay the launch of my air-powered Saturn V.  So, this is what I've been up to instead. I wanted to build one of the Honest Johns from the Mike Bauer plan pack.  It's MUCH smaller than my earlier HoJo builds (~18" v. 39") and I ...
[Read More]

Free Applewhite Pinwheel Part 3 Gluing it Together
Fold over all four Tab 2 and glue flat against the "A" base with white glue. Next fold over the tabs on lines 3 and 4 but don't glue them down. The centers of the 3 - 4 tabs are glued to the "B" piece lined up inside the dashed lines. The instructions don't say if the "B" ...
[Read More]

NARHAMS member's team wins bronze in Slovakia!
Congratulations to NARHAMS member Kevin Johnson and the rest of the U.S. Senior S8-EP team (Kevin, Matt Burke and George Gassaway) who earned a bronze medal at the World Space Modeling Championship in Slovakia. Via Kevin on Facebook: USA S8EP team (radio controlled rocket glider) won a bronze ...
[Read More]

The pale blue dot; a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam
 
[Read More]

Launch Report 2012-13
Location: Mattie Stepanek Park Weather: 78 degrees and HUMID, wind 0++ mph, partly cloudy Total flights: Today - (6); YTD - 80 Total motors: Today - 0; YTD - 95 Motors by class YTD: (Air -12); MicroHybrid -1; MMX -6; A -6; B -5; C -32; D -7; E -23; F -6; G -9     Here is a ...
[Read More]

Links roudup
from “Nuclear-powered aircraft” (“Применение... , xplanes (9/5) DARPA's Cheetah Bolts Past the Competition  (video) - Worlds fastest legged robot hits 29+ mph. A Herd of Dyna Soars , Unwanted Blog (9/5) Gemini + Paraglider , Unwanted Blog (9/5) A ...
[Read More]

Magnificent CME Erupts on the Sun [HD VIDEO]
Magnificent CME Erupts on the Sun [HD VIDEO] a video by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr.
[Read More]

Rocket Powered Skateboard
I in no way condone this or suggest anyone else try it. I myself would not try this without some good protection from the motors such as a thick jacket and helmet.  The motors seem rather small for the size of the board, there is no doubt he would get better thrust from a few I motors ...
[Read More]

Hellfire Launch review.
To view my Hellfire launch review click here. Hellfire was great! Took over 300 pictures so much that I needed 2 flickr accounts: Here they are: Aksrockets Aksrockets2 The full hellfire video is here: Sorry I didnt post a launch review on my blog, I might later but for now the TRF one will ...
[Read More]

Rocket site of the week! "Greg Smith's quest to spend even more money on rocket science..."
One of the most interesting rocketry blogs out there is "Greg Smith's quest to spend even more money on rocket science". http://hawtakshun.blogspot.com/ I find this to be one of my most visited blogs. His blog is exactly as you would imagine one with such a title. Lots of very expensive rockets. ...
[Read More]

Free Applewhite Pinwheel Part 4 Engine Mount
The engine mount tube (Part D) is simply one wrap of card stock around a MMX engine. Wrap the card stock tight and burnish over the glue tab. The engine mount tube is pressed into the center hole until about 1/8" extends out over the top and bottom. Leave the casing in the tube to keep ...
[Read More]

A Nosecone Is Worth A Thousand Words!
Here's an Email from Brian Coyle: "Ha! Chris made the 'nose cone' parade on the HIGH POWER rocketry blog! Mr. Low Power. On a HPR site. {chuckle - smirk}" This is from the High Power Rocketry Blog, the 97th annual Nosecone Parade: You can check it out HERE Before checking out the link, I ...
[Read More]

More Construction
Been working more on the 3″ build, here’s some pictures.
[Read More]

Space Shuttle Onboard Footage

[Read More]

Free Applewhite Pinwheel Part 5 Painting the 13mm Pinwheel
Note: This is the top of the 13mm T engine Pinwheel. You'll notice a expended engine nozzle inside the motor mount tube. That's actually a casing stuck on top of a painting wand dowel. When flying the model, the engine nozzle would be down and out the flat bottom side. I wanted to give the ...
[Read More]

The J2X Rocket Engine

[Read More]

Successful ASAT launch, 1985
Untitled , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr.
[Read More]

Friday Links and News
Live Stream From the Space Station on September 13th: On Thursday, September 13 watch the live stream from the International Space Station and join host, Bill Nye the Science Guy, as he chats to NASA astronaut, Sunita Williams, to find out the results of the winning experiments. The experiments ...
[Read More]

Raven Rock Mountain Complex - Site R
 
[Read More]

The F-15 ASM-135 ASAT Program
        "The ASM-135 was designed to be launched from an F-15A in a supersonic zoom climb. The F-15's mission computer and heads-up display were modified to provide steering directions for the pilot. "On 21 December 1982, an F-15A was used to perform the ...
[Read More]

Kevlar Zipper Protector
Chuck Haislip (CWBullet on TRF) is working on a new style of  "bumper" to prevent Kevlar zippers at ejection. "If you are worried about a zipper, take a Nerf Dart and remove the end. Feed you shock cord through the hole and zip tie or glue it in place. It will stop the zipper by cushioning ...
[Read More]

Building another expendable rocket (updated, photo added)
Early in the 2000's, I built a lot of small, minimum or near-minimum diameter rockets to fly on G motors. My love for these expendable rockets started with the Rocket Vision Mach Buster .  I eventually lost all of them, many on their first flight and stopped making them when I moved to ...
[Read More]

Burning of military surplus rocket engines

[Read More]

V-2 photo of the day
White Sands, NM 1946  
[Read More]

Big a$$ rocket of the day: Mike Bauer's 1:32 scale Saturn V stomp rocket
Mike has gone big with his 1:32 scale Saturn V. This rocket required 1 4 sheets of 2ft x 3ft cardstock,  2/3 bottle of Aleene's Tacky glue,  3.5 hours of printing and 1 8-hours of construction. The resulting rocket is  10.43' long,  12.375"  in diameter and weighs a ...
[Read More]

Is Blue Origin working on a crew capsule?
    Take a peek inside the warehouse.
[Read More]

Links roundup
sunday fantasy #385: Clavework Graphics Some of their fantasy... , xplanes (9/9) - How about an R2D2-controlled Spitfire? Maryland Robotics Day 2012 Sci-Tech: General Fusion update , Space for All (9/7) The J2X Rocket Engine , High Power Rocketry (9/7) (Video link)
[Read More]

We Choose to go to the Moon
This week is the 50th anniversary of this great speech. September 12 1962 – Rice University Speech that set the goal for the Apollo program
[Read More]

George's Little Joe II Pages
If you’ve never visited George Gassaway’s site, be sure to check it out.  There is a ton of useful and interesting stuff there including his award-winning Space Shuttle project, as well as his Little Joe II model projects and comprehensive ...
[Read More]

O hai!
Self-portrait by curiosity rover.  Is it possible that Carly Simon was actually singing about this rover?  The world may never know...
[Read More]

September 2012
September 22 from noon till 5 PM. Continue reading →
[Read More]

SpaceX Grasshopper
This photo of SpaceX's Grasshopper testbed came from Steve Jurvetson's Flickr photostream .  He has several other photos, but I liked this one the best.
[Read More]

Massive pressurization...

[Read More]

I like 25,000 hits.
Simply declaring.
[Read More]

Stressful Fun: Random College Updates
If I thought I spread myself too thin last semester... I had no idea what was coming! Junior year in aerospace engineering is famous for requiring super-human abilities. Below I have summarized in a random bullet list some of the hectic, crazy objectives I am trying to complete this semester: ...
[Read More]

More low tech rocketry in the Dungeon
I managed to score a paper rocket experimenter's pack from Mike Bauer.  This includes 3 air rockets to experiment with altitude and 8 to experiments with stability. The altitude pack are similar 4FNC of varying lengths. These will presumably demonstrate the benefit of long ...
[Read More]

Masten Xaero vehicle lost in fiery explosion
Yesterday during flight testing of Xaero vehicle at higher altitudes the craft started to oscillate during landing final approach and crashed to the ground in a fiery explosion. official word from Masten: “Today, Masten Space Systems conducted a flight test of Xaero to 1 km ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2012-14
Location: My 'hood Weather: mid-70's, wind 0+ mph, clear Total flights: Today - (10); YTD - 80 Total motors: Today - -; YTD - 95 Motors by class YTD: (Air -22); MicroHybrid -1; MMX -6; A -6; B -5; C -32; D -7; E -23; F -6; G -9 I picked up a short piece of 1/2" PVC and a couple of adapter parts. ...
[Read More]

Follow up on the Masten Xaero failure
I have yet to see photos or video of the event, but it appears Masten lost their Xaero lander yesterday near the end of a test flight in Mojave. If you can't afford to lose them, you shouldn't fly them. ParabolicArc reports that they already assembling another copy. Here's a nice pre-flight photo ...
[Read More]

US satellite launch a bust

[Read More]

Links roundup
Oooh, shiny! , Art Applewhite - Chrome and gold rockets are back. You can see my mirror gold Delta Flying Saucer here . NASA drone spies on tropical storm Nadine , Capital Weather Gang (9/12) NASA's Huge New Rocket May Cost $500 Million Per Launch , Space.com (9/12) - Egads! NASA | ...
[Read More]

The sky's the limit.
 
[Read More]

Drone goes down in DC!!! (updated, AGAIN)
Update 2: Just saw this story on the WRDC4 11PM news! Update:  It appears that the videographic evidence of flights over DC have been pulled from YouTube. However, the linked article still shows a photo of the missing quadrotor. But it now appears that it, er, walked away on its own. Yeah, ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry September/October 2012
This month's magazine starts off with ... Seabrook, TX TARC rocket girls on the cover. The issue includes reports from TARC and NSL, the best parts of which are the photos. Next up is a build article on a Halloween-themed odd-roc named Skully . (Hmm, I think I have a little foam skull stashed ...
[Read More]

The Rockwell International Integrated Space Plan, circa 1989
Sean Ragan, via the MAKE:blog , has published a high resolution reproduction of Rockwell's info-graphic, which outlines a path for human exploration of the cosmos. The small version that I cross-posted doesn't do this plan justice so I suggest you look at his high res versions. This is busy and ...
[Read More]

The Nation bids farewell to Neil Armstrong
I think the attached image is a fitting tribute to Neil. It is the stained glass 'Space Window' in the National Cathedral, which was the site of today's ceremony. On July 21, 1974, Neil, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins delivered a sample from the lunar Sea of Tranquility to the Cathedral for ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Project Paper ,  gpoehlein  via TRF - An old post that includes paper plans of some Estes classics, such as the Big Bertha. Nanoengineers can print 3D microstructure blood vessels in mere seconds , NextBigFuture (9/13) The 13 Greatest Zombie Movies Ever Made [Video] , io9 ...
[Read More]

Successful Carmack Prize 100k' AGL Flight (updated)
Update: Someone correctly pointed out that the prize ain't won until John says its won. However, the fliers and launch organizers think that will be the case. Someone also pointed out that recovery was outside the waiver and BLM requirements. It's unclear whether that affects the prize being ...
[Read More]

Teams successful Carmack Prize attempt
UPDATE: Even though all requirements are met according to the rules the final word will have to come from John Carmack Team of rocketeers have now had a successful Carmack Prize attempt. Team: Ken Biba, Casey Barker, Erik Ebert, Becky Green, Jim Green, David Raimondi, Tom Rouse and Steve Wigfield ...
[Read More]

Jupiter
These kinds of cartoons and info graphics are extremely popular, particularly in Spain and India for some reason... so I will continue to post them when they are also applicable to space exploration.
[Read More]

M1000 to M685 flight - Apogee over 100,000 feet!
"This is the video of the AeroPac 2012 successful flight to 104,659' AGL on Tuesday 9/11/2012. It was a two stage flight with fully commercial certified motors - an AeroTech N1000 staging to an AeroTech M685. Full recovery (the airframe was flown again on Thursday 9/13/2012). There was full GPS ...
[Read More]

Why space?

[Read More]

How big would Jupiter look if it were at the distance of the Moon?

[Read More]

Wet Package!!!
Yeah, I know - no posts yesterday. I rarely miss a day but was in transit from Montreal to Orlando after getting off a cruise ship. Look what was waiting for me on the front porch . . . I had hoped this would have arrived before I left a week ago. It's part of a larger order from Quest. ...
[Read More]

Ares I-X Forward Skirt Extension Separation Test
 "This is high-speed camera footage of a separation test conducted for the Ares I-X rocket. The test simulated the separation event that will take place following the first stage of flight. The test needed to show that the linear-shaped charge used to separate the forward skirt extension ...
[Read More]

OpenRocket 12.09 released
Hey guys – there is a new OpenRocket available!   http://openrocket.sourceforge.net/ Hi, After way too long time, the next version of OpenRocket (12.09) is finally released.  This contains a huge number of improvements from a large range of contributors.  The biggest ...
[Read More]

Expedition 32 Returns Safely To Earth
Just a few hours after undocking from the International Space Station. Expedition 32 safley lands back on Earth in central Kazakhstan. The three member crew touched down, September 17th 2012 at 02:53 UTC strapped inside their Soyuz TMA-04M.
[Read More]

Kerplop! Expedition 32 Landing (201209170002HQ)
Expedition 32 Landing (201209170002HQ) , a photo by nasa hq photo on Flickr.  
[Read More]

I can't have it all...but I can have a Big Bertha
They say you can't have it all and they are right in my case. Family stuff cropped up this weekend and nixed the MDRA launch. This was my choice and, while I would have rather done what I did, I was sad about missing the launch. I even decided to quit rocketry. But then, gpoehlein's paper Big ...
[Read More]

Challenger accident summary

[Read More]

Open Rocket Version 12.09 Available!
A note from Open Rocket developer Sampo Niskanen: Hi, After way too long time, the next version of OpenRocket (12.09) is finally released. This contains a huge number of improvements from a large range of contributors. The biggest improvements is initial 3D support (thanks to Bill ...
[Read More]

N5800 rocket ready for Balls
This rocket looks mean indeed!  The rocket features extra thick CF fins and nosecone, both of which use a high temperature epoxy.  Although the fins are surface mounted, without tip to tip reinforcement, the builder thinks that the thick base ensures a strong enough attachment point. ...
[Read More]

Astrodynamics
To accompany a class I'm taking right now, I decided to do a video series on astrodynamics. I'm eating this class up since it is my first *real* space class. Sometimes the best way to dig deep into a subject is to teach it. That's where YouTube comes in to play. This is sort of a "Rocket Science ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Design motivation of the day: Blackburn Triplane Rocket , Daddyisbar on TRF Check out his entire 'goonie' airforce Warp Drive Research at NASA JSC , NASA hack Space (9/18) Plasma magnetoshell aerobreaking should be one thousand times better than aerobraking , Next Big Future ...
[Read More]

Nike Tomahawk Build Part 12 Adapter Seam Fill
Some may wonder why I didn't do a "but seam" with an internal glue tab on this shroud. I find that works better on larger shrouds. the smaller shrouds get the overlapping wrap glue tab. One advantage of the double thickness shroud is you can sand a little into the cardstock without it getting ...
[Read More]

Featured Rocketry Blog Posts
RocketReviews.com’s Featured Rocketry Blog Posts page list posts selected from rocketry blogs that are especially interesting. The page displays summaries of featured posts with links to read the entire post or to view a list of related posts. The Featured Rocketry Blog Posts page gathers ...
[Read More]

Horizons Newsletter - AIAA
This newsletter offers mostly new and even hypothetical aerospace designs and information, but it is also reprinting some incredible colliers articles clearly stating that "Man will conquer space soon!"  (And we did!) http://www.aiaahouston.org/newsletter/
[Read More]

Links roundup
Shuttle flyover/landing at Ellington Field, Houston today... , TRF (via lukeskywalker) Rocket Boys Festival, Oct. 5-6, in Beckley, West Virginia , Space for All (9/20) Scientist + liquid nitrogen + 1500 ping pong balls = boomhappy funtime [Video] , io9 (9/19) B612 Raises Capital For ...
[Read More]

Project 60K: N5800 Failure Analysis
"In May of 2012 Project60k was started as an attempt to break the “N” altitude record, and complete the CTI N5800 challenge. After much design and other collaborative work we had come up with a design that fit the goals and a reasonable timeline for completion. We then set off to find the ...
[Read More]

SpaceX and NASA Target Oct.7th for resupply mission
FROM NASA PRESS RELEASE: “NASA managers, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) officials and international partner representatives Thursday announced Sunday, Oct. 7, as the target launch date for the first contracted cargo resupply flight to the International Space Station under ...
[Read More]

Space Shuttle Endeavor flies over Golden Gate Bridge
         
[Read More]

The last Shuttle flight (update 3)
As everyone is aware, Space Shuttle Endeavour is making its final flight to Cali. This will be the last time a Shuttle will be in the air at an altitude higher than that attainable by a crane. Yesterday, I included a link to a TRF post that showed it buzzing, landing at, and sitting on the tarmac ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Marc's Totally Insane FAT BOY Fleet - From the guy who brought you Darth Maul's Revenge First test flight hop of our Grasshopper VTVL rocket! , Elon Musk/SpaceX (9/21) - The worlds shorted successful flight? Air Force Video Compares Facebook, iPhone to Atom Bombs , Wired Danger Room ...
[Read More]

Non-launch report
This AM, I trekked up to Westminster for a NARHAMS site. The gates were locked! I waited 40 minutes and decided to head home to eat lunch with family. That means the custodian of the facility probably arrived shortly thereafter. September was a bad month for organized rocketry here.  ...
[Read More]

Estes Mk-109 Stingray Build Part 1 Parts
I bought this one from a sale on TRF. It was a boxed E2X kit available from 1997 - 2003. Catalog number is EST 2131. I like the looks of it and not knowing how many plastic parts were included, I bought the kit. The box advertises: "Unique Ship to Air Missile Styling!" "Easy to Build, Fun to ...
[Read More]

Lunch with Bill Nye
So I was minding my own business in the computer lab one day (like I usually do), when in walks the president of the Iowa State Space Society (pictured above with her arm around Bill). She asks me and another student who is also part of the ISSS club what we were doing on Friday at noon. ...
[Read More]

Shooting a gas tank with a rifle
"...a complicated fuel/air setup with the fuel being dispersed by the high explosive ammonium chlorate. The ammonium chlorate, or tannerite exploding powder as it is sometimes sold, is hit with the bullet. This shockwave disperses and aerosolizes the gasoline. A meter or two away there are candles ...
[Read More]

Estes Mk-109 Stingray Build Part 2 Engine Mount
Check for any molding tabs or burrs. I'd never get this ring against the tube if this tab were left on. Notice how the raised tab fits into the upper notch in the blue tube.  The instructions are a little vague about where to apply the plastic glue. Plastic glue is typically messy and ...
[Read More]

Estes Mk-109 Stingray Build Part 3 Engine Mount
With the centering rings glued and dried, the engine hook is set into the forward notch. There is just enough room behind the forward tab for the hook front bend to slide in.  This is the notched engine mount section wet over the engine hook. It almost snaps down in place over the ...
[Read More]

Estes C6-5 Bulk Packs for Less than $30?
The RocketReviews.com Deals Finder currently shows that Amazon currently has bulk packages of 24 Estes C6-5 motors listed for $27.31 with free shipping for Amazon Prime members. That’s more than $65 off the list price. Look for Amazon’s offer under “More Buying Choices.” ...
[Read More]

BALLS 21 brief update
Hi, all. Bottom line: if one has an opportunity to participate in a BALLS launch one should wrangle some means of attending. Never in my life have I met a more amazingly skilled group of rocketeers who also offered mutual respect right up front.  The atmosphere seemed calm, comfortable, and ...
[Read More]

98mm aluminum rocket built around N5800
        http://www.ausrocketry.com
[Read More]

Space Shuttle Images
        http://lightbox.time.com  
[Read More]

Quest Shuttle Intrepid Model Rocket Kit – 45% off at Amazon.com
  Here’s another deal I found with the Rocketry Deal Finder. Amazon has the Quest Shuttle Intrepid kit at 45% off list price. It is eligible for free “Super Saver Shipping” (on orders over $25) and for free two-day Amazon Prime shipping.
[Read More]

Clear rocket motor (video)
I have seen (via the Interweb) several hybrid motors whose combustion chamber was a section of clear acrylic tube. I think the first was strapped to a bike by Ky "The Rocketman" Michaelson. This video isn't new, but I don't remember seeing a better example.
[Read More]

Estes Mk-109 Stingray Build Part 4 Fin Prep
The engine mount is shown dry fitted into place. The TTW fin slot is lined up with the engine mount slots. You can clearly see the wide seam running around the body tube. The package advertises "No Painting Required!" Yeah right - A flat finish body tube with glossy self adhesive decal ...
[Read More]

Firefly Kit - Fin Alignment
Here's a "School Rocket" from a company I'd never heard of before: You can check out the Aeroracers Firefly Rocket -   HERE This listing was seen on EBAY. From the Manufacturer's product description: The FireFly comes with the patent-pending, laser-cut FinLoc that allows the students to glue ...
[Read More]

Great video of a clear acrylic hybrid rocket engine
The engine built for demonstration purpose only allows you to see the dynamics inside a hybrid rocket engine.
[Read More]

BALLS 21 - CTI N5800 Minimum Diameter
"Don't Debate This" Apogee: ~56kft AGL, Max. vel: M2.9. This is the same rocket discussed below. This rocket had an aluminum fin canister, and a metal-cage reinforced airframe and nosecone. It was beefy, and so "only" went about mach 2.9 and about 10 miles up. Although that is highly impressive ...
[Read More]

Global Hawk Arrival
Global Hawk Arrival , a photo by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center on Flickr.
[Read More]

A (short) tale of air and water
Here are the two flying things that I have on deck. I assembled the Quest water rocket and converted a Guillows Space Shuttle to launch off of my 1/2" PVC launcher. I chose a 2-L pop bottle for the water rocket. There is barely any assembly. To prepare the bottle, you remove the ring that ...
[Read More]

New paper rockets available from Germany
These are two of Ralf Wenderoth’s many designs Ralf Wenderoth of Germany has been designing some great flyable paper rockets. On many of his designs Ralf includes the Open Rocket data. Today I have added  Ralf’s rockets to the Ultimate Paper Rocket Guide. You can find his ...
[Read More]

Two stage flight to 100,000 feet
  See the previous post for stats and on board video footage.  
[Read More]

Links roundup
Endeavour's Last Flight - As Seen From Space , NASA Watch Behold the latest spinny thing from Art Applewhite, the Bi-Oc Awesome Vintage Calculators , Dark Roasted Blend ROCKETS Magazine supports our troops , TRF
[Read More]

52,927′ at Balls 2012
Had a great time at Balls, nearly reached 53,000′ with Incredulous. See additional pictures and report here.
[Read More]

Carmack Prize officially won
"To our rocketry colleagues:  This is our notice of a successful attempt to claim the Carmack Prize for a documented amateur flight above 100K'. Our flight on Tuesday 9/11/2012 reached 104659' AGL as verified by both the onboard Beeline GPS as well as APRS telemetry from the airframe that ...
[Read More]

Estes Mk-109 Stingray Build Part 5 Mount and Lug Gluing
The body tube seams were filled with CWF and sprayed with grey primer. This is the tube and nose cone after the grey primer was sanded down. I tend to spray on the primer a little thick. The bulk is removed with 220 grit followed by smoothing with 400 grit sandpaper.    The ...
[Read More]

Estes Mk-109 Stingray Build Part 6 Fin Prep
There is a mold line running around the outside of the fins. This will show up when paint is applied so you should sand it down and re-round the edges. Some of the TTW fin tab have rough edges from when the fins were broken off the molding trees. These should also be sanded off. With that ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) - Reportedly has lots of items of interest to we sport rocketeers. I have only tried one search. The results weren't perfect, but it did yield a ton of old articles on rocket aerodynmics. YMMV. Successful Carmack Prize Flight to 104k' AGL on 21,000 ...
[Read More]

X-37B Prepares For Return To Orbit
The highly mysterious X-37B OTV-3 (Orbital Test Vehicle) – which is, essentially, a drone boosted into orbital spaceflight – is being prepared for its third top secret space flight in October. The previous X-37B remained in space for over a year, all while engaging in a mission ...
[Read More]

4in THOR.
Big things goin' on...  Stay tuned! 
[Read More]

Estes Mk-109 Stingray Build Part 7 Shock Cord
This model uses an external shock cord cowling to hold the tied cord in place. Even though the cowling looks "aerodynamic" it still sticks out like a sore thumb. This cowling fits into the upper, larger cut out square. Notice the tab is deep, much thicker than the tube wall.   ...
[Read More]

New Estes Launcher Design in Starter Set - Coming Soon!
Estes has a new launcher shown in the "Coming Soon" tab on their website. Check out the "Hunter’s Choice" Starter kit to see the new plastic launcher and controller. http://www.estesrockets.com/coming-soon/001401-hunter-s-choice-launch-settm It’s molded in the old Estes orange ...
[Read More]

Carbon Daddy
Carbon fiber things goin' on... Stay tuned!
[Read More]

Abandoned gas mask plant
        One can only imagine that these are... (sunglasses on) all the rage in Japan.
[Read More]

Honey Badger Don't Care
More at the rocketry forum.
[Read More]

Links roundup
Take 100 NASA Photos, Stir, Make Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ , Mashable - That's what Alex Parker, a post-doctoral fellow at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, made with 100 images from the Hubble Space Telescope. Check out the full res copy . Rocket Car Could ...
[Read More]

Estes Mk-109 Stingray Build Part 8 Nose Cone Prep
As with most nose cones, you have to clear the eye of the nose cone. Notice the direction of the X-Acto blade. The sharp side is facing away from the post. Using just the tip, punch a small hole and cut away from the "L" shaped post. Cut halfway along the thin plastic flash. Reverse ...
[Read More]

Estes Mk-109 Stingray Build Part 9 Paint Prep
There isn't much to say about gluing on the fins. They are TTW and pretty much align by themselves. Go light with the plastic glue. Any excess will be squeezed out along the root edge line. The model design looks good, except for the lugs and external shock cord mount. The pictures on the box ...
[Read More]

Onboard the Amsterdam witth Ronn Lucas
  Most of you know I entertain on the cruise ships. One of the great job perks is working with and getting to know the other variety acts.   On board this week is Ventriloquist Ronn Lucas. That's Ronn on the right, Buffalo Billy is between us. Ronn is looked on a one of ...
[Read More]

Shooting a M1911 pistol underwater
     
[Read More]

NASA Coverage set for SpaceX launch on October 7th
What: SpaceX resupply launch to ISS -SpaceX CRS-1 When: 7 p.m. on Oct. 7 Where: Cape Canaveral LC-40 “MEDIA ADVISORY : M12-194 NASA Coverage Set for Oct. 7 SpaceX Launch to Space Station CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The first SpaceX launch for NASA’s Commercial Resupply ...
[Read More]

Estes Mk-109 Stingray Build Part 10 Paint Prep
The fin roots had quite a few gaps left from the plastic glue. After going over the joint with 400 grit, some Titebond Molding and Trim Glue filled the open areas. The back end had more gaps where the engine mount butted up against the body tube. Looking ahead, the rear stick on decal ...
[Read More]

Estes Mk-109 Stingray Build Part 11 Decal Bands
When using stick on "decals" always apply the easiest ones first to get a feel for the thickness of the plastic and how sticky they are. Some use water to allow repositioning, I prefer just to stick them down off the sheet. The rear most band is too wide with the clear edges! I was right, it is ...
[Read More]

Next Two Days - Upcoming Blog Posts?
The cruise ship Amsterdam is getting closer to our first port in Japan. I was told the satellite Internet connection will be cut off soon. I may not have any build posts over the next few days, I'll find out when we dock tomorrow. If there isn't any connection, build posts will resume when I get ...
[Read More]

Infographic on education to the PhD level
Imagine a circle that contains all of human knowledge:       By the time you finish elementary school, you know a little:       By the time you finish high school, you know a bit more:       With a bachelor's degree, ...
[Read More]

Estes Mk-109 Stingray Build Part 12 Decal Centering
Even the Mk - 109 decals had some of the clear edges trimmed off. Here I'm finding the center point of the decal to center it between the bands already in place. You do want to plan ahead. The words NAVY and the MK-109 decals should be centered between the bands. Apply the bands first and ...
[Read More]

Estes Mk-109 Stingray Build Part 13 Decal
The single checkerboard square got the clear edges trimmed off. I saved the most difficult fin pieces for last. Set one in place so you can mark the horizontal (here seen vertically) for measure and marking the other fins. All the fin root edges were pencil marked at 9/16" from the ...
[Read More]

Astrodynamics - 2 - The Two-Body Equation of Motion
Continuing my Astrodynamics video series. Currently ~ 4 weeks trailing material covered in class, starting with simple 2-body orbital mechanics. This stuff is pretty easy, but things get hairy later on! That's why I want to stay on top of things with the fundamentals so that the harder stuff goes ...
[Read More]

Merlin 1D-Vac to Australian Hypersonics – A few Monday Quick Links
SpaceX merchandise now available Shop the SpaceX store SpaceX’s new engine firing  - Merlin 1D-Vac designated for the Falcon Heavy Rockwell International’s Space Plan from 1989 (PDF) - 2012 International Moonbase Australian successful Hypersonic test Orbital has ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2012-15
Location: The 'hood Weather: mid-60's, wind 0 mph, clear Total flights: Today - (7) -; YTD - 80 Total motors: Today - -; YTD - 95 Motors by class YTD:  (Air-25); (H 2 O-4); MicroHybrid-1; MMX-6; A-6; B-5; C-32; D-7; E-23; F-6; G-9 Since the there wasn't a hint of any wind, I stayed in ...
[Read More]

The Sound of Earthsong
The 'chorus' (a.k.a.  dawn chorus ) is an  electomagnetic signature generated by the Earth's radiation belts and which can be converted to audio by radio receivers. Now, the EMFISIS (Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science) instruments aboard NASA's ...
[Read More]

Ancient Aliens Debunked
The battle against pseudoscience, superstition, and religion continues apace. Here is a long and scholarly, yet nevertheless impactful and, honestly, devastating rebuttal of the latest claims about ancient aliens as seen on the History channel. **Spoiler**
[Read More]

Links roundup
Celebrate October with  Verna and Elvira  ...  Witches, skeletons and pumpkins, oh my!   Review: Doing the Impossible , The Space Review - A review of the bio of  George E. Meuller , Associate Administrator of the NASA Office of Manned Space Flight from September ...
[Read More]

Oink!
Source: via Whitney on Pinterest
[Read More]

The Evolution of the Model Rocketry Starter Kit
Just started a new gallery page of Starter kits from the past. Click the image to Enter
[Read More]

Neutron star compared to Vancouver

[Read More]

Links roundup
DeltaWing Racing Cars - Rocket design motivation from the world of motor sports. Dyna Soar Booster Concept #3 , Unwanted Blog - Those are some weird fins on the booster. The Alechemy of Light , Dark Roasted Blend - The headliner is a performance art video but there is also a healthy dose ...
[Read More]

More Pictures from Balls 21
Here are some more pictures of Incredulous flying at Balls to 52,927′.
[Read More]

Estes Mk-109 Stingray Build Finished
    For a plastic E2X rocket, it looks pretty good! With the fins strakes, it reminds me of the Centuri Nomad model, only shorter. It should be a good one for flying A6-4 engines in the soccer field.   Things learned: This group of E2X rockets used ...
[Read More]

Cutting Fins TIP
I'm back from the long Japan cruise. There was no internet while we were in the Japanese ports. Back to rocket stuff - I know, most experienced builders know this - but for the novices: Most kits come with laser cut fins, it's rare to cut your own. When you do cut your own, plan ahead ...
[Read More]

Bloodhound SSC's hybrid motor test was successful
The Bloodhound SSC team is reporting that, earlier today, they successfully test fired their hybrid rocket motor .  Here's a synopsis: At 4 meters (12 feet) long, 45.7 cm (18 inches) in diameter and 450kg in weight, BLOODHOUND’s rocket is the largest of its kind ever designed in ...
[Read More]

October 2012
October 27, from noon till 5 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

Launch Prep - Some Hurdles Part 1
I'm already prepping for the Orlando R.O.C.K. section launch this Saturday. Sometimes I'll pull out models that are suited to the season or holiday. The "Raisin' Maize" corn rocket seems appropriate for the Fall. It's always been a pain to pack the small 8" parachute in the BT-5 body tube. ...
[Read More]

Launch Prep - Some Hurdles Part 2
I like the Quest A6-4 engines. They are loud and a little sooty. Still, a fun engine for small fields. That paper label is another story. When the wrap was applied, some areas aren't adhered well. Creases and folds will prevent a smooth slide into a BT-20 or equivalent tube. I'd be very careful ...
[Read More]

Web Site Updates
We’re currently in the process of updating the JonRocket.com web site. We are updating the product photos and are planning to include photos of the products in their packaging, as you will receive them.  We are also adding additional information ...
[Read More]

Launch Prep - Some Hurdles Part 4
I'm flying the Midget for the first time this weekend. The Semroc Midget instructions showed me how to adapt short engine casings for the 13mm A10-0 and 1/2A3-4 engines. 18mm Casings were cut to 1 3/4" long for adapters. The Semroc instructions say you can glue the 13mm engines into the ...
[Read More]

Launch Prep - Some Hurdles Part 3
This is another appropriate rocket for October launch, the MMX Zoom Broom. I've been using square toothpicks to hold the small MicroMaxx igniters in the engine nozzles. Where some use a round toothpick, I prefer the square ones. It's like fitting a square peg into a round hole, I think it ...
[Read More]

Tiny weights for a tiny nosecone
modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com
[Read More]

The new RCS Store
Experimental rocketeers rejoice! The completely new RCS Store is now open for business. “RCS Rocket Motor Components was founded by Gary Rosenfield in 1995 to offer AeroTech RMS-compatible parts for custom composite propellant rocket motor fabrication. These parts included ...
[Read More]

ISS Deployed 5 Cube Sats. In Honor Of The 55th Anniversary Of Sputnik 1 Launch
Five small CubeSats were deployed from the Japanese Experiment Module onboard the International Space Station on October 4th 2012. This occurred on the 55th anniversary of the first ever launch of a satellite - the Russian Sputnik 1.
[Read More]

SpaceX CRS-1 Launch day details
SpaceX CRS-1 Mission Timeline Times and dates are subject to change Day 1: LAUNCH COUNTDOWN Hour/Min/Sec Events - 7:30:30 Vehicles are powered on - 3:50:00 Commence loading liquid oxygen (LOX) - 3:40:00 Commence loading RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) - 3:15:00 LOX and RP-1 loading complete - 0:10:00 ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
How much water? , Air Command Water Rockets - George sent me this link to explain why my water rocket flights didn't go as well as I would have liked.  Video: Understanding the underpinnings of the universe , Symmetry Magazine - Describes the components of the 'standard model' of ...
[Read More]

Kit Bagging The Odd'l Rockets Sputnik Part 1
Sure, most modelers have an original design or a clone kit they'd like to bag up and sell. Putting your first model on sale is exciting - bagging up the first dozen kits is fun. Then, reality sets in! Bagging kits using custom parts can be a chore. I wanted to show what goes into the preparation ...
[Read More]

Kit Bagging The Odd'l Rockets Sputnik Part 2
The position and angle of the antenna legs is critical! If you've ever tried to drill the legs on a Sputnik type model correctly, tools are needed. The cut out center hole of the template is set directly over the drilled engine mount hole. A Sharpie pen makes marks while the template is held in ...
[Read More]

Video of SpaceX CRS-1 Launch

[Read More]

Kit Bagging The Odd'l Rockets Sputnik Part 3
After drilling the antenna holes, the tip of the Sharpie is rotated near the edge. This marks the holes so the builder can easily find them.   When building the Sputnik, the dowel legs must be gently rotated and wiggled into the drilled holes. By doing this slowly, the dowels will ...
[Read More]

Missile launch fail
"C-300 missile was down after the launch. Source said, that it was extermination launches with missiles which is more than 10 years of combat duty."
[Read More]

Three cubesats launched from ISS

[Read More]

Falcon 9 engine 1 explosion
"The Dragon spacecraft is on its way to the International Space Station this morning and is performing nominally following the launch of the SpaceX CRS-1 official cargo resupply mission from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 8:35PM ET Sunday, October 7, 2012. Approximately one minute and 19 seconds into ...
[Read More]

Kit Bagging The Odd'l Rockets Sputnik Part 4
Thirty BT-5 engine mount tubes were cut to size. Sure, you could buy them pre-cut, but you'll save 10 cents per kit by buying longer tubes and cutting them to size. A "Stop Disk" is glued in at the top of the engine mount tube to prevent the ejection charge from frying the inside of ...
[Read More]

TIP - Night Launch Lights?
These LED "Finger Lights" are sold through the Publix supermarket during the Halloween season. Kids wear them for safety after dark and as part of their Halloween costume. I actually bought these with the idea I could use these on stage. Imagine a dark stage, a fast banjo roll and ...
[Read More]

Detonating the Tsar Bomb in the Mariana Trench
  From the XKCD What If Files.
[Read More]

SpaceX says there was no explosion
SpaceX has released an official statement on Sunday’s launch anomaly. They say the engine did not explode. See my last post for a video of the anomaly. SPACEX CRS-1 MISSION UPDATE October 8, 2012 The Dragon spacecraft is on its way to the International Space Station this morning and is ...
[Read More]

Prepare for Bunnell Blast
The Northeast Florida Association of Rocketry (NEFAR) will host its annual Bunnell Blast regional launch on November 10 and 11, 2012.  Bunnell Blast is a two-day sport and research launch for model rockets through high-power rockets. The launch begins Saturday ...
[Read More]

Different densities of liquid
They really could have continued on for a while here.. where is the mercury?!
[Read More]

Kit Bagging The Odd'l Rockets Sputnik Part 5
The kit antenna legs were 1/8" X 12" dowels. I've since changed to bamboo skewers. This was for two reasons. Bulk dowels were inconsistant. Some broke on landing and many were warped. The bamboo skewers are very strong! They are also sharpened on one end which makes it easier to insert into the ...
[Read More]

TIP and Post Launch Pic
At the end of a launch, I'll walk the area picking up any igniters and wadding. TIP: From sitting on the wet grass, the wadding is usually damp and great for wiping off the micro clips, launch rod and blast deflector. It's much easier to get most of the blast crud off at the launch ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
B612 Foundation Moves Ahead With NEO Mission , NASA Watch SpaceX Rocket Launch Glitch Left Piggyback Satellite in Wrong Orbit , Space.com SRB-X options , Unwanted Blog MODEL MISSILES (Feb, 1959) , Modern Mechanix Missile launch fail , High Power Rocketry - PLOP! Armadillo’s ...
[Read More]

38mm build with "spare parts"
    CTI J316 pink to 15,000 feet and more than mach 2? Check.   At The Rocketry Forum.
[Read More]

First Time Flying
Aerospace engineering at Iowa State has a requirement that each student needs to gain at least two hours of flight experience. So I got to fly a plane for the first time last Tuesday, along with one other student. Basically I got to do all the controls except the throttle, and controlled the ...
[Read More]

Inside the Cockpit: Freedom 7
This an amazing real-time inside the cockpit view of the entire Freedom 7 flight of Alan Shepard as he becomes the first American in space. I suggest watching this in full screen! This compilation of footage is by Videographer “Space Opera 2010 France” (sound does drop out a few times ...
[Read More]

Arianespace... Busy, Busy, Busy, Busy (Launch)
  From: SatNews   Components for three upcoming missions with Arianespace’s medium-lift Soyuz vehicle have now... ...arrived in French Guiana, joining a completed launcher that is poised for liftoff tomorrow. Delivered this month was hardware for the fourth, fifth and ...
[Read More]

Space Shuttle in LA
 
[Read More]

New Ranger Nose Cone
Carl McLawhorn posted about the balsa nose cone included in the Semroc Ranger kit. The original nose cone was taller and more narrow at the top. The Semroc Ranger kit includes the (correct) BNC-60LV nose cone shown at the right. My Ranger has the plastic nose cone included in the ...
[Read More]

Astrodynamics - 3 - Constants of Motion
This is the 3rd installment of my mini series on Astrodynamics. I am way behind where we're at in the course right now, but that's okay. I'll just keep going at this rate and maybe power through the rest during finals week.
[Read More]

TIP: Small Padded Sanding
The Centuri Satellite 62SL is pretty small. I could have simply folded up a piece of sandpaper to get in the tight spots. Sometimes the sharp crease in the sandpaper cuts "ruts" into the finish. This time I tried something new. I rolled a piece of 400 grit around the end of a cotton swab. ...
[Read More]

Iceland from space
ESA -    Envisat sat
[Read More]

Rockoon
I have delayed posting about this semesters project for awhile now, but now that I have a decent amount of material to present it is time to post it here. The idea of a rockoon system is to lift a rocket high above most of the atmosphere on a balloon, in order to minimize the drag loss. Extreme ...
[Read More]

Red-bellied Woodpecker
Although I am taking a risk posting this, as Google has been known to remove advertising on a whim, I wanted to share this really handsome Red-bellied Woodpecker that I found (sadly, dead) on the sidewalk in Manhattan. No apparent cause of death, so it could be disease, starvation, old age, or ...
[Read More]

Felix Baumgartner record breaking skydive
"Felix Baumgartner lands safely on Earth after record-breaking skydive Austrian skydiver jumped from 24 miles above New Mexico, falling at speeds up to 725mph in bid to break sound barrier. Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner jumps from more than 24 miles above Earth, breaking the speed of sound ...
[Read More]

What would it take to actually skydive from Space?
Yesterday’s jump by Felix Baumgartner was an incredible feat. He jumped from approximately 24 miles up. Space starts at the Karman Line or about 62 miles in altitude. So the jump was not even half way to space or to quote Neil deGrasse Tyson’s tweet from yesterday – “A ...
[Read More]

The Award for Masking Goes To . . .
On TRF, Dave Walden asks: "Is there a TRF Oscar for achievement in masking?" This is Dave's masked, stretch version of the new Estes Jetliner. The enclosed kit decals weren't long enough for this build!
[Read More]

Photos from the October NEFAR Launch
I’ve uploaded photos I took at the October, 2012, NEFAR launch to the RocketReviews.com Photo Album. I’m still recovering from a broken toe, so I didn’t bring anything to fly.  But, I enjoyed watching others launch their rockets. Near the start ...
[Read More]

Columbia preps, rolls, and flies.
One benefit to working in a large science institution is that you find some crazy things in storage. I rescued these three gems from a storage closet, they must have been printed in the early '80s. There is a a touch of water damage, and plenty of dust, but overall it is a charming sequence of ...
[Read More]

Early shuttle concept art
                 
[Read More]

Internship at XCOR! (For Real This Time)
XCOR Lynx Last November I received some correspondence from one of the co-founders of XCOR Aerospace about a possible internship with them. While it didn't end up working out for last year, this year I received an offer that I fully intend to accept. XCOR... Mojave ...
[Read More]

Baumgartner sets skydive record: 128k feet and Mach 1.24
In Internet terms, this should be filed in the 'old news' folder but I decided I should post it anyway.  More info can be found here . This only shows the mission highlights and you can view the longer version here .
[Read More]

Links roundup
ALPHA CENTAURI HAS A PLANET! , Bad Astronomy EVEL KNIEVEL | TRIUMPH OVER THE FOUNTAINS AT CAESARS PALACE , The Selvedge Yard Meteor Shower Created by Halley’s Comet Peaks This Week , Space.com Space Shuttle Endeavour takes its final trip through the streets of Los Angeles [Space] ...
[Read More]

Space in "The Spectacle"
121013_Spectacle_Fitlow_329 , a photo by Rice University Public Affairs on Flickr. The Spectacle was a multimedia celebration of Rice University's centennial.  This show depicted Rice's history and looked into the future. The images were displayed on three buildings in Rice's Academic ...
[Read More]

a-sikorsky-mh-70b-variant-firing-anti-ship-missile-30839
a-sikorsky-mh-70b-variant-firing-anti-ship-missile-30839 , a photo by Dav yadav on Flickr.
[Read More]

NRC Panel Questions Business Case For USAF Reusable Booster
  The U.S. Air Force’s Reusable Booster System (RBS) lacks a mature business case, but the service should continue to pursue key technology challenges as well as a pathfinder flight-test program, according to a National Research Council (NRC) panel. The 15-member panel, chaired by ...
[Read More]

Extremely sharp ground-based images of Uranus.
www.sciencedaily.com
[Read More]

Obama and Romney and Space
I was a little concerned about voting for Romney for awhile there, because I couldn't figure out what his stance was on NASA, space exploration, and the private space industry. Recently I've discovered more information, and both sides tend to agree on the general direction we should be heading: ...
[Read More]

Winning the Carmack Prize
Winning the Carmack Prize , a photo by jurvetson on Flickr.
[Read More]

Peter Diamondis' Creed of the Persistent and Passionate Mind
Some of these are really obvious. Others make you think. Below are Peter Diamondis' (think X Prize) 28 rules for a persistent and passionate person: 1.  If anything can go wrong, Fix It!!... to heck with Murphy! 2.  When given a choice... take both!! 3.  Multiple ...
[Read More]

Mars sample return
  Wickman Spacecraft & Propulsion
[Read More]

J Craig Venter wants to teleport DNA from Mars
Last week I heard a talk by J Craig Venter .  He said that all living things are robots with their programming held in their DNA. Further, he proposed sending a DNA analyzer to Mars to sequence the DNA from any life that is found. This would be encoded and transmitted back to Earth where a ...
[Read More]

Custom Rockets Solar Explorer Build Part 1 Parts
Here's one of the newer kits from Custom Rocket Company. This is Kit #10052. The "T" fin configuration reminds me of the Estes Photon Disruptor design. I had a great time building the Custom Nomad, I wanted to give another of their kits a try. The rocket is 22.38" tall. The long ...
[Read More]

The ROCKET GUY shows how to open the bag!
"Hey!", A ROCKET GUY video! "And as we all know, opening the package can be tough because of how scissors work and how packaging comes in today's environment." I don't think Rocket Guy should be trusted with scissors. And of course my favorite: "Nose cones roll, be careful with that!" He gives you ...
[Read More]

Kangaroo on the launch field
Kangaroo on the launch field , a photo by Sascha Grant on Flickr. Something I never see at my launches :)
[Read More]

Rockets for Halloween
Celebrate Halloween by building and flying these spooky selections from the JonRocket.com catalog. Rocketarium’s recently released WitchCraft model rocket kit features a detailed pre-cut fins representing a witch flying on a broomstick. Semroc’s Goblin model rocket kit recreates ...
[Read More]

World's Shortest Freefall

[Read More]

Vapor Cones (not called Prandtl–Glauert singularity)
  All images from  Wikipedia .
[Read More]

Hubble deep field vs amateur best effort
  This is a .gif, and is also huge.  Let me know if it ruins the performance of the page.   Detlef Hartmann  made this image using an extremely large (17 inch) amateur telescope, and over 20 hours of combined exposure time.  And yet it clearly pales in ...
[Read More]

1955 .... Flame Barrier!
1955 .... Flame Barrier! , a photo by x-ray delta one on Flickr.
[Read More]

1930 vintage rocket car
Sig Haugdahl's rocket car,   via LowKat on the HAMB (Hokey Ass Message Board)...    
[Read More]

Red Bull Space Program
 
[Read More]

The New Shepard escaped...
...to an altitude of 2,307'. And it recovered too.  (via Blue Origin )  
[Read More]

Launch of Expedition 33 on Soyuz TMA-06M

[Read More]

Expedition 33 crew and Soyuz TMA-06M Photos
-
[Read More]

Blue Origin has successful Pad Escape Test
“KENT, Wash. – Blue Origin conducted a successful Pad Escape test last week at its West Texas launch site, firing its pusher escape motor and launching a full-scale suborbital Crew Capsule from a launch vehicle simulator. The Crew Capsule traveled to an altitude of 2,307 feet ...
[Read More]

Orbital awarded major contract from Air Force for EAGLE spacecraft platform
Links: Orbital  (Dulles, VA 24 October 2012) — Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world’s leading space technology companies, today announced that the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate has awarded the company a $32 million ...
[Read More]

New Knife
I usually buy my #11 blades on sale in a 100 pack, that many will normally last me 1 1/2 years. But, my normal source for the blades hasn't had a sale on them in a while. I'd used break-off blade knives in the past, I always keep a couple in my range box for use at the launch site. For builds at ...
[Read More]

A non-lethal missile that knocks out computer and electrical systems
This is a new interesting job for missile technology. Link to Video No warhead ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
HISTORICAL NOTE: BLUE SCOUT / X-15 , Citizens in Space (via Space for All ) Vapor Cones (not called Prandtl–Glauert singularity) , High Power Rocketry Japan’s Urban Spaceship: The Omiya Rocket Building , WebUrbanist Craig Venter's plan to email vaccines around the world , ...
[Read More]

Experience the Apollo 11 landing in a new amazing way
OK ...
[Read More]

At the speed of new-space
Eight years after kicking off SpaceShipTwo, ParabolicArc reports that Richard Branson has said, "I’ve stopped counting the days to commercial SpaceShipTwo flights." By the end of next month, the SpaceShipTwo project will have matched the time between President John F. Kennedy’s ...
[Read More]

Scratch Built LPR/MPR Rocket
It's been a while since Ive built something small. I got a Mean Machine from Kaelan but I couldnt waste all those tubes on just one rocket....   --Alex
[Read More]

Orionid meteor with persistent ion trail
See that little puff off to the left? It is a luminous plasma (I presume not illuminated by the Sun at this late hour.)
[Read More]

Links roundup
More from the old news department.... Run For Your Lives! Frankenstorm is Coming! , DCist,   Hurricane Sandy  (NOAA) Origin of the Apollo-shaped Manned Mars Lander (1966) , Wired Science CHAMP - Lights Out , Boeing - Last week, Boeing Phantom Work's CHAMP (Count ...
[Read More]

The Moon asks a serious question

[Read More]

Model Profile - Dr. Zooch Atlas Agena
On the Zooch website you are reminded: "This kit is NOT for beginners- nor is it for people who don’t bother to read the text." The cardstock flares around the nozzles will take a little more time but are doable. I've flown this one many times with great success. The flame fins were painted ...
[Read More]

The Perfect Storm aka the Halloween Nor'easter
1991.
[Read More]

Lock yourself into your bunker, the Higgs Bos-ombies are coming
I like science and I like zombie movies and I really don't care if the cause of the zombie apocalypse has any basis in reality (as if it could). Enter Decay , a movie made by a group of physics PhD students at the LHC (Large Hadron Collider).  The  io9  article sums up my ...
[Read More]

First HABET Flight of the Year
I participated in a high-altitude balloon launch this past Sunday with the HABET team at Iowa State. The payload was a model of the house from "UP." I learned a lot about what it takes to do a balloon launch, which gives me a better idea of what will have to go into our Rockoon system.   ...
[Read More]

LDRS 31 on TV
Just watched Discovery Science's LDRS 31 show . Some people have complained that it portrays we sport rocketeers as a bunch of yahoos who love to blow things up and don't care much for safety. That certainly makes better TV, I reckon. However, if you take time to look below the surface you see ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Oak Ridge National Lab Debuts the 20 petaflop Titan supercomputer , Next Big Future - The latest in the scientific legacy of video game tech. The best fake photos of Frankenstorm to freak people out on Instagram and Facebook , io9 6 Fake Hurricane Sandy Photos You’re Sharing on ...
[Read More]

Mapping biodiversity
SS.ORG
[Read More]

Aw hell, the "Hell Boy 50" deserves its own post!
Boris Katan is busy building a booster for his Hell Boy , which is a 19x24mm clustered PoleCat 5.5" Fat Man . The booster will add 31 24mm motors, bringing the total motor compliment to 50. The booster is single use with the 31 motors glued together and butted up to a plywood thrust plate. ...
[Read More]

More Deals at Amazon.com
Amazon.com has a few model rocket kits currently priced at more than 40% off the list price. Because the prices for these kits may change at any time, I’m displaying them as Amazon ads below. The ads include the latest pricing information. Be sure to check out the Rocketry Deals Finder to ...
[Read More]

Space Shuttle Enterprise - exposed by Sandy
CNN posted the following photo showing the collapse of the tent that covered the Enterprise aboard the Intrepid. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those adversely affected by Sandy! Credit: Heather Shapiro  
[Read More]

Helicopter Pilot Saves Kid's RC Plane
How many times have we needed this at at a launch?
[Read More]

Links roundup
Photos: Superstorm Slams East , The Weather Channel Medusa 2 , EURocketry - Navigate back and forth from this link to see more about this big cluster (88 x 'C'+ 1 x J410) [ Real time video ] [ Slo-mo video ] “Space Ship of 2038″ , Unwanted Blog Sci-Tech: MakerPlane store + ...
[Read More]

The Living Universe
 
[Read More]

JonRocket.com Auctions Support American Red Cross
Auctions to Support the American Red Cross We’re auctioning a few items on eBay with the proceeds designated to go to the American Red Cross. If you win one of the auctions, a portion of the amount that you pay for the ...
[Read More]

Kickstarter for Plasma Jet Electric Thrusters
Three HyperV scientist Dr. Doug Witherspoon, Dr. Andrew Case, Dr. Sam Brockington, and an energy & space entrepreneur, Chris Faranetta have a Kickstarter project up called “Plasma Jet Electric Thrusters for Spacecraft”. As of this publication time it has raised more than $42,000 ...
[Read More]

Scramjet engine testing
 
[Read More]

Links roundup
NewSpace review for October 2012 , New Space Watch NASA MSFC "Mighty Eagle" prototype lunar lander flies again , Space for All - The hydrogen peroxide powered lander set a record of 150' and 45 sec. duration. Not impressive until you see how far they've come. VOYAGER 1 DETECTS WEIRDNESS ...
[Read More]

Plasma Jet Electric Thrusters for Spacecraft
Only 48 hours left to support this project. Our technical objectives for this thruster development project are to meet or exceed the following thruster performance goals: Design and construct a high density gas fed plasma thruster operated at an average continuous input power level of about ...
[Read More]

Here, we have to watch for deer. In Florida, they have to watch for 'gators, and....
Shuttle crossing signs have been setup across Kennedy in preparation for the 10-mile move to the @ explorespaceksc . twitter.com/NASAKennedy/st… — NASA Kennedy / KSC (@NASAKennedy) November 2, 2012
[Read More]

Inflatable, missile-launching robo-boat
See the full article in the Wired:Danger Room .
[Read More]

Insanely detailed Shuttle model (update)
Check out this thread on the Aircraft Resource Center (ARC) forum: Space Shuttle Launch Pad 39A with Challenger STS-6 . (hat tip to paul.nortness on TRF) Update: Here is link that provides photos of another 'insane' Shuttle/Launch Complex model as well as even more links to other models: Space ...
[Read More]

Detailed report on Carmack prize winning flight
  Needless to say, I was not bored for a moment while reading through these 100 pages of documentation.  This is exactly what one would hope to have for every significant high altitude flight.  A team that worked carefully, tested different configurations, and then documented ...
[Read More]

A rocket for the road?
This  suitcase rocket  is a reasonably compact high power rocket that can (and apparently will) fly under J power.
[Read More]

Links roundup
OMNI Magazine Archive , archive.org - Also, see the INDEX  - Does the late '70's now count as "vintage"? Detailed report on Carmack prize winning flight , High Power Rocketry Superstorm Sandy packed more total energy than Hurricane Katrina at landfall , Capital Weather Gang - Kinetic ...
[Read More]

Ooooh, sparky!
Check out this rack rocket flying on 5 G160 Silver Streaks.
[Read More]

Plutonium
     
[Read More]

3xK160 gimbaled solid rocket set to fly
Business end of 3 gimbaled solid guided rocket, 3x 54mm K160. I had. Hoped to fly it this wk will fly in 2wks at FAR. twitter.com/unrocket/statu… — Paul Breed (@unrocket) November 4, 2012
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Monthly Launch November 3, 2012
It started out to be a clear, cool, low wind morning.  Orlando's R.O.C.K. section hadn't had a monthly launch in a while. I came with plenty of models. Rick Horne flew his FlisKits TRES with a three engine cluster of B6-4 engines. Estes igniters were used with great success. At apogee ...
[Read More]

The Hell Boy 50 flew
I swiped this photo of Boris' Hell Boy 50 boosting with 31 black powder motors. Just look at all those flames! He reports that all motors lit but, because it weather cocked severely, the conditions for the safe ignition of the sustainer weren't met. Nevertheless, the laundry came out as ...
[Read More]

Latest SpaceX Grasshopper hop
First flight of 10 story tall Grasshopper rocket using closed loop thrust vector & throttle control Video here ——————————————————————————- ...
[Read More]

Another Saucer bites the dust
     Due to my schedule, and the fact my local rocket club doesn’t fly experimental motors, I only get to launch EX motors once a year, and Midwest Power in Princeton Illinois. EX motors are just that – typically a rocket propellant you whip up yourself in your ...
[Read More]

XCOR Lynx Mockup at Atlantis Event
   
[Read More]

SpaceX Grasshopper takes a long hop
Note: This is a giant 100 foot tall rocket! I understand this is an early prototype for a reusable first stage. Getting a rocket this heavy (and boy, this thin?!) to land vertically is rather scary. SpaceX is bound for great things, I think. In no small part because Musk is a really great inventor ...
[Read More]

Spaceship alphabet
via  http://timeforhugs.com/wp/2012/10/31/spaceship-alphabet/  
[Read More]

2012 M-moonburner drag race onboard video
I threw together an unabridged version of my onboard video from this weekend's final M-moonburner drag race: I hope to catch up on my posting soon but had to share that vid ASAP!
[Read More]

Science vs military spending

[Read More]

Braided Kevlar - CHEAP!
I\'d seen a post about the Kevlar Store on TRF. http://kevlarstore.webs.com/ I finally ordered some 100 lb. and samples of the 135 lb. Kevlar.! Here\'s how the 100 lb. spool arrives. This is BRAIDED Kevlar, not the stiffer 3 strand variety. The price is much lower than ordering it from other ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
The Kevlar Store (via TRF) - Good prices on Kevlar cord, 70lb - 680lb. Plasmonic Nanolasers Shrink Down to Size of a Virus , IEEE Spectrum New \"Sauron\" Dinosaur Found, Was Big as T. Rex , National Geographic Science vs military spending , High Power Rocketry
[Read More]

Modrocs from 1958
Photos from twin6 on the HAMB .    
[Read More]

Wango tango
”If Barack Obama becomes the president in November, again, I will be either be dead or in jail by this time next year.” Let's start the clock on this promise. Actually here is a request; can the now significantly marginalized rural minority tone it down a bit and just relax? You can ...
[Read More]

Space Colony dreams
Back in the 1970s artist and visionaries pictured great Space settlements. These settlements were like miniature worlds offering a home away from home and permanent residence for Space adventurer. “We have plumbed the atmosphere to its height and the oceans to their depths. Unless ...
[Read More]

Photos from ROCK’s November Launch
It was too hot, too windy, or too cloudy on the first Saturday of November as ROCK held its monthly model rocket launch. Chris Michielssen flew his well-crafted Estes V-2.  Unfortunately, the scale model ended up in the top of ...
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, October 2012
  This issue features Red Glare XII and arrived just in time for Red Glare XIII. The issue is dedicated to Neil's mom, Nancy A. McGilvray, who passed away earlier this year. My thoughts again go out to Neil and his family. I'm breaking from tradition and won't summarize the contents. ...
[Read More]

Creating the Sprint ABM
Much more in a later post! SRMSC
[Read More]

Report on a dual L1/L2 Lunar elevator and surface tram
LUNAR SPACE ELEVATORS FOR CISLUNAR SPACE DEVELOPMENT  Final Technical Report byJerome Pearson, Eugene Levin, John Oldson and Harry Wykes
[Read More]

Links roundup
Report on a dual L1/L2 Lunar elevator and surface tram , High Power Rocketry What destroyed the Maya? We have a new clue, in the form of an ancient stalagmite. , io9 U.S. Navy, Florida Break Ground on New Missile Test Facility on Cape Canaveral , ParabolicArc Photos from White Sands ...
[Read More]

A rocket hat trick...
...literally :) Air Command's latest update  included the following video. Another video includes a run-down of their typical launch procedures. While that is probably more interesting and useful, I found this one just too hilarious. ROFL! Maybe I should try this...have my hat of Death pull ...
[Read More]

Long Cruise Project
If you can read the small print you know what I'll be working on while on the next cruise. I'll be gone for 30 days, four cruises on three different ships. One of the first Dr. Zooch kits I tried was the Saturn V. Back then I didn't scan the wrap sheet. Now I do just in case I screw ...
[Read More]

Model now available at SpaceX store
The Falcon 9 model that has been available at Amazon is now also available at the SpaceX store. ...
[Read More]

SpaceVision 2012
I was hoping to be able to attend SpaceVision 2012 in Buffalo, NY this year. It is going on right now, and they are discussing some fascinating subjects that I want to participate in! It will be going on all weekend, and you can follow along at the Spacevidcast Live Channel: http://www.sp ...
[Read More]

Team Prometheus continues to move towards space
            See more at the Team Prometheus Facebook page   See more N Prize posts at http://nprize.blogspot.com/
[Read More]

BT-50 Tube Crimps - TIP?
Justin Stotter (Pickle on TRF) posted some pictures of his BT-50 based models after flight. Does anybody else have trouble with BT-50 tubes failing? This is on my Photon Disruptor:                     That ...
[Read More]

E12 CATO
Mike Rohde's Estes Optima E12 CATO , a photo by Wallyum on Flickr. Timing is everything in rocket photography!
[Read More]

Two-Stage
In the past couple weeks I was able to find some spare parts in my garage to build an interstage coupler for a two-stage build. I was originally planning on building a P to N motor two-stage but figured I should probably slow down and take smaller steps. The first build will primarily be ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
“Nuclear Nova” , Unwanted Blog Interplanetary Internet Used to Test Robot From the ISS , NASA Space Hack A rocket and a dad and a son, long ago again , Space for All To Mars By A-Bomb – The Secret History of Project Orion , Unwanted Blog - I think I may have already ...
[Read More]

Fin Alignment Lines - TIP
On TRF, Manny Trotta posted a picture of how he draws lines for fin alignment and gluing. Instead of a single pencil line, Manny draws two lines, the thickness of the fin stock. Enlarge the picture to see the detail. He's able to line up the root edge from both sides not just a single line down ...
[Read More]

Sugar Shot motor work
I've begun work on modifying some existing hardware for a new SStS motor. This design will incorporate a new non-pyrotechnic device to separate the two motor chambers.  In theory the Chamber Separator Disk has a number of benefits over the pyrotechnic "plug". ...
[Read More]

US Space Team's Up Goer Five, by xkcd

[Read More]

Rocket Humor: xkcd’s Up Goer Five
Saturn V explained in the most common words. Funny! xkcd: Up Goer Five
[Read More]

New Sanding Block!
Oh Boy! A new tool! This was picked up for $9.95 at my local hobby store. I've had my eye on this one for a while. Midwest makes some great building accessories and I have high hopes for this one. The body copy says: "Never Buy Sandpaper Again!" It's a tungsten carbide sanding block, this one ...
[Read More]

HoJo Montana - A football rocket (Honest John / Joe Montana)
    See more rockets by Ross Ohmen here.
[Read More]

NEFAR’s Bunnell Blast 2012
Last weekend, NEFAR hosted its annual two-day Bunnell Blast launch. Rockets from small to large took to the air on Saturday. And even a furry rocket flew ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, November/December 2012
The contents of this issue are displayed on the attached photo. The article on the Depron boost gliders, by Frank Burke, is pretty cool.  His scale glider designs range from small to huge and are built in full body (scale), box/modified fuselage (semi-scale), true profile (looks ...
[Read More]

SCE to AUX
One of my favorite stories from the Apollo era. Apollo 12′s nearly aborted mission due to a lightning strike.  
[Read More]

SPACEX TESTS GRASSHOPPER ROCKET IN TWO-STORY HOP
On November 1, 2012, SpaceX’s Grasshopper – a 10-story vertical takeoff and landing (VTVL) vehicle -- lifted nearly two stories in an 8-second duration test hop. The rocket rose 17.7 feet (5.4 meters), hovered, and touched back down safely on the pad at SpaceX’s rocket d ...
[Read More]

Tools! Part 1
Dana emailed me at: oddlrockets@bellsouth.net He asked for posts about tools. "Could you perhaps do a segment on all your tools? . . . how you find the inexpensive things to make your building easier. Show us what you recommend!" Here's some of my favorites, some you won't find in a hobby store. ...
[Read More]

Giant helicopter Mi-26 airlifts a jet
 
[Read More]

CAM may be the future of construction on the Moon...and on Earth
Attached is a talk by Behrokh Khoshnevis, professor of Industrial & Systems Engineering at USC. He is working on an automated process for building construction and has a prototype in his lab. Funded by NASA for possible use in constructing structures on the moon, he believes that this ...
[Read More]

Bare Nichrome Igniter Coat - TIP
On TRF someone asked how to make LPR igniters. StepanJ gave a link to an article he wrote for the MAKE Magazine website: http://makeprojects.com/Project/Mode...1#.UJXnSXmVut8 I'd never made an igniter before, but was curious to try nail polish on the wire tip. Nail polish is lacquer and should ...
[Read More]

Retro, futuristic rides
The HAMB is full of photos of futuristic cars (no surprise, it is a car forum after all). To me, 'futuristic' means wins, fings and bubbles...mostly. Here are a bunch posted by user swi66. At least mostly, some came from quite a while ago. Enjoy! And follow the link if you want to scrounge up even ...
[Read More]

Links update
Astronauts Could Survive Mars Radiation, Curiosity Rover Finds , Live Science - These are preliminary results but they should (re)stir the debate on where we should visit next. Private Reusable Rocket Prototype Takes 2-Story Test Hop , Space.com Starship Design: Rod Hyde, Reykjavik and ...
[Read More]

Tools! Part 2
TIP: A soft wire bush can remove almost all the buildup on fine sandpapers. Wet the wire brush (not the wooden sanding block) and shake off the excess water. Make circular brushing on the loaded sandpaper. Wipe off the crud. You can extend the life of your sandpaper three or four times! ...
[Read More]

JonRocket.com Affiliate Program
JonRocket.com has joined Shareasale, a trusted affiliate network. This means that, if you maintain a web site or blog of your own, you can join the JonRocket.com affiliate program and earn commissions on purchases by people you refer to our web ...
[Read More]

The Hell Boy 50 returns as the Hell Boy 70
That's 51 motors in that booster! Read all about it . Boris is one of my rocket heroes :)  
[Read More]

"99K" a P to N rocket project
  "A few of us were sitting around lunch one day, discussing another 'to 100K' project, when we decided 'Hey, we can do that!'   Then Cliff asked Wedge to borrow a 'P' motor, and he agreed. Then James turned a nozzle, and started doing Burnsim work. Then I started using ...
[Read More]

Tools! Part 3
I use these so often now, I don't know how I got by without them before. Q-Tips (or cotton swabs) are great for picking up excess glue. At the top of a fin, where the leading edge meets the body tube, there is always a little white glue "roll-over". You won't see it until the primer goes on. ...
[Read More]

Rocketry planet closing?
 
[Read More]

Saturn V poster at French website
Great poster over at De la Terre a la Lune. One of the best expanded views of the Saturn V that I have seen. Expanded Saturn V ...
[Read More]

Future Products Page from Estes
Cruzsergio on TRF found the Future Products page on the Estes website: http://www.estesrockets.com/rockets/in-development 1103 Planet Purple™ 1104 Outer-Space Orange™ 1954 Red Flare™ 1955 Top Shot™ 2158 AGM-57X Heatseeker™ 2438 Sky Shark™ 2442 Mini Fat ...
[Read More]

Hell Boy 70 was a complete success
Fifty-one BP motors sure make an impressive column of fire, as seen in this photo of Boris Katan's Hell Boy 70. There are more photos on his TRF po st. He reports that it hit 1,250' and both parts recovered well. In fact, the 'single use' booster is partially reusable. One of the 19 ...
[Read More]

Looks like a titanium Christmas tree
_MG_0556-160.jpg , a photo by Nick DeBrita on Flickr.
[Read More]

Copter Recovery and Vortex Ring Chutes
NASA is revisiting an old concept of Copter Recovery for Space capsules(Link here). If you follow some of my rocketry obsessions you would be aware that Copter recovery is very high on the list. See my Copter Recovery Guide for modeler links and info. In watching some of the new test and ...
[Read More]

SStS Motor Work Update
I've nearly completed the work on the MidBulkHead modifications, all I have left to do is to countersink the 24 holes on the outside edge.  This draft of the motor design shows how the CSD or disk is held by the MBH.
[Read More]

Chernobyl liquidators
           
[Read More]

Scale model of Chernobyl reactor after accident
 
[Read More]

Another Collier's Magazine reprint...plus a lot more
Clark Lindsey points to the latest issue of the Houston AIAA Section's Horizons Newsletter: AIAA Houston Horizons, Sept/Oct: Collier's 1952 pt.2, 100 Year Starship, a real space opera, and more . AIAA Houston Section  has released the September/October 2012 Issue of the  ...
[Read More]

November 2012
The weather looks good for our regular monthly launch Saturday, November 24, from noon till 5 PM. The winds are forecast WNW, which makes a high-power launch likely.
[Read More]

Links roundup
Nova “Typical Configuration , Unwanted Blog - How about a 100k lb lunar probe? Rice unveils super-efficient solar-energy technology, Next Big Future - Converts solar energy directly into steam at 27% efficiency, v. 15% for solar panels. Targeted at sanitation and drinking water in ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch Saturn V F1 Engines Step 10 Part 3
The lower nozzle bell on the left shows the oval shape after the glue tab had dried. The bell on the left is the rounder shape after reforming the shroud. You should get the shrouds to a near perfect roundness before trying to glue together the upper and lower halves. I had to change the ...
[Read More]

Important discovery on Mars?
Clearly the team needs to continue working to confirm any discovery before releasing the information.  It is pointless to speculate at this point, but also fun.  Here are my guesses in order from most likely/least exciting to most exciting/least likely: Methane Amino acids Biological ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Rocket sleds! Rocket Sleds and Snow Gliders Develop High Speeds (Dec, 1929) , Modern Mechanix R/C Rocket Sled/Car , TRF Apogee Peak of Flight Newsletter #236 - How to build a 'slip-clip' engine retainer and interviews with Estes designers.
[Read More]

Happy Thanksgiving!
I’m having the traditional (American) Thanksgiving in Guatemala! And yes, it’s as exciting as it sounds. I’m in a large shipping building "shed" trying to access (really slow)) Internet listening to a 10' LONG Marimba played by eight people. That’s what you come hear ...
[Read More]

Space ship of the future
 
[Read More]

White Glue or Yellow Glue - Where?
A client had sent me a few models for paint touch-ups.One was the Dr. Zooch Space Shuttle. This model was built for the client. I've mentioned a few times before that white glue dries clear. Titebond and other Yellow wood glues dry yellow. The wing / body fillet (below the United States) should ...
[Read More]

Shapeways Black Friday Sale
The post Shapeways Black Friday Sale appeared first on Meatball Rocketry .
[Read More]

A word on scratch building. (rant)
When I learned about high power rockets one of my first and unfortunately inaccurate observations was that most people tended to scratch build rather then build kits. I thought that there was no way that someone could make a huge kit and expect people to buy it instead of designing their own. ...
[Read More]

Questions? Good Questions and a Tip
Here's some questions and answers to Dana who wrote me at: oddlrockets@bellsouth.net Question 4 is actually pretty cool idea from Dana - Hi Dana,   Thanks for writing, I'll do my best to give an answer or two. My answers are only what has worked for me in the past. If you follow ...
[Read More]

SpaceX CRS-1 Overview Video
Nice video of the mission courtesy of SpaceX.
[Read More]

Newly updated MDRA Photo Galleries
I just saw that not only is the Red Glare 13 album being populated, but the albums for ESL-168 through ESL-173 are also now there (these had previously been MIA). The latter consist mostly of videos from Peter Abresch and include two of my flights: Air Serpent from ESL-168 Upscale Cluster ...
[Read More]

Boar Atomic Rocket
      Mk1 Boar naval nuclear weapon The Boar (Bureau of Ordnance’s Atomic Rocket) was an early-1950s USN attempt to enable carrier-borne single-engine propeller warplanes (and first-generation naval jets) to employ atomic weapons in a tactical anti-ship ...
[Read More]

Melting metal with a MOT

[Read More]

Mojave Air and Space Port 2012
Found this video on YouTube that was posted about a week ago. Getting me pumped up for moving to Mojave next semester!
[Read More]

Union Carbide Advertisements
  These and more at  Atomic Skies.
[Read More]

Links roundup
China Unveils New Killer Drones, Aims Them At Russia , Wired Danger Room Union Carbide Advertisements , High Power Rocketry - via... Atomic Skies - Want to guess what this quote refers to? "Apart they're liquid...together they're solid." All sport rocketeers should be able to figure it ...
[Read More]

Focke-Wulf Fw860 tailsitter
This image of the  Focke-Wulf Fw860  concept aircraft was found on the xplanes blog. Here are some V/STOL (vertical/short take off and landing) references that I found from reading that post: AIAA V/STOL archive via the WayBackMachine Source link of the flight profile ...
[Read More]

Early Space Shuttle Concepts
After finding the Secret Projects Forum , I began poking around and found the US Space Shuttle Projects thread. I'll leave it up to you to explore as you see fit.  There are lots of cool references...too many to try to list here.  I will, however, extract some links to the San Diego Air ...
[Read More]

More early Space Shuttle artwork
I noticed that the SDASM's early space shuttle photos are not copyrighted so I grabbed a bunch, which are included below for your viewing pleasure. There are manym many more cool ones, so I still recommend you look at their entire Space Related photo-set . This is a general space album and ...
[Read More]

What-if spaceship from Convair/General Dynamics
Convair/General Dynamics Plant and Personnel , a photo by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives on Flickr.
[Read More]

Full-room radiation mapping device
SRNL Deploys Innovative Radiation Mapping Device AIKEN, S.C. – The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), EM’s national lab, has made strides with remote technology designed to reduce worker exposure while measuring radiation in contaminated areas. Building on a successful ...
[Read More]

The wind tunnel girls of LaRC
I joined the Secret Projects site and have been poking around the missile, propulsion and other groups. There is so much material there it made my fingers cramp...and I haven't scratched the surface. I ran across a thread entitled "Unknown Hypersonic Airbreathing Cruise Missile @NASA LaRC ...
[Read More]

Rockoon Update
Our final project for the semester is to assemble our design into a very large poster (it's like four feet wide). I'd like to share it with you! But instead of just posting a little picture of it, I've re-written it in post form so you can actually read  it. That said, here it is:   ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Reaction to Elon Musk's Mars colony proposal + 3-D printing with Moon dust , Space for All Reaction Engines’ Plans for a Mach 5 Point-to-Point Transport , ParabolicArc Move Over, Jet Engines! Here Comes SABRE! , ParabolicArc NASA’s Road to the Future , The Daily Planet ...
[Read More]

ISU Rockoon Project
"The objective of the Rockoon Project is to build a fully reusable, economic, lightweight and stable sounding rocket to be assisted by a high-altitude balloon. The rocket will be launched near the stratosphere, to an altitude of at least 140,000 ft." See the whole plan at A Continuous Upward ...
[Read More]

The North Pole of Saturn
    More at The Planetary Society Blog
[Read More]

Cleaning a plutonium spill
 
[Read More]

SpaceX Grasshopper – the Game
Now you can fly and land the SpaceX Grasshopper or actually the SpaceY Grasshopper Link here
[Read More]

Solar Eclipse from High Altitude Balloon

[Read More]

The Seattle Museum of Flight (MOF) to become the official museum of the NAR
Via Trip Barber in the NAR's (National Association of Rocketry) Electronic Rocketeer : The NAR has just signed a partnership agreement with one of the nation's premier aerospace museums, the Museum of Flight (MOF) in Seattle , to make the MOF the official musuem of our hobby and our As ...
[Read More]

100,000 stars in your browser window.
  100,000 stars.
[Read More]

Yak-40 jet converted into Kindergarten
      "A real Yak-40 aircraft appeared in one of the Georgian kindergartens. Children started to play inside the plane after it was restored. The cockpit remained untouched. According to the official documents Yak-40 4L-TGN (1976) could be bought for $60,000." ...
[Read More]

The Fourth Arianespace Soyuz Mission From French Guiana Is A GO For Launch
  The green light has been given for liftoff tomorrow night, following the launch readiness review held today. This assessment, performed prior to each Arianespace flight, validated the “go” status of Soyuz and its Pléiades 1B satellite passenger, along with the ...
[Read More]

Rocket City Rednecks, Season 2 kicks off with...
...a HUGE core sample. I have decided that I won't add much commentary on the nature of the show. You can get an eye full on TRF . I'll merely say that, like other so-called 'reality shows', it is quite contrived. Nevertheless, I watched it and have the DVR set for the rest of the se ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Verna and Randy's December update --> Merry Christmas from Spaceman Spiff and the Rocket Babe - Congrats on grand-rocketeer #8 guys! More Merry Christmas, a warning about the end of the world and launch with the grand kids . Ad astra   J. Boyd Pearson , the J.S. ...
[Read More]

Giant Quadcopter Crash - Blimpcopter
    This is an interesting idea for a quadcopter - dirigible combo, but clearly it was not strong enough to withstand the stress of flight. Those engines look like full-sized choppers!
[Read More]

Lawn Dart
Sometimes you just have to take a break from studying and launch a rocket. This can lead to misadventures. For example, a few friends and I went out to launch some rockets out in the cross-country fields. Thought they were big enough to launch a G motor. Turns out there was a neighborhood not too ...
[Read More]

Corium and "Chernobylite"
        "Lava, glass and crystal flow discovered in the base of the reactor In December 1986, an intensely radioactive mass was discovered in the basement of Unit Four and scientists rigged up a crude wheeled camera to investigate. The mass was more ...
[Read More]

Spin Stabilization
Not sure if this has been  done before, but I've just recently had a new idea: Spin stabilization has been a concept that's been around in rocketry for a long time. But just how fast can you spin a rocket, and just how far can you benefit from it? Do you even need fins at all if you get it ...
[Read More]

I'll finish them - eventually!
  With my work schedule (and some painting problems) I wasn't able to finish up the AVI Nike Tomahawk. Now the Zooch Saturn V will have to wait until I get home on December 10! Both will be finished when I have the parts all my home tools. (You try flying with break-off blade ...
[Read More]

Video from the December, 2012, ROCK Launch
ROCK held its December launch last Saturday. It was a little windy in the morning, but the wind died down in the afternoon. In spite of a modest turn-out, we had a lot of fun. I put together the following ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Secret Projects , Aviation Week Two from TRF: A new Toy to help find rockets  - A build thread on a scratch quadrotor. Why does nobody use Liquid-Propellant rockets? The link starts at page three where new user  Ericc-at-rrs.org starts (@ post 77) to relate his ...
[Read More]

My Build Reviews on RocketReviews.com
Before I started this blog, I also posted builds on http://www.rocketreviews.com/ . Click on the kit names to go to the build and review: Quest DC-Y Space Clipper Quest Area 51 SPEV Saucer FlisKits Cutaway Rocket Motor Semroc Hawk Semroc Booster 16 Dr. Zooch Mercury Redstone (BT-60 Based) Dr. ...
[Read More]

Science saves lives, and ignorance kills.
"The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing trying to look into the cause and prevention of autism. Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) launched into a several-minute diatribe (beginning at 12:58 in the video above) that starts off in an Orwellian statement: He claims he’s not ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Star Wars fans build full-size Millennium Falcon , BBC Internet Petitions White House to Build a Death Star , Mashable - Yeah, the We The People on-line petitions were a good idea. The Enterprise is dead. Long live the Enterprise , Unwanted Blog NARCON 2012 / Schedule - To be held Feb. ...
[Read More]

Prometheus fusion project
  http://prometheusfusionperfection.com/
[Read More]

Atlas accidentally deflated after skin punctured - VAFB- 1959 - K 57900(Color)
Atlas accidentally deflated after skin punctured - VAFB- 1959 - K 57900 (Color) , a photo by RyanCrierie on Flickr. Reminds me of the Estes Dude .
[Read More]

FAR/RRS
I decided against flying my two-stage rocket this past weekend due to the strong winds in Mojave. I really did not want the stack to weathercock then stage into the wind at a high AOA. I had a 6000N-s load ready for the booster and a 3600N-s load for the sustainer, however, both had the cores ...
[Read More]

Ethics of Building and Launching HPR
"I am currently a college student and one of my courses is having a discussion on ethics this week. I am wondering what precautions are taken by RSOs to ensure everything is safe. What happens if an RSO finds a rocket to be unsafe or if there is a dispute between the owner and the RSO? These ...
[Read More]

Updates for Searches
Today I went back and added a "DZ" to the labels on the Dr. Zooch Saturn V build posts. This will distinguish the Dr. Zooch Saturn build from the Estes Saturn V build done earlier. I'll try to make these distinctions when models have the same name or are different builds of the same scale model. ...
[Read More]

Stig B flies and returns under Wamore recovery system
Here is a video of the launch and recovery of Armadillo Stig B all within the same frame. The Wamore recovery system brings the rocket back within 80 meters of the launch. During this launch the distance was 55 meters. Wamore’s expertise is with precision guided parachute systems. -   ...
[Read More]

Wamore Guided Recovery System on Stig B
"This is a video of the first Stig B flight that shows the liftoff and landing in the same camera angle. This precision is not an anomaly! They typically land within 80 meters of the intended point. In this case they were 55 meters from the intended point. Even with the slight damage to the ...
[Read More]

Video of a Stig B precision landing
Here is a video of the latest Stig B flight, which was controlled by a system developed by Wamore, Inc . The system is expected to return the rocket within 80m. The depicted landing was at 55m. Here's a quote from Armadillo: Is it expensive? Well, that depends. Cost for a new 4 wheeler or a ...
[Read More]

Flag points the way home
Schmitt with Flag and Earth Above , a photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr. Geologist-Astronaut Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 Lunar Module pilot, is photographed next to the American Flag during extravehicular activity (EVA) of NASA's final lunar landing mission in the Apollo series. ...
[Read More]

Jet intercept

[Read More]

Space videos of the weekend
Here are two videos that I found via Spaceports . The first is a montage of Apollo footage set to the music of the Alan Parsons Project. The second is a documentary the " Overview Effect ", which is the feeling of universal connectedness experienced by astronauts while viewing the Earth from ...
[Read More]

Links roundup
Paragon SDC Building Spacesuits, Life Support System for Golden Spike’s Moon Voyages , ParabolicArc - Note to self: Search for and/or read more posts about Golden Spike. Watch the entire Large Hadron Collider zombie movie—shot at CERN—online now , io9 - Too long for the ...
[Read More]

Fly Her To The Moon!
Fly Her To The Moon! , a photo by theta_sigma on Flickr.
[Read More]

Unwanted blog wrong again
"Some feller gets pushed onto the tracks in front of a New York City subway. More than a dozen people are very close by; none help the man as he tries to climb to safety. Fortunately, a photographer is there on the scene… while he couldn’t be bothered to help the guy climb, he helped ...
[Read More]

(Discovery) Discovered #2!
Discovered #2! , a photo by howardignatius on Flickr. Great composition and lighting!
[Read More]

F-22 and a space shuttle launch
F-22 and a space shuttle take off , a photo by yacielcruz on Flickr. I think I may have posted this before but it's so cool that I don't care if I did. Click through to see the rest of this guy's space-related album.
[Read More]

How to plant a flag on the Moon
  "The flag on the moon represents an important event in vexillological history. This paper examines the political and technical aspects of placing a flag on the moon, focusing on the first moon landing. During their historic extravehicular activity (EVA), the Apollo 11 crew planted ...
[Read More]

Lost at Sea

[Read More]

BOMARC Production
BOMARC Production , a photo by Art LeBrun on Flickr. Click through to see the owner's nice set of rocket and missile photos.
[Read More]

University of Maryland Terrapin Rocket Program, c. 1956
University of Maryland Terrapin Rocket Program, c. 1956 , a photo by La Guardia and Wagner Archives on Flickr.  
[Read More]

Full Scale Harpoon Launch
Finally launched the Harpoon! Flawless launch at Midwest Power 10. Only real issue is I lost the fairing that covered my Go Pro camera, but that was actually by design. I was really worried the fairing would collapse and I would loose any good video. I had read about making an Adruino motion ...
[Read More]

Burrito Bomber
"Earlier this year, the world was brought to its knees when it was cruelly teased with the promise of tasty Mexican treats being delivered via quadcopter. We believe everyone deserves carne asada when they want it and so today, we make that dream a reality. We're proud to introduce: Burrito Bomber ...
[Read More]

Opening the World's heaviest door
  "For 35 years, the Energy Department has pursued an all-of-the-above energy strategy — and the critical work done at the National Labs has helped put America at the top of the global clean energy race. This photo from 1979 shows a Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory employee ...
[Read More]

Third X-37B Launch Scheduled for Today
An Atlas V will launch the Air Force’s Third Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-3) mission. Scheduled Launch time is: December 11 at 1:03pm EST – Launch Window is 5 Hours An approaching cold front could delay the launch .  The secret spy shuttle will begin another mission after an ...
[Read More]

A rocket that can get to space on E9 engines!
xkcd's 'what if'  answers the question,  "How many model rocket engines would it take to launch a real rocket into space?" I went ahead and stole the design, assuming it is available on the same Creative Commons license as the comic . You'll have to follow the link to get the ...
[Read More]

The X-37 OTV-3 is on its way
The third X-37 Orbital Test Vehicle launched this morning atop an Atlas V. Let the speculation on its mission resume! The next interesting event should be Thierry Legault catching a photo of it in orbit.  
[Read More]

UAV + remote manipulator arm
A DARPA-funded research team has successfully demonstrated the precise, automatic placement of objects using a UAV outfitted with a remote manipulator arm. The UAV is the MLB Company’s V-Bat tail-sitting UAV. Read all about it .  
[Read More]

Rocket Tool, Music Fix!
This isn’t really a rocketry related post, but the few rocket build tools I carry on cruise jobs saved a part of my show! Rocket building techniques can come in handy. Think about it - did you ever lay down a line of vinyl caulking then smooth it with a fingertip like a fin fillet? I can bet ...
[Read More]

Not your typical jet engine
"As part of the Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Program, the U.S. conducted extensive research showing that nuclear fission could power an aircraft. The research involved a series of Heat Transfer Reactor Experiments (HTREs), which tested if different types of jet engines could be run by nuclear ...
[Read More]

Launch video of X-37B OTV-3 Mission

[Read More]

New Sanding Block and How I Sand
If you ever saw me at a launch, you'd notice the right pant leg is a lighter blue than the left leg. To keep the sandpaper from loading up (especially when sanding off primer with 400 grit) - I sand once over the fin surface. I'll then brush the block on my pant leg brushing off most ...
[Read More]

Poster of all International Space Launch Vehicles
Great poster of all current or proposed Space Launch vehicles. Even includes the North Korean Unha-3.
[Read More]

A change of direction for The Dungeon
I won't bore you with all the whys and wherefores, but I have decided to take this blog back to its roots. The Dungeon began as a place to talk about my projects and to document my launches. And, I think that's what it should be again. So, until I start a new project or attend a launch, the post ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Blog’s Friday Links #2012-50
Inside NASA’s Mysterious Rubber Room – An emergency egress sanctuary(My favorite story this week)   Cruising in the Apollo 16 Lunar Rover Video Stabalized HD At NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, engineers conducted the final test-firing of the J-2X powerpack ...
[Read More]

The country with the most guns, has the most shootings
Guns per Capita. The country with the most guns per citizen by far, also has the highest number of gun crimes, by far. No way these two are connected...
[Read More]

Stagnation Temperature Calculator
Nasa.gov
[Read More]

December 2012
December 22 from noon till 4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

I'm an Astronomer! (Oops!)
See the pretty picture of the Iris Nebula that I took? This is the result of endless hours of work. It goes with a 15-page report about the photometry of the surrounding stars, the flux ratios in different bands of the nebula, and other random science stuff. I enjoyed this class, but I know now ...
[Read More]

USS Reagan
 
[Read More]

Location of ships during Cuban Missile Crisis
 
[Read More]

Google 60 - Google like it's 1965
http://www.masswerk.at/google60/
[Read More]

Tampa TTRA Launch December 15, 2012
I drove to Oviedo, FL (JonRocket.com Headquarters) to pick up Roger Smith. He had a new camera and put it to good use today! Still pictures are mine, all action shots were taken by Roger. Roger's pics are here: http://www.rocketreviews.com/december-2012-launch-6696.html Here's my Semroc ...
[Read More]

V2 Recovered!
Well, Merry Christmas to me! I was gone for a month since my V2 landed in a tall tree at November's R.O.C.K. launch. While I'd given up on getting it back, I didn't know that other members of the R.O.C.K. group were "trimming the tree". Roger and Bracha Smith made too many trips to the launch ...
[Read More]

Grid-sphere passive communications satellite
" In 1959 the USAF became interested in the use of satellites as space reflectors for long distance communications. One possibility was a metalized balloon-type structure that could be boosted into space in a small container and inflated after it reached orbit. The NASA ECHO I, launched Aug. ...
[Read More]

TTRA’s December, 2012, Launch
The fog evaporated to reveal overcast skies as we arrived at the Varn farm for TTRA’s December launch. But, it didn’t take long for the sky to clear. Maybe it’s because we started poking it with rockets! Astron Mike launched ...
[Read More]

Poor Saturn!
 
[Read More]

"Experience the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing" (This is good!)
A co-worked from my days as a JSC MCC contractor sent me this link: Experience the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing . From the home page: Over 43 years ago, the entire nation watched as three men explored the unknown. Watch, listen, and relive the excitement of the Apollo 11 lunar landing as experienced ...
[Read More]

Crushing radioactive waste
"AMWTP Disposes Problematic Waste With Crushing Success In the Treatment Facility, drums are size reduced by a machine called the Supercompactor. The only machine of its kind in the United States, this behemoth delivers 4 million pounds of force, capable of smashing a 55 gallon drum full of ...
[Read More]

New Saturn image from Cassini

[Read More]

Experience Apollo 11 landing like never before
Experience one of the most nerve-racking events in the history of manned spaceflight; the first landing on the Moon. This website syncs flight footage, telemetry, and communications all on one page. I was about to turn blue by the end of it... Breathing again now. First Men On The Moon
[Read More]

Daya Bay Antineutrino Detector
"While they might look like drops of water or soap bubbles, these colorful figures are actually photomultiplier tubes that line the walls of the Daya Bay neutrino detector. Neutrinos and antineutrinos are neutral particles produced in nuclear beta decay when neutrons turn into protons. This ...
[Read More]

No I haven't forgotten my blog...
I'm just way behind in several areas of life.  I'm about to get some time off so I hope to catch up a bit. Happy holidays, all, and keep the hydrogen chloride emissions out of the eyes in the new year! =G=
[Read More]

Some Great Online Rocketry Deals
Amazon currently has a few Estes kits at 50% or more off the MSRP. Visit the Rocketry Deals Finder for links to the kits.   Bellevue Hobby Center is offering the Estes Interceptor E kit for under $20. They have a couple of other discontinued Estes kits at bargain prices, too. The ...
[Read More]

Los Alamos Dig Unveils Items Ranging from Military Trucks to Toothbrush
"Workers excavated a radiation protection suit as part of the cleanup of the landfill. In a $110 million Recovery Act project at Los Alamos National Laboratory, workers are excavating a waste disposal site known as Material Disposal Area B (MDA-B). Completion of the MDA-B cleanup will reduce ...
[Read More]

Whew! We Made It -
I'm sure this one has been all over Facebook. But it was too good to pass up. I don't do Facebook. I never understood why people post pictures showing a plate of food from a restaurant in Hoboken. I only post the important things - like, too many pictures of a rocket being built. Kudos to the ...
[Read More]

The Dungeon's Top-10 for 2012
I see Chris Michielssen posted his top ten for 2012. So, I see no reason to wait to post mine: 1. Space Shuttle Discovery buzzes Washington DC . 2. Discovery and Enterprise nose-to-nose at Udvar-Hazy . 3. T he  Big V-2 history  and the  SpaceX Falcon/Dragon build posts ...
[Read More]

A Level 3 Casing. Can Anyone Guess What This Means?
I am in possession of a level 3 casing. Can anyone guess what this means for 2013? This means that I am going to go for my level 3 certification! Finally! This is going to be my main project for 2013, and it will enable me to fly rockets on M-O impulse. Now, I know what you're thinking... ...
[Read More]

Top Ten List for 2012
Here's this years Top 10 list of some favorite posts from the blog. These posts can be builds, products and even major disappointments. Counting down from 10: (C lick on the names for a direct link)   10.  Most disappointing - The SPACE X self adhesive body wrap! ...
[Read More]

Hybrid Propulsion Team - University of Brazil
  More at the N-Prize.  
[Read More]

SpaceX Grasshopper 12 story hop
After days of speculation and an FAA report that showed there was a Grasshopper launch on Dec. 17th the video has been finally released.  
[Read More]

Inflatable solar collector for space

[Read More]

SPACEX'S GRASSHOPPER TAKES GIANT LEAP TOWARDS REUSABILITY WITH 12-STORY FLIGHT
Single Camera SpaceX’s Grasshopper took a 12-story leap towards full and rapid rocket reusability in a test flight conducted December 17, 2012 at SpaceX’s rocket development facility in McGregor, Texas. Grasshopper, SpaceX’s vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (VTVL), rose 131 ...
[Read More]

Bomb surgery
  Easy... easy does it...              Now!
[Read More]

Looking for Stickers ….
Up until now, the back of the JonRocket.com trailer has remained undecorated.  We brightened it up with a National Association of Rocketry sticker as well as one from the Tripoli Rocketry Association.  But, there is still a lot of white ...
[Read More]

Kosdon rocket with 20 second burn time
This makes the N1100 look fast! Put one of these as an upper stage to a faster N and 100,000 feet should be in the bag.
[Read More]

Textile inspection microscope
Super want.
[Read More]

Lunar Occultation of Jupiter

[Read More]

Altitude attempt nosecone
After many hours of computer simulations, conference calls to JPL and NASA, and several aborted first attempts, I have completed my latest and greatest nosecone, optimized for supersonic flight:
[Read More]

Primer TIP Idea
This is just an idea, it may not work for everybody-  The red nozzle on the Duplicolor Filler Primer can be turned. The picture shows it flipped 90 degrees to spray in a horizontal "line". Normally you'd want it turned up (standing on the small end) for a wider sweeping spray coat. With ...
[Read More]

JAMSTAR student sounding rocket
Jamstar (Joint Aerospace & Meteorlogical Stratosphere Analysis Rocket) was a boosted dart sounding rocket project that hit mach 2 and about 80,000 feet.  Launching at night is an interesting twist!
[Read More]

Plaster City June 2012 launch report
This post might be out of date but at least it's up faster than the time it takes stupid  Cobalt-57  to decay by half so there! We in San Diego's branch of Tripoli elect to shut down from July to September of each year and with good reason: this June launch exceeded 108F by the time I ...
[Read More]

Two stage rocket with onboard footage and telemetry
It is fun to keep an eye on the velocity and acceleration during the stages and right after burnout when acceleration drops to below -2 gs for a moment, and then slowly moves back towards zero as the drag decreases.
[Read More]

Top 10 Post on Rocketry Blog for 2012
Every year I like to review some of the top post and subjects in Rocketry on my blog for the year. I now have visitors from 172 countries. Here is this years top 10 according to page views. 10.  Inside the Cockpit: Freedom 7 9.   Apollo Lunar Landing Mission Poster 8. ...
[Read More]

Bunker Buster Slow Motion

[Read More]

Welcoming in 2013!
  First off, I wish all my readers, followers and fellow bloggers a healthy and prosperous 2013! Like the budget negotiations, the Dungeon may have fallen off a cliff...but it hasn't hit bottom yet! So, prompted by blogging buddies Verna and Randy , I offer my first post of the new ...
[Read More]

Census Dot Map
  My Brooklyn neighborhood is pitch black, but the country house is a dot in a sea of white. There are dots in places known not to have anyone, so this must not be 100% accurate.   One dot per person in the US census.
[Read More]

NJRick's Dr. Zooch Lifting Body Shuttles
Rick Teklits (NJRick on the Rocketry Forum) posted some pictures of his Dr. Zooch CRV Lifting Body Shuttle builds. "....last year I bought Dr. Zooch's Space Shuttle and much to my surprise..I was able to build it and fly it.... ...the kit went right together with no issues and it really ...
[Read More]

Soyuz Approaching The ISS
Here is an awesome shot of the Soyuz spacecraft approaching the ISS.
[Read More]

V-1 Buzz Bomb mounted on an automobile

[Read More]

Rick Randols Golf Rocket
From Rick Randol (Bluegrass Rocket) on YORF:   "My brother is an avid (and good) golfer, as well as, a guy that doesn't need much in life. So, I thought what can I get him for Christmas. I decided to build him a Golf Rocket, whether it was something he needed or wanted. I didn't ...
[Read More]

Homemade human centrifuge

[Read More]

Letter from Nik Bergenske
Hi Chris, I was feeling a little sentimental today after helping my son put together some space models - and it prompted me to google my dad's former business - Model Rocket Industries. I enjoyed reading your post and the details of your conversation with my dad are consistent with what I've heard ...
[Read More]

Man shoots at boss with AK-47
"Texas Armoring Corporation (TAC), was tired of customers asking if his company's bullet-resistant glass in its armored cars actually resisted bullets. So the CEO asked his employee to shoot at him with an AK-47. It's loud, scary, dangerous, and completely awesome." And let me throw in a ...
[Read More]

New Shrox Designs
Shrox has posted some new designs on the forums. He does hint these will be kits. As always, great lines and paint schemes. The JOHNNY STAR COMMANDER DAS KAMEL The JAVINOX The two stage SOCKEYE VII .
[Read More]

The strange tale of the Lebanese space race
          "LET me take you back to 1960. It is three years after the launch of Sputnik 1 and Manoug Manougian is a young mathematics and physics lecturer at Haigazian College in Beirut, Lebanon, with a fascination for rocketry. At a time when ...
[Read More]

Rough End Launch Lugs TIP
Here's how the launch lugs come now from some vendors. The ends are laser cut - burnt uneven and rough. This lug won't look any better with paint on it, it should be trued up before gluing on a model. The lug end above is how it was sent. The lug end (inset picture) is how it should ...
[Read More]

Ground penetrating warhead
So as you can perhaps tell, this webpage just got wider by 110 pixels.  Does this cause any problems?  Videos and images can now be significantly larger, the last 20 or so posts will be updated.
[Read More]

Dropping a red hot metal sphere into water
This is the result of the Leidenfrost effect.
[Read More]

Big photo dump!
I haven't been blogging but I have been harvesting photos.  Since this isn't general rocketry or space news, my previous self-imposed rules don't apply. So, here are some retro-futuristic cars, some car-girls, a rocket and a rocket girl, and a few missile-aneous images. I've lost track of the ...
[Read More]

Inside Roscosmos - Soyuz From Roll Out To Orbit
Soyuz, from roll out to orbit!
[Read More]

720 Sparklers Burnt at Once

[Read More]

Model Rocket boosted Helicopter
Check out what the guys over at http://www.heligraphix.com did. They attached model rocket engines to Helicopters and ignited them during flight. Amazingly most of the flights look remarkably stable..
[Read More]

On The Next Six Months...
I arrived in California a couple of days ago and today will be starting the first day of a 6-month internship at XCOR Aerospace. While I would love to tell you about all of my experiences the next six months, I will have to speak in very general surfacy terms when talking about XCOR for obvious ...
[Read More]

Highlighting some old posts that I think are interesting (pat, pat, pat)
I see my post on the Stratospheric Dreams rocket is getting a lot of hits, so I thought I'd highlight some old posts on interesting sport rocketry history.    Project 463 Revisited  (includes a video link of the  Downright Ignorant ) Project 463 construction ...
[Read More]

TIP: 3/16" to 1/8" Launch Lug
Using a 20/50 engine adapter I loaded up my Super Alpha with a B6-4 for a soccer field launch. When building the model, I built it for 24 mm engines. I installed a 3/16" diameter launch lug at the fin root joint. My camera tripod (schoolyard) launcher is set up for a 1/8" rod. I had to adapt ...
[Read More]

BALLS 21 does not equal gonads now legally authorized to consume ethanol...
...it offers far more to the cutting edge rocketry community.  Lets start with the video fragments of my first N-motor flight (720p/full-screen always work best): I'm quite happy with the video I was able to salvage but I'll leap to the executive summary: What worked: A mostly ...
[Read More]

Movie recommendation - "Iron Sky"
A while back, I posted about the then newly announced movie Iron Sky . After seeing a thread on TRF , I found that it is currently on Netflix. The premise is that the Nazi's populated the dark side of the Moon back in 1945 and have been lurking there until they could return and conquer the ...
[Read More]

Observation of the day
I seem to be finding some stuff to post about without cross-posting rocket and space stuff or actually building/flying anything of my own.  I may even post some rocket stuff if I find it really interesting or cool. We'll see.
[Read More]

Old AVI / FSI Engine Making Machines
On the NAR Facebook page Dave Bucher posted pictures of the "found" FSI inventory HERE  somewhere near Raytown Missouri. I found the pictures of the engine making machines interesting. These machines were from AVI (MPC) and sold to FSI to make 18mm engines. These might be the machines used ...
[Read More]

Tangentially related video dump
These videos are about guns, electronics, and metallurgy. One could make the argument that these things are almost aerospace or rocketry related. Or, one could just watch the videos and enjoy.
[Read More]

Nuclear Rocket Petition
There is a new petition at the White House “We the People” . “Rapidly develop and deploy a nuclear thermal rocket for both manned & un-manned space missions” You can view and sign the petition here
[Read More]

All motors and nose cone
8126281973_4dd9194967_o , a photo by x-ray delta one on Flickr.
[Read More]

New Estes 2013 Catalog Online
The NEW Estes 2013  Catalog is online HERE Lots of new RTF and ARTF models. But there are some real "builder's" kits there too. The Sprint XL is shown on page 22. BT-60 based and flys on 24mm engines. The new launcher and controller - The Astron II is on page 80. Two new nose cone ...
[Read More]

FSI Re-Launch!
From: OldRockets@yahoogroups.com I and my partner have purchased what is left of Flight Systems Inc. and will relaunch first kits...the ones available in 1994 when the company ceased production and we intend to do our best to get the production of the 21mm and 27mm motors and also the APC ...
[Read More]

Rocket sled nosecone stuffed with rockets
The Rocket Dungeon
[Read More]

New Estes Engines?
From a NAR Email: The following motor has been certified by NAR Standards & Testing for general use as a Model Rocket Motor effective November 25, 2012. ************************************* Estes: F15-0,4,6,8 29mm x114mm 49.61 Newton-seconds Total Impulse 25.26 Newtons Peak Thrust 14.38 ...
[Read More]

Another big photo dump - TGIF
First, an on topic photo from my favorite Flickr stream (x-ray delta one)... A couple of classics from The Big Picture's 125 Years of National Geographic . Jane Goodall   Buzz Aldren I do love those old time ...
[Read More]

Soviet inflatable rocket
      Rocket Sports Festival USSR
[Read More]

Rocket Sports Festival in the USSR, 1963
I couldn't resist cross-cross-cross-posting these shots, via High Power Rocketry , via English Russia , via American journalist Stan Wayman. This time, the Russians really outdid us Americans (i.e.by improving on the Estes Dude ).    
[Read More]

FSI slated to return with kits AND motors (hopefully)
Dave Bucher and some unknown (to me) partners have bought out Flight Systems Inc., which as near as I can tell went out of business in the early 1990's. Via Facebook: Just to let the modroc community know, FSI will rise again! Details to follow over the next two weeks but you can look for all ...
[Read More]

The Cold War in pink
Found on the HAMB . Some are of more interest to me than others, but I decided to post them all.            
[Read More]

MDRA Christmas Tree drag race, 2013
Fun and hilarity on Maryland's Eastern Shore.  This year, a couple of them even looked stable :)
[Read More]

Centurion Autopsy
My Semroc Centurion has been through the wringer! A few years after the initial build, it got epoxy fillets and a repaint. Flights were good for a while. Recently, after a bad two stage attempt it went horizontal and crashed into a tree. Rebuilt with three new fins. The last flight broke off a fin ...
[Read More]

On the lookout over WSMR
San Augustine Pass Summit, Jan 4, 2013 , a photo by Ted of DGAR on Flickr.
[Read More]

XCOR And AXE Teamping Up to Send 22 People to Space
Fun news. Commercial spaceflight is entering the main stream and looking (and smelling) quite good! United Kingdom-based Unilever Group (NYSE: UL, Unilever N.V. and NYSE: UN, Unilever PLC), and Space Expedition Corporation (SXC) announced a 22 flight purchase on XCOR Aerospace's Lynx® Mark ...
[Read More]

Knots? Part 1
Recently on The Rocketry Forum MarkG asked how to attach a Kevlar line to a nose cone screw eye. His original question was about a LPR rocket with (probably) 135 lb. Kevlar. Some of the responses sounded like they were directed towards MPR knots using stronger Kevlar. Here's ...
[Read More]

Projects in 2013
There are several projects that we are working on this year; we hope it will be a productive one: Drawing Projects Nike-Tomahawk Data Project.  Ever since 2004 when Dave Fitch met with Don Larson, an “old rocketeer” from NAR competitions ...
[Read More]

Projects in 2013
There are several projects that we are working on this year; we hope it will be a productive one: Drawing Projects Nike-Tomahawk Data Project.  Ever since 2004 when Dave Fitch met with Don Larson, an “old rocketeer” from NAR competitions past, Dave and I have been on-and-off ...
[Read More]

Why you should join Facebook, explained by rocket/space girls
For my resistant readers, I'll make it simple. If you like space history, Retro Space Images's page alone is reason enough to join. If you are too paranoid, create a new free email address (Gmail, Yahoo, or whatever), lie about your name and age and sign up. Search for Retro Space Images. Click ...
[Read More]

Image of Hiroshima Mushroom Cloud from Ground
  "TOKYO — A rare photo showing the mushroom cloud from the Hiroshima atomic bombing in two distinct parts, one above the other, has been discovered in the city, a museum curator said Wednesday. The black-and-white picture is believed to have been taken about half-an-hour after ...
[Read More]

Knots? Part 2
From recent TRF posts, here's some knot choices in order of popularity. For tying off a shock cord to a screw eye, I like the look of the Duncan Uni Knot shown below. Click on the knot names to go to the Animated Knots website. BOWLINE The most popular knot. FIGURE 8 KNOT While ...
[Read More]

Steak Drop What If
From what height would you need to drop a steak for it to be cooked when it hit the ground?   http://what-if.xkcd.com/28/
[Read More]

Knots? Part 3
  On the left is the Duncan (Uni) Knot tied with 135 lb, Kevlar. Refer to the knot HERE Looking at the animated tying instructions, you loop the line four times after making the "S". This Kevlar tie has the four looped turns. On the right is 1/8" elastic tied around a plastic nose ...
[Read More]

Young Engineers resurrect the F-1 Gas Generator
The mighty F-1 has been revisited. These young engineers having been reviewing how the powerful Saturn F-1 might assist in building heavy lifting rockets. What better way than to rebuild the F-1. In this case they rebuilt the Gas generator. “This activity provided us with information for ...
[Read More]

Vortex Rocket Engine Technology Looks Promising
The inner surfaces of rocket engines can be subjected to extremely high heat. Temperatures as high as 3227°C (5800°F) can result from the powerful, thrust-generating exothermal reaction between fuel and oxidizer, which runs hot enough to melt or damage the walls of the combustion ...
[Read More]

Sounding rocket COMPERE experiment
  "The flight experiment was performed in May, 2008 in Kiruna, Sweden. It has been a benchmark type of experiment on fluid behavior in tanks to test hypotheses and numerical predictions. This experiment has been intended to partially fill in the objectives of the ESA MAP project ...
[Read More]

Plaster Blaster 2012 launch report
PB2012 was a great launch for me featuring two days of amazing weather, no camping required as I've discovered El Centro hotels,  and I was very pleased with the fourth flight of my scratch-built Em-Sem-Fity minimum diameter 98mm rocket.      Frank Hermes, Mark Clauson, and I ...
[Read More]

More spacey rides
Even more retro-futuristic vehicles with wheels (or in one case, treads).   via the HAMB   The Chariot from Lost in Space via DRB , via CarLust . Apparently, it was fully operational.   ...
[Read More]

Launch! Tampa TTRA January 19, 2013
I had great success yesterday at the Tampa TTRA launch. Nobody knew what to expect weather wise, we knew there would be wind. Throughout the day there were wind gusts, up to 20 m.p.h. PIGASUS! flew well with a C6-5 under it's tail. Perfect straight boost even with the wind. That's Andy Green ...
[Read More]

Heyfield Fire 18 - 20th Jan, 2013
I was recently deployed with Strike team 0803 to Heyfield in Eastern Victoria to help fight the fires that had burnt through Heyfield, Seaton and Glenmaggie. I was on night shift on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th of Jan, 2013. These are some of the photos I took over those few days.   ...
[Read More]

Inaugural Float Move (201301200003HQ)
Inaugural Float Move (201301200003HQ) , a photo by nasa hq photo on Flickr.
[Read More]

Darts and dart launch towers
          Launch of Suborbital Sounding Rocket Systems with instrument and experimental payloads  Full Turnkey Engineering with launch vehicle structure design, build, and launch to include  Flight Range Safety coordination ...
[Read More]

Chinese DF-1 Missile launch failure

[Read More]

Kiwi-A nuclear rocket reactor
  http://up-ship.com/blog/
[Read More]

Tampa TTRA Launch Pics Jan. 19, 2013
Roger Smith has posted great pictures from the Tampa TTRA launch from January 19, 2013. You can see them at: http://www.rocketreviews.com/january-2013-8172.html On the left is the Quest Aerospace One ( the same one I'm building now on this blog ) launched with an Estes D12-5.
[Read More]

Orion capsule @ 2013 Inauguration
2013 Inauguration (201301210019HQ) , a photo by nasa hq photo on Flickr.
[Read More]

Cracker Barrel Find!
It's the first sign of the apocalypse! Estes rubber band prop airplanes at the Cracker Barrel, right next to the Guillow's planes. Roger Smith spotted this one after a post launch dinner.
[Read More]

January 2013
Cancelled Continue reading →
[Read More]

JonRocket.com Product Data Feed Available Through PopShots
JonRocket.com’s affiliate data feed is now available through PopShots.   PopShops provides tools to help you build and maintain your affiliate web site. PopShop’s ShopBuilder makes it easy to create a shopping web site featuring products from hundreds of vendors ...
[Read More]

Plaster City December 2012 launch report
I'm clearly on a blog roll now... My goal for December was fun and easy flying so I packed sparsely planning for no dual deploy, no onboard vid, and no GPS headaches.  I sought leisure via simple motor ejection and perhaps a Jolly Logic Altimeter One thrown in for good [barometric] measure. ...
[Read More]

Flight of Frankenstager
This past weekend I flew my two-stage rocket Frankenstager to roughly 27,000′. Unfortunately I have yet to recover the rocket which is still waiting for me out in the Mojave desert. Full report and more pictures go here.
[Read More]

Robert-McCall--shuttle proposal
Robert-McCall--shuttle proposal , a photo by x-ray delta one on Flickr.
[Read More]

EMPIRE Building
David Portree (Beyond Apollo) has a cool article about an early 1960's Mars exploration study: EMPIRE Building: Ford Aeronutronic’s Mars/Venus Piloted Flyby Study (1962) . I won't paraphrase the entire article but will borrow a few figures. The first provides a scale profile of ...
[Read More]

The Pictorial Developmental History of the Lunar Lander and more….
Just finished adding a new page of LEM development pictures. Click here to see the new section which is part of a broader Rocket History section I am creating.
[Read More]

Selatan Space Program
  "My Space Programme, Selatan was Initiated, standalone, in 1980, involves the design, simulation and construction of Spacecraft Propulsion and its system. All this is made Possible by a collaboration. My Space Programme primarily targeted for sub-orbital space tourism flight ...
[Read More]

Saturn V F-1 Engine Gas Generator Hot Fire Tests at MSFC

[Read More]

Space food past and present
      "The AFT project is responsible for providing space flight crews with a food system that is safe, nutritious, and acceptable to the crew, while efficiently balancing appropriate vehicle mass, volume, waste, and food preparation time for exploration missions. ...
[Read More]

So, the first known rocket was a land shark (a.k.a. a ground rat)
Land shark - The condition in which a rocket, for whatever reason, fails to attain air flight and slides along the ground under power. Credit: Harry Campbell/Smithsonian The February 2013 issue of Smithsonian Magazine has a short article about the search ...
[Read More]

Atomic Toasters
  If you are not reading  atomictoasters.com  you need to start.
[Read More]

Plaster City Jan. 2013 Launch Report
Executive summary for San Diego's first launch of 2013: Brilliant weather! Unparalleled assistance! Great launch success! Liftoff photos and onboard video?  Not so much. First off I'd like to thank Darrel, KO, Jason, and Jonathan for all their help that day.  We've ...
[Read More]

New? MPC Rockets
Bob Sanford (Initiator001 on TRF) is the first to post about the new MPC rockets. Here's his TRF post after assembling the Star Trek USS Reliant (shown here) -  "The models are packaged in full color boxes with hang tabs which can be pulled out if the model is to be displayed on peg hooks. ...
[Read More]

RocketReviews.com Web Site Update
Just a quick update on the status of the RocketReviews.com web site ...
[Read More]

Iran sends monkey into space
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has sent a monkey into space aboard an indigenous bio-capsule as a prelude to sending humans into space. The space capsule, code-named Pishgam (Pioneer), was launched on Monday on the auspicious birthday anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). On January 15, the ...
[Read More]

Frog Tape?
There was a recent post on TRF asking about Frog Tape for masking model rockets. Consumer Reports just gave it high marks in it's March 2013 issue. It scored better than the 3M blue tapes. Some have had good success with the green Frog tape. Remember, this yellow Frog Tape is made for use with ...
[Read More]

Military choppers firing blanks over Miami
How stupid are these people? Seriously, conducting this kind of simulated fire activity over a city without clearly and openly explaining the exercise to the public should be illegal.
[Read More]

A deleted scene from "Bladerunner."
No, actually it is Beijing.
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine's LDRS p0rn issue is in da' house
  This issue covers, LDRS XXXI, LDRS XXXI and nuttin' but LDRS XXXI. I've enjoyed they eye candy but haven't read it yet. I noted lots of cool oddrocs that didn't make the Discovery show. I wonder how that chain saw flew? Hope I find out after I read the mag. You can catch the preview ...
[Read More]

What I didn't see this evening
FXM_7226 , a photo by fxmurphy on Flickr. This evening at about 5:50Pm EST, Wallops launched a Terrier-Improved Orion . Thanks to Flickr user fxmuphy, I know what the released lithium vapor trail looked like! I missed it due a Swines Behind (smoked pork, ham and bacon) sandwich from Branded 72 ...
[Read More]

NAR $5.00 Referral!
After being gone for a week long cruise, I picked up my mail. There was a letter from the N.A.R. (National Association of Rocketry). I thought it was a newsletter or announcement. I was surprised to find a $5.00 bill! If asked about membership, I'll recommend the N.A.R. at launches. Someone ...
[Read More]

Gas resistant stroller
 
[Read More]

Kopter Rotor Recovery Rockets
According to a post on YORF, Walt Senoski of Kopter Rockets is coming back with some classic kits. Check out the older catalog HERE and the Kopter history HERE From the Newsletter of the Pittsburgh Space Command  NAR Section #473 
[Read More]

Worst (and yet best) pickup line ever
 
[Read More]

Over Spray Removal TIP
Recently when painting the blue on the Quest Aerospace One model I missed masking the tip of the dowel. I really didn't want to paint over with white. Scraping off the blue might take off the white down to the wood surface. Sometimes (not always!) you can remove the over spray with GOO ...
[Read More]

The first TGIF post of 2013
Rocket blogging buddies Verna and Randy have posted their monthly update. February brings us a tribute to the Mercury program  and a bunch of rocket/space/sci-fi girls . All my regulars know this is one of my favorite blogging topics after rockets themselves. So, I'll toss in a ...
[Read More]

Wadding Alternatives TIP
I'll need to buy some wadding soon and don't want to pay $5.49 retail for 75 squares of Estes wadding! That treated toilet paper will cost 7 cents per 4 1/2" square ! Five years back I bought some yellow crepe paper sheets on clearance from a small craft store. The crepe paper is flame ...
[Read More]

Night launch!
Here's a cool view of the Terrier-Improved Orion Orion sounding rocket launching from Wallops Island on January 29, 2013. Seen via Space,com's Amazing Rocket Launches of 2013  Gallery. Credit: Brea Reeves / NASA/Wallops Flight Facility
[Read More]

Pledge / Future TIP
I've read about Pledge/Future floor finish on the forums. Here's what the latest bottle art looks like -  Many have great success with it, saying it gives their models an additional gloss. I've never had great luck with it. I've brushed it on and tried to pick up the drips - it's very thin ...
[Read More]

The rockets of Gaza
 
[Read More]

Slow-Motion Video from the February ROCK Launch
Featuring “The Dude”: I’ll post still photos from the launch soon.
[Read More]

Plaster City launch report for Feb/2013
Reporting the day after the launch?  Unheard of yet so very true!  Here are all my select photos from yesterday.  Oh and it's [not at all] hilarious now but I managed to forget my motor casings, bottled water, and K1999 liner yesterday!  Packing FAIL. Rectification required. ...
[Read More]

ROCK’s February Launch
A clear blue sky and cool temperatures with light wind provided an excellent day for rocketry as ROCK held its February launch.   My photos from the launch are available for viewing in the RocketReviews.com Photo Album at http://www.rocketreviews.com/february-2013-launch.html.
[Read More]

Vines on a nosecone
  "Within the culture of biotechnology, the blurry distinction between what we grow and what is designed has become increasingly populated with the products of our contemporary world. Commercially available GLOfish™ pets and herds of silk producing BioSteel® goats set the tone ...
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K. February 2, 2013
  Cool weather, clear skies and low winds! Roger Smith was busy taking pictures - you can see them all HERE The launch shots in this blog post were taken by Roger. After a few "no-gos" Tom Tweit launched his Dude with an E11-4. Right after the inset picture was taken the wind caught it, ...
[Read More]

For Sale on TRF: 38/240 and 38/480

[Read More]

Baffle in the Estes Black Star Voyager?
Check out the instructions for the new Estes Black Star Voyager kit - HERE This is a level V build! A forum post talked mentioned a baffle in this kit. All you are really doing is drilling some holes in the adapter to allow the ejection charge to pass through. Later in the flight prep you are told ...
[Read More]

Supersonic Ping Pong Ball
"What happens when a ping pong ball moving at supersonic speed hits a paddle? Here's a video explaining the physics of how a ping pong ball can be accelerated to supersonic speed along with some clips showing test shots."
[Read More]

TIPS PDFs from N.I.R.A.
From the Northeastern Illinois Rocketry Association (N.I.R.A.) N.A.R. Section #117 Some great tips: http://www.nirarocketry.org/docs/NIRAsBigBookOTipsfromtheLeadingEdge.pdf http://www.nirarocketry.org/docs/NIRAsBigBookOTipsV1.pdf A few tips may be outdated, but overall this is great information! ...
[Read More]

MPC Rocket Reissues by Ertl
The MPC Vostok and Titan kits coming out later this year -  Pre-orders are being accepted from a few vendors including: http://www.culttvmanshop.com/Round-2MPC_bymfg_80-0-1.html From the descriptive copy on the website: This is a PREORDER item and you are reserving this kit.  This is ...
[Read More]

Asteroid 2012 DA14
Source SPACE.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration
[Read More]

Qaher F313 - Supposed Iranian stealth fighter
      The Qaher F313 certainly looks as if it is either a fake aircraft, perhaps simply a plastic and fiberglass model, or at best, a poorly performing subsonic jet that is not capable of combat. Even that is a real stretch as the thing simply does not look like a ...
[Read More]

I have to admit it, I pass a lot of gas
I just got my Into the Wind catalog, which reminded me of one of my favorite finds - nylon repair tape . As much as I love this stuff, I haven't heard of any other rocketeers using it. Maybe I'm the only one who has ever used too little wadding or mis-packed a chute above the 'chute pad? In any ...
[Read More]

New Space X Falcon 9 Body Tube Wrap
A client has asked me to build another Space X Falcon kit. If you follow the blog, you know I've tried this once before. The build went fine until the long body wrap had to be attached. It was a thin adhesive backed sticker that had to be wrapped around the body tube. I tried twice ...
[Read More]

Scale distance between Earth and Moon
 
[Read More]

Spontaneous Capillarity-Driven Droplet Ejection
"The first large length-scale capillary rise experiments were conducted by R. Siegel using a drop tower at NASA LeRC shortly after the 1957 launch of Sputnik I. Siegel was curious if the wetting fluid would expel from the end of short capillary tubes in a low-gravity environment. He observed that ...
[Read More]

Kevlar Unraveling? TIP
I was tying off some three strand Kevlar. Three strand Kevlar (not the braided type) has a tendency to unravel on the ends. In the picture on the right you can see it starting to separate. Before trimming the loose end, run a white glue coat down the strands that are still wound together. Let ...
[Read More]

Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle...
 
[Read More]

Repair of missile warhead system
    http://englishrussia.com/
[Read More]

Chernobyl: Before, During, and After
Chernobyl: Before, During, and After , a photo by USGS Landsat on Flickr. With all the news about the launch of the Landsat Data Continuity Mission  (Landsat-8), I was poking around image archives from Landsat-5. When the center photo was taken, some of my guys were installing some ...
[Read More]

LDCM Launch
LDCM Launch , a photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr. Click through for a full description of the launch and its payload.
[Read More]

Landsat Liftoff
More HERE
[Read More]

LDCM Prelaunch
LDCM Prelaunch , a photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr. I thought this was a nice view.
[Read More]

Landsat in Space [video]
Landsat in Space [video] a video by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr.  
[Read More]

.Launch of Landsat DCM on Atlas V from Vandenberg .
The very first Atlas V from Vandenberg for NASA launched today, February 11th 2013 at 18:02 UTC. The Atlas V 401 is carrying the Landsat Data Continuity Mission spacecraft into orbit - which will become Landsat 8 after testing in orbit.
[Read More]

New Cameras!
I finally bought a key chain camera at the last Tampa TTRA launch. It's amazing that a Estes Cineroc sold for $19.95 back in the 1970s. This keychain camera sold  for $20.00 in 2013! Digital SD cards are so much easier than that Super 8mm film! There are four buttons on the camera, the two ...
[Read More]

Tunguska
 
[Read More]

Florida Residents – Free Shipping on Orders of $20.00 or Greater
As you probably already know, JonRocket.com offers free shipping in the US if your order totals $40 or more. No coupon code is required to take advantage of this offer. Orders under $40 pay a fixed low shipping charge (currently $6.95). Since we are ...
[Read More]

Wet Sanding Thoughts
I've read a few forum posts where new builders talked about wet sanding. That piece of 400 grit (wet/dry) sandpaper in the glass of water is only about 2" X 4" in size. That one piece should be more than enough to fully wet sand a Big Bertha sized model. You can leave that wet/dry piece of ...
[Read More]

US map on the Moon
 
[Read More]

Massive meteorite explodes in atmosphere causing serious damage
"Breaking news, a tremendous flash in the skies just couple hours ago happened in Chelyabinsk city followed by a devastating sonic boom leaving hundreds of windows broken and lighting the streets of the city with light hundred times stronger than normal. Lots of people left their houses thinking ...
[Read More]

Meteorite impact rocks the Russian landscape
Numerous sources are reporting on a bolide meteorite that impacted near Chelyabinsk Russia, where is shook the ground and injured hundreds. The USGS has reported tremors equivalent to a 2.7 magnitude earthquake. Compare that to the 1908 Tunguska meteor blast, which flattened 80 million trees ...
[Read More]

More on the Russian fireball
The fireball exploded both literally and on the Interwebs. Space.com alone has gone ape shit. Here are a couple of good videos (seen on AirSpace ). And, here's a funny graphic, found via the Unwanted Blog  (although it too has become an Internet meme). [I don't mean to make light of the ...
[Read More]

Frankenstager Found
The weekend after the launch I was able to head back and search for both the booster and sustainer. Prior to searching I spent quite a bit of time running simulations and scouring google earth to figure out where the best search areas would be. For both sections I had best guess locations based on ...
[Read More]

Greg Poelein's Engine Block Tip
Greg Poelein brought up a great tip recently on The Rocketry Forum: "Here's a tip for future builds. After you fire a motor of each size (13mm, 18mm and 24mm), save the motor casing. When you get home, cut a few strips of paper 1/4" wide and as long as the sheet (11" or 14" from letter or legal ...
[Read More]

Angry Meteorite

[Read More]

Launch Tampa TTRA February 16, 2013
Crowds were smaller this week, some stayed home after checking the wind and weather predictions. When I arrived at the Plant City launch site at 10:30 a.m.the winds were starting to pick up. Gusts were up to 15 m.p.h. with stronger winds a few hundred feet up.  To check the conditions I ...
[Read More]

Crew View STIG B-1
Great behind the scenes video of the Armadillo Aerospace STIG B-1 crew during launch.  Love that slow takeoff.
[Read More]

Vintage Estes Rockets Website
A forum post from collector Eric Higgins: "Just wanted to take a moment to tell the YORF community of the completion of phase I of my Estes K-Kit research website, www.VintageEstesRockets.com As a lifelong collector, I began contemplating putting this site together many, many years ago. Back in ...
[Read More]

Friendly Reminder to DO HARD THINGS
While my life in general seems to exude the notion that it isn't going to waste, and while picking a tough major and moving halfway across the country for a tough internship can be considered "doing hard things," a close look at how I've spent my free time lately would reveal a distinct lack of ...
[Read More]

Shooting at RC plane with machine guns

[Read More]

Retrofuturistic Space Flight
Here's an old post by the Web Urbanist: Retrofuture Space Flight: 15 Visions of Future Past . Here's one I hadn't seen before. A prescient vision of  Planetary Resources ?  
[Read More]

Manned capsule size comparisons
Found this nice graphic of Spacecraft size comparisons. A notable point to the graphic and capsule history are the number of flights of Soyuz in comparison to all others. It has definitely been the most successfully flown spacecraft. Another point is that the Dragon has a capability of 7 ...
[Read More]

Found photo mix: retro and futuristic rides
                 
[Read More]

Chelyabinsk Meteor Shockwave Compilation

[Read More]

New DFR Technologies Scale Model Rocket Kits
We are excited to announce that we have added the first of DFR Technologies’ new series of scale flying model rocket kits to the JonRocket.com store. The first of the new kits is the Delta-II – GPS, a 1/72nd scale ...
[Read More]

Cape Canaveral

[Read More]

India to launch Mars orbiter in October
Indian President Pranab Mukherjee announced that the Indian Space Research Organisation plans to launch a Mars Orbiter Mission in October of 2013. The purpose of the mission is stated as ” it will look for signature of life and reasons for loss of atmosphere on the ...
[Read More]

Russian driver reacts to meteorite

[Read More]

Sprint Redux
I am happy to see Estes re-release one of my favorite rockets of all time – The Sprint. The new release is a bigger meaner Sprint built on a BT 60 tube and using D and E motors and is a tribute to designer Mike Dorfler. Last year I used a standard Sprint in several [...]
[Read More]

Loki Dart on Facebook
  One good reason to like AeroTech on Facebook.
[Read More]

Watch Mercury Spin on its Axis [hd video]
Watch Mercury Spin on its Axis [hd video] a video by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr.
[Read More]

Evolution
 
[Read More]

Aerotech announces single use HPR motors
AeroTech Unveils Pro-SU Motor Line at NARCON Convention in Santa Clara, CA AeroTech is introducing a game-changing new product for the high power rocketry market, the Pro-SU line of single use motors. Pro-SU motors are different from previous and existing reloadable and single use motors in the ...
[Read More]

Apollo 17/Saturn 5 rocket, sunrise, December 6, 1972
Apollo 17/Saturn 5 rocket, sunrise, December 6, 1972 , a photo by Mr Dan Beaumont on Flickr.
[Read More]

Help Name Pluto's Newly Discovered Moons!
You all have the chance to go over to www.plutorocks.com/ and vote for your favorite names for the two new plutonian satellites. Heretofore they have been referred to as "P4" and "P5" and I think scientists are getting tired of such boring nomenclature. I voted for "Cerberus" because I am in the ...
[Read More]

Pro-SU: "When you just want to fly!" (updated)
I can't resist this tidbit of news! At NARCON, Aerotech is releasing their new line of single use high power motors. Wow, that's a bast from the past. Unlike the older SU motors, however, these will have adjustable delays. A new adjustment tool will be required but they will give you one with ...
[Read More]

Found photo mix: planes, cars and rockets
A handful from Flickr...click through to see more info and related shots: And, a few other found ones:          
[Read More]

Space Shuttle Structural Test Facility, Palmdale, CA 1978
Structural Test Facility, Palmdale, CA 1978 , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr.  
[Read More]

The STRaND-1 nanosatellite powered by a Google Nexus One
    sstl.co.uk
[Read More]

Moonburner

[Read More]

Show Business Is Not Pretty!
Normally I wouldn't comment about anything outside of Model Rocketry on the blog but this was pretty ridiculous! Yesterday (Tuesday, February 26) I was to meet the Holland America Ryndam in Curacao. My flight from Miami arrived at 4:00 p.m. I went through Immigration and got my luggage - two large ...
[Read More]

Dueling Hot Fire Test As The COTS Program Competition Heats Up.
For the first time both Orbital Sciences and SpaceX Technologies have there launch systems on the pad doing hot fire test in preperation for launch. While SpaceX is considered by most to be the clear leader in the commercial space race. We will have to see how Orbital Sciences fares once they ...
[Read More]

Welp, It's About Time. Manned Mars Mission by 2018!
Inspiration Mars Foundation is planning a manned flyby mission to Mars for a target launch date of January 5, 2018. The announcement was made today. A fast, free-return mission is similar in function to the Apollo 8 mission. The idea is to send two private U.S. citizens (probably a married couple, ...
[Read More]

The first smart-phone equipped satellite is in orbit!
Space.com reports that the University of Surrey's Surrey Space Centre (SSC) and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) launched the first smartphone-powered satellite into orbit on February 25th. The tiny STRaND-1 picosat, which includes a Google Nexus One Android phone, is packed with other ...
[Read More]

SStS, CSD UPDATE
Chamber Separation Disk (CSD) in the Mid-Bulkhead I completed the modifications to the MBH ,CSD, and plug recently.  The entire DSS TM-1-2 test motor is now with another project member undergoing hydrostatic testing. There seems to be a lot of mixed ...
[Read More]

SpaceX CRS-2
UPDATE: Successful Launch at 10:10 am Be prepared for the mission. The launch will be webcast live, with commentary from SpaceX corporate headquarters in Hawthorne, California, at spacex.com/webcast, and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at www.nasa.gov/nasatv. Pre-Launch coverage will begin at ...
[Read More]

JonRocket.com at clixGalore
For those who may already be using the clixGalore affiliate network, we have created an affiliate program for JonRocket.com at clickGalore. Like our Sharasale affiliate program, the clixGalore program allows you to add JonRocket.com links and banners to your web ...
[Read More]

New Estes Products
Here's two new re-issue up and down scales from Estes: MINI FAT BOY 2442 Skill Level 1 Length: 8.5 in (21.6 cm) Diameter: 1.64 in (42 mm) Estimated Weight: 1.3 oz (36.8 g) Laser cut wood fins, water slide decals, 12 in (30.5 cm) parachute Projected Max Altitude: 250 ft (76 m) Recommended ...
[Read More]

STIG B Flight 3
Sad Armadillos! Nice Launch with a not so nice recovery.
[Read More]

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the latest Stig-B flight (a.k.a. "Sad Armadillos")
The Good = the launch (great footage from multiple perspectives). The Bad = deployment problems, D'OH. The Ugly = ground impact!
[Read More]

Sport rocketry archaeology (a.k.a. rocketology)
This month's update from Verna and Randy [yeah guys, I found it before your email announcement :)] is about the study of sport rocketeers via the rockets that they have built. They coined the term rocketology but I generally call it rocket archaeology . I borrowed one photo and the terminology. ...
[Read More]

Nice slideshow on some 1970's space stations
  "In the mid-1970s, to a visionary few, space colonies seemed like the future of humanity. One of the colony types deemed feasible was the cylinder colony, here shown in a double-cylinder version envisioned by Gerard O'Neill, a Princeton physicist." Discover Magazine
[Read More]

Happy Berth Day SpaceX!
SpaceX has successfully completed its third mission to the International Space Station. They actually had some issues with the thrusters after launch, three of the four thrusters were not operational. The spacecraft could still function with two thrusters offline, but NASA wanted at least three up ...
[Read More]

Rocket launch fail

[Read More]

Vintage Film Posters From The 50's and 60's
  "They came from outer space to invade the Earth, and my bed!" "See the first gun battle in space, and the first chicken-celery aspic meal prepared in a space kitchen." "Beatniks in spacenik!"
[Read More]

ROCK’s March Launch
High winds threatened to spoil an otherwise perfect day for rocket launching. But, we monitored the wind speed and launched during the pauses between the gusts. Tom tested the winds by flying his Lawn Dart.  It landed not too far ...
[Read More]

Your Monday dose of retro groovyness
Space elevator concept art (1970) and the Flying City Of Venus (by S.Zhitomoirsky, 1971) from the magazine "Technika Molodezhi" (Youth Technics) - via io9's groovy socialist world of 1970s Soviet futurism . Here's concept art from a Japanese adaptation of EE 'Doc' Smith's Lensman ...
[Read More]

Totally awesome retro, space, contests
Before you could win a trip to near-space, you could win these prizes. Found on Facebook -  www.Retro Space Images.com - An ESTES Christmas - 1968: This one comes via Bunny Bundick's (our ex-NAR prez) comment to RetroSpace's post and via io9 :  
[Read More]

Tip: Custom sanding blocks
I hate sanding! But for you modelers who don't, here is an interesting article on making custom-shaped, rigid sanding blocks: How-To: ShapeLock Sanding Blocks . The blocks are made from ShapeLock plastic infused with abrasive grit. This material melts in hot water and then rigidly hardens at room ...
[Read More]

Welcome!
  The Sirius Rocketry Saturn V on an AeroTech I284. Welcome to the Sirius Rocketry Blog!   Hello everyone!    Dave from Sirius Rocketry here.  Sirius Rocketry has  been around for 14 years now (really - has it been that ...
[Read More]

Our solar system to scale
Ingredients: The Sun, trace other.
[Read More]

Blue Origin Tests it’s BE-3 Engine
The BE-3 is a liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen(LOX/LH2) 100,000 pound thrust engine. The BE-3 is designed to be part of the RBS(Reusable booster system) that powers the Blue Origin Space Vehicle. In 2011 Blue Origin received a 22 million commitment from NASA as part of the Commercial Crew D ...
[Read More]

The Russian Soyuz Capsule Explained
Source: SPACE.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration
[Read More]

1962 ... 'Fireball XL-5'
1962 ... 'Fireball XL-5' , a photo by x-ray delta one on Flickr. More detail than I ever needed...but I like it.
[Read More]

6 Hour Fast Track To Station Planned For Next Soyuz Launch
Russian Soyuz spacecraft, docked to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA. The next Soyuz crew will be the first to try out the new abbreviated four-orbit rendezvous with the International Space Station. This relatively new, modified launch and docking profile for the Russian ships ...
[Read More]

Engine Hook and Launch Lug on Same Side? TIP
A question was posted on TRF about new Estes kits. The Estes instructions have you line up the engine hook and launch lug on the same side. Genzod posted the question: "Why do they say in Estes kit instructions to put the lunch lug on the same line as the engine hook? Is it necessary? I'm ...
[Read More]

Photo from this date in 1926
and then on March 16th
[Read More]

One for the inverse bucket list
I was just thinking, if I was under 30 and had no young kids, how much I'd love SXSW (South by Southwest), the mega music/film/tech festival that is held yearly in Austin, Texas. However, that ship has sailed and sunk. This popped to mind after I saw the JWST (James Webb Space Telescope) folks ...
[Read More]

DIYROCKETS and SXSW
It appears the rocket gods are teasing me about my unfulfilled obsession with SXSW.  NewSpaceWatch notes that " DIYROCKETS and Sunglass  Team up to Launch World’s First Collaborative 3D Printed Rocket Engine Design Competition"...which kicks off at SXSW. The 3-D printing ...
[Read More]

Discontinued Quest Kits?
When I got the Rockets Of The World book from NARTS, order forms from Belleview Wholesale Hobby were enclosed. There were three pages of products, one each from Estes, Custom and Quest. The Quest page had these kits listed under "DISCONTINUED"" Superbird #2010 Terrier Orion #2015 Fighter Escort ...
[Read More]

Supersonic F/A-18 Flyby With Chaff

[Read More]

Photos dump from the H.A.M.B., the H.A.M.B. and nuttin' but the H.A.M.B.
I was going to wait a week between posting my gathered photos but just found too many good ones. If you like them you should consider wading your way through the 3428 pages of retro photo goodness . What I have here are just the ones that tickled my fancy the most! First up, cool cars...r ...
[Read More]

Ginormous photo dump...the Flickr version!
The 2000 pound gorilla of the photo-hosting world is Flickr. Here is a very small smattering of photos that I 'favorited' this week. I though these deserved their own post. As usual, if you hover over these you will see the title and photo credit on Flickr. Click through to see what the author's ...
[Read More]

Single cylinder engine

[Read More]

Buttdog in space

[Read More]

Launch! NEFAR Bunnell, FL, March 9, 2013
Tom Tweit flew his FlisKits Nell with a C6-3 engine. This forward engine rocket had a dramatic slow liftoff with full parachute recovery. You would think there might be damage on landing but it came through without a bend or buckle! Carl Campbell (DFR Technologies) flew his Delta Heavy ...
[Read More]

Latest SpaceX Grasshopper flight
“SpaceX’s Grasshopper doubled its highest leap to date to rise 24 stories or 80.1 meters (262.8 feet) today, hovering for approximately 34 seconds and landing safely using closed loop thrust vector and throttle control.  Grasshopper touched down with its most accurate precision ...
[Read More]

NEFAR’s March Launch
Bunnell experienced an almost perfect day for flying rockets last Saturday and many rocketry fanatics took advantage of the nice weather at NEFAR’s March rocket launch. Some cool scale models flew from the low-power pads. Tom Tweit’s scale model of ...
[Read More]

The ISS to scale against an NFL stadium
 
[Read More]

Adios, Larry/J.R./Tony - thanks for the memories!
Credit: http://www.larryhagman.com/ Tonight's episode of Dallas will feature the funeral of the infamous (and utterly awesome)  J.R. Ewing. So, I'll also take this opportunity to say goodbye to one of my favorite actors, who appeared on two of my ...
[Read More]

Rockets Of The World - Finally!
It's about time! I finally bought a copy of Rockets Of The World by Peter Alway. Every time I needed scale information I could usually find something online or borrow the book information from a club member. (Thanks Brian!) I was expecting a soft cover edition but was surprised to get it in ...
[Read More]

Latest Scratch Build the "College Funds"
                 
[Read More]

BT-50 Crimp Reinforcement Part 2
Be sure to clean out any ejection crud on the upper tube and lower tube if you can reach it. Glue won't stick as well over the ejection charge ash. The 3" long BT-50 coupler was glued in the fin can end first against the top of the upper centering ring. This coupler was cut to 3" long. ...
[Read More]

The Babes of Star Trek (Season 1)
The Retrospace blog features some vintage space girls in a post entitled " The Boob Tube #39: The Babes of Star Trek (Season 1) ." I am reposting one of the many photos presented (featuring Yeoman Janice Rand, played by Grace Lee Whitney). Go ahead and stare...Kirk and Spock did. I'll report back ...
[Read More]

The dinosaurs of Planet X...and how two forward thinkers thought we could visit them
A few days ago, io9 published an article entitled The Scientists Who Planned An Interstellar Flight in 1959 . The link is broken but, since I couldn't find the post through other routes, thought I'd include it in the event this is a temporary glitch. Luckily, the post was captured by my feed ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project Part 2 Cosmic Explorer Engine Mount
I'm building the Estes Cosmic Explorer first. While my focus will be on the interchangable engine mounts in the Semroc Centurions, this post is about the Estes Cosmic Explorer engine mount. I had heard about this mistake in the instructions and found it a little hard to believe this wasn't caught ...
[Read More]

The Babes of Star Trek (Part 2)
Retrospace has treated us to more Star Trek girls: The Boob Tube #40: The Babes of Star Trek (Part 2) . We are lucky there is so much more Star Trek yet to come.
[Read More]

Centurion Project Part 3 Cosmic Explorer Engine Mount
With the new position of the rings, the rear ring was set back to about 7/16" from the rear of the engine mount tube. The notch for the engine hook was now too small for much hook movement at all. It was cut deeper with my rotary punch. Here's how the rings sit with the fin TTW tab ...
[Read More]

North Korea attacks a tiny barren island at sea
  "North Korea's artillery sub-units, whose mission is to strike Daeyeonpyeong island and Baengnyeong island of South Korea, conduct a live shell firing drill to examine war fighting capabilities in the western sector of the front line, in this picture released by the North's ...
[Read More]

Plaster City - March, too-zeero-won-thrie launch report
Another redemptive, windless day in the Imperial Desert...  I think my head might 'splode with gratitude after years of prevalent, forced, mass convection.      From last month I left Em-Sem-Fity mostly set up for the AT K458 White Lightnin' 'load but, despite that tremendous ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project Part 4 Cosmic Explorer Fin Fitting
The upper fin shows the gap at the root edge before sanding down the TTW tab a slight bit. It won't take much, make a few passes with a sanding block and check the fit. The inset picture shows the better fit. I've brought this point up before. The laser cutting process cuts a wedge burn. ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project Part 5 Cosmic Explorer Fin Primer and Gluing
The fins are test fitted in the TTW slots. Even with the slight thickness of sanded wood filler (CWF) it was a tight fit getting the fins seated. I'm not gluing the fins in place yet. The slots will hold the fins in place for primer spraying. By not gluing the fins in the slots I can ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Golf takes off
“The Rocketry Golf Organization (RGO) Aimed its First Contest with Golf Pro, Shawn Kelly, vs. Doug Frost, at The Ridge Golf Course, Auburn, Ca., March 19 and 26, 2013 Rockets with plastic golf balls, replace driver clubs, as they fly to the green no matter how far. Shawn Kelly, golf pro, ...
[Read More]

Exodus Aerospace
"We are developing prototypes to demonstrate a unique solution to staging horizontal launch vehicles. In-line staging may deliver improved performance and safety of operations. This may have value in space launch and other aviation applications. We will deliver a plan that demonstrates a new ...
[Read More]

No Launch! Saturday, March 16, 2013
I walked over to the soccer field about 7:00 a.m. Here's what was waiting for me -  Soccer players and sprinklers! The parking lot was full of cars which leads me to believe the men on the field don't live in the neighborhood. If they lived here they would have walked to the park. It's a ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project Part 6 Cosmic Explorer Paint
The Titebond M&TG fillets had some slight ridges you could see once the white paint was applied. To sand the tight angle in the root edge wrap some 400 grit around the end of a Q-Tip. The cushioned end of the Q-Tip allows the sandpaper to roll into the root edge without creasing. Sharp folds ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry March/April 2013
As indicated but the cover, the lead article is about foam cup rockets, from the early ones at the Pearl River mocroc convention in the early '80s through today's kits by Fliskits and Odd'l. I really love the big honkin' scratch builds. I tried a middle-sized version but broke it repeatedly on the ...
[Read More]

An Eventful Saturday (1/2): Plane Crazy
Last Saturday was just plain crazy! That is, Plane Crazy, a periodic event at the Mojave Spaceport where people will show off their airplanes that they've built or collected and just hang out. The main event was a presentation on rocket photography by Mike Massee, XCOR's photographer/videographer. ...
[Read More]

Bridge explosive demolition (loud)

[Read More]

Art Applewhite 10" Saucer
Towards the end of 2012, I signed up for the Secret Santa on the Rocketry Forum. During the course of the event, names were swapped and everyone posted off a gift to someone else. My secret santa arranged for one of Art Applewhite's 10" Clustered flying saucers to be delivered under my tree! A ...
[Read More]

More MPC (SKY) Rockets
The Round 2 Company is refacing more of the Chinese Sky rockets with a Looney Tunes theme. All three carry the "Duck Dodgers" name. The Marvin Martian themed rocket is really the Sky Rockets "scale" Shenzou. And finally, the Porky Pig model. So far, build comments on forum posts haven't ...
[Read More]

Unidentified space debris
 
[Read More]

An Eventful Saturday (2/2): Friends of Amateur Rocketry
After Plane Crazy, my goal was to find the Friends of Amateur Rocketry (FAR) launch. All I knew was that they were at the "East end of Koehn Dry Lake." With a little Googling I was able to find the site in no time.    I'm hoping to get involved with a project called "Sugar Shot to ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project Part 7 Cosmic Explorer Decals
  The Estes instructions are very vague about the red stripes decals and their placement. The face card barely shows the long red stripe down the lower white body tube. For a better reference I went back to the 1972 Centuri catalog. Enlarge the picture and you can see the long stripe on ...
[Read More]

March 2013
Saturday Mar 23 from noon till 4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

What's new here (and in the rest of the blogaverse)
It appears that Google will be shutting down their Reader service on July 1st.  That is bad news for me - I follow 126 news feeds on a daily basis. I'm also afraid that Reader is the engine behind the blog list here on the Dungeon. There is some light at the end of the tunnel as there are ...
[Read More]

Flight Qualification for SpaceX Merlin 1D
“Hawthorne, CA – Space Exploration Technologies’ (SpaceX) Merlin 1D engine has achieved flight qualification, a major milestone for the next generation Merlin engine. Through a 28 test qualification program, the Merlin 1D accumulated 1,970 seconds of total test time, the ...
[Read More]

Dredging for Rockets: Apollo 11 Engines Recovered by Bezos Expeditions
Apollo 11 Engines Recovered by Bezos Expeditions , a photo by jurvetson on Flickr. Click through to find more info about the recovery of Apollo 11's Saturn V engines. Steve's post includes more photos. See also the video of the recovery operation .
[Read More]

Saturn V F1 engine recovered from the ocean floor
      "The thrust chamber of one of five first stage F-1 rocket engines used to launch one of NASA's mighty Saturn V rocket on a historic Apollo moon mission is seen on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean in this Bezos Expeditions image. Billionaire Jeff Bezos financed ...
[Read More]

Flying things: real and imagined, old and new
Just a few things I found over the past week. io9 has an article detailing the Weirdest Aircraft of the 20th Century . I have previously posted about several of them: The Aerocar (an actual flying car), the Lockheed XVF-1 tail-sitting VTOL prototype, the UFO-like Avrocar, and the Bartini ...
[Read More]

A stereo at twice the speed of sound?
http://what-if.xkcd.com/
[Read More]

Centurion Project Part 9 Cosmic Explorer Fin Decals
The edges can be trimmed off with a new razor blade. Use a light touch, just enough to cut the decal film and not into the fin. The trimmed fin decals leading edge is at the top. The inset picture shows the trailing edge. All the decals got a sealing with some Future applied with a ...
[Read More]

Pictorial history of the Wallops Flight Facility
The Smithsonian Air&Space blog has a photo-essay about Wallops (and now the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport): Canaveral Junior - Wallops Island gets ready for the big time . It was hard to choose a representative sample from the 16 photos presented. I have seen many of them and have even ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project Part 10 Cosmic Explorer Upper Body Paint Problems
I should be done with this model by now! I had problems with the Rusto 2X Gloss Black. I did my regular two light coats followed by a heavier "wet" coat. The final thicker coat crazed and wrinkled! Who knows why? The weather has been cold one day and warm the next. Maybe I didn't wait long ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project Cosmic Explorer Finished
  While I still like the wider girth of the original Centuri (Semroc) Centurion, the Estes Cosmic Explorer looks good. I don't like the Dymo Letter Maker font name decal and the fins surface seems big for this BT-55 tube. TTW fins on a LPR rocket? Unnecessary but alignment is easier ...
[Read More]

In celebration of the reunion of the 4 amigos...
It appears I may actually fly a rocket or two in April and I will get to do so with three of my kinda/almost long-lost rocketry pals. To celebrate I'll dump some more old photos that I've found. I thought I'd remember what came from where but it appears the mind is the second thing to go. Some are ...
[Read More]

Aerotech is planning to invade Red Glare
Dan Michael, flier of a 3/4 scale Patriot (and other huge rockets) and Aerotech's East Coast representative, posted this in Facebook. MDRA's RED GLARE 14 - April 12, 13 & 14, 2013... Gary Rosenfield and Karl Baumann from Aerotech will be at my camp throughout the entire launch. We will also ...
[Read More]

Prince Rupert's Drop at 130,000 fps

[Read More]

Bad Engine Hooks
While picking out engine hooks for the Centurion Project I ran across a few engine hooks set aside from past kit builds. All of these will be thrown away - they're garbage! If you bend an engine hook and it does't spring back, toss it. After the first time you pull these back to inset an ...
[Read More]

Vintage Atlas and X-15 infographics
Here are two rocket illustrations for this chilly Tuesday. They come from Flickr user paul.malon. If you want to read the text, click through to Paul's photo stream, right click the photo and select 'original'.
[Read More]

LEO - Low Earth Orbit Spaceflight Mission Simulator
It is very exciting to announce the release of this new aerospace app. As cheap as I am, and as new as I may be to the world of smartphones, it is really telling that this would be my first download to the new android phone. Doug, the creator of LEO, explains the purpose of this "game" in ...
[Read More]

XCOR Lynx Propulsion Milestone!
I'm thrilled that XCOR has finally released a press release on this topic so I can finally open my blabbermouth (but even now I have to check what I say so that it doesn't give away more objective information than the press release itself does). Awesome epicness. That's what this is. I was ...
[Read More]

Weird rides
I've been posting cool retro-futuristic cars for a while now. Today, I'm shifting gears. Dark Roasted Blend has posted their  World's Strangest Vehicles, Part 1 . The 'part 1' part is good, as this implies there will be a 'part 2'. I chose the following photo as a teaser because, although not ...
[Read More]

Nosecone art
      Getting ideas for my level 4 certification... More painted nosecones  here .
[Read More]

Turbo Pump primer from Copenhagen Suborbitals
I really love how Copenhagen Suborbitals has been doing great documentation and almost DIY videos on its rocket building. First we saw their great video on the Tycho Deep Space 1 development  and now the Turbo Pump video.  
[Read More]

Watch a mechanical failure front propogate at 1588 m/s
This is seriously awesome. It's well worth 6 minutes of your life.
[Read More]

Ten military testing videos
From German V-2 failures to a robot dog tossing cinder blocks, Jalopnik presents The Ten Most Unbelievable Military Testing Videos . You can argue the 'most' and the 'unbelievable' but they are cool.
[Read More]

Here We Go Loop De Loop …..
The RocketReviews.com web site has been down a few times lately. Over the weekend, I discovered that the server’s main hard drive reported some errors causing the server to go off-line. So, I took the server off-line one evening and backed up everything from the failing drive to the ...
[Read More]

Beer and soda in space
          National Geographic
[Read More]

Later this year SpaceX to attempt water landing
In the quest to fully recover the Falcon 9 first stage and validate the Grasshopper flights, Elon Musk announced that SpaceX will attempt a water “landing” on a flight later this year.  At a conference that included NASA Elon Musk talked about SpaceX’s plans. “Initial ...
[Read More]

Rounding Fin Edges
Sorry, no posts yesterday - blame the slow, crappy ship internet connection. I'd read on The Rocketry Forum where some have had problems rounding fin edges. Some on TRF were looking for a specific tool that could help. No tools are needed, just a sanding block and some 400 grit sandpaper. If you ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project - Part 1 Interchangable Motor Mounts
Before I start the next build, check out this past blog post about Marc Goldstein's interchangeable motor mounts: HERE I'm using his locking, interchangeable motor mount design on my Semroc Centurion builds to follow. This is going to be a three model build. The first "Centurion" was finished ...
[Read More]

Ionized Deuterium in a Fusion Reactor
 
[Read More]

North Korea Missile Attack
 
[Read More]

World's lightest material - carbon aerogel
As with everything out of China, I would take this with a grain of carbon until the actual density has been confirmed.  The claim is a density of .16 milligrams per CC. http://www.zju.edu.cn/c279955/content_2285990.html If you are interested in aerogels, visit  http ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project Part 2 Engine Mount Parts
Here's the rings and motor mount tubes for the three engine mounts. From left to right: Single 18mm, Two engine 18mm and the single 24mm parts. These two engine cluster rings are available from Semroc. I used the rotary punch to allow movement of the engine hook. The left lower ring has a ...
[Read More]

Fixing A Fin Ding TIP
On it's first flight the Quest Cobalt had a hard landing in the street I was expecting big damage but there was just a nicked fin. Here's one way to re-paint without respraying the whole model. The fin edge was filled with CWF and sanded smooth without removing much blue paint around the filled ...
[Read More]

1971 ... Tang in spaaaaace!
1971 ... Tang in spaaaaace! , a photo by x-ray delta one on Flickr.
[Read More]

2 x B52 = B104?
As seen on TV! , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr. Is this April 1st? This could have been a retro version of the Statolaunch Carrier Aircraft. I'd like to have seen one with a jumbo version of the X-15 underneath.
[Read More]

Last minute ejection
 
[Read More]

Happy Easter to my fellow rocket and space fans
Peeps Show: National Air and Space Museum Welcomes Discovery , a photo by Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum on Flickr. Finally, an on-topic Easter-themed photo! Easter Peeps Welcome Discovery! Check out this fun Peeps diorama depicting the celebration of Space Shuttle Discovery's ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project Part 3 Baffle
Jumping ahead a bit to the Semroc baffle, included in the Centurion kits: Be sure to coat the punched plates with white glue. The left side of the picture shows the amount of glue applied before smoothing it out. I was amazed how well the flat plates held up to repeated ejections when I did ...
[Read More]

Soyuz rocket engine test (loud)

[Read More]

Centurion Project Part 4 Engine Mount Block
The interchangeable mounts will need something to stop the forward movement of the mount, the same way a engine block stops an engine from thrusting right through the top of the body tube. An engine mount "block ring" will have to be made. I did a dry fit of the 24mm engine mount to figure ...
[Read More]

Tuesday off-topic (mostly) eye candy
I can't believe I missed the chance for an April Fools Day post. Oh well, it would likely have been another 'I'm quitting blogging' post or some lame claim that someone is building a new Saturn V. This post, hidden below the jump break, should be much more entertaining! Saturn V, you say? Verna ...
[Read More]

MDRA-abilia
Today, I wore my oldest MDRA tee-shirt and found it is full of holes. I guess it will retire to the 'only suitable for launches and lawn mowing' pile.
[Read More]

Cherry Blossom Kite Festival 2
Cherry Blossom Kite Festival 2 , a photo by 8230This&That on Flickr.
[Read More]

Recycled Engine Casings
To the experienced modeler, here's one of those: "We know how to do this already!" posts. This post is aimed more to a novice enthusiast. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RE-LOAD A USED ENGINE CASING! This post is about reusing a casing to make painting wands, centering rings and engine blocks. Don't throw away ...
[Read More]

War games (Korea)
  Those are bird strikes, sparrows to be precise.
[Read More]

Non-Laminar Airflow
This topic is discussed a lot in regards to body transitions with vent holes for altimeters. Then I so happened ...
[Read More]

RCS Nozzle in AMW Snap Ring Hardware with a Loki Liner
Thanks Tony Alcocer for your custom nozzle adapter, going to use this for my upper stage moonburner.
[Read More]

ISS Orbit Raised Prior To Crew Departure
MOSCOW, April 4 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Mission Control on Wednesday readjusted the orbit of the International Space Station (ISS), raising it by 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) to ensure safe departure of crew members, a spokesman for the Russian space agency Roscosmos said. Engines of Russia’s ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project Problem
I'm suspending the build of the interchangeable mounts in the Centurion build. The mount design would have allowed a single 24mm, single 18mm, 2x 18mm cluster and a 3x 18mm cluster configurations. Instead of the interchangeable removable mounts, I'll install a single 24mm engine mount and use a ...
[Read More]

About the XB-70 'Valkyrie'
The H.A.M.B. forum has numerous photos of the cool XB-70 Valkyrie. The XB-70 was a prototype, 6-engined, Mach-3 capable bomber. The program was eventually cancelled due to price/performance and operational concerns. The whole saga is described on Wikipedia . I borrowed three of the ...
[Read More]

In Regards to My Post from Yesterday
With discussion that took place at The Rocketry Forum http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?52053-Non-Laminar-Airflow It seems it could from the heating of the clear ...
[Read More]

First F-35B Night Vertical Landing
First F-35B Night Vertical Landing , a photo by Lockheed Martin on Flickr. For some reason, this shot reminded me of the hovercraft in the movie The Matrix . When I Googled them, not so much. Anyway, I think this photo is pretty cool. Night vision mach diamonds!
[Read More]

Air Command paints the sky
Air Command's latest update ( #132 ) covers the latest flights of their Inverter Rocket. I think this is one cool looking rocket! One of the many recurring questions on TRF is, "can I mix different types of propellant grains in one motor?" * Well, that is kinda what these guys have done in the ...
[Read More]

Teaser for my Next Rocket
Type II Will be the rebuild for my Blackhawk, it will have some modifications in the upper body tube to ...
[Read More]

The future of personal aviation, revealed
And that future, ladies and gentlemen, is...quadcopters. So says Dark Roasted Blend ( via ). Of course, DRB never just provides one photo. Check out their Futuristic Aircraft Update .  
[Read More]

Stronger Screw Eye Attachments - TIP
The thread on this screw eye didn't look like they would hold very well. Taking a tip from the nose cones supplied through BMS, I wanted more for the screw eye to grab on to. Some BMS nose cones include a "dowel" that glues into a hole in the nose cone shoulder. After screwing in the ...
[Read More]

No Idea
Well I have been trying to post atleast one thing a day. Today I am stumped, I cannot think about ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project Part 5 2 Engine Cluster Mount
Even though the interchangeable engine mounts didn't work out, I'm still posting the assembly. (I've got to fill this blog with something!) A new builder might pick a few ideas. The two engine tubes are glued side by side. Before gluing, there are some things to consider. Check the second ...
[Read More]

Rodent nosecones?!?!
These look like tiny motors, are called rodent nosecones, and have nothing to do with rocketry. http://www.braintreesci.com
[Read More]

Jet drops smoky flares
 
[Read More]

Centurion Project Part 6, Dowel Locks
The mounts will be held in place with short "half dowels". To cut and sand off one half side a marker line was made down the length of the dowel. When sanding to the half round shape, the black line lets me know the shaping is even and straight. The centering rings were marked at 90 ...
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K. April 6, 2013
Roger Smith has posted great pictures at:  http://www.rocketreviews.com/april-2013-launch.html
[Read More]

NYC at night from space
  I live just to the right of the darkest spot in Brooklyn!
[Read More]

Antares Test Flight Scheduled for April 17
Antares Test Flight Scheduled for April 17 , a photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr.
[Read More]

Monday miscellany
I'm sore after lugging and spreading 30 bags of mulch. Blog posts are a lot easier. I'm so glad spring weather is finally here! Here's an on-topic (space related) post from an off-topic source (cars): Jalopnik's The Forgotten Female Cosmonauts Who Beat Sally Ride Into Space .   And, ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project Part 7, Dowel Locks
Here's how the dowel locks were glued in place using the 24mm mount. The mount was slid in. Pencil marks were made where the centering ring was punched. The half dowel was slid into the punched centering rings to check the fit. before cutting the dowels to size. Four half dowels were cut ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project - Letter from Marc Goldstein and his Successful Flights
Apparently, I shouldn't have assumed there might be problems with Marc Goldstein's Interchangeable Engine Mount Design. Marc sent me a note through The Rocketry Forum: Hi Chris! I read with interest your concern about pressure loss due to the centering ring holes. The thought had occurred to me ...
[Read More]

Lack of Post
I do apologize for the lack of posts recently. Life has taken over as I am planning a wedding and ...
[Read More]

MLRS
 
[Read More]

Climate 365 - rocket science and the greenhouse effect
Click the image to read more about it. Via climate365.tumblr.com . Climate 365 , a photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr.
[Read More]

Permanant Wadding?
Here's an idea I saw on TRF from Aleks in Slovenia: http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?46420-Permanent-wadding
[Read More]

Taking a Look at the New AeroTech DMS H135W-14A Single-Use Motor
Thought I might share a look at one of the new motors in the AeroTech Pro-SU DMS (Disposable Motor System) line of single-use motors with adjustable delays. The motors ship with a long delay that can be adjusted down to the needed delay with the new Pro-SU DMS Universal Delay Drilling Tool. The ...
[Read More]

What Motor are you thinking?
So with my rebuild I want to select the right motor, I want to keep the flight under 4000′. With ...
[Read More]

F-35 ejection seat test
 
[Read More]

Abandoned Aerojet AJ-260 solid rocket motor facility
Spotted via TRF, this video explores an abandoned Aerojet facility in South Florida, where the huge AJ-260-2 solid rocket motor was assembled and tested. The casing is still on-site in an underground bunker. According to astronautix.com , this motor was considered as a possible first stage for the ...
[Read More]

International Shipping Offered for eBay Purchases
Items purchased on the JonRocket.com web site can only be shipped to addresses in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. But, international shipping to several other countries is available from our ShopJonRocket eBay store using eBay’s Global Shipping Program. Currently ...
[Read More]

More on the Aerojet AJ-260 SRM
Yesterday, I posted about the AJ-260 solid rocket motor and it's abandoned test facility in Florida's everglades. I noted I found it on TRF but didn't provide a link. The discussion has continued and I'll point you to a specific post by luke skywalker . His posts provide a lot of info but tend to ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Engine Anomaly
If no one has seen this, its amazing how reliable the Falcon 9 is! One of the engines had a ...
[Read More]

Upper Body Painting TIP
I had to make a painting wand to re-spray the upper body tube of the Cosmic Explorer. But how could I hold onto the body tube and nose cone to paint it black? TIP: On the left is one of my painting wands (nothing more than a engine casing on a dowel) wrapped with masking tape. The tape is ...
[Read More]

Yuri’s Night 2013
Another year another great Yuri’s night. Celebrations are taking place all over the world. Take a look at some of my previous post about Yuri’s night Yuri’s night official website and of course ...
[Read More]

Exploding nosecone
 
[Read More]

New Quest Website
Quest has revamped their website at: www.questaerospace.com A few of the remaining discontinued kits have been marked down - Check the price on the Aerospace One!
[Read More]

Launch Report 2013-01
Location: Higgs Farm, Price, MD -  MDRA  (Red Glare XIV) Weather: 50's, mostly sunny, wind 5-10 Total flights: Today - 5; YTD - 5 Total motors: Today - 5; YTD - 5 Motors by class YTD:  C- 1, E-2, F-1, H-1 After a 7 month dry spell, I FINALLY got out to fly a few rockets. The day was ...
[Read More]

Age Recomendation Raised on Quest Kits
I found this white sticker over the original hang topper on the Quest Raptor kit. The age recommendation went up from 10 to 14 years. "Direct Adult Supervision" for building and flying is now age 14. From the 2013 Estes catalog: Estes model rocketry is recommended for ages 10 years and up. ...
[Read More]

El Paso's ASARCO stacks, before and after
The American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) plant has a long and troubled history in El Paso. It started way back in 1887 and ended yesterday with the demolition of it's two larger stacks. (I'm sure the saga will continue in the courts and the further use of the ...
[Read More]

Download Our Catalog
You can now download our JonRocket.com catalog in PDF format so you can read it offline or print it. The PDF catalog is automatically generated from our online catalog each day and reflects our current inventory and prices. Adobe’s Acrobat ...
[Read More]

Dance Party Under Endeavor!
I had the interesting experience the other day of attending a wild Yuri's Night party under the Shuttle Endeavor, as a VIP from XCOR. VERY interesting experience being on the same VIP list as Buzz Aldrin and Bobak Ferdowski (The Mohawk Guy... surely you remember him from the Curiosity landing ...
[Read More]

Hybrid Motor
Yesterday I was at work, and one benefit of my job is I can listen to music or anything I ...
[Read More]

SpaceShipTwo achieves “Cold Flow” flight
“History continues to be made in the skies above the Mojave Desert. Hot on the heels of last week’s nitrous venting and feather test, SpaceShipTwo achieved another successful first today with a spectacular “Cold Flow” flight. The test objectives were successfully met, ...
[Read More]

Kerbal Space Program - Gratuitous Re-Entry Footage
More about "Rods from the Gods" or Kinetic Bombardment.
[Read More]

N3301 Attempt
Here is a video of Manny’s N3301 attempt. Not much to say besides it was a great effort and was ...
[Read More]

ICBM silo blast door

[Read More]

Awesome upscales at Red Glare XIV
Flickr user SEVRA621 has a nice set of RG XIV photos , including two rockets that I mentioned in my launch report. Here is Joe Zawodny's awesome 2.5x Black Star Voyager flying on a CTI L1030. And, check out Phill Ash's 4x UFO Invader on a CTI K1440.
[Read More]

Balsa Fin Lamination Clamps
Recently I made extra fins for a second Quest Cobalt model. The kit has almost 1/8" thick fins. I only had 1/16" balsa on hand. Two pieces of 1/16" balsa were cut for each fin. These were glued together with white glue. To get a even clamping pressure and to prevent warping, craft sticks ...
[Read More]

Semroc’s Spring 2013 releases
Semroc has listed the Spring 2013 collection. Among these is one of my personal favorites the Starship Excalibur. This is a great retro kit from the Estes release in the 1960s. The model is based on the Kit #55 from Estes. The other releases consist of the Centurion-F, Maxi-Micron and the ...
[Read More]

Proton Launch of the Canadian G1 satellite. Great coverage!
Proton Launch of the Canadian G1 satellite. Great coverage!
[Read More]

Our Closest Satellite
As you can tell there is a trend in my posts, a lot of long videos to watch while working. ...
[Read More]

Orbital Science Antares Launch
Orbital Science is set to launch the Antares rocket on April 17th at 5 pm. The Launch will take place at Wallops Flight Center on the coast of Virginia. This will be the maiden voyage of the Antares rocket which is set to compete with SpaceX . The flight is part of the  NASA COTS [...]
[Read More]

Wallops Launch
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/news/antares-rollout.html Im excited to see if Orbital can perform well. I will be trying to watch it live on my ...
[Read More]

How to see the Antares launch from far afield (updated)
The launch today was scrubbed...but the graphics below should be useful whenever it goes up! NASA Wallops is estimating the probability of a 5PM launch this evening to be a mere 45% due to the cloud cover. Looking out my back window, it appears that the estimate is optimistic. However, it is ...
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, Volume 7, Issue 4
This issue contains a nice variety of articles, along with a products section compiled/written by yours truly.  First, East-Coaster Alan Whitmore describes how to build a snap-ring motor disassembly tool. There's also a build article on a 3/4-scale Nike Smoke. The launch reports ...
[Read More]

More Red Glare XIV eye candy
MDRAer Nick DeBrita had a great RG XIV album on Flickr. He picked around 200 of his best shots out of the 1800+ that he took. Thanks for doing that, bro. As good as they are, 1800 photos would wear me out! Here's one of my fav's, a shot of the Der Red Max drag race. I haven't seen that Chris ...
[Read More]

Type II
In between homework, I decided to do some work on the Type II rocket. I sanded down the transition from … Read More →
[Read More]

LCO's, RSO's and pad managers, oh my!
Antares Rocket Preparation (201304190003HQ) , a photo by nasa hq photo on Flickr.
[Read More]

L1 and L2 Plans.
With my last L1 attempt failed. I was thinking today that I need to make plans for L1 and L2. ...
[Read More]

Anyone for a real rocket, or part thereof?
  I see the National Air and Space Museum is giving away some overflow items, including a Sidewinder, a Terrier,  Jupiter and Titan 1 engines, as well as a plethora of other air and space items. See the full list here . (via WJLA7 ).
[Read More]

Rare footage of a zincoshine Auk at Cape Coalwood

[Read More]

Launch Tampa TTRA April 20, 2013
I almost didn't go to the Tampa TTRA launch today. There was a 40% chance of rain in the forecast. Driving out of Orlando the cloud cover was low and thick. I was told my Big Girtha model (lost two months back) had been found and was in the TTRA equipment trailer. When I arrived at the Plant City ...
[Read More]

A flame in space
BASS experiment
[Read More]

Two thumbs up for Antares
Orbital Science's Antares successfully launched from Wallops Island/MARS. There were some high clouds here at launch time and I haven't seen any reports that it was visible from the Washington area. Clouds or no clouds, I was stuck inside.
[Read More]

Antares A-one launch footage

[Read More]

Successful Antares Launch
  Well Orbital finally did it, they successfully reached orbit and the fairing on their payload separated unlike their last ...
[Read More]

Successful Moonburner Launch
A short April FAR launch report is up with a couple more pictures here.
[Read More]

Orbital Antares Launch Successful
Orbital Successfully Launches First Antares Rocket – Company Introduces America’s Newest Medium-Class Space Launch Vehicle – – Orbital Now Poised to Conduct Cargo Resupply Demonstrations Mission to International Space Station in Mid 2013 – (Dulles, VA 21 April 2013) ...
[Read More]

Orbital Science's Successful Launch Of It's First Antares Rocket
Designed to provide responsive, low-cost, and reliable access to space, Antares is a two-stage vehicle (with optional third stage) that provides low-Earth orbit (LEO) launch capability for payloads weighing over 5,000 kg. Internally funded by Orbital, Antares is currently under development with a ...
[Read More]

Closeup of the MD-21 mothership with D-21 drone
The MD-21 was the designation for the modified A-12, which itself is a variant of the SR-71 Blackbird (or visa versa). Follow my tags for related posts. (via the HAMB ) Here's a video of the ensuing accident as the D-21 launches from the MD-21. I've posted other photos...see da' tags. ...
[Read More]

Horsehead nebula via HST - the shot that we have been waiting for!

[Read More]

The Astronaut Wives Club
The Astronaut Wives Club , a photo by k hurst on Flickr. Honorary rocket girls!
[Read More]

SpaceX Grasshopper: Ring of Fire video
Newest launch of the Grasshopper shows it rise to 820 ft, hover, and then land all from the birds eye view of a hexacopter.  
[Read More]

Grasshopper
Again sorry for the delay in posts, I have been working extra time at work. But here is the video ...
[Read More]

SpaceX's Grasshopper to 820 ft
"Grasshopper is a 10-story Vertical Takeoff Vertical Landing (VTVL) vehicle that SpaceX has designed to test the technologies needed to return a rocket back to Earth intact. While most rockets are designed to burn up in the atmosphere during reentry, SpaceX's rockets are being designed to return ...
[Read More]

Kerbal Space Program Insane Rockets Division S5 Ep2

[Read More]

The Mythbusters are rocketing again
See the full promo here . Wed. May 1. Be there or be square.
[Read More]

THE MINI SQUAT!!!!!!
       
[Read More]

April 2013
Saturday, April 27 from noon till 5 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

Interesting cars of the week
Mostly harvested from the HAMB :                  
[Read More]

First Cosmonaut Killed In Spaceflight, April 24, 1967
Cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov became the first in-flight fatality in the history of spaceflight when the Soyuz 1 crashed during its return to Earth on April 24, 1967. Komarov was a Soviet test pilot, aerospace engineer, and cosmonaut in the first group of cosmonauts selected in 1960. He was chosen to ...
[Read More]

1959 ... 'boiler-plate' Mercury capsules!
1959 ... 'boiler-plate' Mercury capsules! , a photo by x-ray delta one on Flickr.
[Read More]

8 mins. with EOD

[Read More]

Progress M-19M Makes It To The ISS Despite Antenna Failure
The Progress M-19M has successfully reached the International Space Station after a navigational antenna failed to deploy immediately after orbit insertion. The crew inside the Station were ready to takeover manual control of the Progress if needed however all went well with the automated systems. ...
[Read More]

My Finishing Schedule Tips Part 1
On a forum thread there was talk about what goes into a good finish. Some will use three or four coats of sanding sealer, sanding between coats. Followed by three coats of grey primer sanding between coats. Then thin coats of paint, sanding between coats. Then, polishing compound and wax. Decals ...
[Read More]

Busy, Busy, Busy
So as this semester ends, I have been really busy with homework and trying to finish this semester out strong. ...
[Read More]

Intrepid Museum from above
Best when viewed bigger. Click the photo title below to select larger sizes. Intrepid Museum From above , a photo by Supremecourtjester on Flickr.
[Read More]

P Motor Static Test at FAR
Earlier this April I went out the the F.A.R. site for some fun experimental rocketry. Before I got there apparently there had been a hypergolic rocket test of nitrogen tetroxide and hydrazine (for those of you that don't know, these are some VERY dangerous chemicals!) Another guy had put ...
[Read More]

My Finishing Schedule Tips Part 2
3. Light white undercoats always follow. Hold your dry, painted parts up to a bright light and look for any rough spots. Dry sand the rough areas. You don't have to sand these all the way to the surface, just rough up the area. Don't wet sand yet. If any water can get down to the tube surface ...
[Read More]

JSC Image of the Day - 1997
Via: www.Retro Space Images.com .  
[Read More]

Optima (Level 1)
H133 Blue Streak L1 cert flight 1239′ 210MPH (altimeter two)
[Read More]

SpaceShipTwo First Powered Flight Imminent!
Scaled Composites appears to be gearing up for a powered flight of their SpaceShipTwo this Monday or Tuesday. This is very exciting but also a little scary! The results of this flight will have a significant impact on the New Space industry as a whole, good or bad. We can only hope that they have ...
[Read More]

Explosive bridge demolition slow motion

[Read More]

Rocket's sonic boom made visible by ice crystals
This Solar Dynamics Observatory Atlas V rocket launch in February 2010 exceeded the speed of sound in a layer of ice crystals, making the shock wave visible from the ground. This occurs around 1:53 in the video.  
[Read More]

Rocketarium's New Rebel Kits
Rocketarium continues to create unique kits that take advantage of computer-aided design and production.  The Mega Rebel and Retro Rebel kits feature dozens of precision-cut plywood pieces which go together like a 3-D jigsaw puzzle to create a couple of ...
[Read More]

Atlas V/SDO supersonic sun dog
This video shows the Atlas V go supersonic as it passes through a sun dog . The result is that you can see the shock wave propagate through the ice crystals. The fun stuff starts about half-way in and is repeated a couple of times.
[Read More]

SpaceShip2's first powered flight
SS2 hit mach 1.2 on its successful first powered flight! Photos below via  SpaceFlightNow . Credit: MARS Scientific/Clay Center Observatory/Virgin Galactic Photo credit: Gene Blevins/LA Daily News  
[Read More]

Video of SS2's powered flight...very nice!
Spotted on, and posted by,  NewSpaceWatch .
[Read More]

Close up of SS2 during successful rocket-powered flight
Close up of SS2 during successful rocket-powered flight , a photo by Virgin Galactic on Flickr.
[Read More]

SpaceShip Two first powered flight
   
[Read More]

SpaceX Falcon 9 and new configuration
  As you can see in this picture, SpaceX tested its reusable ignition system, with the Merlin 1d engine’s in ...
[Read More]

Arrow ABM
       
[Read More]

SpaceShipTwo makes a powered flight
Yesterday Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo made a powered flight over the Mojave dessert. After being carried to altitude by WhiteKnightTwo it fired up the rocket engines for about 16 seconds and broke the sound barrier. “The first powered flight of Virgin Spaceship Enterprise was ...
[Read More]

Dan Michael's 3/4 Scale Patriot Missile - Red Glare Launch
Last weekend at the Red Glare Launch in Price, MD. Dan Michael flew his 3/4 scale Patriot Missile. It was the tenth and last flight for this rocket. The rocket had 5 motors 1 central N2220 AT DM and 4 L1080 AT DM. Very impressive rocket. The anomaly happen at about 800' AGL.
[Read More]

First Powered Flight of SpaceShipTwo!
I got in to work early yesterday because Scaled Composites and Virgin Galactic were planning the first powered flight of SpaceShipTwo and I wanted to be there to see it. The flight was a complete success! They did a 15 second burn on their hybrid engine and reached supersonic flight. My coworkers ...
[Read More]

The Coolest Picture Of SS2
Tail cam view of SS2 during burn. (Credit Virgin Galactic)
[Read More]

Goodbye Hasselblad, and thanks for the memories
Hasselblad has announced the discontinuation if its Hasselblad V series of film cameras. The line, which debuted in 1948, was responsible for the iconic square photos from the Apollo 11 mission. (Seen on ABC News , photos via NASA). Buzz Aldrin with Neil Armstrong’s ...
[Read More]

Explosive demolition of a rocket stage

[Read More]

A small dose of hump-day retroness
via  HAMB   James Van Allen, via jurvetson   via  HAMB   via x-planes   1970's political incorrectness firm ...
[Read More]

Sirius Rocketry Transition Series Eradicator Now Available!
  The Sirius Rocketry Transition Series Eradicator Is Now Available!     We are proud to announce the general availability of the new Sirius Rocketry Transition Series Eradicator!    The Eradicator is the latest Mid/High ...
[Read More]

JATO Rocket Car: Mission Accomplished? (is the 3rd time a charm?)
The Mythbusters kicked of their 10th season with a third try at the JATO Chevy rocket car myth. A fitting start since the first try was on their very first episode. In short, the myth says that  says some guy attached a JATO unit to his Impala. Supposedly, he went airborne and crashed into ...
[Read More]

How to fly from Baltimore to Venus...in 1928
io9 has an article on Robert Condit and his gasoline-powered rocket: The Great Baltimore Space Program of 1928 . Many years ago, I reported on a similar article from the November 1928 issue of Modern Mechanics, via Modern Mechanix . You can read the details in either location ...
[Read More]

Space Center Houston gets another consolation prize...but it's a BIG one (updated)
Via Facebook: Today is a great day for Houston! NASA has officially transferred ownership of the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA-905) to Space Center Houston. Get ready for an experience so big, it can only happen in Texas! I wonder if this image implies that they will display their ...
[Read More]

Could these be the Future Falcon 9 Legs

[Read More]

Mysterious Tweet
I follow Elon Musk on Twitter to try to get as many updates about the Falcon platform as possible. The ...
[Read More]

F1 engine test

[Read More]

Estes Model Rocket News for May
The new online Estes MRN was sent out yesterday. The EXTREME 12 is featured, a  two-stager designed for the new E12 engines. The Solar Igniters are changing to the new Solar "Starter" igniter. "In future months you may notice a new color at the tip of the igniter wires sold in igniter ...
[Read More]

OpenRocket 13.05 Released
After a rather long delay, OpenRocket 13.05 has been released.  There are a lot of new features, thanks to numerous contributors.  The most important new features include: - Realistic 3D rendering with decal support - Flight configurations replacing motor configurations - Lower stage ...
[Read More]

Bin Laden's mountain fortress (that never existed)
 
[Read More]

Endeavour Fly-Over Houston, TX
Endeavour Fly-Over Houston, TX , a photo by THE SPACEFLIGHT PHOTO SET on Flickr.
[Read More]

Open Rocket Version 13.05 Now Available!
The newest version of the Open Rocket simulator is available now! Download your free software at: http://openrocket.sourceforge.net/ And thanks to Sampo N!
[Read More]

SUGAR SHOT TO SPACE SUCCESSFUL FIRING
The Sugar shot to Space project had a much needed successful firing this past weekend.  After the spectacular CATO of the impressive DoubleSShot motor nearly one year ago there was a lot of discussion and investigation into what exactly happened and why.  This test ...
[Read More]

NASA to migrate ISS computers from Windows to Linux
Citing stability issues NASA has announced they will be migrating the ISS laptops and PCs from Windows to Linux. Being a long time Linux user and typing this on a Linux system I am happy to hear about this change. Linux has been used in many of the ISS systems but it nice to see [...]
[Read More]

Yes, the X-15 is everyone's favorite x-plane
Beyond Apollo has a nice article on the X-15, in which he says that it is a contender for the title of “Everyone’s Favorite X-plane.” I guess you see that I put in my vote in this posts title! Credit: NASA Dryden  
[Read More]

SpaceX Grasshopper on the move
Press Release from Spaceport America: Governor Susana Martinez today announced that Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or SpaceX, has signed a three-year agreement to lease land and facilities at Spaceport America to conduct the next phase of flight testing for its reusable rocket ...
[Read More]

Replaceable Kevlar Article in Apogee Peak Of Flight Newsletter
  My article on Replaceable Kevlar Shock Cords was published in the Apogee Peak Of Flight newsletter yesterday: You can download issue 338 HERE This is a simple new way to install a Kevlar line in motor mounts in BT-50 mainframe and larger models. I've had a few Kevlar lines burn ...
[Read More]

It's Here, It's Finally Here! Ender's Game First Trailer
I have been looking forward to an Ender's Game movie for a loooooong long time. Finally they have made one.. Terrified to see it, because it would be so easy to turn Ender's Game into something it's not. Also the story is rather disturbing and a literal translation to the big screen would most ...
[Read More]

Stop wasting helium
 
[Read More]

Another hump day photo dump
I keep forgetting to keep track of where these came from. Take your pick: The HAMB , Retrogasm , or  Retro Pop Cult . When you look up ;stud' in the dictionary, you'll find this photo.   Klaatu barada nikto!   ...
[Read More]

Laser takes out a rocket

[Read More]

It has been awhile
So again, I am full of excuses. Life has been really busy as I am finishing up school and planning ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Victoria 5th May 2013
May 5th marked the first launch for the year. It was a nice warm day with little wind - you couldn't have asked for better conditions. The big launch of the day was Karl's 1/4 scale V2. Karl's working towards building a full 1:1 scale model. The flight was fantastic. Recovery was hampered only ...
[Read More]

Mesmerizing

[Read More]

Sport Rocketry May/June 2013
As you can see, the issue starts with a sparky launch by Steve Jurvetson. There are a lot of articles in this issue. The lead article, by Peter Alway, is about Mexico's SCT-1. As you would expect, it includes one of his signature, dimensioned line drawings so you can make one of your own. And, at ...
[Read More]

Quest Q2G2 Igniter Ideas
A forum post mentioned that some have had trouble using the straw with the newer Quest Q2G2 igniters. The Quest instructions say to install the igniter in the nozzle and then press the straw in. I crimp the straw with my thumbnail making a crescent shape out of the end. This makes an easier ...
[Read More]

J58 in Full Afterburner
J58 in Full Afterburner. Note how the whole aft section is glowing with the heat. Note also the shock diamonds , a photo by Kemon01 on Flickr. This was the last time an SR-71 engine was run at Edwards.Two J58s powered the SR-71 Blackbird. Individually, they have more horsepower than the Queen ...
[Read More]

Launch N.E.F.A.R. Monthly, Bunnell, Florida May 11, 2013
I drove Roger Smith (jonrocket.com and rocketreviews.com) and Tom Rubikov to the monthly NEFAR launch near Bunnell, Florida. It was warm at first then quickly became Florida HOT! Brian Coyle invited to us over to prep rockets under his tent awning. My Quest RAPTOR flew well to about 500' with it's ...
[Read More]

Early Atlas missile failure
An Atlas missile carrying a one-and-a-half-pound squirrel monkey named Goliath in its nose cone veers off course after launch and showers burning wreckage back on Cape Canaveral, Nov. 10, 1961. (AP Photo/Jim Kerlin)
[Read More]

MPC Rocket Comparisons
I did some bouncing between websites to compare the available and upcoming models. The prices in ( ) are the MPC prices from the Tower Hobbies website. Check them out HERE Apogee sells some of the original kits as they are produced by Sky model rockets. It's interesting to see the difference in ...
[Read More]

Lamborghini Egoista
      Jalopnik.com
[Read More]

Space Oddity by ISS Commander Chris Hadfield
I had been resisting watching this video but finally broke down.  And, man, I'm glad I did.   Commander Chris Hadfield's version  of David Bowie's Space Oddity is really quite good. The backdrop isn't bad either! I'd go to his concert.
[Read More]

Happy birthday to the Bumper WAC
#OTD 65 years ago: 1st launch of Bumper WAC at White Sands Missile Range. 1st 2 stage rocket launched in the US.  go.nasa.gov/13fpp7c — NASA History Office (@NASAhistory) May 13, 2013
[Read More]

TR-1 ROCKET MOTOR UPDATE
It been almost exactly one year since I started this motor...far too long.  SStS has been going very slowly and in spite of some recent progress, I suspect that the the way forward will continue to be a slow progression.  Back when I started getting really involved wit ...
[Read More]

Dr. Sue invited me in, so I'm going to suck her Rocket Works dry
I see that Dr Sue continues to have personal problems and will be shutting her site down. On TRF , she made the following invitation: So please my friends, vacuum up what little info there is available while its still up and running. I extend my best wishes to her and her family. Meanwhile, ...
[Read More]

TR-1 PROPELLANT SEGMENT DESIGN
I plan to use a 4" ULINE mailing tube as the casting tube/inhibitor for this motor. This particular tube has a wall thickness of 0.080" and allows for a bit of insulation to fit between the propellant segments and the casing wall.  The motor is designed to use a propellant grain consisting ...
[Read More]

Updates
As promised, I added a Technique section with the shock cord attachment I will be using for the Type II ...
[Read More]

F117
 
[Read More]

Just some dregs from my surfing...
1970's American Motors AMX 3. I liked the AMX, but don't remember this version. I remember this cover. Here's a butterfly for spring. Butterfly? How about an iron one? I found this cool photo of El Paso taken from the Juarez side of the border. The now demolished ASARCO stacks ...
[Read More]

X-47B first carrier launch

[Read More]

Music Video In Space
This is for those who have not seen it yet, pretty interesting and amazing views for the ISS.
[Read More]

Russian Knights (stunt pilots) create a giant flare bird

[Read More]

TR-1 MOTOR CASING
With this drawing, I now pretty much have all the drawings that I need to begin cutting metal in earnest.  I plan to go back and update these drawings.  I don't really need a drawing for the bulkhead as it's identical to the nozzle ring in thickness, o-ring gland placement, and ...
[Read More]

Clear Coating Aluminum Paint - TIP
I've brought up this clear coat before - Americana Acrylic Sealer / Finisher - Gloss. It's available at Michaels Crafts. I've never had great success with Future floor finish. This clear coat can be sprayed on thick (almost wet) and doesn't "craze" a finish. Take a look at the two body tubes ...
[Read More]

CHARLES M. PARKIN, JR.
    I've collected a lot of rocketry stuff over the years, maybe none as cool as this book.  The Rocket Handbook for Amateurs by Lieutenant Colonel Charles M. Parkins.  I saw a copy of this book sell on ebay claiming to be a first edition.   Maybe it ...
[Read More]

SStS MOTOR CASING (DSS TM-3)
The aluminum tube for the DSS-TM-3 SStS motor arrived yesterday.  I'm just indexing/drilling the screw holes so not much work for me.  DSS TM-3 motor?   OK , it's getting tough to keep track of all the motors as there are more than a few in varies stages of construction and ...
[Read More]

More about the Mythbuster's third JATO rocket car episode
I just noticed that the TRF thread on the episode has been joined by Rick Maschek, who was involved with the making of the rocket motors. He has two Facebook albums that are viewable: Building the motors ; and, on the playa .  In the thread, he confirms what I thought I had observed - that ...
[Read More]

Rockets of the day, Flickr style
Well, I have my line-up set for tomorrow's launch. Hope the weather reports don't worsen. Meanwhile, on Flickr (click images to see the original and navigate the poster's photostream):
[Read More]

TR-1 MOTOR UPDATE
I started on the nozzle ring this morning.  I drilled out the center, starting with a center bit and working up to a 1" diameter bit.  The larger drill bits remove a lot of material quickly, but an inch is about the limit for my lathe.  Next I'll bore out the center to the right ...
[Read More]

Type II Under Construction
Well today I pulled out my calipers and rulers. Its time to get all the correct holes drilled. I am ...
[Read More]

May-June 2013 Sport Rocketry Article: SCT-1
May-June 2013 Sport Rocketry Article , a photo by p_c_alway on Flickr. See the plan here .
[Read More]

Awesome PEPP aeroshell model
TRF member John ('JAL') Lee has completed and flown his awesome scale model of the PEPP aeroshell. The PEPP aeroshell is my favorite real flying saucer. NASA's Planetary Entry Parachute Program (PEPP) aeroshell tested parachutes for the Voyager Mars landing program. (ref Wikipedia ). It flew ...
[Read More]

Help Determine the Future of RocketReviews.com
I’ve begun working on a major update of RocketReviews.com. The main goal of the upgrade is very general – to make things work better. I’ve adopted the Invision Power Services Community Suite (IPS) as the basis for the new version of RocketReviews.com. The IPS architecture is ...
[Read More]

TR-1 MOTOR UPDATE
I didn't get much time at the lathe this weekend, just enough to face the divergent side of this piece and cut the relief that the other half of the nozzle fits into.  I need to index the screw locations, then I can flip the piece and finish it off.  I did realize during the ...
[Read More]

Loaded a bunch of photos to (the new) Flickr
I've been a Flickr user for many years but, because of the limits on free accounts, pretty much only used it to look at the eye candy (including harvesting material for the Dungeon). Today, Flickr rolled out a new version, which included the following free account upgrades: What do I now have ...
[Read More]

Paper Mir and Atlantis STS-71 1/400
Mir and Atlantis STS-71 1/400 , a photo by paper kosmonaut on Flickr. Click through to see the Paper Kosmonaut's fleet of paper rockets...and spacecraft, subs, busses...
[Read More]

1TB of free photo storage? It's a well crafted marketing trick.
The limit was either a remnant of the old Flickr or was summarily droppled. Hooray! When I first saw that Flickr was giving me 1TB of free storage, I got excited and immediately started building my rocket photo archive. Then I hit the 300MB/month limitation. This threw some cold ...
[Read More]

TR-1 MOTOR UPDATE
Theo and I had a little garage time this morning.   We managed to get the nozzle ring indexed for the six screws that connect the two nozzle pieces.  I indexed twelve locations just as a precaution, in  case one gets messed up somehow.  If I break a tap off and can't get the ...
[Read More]

Video of a Standard Missile-3 Block 1B
This video is a montage of various views of a SM-3, fired from the USS Lake Erie, successfully intercepting a target missile that had been launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii. The best segment is the slow motion 'pad cam' starting at 3:10 in. To learn ...
[Read More]

May 2013
Sunday, May 26 from noon till 4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

GROVER AEROSPACE
I went though my links to see what other people were doing.  Some are less active than they use to be, some more.  I got rid of a couple of links and I also found some new sites.  One that I found to be particularly interesting is James Grover's site .  I hadn't read ...
[Read More]

How do you get your bicycle to break 163 mph?
A: Strap a rocket or two to it. Alcohol, lots of alcohol, may be helpful too. Watch French bicyclist François Gissy ride his rocket bike to a reported world record speed of 163 mph.
[Read More]

TR-1 MOTOR UPDATE
    I'm making slow but steady progress.  I managed to get the nozzle ring close to final diameter last night.  I'm hoping to get this piece finished in the next day or two.   The other parts will be either 12L14 steel or 6061 t-6 aluminum, so fabrication ...
[Read More]

Type II
This friday will be a busy time, as I will be drilling all the holes I measured this last week. ...
[Read More]

More Flickr uploads
Well, I thought I'd try uploading a header photo...maybe that wouldn't count in my upload limit. It worked. Hmm. That doesn't make sense, let me try uploading more rocket photos. Wow, I'm up to 1,674 photos. Maybe they suspended the upload limit.or, maybe, this is a bug. Shhh. Anyway, if you're ...
[Read More]

Homer Hickam sends student to Space Camp
Back in April a Florida student was arrested because she set off an explosion as part of a science experiment on the school grounds. Homer Hickam hearing of the ordeal and relating to the experience is sending the student and twin sister to Rocket camp. Homer Hickam is well known in rocketry ...
[Read More]

2014 TARC Rules
The 2014 TARC Rules have now been released.
[Read More]

Larry the Cable Guy .. now ... Larry the Rocket Scientist
  Can Larry overcome his issues with glue and learn the basics of rocket science? In a segment from season 3, episode 3 of “Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy” (titled “Lost in Space”), Larry the Cable guy learns to build and fly model rockets.
[Read More]

NEFAR's May Launch
I’ve uploaded my photos of the May, 2013, NEFAR launch to the Photo Album at http://www.rocketreviews.com/may-2013-launch.html.
[Read More]

TR-1 MOTOR UPDATE
Slow progress is still progress right?  In anticipation of completing the current part soon, I've prepped the 12L14 steel bar for the nozzles other section.  A couple more short sessions and I should have the nozzle ring complete.  I've also started drawing for the actual rocket, ...
[Read More]

Another Flickr status update
Well, it appears Flickr has suspended its upload limits, at least for now. I managed to get all the rocket and space photos from this computer onto Flickr - all 3057 of them . Yay. The process was a little finicky. Bulk labels were intermittently applied, photos were left out of sets when ...
[Read More]

Av-Bay
Well before my wedding day comes around I have spent a little bit of time on the Av-Bay for the ...
[Read More]

TR-1 ROCKET UPDATE
    I finished all  of the lathe operations for the nozzle ring.  When I took it off the lathe I was struck by how heavy it was.   It doesn't really matter for a static test, but I decided to go back in and remove a bit of the excess material.  The amount of ...
[Read More]

Supernova simulation

[Read More]

The ring nebula via Hubble

[Read More]

Inside the RD-861K rocket engine
 
[Read More]

Cluster Spool - Showing streamer
Cluster Spool - Showing streamer , a photo by Sascha Grant on Flickr. I have emerged from the black hole that is Flicker, for now, and decided to post something interesting. I love Sascha's cluster saucer. The machined plug is conceptually simple, but neato.
[Read More]

Tank fire

[Read More]

Most confused Star Trek officer ever
 
[Read More]

The Soyuz TMA-09M, Baikonur Cosmodrome. Launch Tuesday, May 28, 2013, 3:31:24 CST Blast Off
Expedition 36/37 Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Flight Engineer Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency, and Flight Engineer Karen Nyberg of NASA, are set to launch to the International Space Station Tuesday night Eastern U.S. time, Wednesday in ...
[Read More]

Friede from Frau im Mond
 
[Read More]

Fliskits Tumble Weed (Build)
I like small rockets, so building the Fliskits Tumble Weed looked like a lot of fun! The build is fairly straight-forward with only a handful of parts needed. Continued after the jump...
[Read More]

Full-scale LEGO X-Wing!
This is the world's largest LEGO build: 32 model builders, 5.3 million LEGO bricks, and over 17,000 hours. Lego Times Square , a photo by AndrewDallos on Flickr.
[Read More]

Old Models On Display At NSL
John Boren (Estes, JumpJet on YORF) and Bill Stine (Quest) brought plenty of classic models to the National Sport Launch this past weekend in Pueblo, CO. There were 10 tables with 450 models on display! Check out the pictures starting at post 44: http://forums.rocketshoppe.com/showthread. ...
[Read More]

Spool Rockets
With the announcement of Rocketfest XVIII, a theme was chosen - "Go Small". The guidelines for the competition was to build the smallest stable flying rocket that used an un-modified Estes motor. Since the 13mm A3-4 and A10-3 motors are the smallest Estes motors currently in production, this is ...
[Read More]

Completed Av-Bay
Well fortunately I got out of work early yesterday, so I had the chance to get all the holes finished ...
[Read More]

B1 Lancer
 
[Read More]

SStS TM-1 MOTOR CASING
I started on the TM-1 Motor tube this morning.  It absolutely dwarfs my lathe, but being aluminum instead of steel it's much easier to work with than the previous DSS motor cases that I've worked on. I only need to index the retaining screw locations and true the ends.   I should be ...
[Read More]

Flickr mania!
I'm up to 5,651 photos and still have about 30 albums to load (probably 300 photos or so).  My photostream is a real mess. I have the some photos in multiple places after years of moving them around, posting and reposting them, etc.  I also have a lot of copies that are merely resized ...
[Read More]

Karen Nyberg and Luca Parmitano Are Now Tweeting From Space
Photographers take pictures of the launch of the Soyuz-FG rocket booster with Soyuz TMA-09M space ship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station. Photo: AP An international trio flying in a Russian Soyuz capsule docked with the International Space ...
[Read More]

A good alternative to fracking?
"The Gasbuggy Nuclear Test Site is the location of a 1967 underground nuclear explosion, conducted to test the viability of using a nuclear device to aid in natural gas extraction. It was part of the Plowshare Program, the program to develop peaceful uses of nuclear weapons, and was the first ...
[Read More]

Did that just happen?
That is the punch line of this month's installment of Verna and Randy's Photo of The Month . I've been hit by a popped motor from one of my own flights, I've seen a recovering rocket land on the tailgate of a pickup and slide inside and I've had one of my rockets recover on my camp. However, I've ...
[Read More]

Meatball Rocketry Website
The Meatball Team won the scale competition at NARAM 50. Stop by their website and find out why! You'll find Plenty of scale information and build tips. http://meatballrocketry.com The articles on how to make the Saturn 1 (or 1B) fairings are worth the trip alone! Go to Model Rocketry, then ...
[Read More]

SStS TM-3 MOTOR CASE UPDATE
      I've got the SStS TM-1 motor case nearly finished.  The screw hole locations are all indexed and the ends trued up so all that is left is to drill them out and a little polishing.  
[Read More]

Michael Collins (astronaut)
 
[Read More]

Thunder in Texas: First firing of Falcon 9-R

[Read More]

TM-3 AND TR-1 MOTOR WEEKEND UPDATE
      I finished the motor casing for the P-class SStS TM-3 motor this weekend.  Not surprisingly, the 6061 t-6 aluminum tube was much easier to work with than the steel pipe used for the previous DSS test motors.  I'm pleased with the casing and can't wait ...
[Read More]

TR-1 UPDATED NOZZLE DRAWING
  I updated the nozzle drawing... again ! My goal is to see if I can get this nozzle to come in at less weight than the nozzle for my other N-class motor .  That wasn't really part of my original goal, but what the hell.  I like the challenge.  I think it's going to be ...
[Read More]

Sharp rocket is all nosecone
    "As the aerospace world prepares to say goodbye to the space shuttles, engineers are looking for cheaper, faster replacements. The German space agency is apparently ahead of the game, announcing a retro-looking multi-faceted design late last week. The German Aerospace Centre ...
[Read More]

Lockheed AC-130 Hercules "Spooky" Gunship - Night Ops
              Wiki on this aircraft.  
[Read More]

MachMobile38
                             
[Read More]

Dnepropetrovsk Center of Youth Aerospace Education
      Englishrussia.com  
[Read More]

Black Rock Project 2013
Currently in the process of a class 3 wavier application for a Black Rock flight this year, more details to follow.    
[Read More]

SpaceX 's new rocket name revealed
Musk has thrown around the name “MCT ” for a while but hasn’t elaborated on what it means. Musk has said the new rocket will be “several times” as powerful as the 1 Merlin series, and won’t use Merlin’s RP-1 fuel. Beyond adding that it will have “a ...
[Read More]

Rocket Launches from Wallops, is seen in Maryland/DC area
"A NASA Black Brant XII suborbital rocket streaks into the night sky following its launch at 11:05 p.m. EDT on June 5, 2013 from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The rocket carried the Cosmic Infrared Background ExpeRiment (CIBER) to an altitude of approximately 358 miles above the ...
[Read More]

Ooooh, shiney! SpaceX Bells
SpaceX Bells , a photo by jurvetson on Flickr.
[Read More]

Star Lab - a modern NOTSnik - sub-orbital system using an F-104
    "CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla – A NewSpace company based out of New Port Richey in Florida is working to provide suborbital access to space for firms with scientific payloads. The Star Lab project is an experimental suborbital launcher, designed to provide frequent, less ...
[Read More]

A Sneak Peak at the Flight Log Updates
Here’s a quick sneak peak at the new form that I am currently developing for entering flights.   Please click the image if you wish to see it full size. The first thing you that you’ve probably noticed is that it’s more attractive than the current “wi ...
[Read More]

Mysischev 3MD
  http://englishrussia.com
[Read More]

Von Braun Ferry Rocket
via The Squirrel Works/Facebook  
[Read More]

Body Tube Size Guide
Jeff Roberts (Luke Strawwalker or OL JR on The Rocketry Forum) put together a Body Tube Size Guide at: http://forums.rocketshoppe.com/showthread.php?p=88407 Print this one out and keep it handy! "BT" refers to the Estes sizes. "Series" (ST) refers to the older Centuri tubes. Typically, most ...
[Read More]

Flying model of the Bachem Ba 349 Natter
Here is a cool flying HPR model of the Natter , via TRF , via Raketenmodellbau.org .    
[Read More]

Letter about Vashon Models
Here's a letter of response about the old Vashon Rockets. I thought it might be interesting for the blog. The illustration at the right was almost the same Sears catalog listing I ordered my Vashon V2 rocket from. This Sears listing shows the shorter V1 model. Hi Brian, ...
[Read More]

Mysischev 3MD a.k.a. Bison-C
This 1960's era Soviet strategic bomber undoubtedly has historical significance. However, I just thought this fish-eye photo looks cool. Hat tip to R2K and English-Russia . The latter has a full photo-essay with lots of details.  
[Read More]

NASA Selects New Suborbital Payloads, Total Tops 100 Experiments
Washington, DC - NASA has selected 21 space technology payloads for flights on commercial reusable launch vehicles, balloons, and a commercial parabolic aircraft. This latest selection represents the sixth cycle of NASA's continuing call for payloads through an announcement of opportunity. More ...
[Read More]

Ice cap on North Pole of Mars
Looks like a great comet target to me!  Sending dozens of comets on a collision course with Mars remains one of the most realistic methods of terraforming.  Doing so, and then seeding life, would allow us to turn Mars into the largest wildlife refuge in the Solar System.  Since ...
[Read More]

Sunrise time lapse

[Read More]

TR-1 MOTOR UPDATE (NOZZLE)
    I  made good progress on the TR-1 nozzle this weekend.   The two pieces fit together nicely.  I'm still tempted to take some weight out of the nozzle, I think I could get a nearly half a pound of weight out of it. I'll probably hold ...
[Read More]

Prepping the Semroc Point!
Build it, Watch it fly - and Wonder Why! ( Probably the corniest copy in the Centuri catalog.) My first Centuri Point stayed on the launcher for the whole B6-2 flight, a victim of the Krushnik Effect. The conical round base of the Point was almost a perfect fit over the round Estes blast ...
[Read More]

A-10 Thunderbolt "Warthog"

[Read More]

Strike on Tora Bora
 
[Read More]

Inside the Falcon 9 Heavy
 
[Read More]

Rocketry Victoria 8th June 2013
Saturday June 8 was the first of a two day launch for Rocketry Victoria and the weather couldn't have been better! I launched two rockets - My 10" Art Applewhite saucer on 3 D motors and my upscale Blue Bird Zero on a H128 - both great flights :) More photos and videos after the jump or ...
[Read More]

Launch of Manned Chinese Shenzhou-10 Spacecraft
China's 5th manned space flight launched today, Shenzhou-10, on a Long March 2F rocket. Liftoff occurred at 09:38 UTC on June 11th 2013 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Shenzhou 10 will approach and dock with the Tiangong-1 Docking Target which launched in September 2011. They will be the ...
[Read More]

Quantum stock market?
On the strength, it does look relatively stable. Depending on which multiverse you are in, it may even be stable high...
[Read More]

Falcon F9-R Engine Test
Well hello to all my readers, I have been really busy lately with my wedding this last week and I ...
[Read More]

More Old Estes Instructions!
After a bit of searching on the Estes website, I found my way to the instructions archive! http://www.estesrockets.com/customer-service/instructions#000000 Current models are here along with many (but not all) of the classics.
[Read More]

SUGAR SHOTS TM-3 NOZZLE
  I've started refurbishment/modification of the nozzle for the upcoming TM-3 test.  Having seen the force with which this nozzle bounced across the Mojave desert last year, it's in remarkable condition.  I started by cutting off the eight screws which held on the divergent ...
[Read More]

More Kit Instructions!
The Canadian Rocket Store has scanned many kit instructions including the new Rocketarium models. Simply go to: http://www.allrocketengines.ca/ And find a model you are curious about. Go to the model page and scroll down to find the link for kit instructions. The picture at right is from the ...
[Read More]

Tracers Skipping Across The Water
"Two 30 round magazines fired across a lake from an AR15 in full auto with tracers bouncing off in all directions." I don't love the idea of people firing wildly in all directions in the dark, but then again this is 'mrca so that is his right. As long as we are going to be a country of gun ...
[Read More]

SUGAR SHOT'S P-CLASS MOTOR NOZZLE UPDATE
I'm making good progress on the nozzle, but it's slow going.  I'm about halfway through the biggest modification which is cutting a relief that the adapter ring will fit into.  The area that I'm cutting away has the screw holes in it and cutting through that section really hammers the ...
[Read More]

Runway Disappearing Act
"A burst of incredibly heavy rain forces pilots to abandon their landing at the very last second when the runway goes completely out of sight."
[Read More]

Custom Models Built for You!
If you didn't know,  I build rockets for Model Rocket Vendors, collectors and hobbyists. If there is a favorite model you'd like to own in it's classic catalog decor, let me know! I guarantee accuracy, (unless you specify update changes) no balsa grain or visible tube seams. Interior and ...
[Read More]

The root cause of my obsession with the Fireball XL5
While I was organizing, tagging and otherwise scouring through my archive of rocket photos on Flickr , I started reminiscing about my 29mm Fireball XL5. I remembered that I was less motivated by the old TV series than  a photo and flight report of an HPR version. I proceeded to dig through my ...
[Read More]

Jayhawk Bowling Ball Surface Scanner
"Jayhawk is proud to introduce the Jayhawk Ball Surface Scanner. It is the only device in the pro shop industry that allows the pro shop operator to measure the surface roughness of a bowling ball, the most important factor of bowling ball motion. This is a short informative video on how to use ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2013-2
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD MDRA ESL-181) Weather: Sunny, mid 80's, wind 0-10 (crossfield, away from the trees) Total flights: Today - 9; YTD - 14 Total motors: Today - 10; YTD - 15 Motors by class YTD: B-1, C-4, E-5, F-2, G-1, H-2 This was a near perfect day for launching rockets. ...
[Read More]

Launch! Tampa TTRA June 15, 2013
The Tampa TTRA flying field was overcast with a good chance of rain. After a short delay, flying started around noon. The BIG GIRTHA  ( Re-Birtha! ) just finished on this blog was flown with a cluster of two Estes C6-5 engines. Estimated altitude would be around 1,000. A slightly reefed ...
[Read More]

winter builds and acquisitions
Wow! I can’t believe it’s been almost 6 months since my last update. I guess life has been getting in the way. I certainly haven’t given up on rockets – if anything, my other hobbies have been suffering at the expense of rocketry. Spent the winter building, and rebuilding ...
[Read More]

Project Loon - Google funded project to deliver internet by balloon
Really fun idea (also workable with solar powered aircraft and blimps) but unlikely to overtake satellite internet, imho.
[Read More]

June Rocket Launches: ROCK and TTRA
Weather is often a concern for rocket launches here in Central Florida during late Spring and Summer.  High winds and afternoon thunderstorms are common.  But, we were fortunate the past couple of weeks as the bad weather stayed away long ...
[Read More]

Field Guide To American Spacecraft Website
If you ever wanted to see rockets in person visit this site to find out where they are - http://www.americanspacecraft.com/pages/aaindex/home1.html The website was produced by James H. Gerard. You'll find addresses to the museums and some photos of the rockets on display.
[Read More]

The Man Who Hunts Spy Satellites
"We went to Paris to interview premier astrophotographer, Thierry Legault, about tracking spy satellites in the sky. It's a story of mutual surveillance, adept tracking and ultimately one man's quest to do 'things that nobody has done before.'"
[Read More]

Air Command shares 7 Years of...
..."really cool" flights. You don't get to their level of sophistication without a few hiccups along the way. My favorite segment starts at 7:25 in. George, I look forward to see your progress over the next 7 years! (BTW, the term 'really cool' should be self-explanatory.)
[Read More]

My first issue of High Power Rocketry (HPR) Magazine
I just found my very first issue of HPR magazine (pictured). I had previously posted about the first issue of my subscription, but this is one I bought off-the-shelf a few years earlier. I got this April 1995 issue from the magazine section of Sound Warehouse, which is now defunct. The contents ...
[Read More]

Boeing X-51A WaveRider photo
Boeing X-51A WaveRider sets record with successful 4th flight , a photo by The Boeing Company on Flickr.
[Read More]

SUGAR SHOT'S P-CLASS MOTOR NOZZLE UPDATE
  I finished the modifications to the Sugar Shot to Space's DSS TM-3 motor this weekend.  It was particularly tough machining through screw holes.  The open spaces created a hammering effect that subjected the tool and lathe to quite a beating.  I wonder if filling the ...
[Read More]

Big dose of retro
I have been preoccupied with my Flickr archive but have accumulated a few interesting retro photos. Most came from the H.A.M.B. and I don't remember the rest. First, a couple of rocket girls.   The Dunes is one of my favorite ex-hotels in Las Vegas since I was there when it was ...
[Read More]

Garvey Prospector-18D
NASA photo: The Garvey Prospector launch carrying four small Cubesats occurred in the Mojave Desert at 1:52 a.m. EDT on June 15. See the full report (with more photos and video).  
[Read More]

To My Readers
Well my wedding and Honeymoon is all over. Being back to work and still working out the logistics of marriage ...
[Read More]

Animals in rocket flight pt 1 and 2

[Read More]

June 2013
Saturday, June 22 from noon till 4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

Four Insane 60s Military Prototypes That Crashed and Burned
    http://gizmodo.com
[Read More]

Setting Time and Date on Key Fob Cameras - TIP!
Both of my flight videos had the wrong date on them. I was on Ebay and a sales listing showed how to change the date and time . Here's what I figured out: Plug in the camera into your computer USB port. Click on Computer Click on Removable Disk “E” Click on “TAG” Enter ...
[Read More]

X-15 pilots down time
 
[Read More]

Micro- and Mini-Hybrid's soon to be available
Dr. Leland R. Dexter  has announced that he, through  Micro Nitro Rocketry , will be producing "Caldera-style" Micro and Mini Hybrids. Rene Caldera designed and sold parts kits for the original Micro-Hybrid design. These motors used commercial, 8g food-grade nitrous chargers as an ...
[Read More]

Moving Photos to RocketReviews.com
I’m currently in the process of moving the photos from the PayloadBay.com gallery to the RocketReviews.com Photo Albums. It’s a bit of work, so I’m just moving an album or two at a time when I get the chance.
[Read More]

New Tools Follow Up
I've had the chance to use my new tools for a while now. Two have worked very well, one tool - not so much! My Olfa break off blade knife is a great, cheap alternative to more expensive hobby knife blades. Thirteen new blade tips on each blade strip! Much cheaper than #11 X-Acto blades. The ...
[Read More]

Model rockets on Mars (1998)
David portee/Beyond Apollo has an  interesting article with the same name as above. In a JPL workshop held to brainstorm new ideas for JPL’s Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, Brian Wilcox, JPL rover engineer and former model-rocketeer, proposed a 3-stage solid rocket as an alternative ...
[Read More]

75mm Cannon - looks like a rocket nose cone to me :)
75mm Cannon , a photo by S.R. Breitenstein on Flickr.
[Read More]

The New PayloadBay.com
Eventually, I’m going to move the launch photographs and  ”Tools” from PayLoadBay.com to RocketReviews.com.  That won’t leave much of interest here, so I’ve decided to turn PayloadBay.com into my personal rocketry blog.
[Read More]

Barrage balloons - WWII era
 
[Read More]

M16
  At home and in the field, for work or hobby, make your choice the M16.
[Read More]

The first RMS ad circa 1990
Note this is pre-AeroTech.  
[Read More]

Spray Paint Coverage Comparison
I was putting together a Quest Viper kit given to me by Lonnie B. This is not a fancy model, I've made some enhancements coming up in a blog build. I had a older unused can of the WalMart ColorPlace gloss white paint. I thought I'd play it cheap and try the $1.00 a can paint. Here's the first ...
[Read More]

Park Launch 22nd June 2013
With perfect weather, Jase and his family joined us at the Dandenong Wetlands for a small launch. Jase had been working with his daughter Zoe on a school project and had built a fantastic looking rocket. This was the first opportunity to launch it on an Estes D12-3 motor. (Zoe's Rocket on a ...
[Read More]

Car parts in space
  http://jalopnik.com/  
[Read More]

Mobile RocketReviews.com - Add Your Flights at the Launch Site
While working on the major update to RocketReviews.com, I realized that some of the tools I was using could be used to develop a mobile version of the web site tailored for smart phones and tablets. The mobile site is addressed by visiting: http://m.rocketreviews.com/ While the above site ...
[Read More]

The JET Bicycle - The most dangerous unsafe bike EVER
"An old womans bike built for shopping turned into a bomb inspired safety hazzard. This is the final part in my series on the wonderfull pulse jet and what an end.The jet will push the bike a little faster but its staying on thats the challenage as some of the more keen eye'd people will have ...
[Read More]

Fat Albert: Naval Air Station Moffett Field; October 1992
Fat Albert: Naval Air Station Moffett Field; October 1992 , a photo by S.R. Breitenstein on Flickr. A nice JATO photo is always a good way to kick off the week.
[Read More]

2013 Supermoon (201306230004HQ)
2013 Supermoon (201306230004HQ) , a photo by NASA HQ PHOTO on Flickr.
[Read More]

Sounding rockets to paint the sky
  "On June 24, 2013 a pair of daytime sounding rockets will launch from NASA Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) and deploy a chemical trail like the one deployed here from a sounding rocket at night. The chemical trail will help researchers track wind movement to determine how it affects the ...
[Read More]

Save our environment!
But seriously, stop messing with the environment.
[Read More]

Cool model of the Falcon Heavy
Steve Jurvetson posted this photo of his SpaceX Falcon Heavy. The Falcon Heavy will largely consist of three Falcon 9's strapped together with a large payload assembly. His Flickr page  shows more details and provides a flight report. The construction looks like SpaceX's Falcon 9 model, but ...
[Read More]

Shrockets on Kickstarter
Doug Shrock has his Shrockets kits on Kickstarter. Check out the upcoming product line HERE
[Read More]

Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator Project June 2012
Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator Project June 2012 , a photo by rstaff3 on Flickr. Original via NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
[Read More]

Mach Buster 38MM Project - Randy Regan
"Project - Build a rocket that can go faster than Mach 1. This rocket is a modified version of the Hawk Mountain Transonic kit. Rocket name - 'Mach Buster 38MM'" Read more here.
[Read More]

Copenhagen Suborbitals Active Guidance Flight
Here is the video of the successful Copenhagen Suborbitals active guidance flight of their Sapphire rocket.   More on the launch here
[Read More]

Launch Report 2013-3 (solo)
Location: The Original Rocket Dungeon Weather: hot Total flights: Today - 2; YTD - 16 Total motors: Today - 2; YTD - 17 Motors by class YTD: MMX-2, B-1, C-4, E-5, F-2, G-1, H-2 I began investigating my igniter problems from the last MDRA launch. Verily, I found the failed igniters all read ~45 ...
[Read More]

Hump Day Found Photos
First, a couple of retro futuristic cars.   A clustered rocket sled at the Alamogordo Museum of Space History: If we rocketeers can accept the term JATO, I guess we can let the drag racing world call this a rocket car. A model with an XB-70 Valkyrie model. This ...
[Read More]

Copenhagen Suborbital Sapphire
"SAPPHIRE (modified HATV) is our experimental rocket using active guide jet vane rudders. SAPPHIRE-1 will be launched at test range ESD139 during Summer 2013. Active guidance is a necessity for us in the path towards the stars. SAPPHIRE will show us the way." The video suggests a 26,000 foot ...
[Read More]

Fixing the Aerospace Plane Canopy TIPS
I was prepping the recent Quest Aerospace Plane for an upcoming launch and the canopy popped off! It was a clean separation, none of the paper shroud was torn telling me the bond wasn't good. The bottom edge of the canopy still had some plastic glue on it. The canopy bottom edge was lightly sanded ...
[Read More]

Doppleganger (Journey To The Far Side Of The Sun)
Doppleganger (Journey To The Far Side Of The Sun) , a photo by modern_fred on Flickr. Click the photo to see more related photos (sci-fi, etc).
[Read More]

Rocket Goodness!
Well everyone life is starting to straighten out. The good news is I started working on the Type II rocket ...
[Read More]

1964 ... bound for the planets!
1964 ... bound for the planets! , a photo by x-ray delta one on Flickr.
[Read More]

The Big Fix - Raptor Nose Cone Touchup
On the nose cone end the paint was gone and the exposed plastic was rough. The edge was sanded smooth with 400 grit. The picture shows how the nose cone was held for primer spraying. The hand grip looks strange but I was trying to cover up the black tape canopy. I didn't want to cut out another ...
[Read More]

Robots in Space: The Kibo Robot Project
This summer JAXA (Japanese Space Agency) plans to launch two adorable robots into space and have them visit the ISS. The two robots, Kirobo and his backup Mirata, are currently scheduled to launch on August  4th on a JAXA mission to the ISS. These two robots are able to do body language ...
[Read More]

TGIF!
Yet another set of found photos... Think I might have already posted this, but I don't care. Reportedly, the world's biggest water rocket. A twofer mashup - The Fireball XL5 and the Thunderbird I. A three-fer of Fireballs! I want one (the rocket, that is). And a ph ...
[Read More]

Project SWORD Annual
Project SWORD Annual , a photo by modern_fred on Flickr.  
[Read More]

Missile test footage
"GBU-10, AGM-65G, JDAM, MK-82/83/84 missiles with sensitive tracer kits tested from air and ground. the biggest point of this test was the checking of the new turkish sensitive tracking system and some warheads compatible with MK missiles. results are perfect. army released this video yesterday."
[Read More]

Rockets, just hangin' out
Tons of model Rockets at the hobby store. Wow , a photo by chris favero on Flickr.
[Read More]

Drayson Racing sets world electric land speed record
Drayson Racing announced that it has set a new World Electric Land Speed Record of 204.185 mph. Their B12 69/EV features a carbon fiber shell and four electric motors that generate 1,126 horsepower. The record was set on a runway at RAF Elvington in Yorkshire, UK. It surprised me that the previous ...
[Read More]

NASA Selects Space Florida To Take Over Shuttle Landing Strip
Cape Canaveral - Nasa has selected Space Florida, a state-backed economic development agency, to take over operations, maintenance and development of the space shuttle's idled landing site at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, officials said on Friday. Terms of the agreement, which have ...
[Read More]

The U.S. astronauts who made the ultimate sacrifice - ALL of them.
#ShuttleAtlantis: Ultimate sacrifice , a photo by Fifth World Art on Flickr. I have posted several times about NASA's Day of Remembrance, which honors the astronauts who lost their lives in the service. I generally feature Apollo 1, Challenger STS 51-L and Columbia STS-107. I now realize that ...
[Read More]

Interesting Missile Test Photo @ Woomera
Missile Test Photo , a photo by Serendigity on Flickr.
[Read More]

Atlantis Panoramic at Grand Openingfor #ShuttleAtlantis #SpaceShuttleAtlantis
Best viewed large on the photographer's Flickr stream. Atlantis Panoramic at Grand Opening for #ShuttleAtlantis #SpaceShuttleAtlantis , a photo by Fifth World Art on Flickr.
[Read More]

Casting a fiberglass nose cone
  http://www.thefintels.com
[Read More]

More Progress
Well I have been painting the Type II rocket. It has been primed and the first coat of paint is ...
[Read More]

Tow missile launch
   
[Read More]

Proton-M rocket crashes in Russia
"Russia’s Proton-M rocket carrying three additional satellites for its Glonass global positioning and navigation network exploded shortly after launch early on Tuesday from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan."
[Read More]

Proton Rocket Explosion
A Russian unmanned Proton-M rocket has exploded today just after liftoff in Kazakhstan.
[Read More]

Russian Proton-M wobbles then goes boom
Via Ben Brockert via R2K . Ben provides info regarding the nasty propellant it uses (click through to YouTube).
[Read More]

More footage of Proton-M crash

[Read More]

Proton-M Launch

[Read More]

International Lunar Resources Exploration Concept (1993), why N.O.T.S.?
This post's title (at least most of it) was lifted from Beyond Apollo , which has just moved from Blogger to Wired Science Blogs. David Portree's post has a detailed description of the 1993 study that originated from the Exploration Program Office at JSC. I also swiped two NASA photos which depict ...
[Read More]

Re-animated rocketry!
Copenhagen Suborbital successfully launched their Sapphire rocket on June 23. Via Space-for-All , via Wired (and, of course, via Copenhagen Suborbitals themselves) comes this model-based visualization of the flight based on actual telemetry. I normally like data like altitude, velocity and ...
[Read More]

Happy 3rd of July!
    Ursula Andress - IMO, still the best Bond Girl       Harbor created to support the invasion of Normandy, June 1994.     In the 1950's...behind every steely-eyed missile man...     Love the ...
[Read More]

I haven't visited the SS1 yet...
DSC_0103 , a photo by txflygirl on Flickr.
[Read More]

Three Years of LPR Blogging!
Today marks the  Third Year of the Blog! and they said it would never last . . .  and a Happy Fourth of July to all!
[Read More]

Fire, smoke, lightning, and the Red, White and Blue
Enjoy our birthday with some eye candy!   U. Florida shot a rocket attached to a long wire up into the storm...and fireworks ensued!    
[Read More]

Type II with Paint
Well I got off work early today! Thank you 4th of July! Oh and Happy 4th of July to everyone! ...
[Read More]

Wallops launch photos
WALLOPS ISLAND, VA – Two suborbital rockets were successfully launched 15 seconds apart this morning from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility as part of a the Daytime Dynamo Experiment, which studied electrical currents in the ionosphere.  Click through for some others.
[Read More]

Grasshopper flies to and hovers at 325m

[Read More]

The Rockwell Integrated Space Plan, remastered
Last year, I posted about Ronald Jones'  Rockwell Integrated Space Plan (1989) , which Make Magazine received from an anonymous source. The plan has been remastered and color coded in a vector format. I posted a small version mostly because it's pretty. In that copy, only the largest print is ...
[Read More]

Grasshopper
Latest Grasshopper test:
[Read More]

Fireball

[Read More]

"RAIN experiment flies to space"
  "RAIN stands for Rocket deployed Atmospheric probes conducting Independent measurements in Northern Sweden. We are a team of 17 students from The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and Stockholm University. We are designing and building an experiment that will be placed on the ...
[Read More]

Type II Paint Finished
There will be better pictures to come, this was just a quick one tonight.
[Read More]

SpaceX Grasshopper 325m Test
Single Camera (Hexacopter) view and new navigational sensors
[Read More]

2012-06-07_Stargazer-Pegasus-NuSTAR-004
2012-06-07_Stargazer-Pegasus-NuSTAR-004 , a photo by justdownthejetstream on Flickr.
[Read More]

University High School's 1/40 Scale Space Shuttle
Shortly after moving to Orlando in 1994, I visited a local hobby shop where I bought a copy of Sport Rocketry magazine. A large model of the Space Shuttle adorned the front cover.  Reading the article, I discovered that the rocket had been built and flown by students of University High ...
[Read More]

The Coolest Hobby Rocket of All Time
I just posted a blog entry at PayloadBay.com about the University High School Space Shuttle. The space shuttle model stood about five-foot tall and flew on an I motor. Unlike every other flying space shuttle model, it did not have any added fins for stability. At apogee, the Solid Rocket Boosters ...
[Read More]

Neutron star and quark star inside the Grand Canyon
 
[Read More]

Model Rocket Building
Connections 1: Chris Michaelsson has a nice model rocket building blog at http://www.modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/ . Chris is the founder of Odd'l Rockets and does a lot of work for some of the other rocket manufacturers, whether it is building models or illustrating manuals. One of the ...
[Read More]

More model solid rockets on Mars
David Portree has another article about JPL's investigations into the use of solid rocket motors for a  possible Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission: Model Rockets on Mars Redux (1998) . To get samples back, they would need a Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV). One engineer, Brian Wilcox, felt a low ...
[Read More]

Simple YouTube G185 video posting... FAIL... URE!!
I've tried, for several weeks now by the way, to post an excitified version of a simple CTI G185 Vmax liftoff video to YouTube.  In summary: DENIED.  No idea why.  Instead here's a sequence of otherwise angled video frames corrected(?) to vertical: That's my [now not so] new Madcow ...
[Read More]

Need a fix of old, interesting and odd photos?
This morning, Flickr is sickr this AM, soooooo.... More dancing to the music of mushroom clouds (via the HAMB , I think) Evel's Skycycle. Rumor has it that SEMROC is resurrecting the old kit. I want one...or two. (via  TRF ) Early Hall flying car. (via SDASM ) Riding jack ...
[Read More]

X-47B makes its first arrested landings aboard ship
X-47B makes its first arrested landings aboard ship , a photo by Official U.S. Navy Imagery on Flickr.
[Read More]

Blast Off - TP Roll Rocket
http://rainydaymum.co.uk
[Read More]

Petersen Auto Museum (BIG UPDATE)
Petersen Museum , a photo by S.R. Breitenstein on Flickr. http://www.petersen.org/home/ After posting this photo, I popped over to their website and poked around Google. Some amazing stuff popped up. Here's a sampling...but you should explore on your own. Must add this to my agenda next time ...
[Read More]

Cutting Kevlar? Tip
I've read that Kevlar is 5X stronger than steel. Why not cut Kevlar the same way you would cut steel wire? I've cut Kevlar with scissors, but was concerned it could ruin the edge. A knife could be used but I'd rather save the sharp blade for balsa cutting. In the past, I've used wire cutters on ...
[Read More]

Scott's Experimental Rocketry
    http://www.thefintels.com/
[Read More]

Earth, Luna, Ceres
  Two down, one to go...
[Read More]

A national park...on the moon?
DCist reports (along with others) that Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) wants to designate the site of the Apollo 11 landing as the 60th national park: Maryland Congresswoman Wants to Create National Park - On the Moon . I'm all for preserving the site but its not clear to me whether such a law is worth ...
[Read More]

How does a solid rocket motor work?

[Read More]

N.E.F.A.R. Bunnell, FL Launch, July 13, 2013
What was left of tropical storm Chantal threatened today's N.E.F.A.R. launch. Six of us headed up in Roger Smith's van. July days are usually hotter and the winds were low.  The rains started after we left for the drive home. First up was the rebuilt Quest RAPTOR with an Estes C6-5. ...
[Read More]

Apollo 11 - Today the Moon, tomorrow...

[Read More]

Launch Report 2013-4
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD (MDRA ESL-182) Weather: 88 degrees, felt like 98; mostly sunny; wind from 0 to 10 mph Total flights: Today - 6 ; YTD - 22 Total motors: Today - 7; YTD - 24 Motors by class YTD: MMX-2, B-1, C-4, E-8, F-3, G-3, H-3 The weather turned out really nice. It ...
[Read More]

Heavy Duty BT-50 Tubing!
Anybody who has followed the blog knows I hate BT-20 and BT-50 tubes. They are thin walled and can crimp when friction fitting engines or on a hard landing. The inside diameter of a Estes style BT-50 is .950". The wall thickness is .013". The inside diameter of a Centuri style ST-9 is also .950". ...
[Read More]

"Flats of Pripat" Birds trapped in window

[Read More]

SpaceX F9 next generation booster gets full duration burn
another twitter follower posted this possible MCT mission plan and Elon Musk tweeted back and said it was “pretty close to what I have in mind”.   also Musk says “Hyperloop” plans will be out soon!
[Read More]

This Is Not the Rocket You Are Looking For
At yesterday's launch, Ron Hill offered me the remains of a fireworks rocket that he found. The fins looked nice and seemed very sturdy, so I accepted.  It is also perfectly symmetric and the fins show no signs of warping.  He relayed the story of a fire that was blamed on model ...
[Read More]

More rocket cars! (well, one car and a cycle)
Click any photo to see the source album, which contains more cool photos. "Gillette Mach 3 Challenger 1999 driven by Richard Brown.  Hydrogen peroxide rocket-powered motorcycle setting a two wheeled record at Bonneville in 1999 of 322.887 mph." Gillette Mach 3 Challenger 1999 driven by ...
[Read More]

A new rocket is born - assembly of the Ares X-1 stack

[Read More]

NEFAR's July Launch Photos
With the forecast calling for thunderstorms, I was reluctant to make the 1 1/2 trip to Bunnell for NEFAR’s July rocket launch. But, Saturday morning, I checked the weather radar and current conditions for the area and it looked okay.  So, Bracha ...
[Read More]

This Is (still) Not the Rocket You are Looking For
I did some real-time design and slapped this together.  As expected, I went for an 18mm mount. The tube fits perfectly in base of the fin can. I thought that I might be able to ream the fin can out to fit a 24mm tube, but it is too thin. At least it's too close given my eye-hand coordination. ...
[Read More]

SRB recovery divers

[Read More]

A good one from HST
This Hubble Space Telescope (HST) [WFPC2] image reveals a pair of one-half light-year long interstellar 'twisters' - eerie funnels and twisted-rope structures - in the heart of the Lagoon Nebula (Messier 8) which lies 5,000 light-years away in the direction of the constellation Sagittarius. ...
[Read More]

Apogee Peak Of Flight Article - Minimum Diameter Replaceable Kevlar
I've written a new article for the latest issue of the Apogee Peak Of Flight Newsletter, # 343. This method shows how to install a Replaceable Kevlar Line in Minimum Diameter (BT-20 and BT-50) model rockets. Check it out HERE It's a follow up to my earlier article on Replaceable Kevlar Lines in ...
[Read More]

Florida plant demolition
There is no way they had to make it this cool, but they did.
[Read More]

Implosion of the day
More interesting than than your typical rectangular building.  I found myself hoping the first stack would fall into the second, and so on, just like a line of dominoes. Found via High Power Rocketry .
[Read More]

Finally, some activity in the Rocket Dungeon!
The physical one, that is. First off, the main components of the This Is Not the Rocket You Are Looking For are all together. I still need a streamer, launch lug and a tube to route air to the whistle on the Minion nose cone. And, I may yet change the nose cone. I updated the RockSim model with ...
[Read More]

H32 ramjet helicopter
  "H32 jet helicopter is propelled by blazing ramjet engines on blade tips at Camp Rucker Army Aviation Center. (1956)"
[Read More]

Matching Cluster Engines
Check out the clay caps on these three Estes C6-5 engines. All three are from different batches, made on different dates. I was picking out engines for a two engine cluster model. It's probably something to consider - the cap distance from the top of the engine. There's always some difference ...
[Read More]

Delay
Well sorry for the delay with information. Recently I was in the process of getting my rocket to fly sometime ...
[Read More]

RCS, Inc. (Aerotech) and Quest Aerospace, Inc. Announce Merger
RCS Information Release July 18, 2013 RCS, Inc. and Quest Aerospace, Inc. Announce Merger RCS Rocket Motor Components (RCS), Inc. President Gary C. Rosenfield announced today that the two companies have successfully completed a corporate merger. Quest Aerospace, Inc. will be closing its ...
[Read More]

RCS, Inc. (Aerotech) and Quest Aerospace, Inc. Announce Merger
  As seen today on Rocket Reviews.com: Aerotech and Quest Announce Merger Check out the complete story HERE
[Read More]

RCS and Quest Merge
 
[Read More]

RCS, Inc. (Aerotech) and Quest Aerospace, Inc. Announce Merger
Wow, this is a surprise. Hopefully, it will lead to more motor selections in the low/mid power range. Or, will this kill future single use motors in that range (i.e. the ones from Quest via Klima ? Only time will tell. RCS, Inc. (Aerotech) and Quest Aerospace, Inc. Announce Merger ...
[Read More]

Book Cover, R is For Rocket by Ray Bradbury
Book Cover, R is For Rocket by Ray Bradbury , a photo by CityOfDave on Flickr. 'Nuff said!
[Read More]

Stopping a 50 caliber round with transparent aluminum

[Read More]

New Semroc Kits for NARAM-55
  From Semroc: “We have just released five new kits just before NARAM-55. The two “War in Space” kits from Centuri are done. The Satellite Killer™ and the Red-Eye™ were the only known entries, but we have some more wraps to extend the series. ...
[Read More]

Rexus 14 - testing a light sail in near space

[Read More]

Goddard Hosts a Blast to the Past
Goddard Hosts a Blast to the Past , a photo by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center on Flickr. NARHAMS members running on of the monthly public launches at NASA GSFC's Visitor's Center. Check out the launch schedule here .
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry July/August 2013
Instead my normal list of articles, I'll just give a long list of cool stuff spotted in the magazine: The Nike Hercules on the cover; Steve Jurvetson's private collection of space artifacts; A detailed report on a Nike Missile Base tour; Photos of the Nike Missile Base (OK, I ...
[Read More]

New SEMROC Kits!
Five new Semroc kits have been released just in time for NARAM 55! Three are Centuri based models - The SATELLITE KILLER, REDEYE and EGG CRATE. Two more "Groonies" - YUNG'UN's NUKE and the SNAKE JUMPER shown here. The pilot face is from the original (never produced) Estes Goony designs. Check ...
[Read More]

It's that kind of day
My cheap Android tablet was half the price of a similar name brand. About half the features work. Got an alternate nose cone for the This Is Not the Rocket You Are Looking For . I drilled a screw out only to find it apparently isn't required to hold the thing together. It's spitting rain so ...
[Read More]

A short history of an amateur (and professional) rocketeer
One of the items I identified in yesterday's post about the latest issue of Sport Rocketry was a talk about amateur rocketry by Bill Colburn. A reader kindly pointed me to the LUNAR club's NARCON 2013 page , which includes links to videos of the technical presentations. The one that interested me ...
[Read More]

Now, that's a rocket collection!
Bill Colburn showed this photo in his slideshow at NARCON 2013. I grabbed it from his bio at Thunderbolt Aerosystems .  
[Read More]

Estes X-Ray Engine Retention
I went to Jim Z's recently and looked up the old Estes Drifter instructions. The Drifter was introduced in the mid 1960s. Check out the instructions HERE For simple motor retention: I had thought that a simple tape wrap around the end of the engine tube and engine was a fairly new idea. ...
[Read More]

This Is Not the Rocket You Are Looking For - and other progress
After my alternate nose cone ideas didn't pan out, I proceeded to routing the Minion's whistle upward. On to the launch lug! I've also started painting the El Tubo Loco re-build and the Frankenstein Big Daddy . Now that I've invested paint in the latter, Estes better come through with their BP E16 ...
[Read More]

Building a Bigger Big Daddy Akavish
Bracha and I are rebuilding our Big Daddy Akavish after its hard landing at the March NEFAR launch. We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We can make him better than he was. Better ...
[Read More]

Bare Necessities Suffers a Separation
Bare Necessities: N5800 C-Star Flying Case This incredible project with a mostly metal airframe (but perhaps not enough) seems to have shredded at Black Rock. We have to wait for more info to find out what happened and perhaps even why... It appears as if the nosecone and airframe were largely ...
[Read More]

NARAM Live! Online Coverage
Once again the N ational A ssociation of R ocketry A nnual M eet (NARAM) is online at: http://www.naramlive.com/naramlive-2013/naramlive/index.html Thanks to Chris Taylor for setting up the website.
[Read More]

FAR July 2013
This weekend provided hot but calm flying conditions for a flight motor test. Flight report posted here.  
[Read More]

El Tubo Loco, V3
Here's the El Tubo Loco rebuild. It's a little longer and sports a new camo scheme - orange to match the nose cone, Rustoleum rust brown primer. and medium olive drab green.
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, V7I5, April 2013
This issue snuck up on me since, at the time of receipt, their website doesn't indicate it's out.  The issue is primarily dedicated to BALLS 21, which was conducted in September 2012 at Black Rock. My favorite article is Ken Good's 10+ year saga about the development of a motor feed ...
[Read More]

Rocket boosted paper airplane
IMG_2373 , a photo by holyboarder on Flickr.
[Read More]

July 2013
Saturday, July 27 from noon til 4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

Jason Silva’s Inspiring Exploring Space Video
Exploring Space: Cosmic Revolutionaries
[Read More]

Underwater Bullets at 27,000fps

[Read More]

View of Earth from Saturn [annotated]
View of Earth from Saturn [annotated] , a photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr. "In this rare image taken on July 19, 2013, the wide-angle camera on NASA's Cassini spacecraft has captured Saturn's rings and our planet Earth and its moon in the same frame. It is only one footprint in ...
[Read More]

RocketReviews.com Site Updates
Look for more designs to be indexed in the Rocksim Library and the OpenRocket Libray. I updated the “spider” which searches the internet for designs. It now also looks inside zip archive files. This has already added dozens of designs to the indexes. I made the “thumb ...
[Read More]

  "Airplane window view of the launch carrying communications satellite MUOS-2 into space."
[Read More]

Jet butt pt. 2
       
[Read More]

Frankenstein Big Daddy
When my Big Daddy lawn darted, it ruined the tube, sheared the base of the nose cone off (the top end was only dirty), and stripped the fins (3 of 4 survived). I have this obsessive-compulsive need to rebuild so.... I repaired the base of the cone with a sectioned piece of tubing, a plywood ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets at NARAM 55
David Miller from Sirius Rocketry sent this picture - Odd'l Rockets made an appearance at NARAM 55! The kits are hanging on the right side of the tent awning.
[Read More]

Introducing the "Obsessive Compulsive Rebuilding Disorder"
I just can't control myself. If there is any way possible, I will recycle, refurbish and reuse my lawn darted, core sampled, cato'ed or otherwise dinged, damaged and re-kitted rockets. I shortened the carcass of the Never Say Never , which would have core sampled had the top of the body not ...
[Read More]

Mechanic sucked into jet engine

[Read More]

Mortar muzzle flash

[Read More]

Need decals for all my rockets...
 
[Read More]

Excalibur lb Environmental Testing
"With more than 600 rounds fired in theater to date, Excalibur is the revolutionary precision projectile for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps artillery. Using GPS precision guidance technology, Excalibur provides accurate, first round, fire-for-effect capability in an urban setting. Excalibur is ...
[Read More]

New Falcon 9 Promotional Video from SpaceX
New video released by SpaceX promoting Falcon 9 Watching the Video you get a view of the new landing leg configuration that we first mentioned here. SpaceX has also released a new version of its website
[Read More]

A fireball falling from the sky at NYPower
This is the ill-fated flight of Linda Newman's 7.5" Der Red Max at NYPower on a CTI M850. The video includes both real-time and slo-mo footage. That's what I call 'coming in HOT'!
[Read More]

Obsessive Compulsive Re Building Disorder completed (mostly)
I made the large fins from a sheet of corrugated plastic.  Was going to search for some 'found' material but got impatient. The rocket is flyable as shown but, because the fins are not very sturdy, I am planning to re-work the recovery set-up so it comes down fins-up. Obsessive ...
[Read More]

Remembering the 1960's and another manifestation of the rocketry obsession.
In this month's  Fire and Smoke , Randy relates his personal rocketry history, from the age of 12 through launching with the grand-rocketeers. I related to much of the story as we are around the same age. Except my rocket babe is merely tolerant of my obsession and my grand-rocketeers are too ...
[Read More]

Old things that fly and roll...mostly
Here are some random images that caught my fancy. All are from the H.A.M.B. (I think). First off, three nice shots of the Douglas X-3.     Here's the closest thing to a rocket girl that I've seen lately. The weak relation should be obvious. Big Daddy Don Garlits! ...
[Read More]

Linear Water Spouts Over the Ocean
 
[Read More]

Larry W.'s Boost Gliders
Larry W. of Crestwood, Kentucky, recently emailed us to share some photos of rockets he has built using parts that he purchased from JonRocket.com and Semroc. Larry has loved rockets since he was in the fifth grade and watched the ...
[Read More]

One blimp, 4 helicopters, one pilot...what could go wrong?
As seen on DRB .
[Read More]

Armadillo Aerospace is out of money
There is apparently a good reason we have not heard from Armadillo Aerospace since a STIG-B launch back in February. They are effectively out of money and have entered a “hibernation mode”. “But I’ve basically expended my crazy money on Armadillo, so I don’t expect to ...
[Read More]

USS Oklahoma City (CLG-5) Missile Launcher
USS Oklahoma City (CLG-5) Missile Launcher , a photo by W Lauzon on Flickr.
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Orlando R.O.C.K. Monthly, August 3, 2013
I'd just got off the plane from California at 5:15 a.m. Took a quick nap and arrived at the Orlando R.O.C.K. field in Oviedo, Florida around 11:00 a.m. Considering the heat and a good possibility of rain, there was a great turnout. All launch rods were angled 5 degrees away from the flight line. ...
[Read More]

More kludging on the Obsessive Compulsive Rebuilding Disorder
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the oversized fins on the Obsessive Compulsive Rebuilding Disorder are sturdy. They should be OK for a slow boost but will certainly buckle unless I use a huge parachute. So, I kludged a shock tether that will let it recover fins up. A wire bridle is attached to ...
[Read More]

A photo tour of the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Via Vincze Miklos on io9 . The photo below is by NASA/Bill Ingalls.
[Read More]

ROCK's August Launch
After the scrub in July, we were anxious to get back to launching rockets. We had a pretty good turnout in spite of the heat and thunderstorms in the forecast. Please visit the August ROCK Launch Photo Album at RocketReviews.com ...
[Read More]

Surplus Rocket Names
I’ve seen a few posts in rocketry forums where people ask for help naming a rocket. I never seem to have that problem.  In fact, right now, I have a surplus of potential rocket names saved up that I’ll probably never get around to using.  So, I thought I would offer them here ...
[Read More]

Jeff Bezos buys the Washington Post
Jeff Bezos buys the Washington Post Wow. I wonder what the creator of Amazon,  Blue Origin  and Bezos Expeditions sees the future of paper newspapers to be.  WaPo is currently profitable and is considered to have significant political clout. Like most news outlets, it also has a ...
[Read More]

BMS Re-opens!
BMS has re-opened in Pahrump, Nevada! http://www.balsamachining.com It's a good thing, too!   I need some laser cut fins for the Odd'l Rockets kits.
[Read More]

SU-22 drops flares

[Read More]

Fractal rocketry
TRF's LW Bercini has built and flown this truly unique tube finned rocket - The Fractal . Besides the curve that's evident in this photo, the graduated fins also sweep upward. He has more photos and diagrams in his build thread. I would have bet that it would spin as it flew but he reports that it ...
[Read More]

Military radiologist

[Read More]

Scale Bash Book
NAR Technical Services is again carrying the Peter Alway book: SCALE BASH Build and Fly Scale Models from Non-Scale Commercial Kits Plans and patterns for 78 models of 29 real rockets. Originally printed in 1998, this second printing is from this year. You can order it HERE   Mr. Alway has ...
[Read More]

Hiroshima
Ground Zero Project
[Read More]

The Morpheus Lander kicks up some simulated Mars dust
Via MorpheusLander 's Twitter feed.
[Read More]

New Mini Engine Hook from Estes
From John Boren on TRF -  "Nothing earth shattering here but I thought I would share a couple images of the new mini engine hook that will be used on all mini engine kits from this point on from Estes. It could take some time before you see this new hook in all the kits since there could be ...
[Read More]

The Rocket Canoe
How is it possible to still find crazy rocket projects like this on the Internet after all these years? Apparently this was my first time ever Googling "rocket canoe."
[Read More]

Elon Musk's 'Hyperloop' transportation system to be unveiled soon
The following infographic was developed by insurance site gocompare.com and appeared in a Mashable post. I encourage you to visit Mashable to learn more about what is known about Elon Musk's Hyperloop transportation system in advance of the formal unveiling, which is promised by August 12th. (I ...
[Read More]

Winged Scourge (with some great environmental advice)

[Read More]

Morpheus Lander - Mars dust video
I'd like to see a full sized video of the IR inset. Psychedelic!
[Read More]

I600 burnthrough
                     
[Read More]

Estes Display Stands
Estes came out with the new rocket display stands a while back. A cool design looking like the old Porta Pad. Yellow was the standard launcher color back then. Compared to other available display stands they are at a great price at three for $7.50 retail. On TRF, Ring Leader did a pictorial review ...
[Read More]

Jet fights a fire

[Read More]

EBAY Tip!
  If you ever buy a rocket kit on Ebay,  Look for the message box where you can type in any last minute mailing instructions for the seller. From now on I'll be writing: "Please send the kit in a Box, NOT A PADDED ENVELOPE! " Or how about: "Don't be a dope - No Envelope!" I know, ...
[Read More]

Sad News from Semroc
From Scott D. Hansen, posted today on TRF and YORF -  I just received this email from Sheryl ... Scott, Carl had to go in to the hospital last night for emergency surgery (aneurysm in his aorta) and died on the table. Please let everyone know we will ship out orders but it will be a few days. ...
[Read More]

Our Deepest Condolences to the Friends and Family of Carl McLawhorn
It’s with great sadness that we learned today of the passing of Carl McLawhorn. Carl founded Semroc Astronautics Corporation in his college dorm at North Carolina State University in November of 1967. Semroc produced a line of model rocket kits and ...
[Read More]

Unknown Jet

[Read More]

It's a sad day for rocketry - Carl McLawhorn has passed
This morning, we learned that Carl passed away last night. For my readers who don't know him, he was a long time sport rocketeer and for the past several years, with his wife Sheryl, was running Semroc Astronautics Corporation . Semroc provides a humongous array of reissued classic kits and ...
[Read More]

Remembering Jetex (updated...again: new link and photo)
I recently re-found the jetex.org site. This site is dedicated to all things Jetex, including the motors, fuel, model kits, plans, etc. You youngsters, assuming you haven't already resorted to Google, are asking, "WTF is Jetex, anyway?" Jetex motors were the original reloadable solid rocket ...
[Read More]

Apogee Newsletter article on wind tunnels
The current issue of the Apogee Peak of Flight Newsletter, Issue 345 is entitled " Exploring Rocketry Using Research Wind Tunnels ."  This is not a tutorial on using wind tunnels but rather explains how Tim obtained access to the wind tunnels at the Air Force Academy. The take-away is how you ...
[Read More]

Model Profile, 1969 Estes Catalog Alpha
I've just finished a recreation of the Estes Alpha from the 1969 catalog. This was in the first rocket catalog I'd seen. This Estes catalog "picture" is a heavily airbrushed illustration. TRIVIA: The Estes Alpha was (supposedly) the first model to incorporate the "Quick Change Engine Hook". ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Grasshopper exhibits lateral movement
SpaceX Grasshopper showed us yesterday that it also has lateral movement. Watch this August 13th test :
[Read More]

Latest Grasshopper Test.
Sorry posts have been sparse I recently moved into a condo with my new wife so the last few weeks ...
[Read More]

New radio pulsar explores feeding habits of the Milky Way’s massive black hole
A team of astronomers, including Heino Falcke (Radboud University Nijmegen/ ASTRON) and Adam Deller (ASTRON), has discovered radio pulses from a neutron star practically next door to the supermassive black hole which resides at the centre of the Milky Way. Radio ‘pulsars’ are ...
[Read More]

Model Profile - 1973 Estes Catalog Alpha
This is the paint scheme I remember - from the 1973 Estes catalog. The catalog Alpha was pictured this way for years. In the original catalog model, that long side stripe was probably black electrical or vinyl tape. On this recreation I used two layers of a black decal strip. TIP:  ...
[Read More]

Falcon 9 Test Rig Completed Divert Test
On August 13th, the Falcon 9 test rig (code name Grasshopper) completed a divert test, flying to a 250m altitude with a 100m lateral maneuver before returning to the center of the pad. The test demonstrated the vehicle's ability to perform more aggressive steering maneuvers than have been ...
[Read More]

Model Profile - Centuri Israli Gabriel Kit #5333
This one dates back to 1978, one of the last rockets I built before leaving the hobby. I honestly don't remember buying this one. It's not a design I would normally buy. Back then Centuri was sending me kits for review.   On my recent trip to California it was standing on a shelf in ...
[Read More]

A decade of Australian amateur rocketry - 1986 - 1996
Skip to 2:00 for the actual amateur rocketry, the first 2 min. are a history of professional rocketry.
[Read More]

Compendium of retro spaceships
Some I've seen, some I haven't. Some are well known, many are not. Some may not be spaceships, but who cares. Check out io9's post about  Astounding Spaceship Designs From Before The Space Age . Make sure you look at the comments, which has even more photos. I had to post one to spruce ...
[Read More]

New Quest/Klima Engines are Closer!
Here's a timeline of selected posts from YORF  Read the entire thread HERE Notice the post dates: From Bill Stine on YORF - August 12, 2011 - So much for keeping this project "Top Secret"... The new Klima line of motors will distributed exclusively by Quest Aerospace in North America (USA and ...
[Read More]

William Trubridge - possibly the greatest freediver of all time

[Read More]

Semroc Red-Eye (Build)
The Semroc Red-Eye was one of the last kits released by Semroc prior to the passing of Carl McLawhorn and I built this just after hearing the news. The Red-Eye is part of Semroc's Retro-Repro range, originally being released by Centuri between 1981 and 1983. The Red-Eye flies on a 13mm ...
[Read More]

Fun day at Bong
Had a great time at Tripoli Wisconsin’s launch today at the Richard Bong State Park (Bong to us local’s) just over the boarder in Wisconsin. Tim “Wildman” Lehr grilled the entire crowd free lunch! Work has kept me from most of the launches this year, so this was my first ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2013-5
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD (MDRA ESL-183) Weather: high 70's, partly to mostly cloudy, wind calm to 10 mph Total flights: Today -  9 ; YTD - 31 Total motors: Today - 10 ; YTD - 34 Motors by class YTD: MMX-2, A-1, B-3, C-7, D-1, E-8, F-3, G-6, H-3 Although the weather people ...
[Read More]

Make Your Own Igniters
In MAKE Magazine, Stefan Jones did a great pictorial article on LPR igniter making. http://makezine.com/projects/model-rocket-igniters/ From  http://jacobs-online.biz/nichrome_wire.htm You can buy 100 feet of 30 or 32 gauge nichrome wire for $6.00! 30 gauge is a bit thicker than 32 gauge. ...
[Read More]

Woman shoots AK-47 and almost shoots her boyfriend (some cursing)
More guns for 'MRCA.
[Read More]

Launch Report 2013-6
I grabbed some Mike Bauer air stomp rockets and my PVC launcher to entertain my grand-rocketeer. He helped launch a few then decided he'd visit my neighbor instead. His sister took over and launched three more before she decided a tricycle would be more fun. Sigh. At 30 psi, they went too high ...
[Read More]

Fin Fillet Drying - TIP
Here's one way to hold the fins horizontally while the fillets dry. Glue fillets will run, you'll want your model to dry horizontally. TIP: Roll up a magazine just a bit larger than the body tube. Tape the magazine closed. After the fillets are applied, slide the body tube into the magazine. ...
[Read More]

What does this sign mean?
Post a comment if you can explain what this sign means.  (This doubles as a way to see if anyone actually reads this blog anymore, or that is to say, any humans.)
[Read More]

August 2013
Saturday August 24 from noon til 4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

High-speed tests demonstrate space penetrator concept
These videos show payloads launched to nearly the speed of sound and then collided with sand or ice, to test an impact method on planets and moons. There is no way to survive a direct impact at terminal velocity on a moon like Europa, without any atmosphere. Instead, rocket deceleration is the ...
[Read More]

VASIMR rocket engine in a vacuum test chamber
This is the VX-200 VASIMR rocket engine in a test chamber. More info here.
[Read More]

Project West Ford
"Project West Ford (also known as Westford Needles and Project Needles) was a test carried out by Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory on behalf of the United States Military in 1961 and 1963 to create an artificial ionosphere above the Earth. This was done to solve ...
[Read More]

More rebuilding progress
After its swim, the Margin of Error needed a new section of...er...body tube. I didn't have a replacement Quaker Oats bin and thought it might be a long time before I had one. I have gotten in the mode from buying oat meal from Costco and their Quaker Oats comes in a box. However, I was scrounging ...
[Read More]

A windsurfing rover on Venus?
A windsailing rover could use the high speeds and hot temperatures of Venus to a robotic explorer’s advantage, according to an idea funded by NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program. The rover would not only be able to move around Venus, but would also have electronics inside ...
[Read More]

Raptor and F-15 and two flares

[Read More]

Retro skyrocket gals
The H.A.M.B. had a mini-flood of retro fireworks gals. Here are my three favorites (Can you guess why?)     Firecracker or makeshift bazooka?  
[Read More]

250kg fireworks shell at Kumano City's floating firework finale

[Read More]

Skunk with head stuck in a yogurt container
  The most dangerous game...
[Read More]

When drones attack...
This past Saturday, a quadcopter drone crashed in the stands at Virginia Motorsports Park near Petersburg, VA, injuring several people. It has been reported that it was owned by a local TV station, but they have denied ownership. You can read all about it of DCist . I guess this will further ...
[Read More]

Visit to the World's Fair of 2014 - By ISAAC ASIMOV
"The New York World's Fair of 1964 is dedicated to "Peace Through Understanding." Its glimpses of the world of tomorrow rule out thermonuclear warfare. And why not? If a thermonuclear war takes place, the future will not be worth discussing. So let the missiles slumber eternally on their pads and ...
[Read More]

Chernobyl's Elephant's Foot
See the previous post about this formation and corium in general.
[Read More]

Rust and Chalk? TIP
Will this help keep rust of micro clips and blast deflectors? Keep tools rust-free! You can eliminate moisture and prevent rust from invading your toolbox by simply putting a few pieces of chalk in the box. Your tools will be rust-free and so will the toolbox. From the Reader's Digest Web ...
[Read More]

Special delivery - ICBM launched from an airplane in flight
         
[Read More]

Nosecones can be such a drag
Tim VanMilligan continues his series on using a wind tunnel (12" open circuit, Eiffel type) at the Air Force Academy: Newsletter #346 . His article explains the whole experiment and has lots of photos. The chart below summarizes his results. This clearly shows which shape is best for your typical ...
[Read More]

The life cycle of the Sun
  (Well it is missing two steps; the white dwarf and planetary nebula... but you get the idea.)
[Read More]

Obsessive Compulsive Rebuilding Disorder v2, completed
Obsessive Compulsive Rebuilding Disorder v2 002 , a photo by rstaff3 on Flickr. The fins are done! I cut up the packing tube from the G125 that shredded V1 and embedded a chunk in each fin. These tube sections are attached with hot glue. To brace the fins, I glued paint stirrers between ...
[Read More]

SAAB Barracuda soft armor defeats AK5, AK4, and 50 cal.
Double-tap to chesty. See more here.
[Read More]

Launch rockets from NASA Goddard and learn about the LADEE mission
NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) in slated to launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (Wallops Flight Facility) on September 6th atop an Orbital Sciences Minotaur V. In an announcement from GSFC , the public is invited to launch model rockets September 1 from ...
[Read More]

Thursday retroness
A selection of retro photos gathered from  http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/ Da' rockets go here.   Peek-a-boo!   GOOOMPH!   Bandanas!   ...
[Read More]

Pilots evade Smokey SAMs
The Smokey Sam is probably the only military rocket that can be converted to a modroc. I'd love a spent round. Pilots evade Smokey SAMs , a photo by III Marine Expeditionary Force/MCI Pacific on Flickr.
[Read More]

GONE! September 1 - 30
Last January I was promised three Summer months on a cruise ship in Alaska - that didn't happen!  Oh well, more time for rocket building. But, bookings are picking up again. I'll be doing the act at resorts in Cancun, Mexico from September 1 - 30. There'll be a few days of transit before ...
[Read More]

Concorde nosecone
  Will be on vacation for the next few days, few to no new posts during that time.  
[Read More]

New Engines and Kits at Hobby Lobby
The new Estes black powder E16 and F15 engines were at the Orlando Hobby Lobby yesterday. The Majestic and Ascender boxed ARTF rockets were also in stock, only one of each. I was most interested in the new STARTER igniters. You could see them in the blister pack. They resemble the standard Estes ...
[Read More]

Fincan Project
                                              ...
[Read More]

Russian ABM 3 Gazelle

[Read More]

Friction Fitting Engines?
An interesting response from Fred Schector on YORF: "If its hard to insert the motor, it is going to be just as difficult getting it out!" Posted by JeromeK99 _______________________________________________________________________ Response from Fred Schector: "Not with black powder motors. They ...
[Read More]

Launching from Virginia to the Moon
On September 6th an Orbital Minotaur V will Launch from the Virginia coast at Wallops Flight Facility to send the LADEE SV craft to a Lunar Orbit. This will be a first – no craft has left Earth orbit out of the facility. The targeted launch window on September 6, 2013 is from 11:27 ...
[Read More]

A Magical Mystery Tour Rocket and a rocket Supergirl
When I got notification that Verna and Randy's September blog update was up, I clicked over to Fire and Smoke . What I saw made me think of the Beatles'  Magical Mystery Tour . Click on over and let me know what you think. Next I went to the Photo of the Month . There I found a photo essay of ...
[Read More]

DHS to deploy aerotstats around Washington, DC (?)
Washington Business Journal reports on the aerostats and the Maryland-based company that makes them, TCOM L.P. The raytheon-led program was started by the Army but transferred to DHS. TCOM's based in Colombia but their manufacturing plant is in N.C. In the article, TCOM's president explains that ...
[Read More]

Rocketry On The CHEAP!
Here's some Money Saving blog posts from the past: Click on the title to go to the posts -  Cutting Board Supplies Braided Kevlar Cheap Tools Night Launch Lights Budget Wadding Budget Igniters Igniter Case Cheap Sandpaper Reusing Sandpaper Shaping File Tool Baffles - Part 1 , Part 2 , ...
[Read More]

Analysis Of A Catastrophic Failure, AirFest 2013
The pictures tell the story of my CATO at Airfest this weekend. Destruction was almost instantaneous with ignition. After examining what was left of my fuel grains. It was determined that I didn't get a complete mix of the propellant. My mixer had burned up during processing and I finished the mix ...
[Read More]

Ball floating over fan

[Read More]

Object (spacecraft or meteorite) breaks up over Vladivostok

[Read More]

Triumph Castrol Rocket Test 01
Triumph Castrol Rocket Test 01 , a photo by Contramanillar on Flickr.
[Read More]

The Sun in many many many wavelengths

[Read More]

Sulfur burning in oxygen
Get your element game up fool!
[Read More]

98MM Fincan
  I ordered an aluminum welded 98mm (99mm ID to fit over a 98mm motor) minimum diameter fincan from Frank De Brouwer at Rebel Space in the Netherlands earlier in the summer, and had almost forgotten about it. I have always been impressed with his builds (Miss Riley, Flying Dutchman) so I ...
[Read More]

LADEE Launch Viewing Map - Elevation
The launch will be visible from the Washington DC area at about L+40 seconds. At the indicated elevations, I may not be able to see it from my front door...but I plan to try. LADEE Launch Viewing Map - Elevation , a photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr.
[Read More]

Not much progress here.
With school bearing down upon my feeble mind and working full time. I have had very little time to think ...
[Read More]

Orion rocket LES rocket test footage

[Read More]

The geology of a lava lamp volcano

[Read More]

98mm aluminum fin canister
  http://www.rocketryforum.com Fin can by Rebelspace
[Read More]

Goony Patriot Drawings
On TRF, Rich Holmes started a build of a Goony Patriot. HERE Rich is doing a great job on the graphics making adjustments to get everything right. I was inspired to draw up my own set. The Patriot is perfect for a Goony. It has a great paint pattern and is very recognizable. (I'm not trying to ...
[Read More]

Rain on different planets
 
[Read More]

Virgin Galactic's Space Ship 2 makes a 2nd test flight
   
[Read More]

Fake, but space related science

[Read More]

Follow XCOR Lynx daily updates on its blog
You can now follow the daily build notes and information on the XCOR Lynx spaceplane at it’s blog. “For many weeks and months the XCOR Team has been hard at work on a journey like no other, building Lynx. We would like to share that experience with you, and share what excites and ...
[Read More]

Video from yesterday's SpaceShipTwo flight
I have been waiting for good video before posting on SpaceShipTwo’s 20 second burn test flight to an altitude of 69000 feet. Here is some excellent video from the Tail-cam.
[Read More]

Gemini Force 1...the future of sci-fi space models?
I see that the Gerry Andersons' family may release a series of books that he began writing but was unable to finish due to health issues and ultimately his passing in 2012. Gemini Force 1 (GF 1) sounds like it will be similar to Thunderbirds and Fireball XL5. Gerry was the creator of many series ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, September/October 2013
As you see, this issue features NSL and TARC, along with the attendant eye-candy. Other items include an article on teaching rocketry in schools and a launch rack based on keyless drill chucks. What interested me most, however, are two articles from the "wayback machine." First, there is an ...
[Read More]

SpaceShipTwo...Mach 1.43 and feathered re-entry

[Read More]

Image Watermarks?
A few online vendors are using photos of my finished builds for their website sales. In a way I'm flattered, but I'm never given credit for the builds or picture. This blog is a business. Some finished rockets are sold to vendors and collectors. If I post a build, what gives others the right to ...
[Read More]

Who has two thumbs and loves to dance? This Nye!
  Tastefully Offensive has the details on this breaking story.
[Read More]

Formula 1 Thermal (IR) Onboard Camera View of Tires

[Read More]

LADEE launch as seen from NYC

[Read More]

What a building demolition sounds like:

[Read More]

Tri-Fold Shock Cord Mounts, Part 1
Here's how I remember shock cord mounts in the first kits I built: Cut two slits, collapse the middle, insert the shock cord and glue shut. How did we ever insert the cord from the top and through the bottom slit first?  Check the illustration at the right. It wasn't easy. This il ...
[Read More]

OpenRocket 13.09 released
From Sampo Niskanen: “Hi, OpenRocket version 13.09 has been released.  Most of the work in this release has been behind-the-scenes.  Visible updates include numerous bug fixes, updated 3D JOGL libraries, and separated simulation edit and plot dialogs. You can download the latest ...
[Read More]

Storm clouds

[Read More]

Teach the (ape) controversy

[Read More]

Tri-Fold Shock Cord Mounts, Part 2
The tri-fold was first shown first in the 1968 catalog and on the AeroFin model, DOM Plan 53. This illustration is from the 1969 Estes Catalog "Yellow Pages" showing the Alpha construction - HERE Notice the dashed lines showing the shock cord position when the mount is folded. This angled ...
[Read More]

Falcon 9 next generation v1.1 rolls to pad at Vandenberg
Great photo! Elon Musk tweeted this picture last night with the caption: “First of next gen Falcon 9 rockets rolls out to the launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force” he also tweeted this caution: “Upcoming Falcon 9 demo has a lot of new technology, so the probability of failure is ...
[Read More]

Aerospace mashups
Via Neatorama
[Read More]

Cows don't love rockets

[Read More]

The return of ISS Expedition 36 on a cushion of fire
FLCKR
[Read More]

Launch Report 2013-7
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD (MDRA ESL-184) Weather: high 60's, wind - 10 mph, partly cloudy Total flights: Today - 7; YTD - 38 Total motors: Today - 7; YTD - 41 Motors by class YTD: Air-5, MMX-2, A-2, B-3, C-8, D-1, E-9, F-5, G-8, H-3 The range head was located by the corn as it ...
[Read More]

Antonov AN 124 Low Pass

[Read More]

Freight train makes emergency stop (volume warning)

[Read More]

10 Years Ago - 9/14/2003
PVC Spider & 1:59 Saturn Test Model Hard to believe that it has been ten years since that first test flight. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb8RptbaRqQ
[Read More]

Solar Probe Plus LEGO Model
Pictured is the winner of NASA's LEGO building competition, the Sunbeam by HOSHPUP (the builders alias on LEGO's ReBrick site).  This is a artistic interpretation of NASA's Solar Probe Plus , which will launch in 2018. I've only found conceptual drawings of the probe, the rockets may be ...
[Read More]

Space signage
Antares Cygnus Cargo Resupply (201309160007HQ) , a photo by NASA HQ PHOTO on Flickr.
[Read More]

A-Bomb Sunrise
This quote from io9 says it all. io9 has several additional photos. "Even though the Nevada Proving Grounds were about 270 miles from Los Angeles, the eerie glow of the atomic tests could still be seen from the City of Angels."   Credit: Los Angeles Public Library ...
[Read More]

The Orion capsule is brought aboard USS Arlington.
The Orion capsule is brought aboard USS Arlington. , a photo by Official U.S. Navy Imagery on Flickr. Reminds me of a scene from "You Only Live Twice". While on the subject, you can buy a resin model of the "Spectre" rocket from Fantastic Planet (image via Scott Lowther ).  
[Read More]

Turkey Tests Its Own Bunker Buster Bomb VIDEO

[Read More]

New hypersonic space plane and precision munitions proficiency
I found both these items vis the Unwanted Blog. First up is an artist's concept of DARPA's Experimental Spaceplane (XS-1) program . They have issued an RFI for a hypersonic 'airplane like' vehicle with routine daily ops. It should be unmanned and needing a small ground crew with no expensive ...
[Read More]

Antares Rocket With Cygnus Spacecraft Launch...in infrared
Antares Rocket With Cygnus Spacecraft Launches , a photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr. This false-color IR photo came from a modified DSLR. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
[Read More]

Recycled Expendable Launch System
Recycled Expendable Launch System 003 , a photo by rstaff3 on Flickr. This is yet another rocket built from junk parts inherited from Paul Miller (who bailed to Arizona). I am building it to fly on the new 29mm Estes E16/F15 motors. Being largely recycled, I can risk flying it when ...
[Read More]

New STEM graphic from Raytheon
Raytheon has released a great new graphic to support Team America Rocketry Challenge(TARC), UK’s Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challange and French Rocketry Challenge. Click to enlarge graphic:  
[Read More]

Rocket sled of the day
The following photo from Sandia Laboratories was featured in a Wired-Science post: Titanium Bullets, Rocket Sleds, and C-4: How the U.S. Tested the Safety of Nuclear Batteries . The Sandia link is all about their rocket sleds.  It's unclear whether the sled shown actually was used to smash ...
[Read More]

Ideal home defense shotgun
 
[Read More]

Mars and beyond!
  http://my-retrospace.blogspot.com  
[Read More]

EBAY Scores!
  While stuck in Mexico I've kept my eye on EBAY. I make an occasional bid, but unless it's a great buy I won't increase bidding above 50% of the retail price. I've wanted to build the SkyDart and Xarconian Cruiser for a while. A few days back I won these four. The Quest Aerospace ...
[Read More]

"Feasibility of A-12 (SR-71) for Air Launched Reconnaissance System"
TRF user, 'luke skywalker' posted a summary of "Feasibility Report: Modification of A-12 Vehicle for Air Launched Orbital Reconnaissance System", Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, 7 September, 1962 [ link ]. This study explored using the A-12 as a launch platform for Polaris missile based, "once ...
[Read More]

Off-the-shelf 3-D printed modroc parts
Via TRF, I found the Cespedesign Multimedia store hosted on the shapeways site. The site offers a wide range of printed fin cans and nose cones. Most of the items are of scale subjects but there are a few classic Estes cones. They are fairly pricey but are well detailed (see attached example). My ...
[Read More]

The Big Fix, MMX Sentinel to 13mm Engine Conversion
Here's a great carded Sentinel model downsized by Bob Harrington. You can find the free PDF  HERE  - scroll down to Bob's models. I made this one for MMX engines. But again, this one didn't get any altitude with a MMX engine. It deserves more power. Like the previous Red Max, ...
[Read More]

The Big Fix, MMX Red Max to 13mm Engine Conversion
I have two BT-5 models that don't perform that well with MicroMaxx engines. They just don't get an altitude to justify using an engine. These were carded models built a few years back. This Red Max has a body skin print wrapped around a BT-5 tube. I thought I'd try to remove the MMX mounts to ...
[Read More]

How to get to Mars in 1964, according to TRW
The Aerospace Projects Review Blog continues to feed us cool retro rockets/spaceships with the TRW Mars Ship . With an ICBM-like capsule, it would be assembled in-orbit, requiring 6 Saturn V flights. It would achieve artificial gravity by spinning with two sections connected by a long cable. ...
[Read More]

Milton Madison Bridge Demolition
 
[Read More]

September 2013
Saturday, September 28 from 11 AM to 4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

ADAM laser system takes down rocket in mid air
 
[Read More]

Farmland under rocket fire in the outback
http://www.abc.net.au/
[Read More]

Woomera rocket park images by Sascha Grant
        Much more at http://www.flickr.com/  
[Read More]

Massive fireball over Canada

[Read More]

Decals - Tips
DECALS!   Whether traditional silk screened (provided in some kits), Ink Jet or Laser printed (provided in some kits) and home printed - All have different soak times . Play it safe and scan the kit sheet decals just in case you have to print up some extras. Don't start with the largest decal ...
[Read More]

The first realistic approach to fusion-based propulsion
Attached is a depiction of a proposed, fusion-powered spacecraft, from the latest presentation to the  Future In-Space Operations (FISO)  study group is now posted in the  FISO Working Group Presentations Archive . Both  slides (pdf)   and  audio (mp3)  are ...
[Read More]

Starship comparison
starship comparison , a photo by rstaff3 on Flickr. Credit: Dirk Loechel ; seen via: http://kotaku.com/every-sci-fi-starship-ever-in-one-mindblowing-comparis-1391608737/@AnnaleeNewitz
[Read More]

Some kind of turbine - help identify if you can

[Read More]

Vern Estes Presentation - from NSL 2013
Here's a YORF thread I missed the first time around from the 2013 National Sport Launch. Vern Estes gave a talk about his fourth chilld - Mabel, the rocket engine making machine. You'll find the transcribed PDF HERE It's recommended reading, lots of pictures and many things I hadn't heard of ...
[Read More]

Cassiope patch and latest launch time
  Launch window: 1600-1800 GMT (12-2 p.m. EDT; 9-11 a.m. PDT) Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
[Read More]

Mini car Friday
A friend sent me a set of photos that I was compelled to share. I so want one of these! First the description that came with them, then the photos. There is a bonus photo at the end. Yes, you read that right; these little beasties are street legal. They run on either Kawasaki or Honda motorcycle ...
[Read More]

Taking a Look at the New AeroTech RMS-EZ Reloads
AeroTech has recently released the first loads in the RMS-EZ line of reloads, the I161W-14A, The I357T-14A, and the I211W-14A. These reloads are the first to feature the new RMS-EZ all-in-one delay system which promises to reduce errors and simplify the building of these reloads. Sirius Rocketry ...
[Read More]

With the roar of 100 lions...
Motor: Gorilla Rocket Motors demo of a 6" O4475 Black Lightning sparky. Where: Balls 22 @ Black Rock. Who: The Australian Rocketry team Rocket: 7.5", 18', 150lb, Drama Queen Results:  ~10,800' and excellent video footage!
[Read More]

MIRV city

[Read More]

Gunpowder plant explodes

[Read More]

Central Florida Hosts NARCON 2014
COCOA BEACH, Fla. – The National Association of Rocketry (NAR) will convene its next annual national convention, known as NARCON, on Florida’s Space Coast during the weekend of Feb. 28 to March 2, 2014. NARCON 2014 will feature technical sessions ...
[Read More]

Finish Your Rocket in Style
We’ve recently expanded our selection of Rocketry Supplies by adding products to help you build and finish your rockets. Aerogloss Balsa Fillercoat is a sealer and filler for paper, fabric, and woods such as balsa and basswood.  Balsa Fillercoat is ...
[Read More]

Kinetic armor penetrating projectiles

[Read More]

Launch Report 2013-8
Location:  Carroll County Ag Center ( NARHAMS ) Weather: mid 60's, ground wind <5 mph, upper wind ???, cloudy Total flights: Today - 13; YTD - 51 Total motors: Today - 13; YTD - 54 Motors by class YTD: Air-5, MMX-2, A-3, B-3, C-15, D-3, E-10, F-7, G-8, H-3 The flight line was moved onto ...
[Read More]

Primer Colors?
    On the forums, there is always questions about primers. From an internet search: "Primer allows the final color coats to adhere better. Primer is designed to adhere to surfaces and to form a binding layer that is better prepared to receive the paint."   ...
[Read More]

Fireball over Ohio
Last night, a meteor exploded in the skies above the US midwest. Witnesses report shadows cast upon the ground, unusual sounds, and a swirling contrail marking the aftermath of the blast. A NASA all-sky camera in Hiram, Ohio, recorded the fireball at 11:33 pm EDT.
[Read More]

Some Exceptional Deals on Quest Aerospace Products
BP Hobbies has some Quest products, including motors and a few OOP kits, at closeout prices. Quest is selling their Aerospace One kit at 50% off the list price on their web site.      
[Read More]

Schwerer Gustav Gun shell projectile
   
[Read More]

Emerald Dragon (Level 2)
J 500 Mojave Green Level 2 cert flight 3300′ 425 MPH
[Read More]

Reference on building nose cones, tail cones and transitions from tubing
Ninfinger just added a set of vintage Ace/US Rockets publications . Most interesting is Advanced Information Report 4: Ace Fugue Shroud Method .
[Read More]

1974 Centuri Powr Control Launch Controller
This was my favorite launch controller in the mid 1970s. The Centuri Powr-Control. It's standard layout for a controller - safety key, green covered continuity light and red launch button The 15' of line was wrapped around the controller body. Easy to store in your launch box and no ...
[Read More]

Dave Schafer's 1/4 scale X-2 RC rocket glider at BALLS 22
Finally found an embeddable photo via  https://picasaweb.google.com/100407756744853308407/BALLS22September2013 . More on the TRF BALLS 22 thread and  http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1607888 .
[Read More]

Sanding CWF in Body Tube Seams TIPS
If you can feel the body tube seams with a fingernail, the seam will show after color coats are applied. It's hard to see the seams, especially on the white tubes. Lately I've been dragging a mechanical pencil point down the seam to see it when applying filler. Seam filling CWF is mixed a bit ...
[Read More]

Mars in color
  http://www.theverge.com/
[Read More]

Balls 22!
        Check out the photostream  here.  
[Read More]

Now, THIS is a paper rocket!
Cardboard Rocket , a photo by AndyRobertsPhotos on Flickr.
[Read More]

Ash disposal site
 
[Read More]

Estes Recalls Helios Model Rocket Kit (002487)
Estes has informed its distributors that the Helios Model Rocket Kit (002487) is being recalled. At this time we have no word on the reason or if customers are being asked to return the kits. The Helios is an Almost-Ready-Fly rocket with plastic fins and nose cone.
[Read More]

JonRocket.com Reward Points Program
We are thrilled to announce our new JonRocket.com Rewards Points program. As a way to thank our loyal customers for coming back to shop at JonRocket.com, we’ve developed the Rewards Points program. When you shop online at http://www.jonrocket.com/ you will ...
[Read More]

Painting Wand and Tip
On the forums, some builders complain of runs after spray painting rockets. We've all seen this illustration in kit instructions, this one from a recent Semroc Cherokee D. DON'T PAINT YOUR MODEL IN AN UPRIGHT VERTICAL POSITION!  You are just asking for drips. Set you model horizontal, on ...
[Read More]

Fireball filmed over Alabama

[Read More]

World's Strangest Vehicles, Part 4
I've been lazy/busy and haven't accumulated any retro futuristic automobile photos. Luckily, Dark Roasted Blend has published a fourth segment of weird and whacky vehicles ...from concept cars to art cars to moon rovers, and all points in between. I lifted one photo to whet your appetite. This is ...
[Read More]

New Estes Kits Recalled
From RocketReviews.com: "Estes has confirmed that the Helios (002487) and the Red Rider (002484) kits are being recalled."  Check out the post HERE
[Read More]

Quest Clearance at BP Hobbies
Check out the Quest Clearance Sale at BP Hobbies  HERE Even with a Hazmat charge the prices are lower than with a 40% off coupon directly from Quest! I ordered 24 A6-4s and two Escort AS-1 kits. Examples of other deals: Astra III Starter Set (1406) (rocket, 3 engines and launcher/ ...
[Read More]

Wasserfall NAZI Surface to Air Missile
Wasserfall was essentially an anti-aircraft development of the V2 rocket, sharing the same general layout and shaping. Since the missile had to fly only to the altitudes of the attacking bombers, and needed a far smaller warhead to destroy these, it could be much smaller than the V2, about 1/4 the ...
[Read More]

Photos from the Playin With Fire build
                                           
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., October 5, 2013
I know, I just did a soccer field launch yesterday. More rockets, more launches. My Dr. Zooch SATURN V  had a flawless launch with an Estes B6-4 to 300'. No damage on recovery. Next to it is Manuel Mejia's Halbert III flown with an Apogee F10-8. Made from paper towel rolls, Manny was glad to ...
[Read More]

Mostly composite rocket survives a high performance N5800 flight
  To be fair, the fins did have a metal core and metal leading edge, and were bolted into the airframe with metal, and the nosecone tip was also metal. http://www.ausrocketry.com/
[Read More]

ToDo... Back in it!
Hi there, loyal readers.  I've pretty much taken a break from rocketry since about May of this year as work has taken priority but I'm wrapping up a successful fiscal year through 10/31.  I had planned to attend yesterday's Plaster City launch but instead elected to Stand Up For ...
[Read More]

Various lunar rover designs
         
[Read More]

I promise.
More updates are coming! I have been wiring my AV Bay and double and triple checking it all. I will ...
[Read More]

Chinese Ka 28 manages to land on warship in bad weather

[Read More]

White or Brown?
Are the brown tubes better than the white? I first saw the white tubes in the old Centuri kits. Back then I preferred the white tubes, sometimes the light outside layer eliminated a white undercoat of paint. There have been forum posts about the old brown tubes being better quality than the ...
[Read More]

Observation on blog traffic
Since the government shutdown, my hit counter has dropped by over 2/3's. There must be a corollary to  this postulate: The time people have spent waiting for web pages to load has canceled out all the productivity gains of the information age. The obvious assumption is that the 2/3's ...
[Read More]

The amazing Voyager 1
I'm sure you all are aware that NASA has confirmed that Voyager 1 has entered interstellar space. Wired has a nice article on this amazing old spacecraft: Interstellar 8-Track: How Voyager’s Vintage Tech Keeps Running .
[Read More]

Maker Fair at NySci - a sample of the rockets
  In addition to the giant rockets always on site at the NY Hall of Science (NySci) this event had 3D printed rockets and paper rockets made by kids and lofted with an extra-powerful compressed air system that sent the better built rockets up over 150 feet.
[Read More]

MLAS 29mm nose weight mods
MLAS 29mm nose weight mods , a photo by rstaff3 on Flickr. This is how I added the 1.5 oz of nose weight. I found a hemispherical plastic doohickey that Warthog gave me and filled it with lead shot and Epoxy. A short tether runs through the foam nose cone and is embedded in the nose weight ...
[Read More]

Tracking down radioactive remains and equipment near Chernobyl

[Read More]

Super Shroud Article in the Apogee Peak Of Flight
The Apogee Peak of Flight Newsletter #349 features an article I wrote about how to make "Super Shrouds". You can read it HERE It's a simple solution for a typically weak link in model rockets. Nesting a second shroud inside the primary visible shroud doubles the wall thickness. Using this ...
[Read More]

My flyable fleet
After seeing ~1/10 of Dave Bucher's huge fleet on Facebook, I thought I'd snapshot mine, which consists of a paltry 233 birds. First sort criteria is a column that's not showing, breaking the list down in three categories: collectable (1st 3 items), active (most of them), and pending (the last 2). ...
[Read More]

My RIP fleet
Here's honoring the 121 rockets who gave their lives for my enjoyment. Lost, stolen, destroyed and scavenged... IBM Formatted - Disc Error scratch 29 mm Chasin' Tail scratch 29 mm Stormbringer scratch 29 mm + 8 x 24 mm AAW Aeroshell (12") ...
[Read More]

RIP Scott Carpenter
Scott Carpenter dies at 88 Related: Project Mercury – Part 2 – Atlas
[Read More]

Godspeed Scott Carpenter... May 1, 1925 – October 10, 2013
Godspeed Scott Carpenter... May 1, 1925 – October 10, 2013 , a photo by pcarsola on Flickr.
[Read More]

FSA Rocket Launch - 66% success rate
All politics aside, these rockets seem pretty good. Put a camera payload on there instead of explosives and you would have a nice show.
[Read More]

Neodymium super magnet in copper tube - eddy currents

[Read More]

9K720 Iskander - OTR 21 Tochka - BM 30 Smerch rocket launchers

[Read More]

Free Android App Measures Diameters
A new Android app which measures diameters may be useful to rocketry hobbyists. ON Diameter is a free app which measures the diameter of an object such as a model rocket body tube. You place the object to be measured anywhere on your Android device’s screen then move three cross points to ...
[Read More]

alt.A-12
This photo just came across the H.A.M.B. . It appears to show wind tunnel models of the A-12. The one on the right obviously was superior...but the one on the left does look pretty cool.
[Read More]

Russian Topol missile test leaves large cloud in space as seen from ISS

[Read More]

Close up view of the latest Grasshopper flight
This video is just too cool for words. Every launch should be documented via a hexacopter.
[Read More]

Ejection Charges Tested
Yesterday I tested the ejection charges. Both events used a 0.85grams of FFF black powder inside surgical tubing with an e-match. The ...
[Read More]

Launch, N.E.F.A.R. Bunnell, Fl, October 12, 2013
I almost didn't go to the NEFAR launch today, I was really on the fence. The weather said it was going to be cooler with 5 - 10 mph winds to the North. Not many lower power fliers today. I sure got in my share of flights. The BIG GIRTHA had a perfect launch with two Estes C6-5 engines. ...
[Read More]

SpaceX's Grasshopper 744 meter Test
Latest and highest flight from point of view of the Hexacopter
[Read More]

Amazing Time Lapse Video of Endeavour's "Last Ride"
Photographer Scott Andrews and his crew recorded and edited more than 500 hours of video captured by 12 cameras to complete the time-lapse view of Space Shuttle Endeavour’s trip from Florida to California.
[Read More]

A-10 warthog (thunderbolt II) goes to work

[Read More]

Threw some more leftovers together, added some glue...
I put this together to fly on F15's on small fields. That is, fields with nearby trees, corn or beans. The idea is that it wouldn't break my heart if I lose it. As of this writing, it is un-named. I'll edit this post when I decide on one. The body is a 2.125" mailing tube, unfinished. Fins are ...
[Read More]

Red Bull Stratos footage

[Read More]

E16 and F15 motors are in at Hobbylinc! (with same day update)
Got in late last night and on a whim, checked Hobbylinc ....and found the E16 and F15 motors were there. Woke up this morning to an email telling me the same. I need the F15-4 for several models! Update: Also got notice that my order had shipped. Less that 24-hours after pushing the 'place order' ...
[Read More]

/Saturn
  unmannedspaceflight.com
[Read More]

Another observation about my blog traffic
One day before the gov'ees were supposed to report to work, my hit counter almost doubled and is pretty close to historic levels.
[Read More]

Picture Of The Day
Roger Smith took this picture right after the Odd'l Rockets SPUTNIK ejected it's engine. Look to the upper left and you can see the ejected engine. The Sputnik was flown at the Orlando R.O.C.K. launch on October 5, 2013. Hey, it's my blog and I can publish whatever I want. It is a cool picture, ...
[Read More]

Quest Water Rockets
We recently added Quest’s Water Rocket kits to our catalog. We didn’t sell them in the past because we thought they were just cheap toys. But, a few weeks ago we watched our grandson and his friends play with a ...
[Read More]

HPR to become a news blog
Hi all, we have decided, after much debate and deliberation, to turn this into a news blog. We have not settled on the format yet, but this is a sample of what we hope it will be like.
[Read More]

October 2013
Battle Park Launch Continue reading →
[Read More]

Launch report 2013-9 (NARHAMS)
Location: Mt Airy ( NARHAMS ) Weather: overcast, lot 50's, wind ~5mph Total flights: Today - 12; YTD - 63 Total motors: Today - 12; YTD - 66 Motors by class YTD: Air-5, MMX-3, A-4, B-3, C-24, D-3, E-11, F-7, G-8, H-3 The day turned out great. I've never need the 'away pads' so busy. My ...
[Read More]

Titan Occulting Binary Stars (NV0435215+200905)

[Read More]

Shockwaves

[Read More]

Oct URRG
I finally got a good DD and clustered G76′s right. Also got the Optima up on an H250G.  A really fun day overall.
[Read More]

Rocket launcher
 
[Read More]

The IronMan gets a new retainer
My HobbyLinc order arrived fast (in 5 days even with HAZMAT) and I used one of the Estes 24mm PVC retainers even faster.  I cut and ground out the bottom centering ring, added a new foamboard ring and the retainer, as shown below. Ignore the ugly glue marks. This rocket has been repaired many ...
[Read More]

Gliding at 90,000 feet
      http://www.perlanproject.org
[Read More]

Team Prometheus launches remote control plane at 100,000 feet
      https://www.facebook.com/
[Read More]

3 x F15 Rack Rocket
Here is a video of Tom Binford's latest rack rocket. He has a build thread on TRF , which even includes the recovered rocket.
[Read More]

ROCKETS Magazine, Volume 7 Issue 6
Nice issue! Most of the contents are self evident from the cover photo. There are two simple but useful 'how-to's: removing stuck liner (been there, done that) and making straight tube ends. In "Don't Try This At Home", Neil McGivray reviews some of the less than perfect flights at Red Glare ...
[Read More]

Aggregate-9 (A-9/A-10) "Amerika Rakete"
The First ICBM Design , a photo by jurvetson on Flickr. Aggregate-9 (A-9/A-10) "Amerika Rakete"  
[Read More]

Astronaut Scott Carpenter...one with the universe
Astronaut Scott Carpenter , a photo by NASA: 2Explore on Flickr.
[Read More]

Centuri Bandito Paper Downscale
  Another great paper clone from Chris Michielssen ...
[Read More]

Roctober, M2045: "...and when I get to one you push that button!"
It's been several months since I've flown so... feeling blog-rusty.  I attended Roctober at Lucerne Dry Lake on 10/12/13 and let's jump right into my first 7388M2045 Blue Streak flight (as always full-screen 720p titillates best): Yay, onboard video and perfect weather!  I'm ...
[Read More]

Dream Chaser: Successful test flight but anomaly on landing
Sierra Nevada Corporation drop tested the Dream Chaser spacecraft from a helicopter on Saturday. Preliminary reports indicate that it suffered some damaged while landing. It is unclear what was the extent of the damage. Some reports even said the vehicle flipped after the landing gear failed. The ...
[Read More]

Aurora over the UK

[Read More]

Someones been cooking... I mean painting!

[Read More]

Hard To Find Scale Colors
If you've ever made a Nike Smoke, to paint the fins you'll need: Fluorescent Yellow and Fluorescent  Red / Orange I had already bought the Rustoleum Fluorescent Orange at Home Depot. I couldn't find the Fluorescent  Red / Orange until today! I'm returning the fluorescent orange. ...
[Read More]

Dream Chaser drop test flight video

[Read More]

Shopping at a Launch
Look for the JonRocket.com trailer at local launches in Central Florida. On-site at launches, we sell a large selection of model rocket motors as well as many of the other supplies and accessories you may need for the launch. The ...
[Read More]

Javelin...going, going, gone
RAF Regiment , a photo by Military Photos Commonwealth on Flickr.
[Read More]

The Discontinued Quest Kits?
On TRF there were questions about the thrust and ejections of Quest engines. This last year, Quest discontinued some larger 18mm kits: Quest Aerospace One and the Stiletto A guess on my part: I have to wonder if many of the larger Quest kits were removed from the product line because the Chinese ...
[Read More]

Filling Body Tube Seams TIPS
For filling body tube seams, I was mixing the CWF a little thicker than what was used for balsa grain filling. The thicker filling didn't seem to chip out of the seams when sanding to surface. I had two separate containers of CWF, one thinner for balsa and a second a little thicker for body ...
[Read More]

MLAS-S, all dressed up and ready to go out
I finished filling the nose cone, painting and adding decals. Here she is next to the stock kit. Hopefully, she'll fly on an F12-6 in a few weeks.
[Read More]

Dream Chaser drop test video
Nice video of the test. It leaves off the roll-over due to a landing gear failure. Love the fuzzy dice.
[Read More]

Dingleberry Shenanigans!
Rocket Team Vatsaas is the world leader in the development of bulbous, retro-futuristic rockets. Here's one I hadn't seen before. The basic teardrop shape is formed with a reusable fiberglass mold. These are just too kool for skool! The following stolen photo shows the rocket boosting on a H165R ...
[Read More]

Honest John K-27 Decals
  I was thinking about building a clone of the Estes Honest John, K-27. Years back it was a challenge to build with the nose cone shroud, diamond tapered fins and spin nacelles. I found a scanned decal sheet online but there wasn't any reference inch measure to check the size accuracy ...
[Read More]

Old Estes Nike Apache Kit #1957 Engine Mount Fix
I found this unfinished kit in a storage box. It was probably bought in the late 1980s. Back then I was curious to see what Estes was up to after being away from the hobby for years. The kit was available from 1998 through 1989 and still made in the U.S. There were reasons why I didn't finish it. ...
[Read More]

Wha's over that'a'way?
I... ...designed and built Der Red Mix from scratch a few years back and promptly crashed it according to an otherwise impressive cacophony of errors. ...rebuilt my design as Der Red Mix mark II a fewer number of years back and flew it perfectly well, twice, humbly sheathed in white primer. ...
[Read More]

Happy Halloween 2013

[Read More]

Bunnell Blast 2013 - November 9 And 10
Mark your calendar. The Northeast Florida Association of Rocketry (NEFAR) hosts it’s annual Bunnell Blast two-day rocket launch in November. The launch, near Daytona Beach, Florida, begins at 9:00am on Saturday, November 9, and continues on Sunday, November 10. On ...
[Read More]

Parasite Gliders
When I was young, my favorite rocket was the Estes Omega.  I had saved for weeks to purchase the Omega and the Cineroc movie camera payload for it.  I flew the Omega only once with the movie camera. But, I ...
[Read More]

WHITE GLUE! Part 1
"Elmer's  Glue-All  now contains  30% more  glue solids for a stronger bond on paper, wood, cloth, pottery, and all porous materials. It washes easily from brushes, clothing, and fingers." Why did Elmer's Glue mess up the formula? IF IT 'AINT BROKE . . . I remember reading ...
[Read More]

Flight Report Added
I have finally flew my Type II rocket and have updated the flight report. I will include a video below.
[Read More]

WHITE GLUE! Part 2
The test -  Here's an older bottle of Aleene's Tacky glue. I bought it a few years back and had never used it. I changed out the orange Elmer's nozzle in place of the wider Aleene's nozzle. I'll use it for a test of all three glues - old Elmer's White Glue,  new formula Elmer's and ...
[Read More]

... leaving for Mars!
... leaving for Mars! , a photo by x-ray delta one on Flickr.
[Read More]

Rocket activity in the Dungeon
Here is a photo of my latest build - a Baby Bertha with a 29mm mount. I had considered an Estes screw-on retainer but it is slightly too big in diameter. Plus, it's heavier than some masking tape and is likely to be lost. My other idea was to have a short mount and tape the motor on both the top ...
[Read More]

Sun rises in partial eclipse

[Read More]

Alternative Balsa Filler?
I've used Hobbico HobbyLite Filler before to fill gaps and some balsa pieces. For me, I still find it easier to use brushable CWF. But in rocketry this HobbyLite Filler does have some uses. On the left is the red label. The filler is a tan balsa color. The blue labeled tubs have white filler. Both ...
[Read More]

More crazy images

[Read More]

Get The Right Carpenter's Wood Filler
I finally ran out of my last tub of Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Filler. You can still fin the older style filler at the Super WalMart stores. Look for the orange lid! There is a new formulation that is much grittier and harder to sand. I've already marked the water to filler mix ratio on lid - 1 ...
[Read More]

Typhoon Nabi
 
[Read More]

Kyle's Tube
                 
[Read More]

Rockets on the Cruise?
On this last Grand Asian Cruise I made a point of hitting a few toy stores to see if any rockets were for sale. I thought there would be some Chinese made Sky rockets but none were on the shelves, at least in the stores I visited. I did find this "Tin-Tin" styled rocket outside a T.G.I.Y. ...
[Read More]

OpenRocket 13.11 released
There is a new OpenRocket release over at openrocket.sourceforge.net Here are the changes: 1)  Flight configurations have been streamlined.  Instead of using a dialog, it is now a tab on the the main frame. 2) Motor filtering has been enhanced 3) Sorting in the Simulation table is ...
[Read More]

The largest star ever discovered

[Read More]

Clay Weight in Rocket Kits?
KevinJ responded to a question on YORF about the clay nose cone weight supplied in Estes kits:  "There were two sizes. The butter pats like PJ said are around 1/4 of an ounce (6g). Estes also used cubes of clay in some kits, and those are around 1/2 an ounce (12g)." This seems to be ...
[Read More]

What happens when neutron stars collide? Supercomputer Simulations
      "Two neutron stars collide in one very big bang. Imagine a dead star the size of a city and with more mass than our sun. Now imagine two of these ultra-heavy spheres smashing into each other, generating a blast bright enough to outshine an entire galaxy. ...
[Read More]

Plaster Blaster 2013 for the win!
What an amazing weekend with perfect weather and record attendance at Plaster Blaster!  I was grateful that my parents trekked from Cochise, AZ and they were the icing on the desert cake.  Let's jump right in shall we? (I recommend this full-browser 720p HD link for best results or ...
[Read More]

America's fastest growing EDUCATIONAL HOBBY
Estes Mars Lander , a photo by S.R. Breitenstein on Flickr.
[Read More]

Solid rockets of the world
SRM_RK2013_1800x1050 , a photo by THE SPACEFLIGHT PHOTO SET on Flickr.
[Read More]

Soyuz TMA-11M on the road to space
 
[Read More]

Better CA Use - TIP
The Quest engines are sooty! That soot sticks and can make a nose cone fit too tight. It's easy to remove dirt from the outside of a body tube with a damp paper towel. But I wanted to remove some accumulated crud from the inside of the body tube. The inside of the body tube could swell or come ...
[Read More]

Mother#@%@%@##ing Saturn
NASA
[Read More]

Performance Improvements
I’m aware that the RocketReviews.com web site has been performing slowly at times, but I’ve addressed the issues and the site is performing much better now. If you found RocketReviews.com to be slow in the past, please visit the site now and let me know if you are still having ...
[Read More]

7,000 fireworks go off due to computer glitch (sound warning)

[Read More]

Nike Missile SF-88 Missile Launcher Raised to Firing Position
Nike Missile SF-88 Missile Launcher Raised to Firing Position a video by rocbolt on Flickr.
[Read More]

Rocket golf?
  "FORE!! Three - Two - One - Fire!" called Doug Frost, inventor of Rocketry Golf and Manager of the Rocketry Golf Organization. Then he launched his ball (on the nosecone of a model rocket) from the tee of the par-five 433-yard first hole at the Ridge Golf Club in Auburn, C ...
[Read More]

NEFAR's 2013 Bunnell Blast Photographs
NEFAR hosted Bunnell Blast the weekend of November 9 and 10, 2013. The two-day launch featured a range of flights from tiny MicroMaxx-powered  rockets to huge, M-powered brutes. A large collection of photographs from the event can be viewed in ...
[Read More]

Retro-amateur rocketry abroad
Earlier today, Flickr user Morbius19 , sent me a couple of links regarding the Manchester Interplanetary Society's rocketry activities circa the 1930's. The main site, Harry Turner's Footnotes to Fandom - Pictures of Rocketeers and Fans , presents a set of photos from the Society's history. I ...
[Read More]

Bunnell Blast Pictures Link
That's Oscar the Rocket Dog (and me) last Saturday at the Bunnell Blast. You gotta' love a good dawg! It was a two day event with night launches Saturday evening. Oscar is owned by Bracha and Roger Smith of JonRocket.com and RocketReviews.com. Roger took this shot and has posted the Bunnell ...
[Read More]

Inside bullets and a grenade
    I recognize the first two, but what in the world is the third bullet with the three copper slugs?
[Read More]

Estes Modeling Secrets
Here's a great article from the September/October issue of Sport Rocketry. Mike Dorffler wrote this one in 1996. I always looked forward to the catalog "Tech Tips" and the MRN "Idea Box" page. Back then I picked up many building techniques from these sparse sources. This article tells how Estes ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, November/December 2013
This issue is largely dedicated to contest rocketry, covering both NARAM 55 and the FAI World Championship flyoffs, wherein the members of the US team were selected. I'm not a contest flier so the main thing I liked were the photos, which included Matt Steele showing off two of his new North ...
[Read More]

M1 firing an Armour-Piercing, Discarding Sabot Katana (APDSK) round
 
[Read More]

Stupid EBAY Listing of the Day
http://www.ebay.com/itm/vintage-Centuri-Mini-Max-Explorer-model-rocket-kit-box-only-RARE-60s-High-Power-/271322852959?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item3f2c1a2e5f Starting bid: US $29.99 Buy It Now: Price: US $74.99 Shipping $6.75 Centuri Mini-Max Vintage Centuri model rocket box. ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2013-10
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD (MDRA ESL-186) Weather: overcast with low ceiling; temperature in lower 50's, wind 0 - 3 Total flights: Today - 8; YTD - 71 Total motors: Today - 24; YTD - 90 Motors by class YTD: Air-5, MMX-3, A-10, B-3, C-30, D-7, E-13, F-13, G-8, H-3 We were again ...
[Read More]

Rocket building tips

[Read More]

New Estes Kits for 2014
Bob Sanford (Initiator101 on YORF) posted the inside cover from the latest issue of Sport Rocketry. The Cobra has a classic Estes space ship look using the old Orion style nose cone. Out of the four rockets shown, the Orange Crush is the only E2X or E asy 2 X ecute. The Dark Silver uses the ...
[Read More]

MAVEN takes flight

[Read More]

Minotaur 1/ORS-3 night launch tomorrow!
A U.S.A.F. Minotaur I rocket is scheduled to launch the  ORS-3 mission tomorrow night, November 19, 2013. With a planned launch window of 7:30 - 9:15 pm EST, the launch should be nicely visible from the D.C. area. Its trajectory will be higher than the previous launch, reaching 15 - 20 ...
[Read More]

Pigasus Tweaks
Here's how the PIGASUS model has looked for two years and __ flights. I knew it needed a little more detail and the wings needed more feathers. A little rouge on the cheeks and a shadow on the ear. More feather lines were added to the wings.  (In the kit the wing shape will better ...
[Read More]

Minotaur-1/ORS-2 spotted from my front yard
The ORS-3 mission successfully launched 45 minutes into the scheduled window. It became visible on cue and I actually got a couple of photos. Not good ones, but better than previous attempts.
[Read More]

Microlight engine failure at 300ft and emergency landing
"Cockpit camera captures the terrifying moment a micro-light's engine cuts out in mid-air, forcing the pilot to make an emergency crash landing. Aviator John Merriman, 53, was making a solo flight in his two-seater microlight aircraft above the Somerset countryside this month, during a rare spell ...
[Read More]

Jupiter and the four Galilean moons on the D train

[Read More]

November 2013
The November launch is normally scheduled for Saturday, November 23 from noon til 4 PM at Boswell field. The weather forecast calls for a chance of rain Saturday, and if the forecast worsens, I may move the launch to Sunday. ...
[Read More]

Spool Spinner
The recent installment of the Apogee Newsletter featured a build article by Joe Peklicz, How to build and experiment with "Spool Spinners" .  Basically, these are 'normal' spool rockets with two, three or four half tubes added to induce a spin during recovery. I like spinning rockets even if ...
[Read More]

Inside bullets - cross section

[Read More]

Remembering JFK via his Moon speech @Rice University

[Read More]

Quest / Aerotech Holiday Specials
I went to the Quest website HERE to check the availability of the Q2G2 igniters. I read on a forum that they were on back order. The opening page had specials: A Big Dog  kit with a "Free" Aerotech F30-4 engine for $44.99 The price for the Big Dog kit (alone) is $38.24 The Grunt  kit ...
[Read More]

Comet ISON Timelapse

[Read More]

Shooting a hand cannon

[Read More]

You really know you have build fever when...
...you chop up a perfectly good rocket just to make another perfectly good rocket. I began looking for a rocket to scavenge or modify and decided on my Faux Talos . This rocket had a ton of nose weight and required an F or G motor with over 50 N-s of thrust. I flew it once on an F39 and it was ...
[Read More]

Bigger Big Daddy Akavish Video
Here’s a video about the Bigger Big Daddy Akavish which we, Bracha and Roger, launched at during NEFAR’s Bunnell Blast in November.  
[Read More]

Crazy EBAY Prices!
Here's another ridiculous listing on Ebay. A finished Baby Bertha, ready to fly! Buy it now for $24.99, add $8.00 for shipping. Total is $32.95 I occasionally sell finished models on Ebay, but I wouldn't let this one out of the house! Maybe it's a kid trying to make some extra money. I ...
[Read More]

More meteorite footage from Crimea

[Read More]

ISON, a'blowin' in the Solar Wind
Here is a cool animated GIF from science.nasa.gov . "It shows Comet ISON entered the field of view of STEREO-A's Heliospheric Imager on Nov. 21st. Coincidentally, Comet Encke is there, too. Presently, the two comets are being gently buffeted by solar wind and their tails are wagging back and forth ...
[Read More]

A Breakthrough in Awesome Space Rockets, Now Give Me Some Money

[Read More]

DIY Estes Style Wadding!
Apastusak on TRF found a link on how to make your own recovery wadding. "Just found this on instructables.com http://www.instructables.com/id/Model-rocket-recovery-wadding/ Not much to it, except a little time and patience. Saucer,  Wax paper Toilet paper (as many sheets as sheets of ...
[Read More]

Ninety rounds in 1.25 seconds - GE M-134 Minigun

[Read More]

The latest from Estes isn't what I expected
I just, a few minutes ago, got an email from Estes, which announced their nano-sized protoX quadcopter. The pricing is in my price range, however I am more inclined to get a Helimax RTF 1SQ V-cam. The latter runs about four times more that the protoX but has a built in video camera. But if ...
[Read More]

SR-71 engine

[Read More]

Ty-Wrap Retainer Ring? Part 1
Jeff Gortatowsky  (gdjsky01 on TRF) posted this first picture before he added Kevlar wraps (instead of a tape wrap) around the engine hook. "... as you'll see I wrapped the hook in CA impregnated kevlar string. You can see I filed a spot on the hook. The string is both around the hook/MMT ...
[Read More]

Jet engine afterburner
 
[Read More]

How to make a rocket

[Read More]

New Sandpaper!
I've seen this paper at Home Depot but didn't buy it until recently. It was more expensive than the old garnet style sandpaper. This package holds three pieces, the older style paper package had four or five. It was advertised as the "World's Best Sandpaper". Oh sure, World's Best? How could ...
[Read More]

Launch of the Bigger Big Daddy Akavish
Bracha and I launched our “Bigger” Big Daddy Akavish at the NEFAR Bunnell Blast launch a couple of weeks ago.  We flew it on a CTI L800 motor, the largest motor that I’ve used to date. You can see the flight in the second have of the video below:  
[Read More]

ISON may be undead
When I emerged from my turkey stupor, I saw the headline stating the ISON had burned up during its pass by the Sun. I merely thought, "Oh well, no more pretty ISON photos." Then this evening, I saw Phil Plait's article: ISON After Perihelion: The Undead Maybe Somewhat Ex-Comet . As usual, ...
[Read More]

Comet ISON survives a pass near the Sun

[Read More]

Ty-Wrap Retainer Ring? Part 2
I could see where ty-wraps could be used to hold the engine hook in place. I'd never use masking tape again and now use black electrical tape. Electrical tape can get gummy and could loosen up. I found some narrow ty-wraps that were long enough to get around the engine mount tube. Here's the ...
[Read More]

Space shuttle slow motion footage

[Read More]

See that's your problem right there...

[Read More]

Accurate Straight Line Cutting
When you cut balsa fins or the straight sides of a shroud you have to allow for the thickness of the cutting blade. Don't just set your straightedge on the line and cut. Set your blade tip on the line to be cut first. With the blade tip still on the cut line, Slide the straightedge to the ...
[Read More]

Test of SRB at Utah test range

[Read More]

CWF Weight On Balsa?
This isn't very scientific, just an observation. There have been forum posts about how heavy Carpenter's Wood Filler is. I was curious too. Here's a forward fin for a Gyroc build. This is smooth sanded 1/16" thick balsa with no filler applied. The unfilled fin weighs in at 0.02 oz. Later ...
[Read More]

Iron dome - rocket vs rocket

[Read More]

Papier-Mache rocket parts?
There is a discussion on YORF about the possibility of moulding rocket parts using Papier-Mâché. The thread provides some references, including a link to a paper clay product that is available at Michaels. I have tried making a small teardrop airframe using strips of newspaper ...
[Read More]

Space Shuttle Main Engine Ignition Sequence Slow Motion

[Read More]

Falcon 9 1.1 lifts off SES 8 deployed
At 5:41 pm ET today the Falcon 9 1.1 roared ( and I do mean roared) into the sky carrying the SES 8 Commercial TV satellite into orbit. The flight was quite spectacular. The separation of the 1st stage was followed by second stage ignition and then re-ignition and controlled return fire of the ...
[Read More]

EV Miata runs 9.61 @ 140mph
I saw a story about this electric drag racer on the CBS Evening news. I poked around and found LoneStar EV Racing's Facebook page , which includes more photos and videos. This little electric's LiPo's put out around 1000 battery horsepower. According to the report, the batteries need to be ...
[Read More]

Falcon 9/SES-8 launch is successful
The Falcon 9 carrying the SES-8 comsat launched this evening from Cape Canaveral. Reports are good so far with the upper stage restart working as planned. Here is a photo from Elon Musk, showing the view back from the 1st stage at 8,000 miles.  
[Read More]

Lunokhod
English Russia
[Read More]

Amazon Rocket!
  Faster shipping from Amazon - Amazon Rocket! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHrngvEok9M
[Read More]

Possible Chang'e-3 Debris
Photos are circulating online claiming to be debris from the recent Chang'e-3 moon-mission rocket.
[Read More]

Thor Agena B - Auction on Ebay!
  The  THOR AGENA B  built on this blog  is up for Auction on EBAY! Check the listing  HERE   The model is finished and ready for flight or display. Perfect for a collector.  All the super detailing is included.
[Read More]

Inflatable rocket nosecone
Folded for storage and transportation.     Inflated in flight.    
[Read More]

More on Papier-Mache nose cones - you will be bored if you read this
A few days ago I mentioned that I had become interested in making rocket parts (i.e. nose cones) with   Papier-Mâché. The goal would be to make  them  cheap and expendable but not necessarily perfect. Here's my first experiment. Since I didn't have a suitable mould I ...
[Read More]

DFR's Atlas V New Horizons Kit
On January 19, 2006, an Atlas V launched from Cape Canveral Air Station to prepel NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft on its three billion mile journey to Pluto. When New Horizons reaches Pluto in the Summer of 2015 it will be travelling about 30,000 ...
[Read More]

Polar hexagon on Saturn
  Saturn's hexagon is a persisting hexagonal cloud pattern around the north pole of Saturn, located at about 78°N. The sides of the hexagon are about 13,800 km (8,600 mi) long, which is longer than the Earth's diameter. It rotates with a period of 10h 39m 24s, the same period ...
[Read More]

Build your own space capsule
A Copenhagen Suborbitals Visual Guide The one thing I have been most impressed by following the progress over at Copenhagen Suborbitals is the amazing documentation of everything they do. In addition Wired magazine over the years has stepped up to being an English speaking proponent of their work ...
[Read More]

NARCON - Feb. 28 - March 2, 2014
I'll be doing a technical session on Model Rocket Construction and Tips  at the upcoming NARCON , February 28 thru March 2. Check out the website HERE From the website: "You are invited to join us in Cocoa Beach, Florida -- home of the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral AFS -- for ...
[Read More]

NASA blasts the NAR to the moon and back again
Via Ted Cochran on the NAR's Facebook page. How cool is this? Ted Cochran   This photo of National Association of Rocketry volunteers (along with other photos) was used as NASA test data. It was displayed on a large screen in mission control at NASA in Greenbelt, Maryland and then sent to ...
[Read More]

Blowing bubbles at -45 degrees

[Read More]

Video and Photos of the December 2013 ROCK Launch
I’ve uploaded photographs from the December, 2013, ROCK launch to RocketReviews.com: December 2013 ROCK Launch Photos I was having a problem with my left eye and found it difficult to take still photographs, so I let Bracha use the DSLR. ...
[Read More]

My New Camera Takes Flight
Bracha gave me a new camera as a holiday gift.  It came attached to a helicopter. The DJI Phantom 2 Vision is an almost-ready-to-fly quadcopter with an integrated camera. It includes a “First Person View” system for viewing what the camera sees and controlling the camera while the ...
[Read More]

Poor space frog
   
[Read More]

LAUNCH! - Orlando R.O.C.K. December 7. 2013
Only one blog post today - there's a lot here . . .  For the first week of December it was warm! 84 degrees today. Winds were near calm, perfect conditions for flying. Roger and Bracha have posted many more pictures HERE My Quest A-30 AEROSPACE PLANE flew with the only recommended engine, a ...
[Read More]

Wadding Tips
I have used "Dog Barf" wadding before with good results. The dog barf is many shredded pieces of flame resistant treated paper. There is the chance of ejection charge "blow-by" especially in larger body tubes. I have a LOT of extra wadding! I pick it up and reuse it when I can. Usually only the ...
[Read More]

A 10 Thunderbolt II GAU 8 30mm Cannon Reload

[Read More]

Mystery fruit
  Can anyone identify this?  Post a comment if you know.
[Read More]

Decal Printing Screen Options
On the forums, some builders have complained about decals being too transparent on painted models. You do have to configure your printer for best decal printing. On the right is a screen shot from my HP Officejet Pro 8000 printer. (Your screen may vary, I'm showing this to give some ideas.) At the ...
[Read More]

The Best Spray Paint Out There?
A few months back Lonnie Buchanon gave me a can of gray spray paint at a Tampa TTRA launch. He said to give it a try and report back on the results. I'd never heard of this brand before - Fixall Spray Enamel . I didn't need gray paint until I recently made two models from the Estes Enduring ...
[Read More]

Great Prices from Estes Mail Order!
John Boren (JumpJet on TRF) just announced a BIG sale at Estes: http://www.estesrockets.com/rockets/specials For example: A Mega Mosquito for $8.49 A D Region Tomahawk for $5.49 A Long Tom for $4.09 A Super Alpha for $3.69 All four of the first Pro Series model kits are on sale for $29.99! There ...
[Read More]

Super deals at Estes Rockets!
John Boren posted this yesterday and I saw it this evening.  http://www.estesrockets.com/rockets/specials How about a $32.79 Mega Mosquito for $8.49 or a $16.49 Super Alpha for $3.69?  I controlled myself and only bought two of each. One to build now and one for parts.  Both will ...
[Read More]

Reality TV, savior of human space travel
Just when I think that reality TV is threatening to destroy civilization as we know it, the AIAA is reporting that Mars One aims to turn the colonization of Mars into a reality TV show: Mars One Aims to Send Spacecraft Based on NASA’s Phoenix to Mars . This is among their other, more ...
[Read More]

Juno Spacecraft video of the Earth and Moon

[Read More]

The Solar Igniter as album cover art
 
[Read More]

Antares/ORB-1 launch visibility
Orbital Sciences has posted the visibility charts for the upcoming ISS Commercial Resupply Services (ORB-1) mission. ORB-1 will launch from Wallops Island, VA on December 18, 2013 on top of an Antares rocket. Sin ce it is a night launch, it should be visible from my driveway (scheduled for  ...
[Read More]

Drip and Run Prevention? TIP
I usually go heavier on the last spray coat to make the finish glossy. With the paint sprayed heavier there is a chance of drips. TIP: After spraying slowly turn the model horizontally like a rotisserie. Turn for a minute until the paint start to "skin" over. My left hand is in a plastic ...
[Read More]

New SpaceX Stats Site
Great new site that has a nice collection of dynamic SpaceX stats including a next launch countdown clock. Click here to go to stats site
[Read More]

Antares launch may be delayed due to the ISS cooling failure
A reader pointed be to this article of Florida today: ISS cooling system problem may delay resupply launch . The Station has lost one of its two ammonia cooling loops and had necessitated the shut-down of some non-essential systems. Spacewalk(s) may be required to fix the problem. I just hope that ...
[Read More]

JSC FISO space optimism
Clark Lindsey posted about the latest presentation to the Future In-Space Operations (FISO) study group: ISECG and Global Exploration Roadmap . This stuff sounds cool but I can't help feeling that economics and politics will make this a fantasy. Anyway, Clark's post is chock-full-o-links and the ...
[Read More]

Apollo manned lunar landing mission profile
A full sized copy can be viewed on Dan's Flickr stream... Apollo manned lunar landing mission profile , a photo by Mr Dan Beaumont on Flickr.
[Read More]

China soft-lands a rover on the Moon and it roves

[Read More]

Early surface images of the Moon from Chang'e-3
 
[Read More]

New Rockets On The Way!
I am happy to say I plan on attempting Level 1 certification with another rocket. This time it will be ...
[Read More]

N.E.F.A.R. Bunnell, FL Launch! December 14., 2013
Roger Smith and I headed out from Orlando to Bunnell at around 9:45 a.m.  The weather report was for low winds of 10 mph. The wind gusts were more like 20. A few didn't fly or downsized their engines for the winds.  Roger was careful about flying his helicopter/camera but it did well ...
[Read More]

Chang'e 3 from Yutu and vice versa
Here are photos of the Chang’e 3 taken from the Yutu and the Yutu from Chang’e 3. Pretty cool. Wish we could do the same now. These are posted all over now, but I got them from Clark Lindsey . Clark's post has more info and links.    
[Read More]

Breaking news! The Yutu rover has already found water on the Moon!
Apparently, it is snowing there! Image processing courtesy of the Google+ Android App.
[Read More]

Body Tube Lamination Fix TIP
Sometimes the inside tube lip can lift. I normally would just use CA glue to strengthen the tube ends, but I'm finding the lifted ends don't stay down when set with CA. Use white glue to first set down the raised tube end. Lay a bit of white glue under the lifted seam tab. Roll over the lifted ...
[Read More]

Chang'e-3 video footage from landing

[Read More]

Video of Chang'e-3 Landing
Just came across this great video of the landing of Chang’e-3. ...
[Read More]

Photographing the December, 2013, NEFAR Launch From the Air
Saturday’s NEFAR launch was plagued with high winds most of the day. I didn’t have any rockets ready to fly, but looked forward to capturing still photos and videos of the launches using my Phantom 2 Vision quadcopter. Unfortunately, the day began with high winds, gusting to 25 ...
[Read More]

NEFAR's Last Launch of 2013
On Saturday, NEFAR held their last launch of the year. With overcast skies and a brisk wind, turn-out was low.  But, a few diehards launched rockets large and small. Here’s a video I produced of the launch using a Phantom ...
[Read More]

A large object collides with Europa
An artist’s conception of a rock fragment colliding with Europa’s icy surface. Image Credit: NASA/JPL
[Read More]

My Estes Clearance Order Arrived!
My order arrived yesterday! (I know, all I need are more rocket kits.) Considering my order was made on December 11, it only took a week to arrive. I haven't had an order sent from Estes since the late 1970s. Back then it took an average of ten days for the mailed order to get to Penrose and ...
[Read More]

Adding a GPS Tracker to the Phantom 2 Vision
Looking for a reasonably-priced way to track my Phantom 2 Vision quadcopter if it decides to fly off, I recently ordered a “GSM/GPS/GPRS Tracker Device” from Amazon.com. It’s a  small box that you plug a SIM card into.  You call the number associated with the SIM and ...
[Read More]

Adding a GPS Tracker to the Phantom 2 Vision
Looking for a reasonably-priced way to track my Phantom 2 Vision quadcopter if it decides to fly off, I recently ordered a “GSM/GPS/GPRS Tracker Device” from Amazon.com. It’s a small box that you plug a SIM card into. You call the number associated with the SIM and the device ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2013-11 (air and water)
Location: Da 'hood Weather: sunny, wind 0mph, temperature an unseasonable 50 Total flights: Today - 14; YTD - 71 Total motors: Today - 0; YTD - 90 Motors by class YTD: Water-4, Air-15, MMX-3, A-10, B-3, C-30, D-7, E-13, F-13, G-8, H-3 The day before yesterday, my grandson saw a copy of Sport ...
[Read More]

Strange object blocks big bertha, world's largest tunnel-boring machine
(Artist's impression) NYTimes
[Read More]

Version 4
I have spent a lot of time designing and modifying a certain rocket that will be used for a record ...
[Read More]

Wirelessly Sharing the Phantom 2 Vision’s First-Person View
Recently, we were using a Netgear Push2TV adapter at work to display the output from an Android tablet on a larger monitor for a demonstration. That got me thinking … “I wonder if it work work with the Phantom 2 Vision?” I thought that it would be cool if the First-Person View ...
[Read More]

Classification of jovian planets
 
[Read More]

$3 nose cones from 5-Below
The neck on these fits a 54mm tube perfectly.
[Read More]

Testing the Phantom 2 Vision “Control Signal Lost” Altitude Issues
At the NEFAR rocket launch last weekend, I had my Phantom 2 Vision quadcopter report “Control Signal Lost.” I found that it happened each time that I tried to increase the altitude above about 250 feet. The control signal is supposed to function at up to 1000′ distance. Today, I ...
[Read More]

M motor onboard footage

[Read More]

North Pole of Saturn
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
[Read More]

Yutu on the move!

[Read More]

Mars Direct - Robert Zubrin

[Read More]

The Dungeon's Top 10 of 2013
Here is my annual list of things (mostly rocket related) that made me happy and captured my imagination. As usual, in no particular order: 1. Estes released the 29mm E16 and F15 BP motors.  2013 saw in its share of new motors, including AeroTech's ProSU and ProRMS lines. While I like the ...
[Read More]

Top Ten Blog COUNTDOWN from 2013
These are my favorite posts and models from the past year. Some posts were great surprises or just good builds. Other posts reflect some "game changing" parts. The new BP Estes E and F engines should be on the list, but I haven't flown any yet. Counting down from 10 to 1 -  Click on the ...
[Read More]

NASA releases 17000 photos from Apollo era: Happy Holidays!
NASA has released 17000 more photos to the Apollo archive according to the UKs  Daily Mail “The archive, released through the Nasa-funded Lunar And Planetary Institute, shows not only the famous photos of Apollo 11 but everyday work for the astronauts as they completed their scheduled ...
[Read More]

Gyroc Part 7 Post Corrections!
There was reasons I had trouble with the Gyroc flaps! My Gyroc flaps needed trimming to clear the body tube when flipped. I'm the type that follows instructions. Didn't G. Harry Stine say: "When all else fails, try following the instructions!" I had built a Gyroc years ago, maybe I thought I was ...
[Read More]

Merry Christmas from BlackAero
I would like to thank everyone that supports me and my hobby I really appreciate it.
[Read More]

On 12th night of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Talk about true love! Under our tree this year was a brand new six inch Gorilla Rocket motor, Reloads, Nozzle, and a kit to put it all together. Can’t wait to try it out. Looks like my first chance will be Thunderstruck 5 this spring in Indiana….. Thanks Deann! I love you.  
[Read More]

Propane tanks explode in Yemen

[Read More]

Another Q-tip TIP!
A wet Q-tip makes a perfect tool for smoothing out a decal. Wet the Q-tip by dipping it in water. Work out water and air bubbles from the center to the outside edge. I don't know how I got by in the past without using cotton swabs. They work well smoothing out fillets where your finger can't ...
[Read More]

Russian ICBM warheads - MIRVs - hit targets on test range

[Read More]

Farmers get a shock when they break open large pot

[Read More]

Dropping a screw into a large turbine engine

[Read More]

Strange new non-Newtonian sculpture

[Read More]

New Harbor Freight Score!
Here's the old standby, the X-Acto #11 blade. I've seen them in the hobby stores for as much as $5.00 for a five pack. It seems they were always changed (before they were dull) when the brittle knife tip broke off. Last year I got my "go-to" knife, the Olfa XA-1 at Home Depot for a little ...
[Read More]

Exotic ammunition

[Read More]

Rocket launcher
 
[Read More]

Peacemaker Build
Just yer standard Mach 3 rocket....          
[Read More]

Launch sequence for Titan ICBM

[Read More]

2014
Tentative plans for this year: Optima- I200W/ H250G Emerald Dragon- J510W Quick n Dirty- two I200W Random G77R’s, 79W’s 76G’s, and 138T’s etc Maybes- Lil’ Rascal- I170G     Vulcanite J500G    Mini Magg H133x3 I236 Darkstar on either ...
[Read More]

Support for Bruce McLawhorn and Semroc
Earlier this year, Carl McLawhorn passed away leaving his wife, Sheryl, and son Bruce to run Semroc. Now, the family is facing more emotional trauma as Bruce is in the hospital. Admitted suffering from an intense form of the flu and pneumonia, his kidneys stopped functioning forcing him to be ...
[Read More]

The first JATO flight
I have previously posted about the first Jet Assisted Take Off (JATO), which was developed by Caltech's GALCIT lab in 1941 - Who is Jack Parsons, and why haven't I heard of him . Cue the sound of a vinyl record scratching. While that flight may have been the first flight of the JATO as we know it, ...
[Read More]

The start of (first) Mega Mosquito
I finally got back into the Dungeon and packed away the my new kits (2 Mega Mosquitos and 2 Super Alphas) and some parts that I got from Uncle Mike's. Actually, one of the Mega Mosquitos and a 29mm motor mount kit were laid out on the workbench. I hope to fly it on the F15's but will make sure ...
[Read More]

Lil' Hustlers Comparisons
On TRF, Astronwolf made the observation HERE : "Not a bad match IMO. This just shows the early roots for this newer kit - Estes' nod to the Centuri Mini Max line of the 60's . . . The Reflector  looks to me like a down-rated L'il Hustler with Jaguar fins." Comparing some Lil' ...
[Read More]

SpaceX 2014 Launch Manifest Updated
Here is the latest 2014 Launch Manifest for SpaceX YEAR* CUSTOMER LAUNCH VEHICLE 2014 2014 ORBCOMM CAPE CANAVERAL FALCON 9 2014 NASA RESUPPLY TO ISS – FLIGHT 3 CAPE CANAVERAL DRAGON  & FALCON 9 2014 ORBCOMM CAPE CANAVERAL FALCON 9 2014 FALCON HEAVY DEMO FLIGHT VANDENBERG FALCON ...
[Read More]

New sci-fi/rocket novel, by a rocketeer...for rocketeers everyone
I am excited to post about a new sci-fi book written by fellow rocket blogger Stephen R. DeArman (Randy from Verna and Randy's Rockets ): Rocket Babe-Dust Storm . Their January 2014 blog update is dedicated to the launch of this rocket book. The standard Fire and Smoke and Photo of the Month pages ...
[Read More]

Mega Mosquito, continued
I finished up the motor mount by adding the upper centering ring and a 6' length of 1/8" Kevlar through said ring. I used 5 min. epoxy on the installation because that's what I like to use to attach Kevlar. I used wood glue to attach the mount in the rocket. I also drilled holes for rail buttons ...
[Read More]

Early nuclear weapon ballistic missiles - mid 1950's

[Read More]

Huxley's Model Rocket Website
Sometimes I find a website that's worth checking out! On TRF this link was under Pat Huxley's signature: \ http://usas er.xmission.com/~huxley/rockets/index.htm Pat does a picture history of all his fleet from the bag, through construction and launches. He documents his builds, probably taking ...
[Read More]

Model Profile - Postal Express
I built this one for the EMRR Box O' Parts contest from 2009. HERE In the contest you were sent a box of spare parts and had to build a flyable rocket from them. The box I was sent had a wide variety of parts! The parts were sent in a USPS Priority box. The USPS logo and name were peeled off ...
[Read More]

The Estes Rockets App, Part 2
After my previous post, I reacquired my smart phone and downloaded the Estes' app. It appears that my initial reaction was over enthusiastic. I found the main tab, which is essentially a way to access their on-line catalog, is not up to date. I looked for some of the new rockets that were ...
[Read More]

Mega Mosquito - all done but the spraying (hopefully)
Well, since the last update, I finished up the basic build. Given the frigid temperatures we are expecting here, it appears that it might be April before it sees primer and paint. I probably have a tad of sanding before that point. As I mentioned earlier, I chose to paper the fins using full page ...
[Read More]

Apollo 13 - as it happened

[Read More]

Leveraging RC electronics for active vertical stabilization
I just found this on Rocketry Forum and this budding rocket scientist, Alyssa Stenberg , has become my new heroine! At some point in the last decade I'm certain I read that active guidance was disallowed for hobby/high-power rocketry.  I cannot find that/those rule(s) now, at least for ...
[Read More]

Welcome to 2014!!
I tried to employ a bit programming fun and entitle this entry "Welcome to 2013++" but the increment operator is apparently not blogger-friendly so there it is in quotes.      I want to provide a quick launch update as things have been/are getting kinda weird hence the sparse ...
[Read More]

Planning a Wrap Around Decal
Did you ever get a wrap around decal in a kit that didn't quite match up or wasn't even? There is probably a few reasons why. There is no way a vendor can account for the thickness of your finish or the slight inconsistencies in body tube diameters. In home print decals you can get it close ...
[Read More]

Darkstar
So Thanks to Jim I’ve got a solution that’ll easily fit the 43″ long Loki 54/4000 in the “short” 44″ DS booster. Guessing at the motor behavior from the numbers posted ...
[Read More]

Rolf Stabroth Website
While the blog concentrates on LPR models, sometimes I run across a website that is too good to pass up! Some amazing scale models are found on Rolf Stabroth's website. http://www.rolfstabroth.de/home.html The website is in German. When the page loads, hit the "Translate" button at the top to ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Thaicom-6 Launch

[Read More]

Hey Vern!
Vern Estes and his wife, Gleda, will be guests at the upcoming National Association of Rocketry conference, NARCON 2014. Born in St Joseph, Missouri, on January 4, 1930, Vernon Estes founded the most successful model rocket company, Estes. Vern’s father ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Pops The Cork On 2014 With A Successful Launch
Credit:  SpaceX Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida – Today, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) successfully completed its first geostationary transfer mission, delivering the SES-8 satellite to its targeted 295 x 80,000 km orbit.  Falcon 9 executed a pict ...
[Read More]

Antares/ORB-1 is now a day-launch
The Antares/ORB-1 launch is now scheduled for January 8, 2014 with a launch window that extends from 1:32 - 1:37 pm EST. I may wander out and take a look, but don't expect it to be visible.
[Read More]

Model Missile Aerobee Hi On Ebay
  Here's the one to follow on EBAY!  HERE Check out the nozzle end of the Rock-A-Chute motors!
[Read More]

Orbital Antares Launch Today(scrubbed)
UPDATE:  Orb-1 Launch for Jan. 8 Has Been Scrubbed January 8, 2014 – 9:14 AM EST   Early this morning, Orbital Sciences Corp. decided to scrub today’s launch attempt of the Antares rocket and the Cygnus cargo spacecraft on the company’s first resupply mission to the ...
[Read More]

The most terrifying fair ground ride
Terrifying fair ground ride , a photo by amphalon on Flickr.  
[Read More]

Happy 2014 photo dump
I haven't been collecting many photos....too busy with actual rockets and other stuff. Enjoy! First up is Rocket Babe cover art from Rocket Babe-Dust Storm , by Randy DeArman. Holy stockings, Batman! Some cool stuff harvested from DarkRoastedBlend . First up - vintage,  Russian, space ...
[Read More]

Young amateur rocketeers featured in IEEE Spectrum
I was happy to see amateur student rocketry featured in the print edition of IEEE Spectrum . I didn't find the article on-line so I snapped a photo of the photos. The article reports on the University of Southern California's Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (RPL) and the attempted 2013 launch of ...
[Read More]

AT&T Archives: A 20-year History of Antiballistic Missile Systems

[Read More]

Semroc Update
Carl McLawhorn started Semroc Astronautics in 1967 in his college dorm room.  Today Semroc manufactures many of the model rocket kits we sell including replicas of classic designs from Estes Rockets, Centuri, and others. Carl died earlier this year, but ...
[Read More]

Orbital Successfully Launches Cygnus Spacecraft
Orbital Sciences Corp. launched its Cygnus cargo spacecraft aboard its Antares rocket at 1:07 p.m. EST Thursday from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad 0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, beginning the Orbital-1 cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. ...
[Read More]

Another photo-less Super Alpha post
I never had an AHA!  moment on the Super Alpha build. So, I decided to go with my original plan and build it for 29mm E16/F15 flights. I filled the fins, marked the tube and began building the 29mm mount. I also started sanding and filling the seam on the plastic nose cone. I have never had ...
[Read More]

The coldest place on Earth

[Read More]

Three Two photos from the Super Alpha build (with an answer and a new question)
Here is the finished motor mount and said mount installed in the body tube. I had mentioned that the retainer would interfere with the fins and have decided the fins would be offset downward. Since I didn't want to grind up the entire retainer cap, I cut some slivers of balsa from the sheet that ...
[Read More]

SpaceShipTwo flight photos
Great images from the latest SpaceShipTwo flight. Read more here
[Read More]

Introducing the Krampus
Thinking about the annual Christmas Tree launch at MDRA, my mind wandered to the Flaming Christmas Tree of the Apocalypse .  After watching the Christmas episode of Grimm , I had wanted to rename this rocket to Krampus ...so I did. I didn't have a suitable Krampus-like figure for the nose, so ...
[Read More]

Late night Super Alpha Update
Fins are on and 1st round of fillets are applied. I blew off the fin papering. While the fillets were partially dry, I stuffed 14' of caution tape and a rubber band shock cord (from the Mega Mosquito and another unknown kit) into the front end. I plugged the actual CG and weight into my RockSim ...
[Read More]

A Better Ruler?
I have a two metal straightedges, one is used more than the other. The upper straightedge has a rounded lip on the right and left sides. The ruler marks start inside the rounded end, about 1/8" in. The markings on the bottom ruler start right on the flat side. I use the bottom ruler more often. ...
[Read More]

Introducing the Armstrong Flight Research Center
ParabolicArc reports that NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center will be renamed after Neil Armstrong. The legislation was unanimously passed by both the Senate and House and resides with Western Aeronautical Test Range at Edwards the Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range. Dryden served as NASA ...
[Read More]

Unmitigated viciousness...
I couldn't help maself.
[Read More]

SpaceShip Two makes supersonic flight

[Read More]

New Build
I have added some details in regards to the build I am currently working on this is under the “Flight ...
[Read More]

Self Loathing
  So I had a free day and time to build.  Self Loathing is born of the spare parts pile.   I still need to cut a couple fins, shape them all and glue them in.  But It should be a fun low-flying dual deploy rocket on 29mm SU and capable of 360 cases as well.   [ ...
[Read More]

Best Spray Paint Out There? NOPE! Part 2
A few weeks back I was talking up what I thought could be a great spray paint. http://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-best-spray-paint-out-there.html This first single gray can of paint went on smooth, covered well and dried quickly. It sprayed on like the expensive Testors Model ...
[Read More]

Hey let's whack at the valve on this gas tank...

[Read More]

Endeavour/ST-134 Mach 6.2 recovery
Attached is a great photo from MARS Scientific /NASA Langley/Space Shuttle Program Office.  Per the MARS Scientific site: NASA Space Shuttle Reentry at Mach 6.2. MARS infrared observations of Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-134 during reentry. First hypersonic shuttle reentry imaged at at ...
[Read More]

1977 SUNCON Picture
Charles Russell sent me a private message on YORF. He had attended the 1977 SUNCON in Northern California and sent this shot. Chas wondered if I recognized the people in the picture. That's G. Harry Stine with the megaphone. I'm standing on the right beside my (then) girlfriend Julie. At one ...
[Read More]

Search Is Working Again!
The "Search This Blog" function is back and working! I had wrote the Blog people asking why it was down and never got a good answer. Other bloggers had some problems, too. So I simply removed it then re-installed it. A re-boot. Easy, speezy.
[Read More]

Great Raw Video of SpaceShipTwo's third powered test flight
Excellent Video
[Read More]

Prehistoric ModRoc Girl
Here's a cool, vintage rocket girl for you. Taken from an April 1954 Popular Mechanics article . The source is this great YORF thread: Model Rocket Pre-History .
[Read More]

Estes Igniter Patent, 1968
I found this on Wayne Hill's Rocketry Blog HERE The patent for Vern Estes improved igniter. HERE When I started flying rockets in 1969 we would still find motors tubes supplied with bare wire nichrome igniters. This newer patent igniter had milled and thinner wire "centers" made for a higher ...
[Read More]

Slow finishing progress
I have taken advantage of a few dry and relatively warm days and should be ready in a few days to start adding color coats to the Mega Mosquito and Super Alpha . Here are my thoughts and questions. Mega Mosquito - I am trying to decide whether to go with the standard yellow/black scheme or ...
[Read More]

Motor order
Just fired off the order for two I200W, two H250G, one H268R, and a couple G79W and G77R’s. Should cover most of my basic flights this year (in addition to all I have in the box already).  Still need to grab the J510W and some G138T’s, likely at a launch to dodge shipping.  ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V Fin Fix, Part 1
I'm doing a build of the Estes reissued Saturn V kit for a client. Here's a fin reinforcement I wish I'd done on my first build of the Saturn V with the vacuform fins. The hollow, vacuform fins are the weak point in the Estes Saturn V kit. You cut them from the sheet and sand the overhanging edges ...
[Read More]

It's Been A Looong Time...
Hi there,   This post is meant to be an update on Daniel Hastings and his continuous upward climb to cool things in the sky. As you may know, I spent the last year in California working with XCOR on the Lynx. I decided to keep blogging to a minimum during this time, because it was all ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V Fin Fix, Part 2
Immediately after the wedge piece was glued on, I ran the edge down a rut in my corrugated cardboard cutting board. This straight dip in the cardboard helped raise the sides of the glued piece up against the corners of the trailing edge.   After sanding down the overhanging ...
[Read More]

Too cold to fly photo dump
Here are a few of some of today's "favorites" from Flickr. Hover to see arrows that can be used to navigate the owner's stream. And, some I gathered from elsewhere:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Canada_VZ-9_Avrocar    
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, January/February 2014
Contents...as noted on the cover photo: A detailed article on A Rocket Launch for International Student Satellites (ARLISS), a cool article on custom resin parts by Matt 'North Coast Rocketry' Steele, and aeroelastic analysis of super-rocs. Good stuff.
[Read More]

Harmonica In Space!
I play a small, Hohner Little Lady Harmonica in my musical act. Hohner sells them as the "Smallest playable harmonica in the world (or out of it). " What I thought would be a simple added instrumental is now one of the more popular features in the show. I play a quick rendition of 12th Street ...
[Read More]

New 2014 Estes Catalog
Bob (Initiator001 on YORF) posted this HERE : The new 2014 Catalog is available from Estes mail order for $2.99. The new Dark Silver model is featured on the cover. There is a few ways to get it "Free", explained on the Estes website: http://www.estesrockets.com/new/2014-catalog-2927-14 I'll ...
[Read More]

MDRA Christmas Tree Drag Race 2014

[Read More]

Starbugs - robots that help re-position fiber optics
"The robot buzzes loudly as it scuttles across a glass plate with micron-sized steps. It looks like a miniature version of a car’s cigarette lighter. Legless and armless, it’s carrying a bundle of fiber optics that will one day capture the light from a galaxy more than a billion ...
[Read More]

A lot of people want to be like Evel
Via TRF , I find an article about a team that wants to recreate Evel Knievel's Skycycle jump over the Snake River: Local Men Get Canyon Jump Permit for Weekend before Beckley . Scott Record and Scott Truax plan to recreate the jump this September. If you remember, it was Scott Truax's father, ...
[Read More]

IED missed call

[Read More]

Screw Eye Threads TIP
A recent forum post showed a builder pre-drilling a balsa shoulder for a screw eye attachment. The eye was recessed farther into the shoulder with epoxy on the sides. He wrote about not wanting the screw eye to pull out from a strong ejection. While that is a concern I've rarely had a screw eye ...
[Read More]

SEDS Announces 2014 University Student Rocketry Challenge
Amherst, NY, January 21, 2014 –(PR.com)– “Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) is now accepting registration for teams in the fourth annual SEDS University Student Rocketry Challenge (USRC). This competition is open for participation at no cost to SEDS ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2014-1
Location: My driveway Weather: sunny, 9 degrees with wind chill of -1, wind variable Total flights: Today - 3; YTD - 3 Total motors: Today - 3; YTD - 3 Motors by class YTD: MMX-1, A-2 I generally refuse to fly when the weather is under 50 degrees. However, as you can guess, I suffered a bad case ...
[Read More]

Frozen and stir crazy photo dump
A few of today's Flickr favs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/morbius19/12075805373/ From Life Magazine , a cool cover that never was: And a few from elsewhere:
[Read More]

Kit Design Inspiration
From a blog comment from last week: Anonymous - January 11, 2014 at 2:16 PM "Great build so far. You should pick up an Estes Fusion X25. It's a fun build, a bit Jayhawk-like." On the left is the Estes design, the Fusion X25. On the right a Rocketarium Jayhawk. And people wonder where some kit ...
[Read More]

More Project Pluto
I have posted several times about Project Pluto, the proposed nuclear ramjet cruise missile (click da' tag to see da' posts). This would have one nasty beast. Not only would it carry a nuclear payload, but the unshielded reactor would spread death along its path. It would also be loud enough to ...
[Read More]

Xombie takes a wild ride with G-Fold
Masten’s Xombie takes a wild ride using JPL’s G-FOLD divert alogrithm.G-FOLD, which stands for Fuel Optimal Large Divert Guidance Algorithm, enables a rocket to select an alternate landing site, autonomously. This flight took place at Mohave Air & Space Port in Mojave, Calif. ...
[Read More]

Converting my Saturn V from air power to 'pyro'
A couple of flying seasons ago, I built a bunch of air powered rockets, including a many from AlaskaPaperModelWorks . I also converted one of their large paper Honest Johns to fly on 24mm motors. Late last year, I found that the pressure tube on my Saturn V was warped badly. You can see the warp ...
[Read More]

40,000 ft. two-stage sugar rocket - world record
Now it is time for SS2S to take this record back!
[Read More]

Atlas V Launch, January 23, 2014
One great thing about living in Central Florida - If the skies are clear you can watch the Cape Canaveral launches from your front porch! The Atlas V went up at around 9:30 last night. I took the (bad) picture on the right. It looked a lot like a moving bright star at this point. Moments later ...
[Read More]

Estes Hornet Build Part 1 Parts
This model was originally a Centuri kit released in 1982. This was the start of the conversion from Phoenix to Penrose, some Centuri branded kits were using Estes parts. This model used a Estes BT-55 and was a "D Engine Convertible. Recommended engines were a D12-7 and B and C 18mm engines This ...
[Read More]

Paper stomp Saturn V conversion, part two
Since my last post, I got the motor mount/stuffer tube assembled and installed. For the inter-stage section, I found another mailing tube whose inner section fit the nose section perfectly. The outer tube was a little too big to fit in the top of the main body. Luckily the body is just card stock ...
[Read More]

Book Review: Rocket Babe - Dust Storm
Rocket Babe - Dust Storm , by Stephen 'Randy' DeArman, is an 1950's style space opera. It portrays an alternate history of post-Apollo space exploration, which the children of the 60's would have gladly embraced. Saturn V-derived spaceships assembled in orbit. Good stuff! However, it is the dark ...
[Read More]

Estes Hornet Build Part 2, Engine Mount
Set the centering rings in place and pencil mark the rings directly opposite the engine hook. These rings are fairly thin and fitting the tube will be tight. A round hole was filed in both the rings to fit the plastic (Kevlar) tube. Cut the low end Kevlar tail even with the end of the ...
[Read More]

Old MMI Tower Instructions
Ted Mahler (Tedster on YORF) posted the instructions for the Model Missiles Launch Tower HERE Scroll down to post #3. That old tower was a lot like putting together an Erector set project. It must have taken hours to assemble!
[Read More]

I've searched high and I've searched low...
...and I can't find suitable clear fin stock for the paper Saturn V conversion. What I found is either too thick, too thin, too small, too brittle or is in use. I could have sworn that I had stashed some recently but I can't find it if I did. I guess I need to expand my search radius.
[Read More]

Hospital bills

[Read More]

Estes Hornet Build Part 4, Launch Lug and Nose Cone Filling
TIP: To save time on later builds, I went head and filled four 3/16" lugs at the same time. Four lugs were slid down a dowel and tape was placed over the ends to keep them in place. CWF filler was brushed over all the lugs at the same time. The filler on the nose cone shoulder is sanded ...
[Read More]

Estes Hornet Build Part 3, Fin Fillling
The fin stock was warped, right out of the bag! After brushing on the thinned Carpenter's Wood Filler I'll have to let these dry under a heavy book. The grain was raised after the CWF had dried. These fins might require a little more primer filler after this is sanded down. Here's ...
[Read More]

RocketReviews.com Moved to New Server
Over the past weekend, I transferred the RocketReviews.com website to a new server. One of the hard drives on the old server began showing signs of failing, so I decided to move RocketReviews.com and the other sites I host to the new server. The new server is very similar to the one used ...
[Read More]

Paper Saturn V conversion complete (mostly)
I found some acceptable plastic for the fins. The material isn't crystal clear but is good enough for this rocket. I first roughed out the pattern in cardstock and found, because the base of the paper version has been rebuilt a few times, each fin required some tweaking. I designed the fins ...
[Read More]

We lost another good one, Ken Kzak is gone
I just saw a sad post over on ZZakk's Lab . On December 21, Ken suffered a fatal motorcycle accident. I only knew him from the web but will miss our discussions. Ken was an innovator in may things rocketry, most notably in monocopters. He was always working on an new and improved cam-pitch ...
[Read More]

Mars with water
 
[Read More]

Estes Hornet Build Part 5, Some Minor Snags
The Hornet was originally a Centuri design. I wanted to use the Centuri logo in place of the Estes name. I checked online but couldn't find a sharp version of the logo. I ended up doing a font search and re-drawing it. This one did take some changes to the fort I found. The "T" and "I" took the ...
[Read More]

Thick Brown Couplers
  I bought some brown BT-60 couplers. I only had one older fish paper coupler on hand. The black fish paper couplers are the older Estes and Centuri style. The new brown coupler wouldn't even slide into a BT-60 tube! When stacked you can see how much larger the brown coupler is. From ...
[Read More]

New Aerotech Econo-Max motors spotted on HobbyLinc
I found these via TRF rather than on Aerotech's Facebook feed. These really are priced well and with a mid-February delivery, they will be part of my birthday present to myself. Both have a high enough average impulse to get many of my rockets up to speed nicely. I assume that they are on the low ...
[Read More]

My compulsive rebuilding disorder manifested itself again!
Well, while poking around and trying to decide what to build/modify next, I came across the carcass of an ill-fated modroc that I inherited. It was damaged when I got it but about all that was needed was to reinstall a couple of fins.  On its next flight, I thought it was lost. However, a ...
[Read More]

Joining metals with explosives

[Read More]

Tank brake test

[Read More]

Apollo 1
Apollo 1 , a photo by pcarsola on Flickr. Here's remembering Apollo 1 - Gus Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee.
[Read More]

Estes Hornet Build Part 7, Refill!
The raised wood grain pores were still visible! Earlier the raised grain was sanded down and more CWF applied. After a thick coat of primer/filler I thought everything was smooth. I couldn't really see the grain until looking under direct sunlight after the first coat of yellow. The weird thing ...
[Read More]

Estes Hornet Build Part 6, White Undercoats and Sanding
The fins and launch lug both got two fillets with Titebond M&TG. Here's the model assembled. After primer sanding it's ready for a white undercoat. The finished model is yellow and black. You'll need a white undercoat for the light yellow color. With the white paint on you can see the ...
[Read More]

Using a Quadcopter as a Launch platform
Check out this over at Gizmodo. Someone turned a Quad copter into a launch platform. Video here:
[Read More]

Remembering the Challenger Crew
R.I.P. - Left to right are Teacher-in-Space payload specialist Sharon Christa McAuliffe; payload specialist Gregory Jarvis; and astronauts Judith A. Resnik, mission specialist; Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, mission commander; Ronald E. McNair, mission specialist; Mike J. Smith, pilot; and Ellison S. ...
[Read More]

MINT Electro Launch on EBAY
Here's one you don't see everyday! A pristine Estes Electro-Launch. HERE The interlock key and an extra continuity light is included. The blast deflector is rusted but the launcher looks unused! Heck, there isn't even any leaked battery acid on the inside of the red case! The seller says: " The ...
[Read More]

Scale Fin Shaping Article
I wrote a how-to article on Shaping Nike Style Fin Tapers.  It was just published in the Apogee Peak Of Flight Newsletter, #357  HERE One of the difficulties in fin shaping is trying to gauge the knife edge thickness when tapering leading and trailing edges. The article explains how ...
[Read More]

2014 Estes Catalog is Now Online
On YORF, TurboFireball found the new Estes Catalog has been posted: HERE The models on page 12 (on left) look to be the most interesting. Most other new models are E2X, RTF or ARTF. I was surprised that many off the models from the big December sale are still listed. I thought those might be ...
[Read More]

Estes Hornet Build Part 8, Masking the Black Fin
The rounded leading edge was masked with small pieces of Scotch tape set down to a half round circle. I should have looked ahead and studied the decal sheet. I thought the wider black band band trailed back behind the clear strip going through the word "Hornet". It turns out the wider black ...
[Read More]

A dose of eye candy
Test burn of a 5% scale SLS. This last week, astronaut's installed cameras on the ISS for startup UrtheCast . Soon, you will get near real-time images of your 'hood. With some constraints, of course. Steve is stariting his own sea launch program!?! Click through to read the story and see more ...
[Read More]

Estes Hornet Build Part 9, Correcting The Black Fin?
That short black band on top trails behind the Hornet name and to the leading edge of the 3/32" thick fin. At the bottom is the thicker band I thought was used for connecting the name to the fin. (Look close and you can see the the production date pressed into the decal. It's almost in the image ...
[Read More]

Jeffy Jeep's Space X Falcon on EBAY
Jeffy Jeep also sells finished models on EBAY. He and his wife do great work! My favorites are the variations on the Estes Spaceman clones. His finished model output is fast! Sometimes there are four models up for bid at the same time. I found it very interesting he had the same observations about ...
[Read More]

January 31,1971 Apollo 14 Launch
43 years ago Apollo 14 launched 3 men on a trip to the moon. Here is the video of the launch. It was a  clear day and you can see stage separation and tower jettison. Incredible!    
[Read More]

IC 1101 compared to Milky Way
This is the largest galaxy known to exist in the observable universe. It contains perhaps 100 trillion stars.
[Read More]

Cutting edge research by oil companies
  From 1980.  
[Read More]

45 degrees F
Now, that's what I call prime painting weather! (I know this is not optimal but, as usual, I'm antsy.) I got another coat of yellow on the Mega Skeeter. As usual, something went wrong. I was using 'new' Krylon and on the second coat today it started dripping and spattering. :eek: So, I may have ...
[Read More]

Estes Hornet Build Part 10, Decal Fix and Finished
I added a tapered black strip to the top side of the thin band to match the 3/32" fin thickness. The Centuri logo replaced the Estes logo like the first run of the kit.   A classic clean design with a long history. First, a Centuri branded kit using Estes BT tubing. Then out of ...
[Read More]

Engines Flush With The Body Tube End?
Spacepirate posed a question on TRF: "I am going to build a Semroc Mark X-Kit and the JimZ plans say that the balsa engine block should be placed so the engine is flush with the end of the BT. That would make removing the motor a bit more difficult than if there was a 1/4 inch of motor sticking ...
[Read More]

EOD disposal of WWII mine

[Read More]

Remembering the crew of Columbia, STS-107
Mission Specialist: David M. Brown; Pilot: William C. McCool; Payload Commander: Michael P. Anderson Mission Specialist: Kalpana Chawla; Commander: Rick D. Husband; Mission Specialist: Laurel Blair Salton Clark; Payload Specialist: Ilan Ramon
[Read More]

ASP IV or Chuter -Two Fins?
A few months back on TRF, Bone Daddy was building a Estes Classic Chuter-Two. The Chuter-Two was originally a Centuri model introduced in 1967  HERE Some questions came up about the reinforcing "fin strakes" on either sides of the fins. On the right, check out the fins from the Asp IV ...
[Read More]

JATO MARK 6 MODEL 1; 1961
JATO MARK 6 MODEL 1; 1961 , a photo by S.R. Breitenstein on Flickr.
[Read More]

Vintage science plates

[Read More]

The finishing of the Mega Mosquito and Super Alpha is DONE!
I was lucky to have a nice stretch of painting friendly weather and got two rockets ready to go. I still need to tie the recovery tethers together and install the laundry to double check stability. I went with Rustoleum cherry red for the Alpha's cone and shot on a clear coat. My SOP is to use the ...
[Read More]

Mass rocket launch in a Superbowl ad!
When I saw the ad, I thought it was cool but assumed there was a lot of CGI going on. Evidently, not so much. Here's the ad and a behind the scenes look at its making. Sparky!
[Read More]

Fast Cargo Gets It!
On TRF, After some discussion about the Estes DUDE rocket, Fast Cargo said it best: "Man, ya gotta love the old school haters who don't like rockets that are different. You know one of the rockets kids like to see launch? The Pop Fly...a rocket shaped like a bat with a foam baseball on top that ...
[Read More]

Estes February Specials
From the Estes website: "FABULOUS FEBRUARY Sale going on now! ..... Check back often as specials will change throughout the sale! Some quantities are limited and are while supplies last." http://www.estesrockets.com/rockets/specials This isn't anywhere as big as the December sale but ...
[Read More]

DirtyBirds!
On YORF, a thread on the history of plastic fin cans HERE brought an interesting response from The Fireman:   David,  You have to build you a Dirtybird...  Anyone interested in old rockets should have one of these in his (or her!) collection. I first got involved with ...
[Read More]

Does F9 get it's landing legs?
Everyone is talking about a few photos snapped of a Falcon 9 with landing legs at the McGregor testing facility. No not the Grasshopper. Well perhaps Grasshopper 2 or 1.1 or even F9R. See the comparison to Grasshopper below. These are the legs we saw on the floor at the SpaceX facility last year ...
[Read More]

Hobby Rockets (A Lot of Them) Featured in Superbowl Commercial
Mountain Dew advertised their “Kickstart” flavors of soda during the 2014 Super Bowl in a commercial featuring a spectacular night launch of 400 model rockets at one time. The rockets are meant to be a “metaphor for getting you up for the night” according to Greg ...
[Read More]

Mars Parachute testing with a Rocket Sled
Upcoming Mars spacecraft will need powerful chutes to slow them down on descent. In previous test wind tunnels were used. The test applies the correct aerodynamic force to a parachute that is too large to fit in any existing wind tunnel. Unfortunately the parachute does tear but thats why we ...
[Read More]

There is snow on teh road
 
[Read More]

New Free Space Systems Engineering Course
Take a free course in Space Systems Engineering through NASA and the Saylor Foundation. “Space Systems Engineering, a new massive open online course or MOOC from NASA and the Saylor Foundation, launches on Monday, March 3, 2014. The six-week, general-audience course is available to the ...
[Read More]

Making Old School Igniters Part 1
Here's the 32 gauge nichrome I bought from Jacobs: http://jacobs-online.biz/nichrome_wire.htm 100 feet for $6.00! Notice the wire end is taped down to the face of the spool. Trust me, tape down the end. Otherwise it will unravel! I've found a 2 1/2" long piece is about right for 18mm ...
[Read More]

A modroc on the cover of IEEE Spectrum?
The lead story in this issue is the annual 'dream jobs' list. And the lead job of the dream jobs list is Brandon Pearce's position at SpaceX. Well, duh :) In the cover shot (Credit: Gregg Segal), Brandon is holding a small model of the Falcon 9. To me, it looks like the model rocket that SpaceX ...
[Read More]

Rocket launch from space
 
[Read More]

Making Old School Igniters Part 2
With the 1" tail to the left - Wrap the nichrome around the paper clip wire so you have three loops. Try to make them even and close together. Don't get frustrated, it takes a few tries to get it right. Slide the loops off the end of the paper clip wire. If they open up, squeeze them back ...
[Read More]

Successful Compressed Air w/ Water Test
We are almost ready to perform a hydrostatic test. All that is left is to add the o-ring grooves, or potentially refabricate the bulk head. Hopefully this injector design works! In addition, we have planned the process for the test. Below is a diagram of our potential setup. Before we set this up, ...
[Read More]

Chicken given fake tail to walk like a dinosaur

[Read More]

Using the Burst Mode for Launch Shots TIPS
  For more launch pictures to choose from I'm finally using the burst feature on my camera. My camera "Burst" mode (or Continuous Shooting Mode) takes six pictures per second. You have to rotate the shooting mode wheel to the continuous shooting Mode. Hold the shutter down halfway down and ...
[Read More]

Saturn 1B Fairring Shroud
On TRF, Marwady is doing a great, clean build of Semroc's 1/70 scale Saturn 1B HERE Gary at VCP is making a 3D printed fairing shroud: HERE The picture at the left shows how the fairing looks when you receive it. The shroud is selling for only $7.50! Here's Marwady's 1B fairing after ...
[Read More]

B-52 minimum interval scramble

[Read More]

1990's futurism and a simple rocket tip
I just found a few old issues of Boy's Life and spotted an article by Issac Asimov, entitled "Driverless Cars, Planes in Space: Isaac Asimov Looks at the Future of Travel." He made numerous speculations about what the future of travel will look like. Some of these include: "Future cars will ...
[Read More]

Jupiter and Europa

[Read More]

Pipe Fitting Program
Recently, we've been conducting multiple compressed air and water tests, and have found the need to develop an algorithm for pipe fittings. Given a starting and ending fitting point characterized by type, diameter, and gender, the algorithm should give us the shortest path based on an inventory of ...
[Read More]

Pig Nose Cones!
This one kit production seemed to take forever. Pigasus nose cones have finally arrived from BMS - Thanks Bill! Just in time for NARCON!!!
[Read More]

Lockheed C 5 Galaxy Landing - Fuselage Cam
28 Wheels Max takeoff weight = 840,000 lb / 381,018 kg Max payload = 285,000 lb / 129,274 kg
[Read More]

J-2 Engines for sale in 1:72 Scale
John Love recently purchased a set of our J-2 engines from Shapeways for his 1:72 Saturn V model project.  Check them out! See also the product pages on Shapeways: Set of 3 J-2 Engines Single J-2 We have J-2 engines ...
[Read More]

J-2 Engines for sale in 1:72 Scale
John Love recently purchased a set of our J-2 engines from Shapeways for his 1:72 Saturn V model project.  Check them out! See also the product pages on Shapeways: Set of 3 J-2 Engines Single J-2 We have J-2 engines in other scales as well.  Check out additional products at our Shapeways ...
[Read More]

How to open a beer bottle with a quarter and a magnet
Clearly this is a trick, but how is it done? Baking soda and vinegar?
[Read More]

Moving right along
Progress continues.  BRB900, Iris Ultra 48″, 11″ nomex shield, and AT 54/1706 and plugged closure ordered.  K805G slated for URRF.  Next up – setting up the av-bay, clear coat, and some recovery harnessing
[Read More]

Old Estes Engine Instructions - Politically Correct?
Somebody was selling an old Estes engine instruction sheet on EBAY. I remember these. They were rolled up around the engines and igniters and slipped into the heave blue engine tubes. The EBAY copy says it is from 1965. In the lower right you see a coated igniter. I thought those came out ...
[Read More]

Hump day photos for your enjoyment
Fisht Stadium easily seen in this night view of #Sochi during #Olympics from #ISS . http://t.co/hM7zmyNTV2 pic.twitter.com/H6YbnroMhh — Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) February 11, 2014
[Read More]

Camera falls from airplane into pig pen

[Read More]

Why?

[Read More]

Super Glues and Teflon Tubes TIPS Part 1
If you buy the standard BOB Smith super glues you'll need tips or Teflon tubing to apply it with any control. This glue is thin! If you don't use an applicator tip the glue will be all over your model, the bottle and your hands. The open nozzle by itself doesn't give enough control over the ...
[Read More]

No Building + No Launching + Olympics + Snow =
Here's yet another dump of space and rocket motivated photos. Some are slightly racy. Vroom, vroom. First up...an actual rocket. And some spacey fashion. Don't forget to arm your electronics! ...from Mars? ARES unmanned VTOL. I think I've seen these in a sci-fi movie. No rocket theme here, but how ...
[Read More]

The first launch from Wallops in 1945
#tbt Our first launch on June 27,1945 was a test rocket to test our range assets.   pic.twitter.com/vq2qJniggn — NASA Wallops (@NASA_Wallops) February 13, 2014
[Read More]

My crazy rocket dream
I was having a rocket dream when I was rudely awakened to the sound of now blowers and shovels scraping. As usual, I immediately forgot many details but here goes... It was an MDRA launch. I could tell because Neil was the LCO. However, the field was some well wooded park with some nearby houses. ...
[Read More]

ATK motor catalog
Check it out... http://www.atk.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ATK-Motor-Catalog-2012.pdf
[Read More]

Breathtaking view of the Milky Way from Mars

[Read More]

Night launch of Soyuz to ISS

[Read More]

EBAY Wood Mars Lander
They aren't kidding . . .  The listing is HERE Sure you can upscale and downscale an existing kit design, Can you call it a scale model of a rocket that never really existed? I'd rather just get the Semroc kit version. A lot cheaper and the shroud and nose cone true to the Estes ...
[Read More]

Star wars

[Read More]

The "Old" Shrox Stiletto
Shrox had a Stiletto design and kits before his stint with Quest. In 2008, Bill Eichelberger (A Fish Named Wallyum) posted some pics HERE   in a YORF thread. You can see the original Stiletto design, BT-60 based and flown with a D12-7. Well, I'd lean towards a D12-5, that's my plan anyway. ...
[Read More]

Bikinis in zero-G are awesome
Still no rockets, so.... The source of the photo is obvious. More shots at io9 .
[Read More]

Estes Solar Launch Controller #FS-10 Part 1
Oh boy - Just the box! I was surprised to win this one on EBAY for $9.99 and $5.95 shipping. A little concerned when it arrived in just a padded envelope! Luckily, there was no damage or crushing of the box or controller. The SOLAR LAUNCH CONTROLLER debuted in the 1972 Estes catalog for $2.95. ...
[Read More]

/Science

[Read More]

February 2014
February 22 or 23 Continue reading →
[Read More]

Kate Upton weightless
  Gizmodo  
[Read More]

Estes Solar Launch Controller #FS-10 Part 2
Here's the controller, right out of the box. The micro clips are clean, never used. The interlock key is there! Even the black name sticker was set on straight. From the 1972 catalog, here's the prototype, pre-production picture. The profile shape is the same, but in the finished product ...
[Read More]

Poseidon launch
Photo of a found framed photo...
[Read More]

What's worse for launching?
A) 20 inches of snow in the mid-30's, or B) 0 inches of snow in the low 60's? I won't go out and launch in 'A' and the Frederick County Parks folks won't let us launch in 'B'. Because, when 'B' follows 'A' the field is a mud bog.
[Read More]

Estes Solar Launch Controller #FS-10 Part 3
This unit is like a flashlight - it seems too light until you add the batteries. The battery weight makes it feel hefty and stronger. One thing I didn't like -  The batteries fit very tight in the housing. So tight that the bottom plastic "wall" bends a bit under all the pressure. Of ...
[Read More]

The space exploration future that (mostly) never materialized

[Read More]

Not Enough Decals for the Fins?
  Jeff Gortatowsky  GDJSky01 on TRF made the following post on TRF HERE Above are his pictures. On the left is the decal he got in the kit, on the right are the one sided fin decals applied. Down the right side is the Estes online catalog picture. His post quotes are in italic , my ...
[Read More]

Launch Of A Delta IV Rocket With The Fifth GPSII Satellite.

[Read More]

Re-Issue MPC Vostok Kit Parts
There is a thread on YORF about the reissued MPC Vostok kit HERE "The Mole" posted a picture of the plastic kit parts. There was a question if the plastic "flying" parts would be included - They Are! From my post: It's all there - The large fins, both large and small "shock cord anchors" ...
[Read More]

chopped up Talos
Three months has passed since I first mentioned that I chopped up and began rebuilding my Faux Talos . At that time, said chopping had occurred as had the requisite re-gluing. Then began a long period of mostly painting unfriendly weather. When I did get a break, I focussed on some new builds. ...
[Read More]

Next Missions F9 with legs installed

[Read More]

A10 to A8 Engine Comparison
At the small field launches I've been using 13mm A10-3t engines in place of 18mm A8-3 engines. This was first suggested by James Wentworth on a forum post. It makes perfect sense - really a no brainer. (which probably explains why I didn't think of this years ago) Right now at Hobby Lobby I can ...
[Read More]

Some of my recent Flickr favs to start your week
The Pillownaut has a post about NASA Beauty Pageants 1952-1973 . I've seen and posted a couple of the photos but there are a bunch that are new to me. Like this one: Miss Miami and friends, 1963
[Read More]

3D scan of wildlife diorama

[Read More]

NASA-JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory Launch is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 27
GPM Status Update Sun, 2014-02-23 15:35 Preparations for the launch of the NASA-JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory continue on schedule at Tanegashima Space Center, Japan. Launch is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 27 U.S. time / Friday, Feb. 28 Japan time. The Core ...
[Read More]

The Big G
TRF member luke skywalker has posited a summary of NASA's " Big G Final Report- Logistic Spacecraft System Evolving from Gemini. " This includes drawing of more cool looking rocket configurations that never were and the layout of the capsule options. Here are da' rockets.
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V Decal Fix
On the left, look at the "I" in "UNITED". It's not centered !  The type was set with the I a little to the left. It should be in line with the center line of the T. I spent a few years setting headlines at a print shop. This sort of thing drives me nuts. The fix was touchy, just one chance ...
[Read More]

First Hydrostatic Test
We just started working on the hydrostatic test. Getting here required weeks of work on developing the system. We faced many problems on the way, and still have more to resolve. It started with the pump. Using the pump we currently have, we didn’t have enough leverage to pump above 400 psi. ...
[Read More]

Great Rocket articles this week
I wanted to point out a couple of articles that I find great reads this week. The first article is over at Ars Technica and is a “what if” there could have been a rescue of the Shuttle Columbia. The untold story of the rescue mission that could have been NASA’s finest hour. ...
[Read More]

How did AeroTech cram 83 N-s into a 53 N-s package?
I want some of these! Via AeroTech on Facebook: How did AeroTech squeeze nearly 83 N-sec out of a form factor that until just recently was limited to around 53 N-sec (a 56% increase)? • High solids propellant with higher specific impulse (Isp), high density and higher burn rate to minimize ...
[Read More]

Super Glues and Teflon Tubes TIPS Part 2
The first part of the Super Glue and Teflon Tubes was posted on February 13, HERE Sorry, I thought I had posted both! Whenever you use a thin Super Glue (CA) have a paper towel handy! It can get away from inexperienced or expert modelers. I apply the glue held in my right hand. In my left ...
[Read More]

World's longest slinky?
From way back when the Internet was young...
[Read More]

Rocket Sled Parachute Design Verification - The best video of the year
10/11/2013 A prototype Mars parachute is pulled from the sky with a rocket sled. The test applies the correct aerodynamic force to a parachute that is too large to fit in any existing wind tunnel. The successful test approach allows engineers to study issues and improve parachute design. MH-60S ...
[Read More]

For NARCON - Did You Ever Try To Design A Parachute?
I'd always liked the look of the red and white parachutes used in the Apollo program. A rough count looks like there are 64 alternating red and white gores. The Estes Saturn V kit (and the earlier Centuri version) came with parachutes like this. Many of my semi-scale and fantasy scale model ...
[Read More]

Perfect real-world subject for a 1.5:1 up-scale (update: this is not new)
Update: While the photo and depicted product may be new, the concept of the Spike dated back to at least April 2009 . Just found this on TRF.  The Navy's latest guided missile, the Spike, is approximately 25" long and 2" in diameter. At that size, it would make a perfect full-scale build. As ...
[Read More]

Jean-Claude Van Damme does a split in low Earth orbit.
Jean-Claude Van Damme does a split in low Earth orbit.
[Read More]

Pigasus at NARCON!
Along with that new parachute -  PIGASUS will debut at NARCON! It's about time, I haven't been able to produce new Odd'l Rockets stuff lately. Hard to believe, but banjo playing can pull you away from rocket production. This model always turns heads and is favorite with wives and ...
[Read More]

Semroc 1/70 Saturn 1B Wraps
Frank Claunch has drawn up Saturn 1B wraps for the Semroc 1/70 scale kit. Here's an example from the Second Stage Bottom PDF: It took a year for Frank to put these amazing drawings together. These are a great alternative to all the masking and painting. If you have built a Dr. Zooch kit with ...
[Read More]

Cats landing on the Moon

[Read More]

GSFC's Gravity Oscar Party
Click over to see the entire photo set . Sun Over Earth (NASA, International Space Station Science, 11:22:09) , a photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr.
[Read More]

Pitsco Model Rocket Tube Wrap Video
Bill Eichelberger (A Fish Named Wallyum on TRF) posted about a Pitsco model rocket kit he found. To make the body tube, his Pitsco kit has you wrap gummed tape around a clear tube mandrel. His instructions were missing but he found a YouTube video on how to roll the tubes. HERE While the ...
[Read More]

Sirius FM-6 Antenna deployment
Here's a video showing the antenna deployment on the Space Systems/Loral-built satellite. The start is an SS/L animation and the end was taken by on-board  Ecliptic RocketCams .
[Read More]

Snow, and rocket, girls +
Well, just when I thought it was safe to go outside, we had another 5" of the white stuff and mid-teen temperatures. I spent a little time in the Dungeon but all I have to show for it is a set of rail buttons on the Fat Boy 29 . I can't believe I didn't install them a long time ago.  With ...
[Read More]

NARCON! Cocoa Beach, FL, March 1, 2014
NARCON WAS A BIG SUCCESS! Everybody who attended would agree. I had only been to NARAMs and some smaller conventions in the past. I'd forgot how great these get-togethers can be. Along with the technical sessions it's about meeting the people there. There were over 100 people attending with home ...
[Read More]

Wo Xuexi Zhongwen
I recently decided to be more serious about learning a new language, and between the two that I already am familiar with, Chinese and French, I chose Chinese. My goal is to become fluent within six months, so we'll see how I've progressed by September 1st. I've learned that the best way to learn a ...
[Read More]

Budweiser Rocket Car goes supersonic in 1979
This video is at least 20% awesome. I didn't watch the whole thing but rather just skipped around to the footage of the car running. Those parts are 100% awesome. You aerodynamicists might be interested in the article,  A Review of Chuck Yeager's Letter of Testimony on the Budweiser Rocket ...
[Read More]

JonRocket.com at NARCON 2014
We had a fun time at the National Association of Rocketry’s 2014 Convention, NARCON, in Cocoa Beach. Our room had a wonderful view of the beach and ocean, but the event kept us so busy that we had little time ...
[Read More]

Rustoleum Metallic Paint Update Part 1
My local Home Depot only had a limited selection of Rustoleum Metallic colors. I went to the Rustoleum website to see if more colors were available. HERE There is a good selection . I was interested in Red, Orange, Yellow and maybe a pearl White. No Pearl White but there was a definite metallic ...
[Read More]

NARCON 2014 Photographs
I’ve uploaded some photos from the National Association of Rocketry’s 2014 NARCON convention in Cocoa Beach, Florida, to RocketReviews.com’s Photo Album. The three-day convention featured dozens of technical sessions, a lunch with local space legends, a vendor ...
[Read More]

...busy... but here are a few links
io9 reports on a rocket launch to study the auroras: http://io9.com/a-rocket-shoots-directly-into-the-heart-of-an-alaskan-a-1536945441 NASA, Russia, and the ISS: http://nasawatch.com/archives/2014/03/where-is-nasa-i.html 3-D printed concept car (interesting comments too): http://jalopnik. ...
[Read More]

MPC Titan IIIC and Vostok Kit Review on YouTube
The "Mole" on TRF found a review of the MPC Titan IIIC and Vostok models on YouTube HERE A good overview of both models. References are made to the convertible flying versions.
[Read More]

Water cooler rocket

[Read More]

NARCON 2014
Florida’s Space Coast hosted NARCON, the National Association of Rocketry’s annual convention, from February 28 to March 2, 2014. We made the one-hour trek from Oviedo to Cocoa Beach on Friday morning.  We checked into the International Palms Resort and picked up our NARCON badges ...
[Read More]

Wernher Von Braun in the development of the V2 rocket U.S. Version(1946-1949)
Wernher Von Braun in the development of the V2 rocket U.S. Version (1946-1949) , a photo by Mr Dan Beaumont on Flickr.
[Read More]

Hubble Witnesses an Asteroid Mysteriously Disintegrating
Hubble Witnesses an Asteroid Mysteriously Disintegrating , a photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr. I posted this because today I noticed two items in my newsfeed regarding this event.
[Read More]

Project Morpheus, free flight #8

[Read More]

British, pulp, sci-fi, art
Dark Roasted Blend has posted a bunch of vintage British sci-fi art . Like this.
[Read More]

Quadcopter amazingness
With the cancellation of the Lucerne launch due to water on the lakebed I just realized I haven't flown since Plaster Blaster in November '13!!  That's a bummer, man.  I'm not slacking, however, and just took receipt of an amazing DJI Phantom I RC quadcopter with GoPro Hero camera mount: ...
[Read More]

Rustoleum Metallic Paint Update Part 2
I used the Rustoleum Metallic Bright Silver on the recent Quest Stiletto build. One of the problems with most silver or chrome paints is dulling and oil stains from fingerprints. This metallic silver doesn't tarnish or show fingerprints! The only downside is it's hard to see if you have an even ...
[Read More]

AP crack
Got the main set of HazMat motors in for this summer. K805G for my Darkstar at URRF, I600R for Steph’s  L1, a G138T for the optima (I love these motors), and the J510W for the Emerald Dragon. 3689 Ns worth of motor.  I flew about 2200Ns over 20 flights in 2013 Wildman’s ten ...
[Read More]

No Launch! March 9, 2014
I was at NARCON during the last Orlando ROCK launch on March 1. Six models were prepped and all was walked over to the Soccer Field yesterday at 8:00 a.m. I was greeted by this sign and all the gates were closed. So it was back home to work on other rocketry projects until tonight's shows ...
[Read More]

Semroc Closing!
Posted today on YORF: Future of Semroc Semroc Fans, I am sorry to say that we will be closing the company. After my father’s death and my stay in the hospital I have realized that it will be impossible to catch up. I have decided after much thought that it would be in my best interest to ...
[Read More]

Semroc is closing...nooooooooooooo
Chris Michielssen reposted this from YORF  (of course, there is a similar thread on TRF ): Semroc Fans, I am sorry to say that we will be closing the company. After my father’s death and my stay in the hospital I have realized that it will be impossible to catch up. I have decided ...
[Read More]

Saturn's North Pole
(NASA/JPL)
[Read More]

WildMan
Can’t wait to start this one. nice and compact.
[Read More]

Small Parts Orders
I got my Quest X-15 parts packs yesterday. The body tube and centering rings were not in the parts pack, you'll need those Quest parts to make the model. An ST-7 engine mount tube fits the Quest 20/35 centering rings very well.  All X-15 parts, centering rings and body tube are good ...
[Read More]

Talos, Block 2 - all done but the trim
Here are a few photos of the re-built Faux Talos , which I'm now calling the Talos, Block 2 (for now at least). I could have done more sanding and filling but got antsy. It's a rocket that I can risk flying near trees and corn fields on SU motors. I plan to add some trim of some sort but haven't ...
[Read More]

Space X Launch
Here is a picture of the falcon 9 v1.1r. With landing legs and all.
[Read More]

Umbrella Recovery
From his first post on TRF, HERE David Hall showed his rear ejection Umbrella Recovery rocket. Stop by his website for more pictures and assembly HERE I'm looking forward to the flight and recovery results!
[Read More]

Estes Reflector Build, Part 1 Parts
This is an interesting design. A definite "reflection" and nod to the Centuri Lil' Hustler. The model is a cross between the Lil' Hustler payload and body the fins look like they came from the Centuri Jaguar. This build will be a little different, two models will be built. One will have the kit ...
[Read More]

MRI Starter Kit Instructions
NikeRam on TRF has scanned and posted the MRI starter kit instructions: HERE Scroll down to Post #40. The launcher has a "Safety Ball" launch rod cap. The controller is interesting. It's a cylinder with the launch button on top. For safety, a cap goes over the launch button. There was no ...
[Read More]

Estes Reflector Build, Part 2, Engine Mount TIPS
This mount got some filing, cutting and notches for better fit and strength. These are some extra ideas you could add to your next build. I'm installing replaceable Kevlar in these mounts. There isn't much room between the outside wall of the 20 size engine tube and the main air frame BT-50 tube. ...
[Read More]

SpaceX CRS-3 Mission Details and Links
UPDATE: Launch delayed to March 30th “To ensure the highest possible level of mission assurance and allow additional time to resolve remaining open items, SpaceX is now targeting March 30th  for the CRS-3 launch, with April 2nd  as a back-up.  These represent the earliest ...
[Read More]

Gunpowder & Paraffin + CO2 Ejection
On March 3, we tested the combustion of several 1:1 mixtures of gunpowder and paraffin  in the snow outside E5. The purpose was to evaluate the burn rate of the mixture, as we plan to use it as part of our recovery module. We determined from this test that the mixture burns very slowly ...
[Read More]

Estes Reflector Build, Part 4, Payload Section and Adapter Fix
Here's the back ends of the nose cone and adapter after cutting down and sanding the shoulder edges round. The exposed sides of the adapter were rounded. (No older Estes or Centuri adapter were ever rounded, the sides should be straight!) Using 220 grit on a block the sides were flattened ...
[Read More]

Estes Reflector Build, Part 3, Payload Section Fix
WOW!  The face card advertises -  HUGE Payload Section! Maybe not . . .  Set the nose cone and adapter beside the BT-55 section of tubing and you can see how small the payload capacity is. The shoulders on the nose cone and adapter are about 1" long, longer than needed. They were ...
[Read More]

RPG into small trailer home

[Read More]

Estes Reflector Build, Part 6, Rounding the Leading Edge
As directed in the instructions: The leading edge is rounded, all other edges are square. Getting the inside angle on the leading edge strake can be hard to get smooth. I wrapped some 220 grit tight around a small dowel and rounded the inside angle first. With the angle already rounded I could ...
[Read More]

Estes Reflector Build, Part 5, Two Different Fin Patterns
I drew up some Lil' Huster style fins to go on one of the models. The other will get the stock kit Reflector fins. Check the older blog post for the back story on this build HERE My Lil' Hustler style fin span is not as wide as the original. Scaled down it looked too wide on this smaller ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2014-2
Location: Higgs Farm, Price, MD ( ESL-190 ) Weather: 61 degrees, sunny, wind 10-20mph Total flights: Today - 6; YTD - 9 Total motors: Today - 6; YTD - 9 Motors by class YTD: MMX-1, A-2, C-1, E-1, F-4 The temperature was perfect but the wind was a bit strong, tending toward the high end of the ...
[Read More]

Aerotech...no, not our AeroTech

[Read More]

Estes Reflector Build, Part 7, Fin Gluing and Comparison
The fins were filled with CWF and sanded off the model. The body tubes, nose cone and adapter got a coat of Primer/filler and sanding. The lug and standoff were glued together, filled and primed off the model. Is it necessary to gray prime and sand before gluing on the tube? No. But, the final ...
[Read More]

MPC Kits and History
The Vintage Vending website is now the home of Sky High Hobbies HERE MPC History, kit reviews and some MPC kits are available for sale.
[Read More]

Estes Reflector Build, Part 8, Replaceable Kevlar Install
Earlier in the engine mount assembly a notch was cut in the long 20/50 centering ring. The notch allows a Kevlar line to be pulled out between flights to check it's condition or replacement if needed. Making a replaceable Kevlar line in a 20/50 adapter is a little tight, but do-able. The ...
[Read More]

Tampa TTRA Launch, March 15, 2014
I don't make the drive over to the Tampa TTRA launches very often. I had a show that evening in nearby Davenport, Florida. TTRA only has three working LPR pads. If the Scouts show up, those three launchers are very busy. The Scouts were there today so most waited until they were finishing up. ...
[Read More]

Friendly Neighborhood Astronomer
http://friendlyneighborhoodastronomer.com/
[Read More]

Estes Reflector Build, Part 9, Replaceable Kevlar Install Part 2
Cut off the excess but leave about 3/4" extending beyond the end of the tube for a tail . You want some Kevlar to extend out the back so you have something to grab onto. Tuck the excess tail between the two tubes. Out the top tie a loop knot for an attachment point for the elastic. The Kevlar ...
[Read More]

Cool space graphics in the news (with even cooler back stories)
First, io9 presents 12 Diagrams [actually 11 diagrams and one solid model] That Changed How We Understood Our Solar System . Here is Kepler's diagram explaining elliptical orbits. Next, Clark Lindsey reports on an NPR piece about the return of the ISEE-3 spacecraft: : Space Thief Or Hero? One ...
[Read More]

A brief history of the Dangerous Origins of Model Rocketry
io9 has published an interesting post about the history of model rocketry: The Dangerous Origins of Model Rocketry . The article explains that, while model rocketry has an 'almost impeccable safety record', its origins were not so safe. The article provides a short look at G. Harry Stine, Model ...
[Read More]

Astatula Rocketeers to Hold Launch in Lake County
The inaugural launch for the Astatula Rocketeers for Austerity (ARA) will be held at 10:00 AM on April 12, 2014, in Astatula, Florida, at the defunct Citrus Groves Estates next to Van Buren St. (behind Astatula Elementary). Rocketeers will need to provide their ...
[Read More]

Space-X rocket with legs!

[Read More]

Estes Reflector Build, Part 10, Larger Payload Tube
  The new Estes Altimeter is only  2.375" long and .7" in diameter. Hard to believe something this small is still too big for the Reflector with the  "Huge Payload Section!"     Even with the balsa shoulders cut back there is only 1 1/2" of height inside ...
[Read More]

Noris Raketen
You might recognize some of the names on the Noris Raketen website HERE Check out the "Historic" and "Aerospace and Engineering Models" tabs. It might be hard to get anything shipped from Germany but the Noris Ariane, Soyuz and Vostok kits are available from Apogee.
[Read More]

Estes Price Increase
Estes has announced a price increase effective April 1st. The list price for about a dozen of their products will increase.  The affected products include the No. 2 Skywriter, Alpha bulk set, and their plastic parachutes. We’ve updated the “MSRP” ...
[Read More]

Estes Reflector Build, Part 11, Great New Paint! I hope so - this time!
This is the payload section ready for paint. To hold on to it for painting, copy paper got masking tape down one side. The tape strip was set on the paper edge half on, half off. This was tightly wrapped around the shoulder making a thin round paper handle. The instructions say to paint the ...
[Read More]

Estes Prices Going Up April 1
Uh-Oh! Estes retail prices are going up on April 1, 2014   Here's a few examples: 1261      Baby Bertha        $13.99                                2264   ...
[Read More]

March 2014
Our regularly scheduled launch will be Mar 22 if the field is not too muddy. Thursday update: the field was less muddy today than it was at last month’s launch. So far, we are good to go on Saturday.
[Read More]

Estes Reflector Build, Part 12, Cleaning Up Edges TIP
Here's the two payload sections, on top is the kit length. Below is the extended payload section. Enlarge the picture and you can easily see the joint seams on the smaller payload section. The overall look of the longer section is smoother. The separation joints on the lower model were darkened ...
[Read More]

Open Rocket Version 14.03
The newest version of  OPEN ROCKET v14.03 is available now at: openrocket.sourceforge.net New Feature - a 3d photo realistic rocket viewer - available under the Tools menu.  This image on the right was posted by  K'Tesh on TRF. There's a number of bugs which have been fixed ...
[Read More]

OpenRocket 14.03 released
New Release of OpenRocket  - http://openrocket.sourceforge.net/ “In celebration of the beginning of the Northern Hemisphere flying season and the end of the Southern Hemisphere flying season, I’ve just pushed out release 14.03 of OpenRocket. There’s one new feature ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry March/April 2014
When I saw the cover subtitle "Foam Construction in Rocketry!", my interest immediately perked. When I saw the first photo of the subject rocket (photo of a photo below), I immediately dropped everything and started reading. The article is by Estes employee John Boren who built the rocket as a ...
[Read More]

The weekend is here, and so are some old photos
Another case of a rocketry vacuum being filled with other people's old and sometimes odd photos. First up, a jet car drag race from the HAMB . The HAMB old pictures thread has seen increased moderation so I may find less interesting things there. We'll see. Three from Retrogasm : A quick search on ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Deals! TIPS
Most of you already know of these - but for those who don't . . . Instead of scrolling through pages of Ebay listings - 1. Got to RocketReviews.com HERE 2. Go to the "Features" tab 3. Scroll down to "Deals" You'll find rocket kit listings in the order of savings by percentage. Some are Ebay ...
[Read More]

Estes Reflector Build, Part 13, Painting the Fins Red
The instructions are vague about how high to mask for the red paint: "Apply masking tape and protective cover around main rocket body above fins." The rear of the lug standoff was glued 2 3/4" from the end of the tube. That doesn't leave any room for the white strip and the black band decal ...
[Read More]

Estes Reflector Build, Part 14, Decals
The only way to get the black stripe decal to fit is to cut away the clear border under the launch lug standoff. Cut this before soaking the decal. Even with the clear border cut back I still had to slice the black stripe on either side of the standoff to make it fit. The face card and ...
[Read More]

Old Model Rocket Magazine Scans
I'd forgotten about these on the Ninfinger website. HERE This is probably the entire run of the Model Rocketry magazine from October 1968 to Jan/Feb 1972. There's great reading and plenty of scale information. Back then this was the magazine you received as part of your NAR membership. Issues were ...
[Read More]

Estes Reflector Build, Part 15, Lil' Hustler Version Decals
On the Lil' Hustler version (made from the Reflector kit) I made some very slight changes in the decal placement. As before, there isn't enough clearance for some white under the black band with the launch lug standoff in the way. This time I just centered the black band right over the ...
[Read More]

Rockets'n'Stuff for a Monday
Just waiting for the spring snow... The Memorial celebrating the launch of the GIRD-09 on August 17, 1933. A reminder that you should be watching Cosmos, A Spacetime Odyssey . There are no vampires at Baikonur! Today, I stumbled across my copy of the Lionel-Porter Mineralogy Manual . Their ...
[Read More]

Clean up.
In a push to try and finish everything that’s been started.   Bulkhead sanded for lil’rascal NC.  Vulcanite I’m gonna just dummy up an av-bay and fly single deploy.  The Onyx is sanded and ready for paint.  Self Loathing is getting fillets.  4″ ...
[Read More]

Estes Reflector Build Finished
      This one is the Reflector design, the Lil' Hustler version will be posted tomorrow. I like the looks of this one, there is certainly Centuri design influence here. There were problems along the way: The "Huge Payload Section" wasn't huge even with the adapter ...
[Read More]

Estes Reflector Lil' Hustler Version Finished
    I actually like this version better than the stock Estes Reflector! It reminds me more of the Centuri designs. The payload section on the Reflector wasn't practical with the long shoulders. This payload section is a little long but will better fit an altimeter.
[Read More]

Planes viewed from space
 
[Read More]

On picking a motor for the big Whirlygig
It's been quite a while since I thought about this one. I started throwing it together on a whim and, but the time I worried about it's weight, it was too late to easily rig a recovery system.  I've decided to go ahead and fly it without one. If it had the same flight profile as its smaller ...
[Read More]

Another hydrostatic test, unexpected results
A while back, we ran another test and eliminated many variables to reduce the chance of failure. Our original test bulk head was made of two parts: A steel cylinder with an 1/2 inch NPT female fitting, and an aluminum cylinder with 3 O-ring grooves in a 13 mm reamed hole. The injector was then ...
[Read More]

MDRA ESL-189 videos
Peter Abresch has a set of videos from the March MDRA launch. He has it listed as ESL-189, I thought it was ESL-190 per my Facebook invite. I guess the latter was off because the February launch was cancelled. Anyway, here is the flight of an awesome X-15 Delta R/C rocket glider. It was one of ...
[Read More]

Brush Color Identification TIP
It never fails, even after you thoroughly clean your brushes they still have some paint color left in them. Your white touch up turns a light pink when the leftover red on the brush mixes with the new white. I don't have expensive brushes. I bought a budget selection at a craft store. There ...
[Read More]

The RocketReviews.com Community
After a false start a few months ago, I’ve reintroduced the RocketReviews.com Community. RocketReviews.com Community adds a new layer of social interaction on top of RocketReviews.com. The most obvious new feature is the collection of Forums where members may discuss various rocketry ...
[Read More]

Parachute Reinforcement Disks - Single or Double? TIP
Most kit parachutes are around a 1 mil (1/1,000th of an inch) thick. Polyethylene sheet parachutes can stretch and tear so reinforcement rings are needed. Some kits include the cheaper paper rings. If you use a paper ring you should place a ring on the top and the bottom of the parachute ...
[Read More]

Early 1960s documentary on Model Rocketry
The film was commissioned by National Association of Rocketry and is narrated by G. Harry Stine.
[Read More]

Streamer Material? TIPS
From the Rocketry Forum: Gary Byrum   OldSchoolDood "Go to Lowe's and get you a roll of the unprinted Barricade Tape or safety tape. It's 1"- 3" wide about 100 miles long ( jk ) and it's very much the same or about the same stuff Estes uses in it's kits. Can't remember paying more ...
[Read More]

Coming soon more rockets!
This semester of school has been really busy with a lot of homework and difficult tests. This has prevented me ...
[Read More]

The Unfinished!
Did you ever start a model and get so frustrated you set it aside? It could be a bad design or unusable parts. I almost gave up on the MPC Vostok! I've got three rockets that are sitting until I can figure out a few steps that have me stumped. Two of these models were started on the blog and left ...
[Read More]

A quick SPEV; project
The POS (temporary name) is a SPEV build.  It uses a 24mm x 7 tube cluster from my Cognis Lander, scavenged fins, junk tubes and a plastic dome from a mini R/C car. Note the 'phantom cone' to account for its base drag.
[Read More]

Photos for while the paint is drying...
I'm taking advantage of the great weather to paint the POS SPEV build. Keeping with the trashy nature of the beast, I laid on a coat of Rustoleum gloss black directly onto the untreated tube. I'll sand down the fuzz and repeat. And repeat. It won't be smooth but it will fly. Meanwhile: Plans to ...
[Read More]

Astrobotic demonstrates hazard avoidance on a Xombie rocket
Masten Space Systems Xombie rocket is guided with the Astrobotic hazard avoidance system to a perfect landing.
[Read More]

POS SPEV, completed
Here is the finished rocket. The bumpy black body doesn't look this bad in the flesh although I do need to wipe off some finger prints/balsa dust. I ended up cutting a cardstock ring to seal the top of the six 24mm tubes that ring the central mount. I will likely fly this on a single motor and I ...
[Read More]

V-104, a bit late for April Fools Day
A V-104 is what you get when you mix a V-2 with an F-104 Starfighter. (Refer to the attached photo) On top is one of the pods from my rekitted F-104 Starfighter. On the bottom is the rocket being made from the other pod. The fins are spares from a Semroc V-2 (2 sets of fins were provided in each ...
[Read More]

Successful test up to 2000 psi
We fixed the barbed hose problem by fabricating aluminum clamps to clamp the tube around the barbs. In addition, we drilled a hole inside a piece of wood, then put the tube inside the hold. In this way, the barbs can hold a significant amount of pressure, and the tube is unable to bend due to the ...
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Launch, April 5, 2014
Before a last minute show Saturday night I had some time to squeeze in five flights. It's warming up with light 5 mph winds. First up was my new Quest X-15 built from the available parts pack.  (This model is an upcoming blog build.) For better stability, the body tube was lengthened 2" ...
[Read More]

Soyuz rocket cam
We are pretty familiar to watching NASA and SpaceX launches from the viewpoint of onboard rocket cameras. But what about Russian rockets? Well here you go. Soyuz Flight VS07 with rocket cam.
[Read More]

Crackpot & Buzzkill take to the Sky!
Finally launched the monster motor. Rocket weighed over 150lbs on the pad. Apogee was at 14,375 ft, and landed about 1.5 miles from the launch site in a small forest. My eagle-eyed daughter saw the parachute caught at the top of the largest tree. The name of the rocket is a shoutout to the hosts [ ...
[Read More]

V-104: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Well, I finished painting the fins and attached them with...hot melt glue. I had a hard time bonding to this plastic when the F-104 was an F-104 so I thought I'd try something new. I figure the worst case is a fin cleanly pops off on recovery. I ran some design sims and find I likely need a ...
[Read More]

Early radiation therapy devices (ca. 1950s)
       
[Read More]

MPC Vostok Aerial Shot
  Roger Smith took this picture from his helicopter camera. That's the unstable Vostok with a Estes C6-3.  I'm standing under the smoke trail trying to get a good launch shot. Right after this it did some skywriting before hitting the ground and ejecting the parachute.
[Read More]

Flight Prepping the MPC Vostok - Lariat Tied Kevlar
Even though my MPC Vostok flight wasn't a success, you might be able to use this Lariat Tie on certain models. I didn't use the Stine "Shock Lock" (shock cord lock) included in the MPC Vostok kit. The "shock lock" is the MPC version of the Estes tri-fold mount. There's barely enough room for ...
[Read More]

The History of Space Guns
I found a nice article via TRF : Space Guns - A history of the least subtle way of getting into orbit . The author, Duncan Geere, starts with Newton and ends with the current status. He focusses on conventional canons and compressed gas guns and, unfortunately, there is only one brief comment ...
[Read More]

Retro, rocket, girls
I found and subsequently lost a new retro photograph blog. Oops. Anyway, here is what I found. A retro pyrogen wrapper. Proof that 4 out of 5 spectators don't pay attention when the RSO yells 'heads-up!'???
[Read More]

What - Only One Post Today? Vent
The blog has evolved over the past few years. When I first started I'd post a single picture and a paragraph of copy. Two smaller posts per day. A single blog posts now has as many as nine pictures and twice the copy as before. In all honesty, I'm not making any money from the blog. The ads ...
[Read More]

Always wear a helmet.
   
[Read More]

Alarming footage of heavy crosswind runways

[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie 2 on Ebay
  This one brought me back! I bid on this one - up to $150.00, that's a lot for me. I didn't get it, the winning bid was over $281.00. This is a rare one, unbuilt with launcher and propellant. This was the longer Valkyrie 2, the Valkyrie 1 was shorter. I ordered the same package from ...
[Read More]

Lockheed NF-104 Starfighter
Click through to the original image to read a short history of this rocket-boosted variant of the F-104 Starfighter.
[Read More]

In The Trash!
Ever build a model and not want to waste another engine on it? This saucer flew only once. Wasted some foam board and an C6 engine. It was stable but didn't get enough altitude to be worth the effort. This model was drawn up for practice the new Corel Draw software. The model sat for a year and ...
[Read More]

Get it Done
Life has been busy. It happens.  But I finally got a chance to get into the garage and work on a few things. My goal was to get as many rockets air-worthy as possible.  Not exactly as I may have once intended, but able to fly.  I had plans to get most of these to [ ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2014-3
Location: Higgs Farm, Price, MD ( Red Glare XVI ) Weather: 75 degrees max, partly cloudy and dry, wind 5-10 Total flights: Today - 6; YTD - 15 Total motors: Today - 10; YTD - 19 Motors by class YTD: MMX-1, A-2, C-3, E-5, F-5, G-2, H-1 This was the first day of Red Glare. The weather forecast ...
[Read More]

Stratofins - Water Rocket
I found an interesting rocket website selling screw on water rocket fins and  launchers - HERE I had seen StratoFins listed on the Apogee website. But like the rest of us, I thought the idea of a water rocket wouldn't be worthwhile. From the Apogee website: "Water rockets without fins are ...
[Read More]

Rocket Humor
  I bought a new rocket with some of my tax refund. Hope to have her built and flying next month.
[Read More]

Extending a motor mount
First some background. A couple of flying seasons ago, I lost two 24/40 RMS casings and, so far, haven't replaced them. That grounded a few of my rockets that required more thrust than a D12 or E12. I have a 29/60 case and, while the main body is the same length as an E12, the charge well extends ...
[Read More]

NEFAR Launch, Bunnell, FL April 12, 2014
Today there were college groups in competition launching Hybrid rockets. Lots of misfires and fill hoses came loose. The Scouts also joined us so there was plenty of action on the LPR pads. With delays and full launch racks I was only able to fly four models.   A few seemed surprised ...
[Read More]

Plans: Build your own Model Rocket Launch Controller
  Great plans available over at Make. Link to the Step by step plans can be found here
[Read More]

It's a bird, it's a plane, NO, it's Dan's Honest John
This pegged the pucker-factor meter! What happens when your clustered 'M' motors don't all light at the same time.
[Read More]

SpaceX CRS-3 Launch today
UPDATE: CRS-3 Update Today’s launch has been scrubbed due to a Helium leak on Falcon 9’s first stage. A fix will be implemented by the next launch opportunity on Friday April 18, though weather on that date isn’t ideal. ———————– ...
[Read More]

New water rocket launcher
I just received a launcher and two screw-on fins sets from StratoFins . I had considered building a Clark cable tie launcher for some time but somehow never got around to it. So, when I saw one for sale, I couldn't resist. Another good toy for the grand-rocketeers! I bought a mostly pre-assembled ...
[Read More]

Video Of The Day - Water Rocket
Check out the Giant Water Rocket video - HERE You can fast forward up to 1:15 for the action. Up to that point it's just a LOT of bicycle pump action and comments like: "He's really brave!" Luckily no one got hurt!
[Read More]

Lil Rascal
4″ of glass, ready to go. 54mm hole in the ass. :) Surrounded by friends getting ready to go.
[Read More]

DIY Launch Controller
The question comes up on the forums:  "How do I make my own launch controller?" From Wayne Hill's Rocketry Blog HERE I saw the Make Magazine LaunchIt Controller HERE It's a six volt launcher. The box is laser cut from birch plywood. Your lead lines clip on speaker terminals. For ...
[Read More]

Flight Log Improvements
You can now manage your Flight Log at Community.RocketReviews.com. Log in using your RocketReviews.com email address and password. Then click the “My Flight Log” link in the “My Account Menu.” The Flight Log dashboard will be displayed with brief statistics about the ...
[Read More]

Vashon Rockets Website
In 2007 Thomas Beach put together a great Vashon website: http://www.mindspring.com/~vashon/history.html There is a lot of information there: catalogs, instruction scans and Vashon art decals for the old, cold propellant kits. From the website is the same catalog I had around 1970. A little more ...
[Read More]

StratoFins parachute attachment
{This is my first post from my phone, formatting issues may ensue.} Attached is a photo of a StratoFin unit on a 2L bottle and with a 12" Estes 'chute attached. The shroud lines are not long enough to reach to the fins so I added separate cords. Each has a loop on top and they are cinched with ...
[Read More]

Water rockets are bad for me
Several months ago, I went cold turkey off sodas, sweetened teas, etc. I have been pretty good up until now. I just bought a 2L Dr. Pepper for the nose section of my StratoFins rocket. I also got two 1.25 L bottles for another rocket. These bottles are much smaller in diameter than the 2L and this ...
[Read More]

85,000 new videos and among them some rocketry gems
British Pathe’ has just released 85,000 videos from 1896-1976 to YouTube. Among these are many rocketry gems. Videos I have never seen and great news coverage of historical rocket events. Below are a sample – fabulous in their rareity and documentation of events. Gerhard Zucker and an ...
[Read More]

Todays CRS-3 launch and F9R flight test
The CRS-3 mission is well underway after a beautiful launch and Dragon deployment. The big question and event that some of us are waiting for is the landing test of the 1st stage. This is the first Falcon 9 with landing legs. As we wait for video and info on today’s F9 1st stage landing [ ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2014-4
Location: NARHAMS, Mt. Airy Weather: max temp. in high 50's, a few high clouds, gusty winds to 15mph Total flights: Today - 13; YTD - 28 Total motors: Today - 14; YTD - 33 Motors by class YTD: MMX-1, A-3, B-2, C-6, D-5, E-6, F-7, G-2, H-1 This was a nice day despite the strong wind. After losing ...
[Read More]

Mega Mosquito and Mini-Brute Mosquito Questions
On TRF, Kirk G had a question about the recovery of the small Mosquito model (bonus kit) included with the large Mega Mosquito:   Originally Posted by  Kirk G   So, I picked up a Mega Mosquito combo package from Estes during their December sale, and now that ...
[Read More]

Happy Easter rocket news catch-up and some hidden 'eggs'
While I was prepping, launching, and documenting my meager flights, I spotted several noteworthy rocket items on the interwebs. As y'all probably know, on Friday SpaceX successfully launched the ISS-bound Falcon9/Dragon, which arrived there this morning. The early report was that the flyback test ...
[Read More]

Shooting 2500 Yards 1.43 miles 2.3km
"A few days ago I took out the 338 Lapua and attempted the 2500 yard shot. So I placed the target at 2530 yards or 1.43 miles away, at that distance the bullet flight time is almost 4.5 seconds! Made a short video that I think you guys will enjoy. I went out early in the morning to beat the ...
[Read More]

Ebay Hits and Misses
I buy and sell stuff on Ebay. I only bid if the price is low and reasonable. We've all been there - a seller sends body tubes in a padded envelope. The tubes arrive bent. Their response: "Gee, it's never been a problem before!" A few days back I received a Estes Mega Mosquito and Space Eagle. It ...
[Read More]

3 water rockets ready for the grandrocketeers
I drank my Dr Pepper and lopped off the top of the bottle. I added an elastic cord to connect the nose, body and 'chute. After dry fitting it, I give it a 25% chance of success. I thing the nose will come off under boost. There is one sure way to find out :) Here again is the rocket with my Quest ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V Parachute Hook Bend TIP
You can apply this tip whenever You have to make a bunch of bends the same length. In Step 17 of the Saturn V kit, you bend a brass wire into a "U" shape. (The wire is an attachment point for the upper parachute.) On the left, a small piece of masking tape was stuck to my pliers. This tape ...
[Read More]

Just another Easter in Vrontados
The Atlantic has an excellent album of photos of the annual rocket war waged by by rival churches in Vrontados, on the Aegean island of Chios. Here is a teaser via Reuters/Yiorgos Karahalis.
[Read More]

Earth, on her day, 2014

[Read More]

Clusters, maths, and Red Glare
The current issue of Apogee's Peak of Flight Newsletter, Issue 363 , presents a method to compute all the required holes and templates to make a canted motor rocket. The article was penned by William Cook who flew an awesome, 3-motor Mega Der Red Max, aka the Mega Der Drei Max , in the Mega Der ...
[Read More]

Another Mega Mosquito and Mini-Brute Mosquito Question
I stopped by the JimZ website to check the older, more detailed Mosquito instructions. I was curious if they rounded or airfoiled the fin edges. They are HERE , scroll down to the BETA series version. Read the EXTREMELY IMPORTANT message  below the exploded parts illustration.   ...
[Read More]

Photos from the April ROCK Launch
I flew my quadcopter at the April, 2014, ROCK launch capturing aerial photos of the event.  Visit the April ROCK Launch photo album at RocketReviews.com to view the collection of photographs.  
[Read More]

"Curses, foiled again!"
Yesterday, I had an ingenious idea, "Why not use my Xavien timer on a water rocket?" I was thinking it fairly light and can use a small battery such as an A23. To initiate ejection, I was thinking of using a Nichrome bridge wire to burn though a piece of monofilament fishing line. Then I ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Items on EBAY
  The finished 1969 catalog  Estes ALPHA is up for bidding on EBAY HERE this is the same Alpha built on this blog.  No plastic, all balsa with custom decals to match the 1969 catalog illustration.   Also listed is the  Centuri Contestant Packet ...
[Read More]

Estes Response to CP Question
On TRF, Performance Nut asked Estes about how they find a models Center of Pressure or CP:  I received Estes's response: "Hello, There is no "calculated" CP for the rockets - glue, paint, engine use, etc....these all affect the CG of each rocket. However, there is a system we use here at the ...
[Read More]

Quadcopter Video of the April NEFAR Launch

[Read More]

J510W
I just built this tonight ...
[Read More]

Estes Dummy Engine
  I'd always seen these in the catalogs, but never in person. These pictures came off an Ebay listing HERE . Here's a dummy engine from the Estes Astron PHANTOM model, the first clear bodied cutaway display rocket. While the cutaway engine was listed for sale separately from the Phantom ...
[Read More]

Estes Nike Apache Old Unfinished Build Part 1
I bought this one years ago at a toy store. The Semroc Classics list says the kit was produced from 1986 - 1989. It was bagged up in Penrose. I had started the kit but stopped when I couldn't find a replacement BT-55 tube. This was before there were many online vendors. The tube from the kit ...
[Read More]

"Curses, foiled again." - part 2
I have been searching for a cheap mechanical timer to deploy a 'chute from a water rocket. I haven't gone out with the sole intent of finding one, but have made several stops while running other errands. Toys-R-Us had a nice selection from Z Wind Ups . These are really cute. Too cute, and too ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets Website Gone?
While I still own the domain name, I didn't renew the Odd'l Rockets website. Why? If I sold products directly it would be worthwhile to keep the website. All kits and accessories are sold through vendors. The Odd'l website will soon end up as an Odd'l Rockets blog. Believe me, doing a blog is ...
[Read More]

1st attempt at splicing soda bottles
I decided to proceed and try to splice some soda bottles. I followed the US Water Rockets tutorial . I chose this over the method described on my favorite water rocket site, Air Command Water Rockets , because it is a little simpler and requires one less type of glue that I don't stock in The ...
[Read More]

Emerald Dragon J510W
  4850′ and 580 MPH
[Read More]

Lil Rascal G78BS
cool its goin up   Oh shit.   :/
[Read More]

Optima
  Went up on a G138T.  Came down fast.   Tore the body tube on ejection, ripped off the nosecone and altimeter two, which is now lost.
[Read More]

Quick and Dirty (I200W X 2)
  Pair of I200′s.  Very very cool.  I’m liking this GPS.
[Read More]

Welcome To The Odd'l Rockets Website - Blog
While I still own the domain name, I didn't renew the Odd'l Rockets website.  Why? If I sold products directly it would be worthwhile to keep the website. All kits and accessories are sold through vendors. The Odd'l website is now Odd'l Rockets blog. Believe me, doing a blog is much easier ...
[Read More]

Two intriguing new tweets by Elon Musk
Looks like the new Mark 2 crew rated Dragon will be unveiled! ...
[Read More]

Quick Chute Reefing With Tape
Reefing a parachute can slow down the opening of the canopy. Instead of opening with a "pop", a reefing ring allows the parachute to open gradually. Check out the video from the Air Command Water Rockets website HERE At the flying field, sometimes I'd rather not cut a spill hole in a parachute. ...
[Read More]

Estes Nike Apache Old Unfinished Build Part 2
Now that I have new BT-55 tubes for replacement, the old tube was peeled off and the engine mount removed. 27 (or so) years ago masking tape was wrapped over the engine hook. When the hook was lifted the old tape easily tore! Electrical tape is a much better retention wrap. The left over ...
[Read More]

Water rocket deployment progress!
I guess there is a ray of hope in the otherwise wet, gloomy day. My wife was cleaning up and found a multi-legged crawling toy. I resisted my immediate urge to disassemble it since I thought my grandson might miss it. Well, I found a second one and that urge took over. The before and after is ...
[Read More]

Timer mount complete...almost
I fashioned a mount for the timer from the plastic cover from a pack of Estes motors. It fit nicely short-ways across the section that holds the igniters and plugs. Some snipping, folding and duct tape formed a holder which has mounting flanges on three sides. Holes were cut for the knob and the ...
[Read More]

May 2014
Because of my schedule this month, we will fly Sunday, May 4 from noon til 4 PM.
[Read More]

Estes Nike Apache Build Part 3, Parts Again
I bought a second Nike Tomahawk on Ebay. I'll be building both the old kit and the newer Ebay kit at the same time     The parts of interest: The rubber shock cord is a short 15" long. The 5/55 blow-molded adapter The parachute tape disks have no adhesive left, they ...
[Read More]

Carded Website
On YORF, "The Mole" posted a link to a carded website I haven't seen before. The models were drawn up by  Leo Cherkashyn. There are a number of  scale paper models of Soviet, Russian and Ukrainian space launchers, rockets and satellites http://www.cardmodels-r.narod.ru/i ...
[Read More]

Water rocket complete...and named
Since my last post, I affixed the tire stem cap to the timer's winding stem using some epoxy clay. This morning, I attached the timer and rigged the rubber bands. One band is attached to the side of the rocket with a piece of Gorilla tape. On the other side, another band is tied to a short string ...
[Read More]

Estes Nike Apache Build Part 4 Die Crush Fins
The old style die cutting wasn't very clean. The blades must have been dull when this balsa was cut. The balsa is good quality. It is hard to see the cut outlines of the fins. Two sets of four fins were stacked and gang sanded. You forget how accurate laser cutting is compared to die ...
[Read More]

Unscientific Wadding Degrade Test
I'm no scientist - this is certainly not the best test for how wadding breaks down in the field. It was simply done out of curiosity. Estes toilet tissue wadding, Quest parade pomp wadding and flame resistant crepe paper was used. I don't normally use the dog barf style wadding. On Thursday, ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2014-5
Location: King Farm Weather: 64 degrees, mostly cloudy, winds 5 to 10 with occasional lulls Total flights: Today - 7; YTD - 35 Total motors: Today - ; YTD - 33 Motors by class YTD: Water-7, MMX-1, A-3, B-2, C-6, D-5, E-6, F-7, G-2, H-1 Today's launch was mainly to test fly the Manatee with its ...
[Read More]

TGIF...here's some stuff from around the web to go with that adult beverage you are enjoying.
Another more than awesome video of SpaceX's FR9 boosting to 1,000m. Arthur C. Clark's 3rd law states that, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." SpaceX's corollary seems to be that, "Any sufficiently cool video of a hovering rocket is indistinguishable from CGI." ...
[Read More]

Estes Nike Apache Build Part 5 Another Dented Body Tube!
How ironic - the second Nike Apache kit I got from Ebay also had a dented end! These older brown tubes are better than a new white ones. I'll try to fix it. First slide in the adapter fro support and to pressure the tube into a better round shape. Medium CA was applied with a Q-tip. Be ...
[Read More]

Quest Q2G2 Availability?
75Granville posted on TRF about the out of stock Quest Q2G2 igniters: "Was poking around the Apogee website today, and in the Upcoming Products section(s) they show Quest motors. (Bottom of this page:  http://www.apogeerockets.com/Rocket_Motors/Quest_Motors ) They also show Q2G2 igniters ...
[Read More]

Pigasus Decal Adventures!
Some of the earliest Pigasus decal sheets were sealed with a new acrylic. That acrylic made some thick decals. They look fine and transfer easily, they are just thick skinned. Last night, I  thought  I had the decal problem ironed out!   I visited a vendor who had  a new ...
[Read More]

Estes Nike Apache Build Part 6, Nike Body Wrap
I looked for the BT-55 fin marking guide and realized it was a glued on body wrap. Instead of cutting up the instructions I made a wrap out of 20 lb. copy paper. Here's how it lines up, even with bottom of the body tube. The trailing edges of the fins are about 5/8" from the rear of the ...
[Read More]

SpaceX's Falcon 9 modroc gets a fat nose
SpaceX's just released their latest Falcon 9 model rocket kit: Falcon 9 and Fairing Flying Model Rocket Kit . It's unclear whether the body tube is the same size as its predecessor but this one features their operational payload section and flies on Estes 24mm motors (or AT, CTI for that matter). ...
[Read More]

Any Trick To Bagging Kits?
Anybody who ever thought of starting your own rocket company would be fun, has never had to bag up kits!  Taking a cue from the Semroc kits, the engine mount and recovery system parts are in separate zip bags. Putting the engine mount pieces in a separate bag makes it easier to do a visual ...
[Read More]

Estes Nike Apache Build Part 7, Fin and Lugs Gluing
The engine mount was glued in with the BT-20 tube even with the end of the BT-55 main airframe. A fillet was applied around the lower centering ring with a Q-tip. The Apache fins were glued on the upper BT-5 tube. The die cut may have been a bit off. I sanded the trailing edges flat with ...
[Read More]

The most difficult video to watch

[Read More]

What if Saturn suddenly fell past Earth towards the Sun?

[Read More]

Loki 38/120
Got a pair of Loki 38/120 cases in today with some G80 Loki White and G69 Spitfire motors in. Badass doesn’t begin to describe this.
[Read More]

Dumpster diving for water rocket parts
On the eve of our recycling pickup, I went 'dumpster diving'. Luckily, these dumpsters are small and manageable. I managed to scrape up five, 2L bottles and a 1L from Dean and Deluca sparkling water. These should allow me to complete the airframe for my 4 x 2L rocket and make the grandkids some ...
[Read More]

Estes Nike Apache Build Part 8, White Undercoat and Touch-up
The sections were joined and a dowel/casing paint wand was slipped in the engine mount. Two light coats of gloss white were sprayed with light 400 grit sanding between coats. Look close and you can see the sanded fin fillets. Paint coats can actually act like the final fillers when sanded to ...
[Read More]

Estes Nike Apache Build Part 9, Painting the Apache
The fin can of the upper section Apache is painted red. The mask line was right above the leading edge of the fins. After the mask was sprayed and the tape removed, I had a little light red over spray. You can see it below the mask. TIP: Instead of scraping or sanding off the red. I used a Mr. ...
[Read More]

More bottle splicing observations
I spliced a 2nd pair of 2L bottles...still didn't have enough on hand. Here is some or what I learned. Small, sharp scissors work better for cutting bottles. I started the cuts with a razor knife and then made the cuts with the scissors on my mini-Leatherman. I still had to get rid of some ...
[Read More]

Estes Nike Apache Build Part 10, Decals and Black Trim
The clear borders will have to be cut back on the silver sides, otherwise they would bump into the fins and overhang the top of the body tube. After the wrap decals were in place the open white areas were set and centered over a ruler. The red Thiokol decal was centered in the white and between ...
[Read More]

Estes Nike Apache Build Part 11, Low End Masking
Three of the fins are painted red, the remaining fin is yellow. This is a typical mask for me using marked Scotch tape at the fin fillets then masking tape filling in the larger areas. The tube gets a wrap of plastic grocery bag plastic. All the edges were pressed down and sealed using ...
[Read More]

Estes Nike Apache Build Part 13, Parachute and Shock Cord Tie In
The rubber shock cord supplied in the kit was just 12.5" long! Glue that short length into a tri-fold mount then recess it 1" inside the body tube. After tying it to the adapter lug you've only got 6" of shock cord left between the Nike and Apache sections. Add to that, the long upper stage ...
[Read More]

Estes Nike Apache Build Part 12, Nike Decals
Those black bars are left from the cradle the Nike sat in when it was painted. A piece of masking tape was lightly set on the body tube to line up and center the ends. I don't know why, but the United States decals are separate on the decal sheet. It would have made more sense to move ...
[Read More]

Cochon D'eau pretty in pink
My first themed rocket for the grandrocketeers is almost done, less recovery harness and 'chute. The tail didn't turn out so well and the fillets are UGLY. Overall, it is cute and I'm not sure how it will last anyway. The second is in the works... Hat tip to Chris Michielssen/Odd'l Rockets for the ...
[Read More]

Yes, I still love fire and smoke...
Egads, I just noticed eight of the ten posts on my blog's main page are dedicated to water rockets. For years, I've been ribbing George Katz that, sooner or later, he would come over to the dark side. Now I'm wondering if the dark side is actually wet. All kidding aside, I am and will continue to ...
[Read More]

Coming soon to a neighborhood near you...the CrocNado
Here is the 90% finished CrocNado. Some minor detailing and recovery mechanism required.
[Read More]

Cross-section of various cables

[Read More]

Another Kevlar Resource
Here's another source for Kevlar shock cords: EMMA KITES http://www.emmakites.com/Wholesale-kite-line_c365 1,000 feet of 150 lb. twisted Kevlar for $16.50? WOW!!! Braided Kevlar is also available. I haven't ordered from this vendor, it was suggested to me in a Kevlar post comment. 
[Read More]

Estes Nike Apache Finished
  Considering this model was started in the mid 1980s, I was glad to finish it up. The decals really added a lot, especially on the Apache. The Nike fin mask took a lot of time. The black between the Apache fins would have been tough to mask and paint. The Contact paper ...
[Read More]

122mm rocket launcher full salvo
Sadly no downrange footage.
[Read More]

Model Rocket build from 1934
I”m going a little retro today. Check out this build from 1934. It may take a bit of work to make it stable but it reminds of building and flying the TOR Stubby rocket.
[Read More]

Major Solar System Bodies to Scale

[Read More]

Launch report 2014-6
Location: Schooley Mill Park Weather: Mid-80s, sunny, light wind Total flights: Today - 6; YTD - 41 Total motors: Today - ; YTD - 33 Motors by class YTD: Water-13, MMX-1, A-3, B-2, C-6, D-5, E-6, F-7, G-2, H-1 During our Mother's Day outing, the grand rocketeers and I managed to get in 6 flights. ...
[Read More]

Another Hydrostatic Test Ends with a Success
Today, we conducted the hydrostatic test on our injector system. First the system was tested for a safety factor of 2  reaching a pressure of 1600 psi. After that, we went up to  2000+ psi and the system was still holding up. The springs were still in there right position even under the ...
[Read More]

Skytec - cohetes desde Argentina
Via FaceBook, I spotted an Argentinian model rocketry company - Skytec . They offer several kits from simple 3/4FNC to far more interesting ones, such as the Shadow. Even more interesting is that the seem to have (or at least trying to start) a line of rocket motors, including a C8, D15, and ...
[Read More]

2014 TARC Results
Congratulations to the many TARC teams that competed in this years contest. The team from Creekview High School in Canton GA won the 12th annual competition this past weekend.   lace Score Team Number Team Name City State First Place – $10,500 14.88 14344 Creekview High School (Team 1) ...
[Read More]

Water rocket FAIL
I stacked two sets of spliced bottle using a commercial tornado coupling and another 2L using a home made coupling. I started doing a low pressure pressure test and found the stack was leaking like a sieve. I tracked the leak to the commercial toy coupler. I already have a washer in each end and ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, May/June 2014
This issue features two build articles - the upscale Deuces Wild! shown on the cover and a flying saucer-like rocket built from a Styrofoam snowflake. I actually like the snowflake rocket better. I can't believe the snowflake 'branches' held up under boost. There is another article chronicling one ...
[Read More]

Welcome rocketry friends from Burkina Faso!
(Extremely slow day for Adsense...)
[Read More]

Thank you for being patient!
The time has come and I have made some progress. I have updated the Fletch vehicle page and added a ...
[Read More]

Fixing My Estes LED Electron Beam Controller Part 1
Normally, I might toss an old controller when it doesn't work anymore. I did want to hang on to this one. This was a test controller, made up at Estes with the first LED continuity lights installed. It's a standard yellow Electron Beam style but the light was replaced with an LED. As far as I ...
[Read More]

Coop Week Two Summary - Harley
Unlike the first week of the coop term, much more were achieved this week. Me and Shayan are getting more familiar to the equipments in the machine shop and are able to fabricate components of the rocket on our own. I made several parts by myself this week including an aluminum adapter which fits ...
[Read More]

Fixing My Estes LED Electron Beam Controller Part 2
A strain relief knot was tied at the factory. It actually sits inside the unit. I pulled it out to measure the distance from the connection screw to the knot. The little area the knot sits in is cramped, to a good measurement is needed. There is 5/8" from the side of the knot to the connection ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2014-7
Location: MDRA, Central Sod Farm Weather: mid-60's, sunny, wind ~5mph Total flights: Today - 10; YTD - 51 Total motors: Today - 10; YTD - 43 Motors by class YTD: Water-13, MMX-1, A-3, B-2, C-7, D-6, E-9, F-11, G-2, H-2 Despite the rain on Friday, the field condition was great. The relatively light ...
[Read More]

Fixing My Estes LED Electron Beam Controller Part 3
Tie a loose overhand knot in the wire about 5/8" from the end before soldering on the terminals. The know is tied loose so you can make adjustments to the knot position when reassembling the controller. The terminals are soldered on the new end of the wire. The terminals are set back into ...
[Read More]

Major post purge
Due to a set of events that I won't bore you with, I have decided to purge most of my older posts. I have reverted all posts prior to January of this year back to draft format. That means they still exist but are not visible to the public.  I plan to restore my flight reports and reviews at ...
[Read More]

Air and Space Museum, San Diego
While the ship was docked in San Diego I took a shuttle to Balboa Park. I'd heard of the Balboa Park for years but had never been there. It was a great surprise! I stopped in at the Air and Space Museum for a quick tour. In front was the predecessor to the SR-71, the Lockheed A-12. I'd ...
[Read More]

More on the post purge
Well, I have decided to work my way through my tags and selectively restore some posts. I have made it through the tags that start with 'm'. I am generally not restoring posts that present: found photo dumps (that which started all this), lists of links, present merely 'newsy items', are old news, ...
[Read More]

Unscientific Wadding Degrade Test, Part 2
The wadding degrade test was started on April 24, HERE On the right is the blue Quest wadding on the first day of the test. The Estes toilet paper wadding squares had broken down in a week. I left the yellow crepe wadding and Quest parade pomp wadding outdoors, taped to my patio chair armrest ...
[Read More]

Rocket Troopship circa 1964
From the future that never was ...
[Read More]

SCORE! Rustoleum Metallic Apple Red
I had such great luck with the Black and Silver Rustoleum Metallic paints. The coverage was even, dried very fast and fingerprints don't show on the silver. The easiest paint I'd ever used. Home Depot carries the Black, Silver and Blue. I wanted the Red and Orange. Next door to my dentist is an ...
[Read More]

36.9%
Well the purge got rid of almost 2/3 of my posts (the title is the % remaining).  After I made 2 passes through the blog, I realized the actual number of posts that I wanted to delete was fairly small. The rest is merely collateral damage.  Oh, well. I promise my next post will be ...
[Read More]

Peak Of Flight PIG!
The Odd'l Rockets PIGASUS is featured in the current issue of the online newsletter, the Apogee Peak Of Flight #365 HERE The Pigasus kits sold out quickly, more litters are on the way. You gotta' love free advertising!
[Read More]

My Flickr photo blog (i.e. my 'favorites' stream)
I just thought I'd link to my my [ Flickr Favorites ]. Therein reside, at the time of writing, 11,553 photos from other Flickr members, covering rockets, space, aircraft, cars, rocket girls, motorsport girls, plain old girls, retro and many other interesting subjects. I've embedded a bunch of them ...
[Read More]

Morpheus free flight 13 at KSC
Very nice flight indeed. I love watching this test flight at Kennedy Space Center at the Shuttle landing facility. Really kicks up some dust at the end. Info from youtube text: “The Morpheus/ALHAT team completed Free Flight 13 (FF13) at the KSC SLF on Thursday, May 22, 2014. This was ...
[Read More]

HidroMAX water rockets
HidroMAX is a soon-to-be kickstarted (hopefully) water rocket company. They promise a serious launcher, highly adjustable and capable of supporting various nozzle sizes, reliable deployment and staging mechanisms, and even a futuristic rocket. Their only web presence as near as I can tell is on ...
[Read More]

Action shots from ESL-191
Here are two shots from last weekend's launch, with a hat tip to Stan Senesy. The Whirlygig-24 on a D11-P and the MLAS-S on an F15-4....
[Read More]

SkyTec Rockets - from Argentina
  Here's a manufacturer I hadn't heard of until I caught up reading at: Dick Stafford's ROCKET DUNGEON - HERE From Argentina is SKYTEC - HERE As Dick Stafford describes it: "They offer several kits from simple 3/4FNC to far more interesting ones, such as the Shadow. Even more i ...
[Read More]

The first commercial LED

[Read More]

New Nichrome
I finally ordered some bare nichrome from www.jacobsonline.com $6.00 for 100 feet! This is the 32 gauge. And, no extra shipping charges! Do the math -  Cut off 3" for each igniter, that's 4 igniters per foot X 100 feet = 400 igniters for $6.00. These bare nichrome igniters come out to ...
[Read More]

Apollo images
     
[Read More]

Foam golf ball howitzer
When this 40mm Burst Cannon came across my Instructables feed, I couldn't resist building one. The cannon is based on 1.25" PVC parts and shoots foam practice golf balls. I couldn't find every part at Home Depot so I improvised a bit. I have a couple of foam balls and will buy more shortly. I ...
[Read More]

New Tool - Lap Desk
I found this Lap Desk on sale during a school supplies sale. I bought it for half price, at $10.00 Here's the Lap Desk web page HERE It measures 14.5 X 18.5 inches. I slip a piece of cardboard under the clip on the left for cutting. You could also use one of the self-healing plastic mats. ...
[Read More]

Recovery Testing and More
This past Saturday, we conducted the recovery test to check if the parachute chamber(green tube)  will separate itself from the electronics module(black tube). The mechanism behind this system is that when a charge is applied to the e-match, it ignites the gun powder creating enough force to ...
[Read More]

Steve Jurvetson's rocket presentation at Maker Faire 2014

[Read More]

Build your own F9-R
Build your own paper F9-R The Lower Hudson Valley E-Gift Shop  has the F9-R models available. Link goes to main page.Scroll down page to the end to find For MANY more paper models go to my Ultimate Paper Rocket Guide page
[Read More]

Decal Soaking Questions
From the Odd'l Rockets Email box, a question -  "Waiting to finish an Estes Mini-Max, with waterslide decals.  You use the drop of liquid detergent in the water, which has worked for me.  The Apogee site recommends using white glue in the soaking.    apogeerockets ...
[Read More]

Video Hacking: All Saturn Vs launched at once
That’s 99,424,000 pounds-force or 442,260,000 newtons!  ...
[Read More]

Massive Saturn V video mashup
Spotted via The Rocketry Blog , here's a video montage of all the Saturn V missions. Wayne calculates that this event would generate 99,424,000 pounds-force or 442,260,000 newtons!
[Read More]

All the Saturn V Launches at One Time
A short video showing all the Saturn V launches side-by-side:  
[Read More]

Theme Updates
We’re in the process of upgrading our site’s theme to be friendlier to mobile devices.  There are bound to be bugs here and there, but hopefully we will be able to work them out in short order.  We hope you like the changes. The post Theme Updates appeared first on ...
[Read More]

Theme Updates
We’re in the process of upgrading our site’s theme to be friendlier to mobile devices.  There are bound to be bugs here and there, but hopefully we will be able to work them out in short order.  We hope you like the changes. The post Theme Updates appeared first on ...
[Read More]

Pink Floyd - Marooned with the ISS
To commemorate the June 30th release of the 20th Anniversary Edition of Pink Floyd's 'The Division Bell', their song Marooned has been set to footage from the ISS. Far out!
[Read More]

Mosquitos, Anyone?
The Estes BT-5 Mosquito could be considered a downscale of the Estes STREAK The Streak was BT-10 based. The BT-10 was a clear Mylar tube, close to a BT-20 size. The face card says "Ideal for small field and demonstration flying." Demonstration flying? The Big Bertha is a demonstration bird. ...
[Read More]

Night Flight: Another great Morpheus flight
Morpheus Flight 14 at night. Beautiful! Youtube copy: “The Morpheus/ALHAT team successfully completed Free Flight 14 (FF14) at the KSC SLF on Wednesday, May 28, 2014, Bravo’s 12th and ALHAT’s 5th free flight — and the first ever night flight. Initial data indicated nominal ...
[Read More]

First contact! (in 16 years, that is)
This is just too cool. SUCCESS! We are now in command of the ISEE-3 spacecraft! http://t.co/sqX53KsfHK #ISEE3 pic.twitter.com/Nt0xCTwJX4 — ISEE3 Reboot Project (@ISEE3Reboot) May 29, 2014
[Read More]

New Larger Falcon 9 Flying Model
On YORF, Bernard Cawley posted a link to the new Space X Falcon and Fairing kit  HERE   Features: Molded plastic nose cone, reducer, tail and engine nozzles Molded transparent fins Full color pre-printed body No painting required Parachute recovery Finished model ...
[Read More]

NAR Membership Goal Reached
As announced in the NAR Electronic Newsletter: The membership goal of 5,800 members was reached! This is the highest number ever!  To check out the membership benefits and join the NAR, go HERE
[Read More]

3-D Cannon-Cam with retractable fins
Makezine has posted an interesting project: GoPro Cannon-Cam . It is a 3-D printed cannon projectile intended to house a GoPro Camera. It features a cool mechanism to retract a set of fins, which is the main reason I'm posting this. While most rocketeers, like myself, don't have access to a 3-D ...
[Read More]

Foam golf ball howitzer update
I bought some new ammo (foam practice golf balls). These don't have dimples and are a little stiffer. They now fire half-way across our yard with no burst diaphragm...perfect for the kiddos. Here's a video of a launch with a Duck Tape diaphragm. I don't know if you'll be a able to see it but the ...
[Read More]

June 2014
Sunday, June 1 from noon til 4 PM. Continue reading →
[Read More]

Show Business Is Not Pretty
I arrived in Cancun about 7:30 p.m. Got my suitcases and instrument cases and wheeled them outside to meet the driver. It is hot and raining. I waited for an hour and a half - nothing. I know both the drivers and their cars. They never showed up. I figured they might be late or dropping off ...
[Read More]

Irony is a rocket eating rocket
All sport rocketeers, save those who fly exclusively on the playas of the far west, eventually lose a rocket to a rocket eating tree (or corn, soybeans, tall grass, arroyos, etc.). In today's Photo of the Month , Verna and Randy share some photos of what may be the ultimate rocket insult...losing ...
[Read More]

SpaceX CRS-3 Landing Restoration Video updates
During the CRS-3 mission the 1st stage did a soft retro landing above the water . The stage landing gear was released and the retro fire took place. When SpaceX retrieved the 21 second onboard video the quality was horrible. There were quite a few dropped frames and corruption. You can see the ...
[Read More]

Mexico Projects
I'm stuck in Mexico for the next two months, all of June and July. While here, I'll keep the blog going as best I can, hope the Internet connection is good! There may only be one post per day, depending on how much content is in the post and the Internet. I've packed some small projects to work on ...
[Read More]

Fixed the Nike Smoke 29mm
At the last MDRA launch, two of the fins on the plastic fin can snapped off at the root. I had considered it to be retired but decided to fix it up after all. While liquid plastic cement seemed to work well, I decided to add some big, ugly epoxy fillets just to be safe. I also trimmed the end of ...
[Read More]

Tubesteak Boogie
I have heard stories about people using sausage as the fuel for a hybrid motor. Maybe I've gone over the deep end but I've been thinking about flying my MicroHybrid on a hot dog. If I do, I'll temporarily rename the rocket per this post's title :) I have 2 worries. First, if the hot dog comes ...
[Read More]

Ongoing Wadding Test
Here's the Quest parade pomp wadding still taped to my patio chair. The test was started on April 24 HERE with two pieces of wadding taped to my outdoor patio chair. This picture was taken on May 30, 2014. The two pieces of light blue wadding continue to get lighter, bleached by the direct ...
[Read More]

Good day of rocket foraging
Unexpectedly, I stumbled across some cheap wind-up toys at a nearby nature center. The basic timer mechanism seems like the same one that I had used before. It also winds down nice and slow but has longer metal axles and the winding stem is longer. I'll have to swing by and stock up. I hit a ...
[Read More]

New water rocket ready for flight test
Here's my new water rocket. It has a capacity of a bit more than 5L and features a new rounded nose, home-grown 'tornado coupler', and a new timer. I need to sim it and fiddle with the timer to get the right delay.
[Read More]

Lines and Direction
Two things I’ve never been very good at. To this point I’ve progressed basically unrestrained in rocketry. I’ve flown few HP motors and increased in size quickly. H133BS, I245G, J500G, H178DM, H250G, J510W and a pair of I200W. I’m sitting on a K805G and planning a K1100T. ...
[Read More]

First FTC rocket and hod dog fuel grain update
I completed my first FTC (fluorescent tube cover) nozzle/closure using the method outlined by Bristol Water Rockets . The first attempt to shrink a section of a PET bottle was a mess. I applied too much heat, the bottle warped badly and it refused to shrink flat against the mandrel. On the second ...
[Read More]

ROCK's June 2014 Launch
More than 75 flyers attended ROCK’s June 2014 launch!   More photos and video will be posted soon!
[Read More]

Mexico Whining
Time to vent! Last Friday night I did a show at the Secrets Silver Sands Riviera Resort near Cancun. The showroom had a roof, but would be considered open air - a roof, but no walls and no air conditioning . From 8:00 until 9:15 p.m. is a good Mexico Folkloric show with dancers and a trick ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Dragon, imaged from the ground

[Read More]

A Vine video of a never setting Sun
Astronaut Reid Weisman posted the following Vine from the ISS. It's a composite of shots that take advantage of the ISS's orbital precession. I spotted this on io9 , which provides more description for them who need it.
[Read More]

Question About Estes Starter Igniters
From TRF, A post and question from member PhlAsh, "I regularly fly a Sunward Eruption that was given to No2son, who doesn't have time for rockets now. The rocket takes 4 18mm motors, so I bought 3 packs of Estes C6-7s the other night at HobbyTown USA. In opening the packs and ...
[Read More]

FTC-1, mostly complete
Here's a diagram of my FTC-1 water rocket. The indicated CG is set to the computed centroid and the CP is set to 'Barrowman'. The actual CG is half an inch from the centroid. In order for this rocket to backslide, the CG needs to be between the centroid and the CP, so I'll add some weight the ...
[Read More]

Mike K's Nike Fake Smoke
On TRF, Kramer714 posted pics of the best design I'd seen in quite a while - Real Fake Nike Smoke "Me and the boy worked up a project for ROCstock. This year year is going to be a Nike Smoke mass launch. For ours we didn't want to use replica we decided to use actual Nikes. I'm not sure whey we ...
[Read More]

Makerbot Inspiration
On TRF, VCP posted a link to the MakerBot website: Thingiverse.com CLICK HERE The above link above will take you to all the Rocket pieces and parts, launchers and stands. I'm not to interested in the disposable rockets, a few "makers" are just gluing a fin can and nose cone on an engine casing. ...
[Read More]

Orlando ROCK Launch, June 6, 2014
More than 75 flyers attended the June 6, Orlando R.O.C.K. launch. Probably their biggest attendance ever. Good thing -   they have plenty of working pads! Check out Roger's great overhead Helicopter Cam Video: http://www.orlandorocketry.com/rocks-june-2014-launch/ I was there in spirit!
[Read More]

Older Estes Continuity Bulb Replacements
On TRF from FredShector: "Just ordered 50 more of the red LEDs to replace the incandescent lamps in Estes controllers for folks who attend our club launches. http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php...174&parent=192 Completely Q2G2 safe and you simply rotate and remove the old lamp and insert and ...
[Read More]

Rocket stage floats down the river
"This would be a one-photo posting, however I find it important to include here. During the last few days there has been a flood going on in the Altai region of Russia. Hundreds or even thousands of houses are flooded and the people are suffering there, however this post is not about the ...
[Read More]

Yet another hair brained water rocket
I recently ran across a Space Shuttle water rocket. That got me thinking about that spare Guillows foam Shuttle that I've had laying around... The Shuttle had been converted to fly as an air rocket so I removed the guts and covered the gaping hole that runs the length of the bottom fuselage with ...
[Read More]

What an actual starship might looks like
NASA physicist Harold White has been researching faster-than-light space travel and now has collaborated with artist Mark Rademaker to depict what such a ship might look like. Pertinent links follow. io9 source article White's video description of the design (jump to 41:54 if the link doesn't ...
[Read More]

Hubble: Timelapse of V838 Monocerotis
"The unusual variable star V838 Monocerotis (V838 Mon) continues to puzzle astronomers. This previously inconspicuous star underwent an outburst early in 2002, during which it temporarily increased in brightness to become 600,000 times more luminous than our Sun. Light from this sudden eruption is ...
[Read More]

Tight Coupler Fixes - TIPS
This was actually Post 7 from the Estes Python build. I missed posting it and found it later in the blog drafts. This information could be applied to any tight red couplers from Estes kits. This Python kit was different - the coupler was glued into the upper tube, the lower side of the coupler ...
[Read More]

Falcon 9 and Fairing Kit Now Available
The Space X Falcon 9 Fairing kit is available from the Space X website HERE This larger model uses D and E engines and has a 3/16" launch lug. JeffyJeep is doing a build on YORF, HERE Jeff writes: "The pre-wrapped BT's are nearly flawless this time--far superior to the last F9 & Dragon kits ...
[Read More]

More Adventures in Mexico
June 12, 2014, Puerto Adventuras, Tulum      I started my show to a small crowd, lots of kids 5 to 8 years old and parents. Anytime I touched anything hard wired to their board -  My guitar or MP3 player - I got a  strong  electrical shock. It was hard to ...
[Read More]

alt.rocketdungeon
alt.rocketdungeon - another photo collection; link has been added to the sidebar my meager contributions are tagged as ' rocket dungeon '
[Read More]

I hate paint
New (?) corollary to Murphy's Law:  A light color paint will cover dark color paint only if you don't want it to. I guess the color of my water rocket Shuttle's ET will be WAY off.
[Read More]

Checking The Kevlar Line
I got a Email question on how to check the condition of the Kevlar line: After the third flight of the Quest X-15, I pulled the Kevlar loop off the rear of the engine mount tube. This model had the "Replaceable Kevlar Line Install" as described in an article in the Apogee Peak Of Flight ...
[Read More]

Images Added to netfabb Tips for STL Fixing
For those of you interested in designing your own scale model parts and printing them yourself or uploading them to a service such as Shapeways, I finally finished a post of tips-and-tricks for file repair in netfabb Studio Basic (free).  There is some mention of TurboCAD-specific settings, ...
[Read More]

Images Added to netfabb Tips for STL Fixing
For those of you interested in designing your own scale model parts and printing them yourself or uploading them to a service such as Shapeways, I finally finished a post of tips-and-tricks for file repair in netfabb Studio Basic (free).  There is some mention of TurboCAD-specific settings, ...
[Read More]

Old, New Screw Eye Knot?
J im (K'Tesh) asked on TRF, "Sorry to string you along... Anybody know what the name of the knot Mike Fisher (Binder Design) recommends for connecting his shock cords to the eye bolts?" My response: I also thought it might be the Improved Clinch. Binder has the end go through one ...
[Read More]

June, 2014, NEFAR Launch Video
Thunderstorms threatened, but stayed to the east.  So, only a few sprinkles of rain interrupted the June, 2014, NEFAR rocket launch. I flew my DJI Phantom 2 Vision quadcopter about a half-dozen times to record the low- and high-power launches ...
[Read More]

Design Inspiration? Maybe Not
Here's one from EBAY: CLICK HERE Nobody seems to be biting on the $35.00 start price or $45.50 Buy-It-Now price. Moon Rocket "4" - Why 4? Ever wonder where manufacturers get design inspiration? Estes didn't develop the Hunter's Choice Starter Set models from this Ebay listing. New designs can ...
[Read More]

Water rocket Space Shuttle progress
Here are main components attached to one another. I still need to: Make a nose cone, make the fin units that will slide into the SRB's, and attach all the recovery stuff. For the first SRB's nozzle section, I used a Dasani (IIRC) 12oz water bottle. It turns out its throat was about 25mm vs. the ...
[Read More]

On-board photo from....a big a$$ Thai bottle rocket

[Read More]

Purposefully Under-Powered Rocket Motor? A8-3?!!
On TRF, Kirk G posted: "So, after a couple of months of waiting, the Big Bertha kit is complete (or as much as the yellow base coat is going to get), and the weather is fine, clear, hot, sunny, NO wind.... And the club launch is a go on Saturday... Despite a car accident blocking the highway, we ...
[Read More]

New Kit Decal Problems
A question from  wz2p7j  on  YORF: "Is it possible to get bad decals? I'm trying to finish off a Photon Probe and the decals have to be the worst I have ever worked with. No matter how long I soaked 'em I still had great difficulty getting them to float off of the backing ...
[Read More]

Mexico, the Last Straw!
MEXICO, Tulum Resort June 19, 2014 Darrin (talent agency contact) was told last Friday about the shocks I felt when playing the Tulum show on June 12. Matt Baker (Juggler) said he was shocked twice when he did his show on Monday, June 16. (His Vocoder unit is now fried from a power spike and ...
[Read More]

SpaceX F9R 1000m test featuring steerable grid fins
The grid fins are deployed at about 1 min. 15 sec. into the flight and are used to steer the F9R back to the pad.
[Read More]

Kevlar Inventor Dies
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) -- Stephanie Kwolek, a pioneering female chemist at DuPont who invented the exceedingly tough fibers widely used in Kevlar body armor, has died, colleagues said Friday. She was 90. Kwolek made her discovery in the mid-1960s while working on specialty textile fibers, ...
[Read More]

The New Estes ARF Fin Can
ARF = " A lmost R eady to F ly" Here's the slide - lock fin can on the upcoming Estes ARF models. We've all seen the "slide the root edge tab in the slot" models before. MPC (now Quest kits and parts CLICK HERE ) was the first to use this in the 1970s. What's different here is the locking ...
[Read More]

Rocket lab in Russia
      More at English Russia.  
[Read More]

Preparing to Leave
From left to right: Chris Wang, John Grousopoulos, Hilbert Li, Victor Qian, Yash Sewlani, Yiqing Wang, Harley Tong We are preparing to leave with the University of Toronto team tomorrow. After a final assembly of the launch tower components, polishing our rocket, putting the flag together, and ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2014-8
Location: MDRA, Central Sod Farm Weather: high of 80, cloudy  changing  to clear, wind 0-5 Total flights: Today - 10; YTD - 61 Total motors: Today - 6; YTD - 49 Motors by class YTD: Water-17, uHybrid- 1,MMX-1, A-3, B-2, C-7, D-6, E-11, F-12, G-4, H-2 This was a most excellent day to fly. ...
[Read More]

Port-A-Pads Through The Years
I was curious about the design changes over the years and did some hunting on Ninfingers CLICK HERE Here's the first all plastic launcher from 1970, The Estes PORTA-PAD. We've all owned one of these. The first one I had was yellow plastic but I've seen later runs in orange. Notice the round ...
[Read More]

Heading off!
From left to right: Hilbert Li, Yash Sewlani, John Grousopoulos, Shayan Sohail, Harley Tong. After saying our goodbyes to the rest of the team, we have begun our trip to Utah! Wish us luck, we're going to need it. [...]
[Read More]

New 3 and 4FNC E2X Estes Kits Coming Soon
For any new fliers,  4FNC mean 4 F ins and a N ose C one E2X in Estes "speak" means E asy 2 eXecute (or build) The SHOW STOPPER is a BT-60 based model, just over 26" tall. CLICK HERE Why not post a picture of the model? We've all seen this design before. On the same page, under "Resources", ...
[Read More]

On the road
From left to right: Yiqing Wang, John Grousopoulos, Hilbert Li, Dale Stone, Chris Wang, Ivan Baranov The 6 of us have been on the road for a while now, ran into a dinosaur in the middle of nowhere. Still another day and a half before we arrive at our destination. [...]
[Read More]

My apologies to TRF and YORF user luke strawwalker
Over the years, I have quoted Luke some 21 times, referring to his forum name as luke skywalker . It appears that a small screen, poor eyesight, being a child of Starwars and plain sloppiness led to me misquoting his name. He informs me his name is actually luke strawwalker . Egads, I can't ...
[Read More]

Different Quest Controller and Launcher on YouTube
For curiosity I searched "Model Rocket Building" to see where the blog came up. I found a YouTube video where a Quest Astra III Starter Kit is opened up. To see the video, CLICK HERE The starter set is opened but the regular black Quest controller isn't there. At :55 seconds in I saw this: ...
[Read More]

First Day: Presentations
First day of the competition! All the teams must give a short presentation to the judges to introduce the rocket. As one of the only Canadian teams, and with one of the only hybrid rockets at competition, we attracted quite a bit of attention. [...]
[Read More]

Travel to the upper Stratosphere with World View
“With our proprietary high-altitude balloons, World View offers an accessible, affordable way to access nearspace. As a Voyager, you will enjoy a suborbital spaceflight unlike any other. Gently floating up into nearspace with World View, Voyagers now have the unique opportunity to experience ...
[Read More]

SkyTech Response
I got a comment response from the SkyTec Argentina rocket group on June 21 . . . "Many thanks for your attention!!!  Our BP model rocket motors are made in 18, 24 and 32mm diameters.  Regarding the "Shadow" model, it has two "transported gliders", designed to be recovered back by ...
[Read More]

Rocket Festival in Thailand
On TRF David M posted a link to a BAMBOO ROCKET FESTIVAL in Thailand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRQaXDafs_Y This is the most entertaining video I've seen in years. Well worth a look. Check out 4:00, 6:00. Sure, there are some explosions, but when these saucers work - it's amazing! They ...
[Read More]

New motor vendor...fast delivery
I just received my motor order from  http://www.buyrocketmotors.com/ . The company provides same/next day shipping on a variety of stocked high and mid-power rocket motors. I ordered late Friday night and the shipment went out Monday morning. The order was prepped faster but I guess the FedEx ...
[Read More]

Second Day: Launch Day #1
We woke up early with the University of Toronto team to set up our massive launch tower. In the spirit of good competition we are sharing the tower with them, as they also built a hybrid rocket which requires more stability off the rail as compared to solid rockets.  [...]
[Read More]

Even More Kit Decal Problems
Cl(VII) on TRF - Did a beautiful build of the Red River Rocketry Stratus. A catalog quality build. Check out the pictures at post #23 CLICK HERE "Now the first thing I was disappointed in with the kit, and admittedly this is entirely a matter of personal preference and could have been ...
[Read More]

Ebola
 
[Read More]

Third Day: Launch Day #2
We attempted to launch today, but there was something we overlooked. Since our launch was near the end of window, and everyone was feeling a bit rushed, we decided to call it off for safety reasons. We will try to launch tomorrow. [...]
[Read More]

JonRocket.com Celebrates Five Years
It’s been five years since Roger and Bracha Smith took over the reigns of the online model rocketry retailer, JonRocket.com. To thank all of their customers for supporting the business, JonRocket.com is holding a sale event which runs through July ...
[Read More]

Space Shuttle water rocket...getting close
Progress since the last update: Nose Cone - I roughed out a truncated conical nose cone out of some poster board. It's not perfect, but I liked it well enough. I beefed up the inside with another layer of card stock and treated it with many coats of Future brand floor finish. A ring of ...
[Read More]

A Letter Worth Posting
A letter from Andy that sizes up what we've all been through building rockets: Hi, I am a long-time follower of your blog and really enjoy it.  I have been in and out of the rocketry hobby since the mid 1970's.  I jump back and forth between rocketry and plastic model buil ...
[Read More]

Fourth Day: Launch Day #3
We had two attempts at a successful launch today. Our first one failed due to some issues with the heat generated from the ignitor, along with some heavy wind that interfered with the drop plate separation. We fixed the wind issue by adding a shield. Unfortunately, we were unable to find the rest ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2014-9
Location: NARHAMS, Carroll County Ag Center Weather: 80's, 0-5mph, sunny Total flights: Today - 11; YTD - 72 Total motors: Today - 12; YTD - 61 Motors by class YTD: Water-17, MicroHybrid-1, MMX-1, A-3, B-4, C-12, D-6, E-13, F-14, G-5, H-2 June was a great launch month - this was the 2nd perfect ...
[Read More]

Thailand Saucer Rockets Part 2
Here's how they start the LPR smaller spinning saucers in Thailand. CLICK HERE Check out some "launches" at :55, 2:12, 2:40 and a closeup of the saucer at 3:40. No NAR Safety Code in Thailand. Here's a video of a MPR saucer. CLICK HERE Maybe a use for the long burn Quest D5 engines? NO! ...
[Read More]

More Interesting A10 and A8 Engine Comparisons
    I ran across this engine comparison chart on the Apogee website  CLICK HERE Scroll down to the bottom of the page. These are RockSim altitude comparisons. Granted, some simulator predictions are on the high side. The results are still interesting. With the 13mm ...
[Read More]

Aerospace Speciality Products
We’ve added scale model rocket kits and parachutes from Aerospace Speciality Products to our online store. We approached ASP about carrying their kits after reading reviews in the Model Rocket Building Blog and at RocketReviews.com.  The reviews convinced us that ...
[Read More]

Estes Price Changes - July
Just got this from Roger at JonRocket.com We just received the new Estes price list for July (good thing they  didn't wait until the last minute!) The list price of the PSII "Launch Base" has dropped from 79.99 to 49.99. The list prices for the Leviathan, Ventris, Partizon, and Argent ...
[Read More]

Air start flying saucer
Here's the launch shot of the successful flight of NASA's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD). It was launched from a high altitude balloon, which is in the middle of the frame.. All the details are attached to the photo when you click through to Flickr. Or you can hover over the photo and ...
[Read More]

Hand Painted Estes Leviathan
    From YORF, Here's a Leviathan by Kimble29   Estes Leviathan built and FINALLY painted "Took forever to paint this thing. Lots of different reasons but I finally got it done. I went with a WWII fighter plane theme for this rocket inspired by one of my kids toy ...
[Read More]

No Tangle Shroud Lines Article
I wrote a new article for the Apogee Peak Of Flight Newsletter #368 on: PREVENTING TANGLED SHROUD LINES To read the article - CLICK HERE This is a simple way to tie and attach no-tangle shroud lines during construction. It takes an extra minute or two but you'll have "clear" parachute shroud lines ...
[Read More]

Happy World UFO Day
To celebrate, I'm reposting my most UFO-like photo. This hovered around for a long time. As I remember, the prevailing explanation was a weather balloon. At least, that's what the aliens want us to think.  
[Read More]

Plasma rocket
 
[Read More]

Help with blogger stats
If anyone can help explain this, please leave a comment! About a week ago, this blog started getting a very steady (but spiky) supply of hits to a few recent posts. However, these page views don't seem to be real because they are not significantly influencing Adsense earnings. They also never ...
[Read More]

Ebay Score!
This was one of those: "I'll bid but if I don't get it, no big deal." I got it for a great price at $37.50!  This is the Centuri Eagle Power Starter Set. It looks like it was bought and stored, only opened once for the Ebay pics! I always thought the Screaming Eagle was innovative with the ...
[Read More]

Estes Specials (Clearance Items)
While I expected to see a Big 4th of July Sale at the Estes website, they are now listing all the sale items as "Specials". Many of the same rockets are listed from the past sales held in observance of: Easter, Father's Day, Mother's Day, Groundhog Day, Prince Johah Kalanianaole Day, Arbor Day, ...
[Read More]

Four Year Blog Anniversary
July 4th is the Four Year Anniversary of the blog! Nearly 3,000 posts and 1,000 readers a day. Here's the copy from the first post from July 4, 2010: "While I've been active posting on The Rocketry Forum and EMRR, I wanted a place to archive my construction methods and builds.  Everyone ...
[Read More]

Retro July 4th pinups...
Retrogasm has posted a flood of retro, 4th of July pinups. Hover over this photo and navigate to right to see them all. Unless he/she added more, in which case you'd have to navigate to the left too. Enjoy!
[Read More]

Big Bangerz on the 4th

[Read More]

Good 808 Keychain Camera Directions
If you've ever bought a Key Chain Camera, you know the badly translated instructions can be hard to figure out. The Apogee Website has written up great instructions for the 808 Key Chain Camera. CLICK HERE These directions are for the lower resolution 808 camera. It records at 30 frames per ...
[Read More]

Launch, Orlando R.O.C.K., July 5, 2014
It's Florida, hot and humid. Why do we do this to ourselves every Summer? There weren't as many flyers as in June. Rain was forecast and it's the Holiday weekend so a smaller turnout was expected. Today was meant to be the shakedown for the Little Green Man. I arrived late, around 11:00 a.m. ...
[Read More]

Presidio, Texas, Rocketry Teacher Gets Green Card
Two years ago, Shella Condino, a Texas teacher known for using rocketry to inspire and educate, received a letter from the US Immigrations Service saying, “You are not authorized to remain in the United States and to depart as soon as possible.” A Texas congressman investigated and ...
[Read More]

A Gift from Bill G!
You meet great people at club launches. This is Bill Gibson. I met him at a Tampa TTRA launch a few years ago. A great builder and flyer. Bill was the first person I'd seen that marked the engine designation on the igniter tape. A practice I use every time I prep a rocket. CLICK HERE When ...
[Read More]

The Last Mexico Post - Strike Four!
  If you follow the blog you know my recent experience in Mexico wasn't good. I had done the month of September there last year. Things were sketchy then, now it's worse. On arrival, I was left at the airport with no pickup. Never informed about the (new policy) one hour bus and taxi ...
[Read More]

Water rocket videos
Thanks to Bob from MDRA/Liberty Launch Systems, I have some videos of my water rocket flights at ESL-192. There are three for both the Manatee 2 and the FTC-1. Two of the three are from tripod mounted GoPro's and one from a handheld Canon. Most of all of them document my prep operations so I ...
[Read More]

A Better Primer? Nope!
I had been using Duplicolor Filler-Primer with good results. After my last can ran out, I went cheaper and bought some Rustoleum Gray Automobile Primer. Others on the forums have mentioned using it. It's not the same! The Rustoleum Primer looks the same after it dries. But the spray feels ...
[Read More]

Russian launches new Angara Rocket
Russian has shaken off earlier glitches and launched the new Angara rocket. The rocket lifted off today from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome near Arkhangelsk in Russia’s far north.     more on the Angara rocket family here
[Read More]

www.oddlrockets.com New Address!
July 8, 2014 Thanks to Roger Smith - (JonRocket.com and RocketReviews.com) The old Odd'l Rockets website address is now directed here to the Odd'l Rockets Blog.
[Read More]

Videos of my flights from ESL-192
Peter has posted his videos from ESL-192 in MDRA's YouTube Channel. Ankyo-mcH on a microhybrid FTC-1 water rocket  (landed on AMW's trailer) Manatee-2 water rocket  (lawndart -snagged 'chute ejector; flew successfully later) Art Applewhite 9" Stars and Stripes on an ...
[Read More]

Large RF Anechoic chamber
 
[Read More]

Estes Parts Lists
On TRF, Samb posted links to some very valuable Estes parts lists. These were prepared by John Brohm with some help from others. BODY TUBES: Look up your kit name and find the body tube diameters and lengths: http://www.rocketshoppe.com/info/Estes_Body_Tube_List_3.1.pdf This list really helps ...
[Read More]

Squadron Putty
I have heard about Squadron Putty for years. Many builders use it to fill the seams in plastic nose cones. I've been using medium super glue on plastic nose cones with good results. I haven't used Squadron Putty before simply because I don't build plastic models. It is primarily used to fill ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets BLOG!
Oh no! Not another blog! -  Why not? It's cheaper and a whole lot easier to post information than a HTML website. It's a work in progress, so don't expect much - yet! This blog - modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com will concentrate on model building. The  new  Odd'l Rockets blog ...
[Read More]

Developing A Logo, Picking A Font, Part 1
Unless you've drawn up instructions before, you might not realize the work that goes into it. Here's a few hours work trying to come up with the right font and logo development for the new Little Green Man project. Take the time to find the right font for your design. First pick out possible ...
[Read More]

Estes Mega Mosquito, Steam Punk, Forward Mounted Canted Cluster build thread, part 1
This series will  mirror my posts in the TRF build thread  with the same name Comments and comments to the comments will not be included. ***************************** I had been wondering what to do with the Spare Mega Mosquito that was gathering cobwebs in the build pile....then I ...
[Read More]

Estes Mega Mosquito, Steam Punk, Forward Mounted Canted Cluster build thread, part 2
Progress today... Here, all three mounts have been tacked in with 5 minute epoxy and the parachute tube assembly was completed. The latter turned out a little heavier than it would have if I had used modroc tubing and bought some BT-70 to BT-80 rings. What's a few extra ounces anyway? ...
[Read More]

Sunward Boost Glider Wing Art
On TRF, Kirk G had some questions about building and flying his Sunward Boost Glider. CLICK HERE The Aviator suggested some Sharpie markers to color the underside of the wing. Kirg G posted: " Took your suggestion, and turned my daughter loose with the markers. She choose the UNDERSIDE of the ...
[Read More]

Developing A Logo, Picking A Font, Part 2
The middle font reminds me of the old Irwin Allen Sci-Fi television shows. In this revision, the second doubled "T" and "E" were flipped over so they didn't look the same. Look at the second picture above to see how the letters look when two of the same Es are right next to each other. To make it ...
[Read More]

Rewinding a large motor

[Read More]

Estes Mega Mosquito, Steam Punk, Forward Mounted Canted Cluster build thread, part 3
Today saw a lot of progress. I fabricated an insert to protect the nose cone using a chuck of tube and some thick cardstock. I also sectioned the shoulder of the cone so it will slide past the motor tubes. I plan to hold the cone in using three nylon pop rivets so I can inspect the protector. I ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets Blog Improvements
  Last night I stayed up and added:    *  Art topper logo (it's not showing it all, just the left side)    *  Kits Pages 1 & 2    *  Accessories Page    *  Dealers Page Give me a few weeks to get these pages up to speed. ...
[Read More]

White Squadron Putty Test
I was curious how the white Squadron Putty could stick so well in the intake tab recesses on the Estes QCC Explorer intakes. After sanding the QCC intakes, my water based CWF filler wouldn't stick in the super glued recesses. But, the white Squadron Putty stayed in ...
[Read More]

ROCK's July 5, 2014, Launch

[Read More]

Video of Today's SpaceX OG2 launch
  To skip right to the launch time you can click here
[Read More]

July 14, 2012, STEM Launch
Orlando area STEM coordinator, Abdul Siddiqui, contacted the R.O.C.K. section about holding a launch for the High School Summer Engineering Interns. Twenty Alpha flights went up using A8-3 engines. Bracha and Roger Smith, Sandy and Dave Ribakoff and I helped set up the equipment. While we ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Shock Collar
Great Shock Collar on yesterdays’s launch! What’s a Shock Collar?
[Read More]

Estes Mega Mosquito, Steam Punk, Forward Mounted Canted Cluster build thread, part 4
Well, here are the major pieces dry fit. I reviewed the ongoing steampunk build threads including those by TRF members FayBoy and bill2654 and am doubting my resolve to stempunkify this thing. Their work has blown my mind, man! PS - IMO the retainers and mounts look fine now that the fins are ...
[Read More]

US Army PEO STRI High School Summer Engineering Internship Launch
On July 14,high school students participating in PEO STRI’s Summer Engineering Internship program built and launched model rockets. ROCK members Roger Smith, Bracha Smith, Chris Michielssen, and David Ribakoff set up ROCK’s launch equipment and helped the kids prepare and ...
[Read More]

Wadding Test Part 4
I arrived back home from Mexico on July 1. Here's how the Quest Pomp Wadding looks after being exposed to the outside elements in my open patio since April 24, 2014 - CLICK HERE One piece of the Quest wadding had torn off the arm of the chair right where it was taped on. The second piece is ...
[Read More]

Apollo 11 45th anniversary
Today marks the 45th Anniversary of Apollo 11 liftoff. Here are a few of my favorite past Apollo 11 post: The original Apollo 11 Press Kit Apollo 11 Source code Apollo 11 Transcripts Apollo 11 – Experience landing in real time and for reference ...
[Read More]

Today in history, a roar and a boom
Apollo 11 launch, July 16, 1969 Trinity Test, July 16, 1945 (via Wikipedia )
[Read More]

Estes Mega Mosquito, Steam Punk, Forward Mounted Canted Cluster build thread, part 5
Spent yesterday cutting cardstock, placing stick on rivets, and add other missile-aneous trim. I could add more but I want to have it ready for the next MDRA launch and want to take advantage of today's sun for painting. Hope to get it all primered up today. I'm mostly happy with what I did but ...
[Read More]

Model Profile, Semroc Hawk
  This is the Semroc Hawk, based on the 1965 AMROCS kit, designed by Larry Renger. Larry Renger also designed the similar Estes Falcon boost glider.   I flew this one twice both on 1/2A6-2 engines. The first flight was okay, not a long duration glide. Clay weight ...
[Read More]

Smart Phone Rocket Launcher
Ever since I saw the Apple ad in which model rockets are launched by an iPhone I have been in search for the app and hardware information. Well thanks to MAKE and this brilliant kid the method has been found. I just happen to have a Raspberry Pi lying around. Link to Make article Here   ...
[Read More]

First dog in space?

[Read More]

Star Trooper Oops!
On TRF, Top Ramen posted pictures on his recently finished Estes Star Trooper. Anybody notice anything wrong? Post your answer in the "Comments" below. (There's nothing wrong with TopRamen's build. It's something Estes didn't get right.) TopRamen's model looks good in the blue. I don't think ...
[Read More]

Orders! July 18, 2014
I'm sending off a pre-NARAM order to Apogee today. Apogee will be at NARAM with a small litter of PIGASUS kits for sale. They will also have other Odd'l products available. As soon as I get another order of laser cut fins -  Another batch of Pigs and kits will go to Uncle Mike's Rocket Shack. ...
[Read More]

Estes Mega Mosquito, Steam Punk, Forward Mounted Canted Cluster build thread, part 6

[Read More]

3D Printed V2 on TRF
MrBill2u Posted this on TRF. Now 3D printing gets very interesting -  "There is a member of these forums by the name of Raygun who has a shop set up at Shapeways for 3D printed rocket parts. This is a tiny build thread for his BT-55 V2. Check out the V2 fin can at the ...
[Read More]

15 years of rocketry

[Read More]

Elmer's Glue - Uh-Oh!
This was talked about on the forums two years ago. Elmer's had thinned out their glue and is now calling it a "NEW STRONGER FORMULA". Many builders had problems using it, especially on couplers and engine mounts. The thinner glue quickly saturates the Kraft tubes and couplers. Engine mounts and ...
[Read More]

Little Green Man Promo Film Short
Roger Smith put together a great L.G.M. promotional video. You can see a C6-5 flight from a quad copter video perspective. CLICK HERE This was filmed at the July 14, S.T.E.M. launch. The music and Theremin sounds make the perfect soundtrack. Thanks Roger! Great work as always . . .
[Read More]

Local Nike Ajax display
The attached photo is the upper stage of a Nike Ajax, which is on display at a local high school. They are the "Rockets', due to a Nike Ajax battery that was located nearby . When the school was rebuilt, the missile was removed and refurbished. A shop class painted it the school colors vs. its ...
[Read More]

Cohete Gigante (a.k.a. Son of The Dude)
A while back I bought one of these for the grand rocketeers - $1.50 at Michael's. It is a rocket shaped Mylar balloon. The fins are held on with 2-sided tape. I glides pretty well and is indoor safe (i.e. light). On the drive home the gears spun up to speed and I decided I wanted one for my own ...
[Read More]

Model Rockets Take to the Sky
On Juky 22, KTVN Channel 2 aired a new story about Reno Rocketry, the Northern Nevada chapter of Tripoli.     The station’s videographer placed GoPro cameras under and near the launch pads to obtain dramatic video of the launches. The “drag race” shot was ...
[Read More]

Terror in the Sky Airfest (updated with a discussion of tolerances in design)
Braving the 100 degree humiture, I traipsed out this afternoon to a local park to fly a couple of low tech water rockets and my Blade 180-QX Quadcopter. My drone piloting skills suck...hence the name of the 'launch'. Things started poorly when I realized I hadn't reloaded the battery in my camera. ...
[Read More]

Aleene's Tacky Glue Online Chat
Trying to find information about a better white glue, I did an email chat with a representative from Aleene's Tacky Glue: You are now chatting with 'Rebecca' You: Hi Rebecca! You: My name is Chris Rebecca: Hello, how may I help you? You: I was using Elmer's white glue on my model rockets. ...
[Read More]

NASA provides 3-D printable models
Via io9 , I see NASA has released 3-D printable models of several satellites, a couple of asteroids, and section of the Moon's surface: 3D Models - 3D printable . They have a disclaimer about some of these requiring tweaking by the user and the longest dimension is about 4".  I immediately ...
[Read More]

A Email Question To Elmer's
After not getting a good answer about Aleene's Tacky Glue, I sent the same question to Elmer's -  Email:  oddlrockets@bellsouth.net Comments: A while back you changed the old White Glue formula to a "New Stronger Formula"  I build model rockets. The old formula was thicker and ...
[Read More]

To fire this missile, just add water
Here's a cool video of the launch of a Russian RPK-2 Viyuga .
[Read More]

July 2014
July 26, noon till 4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

3D printed alumina ultra-high temp.
 
[Read More]

NARAM 56, Pueblo, CO
Bob Sanford (Initiator 1 on YORF) Posted this NARAM 56 welcome sign. Vanna, I'll take an "E" . . . NARAM Live isn't operating yet. http://www.naramlive.com/naramlive-2014/  
[Read More]

Launch Report 2014-10
Location: MDRA, Central Sod Farm Weather: cloudy turning to clear, wind 0 -5, around 90 degrees max Total flights: Today - 8; YTD - 80 Total motors: Today - 9; YTD - 70 Motors by class YTD: Water-17, MicroHybrid-1, MMX-1, A-3, B-4, C-12, D-6, E-17, F-14, G-9, H-2 The day started poorly with a 30 ...
[Read More]

Jeff Taylor's Steampunked ACME Spitfire
Jeff Taylor (FatBoy on TRF) "Steampunked" his FlisKit ACME Spitfire. The finished results are amazing! CLICK HERE There are hundreds of rivets and plenty of cardstock trim. I especially like the shingles on the fin root edge and the Zebra wood veneers with barrel hoops on the upper section. The ...
[Read More]

F15-4 --> F0-0 (a.k.a. you can't light clay)
As I reported yesterday: I started trying to fly an F15-4 in the Cheetah. After the stock igniter failed to light it, I tried a Q2G2. No go. I decided that maybe there was some clay over the nozzle. I scraped it lightly and tried another Q2G2. Still no joy. More scraping and a home grown ...
[Read More]

NARAM 56 is LIVE!
Chris Taylor is once again bringing NARAM LIVE! to computers everywhere. Photos, videos and live streaming (I haven't looked at the later).  Here's a teaser that I lifted from the Saturday album.  
[Read More]

CSXT Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Amateur Space Launch By Doing It Again
In May of 2004, the Civilian Space Exploration Team (CSXT) launched a 21-foot long rocket to an altitude of 72 miles. The “Go Fast” rocket became the “first American civilian sounding rocket to reach outer space” and the first verified launch into space by an amateur group. ...
[Read More]

NARAM Live Manufacturer's Forum Video
From Saturday night, the NARAM Manufacturer's Forum is running - http://www.ustream.tv/channel/naram-56/theater Audio was hard to follow in some spots. I hope I heard everything correctly. You just have to sit through the Swiffer Duster ads. Some Highlights: 00:17:45 ESTES John Boren talked about ...
[Read More]

My Ranger at NARAM
My Ranger made it to NARAM in one piece! This was my entry for voting into the Seattle Museum of Flight Model Rocketry display. 12 models will be picked. I counted 15 entries so I've got a good shot! The first 13 pictures are the museum entries: CLICK HERE After that are the NARAM Scale ...
[Read More]

And we'll gang nae mair a roving, boys
 
[Read More]

Replace the Light Bulb in Your Older Estes Launch Controller With an LED (For Free, Almost)
  We have added a red LED to our catalog.  The bright LED fits in the socket of many older 6V launch controllers, such as the Estes Electron Beam, replacing the old-fashioned light bulb.   We’ve tested the LEDs successfully in ...
[Read More]

Dave Fitch's Entry in NARAM Concept Scale
  I hope Dave got high scores for originality. Bob Sanford Picture
[Read More]

John Boren's Navaho Cruise Missile
There's a good reason why John Boren works in R&D at Estes. If you haven't followed the Navaho build thread on YORF you should check it out -  CLICK HERE John's scale entry at NARAM 56 is the SM-64 Navaho Cruise Missile. It will be an RC boost glider. John had plans to install two ...
[Read More]

Ranger Picked for Seattle Museum Of Flight
  Jeff Taylor sent me a message at TRF about my submitted Ranger at NARAM . . .  It was picked for display at the Seattle Museum of Flight Model Rocket Display! Jeff's Steam Punked ACME Spitfire (featured on this blog) will also be there! 
[Read More]

New Type of Propulsion Validated
NASA has validated a new type of propulsion called the Emdrive. This type of Microwave induced propulsion requires no on-board propellant. So you can see why this would be an attractive alternative to current propulsion systems. Wired online has a great article on this: Link to Wired article You ...
[Read More]

Touch-Ups after Sanding TIP
Did you ever sand off an edge of a white undercoat? This Little Green Man prototype had a glue blob on one of the toes. After sanding it down, the white cover paint was removed. I didn't want to spray another undercoat. That dark brown area could show through the light green color to come. I ...
[Read More]

1:72 and 1:70 H-1 Engine Sets
We’re happy to announce our latest 3D-printed parts available via Shapeways:  Sets of H-1 Engines in 1:72 and 1:70 scale.  Both early and later versions of the central flame shield / inboard turbine exhaust designs are represented alongside a common outboard engine design.  ...
[Read More]

1:72 and 1:70 H-1 Engine Sets
We’re happy to announce our latest 3D-printed parts available via Shapeways:  Sets of H-1 Engines in 1:72 and 1:70 scale.  Both early and later versions of the central flame shield / inboard turbine exhaust designs are represented alongside a common outboard engine design.  ...
[Read More]

Centuri Powr-Pad Launcher and Controller, Part 1, Parts
  I picked this one up on Ebay. The build of the Centuri Screaming Eagle rocket will follow the launcher assembly. This PowrPad was part of the Eagle Power Starter Set introduced in 1973 Centuri Catalog. A very smart design using a 6 volt lantern battery for base weight. The descriptive ...
[Read More]

Centuri Powr-Pad Launcher and Controller, Part 2, Internal Wiring
The metallic stickers are applied first. The blue plastic housing pieces were washed off first to remove any mold release. The edges were pressed in place with a Q-tip. I didn't want to take any chance of the ink rubbing off. A knot is tied in the wire for strain relief. The length of the ...
[Read More]

Whatever Happened To . . . 3/16" Raise Springs?
I've sold a few thousand of the 1/8" rod RAISE Springs. This was one of the first Odd'l Rocket's products. I had very positive responses on the springs. Chan Stevens did a great review on Rocket Reviews: CLICK HERE But the question came up: "Why don't you make them for 3/16" rods?" I contacted ...
[Read More]

Centuri Powr-Pad Launcher and Controller, Part 3, Internal Wiring
Unlike the old Estes Electro Launch controller, the wire ends had the insulation already stripped off. The wire strands are twisted and turned into a "C" shape around the screwdriver shaft. Twist the wires in the direction that the screw will turn. This way the strands won't separate. ...
[Read More]

Piesters in Alaska
From a FaceBook post: That's Rick Piester, Ryan Friel and Lee Piester doing some fishing in Alaska. For the younger rocketeers - Lee Piester started and was president of Centuri Engineering. Rick Piester works for Hobbico, the new owners of Estes Industries. From the 1972 Centuri Catalog: A ...
[Read More]

SpaceX AsiaSat 8 Launch

[Read More]

A brief history of Frank Malina
IEEE Spectrum has a great article on Frank Malina and his 'Suicide Squad' at CalTech's GALCIT.
[Read More]

Tiny ASIC
fraunhofer.de
[Read More]

Centuri Powr-Pad Launcher and Controller, Part 4, Safety Key
The continuity safety key is interesting. A larger plastic housing holds a standard style safety key. The Centuri name plate piece glues over the key with plastic cement. There are two small holes at the top for a string. The key can be worn around your neck. Here's the finished unit with ...
[Read More]

Home Made Rockets on YouTube
From tlgrimmy on YouTube - A three part model rocket assembly videos using scratch parts. Part 1, CLICK HERE Part 2, CLICK HERE Part 3, CLICK HERE Some interesting points: Using metal skewers for engine hooks. A parachute protector, what he calls and ejection shroud, on part 2.
[Read More]

New Product - Odd'l Rockets Flame Resistant Shock Cord
Years back, elastic shock cords contained more cotton. Now elastic contains a larger percentage of polyester. Polyester easily burns. For better protection, I've developed a Flame Resistant Shock Cord. It is specially treated with a flameproof solution. Each package contains 8 yards (24 feet) ...
[Read More]

Plans for Future
For the past few weeks, we have been busy organizing our bay and our online database so that everything can be managed more efficiently. The team is now back from the competition and our plans for the next rocket is to look into and fix the problems with current one. We have decided not to do a ...
[Read More]

New Odd'l Rockets Product - Flame Resistant Shock Cord
Years back, elastic shock cords contained more cotton. Now elastic contains a larger percentage of polyester. Polyester easily burns. For better protection, I've developed a Flame Resistant Shock Cord. It is specially treated with a flameproof solution. Each package contains 8 yards (24 feet) ...
[Read More]

Centuri Powr-Pad Launcher and Controller, Part 5, Power Pad Tilter
I was always curious how the "Tilter" worked. Well, it doesn't! At least I couldn't get it to tilt.  You are told to screw the bolt 1/2" into the yellow top. It screws into what would normally be the launch rod hole. (I know, the washer should be under the wing nut.) The bolt is longer ...
[Read More]

UP! Cup Streamer Packing Tips
Most Odd Ball rockets take a few extra minutes to prep for flight. The UP! Cup is different and takes some extra care. The 20mm engine mount tube is over sized for a reason. A streamer is taped to and wrapped around the engine casing making a "slip" friction fit in the engine mount tube. The ...
[Read More]

NARTREK Cadet Program
For almost a decade, JonRocket.com has supported the National Association of Rocketry’s NARTREK Cadet program. The NARTREK Cadet program is designed specifically for modelers under age 18 and is open to both members and non-members of the NAR. The NARTREK ...
[Read More]

Vern Estes Original Big Bertha
From a 2005 post by "A Fish Named Wallyum" on YORF - Here's some background on Vern Estes and the original Big Bertha. "Vern built this rocket to use at demonstration launches. It proved to be so popular that they later made it a free plan and then a kit. It became the largest selling rocket Estes ...
[Read More]

New Estes Shock Cord Mount
  John Boren mentioned a new Estes shock cord anchor used in the Pro Series II E2X kits at the NARAM Manufacturers Forum. I went to the Estes Website to check it out - CLICK HERE These illustrations came from the Pro Series II E2X Ascender kit. Enlarge pictures 2,3 and 4 if needed. The ...
[Read More]

L.G.M. Instruction Face Card Art
I've finished the face card art for the first instruction page. This involved a dozen photographs of the second prototype in different lighting. The best was picked and cropped around the outside lines. Color enhancement was done, then contrast and brightness. A tip vortex was drawn off the ...
[Read More]

August 2014
The new waiver has been approved! The August launch will be high power (weather permitting).
[Read More]

Rocket oddness at MDRA's ESL-193
Peter Abresch caught a couple of my flights at ESL-193 - my AquaShuttle water rocket and the Cohete Gigante balloon rocket. When I launched the Shuttle, it went back over my head and, when I saw it again, the 'chute was out. I knew the flight was very low becuae of the short hang time. You can't ...
[Read More]

NEW! Odd'l Product, Flame Resistant Shock Cord
At one time, elastic shock cords contained more cotton. Now elastic contains a larger percentage of polyester. Polyester melts easier than cotton. For more protection, I've developed a Flame Resistant Shock Cord. It is specially treated with a flameproof solution. Each package contains 8 yards ...
[Read More]

Redneck science on the Demolition Ranch
Growing up, we had ample open spaces where you could 'experiment' with things that would land you in jail these days (at least in this neck of the woods). I really miss plinking at things in the desert and often would like to try some rocket that is too weird even for MDRA. So, I have an affinity ...
[Read More]

LOC Vulcanite
Today I finally threw a few coats of primer on the Vulcanite and started putting some color on her. I still need to mask off the fins and spray the bottom half black. I checked my build thread on this, and saw I started the build 10/28/12. opps. Looking back, there was quite a bit [ ...
[Read More]

Steel balloons made with high pressure water

[Read More]

Cool Nose Cone Mask
Daniel Petrie emailed me asking how to paint a nose cone into quadrants, from the shoulder to the tip. He sent me some pictures of the finished model. For the full story, CLICK HERE Daniel made a marking guide out of a paper strip, folded into fourths and marked. The marks were transferred ...
[Read More]

Powered FLIC Replacement
The combo kit was pretty successful with school groups. Some teachers like to show students other methods of stability. I'm almost out Shuttle FLICs. Quest doesn't offer them on the website anymore. The Shuttle looks great but I need to find something appropriate as a substitute. The Corkscrew ...
[Read More]

Model Profile - Centuri Hummingbird
  I built "the easy goin" Centuri Hummingbird in the early 1970s. I don't remember ever flying it. It might be the only card stock boost glider kit ever produced. On YORF, Scigs30 started a thread on the Centuri Hummingbird in August of 2011: CLICK HERE He did some great drawings of the ...
[Read More]

TIP - Metallic Paint and Humidity - NOPE!
I had great results with the Rustoleum Metallic paints earlier this year. It seemed to be goof-proof. It dried fast, very shiny and no fingerprints! In Florida, in August HUMIDITY it was a different story. After sanding the first dull coat, the picture shows my second try. I ended up lightly ...
[Read More]

Picture Dowel - TIP
  Anytime I take a finished picture of a rocket, I've just used a painting dowel in the engine mount. The dowel always had a coat of paint from the last model I painted. I decided to make a dedicated photo dowel used only for the finished pictures. A 1/2" dowel fits a standard used engine ...
[Read More]

Painkiller Micro
This is a cool little kit from Gary T. 24mm motor, with free CTI 6grain case. My plan is to fly it on 24mm Aerotech SU and in the 24/40 case on E18’s and F38’s. Should also do well on the new F44W SU motors. Once I rig up a small 38mm bay for my [ ...
[Read More]

The last Shuttle stack
Or should I say the stacking of a Shuttle? Caption via Flickr: JSC2014-E-077299 (14 Aug. 2014) --- Space Center Houston's space shuttle replica Independence is hoisted for placement atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft 747. The aircraft and simulated spacecraft tandem will remain on display at the ...
[Read More]

Make Your Own Tubes
On TRF, HermanJC is making a scratch built Saturn V. He's even rolling his own body tubes! CLICK HERE Tube rolling is explained in this Instructables pictorial: CLICK HERE This could come in handy if you needed a specific size you can't get from vendors. It's refreshing to see a purist construct ...
[Read More]

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko imaged by Rosetta's OSIRIS narrow angle camera on 7 August from a distance of 104 km. While the comet’s head (in the top half of the image) is covered with parallel linear features, the neck displays scattered boulders on a smooth underground. In c ...
[Read More]

Chase Plane Footage of F9 first stage "landing"

[Read More]

Upscale Break-Away - The Castaway!
Ari Krupnik (Iter on TRF) built an upscale of the Odd'l Rockets Break-Away called the Castaway. Ari and his daughter Leah started with the 1" diameter Break-Away kit His larger version is made from 2.6" diameter tubing. It has flown with F, G and H engines. The complete thread with videos ...
[Read More]

A new approach to finless
A few days ago, one Dean Black posted a unique finless design on Facebook (members can join the NAR group and look for Dean's name). He describes the design as "induction stabilized." He also has a .pdf describing the rocket (again, you'd have to join and ask for it). There are several criteria ...
[Read More]

An LED in a Yellow Electron Beam Controller
Right after the Quest Q2G2s were introduced - Some had the igniters fire when the safety key was inserted. The Quest controller has an LED continuity light, the Estes controllers had an older filament bulb. The Q2G2 requires less power to ignite. When used with an Estes Electron Beam controller ...
[Read More]

Little Green Man Kits!
  After two prototypes, test flights and too many revisions, the first seven Odd'l Rockets  LITTLE GREEN MAN   kits have been bagged up! I'm hanging on to #1, the remaining six kits are available from: www.jonrocket.com
[Read More]

RIP Vulcanite
This one stings.  A lot.  I forgot to put the ejection charge in the Loki G80.   Came in ballistic from a little over 1,000 feet.  Landed in the back field, which had 2-3 foot deep crops.  Even with the last known GPS lock from 132 feet, there was no way to find the ...
[Read More]

Amateur rocket team launches rocket to 73.1 miles
CSXT(Civilian Space eXploration Team) launched their new “GoFast” rocket on July 14th to an confirmed altitude of 73.1 miles or 385,800 feet. This is the second successful space launch for the team. The CXST first entered the record books in 2004 becoming the first amateur rocket to ...
[Read More]

An LED in a Black Electron Beam Controller
Installing an LED in the black Electron Beam is much easier than in the yellow casing. The picture shows the old exposed bulb and the LED replacement. A black plastic "dome" lifts up to expose the older bulb. Turn the old bulb and lift up - That's it! Set the LED in matching up the tabs ...
[Read More]

Building the Bad Cholesterol Block II
I’m about out of time. I’ve been doing some thinking and coming to the conclusion I’m not going to finish the electronics for TRDRM by Saturday, not unless it’s at the expense of something higher priority. So I’ve decided just to focus on getting it, and the Bad ...
[Read More]

CSXT makes another space shot, this time with footage!
See the really great footage of space as well as some nice use of a yo-yo despin mechanism and possibly the moon?
[Read More]

EBAY Rocket Listings
  The Estes Reflector is up for bidding on EBAY - CLICK HERE The same model built was here on the blog. Also for sale is the 1976 ESTES NARAM Contestants Package. Check out the listing - CLICK HERE This is the vinyl case that holds all the literature. Included are an ...
[Read More]

Observable universe in LOG scale

[Read More]

Annual Family Rocket Launch - Saturday! Now with added vendor!
The 2014 Syracuse Rocket Club Annual Family Rocket Launch is coming up on Saturday. Free rockets, free launches, free food, door prizes! It’s a little early to get cocky about the weather, but the forecast right now is good: Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Given all the rain ...
[Read More]

New Sandpaper Brush - Budget Tip
I bought a new sandpaper brush today. I use the brush to knock off accumulated primer sanding dust from 400 grit sandpaper. 400 grit loads up quickly, especially when you are dry sanding the first primer coat. You can remove the dust "mud" by brushing the sandpaper under running water. You ...
[Read More]

Inductor, the build, part 1
I proceeded to build my finless, induction stabilized rocket, the Inductor .   The phenolic liner from a Loki 75mm motor is the perfect size to accept 12oz aluminum soda cans...just a tad off from a 2.5" body tube. I didn't want to use the liner and briefly pondered building an 18mm ...
[Read More]

2000 page views per day!
  As this somewhat crappy screen shot shows, this blog has quite unexpectedly hit a pace of nearly 2,000 page views per day. Even with a more limited post rate, the number of page views has exploded to double the previous records.  
[Read More]

Plywood, Chicken Wire and Fiberglass Mercury Capsule
I went with my daughter Whitney and her boyfriend Paul to the Orlando History Center Museum on Sunday August 17. My daughter is a big fan of "Gone With The Wind". They had the touring display of movie props. On the first floor was a small NASA space program display. Along with plastic models of ...
[Read More]

Rocket kit vendors
New Resources page added: Rocket kit vendors.
[Read More]

Mysterious nosecone
 
[Read More]

NARCON LPR Construction Video
From last March, my NARCON session on LPR Construction and Tips is on the  www.narcon.org website. CLICK HERE Other sessions are being added. Many of the techniques from the blog are on the video. It's always weird to hear yourself talk. Note to self: Don't slump.
[Read More]

Guidelines for an induction stabilized rocket
Dean Black put together this nice diagram describing the design of an induction stabilized rocket of constant diameter. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. It appears that I can shake the lead shot out of the Inductor's NC. Woohoo! E9, baby!
[Read More]

Get down, get up
Okay, here’s the bad (badd?) news: Badd Azz Rocketry will be shutting down soon. Owner Eric Foster needs more family time, and has health issues. And here’s the good news: Flight Systems Inc. will be coming back soon. There’s not much at the web site but they say th ...
[Read More]

Parachute Descent Rate Calculators
On TRF, sooner.boomer posted the question: Parachute-How Big, Too Big? How can I find the minimum weight for a given diameter chute (assuming a spherical chute)?  Race58 gave these links: By Jordan Hiller http://www.rocketreviews.com/descent-rate-calculator.html By Jordan Hiller h ...
[Read More]

SpaceX F9R test flight self destructs after an anomaly

[Read More]

O 25,000 makes a 112 lb rocket look like a toy

[Read More]

New Shrox FSI Design?
In a recent TRF post CLICK HERE , Blake Goddard introduced himself as IT and Marketing Director for Flight Systems Inc.  "All your old favorites will be back: BBII, OSO, Megatron, Nova, Viking III, IV, etc." FSI has a website under development:  www.flywithfsi.com Doug Shrox will be ...
[Read More]

What Makes A Better LPR Parachute? Part 1
Last September I started drawing what I hoped would be a better LPR parachute. It turned out to be a bigger task than expected. Printing on poly sheeting is not the same as printing on paper. Flexible, rubber plates are used and the graphics are handled differently. The parachute has a historic ...
[Read More]

The big one
Yesterday was the Syracuse Rocket Club’s Annual Family Rocket Launch, our biggest launch event with food provided, free launching, door prizes, and even a porta john. Friday evening some of us were there setting up the big tent, the pads, and some of the other infrastructure. Then yesterday ...
[Read More]

The Alpha II?
In a recent post I asked: "Was there ever an Estes Alpha II? *   Chris Gonnerman commented on the Alpha II: "According to CPMcGraw and BEC on YORF, the Alpha II was an educator-only kit; it had either a balsa or plastic nose cone, fins with the root edge marked by the die cutter, and an ...
[Read More]

2015 planning
Reviewing the past couple of years, it seems like 20 launches is a good number.   Mostly a bunch of  G motors, and a few larger launches mixed in.  After a quick escalation of motors, I’m trying to level off, or at least scale back for a bit until I start mixing my own, ...
[Read More]

Laser powered interstellar light sail
http://www.bisbos.com
[Read More]

Interesting oddroc from LDRS 33
These came from Liberty Launch Systems/ROCKETS Magazine's LDRS-33 Saturday album . The rocket didn't seem to fly 100% straight but appeared to recover just fine. I'm hoping Neil will talk about it in the launch report. (Photos by Neil McGilvray, used with permission.)     ...
[Read More]

TR-1 Motor Update
Started work on the after what has turned out to be far too long of a layoff...work and such getting in the way.  We got the motor casing cut to length, ends trued, and screw locations drilled.  Theo and I are hoping to fire this motor mid September and fly before the end of the ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes Photon Disruptor
When I “finished” the Yankee in January I’d had kits sitting in my build pile waiting for me since summer, but for some reason — unknown to the part of my brain that’s speaking to me these days — I wanted to build the Estes Photon Disruptor I bought in December ...
[Read More]

More Pigs and Little Green Men!
  It seems like all I bag up now are Pigs and Martians! These two have been very popular so far, 75 Pigasus kits have gone out since last April. I know, that doesn't sound like a lot. With all the other kits and products, it's quite a bit for a one man operation. JonRocket.com got more ...
[Read More]

Anchor dragged, dropped, and recovered
  The top image shows a sonar survey, anchor can be seen at lower left.
[Read More]

First four attempts at rocketry videos
Clearly the Draco is perfect for this purpose and the 38mm Thunderbolt is not! Acme fin cans are fun because they often introduce a bit of spin, and there is nothing wrong with that in a non-video rocket. All of these videos were taken with a very cheap (ca. $15) spy camera from ebay. I have yet ...
[Read More]

Fixing my vintage air gun
One of my recent obsessions has been watching various DIY videos. A lot of them focus on making compressed air guns. Deep down there is a part of me that wants to make some, however, the sane part of me knows I would just get into trouble. This got me thinking about my old Benjamin Model 132 .22 ...
[Read More]

Wadding Test - DONE!
I started the wadding test on April 24, 2014 to see if different types were biodegradable. Estes TP, Quest Parade Pomp and Dollar Store crepe paper wadding pieces were taped to the arm rests of my patio chairs. On the right how the Quest wadding looked on the first day. The three styles of ...
[Read More]

Hi-Flier - Tornado build (part 3) (and a curious box)
Last October I decided to build a Tornado on a Monday night, bought a Hi-Flier to kitbash on Tuesday, threw a coat of white paint on it Friday, and flew it on Saturday. It’s been waiting ever since for me to finish it up. I finished it up. Rusto Universal gold paint on the top ...
[Read More]

What makes a Better LPR Parachute? Part 2
Some vendor parachutes have paper reinforcement rings. Those can easily tear. The rings included in the Odd'l parachutes are plastic. The red and white colors are highly visible from the ground. The scalloped gore design looks great on sport and scale models. Why didn't I go with a 24" parachute? ...
[Read More]

Old School Controller
From a rocket parts listing on EBAY: CLICK HERE   was this do-it-yourself- controller. This looks like something built from a page in the old Estes catalog Yellow Pages. Note the flip switch continuity and doorbell launch button. Most of the other items weren't worth bidding on. It was ...
[Read More]

Boosted Darts
I've been a fan of the boosted dart concept for a long time.  My first introduction to the concept was the RRS's boosted dart project that was launched in 1996. I hadn't begun my journey into the world of amateur rocketry yet but just six years after that launch and a year or so of ...
[Read More]

All planets can fit within the orbit of the Moon

[Read More]

On-board camera in a spinning Girandola
The folks at Epic Fireworks mounted a gyro-stabilized GoPro on a spinning Girandola firework. At about 2 minutes in you'll see various views of the launch, culminating in the on-board footage. Oh my, I so want to build one of these. Without the added booms and sparks of course. You'd need some low ...
[Read More]

Silver Spring Mini Maker Faire
You can learn more about the logistics of the event on their website . I'd love to attend but it looks like I am tied up that day.
[Read More]

TR-1 Rocket Motor Casing
Completed Motor Casing:     With the casing now completed I will focus on completeing the bulkhead and with that I will have all of the motor componets.  Then I'll turn my attention to making some simple casting tools for the 4" diamter grain segments.  I'm also ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes Photon Disruptor (part 2)
Next I used a scrap of 1×3 to make a jig for gluing the main fins together. I penciled in the alignment lines that had mostly been obliterated on the transverse fins. And here’s the gluing jig in action. Or in static. Or something. I added fillets with Titebond NDNR.It’s getting ...
[Read More]

NASA 3D Models Web Page
DavidQ on TRF posted a link to the available NASA 3D Models:  HERE If you have a 3D printer, or access to one, this could be a great source for scale modeling.
[Read More]

Rocketry goals review for August 2014
Here’s how my 2014 rocketry goals are going: Fly some larger rockets Good this month. Aerotech Mustang, Bad Cholesterol Block II (twice), and TRDRM flown. Fly more 24mm BP Not this month. Was this kind of a dumb goal? Probably. Back in January it seemed like pushing the ...
[Read More]

Battery Life? TIP
I'm changing out a 9V battery in my guitar preamp. While the owners manual says you can get 100 hours of performance, it never seems to last that long. To keep track of the new battery life, I marked the install date: 6/11/2014 with a Sharpie This might be an interesting test for launch ...
[Read More]

Quadcopter Video of the August, 2014, NEFAR Launch
The video below is from the August, 9, 2014, NEFAR rocket launch. Taken with a quadcopter, the video captures the model rocket and high-power rocket launches from the air. Look for the model rocket producing a smoke ring when its ...
[Read More]

More Glue Tests
I did another "board test" using some new glues I picked up. The old formula Elmer's White and the Aleene's Tacky both dried with high raised sides while the centers sank in. The old formula Elmer's dried very hard, the Aleene's tacky glue is soft. You can easily press it in with a fingernail. ...
[Read More]

More 2015 plans
I’m short on 38mm birds, and I’d like to fly a bunch of Loki 38/120 loads.  I’d considered a 38mm Onyx, it’d be quick and easy. However I think I’m going to go with a 2.6 inch bluetube build.  3″ Darkstar fins, 38mm mount, and the 2.6″ av-bay I ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes Photon Disruptor (part 3)
There’s an oddity in the instructions for this model. They go in this order: Fin preparation Main fin assembly Engine mount assembly Tube marking Lower body tube assembly Dorsal fin attachment Main fin attachment Upper body tube attachment Engine mount installation Launch lug attachment Nose ...
[Read More]

Rocket Bicycle - Kickstarter
Doing a search on Kick Starter I found this: CLICK HERE "The rocket system to be used on the Rocket Bicycle will be simple in style, but effective. It will propel the bicycle in a forward manner, while pulling the streamers and attached cans that have been personalized with the names of ...
[Read More]

TR-1 Motor update
We finished the bulkhead and nozzle. The nozzle has been done for a while but still needed the holes for the retaining screws drilled and tapped. We also ordered some casting tubes from Uline . Four inch ID tubes with a wall thickness of 0.080".  I also intended to order some ...
[Read More]

Loki
Ben pointed me to this PDF  in the comments section of an earlier post (Thanks Ben!)  I hadn't actually seen this before.  This is a description of the Super Loki system that uses a larger 4" diameter booster and 1.65" dart.  The earliest Loki system used a 3" ...
[Read More]

Estes delivers
In response to my motor cato report, Estes sent me a Big Daddy kit and a package of E9-4 motors.
[Read More]

First image of Chernobyl post-disaster

[Read More]

Letter From Vern Estes - 1970
I thought I'd misplaced this one! Here's a letter I received from Mr. Estes dated February 19, 1970. I had hand written a letter to Estes (not directly to Mr. Estes) explaining my troubles getting a BP engine permit in California. Rocket engines and fireworks were tightly restricted back then. ...
[Read More]

Building the Glencoe Jupiter C (PMC)
All right, I can’t make much further progress on anything else I’ve started until weather and opportunity become conducive to painting, and it’s high time I got started on this plastic model conversion I’m intending to fly at our next launch on the 20th. Given that I have ...
[Read More]

Static Test
I spent some time taking stock and organizing the garage workspace a bit this past weekend.  Not the most exciting thing, but useful.  Theo and I came across some old Estes motors and we decided to do a little impromptu motor test.  This motor was a D 12-5.  ...
[Read More]

Microburst

[Read More]

TR-1 SRM update
  I ran the motor through SRM a few times playing around with some of the numbers mostly because of   the switch from a Sorbitol based propellant to Dextrose based.   Ultimately the only change I'm making is the change in sugar type.   This has a few effects on the motor, ...
[Read More]

New EBAY Items
I've put up some rocketry items for bidding on EBAY. First is the Estes Black Brant III made from the nose and tail cone from the Crossfire kit. CLICK HERE Fins are cut from basswood and scale tapered. Decals were drawn from Peter Alway ROTW scale information. Also for sale is the Contestant ...
[Read More]

Return of the Little Green Man Video
Roger Smith has been busy with his video editor. CLICK HERE The revised Little Green man video shows an added C6-5 flight from last months Bunnell NEFAR launch. The Little Green Man is very "vocal" on this new video. 
[Read More]

Building the Glencoe Jupiter C (PMC) (part 2)
So when those online writeups refer to warped parts in the Glencoe kit? I guess this is what they mean. The lower tank section is just a little out of round, huh? Yikes. Well, I did my best gluing the halves of the two tank sections and the fin can and the nose cone with ...
[Read More]

I'm still here
Can't believe it's been a week since my last post. My only project has involved the off-label use of an damaged AeroTech 29/40-120 case. I have been debating whether I should post about it but have decided that it is neither highly impressive nor is it something I would encourage anyone to try. ...
[Read More]

Greg's Rocket Page Website
I found Greg Elder's website the other day. CLICK HERE He has some interesting links to: Real Rocket Photos Air Defense Artillery Museum White Sands Missile Garden New Mexico Space Center U.S. Space and Rocket Center A fun link was the rocket pictures at Vern Estes Home Museum ...
[Read More]

Unrestricted Motor
I wrote this a long time ago and just noticed it sitting in the post section as a draft.  This launch was ten years ago in the spring of 2004 and apparently I was thinking about boosted darts back then as well.  I posted some pictures in 2009...I don't recall why this account wasn't ...
[Read More]

Supplies from McMaster-Carr
I placed an order for the last of the things I'll need for this motor test.  Addiitonally, I need to make some bases for the casting tubes.  I'm planing to machine them from wood so it should be quick.  I've used wooden casting bases in the past.   ("painted" ...
[Read More]

EBAY? Oh Come On!
A Quest Cobalt for a Buy-It-Now price of $29.99 - for a $10.00 kit? Sorry, I didn't notice that includes Free Shipping.  
[Read More]

Soviet dog pressure suit for sale
  Petslady.com
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., September 6, 2014
We've had rain over the past few days but the field wasn't soggy. Skies were overcast, it was hot and humid. The sun was covered by clouds for most of the day. Not as many fliers today. The rain and heat might have hurt attendance. I arrived a little after 9:00 a.m. The CHEROKEE GOON was ...
[Read More]

Flare Test, Orlando R.O.C.K. Launch, September 6, 2014
The replacement for the Powered FLIC in the Odd'l Rockets Combo kit might just be the FLARE , shown at the left. It's second test flight was at the Orlando R.O.C.K. monthly launch. I tried an A10-3t engine. While the flight was very stable, it seemed almost too fast off the launcher. Even with ...
[Read More]

Rockets Gone Wild
Sometimes things go wrong. Sometimes things go really wrong. Really. The video below is a collection is a “blooper reel” of highlights from local Central Florida rocket club launches. Because of our safety codes, none of these events resulted in ...
[Read More]

ROCK's September Launch Video
Turnout for ROCK’s September launch was low, but everyone had a terrific time. It was hot, but the light wind kept the rockets landing in the field. The video below was taken using a DJI Phantom 2 Vision helicopter flying ...
[Read More]

Early SCUBA rebreather
 
[Read More]

Building the Glencoe Jupiter C (PMC) (part 3)
Not shown here, but I glued the fins together. I omitted the pieces that are too close to the motor, and I immobilized the parts that were designed to pivot. I kind of wanted to leave them free to pivot (though I’d have to be careful to make sure they were aligned for launch) but ...
[Read More]

Model Rocket Building Techniques - NAR Website
My first rocket building website was given to the NAR two years ago. The NAR website has been updated and the Building Techniques pages re-formatted. To check it out, CLICK HERE From Ted Cochran, NAR President: "As you probably know, last month we unveiled a new website, and we have been ...
[Read More]

SpaceX logo eye candy
Redditor luke_in_the_sky created the picture using the actual launch arc from Sunday mornings launch and the SpaceX logo which flawlessly fit into the arc.
[Read More]

TR-1 Motor Update
This past weekend I finished a few more tasks, although it's starting to look like I may not be quite ready to test fire the motor by the 20th of this month like I was hoping to do.  I was hoping to get o-rings by Saturday so I could do a final test fit of the nozzle and bulkhead but I ...
[Read More]

Lots of old posts republished...last ones, I promise
A while back I purged about half my posts. Today I either republished or permanently deleted the last of them. I'm sure I threw away some good ones (apologies to my rocket girls fans) and published some that are obscure and/or are missing content (i.e. removed Flickr embeds). I just got tired of ...
[Read More]

Cox X-15 Flight Manual
On YORF, Tim Morley was looking for the Cox Nike Zeus instructions. While searching online, I came across the Cox X-15 instructions. CLICK HERE   While it was interesting to look over the flight prepping directions I found the detailed decal placement pictures. I wish I had these when I ...
[Read More]

Little Green Man in the Wild!
It's always good to see an Odd'l kit made by somebody else! David Armstrong posted a pic of his Little Green Man on the NAR Facebook page. It looks great! (To be honest, I didn't even know there was a NAR group on Facebook. I'm not a Facebook fan but I'll be checking back more often.) htt ...
[Read More]

Due to a lack of rocketry subjects....
I don't have anything to blog about so I'll offer a teaser of my double top secret, non-rocket repurposing of my damaged 29/40-120 motor case. The first photo shows some of the damage that occurred when the motor suffered a blow by. The second is the teaser. Man, I'm glad there's an MDRA launch ...
[Read More]

TR-1 Motor Update
McMaster-Carr order arrived yesterday and included the o-rings, Delrin rod, screws, and pressure gauge.  I didn't get a chance to assemble the motor for a final test fit, but now that I have the o-rings that's next on the list of things to do.  The Delrin rod for casting the core in ...
[Read More]

Building the Glencoe Jupiter C (PMC) (part 4)
Last night’s club presentation was good, and it gave me confidence that for the most part what I’ve been planning is reasonable. Quality of execution, that’s another matter, but at least I have the general idea. Looks like using the rear hole as a motor centering ring is ...
[Read More]

Little Green Man Instruction Correction
    Oops! Tim at Apogee Components built a Little Green Man and found a mistake in the instructions. Under STEP 16, there is the phrase: Note the Right Eye is slightly larger than the Left Eye (This is incorrect!) Looking down on the nose cone (from above), the right eye is the ...
[Read More]

Little Green Man Instruction Correction
    Oops! Tim at Apogee Components built a Little Green Man and found a mistake in the instructions. Under STEP 16, there is the phrase: Note the Right Eye is slightly larger than the Left Eye  (This is incorrect!) Looking down on the nose cone (from above), the right eye ...
[Read More]

757 flying directly over another jet

[Read More]

Hubble spies a supernova companion star
Full details attached on Flickr...I just liked the cosmic eye candy...
[Read More]

Dextrose
The Dextrose from Lucky Vitamin has arrived.  I want to do a little testing with it since I don't have a lot of experience with Dextrose.  At least not nearly as much as with Sorbitol or Sucrose. 
[Read More]

Is It Just Me?
On the top is the fin assembly from the Estes Equinox. Below, the basswood fins I cut for the Centuri Scram Jet. Notice the fin grain in the upper fin unit. This was after CWF filler, primer / filler and sanding after the first white undercoat. The grain is still there! I've noticed this lately ...
[Read More]

TR-1 Casting Stuff
    Delrin coring rods are cut to length and everything fits together nicely.  
[Read More]

Building the Glencoe Jupiter C (PMC) (part 5)
Why the heck is there a launch lug taped to the side of this rocket? I’m sure there must have been a reason. Hm, well, why don’t I glue it on and maybe it’ll come to me. And that pretty much is it for assembly, except for nose weight and shock cord. Needs painting, I ...
[Read More]

Slightly Short Engines?
  Recently I bought some Quest A6-4 and B6-4 engines. These were a mix of older German and more recent Chinese made Quest engines. (The German made engines have "silver" nozzles, the Chinese engines have light tan clay nozzles.) I've just finished two Estes Guardian models. I loaded a ...
[Read More]

Flame Resistant Shock Cord Sales
Sales of the new Flame Resistant Shock Cords are going well enough to be added to the Odd'l Products line. The flame resistant elastic shock cord is 1/8" x 8 yards. There's enough in each package for eight models at one yard per rocket. Most kit supplied shock cords are too short. Bare rubber ...
[Read More]

Making Adeptors
I made up ten Adeptors on Sunday. The central bolt is originally 1 7/8" long, too tall on top of a blast deflector so it's cut in half. After cutting in two, the bottom is filed flat. The raised bolt on a camera tripod only allows a few turns. The filed flat bottom on the Adeptor gives you a ...
[Read More]

Building the Glencoe Jupiter C (PMC) (part 6)
From this Rocksim file linked from M. C. Fischer’s build page the center of pressure should be about a caliber behind the join between the two tank sections, so I loaded up the rocket with parachute and C6 motor and found (by putting Silly Putty on the nose) it’d need about ...
[Read More]

What's Wrong With This Picture?
I was doing some parts checking and ran across this in the 1973 Estes catalog at the Ninfinger site: CLICK HERE Can you figure out what's wrong with the listing?
[Read More]

Maker Faire Orlando Photographs
Here’s a collection of photographs of our exhibit on rocketry that we presented at Maker Faire Orlando 2014.
[Read More]

Maker Faire in Orlando
Some Odd'l Rockets were on display at the Orlando Maker Faire on Sunday. r I was concerned about small kids grabbing the rockets. Roger Smith (JonRocket.com) made this great sign!
[Read More]

Maker Faire Orlando, September 13-14, 2014
JonRocket.com introduced many visitors to rocketry the Orlando Maker Faire held at the Orlando Science Center on September 13 & 14. The Science Center event was a great way to generate interest in the Central Florida rocket clubs. Roger Smith put together a continuous launch video that ran ...
[Read More]

TR-1 Test Fit
Tested the fit of the nozzle and bulkhead with o-rings installed.  Everything fit together nicely and no adjustments were made.
[Read More]

What's Wrong With This Picture? Part 2 Answer
  A few days back I posted this picture from the 1973 Estes catalog - What's wrong with it?   Lonnie responded: If the inside and outside diameters are correct, the tube thickness should be .04" instead of 0.021. From RichsRockets : No, because inside and outside ...
[Read More]

NASA to pick ISS crew transporter today
NASA to Make Major Announcement Today About Astronaut Transport to the International Space Station. See official statement: “NASA will make a major announcement today at 4 p.m. EDT regarding the return of human spaceflight launches to the United States. The agency will make the announcement ...
[Read More]

Cutting Pigasus Kit Parts
Whoever thought it would be fun to start your own rocketry company has never had to bag up kits! I don't buy pre-cut tubes, most are 34" long to start and all are cut to size. Even the smallest length tubes are cut by hand. I'm prepping more Pigasus kits and needed "snouts". Here's thirty-one ...
[Read More]

All large sci-fi spacecraft to scale
  Deviantart.com
[Read More]

Big Bertha / Ranger Fins
On YORF, Rich Holmes has done his homework. Going back through old plans and kit balsa, he has put together an overlay that shows the subtle differences between the Big Bertha, Baby Bertha and Ranger designs. Regarding fin thickness, it seems the single engine Big Bertha had 1/8" thick fins, ...
[Read More]

Loki Booster
    I got this Loki booster a while ago.  It's a little banged up (the fins are slightly bent) but overall it's in pretty good shape since it's probably around 60 years old.  This one was never fired or filled with propellant. The transition section doesn't have ...
[Read More]

Weak Shroud Lines
While building an Estes Patriot I tested the shroud lines on the pre-made 12" parachute. This newer chute was made in China, dated 6/20/2013. I pulled on the line and it broke - very easily. I've ran across this before. I wouldn't risk this parachute on a flight so the weak lines will be ...
[Read More]

September 2014
Saturday, Sep 20 from noon til 4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

Odd'l Inspired Designs?
Here's two models that may have had some Pigasus influence in their designs. Dick Stafford's Cochon d' Eau (French for Water Pig) is a water rocket. The wide bottle fits the pig profile well. He built it for his grand kids. Tom (Babar on TRF) posted pictures and a video of his Squirrel rocket. It ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry, September/October 2014
The best items from NSL were a 1/38 scale, 9' tall, 3-stage, 42 G/H motor Soviet N1 and an oddroc that uses a scale foam cinderblock as a fin unit. The N1 hung on the rod and roasted its 1st stage (i.e. a 'really cool' flight) while the cinderblock rocket was just plain cool. There is other ...
[Read More]

The Alpha II
Last month I asked if there was ever an Alpha II. Here's one that was for sale on EBAY: This Alpha II is Estes kit #1421 This EBAY listing included a replacement body tube. I guess the one in the kit was bent or oval. Instructions are  HERE Looking at the back of the bag, the body tube ...
[Read More]

Building the Glencoe Jupiter C (PMC) (part 7)
I’ve been proving to myself how little knowledge and skill I have regarding painting plastic models. I put on primer and gloss white (Testor’s rattle can enamel), then masked and painted the fins gloss black (Testor’s brush enamel). Actually I did the decals before the fins, for ...
[Read More]

Launch season winding down (see what I did there?)
Given the rain we’ve had lately, and the near freezing temperature early Friday morning, Saturday’s mostly cloudy skies and low 70s temperatures might be seen as a relative blessing. Or as a sick joke on the part of the weather gods, who also sent winds close to 20 MPH, gusting to 30 ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2014-11
Location: NARHAMS, Mt Airy Weather: sunny, high of 84, wind 5-10 Total flights: Today - 9; YTD - 89 Total motors: Today - 9; YTD - 79 Motors by class YTD: H2O-17, uHybrid-1, MMX-1, A-3, B-6, C-16, D-7, E-17, F-16, G-9, H-2 The weather was pretty nice - a tad hotter than expected and the wind, ...
[Read More]

Type Font Caps or Upper / Lower? TIP
This was a common sense rule when setting headlines at the print shop: Don't set all caps when using a script or hand written style font. Look at the first example. The second "Hi Flyer" set in upper and lower is easier to read. You shouldn't have to decipher any name decal set on the side of a ...
[Read More]

Rocket vs rocket

[Read More]

On the durability of cardstock
Well, as I was repairing a few creases in my Model Minutes XFLR-7, I detected a more severe issue. The inner motor/parachute tube had burned through over 50% around its circumference. This tube was raw cardstock. In retrospect, a coat of epoxy on the inside of the tube might have been a good idea. ...
[Read More]

Johnston Mark II Rocket- A Kickstarter Project
Over the last few months I've been checking out the campaigns on Kickstarter. With many Kickstarter campaigns, the question is - what's in it for me? And, I guess that's a fair question as many of these campaigns are seeking funds to start a commercial business. However, one ...
[Read More]

More EBAY Stuff!
I'm selling some kits on EBAY - All sales will get TWO Free Odd'l Rockets Multi-Sized PARACHUTES! First is a two kit Quest lot:  A BIG BETTY and INTRUDER . CLICK HERE The second Quest lot: Another INTRUDER and FALCON kits. CLICK HERE The third is an Estes lot: SCREAMING EAGLE and EPM-10 ...
[Read More]

Little Green Man Decals
I'm just starting to get good flight reports from the Little Green Man kits. If you've built the kit, you know I include some extra decals. Some builders have problems with water slide decals. The extras are there just in case. Here's some decal tips - 1. Always wet the model surface where the ...
[Read More]

Kowloon walled city
archdaily.net
[Read More]

Air Command's new salvo launcher
Four pads with programmable launch intervals...so cool. And yes, it can do a drag race too.
[Read More]

New Estes "Mystery" Kit
This one appeared in the "Coming Soon" page on the Estes website, then quickly disappeared!   The Estes SCORPION   is a futuristic mini-engine powered rocket.The kit features laser-cut wood fins, waterslide decals, and a parachute for recovery. Decals: Waterslide Diameter: .74" ...
[Read More]

TR-1 Cato
  Theo and I tested the TR-1 motor on Saturday and unfortunately suffered a cato.  It was an impressive sounding motor for that first few milliseconds though.  Apparently I should have rethought my decision to use Dextrose in place of Sorbitol.  On paper the change seemed ...
[Read More]

Ebay Adventure
I've been selling some rocket kits on EBAY. I either have duplicates or it's a model I'm not interested in building right now. There is three lots, two Quest and one Estes. I have two Quest Intruder kits, one went to one lot, the second in the other. I sold one Quest lot and boxed it ...
[Read More]

Bug In Paint! Arrrg!!!
It happens to all of us, sooner or later. I spray most of my models outside. Look what flew into a newly sprayed body tube. Look close and you can make out the path the bug walked before getting stuck in the drying paint. Good thing this is not a final coat. This white undercoat will be wet ...
[Read More]

Johnston Mark II Kickstarter
Sascha Grant’s I Build Rockets blog calls attention to this Kickstarter campaign: My name is Bryan Friestad, and I am currently a Junior at Johnston Senior High School in Johnston, IA. ...
[Read More]

New Pro Series II E2X
I missed the announcement a couple months ago, apparently, but this just turned up on the Estes web site: 009708 – Pro Series II™ E2X Mammoth™ Description Pro Series II E2X (Easy to Assemble) This rocket is big, MAMMOTH big! Standing 59.1 inches tall, wow what a MAMMOTH! From our ...
[Read More]

You Say Potato . . .
From an email suggestion from Gary Minton. Okay, I found a potato. Now make it fly! It'll be a Spud-nik!       Hah!
[Read More]

NARHAMS's September 2014 Goddard Launch
This video, discovered via MAKE , documents the September 7, 2014 NARHAMS/Goddard Public Launch. It includes a description of the club's launch system and features a bunch of 3-D printed rockets made by kids from the Nova Labs Rocketry Group . You can see all the scheduled NARHAMS events  ...
[Read More]

Rocket Names - Reading Up or Down?
This question has come up on the forums before: Should the rocket name decal read up or down? Should it be set so the base line is on the right or left? Here's the Sunward Screamer from an EBAY picture and on the kit facecard. To my eyes, the name was stuck on upside down. This is the Estes ...
[Read More]

The Naked Gun: "Special Thanks to: Tripoli Rocketry Association"
Watching the 1988 film The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! via Amazon Prime the other night, I was surprised to see the following scroll by during the end credits: Special Thanks to: Tripoli Rocketry Association “Aha,” I thought, “That’s where the name came ...
[Read More]

Weight Of Filled Fins?
Here we go with another highly scientific test. I read a comment about how much weight CWF filler adds to fins. I was curious. The first picture shows a Estes Patriot fin. The leading edge is rounded and the sides sanded smooth with 400 grit. The single fin weight is 0.05 oz. After a ...
[Read More]

Drilling Soft Foam Potatoes
I wasn't successful trying to "drill out" an engine mount hole in the stress ball potato! I can easily drill and hollow a hole in the round ball Styrofoam Sputnik model kits. But the soft, heavy rubber potato won't fly! In this form, it won't end up being a kit.   I night do a ...
[Read More]

Amazon Rocket Specifications
  For the Big Bertha:  For the Chuter II: 
[Read More]

Guest blogger - Album Artwork by Jamal the Moroccan
             
[Read More]

Launch Report 2014-12
Location: NARHAMS, Ag Center Weather: perfect - sunny, mid 70's, wind 0+ Total flights: Today - 10; YTD - 99 Total motors: Today - 10; YTD - 89 Motors by class YTD: H2O-17, uHybrid-1, MMX-1, A-4, B-6, C-21, D-7, E-19, F-17, G-10, H-2 Just when I thought I couldn't make the launch... The weather ...
[Read More]

Video re: NARHAMS' night launch
My LHS is putting together a video about the yearly NARHAMS night launch. Here's a teaser.
[Read More]

Non Flying Phillipine Wood Models
I always run across these wood models when doing searches on EBAY. This Saturn V is the same style I saw on display at the San Diego Air and Space Museum. "Meticulously Made by our Master Craftsmen!"  Yeah, right! Look at the detail on the capsule and tower! The paint on these wood models ...
[Read More]

Barry Park demo launch: Breaking up is easy to do
I got a call Friday: Would I be interested in doing a rocket demo on Sunday? There was a kids’ event going on in Barry Park in the city, near where I was living 15 years ago. I said OK, and James and I went there and put on a show this afternoon. We launched ...
[Read More]

Dextrose Testing
So the TR-1 didn't go the way that I had hoped but it wasn't all bad.  It reinforced the idea that making even a small change to your plan should be very carefully considered.  A lesson worth reinforcement.  The damage was not nearly as bad as it could have been and was, for ...
[Read More]

Repairing the Custom Razor
I began repair on the Custom Razor by feeding the Kevlar shock cord leader back through the motor mount. It was the elastic that broke, but the remaining bit was too thoroughly cooked to untie, and if I cut off the Kevlar the remainder would have been too short. I suppose I could have knotted ...
[Read More]

German vs Chinese ball bearings (guess which...)

[Read More]

Rocketry goals review for September 2014
Here’s how my 2014 rocketry goals are going. Less well on the launch front this month than usual owing to high wind at the club launch. There was also the Barry Park demo, but that didn’t help my big rockets goals. Fly some larger rockets Not this month. Fly more 24mm BP ...
[Read More]

New Estes Engine Retention?
  One of the "Coming Soon" E2X models is the Sky Cruiser. It's a tall model, BT-50 to BT-5. I looked at the instructions and noticed the engine retention cap. This new "cap" is more like a smaller version of the 24mm and 29mm retainers. Maybe we'll see these smaller retainers made ...
[Read More]

Sept URRG Launch
Weather was perfect, and attendance showed it.  Tons of people came out and a lot of good friends from around the NE. I got my first taste of EX when Dan Patell let me fly a couple of his motors.  Very cool of him, and it’s really gotten me excited about the prospect of someday [ ...
[Read More]

3D Printed Kickstarter
On TRF, Krusty and SCRocketFan posted a link to a new new KickStarter: CLICK HERE The company is called simply: "Build Your Rocket". These are 3D printed plastic parts. You pick the nose cone, body tube, fin and fin can and assemble without glue. There are a few people already making rocket ...
[Read More]

Rocket Babe - Fallen Angel
In this month's blog update , Verna and Randy announced that Randy has published "Rocket Babe - Fallen Angel", second in his Rocket Babe space opera series. Their blog updates provide more details as well as progress on the build of the Special Edition Verna Starr DSSF Centris Fighter modroc. The ...
[Read More]

. . . I Say Potahtoe
Gary Minton spent more time looking for a better potato than I did.  Here's what he found -  First, I had a sample stress-ball potato sent out. It's too heavy and I can't drill out for an engine mount tube like I do for the Sputnik kit. These new spuds weigh only 18 grams each, half of ...
[Read More]

Giant Squid Design
A recent post on TRF from "Daddyisabar"   GIANT SQUID MODEL ROCKET   "Here is my latest Monster Odd Roc. A giant squid that was reportedly pulled from Loch Ness in 1916 and trained to attack German U Boats, the secret weapon that finally did in the U Boat menace. Some say ...
[Read More]

Patriot down
Somehow I didn’t notice on Sunday, or until today, this:Definitely damage — or should I say destruction — inflicted not during flight but after. Crap. Not my best-made rocket, but my third oldest surviving, the inspiration for two of my first scratch / kitbash builds, and a ...
[Read More]

Tyvek Shroud Line Reinforcement Strips
Robnee posted on TRF: Tyvek Jewelry Tags for Shroud Line Attachment "Has anyone used the little Tyvek Jewelry tags for attaching shroud lines to homemade plastic chutes before? I picked up a pack of them on Amazon and they seem perfect. They're 1/2" in diameter and the adhesive is pretty ...
[Read More]

Model Missile Find From YORF
Danny Arnold posted these pictures on YORF CLICK HERE "I worked for a Month getting these from a Very Old Hobby Store. They are Real ... just wanted to Share. Please write with questions/comments. Thanks, Danny Almond." WOW! What a great find! Trivia: It's interesting to note the long ...
[Read More]

NERVA nuclear thermal rocket test

[Read More]

Cooler Rocketry Weather?
Boy, I look forward to the cooler weather! October 15 to be specific. For years I entertained at Sea World, outdoors in the Florida heat and humidity. I knew it would eventually cool off so I waited for that first day when you felt the humidity drop. It was always right around October 15. What ...
[Read More]

The audible range of Krakatoa

[Read More]

Herm ...
I’m having an idea for the upcoming 2.6″/38mm ...
[Read More]

Finished Models from Scott Johnson
An email from Scott, Chris, I read somewhere that you don’t get to see many of your creations completed, so I thought I show you two+.     In the picture below from left to right is: ·          Your Black Brandt VB ...
[Read More]

Pigasus on NAR Facebook Page
Here's Beth Johnson's PIGASUS posted on the NAR's Facebook page. Great work Beth! Thanks for posting the picture.
[Read More]

or maybe ...
Still trying to narrow down a fin design for the 2.6″.  I kinda like this but it seems like a whole lot of fin.   In the meantime, I ordered another Vulcanite to patch over that wound.
[Read More]

Operation Crossroads Shot Able Target Ship
Painted orange for visibility. Shot was significantly off target and ship survived until the next shot.
[Read More]

New Engine Hook Retention Tape?
An Email from Gary Minton: Hi Chris: Where did you get your aluminum sanding block & the ultra fine grit self adhesive sandpaper? I'm having a hard time finding them locally. On another issue: I'm a retired electro-mechanical engineer. I've used all kinds of tapes, adhesives and insulating ...
[Read More]

Estes price cuts
Just spotted these price reductions on the Estes web site: Pro Series II Mega Der Red Max $70 down from $90 Pro Series II Nike Smoke $50 down from $80 Pro Series II E2X Prowler Launch Set $80 down from $100 Pro Series II E2X Ascender, Majestic, and Trajector $45 down from $47 to $50 ...
[Read More]

Them boots are made for rocketin'
Jalopnik has an article about Dr. Larry Silverberg and his vision for rocket boots. Silverberg is a professor at North Carolina State, specializing in stuff like structural dynamics and controls. So, he should know. After reading the article, I say build the boots, pair them with an exoskeleton ...
[Read More]

More LGM and Pigasus kits!
jonrocket.com     and apogeerockets.com now have more Little Green Men and Pigasus kits in stock! Both vendors also carry the new Flame Resistant Shock Cord.
[Read More]

Estes Kit Fin Stock Thicknesses
In a recent post I made a judgement about the thickness of the Estes Black Brant III kit fin thickness. I was building a semi-scale model using the Estes instructions and information from Rocket Of The World by Peter Alway. In ROTW, the fin thickness was thin so I went with 1/16" thick ...
[Read More]

Quest Engines Same as Estes?
From a recent post on TRF: "Quest motors are interchangeable with Estes motors --- they are the same size and basically the same construction and the same propellant. They are close to the same price.  So if you have a rocket that can fly on Estes A, B, C motors, it's going to fly pretty much ...
[Read More]

Saturn

[Read More]

Why Sears is in Trouble!
  Seems high, but you do get $10.41 in points to use later.
[Read More]

here we go!!!
New vulcanite is in!!!!  Just dropped an order for a slew of parts.  54mm BT av bay for the vulk, and enough stuff to make a 2.6″ darkstar.  This should cover me for L1 DD rockets, which somehow became a hole in my fleet.  Dunno how that happened ...
[Read More]

X-2 @ BALLS-23 (updated)
Liberty Launch Systems has their BALLS-23 photos up for your viewing pleasure (and for sale too). Here are two of a cool Bell X-2 "Starbuster". (Credit: Neil McGilvray)         I should have known that there was a video...
[Read More]

N.E.F.A.R. Launch, October 11, Bunnell, FL
It was still hot in Bunnell, but not miserable. Winds were calm with occasional thermals. My first up was the CHEROKEE GOON with a Quest B6-4. Estimated altitude 350'. I always start small to check the winds and pads. Roger Smith launched an Edmonds Geminee Thunder twin boost glider with a ...
[Read More]

Back in it on the Lucerne tip
I'm sad to report that I hadn't burned a single molecule of ammonium perchlorate since November 2013.  Many factors including the FAA arbitrarily denying the SD club's waiver renewal (after 10 year of continuous good will), the struggle to find a new launch site, excessive heat, and Saturday ...
[Read More]

Der Red Mix mark II Skidfest at ROCTober 2014
After talking it up for over a year I finally flew my scratch-built Der Red Mix mark II on a full complement of seven burly Skidmark motors (as always switching to 720p in full-screen mode is the shit): A formidable liftoff featuring loud, flaming titanium granules: And notably angled ascent: I ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2014-13
Location: MDRA, Central Sod Farm (ESL-196) Weather: 60's, sunny turning to cloudy, wind 0-5 mph at ground level, lower up high. Total flights: Today - 6; YTD - 105 Total motors: Today - 6; YTD - 95 (if you count water rockets - 112) Motors by class YTD: H2O-17, uHybrid-1, MMX-1, A-4, B-6, C-22, ...
[Read More]

Bunnell, FL, N.E.F.A.R. Launch
The Little Green Man had it's thirteenth flight at the NEFAR monthly launch on October 11. There was a slow turn during boost with an Estes C6-5 to about 650 feet. The 12" Odd'l parachute brought it down with no damage. This guy is popular, cameras always come out when he flys.
[Read More]

The dog that didn’t bark
I just noticed. It’s a holiday weekend. And nothing’s on sale at Estes!
[Read More]

Estes Altimeter Holes Part 1
Before punching holes in a body tube for the altimeter, I checked the instructions for three altimeters - The Estes Altimeter and the older and newer Jolly Logic One Installation Tips: Altimeter One (OLD) “We advise that you punch at least three 1/16" to 1/8" diameter holes evenly spaced ...
[Read More]

NEFAR's October 2014 Launch Photographs
I’ve uploaded my still photos of the October, 2014, launch to the NEFAR Rocket Launch Gallery at RocketReviews.com. I’m still working on editing the videos from my quad-copter and will post them soon.  
[Read More]

Flutter-By Caught By Spider
  From Scott Johnson: “So I was painting my Flutter-By (Centuri Style); doing 10 minute intervals of red paint. In between painting, my Flutter-By was caught by a spider ...
[Read More]

Estes Altimeter Holes Part 2
Again - the Rotary Punch! The holes will be somewhat hidden in the rectangular decals on the payload section. While Estes recommends the holes be 2" down from the top of the body tube mine ended up at the end of the rotary punch reach, about 1 3/8" from the top. The holes are still clear and ...
[Read More]

More wandering
Got bored ...
[Read More]

Coke furnace

[Read More]

The Rocketry Show Podcasts
CG and Gheem have started rocketry podcasts available for download at: www.therocketryshow.com   I listened to the second podcast and sent this email:   Hi  CG and Gheem,  I enjoyed listening to the second podcast - keep 'em coming! There were a few ...
[Read More]

Great Alan Shepard Quote
According to Gene Kranz in his book, Failure Is Not an Option, “When reporters asked Shepard what he thought about as he sat atop the Redstone rocket, waiting for liftoff, he had replied, ‘The fact that every part of this ship was built by the low bidder.'”
[Read More]

ISS illuminated by powerful laser and filmed
"This extraordinary video clip was recorded at ESA's Optical Ground Station (OGS) at about 19:05 UTC on 8 October 2014 as the station illuminated the ISS with a 3.6-Watt 532-nm green laser, used for testing next-gen optical communication technologies. The video clearly shows the ISS bathed in ...
[Read More]

Moving a (Fresh) Decal?
One side of the U.S. ARMY decal on my Patriot model wasn't centered. I noticed this the day after the decal was placed. You can't always get away with lifting and replacing a decal. This home print decal was set down the night before and hadn't been sealed yet. The entire decal was wetted down. ...
[Read More]

Estes Altimeter
I finally bought an altimeter! All my posted altitudes were guesses based on Open Rocket and Semroc predictions. I'm a little wary about using it. I know the actual heights reached will be lower than I hoped. You'll definitely need a small Phillips jewelers screwdriver to open the battery ...
[Read More]

Latest SpaceX Water Landing Animation
...
[Read More]

Kapton's log
I am reluctant to admit what kinds of stuff I’ve used in the past for motor hook retention — when not using the supplied retainer sleeve, if any, on kit rockets. Let’s just say I haven’t been entirely happy about using ...
[Read More]

NAR Page On Facebook
To be honest, I didn't even know there was a NAR group on Facebook. I'm not a Facebook fan - or as a friend calls it: "Look, I made a sandwich!" I'll be checking back more often. There is some great pictures and content there. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2255560886/
[Read More]

Dextrose
I suspect that the switch from sorbitol to dextrose based propellant was the reason the TR-1 motor experienced a cato.  More specifically the fact that most Dextrose is the monohydrate form which contains molecularly bound water,   Even more specifically, the fact that I didn't remove ...
[Read More]

The launch season that was
Last night the Syracuse Rocket Club web site was updated to say today’s launch was on. But it was raining when I got up. It hasn’t been raining all day, but on and off enough to keep things wet. It’s been gloomy and a bit breezy, too; so maybe someone showed up to launch ...
[Read More]

Winter storage/Build Season Begins
Two launches left this year, but I don’t have any major plans for them.  I’ve started moving rockets into storage for the winter to avoid the winter temps. And Started a few builds ...
[Read More]

After 22 months in orbit...

[Read More]

Building
I’ve been stockpiling kits for two years now.  Time to Build.  After this batch, The 4″ bluetube rockets in 54mm and 2x38mm get put on the bench and I’ll get some fins cut up for them. Vulcanite build has begun!
[Read More]

808 Keychain Camera Information
On TRF, JimCatz gave a good reference website for questions about the 808 Keychain Camera: http://www.chucklohr.com/808/index.shtml Check Amazon and some of the rocketry vendors. These cameras sell as low as $6.11 !!! I'm not recommending any camera for $6.11.  I simply did a search and ...
[Read More]

Video of NEFAR's October, 2014, Launch
I’ve uploaded a video of NEFAR’s October launch to YouTube. I flew a DJI PLantom 2 Vision quadcopter to capture the event from an aerial perspective. The video below shows low- and high-power rocket launches as seen from above as ...
[Read More]

The "Original" Estes Catalog?
Earl Cagle, Jr. posted this EBAY link on YORF, An original 1962 Estes catalog. According to the YORF posts that followed, this is the second "Penrose" edition. The first catalog was produced in Denver. Look close on the left side to see the Gleda Estes sewing machine binding! The EBAY link ...
[Read More]

Chris Bishop's Rocket Science!
Great introduction to Rocket Science.
[Read More]

Mayhem out on the farm
The Inductor : The Desert Squid (that's with a 'd")
[Read More]

October 2014
Saturday Oct 25 from noon til 4 PM. Continue reading →
[Read More]

Estes Patriot Build #2056, Part 1, Parts
Everybody has built one of these, except me! This build will be a little different. At the bottom of each post I'll be keeping track of how long I take on each step. These are my personal build times, I tend to take longer on rocket building than most people. I don't keep track like this very ...
[Read More]

Estes Patriot Build #2056, Part 2, Tube Prep and Gluing
A dry fit of the white tubes showed the tubes weren't cut clean. There were enough gaps for some edge truing and sanding. The inset picture shows the same tubes after sanding square. This is something you should check on any opened kit. It's easier to see bad edges on larger tubes. On my ...
[Read More]

Estes Patriot Build #2056, Part 3, 24mm Engine Mount
I'll use the heavy card stock rings that came with the kit. To enlarge it for 24mm engines: Trace around a BT-50 tube. I used a heavy walled BT-50. After you trace the line, look at it closely to be sure the circle is centered. If not, erase and try again. Sometimes it takes a second try to get ...
[Read More]

Historic Robotic Spacecraft Posters
  www.kickstarter.com/
[Read More]

Captain, that is illogical
I swear, for a hobby that’s supposed to be all about precision and engineering and physics (OK, and aesthetics too), we have some real numerical stupidities we can’t get rid of. Like the A8-3 motor. “A” refers to impulse class, it’s supposed to mean the motor has a ...
[Read More]

Felix Baumgartner's record broken - Google VP dives from Stratosphere
Alan Eustace, a computer scientist (a Google VP), broke Felix Baumgartner’s record on Friday by skydiving from 135,908 feet. This was an impressive dive of 15 minutes after over a 2 hour ascent dangling from a weather balloon in a device much more simple and basic than Felix’s capsule. ...
[Read More]

Propellant testing (Dextrose, Sorbitol, Erythritol)
I've had a hard time finding time to post, but the good news is that I have been finding little bits of time here and there to continue working on rocket stuff.  I went through and organized my garage/work space a while back which was good.  I also when through my bins, range box, the ...
[Read More]

Los Alamos National Laboratory's new propellant design
“Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists recently flight tested a new rocket design that includes a high-energy fuel and a motor design that also delivers a high degree of safety. “What we’re trying to do is break the performance versus sensitivity curve, and make a rocket ...
[Read More]

New solid propellant separates the fuel from the oxidizer
"Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists recently flight tested a new rocket design that includes a high-energy fuel and a motor design that also delivers a high degree of safety. "What we're trying to do is break the performance versus sensitivity curve, and make a rocket that's both very ...
[Read More]

Estes Patriot Build #2056, Part 4, 24mm Engine Mount
This 24mm mount will have a replaceable Kevlar line. The small holes are punched for the Kevlar tube. On the right the larger circle is for the engine hook movement. In addition there are lines drawn for some reinforcement gussets. This will be a D engine mount, I wanted it stronger than just ...
[Read More]

135,000 foot parachute jump
"In the early hours of October 24, 2014, Alan Eustice, the 57-year-old Vice President of Google Search, made a record-breaking skydive from 135,890 feet, falling faster than the speed of sound and breaking the world altitude record set just two years ago by Felix Baumgartner. At dawn he was lifted ...
[Read More]

Estes Patriot Build #2056, Part 5, Coupler Bulkhead
I'm using the yellow section as a altimeter and payload section. I'll have to make a coupler with bulkhead out of the second red coupler. The red coupler fit can be tight so the edge that goes into the lower BT-60 section was rounded on the outside. After rounding the edge got a coat of ...
[Read More]

Comet Siding Spring passes next to Mars

[Read More]

Estes Patriot Build #2056, Part 6, Coupler Bulkhead
The matte board disk was punched for the shock cord tie. In the center a rectangular second piece was glued on for more support. The disk was glued over the top edge of the coupler. Any overhanging edge was sanded flush with the outside diameter of the coupler. The coupler and end ...
[Read More]

Scott Heider's Little Green Man
A blog comment and pics from Scott Heider: "Since you requested pics, I thought that I'd share a few of my just finished Little Green Man. I built mine stock per the instructions.  Thanks for creating such a fun kit!"   Every space man needs his Ray Gun! Great work Scott! Thanks for ...
[Read More]

Orbital Rocket Launch Today visible to some on East Coast
The Orbital Sciences Antares Rocket, carrying the Cygnus Spacecraft SS Deke Slayton, will have its first nighttime launch on Monday, Oct. 27, at 6:45 p.m. EDT from Wallops Island, VA. This should be visible for a large area of the East Coast. This Orb-3 Cygnus spacecraft is named after Deke ...
[Read More]

Rocket4TheCure - New World's Record As Teens Launch Almost 4000 Rockets at Once
  On October 26, 2014, High school students Sanzio Angili and Dylan Whitesel of Chesterfield, Virginia, raised $20,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and broke a world record by launching 3973 model rockets at one time. Supporters sponsored the event by donating $10 for each rocket, ...
[Read More]

Time of First Sighting Map for today's Antares/Orb-3 launch
"NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility and Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport are set to support the launch of Orbital Sciences’ Antares rocket at 6:45 p.m. EDT today, Oct. 27. Launch coverage on NASA TV will begin at 5:45 p.m."
[Read More]

Estes Patriot Build #2056, Part 7, Nose Cone Prep
There's not a lot of length in the payload compartment. The nose cone base will be opened up. It's important to leave the tie down lug on the nose cone base. I like to tie a line so if the nose cone comes off at ejection it'll still stay attached to the model. A fine tooth razor saw was used to ...
[Read More]

Orbital's Antares rocket CATOes!
Here is a capture of the NASA TV feed. The local weather just showed how the weather radar out of Dover spotted the location of the event based on the density of the smoke field. I will try to find that image. It appeared it CATOed close Chincoteague. Scary for those who live down there! So far, ...
[Read More]

Doppler radar view of the Antares mishap.
When I saw a similar image on TV, it looked like the CATO had occurred down range on the other side of Chincoteague, which didn't seem to agree with the video. Since this radar sees the smoke, I guess it will move with the wind. Doppler radar shows the explosion of the #Antares rocket. No ...
[Read More]

ISS Resupply Mission Antares Rocket Explodes on Liftoff
And of course, I missed this by 7 minutes and got to the live feed while the pad was still burning...
[Read More]

NASA statement on failed Antares launch
“While NASA is disappointed that Orbital Sciences’ third contracted resupply mission to the International Space Station was not successful today, we will continue to move forward toward the next attempt once we fully understand today’s mishap. The crew of the International Space ...
[Read More]

This is what it sounded like at the Press Site during the Antares Explosion

[Read More]

Great balls of fire!
This post is highly redundant as there are tons of photos and video of the Antares CATO. But I couldn't resist. These are via NASA HQ's Flickr stream .
[Read More]

L.G.M. Invasion!
Paul Rudin (RocketGeekInFl on TRF) Posted a picture of his Little Green Man "Launched my daughters this weekend.  This was actually one of the straightest flying rockets of the day.  Real crowd pleaser!!!"
[Read More]

Estes Patriot Build #2056, Part 8, Tube Primer and Fin Marking
On the left is the lower tube joint below the center of the launch lug. The joint seam was already sanded smooth and filled with CWF and sanded again. After that some medium CA was applied with a Q-tip and the excess wiped off. The tube was shot with a coat of primer/filler. the inset picture ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes D-Region Tomahawk (part 1)
During Estes’s sale last December I did not buy a D-Region Tomahawk (#2037). I bought five. Well, see, it was at the top of my “wow, what a sale, let’s get this” list; a big, nice rocket for $5.49 vs. (too high!) list price $43.49? But it went out of stock sometime between ...
[Read More]

Estes Patriot Build #2056, Part 9, Fin Alignment and Gluing
The fins are to be set 3/16" up from the rear of the tube. Using the fin root to mark the edge length. The primer was roughed up and most all of it sanded off the line between the top and bottom of the fin root edge. The first fin was glued on. A strip of paper was taped onto the body ...
[Read More]

New Rosetta Comet Images - 7km above surface

[Read More]

Building the Estes D-Region Tomahawk (part 2)
The next step is to glue the lower body tube to the fin can, and oddly enough the directions say to apply tube cement to the fin can coupler, not to the inside of the body tube. Of course that results in a mess, and Estes knows that — in fact the next instruction is ...
[Read More]

NASA blew up the Antares rocket
According to National Geographic a NASA safety officer pushed the self-destruct button. “The explosion happened after safety officers, watching for any of ten specified problems, such as a gross deviation from the flight path, sent a signal from the flight termination system to disable the ...
[Read More]

Estes Patriot Build #2056, Part 10, Decal Draw
The "decals" are peel and stick. The cut line around the roll pattern bars won't be very noticeable. But around the "U.S. ARMY" and the long oval decal is some clear borders. You'll be able to see that raised outline. I re-drew the U.S. ARMY and long ovals to make water slide decals. I'm ...
[Read More]

A Sad Week for Commercial Space
First the Antares explosion and now Virgin Galactic SpacehipTwo crashes
[Read More]

Failure of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo resulting in at least 1 fatality
SS 2 as she was just hours ago.     Frame grabs from tracking video.     Recovery of casualties.     Debris after explosion and crash landing.   The loss of a rocket is never a happy moment, but at least with an ...
[Read More]

Titan IVA-20 Accident Investigation Board Summary
  Even the best rockets fail from time to time.   http://fas.org/spp/military/program/launch/titan_iv-20_sum.htm
[Read More]

Estes Patriot Build #2056, Part 11, White Undercoats and Mask
Here's the entire model going through white undercoats. Under the light you can see the surface after wet sanding. All I do is just take off the tops of any orange peel. With the high spots knocked down there is still some gloss in the low areas. This is the upper mask for the yellow. The ...
[Read More]

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko vs a 747
       
[Read More]

A case of the vapors
I just removed three companies from the Kit and plan pak producers links list. One was Badd Azz Rocketry, which announced it was shutting down in August and indeed seems to have done so — the web site’s gone, anyway. The other two, not so much agreement between said and did. ...
[Read More]

Estes Patriot Build #2056, Part 12, Red Paint Ridge and Roll Pattern Plan
This is the low end red paint after the Scotch tape mask was pulled. There is a slight paint ridge. The ridge was carefully wet sanded so it wouldn't show up under the black vinyl wrap. In the paint and decal instructions the leading edge tip of the fins are cropped and squared. This ...
[Read More]

Dropping feathers and bowling ball in world's largest vacuum chamber
Perhaps the most shocking thing to see is feathers, for the first time in the history of falling feathers, impacting a surface at 10s of meters per second. They hit pretty hard and even bounce!
[Read More]

Saturn rocket engines

[Read More]

Estes Patriot Build #2056, Part 13, Roll Patterns
Taken from the cut lines on the stick-on sheet, all the roll pattern bars are 5/8" wide. The thin bar closest to the launch lug is there for front placement only and will be removed. You can see a center pencil line on it. The horizontal bars go on first, then the lower wrap around the ...
[Read More]

Improving WiFi reception using science
"A few posts back I was concerned with optimising the WiFi reception in my flat, and I chose a simple method for calculating the distribution of electromagnetic intensity. I casually mentioned that I really should be doing things more rigorously by solving the Helmholtz equation, but then ...
[Read More]

The perfect G
In my mind, the perfect G is close to 80N average thrust, and as close to 160N/s as possible. Most AT Gs run 100/137 N/s. Leaves a lot in the table. CTI has the G54R. At 159N/s. But it’s a weak moonburner. The Aerotech G75J comes close. But it’s 161 N/s. Not sure how that [ ...
[Read More]

Estes Patriot Build #2056, Part 14, Shock Cord Ties
The shock cord attachment is different on this one. The lower body shock cord is 1/4" wide and loops through the punched holes in the top of the coupler disk. On the left is the view from the bottom. The 1/4" wide elastic is pushed through the small holes with tweezers. The inset picture is from ...
[Read More]

Little Green Man on cover of Peak Of Flight Newsletter
The Odd'l Rockets Little Green Man continues to pop up everywhere! This time it's on the cover of the latest Apogee Peak of Flight Newsletter - You can see the whole issue, #377 - CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Estes Patriot Build #2056, Part 15, Decals and Finished
  The home print water slide decals went on without any problems. I don't know how close it is to scale, it's a clean design just the same. This one got some upgrades -  A 24mm engine mount with replaceable Kevlar. A payload (altimeter) section was added using the red ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes D-Region Tomahawk (part 3)
I am not exactly setting speed records here. But I’m okay with that. This white tubing has wider spirals than the brown tubing Estes often uses. With the latter I often have just relied on the filler primer to fill the spirals, and sometimes that works less than perfectly but it’s ...
[Read More]

Estes Christmas Tree Ornaments
Estes has just released rocket ornaments for your Christmas Tree - CLICK HERE This "Collectable 2014" ornament looks like like the old Mighty Mites NINJA flying model from around 2001. With annual releases of the other Mighty Mites Blitz, Sizzler, Fury, Maverick and Harpoon rockets, Estes could ...
[Read More]

Nice article on the state of hybrid motor technology
IEEE Spectrum has a nice article by Stanford professor Brian J. Cantwell: Wax Fuel Gives Hybrid Rockets More Oomph . Dr. Cantwell, who is also a principal at the Space Propulsion Group , is researching advanced hybrids based on paraffin and either liquid oxygen or nitrous oxide. The article ...
[Read More]

How big is that mirror in the telescope?
 
[Read More]

Model Profile, Centuri Aerobee 350
Here's one I found on my bedroom shelf on the recent California trip - the Centuri Aerobee 350. The kit was ST-10 based and stood 16 1/2" tall. You can see this original catalog page HERE I searched online and couldn't find the instructions anywhere. Kit parts and construction tell us ...
[Read More]

New page: For beginners
After responding to a newcomer in the Google+ Model Rockets community I decided to expand on that a bit and make a page of good resources for rocketry beginners and new returnees to the hobby. Take a look.  
[Read More]

A brief history of Wernher Von Braun, 1950 - 1970
This '1950' image is the starting point. If you click that you will get to Dan Beaumont's (virtual) Space Museum. Navigate to the right to see the remaining images. See also the PBS "Missile to Moon" documentary .
[Read More]

MMT
This bit’s always messy ...
[Read More]

Indian rockets update
"A group in the Aerospace Engineering department at the International Indian University in Navi Mumbai, India has established a sounding rocket program that has achieved altitudes of 4.5 km, 10 km, and 40 km with their rockets. I’m told by Rajesh Muneshwar, head of the department, that their ...
[Read More]

Upscale Odd'l Break-Away - YouBee at Bunnell Blast
Roger Smith had his YouBee (an 6:1 upscale of the Odd'l Rockets Break-Away model) readied for flight at the Bunnell Blast, November 8 and 9. I helped him carry it to the HPR pads. We were going to slide it down a launch rail when I noticed a fin had worked loose at the root edge. Roger was busy ...
[Read More]

Launch! NEFAR, Bunnell Blast, FL November 8, 2014
The Bunnell Blast is a two day event with a night launch on Saturday night. I was there for the day on Saturday.   Somewhere in that ball of flame is the SPUDNIK ! The A10-3t engine blew through the top and reamed out the inside of the foam potato. You can see the engine flying ...
[Read More]

Flying solo
 
[Read More]

New Blog / Launch Camera
I was never happy with my older Nikon S9200 camera. The burst mode took only 3 shots per second and there was "fun house mirror" distortion. Half the time the camera wouldn't shut off! You had to remove the battery for the lens to retract. After doing some research, I bought this Canon SX280 HS on ...
[Read More]

Procrastination rewarded
A black powder booster motor, one ending in “-0″, has no delay charge, no ejection charge, no clay cap. When the propellant burns through it sends hot combustion products forward where they can ignite the next stage’s motor. What if you used a non booster motor in a booster ...
[Read More]

2016
Starting to plan out next summer.   The usual pile of AT G76G, G77R, and G79W will be there.  I’ve still got a couple of each of those left.  I’ve also got 4 Loki G69 SF, and 2 G80 LW left.  The Optima, Vulcanite, Mini Magg, Blaster 9K and Smuggler will likely ...
[Read More]

24mm Engine Mount Improvements, Part 1
Engine mounts made by following the instructions will be fine, but make a few adjustments and the mount will be stronger and easier to use. The following mount was for an Estes Laser Lance kit. The lower body tube is a BT-55 and the payload tube is a BT-60, both very strong tubes. The kit engine ...
[Read More]

NEFAR;s Bunnell Blast 2014!
NEFAR hosted it’s annual two-day Bunnell Blast launch on November 8 and 9, 2014.  Canopies, cars, and trucks covered the full length of the north edge of the launch site and extended around the eastern edge. Chris Michielsson debuted his ...
[Read More]

World record static model water rocket
I thought this awfully ambitious project was worth a look-see, even if it didn't fly. There are also some photos on  BSA Troop 227's web page .
[Read More]

North America compared to the great red spot of Jupiter
 
[Read More]

Cable cross section
 
[Read More]

Life on neutron stars
  http://www.daviddarling.info/  
[Read More]

24mm Engine Mount Improvements, Part 2
I think Doug Sams posted the tip about cutting off the finger tab and flipping over the engine hook. The finger tab was cut off and the rough edges filed smooth. The hook will be installed flipped, with the round bent finger tab side up against the engine block. The cleaner bent square end will be ...
[Read More]

24mm Engine Mount Improvements, Part 3
After the rear ring was dry, it was sanded flat with the end of the engine mount tube. Again, the Easy Touch block made it easy sanding both surfaces flat around the engine hook. TIP: The engine block ring got a BradyCros notch to fit flat against the top of the engine hook bend. TIP: On ...
[Read More]

Philae hits the road!
 
[Read More]

What's In The Box?
In the box is a well padded old MPC Ceramic Blast Deflector. The guy who makes the Odd'l Rockets Blast Deflectors will be making a new mold from the original MPC Deflector. The new deflectors will be larger with a 3 1/8" wide base diameter. The larger deflector will be more effective with ...
[Read More]

Rocket Continuity on I Dream Of Jeannie
I recently got rid of satellite TV and went with old school rabbit ears for reception. I've watched some re-runs on ME TV and Antenna TV. Today's episode of I Dream Of Jeannie showed a Gemini Titan launch quickly followed by the orbit of an Apollo capsule with three astronauts. Captain Nelson ...
[Read More]

November 2014
Saurday Nov 15 from noon til 4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

By popular demand; more cable cross sections
         
[Read More]

MicroMaxx Wadding Tip
Sometimes you have to pack a very small bit of wadding in a MicroMaxx sized model. Rolling the wadding between two fingers gives you a roll of paper, the ends going to a point. I cut the end points off, from both sides. You end up with a small cylindrical "piston" that gives a good seal inside ...
[Read More]

Spudnik Kaboom!
Roger Smith took a great sequence showing the A10-3t engine cato in the Spudnik at last week's Bunnell Blast. CLICK HERE Scroll down about halfway and step through the sequence. It always looks different than you remembered. The Spudnik got about 10 feet in the air, the engine spins off to the ...
[Read More]

45 years ago Apollo 12 launches and is struck by lightning
36.5 seconds after launch , Apollo 12 was hit by lightning. Here is a great review from the movie “Failure Is Not An Option”
[Read More]

Model Rocketry Fanatics!!! on Facebook
The Model Rocket Fanatics Group are on Facebook Check it out here . . . https://www.facebook.com/groups/modrf/
[Read More]

A8 or 6 or 5 or 3-3 or 2
Recently I wrote something that mentioned how the Estes A8 motors really are, for incomprehensible reasons, more like A3. I’ve been looking at some old Estes catalogs online (they’re here, also here) to get a little more information on the subject. The 1961 catalog lists an engine ...
[Read More]

Did Ukraine shoot down MH17 with a fighter jet?
    Nopers.  
[Read More]

Ever Forget The Launch Lug? Oops TIP
We've all done it at one time or another - you realize the launch lug is missing on a finished model. You don't want to glue a new lug on and go through masking and refinishing. Simply glue on a colored paper skin. Print up some colored rectangles in different shades. Pick the one that is ...
[Read More]

Carbon aerogel
 
[Read More]

EBAY Buy
Here's one I won on EBAY for $20.00 plus $5.00 shipping. Normal retail is now $31.99 before shipping. I'd always wanted to build the Sidewinder. This was a TLP plan pack, It looks like somebody added their own bag of parts. The auction pictures showed the balsa sheeting had a broken corner but ...
[Read More]

The largest (and slowest) bounce in human history
Photo by ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA
[Read More]

Not building the Estes D-Region Tomahawk (part 1)
I haven’t posted any updates on the DRT, mainly because there hasn’t been much of anything to update about. Partly that was because I was out of town for part of the week before last, and then apparently picked up a cold on the way home which did me in for a couple days last ...
[Read More]

Wadding Wrap TIP
In a previous post I mentioned that I wrap a square of wadding around the low end of a rolled parachute before sliding it into the body tube. This was just extra protection from the ejection charge. I wanted to clarify that I use a smaller square of wadding, maybe 3 inches square. The smaller ...
[Read More]

Copper
 
[Read More]

Red Launch Button
I add a red tape piece over the launch buttons on my controllers. Shouldn't a launch button be red anyway? The Estes controllers have been a single color for years now.   I place a piece of colored electrical tape on top of the button. The old piece was sliding off. The yellow plastic ...
[Read More]

The origin of the swing wing glider design (?)
Here is a nice photo of winged rockets by German rocket pioneer Reinhold Tiling. These swing wing rockets apparently were used to carry mail. And, were good inspiration for modern swing wing modroc gliders. (via Dan Sharp's Flickr stream )
[Read More]

2014 Holiday Rocketry Sales
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are fast approaching. The shopping (and, coincidentally, the holiday) season is upon us! Below is a list of Holiday Sales offered by online rocketry vendors this year. This list will be updated as new information becomes available. Please leave a comment if you wish ...
[Read More]

Wrong! Rant
Sometimes I cringe when watching rocket construction videos on YouTube. There's a LOT of interesting information out there. I rarely post on the forums anymore. My posts were sometimes followed by somebody saying I'm doing it wrong. That's one reason I started the blog. On rocket forums I ...
[Read More]

Shooting water droplets with powerful lasers
"The energy deposition in a liquid drop on a nanosecond time scale by impact of a laser pulse can induce various reactions, such as vaporization or plasma generation. The response of the drop can be extremely violent: The drop gets strongly deformed and propelled forward at several m/s, and ...
[Read More]

Update on BSA Troop 227's ginormous water rocket
Well, they tried again. This time it, er, worked. In that it did launch. Unimpressive altitude but an impressive geyser.
[Read More]

LPR Bat Rockets
There have been plenty of Bat themed models over the years, There was the Centuri Acro-Bat in 1964 and the SAI Min Bat Boost glider, but the models shown below have the scalloped fin or bat wing designs. Here are some of the Batman themes: Centuri  BatRoc NUMBER:  KB-8 or #5038 Only ...
[Read More]

Indy movie about building and launching a sport rocket
Check out delta22's post over on TRF. Photos of the star rocket girl included.
[Read More]

Vintage rocket mail

[Read More]

Shrapnel from an exploding shell frozen in plastic
 
[Read More]

First glimpse of the SpaceX landing barge

[Read More]

Secret
Today was the day of Walt’s [Hobby Town] Secret Santa event. I showed up around 8:30 am with a laptop and monitor to run a rocketry slide show on, and four of my medium power rockets ...
[Read More]

BARCLONE Website
  Looking for some "Future Build" inspiration? Stop by the BARCLONE website CLICK HERE I haven't been to the website for a while - Craig McGraw (and friends) are busy designers! Ever feel like your original designs have started looking the same? Scroll through the Barclone designs to ...
[Read More]

More Raise Springs!
I went to fill a vendor order for RAISE Springs and realized - I'm almost out! An order has been made for 2,000 more! That's right, 2,000 more.
[Read More]

Building the Estes D-Region Tomahawk (part 4)
Okay, back to the shadows again. Following some discussion on YORF I decided to try gluing the scale lug using Tenax 7R again, first wiping down with alcohol, then brushing on generous amounts of cement. After pressing it in place and holding it a while I wrapped a rubber band around it. ...
[Read More]

Antares launch failure images and video
          http://www.zerognews.com  
[Read More]

Model Profile B.A.R. FLY
  This was one of the first models I built after getting back into the hobby around 2005. This was supposed to be an "All-In-One" BT-60 based rocket. It has a 24mm mount for D engines and an added 18/24mm adapter mount. Looking back on it now, I would have made it differently. The ...
[Read More]

Boom of the day
GIF credit: Jesus Diaz; See the video on Gizmodo/SPLOID .
[Read More]

Quest Response to Out Of Stock
After much speculation about igniters and supplies, Bill Stine posted this on TRF:  OK, here's an official response from Quest: First, NO, Q2G2 igniters are NOT gone forever and you will be able to purchase them again soon (both shorts and longs). The version that comes packed with the ...
[Read More]

Happy Odd'l-days!
Hopefully in time for Christmas orders - Another litter of Little Green Men and Pigasus kits are going out today! Parts prep, printing and bagging takes more time than you might think. Other Odd'l stuff and more Adeptors will be available!
[Read More]

Apogee Christmas Ornament
Apogee has a Christmas ornament for the 2014 season. CLICK HERE Through Monday, December 1 it's free with your Apogee order. After that, it's just $2.00. From the Apogee webpage: "There is a limit of one per customer, and you have to add the item to your shopping cart when you order, as well as ...
[Read More]

Ship camouflage
 
[Read More]

Bake a Jupiter
     
[Read More]

Recreational trigonometry: Fin Spin
Over on YORF, TXFergie was asking about the fin dimensions for the Estes Marauder #1922, and K’Tesh asked for details to help him enter the fins in OpenRocket. I neither have nor am much interested in the Marauder but for some reason I felt like calculating the numbers K’Tesh needed, ...
[Read More]

Repair time
Before proceeding with the Xarconian Cruiser I decided to take care of some repairs. The Retro Rebel is retired, but has a future as a display model. It draws attention. Needed the broken fin reglued, though. The shock cord’s broken, too, but I haven’t bothered with that. The Downscale ...
[Read More]

Why You Need Wadding . . .
I haven't seen this one for a while, it's worth a re-visit: CLICK HERE This is another video from Roger Smith - He explains: " This video shows what happens inside a rocket when the ejection charge fires. Captured at 1200 frames-per-second, this high-speed video illustrates dramatically why you ...
[Read More]

Just in - Springs!
These came in much faster than expected! They can sure fit a lot in a small box - 2,111 springs! The over run was 111. You do pay for the over run, though. Now comes the fun part - cutting the brass tubes and hand bending the locking extension arm.
[Read More]

Repair time II
I thought the Test to Destruction popped a fin at the root. Turns out the fin broke in two near the root edge. What can I say, I built it to survive flight and recovery, not small children. I was surprised to discover I could peel the paper lamination cleanly off most of the fin’s ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets T-Shirts!
  Just in time for the Holidays! The Little Green Man and Pigasus are now on T-shirts from Cafe Press: CLICK HERE  to go to the store. There are some other appropriate products available . . .
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets T-Shirts!
  Just in time for the Holidays! The Little Green Man is now on T-shirts from Cafe Press: CLICK HERE to go to the store. There are some other appropriate products also ready . . .
[Read More]

motors, revised
More motor musings ...
[Read More]

Kevlar Loop Knot
When you put a tight loop to make a knot in three strand Kevlar it tends to unravel. (On left) Before tying the overhand knot, over twist to tighten the line to overcompensate where the line wants to separate. It only takes an extra half twist the same direction as the three lines are turned. ...
[Read More]

How Not To Use A Raise Spring TIP
The picture to the right is  how not to use  a Raise Spring . . .  Odd'l Rockets Raise Springs should go  under the model  - not up the side of the rocket as shown here. DON'T SET THE RAISE SPRING UNDER A LAUNCH LUG THAT IS GLUED A FEW INCHES FROM THE LOW END OF THE ...
[Read More]

The fleet, November 2014

[Read More]

And the winner is...
ME! It appears I have won a Sirius S. S. Cestris , complete with DSSF insignia out of the pages of  Rocket Babe - Fallen Angel , from Verna and Randy .   Thanks guys, I needed a winter build!  
[Read More]

Giant bomber (Tupolev Tu-95?) parts the clouds
 
[Read More]

Cleaning Up a Launch Lug TIP
Sometime when the paint is setting up - Not wet, but not completely dried -  You can clean up some ends and edges. Here I'm pressing down some of the paint edges at the open ends of the launch lugs. Sometimes paint can accumulate at the open lug ends. Rolling a pointed dowel in the lug end ...
[Read More]

It's December
Hey I made almost two dozen rockets this week!  A lot of them didn’t survive the club meeting though.
[Read More]

Space 2018
Great rendering of what it may look like in 2018 with both SLS and SpaceX Falcon Heavy on the pads
[Read More]

Pig's Fly to Apogee
More Pigs and Little Green Men are on their way to Apogee Components - http://www.apogeerockets.com/Oddl_Rockets They went out last Friday and should be listed soon. JonRocket already sold out of Pigasus kits and has one Little Green Man kit still available. After these are gone it'll be a few ...
[Read More]

Model Rockets in Taiwan
On TRF, Taiwanluthiers did some searches on available model rockets in Taiwan. Here's what he found:   Pretty interesting, I hope the launch rod is longer and not just cropped out of the picture. The launcher doesn't have a stable, wide base. The Taiwan rocket listing webpage is ...
[Read More]

Hayabusa 2 Launch
Beautiful Hayabusa 2 launch from Tanegashima Space Center. More about Hayabusa 2: “Asteroid Explorer “Hayabusa2” is a successor of “Hayabusa” (MUSES-C), which revealed several new technologies and returned to Earth in June 2010. While establishing a new ...
[Read More]

Orion launch plans and a blow-up toy
Tomorrow, NASA will conduct the first test flight of their brand spanking new Orion capsule. Almost 42 years to the day of the last Apollo launch, the back-to-the-future-like spaceship will do a couple of laps around the Earth to test both its launch and recovery capabilities. The launch window ...
[Read More]

Simulated reentry plasma

[Read More]

Saturn V Apollo SA-500F Shake Test at VAB 1966
"On October 14, 1966, a "boilerplate" full Saturn V and Apollo spacecraft stack inside the Vehicle Assembly Building is rocked back and forth by employees pushing with their feet and pulling with a rope so that stability and stresses which might result from winds at the launch pad can be measured. ...
[Read More]

Estes Equinox, Centuri Scram Jet Side-By-Side Comparison
The Estes Equinox was based on the older Centuri Scram Jet model. Here's the decals I put together to duplicate the Centuri version. The Estes kit does give you red box decals but there isn't any numbers or the Scram Jet name on it. On top is the Estes Equinox, below the Centuri Scram ...
[Read More]

Public Missiles Shock Cord Knot
  From the Public Missiles Tiny Pterodactyl instructions: https://publicmissiles.com/pml/images/TinyPteroinstructionbooklet.pdf Here's another knot to think about. I still prefer the Duncan UniKnot for tying the shock cord to the nose cone eyelet or screw eye. With the Duncan Knot, ...
[Read More]

Uni Knot
Chris Michielssen recommends the Uni Knot for tying shock cords. Here’s a graphic showing how it’s tied. For fishing line you need five or seven wraps but for thicker cords, Eero Fluge says you can use three or four wraps for a cleaner knot. I’m telling you this because actually ...
[Read More]

Orion test launch scrubbed
Launch scrubbed. Launch rescheduled for Friday morning.
[Read More]

Making Raise Springs
Odd'l Rockets Raise Springs don't come fully assembled. The springs are just that - a spring with a long straight wire out to the side. The brass tube extensions are cut by hand. The added tubes are less likely to catch on the engine hook. If you use a Raise spring, keep it under the end of ...
[Read More]

Wrapping Controller Wires?
A very important  TIP,  After a launch session - Don't wrap the thin red lead wires tightly around the controller! Two reasons: If the red lead lines are wrapped over and depress the launch button while stored, this can bend the inside contacts and leave the button in a down or ...
[Read More]

Simulating fluids
  "Vortices created by the imbalance of a centrifugal force and a radial pressure gradient in a curved pipe move fluid from the inner wall (left side) towards the outer wall. These so called 'Dean vortices' (referring to the two symmetric structures in the rightmost figure) are ...
[Read More]

Orion soars...I cheered
Despite my occasional snarky comments about NASA's post-Shuttle plans, today's launch made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
[Read More]

Orion Launch Video Recap
Feel the vibrations: With onboard cameras:
[Read More]

Orion splashes down...I cheered again

[Read More]

Orion Crew Paper Model
NASA has a great desktop paper model of the Orion Crew Module. Link to Model
[Read More]

Looking For Vintage Kits?
If you are a collector of old kits -  Stop by the Vintage Model Kit website CLICK HERE It lists all the older kits currently on Ebay. You don't have to do any searching!
[Read More]

A few observations from this morning's social media
I see some people blasting NASA for a flawless Orion flight. In their opinion if there wasn't a failure the task was too easy. Lots of criticism on the NASA TV feed, which evidently failed during the countdown. Luckily, I slept in and caught it on YouTube. I see low power rocketeers bashing water ...
[Read More]

Ice Skating On A Crystal Clear Lake In Sweden
"This whole skating season's been incredible. I've been out for nine days in a row. We went through 11 lakes and rivers one day. We only needed to walk 1.2 km of the stretch of four mil, the rest went to go on fine ice. " Jonas Landmark
[Read More]

Too Sexy For My Cert (announcing my L3 plans)
I'm about ready to further empty my wallet into the financial black hole of rocketry and start my L3! I wanted to do an L3 that was both simple and high performance. My plans have always jumped around. Initially, I wanted to do a 4in flying case on an N5800 or O3400. The price tag on those motors ...
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Launch Decmeber 6, 2014
The day started off with no wind and mild temperatures. At the safety briefing I counted 42 people, a good turnout. I missed the first rack, there were some first timers anxious to get their models in the air. The CHEROKEE GOON had it's tenth flight on a Quest B6-4. It veered to the east and ...
[Read More]

Orion Parachutes - Look Familiar?
    If you haven't seen it yet, check out the Orion splashdown video CLICK HERE When I designed the Odd'l Rockets multi-sized parachutes I based them on the Centuri Saturn V chutes. The Centuri chutes had 64 printed gores in alternating red and white. 64 gores on an model ...
[Read More]

Laster Blaster 2014
It's time to catch up on some blogging.  In my defense I've been moving more toward Agile or Lean Test development at work and both methods value "functional [stuff] vs. documenting [stuff]." So I'm valuing flying rockets more than documenting them but I still need to complete the ...
[Read More]

ROCStock launch, Lucerne, November 2014
It was another beautiful day of essentially windless flying at Lucerne on November 8th.  I was mainly there to witness Scott Yeatons' Level 3 attempt but wanted to fly at least one rocket as well.  I've had this AT 2406K650 Blue Thunder sitting in my closet for awhile now but only my ...
[Read More]

Our first Holtville launch... 16x slower
I'm slow.  Only recently did I figure out that the GoPro Hero3+ I've had for a year features a 240 fps mode.  If I slow that down another 50% during editing I'm now showing hawt akshun at 1/16th its normal speed.  Perfect for rockets liftoffs at our new launch site at Holtville ...
[Read More]

Another Use for the Great Planes Sanding Block TIP
On TRF, Thirsty Barbarian asked about good tools for scratch building. Paul (Dr Wogs) made a great suggestion for a second use of the Great Planes Easy Touch Sanding Block: "I have one from 'Great Planes', love it!  And, this particular sanding square, because of it's unique shape ...
[Read More]

Recently declassified interview
Recently, we had an exclusive opportunity to chat with ████ ████████ of the █████ ██████ ███████. Our interview will bring you an amazing and previously-unseen insight into the world of ███████ ...
[Read More]

Nice video on the E-ELT
 
[Read More]

Centuri Sure Shot Igniters, Part 1
Lonnie B. found a large supply of old engines and built models on Craig's list. At the last Orlando R.O.C.K. launch he gave me some Centuri Sure Shot igniters. I told him I would put them up on the blog for everybody to see. Thanks Lonnie! At one time, the Centuri Sure Shots were the go to ...
[Read More]

A Cinema Space Tribute
“Rage against the dying of the light ...
[Read More]

Bloodhound SSC hybrid rocket static test

[Read More]

SpaceX to attempt barge landing next week
During the upcoming Dec. 16th  ISS Resupply mission SpaceX will attempt a first. They will attempt to land the first stage on a landing barge. If successful this will be a giant leap to re-usability. news source here
[Read More]

Centuri Sure Shot Igniters, Part 2
In 1974 Centuri redesigned the Sure Shots into the Sure Shot "Dots". These were simpler to assemble than the previous versions. Wrap the nichrome wire around the "igniter stick", bend the stick in two. Stick inside the nozzle and press the dot in place. Here's the package that came with a ...
[Read More]

Estes Older Blue Igniter
The first Estes igniters I remember seeing had a blue dip coating. All the old igniters I have left have (the later) brown coating. The dip was never as smooth as the catalog drawings. There were drips and globs down the wire. The engine tubes had three igniters all on one single piece of wire. ...
[Read More]

Estes Clearance Bundles
Now they're selling them in bundles! CLICK HERE   and scroll down to the bottom of the page. Prices are actually lower when you buy them in a bunch. At the moment the bundles are "Out Of Stock".
[Read More]

SpaceX Barge Landing Location revealed?
According to redditor darga89 the data is extrapolated from the FCC
[Read More]

Estes Bundles
I need another mid-powered rocket like I need a hole in the head but...Estes is offering bundles of rockets at prices that are lower than their already rock bottom pricing on individual kits. Check out the bundles at the end of their 'specials' page .  I got suckered into the Pro Series II ...
[Read More]

Cheaprocs
Estes has some rocket bundles on sale — drawn from the same set of kits they put on sale every holiday weekend; no, you’re still not getting a deal on the Mega Der Red Max, but: 1335 Mega Mosquito, 2134 MIRV, 2425 Super Neon XL, 3219 Air Commander and 3223 Xarconian Cruiser for ...
[Read More]

Christmas RUSH!
I've checked with all my vendors. The Pigasus and Little Green Man kits are all sold out ! There are still other Odd'l kits and accessories available. You can get matching Pig and L.G.M. T-Shirts at the Odd'l Rockets Cafe Press store.  CLICK HERE There won't be any more kits until I get ...
[Read More]

1964 Estes Electro Launch
Here's one that came up on Ebay -  An original Estes Electro Launch from around 1964. That would make this one 50 years old. There were no plastic launchers then, everything was made from pine and pressed board. The main battery box body may have come painted red from the factory. The ...
[Read More]

2.6" Screech
sccccrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeechhhhhhhh. I’m going to whip the shit out of this thing. whip it good.
[Read More]

Match Head Rockets Video
Dave (Green Jello on TRF) posted a link to a video on YouTube from the King Of Random:  CLICK HERE These are much more complicated than the ones I made years back. They actually have fins and the bamboo skewer (slid inside the body wall) give it some guidance. This is closer to what I used to ...
[Read More]

ROCK's December Launch Photos and Video
ROCK held its last launch of 2014 on December 6.  The light winds and moderate temperature made for a great day to fly. The countdown reached zero and a rocket soared skyward more than eighty times during the day. I’ve ...
[Read More]

Why Do I Keep Buying and Building Kits?
It seems like a strange question.  After all, I usually end up replacing many kit parts: Replace the rubber shock cord with a longer length of elastic                  $ 0.35 Add Kevlar:                 ...
[Read More]

Fillets! Tips, Part 1
At a club launch I was asked how I got fillets that were thick and smooth. Like everybody else, we all used white glue fillets, that's what the instructions told us to do. White glue shrinks and bubbles will form, especially in deep fillet areas around the launch lug. I glue the fins in place and ...
[Read More]

Looking out the window during re-entry
Great GIF looking out the window during re-entry (recent Soyuz re-entry) Source video here
[Read More]

Christmas Spirit, the MDRA way

[Read More]

I love animated GIFs
Via http://popmech.tumblr.com/post/105374779079 See the entire article , including one of the many videos that have been posted of this cool (and successful) flight of an actual port-a-potty.
[Read More]

The (possibly) big post of 2014 'best of' lists
I hadn't give a thought about compiling my favorite 'best of' lists this year...until I saw this one. I may add to this post, and I may not. If I do, I'll add new items at the top and will republish to bubble the post to the top. The Most Amazing Science Images of 2014 - io9 - They acknowledge ...
[Read More]

Fillets! Tips, Part 2
After smoothing down the root edges, roll a Q-tip over the front and back end. This rounds off the ends, removes any excess and can push some glue into the seam crack at the ends. Remember, the T M&TG skins over quickly. Don't go back and try to remove any more after the first or second ...
[Read More]

New Long Boat Tail Design? FAIL!
I was playing around with a new design. Sort of a Sci-Fi V2 style with a much longer tail cone. This sketch is just a rough starting place. I'd seen pictures of nose cones being made from body tubes before. Long triangular pieces are cut out and the long edges joined. Can't be too hard - right? ...
[Read More]

XKCD rocketry
XKCD gives us a great infographic (large version) on spacecraft masses and launch vehicle capacities, measured in horses.
[Read More]

Status of Semroc
“Have had several offers but nothing finalized. If/when it is bought, it will go to someone who is familiar with rocketry. I have not gone outside the forums because I do not want anyone that is not familiar with rockets taking it over.” — Sheryl McLawhorn, 17 Dec 2014
[Read More]

Secrets of Estes Modeling, Part 1
In a blog comment, David Carllucy sent me the link to this article by Mike Dorffler telling how Estes builds their catalog models. This copy was in Sport Rocketry magazine but is worth repeating.        Secrets of Estes Modeling by Mike Dorffler, Estes Industries ...
[Read More]

SpaceX CRS-5 launch update
CRS-5 Mission has slipped to 6 JAN 2015, a new T-0 has not been published. According to Twitter its a Engine static fire issue and ISS solar beta angle.
[Read More]

India's new launch vehicle has maiden flight
India’s new launch vehicle GSLV Mark 3 successfully launched from Sriharikota today. As well as a satellite launcher this rocket is capable of launching a crew into space. Today’s flight included a Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE). More on the GSLV Mark 3
[Read More]

The Dungeon's Top Ten of 2014
1. I started the year with two 29mm conversions, thanks to Estes and their great sale. 2. In March, Semroc officially announced that, after Carl's passing, they would be closing their doors. On a better note, they just announced that they are in talks about selling their business. Even better, ...
[Read More]

L3 parts.
  Parts for my L3 showed up in the mail, straight from wildman's.  60in Fillament Wound 4in tube 4in Fillament Wound NC 9in Fiberglass Coupler  And I cut the fins out using a jigsaw. 
[Read More]

Secrets of Estes Modeling, Part 2
And more from the same article: Now you can attach the fins. Here you do use Titebond. do not use epoxy. The Titebond will make a better bond here because you want the water in the glue to pull the resin into the wood of the fin and the paper of the tube. Sorry, but epoxies won't do this and ...
[Read More]

Trip To The Huntsville Space and Rocket Center
On the way back from Southern Thunder I stopped of at the Huntsville Space and Rocket Center. Here are the pictures. Enjoy! Click here to view these pictures larger
[Read More]

Centuri Mini-Engine Addendum
At one time, Mini-Engines were 3/4" longer and available as B engines! Both Centuri and MPC made B3 mini engines. I remember hearing about CATOS with the Centuri Bs. This small flyer was included in Centuri orders for the B engines after they were discontinued. Centuri continued selling mini ...
[Read More]

ISRO web site and LVM3
ISRO has redesigned its web site http://www.isro.gov.in. It looks great, and in particular there’s a nice page about the LVM3 launch vehicle they tested with the CARE module last week: http://www.isro.gov.in/launchers/lvm3. Looks like an excellent reference with numbers and a detailed ...
[Read More]

Updated: Level 3 First Try!! PDF
Hello, all, and happy holidays to you and yours.  In 2011 I had authored "Level 3 First Try" as an introduction to my TAP style and recommendations.  Just today I realized it needed some updating so here's v1f:       L3-First-Try-v1f.pdf Thanks for reading and cheers to ...
[Read More]

Shaping Nike Style Fins TIP
Gordon (Sandman on TRF and www.excelsiorrocketry.com) drew up how he forms the diamond taper on Nike Fins. The original post is HERE   s croll down to post #41 The original PDF (at the right) is HERE TIP: The old Centuri Little Joe II (smaller version) provided trailing edge balsa for ...
[Read More]

Nose Cones Have Arrived!
That's 45 Little Green Man and Pigasus nose cones just arrived from Balsa Machining Service. A little more expensive to produce, they are not a standard diameter or shape. Now to print instructions, cut tubes, make decals and bag'em up!
[Read More]

More New Estes Kits
  The best news is -  The 2" diameter (Centuri capsule) Mercury Redstone is returning! This is the Liberty Bell version. They specify a C6-3 engine only for a 200' altitude. This version has laser cut wood fins and water slide decals. The upcoming Odyssey is a skill level 5 ...
[Read More]

Rocket payload capacity in horses (XKCD)
Of course you can't see that image very clearly, so click here.
[Read More]

5000
Just had my 5000th page view on this blog. Thanks for visiting!
[Read More]

Flying trees aren't just for rockets anymore

[Read More]

TOP TEN for 2014
Here we go, Counting Down the Top Ten for 2014 Some were great, some not so good, all were interesting. 10 is the not so good up to #1 - the best of the year, Click on the names to see to the builds . . . 10. MPC VOSTOK Warped plastic, heavy and under powered with a C6-3. 9. Estes SR-71 BLACKBIRD ...
[Read More]

Incredible Spinning Saucer Launch
One of my favorite launches in recent memory
[Read More]

Merry Christmas To All . . .
And to all a good night!
[Read More]

54/1200
Let the plan for world domination begin ...
[Read More]

Rocketry goals review for November/December 2014 (and the year 2014)
Here’s how my 2014 rocketry goals went in the past two months, and a wrapup of the year. Sure, there’s another week to go, but I don’t expect that to change much. I didn’t launch anything these months, so the focus was on building. Yearly flight facts haven’t ...
[Read More]

Fun with 2015
Happy 2015. If you didn’t like my 2014 goals, guess what; I’ve got some fairly similar goals for 2015, and I don’t care. Anyway. For 2015, let’s take a look at my 2014 goals and see how they can be improved or adapted for 2015: Fly some larger rockets Fly more 24mm BP ...
[Read More]

Wear and tear on martian rovers
      www.huffingtonpost.com  
[Read More]

December 2014
Saturday, Dec 27 from noon til 4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

Whadja' Get For Christmas?
My older daughter asked what I'd like for Christmas. On TRF, MyGypsy posted a link to the INCRA Rulers video  CLICK HERE This is one of those tools that could be invaluable. The inset picture shows the small holes and slots that fit a .5 MM (fine) mechanical pencil. Instead of marking over ...
[Read More]

New model rocket for Christmas?
Did you get a new model rocket kit for Christmas? Check out these resources for rocketry beginners or recent returnees to model rockets: Stine’s Handbook of Model Rocketry is the book to read. Apogee Components — There are lots of online and local vendors of model rocket ...
[Read More]

Igniter Placement Tip
When setting an igniter in an engine, try this: Set the igniter wires away from the launch lug position. It's simply easier to connect up the clips when the igniter ends are away from the launch rod. The two wires should be placed between two fins opposite the lug. If your igniter is not away ...
[Read More]

Extra Centering Ring Punches
  Where possible, I try to incorporate a few extra features on the Odd'l Rockets kits to make them stronger and easier to assemble. Here's some centering rings from the Pigasus and Little Green Man kits. On the left is the lower engine mount centering ring. The ring is punched for movement ...
[Read More]

What Part Is This?
Can anybody identify this rocket kit part? No prize, I'm just curious if anyone knows what it is. I usually keep small pieces in zip-lock bags and was surprised when I couldn't find it during assembly. I found it on the bathroom floor, of all places! Answer in the Comments below . . .
[Read More]

Altimeter Hole Sizes? TIP
The Estes Altimeter instructions are vague about how big the pressure sampling holes should be. They show small square holes, very hard to cut with an X-Acto knife. Perfect Flight makes small "flashing count" altimeters for $25.00 CLICK HERE From the Firefly PDF instructions here's some more in ...
[Read More]

Himalayas from space
 
[Read More]

Can't Sleep
Couldn’t sleep so I did a bit of glueing on the DS. It’s always interesting to see how angled lines and shadows can make fins look totally messed up.  Those are on properly, I swear! Also dropped an order for a bunch of kevlar, 5 H250G’s, two H238T’s (for quick and ...
[Read More]

Why Do They Go Up?
I'm sure some won't agree with this explanation. For me it explained the basics of thrust. It's 1969, I'm in my eighth grade Science class. I thought I knew everything about model rocketry. I'd been building them for a year and probably had a few dozen flights under my belt. I was talking to my ...
[Read More]

Virgin VS43 Gatwick Emergency Landing with Radio

[Read More]

Keeping Fin Edges Square TIP
When sanding filler, primer or wet sanding between color coats you don't want to round over purposely squared fin edges. On this Payloader II model the leading edges are rounded, all other sides are square. On the right I'm sanding the flat sides of the fin right up to the squared edge. Notice ...
[Read More]

The faces of physics
 
[Read More]

2014 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,200 times in 2014. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people. Click ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Resolutions for 2015
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY! A few things I need to work on in the new year: 1. Don't buy any more new kits! Avoid the Estes sales, you have Cosmic Explorers already. 2. Get my first 24/40 reloadable composite casing. Ruh, Row! I launched Enerjets in the 1970s, it's been a while . 3. Sell more ...
[Read More]

Whatever Happened To . . . The Wedgie?
I thought we really had a winner with this one. It went through more flight testing than any other Odd'l design. Roger Smith designed software to input your art or a NAR logo and section name. I drew up Centuri Point, Brick Wall and Christmas Tree body skins. I had flown pyramids before but was ...
[Read More]

Simulating high angle of attack humming bird flight
     
[Read More]

Noisy Neighbors! RANT
In 1978 (yes, I'm backtracking) I moved into my first apartment in San Jose. The guy next to me thought he was a DJ. He'd point his speakers into the open grassy area between the buildings for all to hear  his favorite - heavy metal music. These were $15.00 J.C. Penny grade speakers ...
[Read More]

Just a little something.
I have updated the Flight Reports and Launch Reports and found this pin in the mail.
[Read More]

Vern & Gleda Estes Interview
Gary Byrum posted this link on TRF -  A video interview with Vern and Gleda Estes at the Seattle Museum of Flight. It was recorded July 5, 2014. This was posted on YouTube in August, but I didn't know it was there until Gary posted the link. A great video and worth a watch. CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Flame on Earth vs flame in space
 
[Read More]

Long March 3A rocket crashes in China
      Journalists and observers on hand to capture the f lat spin and crash landing in Guizhou province.    
[Read More]

3D Moon
 
[Read More]

Rocket powered bike hits 333 kph
"On November 7th of 2014, on the famous Circuit Paul Ricard located at Le Castellet in South of France, François Gissy has reached an incredible speed of 333 km/h on the rocket-propelled bicycle designed by his friend Arnold Neracher." This looks like a hydrogen peroxide engine, a good ...
[Read More]

Motors
Brings me up to 35 motors in stock.   Not terrible.  Mostly E’s and G’s.   This order adds 5 H250G’s, and two H238T’s to the G78G, K1100T, H268R, I600R, 3x G79W, 2x G77R, G71R, 2xG76G, F52T, E23T, E16W, E15W, 3x E11J, 3xE18W, Loki 2x G80LW, 4x G69 ...
[Read More]

Doing the rebel waltz
 
[Read More]

What Part Is This? Answer
"Mushtang" got it right! It's the second camera/eye on the R2D2 rocket! When the model was glued together I only found one in the zip-lock bag. I found the second "eye" a week after building it, on the bathroom floor! I knew there was two when the kit was first opened. The one I had was glued ...
[Read More]

Spectra of elements
 
[Read More]

Model Profile - Estes Vostok, Kit #1272
  Here's a rare one, the Estes Russian Vostok. It was only available for two years, 1975 and 76. The instructions are on the Ninfinger website. CLICK HERE It was 19.75" tall and BT-55 based. I remember seeing it in the catalog and thinking: "What a cop out! Profile fins?" I hated the ...
[Read More]

The Pillars of Creation, then and now
The Hubble Space Telescope's website has posted updated images of my favorite Hubble eye candy - the Eagle Nebula . Here are two images, one comparing the visible and infrared versions of the shot and one comparing the 2015 version with the 1995 version. Their site has full descriptions as well as ...
[Read More]

L3 build - Fin Beveling.
Beveling fins is quite possibly my least favorite part in rocket construction. I brand new belt sander helped easy my pain a bit. I clamped a small basswood support onto the edge of the sander. The fins rest on this and the sanding belt. I could change the angle of the bevel based on how far the ...
[Read More]

Waterspouts
 
[Read More]

How NOT TO USE a Raise Spring TIP
The picture to the left is how not to use a Raise Spring . . .  Odd'l Rockets Raise Springs should go under the model - not up the side of the rocket as shown on the left. DON'T SET THE RAISE SPRING UNDER A LAUNCH LUG THAT IS GLUED A FEW INCHES FROM THE LOW END OF THE BODY TUBE. Your ...
[Read More]

2015 themes and contests
One of my 2015 rocketry goals is: Put an entry (however pathetic) into at least four club launch contests and four club launch themes Nothing like buying a pig in a poke: I didn’t know what the contests and themes for this year would be at the time. I do now: Month Theme Contest  May ...
[Read More]

Not Enough Room? TIP
Occasionally you are stuck with a short model without much room for a parachute and wadding. If you have a plastic nose cone you can use the hollow interior for most of your parachute and shock cord packing. Cut away most of the shoulder leaving the tie down "lug". Be careful in the corners, ...
[Read More]

Happy 2015, Holtville!!
Hi, all, and happy 2015 to you as well.  Last Saturday was a stunningly perfect day for flying with 0-3MPH winds all day and all the way to the top.  Here's the second installment of my 240-slowed-to-480fps liftoff vids (full-screen HD and crank that audio please): Go, GoPro!!  I ...
[Read More]

:)

[Read More]

Before That Next Color Coat - TIP
After sanding and right before color coats -  Brush down the surface with a soft brush concentrating on the nooks and crannies. I don't use tack cloths, they can leave a sticky residue on models. After sanding there can be sanding dust and small bits of paint on the surface. With the naked ...
[Read More]

Awrospatiale-BAC Concorde
 
[Read More]

Parts of North America were colder than Mars today
 
[Read More]

Spaceport Magazine
I just learned of the free online e-mag, Spaceport Magazine . Volume 2, Issue 1 is now out via pdf direct from NASA   or the ISSUU news stand . This issue is mainly eye candy from the recent Orion EFT-1 launch and includes things you'd expect like the near-term launch manifest. I prefer the ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Falcon 9 explained in very simple terms
A parody of XKCD’s “Up Goer 5″ called “The BIRD 9″ The Bird 9
[Read More]

Cutting A Straight Line? TIP
Here's a different way to make straight cuts. This method is also used for cutting balsa. Here I'm cutting some Odd'l Rockets kit headers. Most modelers set a straightedge first, next to the line to be cut. Next time -  Set your knife blade tip onto the marked line  BEFORE placing the ...
[Read More]

What's Up
I may not have mentioned this here yet — pretty sure I haven’t — anyway, I’ve taken on the job of editor for the Syracuse Rocket Club’s newsletter, What’s Up. Published my first issue this week. I’ve noticed a few clubs (among the, apparently, ...
[Read More]

More Reliable Igniter Practice
I still see it a club launches - micro clips connected to the ends of straight igniter wires. Why not bend the wire ends in a "U" shape? You'll get twice the micro clip contact and more reliable ignition. When I got back into rocketry I was still connecting the clips up the wires and as close ...
[Read More]

F9 barge landing 1st attempt results
Hopefully the video equipment on the barge survived and was working. Let’s hope video will be released ...
[Read More]

EBAY Search Tips
  I know, many of you hate Ebay -  But sometimes you can find a good deal, especially when the seller doesn't know the value of an old kit. I used to blindly search around Ebay looking for a favorite model to build. Now I make two quick stops and I'm done! First up, the obvious. All ...
[Read More]

Manhattan at night
      More here  
[Read More]

Aerospace and weapons GIFs
       
[Read More]

L3 build - Fin Lamination
Lets reinforce some fins! I got to thinking about what was really necessary for an M3 flight and I decided that 2 layers would work fine, just to save on weight and carbon. After all, I'm doing 3 layers of T2T anyway. It'll be fine. I used a foodsaver for the vacuum bagging. This is my first time ...
[Read More]

AirCommand's latest perspective on rocketry
Here is an interesting take on the pad cam. I started describing its awesomeness but decided you should just experience it for yourself. I think I've seen something similar from a high power launch set-up...but if you can't find it it doesn't exist.
[Read More]

Why Snap Swivels?
Of course -  With a snap swivel you can swap out a smaller parachute or streamer for a windy day or small field. What's stopping you?  Snap swivels are only about 10 cents each. Well worth the extra dime if you get the model back on a smaller parachute or streamer. I also use snap ...
[Read More]

I'm in love with the Dino - O.T. Genasis feat. Dustin Dat Dino Dude

[Read More]

Amateur Rocket Motor Design
 The 2.375" rocket motor is ready to test but I haven't had the opportunity to get out the test site.  I have been feeling the urge to be doing some rocketry though and with that in mind I decided to build something.  I chose something small.  While the SStS project was ...
[Read More]

No Blog Posts on Tuesday January 13?
I'm in a hotel in Peru, waiting for my return flight at 2:45 a.m. That's right, 2:45 a.m. I'm in transit back to Florida tomorrow. I may not be able get to the blog posts. The Ocean Princess shows went very well it may lead to more bookings after April. Up until then I have plenty of "land" shows ...
[Read More]

DIY rocket-building workstation
Ever since we gave our grandson a tool box filled with real tools, he has been asking me to build 'spaceships' with him. After near disaster on a hardwood floor, I decided to build him a workbench and my wife suggested that I use the crib that we had for our kids (one of those uber dangerous drop ...
[Read More]

New MMX From FlisKits
Here's the new MicroMaxx offering from FlisKits, the V2 and V2-WAC Bumper. The BT-5 sized tailcone and nose cone are 3D printed. Check them out HERE
[Read More]

Catalog trends
For those of you who are old enough to remember what “catalogs” are, there’s a new one from Estes. I’ve been compiling some statistics from historical Estes catalogs. Here are some numbers from 40, 30, 20, 10, 1, and 0 years ago — numbers of kits, and percentages of ...
[Read More]

New Motor design - nozzle
  I tried to take a lot of pictures while making the nozzle for this latest motor and thought I would show the progression and talk about each of the steps a bit.  I'm not a machinist and this isn't meant to be a tutorial, just a bit of insight into my thought process.  Feel free ...
[Read More]

Solar Eclipse Finder
  What is the best location to see an eclipse in 2144?   Click here to find out.
[Read More]

Yellowstone mantle plume and hotspot volcano
 
[Read More]

missile gif

[Read More]

Google got some 'splainin' to do.
  These are the estimated earnings over the course of 3 hours today. It started out with a respectable $1.55 for the morning, and then faded fast. What is the deal? This is not the first time, in recent days, where moderate initial earnings dropped to nearly nothing.
[Read More]

I-Class Motor update
I actually finished the motor casing prior to the nozzle, but here are the two pieces together.    It was a conscience decision to complete the casing first so that I could get the most accurate measurement of the ID before starting on the nozzle.  The ID in this case ended ...
[Read More]

F9 first stage crash landing GIF

[Read More]

2015 Estes Catalog
The new 2015 Estes catalog is available for viewing online: CLICK HERE The front cover shows the new Lynx and Scorpion models, the back cover (on the left) features the re-issued Blurzz cars. These three look to be the same model with different color schemes. To see a Blurzz review from 2003 - ...
[Read More]

Now we have Video! F9 1st stage Crash
Link to Source: https://vine.co/v/OjqeYWWpVWK
[Read More]

OUTSTANDING!
On YORF, Sheryl McLawhorn writes: I am happy to announce that Semroc now has a new owner. I am sure most of you know Randy Boadway of erockets. We have known him since the beginning of Semroc. He wants to keep the quality of service and parts Semroc is known for so Bruce and I ...
[Read More]

Semroc Sold to ERockets
Posted on YORF earlier today: "I am happy to announce that Semroc now has a new owner.  I am sure most of you know Randy Boadway of erockets. We have known him since the beginning of Semroc. He wants to keep the quality of service and parts Semroc is known for so Bruce and I will be ...
[Read More]

Bottle rocket under ice
http://imgur.com/gallery/wGzdQmK
[Read More]

I-Class nozzle complete
Drilled and tapped the nozzle this morning.  I don't think that I mentioned it earlier but the steel is 12L14 steel, commonly refered to as Ledloy because of addition of lead (0.15-0.35%).  It's really nice stuff to work with.  Here are a couple of pictures.  
[Read More]

New Upgraded Kits and Accessories
Semroc is sold! I hope the new owner can supply parts for vendors.  Red River Rocketry has slowed it's production while new sources can be found. Fliskits had many custom nosecones made at Semroc. Carl never turned down a custom parts order. The Odd'l Rockets problem? I use ST tubing (not BT ...
[Read More]

Observations on the New Estes Catalog
On the Forums t here are negative opinions about the new 2015 Estes catalog. I don't mind the RTF and ARTF models if those are what pay the bills at Estes. Estes still makes the best BP engines out there.We all use Estes engines whether they are in a RTF or scratch built rocket. It's simple, if ...
[Read More]

Why is it called Area 51?
  http://gizmodo.com/  
[Read More]

L3 build - Fin attachment
The fins were bonded with structural aeropoxy with little bits of 5 minute at the ends to hold them while the aeropoxy set.    It's looking like a rocket!   
[Read More]

Estes Kit and Catalog Trends
On his blog, Rich's Rockets -  Rich Holmes did research into Estes kit and catalog trends. Graphs show skill level changes and kit production over the years. In this graph you can see the upswing of Skill level 1 kits (light blue) and the decline of Skill Level 5 offerings (dark red). It ...
[Read More]

Slice-a-rific
There are many free, open-source programs to slice 3D models into tool paths that can be used by a 3D printer.  I downloaded a installed a few this morning including Cura ,  Slic3r  and PrintRun/Pronterface .  There's another package called Simplify3D that looks interesting, ...
[Read More]

Hologram at Tiffany's?
 
[Read More]

Tree disposal launch 2015

[Read More]

Smuggler's

[Read More]

Gigapixel Andromeda Video

[Read More]

RocketReviews.com Site Updates
Site Maintenance Apologies for getting behind in processing new reviews and other site maintenance. Between the holidays and a bad cold or the flu or whatever, I wasn’t able to spend enough time working on the site. But, I’m catching up now. RocketReviews.com Community I had ...
[Read More]

Last Set :)

[Read More]

Estes Suggestions From TRF
John Boren from Estes (Jumpjet of TRF) asked for product suggestions: "Maybe someone can start a positive thread on what people believe Estes should produce, and no, the B14 motor isn't going to happen. Lets see if you can get 20 people to agree on the exact same thing, and I'm not talking ...
[Read More]

Steelwork in Russia (Volume Warming)

[Read More]

Ceres starting to come into view for Dawn Spacecraft
 
[Read More]

Estes Mercury Capsule
From the 1964 Estes catalog: This picture is from a recent Ebay "Lot" listing. I'd never seen the capsule before. The printed graphics weren't much! It's missing the rear balsa "heat shield" adapter. From the Semroc repro kit instructions: "The Estes Mercury Capsule was released in the 1963 ...
[Read More]

Grey Poupon and Anakin Palpatine
Roger Smith is making another attempt to get community.rocketreviews.com off the ground after a few months down. Not much there so far, but I do kind of like the Rocket Name Generator. The first name it suggested for me was especially prescient (but already taken): What’s Up ...
[Read More]

Replacement Altimeter
I just had a nice talk with Christine at Estes. I called to see about a return authorization number for my Estes Altimeter. I've launched it five times without much success. The last flight registered "0 ft." Christine asked a few questions about how I used it. I know she was trying to see if I ...
[Read More]

Home Vinyl Cutting Machines
Check out Jeff Taylor's amazing masking on TRF CLICK HERE This isn't vinyl, but a mask! He used old-style masking frisket film cut out using a Silhouette Cameo cutting machine. To go to their website, CLICK HERE Jeff writes about the Silhouette Cameo machine he used to cut the masking ...
[Read More]

ordering...
Offically sold the CTI 29/6, 38/3 and 38/6. Ordered rocketman 2,3,and 4 foot chutes, a mobius camera and a 3D printed shroud for 2.6″ rockets. I’m -very- happy with these developments :)   Few more bits and parts and I should be set for the summer.
[Read More]

Water Rockets Parachute Deploy Video
From Air Command Rockets -  Check out this this video about how water rockets are built to "eject" a parachute. Pretty interesting stuff, well worth a look. CLICK HERE The way they join bottle segments and make the smooth transition nose section is brilliant! I like the transparent ...
[Read More]

Giuseppe De Chiara: Amazing Spaceship artwork and illustration
This is a great collection on spacecraft and planes technically and beautifully illustrated by Giuseppe De Chiara. Link to Collection on Wikipedia Link to Google+ page
[Read More]

Q2G2 Igniters Available Again?
Quest has all the engine bulk packs in stock with the Q2G2 igniters. Starter sets (Quest launchers are in stock) are also listed. CLICK HERE Separate six packs of the Q2G2 igniters are not yet available. As I understand it, the Q2G2 igniters (old style with the black pyrogen tip) are included ...
[Read More]

Stomp box
Uh oh. Whew. It survived!
[Read More]

New Products Reply From Estes John Boren
From John Boren (JumpJet on TRF):  "Sorry I haven't posted in this thread yet but I couldn't find it and since I seldom go to the Watering Hole section it was by chance I found this thread since it was linked in another thread. As you can see my original question or statement if you wish ...
[Read More]

The YouBee's Last Flight
I launched my YouBee, a 12-foot tall upscale of the Odd’l Rocket’s Break Away rocket, on a CTI L1115 motor at NEFAR’s Bunnell Blast on November 9. The rocket reached about 5000 feet in altitude. Unfortunately, the main parachute deployed at apogee. The rocket was designed to ...
[Read More]

MRC FX Engines
On TRF, a question came up about the MRC FX Engines. MRC (or Model Rectifier Corporation) make model trains and RC cars. Years back they got into the model rockets business. Their first catalog was pretty standard stuff: CLICK HERE They did offer a few new plastic nose cone shapes, and a "Bat" ...
[Read More]

Coastal Bomb - Nor'Easter on the way!
 
[Read More]

Mini Magg
Got bored ...
[Read More]

Happy Australia Day?
It isn’t even remotely a US holiday weekend (it’s not even a weekend), but Estes is doing the sale thing again anyway.  
[Read More]

Asteroid 2004 BL86 has a moon!
  nasa.gov
[Read More]

Estes Yellow Pages
Fred Shector (Shredvector on TRF) reminded everybody that all the old Technical Reports (TR-1, TR-2, etc.) are still available for FREE on the Estes website - CLICK HERE In the TRF thread, some were saying they missed the "Yellow Pages" technical section in the newer Estes catalogs. A new ...
[Read More]

All you ever needed to know to build a model rocket
Before there was the Internet, rocketry forums (yeah, that's the Internet too), or books (there was one, but I didn't have it), all an aspiring rocketeer needed was an Estes Catalog and a few of their Tech Reports. Today, Chris Michielssen passed along a reminder that that good old stuff is ...
[Read More]

Remembering the cost of space travel.
Apollo 1 crew: Ed White, Gus Grissom and Robert Chaffee   Challenger crew. Back row from left to right: Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Greg Jarvis and Judy Resnik; front row: Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee and Ron McNair. ...
[Read More]

What would a Falcon Heavy launch look like?
Like WOW!
[Read More]

Featherweight or Tumble Recovery?
  There are a few small "Featherweight" / Tumble" models out there. Above is the Quark and Mini Mosquito from Estes. An early featherweight rocket kit was the Estes Streak introduced in the early 1960s. The 13mm Mini Brute Mosquito was introduced in 1972 and had featherweight recovery. ...
[Read More]

Weird rocket doohickey of the day
Check out the Panjandrum. Two wheels and 70 slow burn cordite motors made for some great hilarity. Wired has a nice article describing this crazy contraption: Well That Didn’t Work: The Rolling Rocket Bomb Designed to Kill Nazis Almost Killed a Dog Instead . Crazy? I LIKE it! ...
[Read More]

What a difference 150,000 km makes!
    NASA / JPL / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA / Emily Lakdawalla Dawn's view of Ceres on January 25, 2015 (animation) This animation is composed of 20 images gathered over a period of about an hour for optical navigation purposes. Dawn was 237,000 kilometers from Ceres at the time. ...
[Read More]

Vintage rocket powered monocopter may be up for grabs
Early in my blogging days and near the peak of my fascination with monocopters, I found some photos of the Rotary Space Ship that was manufactured by the Brown Manufacturing Company in the '50s/60s. I was recently contacted by one Richard Moore, who has owned one since around then. He says he may ...
[Read More]

Bagged Sub-Assemblies
I learned a lot from building Semroc kits. One thing I found were bagged sub assemblies. The engine mount and recovery system parts were in separate small bags. The picture shows the engine mount bag from a typical Odd'l Rockets kit. As a teen I remember tearing open an Estes or Centuri kit ...
[Read More]

Crepe Wadding Update
Wadding alternatives come up on the forums and on rocketry FaceBook pages. I've done quite a few blog posts about cheaper wadding in the past. Lonnie B recently wrote: "I finally made use of the bag of yellow crepe paper wadding you gave me a couple of years ago. I was getting fed up with how ...
[Read More]

January 2014
Saturday, Jan 31 from noon til 4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

Calm yourself with this night launch video
Here is a cool still from the launch. Auroras, three multistage rockets, eerie chemical clouds, a laser and even the ground impacts...
[Read More]

JusRocket's tube
 
[Read More]

Asking Permission Might Be A Good Start!
If you follow the blog, you might recognize this rocket. It's my two engine cluster model called the Big Girtha. It was adapted from a Quest Big Betty kit. I took this picture before it was launched at the Tampa TTRA monthly. Then I saw it in a EBAY listing. Maybe I should be flattered, but I'm ...
[Read More]

RIP Milton W. Rosen, Pioneering Rocket Engineer 1915-2014
The Air and Space blog has a nice bio of Milt Rosen , who passed away on December 30, 2014. He was an early pioneer in our space program and was integral to many programs, including the Viking sounding rocket and the Pioneer satellite. While he was Viking Program Director at the White Sands ...
[Read More]

Official SEMROC Announcement
  News Release January 31, 2015     eRockets is proud to announce the acquisition of Semroc Astronautics Corporation. eRockets will relocate Semroc to their facility in Dayton, Ohio, and resume full production of  Semroc flying model rocket kits. Semroc ...
[Read More]

eRockets acquires Semroc Astronautics Corporation
Looks like Semroc kits will be available again. News Release January 31, 2015 “eRockets is proud to announce the acquisition of Semroc Astronautics Corporation. eRockets will relocate Semroc to their facility in Dayton, Ohio, and resume full production of  Semroc flying model rocket ...
[Read More]

Semroc arising
From Randy Boadway: News Release January 31, 2015 eRockets is proud to announce the acquisition of Semroc Astronautics Corporation. eRockets will relocate Semroc to their facility in Dayton, Ohio, and resume full production of Semroc flying model rocket kits. Semroc was originally founded in the ...
[Read More]

JonRocket.com Sponsors UCF's Participation in NASA's University Student Launch Initiative
The Students for the Exploration and Development of Space at the University of Central Florida (SEDS-UCF) have created a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to support their participation in NASA’s University Student Launch Initiative (USLI) competition. JonRocket.com is happy ...
[Read More]

JonRocket.com Sponsors UCF’s Participation in NASA’s University Student Launch Initiative
The Students for the Exploration and Development of Space at the University of Central Florida (SEDS-UCF) have created a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to support their participation in NASA’s University Student Launch Initiative (USLI) competition. JonRocket.com is happy to support ...
[Read More]

RMS? Whaa . . .
I know, I've gone over to the dark side. Not really, I had launched a few Enerjet E engines in the late 1970s. I ordered this 24/40 reloadable engine casing for use in some heavier models that need something more than a black powder D12. These engines have to be assembled and there are ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes (clone) Ranger (part 2)
So here are some parts. I got the nose cone from BMS, as I said. I was surprised when I got it. I was expecting a balsa nose cone. I got a balsa nose cone ...
[Read More]

F-1 Engine
Theo and I stopped by the F-1 rocket engine display outside of the Aerojet Rocketdyne facility in Chatsworth, CA yesterday.  He was impressed. You can find more info on this engine display by clicking here .
[Read More]

New Show Idea
Okay, remember it's my blog and I can post what I want. Remember the Zamfir TV commercials in the 1980s? Between Zamfir and Slim Whitman, those CD ads would drive me nuts! I wanted to throw a brick at the TV. I'm always looking for the next BIG thing to ad to my act. I may have found it. ...
[Read More]

Young stars in Taurus
      " The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has snapped a striking view of a multiple star system called XZ Tauri, its neighbor HL Tauri, and several nearby young stellar objects. XZ Tauri is blowing a hot bubble of gas into the surrounding space, which is filled with ...
[Read More]

Wet Sanding Part 1
A few things to consider about wet sanding: You can leave wet/dry sandpaper in water, even overnight before sanding. It won't ruin the sandpaper. I wet sand using water. Some use water with a drop of soap, some even use light oil. While some have had good results, I don't wet sand filler or primer ...
[Read More]

Semroc Website Up and Running!
The Semroc website is back and running! CLICK HERE At present there are 15 kits and plenty of parts available. Best Wishes to Randy Boadway and Semroc!
[Read More]

The return
Semroc (http://www.semroc.com/Store/scripts/default.asp).
[Read More]

Wet Sanding Part 2
When wet sanding, you don't have to go all the way down to the wood surface. Just "knock down" the surface imperfections. Take the sandpaper out of the water and shake off the excess. Keep a paper towel handy for drips. The fin on the right had some "orange peel" from the spray. When wet sanding, ...
[Read More]

If the Moon were one pixel
    Scale model of Solar System with Luna as one pixel.
[Read More]

2014 New Products
Looking back on 2014 it was a big year for Odd'l Rockets! In February, the Odd'l Rockets multi-size PARACHUTE is printed and bagged! The PIGASUS Kit is introduced at NARCON last March. Flame Resistant SHOCK CORDS are added to the accessory lineup. In August the LITTLE GREEN MAN is first bagged up! ...
[Read More]

DARPA's plan for launching small satellites : ALASA
DARPA has a concept program called ALASA(Airborne Launch Assist Space Access) that uses small jets to assist in launching small payloads into orbit. “DARPA’s Airborne Launch Assist Space Access program (ALASA) seeks to propel 100-pound satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) within 24 ...
[Read More]

Wet Sanding Part 3
These new paint formulations can drive you nuts! Currently I'm using Rustoleum 2X painter's Touch. It's got a LOT of pigment in it and can cover with fewer coats. That thicker pigment can clog up the spray nozzle. I think the spraying is going fine until I check the dried surface. The picture at ...
[Read More]

Launch Lug Cutting TIPS
With Semroc's part supplies dwindling, I wasn't able to buy 3" long launch lugs for the Odd'l Rockets Sputnik kit. I ended up buying 12" long lugs from Balsa Machining Service. At 3" long, each 12" length would yield 4 usable lugs. You can save a little money by cutting your lugs to custom ...
[Read More]

Fill 'er up with Ethyl!
       
[Read More]

Building the Estes (clone) Ranger (part 3)
I rounded the leading edges on the fins, then papered them. My usual, good old printer paper and glue stick. Here they are: um, under that board. I don’t know if it actually helps to weight them while the glue cures, but I do it anyway. I don’t think it hurts. Meanwhile I took an ...
[Read More]

mobius

[Read More]

Launch, Orlando R.O.C.K. February 7, 2015
The Orlando area had some rain in the days before the monthly launch. The pads were set up on the Southwest corner of the field close to the trees. There was water on the field and in the ditch next to the access road. One car got stuck - twice! Temperatures were cool and the winds were blowing ...
[Read More]

Burning methane bubbles under lake ice (NSFW language)

[Read More]

Building the Estes (clone) Ranger (part 4)
Straightforward progress today. I trimmed the paper on the fins. I decided to put some (big, sloppy) fillets on the motor tubes, partly for strength and partly to make it that much easier to stuff the gaps later. Then I used a bamboo skewer to lay down three lines of glue inside the body tube. ...
[Read More]

ModelRockets.US Instructions
I like seeing a sample of kit instructions before buying a kit. Sometimes I won't buy a model if the instructions aren't good. I found this page showing the instructions for the ModelRockets.US kits: CLICK HERE On the page are links to their LPR kit instructions and the Expert Series 2.6" ...
[Read More]

Cyclone Hole Punching TIP
I'm making up a batch of Cyclone kits and have to punch a ejection charge relief hole in the BT-20 upper body tubing. You can get a clean hole using a simple 1/4" hole punch. This is how Estes punched holes in the Scout kits. TIP: When punching the hole, be sure to stay away from the body tube ...
[Read More]

Cruise Missile Launch

[Read More]

NFPA
I typically use this blog to track my personal progress, and as a self serving, egotistic, unbarred mental dumping ground. In the spirit of the second,  Fuck the NFPA.  A private organization writing regs, with input of involved parties, and then selling these regs to governments to ...
[Read More]

What's With The Blog Header?
Maybe I'm making light of a bad design? The MPC Cadet Cruiser kit was a bad move from the start. The kit box lists an engine that doesn't exist.  The box estimates the maximum altitude at 260 feet. Mine never got nearly that high! If it were stable, a C6-5 engine should have ...
[Read More]

Tourist attraction
From a 5 Feb WSJ article, “Best Side Trips When You’re in Dallas”: At the Rough Creek Lodge, an 11,000-acre luxury resort about 30 minutes away, you can ride a zip-line, swing a golf club, throw a tomahawk, swim, fish, and hunt stag and feral hogs. If that doesn’t grab you, ...
[Read More]

Back at it!
Time to get back at it, here’s what happened over the weekend.
[Read More]

Cadet Cruiser In Open Rocket
Before anybody complains,  I don't have much experience plotting model parts into Open Rocket. Still, I gave it a shot. I took the RockSim simulation for the Sky Eagle off the Apogee website and dropped it into Open Rocket. I made a few small corrections based on the parts I had in the ...
[Read More]

SDO 5 years of observing the Sun

[Read More]

Holtville February 2015 launch report
Well, for now, it's just this month's slow-mo vid but I'll augment this entry soon:
[Read More]

Estes Scout In Space
Here's a great story about Astronaut Jay Apt and the Estes Scout that flew aboard the Shuttle Atlantis in 1991: CLICK HERE This Scout will be part of the Model Rocket Display at the Seattle Museum Of Flight. The display will be dedicated at the upcoming Seattle NARCON held February 20-22.
[Read More]

USGS gelolgical maps of the lunar surface

[Read More]

Far flying Scout
The model rocket that flew 4 million kilometers.
[Read More]

Still looking for a cool Space Themed 2015 Calendar?
How about the ISS Calendar? Download It For Free !!
[Read More]

Great SpaceX Photos from DSCOVR mission
It’s nice to see a spacecraft in the “not in low earth orbit” context again. Great photo of second stage delivering the spacecraft to it’s parking orbit for a spectacular view of the whole earth. Soft Landing at sea. Elon Musk tweeted: “Rocket soft landed in the ocean ...
[Read More]

Motor retention for mathematicians
How did I decide on a #4 machine screw to go in the middle of the Ranger cluster for motor retention? Trial and error would have worked, but actually what I did was to draw it to scale in a vector drawing program and see how big a circle I could fit in the gap. ...
[Read More]

Corundum - Ruby
 
[Read More]

Mini 3D print of a slightly larger 3D-printable design
Here's an earlier 3D print test of my 3D design below: And here's a later test print in-hand: This latter print came from a pair of replacement extruders we installed at work last week and they're working better than ever! I also received the ship notice on my home 3D printer and it should arrive ...
[Read More]

M3700 grains are interesting...
...and now all four find themselves cozily bonded to their liner for tomorrow's flight!
[Read More]

Centuri Super Kits
Centuri introduced three SUPER KITS in 1976. These were large models, the main air frame was the ST-14 tubing. They were designed to be flown with C6-3 and the new C5 "Super C" engines. Semroc brought back the USS America model but this time it got a 24mm mount for D12 engines. In 1977 the ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes (clone) Ranger (part 5)
I am, I suppose, being wildly inconsistent with this model. I’ve gone out of my way to get a balsa nose cone of the original Ranger length, instead of the shorter modern Big Bertha nose cone. I’m using 3/32″ fin stock, because that’s what the K-6 came with, though I’m ...
[Read More]

Pigasus at February 14, NEFAR launch
Here's Cris Morris with her Odd'l Rockets Pigasus at the NEFAR monthly launch on February 14. Here Pig was launched on pad 6 next to my Little Green Man on pad 7. The Pigasus put in a good, stable launch with a C6-5. Thanks Cris! Great job on your Pig!
[Read More]

New Starter (Igniter)
I've been avoiding using the new Estes Starters. When I buy engines at Hobby Lobby (with the 40% off coupon) I look for older engine packages with the black tipped, pyrogen igniters. As those are sold out only the newer clear tip starters are left. I haven't used a "Starter" until the last ...
[Read More]

NEFAR Launch, Bunnell, FL February 14, 2015
The NEFAR monthly launch was as busy as I've ever seen it. Lots of kids and Scouts on the low power pads. The mid power pads were all full throughout the day. Winds were 10 to 15 mph and I had LONG walks to pick up the models with parachutes. It's always fun to see one of your kits built by ...
[Read More]

Lucerne on 2/14/15 with M3700 viciousness
More on this soon....
[Read More]

Building the Estes (clone) Ranger (part 6)
I’ve been reading online about people going out and launching rockets. Some of them are people who live in warm climates. Some are crazy people who launch in the snow. None of them live in upstate New York. At the moment it’s –1°F out there, and the wind chill is &nd ...
[Read More]

Used 18mm Engine Comparisons
On the forums, questions come up about the differences between Estes and Quest 18mm engines.  Here's two fired 18mm engines. An Estes B6-4 is on the left, a Chinese made Quest B6-4 on the right. The Estes engine burns cleaner, the Quest nozzle is black and sooty. Inset picture, view from ...
[Read More]

Divisions
There are many common ways of classifying rockets. The FAA has Class 1/2/3.   A basic system considering rocket and propellant weights.   Works for them, but no consideration of style. TRA and NAR take the FAA’s system into consideration (we all have to),  but only ...
[Read More]

Bath time
OK, time to start this.
[Read More]

WMD
 
[Read More]

Super Glue Drying Out? tip
Dana Eiler sent a link to this tip from Instructables: CLICK HERE "Any kind of glue it's one of the principal tools of a maker, especially super glue, its fast and glues virtually everything. But a problem common to all of the users its the glue drying up on the tip of the container, and we ...
[Read More]

Pluto system from about one AU
 
[Read More]

US Rocket's"Integrated Tube" Adapters
  Some of the US Rockets kits use whats called a Integrated Tube technique to form adapters and even nose cones formed from the ends of body tube airframes. "US Rocket's "exclusive "Integrated Tube-tm" technique for the reducer shroud for light weight and high strength." In the above ...
[Read More]

All I Need . . .
. . . is more rocket kits! My Estes Clearance order came a few days ago. I got three of the BT-55 based bulk packs. BT-55 kits have always been a favorite. The 55 tube diameter and wall thickness make for very strong models. I like the Hornet and Centurion designs. I'm not too fond of the ...
[Read More]

Space Launch System engineers steal a play from AirCommand Water Rockets
Watch this cool video of NASA and Orbital ATK engineers performing a burst test of their composite booster case...using water. More burst test videos can be found on AirCommand's site :)
[Read More]

Building the Estes (clone) Ranger (part 7)
With three fins firmly glued in place I stood the Ranger upright, with a dowel support keeping it from falling over. I found it stood just slightly off vertical on the three fins. So what to do: Glue the fourth fin on such that the rocket doesn’t wobble, but leans a bit? Or such that ...
[Read More]

Gas mask wedding
 
[Read More]

Building the Estes (clone) Ranger (part 8)
I addressed the damaged fin paper the same way I did the de-glassined tubing on the Sea Sting, painting it with white glue thinned with denatured alcohol, then sanding. Seems good. Ideally I probably should do a second application, and maybe I will, but for now I’m moving on. I stuck in ...
[Read More]

Old Estes A3-6t Engines
Lonnie B gave me these engines at a recent R.O.C.K. club launch. They are Estes A3-6t engines from the late 1970s. Estes no longer makes the A3-6t engines, there just isn't room for a long delay in the casing. Over the years black powder has changed. It takes more BP to get the engine up to the ...
[Read More]

Simming the Squirrel Works Callisto
Next one up (not literally) is going to be the Squirrel Works Callisto.  Modified. Cluster. For the rocket club’s informal contest in June, ½A cluster duration, I’d found there’s no cluster kit on the market that’d be suitable. So I started trying to ...
[Read More]

Another hilarious thread over on TRF
http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?123132-Pandering TRF was running for years with minimal (rocketry-related) ads and, so far as I’m aware, not a word about any danger of having to close it down due to lack of funds. Along comes the new [non rocketeer, for profit] owner and, golly, ...
[Read More]

New Shroud / Lug Slot? TIP, Part 1
I've been designing a new Odd'l Rocket called the FLARE. It's a conical stability model to replace the Powered FLIC in the two model Combo Kit. (Flics are no longer available from Quest.) In some kits, the fit of the lug through the shroud slot isn't good. I wanted to improve the shape and fit of ...
[Read More]

Commercial crew pr0n
Check out the 6000 by 6000 (!!) pixel image from this article on the then-upcoming (it happened today) groundbreaking for the Commercial Crew access tower at Space Launch Complex 41. It shows the Atlas V 422 rocket with the Boeing CST-100 capsule on top, on the pad with the access ...
[Read More]

L3 build - Fillets
Not much to see here. Just regular fillets with Proline 4500. Fillets Masked and bond prepped.      Shaped with 3/4in PVC    Not too bad...  Here's a time lapse ...
[Read More]

February TTRA Launch Cancelled
The February 21, 2015, TTRA launch has been cancelled due to wet field conditions.  
[Read More]

Dawn spacecraft just two weeks from arrival at Ceres
   
[Read More]

Centuri Payloader II, Background Part 1
I just purchased two Estes (Centuri) PAYLOADER II kits from Ebay. I had always like this design since first seeing it in the Centuri Catalogs. These models were not in the most recent Estes clearance sale and are out of stock from some vendors. The EBAY buy it now price of $9.99 each was a good ...
[Read More]

New Shroud / Lug Slot? TIP, Part 2
Here's the fit of a regular shroud slot with straight sides around a 1/8" launch lug. On the left side picture you can see the corners lifting off the body tube. This is the fit of the new "teardrop" shape lug slot. The shroud fits around and under the top end of the lug. A moot point to ...
[Read More]

TRF for sale?
More about TRF. No editorializing this time, I promise. Or not much. I discovered something interesting about The Rocketry Forum’s owner. If you poke around TRF it’s hard to find any indication who owns it other than a guy named Austin who posts as “admin”. ...
[Read More]

New FLARE Model Shroud Lug Slot
  This is a condensed version of two posts from the Model Rocket Building Blog. It will be part of a new model in the Combo Kit offered by Odd'l Rockets. A launch lug has to pass through the shroud at the base of the model. The picture on the right shows a fit of the shroud around a ...
[Read More]

Dumb (bomb) project idea
I've built flying models of a couple of smart bombs, including the Estes Paveway and Cluster Bomb kits and a 5" upscale Cluster Bomb . Looks like old dumb bombs would make good projects too. Click through to see more of them.
[Read More]

It's aliiiive!
I've struggled with a learning curve since Tuesday but, with perseverance (and significant assistance from Alex on the forums), I'm now up and 3D printing at home!  I started by sending just the motor mount from the full-size V2 to test motor fit. Oh and all the print data moves wirelessly ...
[Read More]

Seattle NARCON and Model Rocket Display
The Seattle NARCON opened their long awaited Model Rocket Display this past weekend. Here are some pictures from the NAR Facebook page by Jim Wilkerson. The G. Harry Stine Archive boxes ready for unloading. I can see as many as 26 boxes. The " Fusillade display " showing many different rocket ...
[Read More]

Centuri Payloader II, Background Part 2
In doing a little search before the build I came across the old Centuri Instructions:  CLICK HERE The Centuri fins are a different two piece glue joint, it's longer down the root edge side. The Estes re-issue kit has a smaller triangle glued onto the upper leading edge. TRIVIA:  Many of ...
[Read More]

Show Business Isn't Pretty!
I did a show in Lake Placid, Florida on the evening of February 21. It's Sunday, the next day and I haven't even unloaded my car yet. I've started painting the white undercoats on the Pershing and I get a frantic phone call from my agent: "Chris, where are you? You've got a show in 15 minutes ...
[Read More]

Building the Squirrel Works Callisto (part 1)
All right, slight change of plan! A comment exchange with Chris Udy prompted me to check my local hobby shop for #2-56 threaded rod, and indeed they had it, in 1-foot lengths for something like a buck fifty. Unfortunately they were out of stock on #2-56 nuts and #2 washers, but I won’t need ...
[Read More]

More OctoPrint goodness
It turns out that OctoPrint also provides a real-time preview of the GCode toolpath in the 3D printer: The solid black line is the current bead in progress and everything else translucent is the previous layer.  Nifty!
[Read More]

Semroc Orders Log-In
I was able to log into the Semroc website and looked at my old orders. I got back into the hobby in 2006. Below are the first kits I ordered, in order. It's easy to see I was re-living my teen years by picking up Centuri kits and a few others I had always wanted. This list doesn't show all the ...
[Read More]

Russian proton crashes
    These are generally very reliable rockets, but sometimes things just go wrong.
[Read More]

Very nice...
MARSA54L.   This is going to get parked in the Screech. And another Optima? 38mm?  Sure why not :)  I’m currently thinking stock paint job for this one, But I have a few other ideas too.   It’s a great design and I love throwing cool new paint onto ...
[Read More]

Lonnie B's Conversion Chart
    Lonnie Buchanon made a conversion chart for upscales and downscales using Estes body tubes. " If you build upscales and downscales of Estes kits, you may be interested in a chart I have posted here that helps you quickly find the multiplier to convert measurements from one ...
[Read More]

MIRV reentry - real or cg?
 
[Read More]

Centuri Rocketry Exploration Set (Approximate?) Altitude
The Centuri Rocketry Exploration set was introduced in the 1977 catalog. Two "base" models were included, a one or two stage ST-7 based model and a ST-16 based rocket. The manual guided you through different launch scenarios using both models. Centuri had sent me this set for review. I didn't ...
[Read More]

Classic space art by Robert McCall
First try at embedding from my Tumblr. From NASA via rocketumbl. http://altrocketdungeon.tumblr.com/post/112086263398/rocketumbl-robert-mccall-nasa
[Read More]

Building the Squirrel Works Callisto (part 2)
The next steps have not been very photogenic, but progress in little dribs and drabs over the past several days has occurred.As promised there was one more thing done with the motor mount: I added a (pink) Kevlar leader guide straw. I filled the spirals on the body tubes. Twice. The first time my ...
[Read More]

Coupled Tubes?
Sometimes it doesn't make sense. In some kits, the main air frame body tube is in two sections joined by a coupler. The tube joint might be at a color separation point like on the Estes Cosmic Explorer. TIP:  If the separation joint falls on a color separation, don't glue the tubes ...
[Read More]

The radioactive forest
  "On November 2’2, 1961, a new research facility was put into operation at BNL. Called The Gamma Forest, the facility is the newest project in the Biology Department’s radiobotany program. Nuclear test explosions and waste disposal of radioisotopes have introduced into the ...
[Read More]

CA Glue and Teflon Tubing
I use Teflon tubing for more control when applying thin CA glue. I'm fortunate to have a hobby store close by that sells the tubing in the right diameter for use in the CA nozzles. Don't ask me what the diameter or suppliers are, I did a quick check online and can't figure out what the right ...
[Read More]

Ad astra, Leonard
http://colchrishadfield.tumblr.com/post/112236005243/leonard-you-lived-long-and-prospered-and-were-an
[Read More]

V2 nosecone... PRINTED!
I found a flaw in the source model only after printing (note that ring/gap near the top).  I've since fixed the flaw but this 8-hour print will suffice for test flights.  The airframe is printing in black ABS now now and should be done tomorrow morning.  Yay, printer.
[Read More]

Building the Squirrel Works Callisto (part 3)
The next item may be a bit of a surprise. I glued together the provided 18mm single motor mount. Actually I omitted the thrust ring, and I only tacked the centering rings on with a couple spots of CA. What for? For this, to start with: Having the single motor mount in place (dry fit) ...
[Read More]

The loving Sun
 
[Read More]

What Should SEMROC Bring Back?
  Forum posts have already been suggesting what Semroc should initially produce. Most everybody wants parts.  In 2012, Carl McLawhorn posted and let TRF readers know what were once the top selling kits at that time. By quantity: (all over 1000) 1. Boid 2. Laser-X 3. Saturn 1B 4. ...
[Read More]

Left flat: A rant
See what I’m doing? The two by two hands of blue are a dead giveaway: I’m mixing up a little batch of epoxy for that motor mount. But what am I mixing it with? Very good! A toothpick. Here I am using that same toothpick to apply the epoxy.Admittedly my hand is in the way ...
[Read More]

The airframe printed but with issues
I had hoped the airframe would have sufficed for a test flight but there are some layer splits that would likely fail. As such I've switched slicers and it's reprinting for another 15 hours. :)
[Read More]

Building the Squirrel Works Callisto (part 4)
I added a glue fillet around the motor mount. Then while that was drying I cut out the cardstock nozzle. I chose to leave off the glue tab, and instead cut a separate glue tab.    (I made it less than the full width of the nozzle for reasons which turned out to be dumb.) ...
[Read More]

Stefan Jones NARCON 2015 Pictures
  Stefan Jones posted some great pictures from the recent NARCON in Seattle, Washington. To see them,  CLICK HERE My favorite picture is the Astron Mark on a original wooden Electro Launch unit. Thanks for sharing the pictures Stefan!      
[Read More]

Rocketry goals review for Jan/Feb 2015
Let’s see how those goals are going. Goals for 2015, I mean. Not 2005, as I wrote in my (now corrected) “Fun with 2015″ post. I don’t procrastinate that much. Well, not always. Level 1 certification Nothing happening on this yet. The February club meeting, hence the ...
[Read More]

F15 extreme low pass
 
[Read More]

Email about NAR Website - Model Rocket Building Techniques
An email from Eric -    Chris, I read through the NAR 'Model Rocket Building Techniques' and it is nicely done.  As a recent BAR I will say it took me some time to sort out my confusion between CWF and FNF and Sanding Sealer.  Now that I finally bought the right CWF from ...
[Read More]

New Klima Launcher and Controller
From the European Model Rocketry Website - CLICK HERE Klima develops Own Model Rocketry Line   "The German model rocketry company  Raketenmodellbau Klima GmbH  announced a new line of model rocketry kits, launch equipment and accessories. So far, Klima is known as the ...
[Read More]

Post Launch Cleaning TIP
After six launches at the schoolyard my flat Quest blast deflector plate is pretty dirty. The soot is in a ring on the outer edge of the metal plate. Most of the flame hits and is deflected by my ceramic Odd'l Rockets Blast deflector. One of the most valuable launch supplies is a few paper ...
[Read More]

Keep saying how a Mars mission won't work because of radiation...
  No doubt that a two way trip with 1.5 years on the surface will give astronauts a major dose, probably enough to make it their one and only trip in a career. (They will take on something like the lifetime limit of a nuclear power employee, albeit over the course of only a few years.) ...
[Read More]

Centuri Mini Motors, 1973
Here's the Centuri "Good News" flyer from April, 1973 announcing the 1/2" diameter x 2 1/2" long Mini Motors. These engines came in 1/4 A through B4 sizes. To see the flyer scans, CLICK HERE The 2 1/2" long B engines didn't last long, I understand there were many CATOs. Centuri later produced ...
[Read More]

Easy does it...
  Workers remove large nuclear bomb lost in B-52 accident, carefully.
[Read More]

Building the Estes Big Daddy
“Building”? Slight exaggeration there, but “Taking Out Of the Bag and Thinking About How to Do It” doesn’t fit in the title so well. I’ve been trying to decide what to build next. I tried to talk myself into the FlisKits Rose-a-Roc but I lost the argument. ...
[Read More]

The BIG Fix: Semroc Astron Nose Cone
The Semroc Astron was a GREAT value at $9.50. My older version has a 12" parachute, the kit now includes a streamer. This model has flown over a dozen times. Check out the inset picture on the lower left. There is two Estes smiley dents forming a stretch "S" shape. This nose cone  is worth ...
[Read More]

Ghost of rockets past
(click through to see a ton of great historic launch photos)
[Read More]

Ground support system / Data acquisition unit

[Read More]

75mm motor, combustion chamber internals
  Assembled combustion chamber internals consisting of graphite nozzle, nozzle retaining ring, fuel grain (PVC fitted with EPDM insulation) and injector.     Individual components
[Read More]

Fins and fin mounts
Fins and fin mounts. Fins are made of 4mm thickness balsa-wood laminated between 3 layers on each side of biaxial gass fibre mat and epoxy. Fin mounts are made of 5 layers biaxial glass fibre mat and epoxy. Fin mounts are made to have the same curvature as the rocket body tubing. Both the fins [ ...
[Read More]

Main chute and drogue chute
Main chute is home made. Flattened hemisphere geometry. 8 segments sown together with special high tensile strenght thread (Serafil brand). 3m in diameter. Nylon bridle lines rated to 150 kg each, steel swivel and kevlar shock cord.  Made from lightweight ripstop parachute nylon. Drogue chute ...
[Read More]

A Lesson In Balsa
From YORF, dlazarus 6660  posted this link - A LESSON IN BALSA CLICK HERE The first part of the article explains how the balsa tree grows. Balsa densities, weights and A, B, C grain cuts are explained.
[Read More]

Test stand for hybrid motors
The stand is built from 45×45 strut profiles with the necessary bolts and angle brackets. The motor travles freely in its axial direction due to the placement in the steady rests. The steady rests were custom made. Each steady rest arm is fitted with a ball bearing that contacts the motor ...
[Read More]

CO2 ejection system
A pyrovalve for opening a CO2 cartridge was made to avoid the use of black powder charges for ejection of the parachute. The system is made of the following parts; a threaded CO2 cartridge, piston housing, piston and end stopper/end screw. A hole is drilled in the end screw to accomodate ...
[Read More]

A Lesson In Balsa, Part 2
Eero Fluge sent the Part 2 information - Thanks Eero! CLICK HERE In a follow up article by Mike Chilson, he covers: 1. Selecting Balsa 2. Tools Of The Trade 3. Sanding Balsa 4. Sanding Blocks
[Read More]

Speaker Stand Launcher
On TRF, TBSSJoe posted pictures of his new rail launcher, the base is a cheap speaker stand. . . . "The stand is a speaker stand I purchased from Amazon for $16 shipped. Ironically the brand is 'Blast King'. CLICK HERE to see it in the aluminum finish. Rail is a 5' maker beam 10mm. Plan on using ...
[Read More]

5.5 tons of APCP, two minutes, 3.6 million pounds of thrust.
This morning, Orbital-ATK test fired their QM-1 5-segment SRB. This test ran in simulated high temperature conditions and next year QM-2 will fire in cold weather conditions.
[Read More]

SLS Qualification Booster Test
Today’s test. Turn it up loud!
[Read More]

Lots of impulse
Thanks to The Rocketry Blog for the link to this video from today’s QM-1: static test: Peak thrust is 3.6 million pounds. I think average thrust would be about 2.9 million pounds, or 13 MN (meganewtons). Two minutes firing time gives a total impulse of about 1.6 GN-s (giganewto ...
[Read More]

The Big Fix, Viper Fin Can
My "indestructable" Quest Viper finallly showed some flight fatigue! This crack in the fin can could have been there for months, it was a clean break right down the root edge of a fin. A paper towel is below the root edge bottom where the glue might drip off the bottom. Don't remove the ...
[Read More]

Semroc's back!
http://www.erockets.biz/parts-from-semroc/ http://www.erockets.biz/semroc-model-rocket-kits/ You can’t buy a Saturn Ib yet. But at the moment I see 26 Semroc kits available (plus 3 shown but with no “Add to Cart” button), and a decent subset of the parts.  
[Read More]

A whole lotta Little Joe scale diagrams
Cliff Steenhoff has been compiling an impressive set of rocket/space sphotos in his Flickr stream. Today, he posted a lot of diagrams of the Little Joe I and II rockets. These appear to cover all of the flight missions. I have embedded one example to whet your appetite. He also has photos of the ...
[Read More]

Fleet
So.  A lot of rockets.  How to fly them.   I hate swapping altimeters and trackers around.  Just takes too long. I’ve got the 4″ fleet ...
[Read More]

New Sign at the Cape
Nice!
[Read More]

3.141592653
Happy Pi Day! (I set this to publish as close to the designated time as Blogger would let me - March 14, 2015 at 9:26:53.)
[Read More]

GoPro takes a lickin' and .... melts
via Derek Deville
[Read More]

Third time's a charm
Photos of 3D prints always make them appear far more coarse than they do to my eye but this third print is now ready to test fly: This took 14 hours to print so, at some point overnight whilst I slumbered, that region near the top of the fins suffered from at least a one layer gap.  My ...
[Read More]

Holtville March 2015 launch report
It was another beautiful day in the desert although a tad windier than we're used to. I've been wanting to get my drone in the sky to shoot some liftoffs and that worked our rather dandily: For some reason I forgot to set the controller to GPS mode so I was struggling to keep the thing where I ...
[Read More]

Disney Traditions Class
I know - no blog posts yesterday. I was busy taking the Disney Traditions class. I left the house too early to get on the computer. The 8 hour class told the Disney story and explained company policy. I'll be at the campground doing a pre-show before the Hoop-De-Do review.
[Read More]

Full Scale V2 Model Successfully Launches
A world record setting full scale V2 model launched at Thunda Downunder in Australia. It was a spectacular Low and Slow launch. Height  – 14.04 metres. That’s over 46 feet high! Mass at lift off – 280kg or 617 lbs. Powered By CTI O motor Video of Launch on Facebook You ...
[Read More]

Minor Site Update
We now have an e-commerce plugin handling the layout of our 3D-printed part links, etc.  This should make it somewhat easier for our customers to browse products that are available in multiple configurations while remaining on this site.  Links will take you to the corresponding product ...
[Read More]

productive.
Got some time today and knocked out a bunch of work. Screech’s motor mount is all glued up and installed.  The Aeropack is flush with the end of the body tube.  I’m starting to think that was a bad idea. Changes are going to be hard.  The fins are sanded to fit, still ...
[Read More]

Kitting Up Sputniks - Part 1
  This is a re-post from my www.modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com website - Before I had this site most all Odd'l Rockets news was on that first blog.   Sure, most modelers have an original design or a clone kit they'd like to bag up and sell. Putting your first model on sale is ...
[Read More]

Full Size V2 Launch
"World's largest amateur rocket to be launched in March 2015 at Thunda Downunder in Queensland, Australia." The full size V2 was launched yesterday by the group Rocketry Victoria. The build and initial launch was impressive. I'll leave your opinions to the comments below - To check out the ...
[Read More]

808 Camera Directions, Part 1
The instructions that came with my 808 Micro Camera were written in China by somebody who didn't have a grasp of English. "Thank you for choosing our company designed and developed series of security products, hope it can help your life safe and happiness." The directions are even harder to ...
[Read More]

All the planets (and also Pluto) aligned

[Read More]

808 Camera Directions, Part 2
In these pictures, the lens and microphone hole are facing up. To turn on the video recorder -  Press and hold down the ON/OFF button until the light comes on. Release the button. Press and hold down the REC ord button until it flashes three times. Release the REC button. The camera ...
[Read More]

Canaveral : Alligator :: Baikonur : Gopher

[Read More]

Mystery Controller?
Here's one I can't identify - Does anybody know who made it? It's from an Ebay listing. It doesn't look like a home built controller, the gold panel inset has printed "Power, Armed, Ignition and Safety Key" wording. The safety key is interesting. It has a key shape but doesn't look like it ...
[Read More]

B-58 Hustler on a rocket...
Check out this cool vintage video of NACA/Langley testing subscale models of the B-58. One rocket with canted motors...or two rockets strapped together?
[Read More]

Kitting Up Sputniks - Part 2
Without the right tools, getting a consistent angle on all four of the antenna legs is difficult.  If you've ever tried to drill the legs on a Sputnik you know what I mean. The cut out center hole of a template is set directly over the drilled engine mount hole. A ...
[Read More]

Earth from Mars and Mars from Earth
 
[Read More]

New Rocket Storage Shelves, Part 1
Here's my old rocket shelf in my laundry room. I've been remodeling and one of the upstairs bedrooms will be the rocket room. The old shelf has short 1/8" welding rods to slide the rockets over. Some of the old rods are crooked, I didn't have a level bubble in my hand drill. Home Depot ...
[Read More]

JonRocket.com Will Be at the National Sport Launch (NSL 2015)
We will be at the National Association of Rocketry’s National Sport Launch (NSL) from May 23 to May 25 in Orangeburg, South Carolina. We will have a selection of model rocket kits, supplies, and accessories including Estes black powder and ...
[Read More]

JonRocket.com Will Be at the National Sport Launch (NSL 2015)
We will be at the National Association of Rocketry’s National Sport Launch (NSL) from May 23 to May 25 in Orangeburg, South Carolina. We will have a selection of model rocket kits, supplies, and accessories including Estes black powder and … Continue reading →
[Read More]

BT-70 beer
Over on Facebook — there, I’ve admitted to using it, though pretty much as little as possible — Richard Marlow’s posted a couple of pictures showing how a MillerCoors aluminum bottle can be used as a BT-70 to BT-60 transition or a BT-70 boat tail with builtin ...
[Read More]

Nosecone construction
A tangent ogive glass-fiber nosecone was made according to the following procedure: – An extruded polystyrene core was hot-wire cut on the CNC in two sections. Hot wire cutting in the lengthwise direction with 30 degrees rotation by each pass. – The hot-wire cut polystyrene core ...
[Read More]

SpaceX makes their photos available on Flickr
Not only are they on Flickr , they are provided under a Creative Commons license (non-commercial, with attribution). I was going to modify this one...but it looks too darned good as-is.
[Read More]

New Rocket Storage Shelves, Part 2
The shelves are Melamine from Lowe's. Look close and you can see the pencil marks for the drilling. They are 4" apart across the long front and 3" apart from front to back. TIP: I used a wrap of masking tape around the drill bit as a depth guide so I wouldn't drill through the bottom of the shelf. ...
[Read More]

On the bevel
On most of the rockets I’ve built so far, the leading edges of the fins are rounded. On some the trailing edges are too ...
[Read More]

A TRF Opinion Post About California
I don't go to the rocketry forums as often as I used to. Many times posts go off topic. I went off topic today.  GH Rocketman will tell you how he feels. I don't know if this is his true personality or not.  Maybe he's just "baiting" me?  I finally had enough   -  From GH ...
[Read More]

Fins go in the slotty thingys
#2 pressed into place.  ES6209.  Internal Fillets and externals to come.    Not sure what I’ll use for externals yet.
[Read More]

First flight of 3D-printed V2 a marginal success
I headed off to a local park this morning to test fly the 3D-printed V2 on a one-grain, Pro24  CTI 26E31 White Thunder : It was tail-heavy so I predicted metastability and that's just what I got: I've epoxied some lead shot in the nose tip and that's curing now.  Next up will be a ...
[Read More]

Testing a flamethrower
 
[Read More]

Kitting Up Sputniks - Part 3
After drilling the antenna holes, the tip of the Sharpie is rotated near the edge. This outlines the holes so the builder can easily find them.   When building the Sputnik, the dowel legs must be gently rotated and wiggled into the drilled holes. By doing this slowly, the dowels ...
[Read More]

The (Smaller) Fleet!
I've been asked to post a picture of the active fleet before. Here's most of them after I finally got all the short rods in the shelf boards. The upper shelf are models approaching two feet tall. The middle shelf are odd-balls, favorites and contest design models. The bottom shelf are the ...
[Read More]

Model rockets at the White House
With TARC team from US Virgin Islands.  
[Read More]

Save Your Micro Clips! TIP
I see it a club launches all the time! Igniters are pressed into the engine nozzle with a plug. The igniter wires are then bent straight down, directly underneath the nozzle . Clips are attached. The rocket is launched and the clips below are in a direct line and hit with flame and smoke! TIP: ...
[Read More]

Surface or near-surface water
 
[Read More]

Rocketry Takes a Back Seat!
The last three months have been a little overwhelming! Remodeling in my townhouse gave me a music equipment closet and a dedicated rocket room! I've had the busiest show season ever! That'll be winding down after April 10. Then, I'll be working at Disney World. Rocketry builds and kit ...
[Read More]

Fillets
mmmm. first set in.    I’m likely going to run out of 4500 and need to order more.  In fact I think it’s time for a full round of epoxies.   4500, rocketpoxy, and a quart set of aeropoxy ES6209. 11 grams of resin and 2 grams of hardener.
[Read More]

The Shelf Queens
  In a comment, Jim asked to see some other models in the fleet.   Here's the Shelf Queens, the models that don't fly! (Yes, they are in a kitchen cabinet. I'm single and can get away with this.) Most are Dr. Zooch models, two Semroc Deci-Scales, an Estes 260 Space ...
[Read More]

A Different Troll on TRF
Jim (qquake2k on TRF) posed an interesting question: "Does anybody have any suggestions for bending a Troll doll's arms? I need to bend them forward a little bit. I've thought about heating or cutting. I'm afraid enough heat to bend the arms might melt the hair. And I'm afraid cutting would ...
[Read More]

Kitting Up Sputniks - Part 4
        Thirty BT-5 engine mount tubes were cut to size. Sure, you could buy them pre-cut, but you'll save 10 cents per kit by buying longer tubes and cutting them to size.     A "Stop Disk" is glued in at the top of the engine mount ...
[Read More]

OpenRocket 15.03 Released
New release of OpenRocket 15.03 . Tube Fin aficionados rejoice because it includes experimental support for tube fins. Changes include: Support for scripting in simulation extensions Experimental support for tube fins Custom default mach number Improved preferences UI Fin fillet masses (no aero ...
[Read More]

Kitting Up Sputniks - Part 5
The kit antenna legs were 1/8" X 12" dowels. I've since changed to bamboo skewers. This was for two reasons. Bulk dowels were inconsistant. Some broke on landing and many were warped. The bamboo skewers are very strong! They are also sharpened on one end which makes it easier to insert into the ...
[Read More]

oh boy.
yep.  oh boy.
[Read More]

X-37B will launch again May 6th
The X-37B will launch again on May 6th.The launch has been named AFSPC 5 for the Air Force Space Command flight No. 5. Scheduled Liftoff: window between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. EDT (1300-1700 GMT) Location: Cape Canaveral Launch Vehicle: United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket Read more ...
[Read More]

Kitting Up Sputniks - Part 6
    This is only a small part of kit production. Instructions have to be drawn up - the hardest and most expensive part of the kit. I save money on that, I draw up my own. But there's more - Print the instructions, print and cut out the header cards and buy the correct size ...
[Read More]

New PS II builder's kit
No joke ...
[Read More]

A Comment About Pershing #K046 Build, Part 44, The Orange Bands - Part B
Sometimes you learn a few things in a rocket build. I had some research into the Estes kit and the paint patterns on the JimZ website. To the right is a screen shot of the orange ban application.  It clearly says:  "APPLICATION OF WATER-TRANSFER DECAL (A)" I assumed a water transfer ...
[Read More]

New Estes Pro Series II SCION
A new SCION Pro Series II rocket is available only from the Estes Website: CLICK HERE As Daniel mentions in the comments below, Hit the "Add To Cart" at that first page. If you hit "Learn More" the full page description will tell you it is out of stock.   I did some screen grabs, set ...
[Read More]

TARC
Congratulations to the 2015 TARC finalists!
[Read More]

And now for something completely different...
Sorry for the EXTREME delay between posts! Work has been getting the better of me. Given how much knowledge and equipment I’ve collected over the years to build rockets, I’ve found these skills are useful for building other fun electronic projects.  I received my pilots license ...
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Launch, April 4, 2015
Here's what it looked like when I got there around 10:00 a.m. Lots of new people and about as many cars as I've ever seen at a ROCK launch. Tom Dennon connects the clips on his Estes Air Show dual parasite boost glider. This is an impressive flyer, the two foam gliders split in opposite ...
[Read More]

Giant smoke ring over Russia
Of course, the plebs who looked up at the sky for the first time in 3 years were unable to identify this and quickly went for government or extraterrestrial explanations.
[Read More]

Holtville Launch - April 2015
I'll augment this entry with details soon but I wanted to get this fun vid up ASAP:
[Read More]

GIF of quasicrystal
  mainisusuallyafunction.blogspot.com
[Read More]

SpaceX First Stage Return Graphic

[Read More]

Camera Tripod Launcher Tips, Part 1
If you are using the Odd'l Rockets ADEPTOR, you can launch rockets off a standard camera tripod. The Adeptor attaches onto the exposed camera screw. No more ground level attachment of the the micro clips, no more wet grass and stained knees. You should always think safety when using this or any ...
[Read More]

Semroc Making Kits!
From YORF, Jerry Irvine spotted this on the Semroc FaceBook page:   UPDATE: It looks like the kit bagging went well. The ERockets website now shows 38 Goblins in stock. Other exisiting Semroc kits show quantities of 2, 3 or up to 6 of each. Retail price for the new Goblin kit is ...
[Read More]

Pyrotechnic main parachute release device
A pyrotechnic parachute release device was made according to the “tender descender” principle. See tinderrocketry.com for the commercially available models and more information on how the device operates. Technical information: Main chamber and top connector machined from aluminium. ...
[Read More]

Rail guides VS rail buttons
To guide the rocket along the launch rail, two types of connectors were made. The first type was of the rail guide type. The rail guide type had a much larger tendency to “bind” on the rail, and also needed quite a lot of filing and rounding to lessen this tendency. The alignment along ...
[Read More]

Semroc is back
You once again can order your favorite Semroc kits thanks to Randy Broadway and eRockets. Semroc has moved from North Carolina to Dayton, Ohio after its purchase. You can also still get those wonderful Semroc parts. “Semroc Flying Model Rocket Kits are of the finest quality found in the ...
[Read More]

SEM image of a penny, false color
 
[Read More]

Extreme

[Read More]

Interesting Scratch Build Techniques
Eric (Eero Fluge on TRF) sent me some great video links with some different scratch build ideas. From the Sonic Dad series is the first overview video - CLICK HERE At 2:05, Check out the PVC coupler "screw-in" engine mount. At 3:28, Check out the champagne glass nose cone. To see the Randomizer ...
[Read More]

Camera Tripod Launcher Tips, Part 2
To improve tripod stability - Tie a weight to the bottom hook found on most camera tripods. A water jug works just fine. If you are launching in low or no winds this might not be necessary for up to D engines. NOTE: Camera tripod launches are only safe for up to E engine power. To use the Odd'l ...
[Read More]

Random thoughts.
Trying to organize what to fly and what to finish in what order is driving me bonkers. I’ve decided to focus on a few “mains” and then fill in other as possible.  the hard part is getting into swapping electronics around, which is something I’d love to avoid. The ...
[Read More]

The Most Difficult Kit - Ever! Part A
An email asked - What was the most difficult kit to build? For me it was the Estes Mercury Redstone, Kit #K-41. To see the instructions, go to JimZs - CLICK HERE "Although it requires care and precision in construction . . ." This was a true Skill Level 5 model. Estes is bringing back the ...
[Read More]

Ascent successful but landing fails
Tweet from Elon Musk:
[Read More]

Motorized launcher
Some pictures of the motorized launcher with adjustment of inclination & azimuth currently under construction. Will post more pictures as the build progresses. Baseplate with axial bearing:     Vertical support: Worm gear on vertical support intended for inclination adjustment: ...
[Read More]

Aerial Video of the April, 2015, NEFAR Launch
I was only able to attend the first day of NEFAR’s two-day “Half Blast”  on April 11.  With a forecast of showers, we kept looking for dark clouds.  But, the rain stayed away at least until we had to leave. ...
[Read More]

The Most Difficult Kit - Ever! Part B
From those dowel sticks you made three sides for the complete tower. The long side piece is only about 2" long. After the tower was glued on you cut slits into the top of the capsule. Glue in the cross member and touch up the paint.   If you want to see how it used to be done, ...
[Read More]

Earth visualizations
Seasonal change in ice cover and plant growth.   Diurnal internet use.
[Read More]

F9 1st stage landing video 4-14-2015
Almost! Remember folks this is hard. It reminds me of my first times playing Lunar Lander (UPDATED WITH BETTER VIDEO)
[Read More]

Semroc New Goblin Kit Pics
Lawrence (doswonk on TRF) posted pictures of his Semroc Goblin he just received got from ERockets. To see the post - CLICK HERE Hats off to Randy Boadway for bringing back Semroc kits! But . . . in the picture on the right - That's a Alpha style "K" nose cone, not the original BNC-55AO nose cone. ...
[Read More]

Still Quadcopter Shots of the April NEFAR Launch
Here is a gallery of still images from April’s NEFAR launch.
[Read More]

Hey look another Optima plan...
This could be a LOT of fun on packs of F42T’s ...
[Read More]

Good news for California rocketeers
A TARC mentor from Southern California suggested a bill to modernize the state’s model rocketry regulations and bring them into compliance with national standards. Proposed by Assemblywoman Chang, the bill was supported in testimony by Ken Biba (a California TARC mentor) and Benjamin Kolland ...
[Read More]

Falcon 9, 1st stage landing attempt from the barge's perspective

[Read More]

I guess this is a twofer Friday

[Read More]

Map of Earth vs map of Jupiter
 
[Read More]

An Electric Turbo-Pumped Rocket Engine
Will Rocket Lab revolutionize rocket propulsion with the Rutherford Engine? Rocket Lab announces their new Electron launch vehicle which uses their innovative Rutherford engine. “The Rutherford Engine is an electric turbo-pumped LOX/RP-1 engine specifically designed for the Electron launch ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2015-1 (NARHAMS)
Location: NARHAMS, Mt, Airy, MD Weather: wind 0-5, sunny, temp in mid-70s Total flights: Today - 12; YTD - 12 Total motors: Today - 12; YTD - 12 Motors by class YTD: MMX-2; C-5; E-3; F-2 After 6 long months, I finally got out to the field to fly a few. It was a near perfect day with great weather ...
[Read More]

Get this straight (Part 1)
Putting fins on a rocket tends to be the hard part. There are three angles you can get right ...
[Read More]

Get this straight (Part 2)
Here’s a PDF cutting diagram. To the remarks on the diagram I’d add pretty much none of the dimensions are really critical. This is the sort of thing some people might be able to build out of scraps found in the garage, but I didn’t have what I needed so I spent somewhere under ...
[Read More]

New BLAST! Deflector Prototype
I finally received the first prototype of a new Odd'l Rockets BLAST! Deflector. On the left is the original smaller BLAST! Deflector. It is gray and pitted after hundreds of LPR launches. (The older deflector didn't show any pitting until after a few hundred launches. The pitting is not deep ...
[Read More]

New Design Odd'l Rockets BLAST! Deflector
I finally received the first prototype of a new Odd'l Rockets BLAST! Deflector. On the left is the original smaller BLAST! Deflector. It is gray and pitted after hundreds of LPR launches. (The older deflector didn't show any pitting until after a few hundred launches. The pitting is not deep ...
[Read More]

In other news...
I like building and flying larger rockets that go fast/high/eat insane motors/etc.   But It’s getting exhausting and I feel overwhelmed before every launch trying to prep av-bays and move recovery around and plan out altitudes etc.   Multiple high altitude/DD flights in a ...
[Read More]

Play ball
Genuinely spring-like weather has finally come to central New York — temporarily! — and today it was a weekend, above 60°F, under 50% RH, and only a little bit breezy. And yesterday I bought four cans of filler primer. I have a bunch of rockets to paint, but I didn’t rush ...
[Read More]

Shell from the Paris Gun
 
[Read More]

Saudi bomb destroys massive ammo depot in Yemen
From a safe distance. A bit too near for comfort. Danger close.   Just a reminder of how utterly out of control the "Arab Spring" has become, where a dozen countries and factions are at war with each other, all nicely folded within the "peaceful" religion of Islam. Oh and ...
[Read More]

Halon fire suppression warming sign
 
[Read More]

Steam engine train rides through charming rural villages in China

[Read More]

N 10,000 onboard footage
A CTI N 10,000 lofts a Madcow Frenzy (30+ lbs) to two miles with 50 g's maximum acceleration.
[Read More]

Hubble Space Telescope - 25 Years of Amazement

[Read More]

The Micro Fleet
Here's the active MicroMaxx fleet. I built and flew a lot of Micro models when I got back into rocketry. They are perfect small field flyers. I just wish the delays were a little longer. Any light, streamlined model will eject before apogee. From top left to right: FlisKit Crayon, FlisKit ...
[Read More]

April 25, 2015
Saturday, April 25 from noon til 4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

Fluorescent rock dust with UV light
 
[Read More]

Shapeways Fins
More and more 3D printed fin units and nose cones are available through Shapeways. I found this one interesting from the Aerobotix pages. It's a three engine 13mm cluster that fits a BT-60 fin can. To check out the other offerings: CLICK HERE For lots of classic replacement nose cones and scale ...
[Read More]

Potter Rocks
It was a little breezy for the year’s first launch.  It was awesome seeing everybody again, and a great day of flying. QnD lit 2 H238T’s right on the pad.  Never flying anything but blue in her anymore. 1465′ Emerald Dragon went up on an I600R, RRC3 reported 2991′ ...
[Read More]

Sealing Couplers? TIP
At a recent launch, the red coupler on my Patriot got wet. The coupler swelled up a bit. The upper section was left out until it dried. I was concerned about the damp coupler swelling up the inside of the body tube. In the picture you can see the darkened low end, sealed with medium CA glue. In ...
[Read More]

Fermi paradox resolved?
 
[Read More]

German Kids show about modern rocket engines
Even if you don’t understand German, this great kids show does an incredible job of explaining, through cutaways and showing actual production, the complexities of a modern rocket engine.
[Read More]

HPR now mobile friendly!
  Blogger and google search now strongly suggest that all blogs work on mobile platforms, i.e. computers with a 124 x 86 pixel resolution and 1 decibit of ram.  
[Read More]

A Semroc order
Look what I got: Semroc parts! I ordered these on April 14 (Tuesday), they arrived Saturday the 18th in good order. Welcome back, Semroc! Unfortunately there were a few problems. I ordered two #7 to #16 centering rings, and you maybe can see in the picture one baggie is labeled “CR 716 x ...
[Read More]

Gau-8 and gear
     
[Read More]

Camera Tripod Launcher Tips
In a recent blog post comment, Bob asked me to list some Camera Tripod Launcher TIPS. Since this centers around the use of an Odd'l Rockets Adeptor, the tips are posted on the Odd'l Rockets Blog site - CLICK HERE (Part 1) and CLICK HERE (Part 2)
[Read More]

First Flight (already with the updates)
Yesterday, Blue Origin quietly launched their New Shepard vehicle from their West Texas Facility. The attached video shows the launch and the apparent successful recovery of the capsule. I wonder what happened to that booster? Hey Blue Origin...I say you need to keep up with SpaceX and release a ...
[Read More]

Blue Origin's New Shepard space vehicle test flight from Yesterday
Wow! Nice flight of Jeff Bezos’s New Shepard. Blue Origin Link
[Read More]

Another capsule flies: New Shepard
First development flight of New Shepard launch vehicle and spacecraft.  
[Read More]

The Flash didn't listen to the RSO, "Don't try to catch the rockets!"
http://huluperfectgif.tumblr.com/post/117823829993/looking-for-more-the-flash-gifs-weve-got-you
[Read More]

Krylon Disappoints - Again!
Months back I searched everywhere for fluorescent red-orange and found it at Lowe's. It was Krylon, a brand I rarely use. No other brand I found had the red-orange color. The can is new, never used. I was ready to spray three lower fins on my Nike Tomahawk. I started with a practice pass over ...
[Read More]

Rocket Model Flight Tests 1952-1954 NACA Langley

[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., May 2, 2015
I had plenty of models prepped, but the winds slowed my enthusiasm. The Boy Scouts were here and had plenty of good first flight experiences. First up was the Odd'l Rockets SPOOL for another pre-production  flight. With the 10 mph winds and stronger gusts it would be a good stability test. ...
[Read More]

April Lucerne launch report - Go, K300, go!
I flew my first CTI 2546K300 at Lucerne last month and I'm a big fan. I busted out my robust but rarely flown Vertical Assault from Giant Leap Rocketry and the flight sim'd to 14,000' AGL.  While I left my DSLR at home and my onboard keychain camera failed inexplicably just after starting it ...
[Read More]

Sunday build-day
I'm sad to report that I missed the Holtville launch yesterday but I got a second wind today, cleaned my garage workspace a bit, and did some building today.       David Reese of Wildman West Rocketry is hosting a Punisher drag race at Rocstock 41 in June at Lucerne.  He ...
[Read More]

ERockets / Semroc Releases
In addition to the first Goblin kit, Semroc (ERockets) has put together BANDIT kits.  CLICK HERE And just released: The Semroc HAWK  CLICK HERE You can order a basswood keel for the Hawk kit. CLICK HERE Smart idea, my balsa keel broke during boost!
[Read More]

High Resolution photo of SpaceX’s last landing attempt

[Read More]

Water Rocket Part 1
I've been very impressed by the water rocket videos from the Australian Air Command water rockets website: CLICK HERE Check out the new video where their latest water rocket flys to 1752 feet! and the U.S. Water Rockets website: CLICK HERE When I started black powder engine rocketry, I got a ...
[Read More]

Name That Rocket!
A few months ago , I raised some money for the Bloomington Playwrights Project . I offered rockets as an incentive to donate in my name - rockets designed and built by me. I managed to raise nearly $500 in the process! One donor in particular, Keith, gave me a significant donation, and so I ...
[Read More]

Why science is so hard to believe
www.washingtonpost.com
[Read More]

SpaceX Pad Abort Test
For those of you that missed this mornings glorious flight. This video is set 1:00 minute on countdown.
[Read More]

ABORT! (photo added)

[Read More]

Launch Report 2015-2 (solo water rocket)
Location: MoCo Agricultural History Farm Park Weather: calm, hazy, 80 degrees Total flights: Today - 0; YTD - 12 Total motors: Today - 0; YTD - 12 Motors by class YTD: MMX-2; C-5; E-3; F-2 Water rocket flights (not included in the totals above): 6 After seeing a post by Chris Michielssen ...
[Read More]

sparkles!
God I love this paint.   Should have waited two more days, the masking pulled up some green.   but it looks HOT. Couple of spots to touch up, then she’s good to go.
[Read More]

Model Profile - Upscale Goblin
The upscale Goblin was one of the first built after I got back into the hobby. On the right is a BT-55 standard sized Estes Goblin. The big Goblin is not quite a 2X upscale. Parts came from Semroc back in 2008. The body tube was a thick 225 style. There is a double tube style Semroc baffle ...
[Read More]

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZAP!
Lightning research using rockets isn't new, but the results are always cool. Here, scientists from the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) are imaging the thunder, not the lightning. ( via )
[Read More]

StratoFins Water Rocket, Assembly Part 1
Here's the parts for the StratoFins launcher. My "kit" came unassembled. I'll have to supply duct tape, PVC glue, scissors, screwdriver and a ruler. The StratoFins slide onto the "Nozzle" and the assembly screws onto a 2 liter soda bottle. The plastic fins are made from high impact plastic and ...
[Read More]

StratoFins Water Rocket, Assembly Part 2
  Before assembling I sanded off any printing on the PVC tubes. You don't have to do this, I just wanted the launcher to look cleaner. Nine of the cable wraps are used on the release ring. Line up the tops with a straight edge, the flat sides are down. For now it helps to hold these ...
[Read More]

Everything but rockets
The first Syracuse Rocket Club launch of 2015 is in six days! It’s a little too early to be particularly confident of the forecast but if it’s right the weather should be great. Be nice if some of these winter rockets were done, wouldn’t it? We had some fine painting weather this ...
[Read More]

May's Club Launch...
Looking out towards the range (Click to enlarge). Yesterday saw me getting up at the unseemly (for a Saturday) time of 6:30 AM in order to be ready to depart for the Manchester field at 7:30. I had prepped 11 rockets on Friday night, and they joined Duane's rockets ...
[Read More]

StratoFins Water Rocket, Launcher Assembly Part 3
The low ends of the cable ties and tape are cut off 3 3/4" down from the top. The instructions say to use scissors, I used a sharp blade and straightedge. The tape and ties were scored and cracked in half down the cut line. Wrap the assembly around the vertical tube with the bulge on the ...
[Read More]

(A) Little Time for Rockets
I'm in the final week of rehearsals for my final show at the Bloomington Playwrights Project , the theater which is also responsible for me discovering rocketry. As a result, I've been rather too busy to blog much, so my final post in the mid power Quest Big Dog series will be out in a few more ...
[Read More]

StratoFins Water Rocket, Launcher Assembly Part 4
Dry fit all the PVC pieces before using any glue! When using PVC glue you only have a moment to get the tube pieces lined up before the glue grabs! Get very familiar with all the pieces and how they go together. I used very thin strips of masking tape to line up the tubing. Adjoining ...
[Read More]

Water Rocket Launch, May 10, 2015
My first two water rocket launches were at the last Orlando R.O.C.K. launch. I had attached just the top of a second bottle to act as a nose cone. No parachute yet, I was hoping the nose would fall off at apogee and prevent it nosing in. On the first launch the bottle floated in slow and landed on ...
[Read More]

Mars Travel Posters from SpaceX
Its no secret SpaceX is shooting for Mars. Keeping that in mind, SpaceX light-heartedly has released these great Travel Posters.
[Read More]

Throwback to c.1981
I recently dug up and scanned a bunch of old photos for my friend's birthday and came across a few of possible interest to the rocketry community: That's me at roughly 12 or 13 years old proudly sporting tethered, fold-up Vuarnet sunglasses; one of two pairs my grandmother had generously purchased ...
[Read More]

The Big Squeeze
  Last summer somehow most of the things I wanted or needed to do didn’t conflict much. This year is being more difficult. So the SoLID collaboration meeting ended up being Thursday and Friday, not Friday and Saturday, so that was good, but I still had to get back before the rest ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2015-3 (MDRA)
Location: MDRA, Price, MD (ESL-203) Weather: high in low 80s; drizzle turning to mostly cloudy to mostly sunny; ground level wind non- existent ; upper level wind  highly  variable Total flights: Today - 6; YTD - 18 Total motors: Today - 6; YTD - 18 Motors by class YTD: MMX-2; C-5; E-5; ...
[Read More]

Fourth X-37B Spaceplane To Launch With An Advanced NASA Materials Science Experiment
The planned May 20 fourth launch of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas-V rocket with a Boeing/U.S. Air Force X-37B spaceplane comes as the Air Force is shifting to more military spaceplane payload development instead of X-37B flight testing of its own systems. The upcoming flight is carrying ...
[Read More]

A Geezer's thoughts on the 2016 TARC challenge...
Well, the 2015 TARC finals are over (Yay Russellville! Have fun in Paris!) and the 2016 rules are out. I look forward to a new challenge each year, and this one has some interesting twists. So, good readers, below is a short summary of the TARC 2016 challenge, with my thoughts on some of the more ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch Redstone Pics
I got a question regarding the capsule wrap shroud on the BT-50 based Dr. Zooch Freedom 7 kit. (Picture on the left.) The picture on the right is the Dr. Zooch Mercury Redstone, BT-60 based kit. Daniel P. (The Rocket N0ob) had a concern about the fit of the conical shroud over the balsa ...
[Read More]

May 23, 2015
Watch this space for updates to our plans for a launch Saturday, May 23 from noon till 4 PM at Boswell Field.
[Read More]

Building the Binder Design Excel (part 1)
In parallel with work on the Rose-a-Roc — now that I have my fin fixture — I’ve started on my level 1 rocket, the Binder Design Excel. Packaging for this kit is interesting, to me at least: various parts groups are contained in separate compartments of a big plastic bag. I opted ...
[Read More]

Naval rail gun tests

[Read More]

New Odd'l Steampunk Design?
This is what you draw up when you have too much time on your hands. Steam punk designs are big right now, this one is a Jules Verne Victorian style. It would be up to the builder how much detail is added. There are gauges, dials, tunnels and plenty of rivet heads. The riding figure will sit on ...
[Read More]

MRN Idea Box TIP- From March 1965
Mojo 1986 was selling some older Estes Model Rocket News (MRNs) on Ebay. For me, one of the most valuable pages was "The Idea Box". I did some screen grabs and will feature some older ideas that still have some value today. The original Estes Copy: "Get the right engine block position for sure ...
[Read More]

Building the Binder Design Excel (part 2)
Next I epoxied the rear centering ring to the thrust ring. You can see that in the background of this photo. And in the foreground are the fins, after I used 100 grit sandpaper on a handheld electric sander to round the edges. I also rounded the trailing root corner of the tab, to allow ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Pad Abort video point of view from Dragon Spacecraft
Great POV from Dragon. Let’s take a ride!
[Read More]

MRN Idea Box TIP- From December 1965
Mojo 1986 was selling some older Estes Model Rocket News (MRNs) on Ebay. For me, one of the most valuable pages was "The Idea Box". I did some screen grabs and will feature some older ideas that still have some value today.   The original Estes Copy: "Remove those dents in balsa ...
[Read More]

NYPower 19, Day 1: Short and dry
Well, now, this is better. Better than last year when the grass was up to your waist and the standing water was up to your ankles ...
[Read More]

MRN Idea Box TIP- From December 1966
Mojo 1986 was selling some older Estes Model Rocket News (MRNs) on Ebay. For me, one of the most valuable pages was "The Idea Box". I did some screen grabs and will feature some older ideas that still have some value today. The Original Estes Copy: "McLean, Va. is heard from as Steffan ...
[Read More]

Ye old Rocket Workshop
    The most common question I get from people who first find out I enjoy rocketry (after – “is it legal?”) is how the rockets are built, and what kind of tools do I use. I’ve recommended my own blog of course, but realized the level 3 build which started ...
[Read More]

NYPower 19, Day 2: Rerun
Day 2, much like day 1: warmer, a little cloudier, but similar winds, and still dry: No J and up sparkies allowed. Once again I made three flights. I had a few minutes after breakfast and spent them adjusting the fin slots on my Excel and doing a dry fit. Then it was time to ...
[Read More]

MRN Idea Box TIP- From December 1967
Mojo 1986 was selling some older Estes Model Rocket News (MRNs) on Ebay. For me, one of the most valuable pages was "The Idea Box". I did some screen grabs and will feature some older ideas that still have some value today. The original Estes copy: "You can do a perfect scale job on a bird ...
[Read More]

Next up..
Screech was a total success.    Two great mach busting flights to around 8500’+. I could not be happier right now. I sat back and enjoyed this win for a bit, and thought on the future.   What’s next?  The L3 is waiting in the wings, and I have plans to ...
[Read More]

Announcing another single-use rocket
Here is my first build of the year: a 4-stage, 29mm rack rocket that I am calling  the 4-F Club . A 'full load' would be four Estes F15's. I call it single-use because I have a poor track record of recovering small rockets that fly as high as this one will. The nose is an Apogee PNC, the body ...
[Read More]

NYPower 19, Day 3: Low key
This year’s NYPower attendance was down, perhaps in part due to conflicting with NSL and to people saving up rocket time for LDRS in nearby Potter. Today was especially low key. Which was fine. The clouds arrived. (Today was the one day of the weekend that’d had possible rain in the ...
[Read More]

Rocket Camp Starts In Two Weeks
I start teaching the Ivy Tech College for Kids rocketry camp in two weeks. I just have to finalize the schedule - figuring out what all we're going to do besides build a rocket - and make any last minute purchasing requests (by tomorrow!) I decided on the Estes Alpha kit for the rocket - a ...
[Read More]

MRN Idea Box TIP- From February 1969
Mojo 1986 was selling some older Estes Model Rocket News (MRNs) on Ebay. For me, one of the most valuable pages was "The Idea Box". I did some screen grabs and will feature some older ideas that still have some value today. "This safety cap by Hervert H. Maston of Lavonia, Georgia works well ...
[Read More]

Building the Binder Design Excel (part 3)
I brought the kit with me over the weekend, and I did have a few minutes to spare Sunday morning to work on it. The pre-cut fin slots were just a little, maybe 1/16″, too short, so I lengthened them for a snug but not impossible fit. Here’s a dry fit of the fins and ...
[Read More]

Rocket butt

[Read More]

Progress on the 4-F Club rack rocket
Well, other than finalizing the streamer composition (length and material) and attaching said streamer, the 4-F Club is complete. I found the long basswood rack was quite floppy with only the rear supports so I added another set somewhere around the loaded CG point. This turned out to be a good ...
[Read More]

Orders!
If I'm not doing shows, rocket production takes up most of my time. Odd'l Rockets Parachutes are going to the Astronaut Hall Of Fame in Titusville, Florida. It takes some coaxing to fit and fold a 18" (maximum) diameter parachute into a 3" x 4" zip bag! Here's 75 parachutes after a two hour ...
[Read More]

A Little Canaroc History
On YORF, Pterodactyl posted a link to a Canaroc news story:  CLICK HERE To check out a Canaroc catalog go to Ninfinger's - CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Reuse?
I said the other day I need a better way to attach mid power chutes to shock cords. The snap swivels I have have loops too small to feed thick shrouds through. I’ve tried thin Kevlar to connect the them but it broke; I’ve tried a small split ring and had it come back deformed. ...
[Read More]

Better Kevlar / Shock Cord Knot?
Quest kit instructions show a very simple overhand knot to join the Kevlar and Elastic ends of the shock cord. It works fine but I never cared for this knot. I always look for something cleaner. I knew there was a better way to join the two lines. Here's how I was joining together the ...
[Read More]

Building the Binder Design Excel (part 4)
I managed to epoxy all three fins without getting any of them backwards. Barely. Next step was to pull the fin can out of the body tube. I cut out the cardboard at the ends of the slots. There were one or two places where, despite efforts to avoid it, a little epoxy had gotten ...
[Read More]

Old Cox Engines
On TRF in 2013, Krusty posted some pictures of some Cox Rocket Engines. These were three B6-6 engines from 1971. Instead of printing directly on the brown casing, the Cox engines got a paper wrap, like the imported Quest engines. To see the 1972 Cox catalog,  CLICK HERE   The Cox ...
[Read More]

Building the Binder Design Excel (part 5)
The milled fiberglass arrived today. I got it on eBay from FiberGlass Coatings, Inc., a pint for about ten bucks, shipped.  Yes, I put on the hands of blue (need more of those, too), and a mask as well. I wasn’t able to find any information on what epoxy/fiber ratio to use other than ...
[Read More]

5/20 13mm Engine Adapter
I know Estes has new plastic engine adapters, but sometimes I like to go old school. Most all of us know a 13mm T engine casing fits into an 18MM empty casing. An 18mm casing will fit into a 24mm casing. In this case my 13mm engine was too tight for the 18mm casing I had. Take the tip of your ...
[Read More]

Building the Binder Design Excel (part 6)
Here’s the completed fin can, with all the fillets done and the shock cord tied to the eye bolt.I applied epoxy inside the tube and slid the fin can into place. (Some epoxy also went onto the shock cord knot.) I used rubber bands to hold the rear of the tube tight against the rear ...
[Read More]

Building the Binder Design Excel (part 7)
I filled in the holes behind the fins with wood filler. Next, fillets. Again about 5:2 epoxy to milled fiberglass. Masked with tape, pulled with a piece of PVC tubing. I think they came out okay. The rail buttons went in. So did the motor retention hardware. It’s together. I have a good bit ...
[Read More]

Weight is everything...
As I begin construction of my first Geezer TARC rocket, I find myself confronted by a sobering aspect of this year's competition... Weight. The TARC rules specify that the rocket may weigh no more than 650 grams fully loaded on the pad. This means that you have to pack 2 eggs, the protection for ...
[Read More]

Rocketry goals review for Mar/Apr/May 2015
Huh. Somehow I lost a month, or something ...
[Read More]

The Big Fix, Semroc (Centuri) Explorer, Part 1
I built a Semroc Explorer when I got back into the hobby, maybe seven years ago. This model has never flown. The build came out well but I knew I could clean up the mask lines and make them even sharper. I'll probably sell this one on Ebay. Look down the root edge of the upper fin. You can see ...
[Read More]

A potentially dangerous boo-boo
One of the great things about social media is that we can post pictures of our rocketry-related activities for the enlightenment and approbation of all (yes, I can use big words when I want). I was cruising Facebook recently, and noticed a pic someone had posted of a 3 motor cluster he was ...
[Read More]

A Few New Things
Rocket Camp   The model rocketry College for Kids camp I'm teaching starts Monday. For the first week-long session, I have five kids. I'm still finalizing my plan for the week's schedule, and I need to figure out what to do if it rains on Friday and we can't launch - that would be a ...
[Read More]

Building the Binder Design Excel (part 8)
Primer’s going on! I’ve done a couple coats of Minwax sanding sealer on the fins, sanding after each. I sanded the fillets and the nose cone, and masked the launch lugs. It’s spray time. I used Rustoleum 2X primer. I usually use Rustoleum Filler Primer, including on the Callisto ...
[Read More]

54mm
54/1200, 54/1600 cases.   I’ve got a couple J820s for the 1200, then they’ll both likely be used for EX.
[Read More]

The Big Fix, Semroc (Centuri) Explorer, Part 3
There wasn't any grain showing on the nose cone but there was some small dents. The surface was sealed so CWF wouldn't stick. White Squadron Putty has solvents and will stick to the painted surface. On the left are all the dents with filler applied. On the right is after sanding to surface. ...
[Read More]

Falling Back to Earth – Video from SpaceX

[Read More]

Crossfire Design Inspiration?
Some kit design elements may have been inspired from old Estes Design of the Month winners.  For years Estes ran the D.O.M. competition offering a $50.00 (later a $75.00) merchandise prize. If you need some inspiration, check out the winers at JimZs, CLICK HERE   The Estes contest rules ...
[Read More]

Cub scout launch...
Scouts prep their rockets for launch (Click to enlarge). Every year, a former president of my rocket club, Chuck Pierce, hosts a launch for some local cub scouts. I love helping him with these events - the scouts are a fine organization, and deserve our support ...
[Read More]

CNY Rocket Team Challenge 2015
The 2015 Central New York Rocket Team Challenge is now history.There were 110 teams registered, of which almost all came and launched their rockets. As usual the Syracuse Rocket Club played a major role in running the event; as I did last year, I worked at the “technical support” tent, ...
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., June 6, 2015
NOTE: There will be no July Orlando R.O.C.K. launch! The June 6 Orlando R.O.C.K. launch had a fairy dry field after yesterdays rain. Summer launches in Florida are almost too hot! There was a good turnout. Tom Dennon filled in as  LSO. I filled in as LSO for one rack. Brian is away on ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Center Forums
There’s a brand new rocketry forum in town: http://rocketrycenter.com. Who runs it? Don’t know. Their user name is nismerf but that’s as much as I know. What are their plans, intentions, goals, policies? Also unknown. There’s a TOS of sorts apparently viewable ...
[Read More]

New, Larger Ceramic BLAST! Deflector
  I just got the first shipment of Odd'l Rockets Ceramic BLAST! Deflectors in the mail!   On the left is the older deflector, on the right is the new wider design. The molds were made from an actual MPC ceramic deflector. The new design works well with most all LPR models. ...
[Read More]

Building the Binder Design Excel (part 9)
Color paint! Well, on the body tube, anyway.The fins and nose cone will be black, and besides I’m still fussing with priming the nose cone.
[Read More]

A New Rocket Forum?
  Rich's Rockets (https://richsrockets.wordpress.com) reported a new rocketry forum has started up! It's called ROCKETRY CENTER . To check it out, CLICK HERE This may have been started by some disgruntled TRF members. Some have been banned, other threads disappear or get locked. As of ...
[Read More]

Payloader II Bids Amost Over on Ebay
Less than a day remains for bidding on the finished Payloader II model. At 24 hours to the closing there were no bids made. For the Ebay link CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Sagitta Cantina
I guess I’ve been remiss — I reported the new Rocketry Center forums, but there’s another new rocketry forum site that’s been up about a month: Sagitta Cantina. I think it’s pretty clear some people want a forum where they can shoot the breeze about off-rocketry ...
[Read More]

RocketReview.com Discussion Forums
I’ve restored the discussion forums at http://community.rocketreviews.com/. The discussion forums include topics specific to RocketReviews.com and will be used to replace the system used currently for posting and reading comments at RocketReviews.com. There are also general discussion ...
[Read More]

Klima Engine Information
On TRF, Jeorg posted a link to a Klima engine specification PDF: CLICK HERE These are 18mm composite engines. Klima is not importing them to the U.S. at this time. We may never see them, apparently they can't keep up with the demand. Still, it's interesting to see how it's done overseas. The ...
[Read More]

A better way to make cones out of PET bottles
I have made several nose cones out of water bottles. If you get one that is a usable diameter, you still have to worry about what to do about that pesky cap. I have foamed the cone and then formed a tip from that...and I have even just left it on. From the water rocket world comes a better ...
[Read More]

Video and Photos of ROCK's June Launch
ROCK’s June launch featured a modest turn out,  but a full day of flying. I flew my new DJI Phantom 3 quadcopter to record the event from the sky. The video above also contains some of the still images Bracha ...
[Read More]

Airbus Adeline: a system to compete with SpaceX
Airbus engineers have secretly been working in a warehouse outside of Paris for 5 years. They have come up with a novel idea for rocket re-usability that could compete with SpaceX. Not nearly as dramatic as SpaceX. Also not full re-usability since only the engine is flown back.However it is a ...
[Read More]

Making a Stable Model Rocket, String Testing
Here's a great YouTube video from Bernardotech.org on Stability and Swing Testing CLICK HERE  "A tutorial on how to design a model rocket in such a way that it will be stable and fly correctly. If you want to learn about model rocket stability, this is a good place to start." The video ...
[Read More]

Rocket Camp Preview
It is Day 3 of my first of three weeks teaching model rocketry to 11-14-year-olds at the Ivy Tech College for Kids camp. The second and third days went much smoother than the first, and I'm really impressed with these kids! Report, impressions and what I've learned to follow later this week - what ...
[Read More]

LDRS plans
Screech – k1127LB, J1026LC,   mobius, brb900, MARSA54L Vulcanite- 38/240’s,   RRC3, BRB900   (SD on G’s if bored)
[Read More]

New Ceramic BLAST! Deflectors Available
  I just got the first shipment of Odd'l Rockets Ceramic BLAST! Deflectors in the mail!   On the left is the older deflector, on the right is the new wider design. The molds were made from an actual MPC ceramic deflector. The new design works well with most all LPR models. ...
[Read More]

4F Club preliminary flight parameters
I'm zeroing in on this weekend's flight (assuming it is approved):
[Read More]

Naval Catapult Test (electro-magnetic rather than steam powered)

[Read More]

Dude built a Punisher!
BAM!! Finish ya after the K1440 drag race tomorrow? And here's a very aggressive 12g CO2 test for the nose cone:
[Read More]

Lonnie's Shroud Line Hook
Did you ever have trouble getting shroud lines through the tight loop on a snap swivel? Lonnie Buchanon showed me a tool he made at the last R.O.C.K. launch. TIP: The end of a stiff wire is bent in a tight, long "U" shape. Hook the "U" around the shroud line loop, feed and pull it through the ...
[Read More]

Building the Binder Design Excel (part 10)
After a rainy week, finally some decent painting weather ...
[Read More]

Launch, NEFAR, Bunnell, FL, June 13, 2015
How you feelin'? Hot, Hot, HOT! These Summer launches really wipe me out. The Civil Air Patrol joined us today so a second LPR rack was set up. Good call and Thanks guys! Most of the CAP flights were fine until the two stage Loadstars were launched. A few too many had the engines reversed, B6-6 in ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2015-4 (MDRA)
Location: MDRA, Price, MD (ESL-204) Weather: High 80's, sunny, hot, wind was low (6 mph, mas o menos) Total flights: Today - 7; YTD - 25 Total motors: Today - 8; YTD - 26 Motors by class YTD: MMX-2; C-6; E-6; F-6; G-5; H-1 Water rocket flights (not included in the totals above): 6 I managed to ...
[Read More]

Building the Binder Design Excel (part 11)
Well, here it is as it (so to speak) stands: I will not whine about the paint job again. I will not whine about the paint job again. I will not whine about the paint job again. I also will not jinx Saturday’s weather forecast by talking about how favorable it looks.  
[Read More]

RocStock 41: Punisher got punished, M3100s kick ass!
Here's my drag race video summary for RocStock 41: I'll augment this entry soon. I still love CTI and the K1440 anyway. :)
[Read More]

Philae - first comet lander - is awake!

[Read More]

Stiletto Design Inspiration?
In 2009, Bob Sanford made a visit to Quest Aerospace. Lots of great information and pictures in these YORF posts: CLICK HERE Douglas Shrock (Shrox Rocket Designs) showed some of his prototypes. He's holding the SHX-3 Stiletto, one of my favorite models. Yesterday on RocketReviews.com I ran across ...
[Read More]

NEFAR's June 2015 Launch
Above is a video I made of NEFAR’s June launch using footage captured from my quadcopter combined with still photos taken by myself, Bracha Smith, and Thea Mathen. A collection of the still photos that Bracha and I took of ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes (clone) Ranger (part 9)
Oh, hey, it’s paintbug season! Thanks for the footprints, bug. It wasn’t even the only one on this rocket.And another besides those. Jackpot. Paintbugs aside, another problem I’d not noticed before became apparent on painting. The fin paper was lifting at the edges.Ugly! I used ...
[Read More]

More Wire Hook Pull Tools, TIP
Lonnie Buchanon made a simple wire hook to pull shroud lines through the small metal ring on the end of a snap swivel. The blog post is CLICK HERE Chris Gonnerman commented: "I have several rolls of cheap "safety wire" which I use for a broad variety of rocketry tasks. For instance, I use a long ...
[Read More]

Rebuilding the '4F Club' as the '3Fs and 2Ds'
If you read my last launch report , you will know that the 4F Club didn't work exactly as planned. The sims said it would be up to speed off one of MDRA's long rails, but in merely lobbed off the pad and augered in under power. The fins, nose cone, recovery stuff and two motors survived to fly ...
[Read More]

Building the Squirrel Works Callisto (part 5)
Once again, down to the wire. Still working on the rocket I want to use in Saturday’s launch contest. Not that it hasn’t been flyable for months now, and it probably would’ve performed better unpainted, but I want it looking good. Weather is barely cooperating. I had trouble ...
[Read More]

I hate TRF and Photos.
       
[Read More]

Building the Squirrel Works Callisto (part 6)
And it’s done. Decals added, a coat of Pledge (mainly for the decals’ benefit; the paint doesn’t really need it), a couple rough spots sanded, nozzle installed.Here’s the 3×13 mm motor mount with the display nozzle on.It flies tomorrow.  
[Read More]

L1
Even a bad launch is usually pretty good, I guess, but not as good as a really good launch. Today I had a really good launch with the Syracuse Rocket Club. The statistics tell the tale in concealed form: 5 flights 5 successful 9 motors used Impulse classes: 1/2A (3), A (4), C (1), H ...
[Read More]

Rocket Camp Keeps You Busy
I feel guilty for not blogging much recently. Between teaching rocket camp , my day job, and preparing to move to Boston a week from Tuesday, I don't have much free time. But camp has been going well. Several parents have told me that their kids have learned a lot . Which is great - and sort of ...
[Read More]

Rusto 2X Cottage Cheese - TIP
A forum post from Rich Holmes: "Most of my rockets I paint with Rusto 2X, and mostly it works out fairly well. But the white sometimes is fine and sometimes isn't. Sometimes it's rough, sometimes an orange peel or cottage cheese texture. I'm thinking it's not a clogged nozzle, because in fact it ...
[Read More]

Pics and it did happen
Fellow SRC member Scott Sellers did get pictures of my certification flight and you can see them on the SRC web site. Poke the thumbnails to find img_3989.jpg and img_3997.jpg through img_4003.jpg. Also, he got a shot of the Callisto clearing the (tilted!) launch rod, img_4073.jpg. Of course there ...
[Read More]

Local Launches this Summer
ROCK holds launches on the first Saturday of each month. This July, the first Saturday is July 4. Because of the holiday, ROCK is skipping their July launch. The next ROCK launch will be August 1. The next NEFAR launch … Continue reading →
[Read More]

A different type of ORC...
For several years, Essence's Model Rocket Reviews & Resources (EMRR) sponsored online rocket contests through their website. Some of these were virtual, using Rocksim or other design programs to create a rocket that would meet a specific set of virtual challenges; others involved actually ...
[Read More]

Nice Blue Origin Engine Graphic

[Read More]

Twin Turbonique-powered go-kart
Q: What's better than a rocket powered go-kart? A: A clustered one. Click through to see more photos of this little beast.
[Read More]

Olde Fashioned Rocket Design Contest
Bill over at the Rocketeer's Corner has created a new, old-fashioned rocket design contest, that he's calling ORC - the Old Rocketeer's Contest. The first contest is called Delivering the Mail. The idea is to design and build a rocket which flies on one or more 18mm motors (that's A through ...
[Read More]

Airplane wing damaged by impact with drone?
Can't be real, the drone seems to just float past the wing.
[Read More]

"Starters" (Igniters) In Each Engine Package? Part 2
Years back Estes did package four NWI-1 igniters in a 18mm three engine package. These NWI-1 (blue or brown coated) igniters were better than bare nichome but not as reliable as the newer Starter igniters. Mini "T" engines had five NWI-1 igniters in a four engine package. From the 1972 catalog: ...
[Read More]

3 or 4 "Starters" (Igniters) In Each Engine Package? Part 1
From YORF, I had an interesting exchange with Fred Shector: My first post: All of the recent engine packages I've purchased now have the clear tip starters. I've been using those at the club launches where they have a 12 volt system. I've still got a pretty good supply of the old Estes igniters ...
[Read More]

What to expect as New Horizons passes Pluto
 
[Read More]

Full video of SpaceX CRS-6 First Stage Tracking Cam
New video just released 6-25-15
[Read More]

Coming to Estes
There’s some interesting models on Estes’s “Coming Soon” page. Five new builder’s kits: 7236 Estes SLV: Scale-like “Satellite Launch Vehicle”. Five fins, five “strap on boosters” with faux nozzles, and a fatter payload section. Reports on ...
[Read More]

Going from Excelsior
I guess we knew this was coming sooner or later. Excelsior Rocketry, purveyor of classic and custom waterslide decals, is shutting down. The problem is that there is only one more or less affordable printer available (Alps) that can do a good job printing one-off decals — in particular, it ...
[Read More]

Cool video of a Terrier-Improved Orion launch
NASA launched student payloads today from Wallops. For more info, see the caption on Flickr. Look at the spin on the sustainer after booster burnout!
[Read More]

A man carrying a baby raccoon on the 1 train
    No wonder the MTA is having trouble keeping the subway on time!  
[Read More]

LDRS 34
LDRS started up yesterday and runs through Monday in Potter, NY, about an hour and a half west southwest of Syracuse. I decided not to register as a flyer. Partly that’s because I’m mainly a low/medium power guy, and while they do launch LPR at LDRS, my preference is to save my LPR ...
[Read More]

Coming Soon from Estes
Estes has some new kits unveiled in their Coming Soon page - CLICK HERE  A larger Maxi-Brute sized HONEST JOHN was shown at a past NARAM. This one is smaller, BT-60 based. To me, a more manageable size. Skill Level 3 Length: 22.9 in. (58.2 cm) Diameter: 1.64 in. (42 mm) Estimated ...
[Read More]

Challenger and Columbia Memorial at KSC

[Read More]

Its a rainy day...
It's raining, I had to get up early to meet our paving contractor and my current project is waiting on Stickershock23 (decals will be here Monday!). I am not really in the market to spend money on kits...but haven't been able to stay clear of the Interwebs. Here's what I would have my eye one ...
[Read More]

No More Decals From Excelsior
From Gordy of Excelsior Rocketry, posted on the forums: The time has finally come. I am closing my web site down, I guess, permanently. After wearing out 8 Alps printers I have one left with some but not much “print” left in it. My “repaired” printer lasted one month. ...
[Read More]

New Logo?
I fixed the Odd'l Rockets Logo. It was designed in 2009 before I really knew how to adjust and play with the type. The old version is above, the new version below. I know, subtle changes. I had some spare time between shows on the last cruise. The new logo will be integrated into ...
[Read More]

Two Days...
Two Days Left until I move to Boston. All the rockets are packed, as well as the parts, unbuilt kits, tools, launch equipment... Oh, and records and books and blankets and clothes and stuff. All my spare rocket parts are finally neatly organized, after many months of being strewn about the ...
[Read More]

LDRS range (34, 36)
Going to watch LDRS on Friday was the right call. The range was closed Saturday and Sunday (all day both days, I believe) though it was announced AMW would be open today holding a “we don’t want to haul all this back” sale. I imagine things must be pretty muddy there, but ...
[Read More]

Space-x Falcon 9 Cato Explosion
Explosions in near space and at high speed are peculiar looking!    
[Read More]

See Ya!
I love this rocket.  4 flights.  4 mach busters.  4 recoveries.  Yea.
[Read More]

Repairing the Lunar Eclipse Jr. (part 1)
It’s been a year and a day since the E9 cato that ruined what was supposed to be the second flight of my 3D Rocketry Lunar Eclipse Jr. Question is, did it ruin the rocket? I’ve had the bird sitting in the basement most of the past year waiting for me to figure out what to do ...
[Read More]

Thoughts on a beginner rocket...
I am often asked what the best rocket is for a beginner, or other variants of this like: What is a good rocket for me and my kid to build? What rocket would you recommend for a school (cub scout, girl scout, 4H) group? I (and/or my kid) want to fly at your launch this weekend. What can ...
[Read More]

Rocketry goals review for Jun 2015
June. Fine month, that. Level 1 certification Did that. Fly an I motor Not yet, but I’ve bought one, and the hardware. Put an entry (however pathetic) into at least four club launch contests and four club launch themes Flew the Ranger for the theme and the Callisto for the theme ...
[Read More]

Revell / Estes Air Rocket
Here's your rocket escape video for the day. Kixi (I assume that's her name) assembles and "launches" a Revell / Estes Air rocket. CLICK HERE It's not English, but that almost makes it funnier. The real action starts at 6:00 in. This Revell branded product is the same as the Estes Rocket-Star ...
[Read More]

5th Anniversary of the Building Blog!
Here's the first post from July 4, 2010: "While I've been active posting on The Rocketry Forum and EMRR, I wanted a place to archive my construction methods and builds.  Everyone has their own "proven" ways of building rockets. This blog is not written to say I have all the right ...
[Read More]

Incorrect Decals in the Estes Mercury Redstone Kit? Pre-Build
Before I get started on this post: Understand I don't want to nit-pick. I was excited to finally get the Centuri sized Mercury Redstone, re-issued by Estes. The detail on the Centuri plastic capsule is very good.  I bought two of the new kits, one will get a 24mm upgrade, the second kit will ...
[Read More]

MAC
My first MAC kit.   Very impressed.
[Read More]

Building the Art Applewhite Scimitar (part 1)
While glue was drying on the Rose-a-Roc, I decided to throw together a Scimitar. This is a cardstock saucer model available for free from Art Applewhite’s site at http://www.artapplewhite.com/free.html. It wasn’t even on my list of possible builds two days ago, but ...
[Read More]

New, Wider BLAST! Deflector Coverage
Under a BT-60 based model -  Here's the flame "hit" on the side of the new, wider Blast! Ceramic Deflector. This new design better protects wider diameter models against flame flashback which could damage the underside of a model. To the lower right of the black soot you can see where the ...
[Read More]

Saturn V SA-666, from the top down
Well, after seeing Daddyisabar's post on his attempt at an induction stabilized rocket, the gears started turning. Unfortunately, the belts were also slipping a bit so this crazy rocket is what popped out. First, the name. 'Saturn V' because it is based on the AlaskaPaperModelWorks Saturn-V plans. ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes D-Region Tomahawk (part 5)
I put a coat of gloss white on Friday, and it seems to have gone on pretty well. Today I started on the other colors — specifically, I did red. There are two sections of the, well, you could call it the nose cone but in scale terms they’re in the payload section behind the ...
[Read More]

Saturn V, SA-666 - further thoughts
I have actually been thinking about building another version of this thing. IF I do... I'll print the wraps at about 105% so the main body wraps fit a 3" mailing tube, with no tube sectioning. This is as big as I can go on 8 1/2" x 11" paper. The spars that center the motor mount will ...
[Read More]

Repairing the Lunar Eclipse Jr. (part 2)
I filled the seam where I’d cut the body tube with spot putty, sanded that and a couple other damaged areas, and brush painted. The finish generally was scuffy looking so I wiped it down with ammonia based glass cleaner and brushed on a new coat of Pledge. It isn’t great under ...
[Read More]

Still More Igniter Tips
For me, sometimes the paper retaining tape on Estes igniters is too far down the wires. On the left is the igniter right out of the package. The inset picture shows the paper slid about 1/8" up the wires. This allows me to make the "U" bends easier. At club launches I rarely see anybody bending ...
[Read More]

Saturn V, SA-667
This is a another post regarding the next-gen gas-stabilized(?) Saturn V, now designated the SA-667. The name is not as evil as the original, but what's in a name? I grabbed a 3" mailing tube from the Container Store. These are the best ones because they include a full-length stuffer. I went ahead ...
[Read More]

Transporting Bigger Rockets
While I deal with smaller, low power models, occasionally I have to transport something BIG. I bought one of these neck rings if I ever needed to take a nap in my car. I've found a second use for it. A few years ago I had to take an Apogee Saturn V to the UPS Store to weigh in for estimated ...
[Read More]

The Ivy Tech Model Rocketry Camp - Part 1
Rocket camp is finally over, and it was a wild ride. I have never launched this many rockets in this short a time period. Even though I had to limit our altitude, which meant we launched only with A or B motors, it was a lot of fun. I usually completely avoid the A motor, as it's pretty wimpy on a ...
[Read More]

Old Estes Building
On TRF, Steven asked: I always wondered what happened to the building you saw in many of the catalogs.  For those TRF posts, CLICK HERE From the 1971 Estes catalog: "The Estes plant now encompasses over forty buildings and is located on a 400 acre site." Bernard Cawley posted this ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes D-Region Tomahawk (part 5)
Yesterday I put on brown and white. I’m about 96% happy with the brown stripe. Maybe 97%. Here’s how you paint a DRT nose cone tip. Well, it’s how I do it.The black fins I’m less satisfied with, but then the masking was definitely trickier. I like the trailing edges ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2015-5 (MDRA)
Location: MDRA, Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD (ESL-205) Weather: wind 0-5, sunny/hazy, high in the mid 80's Total flights: Today - 7; YTD - 32 Total motors: Today - 9; YTD - 35 Motors by class YTD: MMX-2; C-7; E-9; F-10; G-6; H-1 Water rocket flights (not included in the totals above): 6 The ...
[Read More]

No - Go, No - Show Launch List
Years back I was doing a road show for Walt Disney World. While the cast traveled by plane, there was a truck with backdrops, speakers, props and costumes that met us in each city. After the performance and before the semi left each city on the tour,  the manager would go down his ...
[Read More]

If you launch rockets, you understand the 'luck factor'

[Read More]

Pluto up close!
Pluto nearly fills the frame in this image from the Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) aboard NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, taken on July 13, 2015 when the spacecraft was 476,000 miles (768,000 kilometers) from the surface. This is the last and most detailed image sent to Earth ...
[Read More]

Most everyone loves to watch a rocket launch

[Read More]

GIF showing New Horizons Pluto flyby mission

[Read More]

Useful Wind Forecasting Tool - For More Reliable Recovery?
Someone on the NAR Facebook page posted this recently, and it seemed like a pretty useful rocketry tool to me. A screencap from Windyty It's a website called Windyty , and if you enter your location, it will show you an animated map detailing wind direction and ...
[Read More]

Yet one more view of the New Horizons flyby

[Read More]

YAY – AB 467 Model Rocket Law Passed!
Thanks to the leadership of Assembly Woman Ling Ling Chang and the support of the rocketry community, California will have equal model rocketry rights with the majority of the country starting January 1st, 2016. This legislation will modernize California’s model rocket laws, ensuring this hobby ...
[Read More]

Welcome California
Buried on this page under “SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that he has signed the following bills” is this line: AB 467 by Assemblymember Ling-Ling Chang (R-Diamond Bar) – Pyrotechnic devices: model rockets. If you’re a CA rocketeer, this is ...
[Read More]

Mercury Redstone Video Diversion
Daniel Petrie ( rocketn00b.blogspot.com ) reminded me of this great website: mercuryjoe.com It's the pictorial and video record of launching a G.I. Joe "Action figure" atop his 9 3/4" diameter Mercury Redstone. The G.I. Joe MR capsule was sold by Hasbro back in 1966. The astronaut flight suit ...
[Read More]

Saturn V, SA-666 rework
As I was pondering what to do with the SA-666's successor, I went back to read some of Dean Black's write-ups. I don't remember seeing this in his Apogee Newsletter article but I find that, while an air gap behind the CG results in induction stabilization, an air gap ahead of the CG retards it. ...
[Read More]

Estes Mercury Redstone Kit Decal Fix
On the inside front cover of the July/August issue of Sport Rocketry is the new Estes full page ad. Look close at the inset picture. The MR7 decals have been replaced with MR8 decals. This might indicate new decals in the next run of kits. The magazine features NARCON 2015 coverage and the ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2015-6 (NARHAMS)
Location: NARHAMS, Mt. Airy Weather: wind variable 0-10, cloudy becoming sunny, high in the mid 80's and humid Total flights: Today - 10; YTD - 42 Total motors: Today - 11; YTD - 46 Motors by class YTD: MMX-2; B-1; C-13; D-2; E-9; F-11; G-7; H-1 Water rocket flights (not included in the totals ...
[Read More]

Glide, glided, glade
Today’s club launch had its ups and good parts and bad parts. I showed up with seven rockets, planning up to nine flights but probably less. Not everything happened as planned. We got under way late, due to not being on time. Weather started out overcast (though it’d been ...
[Read More]

Estes Order Arrives
My July Sale order arrived on Friday, July 17. Pretty good turnaround considering the order was placed on July 9. This ain't no Estes box! I've mentioned it before, why not have the box stamped:  "From the Model Rocket Capitol of the World!" I have more kits now than I could build in ...
[Read More]

Saturn V, SA-667 beginning
Overall, I still haven't decided what this thing will become, but I have started on parts of it. I have the upper body and have started on the motor mount. And I have the nose cone completed. To enhance the printed wraps, I found another paper rocket plan that included the launch tower. The LES ...
[Read More]

Repairing the Sky Condor
When I went to fly the Condor yesterday I realized I’d never gotten around to repairing a problem. The Condor is designed without a thrust ring, so only the tongue on the motor hook stops the motor from moving forward. On the last flight, the hook was shoved forward into the body tube. I ...
[Read More]

Old Quest Tiger Tail Igniter
I bought some of the older Quest German made engines last year. Some of them came with the "Tiger Tail" igniters. I made up this post to help if you ever run across one of these OOP igniters. The igniter itself resembles the older Aerotech Copper Head igniters. The Quest Tiger Tail style was ...
[Read More]

My Rocket Anniversary
July 5 was the anniversary of the first time I ever went out to launch a few model rockets, with Chad , David, Lee, and a few other people. On that day, we just flew a few of Chad's rockets. We had fun, but I wasn't sure whether we'd do it again. One year ago today, July 20, 2014, was different. ...
[Read More]

Saturn V, SA-667 continued
The top section of this model is basically complete, less recovery system (cord and 'chute). I could add a wrap to the bottom couple of inches, but I'm not sure how it will all hook together so I'll leave it off for now. Please ignore the fact that the LES is not perfectly straight.   ...
[Read More]

CRS-7 INVESTIGATION UPDATE
“At this time, the investigation remains ongoing, as SpaceX and the investigation team continue analyzing  significant amounts of data and conducting additional testing that must be completed in order to fully validate these conclusions.  However,  given the currently ...
[Read More]

Modifying Estes Engine Hooks? TIP
If ever I run across a engine hook "finger tab", I cut it off and smooth the sharp edges with a metal file. On a model like the Estes Mercury Redstone the standing rocket will rest on the engine hook finger tab. The fin trailing edges won't touch the display shelf! Finger Tab engine hooks can get ...
[Read More]

Margaret Hamilton, Apollo flight software ninja
Margaret headed up the team at the MIT Draper Lab that wrote the software for the Apollo guidance computer. Vox.com  has an interesting article about her and her software. The photo shows her standing next to the source code. The article elaborates on the technology of the day and how clever ...
[Read More]

Alaska vs Pluto

[Read More]

NAR Member Record!
NAR President Ted Cochran posted this on the NAR  Facebook page yesterday. I've been in the NAR off and on since the early 1970s. My NAR number is an old one, 19806 SR. If you re-join after not being a member for a while, you can request your old NAR number.
[Read More]

100 kiloNARs
Here’s a milestone the likes of which most of us probably won’t see again: NAR has just issued member # 100000. The “lucky” recipient (lucky? He’s going to have to go through life saying, No, REALLY, that IS my NAR number!) is a 10 year old from Washington. I joined ...
[Read More]

July 25, 2015
The weather forecast looks good for our launch, July 25, at Boswell field. The waiver will be active for high power flights. Be sure to check this page for updates before leaving Saturday morning.
[Read More]

I've Joined the NAR
I've just joined the National Association of Rocketry , the oldest hobby rocketry organization in the world.   With this, I'll be able to join a club, maybe get high-power certified, maybe make some new friends who are into rocketry. Plus I get insurance on launches and a cool magazine. ...
[Read More]

Streamer Recovery On Engine Eject Models TIP
Scott Johnson reminded of an engine eject streamer recovery method from Centuri. In the Satellite Killer model, Centuri used the empty space in a 1/2A6-2 engine for a streamer! I found the instructions at oldrocketplans.com. To read it, enlarge the illustrations on the right. It involves ...
[Read More]

Congratulations – TAP Frank Hermes
Such great news for the San Diego Tripoli Club to have Frank Hermes as our TAP (Technical Advisory Panel). When I was pursuing my level 3, I had to travel to Rocketry Organization of California’s launch in Lucerne to meet with my TAPs Jack and Kurt. The San Diego Club was seriously lacking ...
[Read More]

NARAM Live Is Back!
The next best thing to being there! NARAM LIVE is back with complete coverage. I always look forward to the Scale pictures and Manufacturers Forum. Check it out: CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Mosquito Fin Airfoil?
Scott Johnson sent me this comment from the post about Streamer Recovery on Engine Eject Models: "I saw another method for tumble recovery rockets as well. The current Estes Mosquito has you rocket air foil its fins (symmetric air foil), which just turns it into a fire and forget lawn dart. ...
[Read More]

Mapheus 5 launch
Watch the German rocket called Mapheus 5, launch in Sweden. Maximum altitude was 62 miles.
[Read More]

NARAM Live Scale Pics Posted
The Scale turn-in pictures have been posted at the NARAM Live website: CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Polishing Plastic? Tips
Dale Bills wrote: Chris,    I searched your building blog for any mention of how to polish and buff plastic parts such as the fins and nose cone in the Estes Pro Series II E2X Mammoth. The fins and nose cone are molded plastic. The fins are two-piece molded plastic ...
[Read More]

So how big is Pluto?
 
[Read More]

New Painting Wands
It was about time to make some new painting wands. I bought a 48" long, 1/2" diameter dowel and cut it into three 16" long pieces. An empty engine casing friction fits over the 1/2" diameter dowel perfectly. You might have to round the edges of the dowel to get the casing to slip over the end. ...
[Read More]

Rockets for the 4th...
For the past few years, I have tried to commemorate the 4th of July by building a rocket with a patriotic theme during the month. I usually start in late June with the intent of finishing by the 4th, but somehow things always come up - travel, weather, cosmic rays, whatever. This year it was ...
[Read More]

Installing and Removing Tight Engines?
On TRF, Ron Lemke (Shade) asked the question: "First for existing built rockets I have several that have very tight MMTs. I have  difficulty getting Estes BP engines in them to the point where I feel I am going  to damage the rocket, any suggestions on how to deal with this? Some ...
[Read More]

A Note on the Pigasus and Little Green Man
No doubt about it -  These are the most popular kits in the Odd'l Rockets lineup. The kits sell to all age groups, but some are bought by kids. Younger flyers are attracted to the bright colors and comical design. That is my concern -  While they may look like an easy build, a 10 year ...
[Read More]

A drag of a topic...
As I mentioned in previous posts, this year's TARC competition will probably see many teams struggling to loft their two eggs to altitude without busting the weight limit on the rocket. Most teams use the Tim Allen philosophy when it comes to increasing altitude - use a bigger motor (more power!). ...
[Read More]

Horrible Error
I've started building my first rocket in months. I decided to take one of the smaller rockets off the build pile - the Estes Reflector. It's a small, BT-50 (24mm) based rocket with a short payload section. I'm building it with the intention of adding a camera to the payload, following the ...
[Read More]

Cheap Cherokee D Upscale?
On TRF, K'Tesh noticed the Pro Series II Argent model fins looked like the old Estes Cherokee D. He build a beautiful 2.5" diameter upscale Cherokee D using parts from the Argent kit and nose cone from the Pro Series II Partizon. New upscale fins were cut from plywood. CLICK HERE to see the TRF ...
[Read More]

Has the Leviathan Gone Extinct?
The Estes Leviathan, a very popular mid power rocket, seems to have disappeared completely from he Estes website. It was on sale, along with a lot of other rockets, all of July. The July sale has been extended, but the Leviathan is now no longer to be found on the Estes website. This does ...
[Read More]

Video of the induction-stabilized Inductor
Looks like it is stable under boost but goes unstable during coast (and possibly the tail end of the burn). So, these things will work if you have enough mass flow and dial in the rocket design (dimensions, mass, etc.). YMMV.
[Read More]

More Adeptors, More Adeptors!
Today I cut, filed, drilled and tapped 35 Adeptors! These will be going out to the vendors shortly. It takes almost a full day to get this many made. (It's just me - no other employees) My hands are sore and I've got a new blister.
[Read More]

Titebond M&TG Nozzle Replacement TIP
I was taking the orange top off my bottle of Titebond M&TG to clean it out. The glue was clogged and flowing too slow. The tip was old and broke off. I had to replace it. On the left is the nozzle that comes on the Titebond bottle. It's too flat and wide for fillet applications. The inset ...
[Read More]

Device to rescue objects from trees

[Read More]

PS II Kits On Clearance?
On the forums, there have been comments about how many different Ready To Fly and Almost Ready To Fly models are listed on the Estes website. Like many older builders, I prefer actually making something. I went to the website to do a quick count of the "Coming Soon" and "What's New". I thought ...
[Read More]

Jet contrail
 
[Read More]

Manufacturer's Forum at NARAM
I was curious about new products usually announced at the NARAM Manufacturer's Forum.  It seems it wasn't recorded this year. On TRF, Kevin J posted:   Here is the twitter roundup of the Manufacturers forum from @ashpoole you can find them by searching for the #naram57 hashtag. ...
[Read More]

Rocketry goals review for Jul 2015
This has been a month. Level 1 certification Done that. Fly an I motor Not yet, but I’ve bought one, and the hardware. Put an entry (however pathetic) into at least four club launch contests and four club launch themes Completed the Rose-a-Roc for the August cont ...
[Read More]

What Kind Of Primer / Filler Do You Use?
In a recent comment Daniel asked: "What kind of primer filler do you use?" My response: Hi Daniel, I only use the Duplicolor Primer/Filler, available at auto supply stores. The can label is now grey and black. They have changed the label description again - it now says: Duplicolor Automotive ...
[Read More]

ASP Fin Marking Wrap Guides! TIPS
While on the ASP website I clicked on the "Resources - Downloads" page. ASP has ready to print PDF fin marking guides for BT-5 through BT-80 size tubes in three and four fin configurations. To check out the available "BT" (Estes style tubes) fin marking guides - CLICK HERE I also go to ...
[Read More]

Estes Lynx, Kit #7233, Build Part 1, Parts
    This is one of the two newer "T" engine builder's kits, The Lynx. The Lynx is brother to the other new mini engine kit, The Scorpion. I picked the Lynx over the Scorpion simply because I liked the design better. All the parts are of high quality. One of the BT-5 Intake ...
[Read More]

My Estes Transroc Experience
A question about the Estes Transroc was posted on YORF. Here's one of the responses from Rocket 9005 that summed it up: "The original transmitter was  100mW based on the 27MHz CB radio band. As a result the signal could be received an a standard CB radio or walkie talkie.  It was ...
[Read More]

Estes Lynx, Kit #7233, Build Part 2, Parts Of Interest
The BT-20 blow molded nose cone with the big bubble canopy. The other new kit, the Scorpion, shares this nose cone. You might recognize the nose cone, it was used on the old Space Racer model from the early 1990s. On this simple four-finned model the canopy nose cone stuck out like a sore ...
[Read More]

Launch, NEFAR, Bunnell, FL, August 8, 2015
Roger Smith drove us up to the NEFAR monthly launch in Bunnell, Florida. While getting there we drove through a heavy thunderstorm but things cleared up before arriving at the field. It was hot but overcast skies took some of the edge off. The Boy Scouts were there and occupied most of the low ...
[Read More]

Flame Resistant Elastic Test
That's a LOT of elastic! Here is bundles of 1/8" wide x 8 yards elastic, drying after soaking in a flame resistant solution. I've flame tested the elastic before when I first settled on the solution ratios. On this test I'd take pictures. It's a simple test, holding the elastic close above a ...
[Read More]

Some Water Rockets - Variations
From the Air Command Rockets website:   And these are just the smaller ones! Check them all out CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Estes Lynx, Kit #7233, Build Part 4, Engine Mount
Here's how the vanes will fit with the centering ring dry fitted 7/16" from the rear. The rear ring is notched for the engine hook. I wouldn't cut them the way the instructions show. Cut through the ring with it standing up. With the ring laying flat, you have a bigger chance of cutting an ...
[Read More]

Post Flight Soot Cleaning - TIP
After a launch I'll clean off any dirt with a damp paper towel. Inside the top end of the body tube, an accumulation of ejection soot can make tight fit of the nose cone. The inside inch or so is wiped off with a dry paper towel. Don't use a wet wipe, the inside tube fibers can swell and break ...
[Read More]

Hostile Projectiles V-2 rebuild, or how to tempt the rocket gods to return the original cone
At the last NARHAMS launch, the Hostile Projectiles V-2 separated and the cone drifted away. I thought I saw it fall on the near side of a far tree line but my wife thought it went over. I started out to find it but the big hill, 4' grass, and the heat got the better of me. I found JonRocket had ...
[Read More]

Estes Lynx, Kit #7233, Build Part 5, Clay Nose Weight
You are directed to cut off 1/4 of the clay pat. The clay starts at .25 oz. With 1/4 removed it ended up at .19 oz. Pretty close to the actual .1875 oz. it should be. TIP: Instead of making long worms out of the clay, roll small balls out of the clay.  It's easier dropping a ...
[Read More]

Trinity Jumbo Device
              The Jumbo device was intended to contain the precious core of the first implosion device, the Trinity shot, in the event of a fizzle. "As delivered in May 1945, Jumbo was 10 feet (3.0 m) in diameter and 25 feet ...
[Read More]

German Model Rocketry Book Pages
Manuel Mejia, Jr. sent me some pages from a German model rocketry book. It's always interesting to see how rocketry is done in other countries. Manuel wrote some notes on the copied pages. On the right is a "Huge L (engine) rocket - held together with wood glue! Made from cardboard!" ...
[Read More]

Estes Lynx, Kit #7233, Build Part 6, Gluing up Fins and Grain Fill
The wing halves, rudder and wing stabs are glued together. Hold the pieces at 90 degrees on a sanding block to get some square gluing edges. The rudder and forward strake are glued flat on a straight edge. The wing halves are glued together. The forward stabs and wing stabs are the same ...
[Read More]

Dowel Cutting TIP
You could cut a dowel to length with a razor saw but it's easier to cut thin dowels by rolling your knife blade over it. Sometimes, you end up with a cut line that travels, a spiral cut line down the dowel. For a straight cut, try this: Draw your knife blade down a straight line. Follow a ...
[Read More]

Estes Lynx, Kit #7233, Build Part 7, Seam Fill, Primer and Kevlar
The body tube seams were filled with thinned CWF. Even the exposed seam on the rear of the engine mount got filled. Fill the BT-5 intake tube seams before cutting. Everything got a shot of Filler / Primer and light sanding with 400 grit. The small vane pieces were stuck back on the tape ...
[Read More]

An Odd'l Parachute Endorsement!
A post from TRF: From Jerry - "I love using my well used/broken in 18" JonRocket parachute. There are no more memory fold lines. It's very soft and fluffy. Even the shroud lines are super soft from all the talc and not hard and whiskery. I have had dozens of flights with this chute and it just ...
[Read More]

Estes Lynx, Kit #7233, Build Part 8, Intake Tube Cutting
The instructions have you tape the intake tube pattern over a BT-5 and cut through both the pattern paper and tube at the same time. I thought that would lead to some shifting of the pattern while cutting. I taped it on and used a pin to make small holes around the pattern. The pattern was ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2015-7 (NARHAMS)
Location: NARHAMS, Mt. Airy Weather: sunny, low 90's, wind 0-3? Total flights: Today - 11; YTD - 53 Total motors: Today - 11; YTD - 57 Motors by class YTD: MMX-2; B-3; C-15; D-4; E-11; F-14; G-7; H-1 Water rocket flights (not included in the totals above): 6 This was as good a day as you are going ...
[Read More]

Estes Lynx, Kit #7233, Build Part 9, Engine Vanes and Launch Lug
I read the instructions wrong. I glued the vane glue template onto the rear centering ring. Step 2 and 4 of the instructions show the paper ring being slid on and slid off after marking. It was cut oversize and trimmed after the glue dried. With the pencil marks extended down the ...
[Read More]

Full production at the rocket factory...
Now that I am done with travel for a bit, I can spend some time building rockets. This is a good thing, because the Geezer TARC launch is just around the corner! The wrist I sprained while in California is still giving me a bit of trouble, but I have managed to get two TARC birds built and into ...
[Read More]

Estes Pro Series II - Introduction
Last week, I got a delivery from Estes. They've had sales going on practically all summer, so it's been a good way to pick up some deals. I had hoped to buy another Leviathan, one of Estes' Pro Series II mid power rockets. I love the way this rocket looks, and I wanted to have a backup in ...
[Read More]

Hostile Projectiles V-2 rebuild complete
Well, you can't find your lost stuff unless you look for it...and I didn't trek up the large hill to search for my lost nose cone.  Here is the new nose cone and new paint job. I didn't go for my usual blotchy camo scheme and I'm not sure I'm 100% happy with it. In any event, it is what it is ...
[Read More]

New Estes Kit Hints?
From a John Boren post on YORF:   Keep this just between you and me   But I've uncovered a WHOLE bunch of old nose cone blow mold tooling and IF they are usable by our vendor you are going to see a whole lot of old nose cones being used in either bring backs or stuff I create ...
[Read More]

Estes Lynx, Kit #7233, Build Part 10, Details and Wing Fit
The lower flat wing is centered and glued even with the back end of the BT-20 maim air frame tube. The engine mount is just dry fitted, not glued in yet. The dowel is cut into three 3" sections. The left over dowel was thrown in the spare parts box. Two pieces of dowel are glued into the ...
[Read More]

My Photo on the NAR Facebook Page!
One of my launch pictures is currently being used as the cover photo on the NAR Facebook page ! The Estes Shuttle Express lifting off! I got this E2X kit as a birthday present last January, and uploaded the launch photo about a week or two ago to the NAR page. I ...
[Read More]

Eight Days in a Garbage Can
  Eight Days in a Garbage Can As NASA’s efforts to land humans on the Moon picked up speed in the mid-1960s, several skills had to be mastered: spacewalking, rendezvous, docking, and long-duration spaceflight. On Gemini IV, Ed White demonstrated NASA astronauts had the know-how to ...
[Read More]

Estes Lynx, Kit #7233, Build Part 11, Ends and Edges
Titebond M&TG fillets were added to the engine mount vanes. The excess was removed using Q-tips. The intake tubes got medium CA applied to the exposed front end. The sides also got some CA. This is just to harden up the sides so the fuzzies can be sanded smooth. Keep the CA glue off the ...
[Read More]

The Black Merlin
SpaceX just posted this great shot of a Merlin engine painted black. “Upgraded Merlin rocket engine with special black coating for thermal testing” – SpaceX
[Read More]

Rocket recovery rig
After losing a rocket to the trees last weekend, I decided to build one of US Water Rocket's tree rescue system. They described their tool in a video: Tree Rescue System . Mine is basically the same concept but has a smaller PVC tube (3/4"vs. 1" diameter and 2' vs. 3' long). I also fashioned a ...
[Read More]

Estes Lynx, Kit #7233, Build Part 12, Lug Gluing
Here's the front and rear lug. The front lug needs the standoff with the rear lug already raised on the wing. TIP: Use very little glue when first gluing down two small, inline lugs. After drying, that little bit of glue allows you to re-position the lugs if needed. Check the lug ...
[Read More]

Saturn V, SA-667 building status
I resumed construction of the next-gen Gas Dynamic Stabilized (GDS), aka Induction Stabilized, Saturn V. I had started top down and now continued from the bottom up. Hopefully these sections will meet in the coming weeks. The features shown in the photo includes the 3.1" OD tubing, the bottom most ...
[Read More]

Estes Lynx, Kit #7233, Build Part 13, Intake Tube Gluing
Dry fit the intakes before using any glue. Hold in place and trace around the ends for easier placement when the glue is used. Apply glue to the inside edges of the intakes. Keep glue off the outside edges. With the engine mount out you can hold down the intake ends. Here's ...
[Read More]

Ebay Vintage Wizard Score!
I checked the Ebay "Buy It Now" listings Wednesday morning. I was surprised to see some older Estes Wizard kits for $4.95 each! I picked up four. (I know, all I need!) A pretty good price considering the kit sold for $4.20 in 1992. Check it out - CLICK HERE On Thursday morning there was 10 ...
[Read More]

The future is here
 
[Read More]

Estes Lynx, Kit #7233, Build Part 14, Paint - Whoops!
Here's the model, dry fitted before the white undercoats. The rudder and canopy were carefully masked off. The black color is a favorite, Rustoleum Black Night Metallic. I've had great results with it in the past. Maybe not this time! This metallic paint isn't like other spray paints. It ...
[Read More]

Igniter Coat Testing
I've mentioned this in a post before. My supply of older (black pyrogen coated) Estes igniters is running low! Time to revisit lacquer coating the new Estes Starters. While it's not an actual pyrogen, when coated this way the igniter will flame instead of just heating red hot. I bought some ...
[Read More]

New Scout Rockets?
Here's some variations on some Estes designs found on the www.scoutstuff.com website.   The SCOUT SPIRIT is 14" tall, looking a lot like the "Make it - Take it" model. Six kits for $39.99,  CLICK HERE   The SPACE EXPLORER is 22" tall, a reboot of the #3208 ...
[Read More]

Estes Lynx, Kit #7233, Build Part 15, Fix the Paint
After the model sat for two months I decided to tackle it again. The lightly roughed up rudder fin was masked again and shot with the Rusto Metallic Night Black. This time I ran my knife blade tip down the tape edge lines, cutting the paint edge and preventing tears. Cutting down the mask line ...
[Read More]

Saturn V, SA-667 craziness
I received the aluminum water bottle whose neck was supposed to form the bellmouth section of my augmenter tube. And, after some hacksaw work, I had a bellmouth. Here it is dry fit to the lower body and the induction tube. At ~$10, that is the most expensive single component. It feeds into a 6" ...
[Read More]

Milestones
Yesterday, this blog hit the 10,000 pageview mark, in just under a year of publication. I don't really know if that's a lot for a blog in general, but it sure seems like a lot to me. I hope you guys are enjoying this, and if there are any fellow rocket n00bs out there reading this, I hope you've ...
[Read More]

Family Launch 2015 (personal launch report)
The Syracuse Rocket Club’s Annual Family Launch is not exactly as ambitious as LDRS, or even NYPower; still, it’s our own biggest event, and lots of fun. This year’s had weather about as good as it gets; temperature in the 70s F, calm winds and clouds in the morning giving way to ...
[Read More]

Estes Series III Engine
These "Series III" engines were the predecessors of the 13mm "T" engines. In the 1970 catalog they were used in the Midget, Beta, Sprite, Birdie, and Star Blazer models. It uses the older rating system, this engine is 1/2A.8-4s. This would be the equivalent of today's 1/2A6-4. The "S" stands ...
[Read More]

Estes Lynx, Kit #7233, Build Part 16, Nose Cone & Engine Mount Paint
The nose cone mask went well except for a small lift on the right side. I used a fine point Sharpie to color in the gap. Again the metallic paint is forgiving and after a little bit of Future, the touch up isn't noticeable. Here's the mask for the engine mount. There is two pieces of ...
[Read More]

The complete photo gallery of TARC 2015
Here is a flashback to this years TARC Click here for the TARC 2015 Photo Gallery
[Read More]

Broke and confused
I’m a bit mystified as to what happened to the Big Blinka. The shock cord leader (running from the motor mount to just below the end of the booster section) broke, just above the centering ring — i.e. at a point away from the blast zone. It doesn’t look to me like it burned ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes D-Region Tomahawk (part 6)
Since last report I painted the thin dark grey band and touched up various masking failures. I glued on the nose cone tip, which miraculously went unlost. Today I painted some of the screws. On the forums I’d seen a recommendation to use fine Microbrushes for this, and indeed that worked ...
[Read More]

FSI Fin Alignment Fixture
I ran across this one on Ebay - F.S.I. Fin Alignment Fixture I remember seeing it in the FSI catalog but never saw one up close. It looks a little rough, even the FSI stamp didn't fit on the base. The white squares are pieces of cardstock glued to clothes pins. The instructions (below) show ...
[Read More]

Estes Lynx, Kit #7233, Build Part 17, Decals
The metallic black paint isn't as smooth as a normal gloss paint. I very lightly sanded the decal areas with some old, reused 400 grit sandpaper. The paper is probably closer to 800 grit by now. Like the white decals in the Mercury Redstone kit, these are very hard to see until they are soaking ...
[Read More]

Estes Pro Series II - Ventris (Decisions)
Click here for the Pro Series II introduction . Here is the Ventris. First step, of course, is to check all the parts. The fins are made of 1/8 inch plywood, and they're nice and large. Which leads me to my first decision - do I want to shape the fins? On most of my rockets, I ...
[Read More]

Estes Lynx, Kit #7233, Build Finished
  For a smaller 13mm model, there is a lot of detail. The small engine vanes take time (and tweezers) to position. There are the intake tubes, the fit of the upper and lower wings and that bulbous canopy nose cone. The nose cone looks so much better on the Lynx compared to the old ...
[Read More]

400 Grit, Self Adhesive Sandpaper
From TRF,  Graduator found some self adhesive 400 grit sandpaper for use with the Great Planes sanding block! The finest sandpaper Great Planes carries is 220 grit. 2-3/4" X 10 Meter 400 Grit PSA Roll - $ 9.95   To check it out, CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Active and Planned Launch Pad usage at Cape Canaveral
Here is a great graphic of active and planned launch pad usage at the Cape
[Read More]

New Version Of An Older Kit!
Now that it looks like I'll be home for a while, I can concentrate on more products. There is a good reason why the Odd'l Rockets Break-Away kit was out of production. I was using ST-10 tubing  it's much stronger than the current BT-50 tubes. That last order of ST-10 tubes that had thinner ...
[Read More]

Saturn V, SA-667 - final touches
Well, it's done. I epoxied the bellmouth onto the lower body with JB Weld and attached the augmenter tube assembly with three small screws. The bottom of the augmenter tube assembly is at the top of the thick black/white striped sections on the base. I cut 1" sections from those black areas to ...
[Read More]

FSI Select-A-Chute
F.S.I. or F light S ystems I ncorporated was the first to come out with an adjustable sized parachute. They called it the "Select-A-Chute". It was eight sided and could be sized from 10" to 16" just by cutting around the colored bands. I always thought this was a great idea. It was the inspiration ...
[Read More]

New Break-Away Launched!
The new Odd'l Rockets BREAK-AWAY test prototype was launched at the soccer field this morning. Perfect boost with an Estes A8-3. Apogee was at about 200' and ejection popped all six sections. It did a wiggling serpentine down, landing on the grass with no damage. It'll still need a few more ...
[Read More]

Video of the August, 2015, NEFAR Launch

[Read More]

Building the Estes (clone) Fat Boy (part 2)
Whoa, wait, did I not update you on this? I’m fired. I cut and papered new fins, and did a much better job gluing them in.* Then fillets. And a launch lug, and ready for paint. * After the first one, I finally succumbed to reality and widened the remaining two slots a little. They ...
[Read More]

New split screen video of Orion EFT-1 Flight
Check out this newly edited split screen video of the Orion EFT-1 flight:
[Read More]

Ready to fly!
At long last, after battling with a sprained wrist and stormy weather, my 2016 Geezer TARC rockets are painted, decaled, and ready to fly. The red and white Nemesis is my primary bird for this Saturday's launch - a 4 motor cluster, she is also the heaviest TARC rocket I have ever designed. Fully ...
[Read More]

2016 planning
This has been an Epic year.  K1100T in the darkstar, followed by 4 neckbreaking flights in the Screech.  Really very happy with how it all went.   I’ve still got a pair of J820’s to fly and the Villain to finish up.  Those will endcap the year nicely I believe. ...
[Read More]

Paint Rotisserie TIP
Horizontal spray painting of rockets (versus vertical spraying) was brought up on a forum. Coincidentally I put together this post about a week ago.  Once in a while on the forums I see a picture of a rocket being painted. There might be a painting stick in the back end, but the ...
[Read More]

August 30, 2015
Our waiver is still pending review. If we launch, it will be on Sunday, August 30 from noon till 5 PM. If you are interested in having a launch this month, please email me at kdunn@hsc.edu with the subject line ...
[Read More]

Clothespins Clamp Idea TIP
Naoto Kimura send me a comment on the FSI Fin Alignment Tool: "Speaking of wooden clothespins, turning them inside-out and backwards changes their clamping characteristics -- increased reach, and due to change in leverage, they're less apt to crush balsawood (you still want to put cardboard plates ...
[Read More]

Geezer TARC launch!
Well, today was the long awaited day - a bit on the cloudy side, with winds in the 8-10 mph range. However, the rain held off long enough for us to complete the Geezer TARC launch, and I must say it was interesting - for a lot of reasons. So, where to begin? The wind was out of the South East, so ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes D-Region Tomahawk (part 7)
It’s done.
[Read More]

Clear Body Rocket?
Cutaway display models were brought up on YORF and I remembered this gem at JimZs website:  CLICK HERE A clear ST-10 body with a ST-5 stuffer tube inside. I especially like the spiral decor on the model on the right under "Construction Tips". It was the second place winner in a 1968 ...
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 1 Parts
I have built a few of these before, but not for the blog. A few years ago, Bill Stine contacted me to make one for NARAM demos. That model is on the Quest website. Tim at Apogee needed one built for his catalog. That model is shown on the Apogee website. I have two unopened Magnum kits - here we ...
[Read More]

Rocketry goals review for Aug 2015
August is peak rocketry. Level 1 certification Did that in June. Fly an I motor Done! Flew my Excel on a Ceseroni 364I212. Put an entry (however pathetic) into at least four club launch contests and four club launch themes Flew the Rose-a-Roc for August contest ...
[Read More]

Old Estes Kits?
David Carllucy commented on a blog post: "Have you seen these old kits?" No I hadn't seen this one - CLICK HERE to check it out. This is a bagged Estes SCORPION , a Design Of The Month winner from July 1969. I've heard that Estes did short runs of some contest winners. It was mentioned on TRF ...
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 2 Engine Mount A
Sometimes the Quest supplied engine hooks aren't spring steel. You bend them and they stay bent. These spring back. I've replaced kit engine hooks in the past, but these I can use. The finger tabs were cut off and the sharp cut corners knocked off with a file. I won't be using the yellow ...
[Read More]

Check out this wind tunnel model of the Buran
If you click through to the source album, you will see what is purportedly a wind tunnel model of the Buran, the Soviet version of the Space Shuttle. I did no fact checking, but this is pretty cool even if it wasn't.
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 3 Engine Mount B
The two engine mount tubes are glued side by side with the ends even. Don't just punch a slit with your knife for the hook bend, take the extra moment to mark the high and low centers and the 1/4" slit mark. The fit of the half moon centering ring notches have to line up with the hook position. ...
[Read More]

Atlas V rocket launch bright contrail

[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 4 Engine Mount C
The half moon centering rings are glued 1/2" from either end. I found it easier to mark just the sides of the white engine mount tubes and center the small ends of the rings next to the pencil lines. The inset picture shows some finger pressure on the ring ends. They tend to lift on the outside ...
[Read More]

0FNC: Some further thoughts
Chris Michielssen pointed out his build of the Centuri (American Rocketeer) Finless Rocket. Somehow I missed that one! Interestingly, he says it’s stable on a B6-4 but unstable on a C6-5. I tweaked my Finless sim to get it close to what Chris built. With a B6-4 the CG is 3.284″ ...
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 5, Fins
These are die-cut fins, you'd better gang sand them. Die-crush fins are never uniform. Laser cut fins are usually all the same. The die cut blades were a little off and some end areas crushed. The launch lug standoff is cut from one of the "extra" unused fins. Why this couldn't have been ...
[Read More]

Quickburst LPR Igniter Dip Part 1
Nobody seems to be happy with the new Estes "Starter" igniters. They do work, but it seems you hold the launch button down longer for ignition. I've been experimenting with lacquer nail polish dips and that does help. But it's still not what it once was. I've known about igniter dips before. They ...
[Read More]

Clearing up the confusion...but not my lack of knowledge
TRF member aerosadt, an actual aerospace engineer, picked up on my Saturn V, SA-667 posts and pointed out my potential confusion between thrust augmentation and gas-dynamic stabilization. I am not confused to the extent that I know they are distinct effects. However, that doesn't mean I really ...
[Read More]

New Model Rockets Building Techniques Article on NAR Website
I have re-worked the older How To Build Model Rockets pages, now called Model Rocket Building Techniques They are already on the NAR website! Revisions, new pictures, corrections and a few new ideas. To see the new pages: CLICK HERE  No other blog posts today, this was a big ...
[Read More]

Fiddling Around
My schedule is all over the place. Sometimes I work late at night; sometimes early, early in the morning. All this back and forth has left me with less time than I'd like for rocket building or blogging. I get maybe two good building days a week, and I work slowly. Fortunately, I have OpenRocket - ...
[Read More]

And the Punisher replacement commences...
A few updates: I missed the July and August Lucerne launches so nothing to see here from there. Just last week I realized that I'm unable to attend BALLS this year so that's a bummer.  Hopefully in 2016 I will have repaired my Frenzy Massive and travel will come together. I ...
[Read More]

Quickburst LPR Igniter Dip Part 2
I have quite a few Estes Starter igniters and even more Quest MMX (bare nichrome) igniters. On the right is the Estes Starter before and the inset pic shows it after the dip. Here's a few of the Estes Starters after dipping. They dry very fast. You can dip the two joined Starters at the ...
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 6, Parachute
The 14e" Quest parachutes are cut to size. On both of my chutes, the six-sided hexagon cut wasn't centered. The shroud line holes are pre-punched but the punch is too far from the edge of the parachute. Here I've stuck one of the reinforcement squares over the pre-punched hole. There is a ...
[Read More]

Yesterday's HARA launch...
Saturday marked the next-to-last or last club launch in Manchester for 2015; I'm betting that it will be the last, because the sod farm folks were already re-sodding the northern part of the field. Once this gets fully underway, we will be unable to launch there until March, when the grass is ...
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 7, Payload Section
The nose cone is easily scored and cut around the recessed lines. A thin ring is removed and discarded. On the left is the payload section from the Quest Courier. The inset picture shows the same nose section with the heavy walled body tube section added. This makes the payload area large ...
[Read More]

Altimeter funny business...
Rocket geeks like to know how high their birds fly; over the decades, we have gone from "just guesstimating" to visual tracking with theodolites and trig tables to the tiny barometric altimeters made possible by modern electronics. Most of us - with the exception of a few contest rocketeers - ...
[Read More]

Estes Pro Series II - Nike Smoke (Decisions)
Click here for the Pro Series II introduction. Click here for Ventris  The Nike Smoke rocket was a NASA sounding rocket used during the 1960's. A Nike Smoke being prepared for launch, 1968 A sounding rocket is one which carries instruments to conduct ...
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 8, Couplers
The coupler that fits into the nose cone base is very tight in the payload tube. I sanded down and rounded the edge for an easier start in the payload tube. After rounding off the edge with 220 grit some CA was applied and the edge smoothed over with 400 grit. All the exposed tube ends ...
[Read More]

Madcow Tomach 54mm MD
So then this happened. Which puts next year as One K1127 in a 38mm MD,  and who knows what in a 54mm MD.   I’d like to fit a 2800 in there, but there may not be space.  We’ll see.  If not, maybe a 2K. Other than that, I’ll likely hold over a bunch of ...
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 9, Fins
Another fin alignment guide that doesn't match up! I made my own, again. The fins and body tube seams were treated with CWF and sanded smooth. The tubes, fins and payload section got a shot of primer filler and smooth sanding. These two sets of fins are not in line with each other. The ...
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 10, White Smooth Sanding
  The engine mount was glued in with the BT-20 tubes extending 1/4" out the back. I lined up the two engine tubes with one of the larger fins. A fillet was added to the joint of the rear centering rings. It was a tight joint so a small drop was set on a Q-tip. I didn't fillet  all ...
[Read More]

Two builds in the works
The first is a big ring fin design. (Big ring fin, not a big rocket.) I have though about this design for a long time, motivated by the SNECMA C.450 Coléoptère tail sitting aircraft, the JETEX models pictured below, and the Estes Flying Stovepipe glider . TRF user daddyisabar ...
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 11, Engine Mount Painting
I probably shouldn't have glued the engine mount in yet. Even if it were painted the same color as the main body, trying to get paint into the corners of the mount would be hard. It would end up looking like a bad over spray. I decided to paint it black then mask before the final color. Some ...
[Read More]

1,000,000 page views!
    Although stats were not taken before 2010, and so this is a bit overdue, we are happy to report that HPR has now comfortably passed the 1 million views mark. At between 30,000 and 50,000 views per month, it is clear that the next million won't take quite as long! Thanks to ...
[Read More]

New Estes Parts Packages
Estes has added quite a few parts packs to the "Coming Soon" section of their website.  To see the items, CLICK HERE   There are centering rings, couplers, paper adapters and engine mount parts. All are more like a small bulk pack. You can't just buy one nose cone from Estes ...
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 12, Engine Mount Mask
Before the main body is painted the painted black engine mount will have to be masked off. Masking tape will have to be tucked into the tight recess around the engine tubes. Masking tape was stuck down on each side slightly overlapping the main air frame tube. Using tweezers the overlap was ...
[Read More]

So I had this idea for a Punisher fin alignment jig...
Modeled in Modo , sliced in Simplify3D , printed in white ABS on a CreatorBot 3D : I'll give 'er a shot tomorrow.  And I wish these and their inhabitants hadn't fallen victim to subjective indoctrination:
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 13, Adapter and Polishing
I taped off the nose cone coupler before painting it black. Even after I removed some of the tape tackiness it still pulled up some of the outside coupler layer! Be aware of this when using black Quest couplers.   The rear shoulder of the payload section reducer needed 1 1/2 wraps of ...
[Read More]

More Break-Away Test Flights
The new Odd'l Rockets prototype  BREAK-AWAY  had two more successful test launches September 12 at the monthly NEFAR launch in Bunnell, Florida. First up with an Estes B6-4 to an estimated 350'. The second C6-5 flight reached 700'. Stable and true! Ejections popped the model into six ...
[Read More]

Launch, N.E.F.A.R., Bunnell Florida, September 12, 2015
Roger Smith drove Dave, Lonnie and I to Bunnel for the N.E.F.A.R. monthly launch. Skies were overcast but there was no rain while we were there. The clouds kept the heat low. Winds were up to 15 mph. My Odd'l Rockets prototype BREAK-AWAY had two more successful test launches. First with an ...
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 14, Masking Part A
After the overall orange only one fin is masked for gloss black. The rest of the decor is the decals. Look at the face card to see which fin is masked. The fin on the opposite side of the launch lug is black. Mask for the correct fin or the name decal won't end up on the right side. I did my ...
[Read More]

Photos and Video of NEFAR's September 2015 Launch
If we had checked the weather forecast for Saturday, we might not have made the trek to Bunnell for the September NEFAR launch.  The forecast called for up to an 80% chance of rain.  But, as often is the case, ...
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 15, Masking Part B
Before spraying, rub down the edges and seal them. I use a Q-tip. It's cushioned and gives a bit letting you get into the tight areas. TIP: Here's the dumb tip of the day. If you ever feel the need to touch and see if the paint is dry, don't touch the exposed, sprayed surface. You first impulse ...
[Read More]

Not Your Father's Estes Ranger - Model Profile
  This isn't the Estes Ranger I remember - Lonnie Buchanon showed me this one, he picked it up in one of his Craig's List lot buys. This was kit # 1955, a BT-55 based D engine model. I don't recognize the nose cone shape from any other model. From the Estes 1986 catalog: "Big and ...
[Read More]

My First Club Launch - Upcoming
I haven't launched a rocket in months. Last time it was with the Ivy Tech Rocket Camp I taught in June. The rockets were all really small, I was the only adult, and because of where we launched, I had to make sure the rockets didn't go much above 300 feet. Big News for Me, Guys This weekend, ...
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 16, Masking Part C
On the ends and corners you might have little paint "ticks". While the paint hasn't totally dried and bonded to the color underneath, you can straighten it without scraping. With the side of your knife, push the paint tick back and onto the black on the fin. I'm not scraping off the black but ...
[Read More]

A Comment About Starter Igniters
A comment from the blog post "Question About "Starter" Igniters" from June 9, 2014 To see the original post: CLICK HERE Scott September 12, 2015 at 9:46 PM We had some problems with the new igniters, but it appeared that the real issue was not the igniter, but the amount of current ...
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 17, Decals
You are supplied with three sets of decals (both right and left) for the three upper and three lower fin sides. You won't need one set for the lower black fin, if set on the black paint they would just disappear. This run of decals turned out to be thin and brittle. The instructions recommend ...
[Read More]

Quest For The Cure Rocket
From the Quest website: CLICK HERE "Quest Aerospace is proud to announce the release of the Q4C model rocket kit. The Q4C kit was designed in an effort to raise awareness for breast cancer with a portion of the proceeds going to support the It's the Journey foundation.  The Q4C kit ...
[Read More]

Coleoptere/Stovepipe ring fin material acquired
Today, I visited Hobby Lobby to acquire the A10-3 motors required for my MIRV flight. I also wanted to see what I could dig up to use as a ring fin. Well, I vaguely remembered seeing cardboard boxes that might work. I found that these were made from paper mache and came in various sizes. I opted ...
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 18, Payload Section Decal
The main body still needs some wet sanding and another coat of orange, so on to the payload section. The decals are old school, and have a clear outline overcoat. Look close at the top of the stripes and you can see the edge of the clear. When cutting these out you don't have to worry about a ...
[Read More]

Nike Apache Auction Finishes Tonight!
The Estes NIKE APACHE Auction ends tonight on Ebay To see the model: CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Help find a cure - buy a rocket!
Quest Aerospace is offering a pink and red version of its old Big Rage rocket for just $10! Part of the proceeds go to raising breast cancer awareness through the It's the Journey foundation. A very easy to assemble rocket that stands over 3 feet tall, plus making a contribution to the fight ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes The Dude
There may be room for dispute as to what the silliest rocket I own is, but The Dude has to be a contender. The body is a balloon, made of what Estes describes as nylon with a chrome coating. The fins are the same stuff attached to a plastic frame, and they mount on a ...
[Read More]

Update!
Well I finally had time in between homework to update BlackAero. I added another flight to the Fletch Flight vehicle … Read More →
[Read More]

Igniter Tip - Q2G2s Keep Falling Out?
In May, I went to launch some rockets with Chad. I took along several I'd built but never flown before. It was breezy, and I lost a few. Against my better judgment, I put the Quest Quadrunner on the launch pad.     This beauty of a rocket from Quest Aerospace is a four-motor ...
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 19, Altimeter and Nose Cone Tie
I glue my shock cords in the tri-fold mounts at an angle. For the explanation: CLICK HERE I don't use tri-fold mounts often but they can come in handy if there is nowhere to tie down the shock cord. The idea is to not lose the nose cone and altimeter at ejection. We've all lost nose ...
[Read More]

Quest Magnum Sport Loader #3012 Build, Part 20, Ends and Edges
Using the back side of my knife , the paint was scraped off the engine hook. Lift the hook a little to get the paint off the sides. This isn't necessary but sharpens things up. It also gets paint out of the engine heat. There was some white undercoat still on the edges of the engine ...
[Read More]

Harumph!
I lopped the top off my paper mache round box and then hit a wall. I didn't think about the weight of the box when I bought it. Before cutting up my Super Alpha fins, I plugged the size and mass into RockSim to get a rough idea of the design. With the design configured as I would like it, it looks ...
[Read More]

Don Sahlin - Muppet Designer and Rocketry Hobbyist
After briefly working as a puppeteer and builder for The Howdy Doody Show then working on stop-motion films (including projects with George Pal), Don Sahlin began working with Jim Henson in 1962. Henson hired Sahlin to create a Muppet of a dog character, Rowlf, for Purina Dog Chow commercials. ...
[Read More]

Buying the LOC Precision Fantom EXL
The Mark Riffle Memorial Rolling Rocketry Garage Sale put in an appearance today at the Syracuse Rocket Club launch. I was unable to talk myself out of snagging another bargain: For $20, a LOC Precision Fantom EXL. Evidently Mark’s keeping the chutes and shock cords, and the “ ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2015-8 (MDRA)
Location: Central Sod Farm (MDRA ESL-207) Weather: mid 80's, a little windy, sunny Total flights: Today - 5; YTD - 58 Total motors: Today - 12; YTD - 69 Motors by class YTD: MMX-2; A-3; B-3; C-16; D-6; E-11; F-19; G-7; H-2 Water rocket flights (not included in the totals above): 6 The weather was ...
[Read More]

Boy Scout build and fly...
I dragged myself, my range box, and four rockets outside at 6:30 AM this morning to meet Chuck and Duane in the parking lot. After loading the stuff into the back of Chuck's SUV, we headed out to the Hardees in Scottsboro, where we linked up with Woody and three Boy Scout leaders. This morning's ...
[Read More]

Estes Wizard #1292 Build, Part 1, Parts
I rarely build smaller models anymore. When I got started in 1969, BT-20 sport models were the norm. This one reminded me of those early builds. I picked up some Estes Wizard kits on Ebay. They were reasonable and shipping was cheap. This is the original Wizard with the purple fins and stars ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Products in Sport Rocketry Magazine
From the NSL 20015 coverage in Sport Rocketry -  Kaitlin poses with her Odd'l Rockets Pigasus named "Peppa". The Odd'l Blast ceramic blast deflector was featured on the Rocket News and New Products page. The Little Green Man is spotted in the JonRocket ad.
[Read More]

An hour with the B sisters...
After the scout launch yesterday, Duane warned me that he might head over to Pegasus field this afternoon for a couple of practice flights with his geezer TARC rocket. When he called about 3 to let me know that the warning would become reality in an hour, I immediately started looking over the ...
[Read More]

Spray Can Nozzle Caps?
Dixon on TRF - Let us know where we can get replacement nozzles for Rustoleum 2X spray cans. Sometimes the 2X can nozzles can clog up before the can is empty. CLICK HERE  to go to the Art Primo website Look for the Art Primo EZ Rider Cap  at the top of the page. I haven't bought or ...
[Read More]

Estes Wizard #1292 Build, Part 2, Parts Prep
The nose cone had some wide molded ribs down the shoulder. They were narrow at the bottom and wider towards the lip of the nose cone. The nose cone was way too tight. It took some sanding to take the ribs down for a good fit. The tip of the nose cone had some flash and a dimple at the top. ...
[Read More]

16 inches of bulletproof glass vs RPG (rocket powered grenade launcher)
(Not even close to working.)
[Read More]

Estes Wizard #1292 Build, Part 3, Tube Ends and Kevlar
The inside end of the tube wrap was starting to lift. For a while I would use CA glue but I found that it didn't hold the edge down. I have better results using white glue. The inset picture shows the inside edge being burnished down. After the lift is glued down then do a coat of medium ...
[Read More]

Trial ringtail
I've continued fretting abou t the potential  Coleoptere/Coccinellida/Flying Stovepipe build. The good news is that the stability issue isn't as bleak as I had thought. A big point is the BIG ringtail needs to be light. For  aesthetics , I changed the nose cone to the Big Bertha type ...
[Read More]

In Need of Inspiration
I have been in the market for a table for my Rocket Room. I was thinking of getting a folding table - a six-foot long, plastic top folding table, the sturdy kind you find at your finer non-profit board meetings and family reunions. Something perfectly flat. My current work surface wasn't cutting ...
[Read More]

Estes Wizard #1292 Build, Part 4, Decal Check and Fin Fillets
Looking ahead, the mask illustration shows the purple starting right at the lower end of the launch lug. I was curious if that would intersect the decal location. As it turns out, the decal isn't wide enough to go all the way around the body tube meaning it would start and finish on the sides ...
[Read More]

New Apogee Peak Of Flight Article
A new article on Rocket Design Inspiration was just published in the Apogee Peak Of Flight newsletter. Where do rocket design ideas come from? Topics cover color choices, rocket names, picking a font, kit bashing and fin design. To see it, CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Shuttle Van
I don't normally post somebody else's "find" but this was too good to pass up: Thomas Thurman posted this on the NAR Facebook page:   What's interesting is the van's original shape is a bit like the shuttle profile.  The original picture was posted on www.stupidvideo.com
[Read More]

Estes Wizard #1292 Build, Part 5, Lower Body Mask
After the first shot of gloss white there was still some M&TG "boogers" around the launch lug and fin fillets. These were knocked down with some 400 grit, see inset picture. The color separation line is right at the end of the launch lug, not an easy mask. I started the tape mask in ...
[Read More]

Nerves
I'm nervous about this weekend's upcoming CMASS rocket launch in Amesbury, MA. At first, I was nervous about joining the club. What if I have nobody to talk to at launches? What if they don't like me? That's just the kind of social anxiety you develop when you move to a new city and it's hard to ...
[Read More]

Real Shock Cord Rubber Supplier
On TRF, Caveduck referred a website with the old style shock cord rubber:   "The white rubber has additives and colorants in it that reduce the life. For a longer lasting shock cord, ditch the Estes stuff and replace with model airplane rubber motor stock. It is tan color, much more ...
[Read More]

Estes Wizard #1292 Build, Part 6, Touch Up and Decals
After the tape mask was removed there was a little purple touch-up needed. The decals were old and brittle. I built two Wizard kits at the same time. The first star roll pattern decal went on fine. The second one broke up right at the cut edge next to the launch lug. It's an iffy fix and ...
[Read More]

Estes Wizard #1292, Finished
  The short, flat rubber shock cord was replaced with a round elastic cord. The streamer is bright plastic. The instructions have you tie the shock cord around the center of the  streamer. I used two reinforcement disks on either side and tied the shock cord through those. On ...
[Read More]

How Do You Spot A Rocket Builder?
If you didn't know me, you could pick me out of a crowd by looking for the spray painted thumb - (I normally wear a disposable glove but I ran out of them) Or the saw dust on my pant leg. I always sand a few passes them wipe off the dust on my right pant leg.This keeps the sandpaper ...
[Read More]

Aug
So, thinking the corn was all up still I punted on the Aug launch. Took the PKM and EC in my saddlebags. I really enjoyed the day, one of the best launches I’ve been to. I flew on an E15 and an E23. Need to turn it up a bit on both. I like having […]
[Read More]

Get Me To the Launch On Time
I really should be in bed right now. Every time I'm on my way to launch rockets (only casually with friends, until tomorrow), I sing a little song that popped into my head one day. It goes: Get me to the launch on time Get me to the launch on time Da-dum da-dum da-dee Da-dee da-dee-dee-dee Get me ...
[Read More]

Soggy Scout launch....
The alarm went off this morning at 5:15 AM, giving me just enough time to ready myself and my stuff to meet Woody, who pulled up around 6:15. The day was a wet mess, and we experienced drizzle and light rain throughout the 2 hour drive to Camp Westmoreland, which is over in the northwest corner of ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2015-9 (NARHAMS)
Location: NARHAMS, Mt. Airy Weather: 70's, 10+/- mph, cloudy Total flights: Today - 7; YTD - 65 Total motors: Today - 7; YTD - 76 Motors by class YTD: MMX-2; A-4; B-4; C-21; D-6; E-11; F-19; G-7; H-2 Water rocket flights (not included in the totals above): 6 It was quite windy but the direction ...
[Read More]

Ebay Score!
While most of my cutting is done with a break-off blade knife, there are times when you need a style #11 blade in an X-Acto #1 handle. You can find a 100 pack of #11 X-Acto brand blades online for $25.00 dollars or more before shipping charges are added. I found this 100 pack of #11 Excel blades ...
[Read More]

First impressions are often WRONG
After I recovered my Saturn V SA-666 from its month-long vacation in the trees, I gave it a quick once over. It was faded, a few wraps were warped, the ejection tube and nose section's shoulder were slightly warped and the nozzles were all floppy (except for the one that broke off). It looked ...
[Read More]

NARHAMS Night Launch photos
A fellow NARHAMSter also took some photos from yesterday's launch AND he stayed for the night launch. Here is one sample. If you like it you should click through and look through David's entire album!
[Read More]

Break-Away Test Flight Video
I tested the new Break-Away rocket twice at the last NEFAR launch on September 12. Jimmy Yawn shot video and posted the first B6-4 flight. To see the launch and recovery, CLICK HERE   Scroll down to the Break--Away.
[Read More]

Flat Finish to Semi-Gloss? TIP
I wanted to paint the upper tube on the Estes QCC Explorer gloss grey. I didn't have any gloss grey but I did have some grey primer. Grey primer is a flat finish. Years back I painted a Estes Mosquito phosphorus orange. Phosphorus colors are flat, rough finishes. I wanted it a bit shinier. I ...
[Read More]

New Estes Kit, The Quinstar
From YORF -  Bob Sanford (Initiator001) showed an upcoming Estes kit. Bob is a lucky man, he tests the new kits before they are released for sale. "Estes will soon be releasing a new kit named Quinstar. The SRP on this model will be $19.99. I would refer to it as a similar concept to the ...
[Read More]

Focus
So.   Finally got the Villain up on a J820 Loki White.   That was fun.  6179 feet :)   Weather cocked badly, hoping to do it again on the same motor next month and see what it can really do.   Also need to get the Vulcanite set to fly on one of ...
[Read More]

Mars' Own Pickles
See more at the  Hudson River Museum .
[Read More]

Rocketry goals review for Sep 2015
Season’s winding down ...
[Read More]

Another Igniter Dip Source
On YORF, LeeR brought up igniter dip from FireFox: To go to the Firefox website,   CLICK HERE Scroll down a bit and look for " SECPLEL " in green color. Now you can make electric igniters that require  NO SOLDERING OF BRIDGEWIRES TO LEADS  yet will ignite reliably using as little as ...
[Read More]

Old Engine Dating
Engine photo below is from vintageestesrockets.com From the Tripoli FAQ page: On older Estes & Centuri motors, the date of manufacture is indicated by a number indicating the day, a letter code indicating the year, and another number indicating the month. The letter codes correspond to the ...
[Read More]

My First Club Launch
The FlisKits 13th Anniversary/Bill Spadafora Memorial launch with CMASS in Amesbury, Massachusetts last Saturday was awesome . Seen above is the CMASS club flag, featuring a minuteman holding a rocket. I think it's beautiful. A casual rocket launch with friends is a lot of fun, but joining a club, ...
[Read More]

Shock cords
[I’ve written about shock cords before. But I have more information now, and have done some more thinking, so I want to take a fresh attempt at writing some of it up.] A typical hobby rocket separates into two sections at or near apogee — call them the airframe and the nose ...
[Read More]

New Estes Honest John Released
Estes has just released the new BT-60 based version of the Honest John. Retail price is $26.99 To see it, CLICK HERE Some Specs: Skill Level 3 Length: 22.9 in. (58.2 cm) Diameter: 1.64 in. (42 mm) Estimated Weight: 4.4 oz. (124.7 g) Laser cut Wood Fins, Waterslide Decal, 15 in. (38.1 cm) Parachute ...
[Read More]

Estes (Centuri) Little Joe II !!!
Just added to the Estes Coming Soon page -  This is based on the older Centuri Little Joe II, the BIG one. It'll use the D12-3 engine instead of a cluster. CLICK HERE to see the Estes webpage. To get a jump on the capsule build, study the original Centuri instructions, CLICK HERE Arriving ...
[Read More]

NASA uploads 8434 Apollo mission photos to Flickr
These photos have been online other places but really shine in the Flickr format. You can see the photos at Flickr by clicking here.
[Read More]

New Concept 3D Printing
3D Printing takes a big step forward! To see the short video, CLICK HERE It looks like the piece is drawn out of a heated plastic tub. Faster and no ridges to sand off!
[Read More]

Building the Estes Scion (part 1)
Well, there are rockets from last year still unfinished, and maybe I can get a little done on them tomorrow, but today’s weather wasn’t good. So I’m starting one from the build pile. The Estes Scion is kind of an odd kit. It’s a web exclusive, available only through the ...
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Monthly Launch, October 3, 2015
Tom Dennen took over the RSO duties while Brian was away. The field was wet and most didn't chance driving on it unless you had a truck or four wheel drive. With any luck, this would be the last hot Summer launch. In central Florida, the humidity always seem to drop off on October 15. The Orlando ...
[Read More]

Miscellany...
The weather has positively sucked the past several days - dreary, dismal, and wet. Our Fall seasons are normally very nice, but this one has started out poorly. The forecast shows some potentially better weather tomorrow, Tuesday, and Wednesday, so I am hopeful that I will be able to get through ...
[Read More]

Not-a-MIRV
I'll preface this post by noting that the Coleoptere/Stovepipe / Coccinellida build has officially stalled. It will be on the back burner until I run across another ring tail option. My latest project was inspired by the Estes MIRV.  After the third sustainer from my Estes MIRV was recovered ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes Scion (part 2)
I maybe should state that I’m gluing this up with epoxy and internal fillets because I feel like it, not because it’ll necessarily need it. I doubt I’ll go higher than a G in it. Then again, I’ve never flown the Ventris on more than a G and I’m repairing its second ...
[Read More]

It's still Not-a-MIRV
Here's the progress on this simple build. I have to touch paint the lug. I had hoped that a 1/4" rod would fit down the middle between the tubes but found it was a tad tight. So, I added a lug after it was painted. I also have to decide on fins (or the lack thereof).  I didn't expect the ...
[Read More]

A Rocketeer's Toolbox for the Absolute Beginner
You have a basic Skill Level 1 rocket kit or two, and want to get started in rocketry. This is going to be a lot of fun! But to build rockets, you're going to need a few tools. Where to start? Do you need to go nuts at the hobby shop and hardware store just to build your first rockets? Of course ...
[Read More]

Well, it may not be a MIRV, but it WILL be HEADS UP
I got tired of worrying about fins on the Not-a-MIRV so I just grabbed some out of the scrap box. I'll award extra Brownie Points if you can guess what rocket they came from. I cleaned up the roots just a bit, scraped paint so they might stick, and touched up the flaws with Sharpies. Hey, they will ...
[Read More]

Holtville Launch / October / 2015
You'll find this launch was slash-a-rific: Details to follow.
[Read More]

Self Adhesive 400 Grit - Tips
Last August I did a post about self-adhesive 400 grit sandpaper for use on the Easy Touch sanding block. The Klinspor 400 grit is a high grade sandpaper. It has a sticky back that works very well on the block. Except when you want to change it! This sandpaper is very sticky and leaves gunk on the ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes Scion (part 3)
Fins are on. So’s the body tube coupler. So are the centering rings, and the motor retainer. The motor tube end took a beating with the rings being put on and off. (They were pretty snug, not much of a problem if gluing all three on before installing the motor mount, but the way I…
[Read More]

Bath Remodel, T.P. Holder, Part 1
Why is this on the Blog? A few reasons. If I didn't build rockets, I wouldn't have the skill set, tools or patience to even try this. I know how to wire a up a new light fixture because of what learned assembling an Electro-Launch when I was 13. I can smooth a bead of caulk as good as a handyman ...
[Read More]

Area required to power the world on solar energy alone

[Read More]

Bath Remodel, T.P. Holder, Part 2
The glued patch piece is set into the square hole. If the cut was accurate it should slip in and be very close to the inside edges. The outside edges are burnished. The edges are pressed down and the "mud" will be pushed out at the side. Let dry overnight. A coating of drywall adhesive is set down ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2015-10 (MDRA ESL-208)
Location: Central Sod Farm, MDRA Weather: sunny, mid 60's, wind started at 15+ but started calming after 1PM Total flights: Today - 5; YTD - 70 Total motors: Today - 9; YTD - 85 Motors by class YTD: MMX-2; A-7; B-4; C-24; D-6; E-11; F-20; G-8; H-3 Water rocket flights (not included in the totals ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Birdie Flown at N.E.F.A.R.
At the October 10 N.E.F.A.R. launch, Danielle Moon launched her Birdie with an A10-3t. It's always good to see one of your kits fly stable! Thanks Danielle!
[Read More]

N.E.F.A.R. Monthly Launch, Bunnell Florida, October 10, 2015
Only one post today! There are 20 pictures below, six in the animated GIF. That should be a enough for anybody, including me. The Zooch Ares build will continue tomorrow. I took the 1 1/2 hour drive to Bunnell alone today. Hot, overcast and a little bit of rain. The sign on the left was on ...
[Read More]

Building the Quest MLAS (part 5)
Pretty good painting weather today and I got more done than I’d anticipated. Most of the painting on the MLAS I’ve already done. Sorry about not keeping you up to date: I did apply thinned wood filler to the nose cone, sanded, repeated a few times, and sprayed Testors primer and gloss ...
[Read More]

Building the (scratch) Micro Fat Boy (part 2)
There’s also been some un-reported painting of the Micro Fat Boy going on. You might have gotten a glimpse of it in the background of a photo or two. Fins light blue Rusto 2X and the rest metallic red Dupli-Color. Today I did the final touch up.  
[Read More]

Building the Estes (clone) Fat Boy (part 3)
The Fat Boy’s been light blue for a while. Today I did the metallic red. I’m very happy about the masking. I’m less happy about the bubbles in the paper fin laminations. I need a better glue stick.
[Read More]

My BIG Deal and Steal - An Old Story
I went to the 1975 NARAM, held in Orlando, Florida. Near the end of the meet a fellow flyer was distributing a mimeographed list of rocket kits for sale. If memory serves, his name was Warren Cisco. The sheet explained that Warren and his father had bought up all the remaining rocket kits from a ...
[Read More]

Zero2infinity rockoon launch scheduled this week
An alternative method of using a balloon as the launch platform is revisited this week by zero2infinity. They will be using a rockoon to send nano satellites into orbit. The name of the launch vehicle developed by the Spanish company zero2infinity is Bloostart You can see their countdown ...
[Read More]

The start of the Fett Boy
Here's the upper part of a rocket inspired by the famous Estes Fat Boy. I found a tube that will fit in the bottom and will telescope over 3" tube, forming a reverse shoulder. It will get a 29mm mount. Just about all I need is fin material. Will only fly at MDRA.
[Read More]

Water Rocket Record
On YORF, Joe Wooten posted: Homemade Rocket Hits Record-Breaking 2,723 Feet  Using Only Water and Air Your move, Diet Coke and Mentos. To see the video: CLICK HERE The launches happen at 11:30 on both videos. There's a fairly robust community that builds and launches water rockets. You know, ...
[Read More]

Fat Boy CG?
Anyone out there got a stock Estes Fat Boy they could check the CG on for me? I can’t seem to find a sim file for an unmodified Fat Boy. In any case I’d rather have a measurement of CG off an actual rocket than from a sim. The original 18 mm rather than the…
[Read More]

The Copperhead Rocket - Built from Scratch
This post is about a current project I'm working on. Pictures of current projects will mostly appear on The Rocket N00b Facebook page , so I can focus the blog more on informative stuff for beginning rocketeers. But I think this post has some information for rocket n00bs, so here it is. Check out ...
[Read More]

Water droplet and alka-seltzer in space

[Read More]

Tri-Fold with Kevlar - TIP
Here's a smart variation on the Estes tri-fold mount. If the shock cord breaks at the mount, simply tie on a new one, onto the Kevlar loop.  Lonnie Joe Buchanon Jr. ‎ Model Rocketry Fanatics!!! "When I build new rockets I always use a motor mount-attached Kevlar shock cord, but I have some ...
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 1, Parts
This should be fun! It's a much bigger model than I thought it would be. BT-60 based and plenty strong. With a 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby it's one of the better rocketry values today. Parts of interest: You can easily see the difference between the wood sheets. On the left are the 3/32"" thick ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Parachute on TRF
From the Rocketry Forum: Bernard Cawley was testing a prototype of the new Jolly Logic Chute Release. Something in the last posted picture looked familiar. His Big Bertha was recovered using a 15" Odd'l parachute with a four inch spill hole. Thanks Bernard - Looking good!  
[Read More]

The Fett Boy is a pile of junk
This rocket has turning out to be a real hodgepodge of leftovers. I am low on actual rocket parts and materials. Here's what I am using: The Boba Fett piggy bank - bought The tube from Laphroaig single malt, 3" - scrounged 3" mailing tube (length not finalized) - bought (on hand) 29mm tube - ...
[Read More]

Naval Concepts of Chemical and Biological Warfare

[Read More]

Rocketry In Boy Scouts Commercials
There is a new Boy Scouts commercial running now that features Model Rocketry. I searched for it but can't find it online. While going through some YouTube commercials I came across another: The rockets are about 20 seconds in: CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 2, Engine Mount
I hate engine hook finger tabs! They are easy to take off with a wire cutter. You won't be able to cut through the tab with the cutter alone. Score the hook from both sides. Bend the tab back and forth on the score line until it breaks off. The cut tab end will go to the top of the mount under the ...
[Read More]

You Never Forget Your First Launch
I just found a video I love. This guy gets a launch set with two ready-to-fly rockets. He unboxes them, then goes out to launch. What an awesome birthday present - and one I'm guessing he wasn't expecting. I love this guy's enthusiasm - and the fact that he follows the directions! I just love it ...
[Read More]

Fett Boy progress
Here is a photo of said progress. The lower body is all together save for tying on a shock cord. The fins turned out fine. I did paper the side opposite the fiberglass sheet. The Fett bank is merely dry-fit in the photo. I need to get a small eye bolt to finish the assembly.  But, that's ...
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 3, Engine Mount
Do a test punch on the side of the ring card to find the right size hole to fit the hollow swab tube. I had to enlarge the tube holes for the tube to fit over the thick engine hook retainer sleeve. The ring on the left shows the elongated punch hole for the swab tube. The elongated punch allows ...
[Read More]

Down one
RSR (realspacerockets.com) has decided to go “dark” effective January 1, 2016. The 5 years that DFR Tech / Real Space Rockets has been in business has been very rewarding and educational. RSR is not through though, in approximately 3 to 5 years we plan to be back on-line and even ...
[Read More]

RSR Rockets
From the forums and the RSR Facebook page: RSR ( realspacerockets.com ) has decided to go "dark" effective January 1, 2016.  The 5 years that DFR Tech / Real Space Rockets has been in business has been very rewarding and educational. RSR is not through though, in approximately 3 to 5 years we ...
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 4, Intake Parts Prep
There is four laser cut sheets of 1/16" balsa. This shows the front and back of one sheet. The front of the intake is open and it would be hard to fill the balsa after assembly. I decided to fill the grain on the inside front of the intakes before gluing it all together. In the picture the areas ...
[Read More]

Not too bad for October
Today’s Syracuse Rocket Club launch went better than I’d expected. Temperature was in the high 30s when we started, and there’d been rain and graupel on the drive there and 50% chance of rain and 14 MPH wind in the forecast. It stayed below 45°F and the wind was up there, but ...
[Read More]

Got Cool Rocket Pics? Submit Them to the Calendar!
The Rocketry Forum is accepting calendar submissions through tomorrow, October 18. If you have some cool rocket pictures, submit them here . A lot of pictures on this thread are high power pictures, but model rocketry should also be included, so if you have them, submit them! I submitted two: Your ...
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 5, Intake Assembly
I'd recommended making one intake at a time. Remove all the parts from one sheet and assemble each intake separately. When removing the parts from the sheet don't bother sanding off the burnt brown edges. You will want to remove the hold down ticks from the inside slot of Parts I. I used a flat ...
[Read More]

More Fett Boy thoughts
I have the top section complete and am currently painting the bottom section. I will take some photos for the next post. I added a whopping 4.5oz of nose weight. I messed up a little as I could have cut back some to account for the epoxy that I used. This was supposed to set the static margin to ...
[Read More]

Fett Boy photos
If you click through to my Flickr album, there are a few more shots. It is ready to fly as is and I may or may not try to decorate it more. With the nose section off, you can see that I applied a few wraps of tape to snug up the nose. It is heavy enough that I may need some extra masking tape at ...
[Read More]

The Bloodhound Challenge
The team behind the Bloodhound rocket car and Guinness World Records are promoting science and engineering by sponsoring a quest of the fastest model rocket car. There is more background in the description attached to the video.
[Read More]

Building the Quest MLAS (part 6)
The MLAS comes with a ton of decals. I put them on in four sessions. While waiting for them to set I also prepped the chutes. Normally I just toss the plastic chutes that come with kits into my stash drawer, preferring to use Nylon chutes (generally Top Flights) on snap swivels which I swap…
[Read More]

Building the (scratch) Micro Fat Boy (part 3)
Next, the decals. Sandman Decals listed decals for the full size Fat Boy, but they were out of stock, and unsurprisingly there wasn’t a 1/5x downscale. But I wrote to Gordon and he printed up a sheet for me with the full size decals and two copies of the downscale decals. I only requested one ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes (clone) Fat Boy (part 4)
Next, the decals. Sandman Decals listed decals for the full size Fat Boy, but they were out of stock, and unsurprisingly there wasn’t a 1/5x downscale. But I wrote to … Wait a second. I’ve said all that, haven’t I?I put the decals on, then I applied a Pledge clear coat. I ...
[Read More]

I know!
(Questionable Content by Jeph Jacques)
[Read More]

Estes and Kevlar?
Here's the top centering ring on the new Estes Honest John. There is a laser cut hole into the centering ring. Many builder's have asked why Estes doesn't drop the tri-fold mount and switch over to Kevlar. This hole might be a compromise allowing the builder to add a Kevlar leader under the ring. ...
[Read More]

The Fat Boy fleet
Not nearly as impressive as Marc's Totally Insane Fat Boy Fleet , but here they are: From left-to-right: Fat Boy 3x4 (3"dia., 4x24mm, stretched over scale) Fat Boy Motor Eater (7x18mm) Fett Boy (29mm) Fat Boi-nk (18mm made from pool noodle) Fat Boy inherited from Paul Miller (3x18mm) Fat Boy 29 ...
[Read More]

Repairs
I’ve been doing some repair work. On the Fantom Mini I built up the damaged fin with wood filler. As for the crunched launch lug I cut it off at an angle. Some people do that deliberately; supposedly it reduces drag. Then I touched up the black paint. The launch lug fillets look a li ...
[Read More]

How about a Micro Fat Boy? Sure, why not?
After seeing Rich's Rocket's MicroMaxx Fat Boy , I just had to build one. As he did, I used the body tube, cone and launch lug from a Mosquito kit that came with one of my Mega Mosquitos. I had the motor tube and a telescoping tube to make a motor block. The centering ring is made from slices of ...
[Read More]

Sincerest
Dick Stafford is making a Micro Fat Boy. His has cardstock fins which look a good deal less clunky than the 1/8″ balsa I used. He’d probably win a drag race. Then again, the rocket’s so small, I figure the added area from the chubby fins just might be the only thing keeping it ...
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 7, Intake Assembly
Where you can, apply CA on the inside seams. Again this so the filler will adhere better on the outside. CA glue seals the surface and won't allow the water based CWF to stick. The intake is sanded with 220 grit on a block. In the picture, the upper intake is before sanding. Below is the intake ...
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 8, Intake Assembly
This is the front and rear of the intakes assembled. The only balsa grain that has been filled so far is the front interior of the intake. There are some recessed tab areas throughout. On the right I circled some of the deeper areas. With the CA glue in the recess, CWF probably won't stay in when ...
[Read More]

Rocket N00b Adeptor Picture
Daniel Petrie (rocketn00b.blogspot.com) submitted some launch sequence pictures for the upcoming 2016 Rocketry Forum calendar. Daniel is right, there should be some LPR pictures in the calendar! Look close and you can see he's using an Odd'l Adeptor on the camera tripod launcher. They are using ...
[Read More]

Stock item
Huh. Sandman Decals’ Fat Boy decals now come with a BT-5 Micro Maxx set.  
[Read More]

Cherokee D Auction Finishing Up!
The finished Cherokee D auction is coming to a close soon! Check it out at: CLICK HERE Stop by and make a bid . . .
[Read More]

Micro Fat Boy...done!
I finished the Micro Fat Boy...and here it is: The metallic black sure is dull. Don't know what's up with that. To spruce it up, I added a stripe of ribbon. Anyway, with 0.1 oz of nose weight, it weighs in at 0.26 oz, less motor, and sims to about 135'. This will have to fly on mowed grass!
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 9, Intake Ends and Edges
This aluminum sanding block doesn't have sandpaper wrapped over the edges. You can sand right into some corners, like on the underside of the intakes. The inside walls on the open front end of the intakes were filled before it was glued together. Looking inside the left intake you can see two open ...
[Read More]

New Horizons Pluto Flyby

[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 10, Fitting the Intake Contour
Wrap some 220 grit around the body tube to sand the bottom of the intakes to match the curve of the body tube. The upper intake is before, The lower intake is the fit against the BT-60 body tube after contour sanding. Keep an eye on the back of the intake when sanding. All the intakes should end ...
[Read More]

Current Rocketry Projects
In most of my blog posts, I put a little note with a link to my Facebook page . I'm currently adding lots of photos and stuff to the Facebook page, including a launch photos album and a current projects photos album. The advantage of this, for me, is that I can put something up quickly. Since I try ...
[Read More]

The Aerospace Map
Here is a Google map showing aerospace related entities - museums, government facilities, companies, spaceports, etc. This is via the Space Hipsters group on Facebook. I have added a few dozen locations myself and have snuck in three sport rocketry sites under the 'Space Novelties' category (in ...
[Read More]

Okay, What Is It?
Here's the (very) rough parts for an upcoming project. The pictured nose cones will be trimmed and shortened. The shoulders will remain the same. It will be used with the tube and fins from a recent, re-released kit. Any ideas?
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 11, First Paint on Intakes
I thought I filled all the seams and notches with CWF and sanded primer filler! Obviously not. These intake tab notches are hard to get smooth! On the sides you can still see some of the tab notches. Oh boy! - more filler and sanding. EDIT: I've got to be honest. I got so frustrated trying to get ...
[Read More]

TARC session at the University of North Alabama
Time to catch up on blog posts - work has been kicking my rear lately and I haven't felt like writing when I get home. The rain outside is providing some motivation today :) Lee Brownell starts the ball rolling at UNA's first TARC session (Click to enlarge). Last Saturday, the University of North ...
[Read More]

Clean Up
So, it was windy.    I’d gone back and forth 100 times on backup flights for this weekend.   Last minute when packing last night, I pulled everything besides the Villain out of the van and loaded the Optima twins up.    Loaded a Loki G69, and grabbed ...
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 13, Nose Cone / Nozzle Prep
This is a LONG blow molded nose cone, 8" exposed from shoulder edge to tip. The nozzle is molded on at the base. The molding seams were pretty clean on this one, but will still need some filling. The raised seam was reduced about half way down with 220 grit on a block. The remaining "trench" will ...
[Read More]

Ribbed Streamers TIP
On the Rocketry Central Forum I asked Dave from Hot Rod Rockets where he got the ribbed Mylar streamers used in his kits. Here's his response: - Ribbed streamers....  Well  here's more insider info: Little old Special effects magic there!  If it's real ...
[Read More]

NGC 1999 may have competition!
Although I still think this Hubble image is the best... ... there is a new nebula in town!
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 14, DIY Payload Section Coupler
The upper 8" of the rocket are a second, coupled tube. This makes for an easier color separation, don't glue the two tube sections together until after painting. Anytime I see a model with a second body tube section I look for a way to make it into a payload section. The red coupler will glue into ...
[Read More]

Super Glue Questions Part 1
On the Rocketry Center Forum, Kirk G asked about Super Glues: His questions are in italics. First up - Super Glues get hard and brittle over time. A older rocket constructed with Super Glue will have parts pop off during boost and on landing. Don't use Super Glues to glue on fins, launch lugs or ...
[Read More]

Estes Panavia
Another Pro Series II builder’s kit: http://www.estesrockets.com/new/009715-pro-series-iitm-panaviatm Like the Scion and Sahara, this is a web exclusive. Is it Argent fins on a 2.5″ x 40″ body + nose? Hard to tell from the pictures.
[Read More]

New project...maybe
I love Daddyisabar's airplane designs (as seen on TRF) and I have always been fascinated with ekranoplans (ground-effect flying boats). So I am thinking maybe an ekranoplan-like build might be in order. The attached photo is a sketch of the "Caspian Sea Monster" that I found on the web . It has no ...
[Read More]

Smuggler’s ideas
So, I want a 2.6 to fly smaller stuff with data logging…. Instead of building something new, I’ve got Smuggler’s sitting right there… Full stack it wont do well on a G80, but If I fly it short, it’s fine. But that nosecone is just useless. And 2.6 glass couplers ...
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 15, DIY Payload Section Coupler
Two holes are punched in the disks. The shock cord will be tied through these. Now the disk can be glued in over the reinforcement ring. The reinforcement ring prevents the disks from being pulled down or out. The red coupler is 3" long. Mark the center at 1 1/2". The lower half got a coat of ...
[Read More]

New Estes Products
Here's the latest S.P.E.V. from Estes, the Panavia. It's a Pro Series II model using the Argent fins. To see the specs, CLICK HERE The 2015 Christmas ornaments are here: CLICK HERE 
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 16, Ends and Edges Prep
Here's a dry fit of an intake and fin. The fin won't be glued in until after the intake is glued onto the body tube. This is an impressive assembly unlike anything I've seen before. I did a pull on a shroud line and it broke pretty easily. I got out the 100% cotton embroidery thread and replaced ...
[Read More]

A TRF Forum Response from John Boren of Estes
Jumpjet Senior Member A couple of personal thoughts about STUFF. The one thing I've come to realize in reading forum posts is that everyone has their own opinions. I may disagree 100% with that opinion, which of course is simply my own opinion. To say the Estes 29mm E16 & F15 motors aren't ...
[Read More]

Copperhead First Flight
A year ago, I did a fundraiser for the Bloomington Playwrights Project, called The Playoffs. As an incentive to donors, I offered to design and build rockets for anyone who donated in my name. Longtime blog readers may remember a rocket I built, originally called "Keith's Rocket," then renamed the ...
[Read More]

What's In A Name?
I've been asked before, "Why the name, Odd'l Rockets?" I had always been attracted to Odd-Ball rockets ever since I made a Sputnik-Too back in 1970. It was a perfect small field flyer. I remember being surprised that it was stable, I was expecting the worst. The name is simpler than you might ...
[Read More]

Probability of building an ekranoplan rises to 50%
This is a photoless post since there isn't much physical progress. I found some 54mm tubing, a scratch roughed out balsa cone from a Warthog Build Session (man, I miss them), and some semi-compatible scrounged mailing tube. I have also ordered some parts. Yeah, that sounds like 50/50 to me. I have ...
[Read More]

QCC Explorer on EBAY
The finished Estes QCC Explorer is up for Auction on EBAY. To see the auction, CLICK HERE This build has some custom improvements - a payload section, replaceable Kevlar, 1/4" long shock cord and some metallic paint upgrades. Support the Blog, make a bid!
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 17, Gluing On The Intakes
I made a four fin marking guide and used the fin lines to line up the left side of the intakes. The entire intake sides were traced with a pencil. Inside the pencil lines, the primer was scraped off down to the tube. The first two intakes were glued on opposite sides and spaced visually from the ...
[Read More]

I fly a few during TARC practice...
The skies were overcast last Saturday, but that did not stop me and Duane from joining Nate and his two Liberty Middle TARC teams at Pegasus field. We showed up around noon to find the young folks already hard at work prepping their rockets to fly. As with any TARC practice, there were some things ...
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 18, Intake Fillets
I used Titebond M&T glue for fillets on the lower 2/3rds of the intake joint. There is no way to get a good glue fillet under the inside top of the intake. The Titebond M&T Glue skins over before you can wipe it off. I decided to use white glue for the fillets under the intake front. You ...
[Read More]

Super Glue Questions Part 2
Thin CA glue flows fast and can clog up the nozzle that comes on the bottle. You might try to find some Teflon tubing to slip into the pointed nozzle end. I found some at Hobbylinc - CLICK HERE You will have to cut a little more off the pointed nozzle to get the Teflon tube in. Cut off a sliver ...
[Read More]

Airstream of Consciousness
Launched the “Airstream of Consciousness” yesterday at the Midwest Power XIII Rocket Launch in downstate Illinois. This was a hand made scratch built all-carbon fiber rocket using my filament winder for the airframe and a 10 ton press for the fins. Since Carbon Fiber attenuates (acts as an RF ...
[Read More]

I love bad ideas….
I’m not saying this is a good idea. but it IS an idea…… H160’s 2200′ ?
[Read More]

A short Halloween launch...
HARA had scheduled an afternoon Halloween launch today at Pegasus field, but the threat of impending rain moved the launch time up from 1 PM to 10 AM. A good thing too, 'cause this afternoon has sucked in a weather sense. Duane and I arrived promptly at 10 and helped Chuck, Woody, and Art set up ...
[Read More]

Dogs in space

[Read More]

Ekranoplan thoughts
I have made no real progress but have bought some wood and should be able to get started. Just for my peace of mind, here's an initial checklist: Cut 54mm tube to length and mark four lines. Mark the position of the Tres mount and cut. These will be recessed 2" and the removed parts will be ...
[Read More]

Rocketry goals review for Oct 2015
A month ago I said, “Any rockets I don’t finish in October probably won’t be finished until May next year or later. I’d hoped to get more of the rockets left from last year done by now; I’m pessimistic about finishing them all this month.” Well… did I? ...
[Read More]

18mm Igniter Standoff?
If you've launched any Micromaxx rockets you know how to install the igniter. You push in the bare wire igniter and use a toothpick to hold it in place. You don't shove the toothpick in, you simply slide the model down the rod onto the toothpick. The weight of the model holds the toothpick and ...
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 20, Color Paint Upgrades
The great thing about duplicating the face card decor, there is no masking! If you didn't glue on the tail cone, nose cone or upper body tube, spray each part separately and glue together afterwards. The tail cone was painted separately. The gluing surfaces were masked off. Instead of the suggested ...
[Read More]

Picking Your First Model Rocket
If you are a total n00b to rocketry, wondering What's a good model rocket for an absolute beginner? then welcome, and this post is for you. First of all, I want to stress that these are just some things to consider. I'm not going to tell you "Don't pick this rocket, pick that rocket." I want to ...
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 21, Payload Section Decals
I always start with a medium size decal to get used to the soak times and how it slides on the surface. Decals from two vendors can differ on how easy they transfer. These decals took a full 60 second soak before they slid off the backing paper. The two payload section decals are directly opposite ...
[Read More]

Centuri Upper Stage Instructions?
On YORF, RTuinila asked about the Centuri Black Widow instructions. I looked up the older Black Widow and found this. Centuri recommended using Jetex wick in the upper stage. The wick (actually Jetex version of a fuse) is folded into a tight coil. The booster section ignites the fuse and that ...
[Read More]

Questions and a complaint
First the questions. Thought I'd ask them here before I risk embarrassing myself over this build on the forums. Since I know there are two rocketeers who read this and are familiar with mayhem... Q1: On an nominally 2.25" airframe, what's the bare minimum spacing between the motor and the baffle? I ...
[Read More]

18mm to 24mm Conversion TIP
At club launches I've seen three different Mini Fat Boys fly unstable when converted from a 13mm to an 18mm standard engine. I always think: " Add 1/2 oz. of nose weight!" I haven't built an 18mm Mini Fat Boy. From Rex R on YORF "A mini fat boy can be made to work with an 18mm motor mount . . . ...
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 23, Fin Decals
I centered the fin decals as best I could. I had rounded the leading edges of the fins which may have lead to how the two decal sides didn't match up at the top. Here's how the leading edge decal sat. I wish there was an overlap and meeting of the red bars. I save old decals. Some red was cut off ...
[Read More]

Awesome flying model of Smaug!
TRF member, Daddyisabar has posted his latest oddroc - Smaug ! I have only attached one photo, the TRF thread has more. Hopefully, this fire breathing, wicked worm won't terrorize the citizens of the Middle Flightline.
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Build Part 24, Ends and Edges
A 1/8" wide shock cord was run through the elastic loop at the top of the coupler. A loop was tied near the top to attach a altimeter. The end was tied onto the nose cone base with a Duncan Uni Knot. With the nose cone tied on you won't lose it at ejection. The top and bottom edges of the payload ...
[Read More]

Decal Tips
Daniel ( rocketn00b.blogspot.com) commented on the QCC Explorer decal post -    The Rocket N00b November 5, 2015 at 12:43 AM "Looks perfect. I'm not bad with decals, but I never get them on perfectly. I don't know how you do it, man ..." Hi Daniel, It's simply a LOT of practice over the ...
[Read More]

YARF
I’m a little worried about the Rocketry Central forums; there are some allegations being made to which the anonymous admins are so far not responding. But let’s see how that plays out. Meanwhile — and I suspect not unrelatedly — there is yet another rocketry forum starting ...
[Read More]

Estes QCC Explorer Finished
This is a great example of what laser cutting can really do. I wish the tabs were a little taller, there would have been less filling. Construction was both frustrating but in the end, rewarding. A strong, impressive rocket when finished and a great value even at the retail price of $22.99.
[Read More]

Old Centuri Parachute Instructions
From the older Centuri Black Widow instructions I found these parachute instructions. I knew Estes sold parachute material in square sheets but didn't know Centuri supplied square sheets in their kits. Centuri shows you how to fold and cut the square into a hexagon. This is the earliest I've seen ...
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Launch, November 7, 2015
Everything was set up and the first rack loaded when I arrived after 10:00 a.m. It was hot and humid, felt like an August launch day. I can't complain too much, there was no wind to speak of. The Estes WIZARD was my first up using a 1/2A6-2 engine from Lonnie B. According to the Estes app on my ...
[Read More]

To the person who messaged me about a missing post...
Earlier today, my phone notified me that someone had messaged me about a missing blog post. I was busy and didn't have a chance to respond. Unfortunately, I don't remember who it was or what the subject was. Plus, I looked back at my apps that include messaging and can't find any such message. ...
[Read More]

Old Centuri Launcher on Ebay
Here's a fun Ebay listing - CLICK HERE This is one of the original Centuri launchers. Not much more than a hollow box with some terminal screws to connect up the leads. The blast deflector is bent thick steel sheet. It looks like there is only one short lead to the micro clip. This is very similar ...
[Read More]

Ekranoplan, slow but steady progress
I think I have all the wood cutting done. Here is the tail spar, the giant tail fin that is typical for the ekranoplans, one of the main wings (the other is being glued on at the moment), a triangular piece (which is not typical but which will be attached below the spar, maybe with some trimming) ...
[Read More]

Free PDF Book Download on History of Liquid Propellants
IGNITION ! An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants by John D. Clark
[Read More]

Pluto enhanced/false color
New Horizons scientists made this false color image of Pluto using a technique called principal component analysis to highlight the many subtle color differences between Pluto's distinct regions. The image data were collected by the spacecraft’s Ralph/MVIC color camera on July 14 at 11:11 AM ...
[Read More]

Muslim views on suicide bombing
At times like these, apologists are quick to remind us that most Muslims don't support terrorism and suicide bombings against civilians. This is true. Only about a third of them do, 500 million or so . . All religions are equally wrong, but not all religions are equally dangerous. 50 years or more ...
[Read More]

Wow I'm a shiftless varmint
My maternal grandfather, Hank, used to call people of questionable drive "shiftless varmints" [vemin] and that's how I would classify myself in the last several months in the rocketry context. I last flew at Lucerne in June and at Holtville in October.  I sort of took the summer off from ...
[Read More]

N.E.F.A.R. Bunnell Blast, November 14, 2015
November 14 and 15 is the Bunnell Blast , a two day event with night launches Saturday evening. When I arrived just before 11:00 a.m. there were already 75 cars parked down the flight line. After one long walk to the RSO table I moved closer to the low power pads at the East end of the field. ...
[Read More]

Optima Marathon
Herm….. Thinking of Two crazy days. 29/40-120 one day F52T, G53FJ, G64W, G71R, G76G, G138T 29 RMS another G77R, G79W, G75J, H128W, H165R, H238T, H180W, H210R, H220T, H250G, H97J, H268R, and I200W
[Read More]

Finished SR-71 Blackbird Auction Ending Soon
The Ebay auction for the finished SR-71 Blackbird finishes up Monday night at around 9:00 p.m. EST. To see it, CLICK HERE                           Thanks for bidding and supporting the blog! 
[Read More]

Mike Bentley
Model rocketry has been around for about 58 years, commercially. It has had an amazing safety record. In all that time, due to the materials from which model rockets are made, and due to the NAR Model Rocket Safety Code, injuries from rocketry have been minimal. When I was a kid, I visited my ...
[Read More]

A tragic weekend...
This weekend was tragic... Not only for the horrible events in France, which are beyond belief, but also for an accident some deemed inevitable, but yet took over 55 years to occur... A scout leader was killed on Saturday when a rocket came in ballistic and struck him in the head. As I sit here ...
[Read More]

Composite engine to Black Powder Staging?
From the October 11 N.E.F.A.R. launch, I posted this picture and copy:  I did a double take when I read the name on Scott Border's Ascender. Clever and funny. The booster was a composite F51, the second stage was a black powder F15-8. Perfect flight with a long pause before second stage ...
[Read More]

CP, CG and Thrust/Weight, oh my
I have made no building process but I did put in a 'chute and did another quick look at weight and CG issues. The weight as it stands is 23oz w/o motors. This is three ounces over my rough guess and will still grow a bit. With a 'full load' (i.e. including rear mounted D12's), I am still clearly ...
[Read More]

Special Edition
Just recorded a special edition of The Rocketry Show about the incident in California . We don't have any more information than you folks, but some people did ask us to address it. In the mean time, you can still give to the family of Michael Bentley .
[Read More]

TIP: Sanding In A Tight Angle
Normally I would sand a rounded fillet area with sandpaper over a Q-tip for a cushion. If you have a very tight angle to sand, the Q-tip might be too wide. Here's how to get sandpaper into a tight rounded edge without folding a crease into it. On the Quest AS-1 Escort build I had to sand some ...
[Read More]

Bunnell Blast 2015
Bunnell Blast is NEFAR‘s annual Fall two-day research launch. Held November 14 and 15, this year’s launch attracted a large number of flyers. On Saturday, nice weather and separate high-power and low-power ranges resulted in rockets being launched almost continuously. … Continue ...
[Read More]

SpaceX gets first order for Crew Mission
NASA placed it’s first order with SpaceX for a crew mission to ISS. The Crew Dragon is scheduled to send astronauts to the ISS in 2017. Read the full story here  
[Read More]

Airplane graveyard

[Read More]

Last ones up
Today was the annual Walt’s Secret Santa event at Walt’s HobbyTown. Walt’s celebrating his business’s 40th anniversary. There’s one more Syracuse Rocket Club event this year, the December meeting, but this is the last time our club launches rockets for the year — a ...
[Read More]

Update Information on the Fatal Model Rocketry Accicent
An Email from   NAR President  Ted Cochran 21 November 2015 Greetings, As I reported on the NAR Facebook page last Sunday, I regret to have to inform you that a fatal on-field rocketry accident ...
[Read More]

A Message from the National Association of Rocketry - The California Accident
Ted Cochran, president of the National Association of Rocketry, sent out this massage to all NAR members, regarding the recent accident at a launch in California : Greetings, As I reported on the NAR Facebook page last Sunday, I regret to have to inform you that a fatal on-field rocketry accident ...
[Read More]

William Shatner's Model Rocketry Short
This is too good not to share - William Shatner in a 1977 model rocketry short film for Estes. Like my Facebook page for blog updates, extra features, and more pictures.
[Read More]

JonRocket.com’s 2015 Holiday Sale
Begin the holiday season with savings during JonRocket.com’s 2015 holiday sale. JonRocket.com’s annual Holiday Sale will run from Wednesday, November 25 through Monday, November 30 (EDT). Almost everything at JonRocket.com will be on sale at discounts of up to 50% … Continue ...
[Read More]

Photo op
Another November, another fleet photo. It’s getting tougher. Not only are there more rockets, but the photo has to include both the Micro Fat Boy and The Dude, and everything between. Maybe next year I’ll have to do multiple pictures. This year I fit them all in.  
[Read More]

Blue Origin’s New Shepard goes into Space then lands
Historic news for Jeff Bezos and his Blue Origin rocket. On Monday the craft went into space (329,839 feet) then returned to earth and landed. Of course this was a sub-orbital flight but still quite impressive.   You can read more here  
[Read More]

The Arab Spring enters a new phase: world war

[Read More]

Odd'ls at N.E.F.A.R.
Cris Morris flew her Odd'l Little Green Man and Pigasus at the November 14 NEFAR launch in Bunnell, Florida. Both flew straight and true with C6-5s in the 15 mph winds. On the left is my Quest Tomahawk, another C6-5 flight.
[Read More]

CTI, once
I was unaware CTI (Ceseroni) ever made single use motors, but apparently just a few years ago they were selling a Pro130 O25000 and a P8000, both single use. Only reloadables appear in current product lists, though. Seems that’ll change again, and this time from the other end. Sunward Hobbies ...
[Read More]

2016 flight plans
LOL. Yea, here we go again. a list of the flight I plan to make….which guarantees none of these actually fly next year. :P My goal is to have 20 flights planned. We’ll see how that goes. I may get a 54mm 1 grain motor, which would open up a lot of short easy, […]
[Read More]

Happy Thanksgiving, Y'All
Happy Thanksgiving from TUNA (the overbite dog) Sock Puppet! This was actually a Christmas project for my Daughter, Whitney. Yes, I made two - socks come in pairs and I hate to waste anything. RANT: I just had the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on. I'm not Diabetic, but after all the overly sweet ...
[Read More]

CMoG
I went to the Corning Museum of Glass today. Wasn’t expecting rocketry, but here we are.  
[Read More]

Work Continues
I’ve been plotting a few things. Time to get them moving.   And flush mounted some screws…  
[Read More]

International Up! Cup Launch
From the Model Rocket Fanatics page on Facebook -  Frank Baeyens took this picture of his son's UP! CUP before a recent launch in Geels, Belgium. Frank added: " Flies surprisingly well. Going to give it a probably final farewell on a Klima D9 at the next launch."
[Read More]

From Ted Cochran, NAR President
From the emailed The Electronic Rocketeer - Issue #90- November  2015 F ellow NAR Member, As I mentioned in the email I sent to all of you on  November  21, our hobby has experienced its first on-field fatality. T he incident was not associated with the NAR, but it nevertheless ...
[Read More]

Model Building at NASA
The NASA Blog has a great new entry on the master model builder Barry Howell. “During his tenure in the model shop, Barry has seen changes in technology and process, along with classic methods that have stood the test of time. In the old days of Saturn and early Shuttle, each and every model ...
[Read More]

Model building at MSFC and lack of ekranoplan progress
NASA MSFC's Rocketology blog has an interesting entry about master model maker Barry Howell . Man, his creation make me drool. Here's a teaser, make sure you take a look at the whole post! Nothing to report on the ekranoplan. Too much visiting, eating and shopping.
[Read More]

A rocket for the holidays
So you want to give someone a model rocket, or something rocketry related, as a holiday gift, but don’t know what to look for? Well, of course you could just ask them what they want, or give them an Amazon gift card, or tell them to go shop for themselves and you’ll go buy your…
[Read More]

Rainy day ekranoplan thoughts
It's been too rainy to prime and even get in a swing test. I decided to make a Rocksim model just for kicks. Despite having put in all sorts of crazy winged things with pods and pods on pods, I was having a tough time and have thrown in the towel. Even if I could figure it out, the process wasn't ...
[Read More]

Yes. Yes there is an ekranoplan Rocksim model
Well, my inability to get Rocksim to cooperate ate at me until I decided to give it another try. The trick is that I couldn't copy pod-on-pod structures or their constituent parts. For instance, there is a pod on the main body to mount the forward motor mount. There's a fin on that, then more pods ...
[Read More]

Rocket Trouble
At my last launch, I had a few problems. Most of my flights went poorly - especially my three cluster rockets. I'm working on a post on figuring out what when wrong when you've had a bad flight, and taking steps to prevent it happening again. In the meantime, enjoy this video of my launch troubles. ...
[Read More]

Quest Kits and Parts To Be Made in the U.S.A.?
December1 on YORF, CTRRockets posted the question: "I was in my local hobby shop looking for a kit and some engines and I asked for Quest engines. They told me they have been having issues with Quest kits and engines being supplied to them. I am curious, are they in a slow down with production? I ...
[Read More]

Orbital ATK launch today
Orbital ATK will try to return to flight today after the spectacular explosion of their Antares rocket in 2014. Orbital’s cargo will be sitting on top of a Atlas rocket built by United Launch Alliance You can watch the launch at NASA’s live stream starting around 4:30 p.m. ET, with launch ...
[Read More]

Very Happy Rocket Scientists
The happiness is infectious in this video from Blue Origin’s 1st stage landing on Nov 23rd.
[Read More]

Perfect.
I’ve always been hunting the perfect rocket. Perfect design, Perfect size, etc. Now, I doubt there’s one rocket out there that is indeed totally perfect. But I’m quite sure you can get close. The Screech has been tons of fun…and a great size. But capping out at 38mm was ...
[Read More]

December 5, 2015
NOTAM: !DCA 12/089 LVL AIRSPACE UNMANNED ROCKET WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 3NM RADIUS OF LVL323027.2 SFC-6600FT POINTER NOTAMS 1512051600-1512052200 The weather forecast looks great for our first launch under the new waiver. Boswell field from noon til 4 PM. … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Aluminum Angle Tool, Model Rocket News - Volume 5, #1
From the Estes Model Rocket News, Volume 5, #1 The first reference I've seen for using an aluminum angle to mark body tubes for fin placement. This MRN dates back to 1965. I thought it was a more recent idea for a tool. In the same issue there's also a good plan for an Aerobee Hi. To see the ...
[Read More]

Whoops! Ebay Listing
Well, I was close to the "L" and "Y" keys!
[Read More]

Yellow Jacket Downscale PDF is Available!
A NEW carded downscale of the Estes YELLOW JACKET is finished! This was drawn up from Kit # 2008. This BT-5 downscale stands 10" tall and flys with a 1/2A3-4t or A3-4t engines. Contact me at: oddlrockets@bellsouth.net and request the Yellow Jacket PDF. It's FREE! Don't use the art at the ...
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Monthly Launch, December 5, 2015
Blow Ye Winds! Wind gust up to 25 mph and light rains kept most flights in the A power range, for me anyways. Some first timers put C6-5 engines into models but quickly lowered engine power after a few landed in the trees. Before driving to the launch site I saw the forecast and threw a few smaller ...
[Read More]

Holtville Launch, December 2015
Here's the video: Pix and some details soon.
[Read More]

Video of Orbital ATK Cygnus Successful Launch

[Read More]

Silver bells?
Finally, at tonight’s club meeting, I was able to get the paperwork completed for the NARTREK Silver scale requirement, relating to the D-Region Tomahawk I flew in September. That’s the last of the four requirements I had to finish. Now I just have to print a picture of the rocket (I ...
[Read More]

Old timey rockets from Peter Alway
Full res copy available via Flickr.
[Read More]

BIG NEWS - Madcow Instructions!
You might have noticed only one blog post per day lately.  I've been busy . . . I'm proud to announce my association with Madcow Rocketry . I've been drawing up new assembly instructions for their 1.6" diameter kits. From the "mini" line, the Bomarc, Jayhawk, DX3 are complete. Three other ...
[Read More]

Update from SpaceX

[Read More]

Updates
I am slowly updating the website to accommodate a shop for 3D printed merchandise I will be selling soon. Stay … Read More →
[Read More]

N.E.F.A.R. Launch, Bunnell, FL December 12, 2015
December launches aren't as busy as last months two-day Bunnell Blast. Still, a good group showed up. Temperature and the winds were moderate. My Odd'l Rockets PIGASUS flew first with a Quest B6-4. There was a slight weather cock into the wind and it landed just just to one side of the (toxic) ...
[Read More]

Merry Christmas Y'Al!
Merry Christmas from all of us (me) at Odd'l Rockets! Check out the video of the (out of production) Wedgie flight CLICK HERE Special Thanks to Roger Smith for production of the video and music.
[Read More]

Bump...
via GIPHY
[Read More]

Date in Dayton
NARCON is in Dayton, OH this year. A few fellow club members went to NARCON in 2014 and I kind of wish I’d been there too — of course that was in Cocoa Beach, a way more exciting destination than Dayton. Especially in February. Dayton’s closer, though, and a lot closer than last ...
[Read More]

Reward for a job well done
Another thing that happened at last week’s club meeting was, sort of, elections. (Technically our bylaws say “elections” happen in January, but since there’s never more than one nominee per office, they effectively happen as soon as the nominees are decided upon.) Mark ...
[Read More]

Places where the safety codes don't apply
via  http://www.rocket-troop.org/
[Read More]

Debunking the jet fuel can't melt steel argument once again
Of course it is barely worth the time since conspiracy think is impervious to evidence or logic.
[Read More]

Cases
  rawr.
[Read More]

Building the Estes Scion (part 4)
I’ve done no rocket building at all for several weeks now; busy with other things like reorganizing and cleaning the house now that I’m the only one living here. Also it’s colder in the basement, and darker in the evenings, so getting down there and building takes a little more ...
[Read More]

New LED Foot Switch
What's this got to do with rocketry? Read on . . . You probably know I entertain doing shows. I play strange instruments, sing and talk way too much between songs. Last year a bought a new Yamaha mixer on on-board effects. While the board has too many effects, I'm only concerned with reverb. Too ...
[Read More]

Another blue gold dress optical illusion
Same wall, same paint colors, same camera.
[Read More]

Rocketry goals review for Nov/Dec 2015, and for the year 2015
There’s almost half a month left in December, but not much is going to change, I think. Maybe a minor tweak if I get a rocket for Christmas or something, but I don’t expect to. So here’s how my 2015 rocketry goals went in the past two months, and a wrapup of the year. Level…
[Read More]

Great picture from ESA launch
Here is a great picture of the booster separation from the Soyuz rocket during the ESA’s Galileo satellite launch this week. watch the launch recording here
[Read More]

New year’s rockets
Some interesting new entries on the Estes Coming Soon page. Four new builder’s kits. 007244 Indicator — Skill level 1, apparently BT-50 lower airframe and BT-20 upper, 21.2″ long, 13 mm power. I’m not a fan of the decals but not a bad looking little rocket otherwise. 007245 ...
[Read More]

Top Ten list for 2015
Here's this year's TOP 10 . . . #10 is the worst counting down to #1 , or the best build and news of the year. (These are simply my picks, based on the build and flight experience and blog postings.) Click on the  Name  to go to the blog posts. 10. MPC Cadet Cruiser This build and ...
[Read More]

No Blog Posts!
I'll be entertaining on a cruise from December 19 through 28. Sorry, there won't be any blog posts during this time and probably a day or two after I return. I used to keep up with the blog when I was away. Now I refuse to pay for internet time. Holland America has raised the fees for it's ...
[Read More]

A rat rod, with rockets?
and a big ass blower on a non-embeddable photo... https://www.flickr.com/photos/77993829@N05/23211193223/
[Read More]

The Dungeon's Top Ten of 2015
1.  The ekranoplan " Chesapeake Sea Monster " is completed, passes a swing test, but holes up for the winter. Flight attempt expected in the spring, possibly at Red Glare. 2. The Fett Boy is completed (but also hasn't flown). 3. The induction stabilized Saturn V, SA-667 flies and is recovered. ...
[Read More]

Current Projects, #1 - Astron Sprint XL and Clone
I update my Facebook page a lot, but I haven't posted on the blog in a while. I've been working on a post for a bit, but it's taking me some time to finish. I have created a Current Projects page on the blog - link in the side bar. The Facebook page has a Current Projects album, but I know not ...
[Read More]

Tumblr embed test
X15-A-2 http://altrocketdungeon.tumblr.com/post/135539433403/thewelovemachinesposts-nasa-x-15-being-dropped
[Read More]

Atlas 134F Scientific Passenger Pod-Missile Date: 03/01/1963

[Read More]

History Made – SpaceX lands first stage
Now that was exciting! SpaceX successfully lands first stage on land back at the Cape. Launch with landing made an exciting event. I’ll post video as soon as its ready. —–
[Read More]

Launch, reentry and landing burns, all in one photo
Tonight, SpaceX stuck the landing...and put 11 satellites into orbit too.
[Read More]

Falcon 9 first stage landing as seen from a helicopter

[Read More]

Retro, cruise missile delivered, rocket mail...don't tell Amazon
A Regulus I Missile Carrying Mail Source: Smithsonian Postal Museum On June 8, 1959, the US Navy fired a Regulus I missile from the USS Barbero (SSG-317) and directed it to land at the Naval Auxiliary Air Station at Mayport, Florida, near Jacksonville. While the sub was docked at Norfolk, ...
[Read More]

New model rocket for Christmas?
Did you get a new model rocket kit for Christmas? Check out these useful resources for beginners or recent returnees to model rockets: Stine’s Handbook of Model Rocketry is the book to read. The most recent edition is over a decade old, and even then some of it was a bit dated in some ...
[Read More]

Coming Up: AeroTech/Quest Chat with Charlie Savoie
I'm recording with The Rocketry Show right now. We're chatting with Charlie Savoie, General Manager of AeroTech - who recently merged with Quest AeroSpace. This show is going to be good - and there will be some exciting stuff coming from both Quest - for model rocketeers - and AeroTech - for mid ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes PSII Booster
    My son likes shooting off rockets, once in a while, but he’s not so big on building them. So for Christmas this year I thought I’d do some building for him. His favorite rocket these days is his Estes PSII Ascender, so one thing I picked out for him was the PSII B ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes Blenders (part 1)
The other one I picked out to build for my son was the Estes Blenders. Well, an Estes Blender. There are two in the kit, but I’m saving one for me. I decided to build one at a time, partly to make sure I had enough time to build one, and partly for an opportunity to…
[Read More]

Some adjustment required
Looks like I’ll have to make a few little updates to my end of year summary after all. Of course there’s that second Blender which as of now is in my build pile (but it’ll be ready for paint, probably, by New Year’s). And then for Christmas my sister gave mea Baby Bertha ...
[Read More]

Here we go!

[Read More]

SpaceX pr0n
SpaceX has some new photos of their Falcon 9 landing; this is my favorite but you can browse the others from there too. Wallpaper!
[Read More]

Silver

[Read More]

Data Acquisition
I finally got around to assembling a data acquisition system to measure chamber pressure inside my rocket motors, full details here.  
[Read More]

SpaceX ORBCOMM2 Paper Model
Now for all the paper model fans out there AXM has now released the paper models from the ORBCOMM2 flight. Both the 1st stage landing model and the Falcon 9 v 1.2 are reflected here. This looks like its going to be some fun builds. Unfortunately the build manual isn’t available yet but expect ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes Blenders (part 2)
Blender #2 is pretty much a rerun of Blender #1. One thing I did differently: It’s hard to sand the wood surfaces on these little parts after applying wood filler, so after using an emery board to sand the edges, I installed them back into the holes in the balsa sheet. (Is there a word ...
[Read More]

2016 contests and themes
The Syracuse Rocket Club 2016 calendar is up. In years past there’s been a theme and a contest for each launch. This year there are two contests each launch month — one varying, one the same every month. The idea is that by running the same contest every month, people will get a chance to ...
[Read More]

We're Back!
Ten days and no posts! My cruise shows went well. My ship cabin? Probably the worst accommodations ever. The Prinsendam is an older ship. While the guest rooms are routinely remodeled, in my room I felt like I was going back in time. Everything was old, worn and moldy. I did have a chance to hang ...
[Read More]

Overbuilding is underwhelming
Over on rocketrycenter.com, a thread introducing Binder Design’s very cool looking new Terrordactyl has veered off into a discussion on the relative merits of various materials and construction techniques. One user professed lack of interest because the Terrordactyl uses a cardboard tube and ...
[Read More]

Happy New Year...BANG! (Not sport rocketry...DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS YOURSELF!)
WARNING: This video was produced by them who you call experts and was supervised by professional firefighters, not just some yahoos with a garden spray bottle. Joerg Sprave's Slingshot Channel is one of my favorite YouTube channels, being filled with things that I shouldn't make or don't have the ...
[Read More]

Fun with 2016
Rocketry goals for 2016? Well… that’s a little more complicated this year, for various reasons. I may have to revise whatever goals I set now to reflect changing circumstances. But press on. Starting with repeats, modifications, or upgrades of goals for 2015, which were: Level 1 ...
[Read More]

So we order stuff…
Ordered a 3:1 2.6″ nosecone for the screech 38mm booster. Going to outfit it with a charge cannon and likely an RRC3.   Within the next week I’m going to order some chemicals and get this EX thing going. goal by the middle of Feb is to have a 38/240 to fire. goal by […]
[Read More]

Test of Archetype Rocketry's Cable Cutter
I bought Archetype Rocketry's clever and compact Cable Cutter a couple of years ago because it enables dual-deploy from a single volume.  After struggling to find it all day I finally ran the following test tonight: They recommend 0.1 ml of Pyrodex but all I have is black powder.  I could ...
[Read More]

Happy new buy
Because I was over my 2015 budget in that category, the last three months I didn’t spend anything on new kits or parts (for myself), aside from a portion of a small order from Estes which was driven by a need to buy Christmas gifts. Now it’s 2016. The embargo’s lifted. Not that ...
[Read More]

Some 3D printing success
Over the holiday break I got my CreatorBot 3D printer up and running again and completed the following in the last few days: On the left is the 3D V2 mark II with numerous improvements over my first design.  Unfortunately I still haven't built a lid for this large, open-top printer and you can ...
[Read More]

DIY Three Fin Marking Guide
I've made quite a few home made fin marking guides after some the kit supplied guides didn't fit.  Four fin guides are easy, wrap and fold into quarters.  Three fin guides are another story. A email from Mark reminded me of a technique I used years ago in the print shop when I set up ...
[Read More]

2016 Rocketry To-Do List
I walked into the Rocket Room today, and it hit me that I hadn't touched anything in there in maybe a week or more. The sun was streaming in through the windows, and it looks like my girlfriend tidied up in there a bit. It looks pretty in the sunlight. This is much cleaner ...
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Monthly Launch, December 2, 2016
After record breaking heat, today was cool. The forecast called for some wind so I didn't prep for altitude. The picture at the right was typical of the day. 53 flyers keep things busy. After a few good flights with my SPUDNIK , today it had a squirrelly boost with an A10-3t. Here's the Eric Truax ...
[Read More]

Model Profile - Estes Jinx or Vampire?
At the January ROCK launch somebody had an Estes RTF Jinx rocket. I remember seeing these for sale at WalMart a few years back. That Jinx design seemed familiar. Go back to the 1974 Estes catalog to see the new "Firing Line" series of plastic models. All three designs were molded in black, the ...
[Read More]

2015 Rocket Launch Slo Mo Supercut
Last year, I posted a video compilation of all the rocket launches I'd filmed up to that point, played in slow motion. I decided this will be an annual thing. I got less video than I wanted to, but that turns out to have been a blessing. They're not all my rockets - some are from the Rocket Camp ...
[Read More]

Is Quest Ill?
Is Quest ill? That question was posted by Blackshire on YORF. If you visit the Quest website ( CLICK HERE)  and click on most engine listings you get this message: "This item is currently Out of Stock and will be available soon!" Engines, Q2G2 igniters and launchers aren't in stock. Any ...
[Read More]

A Chat with Aerotech, Part 1
Season 2, Episode 7 of The Rocketry Show is up now, featuring our conversation with Charles Savoie, General Manager of Aerotech. This conversation was really great, and it was long enough - and informative enough - to make it a two-part show. We discuss Aerotech history a bit, plus some news of ...
[Read More]

Back To Work!
. . . on Odd'l Rockets projects anyway! I've been busy with other things lately. New Instructions for six MadCow Rocketry kits have been done. Between that and cruise ship shows, development of new products has taken a back seat! I hope to get back to the instructions for the new Break-Away and ...
[Read More]

Old timey space station concept art
Don't remember seeing this one before.
[Read More]

You ain't nuttin' but a Hound Dog

[Read More]

My First High Power Rocket
I've just purchased my first true high power rocket kit: the Aerobee 150A, by Mad Cow Rocketry, from JonRocket.com . My Estes Pro Series II rockets could technically be flown as high power rockets. Their 29mm motor mounts would allow me to install a small H motor. But they are generally considered ...
[Read More]

Who the heck is Tipu Sultan
A new installment in the “Who the heck is..” series   Tipu Sultan was the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He launched rockets against the oncoming British forces and their allies during their 1792 and 1799 Siege of Srirangapatna. He is considered a pioneer in rocketry warfare. His ...
[Read More]

Three for the price of one
http://spaceagebohemia.tumblr.com/post/136890042658
[Read More]

K185 = cable cutter test
I got a late start during morning last Saturday's actking because I could not find three important items and arrived at Holtville about 9:30AM. The AT 1417K185 did indeed fly... ...but there were several issues during prep and the primary reason for the flight, the cable cutter test, failed.   ...
[Read More]

N.E.F.A.R. Monthly Launch, January 9, 2016
Roger Smith drove me to the Bunnell, N.E.F.A.R. site at the Clegg Sod Farm. We saw low fog all the way there. The low ceiling kept most MPR and HPR flights grounded. Even some LPR rockets topped out in the fog, you couldn't see the ejections.There was no wind, some hoped for breeze to clear the ...
[Read More]

NYPower registration
Registration for NYPower 20 is now open. Geneseo, NY (near Rochester), Memorial Day weekend. I’m still not sure if I’ll be able to go. I have a cancelable hotel reservation and I’ve registered on the web site but I’m holding off on paying the launch fee for now. I hope to ...
[Read More]

Building the (scratch) Flat Boy (part 1)
Last month one day I went out for a walk and by the time I came back, I’d conceived and mostly designed out an odd-roc I wanted to build. One of our club’s members, James Shattell, is working on his Level 3 rocket, a 10x upscale of the Estes Fat Boy. 24″ diameter Sonotube body, ...
[Read More]

When Launches Don't Go As Planned - An Example of Post-Flight Analysis
If you build your rockets well and prepare them carefully for launch, most of your flights will go well. Sometimes, however, you will have flights which do not go as planned. Any number of things can happen - the recovery system (streamer, parachute, etc.) may fail to deploy. Fins may break off in ...
[Read More]

Calibrating our expectations...in 1969
(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Posted by The ...
[Read More]

NF-104 (updated)
I wanted to test a change I made to the way my blog posts appear on Google+... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_NF-104A http://altrocketdungeon.tumblr.com/post/131394323278/thetestpilots-nf-104-flown-by-chuck-yeager As an update: I thought I'd see if I can get something other than the MDRA ...
[Read More]

test
321
[Read More]

SpaceX new video from Orbcomm2
Here is a great new marketing style video from SpaceX containing newly released video footage from the Orbcomm2 flight and landing Also check out this great spreadsheet on the evolution of the Merlin engine  
[Read More]

URRF 3
That 3-day URRG launch in late June will in fact be URRF 3, it turns out. URRF is Upstate Research Rocketry Festival, which is put on by URRG, Upstate Research Rocketry Group, as a Tripoli research launch. (NAR members can fly commercial motors.) There were URRFs in 2013 and 2014. In 2015 URRG held ...
[Read More]

Little Joe II Available?
Yesterday on YORF, Brent posted: Now showing in stock.  http://www.estesrockets.com/coming-...7-little-joe-ii While still listed in the "Coming Soon" page, there is an "Add To Cart" button, But below that in red it says: ARRIVING MID JANUARY! It is mid January, maybe this is a day or two ...
[Read More]

New Estes Little Joe Instructions are Online!
I was surprised to find the new Little Joe II instruction PDF on the Estes website this morning: CLICK HERE It usually takes a while for new kit instructions to be posted. For all those waiting for their kit, this could be some good "pre-build" reading. Step 2 has you remove a 1/16" section from a ...
[Read More]

Stumpy
  So I’ve been kicking this idea around for a bit. I’d like to do smaller flight more frequently, and electronically. Tired of drilling, and hoping. And, EX. So a nosecone bay for single deploy is the perfect match. Building a new 54mm Booster for the Screech leaves me with an ...
[Read More]

Can a T-Rex fly? (what-if build idea)
I bought my grandson what I thought was a cool kit...a Makedo T-Rex  that was on a good sale. If you haven't seen the Makedo products, they consist of pre-printed and cut cardboard pieces and plastic screws that hold them together.  Assembly is easy as you proceed attaching all items ...
[Read More]

Model rocket sled on a railroad track
There is an interesting thread about this over on TRF. I've seen people attach model rocket engines to many things, but have never seen a model rocket sled that runs on a railroad. This is a great idea if you have access to an abandoned railroad line . You NEVER would want to mess with lines that ...
[Read More]

ROCK’s First Launch of 2016
ROCK’s first launch of 2016 was held on January 2 at the Barr Street launch site. Below is a short video I made of the day’s launches.  
[Read More]

JASON-3 SpaceX Launch and the Paper Model
If all goes well SpaceX will launch today. Space-X Press Release: “With this mission, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will deliver the Jason-3 satellite to low-Earth orbit for the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), ...
[Read More]

Jolly Logic Chute Release Owners Manual
Courtesy of Randy at asp-rocketry.com -  You can see the new Jolly Logic Chute Release Owners Manual: CLICK HERE This is a game changer!
[Read More]

New Estes Mercury Redstone Kit Run
I had heard that Estes corrected the decals on the Mercury Redstone kit. I saw the new kit run yesterday at Hobby Lobby. The face card is now a black background, much like the Saturn V (#2157) and new Little Joe II. The vertical UNITED STATES decal looks to be a darker red, the plastic capsule and ...
[Read More]

Little Joe II Unboxing
On TRF, George Gassaway posted a link to the Little Joe II "un-boxing". James Duffy (RocketAero.com) opens the box and narrates. To see the video, CLICK HERE At 11:20 the large water slide roll pattern decal is shown. This is a big decal wrap and might be  difficult to apply. Mr. Duffy remarks ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Dragon 2 hover test

[Read More]

The BIG FIX, Quest Magnum Engine Mount
  Here's the carnage after my Quest Magnum launch a few months back. On the far left you can see the two engine cluster mount, still tethered by the Kevlar line. Moving to the right is the Quest kit parachute, a clean break, torn in half! Five of the six shroud lines were still ...
[Read More]

PSA: Do not try to catch rockets
Most clubs have a rule that people should not try to catch rockets coming down under 'chute. Rockets under power are worse.
[Read More]

obviously
So then I ordered a Mongoose 75 FG. This should be interesting. In other news, my Al, RIO, R45, DOA, and curative showed up today… woot!
[Read More]

An example of active instabilty
http://altrocketdungeon.tumblr.com/post/137851954793/usafraptorpilot-i-want-one
[Read More]

Blue Origin’s Launch.Land.Repeat. Video
Blue Origin continues to push SpaceX’s buttons. Its like comparing apples to oranges since all of Blue Origin’s flights have been sub-orbital. It wasn’t long after Blue Origin’s first successful launch and land that SpaceX completed their first landing. Now Blue Origin has ...
[Read More]

Blue Origin...launched and landed...again
I almost posted an image showing the flight profile vs. the Falcon 9 that landed at the Cape last month. But then I thought, "Why?" Both are great accomplishments.
[Read More]

A rocket sled that looks like an actual sled

[Read More]

MDRA Christmas Tree Launch 2016

[Read More]

NEFAR’s January 9, 2016, Launch
If you were to pick one word to describe NEFAR’s January, 2016, launch, the word would be “foggy.” It was foggy in the morning and it remained foggy until the early afternoon. Because of the weather, we were mostly limited … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Estes Little Joe II Kit Observations
It's going to be a bit before I assemble the new Estes Little Joe. I know there'll be plenty of build threads, JeffyJeep has already started his on TRF. Two things I did notice opening the box - When I picked up the kit box, things were sliding around inside. You could hear the body tube hitting ...
[Read More]

Totally awesome 600+ psi water rocket launcher from Air Command

[Read More]

Ram Air Induction Stabilized rockets
This is a new class of finless rockets being pioneered by Ken ECoyote on TRF .  The short one was stable, the middle wobbled and the bottom skywrote. All-in-all, a successful first experiment. I see one of these in my future.
[Read More]

Q2G2 Cluster Ignition Questions?
On TRF, "ActingLikeAKid" asked why the Estes Pro Series Igniters were called "Sonic". Later in the thread, "Samb" posted a video link to the NARAM 56 Manufacturer's Forum. This was recorded a year and a half back. Bill Stine talked about Q2G2 igniter availability. His explanation tells why they ...
[Read More]

A Chat with Aerotech, Part 2
Part 2 of our conversation with Charles Savoie of Aerotech is now on The Rocketry Show. Also, CG, Gheem and I discuss an exciting rocketry project I witnessed a couple weeks ago - a finless, gimbal-stabilized rocket, which attempts to land under motor thrust, just like the SpaceX and Blue Origin ...
[Read More]

FAR January 2016
I had planned to launch a 4″ rocket on a 3″ motor with 34″ of propellant, however the clouds were hovering around 18,000′ (well below the expected altitude) so I opted to static fire the motor hooked up to my data acquisition system. Motor burned well but longer than ...
[Read More]

Finally flying after a hiatus of a couple of months...
It would seem that no matter how much I try to practice moderation in my hobby, I end up burning out. I pretty much stopped doing rocketry-related things around Thanksgiving, and am just now reviving my enthusiasm for flying and building. Flying is easier, so that's what happened today. The ...
[Read More]

The rocket's perspective...
Rocket videos go by so fast in real time; it takes stepping through frame by frame to uncover the neat stuff. I really liked the onboard video from today's RX-16 flight - the colors reminded me of the old Cineroc movies. So here are a few frames from that video; I hope you enjoy them! Near apogee ...
[Read More]

Testing the Jolly Logic Chute Release
A few months back John Beans at Jolly Logic announced he was working on a new product - a device that could release a parachute at a specified altitude without using explosive charges, called the Chute Release . He posted updates on his progress to the Internet, and I found myself keenly interested ...
[Read More]

The Commander Thinks Aloud
A podcast I really enjoy is called Song Exploder. In it, musicians pick apart the recordings of songs to explain how they were created, and you get to hear how the song was developed, track by track. For the anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster (February 1, 2003), I present you my ...
[Read More]

February 2, in Bonaire!
A ship letter to family and friends -  This has turned out to be a LONG one. I perform on Friday, seven days after meeting the ship. Yeah, it's interesting. Some cruises have you perform the day you arrive. Typical of Holland America tho - 7 to 10 days, one or two shows. In Bonaire today, ...
[Read More]

Repairing and Enhancing the Quest Magnum Sport Loader - Part 1
As a member of the National Association of Rocketry , I regularly get an email newsletter - The Electronic Rocketeer - from Ted Cochran, president of the NAR. In the most recent edition, sent out on January 31, Ted addressed the issue of repairs and safety. "While it can be a badge of honor to put ...
[Read More]

Rocket finishing 101

[Read More]

A chilly launch
The Falcon Rocketeers had scheduled a practice today at noon, which provided an opportunity for me to a launch a few members of the fleet. At first, the weather seemed almost perfect - slight overcast, very little wind, and temps in the upper 40's. However, as the day drew on, the wind strengthened ...
[Read More]

2016 Estes catalog
http://www.estesrockets.com/media//catalogs/Estes_2016_Catalog.pdf Coming in March, it says: Puma, Skill Level 3, mini engine. In May, a BT-60 Nike Smoke, Supernova (both Skill Level 2) and Estes Shuttle (Skill Level 5, parachute/glide recovery). In June, Apollo 11 Saturn V (4″ diameter, ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V!
Look at a couple of the upcoming selections from the new Estes catalog ! Like my Facebook page for blog updates and extra stuff.
[Read More]

Repairing and Enhancing the Quest Magnum Sport Loader - Part 2: Verifying Stability
Click here for Part 1 . In Part 1, I cut the damaged portion of the Quest Magnum Sport Loader off, shortening the airframe by about 1 3/4 inch. The rocket now looks good, despite being shorter, and because I drilled some static ports - vent holes for a barometric altimeter - into the fat payload ...
[Read More]

Estes 2016 Catalog Online
The new Estes 2016 Catalog is online! To see it, CLICK HERE Upcoming new products include a BT-60 based Nike Smoke and the Estes Shuttle. The "Apollo 11" Saturn V is scheduled to be re-released in June, this time with E12-4 or E30-4 power. This Saturn V has plastic fins, a big improvement over ...
[Read More]

New Paper Model: AXM’s NROL-45 at 1-96 scale
Looking for a new build? AXM just posted the 1-96 scale of the NROL-45. United Launch Alliance launched its Delta IV rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Feb 10, 2016 carrying a classified radar imaging satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. ...
[Read More]

Star Wars . . .
I finally went to see the newest Star Wars movie. I know, about time, right? At my age I don't feel a need to camp out for the Midnight premiere. I wasn't blown away. It was nice to see some of the old characters and the old Millennium Falcon. Chewbacca had some grey hair. The location shots were ...
[Read More]

A couple of things I just noticed
A couple of things I just noticed: On the Estes web site there is a Little Joe II plastic parts set: http://www.estesrockets.com/rockets…astic-parts-set and a Mercury Redstone capsule plastic parts set: http://www.estesrockets.com/rockets…e-plastic-parts. Great for those who di ...
[Read More]

Removable Launch Lug - TIP
I finally finished up the "kit that never was", the AVI Nike Tomahawk. After I thought it was done I realized I had forgotten the launch lug. This model build seemed cursed from day one. I didn't want to fill, prime, scrape the tube paint and glue on a lug. Here's an old idea I probably saw in an ...
[Read More]

FAR February 2016
Perfect flying conditions this past weekend, full report here.
[Read More]

Mercury and Apollo Capsules and Towers from Estes
From YORF, Rich Holmes found this on the Estes website: Mercury Capsule Parts - CLICK HERE Little Joe II Capsules - CLICK HERE Looks like we can all build the Mercury Little Joe II from the old Enerjet News! CLICK HERE Last year I bought some golf tees to use as recruit motors! I wouldn't be ...
[Read More]

NEFAR Launch February 13, 2016
I only flew two rockets at yesterdays N.E.F.A.R. launch! NEFAR runs a very smooth operation. After LPR launches you watch the MPR and HPR launches. You recovery your rockets, grab another and get in line. I'm not complaining, it's great to see so many new young people there. The eleven pads were ...
[Read More]

Repair day...
Probe-18 fin can, showing some of the damage (click to enlarge). Back on September 5, my scratch built Probe-18 rocket suffered damage on its maiden flight. The payload section, carrying two altimeters, snapped back just after ejection, whacking one of the basswood fins, thereby causing a partial ...
[Read More]

Nike / Evader?
Sometimes the burst mode on a cheaper camera can distort the images. That's why so many of my posted launch shots haven't cleared the launcher. On the left is my MPC / Quest Nike Smoke on a Quest B6-4. And yes, it was going up at that angle! Later I had to get it out of a tree. I thought the fin ...
[Read More]

My NSL project...
At the end of May/beginning of June of each year, HARA and the Music City Missile Club (MC squared) hold our biggest annual launch, Southern Thunder. However, this year it's going to be different; for the first time in many, many moons, we are going to host a national event, the National ...
[Read More]

Colorcombos.com
From a Rocketry Forum post, some food for thought regarding color choices: dixontj93060   . . . "others may be like me and have a hard time deciding on what colors might look good on your rocket. I have picked a few that clash pretty drastically. To help us "color c ...
[Read More]

NEFAR’s February 2016 Launch
NEFAR held its monthly launch on February 13. The Valentine’s Day Eve event was held under clear blue skies. A record crowd (for February) lined the launch site. Below is a video of the launch recorded from an “Eye in … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Throwback Thursday Pic 1
Here's an old picture from the mid 1970s. This is a convention, display model I built for AVI (Aerospace Vehicles Incorporated) It's the old MPC Nike Patriot. What's so interesting about this picture . . . maybe not the rocket. I took this shot with the rocket set on our living room ottoman. The ...
[Read More]

Back to the HAL Oosterdam
The last cruise shows went very well. I called my agent the day I got back home to give a report. A half hour later I had a return engagement, this time from February 19 - 29. So . . . If there is free Internet at a port, I'll do a post or two.  Back to normal on March 1! This cruise is the ...
[Read More]

Estes isn’t the only one
North Coast Rocketry also has a new catalog for 2016 (PDF).  
[Read More]

Tacky "Inn Of Tomorrow"
I visit a few other rocketry blogs each day. On Wayne Hill's "The Rocketry Blog" he posted some pictures of space based hotels called: "Family Road Trips In The Space Age." To see the post, CLICK HERE On picture postcard caught my eye - These two hotels were right on the border roads of Disneyland. ...
[Read More]

Sims, Chute Releases and New Books on The Rocketry Show!
The latest episode of The Rocketry Show is now up ! We started off talking about repairs and stability, then veered off into talking about rocket simulators - OpenRocket and RockSim. I was worried I talked CG and Gheem's ears off, but the episode turned out pretty good. We've been on a roll with ...
[Read More]

SpaceX SES-9 Launch Info
Launch postponed for today Team opting to hold launch for today. Looking to try again tomorrow; window also opens at 6:46pm ET. Rocket and spacecraft remain healthy. -SpaceX “SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will deliver SES-9, a commercial communications satellite for SES, to a Geostationary ...
[Read More]

Throwback Thursday Pic 2
Here's a picture of the first time I saw Vern Estes in person. This goes back to 1975 at NARAM 17 in Orlando, Florida. Mr. Estes walked into the room and you could hear the whispering: "Hey look, Vern Estes is here." I felt like I was seeing a real celebrity. This was back when he had a full beard ...
[Read More]

B-21 bomber revealed
The B-21 bomber, formerly the Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) is a proposed long-range strategic bomber for the United States Air Force, intended to be a heavy-payload stealth aircraft capable of carrying thermonuclear weapons. Initial capability is expected in the mid-2020s. A request for ...
[Read More]

Repairing and Enhancing the Quest Magnum Sport Loader - Part 3: Fixing the Sim Part A
The shortened simulation of the rocket shows stability to be marginal - only 0.627 caliber. Below, we fix that. Click here for Part 1 This is kind of an addendum to the previous two posts on repairing the Quest Magnum Sport Loader and then verifying its flightworthiness. The actual model is ...
[Read More]

Saturday morning rockets...
Liberty launches a TARC rocket on a practice flight Earlier this week, I was suffering through a cold; today, after some decent rest, I felt well enough to join Duane for a trip out to Pegasus field and watch some TARC practice. Nate was out there with his Liberty teams, and they had already put a ...
[Read More]

Back
Back from NARCON, minus a few Jacksons.
[Read More]

NARCON in pictures
So I had a good time at NARCON, but I’m not going to write much about it here just now because I’m putting together a presentation for next week’s club meeting. I’ll post that here afterwards. But for a sneak peek, here’s a Flickr album of about 150 pictures from the ...
[Read More]

Classic V-2 OOPS!
http://froggy2nite.tumblr.com/post/140309398924/enrique262-v-2-vergeltungswaffe-2-rocket-test
[Read More]

Klima Instruction PDFs
I found the Klima Facebook page, some interesting things there. To see it, CLICK HERE While the Edition L kit has the Klima name on it, it looks like it is made from Quest parts. The instructions are online - CLICK HERE The illustrations are in both German and English. Many of the illustrations ...
[Read More]

Georgia Rockets In The Sky (GRITS) 2016
For the third year in a row, JonRocket.com is attending GRITS as a vendor. GRITS is a regional launch sponsored by by SoAR (Southern Area Rocketry), a National Association of Rocketry section, serving Atlanta and North Georgia. The launch site for … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Throwback Thursday Pic 3
Here's another picture from NARAM 17, 1975 in Orlando, Florida. That's the Centuri booth. Behind the table is Bob DelPrincipe, one of the Centuri designers. The sign says: "Pre-Production Super Kits". The guy in the red shirt might be   John   Langford , he's now President and Chairman ...
[Read More]

Spot Sand and Polish TIP
Sometimes after the paint dries you'll find a raised speck of dust or a small blob of paint. Sure, you could sand it all down and shoot it a second time, but you run the risk of it happening again. Here's how I take them down and polish them out. When I first started building rockets, the finest ...
[Read More]

SES-9 Paper Model
Thanks to the always quick and excellent work of Alfonso over at AXM Paper Space Scale Models. The SES-9 Paper Model is now available. Follow this link to the site with the download and instructions
[Read More]

Of Rockets and Werewolves...
Another nice day, which means more TARC practice and flying at Pegasus field. Today was also the first HARA launch of the year up at the Manchester sod farm, but Duane and I opted to stay in town so we could support the teams at Pegasus. March is crunch month for TARC, and our teams need all the ...
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K, March 5, 2016
You couldn't ask for better weather and a well run launch. There was party cloudy skies and winds from 5 to 10 mph. First up for me was the Estes QUINSTAR with a C6-3. There was a fast spin during boost to about 150'. At apogee the model didn't flip over and spun slow during descent. Next up was ...
[Read More]

Update
Building slowly continues. Wildman Extreme has begun. CR’s sanded to fit the MMT. Aeropack installed. 1.7 pounds chopped off the front of the booster tube.   Screech 54mm booster is currently getting fillets of 4500 laid.   Dual 29mm Optima rings have been cut, and the lower ones ...
[Read More]

IXS Enterprise
Harold White is an applied physicist and team lead at the Advanced Propulsion Team of NASA. Among his areas of study have been the Alcubierre “warp drive” that one day could mirror Star Trek. As part of a recent presentation he used some incredible graphics that gave homage to Star ...
[Read More]

Model Rocketry Magazine Letter From 1971
Lonnie B. brought a collection of old Model Rocketry magazines to a recent launch. He picked up a dozen issues for $10.00 on EBAY. In the early 1970s the magazine was included with your NAR membership. I mentioned to Lonnie I had a letter to the editor printed in an issue. A quick search and we ...
[Read More]

NARCON 2016 Video Presentations Online
On the Rocketry Center Forum, Rich Holmes posted video links to the NARCON sessions:  CLICK HERE That link will take you to the manufacturers session. Questions about Quest Chinese engines and Q2G2 igniter supply are answered at about 24:35 in. Gary also mentions Aerotech composite A, B and C ...
[Read More]

NARCON summary
Here’s the slides I did for my presentation at list night’s club meeting about my weekend at NARCON: NARCON 2016_g (PDF file)
[Read More]

FSI Viking 3
I was on the FSI Facebook page - CLICK HERE and came across a picture of the Viking 3 kit tubes. I never owned one of these kits but was curious about them. These tubes look like they were cut on a band saw! Pretty rough and could be cleaned up with a sanding block. Still, if I received these ...
[Read More]

Throwback Thursday Pic 4
That's me, getting a Mars Snooper ready for flight in the early 1970s. You'd think I would comb my hair for a picture. I did have hair back then. I don't know why I picked those colors for the Snooper, blues and purples. Not my best choice. My mother took this picture. We would drive onto our ...
[Read More]

How much for a ring?
Frodo had it lucky. For him the One Ring only cost him a finger. For rocketeers, one ring can cost an arm and a leg. Let’s suppose you need a centering ring to go from BT-50 to BT-55. Just one, or more precisely, one more than you have in your stash. You have a few…
[Read More]

Krylon Crystal Clear?
Krylon spray paints are not what they were in the mid 1970s. There's different formulations now, some colors are not compatible with other colors.   Some clear acrylics will yellow with age after exposure to sunlight or other UV light. Krylon Acrylic Clear Coats are still good though -  ...
[Read More]

NEFAR Launch?
I didn't make it to the N.E.F.A.R. launch in Bunnell, FL yesterday. Plenty of rockets, a chair and snacks were packed. I got on I/4 just outside of downtown Orlando, hoping to drive North. Orlando is in the process of rebuilding 1/4, something they are calling 1/4 Ultimate. Construction slowed ...
[Read More]

Old MRN Idea Box, June 1963
Mojo1986 (Joe) is sellng some old Estes Model Rocket News issues on Ebay. Here's an "Idea Box" post from the June 1963 issue. I recently used this launch lug wrap piece after realizing I forgot to glue on a launch lug on the AVI Nike Tomahawk. Here they use a wrap of stiff paper. I used a split ...
[Read More]

They arrive
2.6″ Madcow Screech, 54/2550 case 54/1200, 54/1050, 54/1600, 54/1750 (nozzle), and 54/2550. Bulkhead and nozzle from Dan Patell. Sitting on a hell of a lineup now for 54mm. Considering one and two grain cases, and very likely a 76/2400 soonish.
[Read More]

Throwback Thursday Pic 5
Here's another shot from NARAM 17 in 1975. That's Vern Estes test firing an engine in a thrust measuring device. He designed it, the company was under Gleda's name. Putting it under his wife's name might have had something to do with a "No Compete" clause with Damon. Just a guess on my part. The ...
[Read More]

Repairing and Enhancing the Quest Magnum Sport Loader - Part 4: Fixing the Sim Part B
Click here for Part 1 In the last post , we removed all the Center of Gravity (CG) and mass or weight overrides on the simulation of our rocket. Now we have to find the CG and total weight of the actual model, so we can get a more accurate simulation to use. This will help us figure out what ...
[Read More]

Astron Sprint XL (Clone) - Finished!
I'm taking a break from my series on repairs, simulations, etc. - all the good stuff I got from the failed flight of the Quest Magnum Sport Loader - to show off my new rocket. After months of working in tiny increments on a bunch of rockets, I finally finished one - the Estes Astron Sprint XL. This ...
[Read More]

Old MRN Idea Box, Feb. 1965
Mojo1986 (Joe) is sellng some old Estes Model Rocket News issues on Ebay. Here's an "Idea Box" post from the Feb. 1965 issue. I have pretty good luck cutting body tubes, I usually won't end up with the "rough cut" shown on the left. Using a coupler to stiffen up the end is a good idea, especially ...
[Read More]

Madcow Bomarc Build, Part 1, Parts
This will be a fun build. I've always liked the Bomarc design ever since I had the Estes Citation Bomarc in the mid 1970s. I picked up that kit at the Estes factory. This is a very heavy duty model. The centering rings are die-cut plywood.  The fins are laser cut from basswood. The parachute ...
[Read More]

ROCK’s March Launch Video
Below is the video I created of the March, 2016, ROCK launch in Oviedo, FL. I used a DJI Phantom 3 Professional quadcopter to record aerial footage of the launches and edited them together using Adobe Premiere.
[Read More]

Madcow Bomarc Build, Part 2, Parts Prep
I usually dress up the parts before construction. This involves squaring up the edges and filling nose cone seams. The burnt edges of the laser cut fins (wings) were squared up with 220 grit on a sanding block. Most laser cut parts are cut at a slight angle. The laser cut line on top is narrow, the ...
[Read More]

Madcow Bomarc Build, Part 3, Engine Mount
The assembly of the motor mount is standard, but heavier duty. The engine hook got a few wraps of electrical tape. The rear plywood centering ring is notched for engine hook movement. The forward ring has a notch on the outside for the braided Kevlar. Here's a drawing I did for the new Madcow ...
[Read More]

Fiddles and Fenders, Design Inspiration
People wonder where designs come from. Fin shapes and color schemes are usually inspired by something seen before. I read about this one online and had to try it for myself. The "F" holes on violins are an interesting shape. There are some who think the shape came from a carefully peeled orange ...
[Read More]

Madcow Bomarc Build, Part 4, Fin Assembly
All the fin and wing assembly pieces are squared up with a sanding block. Study the picture below to see how the parts fit together. There are three rectangular pieces, the longest one goes between the rear of the wing and the stabilizer. The two shorter rectangular pieces are used on the ramjet ...
[Read More]

Cygnus OA-6
Last night’s Cygnus OA-6 Launch Cygnus OA-6 blasted off last night atop an Atlas V rocket carrying nearly 7500 pounds of supplies for the ISS. This is the second launch on an AtlasV since the explosion of the Antares in 2014. The next Cygnus launch is planned to once again return to the ...
[Read More]

Madcow Bomarc Build, Part 5, Wing and Fin Gluing
The tied shock cord is rolled up and stuffed into the engine mount tube. The engine mount was glued into the rear of the body tube. Both tube ends are flush. The main tube has been marked down its length for gluing on the wing assembly. While the wing assembly glue dries, mark the tube for the two ...
[Read More]

Throwback Thursday Pic 6
Here's a meeting of the Watsonville Area Rocketeers, probably in 1976. I'm the tall guy in the middle. We launched two miles from the city airport. I'd call the airport in the morning of a launch and let them know. Back then I produced a two sided, one page newsletter called the "Flypaper". I ...
[Read More]

CTI Fire
There was apparently an explosion and fire at the Cesaroni Technology, Inc. plant in Gormley, Ontario. Cesaroni is one of the major manufacturers of composite mid- and high power rocket motors. A couple of injuries were reported, and one person was airlifted to a hospital in Toronto. Hopefully ...
[Read More]

Cessaroni (CTI) Explosion
From http://rocketn00b.blogspot.com Two injured in Stouffville-area business explosion, fire One victim airlifted to Toronto hospital To see the newspaper report, CLICK HERE 
[Read More]

Madcow Bomarc Build, Part 6, Making The Conduit
Two of the long balsa strips are glued together, side by side. After drying, cut the two glued pieces to 19 3/4" long. In the picture on the right that part is on the bottom. From the remaining balsa strip,  cut two pieces 7 1/2" long. Glue these two side by side. Glue them onto the longer ...
[Read More]

Madcow Bomarc Build, Part 7, Rounding The Conduit Ends
Mark both the front and back end 1 1/2" from the ends. The first rough cuts were made with a knife. Don't round over the ends yet, just sand the side profile. After the sides are tapered and even then round the top. Here's the finished front and back. Round over the edges down the entire length of ...
[Read More]

Shuttle Mock-up Scrapped
An email from Manuel Mejia, Jr.  Now I have seen just about everything on the road: Off SR 528 just before you reach the Indian River to go to Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach on Merritt Island, there is a marine junkyard.  Resting at the site is a tour ship that used to travel the St ...
[Read More]

Adeptors!I
These are newly made Adeptors going to JonRocket.com. They're a handmade item and one of the hardest accessories to make up. The large bolts are cut in two and filed until the bottom is flat and square. The side hole is drilled and tapped. The tightening screw is cut to size and fitted to the ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2016-1 (NARHAMS)
Location: NARHAMS/Ag Center Weather: sunny, mid 50's, the wind was very mild Total flights: Today - 10; YTD - 10 Total motors: Today - 10; YTD - 10 Motors by class YTD: MMX-1, C-3, D-1, E-1, F-2, G-2 Before reporting on today's frivolity, I ask you to please pray for   Jeroen  Louwers, ...
[Read More]

Centuri Day...
Much has been going on lately - this year's TARC season is coming to a close, and there have been lots of flights made as the deadline nears. Unfortunately, I haven't been up for blogging - I was hit by a bout of bronchitis, which took me out for a few days, and recovery has been slow. However, the ...
[Read More]

Madcow Bomarc Build, Part 8, Conduit and Nose Cone Work
Here's the front and back end views with the conduit glued on. In the upper picture there is a slight gap on the conduit sides. This will take a few fillets of Titebond M&TG. The rear picture shows the tapered conduit fit around the base of the rudder. Now the model is looking like the Bomarc. ...
[Read More]

Cheap Egg Nose Cones and Payload Section
Happy Easter Today - These go on sale tomorrow! Cheap, smooth, bulbous payload nose cones. While you can't usually find a body tube that fits the upper half, glue a coupler on the bottom to match whatever body tube you have. Your model could end up looking something like the Quest Courier...
[Read More]

It begins
Shake, rattle and spray: Those weren’t the rockets I was going to paint first. First I grabbed the Mini Max which has been waiting patiently for its second primer coat since last summer. And this is what I found. Jeez, what did I use to glue that paper to the fins… hairspray? (I think I ...
[Read More]

Madcow Bomarc Build, Part 9, Gorilla Glue and Nose Cone Weight
I read about the old style brown Gorilla Glue on the forums. Somebody mentioned using it for gluing nose weight in plastic nose cones. If I could find that forum post I would certainly give name credit. Some nose cone plastic is waxy, most glues won't stick to it. The Gorilla Glue seems to work. ...
[Read More]

Repairing and Enhancing the Quest Magnum Sport Loader - Part 5: Finishing the Sim
Click here for Part 1 of the series Click here to start with Part A of the rocket simulation part of the series A Few More Details We found the true weight and Center of Gravity (CG) of our rocket in the last part , and input that information into our simulation. I just have a few more details to ...
[Read More]

TARC Saturday...
It's a good thing that the weather was wonderful this past Saturday, because Duane and I spent 7 hours - from 9 AM to 4 PM - at Pegasus Field working with the local TARC teams. Eight made an appearance; 3 from Liberty Middle (2 8th grade teams and 1 group of 7th graders), 2 from Buckhorn (Team Gold ...
[Read More]

Estes Goblin - Finished!
The Goblin is a classic Estes kit. I believe they used to send it as a free gift when people ordered a certain amount of stuff. The Goblin had been out of production for years, and was brought back as a clone by Semroc. Due probably to the popularity of the Goblin, Estes re-released their kit, so ...
[Read More]

Making Rockets Last Longer?
On TRF, DrumGuy89 posted the question: "I have been lurking around the forum gathering info for sometime, I enjoy building rockets and spend a lot of time and attention on my models. I would like to hear your tips and advice on how to increase the durablitiy of our prized rockets. Not too worried ...
[Read More]

Madcow Bomarc Finishing Break
I assembled the Madcow Bomarc three months ago when I was drawing up the instructions. Finishing got as far as a white undercoat and some smooth sanding. In Florida we've had rain every afternoon so I haven't been able to paint. We'll finish it up soon!
[Read More]

MegaGyroc on makezine.com
You don’t often read “M1419”, “two K1100s”, and “Estes Gyroc” in the same article. (From makezine.com.)
[Read More]

Little Joe II Adhesive Tips?
Some builder's have had problems gluing together the different plastics in the new Estes Little Joe II kit. John Pursley (www.accur8.com) has put together a page of gluing tips. CLICK HERE Different glues are needed for different plastics. John has the answers! John has also produced some very ...
[Read More]

Two Rocketry Projects for Dads and Experimenters
I love these two rocketry ideas. Mainly because they are new and innovative. I wish I would have thought of these but I didn’t. The first is from SonicDadDotCom and is a twist to water rockets. and here is a second idea from NightHawkInLight using rubbing alcohol as the propellant. I could ...
[Read More]

DIY Igniter Coating
From the NAR Facebook page, Steve Taylor writes: "After 15 failed igniters yesterday, they are getting the FFFF treatment. Funny how they work like the old igniters with the black tips now. I hope Estes is fixing this little problem." That's DAP Rapidfuse glue and FFFF Black Powder. This could be ...
[Read More]

Blue Origin's New Shepard, flight three
"New Shepard flew again on April 2, 2016 reaching an apogee of 339,178 feet or 103 kilometers. It was the third flight with the same hardware. We pushed the envelope on this flight, restarting the engine for the propulsive landing only 3,600 feet above the ground, requiring the BE-3 engine to start ...
[Read More]

At season's end...
Jurassic TARC preps their final flight of the season (Click to enlarge). Today saw the last of this year's TARC qualification flights at Pegasus field - tomorrow is the deadline for all scores at TARC HQ.  Pope John Paul II's Jurassic TARC and the Grissom High team each finished their 3 ...
[Read More]

Playing With the Flight Simulation
You can generate an image of your rocket in flight in the Photo Studio in OpenRocket. Now that we've run a first simulation using Estes C6-5 motors, let's try a couple things. What if I'd built the rocket without streamlining the fins? What might the altitude difference be? I'll go back to the ...
[Read More]

Fin Alignment? TIP
From the NAR Facebook page: Paul Shepardson writes: Perpendicular (straight) fins pretty much all the time.. a straight toothpick glued thru the diameter of a spent motor.... So simple...
[Read More]

Thousand Oaks "Model Rocket" Accident
A tragic story has been reported in the L.A. Times . Two teenagers were injured, one badly, at Thousand Oaks school, when a rocket exploded. Bernard Moon. Image from the local ABC affiliate. Update : One student, 18-year-old Bernard Moon, was critically injured, and has since died. News coverage ...
[Read More]

Build It Yourself - Rocket Cradle
Recently, on The Rocketry Show Podcast Facebook discussion group , someone asked about a photo. CG, one of the hosts of the show, was presenting at NARCON 2016, and needed pictures of me and of Gheem, the other host, recording the podcast. CG posted our pictures on the discussion group. Someone in ...
[Read More]

Blue Bird Zero motor tube
On YORF, Solomoriah reports a surprise when building a new Semroc Blue Bird One: The engine tube is supposed to be a BT-50J, 2.75″ long, but the one in the kit is much longer. I forgot to measure it, but it’s either a 9″ piece or the 7″ (or so) main tube for an Alpha.…
[Read More]

Landed it
Great launch and great landing.
[Read More]

Space X's CRS-8 successfully landed on the drone ship!

[Read More]

TARC 2016 Top 101
TARC 2016 Top 101 finalist were announced on Friday. Congratulations to all of the teams that qualified. Full list can be accessed here
[Read More]

Estes Model Rocketry Technical Manual
I notice this has appeared recently under “What’s New” on the Estes site: 002819 – Estes Model Rockerty Technical Manual Description Welcome to the exciting world of ESTES model Rocketry! This 46 page technical manual (in English, Spanish and French) provides both an ...
[Read More]

SLOWER!!
Hi, all. Sorry for the lag but I've been in Swift /iOS app programming mode for work since January so XCode overrides blog authoring time when I return home.  I had planned to attend Lucerne today but it was cancelled due to inclement weather.  I vow to catch up soon and owe: February ...
[Read More]

NEFAR Launch, Bunnell, FL, April 9, 2016
A two day NEFAR Half-Blast event! Two different banks of launchers were set up, the East range for LPR, the away West range for MPR and HPR. This is an  efficient  system for what could be very busy days. I haven't flown for over a month, I prepped quite a few. Warm but not hot. The wind ...
[Read More]

Flight of the MegaGyroc
I have always been a fan of the Gyroc. If you see me at a launch at some point in the day I was likely to fly one. Back in the first year of this blog I wrote a post ...
[Read More]

Ebay - The One That Got Away!
I vowed NOT to buy any more kits until I make a real dent in the build pile.  That could take a few years! This one did catch my attention. A Vashon Valkyrie. This was the equivalent of the Valkyrie 2, the longer of the original two models offered. While the listing said it was partially ...
[Read More]

Deep Space Industries
If you watched the ScyFy channels “The Expanse” or read “Leviathan Wakes” you can probably relate to the upcoming technologies that will one day lead to mining colonies. Although that seems far into the future there are already companies that … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Rockets at the White House Science Fair
Astronaut Cady Coleman, center and members of TARC Team Rock-It of Durham, North Carolina.
[Read More]

Estes Snap-On Tools Rocket?
Here's one I saw on Craig's List. This promotional starter kit was made for the Snap-On tool company. I don't see what rockets have to do with hand tools. It looks recent, like a stretch version of the current Athena model using the newer Estes slide-in fins and fin can. At first I thought this ...
[Read More]

Non Newtonian rocketry
The good folks at AirCommand demonstrate that, in rocketry, Newton is your friend.
[Read More]

NEFAR’s April “Half-Blast” 2016 Launch
NEFAR’s two-day “Half-Blast” took place the weekend of April 9-10. Under beautiful blue skies, rockets took flight both days. Here are some videos and links to still photos of the launch. Still Photographs Jimmy Yawn (NEFAR.net) Aerial Video Rick Boyette’s … Continue ...
[Read More]

Worst Body Tube Ever!
Where's today's Hi-Flier XL post? I screwed up and nobody noticed. I went from post 14 to post 16, skipping post 15. Post 15 is below, that's today's post. That and this one. I was putting away the extra tubes from a Estes Monarch kit-bash. I found this one! This is how it came from Estes, from a ...
[Read More]

SLI launch day...
Today is the launch day for the NASA Student Launch Initiative (SLI). I really wish I could be out there on the field at Bragg Farms - not only will there be a lot of unique high power rockets taking to the air, but there will also be several big name members of the National Association of ...
[Read More]

New Paper Rockets: Jolly Roger and MicroMax
Here are a few new paper rockets for your enjoyment. Both of these are created by John Dawson. Both are based on the Der Red Max and both require BT5 nose cones or you can use the paper BT5s provided on … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Launch Report 2016-2 (NARHAMS)
Location: NARHAMS/Mt Airy Weather: mid-60's, sunny, wind <5mph, mas o menos Total flights: Today - 12; YTD - 22 Total motors: Today - 12; YTD - 22 Motors by class YTD: MMX-1, A-2, B-2, C-7, D-2, E-4, F-2, G-2 The theme of the launch was a Carl McLawhorn/SEMROC tribute, so I brought six of them. ...
[Read More]

Reminds you of anything?

[Read More]

New / Old Kit Prototype
Here's a recent build still in the flight testing phase. Anyone who was around in the late 1970s through early 1980s will recognize the F-16 from the Centuri Fighter Fleet series. The fins in the Centuri kit were die-cut fiberboard. This model has 3/32" balsa fins. I made a cardstock canopy, the ...
[Read More]

The fastest MagLev rocket sled you'll ever see
Well, until they launch it again. The US Air Force's 846th Test Squadron, located at Holloman AFB, beat their old speed record twice in two days last March, leaving the record at 633 MPH. The Squadron's motto is "Go Mach 10" (hypersonic speed of 7,672 mph), so I expect this record won't stand for ...
[Read More]

A.S.P. and paper model
The A.S.P. (Atmospheric Sounding Rocket) was developed to sample the mushroom clouds of nuclear blast.The rocket was launched from a monorail rocket launcher. An interesting feature of the rocket was it’s low aspect fins. It was first launched in December … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Three New From Scratch
Just a quick post while I take a break from launch prep. Tomorrow, April 23, will be my first launch of the season, and today I finished three new scratch built rockets, just in time. Ceres B with Camera Payload Bay This is a design from Mike Westerfield's book, Make: Rockets: Down-to-Earth Rocket ...
[Read More]

Opinions On Someone Else's Work
I was on Facebook yesterday. Someone built a Mercury Atlas. It was a scratch build, I don't think any commercially available tubing was used. Somebody responded saying that the transition was wrong. WHO CARES! Why not give credit to the builder that went out of his way to build and post a sport ...
[Read More]

Launch by the river
I was invited by the Creative Discovery Museum (CDM) to give a couple of "intro to model rockets" sessions to their home school classes on Tuesday and Thursday of this week.  The CDM is a pretty neat place located a couple of blocks from the Tennessee River, and about the same distance from ...
[Read More]

Time to restock...
This week's launch in Chattanooga depleted my stock of A8-3 motors, thereby providing an impetus to take a supply inventory; we are coming up on NSL and other launches, and it is not cool to run out of stuff mid flying season. Folks often ask me where I get my rocket supplies, thinking that I have ...
[Read More]

Hometown Rocket News
Edie, a best friend since we were five years old, sent me this via Facebook. The article is from the Register Pajaronian, my hometown paper in Watsonville, California. I had a route and threw 50 papers a day. The money earned (about 30 dollars a month) bought a lot of rockets. The article looks ...
[Read More]

Opening Day
  Kicked off the 2016 season in style. Flew a really cool 54/1050 Dan Patell made in my MAC Villain. Followed it up with a Loki J820LW. Love that motor too. Both flights to a little over 6,000 feet and around 850 MPH. Makes three mach flights on the Villain, and its […]
[Read More]

Elephants as rocket fuel
To   demonstrate how much rocket fuel it takes to get to orbit,  YouTube user  Maxim Sachs  creat ed an animation   that replaces standard fuel components such as RP-1, LH2 and LOX with Asian elephants. I didn't check his math but I also didn't count the elephants. The ...
[Read More]

Parawing or parafoil recovery
Back in the early 60s NASA Gemini engineers did not expect spacecraft to continue to fall from a chute into the ocean like the Mercury program. They began to look at other ideas like the inflated paraglider based on the … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Why Low Power?
On the NAR Facebook page, Mike Mann asked: "I have a question for the masses. What keeps rocketeers in the low power side of the lobby? Money, nostalgia, etc? I personally love to see all the old classic models, and I have a few, but I find myself drawn to bigger and bigger rockets." For me, ...
[Read More]

New Estes Kit?
I don't know what this is . . . When you go to the Estes website and look at the Upcoming Nike Smoke kit, this comes up as the parts picture. CLICK HERE and go to "Additional Images". That is a Honest John nose cone. I don't recognize all those centering rings. The name decal looks like the atomic ...
[Read More]

Estes Mystery Parts Design Guess
From the Estes website, here's the parts that were shown for the upcoming Nike Smoke kit. There's a lot of centering rings, two shrouds and an Honest John style nose cone. I assume that's the Mini Honest John nose cone. There are three crescent shaped pieces that might fit the end of a tapered ...
[Read More]

Two Different (But Alike) Model Comparisons
These two ARTF rockets struck me as similar. I doubt Estes got their design from the MPC (Sky from China) rocket, or vice versa.  Still, they do look alike. ESTES BLACK DIAMOND SPECS: Length: 26.25 in. (66.7 cm) Diameter: 1.64 in. (42 mm) Estimated Weight: 3.3 oz (93.6 g) Plastic fins, ...
[Read More]

New Kit Prototype - Odd'l Rockets F-17, Part 1 Decals and Canopy
This won't be a full build thread but a quick insight into making a prototype. I'm playing around with a new Odd'l Rockets kit based on the old Centuri fighter Fleet series. To see the Fighter Fleet, CLICK HERE I had to draw decals from an online scan. After this first attempt there were four ...
[Read More]

New Kit Prototype - Odd'l Rockets F-17, Part 2, Canopy
Draw, adjust, then draw and adjust again. The first tries were too square and didn't fit the contour of the nose cone. It took six revisions to get a good fit. To glue on the canopy it was traced and the paint scraped off the already painted nose cone. To glue on the canopy it was traced and the ...
[Read More]

What's Up With (Some) Estes Parachutes? TIP
I really like the retro look of the Estes kit parachutes. It's the same checker board pattern I found in my earliest Estes kits. The plastic sheet seems thicker than they used to be, a good thing. But, the shroud lines are weak! These are not the old 'Button and Rug" thread that once came with the ...
[Read More]

Height and power
Very very little to show for my longish silence here. There was some good painting weather Saturday and I took advantage of it to paint… a ukulele stand. And I did yard work. I know, I know. But I do have a couple of developments. First, I realized I hadn’t yet registered for NYPower. ...
[Read More]

Old MRN Idea Box, June 1963
Mojo1986 (Joe) was sellng some old Estes Model Rocket News issues on Ebay. Here's an "Idea Box" post from the June 1963 issue.
[Read More]

New Kit Prototype - Odd'l Rockets F-17, Finished
Here's the finished prototype. More tweaks are coming! For now more flight testing . . .  The finished model is smaller than I would have thought, about the same size as the Centuri original. This version has a circular air scoop on the bottom and the card stock canopy. The Centuri kit didn't ...
[Read More]

UP Aerospace Launch
The best footage I've ever seen from a small (ish) solid fueled rocket. More info can be found on UP aerospace's site here .
[Read More]

When's the Next Episode of The Rocketry Show?
We've recorded a number of great episodes of The Rocketry Show podcast recently. If you're a subscriber, you may be wondering what's taking so long to get these episodes out. With the interesting guests and topics we've had lately, plus the workload on CG, our host, producer and editor, some of ...
[Read More]

SpaceX JCSAT launch
About Payload: JCsat-14 A geostationary TV Broadcast satellite for Tokyo based SKY Perfect JSAT Corp., a satellite operator based in Japan “Following stage separation, the first stage of Falcon 9 will attempt an experimental landing on the “Of Course I ...
[Read More]

54’s
I need to get a better photo…. but here they all are lined up. 3 and 4 grain 29’s next I’d say.
[Read More]

Landed it ... again
Landing after high speed. The surprise of the crowd was great! This was an amazing landing on many levels. At double the speed the stage would need to use more fuel for corrections. Congratulations to SpaceX on this.
[Read More]

Paper Model of SpaceX F9 with JCSAT-14
AXM just posted his F9 JCSAT-14 paper model. This is another excellent model from AXM. Time to start building so I’m pulling out the glue and the cardstock. Link to info and model  
[Read More]

Holtville - April 2016 launch report
In looking at my todo list in the entry below I must admit I recall little from the February launch but I remember much about last month's launch.  Here are a few photos of Ron Rickwald's M flight, my M2080 Skidmark, and Larry Hermanson's L1000.  Thanks to Mark Treseder for shooting the ...
[Read More]

Suggested On Facebook
Finally, a "Suggested Post" on Facebook I can relate to! I've bought lots of bulk Kevlar from the Thread Exchange in the past. Usually #135 lb. or 346 gauge. That seems to be a good gauge for most model rocket building. CLICK HERE I always think it's interesting to see pictures of the actual ...
[Read More]

Orlando ROCK Launch, May 7, 2016
It was a busy launch day with many fliers. The weather was cool for this time of year and no humidity! The winds were up though. Kirby was busy retrieving the rockets he could reach with his extension pole.  The Odd'l prototype KOKPELLI had a second flight with a B6-4. Straight launch and ...
[Read More]

Why not high
Here’s a response to postings from several different places. Start off with a question posted by Michael Mann on the NAR Facebook group: I have a question for the masses. What keeps rocketeers in the low power side of the lobby? Money, nostalgia, etc? I personally love to see all the old ...
[Read More]

An Odd'l Parachute Endorsement
On TRF from JerryR708: "Great parachute design! As soon as I got mine in the mail, I knew I was gonna love it. I liked the fact that I could cut out my own size with the guidelines. The mil thickness was perfect and the quality plastic was there, not that crinkly kind. I like how this plastic ...
[Read More]

Onboard footage of Blue Origin rocket reentry from space
Most striking is the extreme speed with which it enters the atmosphere, the Earth is clearly growing larger with each second even from many km up!
[Read More]

Rocket landing videos of the day

[Read More]

‘Tis the season

[Read More]

SLS Papermodel
I wasn’t planning to build anything this week but this new paper model is really calling to me. AXM just posted The Space Launch System rocket (SLS) paper model. It’s a 1:144 scaled model. “The Space Launch System rocket (SLS) will be … Continue reading →
[Read More]

My Rocketry Favorites
If I could only have five rockets in my fleet (today), they would be -  Dr. Zooch Saturn V - My favorite (manageable sized) scale model. Sirius Rocketry Interogator - A truly beautiful design. Lots of decals, too. FlisKits Honest John - A small one has to be on the list. Arrow straight ...
[Read More]

First Flight of the Ceres B with Camera Payload
At my first club launch in April, I flew a newly-finished, scratch-built rocket: The Ceres B booster with the "ICU2" camera payload bay. The original design is from Mike Westerfield's book, Make: Rockets: Down-to-Earth Rocket Science . It's a largish, BT-60-based rocket (about 1.637 inches in ...
[Read More]

Launch! N.E.F.A.R., Bunnell, FL May 14, 2016
Summer heat is here! The first real warm day of the season, winds were up to 15 mph. Good turnout and the second rack of LPR pads were set up. Here's two vintage models on adjacent launch rods. Jim's BIG R2D2 was launched with a C6-3. It arced over and hit the grass before the ejection charge went ...
[Read More]

Lucerne... Punisher... K1440... redemption!
I'll augment this entry soon but here's the video of yesterday's K1440 flight to 13,932' with full recovery ~1 mile North of the pad (shocker):
[Read More]

Altitude
I did a little playing with some KML files. Interesting results. The first number is what appears to be the altitude in meters (MSL) from the GPS. I converted it to feet, and subtracted 884- the ground level at Potter, to get the AGL altitude. The number after the AGL […]
[Read More]

Old altimeter, new OS
Well, that was easier than I expected. On the remote chance it helps someone else, here’s how I downloaded altimeter data from an old PerfectFlite Alt15K to my Mac running OS X 10.11 (El Capitan). The DT4U USB transfer card comes with software to talk to the Alt15K; that’s the good ...
[Read More]

The 2017 Geezer TARC season begins...
The 2016 TARC Nationals were held yesterday up in Virginia, with two Alabama teams placing in the top 20. Russellville took the #9 spot, and Lincoln High School came in at #16 - a big congrats to them both! Alabama is becoming a regular at placing in the top ten, which is something I definitely ...
[Read More]

Repairing giveaway rockets (part 1)
If you’re a kid and you come to one of our club launches, you’re entitled to a free rocket and a motor to fly it with. Some of these freebies are ones we’ve built to give away; others are rockets that have been donated to us. We had some donated rockets that were not in…
[Read More]

T.A.R.C. 2016 Winner
Congratulations to the 2016 T.A.R.C. Winners! Odle Middle School team from Bellevue, WA Full List Of Results for 2016
[Read More]

Join the club SpaceX
I have had this problem for years. At least SpaceX is neat about it. http://gizmodo.com/yep-spacex-is-running-out-of-room-for-its-landed-rocke-1776821076
[Read More]

Hardware Update
  Shopping list to finish these up- 29mm- a few 3 and 4 grain motors. 38mm- 3 nozzle washers, 6 snap rings, 19,22,28, 32 nozzles to cover the 480,740 and 1200 for EX and commercial loads. 54mm- 3 nozzle washers, a 28 nozzle for the 1200 case, possibly some 1&2 grain cases. 76mm- perhaps a ...
[Read More]

The Rocketry Show - NARCON 2016 (Part 1)
Image from the NARCON Facebook event page, hosted by NAR president Ted Cochran The NARCON 2016 Part 1 episode of The Rocketry Show went up yesterday. NARCON - the National Association of Rocketry's annual conference - was a couple of months ago, but some of these shows take time to put together. ...
[Read More]

Soyuz 2.1a Onboard Camera
First rocket launched from the brand new Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia. Enjoy these snippets from the onboard camera.
[Read More]

Video of ROCK’s May, 2016, Launch
ROCK’s monthly launch on May 7, 2016, as captured by a remote-control quad-copter, is shown in the video below.    
[Read More]

New Apogee Peak Of Flight Article
I wrote a new article for the Apogee Peak Of Flight online newsletter, #417. This one is about Prepping Kit Parts Before Assembly . "Right out of the kit bag, most parts are pretty good and will assemble into a flying model rocket. There are some steps you can take before assembly that will make ...
[Read More]

NARCON Videos
Some NARCON 2016 sessions have been posted on YouTube: CLICK HERE Lots of great information, the link above goes to James Duffy's presentation of the G. Harry Stine Archives.
[Read More]

Syracuse Rocket Club launch: Not with a whimper
A pretty good first Syracuse Rocket Club launch of the season today. Good turnout. Skies were overcast, but the rain held off until we were about done at around 3:30. Winds were as close to dead calm as you get. Kenny came with me; as is typical these days, he flew his Ventris on an…
[Read More]

Remember, remember, the fourth of September
Huh. I just filed a MESS report and a report to Estes on yesterday’s motor cato. The motor was a B4-2. It blew through the ejection end. Casing and nozzle remained intact. The date code on the casing was A090412. I was looking at the one previous time I had a cato and reported it,…
[Read More]

Sometimes, this happens
http://antiquark2.tumblr.com/post/144754636489/garyschroeder-little-joe-ii-breaks-up-during
[Read More]

Fins for the win
Good news for scale modelers: ISRO launched a rocket with fins at the back! Bad news: Fins forward too. They’re the wings and tail of their reusable launch vehicle test article.  
[Read More]

Perfecting Your Rocket Building Skills Can Be Scary
I'm trying an experiment today, and it's got me nervous. The rocket you see above is the Estes Reflector, a small, BT-50 (0.976 inch diameter) payload-carrying model rocket with a classic "model rocket" look to it. It's... not a big deal. I keep telling myself that. I bought the Reflector when it ...
[Read More]

A blast from the past heads to the dump
Prompted by the unrelated relocation of stuff in the Dungeon, I decided that I need to thin the herd. However, when contemplating what should go and how, I find it's going to be very difficult. I started with 'the boneyard, a corner where I pile damaged and generally unflyable rockets. I manged to ...
[Read More]

X-7A lawndart

[Read More]

Scale modelers will rejoice at India's space shuttle
See more images on Gizmodo .
[Read More]

India’s new space shuttle
Yesterday a shuttle was launched but it wasn’t by the US, China or Russia. India launched a scaled down version of their new shuttle. The RLV-TD (Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator) was launched yesterday from the First Launch Pad at Satish … Continue reading →
[Read More]

No More Sandman (Excelsior) Decals!
From a post yesterday on Y.O.R.F. - See the posts: CLICK HERE Sandman Decals used the OOP Alps printers, a specialized unit that could print white and metallic decals. Home and office inkjet and laser printers only use red, yellow blue and black. Sorry to hear this, I have rockets with Gordon's ...
[Read More]

End of an era...
Yesterday, my friend Gordon and owner of Sandman Decals/Excelsior Rocketry announced he was being forced to close the decal side of his business. The Alps printers that have been employed over the past many years to produce Excelsior's quality decals have finally broken down, despite sending a ...
[Read More]

Plastic to Kraft Tube Glue?
Anytime plastic glue is recommended for a tail cone to body tube joint I wonder if it is going to hold. Some new formula plastic glues are non-toxic and don't have solvents they used to. I bought this Beacon Fabri-Tac glue at Hobby Lobby to do some fabric gluing. It contains acetone and it will ...
[Read More]

Quest HL-20 Former Bulkhead
An email from Frank Claunch - Hi Chris, I was going through some of my old kits today. I came up on a Quest HL-20 Lifting Body. The former was made out of paper lined foam board 1/8" thick. You probably knew this. Hobby Lobby has the foam board. It is easy to cut, light,and strong. Can be sanded ...
[Read More]

SpaceX’s Thaicom 8 Launch info
UPDATE: THAICOM–8 launch has been postponed until tomorrow while they investigate a small engine glitch. Launch Date: May 26 Launch Time: 5:40 pm ET — DELAYED TO 7:40 Launch Window: two-hour – 5:40-7:40 ET Launch Location: Cape Canaveral First Stage Landing Attempt: Yes – on ...
[Read More]

Estes Shuttle Now Available!
From Jetlag on YORF:  The new Estes Shuttle is now available on the Estes Website - CLICK HERE While not yet on the "What's New" page, the ordering information is on the "Coming Soon" page.
[Read More]

Amateur 3D-printed rocket motor flew at FAR
Last Saturday, UCSD's Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UCSD SEDS) became the first university organization to launch a 3D printed motor. Pretty amazing!
[Read More]

The Future Experiment
Click here for the previous post . As detailed in my previous post, I recently completed the Estes Reflector, and despite a few bad turns during construction, I managed to make the rocket look pretty nice. But I wanted to try something I'd read about online - giving the rocket a nice shiny, ...
[Read More]

Time for Geezer TARC!
Given that Duane and I are already working on designs, I thought it prudent to post the rules for the   2017 Geezer TARC competition. Have to get things in writing, you know. The rules are the same as those for the 2017 TARC challenge with the following exceptions: Geezer TARC begins with the ...
[Read More]

OOPS!...I did it again

[Read More]

Almost ready #NYPower

[Read More]

The T.A.R.C. 2016 Video

[Read More]

New Rocketry Show Mini-Ep: CG's Modular Rockets
CG with Nesaru, one of his high power rockets with modular design Another mini episode of The Rocketry Show is up. In this episode (which is actually full-length), CG discusses his modular designs. In other words, parts of the rockets can be removed for repair or replacement. Nesaru lifts off CG's ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2016-3 - NARHAMS
Location: NARHAMS/Mt Airy Weather: Mid 80's, sunny, wind ~5-7 Total flights: Today - 10; YTD - 32 Total motors: Today - 10; YTD - 32 Motors by class YTD: MMX-1, A-3, B-2, C-13, D-3, E-5, F-3, G-2 Excellent day! The only negative was the waist deep grass adjacent to the main field. Several went in, ...
[Read More]

I've Hit The BIG Time!
On TRF this morning I noticed - I'm a "Lifetime Member" now! Whatever that means. I did a search to see how I got this "rating" and found this: For only $2.99/month, $19.95/year or $100/ Lifetime  you gain the following benefits to your  Membership  here at RocketryForum . . .  ...
[Read More]

NYPower night launch: Successful

[Read More]

Is it scale if you build a full sized model of a professional model?
Looks a bit like a 29/180 casing...or maybe a 240.
[Read More]

Let’s be jolly
I heard about the Jolly Logic Chute Release before it was, um, released, and when it was I was taken a bit aback by one thing: the price. It was well above what I’d guessed it would be. My reaction was, “Interesting. But costs more than I’d want to spend and more than I’d ...
[Read More]

Video of NEFAR’s May, 2016, Launch
Below is my video of NEFAR’s May, 2016, launch.
[Read More]

25,000 Views
Last night, The Rocket N00b blog hit 25,000 page views. I started this blog in August of 2014 - less than two years ago. I don't know if 25,000 is a lot of page views for a blog that's nearly two years old, because I have nothing to compare it to. But it feels like a lot, and it's certainly more ...
[Read More]

NYPower 2016: Saturday
Kenny and I spent Memorial Day weekend in Geneseo, NY, for the Monroe Astronautical Rocket Society’s NYPower launch. We arrived at the Geneseo Airport to find the Syracuse Rocket Club’s big tent already set up right across from registration in the middle of the flight line. So our popup ...
[Read More]

NYPower 2016: Sunday / Monday
I was on my own Sunday, Kenny deciding to stay back at the hotel. Having flown all black powder Saturday, I decided to lead off Sunday with some APCP purchased from AMW the day before. The Excel went up on a CTI H152 Blue Streak with the delay drilled to 10 seconds. 8 seconds might…
[Read More]

A great Memorial Day weekend!
A high power rocket blasts off from the away pad as racks of smaller rockets await their turn (Click to enlarge). Well, the National Association of Rocketry's National Sport Launch (NSL) 2016 has come and gone... It was quite the event, spanning Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, with rocketeers as far ...
[Read More]

Making Geezer TARC a little more interesting...
This past week I was petitioned to amend the rules to allow second flights for Geezer TARC participants, just like the top teams at the National Fly-off in Virginia. The altitude goal for this second flight is different than the 775 foot mark required to get into the top 100 for Nationals and the ...
[Read More]

Estes Shuttle Available!!!
"Look for my arrival in late May." Only a few days late -  It's here!   CLICK HERE . . .
[Read More]

Knots?
An email from Thomas Rea: Hi Chris- What knot would you suggest for connecting an 1/8" Kevlar coming off a baffle/body  tube joint, to 1/2" elastic shock cord? One that that the Kevlar won't slice through?  Any suggestions would be appreciated. __________________________________ ...
[Read More]

Holtville launch report for 5/7/16
Brevity remains inevitable here as I had only one flight but here are the photos captured by Mark Treseder and myself.   Here's the one GoPro vid I captured of Mark  Treseder's Little John on a CTI 396I195 Red Lightning : I flew only a CTI 538I303 Blue Streak in the 2.5" Nike Smoke, for ...
[Read More]

Rocket Camp 2016
I'll be back in Bloomington, Indiana next Friday, to tech the Ivy Tech College for Kids model rocketry class again. Launch day! Last year was a lot of fun, and went much better than I think people were expecting. A number of parents told me they were surprised how much their kids learned during ...
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., June 4, 2016
Wow, it was HOT! Winds were low and the forecast of rain never happened. A good turnout with lots of tents for quick shade. After adding 1/10th ounce more of clay I was hoping for a more level glide from the Centuri X-24 BUG . Launched with an Estes B6-2 engine it had a good straight boost and a ...
[Read More]

Repairing giveaway rockets (part 2)
Back to fixing up giveaway rockets. On the Monarch, I’d hoped not to have to do anything about the upper body tube but that was wishful thinking. I twisted it a bit too hard trying to see if the nose cone was glued in (it was) and it collapsed. So I cut the tube loose and replaced…
[Read More]

Paper Model:Landed F9, Tesla, and Musk to scale
Ok I have to build this soon. A model of the Tesla, Musk and a landed F9 all to 1/100 scale. What a great display this would make. Available over at AXM’s site
[Read More]

Quick status post...photo-less and boring
Well, after 6 months of inactivity, I finally built something! With a hat tip to TRF member KenECoyote, I got to do a beta-test build of a ducted, finless rocket. The design is rated Cosmic Top Secret so if I gave any details I'd have to disintegrate you. It flies on mini-motors and I am searching ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes Blenders (part 3)
It’s been months since I finished a rocket. Finally I’ve broken that streak by finishing two.The decals released from the backing unexpectedly quickly, which led to some sloppy decals on the blue one, which I did first. I did a better decal job on the orange one. One of these is mine, ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2016-4 (solo)
Location: solo Weather: High 70's, sunny, wind ~5-15 Total flights: Today - 6; YTD - 38 Total motors: Today - 6; YTD - 38 Motors by class YTD: MMX-1, 1/2A-2, A-6, B-2, C-14, D-3, E-5, F-3, G-2 Well after striking out yesterday, I checked out another location and found it to be suitable for testing ...
[Read More]

Building the (scratch) Flat Boy (part 2)
I put the first color paint on the Flat Boy a few days ago, and the second today. I used the same paints as on my Fat Boy and Micro Fat Boy: Rustoleum 2X Spa Blue and Dupli-Color Metal Specks Retro Red. Masking worked out well, just one spot to touch up. I tried putting…
[Read More]

Ooh, professional cluster goodness...
Delta IV Heavy/NROL37
[Read More]

Unreasonable rocket is still at it!
Paul Breed's Unreasonable Rocket , the dark horse (and my favorite) of the X-Prize Cup's Lunar Lander Challenge , is still pushing the envelope of real amateur rocketry. I had seen that he has been working with 3-D printed bi-prop engines but now see that he planning multi-engine, multi-stage, ...
[Read More]

Rocket Camp Week One Prep
Just a quickie post about the next three weeks' camp... Tomorrow, I start teaching the first week of the Ivy Tech College for Kids model rocketry camp. Unlike last year, when I was actually living here in Bloomington, I had to make sure I brought or shipped myself anything I might need from home, ...
[Read More]

Photos from the American Rocket Society
I found a series of photos from the American Rocket Society on Flickr. They are in the New Mexico Museum of Space History's photostream . I selected one but if you click through, you can find the others. Starting in the 1930's, this organization merged with the AIAA in 1963. Tractor  motors, ...
[Read More]

New Estes Shuttle #7246 Instructions Posted
The Estes Shuttle instructions have been posted on the Estes website: CLICK HERE Check out the 12 piece laminated shuttle nose section on page 4!   Now you can get a little jump on the build . . . 
[Read More]

SpaceX (Eutelsat,ABS) Launch Info
Updated Images from Launch:   “SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will deliver two commercial communications satellites to Geostationary Transfer Orbits (GTO). The two satellites, EUTELSAT 117 West B and ABS-2A, are operated respectively by Eutelsat and ABS – two companies … Continue ...
[Read More]

Hobby rockets cato, Falcon 9's experience a RUD
But ours never cato on landing unless you also experience a PGM (Premature Ground Meeting). RUD = Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly :) — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 15, 2016 If you have an alternative term for a PGM, let me know ;)
[Read More]

Cool, retro, 1/10th Mercury Atlas static model
Via Convair/General Dynamics and the San Diego Air and Space Museum's Space and Atlas Negative Collection Images  on Flickr.
[Read More]

Old MRN Idea Box, June 1964
Mojo1986 (Joe) was selling some old Estes Model Rocket News issues on Ebay. Here's an "Idea Box" post from the June 1964 issue.
[Read More]

First Scissor Wing Transport?
A comment from Naoto Kimura -   "On yet another tangent relating to the Estes 1974 catalog -- Popular Science magazine, November 1972 issue - "  CLICK HERE   to see the cover and go to page 66 for the article. Doesn't this cover art look familiar? The Estes Scissor Wing Transport ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2016-5 (NARHAMS)
Location: Mt Airy/NARHAMS Weather: mid 80's sunny, wind 0-5 Total flights: Today - 11; YTD - 49 Total motors: Today - 12; YTD - 50 Motors by class YTD: MMX-1, 1/2A-2, A-7, B-2, C-19, D-3, E-8, F-4, G-4 Today was a really great flying day, except for the 4+ foot tall grass next to the range. I had ...
[Read More]

Syracuse Rocket Club launch: Once more without MLAS
I brought seven rockets to fly today at the club launch, plus two backups in case my contest rockets failed me. But I flew only five of them. Partly this was because I arrived later than I would have liked, and because I had only two of those rockets prepped with motors. Both of those…
[Read More]

Building the Estes Mini Max
Hm, have I not documented any of this build? I don’t see it. Odd. A long time ago, more or less by accident, I ended up with a set of Der Pink Mini Max decals from Excelsior Rocketry (a.k.a. Sandman Decals, now defunct). Last year I built a Mini Max kit, and this week I…
[Read More]

Blue Origin Flight 4

[Read More]

Ranger flight
So I finally have gotten around to flying an altimeter and getting a record of the flight. Here it is.That’s the Ranger’s altitude in feet versus time in seconds. The downward spike after 0:04 is the result of the ejection — which clearly happened before apogee. Not all that ...
[Read More]

Old MRN Idea Box Entry, June 1965
Mojo1986 (Joe) was selling some old Estes Model Rocket News issues on Ebay. Here's an "Idea Box" post from the June 1965 issue. I don't know if I'd use thinned white glue on balsa or the body tube edges. Humidity might make a nose cone stick in the body tube. This tip was from 1965, long before CA ...
[Read More]

New Kits From Estes
From TRF, EXPJawa found some new products coming from Estes -  CLICK HERE Here's the two new kits: A 24mm model with lots of transitions and body tube cutting - The instructions are posted, thanks to Neil W. - CLICK HERE More on this mystery design to be posted tomorrow. A good two-stager ...
[Read More]

Mystery Parts Kit - Solved!
A while back, Estes posted these parts for the upcoming Nike Smoke kit. These aren't the right parts and many speculated what they were for. I took a guess and came up with this - To me, not my favorite design. The crescent shaped pieces on the centering ring sheet led me to believe there would be ...
[Read More]

Saturday morning with the Cub Scouts...
Saturday morning, 8:30 AM found Chuck and myself setting up a few launch pads at the Space and Rocket Center launch field; Cub Scout Pack 351 was having its annual "Rocket Blast" and we were running the range. The weather was nice - passing clouds reduced the Sun, keeping the temperature r ...
[Read More]

Centuri Glue?
Here's one I saw for sale on Ebay - Centuri Model Rocket Super Bond Glue. "Twice As Strong As White Glue" This was in the Centuri catalogs for years. I always thought it was interesting that Centuri had it's own formula glue, especially made for building model rockets. I got to know the Centuri ...
[Read More]

54mm Screech
So in more positive news, this came in (guess what isn’t using rivets?)
[Read More]

A Better Shock Cord Knot? Tips, Part 1
Here's how Quest shows to tie the Kevlar to an elastic shock cord. We've all tied shock cords on this way. I was concerned that the tight knot might weaken the tightly cinched elastic. For years I've tied the elastic on like this. There is no knotted elastic where the Kevlar makes contact. The ...
[Read More]

A squeeze
I’m not sure what altimeter I had in mind when I designed the Au-198, but I definitely didn’t make it large enough to hold this:The fit into a BT-50 tube was close but not close enough. One reason: the plywood sled was too wide. (The purpose of this sled, as I understand it, is to ...
[Read More]

A Better Shock Cord Knot? Tips, Part 2
Tie an over hand loop knot in both the Kevlar and elastic cords. The loops should be about 3/4" long. (Left side picture) Pass the Elastic loop over the Kevlar loop. The elastic loop can pass over the Kevlar knot. (Right side picture) Pass the loose end of the elastic through the Kevlar l ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes Scion (part 5)
I did some painting. The Estes suggested paint scheme fails to float my boat; too busy with all the stripes. So I’m doing something simpler in purple and black. It might not look any better but it’ll be easier anyway.
[Read More]

So it begins.
29mm 3 grain from patell   Also grabbed some Loki 38/120 loads- H70LC and G94IB. Gonna be a fun summer.
[Read More]

A very hot rocket launch...
Today we (Chuck and I) conducted a small rocket launch at the annual Boeing Shrimp Boil, held at the Easter Posey Recreation Area on the Arsenal. Even though Redstone is the home of many Army missiles and Marshall Space Flight Center, launching model rockets is verboten there without special ...
[Read More]

Heavy artillery for rocket retrieval
Believe it or not I still have never to my certain knowledge lost a rocket in a tree. (There’s one glider I suspect got hung up in a tree but if so I couldn’t see it from the ground.) It’s not like there are no trees at our club launch site but I’ve just never had ...
[Read More]

Rocket Camp Last Year - What I Learned
Launch last Friday - it never fails to blow their minds Week Two of rocket camp ended with a launch on Friday. Tomorrow begins the final session of the summer. My last post on this blog was two weeks ago, yet I still get regular page views each day. I certainly don't mean to leave you hanging, but ...
[Read More]

Repairing giveaway rockets (part 3)
I decided to repaint the Athena but to try to save the self adhesive decals, which were in good shape. Masking them worked pretty well, though the mask on the rear stripe was a little too wide and the mask over the name was not quite cut to the right shape. Still, good enough, I…
[Read More]

Semroc SPEV for Auction on Ebay
A finished Semroc SPEV is up for auction on Ebay: CLICK HERE The auction runs through Sunday evening, July 3. This build is very clean with sharp mask lines. It's a bit of Estes (overstock) history and a great demonstration rocket. I'm also selling a Quest launcher and controller: CLICK HERE Stop ...
[Read More]

Awesome flying model of the Falcon-9 1st stage, with deployable legs and scale droneship
Not a rocket...but still amazingly cool.
[Read More]

M2080 recovery failure analysis
This has been a rough entry to ponder but I need to commit to history and move on.  In memorium...  I had flown this Wildman Extreme DarkStar workhorse 10 times over the course of ~4.5 years before the April 2016 recovery failure at Holtville: L585 Imax  - Sept. 2011 M840 White ...
[Read More]

Building the Estes Scion (part 6)
I finished painting, mounted the rail buttons, rigged the shock cord, and took a picture:
[Read More]

Baby CSM, after a night's sleep
I have pretty much decided on three A10's for the first flight. I haven't decided on vintage Q2G2's or a quickmatch bundle. I checked Michael's and Wallymart for A10s with no luck. I hope to snag some at Hobby Lobby this week and launch next week. We'll see. HL only stocks one pack of A10's at a ...
[Read More]

Tantalizing Tweet from Jolly Logic
This morning on Twitter... In case you're unfamiliar, the Chute Release is a rocket recovery device. Using a rubber band, it holds your parachute in a tight bundle. When the nose cone and parachute are ejected from the rocket at apogee, the Chute Release prevents the parachute from opening right ...
[Read More]

Estes (Centuri) Mercury Redstone Tower Complaints
On Facebook, I read complaints about how hard it is to assemble the tower on the Estes Mercury Redstone kit. Originally this was the Centuri Mercury Redstone. The body tube size is the first give-away, a ST-20. CLICK HERE The tower is a bit fiddly but not that hard to assemble. I did a detailed ...
[Read More]

So . . . Where's All The New Stuff?
I've been busy! Work on the Odd'l Rockets Break-Away and other products continues. Every time I get back to work on the instructions, something else comes up! I might be called away to do shows or a Disney audition comes up. I'm currently producing instructions for Madcow or Aerotech. (more on ...
[Read More]

Throwback Thursday Pic 7
Another picture from NARAM 17. NARAMs are a great place to meet to meet vendors. On the right is Col. Howard Kuhn of Competition Model Rockets. When CMR was up and running, you'd see many of his kits in NAR competitions. That square blue building in the background is still there! It's right down ...
[Read More]

full stack
  Turns out, I don’t like sharing. I have little interest in flying the 38mm on anything but 1200 loads, and the next may just be the K627R. The 54mm, I’m looking at making some 54/1600 loads.   Guess I should make 54 a new page…
[Read More]

Time to paint the Baby CSM
It flew great, full report with video evidence tonight! Was there really any doubt :)
[Read More]

Model Rocketry in Brazil?
 Alright, guys, this is a long shot, but I gotta ask. I'm teaching rocket camp. One of my 12-year-olds is from Brazil, and he and his family are going back this weekend. He keeps asking me where to get rocket stuff. Other than "hobby shops," or "online," I'm not sure what to tell him. I found ...
[Read More]

Ancient scrolls of wisdom...
February/March 1996 cover of the Max-Q newsletter (Click to enlarge). When time permits - which is not that often these days - I have been digitizing copies of the old HARA newsletter, Max-Q. Now superseded by the Internet and social media, newsletters were the primary means of communication ...
[Read More]

Lego Saturn V?
This one goes back to 2012 - CLICK HERE And you thought your rockets were tall - At least ours fly!
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., July 1, 2016
My youngest daughter called me on Friday night asking: "What are you doing tomorrow?" I told here I was launching rockets. To my surprise, Madison wanted to go! I don't think she took into account it'll be a long hot day. We've had rain here over the past few days. Many thought the field would be ...
[Read More]

Blog 6th Anniversary!
Here's the first post from July 4, 2010 - WELCOME TO THE MODEL ROCKET BUILDING BLOG! While I've been active posting on The Rocketry Forum and EMRR, I wanted a place to archive my construction methods and builds.  Everyone has their own "proven" ways of building rockets. This blog is not ...
[Read More]

Build a Juno Mission rocket model
…and Juno probe Thanks to AXM you can build a 1:96 scale paper model of the Juno Mission Atlas V and 1:24 scale of Juno probe. Click here to go to AXM’s site for the build.
[Read More]

New Model Making Equipment!
I picked this up on Ebay to vacu-form parts for a possible upcoming kit. I have experience with vacu-forming, when I was five years old. Mattel made a Vacu-Form "toy". What could go wrong? It's UL listed so it has to be safe! Give a five year old a hot plate to melt a plastic sheet. Flip over the ...
[Read More]

54mm Options
So, I have a few… First I got a LOC blue tube parts pack, and it came with a 54 mount. Never did built it, yet. theres the first built, My Darkstar- Next was the Wildman. still unflown. I may add a payload. currently HEDD Then I picked up a PK3. still unfinished, swapping out […]
[Read More]

No vampires allowed on Soyuz!

[Read More]

Great Soyuz launch photo
Love this image from NASA of the Soyuz Expedition 48 launch.
[Read More]

Rocket Camp Teaser
Rocket camp is done. Weather was great, launches were awesome. I'm working on the posts about the whole thing right now. I'm going to break it down into small chunks, because a lot happened, and I tend to write posts that are too long. Look for the first one in about a day or two. Like my Facebook ...
[Read More]

1/70 Scale Saturn 1B at ERockets / Semroc
Looks like the Semroc / Estes Saturn 1B is back! On YORF, Rraeford caught it yesterday - To see the listing, CLICK HERE StephanJ said it best:   " I think this is a major milestone. The 1/70th Saturn V is an incredibly complicated kit, with many, many custom parts. Its reintroduction is a ...
[Read More]

Rocket Camp - Going Deep
Click here for Part 1 When I was a kid, I had a number of science-related and educational toys and kits. I had a chemistry set. I mixed a few of the chemicals in test tubes a few times. Sometimes they changed color, sometimes not. Eventually, I stopped playing with the chemistry set. I still know ...
[Read More]

Honest John Nike @ WSMR

[Read More]

Rocket Camp - Kit Selection
Click here for the previous post . Click here for the first post of this series .  One of the first and most important decisions you'll make when teaching a rocketry camp or unit, be it at a middle school, high school, scout troop or public library will be: What rockets will we build? There ...
[Read More]

New Apogee Peak Of Flight Article
I have a new article just published in the Apogee Peak Of Flight Newsletter. Over spray areas (outside the area you are currently spraying) can end up dull. You end up with a rocket that is glossy in most places and duller finish in others. The article explains a methodical way to get a better ...
[Read More]

Go, Space Potatoes!
The Space Potatoes, this year's TARC winners, from Odle Middle School in Bellevue, Washington, are competing in the International Rocket Challenge finals in London today, competing against the best teams from France, the UK, and Japan. Here they are, meeting Apollo 15 astronaut Al Worden. These ...
[Read More]

U.S. team wins 2016 International Rocketry Challenge
The US TARC team Odle Middle School Space Potatoes are World Champions at the 2016 International Rocketry Challenge.
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B Available!
ERockets has announced the return of the Semroc  SATURN 1B Kit! There is 30 kits in stock - CLICK HERE This is the large, 1/70 scale model based on the old Estes kit. To see the Semroc instructions - CLICK HERE It has the Apollo capsule with the tower you assemble from dowels. For the capsule ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2016-7 (MDRA)
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD Weather: mid to high 80s, humid, mostly overcast, wind 0+ Total flights: Today - 5; YTD - 57 Total motors: Today - 15; YTD - 70 Motors by class YTD: MMX-1, 1/2A-2, A-12, B-2, C-27, D-6, E-8, F-5, G-7 I can't believe it was nine months since I made it to ...
[Read More]

Syracuse Rocket Club Launch: Damage report, Mister Sulu
I’ve had worse launches. I think. But maybe none with as high a casualty count… July 2016 Syracuse Rocket Club launch. I was double booked in the afternoon so I got right down to the flights I felt I had to do, starting with my first entry in the ½A glider duration contest: the Uff ...
[Read More]

Der Red Max, "Vely Eenteresting!"
Looking at the new instructions for the Red Max, something is missing - your German skull guide. In the late 1960s, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In was a hit on TV. Arte Johnson played a continuing part as a German soldier. Hogan's Heroes finished it's TV run in 1971. There was plenty of broken ...
[Read More]

Apollo 11 Launch Cameras: 201 cameras
Apollo 11 Launch Cameras from Spacecraft Films on Vimeo .
[Read More]

Replay of landing from CRS-9 mission
Great CRS-9 launch and for those who missed it here is the replay of the landing of the F9 last night.
[Read More]

The Rocketry Show Season 2 Finale: John Beans of Jolly Logic
John Beans, of Jolly Logic, with the new Chute Release I'm working on the next Rocket Camp post, but in the mean time, the latest episode of The Rocketry Show is up. This one features John Beans of Jolly Logic , and it's a good one. It's also the Season 2 finale. We'll be taking a hiatus while we ...
[Read More]

Next build: Boyce 1:312 Saturn V
For quite a while I've been wanting a 3-D printed rocket. I have generally thought they are too expensive and a couple of attempts to get economical parts fell through. Last week, however, I learned that Boyce Aerospace Hobbies is back in business. And they are offering 3-D printed scale rockets! ...
[Read More]

3-D printed Saturn V build notes, part 1
I started by dry fitting all the parts. The fit of all the ABS-on-ABS joints is a bit rough due to the surface finish but are not too snug. I may sand the nose cone shoulder to make it smoother. The motor retainer required some Dremeling to allow a C6 to fit well. I also had to grind the inside of ...
[Read More]

3-D printed Saturn V build notes, part 2
This is the "well, crap, that ain't supposed to happen" edition.  I proceeded to dry stack the parts, put in a motor, and fill the nose section with 0.8 ounces of lead.  I checked the CG and it is almost as specified in the instructions. It is less than 1/8" of the goal. Well, that's not ...
[Read More]

Apollo 11 landing in Real Time
Every year on this date I like to experience the landing again in Real Time.  
[Read More]

3-D printed Saturn V build notes, part 3
Well, it is all together but still naked: The final weight went up as I didn't account for the epoxy in the nose, the shock tether, or the screw that holds the motor retainer/launch lug. I'm not used to worrying about 0.09 oz. It now weighs in at 4.3 oz. I actually did the arithmetic and think this ...
[Read More]

Vintage Rocket Retrospective Blog
Here's a great blog from Zurich, Switzerland - VINTAGE ROCKETRY RETROSPECTION "Incoherent reminiscences and images of building and flying A to N motor powered model rockets in Switzerland and elsewhere since 1975." Lots of pictures and history. To check it out, CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Yes, we have no MLAS
I forgot to mention why the MLAS didn’t fly, again, on Saturday. I went to prep it ahead of time. I couldn’t get the nose cone off. Stuck. Wouldn’t budge. I’m hoping it’s the humidity and it’ll loosen up when it’s dryer. Taking it upstairs from the basement ...
[Read More]

Russian Hits - What?
Today the blog got over 3,500 hits! Sure I should be excited, but maybe not. Over 2,700 hits from Russia? Typically the blog gets anywhere from 750 hits to 1,500 a day. It varies, weekends get more readers. These have got to be some sort of robotic hits but I'm not seeing any questionable sources ...
[Read More]

Keeping Mosquitos
There’s a very amusing thread on YORF right now: Techniques to avoid losing a Mosquito. My suggestion: Use a screamer.
[Read More]

Building resumes
After losing my stalwart DarkStar I decided that I would not rebuild it. Instead I purchased a 4" Punisher w/75mm mount at LDRS and the booster is already built: I really dig this volumetrically efficient design and hope it lasts for several years.  Three years ago my parents gifted the now ...
[Read More]

NARAM Live Site is Active!
NARAM 58 is up and running! The NARAM Live website is starting to post some great pictures from Saturday: CLICK HERE For those who can't make the meet, it's the next best thing to being there!
[Read More]

Captain, she's on fire!
The National Association of Rocketry (NAR) hosts two big launches every year - the National Sport Launch (NSL) at the end of spring and NARAM in the summer. NSL is what we call a "fun fly"; rocketeers load up their birds and fly them at their discretion - achieving a certification is the most ...
[Read More]

NARAM 58 is Live!
It appears that I've been asleep at the wheel as I didn't realize NARAM 58 had started. And, as usual, Chris Taylor's NARAM Live! is up and running. Day 1 is a very good place to start. Day 2 is also there...we'll have to wait for the rest. You should also follow his NARAM 58 YouTube Playlist .
[Read More]

3-D printed Saturn V build notes, part 4
I decided to at least partially finish the Saturn V. Scale buffs and skilled painters need not comment. I started by outlining the black areas with a Sharpie (hat tip to David 'Daddyisabar' Bauer). I started at the bottom and decided to would be a good idea to black it all out with a Sharpie. The ...
[Read More]

A bit of editorializing...
The above image is the drawing that accompanied editorial bits in the old Model Rocketeer magazine (a 60's/70's precursor to Sport Rocketry). It is very appropriate for this post, as I am about to do a bit of loud editorializing, words which will undoubtedly be lost in the ignorasphere surrounding ...
[Read More]

The New Phone Book's Here!
The latest issue of Sport Rocketry magazine came in the mail today. I was flipping through it, and looking at the coverage of NARCON 2016, when I saw this: I admit it. I squealed and started jumping up and down. It startled my girlfriend. "What??" she asked. " My name is in here!! " I said. I felt ...
[Read More]

You Know You're A Lazy Model Builder When . . .
While cutting out fins the knife slips. You've cut your finger. You're too lazy to go upstairs to get a real Band-Aid.
[Read More]

Fin Guides are Here!
I have finally listed the Black Aero 3D printed Fin Guides! Feel free to look in the product section for … Read More →
[Read More]

Original Goony Designs
In a comment, Naoto Kimura reminded me of the Goonybird posts on YORF from 2007. CLICK HERE al packer Old Fogey Gooneybird Originals "A good friend of mine slipped the attached sketches under my door. These are indeed the original sketches by Mike Dorffler and Wayne Kellner. I'm looking forward to ...
[Read More]

M2080 recovery failure analysis - Part 2
Since I posted part 1 of the M2080 recovery failure report I have been in contact with Jeff Garvey at electricmatch.com. He's been very patient while I worked through his requested testing and here's what I emailed him today in its entirety: ************************************************ ...
[Read More]

An early MMI photo of Orville Carlisle
Great photo of Orville Carlisle holding an Aerobee Hi next to a display of MMI rockets. Here is an image of an Aerobee Hi kit from that time  
[Read More]

Rocket Camp - Construction: Building Model Rockets With Young Beginners (Part 1: Tools and Materials)
Building model rockets with a group of young kids who have no experience doing it is one of the more challenging aspects of teaching rocketry. Building a simple Skill Level 1 rocket isn't hard, but there are steps which must be followed in order. There are small parts which must not be lost, or ...
[Read More]

Estes Mercury Redstone Model Rocket Facebook Page
From the "Estes Mercury Redstone Model Rocket" Facebook page The Estes Mercury Redstone now has its own fan appreciation page on Facebook . It's not an official Estes-run page, but one created by an admirer of the rocket. The Mercury Redstone kit is a recent re-release from Estes, and is part of ...
[Read More]

Centuri Mercury Redstone Tower Instructions
I know, I've been harping about the Estes Mercury Redstone capsule and tower instructions for a while. For an easier tower assembly I refer people to the Centuri instructions on the JimZ website. Those instructions don't come up now. On some Facebook pages people are still having trouble ...
[Read More]

James Duffy's Little Joe
If you want to see how to really build a Mercury Little Joe, CLICK HERE James Duffy knows this rocket and how to put it all together! Two spare capsules to boot! In the TRF thread check for every river and even duct tape on the tower. This version is the earlier Mercury Little Joe. The later ...
[Read More]

New Estes Engine Packaging
On TRF, Bernard Cawley posted the following: For those of you in the Pacific Northwest, you may be interested to know that Fred Meyer is turning over their Estes stock and with things on 50% off the prior clearance price there are motor packs for a bit over $3 (As, Bs and Cs), launch sets for ...
[Read More]

Repairing giveaway rockets (part 4)
I finished up the giveaways with Syracuse Rocket Club decals.The Athena still needs a chute; I’m out, but I’m pretty sure our club stash has some. Also, I built four Make It Take Its.
[Read More]

Building the (scratch) Flat Boy (part 3)
Well… that was a bit of a struggle. My original intention for the white-on-red letters on top was to print a disk to cover the full top surface on label paper and use that. But then I found that I was having a lot of trouble getting a red anywhere close to the paint color…
[Read More]

A special club meeting...
On Thursday evenings from mid-March to mid-October, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center hosts a biergarten dinner in the Davidson Center underneath the giant Saturn V - A perfect combination of beer, german food, and giant rockets. One of the really neat things about the biergarten is that the Space ...
[Read More]

A sticky formula
primer + clearcoat + sharpie ink + Rustoleum gloss black = sticky after 3 days The Interwebs say Rustoleum black often takes 4+ days to completely dry. I don't know exactly how long it took on the Sat V, but it was totally dry after 11 days. This stuff will be kept only as a last resort.
[Read More]

Orlando Sentinel Article About Our Local Launch
We try to attend each of ROCK’s monthly launches in Oviedo, Florida. At this month’s launch was a reporter, Caitlin Dineen, from the Orlando Sentinel newspaper. She interviewed several of the launch participants including our club’s president, Brian Coyle. Jordan Krumbine, … ...
[Read More]

The New Body Tubes Are Here!
The new shipment of Blue Tubes has arrived for all those upscales.
[Read More]

SpaceX: High speed video of past missions

[Read More]

Orion Spacecraft desktop paper model
Time to build an Orion Spacecraft. Here is a paper model offered by NASA
[Read More]

Of names and paint schemes...
In every TARC season, you will find a team named "Generic School Team #1" among the Falcon Rocketeers, Jurassic TARC, Team Bazinga, and the Flying Circus. I must confess that I find this a bit annoying, as I am a firm believer in TARC teams - and their rockets - having names; without names, there ...
[Read More]

NEFAR Launch - August 13, 2016
I flew back from California touching down at 7:00 a.m., just enough time to drive to the NEFAR launch in Bunnell. The NEFAR field gives me a chance to stretch using engines larger than a B6-4. I knew it'd be hot, but it wasn't unbearable. Low power pads were available all day. The sod farm field ...
[Read More]

New Break-Away Kit!
Check out the Blog Topper picture! The NEW BREAK-AWAY  kit is now available from JonRocket, Apogee and Sirius Rocketry. New design features include:   The main body tube is now a heavy walled BT-50, even stronger than the ST-10 tubing. The segment ties have been improved, now stronger ...
[Read More]

Model Rocket News, Vol 11, #2, 1971 - Tooth Extraction
Apparently there have been a few extractions using model rockets: CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Old Refund Certificates
I wonder if these would still be honored?
[Read More]

Guest bombshell

[Read More]

Converting the Monogram Thunderbirds F-100 (part 1)
Next month’s launch contest is plastic model conversion, and I haven’t even started on it. Yeah. Earlier this year I bought a Lindberg Mars Probe kit; I can’t find much of anything online about converting it, but I figured how hard could it be? A while ago I finally took a close ...
[Read More]

Centuri Point Replacement
You don't launch a Centuri Point over a round Estes blast deflector! My Point stayed on the launcher and caught fire! Maybe that's why Centuri recommends using their equipment. My Point fell victim to the "Krushnick Effect" where the round blast deflector closed off the round bottom of the model. ...
[Read More]

Current Projects #2
I haven't posted anything on this blog in about two weeks. Apologies to my regular readers, particularly if you've been waiting for the most recent installment of the Rocket Camp series of posts. I write this blog when I have the time, and some posts - particularly the Rocket Camp ones - take a ...
[Read More]

Old Launch Controllers on Ebay
Here's an interesting Ebay listing: CLICK HERE A real collector might be interested in these - The first controller looks like the Centuri Professional Firing Panel. For the Centuri catalog listing, CLICK HERE This controller looks like the original "Spring Return Safety Switch" contact switch used ...
[Read More]

SRC launch: Fire in the hole
Seems I haven’t entirely shaken my launch jinx. Saturday was the Syracuse Rocket Club’s annual Family Picnic Launch, our big launch event. My flights started off well enough with the Bohica’s Dead Ringer on a B6-4. It flew as it always does on that motor, straight up, down under a ...
[Read More]

FAI World Spacemodeling Championship Starts Wednesday
 The World Championships for spacemodeling starts in Ukraine on Wednesday, with the opening ceremonies on Tuesday evening. The event can be seen live online here . There is a countdown clock to the live webcast. Follow me on Twitter . Like my Facebook page for blog updates and extra stuff.
[Read More]

Hobby Lobby Resets
Hobby Lobby is resetting the rocket shelves with some new Estes products. Many of last years kits were on clearance at 40% off. It looks like they are keeping some standard fare next year, including the Mercury Redstone. The Quinstar is there along with the new Expedition and BT-60 based Nike ...
[Read More]

The Current State of Quest Q2G2 Igniters
Yesterday on The Rocketry Forum, on the subject of the Quest Q2G2 model rocket igniter, someone asked "Why is it so hard to get these things now... is this an Aerotech thing or what ??" The Q2G2, seen above in its current form (they used to be blue), are a popular igniter for model rocketry, and ...
[Read More]

Model Rocket News Idea Box - Piston Ejection
From the Estes Model Rocket News, Vol.3, #1, February/March, 1963 Here's an early piston ejection drawing making wadding or parachute protectors unnecessary. A solid nose block is slid down and rests against the engine block. The nose block is attached to a shock cord and to the nose cone. Note ...
[Read More]

Smoke by the water, a fire in the sky.

[Read More]

Body Tubes?
Just received a BIG order of body tubes from BMS for Odd'l kits. It doesn't look like much until you look in from the side. There are tubes in tubes!
[Read More]

Building tips from Chris Michielsson
Apogee's latest newsletter  has some great tips on: adapting a 3/16" lug for a 1/8" rod; improved use of wadding; hiding sticker/decal junctions/overlap; thinning down your tri-fold shock cord mounts; masking tape removal; tying a better shock cord knot; and, cleaning paint over-spray. I'll ...
[Read More]

Apogee Peak Of Flight Article - TIPS
Tim at Apogee asked me to come up with two articles for the Peak Of Flight e-newsletter based on TIPS from this blog. To see the first article: CLICK HERE If you've been following the blog you've probably already seen some of these ideas. There are always new blog readers and an item in the two ...
[Read More]

A New Break-Away Build
From the N.A.R. Facebook page: Daniel Pierce writes: Just finishing up this kit from Odd'l rockets. Cool breakaway recovery, and I have all those sections I can paint with whatever colors I want!!!!
[Read More]

Live Stream of 2016 FAI World Championships for Space Models
There is a live stream of the 2016 FAI World Championships for Space Models :  CLICK HERE
[Read More]

FAI World Championships for Space Models, Day 1 Video
Due to the time difference, I missed most of today's live stream from the FAI World Championships for Space Models, in Lviv, Ukraine. However, if you, too, missed it, you can see it - at least, four hours of it - here: Like my Facebook page for blog updates and extra stuff. Follow me on Twitter .
[Read More]

How Many R/C Rocket Gliders Can You Make From One Kit?
All these R/C Rocket Gliders were made using the large nose cone and 2" body tube from the discontinued Estes Cosmic Interceptor kit. Frank produces the R/C Rocket Glider kits from Dynasoar Rocketry. To see the entire product line,  CLICK HERE There are even more models than what is shown ...
[Read More]

New day, new name, new issues
Last night I decided on a name for the foam ekrano-glider: Chesapeake Sky Monster . I also decided on two 24mm mounts. I just wasn't feeling the joy for another large cluster and this will allow for the use of the legendary E9s. Two tubes were cut and are being plugged so the spent motors can hail ...
[Read More]

Model Rocket News Idea Box - Nose Cone Retention
From the Estes Model Rocket News, Vol. 4, #2, 1964. Everyone has lost a nose cone at ejection. I've used this retention method for a few years. Sometimes a simple friction fit nose cone isn't enough.
[Read More]

Old school rocket trackers

[Read More]

The pitfalls of real-time design (yet another photoless post)
Well, progress on the Chesapeake Air Monster is crawling along.  The good news is that the motor mount flips like is s'posed to. The rest isn't as good. I added the motor mount tubes and began thinking about adding a thrust point for each motor. Currently, the thrust point is only a bit over a ...
[Read More]

An Email From Larry Brown
I just got this email from Larry Brown. He must have ran across the blog doing a search of the X-24. This letter gives some insight into the X-24 Bug development. As Larry explains, he did a lot of design work for Centuri. Hello. For 4 years, I worked in R&D at Centuri engineering with Grant ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets Break-Aways In Stock!
The Odd'l Rockets BREAK-AWAY kits are back in stock at my distributors! One of the most popular Odd'l kits has been improved. Longer couplers,  simpler Kevlar tether ties between segments and heavy-walled BT-50 body tube for durability. The Break-Away breaks apart at apogee and the ...
[Read More]

Postcard From Vern
After my 1972 visit to Estes I sent a letter thanking them for the tour. I got this postcard shortly thereafter:     That's what you call great customer relations! It was addressed to Chris Dichielson. That's me, back then I had a weird way of writing capital "Ms". ...
[Read More]

Model Rocket News idea Box - D.I.Y. Fin Marking Guides
From the Estes Model Rocket News, Vol. 4, #2, 1964. I still use this method to make fin marking guides when the kit supplied guides don't fit correctly.
[Read More]

Down to four options
It appears I have once again been defeated by a glider. I tried extending the canards on the Chesapeake Sky Monster. No Joy. Added tail weight as before. Marginally better. Added some more...it still came down like a flying brick, but also took a right turn and the whole rear tail broke off. It ...
[Read More]

Building the Lindberg Mars Probe
Change of PMC plan. The September club launch is earlier than usual. Instead of the third Saturday (the 17th) it’ll be the second Sunday (the 11th). That’s in less than two weeks. What are the odds of building and painting the F-100 by then? Slim to none, and “slim” only if ...
[Read More]

2016 FAI World Championships for Space Models Results
From Steve Kristal (Gus on YORF) Best showing ever for a US team on foreign soil! Gold Medal - Senior S2P (Emma Kristal) Gold Medal - Senior S2P Team ( Emma Kristal, Matt Steele, Chris Flanigan) Silver Medal - Junior S2P (Ashley Van Milligan) Bronze Medal - Junior S2P (Allison Van Milligan) Silver ...
[Read More]

Centuri Tour, 1968 American Rocketeer, Part 1
Here's a photo tour of the Centuri facility from the American Rocketeer magazine.
[Read More]

Centuri Tour, 1968 American Rocketeer, Part 2
I guess the lab coats made everything look more scientific. This last aerial picture is a little deceiving.  The Centuri operation didn't take up the entire building. I visited Centuri in 1972. Centuri rented area in an industrial park. Most of the operation was the lower left half of the ...
[Read More]

SpaceX rocket and AMOS-6 payload lost in explosion
This morning an explosion rocked the Cape. During test for the AMOS-6 launch the SpaceX vehicle and payload were destroyed during an explosion at complex 40 at 9:07 am EDT. here is the official statement    
[Read More]

A rocket that can fly on dihydrogen monoxide *and* APCP?!? Say WHAT?
Well, that's exactly what the folks over at Air Command are doing. In a continuing move to the dark side, they want to start flying HPR. So they are building a rocket that can either fly as a big a$$ water rocket of a nice sized HPR bird. No matter what your preference in propellants, I'm sure you ...
[Read More]

Video of the F9 AMOS-6 explosion

[Read More]

Humid Summer and Paint Drying Times - TIP
Body tubes and balsa seem to dry in a reasonable time. Plastic nose cones have taken days! Balsa and Kraft tubes can "breathe" where the plastic cant, I guess. I still use the questionable Rusto 2X. It's cheap and easy to find. The gloss white seems to have some occasional problems. I've found if ...
[Read More]

Dr. Zooch MR Little Joe I Fix
Sometimes repairs sit for a year while I figure out a good way to fix them. After making trim spray paint decals for the latest MR Little Joe I used the same trim on my older Dr. Zooch Little Joe I. I built a BT-60 based Dr. Zooch Little Joe I in 2010. Back then I didn't know about spray ...
[Read More]

Model Rocket Quiz
On Facebook, Frank Baeyens found this one, the Model Rocket Quiz. The questions are good, some will make you stop and think. I got 9 out of the 10! To take the test - CLICK HERE
[Read More]

My experience with Estes 'E' motors
I keep thinking about all the problem report that I've seen over the last couple of years. I just checked my logs and found that I have used 143 E9s since 2002. In that time, I only remember one cato. This was quite a while ago and I used a quick and dirty off-label ignition set-up. I thought ...
[Read More]

Showdown at high noon...
This past Saturday was the day chosen for the long awaited Geezer TARC competition launch - a rather auspicious day, being on Labor Day weekend and also the opening Saturday of the college football season. I think we will fix this day for future Geezer TARCs; it's perfect for a rocket showdown. ...
[Read More]

Atlas V OSIRIS-REX Launch info and paper model
Here is the information for the launch of the AtlasV OSIRIS-REX mission. Let’s go bring back a piece of an asteroid! OSIRIS-REx’s key science objectives include: • Return and analyze a sample of Bennu’s surface • Map the asteroid • Document ...
[Read More]

MRN Article from 1964
Here's an old favorite I found on a recent trip to California.  I didn't have a scanner, enlarge them for easier reading.    Favorite quote on fins:  "I cut mine out with scissors. It’s real fast and leaves a sort of splintery edge that’s real good for ...
[Read More]

Rusto Paint Conversation at Home Depot
I was out of yellow paint for the upper half of the Alien Invader build. I stopped by Home Depot. Somebody else was also looking for yellow paint. As we both checked out the three available shades of yellow, he said: "Too many choices!" I responded: "You have pretty good luck with the Rustoleum 2X ...
[Read More]

NEFAR Monthly Launch, September 10, 2016
I arrived just before 11:00 a.m. No winds - yet! Hot and humid. First up for me was the Dr. Zooch SLS . An Estes C6-5 got it to about 500'. It landed too close to the chemical and water canal. Next to the SLS is Claudia Moon's 3" School Rocket from BMS. My Odd'l Rockets LITTLE GREEN MAN ...
[Read More]

First Through-The-Wall Fins?
The old Estes Semi Scale Saturn V (K-39) was brought up on YORF. I hadn't looked at the instructions for years. To see them, CLICK HERE Steps 6 and 11 might show the first ever use of through the wall fins. This kit had clear plastic fins. The fins were cut from a sheet and "glued" on using clear ...
[Read More]

What Happened to Butrate Dope?
Remember Sanding Sealer? In 1974 you paid 35 cents for a small jar. Today, a 1 oz. jar of Aero Gloss Clear Dope retails for $9.49!!! Butrate dope has gone out of fashion, it's hard to find at the dwindling brick and mortar hobby shops. Few people take the time to build "stick and tissue" ...
[Read More]

Micropost: Chute or Streamer - Decisions
Sometimes it's hard to decide whether to use a parachute or a streamer for recovery. A chute will bring the rocket down nice and softly, but more slowly. In that time, the wind may cause the rocket to drift, increasing the likelihood of losing the rocket in a tree or over the hills and far away. A ...
[Read More]

I'll Trade You an Apollo 13 for Two Liberty Bell 7's!
You never know what you are going to find at estate sales. This past weekend, I was poking around one and in a box in the garage I found these: Yep, NASA approved space related trading cards! These SpaceShot cards came out in 1991, right about the time when the trading card fad was booming. It ...
[Read More]

Micropost: PSII Ready To Go
Due to drought, the fire marshal in Amesbury has said we cannot launch there. Too much dry grass. Good news is, the FlisKits Anniversary launch has been moved up to Berwick, Maine, thanks to the Maine Missile Math and Science Club . They have a much larger field, much larger recovery area, and ...
[Read More]

Stuntman successfully flies the "Evel Spirit" over the Snake River

[Read More]

A Note From A Great Day
I was going through some paperwork the other day and I came across something interesting... This was a note that was placed inside every "goodie bag" that was handed out at the Apollo 7 Celebration. The event was held on October 17, 2008, and each table had a Semroc Saturn I-B as a ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2016-8 (MDRA)
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD, ESL-219 Weather: 75-80, mostly overcast, wind 0-10 Total flights: Today - 5; YTD - 62 Total motors: Today - 10; YTD - 80 Motors by class YTD: MMX-1, 1/2A-2, A-17, B-2, C-28, D-7, E-10, F-5, G-8 Nice day, no shade required. The crowd didn't look too bad ...
[Read More]

Pigasus Sighting
Daniel Pierce posted this on the N.A.R. Facebook page: "Had a cool rocket class for the kids at our local hobby shop today and my fellow rocketeer John Thompson broke out the Odd'l Rocket shirt and Pigasus!!!!" - in Hood River, Oregon.
[Read More]

Building a giveaway rocket (part 1)
At the last club meeting we were given opaque plastic bags each containing parts for a rocket. Not actual kits, but parts, mostly salvaged from kits. Our job is to put something together with those parts, to replenish our giveaway stock. (You know those eight giveaways I finished up last month? ...
[Read More]

Self Adhesive 400 Grit Sandpaper
I bought some of the self adhesive 400 grit sandpaper from the Klingspor website. You could spray some adhesive on the the back of some 400 grit but it's easier to use a sticky backed sandpaper on the Great Planes sanding block. Great Planes sells self adhesive sandpaper rolls. The finest grit ...
[Read More]

Saturn V fin replacement
After one use, I highly recommend getting some Bondic  liquid plastic glue. It's a bit pricey, but I can see it will be very useful. I attached this fin in about 15 seconds. But that took an extra pair of hands. Still, this would have been very difficult even with CA. I first laid on a thin ...
[Read More]

Level 1 Certification - Rocket Prep
I did it! I got my Level 1 high power rocketry certification! This means that I can now purchase and fly H and I impulse rocket motors! Yesterday's 14th Annual FlisKits Anniversary Launch in Berwick, Maine, was incredible. The field is huge and flat, and despite the breeze, most people got all ...
[Read More]

Removing Sandpaper From an Aluminum Sanding Block
A few weeks ago, on Twitter , I was asked: "@rocketn00b Can you tell me which spray adhesive you use to stick sandpaper to your aluminum sanding block so it isn't permanently stuck?" Mark is referring to one of my favorite tools, the Great Planes Easy Touch hand sander. I first found out ...
[Read More]

It's Back! The Estes Saturn V
Just up on the Estes Website - CLICK HERE At the moment it is showing as "Out Of Stock". Retail price is lower than the last batch at $79.99. No news about parts changes. We can hope the fins aren't vacu-form anymore. Recommended engines now include the D12-3, E12-4 and E30-4. Will I build ...
[Read More]

Ball shot backwards at exactly the same speed to cancel out forward motion in truck

[Read More]

PIGS! And Bigger Pigs!
From the N.A.R. Facebook page: From  Jason Pettler : "My daughter loves Pigasus so I up scaled it to a 3in  and a  5 1/2 in." Thanks Jason! Very Impressive. There have been Odd'l upscales done before but this is the first large Pigasus models I've seen.
[Read More]

HPR Level 1 Certification Video
The launch video of my successful high power rocketry Level 1 certification attempt is now on YouTube. The rocket gets pretty tiny when it gets up there, so this is best viewed in full screen mode. Follow me on Twitter . Like my Facebook page for blog updates and extra stuff.
[Read More]

Saturn V Kit Fins????
A posted question from James Duffy on TRF: "Can anyone confirm that the rumored new injection-molded fins became a reality? The instruction sheet posted elsewhere in this thread appears to be from an earlier release, and makes no reference to the new parts." James ________________________ ...
[Read More]

Tonight, On The Rocketry Show...
Tonight, we are recording a much-anticipated episode for the new season of The Rocketry Show podcast. Tonight, we are talking with an astronaut. I can't say who it is until the show is posted, but this astronaut flew three times on the Space Shuttle, serving as pilot twice and mission ...
[Read More]

Building a giveaway rocket (part 2)
The fins, as I said, were pretty huge for this rocket. And then there were the fin slots which I could try to fill, or cover… or use… I cut the tips from the roots and cut tabs. Sorry about that, whoever put all the work into gluing those two fins together at an angle.…
[Read More]

Model Rocket News Idea Box - Shock Cord Attachment
From the Estes Model Rocket News, Vol. 3, #1, Feb/March, 1963. Here's an early shock cord retention using an engine block. It's similar to using just a segment of body tube used in the Enerjet Mercury Little Joe I. This tip came from 1963 when the the illustration showed a minimum diameter tube, a ...
[Read More]

Past Apogee Peak Of Flight Articles
Sometime I don't go into a lot of detail when I repeat a building technique on the blog. That information has been printed before, sometimes in the Apogee Peak Of Flight newsletter. The recent "TIPS 1 & 2" were my eleventh and twelfth articles published in the P.O.F. Here's some links to ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V Fins Update
From the Estes website, the Saturn V kit page: " One new feature worth mentioning are the fins. This version now has two-piece injection molded plastic fins for added durability during flight!" I think they might mean - "Added durability upon landing!" That's when the old style vacu-form fins ...
[Read More]

Build, Learn, & Launch: Introduction to Model Rocketry
September 27, 28, and 29 – Orange County Library – Alafaya Trail Branch: Come be a “Rocket Scientist” with us! Build, design, fly, and keep your own model rocket in this three night educational series! Join Rocketry of Orlando’s Community ...
[Read More]

Small Sounding Rockets
Richard Morrow writes; Please let your scale model and history buffs know that Small Sounding Rockets c2000 is now back in print. The companion CD has many color photos and enlargeable drawings of the vehicles in the book. New to the Small Sounding Rockets companion CD is an exhaustive ...
[Read More]

Little Green Man Launch, NEFAR, Sept. 10, 2016
Here's some pictures taken by Thea Mathen at the September N.E.F.A.R. launch. My Little Green Man flew with a Quest B6-4.
[Read More]

Nothing, nada, zilch... UPDATED
That's the total amount of rocketry projects on the bench. Or even bouncing around in my head. I have surveyed and inventoried my rocketry and non-rocketry parts. I bought a life sized foam Frankenstein Monster head (couldn't resist at half price minus 20%). Still nothing. Once again, I considered ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Interplanetary Transport System

[Read More]

Break-Away For Spot Landing Competition?
An email from John Thompson: "I really enjoy building your kits.  The Pigasus is primed with white and almost completed. Myself and Daniel Peirce competed in Open Spot Landing using the break-away kits.  Both worked great. Daniels break-away rocket landed 35 feet from the target and mine ...
[Read More]

SpaceX's Interplanetary Transport System
Today, Elon Musk revealed his concept of how to get to Mars and beyond - the Interplanetary Transport System (ITS). He would like to send 100 people on an 80-150 day trip to the Red Planet. The BFS rocket will have a 12m booster and the spaceship will measure 17m. The stack will 122m tall. The ...
[Read More]

D.I.Y. Launch Controller Housing?
After a few years in the hobby, this is the controller I wish I could have had. Even as a "Lone Wolf" flyer I wanted the best. The Centuri Professional Firing Panel, $14.95 in 1972. It had a safety key you inserted and turned to make contact. The housing was aluminum. Most of the project boxes ...
[Read More]

TARC workshops and cell towers...
In terms of rocket events, September has been a busy month. A few days after the Geezer TARC launch, HARA hosted a Saturday TARC workshop at the Educator Resource Center located on the grounds of the Space and Rocket Center. The idea was to condense the information offered in HARA's hour long ...
[Read More]

Open Rocket User Manual
For those needing help getting started with Open Rocket, A User's Manual is available at the following address: CLICK HERE From the Website: Contents 1. Introduction 2. Downloading & Installing 3. Getting Started 4. Basic Flight Simulation 5. Basic Rocket Design 6. Advanced Rocket Design ...
[Read More]

Saturn V Blog Posts - Book Form!
Estes has re-released the Saturn V kit - CLICK HERE This new version has injection molded two-piece plastic fins, a big improvement over the two-sided vacuform fins. There are probably other updates in the kit but many of my build posts still apply. Here's my original blog post from a few months ...
[Read More]

Google Earth Views of Estes
On TRF, K'Tesh gave a link to the Estes facility as seen from Google Earth - CLICK HERE   There are a few different views at the bottom to explore. In the lighter area at the upper left are the small engine making buildings. We were told there were lightning rods on each building. If ...
[Read More]

#Rocketober Tweets for Today
Time to pick a build for #Rocketober. I have so many Estes rockets I'm going with something else. Here's my non-Estes build pile. I've been posting a ton of photos to Twitter for #Rocketober . Here's what I've done so far today. From the selection ...
[Read More]

New Estes Saturn V Fins
This afternoon on YORF, The Mole posted pictures of the new Saturn V instructions. It looks like the older instructions with the new two-piece fin drawings dropped in place of the older vacu-form fins. And what we've been waiting for -  These already look sturdier than the vacu-form versions.
[Read More]

Smithsonian releases 3D tour of Apollo 11 capsule
“To mark the 47th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon-landing mission, the Smithsonian has made available a high-resolution 3-D scan of the command module “Columbia,” the spacecraft that carried astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Michael Collins to the … Continue ...
[Read More]

Sky Wolf Sim
I've created a simulation of the Sky Wolf in OpenRocket, and it looks pretty close. I'll need to print out fin templates and compare them to the real thing to be sure, but after tinkering with it for a few hours, I think I have a close enough sim. Follow me on Twitter . Like my Facebook ...
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Launch, October 2, 2016
I'll be glad when the humidity drops later this month. Towards the end of the session we all felt drained. I had a Dr. Zooch model day, for the most part. My Ares 1 STICK launched first with an Estes A8-3. Arrow straight to about 175' and ejection of a really small parachute. My Dr. Zooch ATLAS ...
[Read More]

Well, I guess I will build the Frankenstein head odd-roc afterall
Last night, Brian Coyle's idea of putting the Hat of Death on the foam Frankenstein head popped to mind. It bounced around for a while and I decided to build something! The Hat itself fits pretty loosely so I'll have to do something to snug it up. I considered a cluster of three canted 24mm mounts ...
[Read More]

Photos for Rocketober 2
Click here for an explanation of this Rocketober stuff . Sunset Launch Day 2's official theme for the Apogee Components #Rocketober photo blitz is "The earliest photo you can find of yourself doing rocketry." The earliest photos of me in rocketry aren't that old. I ...
[Read More]

Presenting the Gene Wilder Frankensteen Memorial Hat
Well, I went and did it again...Brian Coyle suggested a name and I stole his idea. Now, Brian, if you want to go ahead and order a motor and have it drop-shipped to me, I'll put your name on the flight card too. LOL. Thanks for the ideas! The green paint wasn't foam safe but didn't eat too ...
[Read More]

Slight touch-up, including the bolts...
...because we wouldn't want him to lose his head!
[Read More]

Some Estes / Centuri Saturn V Comparisons
With the re-release of the Estes Saturn V, I thought it would be interesting to do some quick comparisons between the original Centuri and Estes kits. Estes and Centuri both debuted their Saturn V models in 1969. Both were 1/100th scale and at the time both used a three engine cluster of C6-3s. ...
[Read More]

Rocketober 3, 2016
All this month I'm posting photos on Twitter for #Rocketober . They'll appear here with slightly expanded text. I recorded a new episode of The Rocketry Show podcast last night, so this post is on yesterday's tweets.   "Day 2: Rocket t-shirt"     I don't have any ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V Concern -
An email from Mike Rufener - Hi Chris! Just got a Saturn V (2157) and it has both vacuum formed fins, and hard plastic fins. I think I'll use the newer ones. I also noticed that the "yellow engine spacer tube" is wrong. Estes uses these to push the thrust ring into the body-tube, ...
[Read More]

Rocketober 4 - Rocketry Education Photos
All this month I'm posting photos on Twitter for #Rocketober . They'll appear here with slightly expanded text.   "Day 4: TARC or educational rocketry photo"   Yesterday's #Rocketober theme was educational rocketry photos. Since I've taught Rocket Camp two years running, I ...
[Read More]

Setting the Saturn V Engine Block? TIP
The first run of the Estes Saturn V kit only has the short yellow D engine block setting tube at 2 3/4" long. The model should be built for the 3 3/4" long E engines. If you don't have a E engine casing -  Take a scrap BT-50 tube and cut it to 3 3/4" long. Cut down it's length in a straight ...
[Read More]

Future Scale Kits From Estes?
On TRF, John Boren asked for scale rocket suggestions for possible Estes kits. Mark B posted all the suggested names: Comrades: Thus far we've mentioned (in no particular order) NEW R-7, Rapier, Terrier, Talos, Typhoon, Standard, Nike -Cajun, Hercules and Zeu ...
[Read More]

2016 in photos
 
[Read More]

An Email About Rockets and Family Tradition
Hi Chris, We corresponded earlier this year as a result of comments I made about your Model Rocket Building Techniques segment of the NAR website.  I thought you might enjoy hearing about a “different” class of model rocket builder. For the past thirteen years we have launched ...
[Read More]

Model Rocketry on TV
I'm pretty convinced that rocketry is a strong and growing hobby, even if those outside the obsessive community of rocketeers remain unaware of its very existence. It seems that model rockets had a much higher public profile back during the 1960s, '70s and '80s. While the hobby has never ...
[Read More]

Rocketober 9 - Rocket Wish List and More Sky Wolf Building
All this month I'm posting photos on Twitter for #Rocketober . They'll appear here with slightly expanded text. I've been battling a cold the past few days, so I haven't done much building or Rocketober tweeting. I had some time today, though, so here's what I've done so far. The Apogee ...
[Read More]

Rocketober 10
All this month I'm posting photos on Twitter for #Rocketober . They'll appear here with slightly expanded text. Still under the weather, I've only taken a few more steps on construction of Sky Wolf. The rocket comes with two inch-long launch lugs for a 1/4 inch launch rail. Simply gluing on ...
[Read More]

Free Ornament?
  John Boren just replied on Facebook: "Right now shipping is free with a purchase greater than $49.99 plus you get a free Christmas ornament." Note to Estes: I don't want the pink one.    
[Read More]

Three Rockets, Chosen At Random...
Ok, not exactly at random, but close. When I went to write this week's blog, I began to think about all the cool kits that, for one reason or another, I have never built. So, I went to my rocket drawers (no, those aren't what I wear when I'm flying rockets) and pulled out the first three unopened ...
[Read More]

Antares OA-5 launch visibility
The Antares OA-5 will launch from the Wallops Flight Facility this Sunday and should be widely visible up and down the East Coast. It will launch no earlier than 8:03 PM. Watch NASA TV for real time updates. I have dusted off the Wallops app and will be watching. The app shows Wallop's location ...
[Read More]

Great On Board Rocket Video
From Facebook, Jerry Rutherford gave a link to this video by Petr Pavlik: CLICK HERE "Launch of 3 stage rocket model, on-board camera slow motion video, rocket motors ignition sequence, detail of stage separation from additional on-board camera attached to 2nd stage. Slow motion video from ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2016-9 (MDRA)
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD, ESL-220 Weather: sunny, mid 60's, wind ~5 Total flights: Today - 4; YTD - 66 Total motors: Today - 4; YTD - 84 Motors by class YTD: MMX-1, 1/2A-2, A-17, B-2, C-28, D-7, E-10, F-7, G-10 This was an extremely strange launch for me. Every flight had ...
[Read More]

Mega Zoom Broom?
Here's one from a company I never knew existed. From Rocketpad - It's the MEGA ZOOM BROOM!  This kit is up for auction on Ebay. I don't understand this design. It's a sorta' upscaled, stretch version of the Estes Goonybird Zoom Broom. The original Goonys were introduced in 1973. Apparently ...
[Read More]

Antares OA-5 delayed by 24 hours
Now set for  October 17, 2016; 7:40 p.m. EDT due to a faulty cable.
[Read More]

F-16 Prototype Tweeks
Originally I was going to call this the F-17. It is based on the OOP F-16 Centuri Fighter Fleet model. I went back to the F-16 name after seeing some online F-17 fighter images. Where it is at now, it is closer to the F-16 design, as close as you can get to a model rocket styled jet. It's not a ...
[Read More]

Odd'ls On Rocketoberfest
The Little Green Man and Pigasus were featured on the Apogee Facebook Page. They are part of the Rocketober promotion posted on October 11. Thanks to Richard Holmes for the email heads up!
[Read More]

Antares OA-5 Paper Model
I was fortunate enough to watch the launch of the Orbital Antares OA-5 from the Outer Banks of North Carolina. My view was spectacular. I watched as first stage burned out almost directly in front of my ocean view. I … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Antares OA-5 viewing
The rocket was clearly visible from my front yard. The first stage was brighter than the 2nd, probably because it was dropping from view as the rocket proceeded down range. I had a point-and-shoot camera on a tripod with the longest aperture I could get (8 sec.). The results were less than ...
[Read More]

Lee Piester Talk at Museum Of Flight
Rick Piester posted this link on Facebook: "Here's my dad telling the story of Centuri Engineering at the Seattle Museum of Flight."   If you haven't seen it, highly recommended - CLICK HERE May 7, 2016 - Lee Piester, founder and President of Centuri Engineering, shares a nostalgic ...
[Read More]

Nike Smoke Videos
I fought off a cold last week, and then on Saturday I had a big launch to attend, so I took some time off from building and #Rocketober posting. But I've finished a couple videos in the mean time, so I'm sharing them here. The Estes Pro Series II Nike Smoke, seen above, is a great rocket. It ...
[Read More]

Vintage Estes Cineroc Film - Lucerne, 1975
Image from The Rocketry Forum user K'Tesh's magnificent thread of OpenRocket files Last night, on the Facebook group Space Hipsters , someone posted something I found truly fantastic: newly digitized vintage film from an Estes Cineroc launch, taken by her father. I ...
[Read More]

Blog Ground Rules
It seems I have to set some ground rules every year or so - This is not directed at everybody reading the blog - Just a few who are treating it like a forum. I used to post more often on rocketry forums. I got tired of people telling me I was doing things wrong. "That's not the way I do it" was ...
[Read More]

Second Stage Veering Off? TIP
THIS IS BIG! A post from Hornet Driver on The Rocketry Forum: ". . . I gotta tell ya, I've never had a multistage rocket--no matter what type it is--track straight up . They always kick over at least a little when staging and the more you stage the more the problem. I'm personally convinced ...
[Read More]

Old MRN Cover with Starship Excalibur
In a recent comment, Naoto Kimura found a Starship Excalibur variant on an old Model Rocket News cover from August 1968. I have seen this cover before but never associated it with the Excalibur. That is definitely the Starship Excalibur with three added SRBs. No, I'm not going to add this to the ...
[Read More]

Comments on Over Building
Over-building can be overkill in L.P.R. On a Facebook post I saw a video of a builder using a steel fishing leader being slid through a replaceable (rear centering ring / straw feed) Kevlar mount. This was in a Low Power Rocket. Why is a steel line in a replaceable mount? You might be better ...
[Read More]

Well, that’s one way to end the year.
That about sums that up >< Going to need to figure out that recovery system. Works just fine in the other two Optimas….apparently this one not so much.   Up parts were good-   But I blew out the sides on the Vulc- 😦 Good Flight otherwise-
[Read More]

Small Pop-Up Spray Booth - TIP
Here's something I found on Pinterest: Small Spray Shelter CLICK HERE to see it on Amazon. It could be used for some rocket builds. It never occurred to me to use something like this, it reminds me of a small pop-up tent. Check out his filter mask. If you're not spraying outdoors, you'll ...
[Read More]

Rocketober, Nearly Over
Rocketober 31 : Halloween Theme - Spooknik! This month, I've been posting photos on Twitter for #Rocketober . They'll appear here with slightly expanded text. October has gone fast! While I haven't kept up with the Apogee Components #Rocketober theme of the day on ...
[Read More]

Everything's Better in Pictures
Today I have an image to show you that isn't exactly as it seems. Here you go... It's the cover of the July,  1987 issue of American Spacemodeling! On this cover we see a fine example of a Saturn V blasting into the sky for a beautiful flight!...well, sort of... You see, I happened to ...
[Read More]

Untreated TP Wadding?
On a Facebook Rocketry Page, a question was brought up about wadding alternatives. Dog barf and even lettuce leaves were suggested. I put in my vote for crepe paper. One post was about a hobby store owner who recommended to use toilet paper, but it had to be White Cloud brand. According to the ...
[Read More]

Filling a Full Decal Sheet
Here's a response to an email from Glen, he asked if I printed these on an "A4": Hi Glen, I wasn't sure what an A4 is! I worked in a print shop for years and didn't use that term. We just said 8 1/2" X 11".  I didn't work the press area. I do print on a full size  8 1/2" X 11" sheet, but ...
[Read More]

Rockets Thrown Away?
  I've got a lot of rockets. Sometimes you've got to make room for the new kids. I hate throwing them away, I've got some time invested in the build. But sometimes you get past the point of repairs. This is a BT-50 based Jayhawk, the original produced kit Starlight. The kit is now ...
[Read More]

Break-Away Spotted -
From Edward Mitton's Blast From The Past Blog - CLICK HERE "Mike (Goss) started things off with a multi-section model similar to the Estes Wacky Wiggler.    The model turned in a nice flight." Well it's not a Wacky Wiggler, it's the Odd'l Rockets Break-Away!  
[Read More]

China launches heavy-lift Long March-5
  Details on Long March 5 Height 57 m (187 ft) Diameter 5 m (16 ft) Mass 1,938,000 lb Stages 2 Capacity Payload to LEO 55,000 lb Payload to GTO 31,000 lb Payload to TLI 18,000 lb
[Read More]

(Still) Moving …
Moving is exciting. Moving is challenging. Moving is a lot of work And, as we are demonstrating, moving is time-consuming! We are still working hard to get JonRocket.com back on line. We have all of our inventory in our new … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Unstable Quinstar?
On TRF Les had an unstable Quinstar flight with a D12-0 engine. Some thought maybe it got hung up on the launch rod, starting to spin on the way up.  For anybody interested in a 24mm conversion,  Here's my TRF response -  I've launched my Quinstar with both C6 and D12 engines. My ...
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Launch, November 5, 2016
The weather has cooled down but we had wind to 15 mph. Above, Club President and RSO Brian Coyle and Tom Dennon adjust launch rod angles before launch. Here's the launch of the new Quest Escort AS-1 with an Estes A8-3. On my first launch of the day I go low to check the winds and drift. This was a ...
[Read More]

Wadding Squares Getting Smaller?
Here's something I noticed when opening up a bulk pack of Estes C6-5 engines -  The new box says there are 72 squares  of recovery wadding included, not the old count of 75. I know what you're thinking: "Come on, it's just three squares!" In the engine bulk pack there were six small ...
[Read More]

Fonts Matter
Next time you pick out a type font to run down the side of your rocket . . . make sure the style fits the design. From the Design Cuts Facebook page.
[Read More]

Model Rocketry....50 Years Ago.
Hello rocketeers! This week we're going to take a trip back 50 years to 1966! Let's look at one of my coolest Estes catalogs (I think Royce Frankum gave it to me a few years ago...Thanks, Royce!) and the coolness therein! The cover of the catalog features great artwork. Mine ...
[Read More]

Perfect Inline Launch Lugs
An email from Eric James Blitchok -   Overeasy123 November 4, 2016 Chris, I just had a Rocket Epiphany? After all these years, and all these Rockets? I should be applying my Launch Lugs to the BT with the help of Aluminium Angle, long before approaching the Fins! They'll never be straighter! ...
[Read More]

Upscale Squatty Body
Roy Houchin Jr. sent a picture of his upscale Odd'l SQUATTY BODY. Thanks Roy - looks great at any size!
[Read More]

Estes Wadding Test
In a recent comment, Daniel (the Rocket Noob) wrote: "Well, I can't attest to White Cloud's usefulness as wadding, but Estes wadding will also burn really well if you touch a match or lighter to it - as I learned when I did a demonstration at Rocket Camp. "See? Wadding won't burn if you... Oh! Oh, ...
[Read More]

Launch! Bunnell Blast, November 12, 2016
The two day Bunnell Blast is BIG! Lots of flyers, lots of cars. The LPR and MPR launchers are set far enough apart so neither has to wait for pads or recovery. Well, that goes for LPR anyway. The MPR launchers were very busy. The Science Channel was there with a large video crew filming for a ...
[Read More]

Paint Observations
This nose cone was found a while back at the Orlando R.O.C.K. field. It wasn't picked up for a few weeks and I adopted it. It's the classic PNC-60AH used in the Red Max kit. Plastic nose cones are usually recyclable after removing the paint. This post is not trying to critique the builder's work. ...
[Read More]

Video Build Series - The Quest Superbird
I've started shooting a series of model rocket build videos for my YouTube channel , beginning with a rocket from Quest Aerospace - the Superbird. This one should be interesting. What started as a rather straightforward build has developed a few hiccups early on, making things a little more ...
[Read More]

R.I.P. Dave Bucher
From Blake Goddard's NAR Facebook post: "So last night was a very bittersweet night for me. I got together with a group of friends commiserating on the loss of my best friend, Dave Bucher. He passed away yesterday in his sleep. If there was a way to go, we could not ask for better. This man ...
[Read More]

The MIGHTY (tiny) SATURN V!
One of the nice features of most Saturn V models is that they tend to be fairly large. However, a few years ago Quest decided to go in another direction. They went TINY! The Quest Micro-Maxx Saturn V is powered by the also-tiny Micro-Maxx 1/8 A engine. The whole pre-built model is slightly less ...
[Read More]

Plugged Indicator Adaptor?
  I really like the looks of the mini engine Indicator #7244 from Estes. It really calls for two stage gap staging. There is a plastic adapter at the base of the upper fins joining the BT-50 lower tube and BT-20 upper tube. On the NAR Facebook page, James Helman noticed the adapter: ...
[Read More]

Large paper model begging for conversion to flight
I will post again when I see the finished product.
[Read More]

W00t! Rockets!
Apparently, I make a certain noise at launches. Follow me on Twitter . Like my Facebook page for blog updates and extra stuff. Have a question you'd like to see addressed on this blog? Email me at iamtherocketn00b@gmail.com.
[Read More]

My First Rocket Launch - 1969
  My "first" was a night launch. I was raised in California. In 1969 you couldn't buy engines without a state issued special permit. We'd order rocket kits from Estes and Centuri, but no engines. At the time I received the Johnson Smith catalog ("It's fun to get stuff in the mail!") ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2016-10 (MDRA)
Location: Central Sod Farm, Centreville, MD, ESL-221 Weather: sunny, mid 60's, wind ~15mph Total flights: Today - 3; YTD - 69 Total motors: Today - 6; YTD - 90 Motors by class YTD: MMX-1, 1/2A-2, A-17, B-2, C-28, D-8, E-13, F-7, G-12 Today was the cusp between a few days of warm weather and a more ...
[Read More]

Secret Last Hurrah
Saturday before Thanksgiving, so it was Walt’s Secret Santa day at Walt’s HobbyTown. Inside, things were pretty much as usual for the Syracuse Rocket Club: Rockets on dispay,motors and casings and electronics,videos, and books. What was unusual was outside. 70°F at the airport, it ...
[Read More]

Belated: LDRS - June 2016 launch report
I haven't felt much like blogging in recent months.  Could you tell?  Well I'm attempting to catch up now so I suppose that's something... onward and upward. LDRS was conveniently hosted by ROCstock.org at Lucerne Dry Lake this year in June.  The San Diego club carved out a cozy ...
[Read More]

Yesterday's Fat Boy 3x4 flight
Using rocketreviews.com's motor totals tool, I ran yesterday's flight of the Fat Boy 3x4. It was loaded with three E9's and one D12. The average impulse is 32.50 N and the total is 100.44 Ns (26% G).
[Read More]

Recovering from burn out...
This is a short catch-up post - have been fighting a cold for just over a week and am not my usual verbose self. October was filled with scouts and rocketry - we had scout launch events on 3 Saturdays, which kept me and other HARA members quite busy. Busy enough that I began to feel like my hobby ...
[Read More]

The Death of the Zonker...
Some of you may remember a few years ago when I did an article about my one and only attempt at using a wrapping paper tube for a rocket. Never in my life had I put so much work (not to mention F&F) into a body tube. Finally after what seemed like days and days, I created The Screaming Yellow ...
[Read More]

Larger Semroc Parachutes
I've run across larger Semroc parachutes in some of the bigger models. Most Semroc kits come with 1 mil. printed 12" chutes. This 16" yellow parachute came in the Starship Excalibur model. The chute plastic is interesting, it has a fine grid texture on both sides. It's probably cut from sheet ...
[Read More]

https:// connections recommended, cookies used here, daily puppy no longer being updated
From Blogger: Your HTTPS settings have changed. All visitors are now able to view your blog over an encrypted connection by visiting https://hawtakshun.blogspot.com. Existing links and bookmarks to your blog will continue to work. Learn more . And: European Union laws require you to give European ...
[Read More]

Holiday Sale!
It is that time of the year and Black Aero will be selling merchandise at a 30% discount! Use the … Read More →
[Read More]

Holtville: October 11, 2016 launch report
I didn't feel like packing that morning but, rather than shirking all responsibility, I elected to throw the trusty  2.6" Madcow Nike Smoke and minimally supportive gear in the car.  I also had that CTI/AMW 542I297 Skidmark that failed to fire in DRM mark II at LDRS so that was handy for ...
[Read More]

Apollo Command/Service Module is coming together...
...BUT I still have doubts. More lamentations below. Here you see the body section, the lead-filled nose cone and the mostly hidden 24mm motor mount. I didn't research what the bottom is supposed to look like but I liked the disc you see here. This is just barely scale-like anyway. The last ...
[Read More]

Apollo Command/Service Module 99% done
Well, all that's left is paint touch ups, add a shock cord and 'chute, and hit it with a dull coat to protect the cardstock. The nozzle should be darker than shown below and I have already repainted it. I updated the model RockSim model with accurate dimensions, actual mass and CG values, ...
[Read More]

STM-12 Kitbash?
  The Estes STM-12 is on clearance right now on the Estes website for $6.99: CLICK HERE I like the looks of the STM-12 but it could be kit bashed into an sport scale AAMRAM pretty easily. Here's the Peter Alway scale data I found after a search: Let's see -  The STM-12 ...
[Read More]

More finless thoughts
I entered the finless Apollo Command Service Module and actually deluded myself that there was some value other than a pre-build visual description. After my previous post, I realized there is another basic flaw with my model. That is, the outer tube is modeled as a ring fin and rocksim treats it ...
[Read More]

Cracked Root Edge Joints? TIP
I've made a resolution not to buy any more rockets where wood fins are glued to plastic. Everybody has had fins break off on a hard landing. Fins glued to plastic seem to be more prone to this. Wood to Kraft tube is a stronger more flexible joint. Wood to plastic isn't as good a bond and doesn't ...
[Read More]

For the grandrocketeers

[Read More]

Estes Nike X Kit #1270 Inspiration
Sometimes you find design inspirations when doing image searching. When the Nike X kit was introduced in 1975, the Estes designers didn't have access to the internet. They were going off what few pictures were released at the time. While looking up pictures of the Sprint ABM I ran across this. ...
[Read More]

Crayon planning and a side comment
I had been wanting to get Estes Crayon rockets for the grandrocketeers and the latest Estes sale gave me the opportunity. I have to admit that I bought the bundle pack to give me a couple to play with. They don't need that many, do they? My ulterior motive was fueled by this post by RocketECoyote ...
[Read More]

Waxing A Launch Rod? TIP
On TRF, a post mentioned sanding a launch rod to remove corrosion. Sanding is pretty rough on a launch rod considering some rods are now made of aluminum. Most use a very fine steel wool to clean them off followed by a wipe of spray silicone. On my home system I wipe off the rod to remove any ...
[Read More]

Estes Executioner Returns!
From a YORF post, found on the Estes website by Turbofireball -   CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Pink Max Decal Fix, Part 1
I liked most all the Hello Kitty decals on the normal BT-60 based Pink Max rocket. Well, except for the iron cross and the "kills" decal. Compared to the standard Red Max model they were small. Big clunky decals were part of the Red Max rockets charm. I wanted these larger to match the size of the ...
[Read More]

End of Year Video, Upcoming Interviews, Final Launch, News, Etc.
At the end of the year, for the past two years, I've published a slow motion launch compilation video on my YouTube channel . It can take a while to compile all the video, trim everything down to just the launches, keep it short enough that people will watch it, find music, etc. This year's ...
[Read More]

Lawndart

[Read More]

Nuclear propulsion optimism

[Read More]

Pink Max Decal Fix, Part 2
I wanted to smooth out any scraping lines from the knife blade. To protect the area outside the image area, some masking tape was set down framing the smaller decal location. Even though the used 400 grit sanding will dull the gloss, the new decal clear coat will make the area shiny. The tape was ...
[Read More]

Interesting Apollo capsule concepts circa 1961 (click thru for full descriptions)

[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., December 3, 2016
Weather has cooled down in central Florida. With the holidays approaching there wasn't a big crowd today. Skies were clear but winds were up to 15 mph. The first few models drifted into the trees so many switched over to streamers.  Here's a new one, the FLYING ENGINE MOUNT. It's based on ...
[Read More]

Easy interchangeable motor mounts...
Folks sometimes ask me why I like clusters so much - while it is true that I like duplicating reality (practically all launch vehicles of size make use of clustered engines), it is also true that the variety of black powder (Estes/Quest) motors has decreased with time. No longer do we have the ...
[Read More]

I want one of these nose cones

[Read More]

The BIG Fix, Estes Honest John, Part 1
I hope I'm not the only one who has done this! My first D12-5 flight of the Estes Honest John looked great! I picked it up and walked it back to my car. I didn't notice this until I got home. It was a D12-5 flight . . . I didn't put the 1" orange spacer in before the engine was installed. At ...
[Read More]

The BIG Fix, Estes Honest John, Part 2
I'll have to make a coupler that will fit around the TTW fins tabs right above the cut engine mount tube. A short segment of BT-50H was cut into quarters. The sides were trimmed more to allow space to fit between the sides of the TTW fin tabs. These were glued around the new extension piece with ...
[Read More]

STM-12 Kitbash? Maybe Not!!!
    EDIT: I did this post before I had a chance to see the STM-12 kit parts. As it turns out, it isn't a good candidate for an AMRAAM kitbash. Sure it looks a bit like the AMRAAM, but the STM-12 kit only has three fins! The AMRAAM has four. The STM-12 body tubes are ...
[Read More]

A very merry NASA GIFmas
NASA has just started a GIF collection over at Giphy. There are some great GIFs here.So have a very merry GIFmas. NASA Collection at Giphy
[Read More]

Apollo 17 in real time
Experience the Apollo 17 mission in real time. Apollo 17 launched 44 years ago on Dec. 7th 1972. Click here to join mission
[Read More]

Logo Decals?
Estes logo decals are usually included in their kits. I rarely put them on a rocket. I'm the type of person who refuses to buy designer clothes or shoes with predominantly displayed logos. If they were to pay me for being a walking billboard I would probably display their name. I feel the same way ...
[Read More]

N.E.F.A.R. Launch, Bunnell, FL, December 10, 2016
Months go by, things are good, and then you have one of "those" launch days. Nothing disastrous, it's just some flights weren't stable or vertical. The winds were up, gusts from 15 to 20 mph. We all did out best to angle the launch rods so the rockets would drift back to us. Mine never seem to ...
[Read More]

Does a rocket catapult count as a JATO?

[Read More]

December 31, 2016
!DCA 12/380 ZDC AIRSPACE UNMANNED ROCKET WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 3NM RADIUS OF LVL331027.4 SFC-6600FT 1612311500-1612312200 Boswell Field from 10 AM to 2 PM. It was windy and cold, but we had three active flyers and several new spectators. ...
[Read More]

Which Came First?
These two designs shared many of the same design elements. Both models were short, had solar panel fins and used an existing NASA style capsule. I always liked the Orbital Transport Laboratory designed by Ted Nomura (Shown at the upper left). It was the June 1971 winner of the Estes Design of the ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Show Interview with John Boren
The Rocketry Show interviews John Boren of Estes Industries. One hour of great information on rocket design and kits! CLICK HERE   to hear the interview. Pretty interesting to hear how some kits are designed to clear out overstocked nose cones. No future Pro Series II models on the ...
[Read More]

Sugar Shot to Space's big 12 inch
I haven't posted about this project in a while.  This video is worth watching! "2 grains 12x20 260 pounds of propellant Motor by Rick Maschek and Eric Beckner"
[Read More]

More Rockets Mach 10 Build Part 1, Parts
I had an original Centuri Mach 10 years ago. I don't remember how it flew or if I even launched it. This is a clone kit from More Rockets to be built for a client. Most of the parts were good quality, Some parts were questionable. The instructions were copies of the old Centuri art. I don't know ...
[Read More]

John Boren, Estes Designer
Estes designer John Boren. Image from his website . I'm working on the last installment of my "Weight of Paint" series . Longtime blog readers won't be surprised - it's a tad long. This one is longer than most, because I'd like to wrap up the series and move on to ...
[Read More]

More Rockets Mach 10 Build Part 2, Engine Mount
Here's the kit supplied engine hook. A flex of the hook easily bent it. I threw it away. Here's the replacement hook made from the metal strip inside a windshield wiper blade. The split tube spacer wasn't cut flat on one end. I ended up using a yellow Estes spacing tube to set the engine block. As ...
[Read More]

More Rockets Mach 10 Build Part 3, Tank Assembly
I changed out the poor fitting plastic nose cones for balsa cones. Balsa was used on the early versions of the Centuri Mach 10 kit. The tank tube holds some glide trimming clay. To make more room in the tube, some of the nose cone shoulder was cut off. The front nose cone is glued in place. The ...
[Read More]

Red Max Families
Here's all three of the Red Max models. On the left is the standard BT-60 based original. Next to it is the BT-50 based Mini Max. Laying on its side is a BT-5 carded Red Max. It was drawn up by Bob Harrington. And the Hello Kitty Pink Max duo. Decals on the BT-60 standard were done by Excelsior. ...
[Read More]

Japan launches new solid fuel rocket
Japan has placed the ERG satellite into orbit on December 20th using a new 3 stage solid fuel rocket called the Epsilon Launch Vehicle. “JAXA successfully launched the second Epsilon Launch Vehicle with Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace … Continue reading →
[Read More]

More Rockets Mach 10 Build Part 4, Lighter Wood Fill
For a decent glide you've got to build this one light! I've had a tube of HobbyLite Filler for a few years and rarely use it. It weighs nearly nothing. It's like the ultra light wall spackle you find at a home improvement store. I told my client the balsa grain would be filled but not by using my ...
[Read More]

Quest Pipsqueak Background
Scigs30 does beautiful builds and posts them on The Rocketry Forum. These are his work and pictures. A recent blog comment from David Carllucy prompted me to do a comparison of the two kits. On the left is the Quest Pipsqueak, on the right the Quest Novia. Both are basically the same kit, the ...
[Read More]

One of the Coolest Clone Kits Ever!
Apparently, years ago, the members of DARS got together and produced (just among themselves) a clone of the original Estes Saturn IB. This kit included all of the original wraps and even the decals. All in all, it made for an incredible kit! Now, this must have been during about a five year window ...
[Read More]

Quest Motors Are Dead - Long Live Quest Motors
Tonight, we recorded another episode of The Rocketry Show podcast with AeroTech General Manager Charles Savoie. There's some fascinating news coming forward from Quest Aerospace . As some long time rocketeers know, it has been hard the last couple years to get hold of Quest model rocket motors, ...
[Read More]

What to do on a rainy day...
From a rocket perspective, rainy days kinda suck - can't launch, can't paint, can't sand. You can start a kit build, but have to stop at the sanding parts - not very satisfying, unless you are putting together something with plastic or fiber fins. These go together in like 30 minutes, leaving ...
[Read More]

Estes Bring Back?
From a post by John Boren on YORF -    "I believe by the end of next week a bring back kit will be announced. It's another one of those kits I always wanted but never purchased. It's not a SciFi but it's still cool in my opinion and it is going to be REAL easy to paint but their ...
[Read More]

Quest 18mm Composite Engines?
The Rocket N00b announced new Quest engines on his blog: CLICK HERE I knew about this months ago but was asked not to bring it up yet on my blog. I had a few phone conversations with Charlie Sovoie about Quest when I drew up the new MONSTRA kit instructions for Aerotech. As black powder engines ...
[Read More]

True-to-the-name Estes Generics...
Duane recently dropped off the remaining Make-It-Take-It kits from the October Rocket City Blast Off; while in the process of putting them away, I discovered a poorly built Estes Generic buried in the pile. The pathetic thing had a loose fin can, and you could practically hear it screaming "Fix ...
[Read More]

Important USG observation
Important observation from The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Beats Up The Marvel Universe:
[Read More]

More Rockets Mach 10 Build Part 5, Wing Gluing
The two wing halves are glued together. No dihedral angle on this wing! It is one flat piece. Under the canted stabilizer are two support pieces. I made sure they were flat with the leading edge of the rudder by setting my sanding block against them. Here's how the support pieces ended up. Once ...
[Read More]

More Rockets Mach 10 Build Part 6, Lug Supports
Mentioned earlier, one lug was longer than the other. Before filling or gluing on the model the longer lug was cut to the length of the shorter one. The launch lug wing support seams were filled as normal with CWF. The lugs will tuck into the wing/body joint so glue lines are made small and thin. ...
[Read More]

Hello Kitties In Montana
Occasionally I sell finished models on Ebay. I don't usually hear  back from the buyers, but I did on this one . . .  Howdy Chris, I meant to send you a pic of how pleased my wife was with her Hello Kitty Rockets. Hope you have had a Super Christmas and have a Safe and Happy New ...
[Read More]

Getting Around To Painting?
Eric Specht posted this picture on the NAR Facebook page. Eric commented: "I need to get around to some painting it seems." I counted 38 rockets on that table.  I have four models in the process of painting. Thanks Eric, I'll sleep better tonight.
[Read More]

More Rockets Mach 10 Build Part 7, Stabilizer Gluing
The instructions tell you to glue on the stabilizer and align by eye. I think you should at least use an alignment line. A line was drawn down the tube using the aluminum angle. The pencil line in the picture doesn't look centered, but it is. With the wings flat on the table I set my sanding block ...
[Read More]

More Rockets Mach 10 Build Part 8, Canopy Forming
The lines on the canopy should be scored. Score them , don't try to cut halfway through the card stock. I used the back of my knife to score the lines. the rough break-off edge was filed a bit to smooth out the edge. After filing, run the back of the blade on some card stock to check if it is ...
[Read More]

Why A BT-56?
On TRF, Cavecentral wondered about the origin of the Estes BT-56 tube size. "What is the difference between BT-55 and BT-56? Even BMS doesn't have BT-56. I doubt I'll need one unless I find a cone or tube that is slightly off an not know why." _____________________________________________ ...
[Read More]

Merry Christmas, Apollo Style!
Those of you who have been reading this blog for a while might remember that I had a problem with my Estes Saturn V. The problem was that I had taken so long to build (or even open it) that it was now a collectible kit and I COULDN'T open it. So there it sat in my rocket room; all shrink wrapped ...
[Read More]

First peek of a Falcon Heavy interstage
We got a glimpse of the Falcon Heavy interstage being prepped today.    
[Read More]

More Rockets Mach 10 Build Part 9, Engine Mount Gluing
I didn't take a picture of gluing in the engine mount. It's not easy to do, it tends to roll around a bit. Here's the instruction illustration to show how it is glued. To see the old Centuri Mach 10 instructions: CLICK HERE Here's the model up to this point. I have yet to glue on the bottom tank ...
[Read More]

Create Your Own Rocket?
Here's something new - CREATE YOUR OWN ROCKET To see the webpage, CLICK HERE These might be larger variations of the Mix and Match series. Descriptions are vague and the only currently available color is black, not the orange, black and silver colors listed in the copy. No diameters, how tall ...
[Read More]

More Rockets Mach 10 Build Part 10, Paint!
The customer wanted a different look than the Centuri Air Force silver. The German Huckebein looks a lot like the Mach 10 design. I started with an overall olive drab. I used Testor's Model Master spray paint. The yellow wing tips and nose ring were masked with Scotch tape. The tape line on the ...
[Read More]

More New Scans Of Old MRNs
Here are some Estes Model Rocket News issues  Dan Oplinger scanned and posted on the Model Rocketry Fanatics Facebook page - CLICK HERE And links to still more MRNs: CLICK HERE or CLICK HERE  
[Read More]

More Rockets Mach 10 Build Part 11, White Trim
The white crosses were going to take some extra time. Before cutting any decals, a cross was drawn on paper to be sure the visual balance was right. The Olive Drab paint is a flat finish. Water slide decals don't stick well to flat paint. I applied a light coat of Future to smooth out the decal ...
[Read More]

2016 Slo Mo Supercut
I finished my annual slow motion launch compilation video today. Got it down from an hour and a half to under 15 minutes. I had to take out nearly 50 launches and trim every one to the bone to do that. But there are still 103 individual launches, including a couple drag races with two rockets at a ...
[Read More]

Clear Plastic - TIP
Sometimes I cut out and save pieces of clear plastic off vacu-formed packaging. On a rare occasion you might need a piece of clear plastic for a window like on the Mercury Redstone Capsule. The packaging plastic isn't thick enough for clear fins unless you are making some Micromaxx sized models.
[Read More]

More Rockets Mach 10 Build Part 12, White Trim
More Rockets was correct to print the decals on a white backed sheet. But, the white backed decals aren't as opaque as I would like. The canopy decals on the Huckebein are shaped differently than the Centuri Mach 10 canopy. This is what I came up with. It still fits the kit supplied canopy but the ...
[Read More]

Quest 18mm Composite Engines?
As previously mentioned, it looks like Aerotech/Quest is very close to selling 18mm composite engines. The new USA produced engines are talked about on The Rocketry Show broadcast about 16:30 in: CLICK HERE  
[Read More]

Lucerne Dry Lake, November 2016: The L1500 is a bad-ass!
As noted previously, and now that it seems to be out of production , my Madcow's 8" Mega Cowabunga was finally complete and ready to go.  I selected Aerotech 's 98/5120 5089L1500 Blue Thunder beastie for a first flight and that was a good, thrusty choice as the hefty stub weighed 39 lbs on the ...
[Read More]

More Rockets Mach 10 Finished
This kit was an interesting challenge. The kit supplied ST-7 sized nose cone couldn't be used with the BT-20 engine mount tube. White decals had to be hand cut. The dull coat was sprayed over the clear Future decal areas and isn't noticeable now. A challenge, but a good result in the end. The ...
[Read More]

Coldpower Convertibles?
Dave Oplinger posted a question on the Model Rocketry Fanatics Facebook page: "So, what was the deal with these cold propellant engines that Estes had at one time? Did anyone have one? How did they work? Were they too troublesome or expensive? Maybe someone still offers something similar?" My ...
[Read More]

Christmas Tree Fun
Happy New Year everyone! Now I’ve never flown a tree but it does look like a gleeful pursuit. I love the 2014 video better than this year’s so posting that instead
[Read More]

Fixing A Corner Chip - TIP
Did you ever get a small break at the corner of a fin?  You could use wood filler but this method will stick better. In preparation, have a small amount of balsa sawdust gathered in a pile. Drop a small bit of sandable yellow wood glue into the corner. Drop the glued corner into the balsa ...
[Read More]

Another Estes "Bring-Back"
On TRF, John Boren of Estes announced the listing of their latest - the NIKE X . To see the listing, CLICK HERE John said earlier that it would be a simple paint job (all white in this case) with decals. He did add that the nose cone would be on that you couldn't turn on a lathe. I don't quite ...
[Read More]

JimZ resurrection
For people interested in out of production rockets (particularly in cloning them), JimZ’s Rocket Plans at http://www.spacemodeling.org/jimz/index.htm has been a really valuable resource. Unfortunately in recent years quite a few of the files have gotten lost resulting in broken links. In some ...
[Read More]

Where There's Smoke...
This week I decided to show you another member of the "to be built pile" that I picked up a few months ago at the local Hobby Lobby. The Estes Nike Smoke!   This is the 1/10 scale version, not the really big one. Still, I've always liked the looks of the Nike Smoke and with my 40% ...
[Read More]

JimZ's Is Back!
JimZ is Back! If you don't know this website, it holds many old rocket kit instructions and publications. Here's the address: http://www.spacemodeling.org/jimz/index.htm I understand the address has been changed slightly, so copy the new address shown above for future reference. For anybody ...
[Read More]

Holtville, Jan. 7, 2017 - TWO successful L3s! In 4K!
Frank Hermes AND River made it out to Holtville yesterday so those were already wins right there. Congratulations to Mark Treseder and Dave Nord who successfully earned their L3 yesterday for NAR and Tripoli, respectively: I brought a couple of things to fly but instead opted to shoot mostly 4K ...
[Read More]

Centuri Baffle Evolution
This is the first baffle system I remember, introduced by Centuri in 1971. CLICK HERE A coupler with two punched disks glued on either side. Very simple and effective, far easier than the ejection system used in the Estes Bandit. In the drawing, the engine would be down to the left of the lower ...
[Read More]

No More Balsa Nose Cones?
A  YORF  post from John Boren of Estes: "Estes hasn't made a NEW balsa nose cone in over six years now. All the balsa cones in kits today are from stock we are trying to use up. We no longer have a balsa vendor. And NO I'm pretty sure Balsa Machining and Semroc would not be able to ...
[Read More]

Centuri Professional Firing Panel
This is the launch controller I wanted back in the early 1970s. The Centuri Professional Firing Panel - CLICK HERE It had an aluminum case, a safety key that turned and a red arming light. This wasn't just a "controller", it was a FIRING PANEL! But . . . at $14.95, I could buy a few rockets and ...
[Read More]

Blog Reboot, Big Fun Scary Adventures
In an effort to revamp my web presence, I made a commitment to return to blogging, which in all honesty is more for my own benefit than for any readers that I still may have out there, because I feel it keeps me on track and focused on learning, exploring, and is a nice record of life experiences. ...
[Read More]

Falcon 9 poised for launch
Fingers crossed for tomorrows launch. Falcon 9:Iridium 1 Mission Launch time: 1754:34 GMT (12:54:34 p.m. EST; 9:54:34 a.m. PST) Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California Live Broadcast: http://www.spacex.com/webcast
[Read More]

Onboard view from F9 landing
Here is a great full video of the 1st stage landing on 01/14/17  
[Read More]

They're baaaaaaaack!

[Read More]

1st launch of 2017...
A coupe of days ago, Duane informed me that the Pope John Paul II TARC teams (Falcon Rocketeers and Jurassic TARC) would be making their first practice flights on Saturday. This made today not only a time to observe these two teams, but also a golden opportunity to fly a few of my birds and perhaps ...
[Read More]

Rockets are loud

[Read More]

The Passing of a Friend
Last December, a good friend, coworker, and pioneering space maverick Aleta Jackson passed away. Aleta was kind of like the mother of XCOR, and she treated us all like a loving, nurturing mother. She was a very capable and motivated individual, too. A lot of my coworkers and even classmates at ...
[Read More]

Measuring the thrust of rocket motors...
I had some spare cash a few months back, which enabled me to fulfill a goal I have had since a kid - build an experimental setup to measure the thrust curve of rocket motors. I have wanted to do this since I saw articles on thrust measurements in rocketry magazines and catalogs (see this one from ...
[Read More]

Quest Composite Motors Teaser!
AeroTech sent us ( @TheRocketryShow ) a cool tweet - video of a static test of the new Quest Aerospace APCP composite model rocket motors! Click here to see it . It's really true!! Follow me on Twitter . Like my Facebook page for blog updates and extra stuff. Have a question you'd like to see ...
[Read More]

Video of Quest 18mm Composite Engine Test
Posted by Daniel Petrie, the Rocket N00b, on TRF - " AeroTech sent us a tweet at  The Rocketry Show  podcast twitter account - video of a static test of one of the new Quest composite model rocket motors!" This test doesn't look like much but this could be very big. To see the short video ...
[Read More]

Recycling at MDRA, 2017 edition

[Read More]

Cancelled: January 21, 2017
!DCA 01/421 ZDC AIRSPACE UNMANNED ROCKET WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 3NM RADIUS OF LVL331027.4 SFC-6600FT 1701211500-1701212200 Sorry, folks. The cloud base is 200-400 ft with no breaks in them. We cannot launch into clouds, and the forecast is the … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Bill Cook's Engine Test Stand
Bill Cooke built his own engine test stand. Check out the great article on his blog - Rocketeer's Corner, CLICK HERE He got some pretty interesting results on his first tests using A8-3 engines.
[Read More]

Full scale

[Read More]

Meet the trees
Skip along to see the fire and smoke...
[Read More]

American Spacemodeling Cover....The Rest of the Story
A while back I showed you guys the cover of American Spacemodeling that featured John Dyer's plastic model conversion Saturn V moments before the loops began.... This week I was going through some old pictures and I found this...   Yep, that's John prepping the model for that same ...
[Read More]

New Logo for The Rocketry Show
Above, see our brand new logo for The Rocketry Show podcast! I think it looks great, and I can't wait to get it on a t-shirt. CG and I are registered for NARCON 2017, the National Association of Rocketry's annual conference, in Herndon, VA. We'll be going to learn some cool new stuff about ...
[Read More]

Boeing unveils its new spacesuit
Astronauts aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft will wear these new lightweight spacesuits. Hopefully we will get to see a SpaceX spacesuit soon. Back in May it was announced that SpaceX hired Ironman costume designer Jose Fernandez to design their own in … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Cold and windy...
Jurassic TARC readies Stripes for launch (click to enlarge). Duane and I linked up with the Jurassic TARC team around 11 this morning - it was a chilly day, with temps in the low 40's, made even colder by a sustained 10 mile per hour wind out of the west-southwest. However, young people are quite ...
[Read More]

New Orlando Area NAR Section, ROAR #795
The newest Central Florida NAR Section #795 had a launch scheduled for Saturday, January 28. A burn ban postponed the actual launch but an informational get-together was held. I took a trip over to the site near Christmas, Florida to say Hi and check out the launch site. I got the grand tour from ...
[Read More]

Tree Recovery Device
Today, on the Model Rocketry Fanatics!!! Facebook group , someone posted the following video of a homemade device for recovering things (quadcopters, model rockets, etc.) from tall trees. "Rocket-eating trees" are a hazard encountered by all model rocketeers. Some clubs bring a long pole with a ...
[Read More]

Clearing a Glue Nozzle - TIP
Here's one way to clear dried glue from a nozzle tip. Cut the end of a Q-tip stick off at an angle. (I use a LOT of Q-tips when I make rockets.) Turn the nozzle like you are opening it up for gluing. Pull the nozzle off the bottle by pulling hard straight up. Push the dried glue plug out from the ...
[Read More]

Buzz Nau's Rocket Website
Here's a rocketry website well worth visiting - BUZZ NAU'S MODEL ROCKET PAGE - CLICK HERE The plans include some 18mm models Buzz developed for THOY. The Centuri documents CLICK HERE contain technical reports and some extra pages that were included in the Centuri kits. Lots of pictures of ...
[Read More]

3D Printed Micro Rail Guide
On the 3D printing website Thingiverse , user dcullen has created what you see above - a micro rail guide for model rockets, to be used with the MakerBeam rail in place of a launch rod and launch lugs. Click here to go to the page . Thingiverse is a website where makers create designs for all ...
[Read More]

2 busy hours at Pegasus...
Noon today once again saw the start of more TARC practice and flying at Pegasus Field. The weather was a bit more favorable than last Saturday, with the temps in the upper 40's and a moderate wind out of the south-southeast. Jurassic TARC and the Falcon Rocketeers prepped their birds fairly ...
[Read More]

Launch, Orlando R.O.C.K., Februry 4, 2017
We had wind gusts and mild temperatures today. Brian C. said 35 flyers signed in. My SPUDNIK doesn't always fly perfectly vertical. With an A10-3t engine it struggled for stability reaching about 100 feet. The MPC RED GIANT was an "alternate" launch. Pad A1 was announced but the Red Giant on C3 ...
[Read More]

Patreon?
I spend a lot of time building rockets and preparing the blog posts, answering emails,  drawing up PDFs, sending out decals and Saturn V blog books. If the blog is to continue, I'm asking for donor support.  To become a support donor it's just $1.00 per month. If you are not able to ...
[Read More]

Lonnie B's Streamer Attachment TIP
Lonnie B. showed me his method for attaching a streamer to a shock cord. This is so much stronger than what I've been doing - using just a reinforcement disk stuck on both sides of the streamer. When this triangular top fold is made, the shock cord is tied through four thicknesses of the streamer ...
[Read More]

Paint Blob! FIX
We've all been there -  The paint coverage is great except for one little raised blob! Sure, you could sand it down and spray the entire model again, but that would add weight and you run the risk of another small mishap. Enlarge the picture, look right above and a little right of the launch ...
[Read More]

Wrapping Up a Scale Bird!
About a year ago I got an Estes Little Joe II kit. Of course I haven't even thought about starting it yet, but recently I purchased a little something to get me pushed in the right direction... My kit....   The purchase!   ...
[Read More]

Shipping A Model Rocket, Part 1
This shipping method is just my experience and has worked well for me. Out of the 60 (or so) finished models I've mailed out in the past few years, only one was damaged in transit. To start, save shipping boxes, cardboard flats and used engine casings. Throw away Chinese made shipping boxes. The ...
[Read More]

Shipping A Model Rocket, Part 2
Here's how the model will fit in the box. The rocket body will slide in from the top and the platform will set against the bottom. The model is raised up and the fins are suspended above the platform and away from the box corner sides. If the nose cone is removed you can get by with a much smaller ...
[Read More]

Getting ahead of the rain...
Jurassic TARC readies one of their rockets for flight (Click to enlarge). There was considerable doubt earlier this week as to whether the scheduled Saturday TARC practice at Pegasus field would take place. The Weather Channel and other online sources placed the rain chances anywhere between ...
[Read More]

Launch - N.E.F.A.R. Bunnell, FL, November 11, 2017
This gives you an idea about how diverse the low power rack was at Saturday's NEFAR launch. A TLP Sidewinder, Estes Mercury Redstone, Estes Shuttle, Photon Probe, Silver Streak and the BMS 3" School Rocket. My BMS 3" SCHOOL ROCKET was first up for me with a E9-4 engine. Even with the wind (check ...
[Read More]

My Vacu-form History
While this post should be on the Odd'l Rockets Blogsite, I wanted to share it here. I owned a Mattel Vacu-form "toy" when I very young and got great results with it.  With the Vacu-form it took a split second to flip the sheet over from the heater to the vacuum table. To see the original ...
[Read More]

Vacu-Form Success!
I ended up buying a small commercial vacu-forming machine. This self-contained unit plugs in and handles the heating and forming operations. The heating plate is directly above and close to the vacuum table. The unit came on Friday night. I immediately got to work on making a canopy for ...
[Read More]

Updated Fleet Page
I have not written much on this blog lately, as longtime readers will have noticed, due partly to a number of other things I've been working on. Daily page views have decreased, understandably, since the blog hasn't been updated as regularly as it was in the past. But rest assured, I haven't ...
[Read More]

Crazing Paint? TIP
A builder posted this picture on Facebook. I'm not showing this to embarrass anybody. The information below might help somebody with their paint issues. We've all been there. Imagine the frustration, especially on a build this complicated - The Estes QCC Explorer! The builder had used Rustoleum 2X ...
[Read More]

CRS 10 Mission
“SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Dragon spacecraft to low-Earth orbit to deliver critical cargo to the International Space Station for NASA. SpaceX is targeting a late morning launch of its tenth Commercial Resupply Services mission (CRS-10) from Launch … Continue reading ...
[Read More]

Better Root Edge Glue Lines TIP
This method was explained in an article the Estes guys wrote on rocket building for Sport Rocketry. Here's how a glue line looks after applying right out of the bottle. If this were to be pressed onto the body tube the glue would probably squeeze out unevenly. Pinch your thumb and index finger ...
[Read More]

Syncing video with altimeter data...
If you spend some time watching rocket vids on YouTube and other places you are bound to run across a few with the altitude, speed, and other data merged in with the flight video, often in a very stylish and colorful fashion. I always wondered how they did that, so last night I did a bit of ...
[Read More]

Folding Parachutes TIP, Part 1
A Patreon supporter asked about how I fold parachutes and what is my success percentage. Here's how I do it - My success rate is almost 100% with a rare melted spot. Look at the instructions from the old Centuri Nike Smoke instructions. Pretty vague - "Fold chute as shown below and insert". Where ...
[Read More]

Folding Parachutes TIPS, Part 2
Here's how I'd pack a 18" chute in a shorter BT-60 sized model. Sometimes a packed chute can't be long and narrow. On a squatty model you won't have room for wadding, parachute and the nose cone shoulder. You still want the parachute to eject like a piston without any "blow-by" of the ejection ...
[Read More]

Current Projects #3 - Back on the Horse (Lots of Words and Lots of Pretty Pictures)
Admittedly, I've been sitting on this one for a while. Longer than I thought. * * * In December, I made a bad decision up in Maine. It was a windy day, the final launch of the season for me, and not good flying weather. The field up there is enormous, and perfectly flat. Nevertheless, it was cold ...
[Read More]

Sunday flying...
The 'Cherokee nation' loaded on the pads (Click to enlarge). Our streak of nice Saturdays was broken by the rain that started this past Friday night, continuing through Saturday morning. It put a damper on TARC practice, but left hope for some personal flying on Sunday, which was absolutely ...
[Read More]

Why A Break-Off Blade Knife?
Think about it. When do you normally change a #11 X-Acto blade? When the tip breaks off. Did you ever notice the edge below the broken tip seems sharp? 90% of knife use in rocket building is cutting laser cut fins free from the wood sheet. Why waste a blade that costs $1.00 each on laser cut fins? ...
[Read More]

A Blast From the Past!
I was going through some pictures the other day when I ran across some that I really need to share. They are from the 2012 DARS Classic and feature John Lee's NASA Aeroshell scale bird...all 12 C motors worth! Therefore, without a lot more gabbing, here you go! John with his ...
[Read More]

Knife Blade Thickness? TIP
Kit instructions sometimes tell you to simply use a straight edge when cutting out fins or card stock. Simply setting a the strait edge along the cut line doesn't account for the thickness of the knife blade. Here I'll be cutting a strait line between two marks in card stock. (You ...
[Read More]

Cancelled: February 26, 2017
!DCA 02/304 ZDC AIRSPACE UNMANNED ROCKET WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 3NM RADIUS OF LVL331027.4 SFC-6600FT 1702261500-1702262200 The only responses I got to the email announcement were people saying they couldn’t make it, so I am cancelling the February launch. … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Thick Shroud Line Attachment -- TIP
I never attach parachute shroud lines directly to the nose cone. If the nose cone passes through any two lines your parachute lines are tangled. I'll add a longer shock cord and tie the cute on about 1/3 the way down (and away) from the nose cone. Snap Swivels are about 10 for $1.00 pack at ...
[Read More]

F-16 Canopy!
Work continues on the new F-16 Fighter Fleet kit. A big hurdle was making a workable clear canopy. I didn't want to go the easy route and include one made of card stock. What really set off the Centuri kit was the clear canopy with the decal details underneath. After many revisions and test ...
[Read More]

Quest Q-Jets Engines Introduced at NARCON
From a February 25 Rocketry Forum post by Mr. G: "Here is a sneak peek on the coming single use composite A-D motors from Aerotech/Quest. Gary said two had been certified but they won't release anything until all have completed testing. The propellent for all is Black Jack or Black Max to be ...
[Read More]

Home Print Decal Tips
Home print water slide decals aren't the same as kit decals. The soak times and transfers are different. I typically soak a home print decal for about 30 seconds in warm water. Then set the wet decal on a paper towel while it continues to release. On the right I'm rubbing up on the bottom and then ...
[Read More]

CA Glue Nozzle Clearing TIPS
I use Teflon tubing in my CA glue bottles. To see it, CLICK HERE Shave a little of the nozzle off the bottle top until the tubing has a tight friction fit. The problem is, the small diameter Teflon tubing can clog up. To clear it use a guitar "B" string at .016" diameter. Cut it off about 4" long ...
[Read More]

F-16 Instruction Drawings Underway!
I've started work on the Odd'l Rockets F-16 kit instructions. This drawing shows the gluing of the intake scoop on the bottom of the model. Instructions are really the most time consuming part of kit production. It would also be the most expensive! I'm fortunate to have a background in graphic ...
[Read More]

NAR Membership Renewal
I got my new NAR membership card in the mail this last week. This is the cover letter that comes with the card. Here's my new card. If your membership has lapsed a few years you can ask for your old NAR number. Mine was and is 19086. I understand they are over 100,000 now. I carry this cover ...
[Read More]

Little Joe – Vintage Space
Nice video from Vintage Space on the Little Joe program. Great job Amy!:   Dr. Zooch made a model of the Little Joe and if you are lucky you may find one out there somewhere Paper Model:There is still a paper … Continue reading →
[Read More]

EX Begins
  So I finally made a couple 38mm 2 grain motors and tested them. so far so good.  
[Read More]

Pads galore at Pegasus...
Liberty watches their rocket soar upward into a sunny blue sky (Click to enlarge). Today was another perfect day for flying, and four TARC teams - Liberty Middle School's Team Bazinga, Hope Christian Academy's Hope Rising, and Pope John Paul II's Falcon Rocketeers and Jurassic TARC - gathered at ...
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Launch, March 4, 2017
In his launch announcement email  club president Brian Coyle mentioned possible high winds. We had a wind gust of 37 mph!  I normally prefer parachute recovery, but today I used some streamers.  The Orlando ROCK field isn't huge. I typically launch B and C engines here. Today, I ...
[Read More]

HARA and a 1988 commercial launch from the Cape...
The tech talk at the March club meeting was by Wayne McCain, a former HARA member from way, way back. His topic was the first commercial launch (with a paying customer) from Canaveral Air Force Station, one in which a couple of HARA members (he and Matt Steele) played prominent roles. The rocket ...
[Read More]

TRA and The Naked Gun!
Here's an older blog post that never seemed to get posted: A Email from Roger Smith "Here's one for your blog ... At the end of the credits for the movie "The Naked Gun" (which is on Netflix) it says " The Producers Wish To Thank The Following For Their Cooperation In The Production Of This Film" ...
[Read More]

Flying Stovepipe Dog Toy
I saw a HurriK9 Ring Launcher ad on Facebook. To see it, CLICK HERE  This dog fetch toy reminded me of an old Estes rocket plan, the Flying Stovepipe:  To see the Flying Stovepipe plans: CLICK HERE   This was Estes Plan #56 from 1968. This rocket is basically a old Astron Scout in the ...
[Read More]

1991...Estes Does Scale Right!
When people think of the "Golden Years of Model Rocketry" 1991 does not usually spring to mind. 1960's and 1970's seem much more suited to the title. However, a quick glance at the 1991 catalog suggests that there was more going on than folks remember! Take a look at the cover: Yep! The ...
[Read More]

Disney’s “Man in Space”– OTD 1955
Disney premiered “Man in Space” on this day in 1955.
[Read More]

Overlap
I have a stupid amount of overlap in my fleet. The multiple Optimas are probably the most glaring offense. Then theres the 3″/54mm collection of the Wildman, Darkstar, Villain, PK3 booster still hanging around, and may as well toss the 2.6″/54mm Screech in this group. And the 2 ...
[Read More]

N.E.F.A.R. Launch Bunnell, FL March 11, 2017
There were a LOT of cars at the field by the time Lonnie B. and I arrived at 10:00 a.m. More cars extended just as far to the right side of the picture. The low power pads were busy. In addition to the mid-power and high power away pads there was also a hybrid competition. Check out the flag, the ...
[Read More]

"ASTRON" - What Happened?
I purposely cut off the ASTRON name from the Skydart decal to match the original kit. Here's a recent comment from the Skydart build decal post: "What??!! Leave off 'Astron'??? NOOOOOO!! Blasphemy! Blasphemy! Blasphemy!!" I had thought the Skydart made it's first appearance in 1973. In the '73 ...
[Read More]

The Destroyer of X-Wings...
Folks gather round the HARA table at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center (Click to enlarge). Yesterday, the Jurassic TARC and Hope Rising TARC teams practiced at Pegasus field, but I was not there. HARA has a new arrangement with the U.S. Space and Rocket Center (USSRC) ...
[Read More]

NARCON 2017 Coverage
Discovery While I was on vacation this weekend, the NARCON episode of The Rocketry Show hit the web. It turned out nice, and there's a little extra bit at the end that I'm glad we captured. Click here to listen online, or search for "The Rocketry Show Podcast" and click subscribe on iTunes. We ...
[Read More]

New Estes Lynx Decals
If you've ever tried to do a clone you realize how models evolve over the years. Nose cone materials and shapes change, decals can go through revisions. Harold sent an email and attached a picture of his recently finished Estes Lynx. I thought something had changed. Compare the differences ...
[Read More]

Blast FromThe Past
Hi, All, I'm back.... I took down a version of this blog back in January, 2017,  but have since decided to re-start it.  I will re-create many of the posts that were in the previous version, along with whatever new stuff happens to come along. I hope you fellow model rocketeers out there ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: 10 March, 2017
  Friday, March 10 th dawned with the appearance of being a great day to get out and launch some model rockets at DV Park.   Wind and Temperature data for Centennial, Colorado showed an 11:00 a.m. time slot with winds not exceeding 5 mph, air temperature at 61 degrees, and most ...
[Read More]

100,000+ blog views!
Thank you, loyal readers, and I hope to increase my content output as 2017 proceeds.  Fly fast! Fly high!
[Read More]

SpaceX ECHOSTAR XXIII MISSION
SpaceX is targeting launch of the EchoStar XXIII mission tomorrow, Thursday, March 16th, from the historic Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  The launch window opens at 1:35 am ET or 5:35 am UTC, and ...
[Read More]

Nike Smoke Comparisons
I first saw the Centuri Nike Smoke in the 1971 Centuri Catalog. At the time it was big, 23.65" tall. The airframe was an ST-16 at 1.64" diameter. I never built this version. Estes recently released a BT-60 version of the Nike Smoke. Its very close to the same diameter as the old Centuri model at ...
[Read More]

MPC Lunar Patrol, Part 3
Welcome to the Lunar Patrol build, part 3. While the booster fins are undergoing the grain filling and sanding exercises, it's time to begin work on the gliders. The wings and rudders are traced from the templates onto that fine sheet of C-grain.... Once cut out, all the like parts are pinned ...
[Read More]

Birth of the Pturpledactyl
About five or six years ago I purchased a few used rockets at a DARS auction. I restored and flew most of them, but I kind of forgot about one. The rocket was a Public Missiles Pterodactyl Jr. It's a cool little rocket (if you want to call a 38mm motor rocket "little") even though it was in rough ...
[Read More]

o.O

[Read More]

Job Opportunity At Centuri? 1979
While I'm in California taking care of family business, I looked through some of my old files and found this. I had thought it was lost . . . It's dated September, 1979, from Grant Boyd. Chris, I need to talk with you about an opening here at Centuri. If I have not made phone contact with ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2017-1 (NARHAMS)
Location: Mt. Airy, MD Weather: cloudy to sunny to cloudy; 71 -79 degrees; wind 3 - 6 mph Total flights: Today - 10; YTD - 10 Total motors: Today - 11; YTD - 11 Motors by class YTD:  B-1; C-5; E-4; G-1 The weather was nice except that the wind was vectored toward ...
[Read More]

The Saturn Tour Travel Posters
These great posters are now downloadable from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at NASA. “These three posters imagine future tourism possibilities based on the rich history of Saturn exploration from the twin Voyager’s Grand Tour to the epic discoveries made by the ...
[Read More]

Notes from yesterday's launch - UPDATED (already)
I wanted to capture one observation and one tip that I picked up yesterday. Mainly for my future reference. First, 7 of my flights were started with Estes' new starters. 7-for-7 worked. Contrast that to my own igniters that, for about 15 years, were very reliable starting everything from D to K ...
[Read More]

A sparky G motor in super slow motion
The Slo Mo Guys over at Youtube posted this great video of launching a rocket with a G motor in super slow motion. Stick around for the low light close up. Pretty amazing!
[Read More]

If you watch one YouTube video today, make sure it is this super-slomo footage of G sparky motors!

[Read More]

MPC Lunar Patrol, Part 4
Construction is still progressing on the Lunar Patrol… Glider wings and rudders are now glued into place and light fillets applied. The two ’V’ fin assemblies are now filled/finish sanded and glued into the proper positions on the booster body tubes. Since the fins were made from the full- ...
[Read More]

Coming Soon from Estes
This is the one John Boren was hinting about -  All one color, a nose cone you couldn't turn on a lathe and plenty of decals. The Starship Nova is on the "Coming Soon" page on the Estes website: CLICK HERE Also listed is a skill level 3 folded "paper" model called the Hex-3 . This ...
[Read More]

Close up photos of the Mercury capsule
https://altrocketdungeon.tumblr.com/post/158949210188/projecthabu-smithsonians-national-air
[Read More]

Rock-It Girls!
Rocketry is a great activity for schools, as it promotes interest in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). This group of middle school girls build and fly - from scratch - a huge, awesome Level 2 High Power rocket! Their teacher, Dan Feller, has picked a great project for ...
[Read More]

BAR Rocket Fleet - #13 Hornet
    ‘Mini-Brute’ Kit # TK-4 Designed for T-series mini engines. Single stage, payload section, parachute recovery. Length   10.25”, Dia.   .757”,   Wt.   5oz   Year Built:   1973 Restored: 2016, June 28 The Hornet model ...
[Read More]

BAR Rocket Fleet - #104 Lynx
  Estes Industries   KIT # 7233   Futuristic / Exotic       Single Stage   Engines:   13mm T-Series   Parachute Recovery   Length: 13” (33cm)   Dia:   .74” (19mm) ...
[Read More]

BAR Rocket Fleet - #105 Mosquito-D
  Sport Model   Scratch-built per published plans Estes Industries Kit TK-1, 0801   Single Stage 13mm Engines Featherweight recovery Length:   3.75”   (95.25mm) Diameter (BT-5):   .544”    (13.82mm) Weight empty:   ...
[Read More]

BAR Rocket Fleet - #106 Star Trooper
  Sport Model Scratch-built per published plans for Centuri Engineering Kit # KM-3 Single Stage 13mm Engines Streamer Recovery Length:   8.125”   (206.3mm) Diameter (BT-5):   .544”    (13.82mm) Weight empty:   .3 oz.   ...
[Read More]

BAR Rocket Fleet - #107 Carlisle Mark II 'Rock-A-Chute'
  Sport Mode   Scratch-built per published plans  In Model Rocketry Magazine, May 1970   Designed by: Orville Carlisle   Single Stage 13mm Engines Parachute Recovery Length:   9.50”   241mm Diameter (BT-50):   .98”   ...
[Read More]

BAR Rocket Fleet - #108 Generic E2X
  Estes Industries Kit Kit #: 2008 Type:   Sport Model   Stages:   Single Engine Type:   Standard 18mm Recovery:   Parachute or Streamer   Length:   13.5” (343mm) Diameter:   .980”   (24.9mm) Weight Empty:   ...
[Read More]

SES-10 Mission Info
UPDATE 2: Looks like F9 wasn’t the only thing recovered. Payload fairing LANDED SUCCESSFULLY. Fairing has thruster systems and steerable parachute. UPDATE: Success!! Great Launch and Great 2nd Landing for this F9! “The SES-10 mission will mark a historic milestone on ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 1
  This is kind of a long post, so please bear with me.  It is an exciting(?) account of my initial introduction and involvement in this wonderful hobby of Space Modeling.... INTRODUCING: MODEL ROCKETRY   My first ever exposure to the hobby of model rocketry happened in ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: 30 March, 2017
  Today’s weather forecast for the front range of Colorado called for temperatures in the low sixties and minimal wind, being the only nice day between Spring snow storms.   I deemed it necessary to get in a ‘rocket fix’ while the conditions were so favorable. ...
[Read More]

That 1090 Tubing?
The "Coming Soon" kit, the Airwaker, has that interesting, thick walled 1090 body tube. In the comments section, Anonymous said: "About the tubing....that's likely HBT-1090, which Estes used in the early/mid 90's in a buttload of E2Xish rockets." BAR Geezer added: "After further research it ...
[Read More]

Big a$$ nose cones at Hobby Lobby
These three ginormous Easter Eggs could result in six equally ginormous nose cones. They are on sale for $16, which is the same as the normal price with their typical 40% weekly coupon.
[Read More]

April 2, 2017
!DCA 04/001 ZDC AIRSPACE ROCKET LAUNCH ACT WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 3NM RADIUS OF LVL331027.4 SFC-6600FT 1704021500-1704022200 We had just about the prettiest weather we have had in a long time. The Johnsons brought a gas grill and served … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Why Do I Fill and Prime Before Assembly?
It all came down to this model back in the early 1970s. I remember how disappointed I was with the balsa filling process. Back then all we had was sanding sealer or balsa filler coat. With the model glued together there was no way to get sandpaper to the four fin and four ribs root areas. ...
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., April 1, 2017
This was our first HOT launch day of the season. A good turnout with light wind gusts. Launch racks were busy until about 2:30 p.m. To test the waters my NIKE GOON went up first with an Estes A8-3. A good, stable flight to about 125' with a spill holed chute for recovery.     ...
[Read More]

New Starship Nova Instruction Change
On YORF, John Boren of Estes explained a change in the upcoming Starship Nova re-release: "This version of the kit is built a little different then the original version. The end result is the model looks exactly the same. On the original version you were told to cut the main BT-50 body ...
[Read More]

Crossing the finish line...
Hope Rising starts Headhunter on another flight (Click to enlarge). "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." These words from Dicken's A Tale of Two Cities apply to so much of life, including TARC. The best of times - the Hope Rising team winning the ...
[Read More]

Documentation Is Everything
  One of the very first things I did at the outset of BAR-dom in early 2016 was to peruse through the notebooks full of flight records and photographs from the old 1973-1984 model rocket fleet.   It became quickly apparent that I had done an appallingly poor job of documenting ...
[Read More]

Retro-Rocket News!
I was digging through some old paperwork last night and I came across this: The 1986 Winter edition of Model Rocket News from Estes! I have had this forever, but I thought I'd share some interesting (at least to me) stuff out of it. By the way, I actually like the design of the rocket on the ...
[Read More]

Odd'l F-16 Kit Update
I recently bought a small vacuum forming machine for the F-16 clear canopies. Getting the best thickness of plastic, finding the correct temperature and the right moment to turn on the vacuum takes some time - and trashed canopies! Here's twenty I made yesterday afternoon. On the lower right is a ...
[Read More]

Back in the Day, Part 2
Here's a gem that I found while looking through issues of the Cosmic SteppingStone, the old Skywatchers/ROMAR club news letter.  This poetic offering from 1983 was my model rocket based re-make of Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky.
[Read More]

Odd'l F-16 Kit Update!
I recently bought a small vacuum forming machine for the F-16 clear canopies. Getting the best thickness of plastic, finding the correct temperature and the right moment to turn on the vacuum takes some time - and lots of trashed canopies! Here's twenty I made yesterday afternoon. On the lower ...
[Read More]

L3
  I’ve built a couple rockets before.  Deadlines suck.  Making plans sucks.  I’ve been slowly piling up bits for this L3 attempt for years.   Decided to jump and make a go for it, and it’s been frustrating as hell ever since I made that choice. Stepping ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2017-2 - LDRS-36
It's hard to believe that LDRS was basically in my own backyard and I didn't register to fly. I did, however, traipse out to say hi to some rocket buddies and see a few flights. The weather was sunny with temperatures between 55 and 60 mph. But it was quite windy - my phone said 17 - 20 ...
[Read More]

Bubbled Paint?
After the last club launch I thought there were only two minor repairs. I looked a little closer at my GBU-24 Paveway III. There was a nickel sized blister in the paint! BT-55 tubing is fairly thick, I didn't know what could have caused it. Looking into the tube I saw there was some ...
[Read More]

Big Kid Toys...The Star Trek Starter Set Revisited
The year was 1976. The Bicentennial was in full swing, and disco, unfortunately, wasn't dead yet. In a small field next to the First Baptist Church of Caddo Mills, a small, sleek, yellow rocket waited for a button to be pushed to send it streaking into the clear Texas sky. Such times are seared ...
[Read More]

Vern Estes and Lee Piester (Centuri) at the Museum Of Flight
On the rocketry Forum, Steven provided a link - If you haven't seen these, they are worth watching. Both presentations took place at the Seattle Museum of Flight. I'm sure I've posted these links before - they are posted again for any new blog readers to hear Model Rocket history from the people ...
[Read More]

Orbital launches S.S. John Glenn
Orbital ATK successfully launched the S.S. John Glenn spacecraft (OA-7 Cygnus) into orbit today on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. “Once launched into low-Earth orbit, Cygnus will use its advanced maneuvering capability to transport its cargo from ...
[Read More]

Slow Motion Engine Burn Videos
From the NAR Facebook page, Rags Fehrenbach found this one on YouTube: To see the full video, CLICK HERE I would NEVER recommend cutting an engine in half with a circular saw. There's not a great seal around the sides of the engine, that'd be pretty hard to achieve. All that aside, ...
[Read More]

China launches Tianzhou-1
China’s 1st cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-1 blasts off aboard a Long March-7 Y2 carrier rocket. The spacecraft will rendezvous with the space lab Tiangong-2. The docking will be the first addition in creating a space station.
[Read More]

NEFAR Half-Blast – April 22 and 23, 2017
We’ll be at the NEFAR launch this weekend, April 22 and 23, in Bunnell, Florida. The “Half-Blast” is a two-day TRA Research Launch. Normally NEFAR’s launches are held the second Saturday of each month. Due to conflicts with other events, … Continue reading →
[Read More]

BAR Rocket Fleet #109 Mini-Maggot 3
  An Old Favorite           The original Mini-Maggot in 1975 The Mini Maggot 3 is a BAR era re-build of a pair of custom designed boost gliders built in   1975-1977 for competition in the ¼ A and ...
[Read More]

F-16 Kit Now Available!
  Well it's about time! This one took a while . . . Too many prototypes, too many trashed canopies, design revisions and many test flights. Jon Rocket will have them today (Saturday), Apogee will have kits in a few days. Thanks for your patience, I think this one is worth the wait!
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets F-16 Kit Now Available!
  Well it's about time! This one took a while . . . Too many prototypes, some trashed canopies, design revisions and lots of test flights. Jon Rocket will have them today (Saturday), Apogee will have kits in a few days. Thanks for your patience, I think this one is worth the wait!
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 3 - A Man of Many Boost Gliders
          In looking through the scrap book of photos and flight log records spanning my early years in the wonderful hobby of model rocketry, I found that a good number of my model fleet consisted of boost gliders or models with a gliding component. A full ...
[Read More]

NEFAR Launch Bunnell, FL, April 22, 2017
I arrived around 11:00 a.m. counting 75 cars already there, more were arriving. The two-day Bunnell Half Blast is turning into a big event. On these two day launches the LPR and MPR launches are independent of each other. You can load and launch LPR without waiting for the larger rockets to fly. ...
[Read More]

Two New Saturn V Kits - Achhhh!
Why two kits? I wanted to have them on hand just in case somebody wants one built. I have built a few for customers in the past. The package lists the kit as a Skill Level 4. This should be a Skill Level 5 kit. Getting the vacuform wraps and fin fairings right should qualify it for a 5. The ...
[Read More]

Violent Cartoon Ducks With Nukes!
No, this week's post isn't in some weird way related to North Korea. Actually, it's about a rocket I built years ago, and my quest to get it signed... Way back in 2007, I turned 45. My wonderful wife, Laurie, got me an LOC NORAD for my birthday that year. I decided to build it as a tribute to my ...
[Read More]

Some Nifty Rocket Display Stands
  In fulfilling my promise to Mrs. BlastFromThePast concerning keeping my model rocketry activities nice and pretty, I have been setting about fashioning some attractive display stands for the model collection.   Since I also enjoy the pleasures of hand tool woodworking, the new ...
[Read More]

The Old Delta II Rides Again!
  This model is one of the two ‘old fleet’ rockets that were retained when the collection was sold in 1985.   Like the old fleet Hornet, the Delta II / Astrocam110 spent 30+ years stored in a RubberMaid tote along with other model rocket items.   In early ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 4 - A Heart-Stopping Astrocam 110 Flight!
Now that I have recently completed restoration of the vintage Delta II carrier vehicle to operational condition, I must regale all of you blog-readers with the exciting tale of a flight turned in by this model back on April 25th, 1981. The location for this launch was the Rustic Hills North ...
[Read More]

LEGO Saturn V
http://www.brothers-brick.com/2017/ ...
[Read More]

NROL-76 Launch Info
SpaceX will Launch the NRO’s secretive NROL-76 on Sunday morning. WHERE: Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center WHEN: Sunday,April 30, at 7:00 a.m. EDT, or 11:00 UTC. BACKUP TIME: Monday, May 1, at 7:00 a.m. EDT PAYLOAD: NROL-76 ...
[Read More]

Giovanni's Break-Away
      An email from Giovanni:   Thank you!    I got it all finished up (just needed to tie the segments together).  My kids helped pick the colors.     Thanks again for these fun designs!   Giovanni
[Read More]

The Return of Violent Cartoon Ducks With Nukes!
Last week I featured the story about how I almost got my "Duck and Cover" rocket signed six years ago. This week, the saga continues! Let's start with this picture, shall we?    Now, if you saw the blog last week, you may notice something new on the rocket...Here is a closer ...
[Read More]

A Cheap and Simple Boost/Glider Launch System
My return to the hobby of space modeling as a 'Born Again Rocketeer' has abruptly whisked me off into the realm of front engine boost and rocket gliders.  I knew it would only be a matter of time before I was once again diving into what was undoubtedly my ...
[Read More]

New Rotary Punch? Tools
I use a rotary punch (leather punch) on almost every rocket build. Holes are punched in centering rings, these are some hand cut rings so the center holes are a little rough. Instead of punching holes in parachutes with a pencil I make shroud line holes with the rotary punch. On the right are ...
[Read More]

Flechette and (New) Athena - Two New on the Fleet Page
I've added two new small models to my fleet. Details about the whole current and past fleet can be found here . Flechette (Prototype)     I was digging through a box of spare parts, and found some leftover BT-20 nose cones. My last BT-20 rocket, the Estes Hi Flier (see ...
[Read More]

Fixing a broken bunny...
Every rocket suffers battle scars during its lifetime; dings, nicks, chipped paint, and torn decals are the proud badges of many flights. Most of these are easily touched up with a dab of paint or the judicious use of markers, but sometimes the damage is more than a slight nick on a fin - ...
[Read More]

The Astron Star Blazer
If I remember correctly, the first Star Blazer was a "FREE KIT" included in Estes orders over $5.00. That's where I got mine, anyway. It certainly wasn't a favorite design but at thirteen years old a free rocket was always a good thing. This rocket used "Short" engines. They were 18mm engines ...
[Read More]

F9 Liftoff and Landing from NROL-76
SpaceX made launching and landing a rocket seem like everyday events this morning with it’s Falcon 9. The Launch of the NROL-76 secret mission was a flawless as it gets. Launch coverage was cutoff after landing due to the secretive ...
[Read More]

Featured Vendor - Aerospace Specialty Products
I needed to stock up on some rocket parts for an upcoming project, and I wasn't sure where to get them. I looked around at various sites, and found pretty much everything I needed, but not necessarily all from the same vendor. Then, I thought about checking a website I've used once or twice ...
[Read More]

More Star Blazer Stuff
Looking over the original Star Blazer instructions, I remembered a few questionable things from the 1970s kit. Why bother with a "payload" section when both ends are glued shut? A BT-20M is 2.25" long. The nose block takes 1/4" of the usable space. The nose cone shoulder takes away another ...
[Read More]

Nose Cone Shoulder Rounding - TIP
Some of the balsa nose cones I get have sharp square shoulders. Don't insert these into body tubes until you've rounded the ends. A square shoulder nose cone can damage the tube ends sometimes lifting the end of the inside spiral wrap. Hold some 220 grit at a 45 degree angle and knock off the ...
[Read More]

X-37B, OTV-4 is back after 718 days in orbit

[Read More]

Launch Date: 5 May, 2017
After more than a month of unsettled weather patterns, snow, and wind, May 5th promised great conditions for flying model rockets.  Arriving at Dove Valley around 11:00 a.m , I found the conditions to be near perfect - wind at 0 to 5 mph, temperature close to 70 degrees, and a clear blue ...
[Read More]

New Rocketry YouTube Channel - Ryan's Rocketshop
A 400% upscale Centuri Javelin, posted by Reddit user AscendingNike, who runs today's featured YouTube Channel. In addition to the new "Featured Vendor" series I recently started, I've been considering a "Featured YouTube Channel" series for a while. There are a lot ...
[Read More]

First BAR Birthday
I hadn't noticed, but the 1st anniversary of my return to model rocketry was last week on May 2nd. How time flies. May 2, 2016 was the day that I walked into a HobbyTownUSA store and slapped down some bucks for an Estes Lynx kit, the very model that graces the header of this blog. Over the past ...
[Read More]

The Maxi-Pegasus Revisited
This week I thought I would share one of my earliest upscales that happens to still be one of my favorites....Here are some pictures: This is the Maxi-Pegasus! It was blown up from the Estes Mini-Brute. Instead of 13mm motors, this one takes 24mm. I still love the size of this rocket, and the ...
[Read More]

Last week's Falcon Heavy Center Core Test
The Falcon Heavy had its first test last week. The Center Core was test fired at the test facility in McGregor Texas. About the Falcon Heavy: “When Falcon Heavy lifts off in 2017, it will be the most powerful operational ...
[Read More]

BAR Rocket Fleet # PG-1 Firefly-B
  Parasite Glider Rebuild of Estes Kit # 1280   Length:   12.0”   305mm Wing Span:   4.5”   114mm Weight:   .16 oz   4.6g   Color Scheme:   Red, Dark Blue, Silver Trim   Date Completed: ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets F-16
In the late 1970s, Centuri released a line of fighter jet inspired model rocket kits including the F-16 Fighter.  Drawing on Centuri’s classic design, Odd’l Rockets has released its own F-16 kit. The Odd’l Rockets F-16 features laser-cut parts, waterslide ...
[Read More]

Patriot Flying model rocket coming soon!
                                                      We now have Patriot rocket kits coming soon!                 ...
[Read More]

Using the Kuhn Tube Cutter
The Kuhn tube cutter is a simple tool designed by model rocketeer Howard Kuhn for cleanly cutting paper tubes to a specific length. I have two of these - a large one I built myself, and a small one from North Coast Rocketry. I love this tool. I could happily cut tubes all day with this. Here's ...
[Read More]

The Mysterious Estes Bomarc and Firefly Part 2
Here's a hand drawn, die-cut balsa sheet from the Estes Mini Bomarc kit. The sheet is marked BF-TK-5 Apparently the Estes Firefly used the same die cut balsa sheet. The Estes designers turned it into a parasite glider. I did have a Mini Bomarc and thought the Firefly looked familiar. ...
[Read More]

The FireFly Re-Visited
  Last night, I had a little spare time on my hands, so I sat down at the rocket bench to repair the Firefly glider, which had suffered a broken attachment pin on its May 5 th maiden flight.                   ...
[Read More]

Decal Gripe!
A comment from Elsa (Directed to Estes): Estes, I make your rockets, because I made them as a kid, but - DECALS, Decals decals. You always seem to be messing up in the decal department. My MIRV, Estes Reflector, This one and more. You know in a lot of ways Decals can make the rocket... So (Estes) ...
[Read More]

The pad's on fire!
Last Saturday Duane and I joined members of Liberty Middle School's TARC team at Pegasus field for an end-of-year celebratory fun launch. The day was sunny, albeit quite breezy - most of the rockets drifted much farther downwind than they travelled up. Despite the wind, there were quite a number ...
[Read More]

A little launching...
Late April/early May can be a busy time for HARA, with schools requesting rocket assistance/demos for their Space Week activities.  Our club VP and his wife did an outstanding job with "Build it/Fly it" sessions at a couple of local schools, and Duane got tapped with performing the annual ...
[Read More]

Out of the Country
I will be unavailable from 05/15/2017 until 05/30/2017.  Any items purchased then will be shipped promptly after I return. 
[Read More]

See Through Rocket Motor, Part 2
If you saw the video that made the rounds a couple weeks ago of the "see-through" model rocket motor burning in slow motion, you may have noticed that, due to its simply being sliced in two and mounted on a flat piece of acrylic, it didn't burn the way it would if it were intact. For instance, ...
[Read More]

That Star Blazer Canopy (Plus Two More) Apogee POF Article
Instead of the build post on the Goony X-15 I'm going to refer you to the newest online issue of the Apogee Peak Of Flight Newsletter. This article shows how to do a step by step carving of the old Estes Star Blazer canopy. The techniques shown in the article can be applied to a one of a kind ...
[Read More]

este tlhlngan may'Duj! (The Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser!)
A couple of days ago, James Helman (of NAR Facebook group fame) mentioned that he would like to build an old Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser. This simple statement resulted in a thread that covered where to get one, how well they fly, how hard the build is, etc.... In the thread, I posted this: ...
[Read More]

Still Interested In That F-16 Kit?
Odd'l Rockets F-16 kit is popular but quantity is limited, Hans -  Occasionally I go to EBAY to check model kit listings. Last week I saw the Odd'l F-16 and clicked on it without looking at the vendor name. It turns out the vendor was JonRocket.com. EBAY just sent an email to let me know that ...
[Read More]

Building a giveaway rocket (part 3)
It’s only been, what, seven and a half months? I painted the fins to match, more or less, the nose cone; put in a screw to secure the nose cone to the payload section; tied elastic between the Kevlar leader and the payload coupler; tied an Estes chute to the elastic. Ready to give away…
[Read More]

The "OLD" Estes Trident D.I.Y. Decals
In a recent comment on the Decal post, Naoto Kimura reminded me about the decal treatment on the original Estes Trident kit: " The instructions mention "decal" but wording seem to imply that they weren't water slide type. The Trident instructions does mention using adhesive tape for the ...
[Read More]

Nothing new
Today was the first Syracuse Rocket Club launch for 2017. It was pretty much ideal flying weather, warm but not hot, sunny, and light breeze. The field was not quite so ideal, not having been mowed yet. But who’s complaining. And we had a good turnout. Me having blown off most rocketry work ...
[Read More]

Mega Der Red Max CATO
    The weather was great today, and it was really a terrific launch up in Berwick, Maine. But a few of us really had bad luck, myself included. These pictures are not my rocket. But they are of the rather tragic fate of one CMASS member's beautiful Estes Mega Der Red Max, made ...
[Read More]

Mars Lander Embossing?
On TRF a post was made about the quality of the embossed pieces of the Semroc Mars Lander. I noticed the embossed lines weren't as defined as my original Estes Mars Lander but it wasn't a deal breaker. I would assume the Estes embossing was done using a combination of heat and pressure. ...
[Read More]

Which is the smoothest ride - rod or rail?
For the first time, the TARC rules state that the top 100 contestants making it to the Nationals cannot use a rod; however, they can practice and qualify using one. It's difficult enough to achieve a good score with all the variables associated with the rocket, so I can greatly sympathize with any ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2017-3 (MDRA)
Location: Central Sod Farm, ESL-226 Weather: high of 68, wind 10+, overcast Total flights: Today - 6; YTD - 16 Total motors: Today - 6; YTD - 17 Motors by class YTD:  B-1; C-7; D-1; E-4; F-1; G-2; I-1 This was a nice day for flying although the wind direction could have been more favorable. A ...
[Read More]

First look...New Way Mini Higgs Farm Square Rocket
I decided to open up the kit that Tom gave me at today's launch.  As I mentioned in my launch report and displayed on the front of the instructions, this is a downscale of one of Tom's huge rockets. I am quite impressed with the parts. The body and fin tubes are quite solid. The ...
[Read More]

New Kevlar Supplier? Part 1
NOTE: Before you order any Kevlar line from this supplier - Emma Kites,  PLEASE WAIT and read the third post in this series. There is a concern with this Kevlar  that some might have trouble with. I had known about emmakites.com for quite some time. They sell Kevlar line for kite flying. ...
[Read More]

New Kevlar Supplier, Part 2
For a while, FlisKits included braided Kevlar in their MicroMax kits. Braided Kevlar is made up of smaller lines, is softer and more flexible. The braided Kevlar will burn through and break quicker than the twisted line. Here's how the Emma Kite line is shipped. The label is marked: "1,000 feet - ...
[Read More]

New Kevlar Supplier, Part 3
This softer Emma Kites Kevlar can fray at the end. Tie an overhand knot close to the end. Here's the weird thing about the Emma Kites Kevlar. Normally a square knot stays tightly together after being pulled closed. After tightening, the knot starts to loosen and open up! It's easy enough to fix. A ...
[Read More]

Cancelled: May 27, 2017
!DCA 05/513 ZDC AIRSPACE UNMANNED ROCKET WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 3NM RADIUS OF LVL331027.4 (10NM WSW W81) SFC-6600FT 1705271500-1705272200 Cancelled due to lack of interest.
[Read More]

NYPower 2017: Mud on the shoes
This year I went to only one day (today (Saturday)) of NYPower. The stripey Syracuse Rocket Club big tent was up and I commandeered a corner. Again, no new rockets, so everything I brought was veteran. I started off with the Lunar Eclipse Jr. on an E9-6. This one, recall, flew well on its first ...
[Read More]

Is It Just Me?
Or does anybody else see something else in rocket designs? Every time I see the Estes Scorpion - It reminds me of a running Greyhound. That's probably why I didn't buy the kit.
[Read More]

They Wrote the Book on Apollo 7...
...and here it is! As many of you probably know, Apollo 7 resides in Dallas, Tx at the Frontiers of Flight Museum. I was part of a 40th anniversary celebration for that flight a few years back, and I have many very cool items from it (some that I've shared) but this book was just purchased at the ...
[Read More]

Carded Model TIP
Bruce Levison (designer of the Odd'l Rockets Corkscrew) made two of my carded BT-20 models, the Patriot and A-20 Demon. He kept track of the builds and passed on a tip for body tube skins. "Use a white length of BT-20 if available, or coat a brown cardboard tube with white paint ...
[Read More]

Some Vashon Videos and Links
While doing some searches for Vashon Cold Propellant (Freon) Rockets I came across this website: http://www.videorocketry.com/Vashon/vashon.html It looks like it is linked to the Clay Brothers Video Rocketry site. Lots of great information, Vashon videos and links.
[Read More]

SpaceX CRS-11 Launch Info
CRS-11 is also known as SPX-11 “SpaceX’s eleventh contracted cargo resupply mission with NASA to the International Space Station will deliver almost 6,000 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew. ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2017-5 (NARHAMS)
Location: Mt. Airy Weather:  Total flights: Today - ; YTD - 20 Total motors: Today - ; YTD - 21 Motors by class YTD:  A-1; B-3; C-8; D-1; E-4; F-1; G-2; I-1 This was NARHAMS' ECRM regional meet. Luckily, they let us non-contest bums fly. My Flights: New Way Mini Higgs Farm Square ...
[Read More]

The crafter of nose cones...
I am what is termed a "builder" - I take parts and assemble them into a complete rocket. However, I do not make the nose cones, transitions, and other parts - that is the role of vendors and "makers", such as my friend Duane. To be truthful, I have no desire to transition from builder to maker, ...
[Read More]

Fantastic Plastic
In a recent email, Humanoido sent a link to: http://fantastic-plastic.com/index.html "Fantastic Plastic" is a scale modeling site that celebrates the weird, the wonderful, the odd, the radical, the exotic and the just plain  cool  aircraft and spacecraft model kits produced in styrene ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: 31 May, 2017
  The week following Memorial Day has been marked by increasingly mild weather conditions along the Colorado front range.   Close watch of local wind and weather forecasts revealed that today would be an ideal day to get in a little rocket flying., so I took a break from the endless ...
[Read More]

CRS-11 Launch and Landing Video

[Read More]

A Rocketry Sunday Comic

[Read More]

Repairing three giveaway rockets (part 1)
I took home three rockets to repair from a club meeting several months ago. Decided it was time to work on them. First one is the body of an Estes Freefall, but with an elliptical nose cone (and no paratrooper). Said nose cone? Not so pristine. Neither was the body tube at the front end.…
[Read More]

Repairing three giveaway rockets (part 2)
Maybe not a decent enough start, because tonight I went back downstairs and did some more. I suppose I should have looked up the instructions for the Up Aerospace before building rocket #2. I would have learned stuff, like, there’s a reason the launch lug ring is loose. And the kit came with ...
[Read More]

My Coolest Rocket
Last week I featured a book on Apollo 7. This week I figured that I would share one of the models that we built for the 40th Anniversary Celebration. We each got to keep one Saturn IB that our team built, and we got them signed! The complete story can be found in Launch magazine from a few years ...
[Read More]

Good rocket motors are a terrible thing to waste
I am still rooting for ideas, and motivation for, a summer build. One thing I dug up is my old Heavenly Hobbies Backdraft . This rocket uses a retro rocket motor hidden under its nose cone to slow it down and eject its parachute.  While watching the weirdness that is "American ...
[Read More]

Stability - or - What Happened to Homer's Rocket? (Part 5) - Finding the CP: The Barrowman Equations - Introduction
Illustration from the cover of Centuri TIR-33 , by James S. Barrowman This is a continuation of a series on model rocket stability for beginners. Click here to go to the beginning of the series. Click here to go to the last post. Each year, since 1958, the National ...
[Read More]

A small rocket powered exploration robot
IEEE Spectrum has an interesting article about JAXA's proposed, rocket-powered planetary exploration robot. The prototype flies on Estes C11's!  The single-use robot features a reaction wheel for stability and two retro motors to improve landing accuracy to about 0.29 meters (standard ...
[Read More]

What Decides?
I've been asked this before - who decides what model gets built on the blog? There's a LOT of factors here. 1. I check the build pile. Usually I'll build two at the same time, one to keep and one I might sell on Ebay. 2. Sometimes I receive a build kit from a client. If it is interesting to the ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2017-4 (solo)
Location: Shooley Mill Park Weather: sunny, low wind, mid 70's Total flights: Today - 4; YTD - 20 Total motors: Today - 4; YTD - 21 Motors by class YTD:   A-1; B-3; C-8; D-1; E-4; F-1; G-2; I-1 I finally got one of the grand rocketeers out to launch some of the Estes Crayon ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 5 - The Centuri Little Joe II
  Over on the ‘Rocket Building Blog’, master builder Chris Michaels is embarking on a new build of the Estes Little Joe II kit.   I am in great anticipation of this blog series, as the LJII kit is high up on my own project list for the near future.   Chris also posted ...
[Read More]

Repairing three giveaway rockets (part 3)
For #3, I cut six seemingly identical new fins. On closer examination one finds one of them has the grain running parallel to a different edge than the others. That became the rear part of the new complex fin while one of the remaining five became the front part. Then I started gluing the ...
[Read More]

More Little Joe II Stuff
For those of you who might like to try your hand at scratch building a Little Joe II model rocket in whatever scale, there was a good set of scale drawings published in the September, 1969 issue of Model Rocketry Magazine . The plans can be found starting on page 43 in the Model ...
[Read More]

Motivated by the written word...
        The monotony of all the flying done during my spring work travel season has been broken by reading Wes Oleszewski's "Growing Up with Spaceflight" series. Wes - aka the infamous Dr. Zooch of scale rocket fame - spins pretty good yarns about growing up with ...
[Read More]

A Home Depot Launcher
  "You Know You’re A Rocket Geek If…."   This is a common type of thread subject that appears from time to time on the popular rocket forums, that usually garners a lot of responses.   For me, the answer to this one is easy….   Whenever ...
[Read More]

A Hidden Surprise
A while back I bought a few model airplane magazines from the 1950's through the 1970's in an auction. Ok, I bought more than a "few." I bought around 300+ or so...maybe a lot more...I'm not sure... Even though I bought them about two years ago, I haven't gone through them all because....dang, ...
[Read More]

Worse X-Acto Product Ever!
I couldn't find my pencil sharpener. I wanted to sharpen some dowels. I walked to the grocery store and found this. I figured I'd go the extra money and get the X-Acto brand pencil sharpener. It's an interesting shape, a "Triangle" with two different sized sharpeners. That white piece on the ...
[Read More]

Better Bomb Tank Shape on the F-16 Kit
The bomb or tank wing details on the Odd'l Rockets F-16 kit were a compromise. Being a small vendor I certainly couldn't afford to have molds made for short run kits. Carved dowels were used for the larger tanks under the wings. They look good, but the shape could be better. Using a pencil ...
[Read More]

Better Bomb Details on Odd'l F-16
The bomb (or tank) wing details on the Odd'l Rockets F-16 kit were a compromise. Being a small vendor I certainly couldn't afford to have molds made for short run kits. Carved dowels were used for the larger tanks under the wings. They look good, but the shape could be better. These steps ...
[Read More]

Repairing three giveaway rockets (part 3)
Here’s #1 and #2:#1, the Freefall, I think is good to go, unless I decide to run into a dollar store and look for a paratrooper toy to stuff inside. #2, not so much. I did a swing test and it failed utterly. It did swing nose forward with no motor installed, a test I…
[Read More]

Read Musk's Mars Plans
Until July 5th, You can read “Making Humans a Multi-Planetary Species” over at New Space for free. I highly recommend this quick read Here is the link (available until July 5th 2017)
[Read More]

Flying through the Falcon Factory

[Read More]

Clear rocket woes (updated! Is there hope?)
First the good part. I cut some Lexan fins. The little plastic tabs were just too small. Now the bad part. I sectioned a lamp cover and found that it contracted tightly to about 18mm. I thought a bunch of spent 29mm motors would hold it in place while I taped it with clear packing tape. One layer ...
[Read More]

An Interesting Find...
  This weekend I was going through some boxes of old files and papers, and found this…     A pristine Estes 1973 Catalog! 1973 was, of course, the year that I got started in model rocketry.   I must have obtained two copies of this catalog at the time, ...
[Read More]

Photon Probe Comparisons
I finally got the decals on the second Photon Probe model. The orange one is an older kit, the purple is the newer version form the Estes Classics Series. Moot point -  The long vertical decal with the kit name are different. The older kit was transparent under the name allowing the ...
[Read More]

Upgrading the Estes V2
A while back there was a wave of activity on the NAR Facebook group about painting V2's. I posted a picture of an Estes V2 that I had modified for a contest a few years ago. Well, flash forward to today and I stumbled across a data packet that I made for that model. Therefore, I thought I would ...
[Read More]

Model Profile - The Centuri F-104 Starfighter
The F-104 Starfighter was introduced in the 1977 Centuri catalog, the fourth model of the Fighter Fleet series. For variety, Centuri picked the West Germany motif These jets had "fibre" fins, die-cut from a .050" thick card stock. While card stock made an easier assembly for a young modeler, ...
[Read More]

June 25, 2017
Sunday, noon to 4 PM Continue reading →
[Read More]

Indoor Spray Painting Booth - Sneak Peek
After toying with the idea for a long time, I have built an indoor spray painting booth, so that I can have a place to paint rockets when I want to. The area outside the house in which my apartment is located has little space for spray painting, and the North Atlantic coast tends to be too windy ...
[Read More]

I survived Southern Thunder 2017
Barely... Just a few minutes after arrival, I slipped in the very muddy ground along the tent line and created a big new mud puddle when my huge carcass hit the ground. Fortunately, my pride was the only thing to suffer damage - if you discount the fact that I went through Saturday covered in mud ...
[Read More]

It fell, daddy!
"It fell, daddy" - These words were the comment made by a little girl after witnessing a very heavy model of a Blue Origin (I think) spacecraft arc right into the the ground at Southern Thunder. It was an all too common occurrence during the two days of the launch, and is becoming increasingly ...
[Read More]

Pigasus Flys High!
From a recent post on YORF, Les showed off just part of his collection -  "Not the complete fleet.... A few weeks ago, Kopernik Observatory held its annual Rocketfest. I put on a display of some of my rockets This is about half of my collection from nearly 20 years of builds. Enjoy!" That's ...
[Read More]

Testing the Indoor Spray Painting Booth
Once I got my indoor, positive-pressure spray paint booth built, it was time to test it out. I started with the white undercoat on the Quest Superbird. The Superbird is built, and looks great. I am behind on the editing and posting of the video build series of that rocket, but you can see the ...
[Read More]

The Return of the Moonliner!!!
Just when you thought I had run out of ways to feature the TWA Moonliner....it's baaaack! Well, sort of. Actually this one is branded a Mars Liner. It's still the same classic plastic model mold, however, and that's kind of the point in this case. You see, Bob Wilson had this kit in his stash. It ...
[Read More]

Modifications to the Indoor Spray Paint Booth
If you saw Part 2 , you know that the first version of the indoor, positive pressure spray paint booth was not so great. But here are the modifications I made. Not to give spoilers on how the booth turns out, but I just finished another rocket - which I think was made easier with this booth - the ...
[Read More]

MPC Musings...
In the early 1970's a rocket company by the name of Model Rocket Industries started producings some pretty cool kits. Soon, Model Products Corp. bought them out and launched their bold plan of marketing the kits through regular retail outlets. In fact, the kits were packaged in shrink wrapped boxes ...
[Read More]

Neil W's Cyclone Flight Report
From a post on TRF:  "I am pleased to report that Cyclone II performed flawlessly at the BARC launch yesterday. Don't have any pics yet, hopefully soon. First launch was on an 1/2A3-2T. It didn't go very high, but high enough to get a good long spin coming down. As promised, the booster unit ...
[Read More]

High Power... The Early Years
The year was 1988. High power was just becoming a "thing.""Becoming a 'thing'" wasn't a "thing" yet. I lived in a little apartment by Eastfield College, and I was holding a very cool rocket catalog. It was from a company called "AAA Model Aviation Fuels" and it was filled with wonderful high power ...
[Read More]

Moon Day 2017!!!
Each year, around the July 20th anniversary of the first moon landing, the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas celebrates Moon Day. The museum has a direct tie-in with the Apollo program because it's the permanent home of Apollo 7. Although Apollo 7 didn't go to the moon, it was a huge step on the ...
[Read More]

Indoor Spray Paint Booth - Success!
I've been too busy lately to write much on this blog, but I have completed the positive pressure spray paint booth video series. Here's the final video. I've gotten good results finishing several rockets with this booth, all of which I spray painted inside my apartment ! A full post on the booth ...
[Read More]

July 30, 2017
!DCA 07/464 ZDC AIRSPACE UNMANNED ROCKET WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 3NM RADIUS OF LVL331027.4 SFC-6600 1707301500-1707302200 The weather was indeed cooler than last weekend. Unfortunately, wind was from the NE, a bad direction for our field. Kevin Dunn launched … Continue reading →
[Read More]

1969 Science News!!!
This week's post really ties in with last week's post on Moon Day. You see, I was digging through some stuff and I happened to come across an old Science Service book called "Man in Space." I think my mom had this book when she was teaching (the "Mrs. Powley" written in it seems to suggest that) ...
[Read More]

Club History- 1970's Style
In my quest to figure out what the heck to write on this week, I dug through my bookcase and found an old Pink Book. What was weird is that the book clearly has John Dyer's name on it, and I have no clue of how I wound up with it. What was even more weird is that inside the book there was this ...
[Read More]

1969...Estes Style
I've been hitting history pretty hard for the past few posts, so I figured I'd keep it up! 1969 was a rather huge year for the space industry. We finally landed on the moon, and literally anything seemed possible. We didn't have to push STEM classes, because they were all the rage anyway. The ...
[Read More]

F-104 Starfighter Kit Progress -
Here's a peek at the instructions for the upcoming new kit from Odd'l Rockets - The F-104 STARFIGHTER This model is based on one of the out-of-production Centuri Fighter Fleet jets. The intakes and fuel tanks will be closer in shape to the real thing. When will it be available? Hopefully in the ...
[Read More]

Nice Hobby Lobby Haul
Last week I stopped by the local Hobby Lobby, clutching a 40% of coupon in hand, to pur chase an Estes Mercury Redstone kit. To my delight, I also found a couple of other kits marked at 40% clearance - a Nike Smoke and Super Neon.  I just couldn't resist. These new additions to my build list ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Break-Away from Australia!
On TRF, Snrkl posted he was building a BT-60 upscale of the Odd'l Rockets Break-Away. He had some questions and a few emails were exchanged. Snrkl had two successful flights on August 20 using D12 engines. To see the TRF posts and story - CLICK HERE A flight video is on YouTube - CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Solar Eclipse Day in Colorado
I am lucky enough to be working for a company that is 100% full of science geeks, so Monday's eclipse was a very special time around the building.  Here in Colorado, we hit 92% coverage, so it was still fun to watch. One of my co-workers set up a pair of binoculars on a tripod to project ...
[Read More]

Fett Boy rebuild
Here is the main structure of the new Fett Boy. The rocket is about half an inch over scale. I used a plastic cone that I built a long time ago but never flew. It fits the 3" tubing and also mates nicely with the tube that telescopes over the main body. I wanted to use the telescoping tube so ...
[Read More]

MPC Lunar Patrol, Part 8 - Glider Pylons
After a long hiatus, I’m finally back on track to realize completion of the Lunar Patrol. The pylon/standoff pieces and dowel pins that attach the gliders to the booster pods are the next items on the list to be built.            &n ...
[Read More]

Aug 26, 2017
DCA 08/477 ZDC AIRSPACE UNMANNED ROCKET WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 3NM RADIUS OF LVL331027.4 SFC-6600FT 1708261500-1708262200 The weather looks good for a launch this Saturday from noon til 4 PM. Let me know if you are interested in flying … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Nope, need paint
I started painting various bits and pieces and am not happy with the bright colors. I will trek to Hobby Lobby and try to score some flat paint - rust red, sky blue, camo green, and yellow. My first effort on the arms isn't going well either...more scrounging required.
[Read More]

The Adventures of Dan and Dave
The year was 1993. I was the editor of Dallas Rocketry, and, like every newsletter editor ever, I needed content badly! My personal motto was "All the news that fits, I print." There was space to be filled, baby! I had done a few one panel comics to fill up pages, but I wanted to do someth ...
[Read More]

Yup, got paint
I scored my paint, a few other supplies and a few motors. Hope to get back to it soon.
[Read More]

JonRocket.com Supports Space Week Activities in Brevard County
JonRocket.com has made a donation to the National Space Club Florida Committee to help support their Space Week educational outreach in Brevard County along Florida’s Space Coast. Space Week actually lasts several weeks. During this time, every sixth grader in … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Drag race results are in...
Losing a drag race is sometimes better than winning :) This is a corollary to, "A bad day on the field is better than a good day at the office."
[Read More]

Progress of the Fett Boy rebuild
Needs some touch ups, details and arms.
[Read More]

A Nifty-Keen Rocket Building Bench Accessory
Happy Labor Day! This morning I got up and headed down to the shop to knock together a project for the work bench. I have this unused Flat Screen TV stand banging around in the basement, and recognized it as a perfect benchtop stand for doing close-up detail work on model rocket components. Pulling ...
[Read More]

MPC Lunar Patrol, Part 9, Booster Assembled
It's back to the workbench to plug away at the Lunar Patrol Build. For starters, I procured Mrs. BlastFromThePast's hair drier to attempt a fix for the body tube warping mentioned a few posts back. Placing expended engine casings in all of the effected tubing for support, the assembly was hit with ...
[Read More]

Simple Pleasures
The year was 1973. I had just completed filling out my Estes order form when I saw that I qualified for a bonus rocket! I skimmed the options and quickly checked the "Little John" Mini-Brute. The order went in the mail and I waited.... I think it's interesting that all these years later, I can't ...
[Read More]

Fett Boy rebuild, almost done!
So, the Fett Boy is getting there. I have all the major bits and pieces on. I don't like the hands and may fiddle with them once I decide what to do. Or not. I also want to add thruster nozzles on the backpack. I have the actual nozzles but need the spherical parts. I'll add them if and when ...
[Read More]

The season begins at Pegasus...
My Estes Alpha streaks skyward on an A8-3 (click to enlarge). My apologies for no blog posts over the past couple of months - it's been a busy summer, and I haven't found much time to write. Things seemed to have slacked off a bit for now, so hopefully I will be posting more regularly. Especially ...
[Read More]

A REAL Blast From The Past...
One of my early childhood memories is that of a Nike Hercules missile that was on display in downtown Colorado Springs where I grew up..  I remember always being thrilled whenever I was in the car with my folks and we happened to drive by that missile.  Of course, being around 3-5 ...
[Read More]

BAR Rocket Fleet #111 Super-Star
Sport Model High Performance MPC Kit Clone Designed by G. Harry Stine Date Completed:   14 September, 2017   Designed for 13mm mini engines Length:   254mm Diameter:   13.7mm Weight:   10.2g Fins: 3 Nose cone: Tangent ogive,    Approx.   4.1 Caliber Color ...
[Read More]

Water rocket of the day
6000psi, 35gallons, 62mph in 0.5sec, top speed 162mph
[Read More]

A tubular build...
Quest Totally Tubular (Click to enlarge). Tube fin scratch build - the Algol (Click to enlarge). I must confess to not being a big fan of rockets with tube fins - they violate my 1950's conception of what a rocket should look like. However, I do have 2 in my existing fleet - the Quest Totally ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2017-8 (NARHAMS)
Location: Old National Pike Park, Mt. Airy Weather: wind <3, 81 degrees, sunny to partly cloudy Total flights: Today - 11; YTD - 41 Total motors: Today - 11; YTD - 48 Motors by class YTD:   A-2; B-3; C-19; D-4; E-6; F-7; G-6; I-1 Another near perfect launch day! The weather, most notably ...
[Read More]

Fett Boy, V3
The other day, I ran across a Boba Fett dog toy that looked perfect for a Fett Boy. Little did I know that I would need one in a couple of days.  I need to work out how it will be attached and how the how to configure the body. I am thinking about stretching the body to give more room for the ...
[Read More]

Fett Boy V3...that was quick
The tube with the backpack, etc. no longer telescopes over the body but there is a couple of inch open area at its base - enough to add a tad of room for the 'chute but not enough for it to stick after ejection. The plush Fett sits on top and is fat enough to wedge in tightl ...
[Read More]

House of Blues Tetrahedron
Here is another quick and dirty build. The body is a cardboard tetrahedron that protected a corner on a new washer/dryer. I gathered three but totally forgot about them. My wife found them mixed with some trash. She is a good rocket girl, well trained to keep an eye out for junk that I can ...
[Read More]

What Goes Up...
A quick post for this time. Here is my Star Trek Starter Kit Rocket lifting off with an H242. The up was fantastic! The down was horrible. The impact actually ejected the motor casing (and mount) out of the rocket...A fact that I noticed AFTER I walked back to the range head. Fortunately ...
[Read More]

My first eBay rescues...
There are a few people on the forums who delight in buying old built kits on eBay for the purpose of transforming them into flyable pieces of art. I have never done this, but found the idea intriguing - what better test of build/repair skills than attempting to resurrect decades-old dilapidated ...
[Read More]

A Tale of Five Moonliners...
As some of you may know, I built a scratch-built TWA Moonliner a while back that flies on 24mm motors. Here is is... For the sake of this post, let's call this Moonliner V. Of course this begs the question, "Where are Moonliners I-IV?" I'm glad you asked! Moonliner I was in the original To ...
[Read More]

We have a new TARC Geezer!
Vince's Geezer TARC entry sets on the pad awaiting launch (Click to enlarge). Well, today was THE day - the annual Geezer TARC fly off. This year's contestants - myself, Duane, Marc, and Vince - gathered at Pegasus field at 10 AM for the showdown. As is the norm with Geezer TARC, there were sighs ...
[Read More]

Pics from Saturday's launch...
Duane's Estes Make-It-Take-It leaves the rod on an A8-3 (Click to enlarge). Saturday's launch did not just involve the TARC Geezers; quite a few other folk joined us at Pegasus, many bringing rockets to fly. In addition to me, Duane, Marc, and Vince, there were Art, Blake, Matt, and Phillip, along ...
[Read More]

Just Catching Up....
  Back in 2016, I had a version of this blog that I ended up taking down for various reasons known only to me.   I had intended to re-post some of the original entries here on this newer updated version, but, alas, I found that I could no longer access them.      Bummer! ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2017-9 (solo)
Location: My driveway Weather: overcast; high 70s; wind 0 Total flights: Today - 2 ; YTD - 32 Total motors: Today - 2 ; YTD - 39 Motors by class YTD:  MMX-1;  A-2; B-3; C-17; D-3; E-4; F-3; G-5; I-1 My main goal for today was to fly the House of Blues Tetrahedron on a single A10 prior to ...
[Read More]

Updates
So, the L3 shot was all set for the Sept launch. Perfect weather, great people coming to watch, Rocket was good to go and motor is in hand. Wasn’t able to make it, But no worries, April will be here soon enough and I’ll try again. I’d rather do this right even if I […]
[Read More]

October Rebirth...
When one thinks of new life springing from the ashes of the old, May or June might be the months that come to mind. When one thinks of things being reborn in October, one thinks more along the lines of...I don't know...maybe zombies? Anyway, that is exactly what is happening in my garage this ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: 7 October, 2017
  Today promised to be a fine day to head out to ‘Douglas County Proving Grounds’ to conduct some model rocket launches.   Wind and weather websites for Castle Rock indicated a wind speed of 5 mph and a temperature of 71 degrees at 3:00 p.m.    Not too bad. ...
[Read More]

Signal Alpha
Hello, again. It's your old pal, the Rocket N00b. I haven't written in a while, I know. And, really, this post isn't exactly n00b stuff - it's pretty advanced model rocketry, in fact. But tonight, I got an email from my friend, Joe Barnard. More specifically, I got an email from Joe's company, ...
[Read More]

Working through the list...
A few days ago, I finished a clone of the Estes Falcon Commander, which was one of the three items on my 2017 build list. Next up is a clone of the venerable Estes Gyroc, which is also celebrating (along with the Alpha) the 50th anniversary of its release this year. The Gene Street-designed ...
[Read More]

MPC Lunar Patrol : Part 10
It's back to the bench for some more progress on the LP.    The glider nose cones are now equipped with pylons and attachment pins, and have been through the filling and sanding process.    The cones will not yet be glued onto the gliders until everything is primer'd and ...
[Read More]

Ceramic Blast Deflector History
An interesting Blast! Deflector back story from YORF:     The MPC starter kit pictured earlier featured a unique parabolic blast deflector.  The design made its first appearance as an R&D entry at NARAM 11 submitted by Sven Englund of New Canaan, CT.     ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2017-10 (MDRA)
Location: Central Sod Farm, ESL-231 Weather: overcast; high 60s; wind 0-5  Total flights: Today - 6; YTD - 38 Total motors: Today - 11; YTD - 50 Motors by class YTD:  MMX-1;  A-6; B-3; C-17; D-3; E-7; F-5; G-6; H-1; I-1 No traffic to-and-fro and great launch weather - not too hot or ...
[Read More]

Those Crazy Rockets - They're Everywhere
Posted online by a DJ friend of mine from my radio days, a quirky, rocket-themed album cover of cheesy organ hits. I'm pretty sure that's a Nike Ajax missile in the photo. Follow me on Twitter . Like my Facebook page for blog updates and extra stuff. Have a question you'd like to see addressed on ...
[Read More]

STSR Update...
"STSR" stands for "Star Trek Starter Rocket" for those of you who may be wondering. Well, I am progressing with my rebuild of the rocket. I was able to make some pretty good progress this weekend. How much? Well, I'm glad you asked! I installed the new engine mount and glued the fins on. No high ...
[Read More]

This old dog learns a new trick...
Things have been busy this weekend - I have the Centuri Groove Tube painted and ready for decals, my scratch-built Probe-18 is repaired and has a new payload section, the Gyroc clone and eBay rescue Sky Hook are in primer, and I have gathered the parts for the last build on my list, the Centuri ...
[Read More]

Nose Cones . . .
How many do ya' need? Nose cones can be the most expensive part of a kit. There's 100 here, a good start for the first run of a new product.
[Read More]

AeroTech J1600 SU build (not what it sounds like)
There was a recent TRF thread that asked if people save the tubes that motors are packaged in and if they ever built rockets out of them. The answer is, of course, YES! I replied that I had used them on some oddrocs, including my Saturn V SA-666 and SA-667 induction rockets. I also used one such ...
[Read More]

They did what with a Saturn V?
This week's episode of the "Big Bang Theory" featured a model rocketry thread in which Wolowitz resurrects some of his old rockets in anticipation of sharing his past joy in rocketry with his soon-to-be-born son. He and Sheldon build an Estes Saturn V, which they intend on launching out in the ...
[Read More]

Signal Alpha Is Here
Joe Barnard's first run of Signal Avionics - Signal Alpha - is now available for order, through Monday, October 23 only! Click here if you want to order one: bps.space/signal-alpha/ Follow me on Twitter . Like my Facebook page for blog updates and extra stuff. Have a question you'd like to see ...
[Read More]

Star Trek Starter Rocket Restarted!
Well, it's been a rough row to hoe, but we made it! The Star Trek Starter Set Rocket Upscale is reborn! As I said before, it was actually a little harder rebuilding her than it was to build her in the first place. The issue is that you need to do things like removing old glue and paint and (if ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2017-11 (NARHAMS)
Location: Mt. Airy Weather: sunny; mid 70s; wind 0-3  Total flights: Today - 12; YTD - 50 Total motors: Today - 12; YTD - 62 Motors by class YTD:  MMX-1;  A-9; B-4; C-21; D-3; E-7; F-9; G-6; H-1; I-1 Man alive, another day of perfect weather. 2017 was most excellent in that regard ...
[Read More]

Ouch
In my earlier launch report, I mentioned having to use a long but heavy lineman's pole to recover my MLAS-S. I recently packaged the rocket recovery system in its own bag. I haven't programmed myself to grab the bag and, for the first time since I made it, didn't bring it to the launch. I'm still ...
[Read More]

BAR Rocket Fleet #110 Griffin-2
Custom Design Carrier Vehicle for Parasite Gliders Single Stage Engine Type:   18mm Recovery:   Parachute Length:   22.25”   (56.51 cm) Diameter:   .976”   (25mm) Weight Empty:    .035 oz.   (38.35 gm ) Nose Cone:   Tangent Ogive ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day Part 7: The Original Griffin
Earlier in the day, I posted a new-build clone of one of my old fleet designs - the Griffin-2. This evening I found the only existing photo of the original Griffin rocket.... This pic was taken in December of 1976.  The previous final flight of the Griffin had resulted in a crash that ...
[Read More]

It IS Rocket Surgery !
Last night, I finally got around to unpacking the models which I had flown on October 7th.  OK, I am slow at getting around to doing some things.... Anyway, I went to remove the spent engine casing out of the old Mini-Brute Hornet (Remember that one?), only to find that it was a very ...
[Read More]

The (short) 2018 build list...
It's the end of October and time to put together a build list for the coming year. I have done pretty well this year - the Falcon Commander is done, the Gyroc is in the final coat of primer, and the Centuri Mach 10 is under construction. Should easily have the latter two finished by Christmas, ...
[Read More]

Internal Engine Hook For The Hornet
Last week I posted the woeful story about the messed-up engine tube in the ol' Hornet. Here's the re-build I came up with: a new engine tube featuring an internal engine retaining hook. I ran across this neat little technique back sometime in the mid 1970s.  I believe it was published as a ...
[Read More]

My Jolly Logic Chute Release issues
I have been pondering the last NARHAMS launch, specifically the flight that ended up in the trees. I decided to summarize all my JLCR issues so far. If for no other reason to reinforce what I learned. 1. Beware wind-free days. At the last launch, the ground level wind was mostly still. We ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 8: More Stickers!
A couple of weeks ago on The Model Rocket Building Blog, Chris Michielssen wrote a post containing some pictures of old model rocket stickers that the manufacturers used to send with orders. I also have a number of these, except most of them are stuck to my old range boxes and are rather battle ...
[Read More]

"The Minuteman" 29mm MD rocket
Here's the finished 29mm MD rocket, "The Minuteman" With vinyl wrap from StickerShock23.
[Read More]

Upcoming Launches – Bunnell Blast and (Turkey and) GRITS
JonRocket.com will be at NEFAR’s Bunnell Blast the weekend of November 11 and 12 near Daytona Beach, Florida. Then we will be at the GRITS Launch near Tifton, Georgia, November 25 and 26. Bunnell Blast is a two-day TRA Research … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Ode to a Favorite Rocket
One of the best rockets I ever built was only flown once before it was lost forever. Maybe "lost" isn't exactly the right word, since I knew exactly where it went. Perhaps "unrecoverable" sums it up better. But let me back up a bit... In the mid 1980's I got a Black Brant II from that legendary ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V - Discontinued?
Act fast, dear reader. If you have had your eye on the re-release of the Estes Saturn V model rocket, don't delay. Get one while you can! It appears the kit, which has only been out for little more than a year, is being discontinued! I don't know if this will be news to many people, but I ...
[Read More]

Warp Factor - Fixing Warped Balsa Fins
Sometimes, you'll open a new rocket kit, examine the parts, and realize that the balsa fin stock is warped. This may be really bad - the whole thing is visibly curved - or it may be subtle. Perhaps you'll only notice it when you cut the fins out and stack them together, because they won't lie ...
[Read More]

Modeling airflow over landing gear
https://www.facebook.com/nasaames/videos/10154761992756394/
[Read More]

More Testing
  A couple screen grabs during ignition from a test earlier this year. Another load in the 76-7600N-s hardware set that cranked out 8760N-s.        
[Read More]

2017 Holiday Sale
I want to be as transparent as possible, this year’s Holiday sale will be postponed. Currently, I am in the … Read More →
[Read More]

Unboxing Signal Alpha
I got a surprise gift in the mail from my friend Joe Barnard this week - a Signal Alpha thrust vectoring kit! This was such a nice surprise, and I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it yet. I have no experience with this sort of technology, apart from watching Joe launch his rockets. This is a ...
[Read More]

Nov 26, 2017
!DCA 11/323 ZDC AIRSPACE UNMANNED ROCKET WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 3NM RADIUS OF LVL331027.4 (10.1NM WSW W81) SFC-6600FT 1711261500-1711262200 Bill Spencer and his friend, Jerry, joined Kevin Dunn for a day of spectacular weather. Bill flew four rockets on … Continue reading →
[Read More]

A short Saturday launch...
It's been over a month since I last launched a rocket - Work and travel have kept me busy and away from Pegasus field on the weekends. However, Duane and I decided that enough was enough and that we HAD to use today to get a few birds in the air. So high noon saw us pulling into Pegasus field for ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: November 25, 2017
This Thanksgiving weekend was marked by a spell of wonderfully warm and calm Colorado weather, so what better time to get out and launch a few model rockets?  Friday night, my 7 year old grand son put the finishing touches on his Generic E2X model, and we planned to launch the next ...
[Read More]

MPC Lunar Patrol, Part 11
Finally..(cough, cough)    .... all of that filling, priming, and (hack, hack) sanding is done on this bird !! Ready to start on painting and detailing.  I might actually have this model finished by the end of December.  I am definitely in great anticipation of getting this ...
[Read More]

MPC Lunar Patrol: Part 12 - Let The Painting Begin !
The first task in getting the LP finished is painting the interiors of the booster pods and glider fuselage tubes.  I went with some matte black acrylic for this part. Back in my 'old fleet' days, I wouldn't have bothered with this detail.  Back then, it was all about getting the bird out ...
[Read More]

Testing a bit of the past
There are very few three stage rocket kits nowadays (the Estes Comanche 3 being the best well known), and those that do exist use the 24 mm Estes C11 or D12 motors in the first stage booster. This is because the first stage motor has to loft a lot of weight fast enough to have the model stable ...
[Read More]

Fins...required for stability!
screen snap via https://archive.org/details/misslesandrockets
[Read More]

Forgot to cant those tractor motors!
screen snap via https://archive.org/details/misslesandrockets
[Read More]

de Laval, shme Laval
screen snap via https://archive.org/details/misslesandrockets&tab=collection
[Read More]

Flight of the Corny 7
This week I'm featuring an item that George Sprague emailed me. Here ya go!     Yep, it's the Corny 7 rocket, by Kellogg's Corn Flakes! Now, if I were to date this thing, I would probably put it in the early 1960's, right in the middle of the Mercury Program. The giveaways ...
[Read More]

Mom-a-rific

[Read More]

Warm December launch at Pegasus...
(Warning - this is a long post with many pictures) Some of the activity at Pegasus field this Saturday; the Jurassic TARC team is in the foreground (Click to enlarge). Huntsville has been experiencing a period of warm weather with little wind of late - a phase that ...
[Read More]

Building the Semroc Sprite (part 1)
For its winter project, the Syracuse Rocket Club is making Sprites. This isn’t a group build of a single rocket but individual builds of a single design: the K-15 Estes Sprite, or Astron Sprite as it was first known when introduced in 1964. Looks like its first catalog appearance was 1966. I ...
[Read More]

Make: High-Power Rockets - New Book on HPR Is Now Out!
Make: High-Power Rockets by Mike Westerfield After a long wait, we now have a new book on rocketry by author Mike Westerfield. He wrote a book I often talk about here on the blog, Make: Rockets: Down-to-Earth Rocket Science about low power model rocketry. If you ...
[Read More]

Jonrocket.com is Attending NARCON 2018
NARCON 2018 will be held February 23 through 25, 2018, in Houston, Texas. JonRocket.com will be there as a vendor. NARCON is the National Association of Rocketry’s annual convention. The three-day event features guest speakers, technical presentations, and a banquet … Continue reading ...
[Read More]

ARS Patriot rocket kits are now available!
Andrew, the owner of ARS, is proud to announce that the Patriot model rocket kits are now available! They can be picked up here: http://www.erockets.biz/ars-flying-model-rocket-kit-patriot-k-01/ Again, thank you to everyone who has made this possible!
[Read More]

Building the Semroc Sprite (part 2)
Start with the motor mount which, by volume at least, is nearly the entire rocket. The motor hook goes on the outside of the body tube, and then the Tyvek piece gets glued over that. (It was gauze in the original K-15.) I tried using yellow glue for that, but the Tyvek didn’t seem very…
[Read More]

Building the Semroc Sprite (part 3)
The dried contact cement is… improved. Might never be beautiful. These days if I can remember to I prefer to glue launch lugs on before fins, so I did that. Much easier to line it up without fins in the way, especially these fins. These unshaped fins. The instructions specifically tell you ...
[Read More]

The Alpha Before the Alpha....
The year was 1959. The country was space-crazy and Scientific Products released one of the coolest toys ever. You see, before Estes had the Alpha, Scientific Products had the Alpha-1. The Alpha-1 wasn't a solid fuel rocket. It used liquid fuel and powdered oxidizer. (vinegar and baking soda). It ...
[Read More]

2017 in Review
So, I never did my “2017 year in review” post. It was plagued by missed launches, delays in building, and not having motor making setup very well. Oh, and blowing my Villain up. I made two motors for the first launch of the year. a 38mm 6 grain to fit in loki 38/740 […]
[Read More]

2018 plans
    Pretty simple plan for the year. Fly the L3, then a bunch of 38mm stuff in the Optima CF and the Zodiac in 4 and 6 grain cases.   Need to get the vac all setup, then I can get these 29mm and 75mm 3 grain cases filled up 😉   Advertisements
[Read More]

Space Flight Setback: SpaceX Has Lost A Falcon 9 Rocket After It Landed In A Mean Old Neighbor’s Backyard
Space Flight Setback: SpaceX Has Lost A Falcon 9 Rocket After It Landed In A Mean Old Neighbor’s Backyard https://t.co/YJc5lEVjLP — ClickHole (@ClickHole) December 20, 2017
[Read More]

Eggfinder LCD Case V2.
I want to apologize, the case is almost ready to be sold. Currently the case is being tested by a … Read More →
[Read More]

Falcon Heavy's business end
Because everyone likes to look at a big cluster... courtesy of SpaceX
[Read More]

Two launches in a Month!
Two launches at Friends of Amateur Rocketry this month, both flights over 25,000′. See reports here and here.      
[Read More]

Building the Semroc Sprite (part 4)
This isn’t normally painting season, but I want to apply and sand primer on the body and flat fins before adding the ring and fin tips, and I don’t want to postpone further work until May. So, after some cursory wood filler application on the fins, I took room temperature paint and ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 9: More Estes Stickers Found..
This past weekend, I was again rummaging through the piles of accumulated stuff stored under the basement stairway, when I came across yet another object adorned with old Estes Industries stickers... Only this is not a rocketry-related item. It's my old skate board! And we are talking 'Very Old ...
[Read More]

More scale modeling...
Hawk missiles on their launcher (Click to enlarge). At the December HARA meeting, Elliot Laramie gave a tech talk on the Hawk anti-aircraft missile, which was first deployed way back in 1959. Despite being nearly 60 years old, the missile system has undergone ...
[Read More]

V2 Eggfinder LCD Case
I sincerely apologize for the delay, but I had a few packages lost or stolen which contained some parts for … Read More →
[Read More]

2017 Rocket Launch Slo Mo Supercut
Some footage by Joe Barnard . Follow me on Twitter . Like my Facebook page for blog updates and extra stuff. Have a question you'd like to see addressed on this blog? Email me at iamtherocketn00b@gmail.com.
[Read More]

Maxi-Alpha III Bash!
No, this post isn't about crashing a Maxi Alpha III (although a future post might be...depending on how it goes...) This post is about kit bashing an Estes Red Flare into a Maxi Alpha III. Let me start from the beginning... About a year ago I picked up a Red Flare at a DARS meeting for a modest ...
[Read More]

Belated Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to all of you model rocket blog readers!  Why is this so late? I've been on vacation from work up until yesterday, and it's been a whirlwind of family activity.  Haven't had time to sit down at the computer much over the past couple of weeks. I did get a bit of rocketry ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: January 5, 2018
  My first launch session of 2018 took place on Friday of the New Year week.   Checks of local weather and wind websites showed afternoon temperatures in the mid -50s and minimal wind.   Ideal.   I was off from work for the whole week and my two grandkids, ages 7 and 9, were ...
[Read More]

Hobbico Bankruptcy
Hobbico, the Champaign, IL company which owns Estes Industries (along with a large number of hobby outfitters), is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and layoffs may begin in April, according to an article on the Champaign News-Gazette website. I do not know what this means for the future of Estes ...
[Read More]

Break-Away Clone!
From the N.A.R. Facebook page: Beth Johnson made a Odd'l Rockets Break-Away clone! All those launch lugs are going to be fun to line up - 
[Read More]

Estes Posts More "Coming Soon"
The above was posted on Estes' Facebook page today. Some folks got a little concerned when the Estes website seemed to be down a few hours ago, but it appears to have been only a hiccup which would have gone unnoticed if we weren't all a bit on edge recently. I want to refrain from too much public ...
[Read More]

No Resolutions!
I never make New Year's Resolutions. I don't ever keep them, so I never waste time making them. Instead, I tend to make detailed plans, lists, and schedules to outline progress on my various pursuits and hobbies. The other day I was inspired by a post on one of the model rocket forums by ...
[Read More]

No Resoultions: Part 2
I spent part of last night outlining my upcoming 4-month project agenda, and even gathering the parts kits for some of them; 1.  MPC Lunar Patrol - I started this one in 2016, and it's going Veerrrrryyyyy SLoooooow.  All that is left is painting and applying markings.  This will get ...
[Read More]

Star Trooper Back In Business
If you recall, back in early 2017, the Star Trooper model experienced a fairly substantial crash that left it in less than perfect condition. Two new fins, some body tube repair, nose cone clean-up, and a new paint job later, the Star Trooper is once again fully flight ready. One small ...
[Read More]

Falcon Heavy Static fire was amazing
SpaceX confirms successful Falcon Heavy Static fire. First static fire test of Falcon Heavy complete—one step closer to first test flight! pic.twitter.com/EZF4JOT8e4 — SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 24, 2018 See this to experience with the amazing sound: My raw video of … Continue reading ...
[Read More]

The Falcon Heavy's static fire was "like the 4th of July"
oops...wrong link...now fixed My raw video of the #SpaceX Falcon Heavy static-fire at Kennedy Space Center. Come for the cloud plumes, stay for the sound. A French space reporter just yelled "It's like the 4th of July!" pic.twitter.com/vJssukqgIz — Robin Seemangal (@nova_road) ...
[Read More]

Falcon Heavy Ground Test is a Success
This is a test fire in advance of SpaceX's upcoming Falcon 9 Heavy test launch. The test occurred on 1/24/2018 at Kennedy Space Center's LC-39 Pad A which is the same pad that many Apollo and Space Shuttle launches took place from. SpaceX is currently leasing the pad from NASA. Birds can been seen ...
[Read More]

A better video of the Falcon Heavy static fire

[Read More]

Jan 27, 2018 Cancelled
Weather forecast called for winds 18 mph Saturday and 80% chance of rain on Sunday. We’ll try again in February.
[Read More]

Falcon Heavy Launch Date
Keeping fingers crossed. Chris G over at NASA Spaceflight is reporting a Feb 6th date with Feb. 7th as backup.
[Read More]

Maxi Alpha III Bash...The Conclusion!
Well, it's been a couple of weeks since I posted about my kit bash, but the weather finally cooperated and I was able to actually paint! Therefore, let's jump right in! First, I painted the body tube. I painted the nose as well, just because I wanted the red paint to cover the black plastic ...
[Read More]

Comic Book Boards? TIP
In a recent Forum post, Deepovertone asked:   " I'm looking to find heavy card stock like the stuff Estes uses for their centering rings. Does anyone know a good source for stuff that heavy? Thanks."   KJohnson responded: "Comic book boards. You can get 100 for $12 at Walmart. Cheaper ...
[Read More]

Time For A New Vehicle Assembly Facility
  This is a night-time photo of the current BlastFromTHePast rocket building/electronics/small repair project workbench -   where all of my BAR activity has taken place over the last year and a half. The structure was originally built for use as a chop saw station, and is constructed ...
[Read More]

Estes Scissor Wing Transport Build, Part 17, C/G Balance
The kit supplied clay pat weighed .25 oz. I ended up using .17 oz. to get the model to balance 8 1/4" from the elevator hinge as shown in the instructions. To balance the model I made a "V" with my thumb and forefinger at the 8 1/4" point. I couldn't balance the model on a straightedge. I would ...
[Read More]

Estes Scissor Wing Transport Finished
Well, the reissue didn't have water slide decals but it does capture the feel of the original kit. I'll have to launch it a few times to see if it glides like my first one from the 1970s. The first and third pictures show it in glide mode, without the pop pod in place with the wing rotated. (Boy, ...
[Read More]

The BIG Fix, Gyroc Elastic, Part 1
Semroc (ERockets.biz) has brought back the Estes Gyroc. The reissue kit has a 13mm engine mount with streamer attached. The big change is replaceable elastic on the fin flaps. Balsa Machining Service (BMS) also sells a Gyroc clone kit that uses standard 18mm engines. The BMS kit has the original ...
[Read More]

Falcon Heavy Demo Launch Info
UPDATE: Now 3:45 -Window closes at 4pm   Launch Time: February 6th at 3:45 p.m. EST, 20:45 UTC. -Backup 2-7-18 Launch Location: LP 39A Cape Kennedy Payload: Tesla Roadster Landing: Yes(2 boosters and main ) – LZ1, LZ2 and Ocisly Watch … Continue reading →
[Read More]

The BIG Fix, Gyroc Elastic, Part 2
The elastic is double knotted on one end. Feed the elastic through the wing flap from the underside until the knot rests against the flap. Slide the open end through the rudder notch. When the flap is pulled up against the rudder, mark the elastic at the notch. The second elastic piece is cut ...
[Read More]

Building the Semroc Sprite (part 5)
So I did more sanding and priming and sanding, and I glued the nose cone on, and I filled some dents and the nose/body seam with Bondo spot putty and sanded some more, and I went to put the ring fin on after, as the instructions recommend, sanding the fins down to achieve a snug…
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., February 3, 2018
We had a good turnout, racks were full for most of the day. Check the launch rods, there was some wind. After a few of the first round landed in the trees, rod angles were set into the wind. My GYROC clone was first with an Estes A8-3 to about 225'. There was a tight spiral during boost, I thought ...
[Read More]

The BIG FIX, Dr. Zooch Saturn V Fairing, Part 1
Two years back I launched my Dr. Zooch Saturn V at the schoolyard with a B6-4. There was some coning during boost and it veered to the East. When I picked it up a fin and fairing were gone. It may have come loose during boost. I didn't find the fin assembly and sat the rocket aside for a while. I ...
[Read More]

New Estes Bring-Back?
From the NAR Facebook page, a post from John Boren of Estes - " Just came back from flying more test models for Estes. One is a bring back and has just two colors to it's finish. The other is a New SciFi Model that is completely different from anything else Estes has ever done before. I've already ...
[Read More]

The BIG FIX, Dr. Zooch Saturn V Fairing, Part 2
After the fairing is cut out it needs some coaxing to get it to a more conical shape. The tip should be a tighter cone shape. I formed it around a 1/4" dowel. The sides will want to bow out so the dowel was rolled over to make the outside edge straighter. From the rear you can set and shape the ...
[Read More]

Spotted while waiting for the Falcon Heavy launch...
If this is real, it would be awesome... In a desperate move to show that @NASA_SLS can lift big expensive things into outer space @NASA has now offered to fly a @Tesla semi into space. Awaiting response from @ElonMusk and @SpaceX pic.twitter.com/cX7ZUX3yIC — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) December ...
[Read More]

Building the [scratch] Mega Sprite (part 1)
There was a rocket club meeting last night, and we brought Sprite-like objects. There was one nice mostly-assembled 3D Rocketry Circulus 3. There was one nice scratch BT-60 upscale. There were two Semroc clones, mine and a nice one. The other builder hadn’t primed and sanded before putting ...
[Read More]

Falcon Heavy launch video
The real action starts about 21:30 in.
[Read More]

Appropriate Red & Rover Strip
On YORF, Bernard Cawley found this comic strip: Boy, that about sizes up how we felt launching BT-20 and BT-50 models in 1969! Caught up in the excitement of the Space Race - We thought (in a small way) we were doing our part! Red's launcher looks like an older MRI pad.
[Read More]

What did the Falcon Heavy launch sound like?
Put on your headphones on. Sit back and take in the sounds(BINAURAL AUDIO IMMERSION) of being at the Cape brought to you by the excellent work of Destin at Smarter Every Day Click HERE for the extended version
[Read More]

New Estes Bring-Back
Here's my guess for what the Estes bring-back kit could be - The MAXI ICARUS This is just a guess, I have no inside information. The original kit run was from 1980 - 1984. For the catalog page - CLICK HERE  Online hints have said it has only two colors (including decal) and not a scale model, ...
[Read More]

More cars in spaaaaaace!
http://70sscifiart.tumblr.com/post/170604355400/thebristolboard-thebristolboard-soft-landing
[Read More]

Estes Specials - What Happened?
I went to the Estes website to buy two 1/100th Saturn V capsules. I was also going to purchase one of the Specials - the one with five rockets, two boosters, a launcher and controller. This was going to be a gift for three brothers who live close by. They've shown an interest in rocketry, this ...
[Read More]

N.E.F.A.R. Launch, Bunnell, FL, February 10, 2018
I was told the temperature was going to reach the high 80s today, there was low humidity so it was bearable. I'm not complaining - a few years back the February launch it snowed! There was a good wind so I taped some chutes so they couldn't open all the way. Here's my new "first up, test rocket", ...
[Read More]

Building the [scratch] Mega Sprite (part 2)
I did go and get a piece of 1/64″ plywood and I added it as an outside layer on the ring fin. More on that later. The ring fin is about 7 5/8″, maybe 7 11/16″, inside diameter. Let’s call it the latter, 7.688″. BT-80 outside diameter is 2.600″, so the fin height ...
[Read More]

Building the [scratch] Mega Sprite (part 3)
Here’s the body tube with cardboard mock fins taped on, and the ring fin around that. Fin size looks pretty near perfect. Could stand to cut them a bit more generous I guess. I trimmed the plywood to size, having initially cut it about a half inch wide before gluing it on. One end isn’t ...
[Read More]

Rocket Stash Surprises
There are times when the wind is cold and the rain is falling when a trip to the ol' rocket stash is in order. This trip was really to start planning on my next project, which I did (Sirius Rocketry Eradicator), but I also found something I had forgotten about. Under tons of kits, I found this: ...
[Read More]

Fives
The NAR is talking about having local clubs across the country do well-publicized launches, particularly of Saturn V models, on July 20, 2019 — the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing. We discussed it at our club and we’ll probably do it, especially since the third Saturday is a ...
[Read More]

THAT'S JUST WRONG!!! Misleading You Tube Videos, Part 1
WRONG!!! I use YouTube videos quite often. I've learned how to patch drywall, replace a faucet and even strum a Ukulele. I have to give credit to anyone who takes the time to film, edit and post a good video. Problem is, everybody has a phone or camera that shoots video. Too many instructional ...
[Read More]

THAT'S JUST WRONG!!! Misleading You Tube Videos, Part 2
Here's more WRONG video information: Please learn the correct names of model rocket parts! It’s a body tube, not a “pipe” or a cylinder. A fin is not a wing! Wings produce aerodynamic lift. Fins provide no lift but create stability. The launch lug is not a “straw” or a “pipe thing”. ...
[Read More]

Remember This? Science Program
Before I spotted an Estes catalog over the shoulder of a seventh grade classmate, I built plastic models. I was fascinated by the Space Race. Before that first model rocket order I was a member of the "Science Program". For 10 cents you would get a plastic model, (sort of a moon landing diorama) a ...
[Read More]

Advanced Falcon Heavy Model
Can’t wait to see the results of this build The most advanced scale rocket on earth. 
[Read More]

Crappy Order!
Well, we've all been there . . . I ordered some tubes and parts. Most all were good - check out the ends of these two - There was no damage to the box, some things had no padding and were allowed to rattle around inside. Here's where I have a problem. I guess I don't have to wait for ejection ...
[Read More]

Virgin Galactic has a new website
Things have been quiet with Virgin Galactic except for a few glide test. Today in hope of seeing more milestones in the future they launch their new website. Click image below to visit. Advertisements
[Read More]

Not My Week For Rocket Orders!
So - I ordered 75 sheets of decal paper from decalpaper.com. I've got the new F-104 Starfighter kit coming out and was running low. Today the package arrived. I was glad they put it in a box, they've sent it in an envelope before and the postman would fold it to fit in my mailbox. Everything's ...
[Read More]

Building the [scratch] Mega Sprite (part 4)
I bought a piece of balsa. It came from Michael’s and I’m not terribly impressed with it; it’s rather warped. Still, it’s only going to be a thin skin on a thicker, flatter piece, so I think it’ll be all right by the time I’m done. I’m doing the fins like ...
[Read More]

Building the [scratch] Mega Sprite (part 5)
I’m reasonably happy with the ring fin. There were some little gaps along the edges between layers but some yellow glue seems to have filled those pretty well. Now the flat fins. Normally when I paper fins, I cut out the fin, round the leading edge, then wrap a single piece of paper over ...
[Read More]

Space X Tube Wrap?
Brian McCormack posted this picture on the Facebook Model Rocket Fanatics page: "Got my SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket kit today. Not to thrilled with the lumpy body tube wrap but it’s better than trying to paint it!"   Geez! That's crap! When the kit first came ...
[Read More]

Odds and Ends
Ever so often my friend George Sprague will send a photo to me to hopefully spark a blog post. Well, he's been up to it again, so let's take a look, shall we? First, we have the Monogram Missile Arsenal...because every kid needs to be able to launch ICBM's. This kit (or kits, I guess) really shows ...
[Read More]

Building the [scratch] Mega Sprite (part 6)
The fin centers aren’t papered (I guess that’s kinda obvious) so were done a bit more conventionally. The one unusual thing was that I cut the interior weight reducing holes by hand, that is, without a straightedge. There’s nothing critical about their size or appearance, so why ...
[Read More]

Building the [scratch] Mega Sprite (part 7)
Perhaps you noticed my blunder before I did. By treating the tip edges of the fins with CA, I ended up with non porous surfaces where the tip pieces are supposed to be glued on. Oops. I also discovered a bubble on one of the fin papers which I’ll have to address somehow. Later. For…
[Read More]

SpaceX Paz Launch Info
Launch Time: Wednesday, February 21 at 06:17 a.m. PST (Backup -February 22 at 6:17 a.m. PST) Launch Location: Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Air Force Base Payload: Hisdesat’s PAZ satellite Landing: No – SpaceX will not attempt to recover … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Quest Q-Jet Composite Engines (Almost) Available!
On the NAR Facebook page Roy Green posted: "Quest Q-Jets (Composite A and B) are now up on their website. Certified by TRA. Priced about 20% more than comparable Estes motor . . ."  For now - If you try to add the new engines to your shopping cart you get a "Product Unavailable" mess ...
[Read More]

Old Enerjet Engine
  I only have two original Enerjet engines, both are E24-7s meant for my Enerjet Nike Smoke. This one has a hand written number on it, "477". You'd think that might mean April of 1977, but the Enerjet product line only lasted a few years.  To see the 1972 Enerjet catalog: ...
[Read More]

New Odd'l Rockets F-104 Starfighter Kits at NARCON!
The Odd'l Rockets  F-104 Starfighter  kit made its debut at NARCON! Here's the first nine kits at the JonRocket booth at NARCON. Roger and Bracha Smith (JonRocket.com) posted this picture on the NAR Facebook page. They are also listed now on the Sirius Rocketry website:  CLICK HERE ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets F-104 Starfighter Kits On Sale at NARCON!
The Odd'l Rockets F-104 Starfighter kit made its debut at NARCON! Here's the first nine kits at the JonRocket booth. Roger and Bracha Smith (JonRocket.com) posted this picture on the NAR Facebook page. They are also listed now on the Sirius Rocketry website: CLICK HERE More kits will go to ...
[Read More]

Semroc Mini Optima Build, Part 1, Parts
It's too bad Semroc is discontinuing the "Mini" line of kits. Carl McLawhorn (Semroc founder) called these his "Ready To Build" series. There are some very clever features on these models.   Parts of very high quality. The only thing missing in this Mini kit are the sparkly orange ...
[Read More]

Der Red Mashup
A few years ago I got a custom decal sheet from Excelsior Rocketry to convert a standard Big Daddy into something a bit more...European... Yes, Gordon, master of the Gooney, came up with Der Grosser Vati! Here for your enjoyment are some pictures! Yep, now the Big Daddy is a next generation Red ...
[Read More]

Building the [scratch] Mega Sprite (part 8)
I trimmed the tabs on the fins, and then trimmed the fins themselves. The former I did with a hobby knife. The latter, due to the CA I’d put on the tip edges, I shaved off with a band saw. Might still need a bit of sanding but it’s close. And I think the new…
[Read More]

New Rocket Room Picture
I have one room in my home for rockets and rocket supplies. All of the Odd'l Rockets parts are stored there. The walls have been bare since the room was remodeled two years ago. I found and bought an original Estes ad on Ebay. This is the same ad I saw in 1969. I sent for the catalog after paging ...
[Read More]

Spaceport Somewhere 
  Press Release: Last Frontier Rocket Launches with Blue-Collar and Hi-Tech Pioneers Spaceport Somewhere is the compelling portrait of three employees at a rocket-launching complex on the remote island of Kodiak, Alaska. February 26, 2018, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Released online this week, ...
[Read More]

Back to NARCON...
This past weekend I was in Houston for the National Association of Rocketry's annual convention, NARCON. It's a two day affair, filled with talks, vendor exhibits, and over a hundred rocket geeks - the perfect venue for an old geezer rocketeer like me to hang out and take in this sport we call ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Hispasat 30W-6 Launch Info
  Launch Time: 6th March, 12:33 am EST // 6th March, 05:33 UTC Launch Location: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral, Florida Payload: Hispasat 30W-6 Landing: Yes (Of Course I Still Love You) – Heavy payload to GTO will make it one of the hardest … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Keeping It Together
A while back I decided to upgrade the motor retention on my upscaled Star Trek Starter Set rocket. My original setup was a couple of machine bolts that held a braided steel wire across the motor at two points. The idea was that it would be able to handle all three size motors included with the ...
[Read More]

Get Your Quest Q-Jets!
You can now order Quest Q-Jets from the Quest website: CLICK HERE But - " We expect the Q-Jet motor pre-orders to begin shipping in April 2018." I'm tempted, but I'll wait for the 18mm C and D engines.
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Orlando R.O.C.K., March 3, 2018
How's this for a recovery crew? Some of our younger club members are walking their rockets back to the launch site. Three of the boys came dressed in NASA flight suits! Note the streamers on their rockets. Wind gusts were were sometimes above 20 mph. I wimp out in high winds and downgraded power, ...
[Read More]

FREE Scale Modeling Book PDF
On the NAR Facebook page, Peter Alway just announced: "My 1994 book on scale modeling, "The Art of Scale Model Rocketry" is now available as a free .pdf download from the NAR. Just click on the title on the "Free Samples" list." It's on the NAR "Products" page.  To download the book, CLICK ...
[Read More]

Holtville, 2/2018 launch
Howdy, ya'll.  I've been absent from this blog for awhile.  This was not my intent and I hope I'm back for some time to come. I attended the February launch at Holtville and here are my photo selects .  I'm quite sure that Mark Treseder shot some of those. Teamwork! I flew only my ...
[Read More]

Whacked Corporal for Sale on Ebay!
  What the hell is this? To see the listing, CLICK HERE That 'ain't no Semroc Wac Corporal.   Scrolling down . . . That girl is sure excited about her new rocket kit! Nah, there has got to be new shoes in those shopping bags for her to strike that pose. The fine print ...
[Read More]

Nose Cone Shoulder Marking TIP
Jim Lytle joined us for the March 3, R.O.C.K. launch. He had a table setup and was selling some of his well-built models. I picked up the MPC USS Reliant and noticed some markings on the nose cone shoulder. What a great idea! Jim writes the recommended engines on the nose cone shoulder with a ...
[Read More]

New Way Firecat 4 Build, Background
The Estes Firecat was available from 1982 - 1984. This design shouldn't be confused with an earlier "Firecat" design, offered only to members of the Estes Aerospace Club. The big features were the up swept fins and bulbous nose cone. Strange - this rocket was 15" long and used streamer recovery. ...
[Read More]

New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 1, Parts
I've built a New Way A-20 Demon before. It's a great kit and a change from the ordinary. This kit has that bulbous nose cone. What makes it fun is how it is built up. A balsa pyramid on top, four side pieces make up the bottom. Even the launch lug is square! The engine mount centering "squares" ...
[Read More]

New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 2, More Parts
New Way kits include sandpaper and an emery board for fin shaping, a nice touch. Long and short Q-tip style swabs are used to apply glue inside the body tube for the engine mount.  The black print decals were sealed in a plastic bag. The parachute package included Kevlar, a round shock cord, ...
[Read More]

More Quest 18mm Composite Engine Information
Bob Jablonski (Starlight Model Rockets and Countyline Hobbies) posted these on Facebook - thrust curves for upcoming Quest composite 18mm engines. The upper picture is the thrust curve from a C14-5 engine. The second curve is a D16-7. These were originally posted by Gary Rosenfield of Aerotech on ...
[Read More]

Estes C11 and E9 Engines Discontinued?
On Y.O.R.F. a question was raised about the availabilty of the Estes C11 and E9 engines. Bob Sanford answered: "Yes, the C11 and E9 motor series are being/have been discontinued. For that reason I have purchased a bunch of C11-3 motor packs. Get'em while you still can.  " There has been ...
[Read More]

SpaceX releases “Falcon Heavy and Starman” short video
Advertisements
[Read More]

Launch! Schoolyard, March 10, 2018
I should be driving to the NEFAR launch in Bunnell, FL - The club launch was cancelled, there is some maintenance work being done on the field. So, swap out some engines to lower power and head over to the soccer fields. It was cold, probably the last cold week in a warmer than normal Florida ...
[Read More]

More Power!!!
There was a post this past week on the NAR Facebook page about the real "need" for D12 motors. Many people sprang to their defense, and quite a few pointed out that for fire and smoke, they're great! At least one person then pointed out that for maximum effect, clustering is the way to go! ...
[Read More]

Decals? Who Needs Decals?
Not Stanton Ewert! Check out the hand lettering on his Estes Teros clone posted on the Model Rocketry Fanatics Facebook page - Those aren't decals! A small bottle of paint, a sharp brush and a very steady hand.
[Read More]

New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 3, Engine Mount
This is the finished engine mount. It's layout is standard except for the "centering squares" and the thick engine hook retaining ring. Some 150 lb. Kevlar is tied under the upper centering square. One thing to keep in mind, the flat sides of the centering squares must be in line with each other. ...
[Read More]

New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 4, Nose Cone Taper Base
The nose cone base taper was different. You'd think the designer would simply flip over a pyramid shaped nose one. The nose cone lower half is hollow, made up of four side pieces. Here's the first two sides glued together, like two jigsaw puzzle pieces.  You could use CA glue to tack the four ...
[Read More]

New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 6, Fitting The NC Base
Here's a dry fit of the nose block, short tube and main tube. Do a dry fit can sometimes give you a better gluing order. The instructions have you glue the square base directly into the nose cone base. I slid the short tube over the nose block dry, then glued the bottom NC assembly onto the block. ...
[Read More]

New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 5, Fitting The N.C. Shoulder
Here's the before and after fitting the built-up base to the solid nose cone. On the left is before the top of the pieced base was sanded. The right side picture is after the top of the base was sanded flat. You'll want the best fit of all the parts so there will be less to fill later on. There is ...
[Read More]

Estes Assets and Liabilites
So you want to buy Estes? AstronWolf posted this on YORF - "Here's a schedule of all Estes' assests and liabilities. Want to know what kit names Estes had retained trademark rights for? Read this:"  CLICK HERE Go to page 33 to see the kit and product names that Estes owns. Not as many kit ...
[Read More]

A few new paper models from Glen P. Doggett
I have posted a few new great templates in the Ultimate Paper Rocket Guide from Glen P. Doggett. Glen known as GlenP over at TRF and is at NAR Club #627 BEMRC. These would make great additions to your paper flyers. … Continue reading →
[Read More]

New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 7, Gluing Up the Nose Cone
I tried the nose cone base on all four sides to find the best fit. The pencil line was a reference when the top and bottom were glued together. The body tube corners are slightly rounded. After the nose cone base was glued on, the corners of the NC were rounded to match the tube. The screw eye is ...
[Read More]

Back On Track....
This morning I finally got back to building model rockets after having spent the past month diverting my attention toward a campaign of de-cluttering and re-organizing the basement.  This project also encompassed the wood shop and, of course, the model rocketry operations ...
[Read More]

Hobbico Bankrupcy Comments From John Boren
Lots of conjecture on the forums about the future of Estes and the Hobbico bankruptcy. Some of this below relates to how many trademarks names Estes owns. Here's an exchange from YORF: LeeR "I thought the list of trademarked kit names was surprising small. Lots of kits not listed. About the only ...
[Read More]

Holtville Havoc II - March 3-5, 2018
Holtville Havoc II was supposed to see reasonable conditions on Friday, terrible conditions on Saturday, and brilliant conditions on Sunday.  I can attest that Friday amazed, Saturday was flyable until about noon, and I wasn't there on Sunday.  Here's a group photo and the rest of my ...
[Read More]

Things Are Getting Sirius....
A couple of weeks ago, on a whim, I posted on the NAR Facebook page that I had decided to finally build my Sirius Eradicator that I won a couple of years back at the DARS Classic. Funny thing about putting things on Facebook like that...it kind of makes you have to follow through. So, since I was ...
[Read More]

New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 8, Shroud Line Barbell Labels TIP
The shroud line attachment strips are new and different. Tim at Apogee once called them "Nasal Strips". While they do look like the Breathe Right Strips, they are actually   Jewelry Square Barbell Labels  made from Tyvek. If you've ever shopped for jewelry, you've seen these wrapped ...
[Read More]

Decals and wraps in Open Rocket
Centuri Payloader from 1962 catalog (Click to enlarge). HARA has received an email from Levi's (the clothing company) looking to do a late 1950's/early 1960's period photo shoot involving model rocketry in Huntsville. So yesterday, I started inventorying my retro ...
[Read More]

New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 9, Shroud Line Tying TIP
On the back of the small "Recovery Kit" envelope face card there is instructions for a shroud line knot. I tried the knot but it didn't work for me. This knot will slide up and cinch up around the middle of the Tyvek attachment strip. I went back to my usual Square Knot tie. TIP : Shroud line ties ...
[Read More]

New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 10, Engine Mount and Fin Grain Fill
The engine mount is glued in with 1/8" of the engine mount tube extending out the back. The engine hook ends up being centered in a corner of the main air frame tube between the fin locations. The tube seams were sanded with 200 grit followed by 400 grit. This tube had an overlap seam so no CWF ...
[Read More]

Lucerne, March 2018 was a washout
I was excited to finally fly an Aerotech 98mm, 2-grain, L2500 Super Thunder  with stainless steel forward closure at Lucerne.  It was raining lightly in North County SD as I left to drive up that way.  It continued to rain, on and off, over the drive until I got through Apple ...
[Read More]

A little retro Tuesday
Circa 1959… Those were the days. Imagine the excitement as a kid in the chance of winning a life size Space Ship! Yes this life size training mockup simulator could be yours. All you have to do is name the … Continue reading →
[Read More]

New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 11, Primer Filler Mask and Launch Lug
The thru-the-wall fin tabs and a bit of the side wall of the fin got masked for the shot of filler/primer. I wanted the fillet area to be clear of the filler/primer for a better glue bond. The square launch lug is glued to the standoff. The standoff root edge is also thru-the-wall. The slot was a ...
[Read More]

Clay Weight Consumers - Beware!
I ran out of clay weight when bagging up the Odd'l Rockets Little Green Man and Pigasus kits. So, off to the Dollar Store I go. No luck at the Dollar Store, no luck at Staples. I went to Michael's with a 50% off coupon pulled up  my smart phone. $8.00 for modeling clay? The 50% off ...
[Read More]

Quest Q-Jet 3D Rendering
On the NAR Facebook page, Jim Parsons showed his 3D image of the new Quest Q-Jet motors: Well, it looks like someone (Gary C Rosenfield) blabbed... "3D renderings by Jim Parsons of the new Quest Q-Jets for the motor instruction sheet. Despite the way it looks, getting the initiator placed at the ...
[Read More]

New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 12, Masking The Fins
As suggested in the instructions - One side of fins 1 and 3 are red, one side of fins 2 and 4 are black. It sounds simple but it's not an easy mask. Trying to get a straight line around the edges of the fin is tough. I went the easy route, alternating red, white, black and white fins. It'll still ...
[Read More]

John Thompson's F-104
An email from John -  I just finished the build and loved it! Thanks John - Looks great! Glad the build went well for you -  It's a great flier, too!
[Read More]

Fragile Payload
This is one reason I haven't posted lately. Little N00b arrives in two weeks. This is one of several 3D ultrasound images. Amazing. I was amazed to see recognizable features this early - this was nearly two months ago, and he already looks like one of the family in this photo. Follow me on Twitter ...
[Read More]

Model Rocket Launch BINGO!
I put this together after seeing a "Soundman's Bingo Card" on Facebook. This might be just the thing to keep the wife and kids busy when they are dragged to a club launch. When you see or hear one of these phrases, mark it off. First with five in a row is the winner! If you'd like the PDF to print ...
[Read More]

Same thing, every year...
I thoroughly enjoy being a TARC mentor; working with the teams is great, and I am thrilled to be part of the whole experience that is Team America Rocketry Challenge. However, mixed in with the enormous amount of good, there is always a little bad - small annoying things that crop up every year, ...
[Read More]

New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 13, Nose Cone Mask
Here's how the fins came out. So far, so good! Masking the nose cone stripe was different. Scotch tape, brown masking tape and copy paper. When you pull the edge tape, lift it a little down and away from the mask line. I used the Rusto Black Metallic paint. It doesn't always give a clean mask ...
[Read More]

Estes Mini A Heli now Available!
The new Estes Mini "A" Heli is available on the Estes Website: CLICK HERE This picture shows a closeup of the rotor blades in the open position. They are activated with a burn string.
[Read More]

A Letter From Wes Oleszewski (Dr. Zooch)
Comment posted from Frank Claunch: Frank Claunch March 24, 2018 at 5:08 PM Did know if you have seen this yet From ‎Wes Oleszewski‎ to National Association of Rocketry To all of my friends and customers in the model rocket world... during 2018 Dr. Zooch Rockets will cease operations after ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! N.E.F.A.R., Bunnell, FL, March 24, 2018
WOW! What great weather. This was a re-schedule for the postponed March 10 launch. Not many fliers today, probably one third of the normal crowd. They missed out on the best weather of the year. Clear skies and very little wind. My first launch of the Estes CURVILINEAR was with a Chinese made ...
[Read More]

Busy Weekend In The BlastFromThePast Rocket Laboratory
Greetings, Blog Followers This past weekend I finally was given a substantial block of time to get into the shop and actually work on some rocketry projects. First item on the agenda was to drive up to Lone Tree from Castle Rock to stop in at the Hobby Town store.  There I finally picked a ...
[Read More]

The Return of the Tomahawk
The year was....uh....a while back. The place was McGregor, Texas. The event was Sport Scale. The rocket was the Estes D Region Tomahawk...slightly modified. The button was pushed and she screamed into the air for a beautiful E powered flight! ...until she arched over, blew her nose cone, and ...
[Read More]

New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 14, Decals - Uh Oh!
Everything was great - until the decals! TIP : Always test the soak time and apply a decal (you probably won't use) on the model surface before using the "real" decals. I tried a test soak and application using the NewWay logo on the decal sheet. It seemed thin but went on okay. The logo decal was ...
[Read More]

Hobbico Bids
Dan Bates posted a link on the Facebook Model Rocketry Fanatics page: Horizon Hobby agrees to make $18.8M bid for Hobbico units " The purchase won't include Estes, United Model, Revell US or Revell Germany." To see the entire news article: CLICK HERE 
[Read More]

You'd Think An Ebay Seller Would Know Better By Now . . .
I recently bought a Quest Striker AGM kit on Ebay. This model has been a favorite and I wanted to build it better this time. Take a look at the padded shipping bag, we've been down this road before. I knew there was going to be damage even before it was opened up. Before the kit was opened I ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Iridium 5 Launch Info
Launch Time: Friday, March 30 7:13 a.m. PDT or 14:13 UTC (instantaneous launch opportunity ) Launch Location: Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California Payload: The payloads for this launch are the fifth set of 10 Iridium® … Continue reading →
[Read More]

I think it’s time to paint the Optima 38
My First HPR Optima is a 29mm, and the paint job sort of evolved accidentally.   It’s getting up in age, and while I’m not going to retire it, it does deserve some rest. The 38mm Optima is the logical successor.  It’s done well on 38/120s for nice easy flights. ...
[Read More]

New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 15, Shock Cord Ties
To be sure the Kevlar didn't extend beyond the body tube lip - It was pulled tight against the top of the body tube and the Kevlar marked with a Sharpie. This was fed out the rear, through the engine mount. A loop knot was tied with the Sharpie mark below the loop. The round elastic was attached ...
[Read More]

Gregory Eberly's Monarch
From the Facebook Model Rocketry Fanatics page - Gregory Eberly posted a picture of a recently finished Estes Monarch. Greg is a great builder, the finish looks very smooth with a good gloss. What stood out on this one is the chrome trim strips. I would assume this is chrome Monokote Trim. It is ...
[Read More]

Estes Sold!
On the Rocketry Forum, Samb posted: "Estes Industries, LLC wins the auction for the Estes-Cox Lot. When the court approves the sale on Monday, April 2nd it's a done deal."  To see the contract: CLICK HERE From the contract: Interesting to note the price was bumped up from 6 Million to 7 ...
[Read More]

Odd'l On My Facebook Page!
Look what showed up on my Facebook page! I was on the Apogee website yesterday to check the kit availability. When I see it is low I make up more kits or make out a parts order. It's great to see Apogee is promoting the Odd'l Fighter Fleet!
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets Now At eRockets.biz!
The entire Odd'l Rockets product line is now available from eRockets.biz! To see the kit and accessories lineup: CLICK HERE Semroc will also be producing some MicroMaxx kits - The Blue Bird Zero is first up, soon to be followed by the MMX Fat Boy, Goblin and Hawk. The specs are interesting - but I ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets Products Now Available from eRockets.biz!
The entire Odd'l Rockets product line is now available from eRockets.biz! To see the kit and accessories lineup:  CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Turbulence in the rocket world...
This month has seen a few significant rocket-related disturbances in the Force:   Dr. Zooch rockets is going out of business - Dr. Zooch has for many years produced a line of ant-scale kits of various historical rockets (and a few of his own designs). They are what we call "builder's ...
[Read More]

E9 demise
There’s been news recently about Estes, like that a new owner will be buying it from bankrupt Hobbico, but also that they’re discontinuing the C11 and E9 motors. Well hm. I’ve seen some comments like this: “the E9 was noted for its unpredictability – you never knew ...
[Read More]

New Way Firecat 4, Finished
This was fun, except for that minor glitch with the decals! These are very sturdy models, a bit heavier than a comparable sized rocket. The square tubes are thick! I was surprised how well it performed at the schoolyard field with a B6-4. If you haven't tried a New Way kit, you are missing out!
[Read More]

What Knot Is It?
In an earlier post I showed the knot tying diagrams from the New Way Firecat 4 kit. I was a Boy Scout and tied my share of knots but that was years ago. I do remember the simple ones.   Some comments were trying to identify the shroud line attachment knot shown.   ...
[Read More]

Estes Saros, K-54 Build, Fin Can Build, Part 1, Parts
Here's the parts I put together for the fin can assembly: From the bottom left going clockwise -  The cardstock nozzle (pattern shown below) 1 3/8" long BT-50 segment 1" 50 sized coupler Two 20/50 centering rings 20 sized engine block BT-20 engine tube, 2 1/4" long. The engine hook was not ...
[Read More]

Estes Saros, K-54 Build, Background
The Estes Saros kit was available from 1971 - 1978. It was the first two kits to include a plastic integral fin unit / engine mount, "Providing immediate and positive location of the thrust rings." The other kit using plastic was the new Sandhawk. On the Saros - The plastic fin unit, adapter and ...
[Read More]

SpaceX CRS-14 Dragon Resupply Mission Launch Info
Launch Time: April 2nd at 4:30 p.m. EDT, or 20:30 UTC (backup:Tuesday, April 3 at 4:08 p.m. EDT, or 20:08 UTC) Launch Location: Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida Payload: Dragon will be filled with … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Reborn A Goblin...Part One
Sometimes when I'm working on one project, another project will suddenly pop into my muddled brain and demand to be built. Such was the case when I was working on my Sirius Eradicator and I noticed this: A little backstory is in order, I suppose... You see, years ago I was at a DARS auction and I ...
[Read More]

Estes Saros, K-54 Build, Fin Can Build, Part 2, "Nested" Nozzle
The original kit had a plastic fin can. The rocket recovers low end down and would land on the plastic nozzle first. This clone will use a doubled, cardstock nozzle. Properly made it should be plenty strong on a hard landing. I explained this 'Super Shroud" technique in an article published in the ...
[Read More]

Estes Saros, K-54 Build, Fin Can Build, Part 3, Fin Can Centering Rings
Here's something I picked up from the Dr. Zooch Space Shuttle kit instructions. The back end of the mount, right above the nozzle is a tapered angle ring. The lower centering ring was sanded at a 45 degree angle. This taper will extend off the back of the fin can tubing. Before I glued it all ...
[Read More]

Model Rocket Build Progress Over Easter Weekend.
This weekend, I had a series of short blocks of time to get into the shop and make progress on some model rocketry projects. Also, the wind conditions in the back yard were such that I was finally able to get out and perform a small amount of spray painting.   The first project was ...
[Read More]

Estes Saros, K-54 Build, Fin Can Build, Part 4, Engine Mount Assembly
Glue was applied to both rings and the outside BT-50 tube slid in place. After the tube is placed, wipe off the excess glue. A glue fillet is placed around the base of the lower tapered ring. The nozzle shroud is slid up from the bottom and into the glue. Wipe off any excess glue with a Q-tip ...
[Read More]

MPC Lunar Patrol: Part 13 - An Engine Hook Retro-Fit.
The build of this version of the Lunar Patrol was originally intended to employ friction fitting of the engine for flight. Since the model is not an exact replica of the original kit, I had mulled over a way to attach a standard engine hook, but it would have to be external to the body tube with ...
[Read More]

Estes Saros, K-54 Build, Fin Can Build, Part 7, Adapter Fill and Fix TIP
I've never seen a balsa piece so dinged up before. Along with all the tube dents, the shoulders weren't well defined. This will take some extra work. CWF was brushed on the lower half over the shoulder. I didn't paint the upper half so I could hold onto it with my fingers. The excess was wiped off ...
[Read More]

Estes Saros, K-54 Build, Fin Can Build, Part 6, Lugs and Fin Plate
The instructions say to cut two 1/8" diameter launch lugs to 1/4" long. That strikes me as pretty short. Any twisting when you slid the rocket down the rod and a lug could tear off. I decided to go a bit longer at 3/8". I buy launch lugs from Balsa Machining Service. They seem stiffer than the ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part #10: Launching Model Rockets From A Broom Closet!
    This post is an account of a demonstration launch that occurred back in the summer of 1976 in Limon, Colorado.   I had posted this same story on a previous version of this blog which I took down back in 2016. All of those posts became lost in the internet abyss, and I ...
[Read More]

Estes Saros, K-54 Build, Fin Can Build, Part 8, Nose Cone Fill and Define
The nose cone shoulder wasn't very sharp either. I did the same treatment the adapter got. CWF, slid into the tube and turn. This is a very different nose cone shape. How can you define the inside angle on the lower end of the cone? Do the best you can with sanding block. On the right, the ridge ...
[Read More]

Estes Saros, K-54 Build, Fin Can Build, Part 7, Fin Shaping
I went with 3/32" basswood for the fins. To make a fin template the instruction drawings were dropped into Corel draw and the body tube enlarged to almost 1" wide, the diameter of a BT-50 tube. The outside edge got a wipe of CA glue to seal it. The sealed edge got a quick hit with a Sharpie. The ...
[Read More]

VSS Unity First Rocket Powered Flight
VSS Unity First Rocket Powered Flight Documentary about flight: Advertisements
[Read More]

Some Old Photos From the Archive
Just came across some old pictures from Black Rock in 2000. This was one of my first trips out there with my pop, such great memories. Some notable moments were meeting Paul Robinson of Kosdon East (Now Animal Motor Works), witnessing a Kosdon O10,000 boosted dart and watching my first Q motor ...
[Read More]

Estes Saros, K-54 Build, Fin Can Build, Part 9, Ends and Edges
Even thought the fins were basswood, there is still some grain to fill. You don't have to use CWF but filler/primer will smooth any grain lines. This picture shows a fin side after sanding off most of the primer. I marked the fin lines with one directly over the fin tab seam. The assemblies ...
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., April 7, 2018
Today was probably the last cool day before the Summer heat. There were winds gusting above 20 mph. Jim kept an eye on the   anemometer (wind gauge ) and yelled for a "hold" a few times. I've got a new camera after seeing some amazing launch shots taken by Buzz Nau on the NAR Facebook page. ...
[Read More]

The Goblin...An Interlude...
Well, the master plan was thus: build a BT-80 Estes Goblin upscale out of junk parts I had laying about and try to keep the costs down to an absolute minimum. Also, document the process in a two part blog that would finish up today. However, plans often change and a big part of being in this hobby ...
[Read More]

Advancing to the next round...
Well, the dry spell for the Huntsville locale is over - we have a TARC team that is going to the national competition. The Saint John Paul II Longshots will represent their school at the flyoff in The Plains, Virginia on May 12; a win there will garner about 20,000 bucks of prize money and propel ...
[Read More]

Estes Saros, K-54 Build, Fin Can Build, Part 10, Black Mask and Decals
One fin is masked and painted black. Here I'm pressing and sealing the edge of the Scotch tape mask using a Q-tip. The Q-tip does the job and won't scar a wood fin. The original Estes decal sheet had a angled end on the long upper diagonal stripe. I found out this end wasn't needed and actually ...
[Read More]

Total Impulse Newsletter
On Facebook, Randy Gilbert posted a link to the Jackson Model Rocket Club newsletter - TOTAL IMPULSE . To see the current issue: CLICK HERE Hats off to whoever assembles this newsletter. It's a lot of work and a lot of great information! Buzz Nau provided a link to past newsletters: CLICK HERE The ...
[Read More]

Estes Saros, K-54 Build, Fin Can Build, Part 11, Decals and Chrome! TIPS
The fin can wasn't glued in yet. The UNITED STATES vertical decal is centered between two fins. TIP: Sight down the body from the fins forward, place and center the United States decals on opposite sides of the body tube. Turn and glue the fin can 45 degrees after the vertical decals are in place. ...
[Read More]

Estes Saros, K-54 Build, Fin Can Build, Part 12, Fin Plates and Nose Detail
Below the trim piece you can see a thin strip of masking tape. All four sides got a strip of tape for consistent spacing from the bottom of the fin can tube. Place the center area down first , making sure the trim piece is straight. press the center line then work out to the sides . Press into the ...
[Read More]

BAR Fleet #112 Star Seeker
  Estes Industries Kit # 0866 One of three models in the Mini-Tri-Pack Type:   Futuristic / Sci-Fi   Stages: 1 Engine Type : 13mm Recovery: Featherweight / Streamer Length: 188mm (7.4”) Diameter:   13.74mm (.541”) Weight Empty:   7.7g   ...
[Read More]

Estes Saros, K-54 Build, Finished
Another classic crossed off my list. This is a good looking model, I was very happy with how the chrome fin plates turned out. Not an exact copy but close enough for me! Anonymous wrote in a comment: " I built a clone with Semroc parts a few years back and it was none too stable even on A8 ...
[Read More]

OUT OF STOCK! . . . Temporarily

[Read More]

This Goblin Build is a Real Monster!
Well, I promised you that this week we would focus on the Goblin upscale again, and so we shall. However, in the interest of full disclosure, I have to tell you that you will NOT find the ending to it at this time! There is one final step that I can't do until the mailman visits me this week. When ...
[Read More]

New Quest Q-Jet Info?
I knew the first released Quest Q-Jets were going to be an A3 and B4 power. This new chart is on the Quest website. It now shows  C14 and  D16  motors in the 18mm size! Here's the original time-thrust curves posted in February on the Quest website: This shows A3, B4, C8 and D12 ...
[Read More]

Holtville 4-8-2018
I drove out to Sunday of April's launch to witness Cris Erving's L3 attempt.  Saturday was supposed to be horrible so I didn't bother.  Cris certified without a hitch:
[Read More]

LAUNCH! N.E.F.A.R. Monthly, April 14, 2018
From Greg Lukach on the Nefar Facebook page, Friday night: "Ok everyone - important announcement. The launch is still a go. HOWEVER - parking will be very limited. The field is still a bit soft. More importantly, it has been freshly planted and there can be NO parking or driving on the areas that ...
[Read More]

Free rockets of long ago...
This weekend's spring monsoon kept me indoors, which was probably a good thing, as it forced me to pay attention to the models on my workbench. Before the rain hit late Friday, I managed to get a base coat of white on the clone of the Estes cold-power convertible Marauder, a coat of white primer ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Kits on the NAR Facebook Page
Elliot Laramie posted: "I love the Odd'l fighter kits! Wish they had more!" Thanks Elliot! Looks like the Odd'l Fighter Fleet is in great company!
[Read More]

SpaceX TESS Mission Launch Info
Launch Time: April 16th 2018, 06:32 PM – 06:33PM EDT (22:32 – 22:33 UTC) Launch Location: Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida Payload: TESS (see below) Landing: YES – on OCISLY Watch Live: SpaceX, NASA Broadcast NASA’s … ...
[Read More]

A Productive...and Frustrating Weekend
This past weekend was a good one in the BlastFromThePast rocket lab.   I managed to make significant progress on  a build of an Orbital Transport.  I think that this model is hands down my favorite of all Estes kit offerings, past and present. Progress on the model ...
[Read More]

New Rocketry Blog!
Looking for all the latest Rocketry Stuff? Head over to my newly dedicated blog - Atomic Rocketry !
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 11 - A Tracking Scope Revelation
Last night I happened to be perusing through my collection of Model Rocketry Magazine issues , looking for some rocket plans I had recalled seeing. I happened upon the October 1969 issue which contained the results write-up about NARAM-11 held at the U.S. Air Force Academy in August of that same ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 11A
That title kind of rhymes.... After writing yesterday's post, I seemed to recall something about the ROMAR section having those scopes stolen from us. A quick check of my old back issues of the club news letter, The Cosmic Steppingstone , confirmed this. In the March-April, 1974 issue, ...
[Read More]

A Super-Cool Dumpster-Diving Find
Every so often, an unexpected object will drop right out of the blue and into our laps. This happened to me yesterday at my workplace. I was performing the mundane task of hauling some packing boxes out to throw in the trash dumpster. On my way, I noticed some black objects lying ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2018-1 @ NARHAMS
Location: Mt. Airy Weather: 60's, sunny, wind quite variable Total flights: Today - 9; YTD - 9 Total motors: Today - 11; YTD - 11 Motors by class YTD: A-2, B-1, C-3, D-2, E-2, F-1 It was a great day for flying and I was happy to get out after a long winter break. Luckily, I had some low-power ...
[Read More]

"I fell into a Burning Ring of Fire"....
First off, I want to thank Art Applewhite for this cool birthday present. I love saucer-like AND spinny rockets, so this fits me too a tee! The Ring of Fire is Art's latest kit and, as Art states, is the "epitome of Minimalism." Since the beginning, Art has pioneered the use of simple, low tech ...
[Read More]

Some Complaints
I was on the Estes Facebook page and saw these reviews.  I did have to laugh. I t seems s ome people complain just to complain or try to get something for free. Most posts were very positive, these gripes were of the minority -  A complaint about the new format instructions.  They ...
[Read More]

Building the [scratch] Mega Sprite (part 9)
Sorry about how long it’s been since I updated you on this project. Here’s where it’s progressed to: So yeah. Into the trash with it. I did such a sloppy job making and mounting the fins that I decided to go right back to square two. Square one being the ring fin, which is ...
[Read More]

Grey or Gray paint?
Anytime I type the word Gray (or Grey) I never know if I got it right. From the website: http://www.greyorgray.com I found this: When all else fails . . . gr A y is how it's spelled in  A merica  gr E y is how it's spelled in  E ngland What is the difference between grey and ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day #12 - The Space Shuttle Enterprise
I finally located the photographs I had taken of the Space Shuttle Enterprise strapped to the back of a 747. The tandem made a two day stop at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs on May 16-17, 1983.  This was the shuttle's first stop after departing from Edwards Air Force ...
[Read More]

Paint Problems On Plastic Nose Cones? TIP
On the NAR Facebook page, Thomas VanBruggen posted: "I am so frustrated right now… I know I have seen you guys post about the same issue but thought it was always because the clearcoat was a different brand then the paint underneath. Well I’ve learned my lesson, and I’ll never use clearcoat ...
[Read More]

Nesletter Archives
Buzz Nau posted on the N.A.R. Facebook page: "I started this project a few weeks ago and it's finally finished. With help from John Potts, Roger Wilfong, and Mark Chrumka, the entire library of Tminus5 from HUVARS (Huron Valley Rocket Society) and Apogee from MIVARS (Miami Valley Rocket Society) ...
[Read More]

Salvage 1, Vulture
On the Facebook Model Rocketry Fanatics page, Charles Fassel-Reynard De Foch asked: "Has anyone ever tried building and flying this baby?"  Salvage 1 (1979) TV Movie Another reference and link from RocketReveiews.com "Estes created a prototype flying model of the fictional Vulture s ...
[Read More]

Blue Origin Test Mission 8 Info
Launch Time: Launch window opens Sunday, April 29th – 8:30 a.m. CDT Watch Live Stream: https://www.blueorigin.com/ “Mission 8 welcomes our second round of commercial payloads on board New Shepard for in-space science and technology demonstrations. These payloads represent a range of users, ...
[Read More]

Blue Origin Mission 8 Launch Images
Launched to around 351,000 feet (66 miles) – nominal flight and landing of both booster and capsule. Advertisements
[Read More]

The Forgotten Tale of Long Tall Sally
It's amazing what you find when you shuffle your rocket room around. I am in the process of moving most of my stuff from a front bedroom to my new workspace in the a/c cooled garage. The bedroom will become a music room, but I'll leave that for another post. Anyway, I was moving the last of some ...
[Read More]

Annual Blog Letter
About once a year I have to post some ground rules for the blog. As it continues to grow, some things can get out of hand. These suggestions aren't meant to discourage any blog readers. I don't want this blog to turn into a forum. When a builder posts a question on a hobby forum, the original post ...
[Read More]

Sunday morning launch...
The Longshots begin unpacking their equipment for practice (Click to enlarge). The weather was practically perfect this past weekend - not only did I get rockets built (Centuri Stellar Starlifter), primed (Sniple), and painted (Mach 10, Estes KL-3 Marauder), but I ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: 28 April, 2018
    A check of the wind and weather websites revealed that today would be a warm day in Colorado with a minimal-wind launch window between 9:00 a.m. and noon.   It has been well over three months since I have had an opportunity to launch rockets, so I am long overdue for ...
[Read More]

It's Anniversary Day!
Just realized that today marks my 2nd anniversary as a BAR.  Happy birthday to me!
[Read More]

Rocket N00b Update
Little N00b was born on April 5, 2018. He and Mrs. N00b are doing great, happy and healthy. We're home now, and I've managed to secure a little time off work. And though it may sound surprising, as we have a newborn, I am now in the mood to get back to rocketry. Here are some random updates, ...
[Read More]

17.7 seconds!
Joe Barnard over at BPS Space announced that the first batch of these for his test flights will arrive in a week or two. Specifically designed for Thrust Vector Control rockets. Latest flight over at BPS space of a model … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., May 5, 2018
With a good chance of rain in the forecast, we didn't know if the monthly launch would be cancelled. Skies were clear driving to the launch site. Upon arrival the clouds moved in. I grabbed my rockets and an umbrella. There were a few short cloud bursts, winds were between 5 and 10 mph. I started ...
[Read More]

CHAD Post...
Anyone who's been around rocketry for a while knows that CHAD stands for "CHeap And Dirty." The post I had planned for this week fell through, so I thought I'd just share sonething I found while moving my rocket stuff. Here ya go... Yup, it's the certificate for a record my team set way back in ...
[Read More]

NARAM Model Decals
I want to put name decals on my NARAM competition models. The names are going to be very generic, the paint (if any) will be simple. I always liked the font Centuri picked when their catalogs went to the newsprint format. I didn't like a rocket catalog that looked like a newspaper, but the master ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 13 - Ridin' The Rails
Back in 1968, my folks bought a new home in the Rustic Hills area of Colorado Springs. The house was located at a T-intersection opposite a short street that went up the hill about a block and terminated in a cul-de-sac. Beyond the houses and yards on this cul-de-sac was a ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Bangabandhu-1 Launch Info
  Launch Time: May 10th 2018, ~ 4:00 – 6:25pm EDT (20:00 – 22:25 UTC). Launch Location: Space Launch Complex 39-A at Cape Canaveral Florida Payload: Bangabandhu-1 Landing: YES – on OCISLY Noteworthy: 1st launch of Block 5 Falcon and the first … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Neighbor's PVC Rocket Kit
My neighbor Christine has three young boys. In a previous backyard conversation I told them I'm busy with rockets. I promised to take them to a schoolyard launch but that is yet to happen. I saw Christine today, she told me the boys were given a rocket. I asked if I could see it. It is a PVC ...
[Read More]

Glue and Water Weight
In some of my more recent posts, I've done a number of informal experiments testing out various materials. In thinking about what order to present them in, I've decided to start with this one, because it's rather simple, and I may want to refer to it when I write up the others. If you scroll to ...
[Read More]

Accurate
I really need to stop buying kits and build something... Follow me on Twitter . Like my Facebook page for blog updates and extra stuff. Have a question you'd like to see addressed on this blog? Email me at iamtherocketn00b@gmail.com.
[Read More]

A Marvelously Splendid New Adventure
As if I don't have enough model rocket projects in various stages of completion strewn about the BlastFromThePast workshop , I picked this up at Hobby Lobby today... This purchase was inspired by a thread on one of the rocket forums concerning the paint scheme for the Protostar kit.  ...
[Read More]

Quest Q-Jets Are Shipping!
Email from BARGeezer -  Hi Chris,      Got an e-mail today from RCS/Aerotech/Quest that my order of A and B Q-Jets has shipped out. Should be receiving them in 2-3 weeks, as it takes a little longer to reach Hawaii. Can't wait to try them out. Just a head's up for you and your ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Bangabandhu-1 Launch Images
  Advertisements
[Read More]

Odds and ends...
The weather here in Huntsville is heating up as summer approaches; alas, I have not been able to take advantage of the recent favorable conditions by launching rockets, except for three I put up in a school demo. My colleague, Chuck, had arranged with Williams P-8 school to do a rocket le ...
[Read More]

Back On The Rocketry Show Podcast
Tonight, I recorded a nice, casual episode of The Rocketry Show podcast , and it's nice to be back on. We were hoping to talk to someone about the TARC finals results (the top spot was taken by Creekview High School of Canton, GA), but they've been pretty busy all day, and by the end probably ...
[Read More]

Time to start Geezer TARC!
OK Geezers, now that the rules have been released for the 2019 TARC competition, we can start the annual Geezer TARC contest. This year promises to be fun-filled, with 3 eggs, 3 parachutes, and an altitude goal of 856 feet. I'm looking forward to it! So here are the rules for 2019 Geezer TARC ...
[Read More]

Quest Q Jet C14 and D16 Tripoli Certified
Here's the thrust curves for the new Quest C14 and D16 18mm composite Q-Jet motors. They have now been Tripoli tested and certified. Mark Koelsch posted them on TRF:  CLICK HERE   for more information. Rich added: " Looks like the C16 (he meant C14) has a slight Total Ns over the Estes C ...
[Read More]

MPC Lunar Patrol: Part 13 - Booster Rocket Painting Completed
Saturday, May 12th ..... I finally found some time to get paint applied to a few rocket builds, the Lunar Patrol being one of them. The model was masked for a simple two-color scheme of white for the upper body and silver for the fin/glider tube assembly. Next step is the application of d ...
[Read More]

The Return of the Viper!
The Estes Colonial Viper is a classic kit that inspired a classic upscale by Morerockets.com. I built the upscale a while back and shared it on this blog. The Viper was a beautiful bird, and even won "Best in show" at the DARS classic that year (the prize was the Sirius Eradicator, which I also ...
[Read More]

I Have Re-Considered
Howdy Folks! In a previous post I stated that I am not going to do a build series on the SteamPunk Protostar, but I have since changed my mind. "Why, BlastFromThePast?", you might ask. After doing an extensive search of the World Wonderful Wide Web for all things ...
[Read More]

MPC Lunar Patrol, Part 14 - Booster Decals
The home-print MPC decals are now ready to be applied to the Lunar Patrol Booster rocket. I am using a brand of clear decal stock for ink jet printers purchased at HobbyTown.  The decals used for this model are from a scan of an original MPC stock sheet.  A little size tweaking was ...
[Read More]

The Return of the Zonker!
Years ago I took on the rather thankless task of converting a wrapping paper tube into a body tube. I say it was thankless because it took a whole lot of filling and sanding and filling and sanding and filling and....well, you get the idea. When it was done I married it to a plastic fin can that I ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Iridium NEXT 6 Launch Info
Launch Time: May 22nd 2018, 12:47:58 PDT – 3:47:58 EDT (19:47:58 UTC) Launch Location: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California Payload: Iridium NEXT 110 / 147 / 152 / 161 / 162 , GRACE-FO 1 / 2 Landing: No – SpaceX … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Messing Around with Glue - Strength, Flexibility, Et Cetera
After my little experiment to find out the water weight of white and yellow glue - weight which would be lost as the rocket dried - I got curious about some other properties of adhesives used in model rocketry, and wondered if I could test them out. I started thinking about that epoxy - Bob ...
[Read More]

Princeton Rocketry Club’s SpaceShot Launch
This weekend the Princeton Rocketry Club will attempt to reach space with their SpaceShot sounding rocket at Spaceport America in New Mexico. The rocket is a two stage rocket with advanced composite construction. According to their website they intend to … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Glue Bottle Nozzle Switch TIP
These small "Goes On Purple, Dries Clear" Elmer's glue bottles were on sale at a local office supply store. I didn't buy them for the color changing glue. A large bottle of yellow Carpenter's Glue could last me for a few years. The nozzles don't last that long and can be replaced. On the left is ...
[Read More]

New & Exciting things coming soon!
I am happy to announce that new & exciting things are coming soon for Andrew Rocketry Shop model rockets! First off, ARS kits now has improved packaging! It's smaller for your convenience! Also, ARS is now announcing that we'll be releasing a new rocket kit in late June! I'm not going to fully ...
[Read More]

I attend rocket camp...
Campers hard at work on a 3" BMS School Rocket (Click to enlarge). I had the privilege of attending the Hope Christian Academy Rocket Camp this past Friday. Imagine 9 highly motivated kids spending a week devoted totally to rocketry - they covered a great many aspects ...
[Read More]

Balsa Grain Fillers and Added Weight
  Most model rockets you build will have fins made of balsa wood. Because balsa is so porous and has such a loose grain, you have to give the wood some kind of treatment if you want smooth fins. You have to fill or cover the wood grain with something. Anything you put onto a model ...
[Read More]

FlisKits News
From TRF, a post by MALBAR 70 - Another Bit of Bad News for LPR Saturday morning at NSL, Jim Flis announced the closing of Fliskits model rocket company. The closing will take place sometime between the middle of September to sometime in December. Now is the time to grab that Fliskit model you ...
[Read More]

SpaceX SES-12 Launch Info
Launch Time: June 1st -12:29-2:57am EDT (04:29-06:57 UTC) Launch Location: SLC-40 -Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida Payload: SES-12 Landing: No Noteworthy: “Go Pursuit” has left port and will attempt to pursue telemetry and fairings. Booster B1040.2 has had a previous mission( ...
[Read More]

My first Geezer TARC rocket for 2018...
I was suffering from rocket burnout last year at the time of the release of the TARC rules, so I did not get around to building my Geezer TARC rocket until the latter part of Summer. Normally I build two to maximize my chances, but I started so late that I could only complete one before the launch. ...
[Read More]

Nose Cone Weights - Lead! TIP
On YORF, DavidQ made some round, flat nose cone weights from lead fishing sinkers. David was cloning a K-11 Estes Wac corporal. These are his pictures - These are "Bullet Weights" egg shaped sinkers. Lead is soft and malleable. A few hits with a hammer to flatten it out, then some shaping and ...
[Read More]

Sanding Block Pro Tip
A while back, I showed a way to remove self-adhesive sandpaper from an aluminum sanding block , like the Great Planes Easy-Touch Hand Sander*, seen above. Self-adhesive sandpaper, such as the stuff I buy from Klingspoor , has such a powerful adhesive on it that you can't simply peel it back off ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets F-104 Instructions Omission
I got an email from Gary S. asking for a measurement in the F-104 Starfighter instructions. On the first run of the kit instructions were missing a measurement. In Step 20, the back end of the intake nose cone half is glued 5 5/16" from the back end of the main air frame tube. Step 20 is shown ...
[Read More]

First Quest Q-Jets Reports, Part 1
On YORF, Bernard Cawley test fitted the first run of Quest Q-Jets in BT-20 based engine mounts:       "Well, my order of Q-jets from buyrocketmotors.com arrived today (while I was out supporting a launch for a group of homeschoolers).      First impressions: nice ...
[Read More]

First Quest Jets Report, Part 2
The comments continue on the forums. It looks like some have come to the same conclusions I did when this post was written two days ago.  So what happened?   Here's guess on my part. Quest tubes are Metric. MPC tubes (now Quest parts) were 15mm, 20mm, 35mm and so on.  If you are new ...
[Read More]

All Bushy-Eyed and Bright-Tailed!
Hi, Folks. By now you might have noticed that I haven't posted here in over two weeks. Good reason for that. Simply put, I was away from my PC. Approximately 6169 miles away, give or take a few. Mrs. BlastFromThePast and I took a two week vacation to In Cheon, South Korea.  She is from there, ...
[Read More]

Check out Andrew's Rocketry Shop on Facebook!
Check out Andrew's Rocketry Shop on Facebook for news on new kits, and other cool things! https://www.facebook.com/Andrews-Rocketry-Shop-399332467142752/?modal=admin_todo_tour
[Read More]

F-104 Starfighter Kit Measurement Omission
I got an email from Gary S. asking for a measurement in the F-104 Starfighter instructions. On the first run of the kit instructions were missing a measurement. In Step 20, the back end of the intake nose cone half is glued 5 5/16" from the back end of the main air frame tube. Step 20 is shown ...
[Read More]

Daniel The Rocket N00b, Sanding Block Tip
I love my Great Planes Easy Touch sanding block. Problem #1 , Great Planes is owned by Hobbico, recently bankrupt. I hope somebody picks up and produces this sanding block. It is the best available. There are still a few blocks for sale on Ebay. I do recommend picking one up. (I have two in use and ...
[Read More]

Two Bring Backs from Estes
Estes has listed two new kits on their Coming Soon page: CLICK HERE The Black Brant III is a BT-50 based model. The nose cone and tail cone were introduced in this kit and later showed up in the Crossfire ISX. This is the BIG one, the Mean Machine. ". . .  the clever rocket designers ...
[Read More]

Everything I've Posted About Shock Cord Mounts
On TRF, somebody found a listing of all my shock cord mount posts on rocktreviews.com - https://www.rocketreviews.com/shock-cords-2720.html Did you ever get that feeling that maybe rocketry has taken over all your spare time? Could be worse - could be the banjo.
[Read More]

Launch! N.E.F.A.R., Bunnell, FL, June 9, 2018
The heat is on! NEFAR hasn't had a lunch since April. To make ammends, there were no launch fees today. My first up was an Odd'l Rockets LITTLE GREEN MAN with a German Quest B6-4. Textbook launch to about 350'. Winds seemed low at ground level but all my launches had long recovery walks. Of ...
[Read More]

Ebay Listing - More Than I Care To Bid!
To see the original listing: CLICK HERE   and scroll down for all the pictures
[Read More]

Well, It Sure LOOKS Like A Rocket...!
During our recent trip to InCheon, South Korea, my wife and I visited a place called the International Free Economic Zone (IFEZ).   The IFEZ is a concept city of the future that integrates high-tech. businesses, residential areas, shopping malls, recreation areas, and touring.     ...
[Read More]

An Estes "Like!"
Well, I've hit the BIG TIME! All "Likes" on Facebook are appreciated, but yesterday I got a Like from John Boren! So Estes, are you interested? The design is available for (In my best Dr. Evil voice) . . .          "A Million Dollars!"
[Read More]

Shock Cord and Glue TIP
An email TIP from Bruce Levison, "I prefer to use white glue to fasten shock cord mounts into my rockets, that way if they get stuck in a tree they come down after a few rains."  "I also use white glue to fasten engine mounts since this adhesive has less of a tenancy to grab than many ...
[Read More]

BAR Fleet- #114 Astron Alpha
  An Alpha – At Long Last !!     I just happened to have this Estes PNC-50K nose cone rattling around for the past year in my parts box.   Whatever should I build with this component?   Heck, why not an Alpha?   Every model rocketeer should have ...
[Read More]

Away From Home
I'll be taking a short trip to California to help with some family matters. If the internet connections are good or easy to get I should be able to post. If not, posts will resume on Tuesday, June 19!
[Read More]

Magical Weight-Reducing Balsa Filler (???)
I recently wrote about a test of various balsa grain fillers and sealers and the weight they add. The clear winner of that test was the Brodak butyrate dope sanding sealer, which added 0.3 grams of mass to a piece of 3 inch by 3 inch balsa, sealed on both sides. In other words, the sanding ...
[Read More]

Applying Self-Adhesive Decals - or - Sticking Stickers Where You Want them Stuck
Many model rocket kits come with decals to add visual interest to a model - and if it's a scale kit, to add some realism. Decals come in two varieties: waterslide and self-adhesive or self-stick. Many builders, myself included, prefer waterslide decals. You soak them in water for a minute or two, ...
[Read More]

Email from Decalpaper.com
Dear Customer, We are having a close out sale for our laser clear decal paper and other items on our website. Our company is closing so everything must go! Hurry while supplies last! B est  R egards , www.beldecal.com www.discountscreenfilms.com www.discountscreensupplies.com _______ ...
[Read More]

Building the Semroc Sprite (part 6)
Sorry about the radio silence. I’ve been procrastinating a lot on the Mega Sprite and anything else rocketry related, and busy sick out of town and so on. This week I went into last second rush mode, which always works out well, to get ready for tomorrow’s launch. (Oh yes, I do go to ...
[Read More]

Building the [scratch] Mega Sprite (part 10)
Meanwhile, on the Mega side: The Mega Sprite’s paint (pink also) is drying right now. Before painting I stuck motors in both Sprites, shoved a parachute into the Mega Sprite, and checked the centers of gravity. As near as I can tell it’s in the same place on both, relative to the size ...
[Read More]

Building the [scratch] Mega Sprite (part 11)
If I were running a Skin of the Teeth competition with myself, I’d be winning. I sprayed pink paint on the Mega Sprite yesterday afternoon. First thing this morning it was still too tacky to handle. A couple hours later it was still a bit tacky but I felt with care it could be picked…
[Read More]

Launch Report 2018-2 - MDRA ESL-239
Location: Central Sod Farm Weather: mid-80's, wind 0-5, clear Total flights: Today - 5; YTD - 14 Total motors: Today - 6; YTD - 17 Motors by class YTD: A-2, B-1, C-4, D-2, E-5, F-2, I-1 This was a fantastic launch day with great weather and good company.  The little wind we had was in the ...
[Read More]

A good piece of mail...
The Longshots (Click to enlarge) The US Postal Service never ceases to amaze me - I can get a rocket part order from Ohio and Nevada in just 2 days, and sometimes it can take forever for a card to arrive from my sister in Chattanooga. A few days back, I received an ...
[Read More]

MPC Lunar Patrol, Part 16 - Painting The Gliders
I'm getting much closer to finally getting this project wrapped up.  On Friday, June 15, I was able to get the gliders outside to shoot the red and black trim colors. The following photo shows one of the gliders ready for bottom-side black paint.  The entire top surface is masked ...
[Read More]

Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 16, Decal Fix
The decals were printed small and the top wrap didn't go completely around the body tube. A strip of paper was wrapped around the body tube to get the circumference. That length was used to get the decal wrap close to the original length. I hadn't sealed the decals so they were easy to lift. ...
[Read More]

Remodeling RocketReviews.com
RocketReviews.com is currently going through an update to make the pages more responsive and the site easier to use. This latest remodeling effort is the third or fourth time that I have tried to make a major change to the way that the web site looks and acts. All the previous efforts involved ...
[Read More]

Building the NewWay Too Square (part 9)
I’ve spent several months hoping a clever idea would come to me for finishing this rocket, but none has, and I guess it’s clear there’s only one, non clever, way forward. Sand the crazed black paint down, and brush paint. So I’m doing that. A little at a time. I did a first ...
[Read More]

Apogee Vacu-Form Nose Cone Fix
I bought two packages of vacu-form nose cones from Apogee. There are three nose cones in each package for six nose cones in total. I wanted to use these in my NARAM competition models. Five out of the six nose cones wouldn't fit into the shoulders. The lip on the nose cones seemed smaller than ...
[Read More]

Engine Fit?
There has been a lot of Forum talk about the fit of the new Quest Q-Jet composite motors in BT-20 sized tubes. There has been occasional engine fit problems since I can remember. The top picture shows a slip fit of an Estes 18mm engine in a regular BT-20 tube. Here's the same engine in a Quest ...
[Read More]

Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 17, Almost Finished
My California trip threw a wrench in my build and blog post schedule. Here's where the Dragon Ship 7 is right now. That bottom "hook" fin is being sprayed gray. The instructions don't say anything about rivet decals, but they'll be added to matche the other fins. The model will get a overall dull ...
[Read More]

Quest Q-Jet Fit and Comparison, Part 1
On a phone call, I told Bill at BMS about the Q-Jet engine mount fit concerns. Bill sent me a Quest A3-4 Q-Jet engine. This engine was from a bulk package, the bulk pack engines are unmarked black plastic casings and don't have a printed paper wrap. Personally I think these engines should have some ...
[Read More]

MPC Lunar Patrol, Part 17 - Glider Decals
Last night, I spent the evening applying decals to the Lunar Patrol gliders.  The decals are all home-print, consisting of left-overs from the MPC sheet as well as a few custom number and stripe details. I didn't get the 'LPC-B' designation detail applied to one of the gliders.  Well, ...
[Read More]

Andrew visits eRockets
My dreams finally came true, when I got to visit eRockets yesterday morning. I got a very cool & detailed tour with owner, Randy Boadway. I dropped off the next line of Patriot kits, and one of the new kits that will be released soon. Note, the rocket on the top will not officially be released ...
[Read More]

New Estes Scale Offering -
I had a feeling this one was coming up! Hey, that capsule should be black . . . From the Estes Facebook page: "Product Development Director, Mike Fritz, loads a production model of the NEW Little Joe 1 kit due to be released soon. Witnessing the launch are Estes team members (left to right) ...
[Read More]

Quest Q-Jet Fit and Comparison, Part 2
The Estes A8-3 engine weighs .60 oz. The Quest A3-4 engine weighs a bit more at .63 oz. Even without the paper label wrap, the fit was tight. On the left is the engine in the Dragon Ship 7 engine mount. The engine stops about 1/2" out where there is a slight compression swelling. The fit was also ...
[Read More]

Building the NewWay Too Square (part 10)
It’s done, defined as. I didn’t do a particularly great job of smoothing the old paint and of course there’s my non stellar brush technique, so the finish is pretty sub par, but it’s better than it was and I’m not gonna mess with it. If I really want a nicer Too Square ...
[Read More]

NARAM Memories, Transporting Rockets - Old School!
In 1975 I was on the way to NARAM 17, getting on a connecting flight from Atlanta to Orlando. Across from me was a guy sitting with a cardboard box with body tubes sticking out of it. I asked: "Are you going to NARAM?" His response: "How'd you guess?" That was the infamous Bob Bruce. Under the ...
[Read More]

Stormy Saturday with the Cubs...
The day starts clear at the Space Camp field (Click to enlarge). I normally hate getting up early on Saturday, but yesterday I started the morning with some level of enthusiasm; it was launch day with the cub scouts, and no rocketeer can resist being excited about the ...
[Read More]

Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 18, Back To It! Fins and Guns
Before masking off the removable fin root edge, the raw edge balsa got a "sealant" wipe of medium CA glue and very light sanding. The bottom removable fin had the curved root edge masked off for the gray spray paint. Before spraying the model an overall dull coat, The "hook" fin was masked off, ...
[Read More]

A Rocket Room Upgrade
This past weekend was spent mostly in a large-scale furniture re-arranging project around the BlastFromThePast home.  OOooh...my back!  In the process, I acquired a whole new work desk and shelf unit for the model rocket corner of the basement.  This is an old computer ...
[Read More]

More New Estes Catalog News -
On YORF, JediBoss got the new Estes catalog: "Just got mine today. A few surprises in there, the return of the Multi Roc ( CLICK HERE   & CLICK HERE ), the Explorer Aquarius, and the #2157 Apollo XI Saturn V with some kind of a mystery bonus! The Little Joe I is on the back cover and ...
[Read More]

Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 19, Engine Mount and Nose Cone Paint
I took a longer than normal dowel to apply a glue bead for the engine mount gluing. Towards the bottom of the dowel is a pencil mark for a glue depth gauge. From the rear, the engine mount is glued in place. The engine hook is in line with the bottom removable fin. This picture was posted earlier ...
[Read More]

Patriot model rocket kits back in stock at eRockets
ARS Patriot kits are back in stock at eRockets! Get yours today for only $11.99! :-) http://www.erockets.biz/ars-flying-model-rocket-kit-patriot-k-01/ And, ARS kit #2 will be released this  week! :-)
[Read More]

SpaceX CRS-15 Launch Info
Launch Time: June 29th 2018, 05:41 EDT / 09:41 UTC Launch Location: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida Payload: Cargo re-supply mission. Read here on details of what is included in the payload. Live Coverage: SpaceX Webcast SpaceX Channel on Youtube Advertisements
[Read More]

J & H Aerospace Boost and Rocket Gliders
On TRF, Rktman posted a Swing-Wing boost glider build ( CLICK HERE ) from a vendor I didn't know about. J & H Aerospace produces swing-wing boost gliders, standard boost gliders and Micro R/C boost gliders. To visit the website: CLICK HERE "J&H Aerospace was founded by Joshua and ...
[Read More]

Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 20, Fin Decals, Fin Fit and Parachute
The removable fin was slipped on to align the rivot decal lines with the other fins. I used a dry strip to check the angles so they were consistent with the other fins and straight out from the lines on the body tube. In a June 15 comment, Scott Johnson asked for pictures of the detachable fin off ...
[Read More]

Introducing the ARS Crazy Eight K-02
Introducing the Andrew's Rocketry Shop (ARS) Crazy Eight model rocket kit! It's 12 inches tall, 18mm diameter, features laser cut fiber fins & streamer recovery and it can fly up to 600' It's designed to corkscrew, and fly on the new Quest Q-Jet A3-4 and B4-4 motors! And they're only $11.99 at ...
[Read More]

Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 21, Nose Weight
Here's an example of what can happen when trying to research a complex clone build -  I knew there was clay weight added to the nose cone, but didn't know how much the kit clay weighed. I went to the old Semroc.com website and clicked on the "Classics" button on the right side. Scroll down to ...
[Read More]

Estes 2018 Catalog PDF Online
From John Boren on the NAR Facebook page: The PDF version of the New Estes 2018 Catalog is now on the Estes Web Site. To see the 2018 catalog, CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Finished
This was an involved build. Fin patterns and decals were redrawn. (I can send out fin patterns and canopy PDF but the decals are not available.) The decals took over 7 1/2 hours to apply! The finished look is good, I was very happy with the nose cone and body black blends. Thanks go to SCIGS30 and ...
[Read More]

Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser
I think I have this right: there were some things donated to our neighboring club, MARS, and they chose to pass them on to the Syracuse Rocket Club, which met last night. “Things” mostly being miscellaneous rocket parts, of which our club has quite a lot.We use parts from our stash to ...
[Read More]

Happy Fourth Of July!
Frank Baeyens posted on the Facebook Model Rocket Fanatics page: "Mass rocket launch at College Leeuwenhors in Holland tomorrow . They plan a simultaneous launch of 5000 (five thousand) rockets - " (Estes sales may have gone up a few points. I wouldn't want to be downwind of all that smoke!)
[Read More]

MPC Lunar Patrol, Part 18 - The Final Decals
This morning, I was up at 4 a.m. merrily affixing the final decal to one of the gliders.  This is a remake of the same decal I hopelessly muffed up on a week ago, and had to discard.  This time things went very smoothly. I also managed to apply some CA to the end of the booster tube, and ...
[Read More]

Drat!...Lost My Castle Rock Launch Site
I just learned that the Town of Castle Rock, Colorado had recently re-drafted their Municipal Ordinance.  One of the changes specifically prohibits the launch of model rockets within city limits. This means I lost the use of that really nice B-engine field adjacent to the high ...
[Read More]

Honest Fins
Over 25 years ago I built an Estes Maxi Honest John. High power was beginning to really "take off" (pun intended), so I used my 29mm motor mount from an NCR Phantom 2600 (that met a less than glorious end) and uprated my HoJo. Unfortunately, I didn't "uprate" the most fragile part of the ...
[Read More]

Phew! Back In Business In Castle Rock!
I just received an e-mail from the Fire Prevention Officer at Castle Rock Fire & Rescue. After researching the Municipal Ordinances and Regulations, he found that model rockets are permissible if there are no Stage 1 or 2 Fire Restrictions in effect. Yippee!!
[Read More]

Where's The Posts? When It Rains - IT POURS!
TIP: Don't EVER use AT&T for your internet service! My home Internet went out early in the day on July 5. Just a flashing red light on my modem. This has happened twice before in the past two months. I called AT&T Tech Support and was told they would be there for repairs between 8 am and 8 ...
[Read More]

Second time around...
My 30+ year old competition rockets (Click to enlarge) During the first 25 years or so of model rocketry, the elite rocketeer was not one who had completed a level 3 certification involving a rocket propelled by a M class motor (such things did not exist, except in ...
[Read More]

MPC Lunar Patrol, Part 19 - A Near Disaster!
In the two years since I became a BAR, every single rocket that has been added to the BlastFromThePast fleet has had some kind of small imperfection or problem.  I try to be as careful as I can during building and finishing, yet I always find that one small paint blemish, or one spot ...
[Read More]

Hobby Lobby Finally Comes To Castle Rock, Colorado
For the past several months, my morning and afternoon commutes to and from work have taken me past a building under construction only a mile and a half from my home.  A sign next to the building touted: "Coming Soon - Hobby Lobby". Everyday, as I drove past, I glanced over to see how ...
[Read More]

Estes Announces New General Manager
From the NAR Facebook page: PENROSE, Colo. ,  July 11, 2018,  PRNewswire - Estes Industries, the leading manufacturer of innovative hobby products for the model rocket industry, announced today that  Bill Stine  is appointed Vice President and General Manager, effec ...
[Read More]

MPC Lunar Patrol, Part 20 - Glide Trimming
The final process of the Lunar Patrol build is to trim the gliders for flight. The noses have been left unglued to the body tubes to facilitate this. For trim weight, I am going with a #6 x 1/2" sheet metal screw and the required number of stacked #6 washers to be attached ...
[Read More]

BAR Fleet #113 - Lunar Patrol 3
Yup, Folks, Here it is.... 21 blog posts and nearly a year and a half in the making.... Model Info and Specs Lunar Patrol 3 Based on the Model Products Corp. Lunar Patrol, Kit # R-215 Original Kit Produced:  1969- 1978 Designed by:  Fred Nardei Completion Date:  12 July, 2018 ...
[Read More]

Building the Semroc Blue Bird Zero (part 3)
It was early September last year when I reported I’d finished putting together the Blue Bird Zero, primed it, sanded, and then put it aside due to grumpiness over the tube spirals and a bad launch lug fillet. At the time I’d concluded my earlier optimism that the spirals were narrow and ...
[Read More]

Louis Berlin's Q-Jet Launch -
Louis Berlin posted this on the Facebook Model Rocketry Fanatics page: "Finally got to fly a few rockets.....Tried one of the new quest B4-4 fast jack motors and it catoed......burned a hole thru my Citation Patriot....also had to peel label to get it to fit......the rest went good.....hopefully ...
[Read More]

Quest Q-Jet C & D Engines Coming
On the N.A.R. Facebook page, Gary Rosenfield announced: "AeroTech & Quest will have C12, D16, G11 and G12 motors available for demo at NARAM-60 in Pueblo, CO next month, and maybe something else special."
[Read More]

Altaira N-1 Video
From the Model Rocketry Fanatics Facebook page: Paul Zelichowski July 16 at 6:53 PM "Here it is: The (long awaited) Director's Cut of the Altaira Rocketry Soviet N1 Model Rocket launch in Guelph, Ontario, Canada under the Cambridge Rocket Club in high resolution. Enjoy!! Still photo from a Go Pro ...
[Read More]

Coming Soon to NARAM - BODY TUBES!
An Odd'l Rockets product teaser - There is more to it than just another body tube!
[Read More]

Coming Soon to NARAM - BODY TUBES!
This is an Odd'l Rockets product teaser - There is more to it than just another body tube! (If I shared this new product concept with you in conversation, please don't give it away in the comments section -) 
[Read More]

What to do on muggy summer days...
Midsummer is a frustrating time - the days are hot and muggy, with humidities 60% and higher - lately, MUCH higher. One cannot paint in such conditions, as the paint will "blush", causing the finish to appear blotchy. So my models patiently sit in primer, awaiting drier days. Which is not good, as ...
[Read More]

Uh Oh! - Rusto!
At one time, Rustoleum 2X was a great rocket paint! Then, they changed formulations. Sometimes the 2X gloss white sprays out like cottage cheese leaving a grainy rough finish. I didn't want to risk any paint problems on the BMS Saturn V so I went to Hobby Lobby to get some Testor's in the small ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Telstar 19V Launch Info
Launch Time: July 22nd 2018, launch window opens at 01:50 a.m. EDT (05:50 – 09:50 UTC) Launch Location: SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida Payload: Telstar 19V Telstar 19V (Telstar 19 Vantage) is a communication satellite of the Canadian satellite communications … ...
[Read More]

A Lighter Gray?
If you followed the Dragon Ship 7 build, you know I had trouble finding a light gray color. Neil Weinstock emailed me some information on a better shade of gray -  Hi, Just thought I'd share my experience with Rusto 2x "Perfect Gray" Ultra Matte paint. I ended up sanding down the awful ...
[Read More]

BAR Fleet #116 - Satellite Interceptor
Estes Industries Design Kit #:   1296 Produced 1978 -1982 Designer:   Wayne Kellner Type:   Futuristic / SciFi   Stages: 1 Engine Type:   18mm Recovery:   Parachute Length:   58cm Diameter:   24.8mm Weight Empty:   47.0 g Nose Cone:   Conical Fin ...
[Read More]

New TOTAL IMPULSE Newsletter
The new issue of the Jackson Model Rocket Club newsletter, TOTAL IMPULSE is available online: Club news, space history, Terrier scale info, converting the Estes Space Eagle to a two-stager, vendor news and great photos. To see the 30 page issue: CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Letter from N.A.R.
Wow, I wasn't expecting this! Last year I wrote an article on how to "beef-up" the newer Estes Starter Igniters using Beacon Fabri-Tac glue and 4F Black Powder.  I had used a igniter dip before but it continually dries out. You can thin it again by stirring in Acetone, but it is messy and ...
[Read More]

Quest C12 and D16 Q-Jet Engines Coming -
In a comment, BARGeezer let me know : Quest is accepting pre-orders of the 18mm composite C12 and D16 motors. " We expect the Q-Jet C12 and D16 motor pre-orders to begin shipping in August 2018." To see the webpage: CLICK HERE Quest has changed their igniter nozzle retention and are now ...
[Read More]

No Sunday Post?
Let's just say I took a day off. Preparing for NARAM is a lot of work. Too many shock cords to attach, pop-lugs and parachutes to make. Add to that a fairly good sized order from ERockets to box up and mail out tomorrow. I should count my lucky stars. I'm overwhelmed by building model rockets!
[Read More]

Miscellany...
It's been a few months since I last flew, and I am feeling a bit restless. Unfortunately, Pegasus field is way overgrown with weeds - won't be cut until fall - and HARA is still awaiting our first launch at our new HPR field, which also won't occur until September or October. So I am kinda out of ...
[Read More]

Last Minute NARAM Prepping!
Good thing I looked over the NARAM Classic Competition Rules. I needed to put together some documentation about my entry, the Dragon Ship 7. I needed references to where I got my clone information, a picture or two and the instructions from JimZ's. Then I found out the fly-away guides I bought ...
[Read More]

Arrived (Early) in Pueblo!
I haven't done a long drive since the early 1980s. I would drive alone from California to Florida in three days, averaging 1,000 miles a day! I'm older now, I gave myself a four day travel window. I left Orlando on Tuesday about 8 a.m. I arrived in Pueblo, Colorado Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ...
[Read More]

Upgrading Estes "Starter" Igniters, Part 1 TIP
I noticed a delay and an occasional misfire using the newer Estes "Starter" Igniters. My schoolyard launch controller is a typical 6 volt Estes system. Ignition was slower, almost like using bare nichrome wire when I started launching rockets in 1969. Press the launch button and hold it down until ...
[Read More]

Semroc MMX Blue Bird Zero Build, Part 1, Parts
The original Estes Blue Bird Zero (#1335) was introduced in 1980 and on sale through 1985. BT-55 based and tall, it stood nearly 40". The 1980 price was $6.00. This was my first purchase of the new Semroc Micro Maxx line. Most parts were good quality. I had a few concerns - these are explained ...
[Read More]

Upgrading Estes "Starter" Igniters, Part 2, TIP
Roll the glued starter in the loose black powder. Go light, it's easy to pick up too much powder in the glue. Turn over the igniter and repeat. While the glue is still wet, form the tip with your fingertips. Keep the tip small, it still has to fit into the nozzle. Here's the finished, upgraded ...
[Read More]

Semroc MMX Blue Bird Zero Build, Part 2, Engine Mount
The centering rings are laser cut from Letramax material. The laser cutting chars up the parts. Wipe off the ash before gluing anything up. The instructions say to tie a knot in the Kevlar and set it under the inside engine block inside the engine mount tube. I went more mainstream and tied the ...
[Read More]

It's Off To The NAR 60th Anniversary Re-Union
Ready to head down to Pueblo, Colorado (roughly an 80 mile drive from where I live in Castle Rock), to spend an evening hanging out with roughly 189 other past and present NAR rocketeers, young and old. You can be sure that I'll post a lot of stories and pictures right here on the Bla ...
[Read More]

Semroc MMX Blue Bird Zero Build, Part 3, Body Tube Lengths
Step 3 says to "Take one of the body tubes" and mark it for the fins. It doesn't specify which tube to mark. Choose the shorter tube, it should be 5 1/4" long. Mine was 5 3/8" long. The upper tube was 6" long. It should probably be closer to 6 1/4" long to be scale. I cut the long blue coupler ...
[Read More]

NARAM 60 Saturday, August 4, Rocketeer Reunion
The first day of launches at the NARRAM field was a sport launch. A few were testing their boost gliders and streamer duration models. I was very surprised to see Brian Urban from Tampa, TTRA and Gary Dahlke from the Bunnel NEFAR launches. Saturday night was the Rocketeer Reunion at the host ...
[Read More]

NAR 60 Year Reunion, Part 1 - Like A Kid In A Candy Store
Saturday, August 4th, 2018, I made the 80 mile trip from Castle Rock to Pueblo to attend a much anticipated event - the NAR 60 year anniversary Rocketeer Reunion.  Despite traffic delays on I-25 just south of Castle Rock because of the big Renaissance Festival at Larkspur, I made it to the ...
[Read More]

NARAM 60 Sunday, August 5, Manufacturer's Forum
Sunday was another full day of Sport Flying at the field. Lots of Mid Power launches. The Estes tour and the first competition launches start tomorrow. There were nine vendors presentations. ESTES: Ellis Langford showed the upcoming Mercury Little Joe I along with the new offerings already on sale. ...
[Read More]

NARAM 60 Sunday, August 5, Manufacturer's Forum
I participated in the Manufacturer's forum on Sunday night with new products from Odd'l Rockets. On the right is the new BT-20H, heavy walled BT-20 tubing. It has the same wall thickness as a BT-55 or BT-60. Imagine the applications - Stronger stuffer tubes, strap on boosters, Super-roc c ...
[Read More]

NAR 60 Year Reunion, Part 2 - An Old Rocket Buddy
I'm going to start this reunion series on a more personal note. This is a picture of myself and one of my best friends who happened to travel out here from Virginia to attend the reunion - Mr. Marc Kramer.   (Special thanks to George Gassaway for taking the time out to shoot the ...
[Read More]

NAR 60 Year Reunion, Part 3 - The OddRoc Master Himself
While making another circuit of the meeting room floor early in the event, I came across one of the display tables on which some new items had appeared....   And I knew exactly who had put them there. I approached the man standing near the table with his back toward me. ...
[Read More]

NAR 60 Year Reunion, Part 4 - Something For Us Glider Nuts
At the NAR reunion, there were several display tables lined up against one of the meeting room walls that contained a lot of very interesting models, photos, and artifacts from the early days of model rocketry. Being a fan of boost/gliders, I was instantly drawn to the display presented ...
[Read More]

NARAM 60 Monday, August 6, Estes Tour and Boost Glide Competition
Estes gave two tours for forty guests each. I was signed up for the 10:0 a.m. tour. Here's the tour group waiting at the door. To the right is a pickup truck. That was once Vern Estes parking place. Vern's office was on the second floor, above and to the left of the truck. We were only allowed to ...
[Read More]

NAR 60 Year Reunion. Part 5 - Presentation Opening Remarks
Halfway through the reunion activities, the central stage and podium were open to presentations by the various NAR dignitaries who were present. To start things off, Reunion Coordinator Trip Barber stepped up to welcome all of the attendees and make a few remarks about the reunion.  The ...
[Read More]

A Very Busy Blogger
The next couple of weeks are going to be a very active time for me here on the BlastFromThePast Blog.  I will be putting out an unprecedented two or three posts per day! Besides the large amount of NAR Reunion material yet to be written and put up, I am just now finishing ...
[Read More]

NARAM 60 Tuesday, August 7, Streamer Duration and Payload Altitude
Last night was the NARAM Town Hall and turn-in of the Classic and Sport Scale entries. I might have a shot at a place in the Classic Model Competition. There was some standout entries in Scale and Classic model. Well, after all this is the Nationals. Everybody seemed to be using piston launchers - ...
[Read More]

NAR 60 Year Reunion, Part 6 - Getting Those Autographs
The NAR 60th Year Reunion proved to be a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to meet all of the big names in model rocketry, so naturally I had brought along a few items to be autographed. The first dignitary I encountered was Bill Stine, who kindly signed the 7th edition of The ...
[Read More]

Semroc MMX Blue Bird Zero Build, Part 4, Fins
With all the NARAM coverage I wanted to get back to the MMX Blue Bird Zero - sorry about the delays! The fins are tiny and only 1/32" thick. Its good they are cut from basswood! The instructions don't mention it, but I rounded the outside edges of the fins with 400 grit. Basswood has very little ...
[Read More]

NAR 60 Year Reunion, Part 7 - Vintage Launch Controllers
Reunion attendee Jeff Jenkins (NAR 46879) brought along a very nice collection of vintage model rocket launch controllers for display.  Most of them were from Centuri Engineering, and also included the original instruction sheets that came with them. One launch control system in ...
[Read More]

NARAM 60 Wednesday, August 8, Helicopter Duration and B Cluster Altitude
Today was a slower schedule for me. I had the Estes Mini A Heli ready with some A10-3t engines. John Boren (the designer) was at the return table. He jokingly said: "You changed the fin design, I can't guarantee the flight results!" Well, he might have been right. The first launch boost was ...
[Read More]

Semroc MMX Blue Bird Zero Build, Part 5, Fin Gluing
The body tube was marked for the fin positions earlier in Step 3. The fin alignment slots were too tight on the fins. It took a little sanding with 400 grit to widen the slots. GOTCHA: The instructions recommend tacking the fins on first with medium Super Glue. I wouldn't recommend this, Super ...
[Read More]

NAR 60 Year Reunion, Part 8 - A Few Old Rocketeers.
Actually there were more than a few in attendance at the reunion... Here is a pic of Tom and Linda Milkie: Back in the old days, I used to read and re-read all of the fine articles and plans by Mr. Milkie that were published in Model Rocketry Magazine . Now, 45 years later, I finally get to ...
[Read More]

NAR 60 Year Reunion, Part 9 - Back to the Display Tables...
Here are a couple more interesting displays that were set up on the tables. The first is a very interesting item from the dim and distant past.... Rather than describe this item any further, I leave you to read the write-up included in the photo: This display of the Estes Patriot was set up ...
[Read More]

NARAM 60 Thursday, August 9, 1/2A Parachute Duration and C SuperRoc Altitude
This picture probably should have been posted earlier. Here's the entrance to the Hudson Ranch SCORE field off highway 78. That's a great launch field landmark. I was checking in my 1/2A Parachute duration model. Somebody asked: "Is this yours?" My lost Helicopter Duration model was returned! I ...
[Read More]

NAR 60 Year Reunion, Part 10 - A Few Words From Bill Stine
After being introduced by NAR president John Hochheimer, Bill Stine took the podium. Bill related the story of the beginnings of the hobby of model rocketry, starting with how his father, G. Harry Stine, an engineer at White Sands , had published articles about the dangers of amateur rock ...
[Read More]

NAR 60 Year Reunion, Part 11 - Another Interesting Display
Moving along to more of the display tables; This tribute to Len Fehskens was set up by John and Wini Labreque. The display was loaded with lots of photos, news clippings and meet awards. Also displayed was a Starship Vincia model, Vincia kit, and original Vincia design ...
[Read More]

NARAM 60 Thursday, August 9, Evening - Classic and Sport Scale Static Judging
Here's the static judging high point model in the Classics Competition. The build is by Chris Kidwell. Clean work and great presentation. I thought I was going to do better with my Dragon Ship 7 but my lack of data worked against me. The judges were looking for models that perfectly matched the ...
[Read More]

NARAM 60 Friday, August 10, Classic and Sport Scale Model Launch
Spectators brought out their lawn chairs to watch today's launches. The Classic Model Judge apologized for my low static score on the Dragon Ship 7. Like I assumed, the supplemental data I supplied wasn't enough and the decal color didn't match the catalog picture I provided. He did tell me I had ...
[Read More]

NAR 60 Year Reunion, Part 13 -More Fine Displays
Another one of the display tables held a large collection of early Canaroc model rocket kits.  This presentation was provided by Mr. Denis Lufkin (NAR 96987).     On yet another of the tables was a display by John Chatham of the SAI (Space Age Industries) model 'da ...
[Read More]

NAR 60 Year Reunion, Part 12 - Vern Estes Takes The Stage....
The second speaker of the evening was Mr. Estes, who gave a nice talk on the early NARAMS and his history with them. Amazingly, Vern has been to 58 of the 60 NARAMS! During his speech, Vern stated that he wasn't sure if the first National Championship meet held in 1958 was ...
[Read More]

NARAM 60 Saturday, August 11, Observations and the Long Drive Home
I learned a lot from the past week at the NARAM. 1. A week seems too long. A four or five day NARAM would have been about right.     EDIT: As it turns out, the next NARAM will be only four days long. 2. Save a lot of money and skip the host hotel. Share a room, save even more. 3. Don't ...
[Read More]

NAR 60 Year Reunion, Part 14 - Lee Piester at the Podium
The next member of model rocketry royalty to give a talk was Lee Piester, the man behind Centuri Engineering. Lee gave a very interesting speech, relating the story of his conversion from amateur rocketry to model rocketry after visiting an early NARAM, his entrance into the model ...
[Read More]

Semroc MMX Blue Bird Zero Build, Part 6, Ends and Edges
GOTCHA: The instructions say to push the toothpick approximately half way into the nose cone. Halfway is pretty far! You could split the nose cone. You really only have to push the toothpick in about 3/8". I marked the center of the nose cone base before pushing the toothpick in. I'd recommend ...
[Read More]

NAR 60 Year Reunion, Part 15 - One Final Display
The last item on the row of meeting room tables was my own small display of NARAM-11 ephemera.    Included was an official meet program that was distributed to visitors to NARAM 11, a copy of the newspaper coverage article of the event in the Colorado Springs Gazette ...
[Read More]

Another Kit For The Build Pile....
I just picked this baby up at Hobby Lobby. Back in the 'old fleet' days, I had a Nike-X that had been modified to fly as a two-stager: D12-0 in the booster, and 18mm upper stage.  Very nice flier.  This one I may build as a single stage D-engine bird. When the FlatCat B/G is ...
[Read More]

Semroc MMX Blue Bird Zero Build, Part 7, Paint and Decals
After the first white coat, there were still some rough areas especially around the fin fillets. This is what I mentioned early on - Don't glue the body tubes together until after the upper section is painted blue. This blue is a bit dark. I didn't want to buy another can of spray paint. Blue is ...
[Read More]

NAR 60 Year Reunion, Part 16 - The Museum of Flight Silent Auction
The final presentation of the evening was given by Pat Fitzpatrick and Geoff Nunn on the subject of the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Brief updates were discussed concerning the monumental task of sorting and cataloguing the vast amount of material, particularly the Stine, Estes, and Piester ...
[Read More]

NAR 60 Year Reunion, Part 17 - Wrapping Things Up
Well, boys and girls, This post pretty much completes the series on the NAR 60th Year Rocketeer Reunion.  I had nearly as much fun writing and putting together this material as I had attending the reunion. I hope you all found it informative and entertaining.  There were at ...
[Read More]

Semroc MMX Blue Bird Zero Build, Part 8, Coupler Gluing and Streamer
Run the Kevlar line through the upper, blue body tube. A line of glue was set into the upper tube and the tube slid over the coupler. The "screw eye" dowel was pushed into the nose cone base and marked with a pencil. Cut the toothpick off at the pencil line. Knot the end of the Kevlar line and ...
[Read More]

Micro-Maxx Model Storage, Part 1
At one time I built and launched quite a few Micro-Maxx models. The finished models were storeded in different places. I wanted them together, protected in one location. A cardboard box will give them good side wall protection, but how to keep them from sliding around? I found a thick piece of ...
[Read More]

Andrew's Rocketry Shop (ARS) releases the K-03 Javelin
Andrew's Rocketry Shop (ARS) is proud to announce the release of the K-03 Javelin! Dimensions: 12 inches tall 18mm diameter 1/8 inch laser cut balsa fins Streamer recovery Flies up to 550' Recommended motors: A8-3, B6-4. Get yours at eRockets for only $11.99! http://www.erockets.biz/ars-f ...
[Read More]

Micro-Maxx Model Storage, Part 2
Holes were punched with a bamboo skewer where the Sharpie dots were drawn. Short lengths of bamboo skewer were cut. Glue was set in the holes and the short skewer dowels pressed in. Check to be sure the dowels are sticking straight up. For the longer models that will lay on their side, two posts ...
[Read More]

Semroc MMX Blue Bird Zero Build, Finished
There was a few questions raised in the instructions. I have mentioned them to Randy at Semroc. It's interesting that a Micro Maxx downscale probably as difficult to construct as the full size original. Maybe harder? There are the same amount of parts as in the original full-size kit,  just ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets Heavy Wall BT-20H Body Tubes Now Available!
Over the years, I've grown to hate BT-20 body tubes. The first time I tried to remove a friction fit engine from an Estes Beta, the tube was bent and the rocket unusable. Now available from JonRocket.com: BT-20H HEAVY WALL BODY TUBES! To see the listing,  CLICK HERE On the left is a Estes ...
[Read More]

New Odd'l Rockets Heavy Wall BT-20H Tubes Available!
Over the years, I've grown to hate BT-20 body tubes. The first time I tried to remove a friction fit engine from an Estes Beta, the tube was bent and the rocket unusable. Now available from JonRocket.com: BT-20H HEAVY WALL BODY TUBES! To see the listing, CLICK HERE On the left is a standard ...
[Read More]

Syracuse Rocket Club launch: Grey picnic
I was pretty sure today’s launch was going to be canceled, or postponed to Sunday, or something, but it wasn’t. Despite a good deal of rain yesterday and sprinkles today up to about noon, the launch went on. This is August and the August launch is our family picnic launch, with raffles ...
[Read More]

3 done.....
The wet summer continues, but I have managed to find brief periods of lower humidity (between 45 and 50%) to get some final painting done. First up is the clone of the Centuri Stellar Starlifter, painted bright blue and white - the "challenging" decor mentioned in the instructions: ...
[Read More]

Maiden Flight of the Mark II Rock-A-Chute
For this post, I thought I would back-track a couple of years to November 3rd, 2016, the day of the maiden flight of the Mark II.  This is the same bird I took with me to the NAR Reunion in Pueblo and had on display along with its old-school launcher. I had actually posted this flight as part ...
[Read More]

"How Many Rockets Do You Need, Anyway??"
This is a question that is often asked of model rocketeers by persons who are casual observers of the hobby and haven't ever been bitten by the rocket bug.  "Wouldn't just one rocket suffice?"  " Do you need so many?" Answers: "No!" "Yes!" This whole thing can be summed up with a simple ...
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II Background
Anyone who has followed the blog knows I've been trying to find a Vashon Valkyrie 2 rocket. I've given up on a few Ebay bids when the price got too high. It was one of the first rockets I ever owned. I ordered it through the Sears 1969 Christmas catalog. I thought I paid $19.99, but this catalog ...
[Read More]

Time to do some TARC math!
Now that the Reliant is finished, it's time to figure out the size of the parachutes needed to land the booster and payload sections safely. To do so, you need to measure the weights of both these sections, which in my case are 178 and 318 grams, respectively. The booster is easy, as one can choose ...
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 1, Opening The Box
There were several variations on the Vashon boxes. The Valkyrie 2 came in a long box. My Sears box had a full color overlay. This "801" package is printed in black. On the right side is a fold of cardboard. The propellant can would have been under it. No RP-100 (Freon) was in the box. This is ...
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 2, Parts
As I mentioned earlier, there was plenty of extra parts. The picture above shows what parts may have come in the original #802, Valkyrie 2 starter set. There was no Freon (liquid propellant) in the box. The parts were in very good shape. I've seen these models on Ebay where the builder has roughed ...
[Read More]

Whatever Shall I Do With All These Tubes?
Over the past couple of weeks at my workplace, I have been unpacking and installing a lot of small air system regulators.  Each one comes with a couple of short cardboard tubes protecting the ends of the units.  I've accumulated bunches of the things. I'm thinking some sort of ...
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 3, Parts
My original 1969 Vashon starter set included a shiny chrome Mylar parachute. This box included a shiny one and this orange and blue printed parachute. The color chute was 11 3/4" wide from flat to flat. There are eight shroud line attachment points. "Extra light, extra strong MYLAR Parachute. The ...
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 4, Parts
I have mentioned before, I found my three rocket binders when we were clearing out my Mom's house. All the instructions from every kit I built are there, including that first Vashon Valkyrie 2. On the left are the instructions from the set I received from Doug Frost, on the right are my i ...
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 5, Prepping the Parts - Launcher
There were three dowel legs, 3/8" diameter x 8" long. One leg was broken, the grain in that leg runs diagonally. It was probably broken when pressed into the tight base holes shown below. The fit was very tight. This is a simple fix, some yellow glue, a clamp and sanding. This is the round base, ...
[Read More]

Centuri Museum and History Video
On the National Association of Rocketry Facebook page, Jonathan Wilkins posted a video link  showing the Centuri Museum. The video is hosted by Lee Piester. To see the video: CLICK HERE I had heard there was a Centuri museum, but had not seen this video. Most of the items will go to the ...
[Read More]

Zero Ns in 2018
Hello, stranger. How've you been? For the past few year over on The Rocketry Forum, there has been a thread each year where people can log the Newton-seconds they've burned flying rockets that year, called the Newton Tally Thread ( here's this year's ). I can never participate in this thread, ...
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 6, My Original Vashon Launcher
I honestly don't know how I still have this. This is my original Vashon Starter Set launcher base. It's been stored for years. The other rocket parts are nowhere to be found. The two pieces simply interlock.  The fit is tight.A launch rod is pushed into the center hole. No blast ...
[Read More]

Estes "Starter" Igniter Upgrade - Update
A while back I started upgrading the clear tip Estes Starter Igniters using Beacon Fabri-Tac glue and 4F black powder. Many have commented that the igniter treatment has helped them have quicker, more reliable launches. At the recent Estes NARAM plant tour, we saw the igniter machine in operation. ...
[Read More]

Another Boy Scout rocket...
I just finished the Estes "Space Exploration" Boy Scout rocket, which I bought in a bulk pack from the Boy Scout store ( Scout Shop ) many moons ago. It was a great deal - 6 rockets for $30, including shipping; unfortunately, this product has been discontinued, with the only offerings being ...
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 7, Cleaning Up The Metal Parts
I remember using NEVR-DULL batting to clean up a brass bed. I don't know what is in it, but it cleans up most metals, but not rust. A piece of the wadding material is sitting on top of the can. All that black gunk came off the metal parts in the Valkyrie kit. First up was the two-piece, 1/8" ...
[Read More]

More NARAM Pictures
Here's more shots from NARAM 60. The opening weekend was all Sport Launches. I knew I'd taken more pictures, these were in my other camera. Bob Kaplow launched a plastic saucer with a long burning engine. I know it was one that Aerotech put together for some of the gimble stabilized rockets. A ...
[Read More]

Checking In With Something That Could Be Checked Out...
Well, life has gotten rather "nutsy coo-coo" lately, and STB has gotten the short end of the stick. However, I thought I'd do a quick check in with everybody by sharing something from my collection that I really like. It's my Fourth Edition Handbook of Model Rocketry from 1976! Now, it's really not ...
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 8, Balsa Nose Cone
I could use one of the Styrofoam nose cones, but my original Valkyrie had a balsa cone. Vashon changed to Styrofoam nose cones later in kit runs. My balsa cone from the Break-Away kits is very close to the styrofoam cone profile. It's a little taller. To start, sand the tip down flat. Mark the ...
[Read More]

Wallingford Sign
One of many cleverly worded signs. To see the website: CLICK HERE I wonder if Steven Wright gets residuals?
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 9, Filling The Balsa
The fins got a coat of CWF and sanding. On the left is the follow-up coat of Duplicolor Filler/Primer . On the right is the filler/primer sanded using 220 grit. This removes almost all of the gray filler.  After the 220, 400 grit smooths the surface and fills any removing grain the CWF didn't ...
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 10, Red Paint
Only the nose cone and fins are painted on this one. I'll be using gloss red, just like the catalog cover picture. This is a rare model there the fins are painted off the model. The root edge gets slipped into a "rail" on the body. They first got a white undercoat. Notice the dulled right side, ...
[Read More]

BAR Fleet # 115 - Canopus 2
Custom Design Designer:   Edward Mitton Type:   Three Engine Cluster              Sport Model   Stages: 1 Engine Type(s):           Core – 18mm      ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: 3 September, 2018 - Model Rocketry Is Alive And Well In Castle Rock, CO !!
I recently had the pleasure of meeting a fellow old-timer model rocketeer who lives right here in the Castle Rock area -  Mr. Jim Gazur. Jim was heavily involved in model rocketry back in the 1960s - 70s, being a member of the North Royalton Rocket society (NAR section # 180) in ...
[Read More]

Office Supply X-Wing
On the Facebook Model Rocketry Fanatics page - Charlie Nash posted a finished X-Wing Fighter!
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 11, How's It Work?
There's been a few questions about how the Vashon rockets work. For a manual launch:  The plug is pushed into the nozzle. The "Safety Pin" is pushed through small holes in the plastic nozzle extension, locking the plug in place. The rocket is filled with Freon while venting off  pressure ...
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 12, Fin Rail Prepping
A fin marking guide was printed from the "Tools" page at payloadbay.com. The seam was lined up right above the fill valve. The fin location lines were marked with a fine point Sharpie. The lines were extended down the engine body using an aluminum angle. If needed, any drawn Sharpie lines can be ...
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 13, Fin Rails and Placement
The fin rails are cut to match the angle of the fin leading edge. The launch lug also glues onto the engine body. The supplied lug is 4" long, probably too long for this model. I cut it down to 2 1/4" long. The glue area is masked and sanded like the fin lines. I found Weldwood Contact Cement at ...
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 14, Fixing The Rails
The back end of the interior ridges are lightly trimmed to allow the fins to slide in. Uh-oh! The fin rails are off the model. I tried to slide the fins in, but the fit was too tight. The glue on the base of the rails on didn't hold when the fins were pushed in. I ended up removing the remaining ...
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 15, Black Trim and Fin Attachment
I wanted to match the trim on the old Vashon catalog cover. I'm sure they used auto trim tape for all the black lines. I used my standby, Contact Paper blackboard vinyl. Strips were cut to a 3/16" width. They probably could have been cut closer to 1/8", the catalog picture stripes looked thinner. ...
[Read More]

New Estes "Out Of Site" Rocket
I think they mean "Out Of Sight" flights. It's not "So Much Fun" when a rocket leaves the launch site. This new two-stager is on the Estes New Products page.
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 16, Parachute A
Here's the instructions for the parachute assembly. You are supplied a 12" square piece of 1/4 mil Mylar. This is the very thin Mylar, a lot like the emergency blanket material you can find in the sports section at WalMart. I wouldn't recommend 1/4 mil Mylar for black powder rockets. While it is ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Telstar 18V mission launch info
Launch Time: 11:28 p.m. EDT on Sunday, September 9 (A four-hour backup launch window opens at 11:28 p.m. EDT on Monday, September 10, or 3:28 UTC on Tuesday, September 11.) Launch Location: Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Building the Dr Zooch Saturn V (part 1)
Not going to be doing any spray painting this week, so I decided to start a new rocket. From sad experience I know my capacity for procrastination is near limitless so if I want to make the July 21, 2019 deadline I figured starting on the Saturn V now would be a good idea. Said…
[Read More]

Cold Propellant Model Rocket Safety Code
In the blog comments, a question came up about substantial metal in a Vashon model rocket. Tom's comment:  "I was under the impression that metal body tubes weren't allowed . . ." My response: "I think the Vashon aluminum rockets got a "pass" from the NAR. Back then you couldn't get BP model ...
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 17, Parachute B
There were enough round tape disks to attach all eight lines. I was surprised to find out the Mylar disks were still sticky and usable! I tied a knot at the ends of the four lines. The knot was set at the edge of the round tape disk. The disks were pressed on the corners of the Mylar. I did a ...
[Read More]

BAR Fleet #117 - FlatCat Boost/Glider
Scratch Built From Published Plans Designer:   G. Harry Stine Type:   Conventional Pop-Pod Boost/Glider Stages:   Single Engine Type:   18mm Recovery:   Streamer , Glider Length:   47.5cm Weight Empty:   25.0g Nose Cone:   Short Elliptical Color Scheme: ...
[Read More]

Vashon Valkyrie II, Finished
I finally got a Vashon Valkyrie II! Every rocketeer has a model from their past they want to rebuild. This was fun and brought back a lot of memories. I'll pick up a separator/timer somewhere down the Ebay road. For now the upper parachute section works for me. Thanks again to Doug Frost for ...
[Read More]

Streamer Duration Rocket Build, Background
In 1975 I tied for second place in Streamer Duration at NARAM 17. It was luck, I really didn't know what I was doing. If I remember correctly, it was a 13mm, A engine competition. I probably used an MPC Mini-Jet. I was surprised after seeing the other competitors models. Mine was finished in ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, #14 - It''s Deja Vu All Over Again!
As I have been wrapping up the final details of the recent Canopus-2 and FlatCat rocket builds, I took some time to descend the dark, dank staircase that leads to the secret BlastFromThePast rocket la-BOR-atory, activate the hidden secret bookshelf and pull out a large secret notebook ...
[Read More]

Streamer D Rocket Build, Part 1, Parts
This one was built for the Streamer Duration competition at the recent NARAM 60. Not much here -  A 9 3/4" long BT-5 tube, balsa nose cone, Kevlar shock cord, three 1/32" thick plywood fins, playwood ordered from BMS and a 2 mil competition streamer kit from ASP. The streamer is 4" wide X 40" ...
[Read More]

Streamer D Rocket Build, Part 2, Fins
Normally I wouldn't cut fins with scissors. But this plywood is only 1/32" thick! It cuts easily if your scissors are sharp. It was fairly easy to sand an airfoil in the fins. The interior color layers make a good depth gauge when sanding. If you are inexperienced in airfoil sanding, cut out a few ...
[Read More]

Streamer D Rocket Build, Part 3, Tube Smoothing & Nose Cone Shoulder Fit
The seams on this BT-5 tube were almost non-existent. I didn't fill the seams. I did lightly sand with 220 grit and polished with 400 grit. The shoulder of the nose cone was a little wider than the outside diameter of the body tube. With the nose cone in place you can use the sanding block to take ...
[Read More]

Sandman's Rocket Naming Contest!
On YORF, Gordon posted that he is selling a lot of unopened kits. He posted a picture of his clone builds using the PNC-50SP nose cone. "Actually I heard, I may be wrong but the PNC 50SP cone was actually a Centuri cone but I have no confirmation on that. Below are pics of my clones...well, some of ...
[Read More]

SpaceX webcast about future BFR Moon mission
SpaceX has made two announcements in the past 24 hours. they have signed the first private citizen for the mission to fly around the moon in the BFR “Only 24 humans have been to the Moon in history. No one … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Streamer D Rocket Build, Part 4, Kevlar Notch and Paint
The fins are glued on a bit forward of the end to allow a wrap of tape for engine retention. The root edge of one fin is marked for a notch. The Kevlar line is knotted and glued on the root edge so the model will hang parallel to the ground under the streamer. This adds even more drag during ...
[Read More]

Streamer D Rocket Build, Part 5, ASP Streamer
I picked a 4" X 40" streamer from ASP. This is thicker Mylar than what I am used to, it is 2 mils thick. I didn't know if the folded streamer would even fit into the BT-5 body, I could always trim it down to a smaller 10 to 1 size ratio. There is a piece of wire, used as a reinforcement "spine" ...
[Read More]

Building the Dr Zooch Saturn V (part 2)
Isn’t it amazing how much worse spirals look after priming?   Advertisements
[Read More]

Streamer D Rocket Build, Finished
The Kevlar line is attached through a small hole in one fin. This allows the rocket to fall horizontally adding to the overall drag and a longer duration. Notice the NAR number on the lower body. All NAR competition models must have the NAR number on them. That came in handy when somebody brought ...
[Read More]

ModelRockets.us Nexus Rocket - No Glue, No Cutting!
Every major vendor has their own version of a "school rocket". All claim theirs is easy to build. This new NEXUS model from Discount Rocketry - ModelRockets.us might have the winning design edge. While a few of the Estes E2X models are glueless or snap-together, the modelrockets.us Nexus gives the ...
[Read More]

Estes Little Joe I Coming Soon!
On YORF, "The Mole" was the first to find and post the latest "Coming Soon" announcement from Estes - It's always interesting to see the parts laid out! To see the catalog listing, CLICK HERE The fins are built up with an external card stock skin. There are new nozzle pieces molded in white ...
[Read More]

BAR Fleet #118 Bandit 3
             Source:   Estes Industries Kit #: 2435   1 of 3 Type:   Sport Model   Stages: Single Engine Type: 13mm Recovery:   Streamer or parachute   Length:   27.8cm Diameter:   18.8mm Weight Empty:   ...
[Read More]

Why You Should Be Excited About Odd’l Rockets’ New BT-20H Body Tubes
It’s hard to get excited about a cardboard tube. But, when that tube opens up new possibilities for model rocketry, it is newsworthy. The Odd’l Rockets BT20-H Heavy-walled BT-20 Body Tube Odd’l Rockets is now producing a thicker-walled, heavier BT-20 … Continue reading ...
[Read More]

An Astronomical Interlude
A couple of posts back, I mentioned that my grand-kids were over for a visit on Saturday, during which we built the three models in the Estes '3 Bandits' kit. Later that evening, I happened to look outside and see a bright, nearly first quarter moon hanging in the sky. I pulled out my old 60mm ...
[Read More]

Odd'l BT-20H Tubes Featured On Another Blog -
"Why You Should Be Excited About Odd'l Rockets NEW BT-20H Body Tubes" - To read the article,  CLICK HERE Check out the wall thickness, the BT-20H (heavy wall) tube is on the right side. These tubes are available only from jonrocket.com!  CLICK HERE Am I plugging my new product? You bet - ...
[Read More]

BPS Landing Model Rockets video series
So glad to see the first two episodes of this released today. Congratulations to Joe Barnard and thanks for all his great work. This opens another door for model rocketry where research and technology evolve it to the next level. … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Interesting Ebay Clone
Here's one I found on Ebay -  ESTES Clone OOP STAR RIDER Rocket Model Kit Vintage #2010 At first glance it looks like a OOP bagged Estes kit. Turns out it's a clone. The seller has copied the face card and hang tag. How can you list it as vintage when it's a clone? Take a good look at the ...
[Read More]

Syracuse Rocket Club launch: Unexpected company
There were thunderstorms with heavy rain last night. I don’t know if they missed our field or what, but it was dry today, to my surprise. There was a moderate breeze when we set up but it calmed by noon. At one point we got a partial sun halo.Pretty nice flying day all in all. ...
[Read More]

How Many Tube Seams?
Estes has the Explorer Aquarius now listed in the "What's New" page on their site: CLICK HERE There are NINETEEN (count 'em - 19) external tubes on this one. That's 19 tube seams to fill! You don't have to fill the seams, but knowing me . . . This time around you have the option of the E12 engine. ...
[Read More]

Honest Check-In!
Well, my Estes Maxi Honest John rebuild/ upgrade must be the slowest project ever (we're on about twenty something years now), but I did make a little progress this weekend! You see, this weekend was rainy and dark...perfect building weather! So, I jumped in! But before I get into what I got done, ...
[Read More]

More Rocket Stuff....
This week I popped into the local HobbyTown store.  The primary reason for the visit was to pick up a couple packs of B4-2 motors with which to fly my latest glider models.  For some reason, Hobby Lobby doesn't see fit to stock that particular flavor. Of course, while I was there, I just ...
[Read More]

Andrew's Rocketry Shop (ARS) releases the K-04 Mini Patriot
  Andrew's Rocketry Shop (ARS) is proud to announce the release of the K-04 Mini Patriot! The mini version of the popular K-01 Patriot will be a great addition to your ARS rocket fleet! Dimensions: 7 inches tall 13mm diameter Laser cut fiber fins Balsa nose cone Streamer recovery Flies up to ...
[Read More]

Sprint60's F-16 Build
A port from YORF: Here's a brief update. We've flown these a number of times now, drag racing fun; the last time at NARAM 60.  I finally have the paint finished, decals placed and canopies installed.  I don't have a pic of all four and one of them is still missing the nose cone. ...
[Read More]

Home Print Decal Clear Coat TIPS, Part 1
No - this aint' no ugly puppet show. When spraying decals you should be wearing a mask and find some sort of cover for your hand. The UV clear gloss acrylic paint is sticky and is hard to remove from your skin. I save and re-use grocery bags. Three coats of Krylon UV Resistant Clear is about ...
[Read More]

The hours before...
Today is clear and comfortable, with light winds out of the NNE - perfect for the Geezer TARC launch in a few hours... Ready to compete! I'm all packed up, with altimeters charged, eggs weighed, rockets loaded with parachutes, and low power pad/controller bagged for use by the modroc flyers. So ...
[Read More]

Home Print Decal Clear Coat TIPS, Part 2
When you are spraying a lot of decals for different kits, it's easy to lose track of how many coats have been sprayed. I keep a Sharpie handy. Each small dot designates the sheet got one coat. Spray the second coat with the sheet in the "landscape" position. Turning the sheet helps with complete ...
[Read More]

Building the Dr Zooch Saturn V (part 3)
So I did fill the spirals after all, lazily wisely skipping the areas that will be covered by wraps, and then painted the body white. The instructions recommend flat white, but my preference is to do gloss white and then use a dull clear coat at the end. You do the engine fairings by gluing ...
[Read More]

At long last...
In my previous post, I mentioned that the day was perfect for flying - clear skies, light wind, and comfortable temperatures. Soon after arriving at Pegasus, I realized that the latter was most definitely not true; low-to-mid eighties may seem not so bad when displayed on the screen of a cell ...
[Read More]

What I learned from this year's Geezer TARC...
I spent a lot of time with my designs and simulations this year. Here's what I took away from yesterday's launch: Reliant's flight profile from the PNUT altimeter (Click to enlarge). 1) As expected, the simulated altitudes are overly optimistic, by tens of feet in my case. Reliant was predicted to ...
[Read More]

Fliskits Saturn 1B Score!
Most all of us know that Fliskits is closing up production. Jim Flis announced that a limited number of Saturn 1B kits would be available this week. I've been looking for a kit, it's been out of production for quite a white. I kept an eye on the website and it was listed for orders on Saturday. ...
[Read More]

A Definite MUST-BUILD Scale Model Rocket!
I recently downloaded from the NAR website a copy of Peter Alway's " The Art of Scale Model Rocketry ". Within the pages of this excellent book I found this.....and immediately cracked up! You readers might be wondering why I should find anything even remotely humorous about ...
[Read More]

Building the Dr Zooch Saturn V (part 4)
At a later step, the instructions tell you to fill in the black roll pattern between the two lowest wraps by brush painting. I decided not to do that. Instead I chose to use black vinyl, AKA blackboard contact paper, and it seemed best to do it now before putting the next wrap on. I…
[Read More]

It's the end of the line for Rockets Magazine :(
Well, as many of us had suspected, Rockets Magazine is no more. You can now download the final issue for free ( direct link ). The main article is a post-mortem with a walk down memory lane. I had fun reading the magazine both in print and digital formats and even helped out a bit by gathering and ...
[Read More]

Estes New Saturn V Art
From the Facebook Model Rocketry Fanatics page:  Aldo Spadoni to Model Rocketry Fanatics!!! I’m very excited and proud to announce that Estes Industries has licensed my artwork to illustrate and promote their upcoming Apollo 11 50th anniversary Saturn V model rocket kit! Building and ...
[Read More]

Ed Brown - Estes
From Matt Steele - NAR Facebook Page - It is with great sadness that I must pass on to the group that my good friend "Ed"  Edwin Brown  passed away today after a long illness. Ed was responsible for ov erseeing the production of almost every Estes model rocket motors you have ever flown. ...
[Read More]

Estes Mercury Little I Unboxing
James Duffy opens up the new Estes Little Joe I kit on YouTube: You'll see all the parts right out of the bag plus videos of the real test launches. To view the video: CLICK HERE James also tell the story of the mysterious "black fin".
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., October 6, 2018
Finally - A dry week and a dry field! Orlando R.O.C.K. hasn't had a launch in a few months. I pulled out my Odd'l SPUTNIK for the anniversary. The A10-3t got it to 125' with featherweight recovery. The MicroMaxx BLUE BIRD ZERO was next. The MMX engine lofted it to 80'. Streamer recovery brought it ...
[Read More]

Yet ANOTHER Must-Build Scale Model
I am continuing to find special items of interest within the pages of Peter Alway's The Art Of Scale Model Rocketry book. This time, it's all about the page showing the scale plans for the ASP rocketsonde.... The prototype round depicted in these plans just happened to be launched at ...
[Read More]

1 Mega Cowabunga, 2 months, 2 L motors
I'm behind.  I therefore deem it appropriate to place my April and July 2018 flights in a single blog post.  'Cause that's how I roll.      This Mega Cowabunga simply rules.  It's of a stubby aspect ratio but it's diameter is eight inches.  And is has a 98mm motor ...
[Read More]

Quest Q-jet Cs and Ds Are Shipping
It seems the entire selection of Q-Jet motors are now available for shipment, A - D 18mm composite engines.  I did an online order for some Q-Jet motors on October 5. This email was sent on Monday, October 8 -  Hi Hans C Michielssen Thank you for your recent purchase from h ...
[Read More]

Q-Jet Cutaway
I launched my first Q-Jet this last weekend, an A3-4. Here's the engine after firing. This was from a bulk pack, there is no label on the bulk pack engines. The scratches are from the engine hook, the tape was set down the casing lengthwise as a guide for cutting it in two. Never, no NEVER cut ...
[Read More]

N.E.F.A.R. Launch, Bunnell, FL, October 13, 2018
Florida is still hot but it wasn't as bad as an August launch! Low winds, maybe 5 mph and clear skies. I'm still getting used to a new camera. I bought a used 75 - 300 mm zoom lens and that led to more camera adventures. Roger and Bracha Smith (JonRocket.com) drove me up to Bunnell. Here's a new ...
[Read More]

Holtville, October 6th, Launch Report
Last weekend's launch was the club's first since it's cooled a bit.  I had planned to attend this weekend's Lucerne launch, Octoberfest, but received notice it had been cancelled due to previous rains and pooling on the lakebed,  Oh well... back to last weekend.      I had ...
[Read More]

First HARA launch of 2018...
Warning! Many pics in this post! Folks gathering around the RSO/LCO tents - Chris Short's trailer of wondrous rocket goodies is in the background (Click to enlarge). Yesterday's weather was perfect for flying rockets - mostly sunny skies, a light wind from the north, ...
[Read More]

No Model Rocketry This Past Weekend...
We received our first Colorado snowfall over the weekend, and even hit a record low temperature. This is a pic out my back patio door as I wistfully watched the snow fall, wishing I could be out flying rockets, instead.  Had to stay inside and torture myself by watching the Broncos ...
[Read More]

Holy Rocket, Batman!
Stan Huls posted on the NAR Facebook page: "So, I was sanding out some imperfections on my Nike X when I may have received some sort of Divine message. As I worked on the area just below the nose an image of the Virgin Mary began to appear. I have seen posts with the image on everything from ...
[Read More]

Q-Jets Arrive!
These came in the mail on October 16, just in time for last Saturdays N.E.F.A.R. launch. Now I have to wait until the N.E.F.A.R. Bunnell Blast,November 10 & 11.
[Read More]

NAR 60th Year Reunion, Part 18 - A Very Cool Steampunk Rocket!
This post about the reunion is a tad bit late. I had taken this photo at the event of this rocketeer and his very impressive upscale 'Steampunk' Orion Starfighter.  Unfortunately, I had forgotten the gentleman's name, and his name tag in the photo is not very clear. I ...
[Read More]

First Man Movie - Abort!
I'd been looking forward to the new movie - First Man. There is a new theater about five miles away, The Epic. I drove over last night for the 10:10 p.m. show. I figured there would be smaller crowds. I went up to the ticket desk. I asked about the Senior Discount, there isn't one. I did get to ...
[Read More]

Upcoming Estes Releases -
On TRF, Turbofireball posted this: My local hobby shop showed me this info today regarding new Estes kits: EST-0865 Mini Mean Machine Model Rocket Kit (Skill Level 1) $14.99  EST-1250 Interceptor Model Rocket Kit (Skill Level 2) (Re-Issue) $29.99  EST-1329 Multi-Roc Model Rocket Kit ...
[Read More]

Andrew's Rocketry Shop (ARS) releases the K-05 Imp
Andrew's Rocketry Shop (ARS) is proud to announce the release of K-05 Imp 4" tall 13mm diameter Laser cut balsa fins Tumble recovery Flies up to 650' It's less expensive than our competitor's version of this rocket, and it it better because you don't have to cut out the fins, they're done for ...
[Read More]

Syracuse Rocket Club launch: Lean in
The forecast for today was showers and wind. The wind part was right. So was the showers part, eventually. It was maybe warmer than you have a right to expect in Syracuse in mid October, if you were out of the wind, but we weren’t. We didn’t expect a large turnout for the last club ...
[Read More]

A Run-in at the N.E.F.A.R. Monthly
On October 13 I had an interesting interaction with a another flyer. While waiting for the next rack, a flyer talked up his 3D printed model. He was pleased with his work. Larger than a BT-60 diameter, it looked thick and heavy. I asked which engine he was going to use. He said: "A D12-7. I asked ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: 21 October, 2018 - ..And Then There Were Three...
...Old BARs, that is.... Nearly perfect model rocket flying weather prevailed as James Gazur, Mike Goss, and myself converged on Dove Valley Regional Park in Centennial, Colorado to poke some holes in the sky. Upon arriving at the field, we found that there were two soccer games in progress, so we ...
[Read More]

First Man - Go!
I went to a matinee to see first man. That first attempt at the newest theater in the area was charging $15.00, I declined. The theater I saw it in wasn't new, but still clean. It was two miles farther away but the ticket price was an agreeable $7.45. No comments except to say it is a worthwhile ...
[Read More]

An Interesting Lunar Patrol Photo Sequence !
While I was pulling a still frame out of the Lunar Patrol flight video I took on my Android phone last Sunday, October 21st, I noticed something very unusual - At ignition, the starter plug struck the launcher and bounced straight up alongside of the rocket !  It appears in each frame of this ...
[Read More]

Cutaway Engine Background
Here's the Cutaway Engine I remember, it was there in the 1970 Estes catalog but I never ordered one. Here's a picture of that Cutaway Engine I found on Ebay. Pretty rough, it even has band saw marks! Centuri had a Cutaway Engine model but it wasn't around long. It was only available in the 1971 ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets Cutaway Engine Build, Part 1, Parts
Here's what the PDF looks like. It prints out on 65 lb. card stock. You'll also need a 6 1/2" long piece of BT-60. Tools: Sharp knife, wood glue, glue stick, straight edge, butter knife with no serrated tip and a burnisher. This is simply a flat face print with end caps glued to a half tube. It is ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets Cutaway Engine Build, Part 2, Pre-Fold Embossing
Cut the 6 1/2" long BT-60 tube in half, lengthwise. Smooth the cut edges with a sanding block with 220 grit. The dashed lines are embossed with a dull butter knife and straight edge. Pick a butter knife without serrations on the tip. Here the knife tip is drawn down the straightedge on the fold ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets Cutaway Engine Build, Part 4, Gluing It Together
Test fit the end caps without glue to get an idea how they fit the curved ends. Spread a thin coat of wood glue around the tube end and slide the end cap from the inside towards the outside edge. Press the folded triangles into the glue with a tapered burnisher like this pen tip. The ink tip is ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets Cutaway Engine Build, Part 3, Rounding Over End Folds
The end cap on the left has been folded. Fold the triangles under with your fingers first. The triangle corners can be rounded a bit more by rolling over the corners with the burnisher. Round out the small bent back corners for a better fit in the end of the half body tube. Fold the side flaps ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets Cutaway Engine Build, Part 5, Labels & Finished
The labels are optional, they are set above the cutaway model to show their position. Use a pencil tip or sharpened dowel to hold down the labels when applying the glue stick. Here's the finished model. It's a very easy carded build. It might take a second try to get the end caps to fit well. If ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Background
Estes unveiled their 1/70th scale Saturn 1B in 1967. The first catalog appearance was in their 1968 catalog, kit # K-29. Gene Street did the kit design. The retail price was $9.50. The same Apollo capsule and tower was used on the new Little Joe II kit. The capsule and tower could also be ordered ...
[Read More]

Onboard camera footage of Soyuz MS-10 launch failure
Rocosmos Media just released onboard camera footage: Advertisements
[Read More]

On-board video from the Soyuz MS-10 launch failure, via Roscomos Media

[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 1, Opening The Box
Anybody who has purchased the Semroc kit is surprised by how small the box is. Semroc listed this kit as a Skill Level 4. I don't agree, any model that has a tower assembled of dowels should be a Level 5 build. There is a lot inside the box, tubes inside tubes! To the left is a bagged Apollo ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 2, Capsule and Tower Parts
I was going to start on the engine mounts and body construction but was missing the couplers and engine hooks. I called Semroc (ERockets) and was assured they would be sent right out. So we'll start with the capsule and tower kit. Clockwise from the left -  The screw eye seems too big. The ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 3, Dowel Prep
Building an escape tower isn't easy, sort of a rocketry Rite Of Passage. Like every new build challenge, don't expect perfection in your first try. I've heard a few say: "I can't build that, I have fat fingers." Give it a shot, you might surprise yourself. Get a new sharp blade, change out the old ...
[Read More]

Maxi Honest John Rebuild- Construction Finale!
Well, it seems like this project has been dragging on FOREVER. That's probably because it has. If you remember our last post (way back in September, I think) we were waiting to slap on the "motor band" detail and then run off to the races with paint and decals. Now, over a month later....I finally ...
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., November 3, 2018
Today it was cool in the high 60s to low 70s! I grabbed a light jacket as I left the house. Winds were 10 mph so many switched out parachutes to streamers. There were some thermals, a few rockets with parachutes would momentarily hang during recovery. I thought it had to be warmer for thermals. ...
[Read More]

Two new builds from Chris Michielssen
More great downloadable paper rocket builds from Chris Downscale Red Max Downscale Red Max Model of Cut-away Engine Cutaway Engine PDF More of Chris Michielssen’s  rockets here Advertisements
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 4, Making The Tower
Use the full size patterns to cut four tower sides to length. TIP: Don't just roll your knife blade across the rolling dowel - Roll forward a half turn and stop. Keep the blade in the cut slot. Roll back towards yourself and do a full turn , this cuts beyond the first half turn cut. This helps ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 5, Making The Tower
You'll have to make two more sets of the horizontal center struts. TIP: To keep the side ends even, I pinned two vertical flat toothpicks down first. The center horizontal struts are not glued to the side flat toothpicks, you only glue use the center "Z" and two diagonals beneath it. Again, using ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 6, Making The Tower
Four sets of upper internal "V" struts and four sets of (slightly larger) lower "V" struts are made. The V tops are trimmed flat after the sides are glued together. I didn't see any need for using the headed pins here. The small pieces of dowel on the right are all that's left after the upper and ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 7, Making The Tower
Even though I reduced the dowel diameters, the fit was too tight in the assembly jig holes. The holes were widened slightly with my small rat tail file. Don't remove too much, you still want a tight fit in the jig. GOTCHA: Notice the directions of the "Z" struts. This has been shown incorrectly in ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 8, Making The Tower
Don't forget to add some glue to the inside joints. You can use a little more glue here, it won't be seen from the outside. Apply small dots of glue with a toothpick tip. The bottom (slightly larger) inside V strut assembly is slipped inside and seated on top of the top of the "Z". Glue in place ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 9, Escape Tower Tail & Cone Fix
The low end of the escape tower nose and tail cone was chipped and very rough. I probably wouldn't have included this part in the kit. A bead of thinned CWF was rolled on the edge using a Q-tip. This was sanded with 220 grit on a block. I had to go back and do more filling and sanding. Here you ...
[Read More]

NEFAR Bunnell Blast Cancelled - Field Lost
From the N.E.F.A.R. Facebook page: Ladies and gentlemen, It is my sad duty to announce the cancellation of this weekend’s launch along with the permanent cessation of all launch activities at the Clegg Sod Farm. Please spread the word as quickly as possible to prevent anyone from ...
[Read More]

New Saturn V Information from John Boren
Posted on Y.O.R.F. The upcoming all plastic 1/200 Scale  ARTF  Saturn V, The Mole wrote: John has posted on the other forum. The other Saturn V was briefly shown at the NARAM 60 manufacturers forum. It will be a 1/200 scale model, all molded in plastic and completely painted and ready ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 10, Balsa Fill & Detail Pieces
There's a rounded notch around the capsule. The center hole of the shroud rests against this notch. It's not easy to sand this clean, I wrapped 400 grit around a Q-tip for some even soft pressure. The ridge around the escape tower tail cone is sanded with 400 grit in a "soft" fold. The C/M and S/M ...
[Read More]

Sport Rocketry Magazine, November/December IIssue
That's Brian Urban's Pershing on the cover of the November/December issue of Sport Rocketry. Brian is a great builder, he launches with the Tampa TTRA section. I didn't place in any competitions, but I did made it to the pages of the magazine! Here I'm sliding my Parachute Duration model ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 11, Escape Motor Nozzles
Forming the escape nozzles is confusing. I would have preferred a simple cone shape with a glue tab on one side. For some reason the nozzle sides are double thickness. TIP: Cut the center of the nozzle first. This gives you something to hold onto with your left hand. The wiggle line curves are ...
[Read More]

FlisKits Saturn 1B Kit Arrives!
My FlisKits Saturn 1B came in the mail a few days back! Sure, it arrives just as I'm working on the Semroc Saturn 1B. Don't expect me to start the FlisKits version anytime soon. I'm sure I'll be tired of the Saturn 1B when this current Semroc build is finished. I had wanted this kit for quite a ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 12, Nozzles & Capsule Shroud
The wide end of the nozzles got a wipe of medium CA glue. The tapered dowel was quickly set in the nozzle and twisted to it wouldn't be glued in place. This helped "lock" the nozzle in a round shape. It also stiffens up the ends for flat sanding. Here is all four nozzles. They are all the same ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 14, Escape Tower Decals
The paper cone wrap was opened, traced and the curve corrected with a cheap compass. A 1" line is drawn for reference. A photo is taken and dropped into Corel Draw.  A 1" square was drawn in Corel and the picture sized to match the 1" line. A full circle was drawn to match the arc in the cone ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 13, Escape Tower Decals
The Semroc instructions say: "The capsule may be painted/finished as shown below." Rather than try to hand draw these on the model, I decided to make up some decals and hope they fit. I know there is probably some way to calculate the wrap around decals, I go the easy way without any math. To get ...
[Read More]

Working on Team Redstone...
My rocket ADD kicked in again, flaring up due to my seeing a lot of photos of models of Mercury Redstones, Gemini Titans, and Saturns recently. The 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 is coming up, so I reckon I should spend some time building replicas of the manned vehicles of the past - other projects ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 15, Escape Tower Painting
Before the decals can be applied, all the tower pieces were painted gloss white. I tend to paint my scale models with gloss paint. Flat white paint is a dirt and finger oil magnet. You can quickly soil a good finish. Dirt and oils don't stick to gloss paint. If the rocket gets dirty it can be ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 16, Escape Tower Decals
I never understood how Estes expected anybody to draw these lines and details on the escape motor assembly. Both Estes and Semroc Apollo Capsule instructions suggest this trim. I have plenty of experience using Rapidograph pens and don't know how to pull this off. Straight lines around curved ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Es’hail-2 satellite launch info
ES’HAIL-2 MISSION –Updates HERE SpaceX is targeting launch of the Es’hail-2 satellite. Launch time: Thursday, November 15 from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The primary launch window opens at 3:46 p.m. EST, or 20:46 … Continue reading ...
[Read More]

Built from Scratch - A Tale of Two Berthas - Part 1
I recently finished building two Big Bertha rockets - from scratch, rather than from kits. As a guide, I used the original plans, published by Estes in Model Rocket News in 1963 , when Bertha was a free plan, before it was sold as a kit (the Big Bertha is now the longest continually produced ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 17, Seam Filling
I know I'm not finished with the capsule and tower, but to work around paint dry times I'll probably have to jump around a bit. The large diameter tubes had some rough edges. It's understandable, big thin tubes are hard to cut. A few passes with a sanding block easily cleaned up the edges. Filling ...
[Read More]

Coming Soon - Estes Saturn V, Kit #1969
Now on the Estes "Coming Soon page - CLICK HERE "Once again, Estes has brought back the famous Saturn V! This famed rocket was the first vehicle to send man to the moon and is one of the finest 1:100th scale models kits ever produced. Scaled from official NASA drawings, the finished model is 43.25 ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 18, Antennas Prep
While the paint on the capsule and tower dry -  The antenna parts are laser cut on thick fiber board. There were some antenna pieces not on the master sheet. They weren't found in the bag, I thought they were missing. There were more parts on a smaller piece of fiber board. Each antenna base ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 15 - A Photo Of Bill Roe
  I have this old photo which I took in April, 1978 of none other than NAR pioneer Bill Roe (NAR #13).     Sorry for the bad image – at the time, I had a really cheap camera, and did not possess much in the way of photography skills. The club I belonged to ...
[Read More]

Secret Santa 2018
Today was the Saturday before Thanksgiving, which meant Walt’s HobbyTown’s Secret Santa Sale and Open House, which meant Syracuse Rocket Club on display. Last year I made stands to display model rocket motors, but this year I decided to remake them. On the black powder stand I’d ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 19, Antennas Prep
To avoid confusion, I suggested joining the two antenna base sides suing a strip of paper on the back. Well, I got one wrong! The first base on the left is incorrect. The right side should be longer like the others. I went back, peeled off the paper strip and joined them correctly. Small pieces ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 20, Antennas Paint
After all the prep and paint - The laser cut box lines were longer than all the antenna pieces! These low end lines will be visible. I had to go back and and fill the low end. Damn. CWF, paint, sand and a last shot of white. The yellow antennas were set next to the top of the peeled slots. The new ...
[Read More]

Rocket Builds On Hold Temporarily
This past week I have had to take a hiatus from continuing work on the Protostar as well as a couple of other parallel builds,  The main reason is I am trying to shake off a very severe "cough due to cold". While loading up on cough syrup, cough drops, and my wife's wonderful Korean ...
[Read More]

Level One- Success! ...and Failure...
As some of you may recall, last October I attempted to get my level one with my home-brew Star Trek Starter Kit upscale rocket. Actually, I tried twice...and crashed twice. The first I write off to weird igniter placement that resulted in a sputtering underpowered flight that made the ground come ...
[Read More]

We're working on a new website
We're working on getting a new website and we hope to have it done by the end of the year. This website/blog will remain up until then. We will make an announcement, so you'll see the new link. Quick update on our rocket kits for sale: We are going to release two new rocket kits on Wednesday, ...
[Read More]

Building the Dr Zooch Saturn V (part V)
I guess I’m overdue for an update on this rocket. I’ve been gluing on a piece here, a piece there, over the past few weeks. It’s looking like this now. Today I cut the fins out. Still need shaping. Advertisements
[Read More]

2018 Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale
Shop our online catalog for amazing deals.Thursday, November, 22, through Monday, November, 26, 2018. JonRocket.com’s 2018 Holiday Sale features deep discounts off our already low prices on rocket kits, parts, accessories, and supplies. US orders which total $48 or more ship … Continue ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 21, Parachute
The edges on the eight sided 32" plastic sheet parachute (picnic tablecloth material) were roughly cut. No chute assembly instructions were provided. The material seemed very thin. I'll assemble the kit parachute but will probably use two 18" Odd'l Rockets parachutes (side by side) on the finished ...
[Read More]

Rocket vs Drone - video

[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 22, Flattening The Cardstock
Okay, here's the most boring blog post yet - Ironing! There are a lot of parts crammed into that small shipping box. I wish the card stock wasn't rolled up inside a body tube. You can't glue down the fin skins or covered detailed pieces when the card stock has a curl in it. I first tried getting ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Falcon Heavy Model Flies
Joe Barnard over at BPS has posted his flight video of his FH model’s first flight. As expected with most BPS productions it’s an amazing video. There is a lot of great talk also about modeling and how much can ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 23, Built-Up Fins
The internal fin ribs are laser cut from 1/16" thick basswood. A real improvement over the old Estes kit that included die-cut balsa. The laser cutting was very clean. I did some smooth sanding with 400 grit before removing the parts from the sheet. Each of the eight fins has five internal rib ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 24, Built-Up Fins
After the trailing edge and center line were embossed - Here's the other side of the card stock. Notice the embossed lines aren't very deep. Cut out the fin skins using a new blade and a metal straight edge. I keep any group of small parts in Zip-Lock baggies. TIP: I used my metal architect ruler ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 26, Built-Up Fins
Please note: These build times are for construction of a single fin. Do some test fitting on the internal braces before gluing anything in place. The smaller upper edge of the first "A" brace should be sanded at an angle to fit against the "B" brace. TIP: Set the fin angle and the sanding block ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 25, Built-Up Fins
The center crease is done gradually. I can pinch the fold over the top of the architect ruler. The final sharp fold is burnished with the back end of a Sharpie barrel. Be careful not to burnish over the trailing edge crease, it is subtle but should still be easily seen. Here's all the fin skins ...
[Read More]

Nov 25, 2018
!DCA 11/393 ZDC AIRSPACE UNMANNED ROCKET WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 3NM RADIUS OF LVL331027.4 SFC-6600FT 1811251500-1811252200 The weather looks great for Sunday from noon to 4 PM at Boswell field. Email kdunn@hsc.edu or call 434-390-2156 to express interest. At … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 27, Built-Up Fins
The A-E markings on the inside of the skin don't relate to the order of the printed instructions. Follow the printed instructions for the best fit of the parts. The trailing edge spar is glued next along the bottom. Glue the small tip rib. Sand the taper on the bottom of long brace rib to fit the ...
[Read More]

Apollo lecture by Gene Krantz
This video from Gene Krantz was forwarded to be via my old MCC contacts. Since it was so widely shared, I will quote his original email. Enjoy! Team and friends, I had the privilege to speak at Flight Jacket Night at the Smithsonian. I was following many great airmen and many were in the a ...
[Read More]

Launch! Schoolyard, November 25, 2018
I haven't had a Schoolyard Soccer field launch since last June. The weather is finally cooling down to make chasing rockets comfortable. While many think more power is better, small fields and small diameter rockets are great with A8-3 engines. Unless it is an altitude record attempt, I prefer to ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 28, Retro Rocket Housings
I assembled the retro rocket housings as shown in the instructions. The end results weren't great. I wonder if the average builder was be happy with them as assembled like they were in the original Estes kit. I'll show how I put them together the first time, then later show the second try. 1/8" ...
[Read More]

Ashasta-Sadie Kit Instructions Are Back!
All the archived kit instructions are back on a new Ashasta-Sadie web page. They were gone for a while, my old links wouldn't bring anything up. To see all the available instructions: CLICK HERE http://www.ashasta-sadie.com/ Between the Jim Z's, Ye Olde Rocket Plans and the Ashasta-Sadie sites, ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 29, Retro Rocket Housings
After the center contact line had dried, some glue was sneaked onto the angled top of the launch lug. The ends were held in place until the glue set up. A line of glue was applied down the knife blade. This was spread beside the launch lug side. I used my sanding block to apply an even pressure ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Cutaway Motor On Display
From Richard Holmes Rich's Rockets Blog: "Today was the Saturday before Thanksgiving, which meant Walt’s HobbyTown’s Secret Santa Sale and Open House, which meant Syracuse Rocket Club on display. This is exactly how I hoped to see the Cutaway Engine used. To visit the Rich Holmes "Born-Again ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 30, Retro Rocket Housings
The sides weren't even. This would be a poor fit on the body. Some medium CA was applied to just the lower edge to harden up the card stock. This makes it easier and cleaner to sand. Light sanding followed with 220 grit on a sanding block. I stopped when the launch lug was touching the sandpaper. ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 31, New Retro Rocket Housings
Here's a picture from the Apogee website. This clean build was done by Phillip Gore. Notice the retro housings are different. The Estes Saturn 1B was modeled after one of the the earliest Saturn 1B rocket, close to the SA-201. With some help from this picture and Alway's Rockets Of The World book ...
[Read More]

The weather sucks...
and it is putting a major downer on rocket activities. This November in Huntsville has been unusually rainy, forcing the cancellation of the monthly launch and preventing me from making progress on my builds, which are still sitting in primer. I am seriously hoping that December will be drier, as ...
[Read More]

The new ARS website
Introducing the new ARS website, arsrockets.com It will be opened some time in the next week. Please note that we will keep this website up for a few more months, but there will be no more activity on this website. Please go to our new website, arsrockets.com for all kinds of model rocket kits and ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 32, New Retro Rocket Housings
The basswood got a shot of primer/filler and smooth sanding. Very little filler/primer was left after sanding. Two strips of scrap gloss card stock were cut, formed and glued over the top. The pencil line shows the overhang glue position. The front angle was cut using a new razor blade. I didn't ...
[Read More]

SpaceX SSO-A Launch Info
“SpaceX is targeting launch of the Spaceflight SSO-A: SmallSat Express mission to low Earth orbit on Sunday, December 2 from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Carrying 64 payloads, this mission represents the largest … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., December 1, 2018
We were expecting wind and rain so smaller draggy rockets with streamers were prepped. As it ended up, there was just a few sprinkles and 5 mph winds. The FLYING ENGINE MOUNT was launched with an Estes A10-3t engine. This  was the engine mount left over  from the Curvilinear 18mm engine ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 33, Discharge Tubes
It's surprising how many small part details were made using launch lugs. The centers of three discharge tubes are cut from 1/8" launch lugs The outside wrap over skins are cut from the gloss card stock. The wraps were formed into half rounds by rolling the card stock around a bamboo skewer. Set ...
[Read More]

The Estes Maxi Honest John...A Long Awaited Conclusion!
  I now have the pleasure to write a post that was literally decades in the making...the conclusion of the rebuilding of my Honest John! When we last left off, I had created and installed the motor band (a task that took far longer than it should have). Now we move on to painting and ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 34, Vector Control Jet Housings
Why would they provide these in balsa? You are directed to glue these together and sand to shape. After that - "Use the end of the dowel to depress four nozzles in the piece as shown." There is no way to make a sharp edge circle depression in soft balsa. I cut six more pieces out of basswood and ...
[Read More]

Now...Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Program....
This past weekend, the BlastFromThePast shop became fully operational again. An intensive 'Shock and Awe' barrage of medications launched at that nasty cough has started showing its effects. The first order of business was to re-arrange the rocket-building bench (again) to ...
[Read More]

SpaceX CRS-16 Launch Info
“CRS-16 is the sixteenth of up to 20 missions to the International Space Station that SpaceX will fly for NASA under the first CRS contract. The Dragon spacecraft that will support the CRS-16 mission previously supported the CRS-10 mission in … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 35, Vector Control Jet Housings
TIP: Here's one way to make sharp circle recess nozzles. You can also to this to make recesses for screws on scale models. This idea is based on something from an old CMR D Region Tomahawk kit. The end of a 1/8" brass tube was filed to a sharp edge towards the inside diameter. This was polished on ...
[Read More]

Andrew's Rocketry Shop (ARS) is proud to announce that our new website is live!
Andrew's Rocketry Shop (ARS) is proud to announce that our new website is now live! Check it out at  arsrockets.com PLEASE NOTE: All items on the website are listed as "In stock" However, the items that don't have a picture yet, means that we're still waiting to get these parts, meaning, you ...
[Read More]

The Elusive LPR Whistle Rocket, Part 1
At club launches you occasionally hear a Mid Power Rocket whistle during ascent, and sometimes during a fast descent when the parachute ejection fails. From a blog post in October 2010: "Rockets with split fins like the BSD THOR do whistle. I've heard the THOR whistle at N.E.F.A.R. launches. ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 36, Retro Rocket Housing Shape
I looked closer at the Saturn 1B finished model on the Apogee website. This is a beautiful build by Phillip Gore. Check the vacuform retro rocket housings. I realized the tops angle in to a tip, not flat like I had assumed. I'm also using the Alway book, Rockets Of The World. The illustrations in ...
[Read More]

The Elusive LPR Whistle Rocket, Part 2
My Odd'l Rocket Cyclone model does whistle on the way up. It's not loud, but can be heard during the coast phase of the engine burn. The Cyclone has a hole punched in the side of the body tube to allow some of the ejection charge to vent like the old Estes Scout. That hole along with the the hollow ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 37, New Vector Control Housings
Because I'm changing the model to the SA-205 design, the Vector Control Housings will also be changed. The shape is much simpler than the earlier SA-2001 shape. I tried to make the vector control housings out of a 5/16" diameter dowel. The angled top was simply sanded with 200 grit on a block. The ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 38, New Vector Control Housings & Capsule Cover
Just under half of the dowel back was carved off. Leave a little more than half the dowel diameter so a body tube curve can be sanded on the underside. My old sanding block has a curved side. The 220 made a concave dip on the underside. Here's the fit of the housing on the large kit tube. The ...
[Read More]

You're a Model What?
I did a search for the Estes Nose Cone Reference to find some lengths of the BNC-50Y and BNC-20B. Of course, a link to the Estes website came up: Enlarge to read -  I guess a "Model" Racketeer sets a good example for all the shysters.  
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 39, Primer Filler Sanding the H-1 Tubes
Wow! I mentioned before, there are a lot of tube seams to fill. On this post I concentrated on the eight BT-51, H-1 engine tubes. The CWF was already applied in the tube seams. After the filler dried it was reduced with 220 grit followed by 400 grit sanding the filler beads even with the body tube ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 40 Notching the H-1 Tubes
Four of the BT-51N tubes have to be notched to fit around the four engine cluster mount. Notch only four! Mark the tubes for a slot 3/8" wide by 2 7/8" tall. The long sides were marked in pencil using the aluminum angle. The top mark was penciled using a wrap of masking tape to be sure it was ...
[Read More]

Centuri Kit Body Tube Lengths?
On YORF, Scott M asked: Is there a kit by kit list of the body tubes used, and lengths, in a similar way to the published pdf for Estes kits? I have had need lately to look up 3 different Centuri kits body tube info with very difficult to zero success . Currently I am trying to ascertain which ...
[Read More]

New Estes Saturn V, #1969 Pictures
Kevin Foss posted some pictures on the NAR Facebook page: Son of a gun -  The 1/100th scale Lunar Module is the old Revell kit! A closeup showing the detail on the new blow-molded upper transition. Sorry, Kevin didn't post any pictures of the new vacu-form wraps. The rest of the kit looks ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 41, Attitude Control Nozzles
I haven't seen a sharpener like this in a while. Most are housed inside a plastic housing. I tried getting an even nozzle shape using a pencil sharpener but the cut cone shape ended up crooked. I had better luck spinning the dowel between my fingers against a sanding block. Mark the dowel 1/4" ...
[Read More]

Interceptor - It's Coming Back!
  Dan Winings posted the news on the NAR Facebook page: Estes knows their best sellers - To see the the Estes Website listing: CLICK HERE   Looks like Estes might be using some old-style Sci-Fi catalog descriptions: "Envisioned by Estes designers to be operational by ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 42, Attitude Control Nozzles
You'll need 12 nozzles, I made more. I'll pick the best ones and group them into sets of four. TIP: Keep your small parts in zip-lock bags until you need them I rolled a piece of tape sticky side out to do a test fit. I set it below the instruction illustration. To be sure I got the size right, an ...
[Read More]

Estes C-Rail
I remember this page from the older Estes catalogs, but never saw a C Rail up close. Two were listed for auction on Ebay. Somebody on a forum wrote these were actually curtain guides for RV vehicles. That made sense. TRIVIA: These Estes C Rails were the first rail style launch rod, long before ...
[Read More]

FlisKits News -
Jim Flis posted on Facebook -   "Well, papers have been signed, so I can proudly announce that FlisKits has a new home!  The materials, inventory, trademarks and all kit documentation/designs ar e being acquired by Ray DiPoala and Eric Henderson! I am thrilled to know our ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 43, Service Module Paint Pattern
One great thing about modeling the Apollo 7, SA-205 rocket is the detail on the Service Module. The detail wrap can be cut from aluminum Trim Monokote and wrapped around the tube. Here's the drawing from page 284 of Peter Alway's Rockets of the World. It was enlarged to fit the circumference of ...
[Read More]

John Boren's Fin Jig
John Boren posted on the NAR Facebook page: Estes Satellite Interceptor Build "I've been cleaning up my shop this past month or so getting it ready for my big winter builds and I ran across a CD containing these images and text I wrote some time ago for a build thread I did. Way back when for ...
[Read More]

VSS Unity enters Space
Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity makes it into Space for the first time going past the Karman line. Advertisements
[Read More]

Rockets At the Museum
On July 29, 1958, President Eisenhower signed an act that created NASA. The agency is, therefore, 60 years old this year. That is kind of a big deal. In May, DARS outreach officer, George Sprague, put out an all-call to see is anyone could help the Eisenhower Birthplace Museum in Denison, Texas, ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 44, Capsule Details
You knew I'd get back to the capsule and tower sooner or later -  The instructions have you use the tower assembly jig to mark the capsule top for the tower leg ends. If you use the assembly jig, punch out the center hole. The tabs should be trimmed and the open circle lightly sanded so you ...
[Read More]

Estes Mini Mean Machine Coming Soon -
This seems to be Estes' month for re-issue rockets. A mini engine Mini Mean Machine is coming soon. Here's the link: CLICK HERE Where's the nose cone in that parts picture? This one reflects the new blue and white decor of the large version. On YORF, TBZEP said it best: " Looks like the ...
[Read More]

A new project...
Weather continues to be wet and gloomy, but incremental progress is being made. The Estes Mercury Redstone is complete, the Centuri Sky Devil clone has a base coat of white, and I'm still sanding/finishing the 3D printed nose and fins for the Redstone missile and the plastic Jupiter. Sunday's ...
[Read More]

Saturn 1B Designations
The Saturn 1B had changed a bit in it's history. I'm basing my build on the AS-205 Apollo 7 version. This one had the most detail and still kept the alternating black and white H-1 engines in the low end. The earlier AS-201 and AS-202 missions had the white service module, like the Estes kit. ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 45, Capsule Details
The seven lines were cut from some adhesive backed paper from an Avery CD label. Using self-adhesive strips is just cleaner and easier, no glue. Here's a dry fit of the tower. Look below and you can see the subtle tape on the seven lines and the hatch cover. It's not a lot of detail but I think ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 46, Capsule Coupler
A black fish paper coupler is glued to the back of the capsule assembly. TIP: Coupler edges are typically cut at a slight angle. For a stronger glue joint, sand one side of the coupler flat. TIP: The other side can be rounded for smoother insertion and less chance of peeling the inside edge of the ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 47, Engine Mount
Backtracking to the start of the assembly instructions: You have to decide whether to use a 18mm four engine cluster like the original kit or go with the simpler 24mm engine. According to the face card, a D12-3 will get it to 220', a D15-4 to 325'. 220 feet seems low and then have time for a chute ...
[Read More]

Blue Origin New Shepard mission NS-10 launch info
Blue Origin’s next New Shepard mission (NS-10) is currently targeting liftoff tomorrow at 8:30 am CST / 14:30 UTC. This will be the 10th New Shepard mission and is dedicated to bringing nine NASA-sponsored research and technology payloads into space through NASA’s Flight Opportunities program. ...
[Read More]

Helping To Keep The Hobby Going
Even though I am not currently a member of the NAR, I firmly believe in the 'Pay Forward' mantra espoused by the organization. In the past two and a half years since I've embraced BAR-ism, several of my 'lone wolf' launch sessions at local parks have attracted the attention of other folks who ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 48, Central Engine Mount Assembly
Two thick walled ST-9 tubes run through the center line of the model. The two 9" tubes are joined by a black coupler. An alignment line is drawn down the joined tubes. The larger TR-115 ring is glued on top of the "clover shaped" cluster bulkhead. The cluster bulkhead and TR-115 ring assembly is ...
[Read More]

Finishing Up Saturn 1B - For Now
I'm going to be taking a break on the Saturn 1B build for a while. I will come back to it later. I don't like to suspend a build, but to be honest, I need a break! We've all been there, we get halfway through a kit and move on to something else. This kit is very involved. I've explained how to get ...
[Read More]

Ooops!
Dave Combs posted this on the NAR Facebook page: " And this is why Estes hires a new proofreader." This is from the new Saturn V instructions. It's a little hard to read but there are some misplaced names here.
[Read More]

Post About Grant Boyd from Centuri
Posted by Stan Woo on the Centuri Model Rockets Facebook Page: "Every year, for the last 11 years, I've sent Grant Boyd of Centuri a Christmas card. This year I received one addressed from his wife. I had a bad feeling... She wrote a note that Grant passed away on May 2, 2018 from P ...
[Read More]

Great Planes Hand Sanders Back On the Market!
Just a quick post to let you know that one of my favorite tools - the Great Planes Easy-Touch Hand Sander - now appears to be back on the market! This simple but really well-designed sanding block is a must have for hobbyists, including model rocketeers. They're lightweight, easy to use, and ...
[Read More]

Stickershock Is Gone
Mark Stickershock23.com has closed shop permanently. It seems time has come for him to quit the business. Mark did great work, producing high quality vinyl decals for all shapes, sizes, and styles of rockets big and small, and this is quite a loss for rocketeers. This hobby is one with a few big ...
[Read More]

The Space Shuttle

[Read More]

Yikes! Custom Engine Mount on Ebay
Here's one I found on Ebay: "Custom made model rocket mount for A-C size engines for RC cars, boats, airplanes, etc. I couldn’t find any mounts for rocket engines that wasn’t for a rocket, so I made my own.   Color, shape, and size will vary, but if you send me a message ...
[Read More]

Build a paper version of Crew Dragon
AXM has just released a build of the crew dragon. Can’t wait to start building one. AXM’s website Advertisements
[Read More]

My Newest Rocket Building Tool Ever.
Now that the hustle and bustle of the Holiday season is nearly over, I have finally found some time to sit down and write a quick post, and even squeeze in a little shop time to work on some rocket builds. A few weeks ago, when one of my daughters called asking me what I wanted for a Christmas ...
[Read More]

TOP TEN BUILDS for 2018, Part 1
Each year I look back on the builds and pick the Top Ten. These countdown from 10 to 1, from the worse to the best kits. Some choices are personal and might not agree with your experience. But, it's my blog . . . so there! 10. Model Missiles LEDUC 22 Sorry, this was a terrible card stock and ...
[Read More]

TOP TEN BUILDS for 2018, Part 2
There's a two-way tie for fifth position in the countdown. (I can't take all this excitement!) 5. Estes CITATION PATRIOT You gotta love a big, dumb rocket! Okay, not really dumb. This reissue kit was very well produced with big, tricky water slide decals! To see the build: CLICK HERE ...
[Read More]

The Re-rebirth of the Star Trek Starter Rocket Upscale!
Well, a couple of months ago I shared how I finally got my level one certification...but not until I had once again slammed my poor STSR into the ground. Upon reflection, I have decided that an H is just not enough motor for her. She is built strong and heavy: like bull. Therefore a gust of wind ...
[Read More]

Closing out 2018...
Well, it's the last night of 2018. Reflecting on the past year, I have a few things - rocket wise - I'd like to see improve in 2019. Despite my poor eyesight, I got a decent number of rockets built, so I'm happy there. My first Mercury Redstone - I hate the stickers Estes ...
[Read More]

A Look Back At 2018
Hi, Folks, It's hard to believe that it is 2019 already. Apparently, we are having fun, since time has definitely flown.  Anyway, This time of year, I always like to take a step back and look at what was accomplished over the past twelve months. 2018 was a considerably busy year for the ...
[Read More]

Crew Dragon on the pad
Exciting seeing a crew capable spaceship on the pad in the U.S. again! Earliest possible launch date is Jan 17th but that may be revised. Stay tuned.
[Read More]

In Preparation for the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11
2019 will be the year to celebrate the Apollo 11 Moon landing. here is an interesting article from Vanity Fair you all may find interesting to read: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/12/apollo-11-50th-year-anniversary
[Read More]

Star Trek Upscale Update...
Well this Christmas break has been a bit rough. I have been battling "Grinch Flu" for a month, and Laurie, my wife has been in the battle for the past week. Therefore, the rebirth of the Star Trek Starter Set Rocket Upscale has gone a bit slower than I would have liked. That being said, I have ...
[Read More]

Estes Aerial Pictures - Then and Now
  I couldn't find an old aerial picture of the Estes Industries complex. The general office building is right on Highway 50, West of Pueblo, CO. The main "T" shaped Estes building was first shown as an rendering illustration in the 1967 catalog. Offices, kit bagging, c ...
[Read More]

Stickershock Is Returning!
Mark of Stickershock23.com has decided, after many supportive messages, to return to business! This is excellent news. On Stickershock's Facebook page , he posted: I want to thank each and every one of you for the VERY KIND AND SUPPORTING WORDS I would love to thank each person one at a time.. but ...
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., January 5, 2019
First launch of the new year! Everyone was expecting wind and a soggy field from the rain the night before. I picked models that might do well in wind on the small field. There was wind, but nothing a streamer or spill hole could remedy. There were many more cars than normal, the Scouts joined us ...
[Read More]

The Re-Rebirth of the Star Trek Starter Set Rocket Upscale- Finale!
Well, I worked through the weekend and it payed off! The STSSR is re-reborn! Here are picture from the final push! First, I glued the fins back on. I did them one at a time, allowing the epoxy to fully set on each fin before going on to the next step. It was actually very easy ...
[Read More]

Copper Micro Clips
On the Rocketry Forum, Babar asked about replacement alligator clips for his Pratt Go Box controller. isdemar posted: "Mueller BU-34C Micro Clip, solid copper. Around $1 each plus shipping." $4.98 (for five) + $2.84 shipping To see the Amazon listing: CLICK HERE   These are the original ...
[Read More]

One More Project Before Getting Back To Rocket Building.
This week, I was all set to get back to work on the Protostar, when I came across this old microscope that has been banging around in basement storage for quite a long time.  The device was part of a high school biology lab many years ago, and came into my possession when the building was ...
[Read More]

Saturn V Standing By
I buy a lot of my Estes rockets and motors from AC Supply . They discount most Estes stuff at around 40% off, and sometimes more. I've been waiting... and waiting... for the latest release of the 50th Anniversary Saturn V 1:100 scale kit to show up on the AC Supply website. This new release is ...
[Read More]

The BIG FIX - New Way Firecat 4, Part 1
From the December 1, 2018 R.O.C.K. launch: "When I picked it up I noticed one of the upturned fins had torn off. A dent in the nose cone assembly told me it was hit from a snap-back ejection. The fin wasn't found anywhere near the landing area." A new fin was cut from some tight grained 3/32" ...
[Read More]

Estes 1:200 Scale Saturn V Sneak Peek
Posted by Estes on Facebook - To see the short video: CLICK HERE This 1:200 scale plastic version should be about 21.6" tall and 2" diameter. I wonder what the engine recommendation will be? John Boren posted: " A C6-3 would be the only Estes motor that can be used at this time. A 18mm composite D ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Iridium 8 Launch Info
Launch time: 7:31 a.m. PST, 15:31 UTC ( instantaneous launch opportunity) Launch Location: Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Payload: 10 Iridium® NEXT satellites Webcast: SpaceX Webcast SpaceX Channel on Youtube “For this eighth and final planned ...
[Read More]

Built from Scratch - A Tale of Two Berthas - Part 2 (The Plan)
Click here for Part 1 Scanned, downloadable PDF files of The Model Rocket News can be found in a few places around the Internet. There are probably a few missing, and I don't know that any one site has the whole collection, but a lot of these have fortunately been preserved. A note to the ...
[Read More]

Chang'e-4 Lunar Landing Footage

[Read More]

The BIG FIX - New Way Firecat 4, Part 2
I'll be spraying new white paint over existing white paint so there is no need for a complex mask. The root edge fillet and fin are still bare. With any luck, the Titebond M&TG will fill and cover the torn skin on the tube. A grocery bag was slid on from the rear. A slot was cut for the fin to ...
[Read More]

Leading Edge Rocketry Is Back!
In an email, Gary let me know: "I hadn't noticed this before, apparently Leading Edge Rocketry is back (since Oct. 2018). Several kits available on their new website:" There are A - F power rocket kits, Night Flight LED models, Micro Maxx down scales and a Mid Power model. That clustered MMX ...
[Read More]

Estes Phantom Electro-Launcher
Here's a rare find -  I had seen the Phantom Electro-Launch in the 1970 Estes catalog but didn't want to pay the extra $2.50 for a clear plastic launcher. It looks like it was only available in 1970 and 1971. This could have been useful in a Science Fair display but might get smoke damage ...
[Read More]

Yet Another Diversion....
A couple of weeks have passed since I last had anything new or post-worthy to present here.  The reason is that I have embarked on yet another project that has put an abrupt hold on any rocket building. Workshop renovation..... Yep, once again the BlastFromThePast basement workshop is ...
[Read More]

More Shop Progress....
Two more tall cabinets are awaiting assembly and will be placed next to the workbenches. After that, power and lighting needs will be taken care of, after which begins the monumental task of organizing and arranging all of the tools, hardware, and, of course- rocket stuff!  Phew! ...
[Read More]

Model Rockets? . . . I Don't think So -
These were listed on Ebay as: "Pair of Vintage Model Rocket yellow plastic bodies w/ multi color tassels USA" I don't think so! These are bicycle handle bar grips.  Sure they might have little fins on the backs, but the molded finger grips and trailing tassels were the giveaway. If you are ...
[Read More]

Team America Rocket Challenge 2019
This years 2019 TARC event will be historical. Make sure to check out their web site for the rules: https://rocketcontest.org/
[Read More]

LIVE from South Padre...the Starship Cam

[Read More]

Book Review: Make: High-Power Rockets, by Mike Westerfield
Make: High-Power Rockets, is written for anyone interested in high-power rocketry certification. The book takes a hands-on approach to designing rockets with rocket simulators, covers construction techniques, and deals with the sometimes tricky issues of picking the right black powder charge, ...
[Read More]

Canopy Carving, Part 1
Here's an older post that has been sitting in the "draft" pile. This canopy was carved to make a Goony X-15 from a BT-60 and Quest X-15 kit parts. I always enjoyed carving neckerchief slides when I was a Boy Scout. I didn't know then that I was carving basswood. Basswood is fun to carve if you ...
[Read More]

SBR/Fusion Rocket Closing
  Yesterday on Facebook, Scott Binder of SBR/FusionRocket.biz posted the following announcement. This is the End.... due to health reasons, Scott Binder Rocketry (SBR) and www.fusionrocket.biz will close. First, let me thank all of the customers we've had over the past 3 years. I ...
[Read More]

Canopy Carving, Part 2
Carve most all of the sides off just outside the pencil lines. Smooth out the sides with some 110 grit sandpaper on a block. Look close from the top and bottom and try to get everything symmetrical. Next, the top is carved tapering the front and rear to the cockpit profile. Sand the surface smooth ...
[Read More]

Cox Nike Zeus Starter Outfit On Ebay
Here's a rare, mint item on Ebay -   Complete Cox rocket starter set in their boxes. The plastic wrap is gone - Nike Zeus rocket (early gap staging), Cox launcher and controller and five three packs of engines! This launcher has never been used, the blast deflector is clean. Four ...
[Read More]

New Shop mostly Set Up
This past weekend, I managed to complete assembly of the remaining storage cabinets, as well as installing power, lighting, and the stereo system.  All of my rocketry stuff and shop tools, hardware, etc. are now crammed into the cabinets and bench drawers.  Now begins the lengthy task of ...
[Read More]

Canopy Carving, Part 3
The bottom surface needs a concave curve to fit the shape of the nose cone. Some 100 grit was wrapped around a used engine casing to remove some of the canopy bottom. You'll have to constantly check the fit against the nose cone and remove any area that touches the nose cone. It will take some ...
[Read More]

Laws of Motion Test
Estes has a lot of great educational literature and I made available as a YouTube test "The Laws of Motion for Newtons 3 Laws. The tests were taken from the Rober L. Cannon booklet that Estes made back in the 70s http://www.rockets4schools.org/images/Newtons.Laws.of.Motion.pdf
[Read More]

Rain... and rain again? [...and again]
I attended the January launch at Holtville... but was rained out!  It rained quite persistently and for a substantial duration.  As such I didn't fly anything. It seems that rain might be pending for February as well so we'll see. Update: The February 2019 launch was cancelled due to ...
[Read More]

Streamers - Food For Thought
Streamers were mentioned in a Facebook post. In a response, Bradley Lawrence Smith said he uses Kite Tails for streamers. At ROCK club launches, I've always like the streamer Tom Dennon uses. It's a very colorful rip-stop nylon streamer his Mother sewed up for him. It is very easy to follow after ...
[Read More]

The New BlastFromThePast Shop Is Finished!!!
Here it is... the new, downsized, organized (kinda), and efficiently engineered workspace for model rocketry, hand tool woodworking, pyrography, electronics, small repairs, LEGO building, drafting, and whatever else comes to mind. It's been a whirlwind of intense activity the last couple of weeks, ...
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Launch, February 2, 2019
With a wet field and the possibility of rain on launch day, things weren't looking good. Saturday morning the ROCK website said launch was a "GO". Club president Brian said to bring your boots. I put on some old tennis shoes. My usual first flight is the near indestructible Estes CURVILINEAR with ...
[Read More]

A Mash-up of Two Hobbies
This week I celebrate my 21st birthday - the third one in a row. This past Saturday, family was over for the 'big birthday bash', and my youngest daughter and son-in-law presented me with this: This kit satisfies two of my hobby passions - model rocketry and LEGO building .  I will ...
[Read More]

NEW! Heavy Duty Engine Mounts
  HDEM -  H eavy D uty E ngine M ounts are now available from Odd'l Rocket vendors! Now at JonRocket.com - at more vendors soon! Features: Extended Length Spring Steel Engine Hook         3" long engine hook allows engine block to be positioned ...
[Read More]

NEW! Heavy Duty Engine Mounts
  HDEM  -  H eavy  D uty  E ngine  M ounts are now available from Odd'l Rocket vendors! Now at JonRocket.com - at more vendors soon!   Features: Extended Length Spring Steel Engine Hook         3" long engine hook ...
[Read More]

National Association of Rocketry Convention (NARCON) 2019
The National Association of Rocketry’s annual convention comes to the Space Coast in 2019. JonRocket.com will be onhand with a selection of our products on display and for sale in the vendor room. The Vendor Room will be open to … Continue reading →
[Read More]

First RAISE Spring?
I saw this on Ebay -  From the AMROCS 1970 catalog, a Launch Rod Positioning Spring. I knew that Centuri had sold a positioning spring in the early 1970s but I can't find it in the catalogs now. At a NARAM, the Centuri guys told me their spring was actually a model plane wheel retention ...
[Read More]

Shipping Costs Increase
USPS rate changes went into effect in January which increased our cost of shipping packages. Priority Mail rates are up an average of about 6%. The average cost for a First Class package has jumped about 12%. The other major … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Estes Stealth #1929 Background
I won't be doing a build of the actual Estes Stealth kit. This will be a look alike build using standard round BT-50 heavy wall tubes. The Stealth kit #1929 was different. It featured a six-sided blow-molded body and nose cone. Two intakes were molded into each side in front of the wings. A BT-20 ...
[Read More]

#11 Blades - CHEAP!
From TRF, Frederocket found some cheap #11 style blades -   " If looking for #11 blades, try the link below. The blades are made in the USA by a company in NJ called TECHNI-EDGE, recently bought up by Black and Decker/Stanley. 100 blades in a pack for $10.95 or the more you purchase ...
[Read More]

Non-Flying Saturn V Completed
Hi, All, As you might have guessed, the Protostar project has been on hold for awhile in favor of putting together the LEGO version of the Saturn V. OK... it is a model... and it is a rocket.   I must say, I am extremely pleased at how this set turned out and how detailed it is, ...
[Read More]

Mistake in Estes #1969 Saturn V Inter Stage Wrap?
On the NAR Facebook page, Jay M. Chladek may have found an error - If the wraps are aligned (as molded) and shown in the instructions, the vertical half round wood tunnels won't line up between the Inter Tank and Inter Stage vacu-form wrap locations! "ALERT: There is an error with the S-1C to S-II ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Nusantara Satu/Beresheet/AFRL Mission
Launch Time: The 32-minute launch window opens at 8:45 p.m. EST Launch Location: Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida Payloads: SSL built the Nusantara Satu satellite for PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN), a leading … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V Build - One Small Step At A Time
  I've decided to post a build series as I work on the new, 50th anniversary edition, Estes Saturn V. This rocket has been covered before, most extensively and best by Chris Michielssen on the Model Rocket Building blog. If you're building this rocket and want to see real craftsmanship, ...
[Read More]

Mistake in Estes #1969 Saturn V Inter Stage Wrap? Part 2
Kylie Gamble posted on Facebook: "Update, on the issue of the inter stage wrap being molded incorrectly. Estes told me to cut the bottom line of the wrap and rotate the cut bottom so the tunnels line up. The best John Boren Estes R and D man could tell me. Still not quite correct but will have to ...
[Read More]

AAAAAAGH!
Does this happen to anyone else? These are the parachute shroud lines from one of the Black Brant kits. For all the newbies, years ago you had to assemble kit parachutes. The shroud lines were rolled and held together with a piece of tape. I was careful when removing the tape - this is what I ...
[Read More]

NARCON 2019
I've started prepping for my presentation at NARCON 2019. My session will be sometime on Saturday, March 2. " How to Successfully Make  Card Stock Shrouds" Why card stock shrouds? They have been the downfall of many rocket builds. Usually Poor fitting, creased and out of round. The weak link ...
[Read More]

New Estes 2019 Catalog
  Here's a couple screen grabs from a short Estes 2019 Catalog promo video. It will be available in March. I like how the catalog is set up. To see the video, CLICK HERE "Here's some of the past, present and maybe future kits." On the NARAM Estes tour I did ask about the 1/100 ...
[Read More]

SpaceX Commercial Crew Demo-1 Launch Info
SpaceX will launch a crew capable Dragon, known as Crew Dragon, on a test mission to the International Space Station. There will be no crew aboard(except a dummy that will measure body responses and environment), but the Dragon will dock … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Interview with Estes - Just In Time for NARCON
The latest episode of The Rocketry Show podcast was released today - just before we all head down to Cape Canaveral for NARCON 2019 . This is one we've wanted for a long time - Ellis Langford and Bill Stine of Estes Industries! There are some good tidbits in this show: stuff about the Saturn V ...
[Read More]

The Winter Blues
I'm suffering from a really bad case. As far as model rocketry goes, I'm strictly a fair-weather flier.  That wasn't the case back in my old fleet days.  Back then I didn't mind heading out for club launches on days when the temperature didn't top forty degrees, and wind chill made it ...
[Read More]

Summer Engineering Expeditions
Come to Oregon State University's Bend Oregon campus to design, build and launch rockets under beautiful clear skies. This experimental learning program is perfect for high school juniors and seniors who are fascinated by science and want to explore what it's like to be a rocket scientist or ...
[Read More]

G. Harry Stine photo collection
The Museum of Flight has started a Flickr page featuring photos from the godfather of model rocketry, G. Harry Stine. At this posting, it currently has photos from NARAMs 1-10. Hopefully they will continue to post.
[Read More]

NARCON 2019
The annual NARCON is a Technical Convention. NARCON doesn't usually feature launches, but the Space X Crew Dragon spacecraft was launched early Saturday morning and could be easily viewed from the host hotel. It's always great to meet people you have only seen in the Sport Rocketry magazine. I was ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 16 - More Cartoons
Back in my 'old fleet days' (1973-1984), I was on-and-off editor of the ROMAR club news letter, as well as a frequent contributor of material to the same.  That included cartoons. Since childhood, I had always had an interest in drawing and cartoon art.   In the early ...
[Read More]

Coming Soon from Estes
  Estes has a new website design debuting soon - probably in a day or two, if what Ellis Langford and Bill Stine told us at The Rocketry Show stays on schedule. For now, the above picture is all you'll see when you go to their website . Along with a new website will be a new catalog, ...
[Read More]

New Estes 2019 Catalog and Website
The new Estes website is up and running! Go to www.estesrockets.com The new 2019 catalog is also up for viewing: CLICK HERE The catalog is much different than before. Clean and easy to read. Lots of technical information is there for first timers. Skill Levels 1 - 5 are now "Building ...
[Read More]

Estes Black Brant II Coming Back!
The new Estes catalog came out today , and among other things, they're bringing back the Black Brant II, a scale model of the Canadian sounding rocket. I love BT-55 sized rockets, and I love the look of the Black Brant II. I've wanted one for a while now. Until now, my two choices were to go to ...
[Read More]

Rocket Colors Inspiration?
  Greg Brown posted on the NAR Facebook Page: "Sometimes, inspiration for paint color comes from the strangest places.  Yes, it was a clean build. lol" While the colors might not be scale, it's a great combination! Why not rely on a graphic designer to pick the colors for you? ...
[Read More]

The BlastFromThePast 2018 Fleet Photo
This is a pic of all the flight-ready model rockets in the fleet as of the beginning of 2019.  I've had all of the birds out of the boxes this week in order to inspect them and install recovery wadding, just in case the weather suddenly gets better and I can grab'n'go to ...
[Read More]

Wrong Grain Direction Fin Fix
On the Model Rocketry Fanatics Facebook page - Brad W. Hanley posted pictures of a rocket he built. Face it, we've all did this when we were starting out. The balsa grain is running parallel to the length of the body tube. The fins could crack off down the grain line. A few pointed his ...
[Read More]

Exos Aerospace News
WASHINGTON — Exos Aerospace flew its SARGE reusable sounding rocket for the second time March 2, but winds kept the rocket from achieving its planned altitude. The Texas-based company launched the Suborbital Autonomous Rocket with Guidance, or SARGE, rocket from Spaceport America in New ...
[Read More]

Unraveling Kevlar? TIPS
When tying an overhand loop knot in Kevlar, the strands can start to unravel. This is shown on the left. The picture on the right shows the knot with the strands still tight. In the top picture I'm purposely turning the Kevlar against the wind of the strands to open it up. This is what ...
[Read More]

Holtville Havoc 3
I'll write this up soon but thanks to Mark Treseder for this excellent shot:
[Read More]

Kit and Accessory Pricing?
On TRF there was a debate where a post complained about the price of an Odd'l Rockets accessory. I stayed out of the current conversation but finally had to add my two cents. ______________________________________________________________________ This post is not meant in any disrespect for ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saber Parasite Glider Build, Part 1, Parts
The new Semroc Saber parasite glider kit was given away to the NARCON participants! It's always a treat to get a rocket kit in your welcome bag. This is a sharp looking glider with a jet plane profile. Turning over the bag you might think some parts are missing, but all the balsa sheeting is ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saber Parasite Glider Build, Part 2, Assembly
You don't have to do this, but I like to sand off some of the laser burnt edges. TIP: You should (at least) sand off the blackened root edges of fins for a stronger gluing surface. The glider hook is a staple glued into the laser-cut recess. You do have to clean out some of the ash and ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saber Parasite Glider Build, Part 3, Assembly
The instructions mention rounding the leading edges after the glider is glued together. It is easier to do this before the model is glued together. This balsa is thin - go light! The vertical stabilizers are glued into the pre-cut slots in the wing. Be sure they are set in perpendicular to the ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saber Parasite Glider Build, Part 4, Coloring
While I like the white paint and trim shown on the face card, that would probably add too much weight to the finished glider. This glider is small! Felt tip markers will make it easier to see in the sky and add very little weight. A thin outline was drawn first with a fine tip marker. The rest ...
[Read More]

Semroc Saber Parasite Glider Build, Finished
Here's the finished parasite glider. I added some cockpit details using Contact paper blackboard material. Some test glides required some clay weight in the front. The bottom of the glider - This glider is small! - the black under the wing could help you follow the glider flight after ...
[Read More]

Custom SLV Build #10044, Part 1, Parts
From the Custom Rockets website: " Satellite launch vehicle. Impressive, slow liftoffs that look so real. Features injection-molded plastic nose cone, six die-cut balsa fins, and 12” parachute recovery. Self-adhesive decals. Flights of over 750 feet." This is one of three, Skill Level 3 kits ...
[Read More]

Custom SLV Build #10044, Part 2, Lower Body Support Assembly
The kit supplies six 20/60 centering rings. These are die-cut, thinner than what you might find in a current Estes kit. That's fine, the way they are used makes for a very strong internal structure. TIP: With die-cut rings you will have one side that is slightly rounded. Plan ahead - use that ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V Build - Getting Started - Tube Ends, Motor Mount
Click Here for Part 1 Maybe you recently purchased an Estes Saturn V, and yet you are afraid to begin building it. Am I ready for this? you might ask yourself. The Saturn V is listed as a Skill Level 4 kit (some might consider it more of a Skill Level 5 rocket). That term - Skill Level - can be ...
[Read More]

Custom SLV Build #10044, Part 3, Engine Mount Placement
Here's how the instructions say to lay in glue beads in the 3" BT-60 tube. When assembled, the top and bottom rings are to be flush with the ends of the body tube. The instructions imply a lot of glue, on all parts. I cut the replacement BT-60 tube at 3 1/16" so I could have an overhang and a ...
[Read More]

Custom SLV Build #10044, Part 4, Shrouds - Oops!
After trying to form one of the larger lower shrouds I found a problem. GOTCHA: Look at the ruler next to the shroud sides. One side is 1/32" wider than the other! You couldn't get a good fit on the BT-60 side of the adapter. Here's what I mean -  The wide end of the shroud is uneven. TIP: ...
[Read More]

Built from Scratch - A Tale of Two Berthas - Part 3 (Nose Cone)
Click here for Part 1 of this series . Click here for the most recent post in this series . The Handbook of Model Rocketry by G. Harry Stine and Bill Stine briefly describes the process of turning a balsa wood nose cone from scratch, using a drill as a makeshift wood lathe. On page 47 of the ...
[Read More]

Custom SLV Build #10044, Part 5, Lower Shroud Assembly
Looking ahead in the instructions - The two remaining 20/60 rings are glued together. These will support the base of the card stock shroud. TIP: Plan ahead - Be sure you have a good fit over the BT-20 tube before gluing the rings inside the shroud base. You wouldn't want to have any fitting ...
[Read More]

Custom SLV Build #10044, Part 6, Upper Shroud & Tube Gluing
On the left I'm rolling off the inside burrs so the ring will slide over the BT-20 a little easier. On the right are both 20/50 rings stacked and glued even with the top of the second BT-20 tube.  The instructions say to apply a ring of glue 3/4" from the bottom of the lower ring. A dry fit ...
[Read More]

A New Quick Project...
Yesterday I stopped into the local Hobby Lobby and found this... It's off to the secret basement la-BOR-atory!
[Read More]

Custom SLV Build #10044, Part 8, Fin & Launch Lug Gluing
The instructions say to glue on the dowels centered over the tube joint. They are painted black afterwards with a small brush. The dowels would be hard to paint black after gluing in place. I set them down on a strip of masking tape and hit them with a coat of filler/primer. The backs won't get ...
[Read More]

Custom SLV Build #10044, Part 7, Dowel Trim
Two dowels are provided for trim. Short lengths go over the joint between the two body tubes. Sand the dowels smooth with 400 grit before cutting them to length. Both dowels are cut to 1 1/2" lengths, four lengths from each 6" dowel. GOTCHA: I checked the length and found the dowels were just ...
[Read More]

Custom SLV Build #10044, Part 9, White Undercoat & Sanding
TIP: I'll usually paint a model with the nose cone slightly pulled out, maybe 1/16". This gets a bit of paint inside the shoulder. When the model is on the launcher sometimes the nose cone isn't fully seated in the tube. If you take a picture before the flight you won't see the unpainted ...
[Read More]

Custom SLV Build #10044, Part 10, Masking Fins & Dowel Trim
All six fins are masked and painted gloss black. Even though the fin leading edges were left square, I still do a diagonal mask over the top corner tips. On the left there is one diagonal corner masked off. I've yet to add the second piece on the lower side. This just leaves off the corner ticks. ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 17 - More Cartoons By ME!
In thumbing through some more issues of ROMAR's Cosmic Steppingstone news- letter, I ran across some more sketches which I rendered.  These are all attached to information/invitation  pages about the HOTROC Regional contests held in Colorado Springs in the early 1980's.... Enjoy !! ...
[Read More]

Custom SLV Build #10044, Part 11, Sticker Trim - White Peel & Stick
The kit includes two small sheets of peel and stick decor, one white paper and one clear plastic. I applied the white roll patterns first. Always do a dry fit before peeling off the backing paper. Here I found out the wrap didn't meet up, so position the ends (start and finish) in the back down ...
[Read More]

BAR Fleet #119 - Alpha V,I 60th Anniversary Edition
    Source:   Estes Industries   Kit #: 001958 Type:   Sport Model   Stages: Single Engine Type: 18mm Recovery:   Parachute   Length:   32cm Diameter:   25mm Weight Empty:   35g   ...
[Read More]

Custom SLV Build #10044, Part 12, Sticker Trim - Clear Peel & Stick
There is still one more large white paper shroud sticker. There is no reference for the starting position. Set down lightly, check the end alignment, lift and try again until everything lines up. Again, notice the seams all start and finish down the launch lug line. There are numbers that go ...
[Read More]

Custom SLV Build #10044, Finished
The picture at the left shows the wrap edge matches. This is a detailed model at a good price. There were a few glitches along the way, the miss-matched lower shroud could be a problem for a younger builder. This is listed as a Skill Level 4 kit. While I'm not a big fan of stickers, the trim ...
[Read More]

Lost Field
  An announcement was made on Facebook last night: The Maine Missile Math & Science Club, a kind of sister club to CMASS, my NAR section, has lost its launch field, seen in the Google image above. This is a beautiful, wide, flat open area, a large sod farm in Southern Maine. The ...
[Read More]

CA Glue For Model Rocket Assembly?
Super Glues are known by different names - Crazy Glue,   Cyanoacrylate  Glue, CA Glue and CYA Glue. On the Facebook Model Rocketry Fanatic page - Someone asked about using CA glue for model rocket construction. My response:  "CA glue can get brittle over time. Not great for ...
[Read More]

DIY Camera Rig
My positive pressure indoor spray painting booth worked great, but it was so large, that it was impractical. Once I took it down and re-arranged the Rocket Room, I was pretty sure I'd never use it again, at least not in its original design. Besides, I'm getting into airbrushing, which I'm ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 1, Parts
I've built this one before on the blog, back in 2010. This model has proved to be a favorite. My first build has 20 flights, mainly schoolyard launches using Quest A6-4 engines.  It's showing lots of flight wear, time to build a new one. Many of the points in this new build show similar ...
[Read More]

Falcon Heavy Ready To Launch For The Second Time
  https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/05/falcon-heavys-first-real-launch-on-sunday-is-the-dawn-of-a-new-heavy-lift-era-in-space/ The Falcon Heavy has flown before, but now it’s got a payload that matters and competitors nipping at its heels. It’s the first of a new generation ...
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Monthly Launch, April, 6, 2019
Central Florida had a good rain yesterday, but the field was in good shape by Saturday Morning. We had 41 paid flyers. Our annual ROCK meeting was held after the launch at Roger and Bracha's house. Pizza, salad and soft drinks were served. Everyone appreciated their hospitality. Brian Coyle will ...
[Read More]

Frank Baeyens New Rockets -
Frank Baeyens posted on the Facebook Model Rocket Fanatics page -  " New members of the fleet. Next week (weather permitting) they get baptized. "
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 3, Engine Mount B
The yellow tube is thin and will have to be reinforced. The rear edge got the usual wipe of medium CA. I also reinforced the engine hook slot after the bad cut was cleaned up with a sharp knife. The CA'ed edge got a very light smooth sanding with 400 grit. Before the blue engine block is glued in ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 2, Engine Mount A
Here's a questionable first step. GOTCHA: The printed ruler and my metal ruler don't match up. If you set the yellow engine mount tube over the illustration the 1/2" mark would be off. The quality control wasn't great. GOTCHA: The yellow motor mount tube isn't quite 2 3/4" long. The pre-cut engine ...
[Read More]

Holtville launch, April 6, 2019
Once again I'll write more later but yesterday's launch was a good time:  
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 18 - A Little Colorado Rocketry History
Because my build series on the Steampunk Protostar is creeping along appallingly slowly, and I haven't had any recent launch sessions to write about, I deem it necessary to come up with some filler material with which to continue posting at regular intervals in my humble little corner of ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 4, Engine Mount C
At this point the instructions have you mark all the tubes using the tube marking guides. Instead of trying to align the engine hook with a line drawn on the tube, I find it easier to glue the hook in place first then mark the tube. I cut a 1/2" wide strip of copy paper to cover up the exposed ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 5, Tube Angle Cutting
There are three different diameter tubes and three miter cut guide wraps. (I had to take two pictures and combine them to the show hand position.)  TIP: You'll get a cleaner cut if you keep the knife still and turn the tube under the blade. After a few passes with the knife here's the 45 ...
[Read More]

Falcon Heavy Arabsat-6A Launch Info
I’m very excited about seeing another Falcon Heavy Launch. Last years inaugural launch was one of the most exciting launches I have ever seen. So many key moments to look forward to including liftoff, side core landings, center core (will ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 6, Fins?
Please understand I don't mean to sound overly critical on this build. There were omissions and mistakes in the parts and instructions. The "Gotchas" are here to help out another builder. This kit had more Gotchas than normal and is no longer in production.  There has been an occasional ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 7, Gap Caps?
The gap caps are needed so the ejection charge doesn't blow out the back between the offset tubes. GOTCHA: These are printed on 110 lb. cardstock. While this thickness might work, I would rather have them as thick as a regular centering ring. I did two more laminations of 110 lb. cardstock. I was ...
[Read More]

How Did we get the TV Transmission from Apollo 11
Here is a great video explaining how we in 1969 were able to see the TV transmission of the Apollo 11 mission: https://www.honeysucklecreek.net/Apollo_11/index.html
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 8, Fin Fill and Tube Gluing
The front edge of the two piece fins have a visible break. Some CWF is set on the seam. The inset picture shows sandpaper wrapped around a Q-tip stick. This was used to round off the filler corner. On the left is after the filler/primer was sanded down. GOTCHA: The instructions say to mark the ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 9, Tube Joining
After sanding the gap cap, the tubes are dry fitted. The two 45 degree cut tubes should fit together. Here's what I don't understand. GOTCHA: The center tube has an angle cut - that ends up inside the upper tube. There's no reason for this interior angle. If it is trimmed back you'll have more ...
[Read More]

BT-20H (Heavy Wall) Tubing Now In Odd'l Rockets Kits!
The new Heavy Walled BT-20H tubes are being added to the Odd'l Rockets Kit lineup! You'll see these tubes added to the 18mm engine mounts of kits being produced from this day forward. There are still some recently produced kits with the standard thinner wall tubing out there. Keep an eye out, ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 11, Wing Tip Tubes
The wing tip tube (launch lugs) ends are cut at a 45 degree angle. TIP: I drew the angle on my cutting board so the angle would be consistent on both cuts. Use a new, sharp razor blade to cut launch lugs. After the cut, sand and even up the edge. Sanding launch lugs are like filing fingernails, ...
[Read More]

Saturn V Parachutes
I've noticed some vendors selling printed Saturn V style parachutes. Three parachutes, two for the main body, one for the upper body. I can understand why some purists want everything close to "scale". Younger builders may not realize, these were the only three parachutes used, for the command ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 12, Prep and Undercoats
The nose cone is too loose in the body tube. You can do masking tape wraps or you can build up some "ribs" for a better fit. I applied a drop of medium CA glue to the nose cone shoulder. The wet glue was dragged in a straight line down the shoulder with an X-acto blade. Apply a small drop and form ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 13, Masking The Black
The instructions have you paint the black first, mask and then spray the silver. This time around I sprayed the silver first. It's a little riskier this way, sometimes silver paint gets marred by the adhesive side of masking tape. This was a tough mask, it's a smaller model with a lot of pieces in ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: 14 April, 2019 – An Impromptu Launch Session
  Early Sunday afternoon, I found an email from fellow Castle Rock area rocketeer, James Gazur, stating that local wind and weather conditions were favorable for a launch.   How about it? Having not flown any model rockets for nearly six months, I was totally ready for a flying ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 10, Wing and Fin Gluing
Whoops! I didn't post Part #10.  I'll go back in a day or so and place it in the correct order. The wing angle shown in the instructions is hard to achieve. GOTCHA: When I set the glue tacked wings on a straight edge you can see the angle is flatter than the illustration. I ended up sanding ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 14, Decal Problems
GOTCHA: This was one of those kits that didn't supply enough decals to match the face card or catalog illustrations. Many of the decals weren't drawn to fit the indicated areas. On the back the decal wraps weren't wide enough to fill the areas between the fin root edges. One of the decals had to ...
[Read More]

Quest AS-1 Escort Finished and Comparisons
I mentioned at the start of the build this was a replacement for my older AS-1 Escort rocket built over five years ago. I really like this design, it's perfect with A engines at the schoolyard launch. I do see why the kit was discontinued. It's rated a Skill level 2 but should have been higher. ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 19 - ...And Then There Was 'Skywatchers'....
The genesis of the Skywatchers / ROMAR model rocket club in Colorado Springs is largely shrouded in mystery - at least as far as yours truly is concerned.  The organization was already in existence before I arrived and stuck my long nose into the action.  I'm sure that any of the folks ...
[Read More]

New Rusto 2X Nozzles
Greg Eberly posted on the Model rocketry USA Facebook page: "My favorite paint is Rustolium paints for painting and primer, some people aren’t to Happy with this brand because the spray nozzles clog, which is true because it’s a oil based paint, but the good news is that they ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 20 - The Birth of ROMAR
The January, 1974 meeting of the Skywatchers Model Rocket Club was different in that we were now an officially chartered section of the NAR - The Rocky Mountain Association of Rocketry (ROMAR), section #103. The original charter members of ROMAR consisted of  Frank Gee, Glade and Lillian ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 21 - ROMAR in 1974. 'Twas A Very Good Year.
ROMAR's first year as a section of the National Association of Rocketry was a very busy one. One of the major watershed events early in the year was the occasion on which NAR pioneer Bill Roe stopped by one of the club sport launches and made us an offer we couldn't refuse. Bill ended up donating ...
[Read More]

Paint Thinner $$$
  This 1/4 oz. bottle of Testor's Thinner and Brush Cleaner sells on Ebay for $2.79 plus shipping! Very expensive when you consider how long it will last. Most builders will dip a wet brush and swish it around in the thinner bottle. This leaves too much paint in the thinner that will end ...
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Monthly Launch, May 4, 2019
It didn't feel the same today without past President Brian Coyle. Kirby did a great job filling in as RSO. Summer weather is definitely here, we all felt the heat and humidity. You might hear Jim yell: "More power!" after some of my launches. This is a new Quest PIPSQUEAK I wasn't worried ...
[Read More]

Holtville launch, May 4, 2019
I promise to catch up on blogging soon.  For now just some hot, CTI K1200 action:
[Read More]

An Unexpected Model Rocket Windfall
This past Saturday, my wife and I traveled to Colorado Springs to visit some long-time friends there. After dinner, the gentleman, whose name is Bob, disappeared down the stairs leading to the basement and emerged a few moments later carrying some model rockets, some un-built kits, ...
[Read More]

May 4th Launch Photos
We had the rare luck of trying out a new Field this past weekend. It was a trial run and it turned out to be AWESOME! We had a NOTAMS in place for a 3500 AGL waiver for the site. This was not publicized really very widely since this was a new location. We hope ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 22 - The Skywatchers Club - 1975-1979
At the end of 1974, Skywatchers/ROMAR was no longer a section of the NAR, as a few of the early members had left, and the club no longer had the required ten NAR license carriers. But that didn't mean the group was inactive.  Far from it.  In reality, many local folks of ...
[Read More]

Coming up - Estes #1969 Saturn V Build
Here's we go again! I just got some emails from Estes, they want me to build a new #1969 Saturn V! The model is already in distribution so I can do the build here on the blog. I've sent out plenty of the older #2157 Saturn V build book to blog followers. Most of that build still applies, but ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 23, More Skywatchers Photos 1975-1979
This is a continuation of the last post in this series.  Here are some more pics..... Unidentified Skywatchers member hooks up a new Estes Stiletto, 1979 Unidentified member displays his EAC Viper. This is my old ...
[Read More]

Adam Savage Glue Guide
Charley Nash posted this link on the Estes Mocel Rocket page on Faceboook: Adam Savage (Mythbusters) gives a rundown on different glues and their use. To read the article:  CLICK HERE In the comments, Robert K. Wingate added:  "BTW, what he says about hot glue is good, but he ...
[Read More]

How Not To Get Started In Model Rocketry
Louis Berlin found this YouTube video and shared it on the Model Rocketry Fanatics page : Estes Gnome? Estes NOPE! I counted 18 mistakes in this video. Wood glue on plastic? Not to mention most all part descriptions were incorrect. Regular paper was used for wadding, balled up to "protect" ...
[Read More]

BAR Fleet #120 - Viking
                  Source: Estes Industries Kit #: 001949 Type:   Sport Model Stages: Single Engine Type: 18mm Recovery:   Streamer Length:   30cm Diameter:   19mm Weight Empty:   ...
[Read More]

From The Model Rocket Capitol Of The World.....
Even though the mailing envelope doesn't state that, here is a new 2019 Estes catalog I just received in the mail.  It' been many, many moons since I have received any packages from Penrose, so this was quite a thrill! I am quite impressed with the new format and amount of ...
[Read More]

Goddard plans Model Rocket Contest to Celebrate Apollo 11 anniversary
This contest is hosted by the Goddard Visitor Center and conducted by NARHAMS. Assistance has been received from the Maryland Space Business Roundtable and model rocket companies. Saturday, July 20, 2019 Noon – 4 p.m. (weather permitting) Join us at ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 24 - Managing The Mountains
Warning:   The following account contains a wee bit of ‘The Tootin’ Of Me Own Horn’.   It’s not really an attempt at self-aggrandizement, but the story related herein is of substantial relevance to the on-going history of Skywatchers/ROMAR.   Also, ...
[Read More]

Ya Never Know Where You'll Find A Model Rocket Part.
Last night I was out doing some yard work at the BlastFromThePast home.  I have a very large ceramic planter on the front porch that is in need of repair, so I was removing the soil.  In one trowel full of dirt from deep inside the planter I found this: This interesting ...
[Read More]

TARC Finals Live
Saturday, May 18, the Team America Rocketry Challenge national finals take place in The Plains, Virginia. You can watch the events live on YouTube by CLICKING HERE . Follow me on Twitter . Like my  Facebook page  for blog updates and extra stuff. Have a question you'd like to ...
[Read More]

Syracuse Rocket Club launch: Contested
First launch of the year and we’ve probably just had our best launch weather for 2019. No need to describe it, just imagine ideal launch weather, and that was it. I got off to a modest start with the Mini Satellite Interceptor on a 1/4A3-3T. It went low, came down right by the pads. We ...
[Read More]

My Five Minute Spray Paint Rule - TIP
Always read the re-coat time recommendations on the spray paint can. The type is so small you'll have to use a magnifying glass! These re-coat times will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. On Rustoleum 2X cans, the re-coat time is WITHIN ONE HOUR or AFTER 48 HOURS. You can re-coat while ...
[Read More]

Students at USC send rocket into Space
Students at USC have sent a rocket into space (Karman Line). The rocket reached an apogee of 339,800 feet. Traveler IV ,the schools 4th attempt at this goal, roared to life on the pad and reached speeds over Mach 5.1. ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 25 - Planning A Grand Model Rocket Contest
Once contact had been established with all of the NAR members in the Mountain Region in 1978, the next step in my duties as Regional Manager was to put together some kind of large event to pull everyone together and inspire a higher level of activity and possibly the formation of some NAR ...
[Read More]

Saturn V Nozzle Plate?
In the 2011 Saturn V build I mentioned adding a nozzle plate cover print to the Saturn V kit. Here's that post from 2011: CLICK HERE I don't think it would work now - the holes in the card stock nozzle plate in the #1969 kit are spaced differently and won't match the print.
[Read More]

NYPower 2019 (Sunday)
I spent today at the NYPower launch in Geneseo. I wanted to limit myself to one day there, and opted not to go Saturday because of weather. A couple of storms went through during that day, and the evening’s night launch was rescheduled for tonight; then around 9 pm or so an especially severe ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Show Interview
  My NARCON Interview for the Rocketry Show is posted. To listen: CLICK HERE Peter Alway is first up, I follow at about 57:28 in. Don't you hate to hear your own voice?
[Read More]

Mike Fields' Saturn V Engine Mount Fillets
An email from Mike Fields' about reaching the recessed fillets on the Saturn V centering rings -  "I thought I would try something different with the engine mount in my Estes Saturn V.  I like to use epoxy on engine mounts, but I thought that it would be difficult getting that ...
[Read More]

Launch report 2019-1 (updates)
Location: High Ridge Park Weather: low 90's, wind 0-5, clear Total flights: Today - 2; YTD - 2 Total motors: Today - 0; YTD - 0 Motors by class YTD: H2O - 2 Well folks, it's been almost a year since I last lit a motor. However, I couldn't resist grabbing a Ginormous Rocket at Costco. I've seen ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: 27 May, 2019
  Over the past week, Jim Gazur and I have been closely monitoring weather forecast models for the Front Range of Colorado.   The weather has been a bit unsettled lately, featuring a lot of wind and thunderstorm activity.   Memorial Day presented a brief window of opportunity ...
[Read More]

Goodbye Pegasus!
You can see the construction going on at the former Pegasus field behind the Urban Astronauts, who are holding their rocket high after completing their TARC qualification flights. Well, my last post couldn't have been more wrong - Life took a significant downturn ...
[Read More]

Felt Tip Pens on Boost Glider TIP
A photo from Ed Mitton's Blast From the Past Blog: "Yes, the FlatCat was colored with permanent markers. Before applying the markers, the glider was shot with a coat of Duplicolor white sandable primer, then sanded smooth with 400 grit paper. This 'seal' coat keeps the marker colors from ...
[Read More]

A new season and a new name...
The 2019 TARC rules were released the evening of Nationals, and I must say that there were a couple of surprises. First was TARC now stands for something else - no longer "Team America Rocketry Challenge", it is now "The American Rocketry Challenge" And with the new name comes a new logo: ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 20, Fine Fitting the Fairings
With the fairing plastic being so thin, a good fit is needed for a gluing edge and overall strength of the joint. I got a small flex crack at the thin corner on one fairing. A piece of Scotch tape was pressed in. Liquid cement was then brushed over the crack. The tape was left in the corner. There ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 21, Cutting Fin Slots
The knife blade easily follows the sides of the molded fin recess slot. TIP: This high slot plastic is thin. Cut the side lines using a few light cuts with a sharp blade. TIP: Cut the ends from the corners going in and stop near the center. Turn over the fairing and cut the other side from the ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: 2 June, 2019
  This launch session was one of which I like to call “Shoe Box” launches.   This is where I have a short span of time – anywhere from half an hour to forty five minutes – when I can get over to a nearby small park and put up one or two quick flights.   ...
[Read More]

Geezer TARC has started!
Now that the rules have been released for the 2020 TARC competition, the annual Geezer TARC contest can begin. I'm looking forward to it, and encourage anyone interested to participate. Who knows? You might be crowned the new TARC Geezer, or maybe even win the coveted Skunk trophy, given to the ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 22, Positioning The Fins And Fairings
GOTCHA: The instructions don't go into much detail about gluing on the fins. They don't mention gluing the fin root edge to the low body tube wrap. Only outside joint gluing is shown. If there is no glue at the root edge the fin will wobble. I did some dry positioning of the fins and fairings. ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 23, Gluing The Fins And Fairings
TIP: To start - Glue just the front tip and rear edge of the fin to the body tube. Line up on the center pencil line drawn earlier. Using very little glue now will allow you to lift and re-position the fin if needed. Slide the fairing over the fin. Check to be sure the rear of the fairing is even ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 24, Reinforcing The Fairings Part 1
If your build is like mine, (on some fins) the rear of the fairing base doesn't contact the body tube. The edge floats, not making contact with the end of the body tube. It can be reinforced. You'll need some Contact Cement to do this. HISTORY: Contact cement is interesting stuff, it was once ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 25, Reinforcing The Fairings Part 2
Look close at the right side picture. There is a pencil line inside the edge of the fairing. The disk will be glued inside that border. The contact cement is brushed on the fairing up to the pencil line and on the body tube edge.  Cement is also brushed onto the disk reinforcement piece. ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 26, Cutting The Lower Body Tube, Part 1
The illustration in the Estes instructions doesn't tell you how much of the body tube is cut away between the fairings. Looking at this illustration from the Apogee instructions, the horizontal cut is in line with the silver paint line on the fairings. That silver paint line is at the halfway ...
[Read More]

Bailing on NSL
In addition to owing many blog updates I've just decided to bail on NSL.  Both would seem to underscore my recent lack of blog worthiness. Today I was planning to fly an Aerotech M4500 Super Thunder (98/7680 casing) in the Madcow  8" Mega Cowabunga.  That would have been a new ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 27, Cutting The Lower Body Tube, Part 2
The black line isn't shown on the tape isn't shown here.  (Shown in last post)  I added that black line after trying to cut the first piece.  This is important for strength of the fairings - DO NOT cut down the side of the fairings (shown on the left) with the angle of the blade ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 29, Assembling the Capsule
The instructions show two pats of clay supplied and pressed into the capsule. The kit supplies four pieces of clay. GOTCHA: The kit supplies four pieces of clay. Estes is now recommending to use all four pats of clay. Two of the clay pieces weigh just over 1/2 oz. Four pats of clay would equal 1 ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 28, Assembling the Tower
If you make a lot of plastic models you should have a sprue cutter or nipper. It allows you to cut the pieces off the trees with little left to trim off. TIP: Wait to cut off and remove the RCS nozzles, leave them on the trees  - Find out why in an upcoming post. The tower escape nozzles glue ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 26 - A Little More HOTROC-1 Stuff
Much to my chagrin, I have found I do not have any photographs to present here from HOTROC-1. Nor do I have any recorded contest results.  The reason for this is, somewhere back in time, probably during a house move, I lost my notebook binders containing flight logs and other information ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 30, Cutting The Tunnels
Looking from the side you can see the tunnel ends have an angle molded into them. It'll be hard to fit the half-round dowels into this. Square off an end of a half-round and set it into the molded end. Trace around the dowel with a sharp blade and lift out the raised edge notch from the wrap. Even ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 31, Gluing The Tunnels
After the tunnels were cut and fitted, they were hit with CWF and smooth sanding. A coat of filler/primer and sanding before gluing onto the body tube. The primer on the body tube locations was scraped away before gluing on the tunnels. I used my machine square make sure the top of the half round ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 27 - ROMAR Resurrected!
Following the resounding success of the HOTROC-1 Open Meet in Colorado Springs, the Mountain Region virtually took off. ROMAR was able to renew its NAR charter, since the number of members by then had increased beyond the five required to constitute a section. Also, two thriving new sections were ...
[Read More]

Hybrid Rocket Ignition -Mixture Testing
Testing various mixtures to determine the best combination to use for igniting our hybrid rocket engines. Here is a short video demonstrating ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 32, Install Wire Anchor
This illustration is from the older #2157 Saturn V kit. The new instructions don't have a full-size drawing for bending the wire anchor. If you would like the PDF with the full-size wire template, 3rd stage shroud and fairing crescent reinforcements, email me at: oddlrockets@bellsouth.net and ask ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 33, Painting TIP & Launch Lugs
The instructions show the upper section assemblies being glued together now, before the model is painted. TIP: Wait to install the shock cord anchors. You'll find it easier to paint the the 4" diameter lower body assembly separately from the upper body sections. TIP: Paint these three parts ...
[Read More]

Precisely What I Need - Another Project....
I seem to suffer from a lot of the 'too-many-irons-in-the-fire' scenario. That being said, I received this in the mail yesterday.   Well, I didn't just receive it out of the blue - I did order it from Amazon after all. This is the cheapy little Chinese-made 808 key chain cam.  Just ...
[Read More]

Our Launch Controller is now available !
Our new launch controller is for E powered rockets and smaller when using standard model rocket igniters. When combined with the reusable ...
[Read More]

A Reusable & Reliable Igniter!
This igniter replaces the unreliable standard model rocket igniters and sits on the ground beside your rocket. The igniter is used in ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 34, RCS Nozzle Painting
Here's how the RCS nozzles look while still on the trees. TIP: Note the center molding dent. I filled the circular indentation with some medium CA applied with a toothpick. A small drop made a small pool of glue filling the dent. Here I've got them stuck to some masking tape on a piece of ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 35, White Base Coats
Mentioned earlier - This is a large model, hard to get even coverage using a spray can. Spray it in sections. Here's the 4" diameter lower body. Look to the low end cutouts. There is masking tape, sticky side out, to keep paint out of the engine mount area. There is also tape inside the open top ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 36, Wrap Reduction Black Outlines Part 1
The older (from the Centuri kit) corrugated wraps in the #2157 kit had horizontal raised lines to make the masking easier. I can't see using masking tape going in and out of the raised corrugations. I'll use a trick learned when assembling the larger Apogee Saturn V. This is a method suggested by ...
[Read More]

June Sport and Contest Launch
The weather at the field was very nice and pleasant today. Even though along the the Columbia Gorge waterfront it was really blowing, We had very little wind during the morning launch hours of 9 am to noon.We had sport flyers and a contest.  Myself and Don Buchanan competed and did pretty ...
[Read More]

Trimmin' That Ol''Cat
I stepped out at lunch time today to spend a few minutes at the nearby park with the new FlatCat glider getting it glide trimmed.   Weather was perfect with a minimal breeze. The verdict:   Here's a pic pulled from a cel phone video of one of the test hand ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 37, Wrap Reduction Black Outlines Part 2
Before proceeding - Please understand this method is not perfect. If you aren't careful with the spray can, paint can still sneak into the low ribs of the corrugation. I still had quite a bit of touch-ups to do after the masking tape was lifted. The ink outlines help get a sharper line. TIP: One ...
[Read More]

BAR Fleet #122, Quark
  Source:   Estes Industries Kit #: 00802 Type:   Sport Model   Stages: Single Engine Type: 13mm Recovery:   Featherweight   Length:   13.5cm Diameter:   13.7mm Weight Empty:   4.4g Nose Cone:   Tangent Ogive Fin Type: Tapered ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 38, Interstage Wrap Black
The black bands on the low end are carried up to the interstage wrap. After you draw the low end black lines, set an aluminum angle down that line. Check to see if the angle is in line with the corrugations in the intertank wrap. Continue the lines on the middle inter stage wrap. Don't draw a line ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 39, Interstage Wrap Black
This is the 9/16" wide horizontal stripe. and a time consuming part of the mask. You'll be going in and out of the corrugations and have to keep the line consistent when viewed straight on. Ask any sign painter what is the hardest surface to paint - He'll tell you: "Lettering and painting over ...
[Read More]

Estes Contest
  Estes is doing something they haven't done in years - An actual contest! It's a Photo Contest to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 flight. To check out the prizes and enter - CLICK HERE Winners are chosen at random? Of course I entered -  I didn't really follow the ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 40, Lower Body Outlines
At the top of the fairings I used the flat back of a single edge razor blade for a straightedge. Masking tape was doubled over the sharp blade edge. The ultra fine point Sharpie was used for the line down the middle top of the fairing. Keep the lines on the body tube thin! See the EDIT below. The ...
[Read More]

BBC 13 Minutes To The Moon
The BBC is providing a great Pod Cast series called "13 Minutes To The Moon". This is something for those interested in the Apollo program : https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w13xttx2 http://www.aerospaceprojectsreview.com/blog/
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 41, Masking For The Black
TIP: I wouldn't recommend masking and spraying the model in one sitting. It's simply too much work, you could find it overwhelming. 1. Mask and spray the reduction and third stage body as one operation. 2. Then mask and spray the bottom and fins. 3. Third, mask and spray the interstage wrap. The ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 42, Interstage Mask
Here's the start of the interstage wrap mask. First, use smaller pieces of tape over the tunnels and raised details. Be sure the inside corners are tucked in and the edges sealed. After the tunnel masks, block off all the vertical white area bands. Notice the masking tape overlaps about 1/16" of ...
[Read More]

Oeuf and Ool
As I mentioned in my previous post, I have started designing and building my rockets for this year's Geezer TARC. The first of these, Oeuf (french for "egg"), is an Alpha-like model based on the Centuri ST-18 body tube (minimum diameter for a regulation TARC egg). It's powered by up to 4 18mm ...
[Read More]

Model Rocketry – June 22, 2019
The Mean Machine mid-power (E-size engine) rocket launch today used the BBA launch controller and igniter. An onboard camera provides a good ...
[Read More]

Ed Mitton Snap Swivel Connection TIP
For the longest time I've been tying the parachute shroud lines to the small loop on a snap swivel. It's not the easiest way to attach them. You've got to tie the line ends onto the small loop with a separate string. The large hook end is opened and is attached to a single overhand knot on the ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 43, Masking For The Silver
This might be a tougher mask than the insterstage wrap! I used some frosted Scotch tape to mask the curve around the fairing. I cut the 1/4" wide strips in as smooth an arc as I could. These were cut on my sliding patio glass. Two of the arcs have been removed here so you could see the arc and ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 44, Spraying The Silver
Before spraying the silver, I didn't want to spray the silver with a dull coat after the decals. A dull coat could turn the silver to a gray. The low end of the model got a dull coat before the silver mask. Try to push the tape into the corrugations as best you can. TIP: To seal the tape edge, use ...
[Read More]

A Email Question About Filling BT Seams
Chris- You frequently explain how to  fill the spiral seam on a rocket tube.  There is a detail, however, which is not   clear; I thought it might be  something of general interest to your blog - reading   community.   There are typically two spirals on ...
[Read More]

Two Of My Estes Builds At Show
Randy Boadway posted some pictures on Facebook -  Two models I built for Estes are already making the rounds, here displayed at  The Hobbytyme Show. Randy and Blaine show off the upcoming BOOSTED BERTHA . And to the right is the large BT-60 based SASHA . Both models should be good ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 45, Parachutes
You have three parachutes to assemble. The design is from the old Centuri kit and simulates the gore pattern from the Apollo mission splashdowns. TIP: Turn over your straightedge so there is no chance of the plastic sheet flexing when cutting out the parachute sides. You can get a ragged edge if ...
[Read More]

BAR Fleet: #121 FlatCat-C
Scratch Built From Published Plans, Designed by:   G. Harry Stine, T ype:   Boost/Glider   Glider Length: 41cm Wing Span:   34cm Weight: 18.0g Pod Length: 17cm Diameter:   18.7mm Weight: 8.3g   Total Length: 47.5cm Total Weight (empty): 26.3g   Color Scheme: ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 46, Silver Reveal and OOPS!
The silver was sprayed. Look at the root edge of the fin. You can see where I lightly sanded  the liquid glue "fillet". The coats that followed covered it well. Here's the reveal after the tape was lifted. I had clean color separations, Whew! The finish is much cleaner than the picture shows ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 47, Gluing The RCS Nozzles
I'm going to add one hour to the build time for all the touch-ups that were done around the mask areas. I was careful as possible and still had paint get into areas I thought were covered. TIP: Before the paint is totally dry, you can remove some (isolated) over sprays with a Mister Clean Magic ...
[Read More]

Estes Star Orbiter
No build thread here, just the finished product. I won this kit in a club raffle. Probably not one I ever would have bought, but I had no objection to building it once I had it. Other than rail buttons it’s pretty much stock. Advertisements
[Read More]

Returning a veteran to duty...
In 1972, Cox (which was then a separate company from Estes) offered a line of all-plastic ready-to-fly model rockets , many of which were scale models. My rocket builds looked like crap back then, so I was all about good looking birds that I could fly immediately after taking them out of the box. ...
[Read More]

Estes is having a photo contest!
All you have to do is to mosey over to their web site and submit an image of yourself - or someone else - launching a rocket. The grand prize is $575 dollars in rocket goodies. You can only submit one entry and the contest ends on July 19. The grand prize in the estes photo ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 51, Silver Trim and Dull Coat
Normally I'd paint and leave a Saturn V with gloss paint. Flat paint is a dirt and finger oil magnet! Flat finishes are also hard to clean. Estes requested these builds to have a dull, no gloss finish. I hand painted these small motors on the 3rd Stage with bottled Silver paint. The sheen was ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: 30 June, 2019
  Today’s launch was another ‘Shoe Box’ session conducted at Founders Park in Castle Rock, Colorado.   Perfect flying conditions prevailed for this session with wind speeds ranging from dead calm to maybe 3 mph tops.   Temperature at launch time was near 80 ...
[Read More]

Re-live Apollo 11 as it happens
Ben Feist has done a great job working with recreating the Apollo 11 mission: https://apolloinrealtime.org/11/ Ben also did a terrific job with Apollo 17: https://apollo17.org/ It would be something if he could do one of these for each Apollo mission 🙂
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 52, Finishing Up!
Here's the silver detail after it was hand painted again following the dull coat. Much better! I didn't glue together the upper assembly so the service module could stay separate (and silver) after the dull coat. The decals were thin. After the dull coat was sprayed the clear decal edges ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Finished!
Okay, where are the finished pictures? I built TWO Saturn Vs and had a deadline. Trying to paint around Florida's Summer rains and humidity is a bear! When all was finished I would have to take the pictures outside, the model is too tall to "pose" for clear indoor pictures. When that afternoon ...
[Read More]

Hobby Lobby Clearance Panic?
On the Estes Model Rockets Facebook page, Mark Allen asked: "When you folks have been making the deal of the decade at Hobby Lobby ...  Have you found out why everything is on clearance?" John Boren of Estes responded : "New Estes Stock has and is arriving so don't worry Estes is Still at ...
[Read More]

BAR Fleet #123 - Big Rage
  Source:   Quest Aerospace Kit #1010 Type:   Sport Model   Stages:   Single Engine Type:   18mm Recovery:   Parachute Length:   (With Payload): 93.2cm (Without Payload):   71.7 cm Diameter:   35mm Weight Empty:   (With ...
[Read More]

The Estes Photo Contest
OK, so I dropped the hammer earlier today and submitted a photo to this latest 'contest' sponsored by Estes. In reading the contest description, it sounds like there will not necessarily be any judging of the submissions, rather the winners will be selected at random. The grand prize is ...
[Read More]

This year's 4th of July rocket
Every year I try to build a rocket in commemoration of the 4th of July. This year's choice was a simple model - the rocket from the Estes #1447 America starter set, which features the plastic fin can used in the Estes Generic rocket (except that it's black). Naturally the build took a few days, as ...
[Read More]

JonRocket.com Tenth Anniversary!
JonRocket.com is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a sale and a special double Reward Points offer to thank our wonderful customers for helping us reach this milestone.  Today through July 11, 2019, hundreds of rocketry products are on sale and ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project, - It's Back! Part 1 Background
This next build will feature a great interchangeable engine mount  design  -  I always liked the Centuri kit, the Centurion. It was Centuri's version of the Estes Big Bertha, but a bit sleeker. A great demo rocket, perfect for small fields with a B6-4 or C6-5. An early Centuri (no ...
[Read More]

Trying to stabilize the Dr Zooch Saturn V
I claimed I would not fly the Saturn V again after its unstable flight in May, but maybe I will, with some modification. I built it pretty much according to the instructions, the biggest change (and potentially quite significant, I guess) being substitution of epoxy putty for funky glue putty in ...
[Read More]

Ten Years of Blogging!
  Hard to believe! TEN years of Rocket Building and Blogging. Almost 6,000 posts and 2.5 million hits! Who knows how many rockets were built. The blog was started on July 4, 2009 to document my rocket projects and hopefully help others along the way. The first Odd'l Rockets kits came three ...
[Read More]

Steampunk Protostar, Part 29 - Finishing Up The Launch Lugs
After doing a little bit of work on the Protostar body tube, I am now turning attention back to finishing up the launch lugs. The first order of business is to apply some CWF to the lug stand-offs. After sanding the stand-offs smooth, its time to apply some rivet detail. The original plan ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project, Part 2, Parts
Here's the parts from Semroc, minus the engine mount. Looks like I had already assembled the Centuri style ejection baffle. Two 12" Semroc parachutes were included in the kit. All the parts for the interchangeable engine mounts: On the left is the 18mm two engine cluster. On the right is the ...
[Read More]

Rocket science...
My place of work, Marshall Space Flight Center, is hosting a series of employee events to mark the Apollo 11 50th anniversary on July 16. One of these will be a launch involving the Estes 1/200th scale Saturn V and a custom SLS (also built by Estes) of the same scale. My job is to work with Chuck ...
[Read More]

Orlando R.O.C.K. Launch, July 6, 2019
Rain was forecast for the afternoon, the idea was to start early and beat the rough weather.  Record heat this year, we all felt it. I was there early to help set up the range equipment and launchers.  Everything was running smooth, Kirby and Tom were handling the controller and ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project, Part 3, Semroc EM Instructions
In order for the locking basswood strip to work, the positioning of the centering rings is critical. Here's step nine from the Semroc instructions. The rear ring is glued 3/8" from the rear of the tube. The upper ring is 2 1/4" from the rear. The lower ring has the larger notches for movement of ...
[Read More]

A Rocketry Related Poem... Kind of.....
How many of you folks remember a gentleman named Mason Williams? Mason Williams is an entertainer best known for his hit guitar piece "Classical Gas" in the early 70's. Mason was also a comedy writer known for his contributions to the Smothers Brothers Show and the very early days of Saturday ...
[Read More]

THEM ROCKET FLIERS
My last post featured a "Them Poem" by Mason Williams. Being inspired by that, I sat down this morning and penned my own "Them Poem"  - one about model rocketeers..... THEM ROCKET FLIERS How 'bout them rocket fliers, ain't they nerds? Flyin' them rockets, callin' them "Birds". Flyin' ...
[Read More]

Model Rocketry – July 8, 2019
Building the Conquest Rocket Plane Specifications Length:28.6″ (73 cm) Wingspan: 12.8″ (33 cm) Diameter: 1.64″ (42 mm) Weight: 5.5 oz. (156 g) ...
[Read More]

Saturn V Fairing Melts? BIG Tip
I've already seen a few Estes Saturn V launches celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing. Before launching, take a moment to be sure your model is ABOVE THE BLAST DEFLECTOR - From the Facebook page - Model Rocketry Fanatics: Stepen Fitton posted: " This is after only 2 flights on ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: July 6, 2019 - A day in Pueblo
    Today, fellow Castle Rock rocketeer Jim Gazur and I packed up the car with rockets and headed south   - 90 miles away to Pueblo, Colorado – to participate in a sport meet sponsored by S.C.O.R.E., the guys who hosted NARAM-60 last August. Upon arriving at the spacious ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project, Part 4, Dual 18mm Engine Mount
The inside edges of the engine mount tubes got a wipe of medium CA glue before assembly. Notice here I am also applying CA just over the edge of the tube. Light sanding follows with 400 grit. On the left is a dry fit of the dual 18mm mount parts. Be sure the tape retention piece is just below the ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project, Part 5, Single 24mm Engine Mount
I only had a Estes style BT-50 sized engine block. It was too loose a fit in the Centuri ST-9, 24mm engine mount. The outside diameter was built up using a copy paper wrap strip. Glue was applied with a glue stick. The strip was wrapped around the block and allowed to dry. The overhang edges were ...
[Read More]

Test flights...
Monday was test flight day, so 4 PM found me - along with Allen, Duane and a few friends from MSFC - at the field across the street from our old launch site. It was very, very hot - the area was under a heat advisory, with feels like temps over 102 degrees - so I did not dawdle setting up the pad ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project, Part 6, Fin Fix
One fin had a broken tip on the trailing edge! The old Centuri instructions suggest sanding an airfoil shape to the fins after they are glued onto the body tube. The Semroc instructions say: "Round all edges except the root edges (which will be glued to the body tube). The trailing edge and tip ...
[Read More]

Apollo 50th: Build a LEM Paper Model
As the Apollo 11 50th anniversary approaches I find it’s time to build a paper model of the iconic Lunar Module.I hope you will join me in this undertaking and build your own. Two great models come to mind. The ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project, Part 7, Fin and Body Tube Fill
The body tubes got the standard CWF seam fill and sanding. On the left is the rough cut body tubes joined by a coupler. The tube cuts aren't great. True it up with a sanding block. The picture on the right shows the new joint after sanding the ends with a block. Here's the body tube after the CWF ...
[Read More]

Model Rocketry – July 13, 2019
First test flight of our Conquest Rocket Plane. We used a low powered engine for this initial flight. The beacon helped us ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project, Part 8, Fin Gluing
These pictures are of the Estes Cosmic Explorer, the slightly down scaled version of the Centuri Centurion. The Estes Cosmic Explorer (BT-55) has through the wall fins, the root edge of the fins glue to the engine mount tube. Looking inside the pre-cut fin slot you can see the black electrical ...
[Read More]

Name That Rocket -
Johnathan Wilkins posted on the Estes Model Rockets Facebook page: "Name That Rocket . . ." There were plenty of responses, most thought it was the original Estes Drifter. You know, the one that had a 12' and 24" parachute in the kit? Guaranteed to be lost on the first flight using the 24" ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project, Part 9, Ends & Edges
The larger Centurion has two 3/16" launch lugs. On the left is a typical applied line of glue. TIP: On the right I've placed my thumb and index finger into a "V" shape. This V is run down the glue line evening it up and removing excess. This helps get a cleaner glue joint before fillets are ...
[Read More]

Motor or Engine?
On the Centuri Model Rocket Facebook page, Steven Ross posted this: Gary Dahlke responded: "This is the aerospace industry convention: solid propulsion = motor; liquid propulsion = engine. Gary Dahlke, Pratt & Whitney Space Propulsion 1993-2000, Space Shuttle Program 1993-2010." I call ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: 14 July, 2019 - A Couple of 3FNC Flights
  Today’s launch was yet another of those shoe box affairs in which I take a quick jaunt to the nearby park and put up a couple of small birds within the span of half an hour.   Weather conditions were very good at Founders Park in Castle Rock, with a temperature around 80 ...
[Read More]

Building the Delta 7 Mercury-Redstone 8 (part 1)
The July launch theme for our club isn’t just Apollo 11 or Saturn V but US Manned [sic] Space Flight, so I decided to put together something that’s been in my build pile for quite some time. Delta 7 Studios, evidently the nom de commerce of one D. H. T. Shippey, has been in bus ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project, Part 10, Black and White Paint
This is a very easy model to paint, the low end is white, the upper tube and nose cone are black. TIP: Always think ahead when assembling a rocket. The instructions tell you to glue the two body tube sections together with a coupler before finishing. Wait to glue the two body tubes and spray them ...
[Read More]

Steampunk Protostar, Part 30 - A Smoke Vent For a Space Rocket!
Questions on a typical doctor's office Patient Medical History form: Q:   Are you a smoker? A:  "Only when I'm on fire!" Q: How Long? A:  "Until somebody puts me out!" Because the Protostar is purportedly a steam-driven vehicle, it requires all of the provisions for the ...
[Read More]

Re Living Apollo 11 Mission
Sapce News Apollo 11 Special: https://spacenews.com/download/Apollo_at_50_07_16_19.pdf
[Read More]

The celebration begins...
Today marked the 50th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 11, the mission that landed the first men on the Moon. Huntsville and Marshall Space Flight Center played a very prominent role in Apollo, as the Saturn V rocket was designed and tested here. So you can imagine that today and the next few ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project, Part 11, Edges and Decals
I'll be bouncing back and forth between the finishing and decals on the Semroc Centurion and Estes Cosmic Explorer. If you see the model name at the top of the paragraph, that's the model I'm working on at the moment. CENTURION I ran a Sharpie around the shoulder lip so you wouldn't see the balsa ...
[Read More]

Building the Delta 7 Mercury-Redstone 8 (part 2)
Next, the fins. Here’s a Rocksim file for an Estes Mercury-Redstone model rocket. If the dimensions therein are correct, it would appear the fins on that model are about 15% wider than scale. My hope was the CP estimated by Rocksim and OpenRocket, scaled to the body diameter, would be roughly ...
[Read More]

Saturn V Side By Side Launch
There were a few Saturn V launch videos posted yesterday - Here's one of the better ones by CoolBlueZRI. Side by side time coordinated video of the 1969 Apollo 11 launch and a Estes #2157 Saturn V Model Rocket. To see the video - CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Centurion Project, Part 12, More Decals and Trimming
Here's the decals from the Semroc Centurion kit - not nearly as many as red stripes as supplied with the Estes Cosmic Explorer. CENTURION: The original Centuri kit did have a red stripe running down both sides of the body. The Semroc reissue kit only gives you red stripes for a single fin stripe ...
[Read More]

Building the Delta 7 Mercury-Redstone 8 (part 3)
The Liberty Bell 7 capsule went together mostly per the model instructions, but of course I left off the heat shield and retro rockets. Instead I made a shoulder out of a strip of cardstock. If you’ve ever wondered what a Mercury capsule with a service module would have looked like, wonder ...
[Read More]

Update Apollo
Just a quick note: I haven't posted here in quite a while (though I do post on Facebook, Instagram, and sometimes Twitter, for quick stuff). There are a few reasons why - life has been busy, the N00b family are moving to a new place soon, etc. I didn't finish my Saturn V series before this ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project, Part 13, Tying It All Up!
CENTURION: I glued the baffle into to the (shown upside down here) upper body tube. There is a pencil mark at the halfway point. The other lines are leftover paint lines when the model was spray painted white. CENTURION: The 1/4" wide shock cord was tied to the screw eye using a Duncan ...
[Read More]

Canada’s Role in The Apollo Program
As the world celebrates the 50th anniversary of humans first setting foot on the moon under the US Apollo program, it’s a ...
[Read More]

Centurion Project, Finished!
For comparison -  This is the Estes Cosmic Explorer - leaner, longer nose cone and a bit shorter. 1.35" diameter, BT-55 Here's the (Centuri) Semroc Centurion, the real subject piece for this build. Stockier, shorter nose cone and taller. ST-16 tube at 1.64" diameter. This is probably the ...
[Read More]

More about Tuesday...
A friend of mine presented me with one of the rockets used in the 5000 rocket world record attempt on Tuesday - it's the Space Camp rocket, Pathfinder, with special stickers to commemorate the occasion and the sponsors. Pathfinder is BT-20 based, with a red plastic fin can and blue nose cone; this ...
[Read More]

Syracuse Rocket Club launch: Indexed
When I left the club launch today at about 1:30, it was about 89°F, heat index about 101°F, both still rising. I was hearing thunder. If it’d been up to me the launch would’ve been postponed, but it wasn’t, and if it weren’t the Apollo 11 anniversary and if I ...
[Read More]

Launch! Schoolyard Soccer Field, July 20, 2019
My alarm went off at 6:45 a.m., I headed for the soccer field by 7:00. Clear skies - no winds! Early is the only way to beat the heat. The indestructible Estes CURVILINEAR was a great first launch to make sure the batteries, controller and conditions are good. The A8-3 engine got it to an ...
[Read More]

Semroc USS Andromeda KV-97 Background
This was the new standout kit from the 1975 catalog! At over 43" it was almost as tall as the Saturn V! Painted an overall black with high contrast orange decals and metallic trim. In the Estes catalog it is called simply the  "Andromeda". I don't know when the "USS" prefix was added. In ...
[Read More]

Well, I've Never Seen This Before!
Isn't it a "Right Of Passage?" We've all cut our fingers with a hobby knife. Practice makes close! The more experience you have, the less we cut our fingers. Years back at the Print Shop I heard a paste-up artist let out a yell. An X-Acto knife had rolled down the angled drawing board and stuck in ...
[Read More]

Free Plans From Apogee
If you visit the Apogee Rockets Website you should find this offer - FREE PDF Book of 25 Rocket Plans! Simply subscribe to the Peak Of Flight Newsletter - CLICK HERE Free plans - GOOD! Add the POF Newsletter  - Better GOOD!
[Read More]

Building the [scratch] Roll Model (part 1)
Our club does a night launch every year in August (except we skipped last year), and there’s night launches at NYPower which I’ve gotten to, uh, once I think, and yet I’ve only ever flown two different rockets at them: my Loadstar II with LEDs in the clear payload section, and my ...
[Read More]

A fun launch!
1 PM Sunday saw me and Duane setting up his canopy at Pegasus East. The day was humid, with intermittent light showers intermixed with a very hot sun, and I sure was not going to sit in my camp chair without something over my head; besides, we needed cover to insure that the rockets and motors ...
[Read More]

Dryer Sheet Wadding?
From the Facebook Estes Model Rocketry page: Mark E. Johnson asked: " Has engine thought about using crepe paper party streamers for recover wadding? Back in the day I don’t think it was fire proof/resident but these days I’m thinking it might be. Matt Matt posted: I like leftovers ...
[Read More]

Building the [scratch] Roll Model (part 2)
As for the top plate: Glue it on, or no? If glued, that would have to be after installing the LED rings, which would have to be after painting. And then there would be no way to change out a ring whose batteries have run down. (The rings aren’t built for battery changes. You’d ...
[Read More]

New Kits From Estes Available!
The Sasha, Boosted Bertha, Double Ringer and a new version Phantom are now available on the Estes website: CLICK HERE I have already built two Sasha and Boosted Berthas for Estes. The Boosted Bertha has two of the new 18mm screw on motor retaining rings. The Sasha sports gap staging with a booster ...
[Read More]

Old Big Bertha Instructions
A blog comment made mention of the Big Bertha nose cone. The shape and length have changed over the years. The old balsa BNC-60L nose cone had 3 1/8"exposed above the body tube edge. It was longer and not so blunt as the current plastic PNC-60L or part #71020. Here's the parts layout from some old ...
[Read More]

Launch Report 2019-2
Location: driveway Weather: low 90's, wind 0, clear Total flights: Today - 2; YTD - 4 Total motors: Today - 2; YTD - 2 Motors by class YTD: H2O - 2, MMX-2 Artemus Astronaut Build Notes: This was made from a little foam astronaut that was handed out by ULA/Boeing at the Apollo 50 Celebration. This ...
[Read More]

First Engine Hooks?
Yesterday's post about engine retention got me curious to find the first introduction of the engine hook These go back farther than I thought, to the Estes Model Rocket News from June, 1964. While most call them an engine hook, here they were referred to as an Engine Holder. The first use of an ...
[Read More]

Hybrid Rocket – RC O2 Injection System Bench Testing
Today we hooked up the remotely controlled O2 injection system using the same transmitter and receiver as we did for the remotely ...
[Read More]

New Gryphon Boost Glider Kit From Estes
The new Gryphon boost glider is now available from Estes. The website picture might be of the two Gryphons I recently built for Estes. The Boosted Bertha and Sasha are also shown as now available. A blog build is coming after the Semroc Andromeda, the Estes Boosted Bertha and Estes Sasha! ...
[Read More]

Tailwheel Conversion Handbook – Kindle Edition now Available
The Kindle Edition of the Tailwheel Conversion Handbook – Citabria 7ECA – 2nd Edition is now available at the Kindle Store. The…
[Read More]

Fin Glue Rivets? TIP
Here's one way we used to reinforce the fin root edge joints - FIN GLUE RIVETS! This illustration is from the 1977 FSI catalog. Punch holes down the fin position pencil line with a needle. When glue is applied it should press into the pin holes and make an effective glue rivet! I don't think I ...
[Read More]

Catching Rockets?
There was a spirited debate on TRF about catching model rockets - Boy, I'll probably catch heck for this one -  If a rocket is coming down slowly under parachute, and are within arms reach - I might try to catch it, by the shock cord or parachute lines. If I'm at the schoolyard I might ...
[Read More]

Citabria – July 31, 2019
Departed Peterborough CYPQ for tailwheel training at the grass field at Greenbank CNP8. We brought lots of grass back with us to…
[Read More]

White (Clear) Glue TIP
At the last club launch a fin was broken off my Dr. Zooch Saturn V. TIP: When glue is seen on the outside of a rocket, use a white glue that dries clear. I see this at club launches - a builder uses yellow wood glue for a repair. The glue fillets dry a dull yellow color. That yellow fillet can ...
[Read More]

Exclusive Hobby Lobby Kits?
From YORF, BRS Hobbies posted: " I found some new Estes model rocket kits at Hobby Lobby. They were still in a big box, that were ready for hanging up on the walls. One is a Cherokee-E and then a rocket with a single cylindrical glider instead of two like the Double Ringer. I also found another ...
[Read More]

Back To School Supplies! TIPS
You can pick up some school supplies (rocket building supplies) cheap right now - I bought glue sticks, get the name brand glue sticks, not the store brand. I also picked up two bottles of school glue. The school glue was $1.00 each, you can probably find them for less. I wouldn't use school ...
[Read More]

New Estes HL Kits
On the NAR Facebook page,  Gregory Henderson posted a picture of two new designs to be sold at Hobby Lobby: John Scott Bryan added: " From other discussions there are apparently eight Hobby Lobby exclusive kits - the two shown above, a whimsical Mosquito-sized rocket with curved fins ...
[Read More]

Hybrid Rocket – Fabrication
Fabricating experimental hybrid rocket motor delta ...
[Read More]

The launch before the storms...
Rocketeers awaiting their chance to fly at Saturday's launch (Click to enlarge). During the HARA club meeting Thursday night, Allen announced that he and a few others would gather at Pegasus Field East today for some rocket flying - at 8:30 AM! My initial reaction was ...
[Read More]

Hybrid Rocket – Fabrication
Fabricating experimental hybrid rocket motor delta… Drilled a 14mm diameter port through the solid paraffin. Fabricated the cap for the post combustion ...
[Read More]

New Kit Comparison
The two new kits from Estes seem similar, it's a good example of how paint color choice and decals can really change up a finished model. The Sasha and ESAM-58 are both BT-60 based models. The lower small fins on both models are positioned between the four larger upper fins. The dowel antennas ...
[Read More]

Sorry -
Sorry about no blog posts over the past few days. I was helping my daughter move everything to Gainesville, Florida for her next year at college. She didn't have WiFi set up yet! I have to remind myself: "Don't tackle anything this big by yourself. You are not 25 years old anymore!"
[Read More]

New fleet additions...
The Mini-X and Zeta (Click to enlarge). My recent burst of rocket building mania has resulted in a few additions to the fleet. The first two of these are the builds I started way back in December , the Zeta and the Mini-X. These rockets are from old 1960's Estes ...
[Read More]

Sweaty Rocket Handling?
At a club launch I've been asked why I carry rockets with a paper towel around them. It's hot, and your hands are sweaty! On a model like the Dr. Zooch Saturn V there are printed paper wraps. These wraps or a flat paint finish could be stained when handling on a hot day.
[Read More]

Conquest – August 11, 2019
This was the 2nd flight of the Conquest model rocket plane at our Crooked Creek facility. Here is a short video of ...
[Read More]

A summer cornucopia of new releases...
The rocket vendors have not been idle over the past couple of months; there have been lots of new kit releases, so many that it has been difficult to keep up. I thought that I'd use this post to list some of them, illustrating how the build pile has grown. First, we have a couple from Semroc - the ...
[Read More]

Tangled Shroud Lines?
At the last club launch, one parachute got fouled up! Using the method suggested by Ed Mitton - I opened the snap swivel, removed the lines, untangled and replaced the loops side by side. DONE! To see the original blog post: CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Engine Block Gluing TIP
Here's how we used to do it - Gluing the engine block in the old Wac Corporal kit. I like how the instructions tell you: "Put a large dab of glue near the end of your little finger (or use a brush.)" It better be your little finger, I doubt other fingers would fit into a minimum diameter BT-20 ...
[Read More]

NARAM - 61 Manufacturer's Forum Video
To find out what's coming in Model Rocketry -  Watch the NARAM 61 Manufacturer's Forum To see the video: CLICK HERE Garth Illibrun let us know of the Apogee video on the Estes Model Rocket Facebook page. On the left is John Langford of Estes Industries.
[Read More]

It's Enerjet time!
I have made good progress on my backlog of rockets - the Mini X and Zeta are finished, Ool (My 2nd Geezer TARC rocket) has its 2nd coat of primer, and the Boyce Aerospace Redstone missile has another section of its 3D printed fin can sanded. It's time for a new project, but I have a slight problem ...
[Read More]

Ashasta-Sadie Instructions Are Back!
Maybe they never left? My older address didn't work anymore - Now the kit instructions are hosted by Blues Rock PAGE 1 PAGE 2 Scroll down for the plans - You might find a few instruction sets that are not hosted on Jim Zs or Old Rocket Plans.
[Read More]

Goblin Decal Placement?
Moot rocket nerd point of the month -  I've brought this up before when I was assembling a Goblin kit a few years ago. Joe Hess posted a picture of a recent Goblin face card on the Estes Model Rocket Facebook page. I noticed the decals and how they were placed. Notice how the "Goblin" name ...
[Read More]

Sorta' Gross Rocket Tip
I'm building a Mercury Redstone for Estes, so it's got to be clean. You know how it goes - some builds are smooth, some seem cursed! This one is somewhere in the middle. Bill Stine asked for a flat finish. I spray all my models with gloss paints, apply decals then hit it with a dull coat. It's ...
[Read More]

Back To Biz-ness...
Hi, All, I haven't posted here is some time on account of being out traveling and away from the computer.  Today, things have returned to normal - however that can be defined - so I can get back to rocket building and blogging. One quick note:  Last week (August 14th) marked an ...
[Read More]

Great Fin Alignment Idea
On TRF, Gary Saito posted a few pictures of his New Way rockets Flat Boy build. At first glance this looks like a rocket sitting on a stand. "Since I didn't have a fin jig for a square tube I used the legs of the display stand and line of sight to align the fins."   Viewed from ...
[Read More]

Snap Swivel Attachment
On YORF, David Stribling posted some scanned instructions for the TLP Hawk kit. The Launch Pad instructions are clean and to the point - TLP Hawk Instructions 1: CLICK HERE TLP Hawk Instructions 2: CLICK HERE Here's yet another way to attach a snap swivel to the parachute shroud lines: It's more ...
[Read More]

Tidbits from rocket history...
My friends are well aware I have two passions - rocketry and history. So I very much relish the times when I am able to combine the two, as I have done by perusing old rocketry magazines over the past couple of weeks. In so doing, I uncovered a few things I found to be of interest, which I thought ...
[Read More]

Mercury Little Joe Black Fin?
In 2003 I ordered a DVD from Mike Dorffler. It was full of scale information and pictures of the Mercury Little Joe. I had always wanted to build this as a scale model but was never able to get enough information. On the forums there was some discussion between Peter Alway and James Duffy about ...
[Read More]

Syracuse Rocket Club launch: Discontented
There are great launches and less than great launches, and yesterday’s was not in the great category. Not terrible, but not great. Let’s start with this, which you can take as a tip for the next launch you go to: It helps if you bring your rocket motors. Failing that, it helps if you, ...
[Read More]

Canopy fix
I have a Coleman 10′ x 10′ canopy, model number 2000012704, a few years old. At July’s launch my son was taking it down when one of the lower peak truss bars bent at the hinge and broke. After some googling I found there’s a vendor on Amazon, Coleman Replacement Parts, that ...
[Read More]

Citabria – August 26, 2019
Crosswind circuit practice this morning at CYPQ then setting up for ground school work in the hangar. Here is a video from…
[Read More]

A modular TARC rocket?
Now that the season has begun I have been thinking quite a bit about this year's TARC. The big change this year is that the 100 teams participating at Finals will fly not to their qualifying 800 foot altitude, but to 775 and 825 feet, 25 feet higher or lower (order to be determined by a coin toss ...
[Read More]

Cozy MKIV – September 1, 2019
The front headrest pieces were cut out and assembled with 5-minute epoxy using a little flox mixed in. The right side headrest…
[Read More]

Cozy MKIV – September 2, 2019
Cut out the shoulder braces for the front seatback and redoing the headrests.
[Read More]

Hurricane Update
Unless Hurricane Dorian turns inland - I'll be riding this one out, here at home in Orlando Florida. There are a few builds underway. If I miss a daily post, it's probably out of my hands. I'm not able to spray paint in my patio right now. Humidity really effects the drying times. I even had to do ...
[Read More]

Pre - Hurricane Painting
I don't know what the weather is going to be like over the next two days. I crossed my fingers to squeeze in a mask and paint before the wind picks up. The one orange fin on the Mercury Little Joe was masked. As I was shaking a paint can it started to lightly rain! Ten minutes later that ...
[Read More]

Cozy MKIV – September 4, 2019
The shoulder support braces were fit into position and temporarily held in place with nails. Next, the headrest pieces were glassed. Shop…
[Read More]

Parachute Shroud Line Material?
From the Facebook Model Rocketry Fanatics page, a question: Any suggestions on what thread or string to use on DIY parachutes for low power? Then the answers come in -  "Use Kevlar thread" -  Yes, it works, probably overkill and expensive. "Use Button and Rug Thread" -& ...
[Read More]

Citabria – September 5, 2019
A short cross country trip today including the grass strip at Greenbank (CNP8) and lunch on the patio in Lindsay (CNF4). Contact…
[Read More]

Spaceport America 2019

[Read More]

Free Tri-Fold Mounts PDF
Most build as directed by the instructions - including the tri-fold shock cord mounts. I've never been a big fan of the tri-fold mounts. The mount is usually printed on the instruction sheets, on thin 20 lb. paper. If I have to use these mounts, thicker stock would be a better choice. I drew ...
[Read More]

Cozy MKIV – September 7, 2019
Cut out the headrest pieces using a band saw. Shaped the shoulder braces including the 45 deg bevels so they fit with…
[Read More]

Launch! Schoolyard Soccer Field, September 7, 2019
Usually the first Saturday of the month is Launch Day for the Orlando ROCK. Rain from hurricane Dorian has the field too wet to allow cars on the field. I wasn't going to the club launch today - Lowe's was supposed to install my new patio door but the delivery guys screwed up! No door install, ...
[Read More]

Cozy MKIV – September 8, 2019
The canopy hinge locations were marked on the top right longeron then two 10″ pieces of MS20001-P6 hinge were cut. Assembly of…
[Read More]

Launch Date: 6 September, 2019
Today's rocket flying session at Dove Valley Regional Park in Centennial, Colorado, was planned to take advantage of some good weather models for the date.  There was the potential for up to five area model rocketeers participating to make it somewhat of a 'mini-meet'. Mike Goss arrived on ...
[Read More]

Where Are My GOOD Scissors?
Did you ever hear that when you were a kid? There could be three sets of scissors in that junk drawer, but they weren't "the GOOD Scissors!" TIP: Don't cut Kevlar lines with your Mom's best scissors. you could ruin them! Don't cut Kevlar with your X-Acto knife, it'll dull the blade! TRIVIA: On ...
[Read More]

Where Did The Sasha Design Come From?
On TRF, Ewomack asked about the Estes Sasha: " Is the relatively new Estes kit "Sasha SA-2061" based on a real rocket? I can't seem to find anything online that it might correlate to. Is it just their own original design? John Boren, designer of the Sasha responded: " No, It is not based on a ...
[Read More]

Cozy MKIV – September 10, 2019
Sanded the bonding surfaces of the canopy hinges with 220 grit then sanded the bonding surfaces of the upper longeron with 36…
[Read More]

How much power do you really need?
The Geezer TARC flyoff is this weekend, and I am busy going over my final calculations before the event, making sure I have the proper descent rates with my chosen parachutes. I am also following a lot of activity over on the Contest Rockets group, where the discussions are focussing on the NRC, ...
[Read More]

Hey you
Sign this petition. [My comment: “Model rocketry is a fun, safe, and educational hobby. Launches conducted according to the National Association of Rocketry’s safety code and the National Fire Protection Association’s model fire code have a 60 year track record of greater safety ...
[Read More]

Cozy MKIV – September 11, 2019
Used a #12 drill bit to drill 5 holes in each of the two canopy hinges to secure them to the top…
[Read More]

Cozy MKIV – September 12, 2019
Note: The Cozy Chapter 8 parts list is missing the correct size nuts for the machine screws that hold down the canopy…
[Read More]

FAI World Cup Competition Video
On the NAR Facebook page,   Steve Kristal posted a link to  the recent F.A.I. World Cup competition in Ukraine.   This is one of the best produced rocketry videos I've seen. Some great slow-motion launches and some closeups of the international scale builds. To view it: ...
[Read More]

New (Good?) Spray Paint
I hate to recommend anything - especially spray paint. So, I'm early for a dentist appointment and stopped at the nearby Ace Hardware store. There was some spray paint on sale. I'd been looking for some light gray paint. I picked up the Ace brand and some Ace gloss white. Rustoleum 2X is handy, ...
[Read More]

A Successful Keychain Cam Flight
A little over a week ago, on September 6th, I flew a Quest Big Rage with an 808 keychain video camera strapped to the payload section.  This marked the first time since 1981 that I flew a model rocket with any kind of a camera attached to it, that being an Estes Cineroc.   This ...
[Read More]

Handling Flat Finishes?
From the Facebook Model Rocketry Fanatics page,  Matt Steele posted this: "Chas Russel brings up the Pod Bay Door's "Uprated Saturn 1B" for its first flight." TIPS: This is why I rarely paint models with a flat finish - Sweat, skin oils and dirt stick to flat (matte) paint. Notice the gloves ...
[Read More]

Cozy MKIV – September 16, 2019
A foam template of the rear seat heat duct sides was made to fit between the front seatback and forward landing gear…
[Read More]

Citabria – September 17, 2019
Here is a short video of today’s cross country flight from Peterborough (CYPQ) to the Haliburton/Stanhope Municipal Airport (CND4), along with a…
[Read More]

Rain at high noon...
This past Saturday was the appointed date for this year's Geezer TARC competition. On Friday, the forecast did not look good, but Duane and I decided to wait until Saturday morning before making the weather call. At 7 AM Saturday morning, the radar showed rain all around us, and by 8 AM even Duane ...
[Read More]

Gee, I Wonder Where These Were Made?
For a while Quest BP engines were made in other countries and imported. I've gone through quite a few, but never saw one like the engine on the left. The ejection charge cap is usually white like on the right side.
[Read More]

For Steam Punk Fans
From the Facebook Model Rocketry Fanatics page, Dan Trimm posted a link: CLICK HERE It's not a Model Rocket, but a Rocket Model made out of metal. I love watching these videos, like the "How It's Made" series. This one will never fly, but should give you "Steam Punkers" some ideas for a tube and ...
[Read More]

Assembly: Amazon rocket
The second rocket that came in the kit is the Amazon. It’s about twice as big as the first rocket, roughly 30 inches and entirely black except for the decals. Having some bright colors or decals can help spot the rocket so you don’t completely lose track of it after launch. Thoughts on ...
[Read More]

Syracuse Rocket Club launch: Bidiscontented
Did I offend some god of rockets or what? It wasn’t a god of weather. We had clear skies, almost no wind, temperature peaking about 80°F. I’ll take it. I started off with Bohica’s Dead Ringer, on a B6-4. Have I flown this rocket before? Yes. On B6? Yes. How many times? Six. ...
[Read More]

Sponged Goblin?
From a post by John Lightning Lajoie  on the Facebook Estes Model Rocket page: " So I'm getting ready to lay down the decals when my daughter takes a look at it and says, Goblin, eh? So I show her the packaging and she turns to me and says, it's missing something. I say, what? She replies, ...
[Read More]

Peterborough Airport 50th Anniversary Air Show and Gala
Peterborough Airport 50th Anniversary
[Read More]

Old Rocketeer Rant - Part 1
  Heck, when I was a boy -  Did you have LASER CUT parts? What's that? We had to cut out and trace a pattern, then cut out fins with a dull X-Acto blade. ENGINE HOOKS? We friction fitted and were happy to do it! FINGER TABS? Oooooh! You're a real rocket man aren't you. PRE-ASSEMBLED ...
[Read More]

Cozy MKIV – September 23, 2019
Finished installing the canopy hinges by countersinking and fastening all machine screws (MS24694-65, -66, -70) in place using washers (AN960-416L) and nuts…
[Read More]

Old Rocketeer Rant - Part 2
"Listen up kid - you might learn somethin' . . ." RIP-STOP NYLON? Why, back in my day we made chutes from garbage bags. "Para-Wad" . . . yeah, that's what we called 'em. EJECTION BAFFLES? Think fiberglass Son, I say fiberglass. INTERNET HOW-TO VIDEOS? Nope, just Estes Yellow Pages. If you were ...
[Read More]

Making sense of Geezer TARC...
As mentioned in a prior post, rain forced the early termination of the Geezer TARC launch, leaving both me and Duane with an unflown, untested entry. We decided to rectify that situation this past Saturday, and 10 AM found us setting up pads and gear at Pegasus. We were joined by a few unexpected ...
[Read More]

Estes Booth NRHSA Hobby Show, Las Vegas
This picture was posted on the Estes Model Rockets Facebook page. I can see four models I built for Estes. That's all I can say until the kits are released! There are a few I haven't seen in person yet -  On the large poster it looks like the old Orange Bullet: CLICK HERE ...
[Read More]

Cozy MKIV – September 25, 2019
Sanded the inside of the shoulder brace as required (and vacuumed). Workshop temperature 24 deg C and humidity 61%. Mixed a batch…
[Read More]

Enterprise Restoration Video
On Facebook, Mario Perdue posted a link to the restoration of the USS enterprise model used in the Star Trek TV series. To see the video, CLICK HERE Airbrushing, lots of masking tape and water slide decals - Horrors! The restored model is now on display at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
[Read More]

Cozy MKIV – September 26, 2019
Trimmed and sanded smooth the headrest glassed edges. Trimmed and sanded the rear seat heat duct to size. Cut a 2″ long…
[Read More]

Friction Fit Engines? Old School Motor Retention
I remember buying small rockets, the ones you could afford when you were a sub on a paper route. Usually BT-20 based and around 12" tall. The Estes Wac Corporal was a disappointment. Trying to remove that friction fitted A8-3 engine was tough and would crimp the body tube.   ...
[Read More]

First launch
I live in the Seattle area. The Pacific Northwest is beautiful, with water and mountains and pine trees in every direction. This is great for scenic views, but it’s terrible for launching rockets. It’s more difficult than I anticipated to find an open, clear area that isn’t full ...
[Read More]

The good old days!
This video has been featured on numerous rocket blogs and sites, and it is time I posted it here. From the mid-60s to mid-70s, the West Covina Model Rocket Society (WCMRS) was one of California's most active model rocket clubs, having over a hundred members. They even had their own designated ...
[Read More]

Launch! Schoolyard Soccer Field, September 29, 2019
I didn't get to the NEFAR launch yesterday, next month should be a lot cooler. Off to the schoolyard about 7:30 a.m. before the wind kicks up. I was trying a faster shutter speed at 3,200 of a second. This early in the day it probably doesn't let in enough light. The burst launch shots were dark. ...
[Read More]

First launches – video highlights

[Read More]

Coming Soon from Estes
In a comment, Bernard Cawley let me know -  From the COMING SOON page on the Estes Website: CLICK HERE Copy from the Estes website: Estes’ newest series  Destination Mars , the M ars A scent V ehicle ( MAV ) #7283. This lightweight, fully decorated, easy-to-assemble beginner ...
[Read More]

More Upcoming Estes Kits!
Now on the Estes website - Coming Soon page: CLICK HERE #7281 Space Corps Corvette Class 25" tall, BT-55 based " The first release in a new Estes series, the Estes Space Corps." More Space Corps designs could be on the way. I have already built one for Estes. It has three piece fins with launch ...
[Read More]

Local rocketry club
It’s one thing to build and launch small, low-power model rockets a couple hundred feet into the air. It’s another to build and launch a massive high-power rocket with a much bigger motor. The high-power rocket takes more time, generally has more parts (including more room for optional ...
[Read More]

Syracuse Rocket Club launch: Restabilized
I don’t seem to be under a curse any more. This morning it was chilly. There were reports of frost to the north, the first since last spring. Not that cold where we were but mid 30s °F. But the sky was clear and the wind was light, and by late morning it’d warmed up ...
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., October 5, 2019
The Orlando R.O.C.K. club has gone through some changes. While we redistribute the launch duties everybody jumped in and helped out. I met Roger at the launch site at about 8:30 a.m. He was dropping off the trailer with the launchers and club equipment. He has the Grand Kids at his house today. ...
[Read More]

What's Up With The Lack Of Posts?
Hi, folks, You probably have noticed a drop in the number of posts here recently.  This is because I have embarked on a major deck and roof cover project at my home, which, of course, is taking up a substantial amount of my so-called 'free time'. I haven't even found time to work on model ...
[Read More]

Assembly: Athena and the Mean Machine
I put together the two new rockets I bought – the Athena and the Mean Machine, both kits from Estes. The Athena is small (about 12 inches high) and uses A, B, or C motors; it should go about 1100 feet using a C motor. The Mean Machine is significantly larger and heavier. At 79… Continue ...
[Read More]

First launch: overview and lessons learned

[Read More]

Cozy MKIV – October 12, 2019
The heat duct transition piece was cut at a 45 deg angle on the square end. The 1″ hole under the left…
[Read More]

New Estes Kits & Release Dates
On Facebook, Jesse Ulibarra posted pictures from the Estes booth at the Rocky Mountain Hobby Expo -  On the upper left - The Low Boom SST, to be released February 2020 On the right - the LEO Space Train - on sale January 2020. (That's my build!) Low center is a new one I haven't seen - ...
[Read More]

An important rocketry need that is disappearing...
Every rocket club that has members who want to fly high power needs one thing to be successful:   A decently-large (many hundreds of acres) field from which the rockets can be launched.   It sounds like a simple thing, and in a country as big as the USA, one would think that ...
[Read More]

Estes New Kit Poster
From TRF, CoModelBuilder showed a poster featuring the upcoming Estes kits: The Orange Bullet is small with tumble/featherweight recovery. Enlarge the picture and you can see the weights on the fin tips, just like the 1960 original. I didn't know it was "Vern Estes first design". The Orange ...
[Read More]

Hybrid Rocket Motor Delta – October 17, 2019
The rocket motor body is mounted to a dual sliding rail system for upcoming ground tests. Here is a short video clip. ...
[Read More]

High power rocketry
This is where things get really fun. I went into detail in a previous post about rocket motors and their power. In short, each letter (representing a motor class) is twice as powerful as the one before it, so a B motor is twice as powerful as an A, and a C is twice as ...
[Read More]

Tools - The Essentials, The Hobby Knife, Part 1
We're going back to basics to show some of my favorite rocket building tools. There are PLENTY of variants available. These are my favorites, the "Go-Tos" if you will. Who knows, you might save some money by avoiding the purchase of useless accessories. I'd rather save money on building supplies ...
[Read More]

Tools - The Essentials, The Hobby Knife Blade, Part 2
They aren't kidding when they say their blades are "surgically sharp!" I couldn't count the many times I have cut my fingers. TIP: Keep Band-aids at your work bench! For years I removed and changed the blades incorrectly. I'd twist the ferule, then pinch and pull up on the blade. Try this (if ...
[Read More]

Tools - The Essentials, The Hobby Knife Alternative, Part 3
X-Acto #1 handles are dangerous - They roll! Years back I worked in a print shop doing old-school paste-up on a slanted drawing table. One day a heard a scream. Another artist ended up at the hospital for stitches when her knife rolled off her drawing board and stuck in her thigh! X-Acto does make ...
[Read More]

No party crashers allowed...
Estes did some pretty cool stuff back in the day - like l aunching one of their scale Saturn V models at halftime during the Blue Bonnet Bowl . This was seen by a fairly large TV audience, but a much larger crowd would have seen a launch of another of their models planned for just after the Apollo ...
[Read More]

Tools - The Essentials, The Hobby Knife Alternative, Part 4 Changing The Blade
I realize most would know how to change out one of these knives. But for those who haven't used one before - On the left is a dull blade tip. Notice the diagonal break-off scored lines. On the right is the back end of the knife. Press the ribbed button and slide off the end clip. Only ...
[Read More]

Tools - The Essentials, Straight Edge Rulers
Here's what most of us start with, the cheap wooden ruler. That thin strip of metal set into the edge won't last as a metal straight edge. After you've cut out a few fins, the thin edge will slip out of the slot. After it's gone your knife will cut into the wood ruler that remains. Here's ...
[Read More]

Teaser – launch of the “Mean Machine”

[Read More]

A soggy start to the flying season...
Members of the Auburn rocket team awaiting the start of the launch (Click to enlarge). Saturday October 19 saw the first HARA high power launch of our winter flying season. It was supposed to be on October 12, but we postponed it for a week due to lack of a waiver and ...
[Read More]

Tools - The Essentials, Sanding Blocks Part 1
Here's how we all start out, a block of wood with some sandpaper wrapped around it. It's hard to keep the sandpaper tight around the block as you are sanding with it. I used a Warner #436 sanding block for a few years. It's a wood block meant for drywall sanding. This block used 1/4 sheet of ...
[Read More]

Launch: Athena
They say trees love to eat rockets. It’s true. I learned my lesson as soon as I got into the rocket-launching game, with my first two models – the Crossfire and the Amazon. I figured the rockets were very small, and they couldn’t possibly go that high or land far away. Boy, was I ...
[Read More]

NaRoBloMo (???)
Photo Credit: The New York Zoological Society #Rocketober is nearly at an end, and if you were a regular reader of The Rocket N00b blog in the past, you may be wondering what gives, and why ol' N00bie here hasn't published a word on model rocketry in nearly three months. Lotta life stuff, of ...
[Read More]

Tools - The Essentials, Sanding Blocks Part 2
Here's my favorite sanding block - The Great Planes Easy Sander. It's made of aluminum, the top fits your hand very well. The  problem -  Hobbico hasn't sold them for a while. Remember that bankruptcy? CLICK HERE If you find one at your local hobby store - BUY IT!  I liked these ...
[Read More]

Designing a Christmas rocket...
There are two holidays which really get a rocketeer's creative juices flowing - Halloween and Christmas. I'm a little late for Halloween - though I do have a few rockets in my fleet with the appropriate decor - but it's not too late for Christmas designs and builds. There's a very long tradition ...
[Read More]

Tools - The Essentials, Sanding Blocks Part 3
After some sanding you should check for build-up on the sandpaper. These little nubs of filler/primer can get large enough to scar your balsa when sanding! On the right is a soft brass wire brush I picked up at Home Depot. Be sure to look for a soft brass brush like you could use on suede ...
[Read More]

Another New Estes Kit
John Boren is a busy guy! On YORF, Bill Cooke posted this page from "The Beginner's Guide To TARC". It's named the OLYMPUS. BT-65? I haven't seen that diameter since the clear payload section on the old Estes Scrambler. The upcoming "Green Eggs" also uses the BT-65. It'll easily hold an egg and ...
[Read More]

The N00b T00b - A Quick, Easy, Scratch Built Tube Fin Rocket - Part 1: The Basic Build
I have a bunch of random model rocket parts lying around the Rocket Room. Some are things I intentionally stocked up on, and some are leftovers from kits I modified, or from other projects. I have a bunch of short, BT-20 sized tubes (0.736 inch in diameter). They're most certainly supposed to ...
[Read More]

Launch: the Mean Machine
So last weekend, I went out to 60 Acres Field (see pic below) as I mentioned in my last post, and I launched two rockets. One was small, and the other was quite big. This post is about the bigger rocket. The appropriately named Mean Machine is a full 79 inches in height. I myself ...
[Read More]

Tools - The Essentials, Aluminum Angle
Here's how the old instructions would have you mark a body tube fin locations. Set the tube into a door frame and draw a straight line with a pencil. For ease and more accuracy, buy an aluminum angle. This one is 3/4" on one side. CLICK HERE They are sold 36" long. cut it into two 18" ...
[Read More]

Remnants
Today was a launch day in Amesbury, MA. While I had anticipated pretty clear skies and low wind, by the time I arrived (late), clouds had rolled in, and the wind was blowing toward the power lines. Not enough to halt the launch, but enough to disallow high power rocket flights. The winds were ...
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando ROCK, November 2, 2019
The humidity has finally dropped! I was looking forward to a cooler, dry launch. The field had some wet grass, I should have worn my cruddy shoes! Winds were low. Kirby brought the launchers and served as RSO. Everybody pitched in to set-up and break down the equipment. I haven't launched ...
[Read More]

Junior Level 1 Rule Changes - Upcoming Segment on The Rocketry Show
You may have heard the news: Starting January 1, 2020, rocketeers under the age of 18 who wish to get a Junior Level 1 high power rocketry certification from the National Association of Rocketry will take a written test prior to conducting their certification flight. The test will be twenty ...
[Read More]

Tools - The Essentials, Hole Punches
The rotary punch is one of the handiest tools I own. These are normally used to punch holes in leather belts. Spin the spoke to pick the right diameter. On the right is a typical punch for an engine hook. You can also use this to punch small hole for altimeter vents. But, you are limited how ...
[Read More]

Technical Difficulties
I was trying to illustrate the next post on the N00b T00b last night, with a screenshot from OpenRocket, on the MacBook Air I use for The Rocketry Show podcast. But the 3D image of designs in OpenRocket on this MacBook all display as really tiny. This is as large as I can make the image. Looking at ...
[Read More]

CWF Wood Filler Warp!
I've read about it many times on the forums. Builders give up on Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Filler (CWF) after trying it once, complaining about the balsa warping. It will warp the balsa after the first side dries, see the top picture. The bottom got the filler, the top hasn't had CWF brushed on ...
[Read More]

Association Space Explorers XXXII PLANETARY CONGRESS
There was a great symposium presented recently at the Johnson Space Center by former astronuats from all over the world. Some may find the presentations of great value: https://ase2019.org/session-replays
[Read More]

MAD Model Rocket News Cover
On the Estes Facebook Model Rocket Page - Bob Kapra shared an image originally posted by Matt Steele: From Volume 8, No.2 November 1968 The drawing is so well done, everybody assumes it was drawn by the MAD Magazine artist Don Martin. But, if you look close in the lower right hand side you can ...
[Read More]

Launches of Athena and the Mean Machine – video highlights

[Read More]

Building the Estes Luna Bug
Here’s a tiny rocket that I took an unconscionably long time to build. So I’ll say it up front: I am not a fan of Hobby Lobby. I am a fan of religious freedom, but I am also aware that no rights are absolute. There always are limits. And when the religious views of a ...
[Read More]

Guest Article: John Brohm’s Javelin Project
The post Guest Article: John Brohm’s Javelin Project appeared first on Meatball Rocketry .
[Read More]

Tools - The Essentials, Razor Saw
Not much to say about this one, it does come in handy. The red plastic handle is an X-Acto #5. Buy a blade with the finest, smallest teeth you can find. A good blade can last for many years. I've used a razor saw on thick balsa, balsa bulkheads, nose cone shoulders, basswood detail pieces and ...
[Read More]

The Semroc Bandit - Part 1
I've realized I made a mistake with #NaRoBloMo. That is, I promised to follow up the first N00b T00b post with another N00b T00b post, addressing specific topics. Then, I kept feeling obligated to write that before writing anything else, making this blog feel like work. This is part of my hobby ...
[Read More]

Oh No - More Paint Picks
In a post from September 15, I talked about success using the Ace Hardware Premium Enamel spray paint. Here's my experience from that post: The Ace GLOSS WHITE doesn't dry quite as shiny as the Rusto 2X. (See next paragraph) The Ace LIGHT GRAY dries smooth and glossy. The Ace GLOSS YELLOW dries ...
[Read More]

One Dull - One Sharp! TIP
I have one #1 X-Acto handle. I usually keep two blades handy, one dull with a broken tip and a second, new sharp blade. I switch back and forth between the two blades. The dull one on the left is used for scraping and laying CWF in the seams on body tubes. The sharp on to the right is used for ...
[Read More]

Higher and higher
To recap my whole journey so far: as of just a few months ago, I had never built or launched a model rocket of any size. I’m not sure I’d even ever seen one in person (I actually don’t know how I managed that). I started out by googling whether it’s even legal to launch ...
[Read More]

HyperLOC 835
You might be asking yourself: HyperLOC 835? What the hell is the title of this post referring to? I will tell you. But first, you should know that ending a sentence with a preposition is technically grammatically incorrect. As I’ve mentioned previously, I am getting started with high power ...
[Read More]

Tools - The Essentials, New Cheaper Sandpaper Roll!
I mentioned earlier how much I use the OOP Great Planes Easy Sander sanding block. The sandpaper is sticky, no clamping! A problem - Great Planes sandpaper rolls are expensive and aren't available in grits finer than 220 grit. I found some 400 grit sandpaper rolls on the Klingspor Woodworking ...
[Read More]

Caught launching rockets...
Now under construction on the old Pegasus field, the Blue Origin rocket engine plant is very big and impressive; I am always amazed at how quickly these buildings are built. They seem to spring up overnight, like the walls just popped out of the ground. I hope Blue Origin give tours once the plant ...
[Read More]

The Semroc Bandit - Part 2
The ducted ejection motor mount system for the Semroc Bandit can be seen above. This is apparently a re-creation of the original Estes baffle system in the 1971 Bandit. The parts fit together well, and it's pretty neat - although it does add significant weight. If you went with a simple motor ...
[Read More]

High power rocket: Unboxing this mother
As I mentioned in my last post, I ordered a kit to get started with building my first high power rocket. The first thing that I realized is that this kit has a lot of parts. You can see most of it in the picture above, but let me be clear: I have no idea ...
[Read More]

Steampunk Protostar, Part 32 - "A Little More Air, Please!"
The backyard deck build is finally finished! Phew, what a ride.... Attention can now turn back to model rocketry, the long running Protostar build in particular. This weekend saw the completion of an external air scoop for this "Ship of Fancy" The build was very simple, with the scoop parts being ...
[Read More]

Sounding Rockets; Cutting-Edge Science, 15 Minutes at a Time
At 2pm today, NASA live-streamed an hourlong program on sounding rockets - research rockets which carry scientific payloads on short, suborbital trajectories. Here is the video: If the player does not work for you on this blog, CLICK HERE to go directly to the video on YouTube. I like sounding ...
[Read More]

Tools - The Essentials, A Decent Sanding Block, Part 1
Here's the sanding block I used for a few years before finding the Great Planes Easy Sander. This is the Warner #436, made for drywall work. The upper block and wing nut clamped down and tightly held a quarter piece of sandpaper. They don't make the wooden blocks anymore. This is the new Warner ...
[Read More]

Tools - The Essentials, A Decent Sanding Block, Part 2
Here's the bottom plate. I wish there wasn't holes in the bottom, these didn't seem to effect the tools use. The sandpaper is stiff enough that it didn't "dimple" into the holes. The pressure clamps hold sandpaper fairly well, not as good as the older wing nut clamp. But - Using the sticky back ...
[Read More]

The escape velocity of social media
When I haven’t been busy gluing rocket parts together – and gluing them to myself – I’ve been setting up some social media accounts for all my rocket-related adventures. You may notice these nifty little colorful icons at the top of the sidebar now, too. They’re pretty ...
[Read More]

A Nifty Technique For Precision Marking
Since I am now seriously back in the swing of working on the Steampunk Protostar build, I noted that, while marking out new riveted panels, I was utilizing a technique that I would like to share with you blog readers. Anyone who is familiar with old-school, hand mechanical drafting would probably ...
[Read More]

In 1969, Airbrushing - Getting That Catalog Finish!
Here's a page from the Estes catalog from 1969. This was the the first model rocket catalog I saw when I peeked over the shoulder of the classmate sitting in front of me. He was supposed to be studying, but had the Estes catalog open inside his textbook. That first glimpse changed things for ...
[Read More]

High power rocket: Beginning construction
I finally got my head out of my ass and started putting together this high power rocket. (My head is often firmly lodged in my ass, so extracting it is time-consuming and unusual.) The basic parts are similar to those in smaller rockets. You build a motor mount (to hold the motor in place) by ...
[Read More]

Brodak Is Back
A few months ago, I learned from Bill Cooke's Rocketeer's Corner blog that my favorite sanding sealer, by Brodak, was out of stock. I learned about Brodak from Bill's blog, and I love using it to seal the wood grain on balsa fins. Everyone has a favorite method of hiding wood grain on balsa ...
[Read More]

Local rocket club launch
This weekend, our local Seattle area rocket club (Washington Aerospace Club, or WAC) held a small launch event at 60 Acres Field, a park that’s roughly a 30 min drive from where we live. We decided to stop by and check it out, and I brought along the Mean Machine and some E motors. This ...
[Read More]

I Wish They Didn't Do That - Part 1, Printed Shrouds
This is not a slam directed toward any kit manufacturer - Occasionally I hear from a builder about one of my Odd'l Rockets kits. They offer a suggestion about how something could be improved. Sometimes that suggestion is implemented to improve the quality of a kit or accessory. SUGGESTION: I ...
[Read More]

JonRocket.com’s 2019 Holiday Sale
JonRocket.com’s Annual Holiday Sale begins on Thanksgiving, November 28, and runs through December 6. During the sale, almost everything listed on our web site will be on sale with savings of up to 20% (maybe more) off our already discounted … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Rescue & Restore!
While not Model Rocketry related, I found these videos very interesting. Some people buy older, finished rockets on Ebay and restore them to flight. This video is from a group called "Rescue & Restore" where old metal Tonka style toys are brought back to better than new condition. To see the ...
[Read More]

Catastrophic failure
Last weekend, I attended a launch event hosted by my local rocket club. It was a great experience, and I enjoyed watching others launch a ton of rockets, large and small. A launch report that the club sent out afterwards said that there were 111 total flights, ranging from motors sized 1/2 A up ...
[Read More]

I Wish They Didn't Do That - Part 2, Decals
Decals are sometimes a crap shoot! You never know how that sheet is going to transfer until you soak that first decal. A suggestion for the manufacturers -  On that decal sheet, add one or two small duplicate decals and mark them "EXTRA" -Something to test the soak times and how well they ...
[Read More]

Launch! Soccer Field, November 26, 2019
It was cold with no winds, off to an early launch at the schoolyard. My Quest VIPER was first up using a Chinese made Quest A3-4 motor. It's always good to check your controller batteries and launcher with something easy and pretty much indestructible. Ignitions seemed slow - I'll have to ...
[Read More]

Catastrophic failure: video

[Read More]

I Wish They Didn't Do That - Part 3, Tape Disks
Some smaller vendors supply parachute kits you assemble. If you can tear a tape disk before making of the parachute - the tape disk will tear under the stress of the ejection charge. If it tears, it is made of paper. TIP: Don't apply the disk using your fingers. The oil or dirt on your ...
[Read More]

The debut of the Thrifty Rocketeer
Welcome to the Thrifty Rocketeer. This is in response to a challenge from the Daniel, the Rocket N00b, to create and post my own model rocket themed blog entries. Well, I've got some ideas, and have been limited by a lack of computer space and photos. But tonight, I have time on my hands and I ...
[Read More]

I Wish They Didn't Do That - Part 4, Tri-Fold Shock Cord Mounts
I'm not a big fan of the Tri-Fold Shock Cord Mounts. They certainly work, it's just not my personal preference. Years back, the shock cord mount provided in a kit was on a separate piece of 65 lb.card stock, not printed on the 20 lb. paper instruction sheet. To use this mount you cut up the ...
[Read More]

"Wood" Glue is Best? (groan)
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... Our story of the construction of the Cottontail Rabbit "Goonie" (it goes by several different names) will continue in a moment or two.   But first, I have a few side questions to deal with. First, it's been suggested that I flip or turn a few of the ...
[Read More]

Bar Fleet #124 - Solo
Source:   Estes Industries Kit # EST7288 Type:   Glider Sport Model   Stages:   Single Engine Type:   18mm Recovery:   Parachute, Glider Booster Length:   55.5cm Diameter:   354m Glider Length:   15cm Glider Diameter:   83mm Overall Length:   ...
[Read More]

Black Friday Sales?
Oh, I'm tempted! But I still have unopened kits left over from the last clearance sale. I've given quite a few of them away, but the build pile is still pretty full. But, knowing me, I'll probably pull the trigger on that loaded shopping cart before the Sunday deadline.
[Read More]

A BT-20 sized, bluetooth altimeter for $20? Take my money, please!
Nifty product and some very cool upcoming products from FlightSketch.com . This dude has the right attitude! From his FaceBook post: As promised, I wanted to share some info on what is in store for 2020 from FlightSketch. First up, it’s been a long road getting the Mini to production ...
[Read More]

The Thrifty Rocketeer
This month, I succeeded in re-starting this blog through my #NaRoBloMo effort. I didn't seem to make an impact on social media. I think I'm the only person who used that joking hashtag. But one reader did join me. Kirk G, a longtime listener and supporter of The Rocketry Show podcast , as well ...
[Read More]

I Wish They Didn't Do That - Part 5, Something I WISH They'd Do -
I know the title is confusing.  For safer club launches, h ere's something I'd like to see  -  If you've ever been an R.S.O. (Range Safety Officer) at a club launch, you'll meet newbies with their first rockets. They may not have installed a recommended engine. The RSO takes the ...
[Read More]

High power rocket construction: part 2 (e-bay)
This post is largely meaningless because I’m not actually including any electronics into this rocket, at least for its first flight. I should probably have titled it “How to build an electronics bay without any electronics.” Meh. So first, what the hell is an e-bay? An e ...
[Read More]

Even MORE on glues Part 2
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... Our tail of the construction of the Cottontail Rabbit Goonie (thank you, Peter Alway) continues in one moment...    But first, there was a question about glues that keeps sticking around. I had suggested gluing down your patterns or templates with ...
[Read More]

Stir Sticks and Other Delights
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... Our tail of the construction of the fins for the Bunny Rabbit Goonie (thank you, Peter Alway) will continue next week.... But first, another side diversion into stir-sticks and other delights. Last entry, we talked a little about what to mix your epoxy in, and I ...
[Read More]

Great Planes EZ-Touch Sanders
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... Our build thread for the Bunny Rabbit "Goonie" (Thank you, Peter Alway!) continues after this side message.... Several months or years ago, I sent a message to The Rocket N00b, Daniel, and urged him to investigate a handy tool I had stumbled upon.  He did, ...
[Read More]

Upscale Squatty Body
From TRF - Gary 7 made an upscale Odd'l Squatty Body! " Started the Rocksim design phase early August. Got this done in time for Midwest Power. Flown on K535."
[Read More]

Glue Filler? Part 1
I see it on the Facebook Rocketry pages once a month. Somebody asks: "How do I fill the balsa grain? One or two replies is always: "Use glue! Rub it in and sand it off. I get really smooth fins that way." I'll be honest, I did this on my first rocket back in 1969. I didn't want to spend 35 ...
[Read More]

High power rocket construction: part 3 (rocket body)
The motor mount is built, and the fins are attached. (Note: sometimes this part of the rocket is also called a “fin can.”) What next, you ask? Well, next, the motor mount or fin can goes inside the rocket body, and it’s glued in place. Because the fins go “through the ...
[Read More]

"Excuse me, May I borrow your butter?"
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... We'll return to our construction of the Bunny Rabbit "Goonie"  (Thank you,Peter Alway!)  in a few moments, I assure you...   But first, a follow-up to the suggestions of what best to mix epoxy in. I had nominated the paper cup, with low lip ...
[Read More]

Glue Filler? Part 2
Before I apply the Elmer's CWF - I used Sanding Sealer or Balsa Fillercoat for years. When I got back into rocketry in 2006, I couldn't find Sanding Sealer for a reasonable price. I had heard a lot about Elmers' Carpenter's Wood Filler. I found it easier to apply one brushed on coat and sand ...
[Read More]

Screwdrivers
    The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... Every tool kit has them, and you'd be hard pressed to assemble most anything with at least one. We're talking about the humble screwdriver.   Now, when I was growing up in the 1960s, there were only two types in our house.  ...
[Read More]

Egg Cartons Over Easy
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... Another popular topic of contention is how to hold your rocket or the body tube while things (fins) are drying. There are some who swear that you need a fin jig. There are several different styles.**  Some LPR rocketeers invest in an Estes Fin Jig for about ...
[Read More]

Launch Controllers and other malefunctions
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... Now, it many come as no surprise to you that most people have some experience with an Estes Launch controller box and wires that they got as a kid. (I said experience, not success.)  Typically, they run with 4 AA batteries, a small indicator light bulb, a ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Orlando R.O.C.K. Monthly, December 7, 2019
Cool weather and no wind in the morning! First up was the GOONY X-15 using a Quest German B6-4 with the shiny, silver nozzle. Clean launch with an estimated altitude of 325'. No damage at touch down I rarely launch a C6-5 in a model this size, the old FRANKEN GOBLIN . I'm guessing the ...
[Read More]

High power rocket construction: part 4 (rail buttons)
One issue that is becoming increasingly obvious to me is that I don’t have a proper workbench, or workshop, or anything remotely suitable for the gluing, cutting, and other madcap activities required for rocket construction or assembly. I’m just using a dining room table. Sometimes the ...
[Read More]

Quote Of The Day!
From Facebook - Eric Specht ‎   National Association of Rocketry "Am I the only one who thinks it's funny that modelers spend tons of cash upscaling Estes kits to HPR and then have to stand so far away to launch them it looks like an Estes kit?"   ...
[Read More]

Hex-3 Build thread-- Part 1: Another motor mount!
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... This is going to be a shorter build blog thread, as the Hex-3 is basically a paper launch platform that assembles quickly and appears to be Estes version of a tumble recovery platform.  The recommended motors are B6-0 and C6-0 if that tells you anything. I ...
[Read More]

Super Glue DO's and DON"TS
We've all seen it before -  First timers want to build a super strong rocket. "Super Glues make it  super and  stronger, right?" WRONG! WOOD GLUES For LPR rockets, use white or wood glues for most of the wood to Kraft paper construction. Don't use School Glues. Those are meant ...
[Read More]

Hex-3 Build-- Part 2: Folding Paper
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... This is the second part of a simple build thread for the Hex-3... an alternative rocket kit that is more of a platform lifter with tumble recovery.  The skill level is 3, but I have thought this is not that difficult. Now, we've already assembled the motor ...
[Read More]

Tools, The Essentials, Long Tweezers
Long tweezers come in very handy - Tying shroud lines in parachute reinforcement rings, Fishing Kevlar through engine mounts, Holding small pieces for gluing, Reaching things you can't get to using your fat little fingers. I picked mine up at Harbor Freight: CLICK HERE  6 pieces, $5.99
[Read More]

Hex-3 Build Blog-- Part 3: It all comes together
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... This is the final installment in a simple card stock build for a platform lifter with tumble recovery from Estes. Now that the three girder legs were folded and glued, creating a triangle girder, they are ready for attachment this installment. Last installment, ...
[Read More]

Fixing Another Rookie Mistake!
As far as model rocket building goes, I am quite removed from being a rookie.  But this doesn't mean that I am immune to making rookie-level blunders.  These days, I can merely write off such things as being the result of 'Senior Moments'. The latest foible involves the construction of a ...
[Read More]

Holiday gifts for the Rocketeer
    The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... Are you stumped what to get that rocketeer in your family?  It's even more likely that YOU'RE that rocketeer that your family is having trouble buying for. Years ago, my son went out on a limb and bought me an Alien Intruder kit for ...
[Read More]

Skill Levels for Rocketeers
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... OK, I'm gonna go out on a limb here. I think I know what I'm talking about here, but I admit that I most likely do not know the whole story.  And I'm not sure that it's really necessary to know the whole story to have an opinion.  it's just MY opinion, ...
[Read More]

Estes G40-7 Is Discontinued
I knew this was coming. I knew it for a couple years. I expected it to come sooner, and when it didn't, I started to think maybe it wasn't happening. But it has happened. The Estes G40-7 composite motor is gone. This 29mm single use motor was manufactured by AeroTech, like all Estes composites. ...
[Read More]

Tools - The Essentials, Diamond Needle Files
  Small diamond files come in handy when forming details, filing engine hook slots in centering rings,  opening up nose cone eyelets, spin drilling holes and filing down seams on plastic nose cones. After I bought diamond dust files, I got rid of my old X-Acto metal files.The ...
[Read More]

High power rocket construction: part 5 (motor retainer)
Motor retainer: helps prevent costly braces and unnecessary trips to the orthodontist during the rocket’s awkward teenage years. All kidding aside, the motor retainer is simple but important. Extremely important, actually. Anyone reading this who has flown rockets before – of any size ...
[Read More]

I Wish They Didn't Do That - Part 6, Videos, Some Do This Right!
I like seeing launch videos on Facebook - except . . . When you have to wait through thirty seconds of seeing the rocket standing still on the launcher. The RSO talks and talks . . . then finally the eventual press of the launch button. David Hoffman does it right, Countdown and Launch! - CLICK ...
[Read More]

Wy East Launch Photos
The December 14th launch was a cold morning. However, the sun did come out for a bit and there was no wind during the times of the launch schedule. We had a few contest flights and some nice D impulse launched rockets.
[Read More]

High power rocket construction: part 6 (applying primer)
So if you’ve been following along with this step-by-step guide at home, the construction of your new high power rocket is now complete! All the major parts are assembled, and aside from putting a motor inside, you’re ready to launch. (Note: a motor is in fact required. More on this ...
[Read More]

Umbrella parachutes
The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... About five years ago when I first got into Model Rocketry, my first few kits were a combination of Semroc and Estes Rockets.  Each one came with a plastic Mylar parachute, carefully folded and packaged in a separate plastic baggie or envelope. You ...
[Read More]

Centuri Argus #KB-9, Build, Background Research
The Centuri Argus was an A.T.R.F. (Almost Ready To Fly) model that used the molded one-piece plastic fin can from the Enerjet 1340 model. This fin unit was revolutionary. Strong and flexible with a launch lug molded between two of the four fins. The Argus was produced from 1973 - 1981. The Centuri ...
[Read More]

Sky King – December 21, 2019
It’s time to learn how to fly Remotely Controlled aircraft before launching any RC FPV rockets. The videos are accessible from the ...
[Read More]

Centuri Argus #KB-9, Build, Part 1, Parts
The body tubes, adapters, nose cone and centering rings were ordered from Semroc. The fin unit came from an Estes Eliminator kit I had. I've already built an Enerjet 1340 and a few Centuri Phoenix Birds so the Argus was the next best choice. The screw eye for the lower adapter isn't shown. Parts ...
[Read More]

High power rocket construction: part 7 (painting)
Time for the finishing touches. After covering the rocket in white primer, I used a can of white spray paint to coat it again – everywhere except the nose cone, which I painted red. I considered making it white, too, for a uniform (if overly simple) finish, but a major issue with painting ...
[Read More]

The Broken Fin
The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues.... In the spirit of the holidays, we depart from our usual format for a Christmas tale...of sorts. Sunday morning, I slept in, but when I did get up, I walked to the front of the house, and spotted a package laying outside the front door.  This seemed odd ...
[Read More]

Centuri Argus #KB-9, Build, Part 2, Stick On Decor
There will be two Argus kit clones. Why two? I had two Estes Eliminator kits in the build pile. I'm not fond of the yellow and purple Eliminator colors. Why not make something more interesting? Too much time was spent redrawing the stickers to only use them once. I have quite a few unopened kits, ...
[Read More]

Papering fins
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... A short entry today. Some rocketeers swear by filling spirals.  Others insist that you seal your fins and wood. Still others  speak highly of papering your fins. Say what? The term "papering your fins" refers to gluing down paper over the surface of a ...
[Read More]

Centuri Argus #KB-9, Build, Part 3, Centering Rings
I used Centuri ST-7 for an engine mount tube. It's a little larger diameter than an Estes BT-20. The only engine blocks I have fit the BT-20. I did two wraps of copy paper applied with a glue stick to fit the slightly wider tube. I didn't know that the original kit had foam core centering rings. ...
[Read More]

Super Big Bertha -- Part 1: Unpacking
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... The entry for today may be the start of a build thread... but for now, it's just a Xmas tale. As I've mentioned before, a package was found on my front porch last weekend. It probably wasn't from the mail, but hand delivered from one of our club members.  I ...
[Read More]

Centuri Argus #KB-9, Build, Part 4, Engine Mount Gussets
The outside diameter of the rings was a little small. I decided to add some balsa gussets for a better fit and a stronger mount. Scrap balsa was cut to the width between the centering rings. The glue fillets already in place didn't allow the balsa gusset to slide all the way to the engine mount ...
[Read More]

Tools, The Essentials - Sharpies!
Sharpies have turned out to be a valuable multi-purpose tool. Fine Point Sharpies can be used to outline difficult black masking jobs, like the corrugation on the Saturn V. If your sprayed black paint didn't quite cover the leading edge of a fin, you can run a wider point Sharpie over it. ...
[Read More]

Why I drove 7 hours through the mountains to a rest stop
I recently finished building my first high power rocket, and mentioned in my last post the difficulties involved in finding a launch site, especially at this time of year. I’d need to find a local rocketry organization that has a launch site (i.e. either owns the land or has permission to ...
[Read More]

Merry Christmas 2019
Reprinted from 2010 - OH, ROCKET - TREE Space Modeling Parody of Oh, Christmas Tree Oh, Rocket-tree Oh, Rocket-tree, How lovely is thy smoke trail, Oh, Rocket-tree Oh, Rocket-tree, Fly Vertically without fail. With C6-3, we’ll rubberneck, At peak of flight, a rear eject, Oh, Rocket-tree Oh, ...
[Read More]

Merry Christmas - Y'all!
Reprinted from 2010 - OH, ROCKET - TREE Space Modeling Parody of Oh, Christmas Tree Oh, Rocket-tree Oh, Rocket-tree, How lovely is thy smoke trail, Oh, Rocket-tree Oh, Rocket-tree, Fly Vertically without fail. With C6-3, we’ll rubberneck, At peak of flight, a rear eject, Oh, Rocket-tree Oh, ...
[Read More]

2019 Highlight Video
It was an exciting and memorable 2019 at Beyond Blue Aerospace. We wish you all a happy and adventurous New Year !…
[Read More]

Centuri Argus #KB-9, Build, Part 5, Fitting The Balsa Parts
I like to clean up the shoulder bases on the nose cone and adapters. Not really necessary, just something I do. The fit of the small nose cone was too loose for me. I'll have to build up the shoulder a little bit. The adapter shoulder edges were rounded off. To build them up and make the edges ...
[Read More]

Sky King – December 26, 2019
The purpose of today’s flights was to adjust the elevator trim for improved pitch control since additional instrumentation (i.e. weight) was added…
[Read More]

Centuri Argus #KB-9, Fin Can From Thingverse
In a blog comment, Metalhead 1986 let me know: "For those with 3D printers, the fin can is available on Thingiverse." To go to the web page: CLICK HERE Thanks to Jack Hydrazine for all the hard work. The webpage also listed all the models that used this fin unit: ENERJET:   1340 Sounding ...
[Read More]

Centuri Argus #KB-9, Build, Part 6, Prepping The Fin Can
The old Centuri instructions tell you to "Prepare the fin unit before sliding it down over the lower body tube." You are directed to use the "enclosed sandpaper" to smooth the inside edge of the fin unit. I don't remember ever seeing sandpaper included in a Centuri kit. The New Way square tube ...
[Read More]

Cozy MKIV – December 27, 2019
Using a 1/16″ thick aluminum plate, four shoulder harness bolt attachment plates (3/4″ width) were cut out after drilling the holes for…
[Read More]

Merry Christmas To Me!
  I didn't order any clearance rockets in the recent Estes Black Friday sale -  But I did pick up some discontinued Semroc kits!  Four were $9.99, the Micro Max Orbital Transport was at retail price. I've always wanted the Centuri Excalibur. The Wac Corporal was one ...
[Read More]

Centuri Argus #KB-9, Build, Part 8, Stick On Decor
The stick on decals were printed on some full sheet (8 1/2" X 11") self adhesive paper. 20 sheets were ordered through Ebay. I used the same settings you would use for printing photographs so the ink color would be full and opaque. Mark the centers of the bottoms of all the triangle pieces. Make ...
[Read More]

How to install a rocket motor (without blowing yourself up)
Rocket motors are basically small explosives, so they are understandably treated as hazardous materials for purposes of transportation and shipping. Of course, you can be pretty confident they are safe: these motors are generally produced by large companies that have a tremendous amount of ...
[Read More]

Christmas rockets!
    The Christmas rockets start appearing on the table! (Click to enlarge) Back in October, I announced a contest for members of HARA - design and build a stable and safe Christmas-themed rocket in time for the December club meeting. Even though time ...
[Read More]

Citabria – December 28, 2019
Last flight of the decade for the Citabria ! We flew around the Brimacombe ski hill …. Then over the Crooked Creek…
[Read More]

I Wish They Wouldn't Do That - It'd Be Great If They Did This, SHROUDS & TEMPLATES
Eric Pelzer made a great comment on my post about single kit shrouds -  "What would be really nice of vendors to do would be if they had all their printed sheets online as downloadable PDFs that ensured they printed to the proper size of the original. Ideally, all printed cards would fit on ...
[Read More]

Centuri Argus #KB-9, Build, Part 7, Prime and Paint Tubes and Balsa
Well, the blog posts are out of order - again! Yesterday got #8 when it should have been this one. I had sanded to deep into the CWF filler and had to do more filling. TIP: With the CWF filler you don't want to sand down too far, leave a very thin skin of the beige filler. If you see the pink ...
[Read More]

Eggfinders and tracking beacons: Part 1
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... As we come to the end of the year, I was reflecting upon the loss of my Red Nova rocket into a pond  two months ago  . When I started in this hobby about five years ago, I heard tales of people searching for their missing rocket, loosing it in the ...
[Read More]

Centuri Argus #KB-9, Build, Part 9, Finishing Up
The A, B, C, and D triangles fit on the lower adapter. The straight sides were cut with a knife and straightedge, the curved bottom was cut with scissors. It took two re-draws to get the bottom curve correct. TRIVIA:   In the mid 1970s,   Centuri kits had their silver coffin shaped ...
[Read More]

Tools, The Essentials - Q-Tips
If you've followed the blog, you know I go through a lot of Q-tips. I buy the cheap ones at the Dollar Tree Store, 350 for $1.00. * I use them to pick up glue blobs, where my finger can't reach. They can only be used once, after the glue dries. * Q-tips are great for working water and air ...
[Read More]

Eggfinders & Yaggi antennae: Part 2
The  Thrifty Rocketeer continues... One critical feature is to have a Yaggi antenna that you can attach to your hand-held receiver, so you can walk about and receive the signal.  By pivoting and sweeping with the antenna held out at arms length, you can narrow down the direction of the ...
[Read More]

Vern Estes Birthday Blast
Estes is having a big Birthday Blast celebrating Vern Estes' 90th Birthday! Birthday Wishes and rocketry photos are being collected for the party. CLICK HERE Here's the picture I sent - The first time I saw Vern Estes in person was like seeing a celebrity! This was from my first NARAM in 1975 in ...
[Read More]

Centuri Argus #KB-9, Build, Part 10, A Variation & A Fix
I understand different kit runs had different color fin cans. Spray painting plastic fin cans can be a problem. Because I was making two models, I decided to leave one in the Eliminator yellow and paint the second in red as shown in the catalog. The fin can was washed to remove any mold release. ...
[Read More]

Cozy MKIV – December 31, 2019
JB Weld was used to secure the nutplates to the aluminum plates. These 4 plate assemblies will be used to fasten the…
[Read More]

The New Year's Eve Parachute
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... An amusing follow up to my earlier  blog entry about umbrella parachutes. Just yesterday, as I was driving into work, I passed something on the roadway as I hit the entrance ramp to the expressway. This is the same location where I stumbled across a crushed ...
[Read More]

TOP TEN BUILDS for 2019
An end of the year tradition -  This annual list puts some of the blog builds in order from least favorite (10) to the best (1). These are the models and events that were rocketry high points this year. (This annual post it the tough one, it takes a few hours to gather info, pictures and ...
[Read More]

New year, new me: Goals for 2020
Farewell, 2019. Bring on 2020. I’ve only recently gotten into rocketry, so I feel like I’m moving pretty quickly. Prior to a few months ago, mid to late 2019, I’d never even built or launched any kind of model rocket, even a small one. Fast forward to today, and I’ve built ...
[Read More]

Happy 2020!
Wishing all of you a prosperous and blessed year. Keep on Rocketeering!
[Read More]

Cozy MKIV – January 1, 2020
A line was marked on the forward face of the front seatback where each of the four shoulder harness supports are located…
[Read More]

I Wish They Didn't Do That - Laser Cut Tubes and Launch Lugs
I'm not naming names -  I can understand laser cutting balsa, but body tubes and launch lugs? A few vendors are cutting tubes using lasers. This chars and leaves a rough edge, especially on launch lugs. I guess it's not a big deal to sand tube ends and true them up, but that can shorten ...
[Read More]

Centuri Argus #KB-9, Build, Part 11, Toughening Up A Balsa Nose Cone
TRIVIA: Centuri would often include "The Right Materials For The Job" in their instructions. Note the "Nose Cone and Connectors" section: "Nose cone must have durable surface because upper section descends nose first." From the same instruction set, this shows the two parts descending on separate ...
[Read More]

It's A No-Brainer....
Prior to the Holidays, my daughters asked me, "Dad, what do you want for Christmas?" Being a model rocketeer, I didn't  have to think about this one too hard. Here is the ultimate result: Time to flip on the lights in the BlastFromThePast shop, pop open a Mountain Dew, and git busy!
[Read More]

The goals that I forgot to mention
I listed my top 5 rocket-related goals for 2020 in my last post, but I am quickly realizing that an appendix is necessary. It’s not just that I feel the need to go into further detail. Sure, each of those goals I already listed can be (and needs to be) broken down into multiple sub-p ...
[Read More]

Sky King – January 2, 2020
RC piloting practice continues with the Sky King to prepare for flying the X-15 Delta Rocket Glider. The Sky King climbed to ...
[Read More]

Launch! Schoolyard Soccer Field, January 2, 2020
Saturday's Orlando R.O.C.K. monthly launch might get rained out! I prepped some smaller models for a quick schoolyard launch. I had a Semroc MicroMaxx Blue Bird Zero ready. I can transport the smaller rockets in my old range box. When I lifted it out, the igniter was gone! I couldn't find it in ...
[Read More]

Test Shots
Happy New Year! If you've listened to the latest episode of The Rocketry Show podcast , you know that I recently bought myself a nice, entry-level digital SLR camera. I'm hoping to get better photos of my family, of my rockets for this blog, and better video for my YouTube channel. Here are ...
[Read More]

Centuri Argus #KB-9, Finished
I was very happy with the finished models. I know it was an Centuri A.R.T.F. (Almost Ready To Fly) but I got some satisfaction redrawing and printing the stick-on decals. The small upper wrap matched up perfectly! This was the first time I ever printed stickers, the finished look is good. The ...
[Read More]

Cozy MKIV – January 4, 2020
Workshop temperature was21 deg C and 46% humidity. A small batch of flox was mixed using 16g resin and 6g hardner along…
[Read More]

A Look Back At 2019
Each New Year, I like to take a look back at my rocketry related activities during the previous year and review the events and assess what progress was made. So, here goes: Model Rockets Added To The Fleet - 6 This is a very dismal output, especially when two of the models were E2X kits, and three ...
[Read More]

Why Gray Filler/Primer?
In a comment, Scigs asks: " . . . I notice you use grey filler primer after filling your fins, then sand most of the primer off. You then follow this up with a base of gloss white. Just wondering why gloss white vs. flat white or white primer after sanding the grey primer. I'm not questioning what ...
[Read More]

Super Big Bertha -- Part 2: The fins
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... Well, I couldn't resist, so I started the build of the Super Big Bertha that Santa left me on my front porch. One of the things I love about kits like this are the Through-the-Wall construction, as well as the sandwich fins.  The first time I encountered ...
[Read More]

Semroc V2 Build, Finished With Decals
I was waiting to tag these "47"s onto another decal print, they certainly wouldn't take up a whole sheet. I printed these at the bottom of the upcoming Excalibur build decals. TIP: This is a trick I learned from the Centuri Saturn V instructions. To see it, got to Page 11: CLICK HERE  ...
[Read More]

Super Big Bertha-- Part 4: Odds and ends
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... While my fins dry, I thought I might address a few other items that can be prepared in preparation for the next step. First, the kit came with two body tubes. We've been working on the bottom body tube, while the top half has been waiting patiently until ...
[Read More]

Super Big Bertha -- Part 3: Another motor mount!
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... The first step in this construction is supposed to be the motor mount.  And often I will plunge in and do that right away, so that it can be drying while I work on another part. But this time, I waited until after I had done the fin assembly. I ...
[Read More]

5 reasons to put electronics into your rocket
I’m just beginning to learn about the different kinds of electronics that can go into a rocket. It seems like there are virtually limitless possibilities, but I’ll give a quick overview below. A high power rocket often has an electronics bay (“e-bay”) or some payload area ...
[Read More]

Vern Estes 90th Birthday Party!
  From the Estes Facebook page -  Here's Vern Estes reading the BIG Birthday card with all the submitted Rocketeer wishes. From left to right - Ellis Langford, Mary Roberts, Vern Estes (seated) Trip Barber, Bill Stine and John Langford (seated).      ...
[Read More]

Testing electric match for rocket electronics bay: video

[Read More]

How to cause a fiery explosion
I’m getting all the parts together to build an electronics bay for my first high power rocket. Totally winging it here. An electronics bay in a rocket, capable of dual deployment of parachutes, requires a couple of things: a flight computer or some similar electronic chip; a battery to power ...
[Read More]

Balsa fin excess
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... OK, here's where this blog earns its name... "The Thrifty Rocketeer"! For several years, I have been puzzling over an aspect of model rocket kits that confounded me.  That is, it has been a question that pops up at least once during each build session, but ...
[Read More]

Replacement Ring Gliders
Estes is offering Double Ringer Replacement Gliders - CLICK HERE If you've launched a Double Ringer or Solo rocket, you know how well the ring gliders perform! Now I can launch my Solo using a C6-3 without worrying about losing the glider. On the upper left - Bulk pack C11-3 engines are  ...
[Read More]

New 2020 Estes Catalog Is Online!
From Y.O.R.F., Swillie found it first! The 2020 Estes catalog is online:  CLICK HERE I'll let you explore and find the new items on your own. My big takeaway - A C5-3 engine is recommended for the Leo Space Train and other large 18mm powered models. The C5-3 is listed in Engines (Page 70) ...
[Read More]

Fin Tracings TIP
From Stanton Ewert on the Estes Model Rocket Facebook page:  "*Tip of the day: Our Good buddy, James Helman in TX. taught us to keep all the face-cards from our Estes kits. It just dawned on me this morning to trace an out-line of the fin patterns on the reverse side in case one needs to ...
[Read More]

Super Big Bertha-- Part 5: Paint job
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues..... It's almost time for the final step in this build thread.  After gluing and finishing the construction, I've stopped just short of gluing the coupler and attaching the two halves of the body tubes together.  The reason for this is that I'm going ...
[Read More]

Centuri Move to Estes?
Somewhere around 1976 most noticed a familiar launcher in the new Centuri "Newspaper" format catalog - That Centuri "Power Tower" tripod launcher sure looked like something we've seen before! Of course it was the Estes Porta Pad, but molded in black. Centuri added some metallic trim, but you ...
[Read More]

Timing the Thrifty Rocketeer
You may have noticed that the Thrifty Rocketeer blog is now coming out once a week.  This isn't by accident.  Well, maybe it is...but bear with me here... When I started this blog, it was in response to a challenge by The Rocket N00b, who was trying to encourage everyone to start a blog ...
[Read More]

What to see at the Museum of Flight in Seattle
I recently had a chance to visit the Museum of Flight in Seattle for the first time – long overdue, in fact, since we moved out to the area more than 18 months ago. It was an impressive place with some great exhibits. In particular, we spent most of the time in the Charles Simonyi ...
[Read More]

New Shock Cord Knot?
On Y.O.R.F., Bernomatic found a good knot for attaching a shock cord to a nose cone screw eye or plastic eye on a nose cone shoulder. Imagine a screw eye in place of the fish hook. To learn how to tie it: CLICK HERE " Winner of Dupont‘s “Best New Knot” from 498 entries. ...
[Read More]

Launch! Schoolyard, January 25, 2020
The wind was just starting to pick up at about 7:30 a.m. I decided to first launch the MicroMaxx model to judge the launch rod angle. I can't believe I actually captured a MicroMaxx launch! In the next burst series picture the MMX BIRD BIRD ZERO was out of frame. I tried to launch this one last ...
[Read More]

New Sanding Block from Apogee
The Great Planes Easy Touch Sanding Block is probably my most valuable rocket building tool. I have two of them on my bench, one with 220 grit, the other has 400 grit. They haven't been produced since Hobbico went out of business. Apogee Components saw a need and filled it - This is their new 11" ...
[Read More]

Uneven Paint Gloss? TIP
From the Facebook Model Rocket Fanatics page: "How do you fix paint that’s unevenly drying? It’s matte paint but some areas are glossier than others. Paint has been cured for like a day. Thinking a coat of gloss clear should fix it." My response: The more detailed the rocket (more than ...
[Read More]

A Shorter Hornet...
  This past Sunday, January 26th, I participated in a launch session with several Colorado front range rocketeers. The first flight of the day was my old flagship, the Estes Hornet.  This would be the bird's  49th flight.   The model boosted nicely, but at ejection ...
[Read More]

How to build a rocket workshop (part 1: the purging)
As I’ve mentioned before, I have an uninspiring simple garden shed in the back yard, and one of my goals for 2020 is to convert it into a workshop, primarily for rocket construction and related projects. The shed is in good condition, though it’s only a small space, with an area of ...
[Read More]

Nose Cone Prep TIP
A question about nose cone sanding came up on the Estes Model Rockets Facebook page: Kenny D. asked:  "Does any one here sand nose cones to 600 grit?" My response: I wouldn't go down to 600 grit, 400 is my max. Some plastics need a little roughness for the paint to grab onto, especially ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: January 26th, 2020, Part 1
  A little over a week ago, I was joined by several Colorado front range rocketeers to get out and take advantage of some excellent weather conditions. The event took place at Dove Valley Regional Park in Centennial, and was attended by Jim Gazur, Lee Reep, Mike Goss, and Jesse Ulibarri. ...
[Read More]

How to build a rocket workshop (part 2: the defenestration)
Defenestration (n). The act of throwing someone or something out of a window. In particular, the Defenestration of Prague in 1618 involved some angry folks tossing several government officials out of a window from Prague Castle. Generally, when you have unwanted guests and you’d like them to ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: January 26th, 2020, Part 2
    Another set of pictures from this most excellent Colorado winter launch: Jim Gazur's Micro Enerjet 2250 with 3 B16 motors blazing!     Another B14 flight!  Lee Reep flew this two stage model with a ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: January 26th, 2020, Part 3
This is the third and final post covering this event.  Let us jump right in.... Jim Gazur was the only rocketeer on the field going with high-tech flights.  This is a D12 powered test rocket for a dual deployment system he is working on.  The model carried a ...
[Read More]

How to build a rocket workshop (part 3: the emergency exit)
You know what they say: when god closes one door, he opens another. Right? I was googling to find the exact phrase (and its original source) and apparently one of the most popular google searches along these lines is “when god closes all doors.” If that happens, you should be very ...
[Read More]

Holtville, 1/4/2020
It's been awhile since I've updated my blog.  I'm now trying to catch up so here are three flights at Holtville on January 4th: I'm quite certain that the first was Val Derkatch's, the second Mark Treseder's, and the third... well I just don't remember.  But check those titania sparks, ...
[Read More]

Holtville 2/1/2020
Once again I've been too busy at work to pack/prep for this month's launch at Holtville.  I shot even more vid than usual, however: I've made two intriguing discoveries with my GoPro Hero 5 black: 1) The GoPro app rules and serves as the POV previewer I've craved and 2) Somehow I never ...
[Read More]

Some Thoughts On Flying The Estes Solo
On Sunday, January 26th, I launched a recently-built Solo on its maiden flight.  The kit face card and instructions specify only one motor for flight: a C6-3. Not knowing what to expect with this model in terms of altitude and glider behavior, I was reluctant to shove a C motor in it for ...
[Read More]

February 9th 2020 GRC 790 Launch Report
The weather turned out really very nice for a club launch for February 9th 2020 at the WyEast Middle School Vernon, Don and John Casey were in attendance along with me for the launch.  It was sunny with little to no wind.  The field was quite marshy, so the pad was set up on the ...
[Read More]

Lucerne, 2/8/20
Aerotech M4500 Super Thunder  (1247 lb•f max thrust)...  Epic: That initial tilt straightened right out to vertical.  More soon.
[Read More]

Smooth Those Fillets!
A little research on JimZs surprised me. I always thought there were smoothed glue fillets in model rocket construction.  Here's how fillets have changed over the years: The original Estes Mark doesn't even mention using glue fillets: http://www.spacemodeling.org/jimz/estes/k-02.pdf The Estes ...
[Read More]

Common Causes for a Rocket to Fail
This table contains information about the most common causes for a rocket to fail. The intent is that, with proper care and prevention, these failure modes may be avoided.  (Source From NASA Houston Rocket Club NAR Section 365) TASK/STEP HAZARD CAUSE PREVENTATIVE MEASURE Any 1. Non-Hazardous ...
[Read More]

How to build a rocket electronics bay
I was originally going to create a series of articles dedicated to this topic: building an electronics bay for a rocket. Having never done this before, and having no idea what I was doing when I began, it took me quite a while to figure everything out and to actually build this thing. In the ...
[Read More]

Model Rocketry – February 15, 2020
A full day in the workshop building some new rockets to launch this spring: Athena, Alpha III, Black Brant VA, Black Bran ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! Schoolyard Soccer Field, February 16, 2020
As close to perfect as the Soccer field gets! Cool weather at 7:00 a.m. and no wind. Sometimes it's surprising what you see this early in the day. Hundreds (and I mean hundreds) of Pelicans flying East in a "V" formation. I've never seen this many together at one time. I haven't launched an ...
[Read More]

F Powered Boost Glider
Here is a cool kit to build and try: J&H Aerospace makes some really interesting boost gliders that are ideal for NAR Contests.
[Read More]

How to build a rocket workshop (part 4: painting)
I added a new step to my project that wasn’t in the original plan: painting. Gotta improvise sometimes. With the old plywood doors removed and the new door and frame installed, the shed was looking much classier. But that part of the project required framing the new door properly, filling in ...
[Read More]

Updated Forum Image Uploader
The Forum Image Uploader is a tool for making it easier to upload images to RocketReviews.com and use them in forum posts at The Rocketry Forum, Ye Olde Rocket Forum, and other online forums. Visit: http://www.rocketreviews.com/trfimages.html You’ll be prompted to log in. If ...
[Read More]

Estes Leo Space Train #7285 Build, Part 13, Assembly & Scraping
The big nozzle was glued on the motor tube using Beacon Fabri-Tac. The screw on retainer hub followed. The auxiliary small rocket "runners" were set in place and the line marked with pencil. The lines were carefully scraped to open up a glue area. To smooth it out and widen the line a bit, some ...
[Read More]

SR-71 or SR-72?
On the NAR Facebook page, Frank Burke posted a picture of his latest R/C Boost Glider: " YF-12 interceptor version of the A-12/SR-71 family. Hardly ever modeled. This was an interceptor version that wound up being used for testing the aim 47 missile and doing tests for NASA. The chines were ...
[Read More]

How to build a rocket workshop (part 5: the butchering)
This shed-to-workshop project is coming along well. So far, I’ve cleaned it out, added two new windows, replaced the old plywood doors with a nice new door (with a glass panel for even more natural light), and given a fresh coat of paint to the door frame and exterior shed walls. Not bad. The ...
[Read More]

13 Minutes To The Moon
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) did a great documentary in preparation for the Apollo 11 50th anniversary last year which was really well done. For those rocket history buffs, they may find this interesting: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3csz4dj
[Read More]

Estes Low Boom SST #7289 Build, Part 4, Jet Engines Assembly
I'll be dedicating a few posts to the construction of the jet engines. These are the most involved part of the build.  At the top is the middle piece, below are the right and left sides. TIP: You might want to fill the balsa grain with CWF before gluing the engine together. It would be ...
[Read More]

Video: rocket ground testing for electronics bay

[Read More]

Centuri Skylab KB-4 Fin Covering?
Here's a tough one to clone - The Centuri Skylab. That strange plastic nose cone was re-used in a few designs. There are a few vacu-form wraps, nozzles and details where molds would have to be made. In the Centuri kit, the thick card stock fins were covered in a metallic foil with a tight embossed ...
[Read More]

Building resumed...
I've resumed building the 7.5" V2 with a 75mm motor mount.  I applied the fin fillets last night: I still need to seal the exterior and sand it smooth.   I've had Aeropoxy Light in my garage for years and only opened it up this morning: I applied the paste to some test plywood ...
[Read More]

Rocket ground testing for electronics bay
After a long self-taught (and frequently confused) journey involving assembling this rocket, and building the electronics bay, I just needed to track down some black powder, set up my ground station, and conduct a bit of testing. Basically, the idea here is that the e-bay (roughly in the middle of ...
[Read More]

A New Toy
Today, I stopped into the local Hobby Lobby and picked up a new Estes altimeter for 30 bucks.  Not too hard on the wallet with the prevailing discount. Even though the device features only basic peak altitude display, I can think of a lot of applications for its use. One that readily ...
[Read More]

The Long Delay
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues.... after a delay of almost two months. You see, Life got in the way. First, my car blew up.  That is, the engine overheated on one of the coldest nights in January, and I had to get home, so I continued to drive in it, all the while keeping an eye on the temp ...
[Read More]

Vahson Valkyrie 2 Complete!
Back Story:  The first real model rocket I owned was a Vashon Valkyrie 2. In 1969 you couldn't get black powder motors in California without special permits. While I waited for the permit process to run, I ordered a Vashon Valkyrie 2 starter set from the Sears Christmas catalog for $19.95. ...
[Read More]

Launch Leads or whatever you call them
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... As we approach Spring launch season in the mid-west, many of us are finishing up our winter build projects.  Some are painting, and others are beginning to refurbish their launch equipment.   Usually, this refurbishing includes replacing wooden ...
[Read More]

Black Brant VA – March 6, 2020
The Black Brant is a family of Canadian-designed sounding rockets originally built by Bristol Aerospace, since absorbed by Magellan Aerospace in Winnipeg,…
[Read More]

Blue Dart Alpha 1 – March 6, 2020
The Blue Dart Alpha 1 is the first in a series of Blue Dart rockets we have designed.
[Read More]

Finally...Some Decent Paintin' Weather!
I've had these two models, an EAC Viper and a Cherokee-E, built and waiting since the end of January to get their primer coats. Yesterday, Castle Rock finally enjoyed a day of 60 degree weather, minimal wind, an NO SNOW! I grabbed the models and a can of primer, running out to the back yard to get ...
[Read More]

New Products at NARCON
On the NAR Facebook page -  John Wilkerson posted some pictures from the NARCON Manufacturers Presentation. I'm sure there were other products, these seemed the most interesting. Matt Steele with North Coasts’s upcoming release of the F117 Stealth boost glider. "New for 2020 - F117 Stealth ...
[Read More]

Launch! Orlando R.O.C.K., March 7, 2020
We haven't had a club launch in a few months. Today the field was dry, but the winds were up! The Cub Scouts joined us today with plenty of first time launches. There were plenty of family support and spectators. At some Tampa T.T.R.A. launches, the Scouts could take over the few operating LPR ...
[Read More]

Ebay - You Are Psychic!
Check out the fourth email from Ebay -  "Like Beer and Rocketry? Check out these popular fin . . . End your weekend with a bang . . . Beer, Rockets and a Bang? How could they know?
[Read More]

Launch Date: 8 March, 2020
Sunday, the 8th, I found myself with a spare hour in the early afternoon along with some very nice weather outside. Time to fly a couple rockets! For this session, I wanted to test fly the recently acquired Estes Altimeter, so I quickly packed up the launch gear and selected my weapon of choice: ...
[Read More]

Picture Perfect Weather on the most recent club launch
The most recent club launch that took place had the best weather that we have not had for some time. We had six people in attendance with a lot of great successful flights. Don, Vernon, Daniel and myself all had great flights. Vernon launched one of his 3D printed rockets up on an Aerotech 24mm ...
[Read More]

NARCON Announcement About Estes Starters -
Yesterday on Y.O.R.F., Gus (Steve) posted: "Oh, I forgot! One of the biggest Estes announcements at NARCON was that Estes will be releasing NEW IGNITERS ("starters") !!!!! No details as to when, but they are under development and will be coming.
[Read More]

Johnson Smith - GONE!
On Facebook, someone brought up that at one time Estes starter kits were for sale from the Johnson Smith Company. Before Estes, MRI (Model Rocket Industries) sold a starter set and engine packs through Johnson Smith. If you ever bought a comic book, you'll remember these full page ads. They were ...
[Read More]

Estes Blast Deflector Fix?
  From David Hoffman on the Facebook Model Rocketry, USA page: "Perfect fit.  Cable bug plugs, I got 3 packs (6 pieces) from eBay for $4.99 with free shipping."
[Read More]

Apollo 13 Realtime is now live
Ben Feist has done a great job with providing real-time online footage of Apollo 17, Apollo 11 and now he has done it again with Apollo 13: https://apolloinrealtime.org/13/ Please sit back and enjoy at your leisure. All Three are at this link: https://apolloinrealtime.org/
[Read More]

A Vote for Rustoleum Professional High Performance Enamel
A post from David Scigs on the Facebook Estes Model Rocket page: "On the Model Rocket Blog, Chris has been trying out Rustoelum Professional spray paints with good results. I wanted to give this paint a try so I bought a 7 dollar Baby Bertha at HL to try it on. I built the rocket in one day and ...
[Read More]

Estes Kit Balsa Thickness?
I was doing some research into some old Estes Design of the Month builds. Occasionally you run into a confusing part catalog number. Today it was fin stock thickness. Like the Estes body tubes - a BT-20, 50, 55, 60 or 80 tells you nothing about the outside diameter. In older catalogs, the fin ...
[Read More]

LAUNCH! L.A.S.E.R., Groveland, FL, March 15, 2020, Part 1
This was my first time flying with the L.A.S.E.R. ( Lake Area Students Engineering Rockets) in Groveland, FL. To visit the website: CLICK HERE The club is fairly new, there were ten or so people in attendance. A good sized field and some good people led to a busy day. Lonnie and Sue Buchanon ...
[Read More]

Who Is Hoarding Toilet Paper?
If you run out -  Once in an emergency I used this treated toilet paper for it's original intended purpose. If you use recovery wadding for toilet paper you won't get super powers - but for an hour your hind end will be flameproof!
[Read More]

LAUNCH! L.A.S.E.R., Groveland, FL, March 15, 2020, Part 2
Why a two-part launch report? I launched ELEVEN rockets today, more than any other launch day over the past 50 years! Normally I can sneak in five flight at a club launch. My old FRANKEN GOBLIN flew with a Quest C12-6 Q-Jet. The Franken Goblin is BT-60 based, made from parts pulled from retired ...
[Read More]

TARC Suspended Due to COVID-19
  From an email issued by The American Rocketry Challenge , or TARC: Hi Rocketeers,  As always, one of our priorities is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our entire community. Therefore, we ask that you follow all guidance you are receiving from your schools, as well as ...
[Read More]

Update from the National Association of Rocketry re: COVID-19
Well, two posts in one day. A lot of stuff happening these days. From the Facebook group of the National Association of Rocketry: March 17: Update on COVID-19 for National Association of Rocketry Recently, the recommendations from the White House and CDC on minimizing the risk and spread of ...
[Read More]

Estes Honest John to EAC Firecat?
After looking closer at the Estes E.A.C. Firecat kit, I thought at first the fins might be from the old K-27 Honest John kit. The instructions have you cut up the HoJo die-cut balsa to make the unusual Firecat fins. The raceway and pod standoff pieces were cut by hand from the leftover balsa. ...
[Read More]

How to build a rocket workshop (part 6: the electrocution)
It’s taken a while to provide an update on the workshop because… this step was a significant amount of work. I enlisted some serious help from my friend Darrin, who has a background in electrical engineering, prior experience doing electrical installations, and an immense collection of ...
[Read More]

NARCON 202 Manufacturer's Forum
On TRF, Winston posted a link to the 2020 NARCON Maunfacturer's Forum.  The video was produced by Apogee.  CLICK HERE At 0:01 -  AEROTECH - Available in the Fall, Q-Jets will also be made using White Lightning propellant . At 7:16 - APOGEE - New Sanding Tee, New Version 10 of ...
[Read More]

The Thrift Rocketeer-- in the Year of the Virus
Well, it's another red-letter day.... er, month.... in the life. I hesitate to use that expression, because many younger or non-Catholic readers may not understand the significance. (Many Catholic families have a church calendar on the wall, where some high holy days are accented in red p ...
[Read More]

Black Brant IV – March 20, 2020
The Black Brant is a family of Canadian-designed sounding rockets originally built by Bristol Aerospace, since absorbed by Magellan Aerospace in Winnipeg, ...
[Read More]

How to build a rocket workshop (part 7: the burial)
Step #2,352: dig a trench. In order to run electrical wire and conduit from the main electrical panel in the house out to the shed, the electrical code requires (more on this later) that the conduit be buried a minimum of 18 inches underground. This requirement is totally understandable, given the ...
[Read More]

Hunkerin' Down In Colorado
Before I get too far into this this post, I  would like to wish all of you the best during these trying times.  Please be careful and stay healthy!   Like most others these days, what with the pandemic in process, I'm spending much more time at home. As of this writing, ...
[Read More]

Launch Rail – March 23, 2020
Here are some photos of our new launch rail. A big thanks to Frank at Dynasoar rocketry for sharing his launch rail ...
[Read More]

Launch Rail – March 23, 2020
Here are some photos of our new launch rail. A big thanks to Frank at Dynasoar rocketry for sharing his launch rail ...
[Read More]

"Hey, BFTP, Where's That Protostar???
Good question. The short answer: The Steampunk Protostar had been relegated to a back burner for a short while in favor of getting a few quicker builds completed. I truly would like to have a couple of new models ready for the upcoming flying season. I plan on resuming work on the PS in mid April ...
[Read More]

New Podcast - The Model Rocket Show!
I'll be doing a new podcast, called The Model Rocket Show. It should be debuting the weekend of March 28. It's from LittleBeth Media, and is a spinoff of The Rocketry Show podcast . The Rocketry Show tends to deal mainly with high power rocketry and really advanced stuff. But there's a need for ...
[Read More]

How to build a rocket workshop (part 8: judgment day)
I alluded to the fact in the last two posts that there are some laws and regulations applicable to electrical work. Among other things, your city or state will require you to obtain a permit (and pay a fee) before you can even begin the work. In Washington state, this is the Department of ...
[Read More]

Estes Trident - First Baffled Ejection?
TRIVIA: The original (three side tubed) Estes Trident was probably the first model rocket that didn't require recovery wadding. The ejection gases were directed out into the three outside BT-5 tubes then back into the upper, central tube to eject the parachute. The Trident instructions say to ...
[Read More]

New Model Rocketry Podcast!
There's a new model rocket podcast -  The Model Rocket Show #1 Pilot: CLICK HERE Daniel (The Rocket N00b) is hosting. " In our first episode, Daniel The Rocket N00b tells us his “origin story”… how he got into Model Rocketry, and gives an overview on what to expect on ...
[Read More]

My Maple Seed disaster
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... (in the Spring of the virus) So, many of us Rocketeers rejoiced at the requirement to Stay at Home and out-last the ravages of the Covid-19 virus.    We could start in on our build pile, and very few objections would be filed. So each of us chose the ...
[Read More]

Estes Gemini Titan Details -WHAT?
  For all the "kids" who complain about how hard rockets are to build and paint -  Here's the detail painting directions from the original Estes Gemini Titan kit, #K-21 available from 1965-1973.   “Cut out the tracing patter. Cut out the two slots. Cover the ...
[Read More]

Next rocket: Darkstar Extreme
Winter is not a popular time for high power rocket launches. Few clubs actually hold major launch events in the winter months – and the rare brave souls who do are nevertheless subject to the weather. I did find a local club (about a 4 hour drive from Seattle) that has a standing FAA ...
[Read More]

Launch Controllers & Igniters
We appreciate all the new orders for our launch controllers and electric spark gap igniters. The assembly of the next batch is ...
[Read More]

Launch Controllers & Igniters
We appreciate all the new orders for our launch controllers and electric spark gap igniters. The assembly of the next batch is ...
[Read More]

Launch! Schoolyard Soccer Field, April 3, 2020
Yesterday I went out for a "Lone Wolf" launch. I arrived at the soccer filed about 7:30 a.m.  I thought the Orlando stay at home order was starting on Friday night. When I got back home I found out it started last night! Nobody questioned what I was doing, nobody was at the field. I have ...
[Read More]

The Maple Seed - Part 1: Motor mount & body tube
The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... After several months of coming down on the wrong side of the fence, I spotted a sale on the novelty rocket "The Maple Seed" made by Semroc and distributed by eRockets.biz I recognized that someone had put a lot of design time into this rocket which sheds its ...
[Read More]

Hybrid Rocket Motor Delta Test
This ground test was designed to test our remotely controlled igniter and oxidizer valve with a hybrid rocket motor. Our hybrid rocket ...
[Read More]

Hybrid Rocket Motor Delta Test
This ground test was designed to test our remotely controlled igniter and oxidizer valve with a hybrid rocket motor. Our hybrid rocket…
[Read More]

Building Model Rockets Out of Order - When I Deviate from the Instructions
I often build model rockets out of order. The Handbook of Model Rocketry  emphasizes time and again "Always read the instructions!" And while this is good advice, after you've built a number of rockets, you might find it helpful to deviate slightly from those instructions from time to time. ...
[Read More]

The Maple Seed - Part 2: The balanced seed fins
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... We continue our build thread for the Maple Seed by Semroc, marketed by eRockets.biz We've already covered the motor mount, body tube and the nosecone last installment. Houston, we have a problem.  Most all the photos from the critical build of the seeds are ...
[Read More]

Estes Lunar Scout #7290 Build, Finished
This was a fun build and something outside the norm. It would be a great first flight of the day model. I thought it was smart to integrate the launch rod holes into the center rings. I wonder if the landing pads slow down the featherweight descent?
[Read More]

How to build a rocket workshop (part 9: tropical storm)
Since we had already done all the work involved in running copper wire and conduit outside to bring electricity to the shed, we figured we might as well run some cat 5 (ethernet) cable out there, too, for a wired ethernet connection. I mean, we’d already dug the trench – so why not? An ...
[Read More]

Engines or Motors?
On the Facebook Model Rocket Fanatics page, Douglas Ferguson posted: " I am sitting here thinking. Why do people interchange the word "motor" and "engine"? Do these individuals not know that that " motors " run on electricity, while " engines " run on a form of combustion? Therefore unless you ...
[Read More]

Blue Dart Beta – Design & Build
The Blue Dart Beta is the second in a series of Blue Dart rockets we have designed. It will fly using sizes ...
[Read More]

Blue Dart Beta – Design & Build
The Blue Dart Beta is the second in a series of Blue Dart rockets we have designed. It will fly using sizes ...
[Read More]

Ooooh! Tissue - Glue Putty!
With all the shortages and hoarding of toilet paper, I was reminded about this old Model Rocket construction technique - This instruction step comes from the old Estes Ranger, K-06. To see the old Estes instructions, go to Jim Z's: CLICK HERE Tissue/Glue Putty did work well to seal the open areas ...
[Read More]

The NAR Announces More COVID-19 Delays
From National Association of Rocketry President, John Hochheimer: NARAM 62 Update: The COVID-19 pandemic creates significant uncertainty associated with holding our planned summer events. Therefore, the NAR is postponing NARAM 62 and will hold it in 2021. Please note, by making the decision now, ...
[Read More]

Blue Dart Alpha – April 11, 2020
It was a little windy at Crooked Creek today but still a good day to fly our Blue Dart Alpha. The first ...
[Read More]

Blue Dart Alpha – April 11, 2020
It was a little windy at Crooked Creek today but still a good day to fly our Blue Dart Alpha. The first ...
[Read More]

More Paper Carded Models
On Facebook, James Zalewski (Jim Z's) posted a link to some carded models I wasn't familiar with. CLICK HERE  "The password for all the downloaded PDF files is:  paper-replika.com The password is case sensitive. There are a bunch of cool projects."
[Read More]

Low Power Launch Pads
The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... A couple of months ago, I posted a picture of a power cord that had been modified with alligator clips to be part of a launch cord lead. It was my attempt to start assembling my own set of launch gear, in the event that it would ever be needed. Little ...
[Read More]

L3: a story of hubris
At the beginning of 2020, before we collectively realized that COVID-19 would completely upend everything we know and love and that this year would be written off as a total disaster, I had set a couple of goals in a naive attempt to start the year off right. Society might be crumbling, but ...
[Read More]

Blast shields
The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... Last entry, I mused about assembling a simple launch gear set, complete with a launch rod, launch pad wires, and alligator clips to attach to a battery. I also lamented not having settled on a good, simple blast shield for my launch rods yet.  I ...
[Read More]

Nothing Flies Like a Flis - The Model Rocket Show - Episode 2 - FlisKits
Claude Maina's Streaming UFFO lifts off. Photo courtesy Jim Flis. Episode 2 of The Model Rocket Show podcast is up, and I'm pleased how it turned out. This show was meant to come out a year and a half ago, on The Rocketry Show, but one thing and another happened, and... well, I think we finally ...
[Read More]

Blue Dart Beta – April 18, 2020
This was the first flight of Blue Dart Beta. Length: 23.5”(59.69cm)Diameter: 1.637”(41.6mm)Weight: 2.4oz (72g); It flew on a D12-7 engine today. Next ...
[Read More]

Blue Dart Beta – April 18, 2020
This was the first flight of Blue Dart Beta. Length: 23.5”(59.69cm)Diameter: 1.637”(41.6mm)Weight: 2.4oz (72g); It flew on a D12-7 engine today. Next ...
[Read More]

Launch! Schoolyard Soccer Field, April 19, 2020
I have a hard time getting up a 6:45 a.m. (Considering I stayed up until 1:30 a.m.)  I thought there was no wind, but at 100 feet up everything was drifting to the North. Two MicroMaxx launches to kick things off, A Semroc MMX BLUE BIRD ZERO and a Fliskits MMX CRAYON . The Blue Bird Zero ...
[Read More]

Old MicroMaxx Igniter?
For whatever reason, I dipped all my MicroMaxx (MMX) igniters to be used in 18mm engines. I can't find my spool of nichrome wire. I did have some old, original MMX igniters. These igniters (pictured to the left) were the type used in the original Quest MMX "Silo" style launcher. To see the Silo ...
[Read More]

Mosquito Spamming?
When you have a blog, there is always somebody trying to sneak in SPAM ads in the comments. Here's a shot of the original post, where I drew up some Estes Mini Brute decals for the Mega Mosquito build. This was in the comments: Jason Roy April 17, 2020 at 10:49 AM "They might also assume ...
[Read More]

Estes Orange Bullet #7295, Background
In March of 2011, I did a post about finding the plans for the Estes Orange Bullet. Here's the post from 2011 -  CLICK HERE Estes is releasing a new kit version of the Orange Bullet under the heading of the "Designer Signature Series". From the kit face card: "In 1961, Vern Estes, founder of ...
[Read More]

The Maple Seed: How NOT to score motors
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... So now that I have finished my build for the Semroc Maple Seed rocket, I'm ready to fly, but noticed I don't have any C11-7 motors to launch with. I started a search on-line, and found Hobby Lobby doesn't stock them, and couldn't turn up a local store ...
[Read More]

Fixing The Estes Launch Controller, Part 1
I probably have four Estes Electron Beam Launch Controllers. I also own a Quest and a BMS Mighty D controller. I typically use a 6 volt Estes or the 12 volt BMS controller at the schoolyard soccer field launches. The Estes controller needs a repair every few years. Here's where the launch failures ...
[Read More]

Plastic Chutes
The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... I was just chatting with a fellow rocketeer about FlisKits and the need to cut your own balsa (not a big deal) and assemble your own plastic chute.   And that's when it hit me:  Here's a topic for this week's blog entry! A couple of years ago, ...
[Read More]

The Definition of a Build Pile
Posted by Les on YORF - " Did someone say build pile? This is from 2016 - and it has grown since then . . ." If your wife ever says: "Don't you have enough rockets?" You can respond: "Don't you have enough shoes?"  Or . . . show her this picture.  And I thought I had a stash of ...
[Read More]

Fixing The Estes Launch Controller, Part 2
Notice the knot, it ends up inside the plastic casing wall to provide some strain relief. I used the old cut off end to set the correct distance from the end for the new knot. About 1/4" was stripped off the ends exposing the bare wires. The wires were soldered onto the contact plates. The plates ...
[Read More]

Discontinued Centuri 1974 Plastic Nose Cones?
The question came up on Y.O.R.F. -  Why did Centuri discontinue some of the plastic nose cones in 1974? Some posts wondered why later run kits included longer nose cones, instead of the shorter ones shown in the catalog and face card pictures. These plastic nose cones were introduced in ...
[Read More]

Estes Orange Bullet #7295, Part 4, Nose Cone
I did as much prepping as I could while the nose cone was being sent out. The main body got a white undercoat and smooth sanding. I probably should have waited, this involved more tight filling than I would have liked. The nose cone filled and primed, slid on and the fairing centers marked. I ...
[Read More]

Funny TRF Post - "CRUNCHIES"
75Grandville wrote on TRF: "I remember having a Mosquito as a kid (40 years ago). These days I usually classify them as "crunchies." I wonder where my rocket landed? CRUNCH! Ooops - there it is (was)!" We've all been there - done that!
[Read More]

Estes Orange Bullet #7295, Part 6, Fin Tip Weights
Set the nose "weights" on first without glue. Notice there is a very small angle cut into one corner. This fits against the trailing edge of the fins. There are two sides to the weight pieces. The laser cutting makes one side rounder than the other. I've marked the backs with pencil. The laser ...
[Read More]

Soap In The Decal Soak Water?
Over the years on TRF I had an ongoing  feud with a builder/flyer named John Lee.  His forum name was  Micromeister. He build a lot of MicroMaxx downscales. He knew all about LPR and MMX model rocketry.  If you asked a novice (or silly) question, he'd let you know.  He ...
[Read More]

Some launch pics...
  Well, 2020 has certainly been challenging so far - issues at work and the COVID-19 pandemic has created some chaos in life. However, there has been time for rockets; got a few launches in before the pandemic broke out and have built a few. The blog has been neglected, though. For some ...
[Read More]

Cleaning Up A Launch Lug - TIP
Paint can get into the end of a lunch lug. If the lug isn't clear, your rocket can get stuck on the rod during boost. TIP: Sharpen a dowel in a pencil sharpener. Leave the sharpened point rough. The roughness can help reduce any paint or a rough edge. Insert the sharp end in the launch lug and ...
[Read More]

Which Glues for LPR Building? TIPS
On TRF. Alan R wrote: I think the most asked glue question is: "What is the best glue". The answer to that is "The one that works" I only do low power stuff, short list: Paper to paper - white glue or titebond Paper to balsa - titebond or epoxy for higher stress loads paper to fingers - CA ...
[Read More]

Estes Orange Bullet #7295, Finished
    Here you go - the Vern Estes designed prototype for the Astron Scout. It turned out well, nice to see a balsa nose cone in an Estes kit again. If you are into Model Rocket History, this could be a great addition to your fleet.
[Read More]

Blue Dart Launches – May 2, 2020
Blue Dart Alpha cleared 1000′ AGL today using a C6-7 engine and the Blue Dart Beta flew to apogee at approximately 1500′ ...
[Read More]

Blue Dart Launches – May 2, 2020
Blue Dart Alpha cleared 1000′ AGL today using a C6-7 engine and the Blue Dart Beta flew to apogee at approximately 1500′…
[Read More]

Fixing The Estes Launch Controller, Part 3
A comment from the Estes Controller Fix posts: "Have you considered opening up the hole in the end of the case, and adding a short section of heat-shrink over the wires as they come out of the case for a little extra stress relief?  Don't know if it would work, but it sounds good anyway!" ...
[Read More]

Low Boom SST Design Cues?
This post is not meant to knock the design of the new Low Boom SST kit from Estes. It is a sleek model. I've been in this hobby for many years and sometimes notice similarities and maybe some design influences from 50 years ago! When going through my old Model Rocketry binders, I came&nbs ...
[Read More]

Fixing The Estes Launch Controller, Part 4
From the charger cable fix link from the last post: I grabbed an old ball point pen with the spring over the top end of the ink barrel. To get the spring started over the lead wire, the top of the spring was opened up slightly. This took two tries to get right so be patient - On the left is how ...
[Read More]

Sand Off, Then Re-Draw Pencil Lines?
In a comment, CEM asked: "Chris, I do not understand why you sand the line off of the tube and then state: "Re-draw the lines back on the body tube." Why re-draw them onto the tube after you sanded them off?" Thank you. Good point, CEM! The pencil lines are first drawn for a sanding reference, ...
[Read More]

Listening to podcasts...
As I enter my 8th straight week of telework, I have become bored by my music playlists, so I have started to listen to a few podcasts to provide some variety. The list includes a couple of my faves, The Rocketry Show, and its recent spin-off, The Model Rocket Show. Old or young, newbie or expert, ...
[Read More]

CA Glue On Tube Ends?
Some builders get carried away with CA Glue (Super Glue) reinforcement of body tube ends. I've seen a forum post where the builder was letting the CA glue run down inside the tube. He was doing his best to see the entire interior was coated. CA Glue can stiffen up the edges of body tubes, but ...
[Read More]

My First Catalog!
Kurt Affholter posted this on the Facebook, Estes Model rockets page: " Anybody ever see these?" This was the first model rocket catalog I ever saw. I was peeking over the shoulder of the classmate seated in front of me. He was supposed to be reading his class materials, but sneaked this Estes ...
[Read More]

Launch! Schoolyard Soccer Field, May 8, 2020
The morning temperatures were going to be around 56 degrees. This might be the last cool morning for a while! I walked over to the Soccer field a little after 7 a.m. I prepped two Micro Maxx rockets for today. On the left is a new MMX  ASP CORPORAL . The build is upcoming on the blog. I had ...
[Read More]

How to build a rocket workshop (part 10: the resurrection)
The much-anticipated finale to the workshop saga! The last few posts covered the electrical work, from digging a trench to installing a sub-panel in the shed and running conduit out from the main panel in the house, and then the official inspection. I also briefly covered the similar process ...
[Read More]

K'Tesh! A Chat with Jim Parsons, OpenRocket Wizard - The Model Rocket Show
Jim Parsons' OpenRocket sim of the Estes Cineroc and Omega The latest episode of The Model Rocket Show podcast is up, and I'm talking with Jim Parsons. You may know Jim by the username K'Tesh on The Rocketry Forum, and one of the things he's known for is creating accurate-looking simulation files ...
[Read More]

Rocketry Club Launch Featured in TV Commercial
A commercial for the prescription drug Jardiance features a realistic portrayal of a rocket club launching model rockets.
[Read More]

How to build a fiberglass rocket: Darkstar Extreme
With the workshop newly completed, and a seemingly endless quarantine/ lockdown in effect, it’s time to turn my attention to building a new rocket. So far, I’ve built and flown a couple of low and mid power rockets, and I built one high power rocket – the HyperLOC 835, which is a ...
[Read More]

Another 4th of July rocket...
Every year I make an effort to build a patriotic-themed rocket to commemorate Independence Day. Last year, it was an Estes America , and here are a few more from previous years . All this stuck-at-home stuff got me wondering what I was going to build this year, so I began to browse through my ...
[Read More]

PONG alert!
The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... Never let it be said that the ol' Thrifty Rocketeer doesn't enjoy a bargain. While I'm not in the habit of being a shill for any particular company, I do appreciate when something unique comes up, or is being sold off, marked down, or phased out. I've ...
[Read More]

Big Bang Rocket Episode
To show what a rocket nerd I am - I'm watching a re-run of the Big Bang Theory, the episode was centered around model rockets. Howard found a storage box of rockets from when he was a kid, twenty years before. I'm looking kit boxes and thinking: "That's not packaging from twenty years ago. That's ...
[Read More]

How to build a fiberglass rocket (part 1: materials)
As promised, below is the full bill of materials that I’m using to build the Darkstar Extreme. It’s important to note that, aside from this particular kit, many of the other things in this list are optional, depending on your particular rocket design; frequently, parts or materials can ...
[Read More]

Little Green Man - Review
An email from David - Hi Chris, Just finished building the the Little Green Man rocket! What a fun and unique build. I loved the design, humor, excellent instructions, and amazing attention to detail. This is just a quick e-mail to say thank you and to compliment you on your many ta ...
[Read More]

Black Brant Launches – May 16, 2020
Click here for a video of the rocket launches.
[Read More]

Black Brant Launches – May 16, 2020
Click here for a video of the rocket launches.
[Read More]

Exocet / Tomahawk Shock Cord Anchor?
On the Facebook Model Rocketry USA page, Robert Spillane posted a picture of his Estes Mini Scale Combo Pack. These were sport scale mini engine rockets, two models in on kit package. Follow up comments asked:  What's the white blob near the nosecones?" I did some searching and found out ...
[Read More]

Rockets on TV!
A lot of rocketeers are talking about a recent TV commercial that features model rockets. We are used to the occasional appearance of rockets on TV - in a "Wonder Woman" episode, occasionally showing up in "The Big Bang Theory", and in an ad by Enterprise Rent-A-Car: The recent ad is a Jardiance ...
[Read More]

Launch! L.A.S.E.R., Groveland, FL, May 17, 2020
This was my first club launch since the whole Corona Virus thing started. A sunny day, easy social distancing with not too many fliers. The club is new - Thanks to Shawn G. for launching my rockets so I could get pictures. One of the Centuri VECTOR V builds was finished and had it's first launch ...
[Read More]

How to build a fiberglass rocket, part 2: specs
I provided a full list of materials that I’ll be using to build the Darkstar Extreme, but just to offer a little preview on what the completed rocket will look like, here are some of the specs. And the picture below is just an example of the finished version – to be clear, I d ...
[Read More]

Little Green Man With Stand!
On the Facebook Model Rocketry Fanatics page, David Koo posted: " This was a really fun build!!! Little Green Man by Odd'l Rockets. The stand was 3D printed. Can't wait to launch him!" Great, clean build David! I've got to admit, that's a very appropriate display for the L.G.M. The rocket ...
[Read More]

How to build a fiberglass rocket, part 3: airframe prep
My first couple of posts related to the Darkstar Extreme were just recapping my progress in high power rocketry to date, and outlining everything that’s needed in order to build this particular rocket. But now I’m finally ready to begin assembly. As mentioned previously, the & ...
[Read More]

Spark Gap Igniter Testing – May 20, 2020
One question that we keep getting asked is “can this spark gap igniter be used with composite propellant engines?”. With the addition…
[Read More]

Checking In To My Own Blog!
Hi, folks, Obviously, it's been a while since I've posted anything here. The lack of activity is due directly to COVID-19. No, I did not contract the virus.... At the beginning of April, I was furloughed from my workplace in order to comply with Colorado's  stay-at-home directive. Now you ...
[Read More]

40% Sale – Aircraft Parts Inventory
We are putting more focus on our pilot training and rocketry development and so we’ve decided to shutdown our aircraft parts business… The post 40% Sale – Aircraft Parts Inventory appeared first on Beyond Blue Aerospace .
[Read More]

How to build a fiberglass rocket, part 4: motor mount
With the airframe of the rocket nearly complete, I just needed to prep the area where fins will eventually go. The rocket is pre-slotted (i.e., it comes with slots already punched out to insert the edge of the fins), but the slots are all too narrow and needed to be sanded quite a bit to ...
[Read More]

How to build a fiberglass rocket, part 5: nose cone
Like many fiberglass rocket kits, the Darkstar Extreme has an aluminum-tipped nose cone. The aluminum tip is for more than just show: it has a couple of structural purposes. One is the manufacturing method of the nose cone itself. The process uses “filament wound fiberglass,” which ...
[Read More]

A New Pig!
Hope finished up her Odd'l Rockets Pigasus and launched it twice yesterday. Lots of fun and with some careful wind correction we kept it on the field despite strong winds. — with Hope Betts Finn .
[Read More]

Rocketing Right Past
The Thrifty Rocketeer continues... Stop me if I've already told you this one. Almost six years ago, I had a passing interest in rocketry, but had never acted upon it.  Year after year, I would see a wire service story describing how the Rocket Boys had just held a convention or gathering in ...
[Read More]

Another Movie Featuring A Model Rocket
Part of my COVID19 'Safer-at-home' activities have involved taking in some movies. Last night, we found an obscure film on YouTube called "Frank vs. God". The story line revolves around a lawyer who lost his home to a tornado. His insurance company refused his claim on the grounds that they did not ...
[Read More]

BlueHeat Ignition – May 31, 2020
Made some BlueHeat Ignition wires for launching the Blue Dart Delta rocket glider composite engine with our Spark Gap Igniter. The post BlueHeat Ignition – May 31, 2020 appeared first on Beyond Blue Aerospace .
[Read More]

The return of the C5...
At the end of this week, I received an email from Estes, featuring this image: This got me very excited, for the following reasons: An increase in the types of available 18mm black powder motors, the number of which has been on a steady decline for the past couple of decades. ...
[Read More]

How to build a fiberglass rocket, part 6: e-bay
On to the electronics bay! My pride and joy. Actually, though, I’m going to split this into two posts, just as I did with my last rocket build. Right now, I’m just putting together the frame of the e-bay – the exoskeleton, if you will – and later I’ll do a separate, ...
[Read More]

A Well Built F-16
From the Facebook Model Rocketry Fanatics page: David Koo posted pictures of his finished Odd'l Rockets F-16. Great work David!
[Read More]

How to build a fiberglass rocket, part 8: rail buttons
Before I jump into the riveting details of rail buttons, I’ll take a step back and explain what this is, and why it matters. Every rocket has a “center of pressure” and a “center of gravity” (or center of mass). I won’t go into detail about these concepts here, ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Cyclone from Bob Portnell
Hi, Mr. M! Just wanted to report that Cyclone #251 has completed assembly and been turned over to my younger daughter (18-1/2 years old) for marker decoration action.     Thanks Bob! Markers keep it light for a longer spinning flight duration. That Cyclone is a ...
[Read More]

How to build a fiberglass rocket, part 9: attaching fins
Exciting times! I’m ready to attach the fins. If you’ve never put together a rocket before, well, I’m baffled that you are reading this blog. But typically, a rocket will have either 3 or 4 fins, which are placed symmetrically – equally spaced out, in the 360 degrees around ...
[Read More]

Wireless Launch Controller – June 14, 2020
Today we conducted some beta testing of our new wireless launch controller. It works well with the electric spark igniter and has ...
[Read More]

Yet another use for old motor casings.
The new Estes kits are featuring the screw on motor retainers in lieu of the old style engine hooks. These have the advantage of better motor retention, but make it problematic in displaying models like the Starship Octavius, which have funky shaped fins that do not permit them to rest in a ...
[Read More]

The Rest Of The Story
Last year, I posted here about a stash of model rockets, kits, accessories, and motors that a friend gave to me. Today, that same friend visited, and presented me with a plastic shopping bag containing even more rocket stuff. He said he found the items in the back of a cabinet he was cleaning out. ...
[Read More]

Citabria – July 20, 2020
An early morning flight at CYPQ to get in some circuit practice. Click here for a short video. The post Citabria – July 20, 2020 appeared first on Beyond Blue Aerospace .
[Read More]

Blue Dart Delta Assembly
Thanks for following the Blue Dart Delta Assembly progress. This rocket glider has a length of 37″ and a wingspan of 20″. ...
[Read More]

My "Junk" rocket...
Over a decade ago, Essence's Model Rocket Reviews (EMRR) hosted many rocket contests - you can see a list  here . I loved participating in these events, especially one particular contest called the " Box O' Parts ." Each contestant was sent a box filled with rocket parts - and some junk - ...
[Read More]

How to build a fiberglass rocket, part 10: epoxy injection for fins
Fair warning here: I’m actually splitting the “attaching the fins” information into three separate posts. This is not out of a sense of malice or sadism, but simply because there’s a lot going on with the fins. The prior post (part 1 of 3 in this epic fin series) was ...
[Read More]

Fill & Finish Questions From TRF, Part 1
On TRF, Neil W had some questions about how I fill and finish. I tried to  answer all his questions.  Neil's quotes are in italic - I am mostly using the finishing strategy that hcmbanjo has documented on his blog. In this strategy, filler/primer is functioning primarily ...
[Read More]

High Power Rocketry: NAR Level 1 Certification Flight

[Read More]

Fill & Finish Questions From TRF, Part 2
Here's the fill and finish process I use: Filling the grain and tube seams: 1. Thinned Elmers Carpenter's Wood Filler (CWF) from the orange lid tub. 1A. Sand (leaving a very slight beige skin of CWF on the surface with 400 grit. If you see the "pink" balsa showing through you may have ...
[Read More]

Another display tip...
Last Friday, I passed on an obvious tip about how to display rockets that use the Estes screw-on motor retainers. However, these rockets are still in the minority, with most rockets using traditional motor hooks. You can also use the Estes display stands with them, but the motor hook is pushed out ...
[Read More]

Colin's F-16 Launch
An email and picture from Colin Kaul -  "Here is my Odd'l F16 on its first launch. It is kit number 165. I can't wait to get an F104 Starfighter!" Thanks Colin! Your picture caught the launch right after ignition!
[Read More]

Semroc Andromeda Chrome Wrap Fix, Tips, Part 1
My Semroc Andromeda was a pre-production kit, given to me to help produce the instructions. I got the kit at NARAM 60, almost two years ago. I built the kit without problems as I did the line drawings. All went great, until I applied the (laser burned) chrome wrap. The black striping was cut a ...
[Read More]

Semroc Andromeda Chrome Wrap Fix, Tips, Part 2
Here's the original Estes instruction illustration showing the spacing of the chrome bands. The low wrap is 1 1/2" above the centering ring joint. The second wrap goes 1/4" above that. On the left, the first wrap is in place, using the top edge of a masking tape wrap for a reference line. Why use ...
[Read More]

Citabria 2020-06-29
Here is a short video of the “spin” around the Kawartha’s. The post Citabria 2020-06-29 appeared first on Beyond Blue Aerospace .
[Read More]

A virtual NARAM - sort of...
The National Association of Rocketry (NAR) is adapting as best it can to the pandemic. This year, the national contest - NARAM 62 - will not be held in Geneseo, New York as planned. Instead, NAR is offering those interested in contest flying a chance to participate in a "virtual" NARAM. Here ...
[Read More]

How to build a fiberglass rocket, part 11: fin fillets
The epic fin-ale to the fin attachment series! (Pun intended.) So far, we’ve attached the fins using the “through the wall” method with epoxy at several points: (1) the fin root, where it directly touches the motor mount tube, and (2) all along the inside edges of the fins and ...
[Read More]

BAR Fleet #125 - Super Shot
    Source:   Estes Industries Super Shot Starter Set #1449 (1999) Type:   Sport Model E2X Stages: Single Engine Type: 18mm Recovery:   Parachute Length:   39.7cm Diameter:   27.7mm Weight Empty:   42.2g Nose Cone:   4.15 Caliber Tangent ...
[Read More]

Clay Weight? TIP
On TRF, the question came up about different clay used for nose weight, inside plastic nose cones. On TRF, JQAvins wrote: The little Estes squares seem to be almost the same as Plasticine modeling clay, but it's a little crumbly when cold (room temperature). It becomes pliable when warmed by ...
[Read More]

How to build a fiberglass rocket, part 12: primer and paint
All the difficult and time-consuming rocket construction steps are basically complete. The drilling and sanding fiberglass is done, the epoxy has cured, and technically, you can fly it “naked” at this point. But a painted rocket just adds that extra touch of class, and we are nothing ...
[Read More]

Cozy Fuselage Repairs
This Cozy MKIV project arrived recently from Edmonton and consists of many of the main assemblies such as the fuselage, wings, canard,… The post Cozy Fuselage Repairs appeared first on Beyond Blue Aerospace .
[Read More]

Back To The Bench !
This week, I finally became motivated to pull a project out of the cabinet and get back to rocket building. Out of mothballs came the EAC Viper. The fins got masked and the purple stripes painted on. I am surprised - the brushed-on paint job didn't turn out half bad. I took the liberty to ...
[Read More]

White Decals Done Right!
From the Facebook, Estes Model Rockets page: Mike Nelson posted his recent build - "Time for Estes to bring back a line of Goony Birds. Here's my scratch I finished the other day. BT80 With a 24mm Motor mount for "D" or "E" and Clip art scaled and laser Jet printed on white decal paper. BULLET ...
[Read More]

High Power Rocketry: L1 Certification Flight
Finally! According to the National Association of Rocketry, I now officially have my level 1 certification in high power rocketry. I finished building my first high power rocket, the HyperLOC 835, back in December, but getting certified requires a successful flight and recovery of the rocket. But ...
[Read More]

Blue Dart Delta
We flew the Blue Dart Delta rocket glider at Crooked Creek this morning. Click here for a short video of the launch. The post Blue Dart Delta appeared first on Beyond Blue Aerospace .
[Read More]

BAR Fleet #126 EAC Viper B
Source:   Estes Industries #0820   Type:   Sport Model Stages: Single Engine Type:   13mm Recovery:   Parachute Length:   35.5cm Diameter:   24.8mm Weight Empty:   32.4g Nose Cone:   Tangent Ogive - 4.7 caliber Fin Type: Trapezoidal - Modified Number of ...
[Read More]

The BFTP Shop Is Now Open!
Yesterday's completion of the EAC Viper build project served a purpose that went far beyond merely adding a new model rocket to the fleet. In effect, it entirely dispelled the Stay-at-home COVID19 blues from which I have been suffering the past several months.  I am no longer moping about ...
[Read More]

For The Love Of God . . .
I can't take credit for this Meme, Jim Zalewski (Jim Z's Plans) posted this. Sometimes I cringe when a new "glue thread" is started on the forums. It always starts with the question: "What's the best glue to use on a rocket?" Responses follow mentioning every glue you could possibly find at Home ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 28 - The Estes Aerospace Club.
 It is my belief that probably every young person who was involved in model rocketry back in the early '70s mailed in a $2 fee to Estes Industries in order to become a member of that prestigious organization, the EAC. I was one of those young persons.   For that mere two bucks, one ...
[Read More]

How to build a fiberglass rocket, part 13: parachutes
Rocket recovery The recovery system in a high power rocket is extremely important. Needless to say, launching a large rocket extremely high into the air is pretty fun. But that thing is going to come down again, sooner or later, and the recovery system you’ve designed and built for your ...
[Read More]

Bad Paint - AGAIN!
I'm never going to recommend a brand of paint again. I started having troubles with Rusto 2X Gloss White a while back. Occasionally it would shoot out a rough splatter or what I called "cottage cheese". Luckily it sanded down easily. I switched over to Rusto High Performance enamel in the ...
[Read More]

High Power Rocketry: NAR Level 2 Certification Flight

[Read More]

High Power Rocketry: NAR Level 2 Certification Flight

[Read More]

The life and legacy of Wernher von Braun
I recently finished reading an excellent biography about Wernher von Braun. While browsing a used bookstore in Victoria, BC last year, I picked this book up on a whim. I really didn’t know anything at all about the man or his life, prior to this. In retrospect, I cannot believe I didn’t ...
[Read More]

The life and legacy of Wernher von Braun
I recently finished reading an excellent biography about Wernher von Braun. While browsing a used bookstore in Victoria, BC last year, I picked this book up on a whim. I really didn’t know anything at all about the man or his life, prior to this. In retrospect, I cannot believe I didn’t ...
[Read More]

BAR Fleet #127 - Cherokee-E
Source:   Estes Industries #2408 Type:   Sport Model Stages: Single Engine Type:   24mm Recovery:   Parachute Length:   74.8cm (29.5in) Diameter:   34mm (1.33in) Weight Empty:   67.9g Nose Cone:   Secant Ogive -   4 caliber Fin Type: Raked, Inverted ...
[Read More]

Some Good Ol' Yankee Ingenuity... And Duct Tape!
Colorado Rocketeer Eric Davila of the Longmont Rocket Club sent out a picture of an interesting device that he used at a recent group launch: This is a makeshift tool which he used to successfully rescue a model rocket from the clutches of a Rocket Eating Tree (RET). Close study of the photo ...
[Read More]

Estes Tazz #7282 Build, Part 5, Fill & Hinges
The launch lug was glued on and fillets applied. The body tube and glued in nose cone were shot with filler/primer and sanded to surface. This is a BT-50 sized tube, I didn't have any D engine casings to fit on a painting wand dowel. I taped some cardboard around the 18mm engine casing already on ...
[Read More]

11 Year Blog Anniversary & NEW Patreon Changes!
(A late) Happy Fourth of July! ELEVEN YEARS and almost 6,500 posts later . . . Who woulda' thunk it would last this long!  PLEASE  R EAD THE ENTIRE POST . . . I've learned a lot in the process and hope your builds and rocketry experiences have improved. At present, the blog gets 1,200 ...
[Read More]

Happy Evoloterra Day
CommemorationbyJudith L. FreedAugust 11, 1996 Seven candles burning brightSix are red and one is whiteWe gather here upon this dateMan on the Moon to celebrateOn the 20th of July in '69A drama as to stretch the mindMan from Earth his foot did placeUpon the Moon in Outer SpaceHow did Man come to ...
[Read More]

The old way of communication...
Ever wonder how rocketeers exchanged news, tips, launch information, plans and so forth before the rise of the Internet? We did it through newsletters sent through the U.S. mail. It was slow by today's standard, but  effective. This was how NAR - and later, Tripoli - leadership communicated to ...
[Read More]

Estes Tazz #7282 Build, Part 6, Gluing It All Together & White Undercoat
There is a small overlap where the hinge sets over the open slot. This is cut away so the stabilizer can be glued in. I didn't remove the overlap, but folded it into the slot for a tighter fit of the stabilizer tab. With the pieces glued up you can really see the resemblance to the original ...
[Read More]

Quarentine Update: Card Stock
The Thrity Rocketeer blog continues....   It's been a while since I've added a posting.  No doubt you've heard about a little thing called Covid-19, so I won't go into that here.   However, while quarantined, many of us have been building rockets or organizing or ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 29 - Some NARAM 11 Pictures!
Today's post topic goes back nearly 51 years - all the way to August, 1969.   The place: The United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado.  The event: NARAM 11.   As I've mentioned before on this blog, I was there as a spectator getting my first ever ...
[Read More]

Sticky Sprayed Clear Coats? TIP
On YORF, Erik 442 wrote: "Steve, please be careful not to leave anything coated with that clear out in direct sunlight for an extended period. I learned the hard way when I left my new Redstone on the sidelines while I was flying other models. The heat made it very sticky and all the dust and ...
[Read More]

Estes Tazz #7282 Build, Part 7, White Undercoats
Oh no! I was using the Rustoleum Premium with great sucess - until today. The gloss white sprayed out rough! I stopped immediately, only a small area got the rough spray. Luckily it easily sanded smooth. I test sprayed about ten passes of the gloss white on scrap cardboard before hitting the ...
[Read More]

Estes Tazz #7282 Build, Part 8, Overall Yellow Painting TIPS
This is a tough rocket to get an overall even spray. The four vertical stabilizers (small fins) block certain areas from getting a final wet coat. Summertime painting in hot, humid weather is a crap shoot.The picture on the right shows some spatter "pebbling" after some between coat light sanding ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 30 - HOTROC-2
On August 22-23, 1981, 15 NAR rocketeers from around the Mountain States converged on Colorado Springs, Colorado to compete in the second annual Heart Of The Rockies model rocket contest. By this time, ROMAR had grown to include enough members to renew its section charter, so HOTROC-2 ...
[Read More]

High Power Rocketry: L2 Certification Flight
Officially level 2 certified! Fulfilling a 2020 goal I really started getting into rocketry last fall, less than a year ago, and I had set some goals for 2020 when the year began. My goals included getting level 1 and level 2 certifications in high power rocketry (HPR) through the National ...
[Read More]

High Power Rocketry: L2 Certification Flight
Officially level 2 certified! Fulfilling a 2020 goal I really started getting into rocketry last fall, less than a year ago, and I had set some goals for 2020 when the year began. My goals included getting level 1 and level 2 certifications in high power rocketry (HPR) through the National ...
[Read More]

New stuff...
There have been a few recent releases by the kit manufacturers, some of which are very cool. First up is an awesome release from Estes - the Destination Mars Longship . It has a futuristic style, featuring a ring tail and a round nose, with all sorts of plastic detail and lots of decals. A must-add ...
[Read More]

Estes Tazz #7282 Build, Part 9, Engine Mount Trim TIP
Here's the engine mount, the streamer is taped to hold the end down. The low end of the engine mount has 3/16" of bare tube exposed. I didn't want to go through a tight masking job with the white lock ring in the way. I sprayed some scrap peel and stick paper stock with gloss yellow. A 3/16" wide ...
[Read More]

Masks?
This post has nothing to do with the Corona Virus. With the abundance of available masks, I hope you are wearing one when spray painting. Years back there was a very well known luthier who had to give up guitar production after a few years of lacquer spraying without wearing a mask. Rocket kit ...
[Read More]

Estes Tazz #7282 Build, Part 10, Plastic Retainers
The guide ring is glued onto the rear of the tube, even with the end. The notches on the ring are on the opposite side of the launch lug. Be sure the notches are centered between the wing fins. This shows how the ring tab extensions hold down the flaps. Notice the engine hook, tabs and notches on ...
[Read More]

Estes Tazz Follow-up
TIP:  I already lost one of the rubber bands! The kit does give your four. To retain the rubber band when it is loosened between flights - Close off the open end with of the Part R Hooks a bead line of   white glue . It won't be permanent, you can pop out the glue bridge to ...
[Read More]

Estes Tazz #7282 Build, Finished
Compared to the original Gyroc, I like the larger size of the new Tazz. The new plastic hinges are much more flexible and won't easily crack like the older paper ones. The fin silhouette is almost identical to the original Gyroc, just larger. The leading edge outside corner on the Gyroc wing and ...
[Read More]

What can you do with the Estes Generic fin can?
You can replicate a bunch of old rockets, that's what. Even though the fin can has evolved from rectangular fins with a diamond shaped cross-section to the current one with a slightly swept leading edge and a wedge-shaped cross-section, you can use the modern version in cloning the older rockets ...
[Read More]

TAZZ / Gyroc Decal Available
If you'd like your Estes TAZZ to look more like the original Gyroc design, a home print decal PDF is now available! The vertical bar roll pattern fits around the BT-50 body tube. There are plenty of extras on the sheet. This offer is open to Patreon member suporters. Email me at: oddlr ...
[Read More]

Overbuilding?
I've been known to replace a standard BT-20 and BT-50 with heavier wall tubes. I also use a Kevlar line to an elastic shock cord from the engine mount.  But I've go my reasons. Thin wall tubes can crimp, rubber band shock cords deteriorate. That's usually where I draw the line. I saw this on ...
[Read More]

Sanded & Square Body Tube Ends TIP
From TRF, Hooked On Rockets Posted his tip for sanding the ends flat on a cut tube. "So if you are talking about making true edges to match up with each other, you could do this: Glue up some sandpaper to a FACTORY EDGE body tube with CA and then cut out the sand paper inside the tube with an ...
[Read More]

NARAM Manufacturer Forum - New Products
I tried to get i n   on the virtual NARAM Manufacturer's Forum last night, but the NARAM website wouldn't load! Here's some of the comments from TRF this morning from some who did see it: Scott650 started: Couple or four interesting tidbits out of the Manufacturer’s Forum webinar popped up ...
[Read More]

Breaking news from the rocket vendors! (Part 1)
One of the special events associated with NARCON and NARAM is the manufacturer's forum, where the rocketry vendors gather to announce new products and give us rocketeers a preview of things to come. I am very enthusiastic about this forum, because it provides things to look forward to - and also ...
[Read More]

NARAM 2020 Manufacturer forum
The recent NARAM Virtual Manufacturer's Forum has been posted on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIt9u6sPh9E&feature=youtu.be
[Read More]

Breaking news from the rocket vendors! (Part 2)
One of the best features of the NAR manufacturer's forum is that you are exposed to new ideas and products beyond your normal hobby experience. This was the case for me and vendor #6, Cris Erving of Eggtimer Rocketry . Cris is noted for producing various rocket electronic kits - many high power ...
[Read More]

Flightsketch Mini Altimeter Review
The neat little Flightsketch mini altimeter is a very impressive little altimeter and is worth the price of $40.00. I tried one out on the Quest duel motor cluster kit called Magnum. The little altimeter provides not just the altitude. It also provides wind speed, temperature, and humidity. You ...
[Read More]

Hydra Sanhawk?
Ed Brown posted this picture on the Facebook Model Rocketry Fanatics page: So . . . Is it a HYDRA SANDHAWK or, HYDRA SANHAWK? To see the entire build from Finish to Start: CLICK HERE Here's another face card misspelling: The Fliskits MECURY REDSTONE I'm not making fun of these mistakes. I ...
[Read More]

How to build a fiberglass rocket, part 14: ground testing
The final chapter in the long saga of building the Darkstar Extreme: ground testing. Actually, I don’t know whether I should have saved this step for the end. I’ve been looking at what some other folks do, and I’ve seen several people conduct ground testing as soon as the rocket ...
[Read More]

How to build a fiberglass rocket, part 14: ground testing
The final chapter in the long saga of building the Darkstar Extreme: ground testing. Actually, I don’t know whether I should have saved this step for the end. I’ve been looking at what some other folks do, and I’ve seen several people conduct ground testing as soon as the rocket ...
[Read More]

"Action Glider?"
On the Facebook Estes Model Rocket page,  James Polles posted this: "A paper catapult glider from Estes." I guess calling it a "Catapult" sounds more dramatic than a "Rubber Band and Stick".
[Read More]

Citabria 2020-08-01
An early morning roll around the Kawartha’s. Citabria 7ECA The post Citabria 2020-08-01 appeared first on Beyond Blue Aerospace .
[Read More]

Delayed Orders
I will be out of town between 08/01/2020 and 08/09/2020, any order placed during this time, will be sent out … Read More →
[Read More]

The Rocket Eating Tree
The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues...   Gosh, will you look at the calendar.... here it is August already, and we still haven't had a decent rocket launch.  This pandemic quarantine just never seems to come to an end...   All kidding aside, rocket launches may be one ...
[Read More]

For Patreon Members - Available Carded Model PDFs!
Here's a list of Carded Model (Downscale) PDFs available to Patreon Members - Decal PDFs will be on a upcoming post DOWNSCALE CARDED MODELS Centuri Astro 1.pdf    (BT-5 size) Centuri Bandito.pdf    (BT-5 size) Centuri Hornet.pdf    (BT-20 size) Centuri Satellite ...
[Read More]

Cozy Fuselage
1/4” holes drilled and sanded for front and back seat centre safety harness anchor points. Opened up the 1/4” holes for the… The post Cozy Fuselage appeared first on Beyond Blue Aerospace .
[Read More]

The Simplest Tripod
    OK, here's a simple question.... What's the fewest number of legs a tripod can have?   Stumped at how obviously simple the question is?   Think again...   Let's ask it another way:  What's the simplest launch tripod a rocketeer can make? ...
[Read More]

Nose Cone Shoulder Edges TIP
From a correspondence with Neil W: "Bonus note: I also found out, by accident, that a body tube with the edge coated with CA and not smoothed down with sandpaper makes a highly effect balsa sander... I haven't tried to exploit that intentionally yet though. "   My answer: I do ...
[Read More]

Top 8 reasons that rocketry is just like Pokemon
I grew up playing the original Pokemon games on Game Boy Color (Pokemon Red, specifically). The animated show was also popular at that time, and I’d watch an episode or two every morning before heading off to school. At the end of every episode was the “Poke Rap,” and I’d ...
[Read More]

Top 8 reasons that rocketry is just like Pokemon
I grew up playing the original Pokemon games on Game Boy Color (Pokemon Red, specifically). The animated show was also popular at that time, and I’d watch an episode or two every morning before heading off to school. At the end of every episode was the “Poke Rap,” and I’d ...
[Read More]

Orbital Transport Build Update
  As promised in an earlier post, here is the first update of my current scratch-built OT project. This morning, I glued on the forward canard pieces, the final two of the twenty-eight balsa parts on the booster rocket. That's a lot of cutting, shaping, sealing, sanding, gluing, ...
[Read More]

The Fire Brigade
The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues...   It's not unusual to hear the call "All eyes on the pad" at a club rocket launch, either when a new rocket is being launched for the first time, or when there's something suspect about this launch.   We want everyone on their feet and ...
[Read More]

First Maple Seed Model?
On TRF, the subject of Maple Seed recovery came up. Eric (RKTMAN in TRF) posted a link to probably the first "eject and spin" or maple seed recovery. The December 1965 Estes Model Rocket News shows the third place winner in their R&D Contest. The Whirlibird , designed by Chris Carstensen. To ...
[Read More]

Video: HyperLOC 835 rocket launch in Brothers, OR

[Read More]

Video: HyperLOC 835 rocket launch in Brothers, OR

[Read More]

OddRocs On TV?
Just got this email -   Hey Chris! I'm a producer casting for a new rocketry competition special dealing with odd rockets from the executive producer of Mythbusters. I came across Odd'l Rockets and wanted to reach out to see if you'd potentially be interested in participating on-camera. ...
[Read More]

The Crayon
The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues...   Recently I had an adventure recovering a "Crayon Bank" rocket which offered some challenges.   But it brought the topic back to mind once again. Apparently, for a number of years, the cylindrical shape of a wax crayola ...
[Read More]

New fleet additions and some organization...
I find myself getting less tolerant of clutter as I get older - less tolerant of a lot of things, actually. So I have designated 2020 as the year to get my life much more organized and reduce my footprint down to a reasonable size (i.e., toss out a bunch of junk that has accumulated over the ...
[Read More]

Video: Darkstar Extreme rocket launch in Brothers, OR

[Read More]

Video: Darkstar Extreme rocket launch in Brothers, OR

[Read More]

There is Another...
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... Many decades ago, there was a nifty science fiction movie that appeared at my local drive in theater when I was a teen.  "Colossus: The Forbin Project" was a great piece of  doomsday/ cold war speculation that featured the outstanding actor ...
[Read More]

Citabria 2020-08-08
A beautiful day for a cross country flight north into cottage country. Click here to watch the video. Citabria 7ECA The post Citabria 2020-08-08 appeared first on Beyond Blue Aerospace .
[Read More]

Estes Green Eggs, #7301 Build, Part 9, Color Choices & Payload Mask
Here's the original 3 engine cluster Scrambler from the 1974 Estes catalog. It was designated kit #K-37. Overall white body, one white fin, one orange, one black. The nose cone is also orange. Notice the black areas in the payload section. I would assume these were black sponge disks to cushion ...
[Read More]

MetalSpeck Look?
On TRF, ManixFan (Tony) posted this: "Here's another Dupli-Color metal look paint I really like:" METALCAST Anodized Automotive Paint - Duplicolor "You spray it over a silver 'anodized' base coat and it creates a very nice metallic effect. Not metal flake, but very attractive. It has help up very ...
[Read More]

Oh No! Trying New (Old) Paint
I started in Model Rocketry back in 1969. My "go-to" spray paint was Krylon. (Like we had many choices back then.) I had very good luck with the old Krylon. Never any re-coat time concerns, like "crazing" or wrinkling of the paint. No spattering or cottage cheese like with the current Rusto 2X ...
[Read More]

Launching rockets in the Oregon desert
Recently, I was able to make the journey out to Brothers, OR to attend my first launch hosted by the Oregon Rocketry Club (“OROC”). From where I live in the Seattle area, this is about a 6.5 hour drive each way, so I stayed overnight in Portland. I’ve done some pretty long day ...
[Read More]

Orbital Transport Update
   I finished up building the Orbiter glider today.  Next operation entails touching up random small gaps and grain.  I expect to get both parts of the model in primer this weekend. Fun build!
[Read More]

Decal PDFs For Patreon Support Members
Here's a list of the Print at Home PDF decals  available to  Patreon Supporters: PATREON DECAL PDFs ESTES Estes Green Eggs Scrambler K-37, #1237 Decal .pdf Makes the Estes Green Eggs kit look more like the             OOP Scrambler Estes Tazz Gyroc K-24 ...
[Read More]

Video: Darkstar Extreme rocket launch on K-535 motor

[Read More]

New Design Concepts For Estes
Aldo Spadoni wrote on Facebook: I’m very pleased to announce that I’m designing model rocket kit concepts for Estes Industries! Estes subcontracted my company, Aerospace Imagineering, to brainstorm new ideas that go beyond the conventional “body tube, nose cone, and fins” ...
[Read More]

Revisiting my 2020 rocketry goals
This has been quite a year. I don’t mean for the world – yes, Australia was on fire, a global pandemic struck and is still ravaging the US, the economy is in free fall, there’s no end in sight, etc. That’s all true. But I mean for me personally. I set some goals back ...
[Read More]

Clear Tape Over Leading Edges? TIP
Something I hadn't thought about before - A protective cover over the leading edges of fins. Here, TRF posts are talking about the fins on the Estes Ascender splitting down the leading edge glue seam during a strong boost. Thirsty Barbarian posted: " You could wrap a strip of electrical tape over ...
[Read More]

First Flights
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... Most of us have flown an Estes Rocket kit before, and so we are familiar with the small blurb on the packaging and certainly in the instructions that cite two or three motors that the model will fly on.   It's my understanding that these ...
[Read More]

Smoothing Out a Wet Rocket! TIP
Yesterdays launch left my Quest FLV 15' up in a palm tree. I couldn't cut through the shock cord with my extendable pole pruner, so it was pulled down. The shock cord finally separated and the model fell down in two pieces. There was no real damage, but the palm fronds were wet! The ...
[Read More]

Launch! Schoolyard Soccer Field, August, 16, 2020
It's been a month since my last "Lone Wolf" launch at the soccer field. My Summer plan is to always get out early before the temperature and humidity gets too high. Two MicroMaxx launches kicked things off. There's a reason why I don't launch the old Quest MMX FLYING SAUCER . It probably got ...
[Read More]

John Coker Scratch Build Video
John Coker put together a great scratch building video. To go to his website and newest video: CLICK HERE "In this video, I show the process of designing a sport-scale model of a Standard Aerobee and making the parts needed to build it." Shown above is the Scale Spreadsheet Page. Plug in the ...
[Read More]

Video: Darkstar Extreme rocket launch on K-850 motor

[Read More]

Old Picture & Centering Ring
Going through a box, I came across these two relics. On the left is a Estes 20/60 centering ring, probably from the mid 1970s, Die-cut from card stock, thinner than what you find in a kit today. That's a Centuri Saturn 1B with a two engine cluster, probably B6-4s. The shot is blurry, but you ...
[Read More]

How I decided on my L3 project in high power rocketry
Once I completed my level 2 certification in high power rocketry, I had been spending a lot of time thinking about what, exactly, I should build for my level 3 project. And more generally, how should I approach it? Cardboard or fiberglass? I’ve built both cardboard and fiberglass rockets, ...
[Read More]

Keepin' busy...
So Pegasus field is still not mowed... Weeds up to your waist make it kind of hard to fly rockets, so it looks like that will have to wait until the first HARA launch of the 2020-2021 flying season. But October 10 is still a ways off and I'm eager to burn some motors. Hopefully the city will mow ...
[Read More]

Shroud Line Hole Punch TIP
When assembling parachutes, you are instructed to punch a hole through the reinforcement ring and the plastic chute material. A sharpened pencil is usually suggested. A pencil point can tear and stretch the parachute plastic. I use the smallest punch on my rotary punch. Notice there is some ...
[Read More]

A Comment and Answer From "Fill & Finish" Posts
Openroad commented: I’ve had decent results with Rusto High Build Primer/Filler, #249279 version - the label looks like a riveted on plate - but the Duplicolor definitely sands easier. The extra solids in high build primer is a big help in getting things smooth. You use much finer sandpaper ...
[Read More]

Other UFO Saucers
In addition to the Centuri Alien Encounter Flying Saucer, here's more of the kitted Saucers! I know there have been others, these are probably the better known LPR models. Semroc JUPITER B http://www.erockets.biz/semroc-flying-model-rocket-kit-jupiter-b-kn-06/ Art Applewhite FREEBIES! http ...
[Read More]

Minimum Diameter Build Comments
From TRF, a post from Senior Space Cadet. His statements are in italic, my responses follow.   "By minimum diameter rocket I mean a rocket with a body tube the same size as the motor, such as an 18mm body tube with an 18mm motor. My first suggestion, if you are considering it is, ...
[Read More]

The new Estes Astrocam
 It's been a while since Estes sold a rocket camera - their last efforts, the Oracle and the Astrovision, did not exactly get rave reviews, as the camera tech was fairly dated at the time of their releases. The new Astrocam, released in Target stores about a month ago, follows in this trend ...
[Read More]

New BT-20 Sized DECALS for Patreon Supporters!
I'm pretty excited about this one -  These are generic roll patterns to be applied around standard BT-20 tubes. Below the roll patterns are many pieces of "spot" art to decorate your rockets. Some of the roll patterns are based on the old Centuri sport model decals. You'd sometimes find ...
[Read More]

Binge-Building At The Blastfromthepast Shop!
 Even though I have not been doing any model rocket flying as of late, things have certainly not been idle in the work shop. The Viking re-build is complete: those flimsy card stock fins have been ripped off and replaced with sturdier basswood versions.  A little brushed-on yellow ...
[Read More]

Ditch The Decor??
 Last night, I read an interesting thread in the Model Rocketry History category of Ye Olde Rocketry Forum. The late Mike Dorffler, long-time Estes R&D designer, lamented about how many decor schemes of his kit designs were 'hi-jacked' by company management or marketing, and converted ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 31 - Those Old Hobby Shops
In the 1970s and early 80s, the city of Colorado Springs was blessed to have several good hobby shops stocked with model rocket goodies. I rarely had to buy rocket kits, motors, or supplies via mail order simply because we could get it all from the local brick and mortar establishments. Such ...
[Read More]

Navigating The SEARCH Function
How you ever been frustrated using the SEARCH function on the Blog? I'm often asked for construction information in emails. It's fairly easy for me to find things - BUT - The blog has evolved over the past 11 years and 6,500 posts. When I first started out, I'd simply type the kit name in the ...
[Read More]

New BT-50 Sized DECALS for Patreon Supporters!
More decals for Patreon supporters,  This time to fit a standard BT-50 tube - Just what you might need to dress up a sport model. As mentioned earlier -  Home print decals won't print as dark as a traditional silk screened decal. NOTE:  (Under Printer Preferences) Set your printer ...
[Read More]

Preview: L3 Fusion rocket build
As mentioned previously, I’m partnering with SBR to build the new L3 Fusion, which you can pre-order now. We decided to film the build from start to finish, in the SBR workshop studio. My previous high power rocket builds have been relatively slow. Don’t get me wrong – I ...
[Read More]

What's Coming Up?
      In the works for the blog: Estes Colonial Viper (With new, clean decal draw)  Estes Laser Lance Fliskits (little)  Saturn 1B (I might be regretting this one - ) BT-55 Body Wrap Decals PDF     In the next few months -  ...
[Read More]

BAR Fleet #129 - Wasp B/G
Model Name: Wasp Model Type: Front engine boost glider. Designed by Marc McReynolds.  Published in Model Rocketry Magazine, Dec. 1970. Motor Type: 18mm Glider length: 26.7cm Wing Span: 20.3cm Glider weight: 8.6g Pod length: 15.8cm Pod diameter: 19mm Pod weight: 6.0g Overall model length: ...
[Read More]

A Conversation with James Duffy - Scale Modeling, FAI Competition, and More
  James Duffy on the cover of Sport Rocketry Magazine, published by the NAR. Episode 6 of The Model Rocket Show podcast is up, and I really loved this conversation. I chatted with James Duffy of the Austin Area Rocketry Group . James was one of the organizers of NARCON 2018 in Houston, TX, ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 32 - The Old Fleet Wasp
 Having just finished a build of a Wasp boost/glider, I decide to dust off the large binder containing the ancient archives of my 'old fleet' days. A Wasp was one of my earlier glider models, built at a time when I was still but a neophyte rocketeer. The records show a total of seven flights ...
[Read More]

Updates: Improbable Ventures is growing!
You may have noticed a few recent changes to the website, and there are more in the works. I just thought I’d take a moment to explain some of the things that I’ve been doing. First, the website now has a new domain, “improbableventures.org,” instead of the original ...
[Read More]

Walking In A Winter Wonderland...
 ...on September 8th !! Just two days ago, temps were kissing 100 degrees around here. Today - freezing and snow! We tied a record low for September 7th yesterday that dates back to 1962.  Today we could break a September 8th low temperature record that goes back to the 1800s. Anyway I ...
[Read More]

Glider Trimming Day!
 Today's weather forecast showed nearly non-existant wind conditions, making it a great time to get out to a park and trim the newly built Wasp for glide. So, lunchtime was spent on the grassy expanse of Redstone Park in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.  The park is only a two minute drive ...
[Read More]

Rocket Building Mobility
Last weekend, a little time was spent in the BlastFromThePast shop in order to build a quick rocket building accessory: This is a small portable laptop 'workbench' made from a surplus cabinet shelf. This project was driven by desire to work on model rockets somewhere else around the house apart ...
[Read More]

A Minor Hobby Lobby Gripe...
 Don't get me wrong here - I am generally very happy that Hobby Lobby stores carry Estes model rocket products, and that I have a local store here in Castle Rock, Colorado a mere mile and a half from my home. I like that there are rocket kits exclusive to HL that are unavailable elsewhere. My ...
[Read More]

Yet Another Shop Project
 Having on hand a second surplus cabinet shelf identical to the one used for the laptop workbench, I came up with another rocket-building application: With the addition of a couple of 1x3 poplar boards screwed to opposite bottom edges, the shelf became a dandy project surface for the ...
[Read More]

Hiking in the PNW
It’s true that it tends to rain a lot throughout the year in the Pacific Northwest, but there are two or three months in the summer that are absolutely beautiful – warm and sunny every day, and virtually never a cloud in the sky. And as an added bonus, in some of the areas around… ...
[Read More]

4 new fleet additions
Lately I have been pulling easy builds from the stash to create some relaxation time. Over the past couple of days, these three have been added to the fleet: Solaris - a boxed Estes kit that goes together really quickly. I like the orange and yellow decor of this 18 mm powered rocket. Splendor - A ...
[Read More]

Leapin' Martians!
Unfortunately for my bank account, Estes keeps putting out fine products at a faster pace than in the past. Their latest, the Mars Leaper , was delivered by the postman today, and I must say it is unusual. Imagine a lightweight foam space person in a rocket pack, stabilized by 3 long and thin ...
[Read More]

BAR Fleet #128 - Citation Patriot
Source: Estes Industries Kit # 000652 Sport Model - Single stage  18mm motor type Diameter: 41.5mm Length: 65.5cm Empty weight: 89.2g Nose: 4 caliber tangent olive Fins: (3) modified tapered swept. Color Scheme: white, black, with gold, red, and blue trim. Date completed: September 24, 2020 A ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 33 - A Very Funky Citation Patriot
 As I was writing yesterday's post about the newly built Citation Patriot, I was reminded that, somewhere in my photo files, I had a picture of one of the original Patriots that a Skywatchers/ROMAR member had flown at a sport meet in Colorado Springs sometime around 1975 or so. I found that ...
[Read More]

Orbital Transport Update...
   Finally, I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel (not that of an oncoming train) on this project. Two weeks ago, both sections of the model received their finish coats of gloss white spray, top surfaces only. I am determined to go with a radically different color ...
[Read More]

Very frustrated!
 So I got to launch rockets yesterday - that's the good (actually, GREAT) news. The other news is that I upgraded my iPhone and iPad to iOS 14 and my Mac to Catalina (MacOS 15) on Saturday. And now everything is broke - photos don't transfer, apps and programs are buggy, and I am hating ...
[Read More]

Preview: L3 Fusion rocket complete!
I gave a brief preview in a recent post, but I’m excited to report that the L3 Fusion rocket is now finished. This is a kit available for pre-order from Scott Binder at SBR, and I was fortunate enough to partner with Scott to do a test build on his latest design. As mentioned a… ...
[Read More]

Modeling the flow of gas in a rocket nozzle

[Read More]

Glue Wars
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... No, this is not another "which glue is best" thread. Instead, I want to share a couple of horror stories with you about why you should ask the above question. When I first got into this hobby, I didn't have a lot of spare cash...I didn't have a lot of ...
[Read More]

NAR Rocket Science Achievement Award
The National Association of Rocketry (“NAR”) has established a “Rocket Science Achievement Award” program, which currently has three categories of awards: Mile Marker Faster Than Sound, and Data Downlink. The awards are pretty straightforward: to achieve Mile Marker, you ...
[Read More]

More Freebies !
 This weekend, I was again the lucky recipient of some more model rocketry gifts. The first  was a surprise package from one of the forum members containing a FlightSketch altimeter!  I'm already in the process of building some ebays to get ready for some serious altitude and flight ...
[Read More]

Edmund Aerospace Legacy
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... About five years or so ago, a short while after I got into this hobby, I saw a person fly a glider at a club launch, and was immediately interested to look into it more. An internet search turned up a forum that suggested that I look at Edmund ...
[Read More]

Rocket flight data
Just to follow up on my last post, I wanted to provide some additional information and the actual flight data, and briefly explain what this all means, especially for all those folks reading this who are not familiar with anything related to rockets or flight computers. And for anyone who has ...
[Read More]

Rocket Launch Seen from ISS!

[Read More]

Lightning is coming!
Last year Quest/Aerotech released their line of 18mm Q-Jet composite motors, which were a welcome addition to the stable of model rocketry power plants. The C12, at 9.8 newton-seconds, is a full C (the Estes C6 has an impulse of 8.8 newton-seconds) and has an average thrust over twice that of the ...
[Read More]

3 more Generics in the fleet...
  New fleet members (Click to enlarge). I just finished "building" 3 more rockets based on the Generic fin can - the Generic (can you believe I have never built one of these "stock"?), the 1472 Scorpion, and the 2026 Athena. All of these are original kits, ...
[Read More]

Outreach day for HARA...
Today was a reasonably busy day for members of my club. It started bright and early at 9 AM, when Vince and Allen gave presentations on rocketry fundamentals to mentors and mentees of the 100 Black Men of Greater Huntsville. There were about 20 present in this virtual Zoom meeting, and I must say ...
[Read More]

Video: SBR 5.5″ L3 Fusion High Power Rocket, Part 1

[Read More]

Halloween launch!
Rockets awaiting their turn to fly (Click to enlarge). This past Sunday (October 18) several of us gathered in Research Park to fly a few rockets. In addition to myself, there was Duane (who flew nothing, but helped out with his customary cheer), Allen, Vince, Brian, Martijn and family, Art, James ...
[Read More]

BlastFromThePast Workshop Update
 I haven't been doing a whole lot of posting here lately, so I thought it would be time to do a little catching up on several builds currently on the bench. The Orbital Transport project is wrapping up - most of the detail painting and decal marking application is completed.  All that ...
[Read More]

Camera Carrier...
I managed to get my Astrocam into the air back on September 27; on this, its only flight so far, the flimsy body tube suffered some damage. As I mentioned back in this post , I was worried that the rocket would not last long, and had started designing a new Astrocam carrier rocket using a normal ...
[Read More]

Video: SBR 5.5″ L3 Fusion High Power Rocket, Part 2

[Read More]

Just So You Know . . .
I'm aware that the blog page format is screwed up again. Thanks for letting me know by email -  I have written and complained.  Let's hope it is a quick fix.
[Read More]

An awesome present!
Today's mail consisted of the usual junk ads and bills, with one exception - a large envelope with Ed Mitton's return address in Colorado. Ed has been in rocketry as long as I, and he was a NAR contest rocketeer while I was still futzing around in the Estes Aerospace Club. I keep track of his very ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 34 - The Ru-Jan Demos.
 The Rocky Mountain Association of Rocketry/Skywatchers Rocket Club of Colorado Springs was featured in a series of annual Spring demonstration launches that spanned the group's entire eleven year existence.  These large all-day events were sponsored by the Ru-Jan Party and Hobby Shop ...
[Read More]

Getting rocket altitudes was tough in the old days...
Ed Mitton left a very interesting comment on my last post about tracking rockets with theodolites... In addition to trying to see a pretty small rocket at apogee, he reminded me of the need for proper equipment: "A little history on tracking at NARAM 11...The Peak City Section of Colorado Springs ...
[Read More]

It Is.......ALIVE ! ! !
 The Steampunk Protostar, that is. This morning, the long-suffering project has once again been extracted from it's dark, dreary vault (project cabinet) located in the furthest forlorn reaches of the mysterious LaBORatory (basement shop).... "Time to fetch the...COUGH... Protostar.... Heh, ...
[Read More]

The Blog Works!
YAY!!!! The blog works! - For now anyway. Fingers crossed . . .  You can now make comments and use the search function.
[Read More]

Q-Jet Igniter Installation Tip
The pyrogen tips on the Q-jet First Fire Micro Igniters are delicate. Go easy with them! With each engine you get one 4" long igniter. They are longer than what you might be used to - The ignition of a composite motor starts at the top of the propellant and burns down, the delay element and ...
[Read More]

Black Aero 2020 Holiday Sale
It is that time of the year again! As usual, I will be selling my Eggfinder LCD Case for $20.00, … Read More →
[Read More]

A question of supply...
Estes Yankee Clipper (Click to enlarge). I have been making good progress finishing off builds that have languished for months. This year's 4th of July rocket, the Yankee Clipper, is finally done, and I have 4 others sitting in white primer awaiting their coats of paint. Considering they were in ...
[Read More]

Shock Cords and Other Delights!
The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues....   This weekend, I scored a couple of victories.  Not only was the weather perfect.... into the mid-70s with low humidity and no clouds, but there was a low turn-out at our club launch.  (It seems a lot of people decided to go ...
[Read More]

Ring Binders
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues.... Here's a quick one for you low power guys and gals. Have you ever made a low power rocket that used a streamer? Typically these days, the streamer is made from surveyor's tape, but in the past, they have been crinkled crepe paper, and other ...
[Read More]

Prepping The Semroc Point
The Centuri / Semroc Point is a tricky rocket to prep. At ejection the engine is pushed out the back and stays attached to the conical body with a length of elastic. The engine sits far forward inside the cone body at ignition and boost. The engine is retained at ejection by a small ring of body ...
[Read More]

Going viral
I’ve periodically uploaded videos of some of my rocket launches during the past year (with more to come soon, of course). Generally, my YouTube videos don’t get a ton of views. Most of them have maybe 50 or 60 views; some of the more interesting ones have about 600-700. But one video ...
[Read More]

Rustoleum 2X Gloss White Paint Problems Explained
I'm interrupting the Estes Asteroid Hunter for a day. This is important information if you have ever experienced a rough spray finish when using Rustoleum 2X Gloss White paint. Here's a TRF post I missed from October 23, 2020,  From Jim H., "Blackjack 2564:   ...
[Read More]

Estes Goblin Decal Placement
Estes had a Halloween sale. While I don't see the Star Trooper as a "spooky" rocket, it was on sale for half price along with the Hyper Bat. The Goblin is also part of the sale at 20% off. If you are a real stickler for the Goblin design -  The original had the "3" laying on it's side.  ...
[Read More]

A perfect day for flying...
Flyers begin to assemble for the pre-launch briefing (Click to enlarge). Yesterday HARA had its first launch of the 2020-2021 season - the skies were clear and blue, the winds relatively tame and the temperature perfect. We had lots of folks show up, and man, there were a bunch of of certification ...
[Read More]

Launch Lug Standoffs
             On most of my recent LPR model builds I have adopted the practice of mounting the launch lugs on short standoffs rather than gluing them directly to the body tubes. The primary reason for doing this is the added height makes ...
[Read More]

L.G.M. Spotted . . .
      Peter Giesige posted on the Facebook Model Rocketry USA page:   "Love the Odd'l kits!!   Thanks Peter! Looks like you did a GREAT job on the build!  
[Read More]

BIRDIES!
The Odd'l Rockets Birdie is a popular kit! When the kits were first produced, I'd buy Badminton Birdies in six packs at a sports shop. I didn't want to be stuck with a few hundred "birds" if the kit didn't sell. Hundreds of kits later, I now buy in bulk. Two boxes equals 288 Birdies!
[Read More]

Detailed analysis of the explosion in Beirut

[Read More]

Video: L3 cert flight attempt #1

[Read More]

Latest Launch Report
The latest launch was really a very fortunate day. The entire week before the day of the launch was rain, wind, and cold weather. Sunday was a very 50/50 chance of good weather. Miraculously the sun came out and we had very little to a mild breeze of less than 20 mph during the active ...
[Read More]

The one where nothing goes right...
My LGM lies on the ground after its fall (Click to enlarge). Yesterday was a very nice day, perfect rocket flying weather - clear sky, no wind, and an afternoon high of 70 degrees. So Duane and I packed our stuff and headed out to Pegasus field to launch a few rockets before the Thanksgiving ...
[Read More]

Going down in flames: how to self-destruct with rockets
The big day was finally here. I finished building the L3 Fusion rocket in early September and was ready to launch – once the wildfire smoke cleared in the PNW – as soon as the opportunity arose. And in late October, I had my chance. The plan On a frigid Saturday morning, with my wife ...
[Read More]

The $5 Rocket challenge
  The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... Have you'all heard about a new video challenge that's sweeping the hobby?  It seems like a natural for the Thrifty Rocketeer to jump on.  But let's talk about this a little. The video was shared on Facebook but is posted on YouTube as ...
[Read More]

New Odd'l Kit Design?
Last Sunday was a "free" day for me, vendor orders were filled and I had some down time. Most of the day was spent drawing, cutting balsa and body tubes. I've been looking for a interesting new Fighter Fleet kit design and may have found it. This is the  F-18 Hornet , the same jet the Blue ...
[Read More]

My Rocket Buy Of The Year!
Once in a while - a deal comes along that seems too good to be true. My friend Lonnie often scores older engines and re-hab rockets on Craig's List. I've kept an eye out for deals, but never seem to find anything close to Orlando.   On a whim I checked the Facebook Marketplace ...
[Read More]

Comparing instruments...
Today's electronics are wonderful; you can fit a lot of measurement capability into a very small package. There are a goodly number of choices available from various vendors and it is a very natural thing to compare capabilities and accuracy, especially when new products hit the market. That's one ...
[Read More]

Great Space X Video
This is a neat video by Scott Manley on the 28 November launch from Vandenberg AFB:
[Read More]

Whoops!
I only made 2 flights at the November HARA launch; the first was that of the RX-16, described in the last post , and the second was the maiden flight of my Quest Q E-Z Payloader, a "Qwik Kit" I acquired many moons ago. It was recommended by Art Upton as a good starting rocket to loft his ...
[Read More]

Launch! Schoolyard Soccer Field, Nov. 29, 2020
I know! I'll get back to the Estes Saturn 1B build tomorrow - This morning was overcast and almost cool! Even though I couldn't see any blue sky, these schoolyard launches would still be below the cloud cover. I usually start the morning with something easy to check the controller batteries and ...
[Read More]

Testing space reactors against various accidents and failure modes
SNAP and other forms of nuclear reactor, intended for use in space, pose unique engineering and safety challenges. They must be light weight and yet must safely allow for the dangers of rocket launches and reentry without threatening civilians on the ground. This archive footage shows simulated ...
[Read More]

Revisions to the F-18 Hornet Prototype
Trying to design a stable model rocket from a jet will present some compromises. The two jet engines extend beyond the back end. The front of the intakes are a partial circle. The back of the tubes are full circle and notched to overlap the end of the main body.  Four tries (and 40" of ...
[Read More]

Revisions to the F-18 Hornet Prototype
Trying to design a stable model rocket from a jet will present some compromises. The two jet engines extend beyond the back end. The front of the intakes are a partial circle. The back of the tubes are full circle and notched to overlap the end of the main body.  Four tries (and 40" of ...
[Read More]

New, Improved Estes Starters?
Estes sent me some of the new Uupcoming "more energetic" starter (igniters) to test. I brought some of the new Starters to the L.A.S.E.R. group launch on October 18. One pair (two igniters joined by the paper tab) was handled out to club members. The L.A.S.E.R. group doesn't have a large ...
[Read More]

Video: L3 cert flight attempt #2

[Read More]

Coding 101
This is a rocketry blog. It’s primarily dedicated to all my misadventures building and flying rockets. I try to document my successes, my failures, and lessons I’ve learned. But I do occasionally venture outside of rockets and try other things. When math is prologue For example, last ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn V New Fairing Reinforcements
  On the Facebook Model Rocketry Fanatics page,  Steven Carricato posted a parts picture from his new Saturn V and Saturn 1B kits. I noticed something interesting. In the center of the picture are some crescent shaped pieces laser cut from cardstock. Going back to the original Centuri ...
[Read More]

NARCON 2019 Presentations
Here is the archive web link for the NARCON 2019 presentations:
[Read More]

NARCON 2020 Presentations
Here is the link for the NARCON 2020 presentations that you may find informative:
[Read More]

The Can-Can
The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... There are times when two hobbies overlap, or compliment each other.  Today is one of those where rocketry and Amateur Radio combine. A number of Rocketeers place beepers, egg-timers, or locating beacons in their rockets' nosecones or payload bay ...
[Read More]

Amateur Radio and Rocketry
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... There's a pretty well-known connection between Model Rocketry and Amateur Radio (also known as Ham Radio for short)...and it stems from a very simple problem. When launching model rockets, (and even more-so, High Powered Rockets) you want to get ...
[Read More]

Space X SN8 Test Launch
It was really an impressive test. I am sure they will get it working as designed soon:
[Read More]

SpaceX Starship SN-8 test launch and fiery crash landing
On December 9, SpaceX conducted a test of its Starship rocket, and it was spectacular. The rocket was called SN-8 (which just stands for Serial Number 8), following the naming pattern for each new iteration of the rocket. Elon Musk originally unveiled the idea for the Starship rocket last fall, and ...
[Read More]

The BlastFromThePast Shop Has Been Invaded...
...by Christmas!! Yep, it's that time of year again when the normal model rocketry activities are swept aside in favor of breaking out the the many large totes full of Christmas light strings from storage that need to be sorted, tested, inventoried, inspected, repaired, staged, and installed. Over ...
[Read More]

The New JonRocket.com Web Site
We have just debuted the updated JonRocket.com web site.  With a more modern look and a responsive design, our new online store will help you shop for model rocket products. The new site doesn’t, yet, implement all of the features ...
[Read More]

Paul W's F-16 Build
    Paul W. posted on the Facebook Model Rocket Fanatics page:   " Finally finished the Odd’l Rockets F-16. This was a Christmas present two years ago from my oldest daughter so it will be a wall hanger. Nice challenging build with great instructions."
[Read More]

Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 19, Long Tunnel Fit & Glue
There are recesses molded into the top and bottom of the long tunnel. Set the tunnel into the flat areas on the top and middle wrap and check the fit. GOTCHA: On my two builds, the recesses under the tunnel weren't long enough to fit against the wrap edges.  Set the tunnel in place and mark ...
[Read More]

Parkdale December 20th launch canceled :-(
Sorry to announce that the Clubs end of the year launch in Parkdale has to be canceled. I am looking forward to a better 2021. If you are an active NAR member, please make sure to register for the virtual NARCON 2021 event:
[Read More]

Rocket Around the Christmas Tree
The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... First, I do not speak for the National Association of Rocketry , nor any other major rocketry group. Second, who am I to express an opinion on this short TV series?  Just a knowledgeable rocketeer who has a background in television, as it happens. About ...
[Read More]

Streaming Yellow Zonkers!
  The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... Here's a really short tip for those of us low power guys:      So, one of your favorite kit  builds contains an old school crepe paper streamer. The theory is that the ruffles and crinkles in the paper surface will ...
[Read More]

Launch, L.A.S.E.R., Groveland, FL, December 20, 2020
Cool weather, low winds and a small chance of afternoon rain. I took the 70 minute drive to Groveland to join the L.A.S.E.R. monthly launch. I tried the MMX BLUE BIRD ZERO first, but had trouble with ignition. Bare nichrome in a tiny nozzle is iffy sometimes. I did get the launch in later in the ...
[Read More]

New Blast Deflector Plate
I ordered a new blast deflector plate from the NAR Technical Services or NARTS store. It's described as a: Heavy Duty Blast Deflector 5" Diameter 12GA Steel   It is definitely heavy duty - 1/8" thick!  My old Quest deflector plate was 4" diameter, this one is 5". Well ...
[Read More]

Many Pictures, Few Words - My 2020 In Rocketry
  The moment you realize you're not going to find the rocket you lost sight of over the tree line... Start the post with an obvious fact you have to mention because it would be weird not to, despite the fact everyone already knows it. 2020 has been pretty rough for most of us. Even escaping ...
[Read More]

Merry Christmas From The BlastFromThePast Blog!
 ...and a happy, prosperous, healthy 2021. Stay safe !
[Read More]

A Little Christmas Bonus
  Last Monday night, Mrs. BFTP and I finished putting up the last of the Christmas lights on the house.  I stepped outside to snap a quick picture of the whole affair. I didn't notice until after I went back inside and pulled up the pic that the image included a little extra bit of ...
[Read More]

Merry Christmas - Y'All!
      Reprinted from 2010 -   OH, ROCKET - TREE Space Modeling Parody of Oh, Christmas Tree   Oh, Rocket-tree Oh, Rocket-tree, How lovely is thy smoke trail, Oh, Rocket-tree Oh, Rocket-tree, Fly Vertically without fail.   With ...
[Read More]

Video: High Power Rocketry NAR level 2 cert flight – slow motion

[Read More]

New Micro Clips
Along with my new heavy gauge blast deflector - I decided to replace my micro clips.    Copper is a better conductor than the steel clips included with my 6 volt Estes controller.  I found them on Ebay, four for $4.95 plus shipping. Copper micro clips were on my ...
[Read More]

Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 32, Decals!
The instructions don't mention this -  The rocket is still painted with gloss paint to allow a good adhesion of the decals.  Note I didn't glue the silver Service Module tube onto the rocket yet - that will be glued up after the dull coat is sprayed on the white and black areas. Don't ...
[Read More]

Where's the TOP 10 List?
At the end of each year - I post a Top 10 list, grading the best (and not so great) builds from the past year.  It's coming up in a few days. I figured those building the Saturn 1b wouldn't want to see a delay in the build posts. When the Saturn 1B is finished, the annual Top 10 List will be ...
[Read More]

Bye Bye 2020!
Can't say I'll be sorry to see you gone... COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the world, causing many deaths, lost livelihoods, business failures, and radical changes in our daily lives. It also impacted the rocketry hobby, causing the cancellation of launches and a shift to online meetings. In addition to ...
[Read More]

Fillet up~ An Update!
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... The topic of how to make a filet and what to use has probably been one of the most discussed topics in all of rocketry. Let's just agree that it's important to make a filet between the body tube and the fin if you want to keep your fins attached ...
[Read More]

Quest Builds
I'm very happy to announce I will be building some show and catalog builds for Quest! The first two submitted builds have met with their approval. The first group of fifteen kits (yep, 15!) will be sent out in a few weeks! I'm celebrating - Happy New Year to me!
[Read More]

What to do when OpenRocket no longer works...
Some of you may know that I switched from Windows/PCs to MacOS/Macs several years ago - I got tired of all the issues with drivers, the "blue screens of death", the endless stream of updates, and the relentless virus/malware attacks. However, this change came with costs - the first being that Macs ...
[Read More]

Looking Back At 2020
 2020. What can we say about that? The BlastFromThePast model rocket fleet saw very little flying action in the past year.   The combination of the big not-to-be-discussed-here C-word/number and the burn bans put in place in Colorado because of the ongoing drought and the ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets Birdie Fix
I haven't launched my Odd'l Birdie in a while.  While removing a tight A10-3t motor, I pulled out the engine mount! It had been glued in using epoxy, the only glue I thought would best adhere the BT-5 tube to the plastic Birdie interior. On the left is the interior of the Birdie. On the right ...
[Read More]

Clean Up Time
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues.... I'm borrowing this topic and suggestion from another social media arena, because I thought it was a good tip, and worthy of repeating.     Some rocketeers sit at the dinning room table between meals and finish their sanding, ...
[Read More]

TOP TEN for 2020, Part 1, Numbers 10 through 6
Time again for the Ten Best Builds for the Year 2020!  I spend more time on the Top 10 lists than a usual build post. Lots of searching and links to find. What qualifies a build making the list?  Quality of the kit and design, build-ability, the challenge and sometimes the nostalgia ...
[Read More]

Kevlar Strings or Rubber Shock Cords?
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues.... One of the biggest debates among sport rocketeers over recent years has been what glue is best...however, that's not what this entry is about. Instead, I have heard a lot of guys insist that they hate the rubber shock cords supplied with Estes ...
[Read More]

TOP TEN for 2020, Part 2, Numbers 5 through 1
Continuing the countdown -       5. Estes LEO SPACE TRAIN   This was an involved build and a tough mask! I built three of these, they all went back to Estes.             4. 3/4 size Centuri ...
[Read More]

"You Used Up ALL THE GLUE...."
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... No, this isn't another glue war thread. You know how when you mix up 5 or 15 minute epoxy and you're applying it, and you've just about run out, and wish that you had just a little bit more? But you can't stop and mix a little more, cause the ...
[Read More]

Some Knife Work -
For those who hope for laser cut pieces in your kits -  These were cut by hand using a #11 X-Acto style blade. To see the short video:  CLICK HERE
[Read More]

2020: A Rocketry Year in Review
The rearview mirror A little over one year ago, I came across a question on Quora (an internet forum) about whether it would be legal to build and launch your own rocket into orbit. I’d always been interested in rockets and space, but I never seriously considered doing this or even realized ...
[Read More]

A Late, But Cool Christmas Gift
 Because of Covid precautions a couple of weeks ago, we missed a few family members at our Christmas celebration. Yesterday, we were finally able to get with them for a 2nd Christmas at the BlastFromThePast home. I came away with another awesome model kit for the build queue: an Estes ...
[Read More]

Launch - Schoolyard Soccer Field, Jan 12, 2021
This is the Florida weather you wait for all year. Cold, clear with no morning wind. I get to try out the new copper micro clips and heavy duty blast deflector. I have two new small field flyers I wanted to launch.     The new Fabri-Tac glue on the engine mount held ...
[Read More]

Underpants Elastic Bands and other mistakes
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues.... Normally, this blog tries to give you some helpful, positive tips.  But today, we will look at a couple of things NOT to try. Just tonight, I was chatting with some rocketry friends by Zoom , and one of the more senior guys holds up a ...
[Read More]

To Fill or Not To Fill...
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... Other than which glue or paint to use, one of the most frequently debated topics is " Should I fill the spiral grooves on my body tube or just ignore them? " There are several schools of thought on this. If you're a perfectionist, or committed ...
[Read More]

Estes Der Big Red Max Now Available
      The new 3" diameter  Estes DER BIG RED MAX  is now available from the Estes Website: CLICK HERE   Visit the "Technical Specifications" below the pictures for more kit information.    
[Read More]

Rocketeer Attire
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues...   After spending time in this hobby, one gets the feeling that they could dress smarter for the day in the launch field.  That is, somewhat more suitable clothes, but then also, make a fashion statement. Honestly, I can't think of ...
[Read More]

Saturn 1B Build Book Available!
A disadvantage of a blog build is it goes from finished model back to start! If you wanted to follow and build along, you'll end up scrolling back to the first post. But . . .  If you are a Patreon Supporter you can have the new Estes SATURN 1B BUILD BOOK Sent to you via ...
[Read More]

Estes History Video
On YORF, Scott Hansen posted: "Here's a great video that was just released on 01/25/21 that gives a nice history of the company. There are a number of photos and videos I've never seen before in this as well."   To see the video: CLICK HERE Vern and Gleda   The ...
[Read More]

NARCON Manufacturers Forum
The "virtual" NARCON is actually a great value at $25.00, considering you usually pay for  gas, hotel and food.  The Zoom style broadcast had some issues. T he format is fairly new to all of us, the bugs are understandable. Here's what I was able to write down and remember watching the ...
[Read More]

Some NAR Business Notes - Membership, Dues, Etc.
  Today at Virtual NARCON, the National Association of Rocketry held an open Town Hall Meeting led by NAR president John Hochheimer, to discuss the State of the NAR.   Briefly, here are a few items of note. Current NAR memberships are at about 7,450 total members. About ...
[Read More]

NARCON solves a mystery!
NAR's annual convention, NARCON, started on Friday afternoon and finished just a couple of hours ago. As usual, it was great - lots of informative and entertaining talks, good keynotes, socialization, and news from rocket vendors. But this year was special - COVID had eliminated the possibility of ...
[Read More]

Soldering Can
The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... Here's a blast from the past.  Forgive me if this seems too rudimentary, but it's tinged with nostalgia for me. Frequently, as you advance into medium or high power rocketry, you're called upon to assemble an electronics bay or an altimeter or ...
[Read More]

More Time For Rockets !!!
Today, as of 11 a.m. MST, I officially leave the work force and begin my retirement years! After 42+ years in the electronics technology industry, I'm finally hanging up my oscilloscope probes. Of course, this will mean having plenty more time for hanging out with family, as well as pursuing ...
[Read More]

Comparing the Vashon Jet Powered Planes
Vashon Model Rockets have always held a special place for  me. In 1969 they were the only rockets we could launch in California. The state's black powder fireworks regulations were strict!   On YORF, Rraeford asked about the Vashon (Estes) Shrike and XS-1 "Jet Powered Planes". ...
[Read More]

Quest Astra Stickers, Part 1
This won't be a full blog build.  The Astra I is Quest's answer to the Estes Alpha. Both designs have three clipped Delta fins and an Ogive nose cone. The Quest tubes are Metric, this one is 25mm diameter. Both the Estes BT-50 and Quest 25mm tubes are close in diameter. The Quest tubing feels ...
[Read More]

A Hot Knife thru Butter
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... You may have heard that there is a world-wide shortage of balsa that has been impacting the rocketry kit community. It's my understanding that to combat this, several of the major manufacturers have switched to either blown plastic nosecones or ...
[Read More]

Estes culls the herd...
The 2021 Estes catalog is now out - there are some pretty cool things in there, like an upscale, 24mm powered Mars Snooper (super excited about this!), a rather strange looking addition to the Space Corps line (the DARC-1) and the Antar, a new member of the signature series based on a non-flying ...
[Read More]

The Big Shock Cord Festival !
 Last Spring, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in full force, Mrs. BlastFromThePast and myself went into full-scale cloth mask production. Part of this endeavor included donating my entire stash of elastic shock cord material to the cause for use as ear straps. Last week, I was delighted ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets F-18 Hornet Coming Soon
Here's the Odd'l Rockets Fighter Force Jets - The F-16, F-104 Starfighter and pictured in the bottom center -  The upcoming F-18 HORNET , now in development. Each model is very different, capturing the spirit of the original jet designs. While not a true scale model, modifications have been ...
[Read More]

Old Altitude Claims?
Lets take the Centuri Screaming Eagle as an example: From it's introduction in the 1973 catalog, Centuri claimed "Out of sight with a C". From 1974 through 1978, the Screaming Eagle could reach 1,500 feet. From 1979 on it lost 300' altitude, down to 1,200 feet.   Here's ...
[Read More]

Make your Own Parachutes
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... You know, not so long ago I posted about my attempts to re-purpose used umbrella skins as parachutes. I got a response from someone who said they had just successfully stitched their own chute from scratch, and I applauded them.  I suggested ...
[Read More]

Off to the races in 2021: new year, new baby
Wow! It’s been a while since my last post, so I feel obligated to provide some sort of explanation. It’s been a busy start to the new year. My wife and I had our first baby, Ava, near the end of January, and there was a tremendous amount do in preparation for her winter arrival.… ...
[Read More]

Launch! L.A.S.E.R., Groveland, FL, February 21, 2021
      Wind gusts to 18 mph were in the forecast today. I prepped my flights with that in mind.   Here's a typical rack ready for launching.           I had launched my downscaled Centuri ALIEN ENCOUNTER SAUCER ...
[Read More]

cheap clamps
The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... When it comes to assembling small low power rockets, there's not much call for clamping.  When we do need some pinching, the  most obvious solution is either a professional wood clamp from your Home Depot or Lowes or hardware store. But ...
[Read More]

Estes Mercury Redstone Capsule Tip
When I assembled my Mercury Redstone capsules -  I scraped and turned a small file to remove paint from the gluing "dimples" in the upper ring. (Shown at the right) With the paint removed I can get a better glue bond.   Here's a great TIP in a comment from LDJBaxter: " As ...
[Read More]

B8 Engines Coming Soon?
I got my first packs of the new C5-3 engines. These came with igniters and plugs.  I wasn't familiar with the light blue plugs, it's been a few years since the Super C engines have been made.   Note the end tag says "B8 and C5". I would think the B8 engines are coming soon ...
[Read More]

Cord organizer
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... One of the biggest hassles is when your cords get tangled, or you pull the wrong one out, thinking it was another. I saw on another blog entry a tip for labeling your cords. We all eat bread and muffins, buns and rolls.  And  how do ...
[Read More]

Picking up where I left off...
Back in the 70's, a lot of young rocketeers were members of the Estes Aerospace Club (EAC - see this post for more details). There were a couple of EAC specific kits (the Viper and Pegasus), a newsletter, a membership certificate, and - best of all - an iron-on EAC logo. As you advanced through ...
[Read More]

Transporting Rockets?
  From the  Estes Model Rockets  Facebook page,  John A. Schilling found one way to transport his rockets to the launch site.   Amazon describes the box as -  "Classroom Keepers Poster & Roll Storage 24" H x 12 1/4" W x 12 1/4" D Comes with ...
[Read More]

How to slot a body tube
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues.... Have I ever mentioned how hard it is, coming up with new topics all the time? Well it is.   I usually just let my mind wander, and it's a combination of what strikes my fancy and what I happen upon in discussions with other rocketeers, or ...
[Read More]

Grow Your Own Balsa Tree
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... As you may have already heard, there's a world wide shortage of Balsa wood available.   One reason for this is the proliferation of wind generators and their need for blades.  At least, that's the rumor.     ...
[Read More]

Rocket Rack
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned an interesting set of videos on YouTube by Inverted Pursuits Lab , and they have continued to post short, to the point videos.  Recently, I saw one that demonstrated two versions of a simple rocket rack for ...
[Read More]

Estes Hex-3, #7263, Build, Part 3, Scoring The Fins
The instructions say to fold the fin lines over a straight edge. I don't see how this could be successful unless you have a very thick straightedge. You'll get much cleaner folds if you pre-emboss the fold lines. I did my usual embossing before the fins flats were cut off the full sheet. Trust me, ...
[Read More]

A New Antar
    On the NAR Facebook page, Steve Krystal posted this picture from his recent visit to Estes.   On the left is the original G. Harry Stine ANTAR model. On the right, it looks like one of the four Antar builds I did for Estes.   From what I can ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 35 - A Little Bit Of Ancient Colorado Rocketry History
 It seems that every time I look through my archives of things saved from my early days of model rocketry, I re-discover another tidbit that I had overlooked or forgotten about This time it is in the form of a Range Control Card used by the old Peak City Section of Colorado Springs.  ...
[Read More]

Of rockets and Girl Scout cookies...
A couple of weekends ago, Duane and I flew a few rockets at Pegasus field. We were both needing a launch fix, and Duane was eager to try out the new wireless launch controller he's building for HARA. So Saturday, March 13 saw us setting up the new equipment, down to the warning lights used to ...
[Read More]

Learning more about altimeters...
After the flight of the Shell Shocked on March 13, I got to thinking about the data provided by the Flight Sketch Mini it carried to just over 300 feet. The day had been warm for mid March - 71 degrees - and I wondered how far off the altimeter altitude was from the actual value. I knew there ...
[Read More]

Launch Lab Rocketry’s Bullet Bobby
Launch Lab’s Bullet Bobby draws its inspiration from a video game villain from the 1980s and from Estes’s line of “Goonybird” model rocket kits. Featuring high-quality parts including a strong, 3D-printed nose cone and a nylon parachute, the Bullet Bobby … Continue ...
[Read More]

Pigasus With A Smoke Trail!
Les Bradshaw posted on the NAR Facebook page: " Yesterday I supported the Kopernik Observatory Rocketfest. One activity was setting up a display of part of my collection." An Odd'l Rockets PIGASUS is the first to greet guests atop that smoke trail!
[Read More]

Version 3.0
Currently working on a V3.0 of my popular 3D printed case. Soon these will go out to beta testers and then will go into production. I cannot provide an ETA, pricing or any details. But I will say this new version is leaps ahead of my old design and the competition.
[Read More]

I'm now fully immunized
I got my second Moderna shot roughly one month ago.  I can't wait until everyone proudly declares they've been immunized.  Yay, medical progress!
[Read More]

Holtville June 5, 2021
It's been 15 months since my last launch... but that pandemic pause ended today.   I drove out to Holtville and experienced a rather extreme temperature gradient in moving from coast to the eastern CA desert: 63˚F to 103˚F (108˚F on the way back!).  Wow.  I was only able to fly ...
[Read More]

Rob C's Odd'l Sputnik
From the Model Rocketry Fanatics Facebook page: July 17, from Rob C.: "My Odd'l Rockets Sputnik debuted today, as well. It's been a reliable little flier so far -  It sure was the king of "low stress builds." " . . . AND I found it can double as a hat!  I should add to the kit promo ...
[Read More]

Guest Article: John Brohm’s Black Brant VIII
The post Guest Article: John Brohm’s Black Brant VIII appeared first on Meatball Rocketry .
[Read More]

Liberty Bell 7 - Mercury Redstone - Finally Finished!
 After a long long time and one smashed capsule tower, I finished the Estes Mercury Redstone build. It was pretty frustrating at times, and I struggled, but I did it. If you don't look too close, it's not that bad! I know where all the flaws are, and there are many. That capsule will probably ...
[Read More]

V3 Case Pro & Standard Now Available
I am happy to finally announce that V3 of my popular case is now ready for sale. Please view the Shop section above, and read the description, view the assembly video’s to answer any questions you may have. Also, as you may be able to tell, I updated the website to be more sales orientated. ...
[Read More]

Overpriced? OOP? Odd'l Kits on EBAY
 I t was bound to happen sooner or later -  Over priced Odd'l kits on EBAY!   $49.95?  Sheesh! This kit is not out of production. I sent a message to let him know. Another overpriced kit.  These two Odd'l Fighter Jets are popular, but not worth that much! Please purchase ...
[Read More]

Kit Review -
I'm beating my own drum - but I just got a great review on the NAR Facebook page: National Association of Rocketry David Julie Koo  "Look what just arrived at my door!! This F16 finishes my fleet of Odd’l rockets. As a relatively new kit maker, I am always astonished at the level of detail ...
[Read More]

NEW F-18 Hornet Kit
Coming to a vendor near you -   After a year of tweaks and test flights, The third in the Odd'l Rockets Fighter Fleet series is the new F-18 HORNET! The kit features a very different fin and engine placement, 3D printed missiles,  water slide decals and a vacu-form canopy.
[Read More]

Order Delays
Currently I am waiting for an order from Digikey to be fulfilled. This means I cannot ship out any pro cases until this order arrives. Any order you place will be a pre-order, and fulfilled as soon as the components arrive.
[Read More]

The Estes Super Big Bertha - Time to Get Back to Business
  Recently I realized that I haven't built a new rocket start to finish in well over a year, partly due to this funk I've been in. It's been a hard couple of years. I put the finishing touches on my Estes Mercury Redstone, yes, and slapped together a quick model from spare parts of other ...
[Read More]

How to Transport Model Rockets to a Lauch
I see a lot of posts on rocketry forums asking how people transport rockets to the launch site. My solution is pretty simple - a large cardboard box. I have a few of these lying around of various large sizes. This one can hold more rockets than I'll launch in a day, and it's still easy to carry. ...
[Read More]

Breaking Super Big Bertha In Two - Payload Section
Super Big Bertha is a very tall model. It's made of two lengths of BT-80 body tube joined by a coupler you glue into both tubes. I decided to turn the upper tube into a payload section, sealing one end of the coupler with a bulkhead and only gluing it into the upper tube. This would have two ...
[Read More]

Build Thread - Estes V2
  Why have I never built a V2? This fat model has always caught my eye, and I've been meaning to build one forever. I guess now's a good time to start. Here are the parts. I've had this kit on the pile for a few years, and the nose cone was stuffed pretty hard into the BT-80 body tube. I had ...
[Read More]

Super Big Bertha - Fin Filling, Fillets, and F- er, uh, Rail Guides
  I moved on to writing up the Estes V2 build and nearly forgot to finish the Super Big Bertha series! After the fins were assembled and the edges sanded square, I moved on to filling in the wood grain. Brodak sanding sealer is my favorite way to fill balsa wood grain. Traditionally, you ...
[Read More]

Estes V2 Motor Mount with an Alternative Shock Cord Anchor
  I'll get back to the  Super Big Bertha in the next post. For now, here's more progress on the Estes V2. The forward centering ring has a slit for the rubber shock cord to pass through. You're meant to push one end of the shock cord through and knot the other end to secure it to the ...
[Read More]

Super Big Bertha - Prepping the Payload for Altimeters
  To fly an altimeter in the payload section of the #estesrockets Super Big Bertha #modelrocket, the payload really should be vented using static ports. This will allow the payload section to depressurize as the rocket ascends, so the altimeter can correctly read the air pressure outside the ...
[Read More]

Estes V2 - Prepping the Boat Tail
  The boat tail for the Estes V2 is one solid plastic piece, which needs to have certain parts removed. The front and back ends are capped, and have to be opened up, and the long nubs down the sides are where the fin tabs go, after you turn those nubs into slots. Instructions suggest using a ...
[Read More]

Estes V2 - Cutting the Fins to Scale
  The fins on the Estes V2 are large - significantly larger than scale. This is for stability. The original V2 missile required a payload of 2,000 pounds in order to remain stable in flight. When the warhead was removed and the rocket was used to carry research payloads as an early sounding ...
[Read More]

Estes V2 - Shaping the Fins for "Scale-Like" Look
  This tool is called a sewing gauge. I find it indispensable for rocket building. Whenever I want to shape fins, whether it's to make a simple beveled edge or a full-on airfoil, I reach for this. I use the sewing gauge to determine and mark how far from the leading edges (and trailing edges, ...
[Read More]

Happy Holidays
 
[Read More]

Estes V2 vs. Spacemonkey Models - Comparing Two Scale Fins
  I got out a fin set for the Spacemonkey Models V2 static model kit to use for reference. Here is the fin compared to the Estes version after I modified the fins. The scale is almost identical. The Spacemonkey Models V2 (Click here to visit the website) is reportedly the most accurate scale ...
[Read More]

Estes V2 Chain Drives - Making Your Own Scale Details
  Some rocketeers have such good modeling skills, it's intimidating. Scale modelers working on tiny details can make a relative beginner feel like I have no idea how to do that. I'll never be that good.  But that doesn't mean you can't try - things might turn out better than you expect, ...
[Read More]

Estes V2 - Body Tube
  Busy week this week, but here's a brief update on the Estes V2 build. I decided to use the body tube that came with the Estes V2 after all. The minor stretching of one end won't be noticeable, and I'll use that end for the aft end of the airframe, where the tail cone gets glued in. The ...
[Read More]

Estes V2 - I Encountered a Fin Fit Problem
The fins on the V2 don't get glued directly to the outside of the rocket as on most model rockets. The fins have tabs which go through the slots in the boat tail and make contact with the motor tube. It's the fin tab roots which attach to the motor tube. This is called through-the-wall co ...
[Read More]

Estes V2 - Fins On!
Fins are on the V2, and it's looking good! Wood glue worked. Even the fin with the slight gap between the tab root and the motor tube is attached - but only just. There is a bit of wiggle. The forward tab is probably not attached at all. Due to the way the rocket is constructed, there are gaps ...
[Read More]

The Estes V2 - Epoxy Fillets
I put epoxy fillets on the V2. A follower on Instagram suggested JB Weld epoxy for this model, which I always have on hand. After some thought, I decided to try it, and it turned out really well. Since it's a steel-reinforced epoxy, I had assumed JB Weld wouldn't be sandable, so I'd have to get ...
[Read More]

Geezer TARC 2021
The TARC Geezers ready their rockets (Photo by Patrick Morrison- Click to enlarge). I'm back. Maybe... The pandemic has dragged on and on, and my motivation really began to suffer several months ago. Things are still sucky out there in the world, but my guilt over neglecting the blog has now ...
[Read More]

Delayed Orders
With the current state of supply chains, I am receiving filament, electronics, and other hardware at random times. There are quite a few items that are back ordered. I am trying to fulfill orders as fast as I can, but if you have any concerns please reach out to me.
[Read More]

itch slapped
Introducing itch slap! Last summer, Katie and I were getting bit by mosquitoes, and we typically put this strong medical tape over the bite to relieve the itching. At the time, Katie said: why not sell this? WHY NOT INDEED? Fast forward a few months and I had designed and manufactured a custom ...
[Read More]

Finishing off some builds
As the pandemic wore on and my motivation waned, three unfinished rockets - a Boyce Aerospace Redstone missile, a Skylance from an Estes rocket plan and a Glencoe Jupiter-C plastic model conversion - caught my eye every time I looked at my workbench. Things got to the point where I couldn’t ...
[Read More]

The factor that many TARC teams ignore
Duane spent a few hours this afternoon giving a couple of new TARC teams much needed practical experience in launching mid power rockets. Naturally, he had to fly the rocket that propelled him to Geezer TARC glory. It was configured as before, loaded with the standard Mayer TARC motor - an ...
[Read More]

I Made Something!
I made a mug! It's real, and it's here, and it's beautiful! I've been working on building an Etsy shop (and a Redbubble shop as well), and this is sample of my first item - a Robert H. Goddard coffee mug! And this is kind of a rough draft, too. I got so excited when I was making this, I ordered a ...
[Read More]

NAR Teacher Certification Program
Teachers, bring rocketry into the class as a science subject and become NAR Teacher certified:
[Read More]

More TARC musings...
I keep thinking about TARC - specifically, my rocket's performance in Geezer TARC. I wanted to understand why the simulation programs were giving way too high altitudes, while Thrustcurve.org and the iPhone app were much closer to the actual performance. So I reweighed EggTu, made sure the Rocksim ...
[Read More]

Busy, Busy, Busy at Odd'l Rockets
I've been busy printing decals, cutting tubes, printing instructions, bending springs and vacu-forming jet canopies. The past two weeks has included production of: 14 Heavy Duty Engine Mounts (HDEMs) 12 Adeptors 6 Break-Away kits 9 Birdie kits 14 Sputnik kits 8 Cyclone kits 19 Single Raise Springs ...
[Read More]

Universal AstroCam Video Camera for Rockets
The Universal AstroCam by Estes is now available at JonRocket.com. The AstroCam is a small high-definition video camera that you can attach to your rocket to capture the sights and sound of a launch from the rocket’s viewpoint. The Universal … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Estes’s Blue Origin New Shepard Flying Rocket
Now you can fly the rocket that launched a thousand memes! The rocket that also blasted William Shatner (“Captain Kirk”) into space, is now a scale flying model from Estes. Using a C6-3 or C5-3 engine, the Blue Origin New … Continue reading →
[Read More]

Sunday afternoon launch
Girl scouts watch as the rocket they prepped heads skyward (Click to enlarge) . The John Paul II TARC teams had scheduled a TARC practice for this past Sunday, which provided a perfect excuse for some of us to drag out rockets eager to be flown. We assembled at Pegasus around high noon - me, ...
[Read More]

A blustery club launch
Looking down the flight line (Click to enlarge). HARA held its monthly launch this past Saturday. The day started off well, sunny and reasonably warm for mid-February, but the wind picked up dramatically in the afternoon. By the time of range closure at 3 PM, it averaged 14 miles per hour, with ...
[Read More]

On the National Scoreboard...
In my post about this month's HARA launch, I talked about the NRC B eggloft altitude flights that Doug and I made. As well as providing great help and the use of his launch gear, Brian was also the score keeper and contest manager. He submitted our scores up to the NAR contest folk, and they ...
[Read More]

Helping Out a Fellow Rocketeer
  A Facebook friend of mine posted some alarming news a couple of days ago. Eugene Awimbo, a man in Kenya who I'm connected with because of his amateur rocketry project, has a son, Ochieng, with chronic tonsillitis. Things have gotten really bad with this latest infection, and they have been ...
[Read More]

What a Week!
  It's been an expensive week. I was in the hospital three times. I've been intending to donate to my friend Eugene's son's operation for his tonsils. I've decided to donate 100% of any profits I get from my Etsy and Redbubble stores directly to Ochieng's surgery. Drag Race shirt on Etsy The ...
[Read More]

Free at last!
Today was a momentous day - I finally got around to putting primer on the Estes Skylance .  Skylance in primer (Click to enlarge). Doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is. After having several unfinished rockets lying around for months (years), I made a vow that I would attempt no new builds ...
[Read More]

I get a thing in the mail...
 I went to the mailbox earlier this week, expecting the usual bills and "waste of paper" ads. However, there was a surprise - tucked in amongst the Arby's and Dominos flyers was a nice little postcard, sent to me by Ed Mitton. The card was one of 20 flown in the payload section of his Icarus ...
[Read More]

Vendor review - Apogee Components
I decided some time ago that I should occasionally write reviews of some of the vendors I patronize - to heap praise on the things they do right (which is often) and to keep them honest when they muff things up. A recent email from Apogee asking for a review/testimonial has led to this post, as I ...
[Read More]

Merging video and data
Rocket electronics have gotten quite cheap - small altimeters and decent HD cameras can be had for as little as $30, putting "instrumented rocket flight" within the reach of every rocketeer. Most folks are content with keeping the video and data separate, but I have always been intrigued with ...
[Read More]

Where Is the N00b? He's Trapped In the Editing Booth!
Just a quick update: The Thrifty Rocketeer asked me if I had any updates on things, as I haven't written in a while. Well, my hospital stay is well over, and I'm mostly recovered, minus the occasional twinge. My friend in Kenya succeeded in getting life-saving surgery for his son. The fundraiser ...
[Read More]

Holtville April 2, 2022
Oh hi there.  I'm known to blog... occasionally.   I attended the most recent launch at Holtville, CA and a fine day it was.  I flew only a CTI 168H410 Vmax reload in my DarkStar mini.  It sorta got up and went as expected.  I captured no pixels of this flight except ...
[Read More]

Where to Buy Model Rockets and Rocket Supplies
  Someone on the Facebook group Estes Model Rockets posed a question recently: Other than Amazon, where is everyone buying Estes rockets? I don't have a good hobby store near me. I see beginners ask this kind of question frequently - where can you get model rocket stuff? This is quite an ...
[Read More]

This TARC season is over...
Girl Scout team poses with their rocket (Click to enlarge). Another TARC season has passed - and once again, no team from the Huntsville area made it to the Finals up in Virginia. I have some thoughts on why this keeps happening, which I will share later. But first, let's consider the good things ...
[Read More]

Odd'l Rockets F-104 Starfighter Recovery Suggestion
  This is similar to a suggested recovery on the original Centuri Fighter Fleet Jets. Alternative Recovery: To have the jet recover horizontally and lessen the chance of fin or wing damage: 1. Glue the engine mount in so the engine hook is at the top, nearest the rudder. 2. Tie the nose cone ...
[Read More]

The Estes MaxTrax rocket...
Estes MaxTrax starter set (Click to enlarge). I recently acquired an Estes MaxTrax starter set (now out of production). The MaxTrax was a ready-to-fly BT-56 based rocket featuring an "altitude tracking capsule" that separated from the rocket at ejection. Slowed by a small streamer, it would fall ...
[Read More]

New member of the fleet and pics from the last HARA launch of the season...
So I finished the Skylance - it turned out AOK. Now to apply primer to the Centuri Sabre and move on to the next project - whatever that is. Finished Skylance (Click to enlarge). HARA held its last launch of the 2021-2022 flying season back on April 9. I had to pass because of work, but the skies ...
[Read More]

Traveling
I am traveling for work, so any orders placed after today may take 2-3 weeks to ship.
[Read More]

Did dinosaurs have high blood pressure?
I recently took a class all about dinosaurs, and one topic was whether dinosaurs were cold-blooded, which has traditionally been the conventional view, or in fact warm-blooded. The evidence, it turns out, is mixed, and just learning about the different types of evidence is really interesting. One ...
[Read More]

Camas Highschool made 7th place at 2022 TARC
Camas Highschool made it to the TARC 2022 event and did a great job. 7th place is a great position to make out of the hundreds of schools that competed. … Continue reading "Camas Highschool made 7th place at 2022 TARC"
[Read More]

Some quick numbers from the 2022 TARC Finals...
The 2021-2022 TARC Finals were held last weekend in northern Virginia. No Huntsville teams made it into the top 100, though 6 teams from Alabama (5 from north Alabama) did compete at the Finals. Of these 6, four were in the top 42 of round one and advanced to round 2. Alabama ended up with two ...
[Read More]

Goldendale Burn Ban in effect from June 1st to September 30th, 2022.
The burn ban is now in effect for the Goldendale site from 1 June to September 30th. We will have have launches again for that location beginning in October 2022 … Continue reading "Goldendale Burn Ban in effect from June 1st to September 30th, 2022."
[Read More]

Large Dangerous Rocket Ships (LDRS) 40th annual launch in California
A rocket launch in the high desert! Earlier this month, I was able to make it to my first rocket launch in over a year. At first glance, this seems inexcusable for someone whose blog and other social media accounts are primarily dedicated to rockets and rocket launches. In my defense, the past year ...
[Read More]

HE DID IT!!!
  If you've been following Joe Barnard and BPS.Space's attempts to land a rocket propulsively on landing legs... HE DID IT. Click here to go to his YouTube channel and see the awesome vid. Subscribe if you haven't already. * * * I post a lot of things on Instagram these days.  Follow me ...
[Read More]

High power rocket launch – L3 certification fail – GoPro onboard camera

[Read More]

Moochers & Elmers
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... We've all done it... Asked to borrow something from another at a club launch site... Perhaps the term "Moocher" is too strong, as it definitely has a negative connotation to it. However, the situation at the launch site often dictates that you ...
[Read More]

Inappropriate Rocket?
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... Well just tonight, after receiving some bad news, I was on-line with an older Rocketeer.  It was a zoom call and I could see the rocket kit he was working on. Something about the lines looked familiar, and I swear that I have seen or handled one ...
[Read More]

The Air Show
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... Of the several rocketry clubs that I am affiliated with, one has successfully switched from an open farm field to a small, sleepy county airport when the landlord decided he didn't want to be a landlord any more. So, with some salesmanship and putting ...
[Read More]

Two at a Time
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... We've all done it. You're shopping in a hobby store, and looking at the rockets they have for sale, and one catches your eye.  Gee, that looks like a fun little kit. I could probably enjoy making that.  So you buy it. And before you can get ...
[Read More]

TAZZ
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... So it's another Wednesday night and I'm bored, so I do what I usually do when I have time on my hands and 10 days til the next club launch.... I drive over to HBY LBY and cruise the Estes Rocket supply aisle. Now, I must admit, I don't often find ...
[Read More]

L Motor Flight 4" Fiberglass Mania Rocket Sept. 24, 2022
The Motor Burnsim Data 4 grain 3" x 16" L623 2833NS White Alligator Propellant. Motor Specs. The Rocket 4" Mad Cow Fiberglass Mania. Stock Build.  Flight Simulation RockSim 9 Open Rocket Cut Away and 3D Model Actual Flight Data From TeleMega and Marsa Flight Controllers Photos of Boost ...
[Read More]

What's in a Name?
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... I was skimming a Facebook page recently when a posting caught my eye.  It was basically asking what the term  for a particular style of balsa fin construction is. What's the term for " making a fin that is comprised of multiple pieces of ...
[Read More]

My Neighbor Robert Crippen
As a young man living in Bay Colony, Robert Crippen was a neighbor. In junior high during the summer I had mowed his yard along with other neighbors as a … Continue reading "My Neighbor Robert Crippen"
[Read More]

Clasps
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... So recently, I saw a photo on a rocketry forum page that showed a field range box or tackle box, dropped and spilled. It was a sad sight, with the contents mixed helter-skelter... the kind of picture that makes your heart sink.  But we've all ...
[Read More]

The Tin
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... Recently we were talking about what sort of tackle box Rocketeers chose to carry their field gear and parts in.   And that has brought up another related topic. Just today, a co-worker who has been working with me for a quarter century, ...
[Read More]

NightHawk Glider Boys
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues.... Well, the AirShow has come and gone, and we're left with the memories now.  Our club set up an information table, but had chosen NOT to sell rocket kits this year.  Then the president showed up with a box of assorted rocket kits, and ...
[Read More]

The Brush
 The Thrifty Rocketeer Blog continues... It's been a couple of years that I've been sealing my balsa fins with a slurry of wood glue. But recently, I tried a Sanding Sealer from an area supplier, just to experiment. It turns out that it is Min-Wax that has been repackaged in much smaller ...
[Read More]

Holtville Havoc 2022
Holtville Havoc 2022 featured one of the finest flying days I can recall at this launch site.  I also finally flew my highest thrust motor yet, the CTI 86434M6400 Vmax  (1,626 lbf max), and what a fine beast it was... ...with a 13ft 4in flame! I had always sort of remained in awe of ...
[Read More]

"What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor?"
 That's the title of a traditional old Irish sea shanty folk song. In my case, the wording can be changed to: "What Shall I Do With An Unstable Super Shot?" In my previous post covering the October 31st launch at the Dove Valley field, I described the flight of such a model rocket. Flying on ...
[Read More]

2022 Binge Build, Part 7 - Update
 I thought it was high time that I should sit down and write an update post on the 2022 model rocket binge build. So here goes: There is  no update ! The truth is, I barely even touched a model rocket during the entire month of October, except perhaps to move a few parts and assemblies ...
[Read More]

X-37b Space Plane Returns
  The Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) is shown at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. The unmanned U.S. military space plane landed early Saturday after spending a record 908 days in orbit for its sixth mission and conducting science experiments. ...
[Read More]

The Paint Booth
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... A recent photo posted in a rocketry forum demonstrated an enterprising rocketeer's conversion of a cabinet into a painting booth.  It was complete with a rotisserie turntable, and an evacuation fan for fumes and paint. It was nice, if you had ...
[Read More]

We Are Going: Artemis I Launches
  Our Space Launch System (SLS), the most powerful rocket in the world, carrying the Orion spacecraft  launches on the Artemis I flight test , Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 1:47 a.m. EST. Artemis I  is the first ...
[Read More]

Cold, however perfect weather for a launch
16 degrees in the morning "Brrrrr". It did however warm up and we had perfect launches and R/C boost glider activity. Frank Burke from Dynasoar Rocketry did not disappoint. The … Continue reading "Cold, however perfect weather for a launch"
[Read More]

The Dud
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... A couple of years ago, when our local rocket club decided to help "pay it forward" or "sow the seeds" of our hobby in the new generation, we agreed to do some info table appearances at various youth events. One of these was " Yuri's Night ", which I ...
[Read More]

Virtual NARCON 2023 is open to sign up for!!!
The NAR virtual NARCON 2023 is now active. It is well worth the time for every rocket hobby enthusiast to attend, "virtually". Always informative and well worth it to purchase … Continue reading "Virtual NARCON 2023 is open to sign up for!!!"
[Read More]

Orion safe splash down 👍🪂
Well eventhough we had to scrub the Goldendale launch today, I hope people were able to watch the live footage of Orions safe landing in the pacific ocean. The USS … Continue reading "Orion safe splash down 👍🪂"
[Read More]

New Products added to JonRocket.com’s Online Store
We’ve recently added many new products to our online model rocketry store including a selection of Aerotech F & G impulse rocket motors. You can see a list of all of the products recently added to our store by visiting: … Continue reading →
[Read More]

The Phantom
 The Thrifty Rocketeer Blog continues... It's been quite a while since I did a build thread. So it's something I've been meaning to get back into.  And it has to be something unusual, or special that either others haven't done, or there's a twist to it.  And this one really matches ...
[Read More]

Successful NASA SL attempt
Under the hectic topsy turby weather, we had a narrow window of opportunity and it paid off. The Camas Highschool rocket team had a successful subscale launch. The rocket was … Continue reading "Successful NASA SL attempt"
[Read More]

Merry Christmas !!
 ...to you and yours! Keep 'em flyin'!
[Read More]

Happy Holidays from The N00bs
 * * * I post a lot of things on Instagram these days.  Follow me here . Follow me on Twitter . Check out my Etsy shop  for model rocket and space themed tees, mugs, and more. Like my  Facebook page  for blog updates and extra stuff. Have a question you'd like to see ...
[Read More]

It's That Time Of Year Again !
 It's hard to believe that it's 2023 already. Truly, we must have been having fun because time has certainly flown. As is my wont every January, I do my annual look-back at the previous year's model rocketry activity. So here goes: I managed to log 43 flights in 2022 spread out over 8 launch ...
[Read More]

Glue Threads & Other Delights
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... Whenever I need a collective title, or maybe something a bit tongue in cheek, I fall back on the old Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Band album title, "Whipped Cream & Other Delights".  As a kid, the LP jacket cover with the half naked woman ...
[Read More]

Hello 2023
I haven’t had a chance to update this blog in a while, which seems to be a common fate for most blogs. I’ve just been uncommonly busy.  My last update was a few months back in August 2022, shortly after I attempted another L3 certification. As noted there, it was a failed attempt, but ...
[Read More]

Today was a great Launch 🚀🪂👍
The launch day today turned out really well. We had club members and participants from the Hood River Hobby rocketry build and students from Camas Highschool involved in the NASA … Continue reading "Today was a great Launch 🚀🪂👍"
[Read More]

"All The Trees Are Brown...."
 "...And the skies are gray..."                 - The Mamas & The Papas ...and it's cold ....and it's icy.... ...and there's snow all over the place. I sorely need a rocket flying fix! And, since I'm certainly not 'dreaming' of 'California', I might ...
[Read More]

A Productive Day In The Shop.
As promised, I did manage to immerse myself into some rocketry projects yesterday. The first order of business was to facilitate repairs on a couple of birds that got busted up last fall. The first was the Rascal rocket glider. On its maiden flight, a hard landing broke the fuselage in three ...
[Read More]

Stegosaurus plates
Last year, I took a geology course focused entirely on dinosaurs. It was about as fascinating as you’d expect for someone who loved dinosaurs as a kid (and who didn’t?) and who now gets to to revisit the subject in detail as an adult. I’ve written a few posts as a result. One of ...
[Read More]

Spaceports
I’ve been thinking about spaceports a lot recently. Not sure why, exactly – I think that they’ve coincidentally been brought to my attention from several independent sources around the same time. I just finished re-reading Isaac Asimov’s Foundation novels (for the hundredth ...
[Read More]

What exactly is a spaceport?
The starting point for any discussion about spaceports is a definition, so that we know what we’re talking about. In its most general sense, a spaceport is just a site for launching spacecraft. In addition to launches, the site would typically test, store, and perform maintenance on ...
[Read More]

Little Green Man's Cousin?
From the Facebook group - Estes Model Rockets -  Tom Flint posted: "Since the Odd’l Rockets Little Green Man is no longer available, I made my own using BT-80 size tube."
[Read More]

Isaac Newton
I just finished reading a biography on Isaac Newton. A lot has already been written about Newton, and I don’t have a lot of original insight to contribute, but I’ll briefly summarize my thoughts. The book (“Isaac Newton” by James Gleick) was excellent, and my only complaint ...
[Read More]

Do it Again
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues.... It was just the other day when I was trying to explain what Model Rocketry was that a young feller made the comment. "That's boring." "What do you mean," I asked, "How can launching a rocket be boring?" "You spend all this time building a rocket-ship, ...
[Read More]

Alex Palm's Blue Angel F-18 Hornet
Alex Palm posted pictures of his Odd'l Rockets F-18 on the Estes Model Rocket page on Facebook -  "My latest build. The Odd'l Rockets F-18 Hornet. Blue Angels version." Where did you get the Blue Angels decals? "I was able to order them from Ebay 1/72 scale. Just do a keyword search for Blue ...
[Read More]

Wrong Directions
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... Recently, I discovered a "back road" route to get to our club launch field that is a bit shorter than the main highway, but takes just about as long, since the road twists and winds. Most of Ohio is flat as a board, with a gridwork pattern of roadways ...
[Read More]

Budding Rocketeer
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... Well, it's finally happened. Several years ago, while doing internet searches for model rockets, I stumbled upon an entire channel of Random home brew projects, including a Model Rocket built from scratch.  The channel is/was called The King of ...
[Read More]

Paper Plane Demonstration Program- Covid Situation
  Paper Plane Demonstration Program- Covid  Situation  10th July 2021 Mr. Pratham Ambla with "The Spirit of Alabama" Paper Plane Mr. Pratham Ambla and Mr. Japan Ambla with Paper Plane Mr. Pratham Ambla flies his  favorite  Paper Plane   Mr. Pratham Ambla, Mr. Japan ...
[Read More]

Model Rocket Demonstration Program - Gavada School, Vijapur
  Model Rocket Demonstration Program - Gavada School, Vijapur  29th December 2022 Mr. Vivek Patel, Mr. Pratham Ambla and Gavada School Principle   ગવાડા ગામના વતની શ્રી વિવેકભાઈ રમેશભાઈ પટેલ ને ...
[Read More]

Paper Plane and Hands on Astronomy Program
  Paper Plane and Hands on Astronomy Program Rangoli International School - Mehsana - 10th June 2021 Mr. Pratham Ambla conducting Paper Plane Demonstration  Mr. Rinkesh Patel - Campus Director, RIS - Mehsana Mr. Pratham Ambla conducting  "HOW HIGH IS IT ?" Hands on Astronomy ...
[Read More]

So Close And Yet So Far...
I just returned from a week long trip to Maryland to visit a daughter, grandson, and son-in-law who is stationed at Fort Meade. The last two days of our stay, Monday and Tuesday, were designated as sightseeing days. The main thing on my bucket list was to visit Goddard Space Flight Center. We ...
[Read More]

Spill Holes
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... Now, it seems that a tempest in a teapot has erupted recently over the topic of spill holes in parachutes. Frankly, I'm not all that conversant with the topic, so I've been following the discussion casually, but a couple of the more recent bends in the ...
[Read More]

Model Rocket - Ek Sapna Ni Udaan Book Release function @ Ahmedabad Management Association, Ahmedabad on 01 July 2022
  Model Rocket - Ek Sapna Ni Udaan Book Release function  Ahmedabad Management Association, Ahmedabad  on 01 July 2022 Divya Bhaskar News Coverage Mr. Pratham Ambla had written a Book - "Model Rocket - Ek Sapna Ni Udaan" in Gujarati Language. This book was published by ...
[Read More]

Water Rocket Workshop - Rangoli International School - Mehsana
    Water Rocket Workshop  Rangoli International School - Mehsana  A water rocket Workshop was organized by Model Rocketry Club - India on 30 June 2019 at Rangoli International School (RIS) Mehsana campus. 35 students of 12 to 16 years participated in this competition. A ...
[Read More]

Model Rocket - Ek Sapna Ni Udaan Book Distribution
  Model Rocket - Ek Sapna Ni Udaan Book Distribution Mr. Pratham Ambla With Mr. V.B. Kamble (Retd. Director -Vigyan Prasar) Mr.  Pratham Ambla With Mrs. Jayshree Mehta (Director) Mr.  Pratham Ambla With Mrs. Beena Handa (Director - Poiesis Foundation) Mr.  Pratham Ambla With ...
[Read More]

March 25th launch report
Average wind speeds fluctuated from 5 to 12 mph. We had a total of 42 flights. The motors utilized are the following: A motors: 3 B motors: 1 C motors: … Continue reading "March 25th launch report"
[Read More]

Holtville April 1, 2023
I drove out earlier than usuall to witness Ryan E's L3 cert attempt. He succeeded with a beautiful ascent on at AT M1780NT and a slow descent and perfect recovery. Here's the vid:
[Read More]

Rushin' It
The Thrifty Rocketeer Blog continues.... I admit it. I was bored, so I started flipping about, looking for something interesting to read on the internet.  And I came across an entry or link to a well known hobby tutorial website and company that specializes in model rocketry. Now, I'm certain ...
[Read More]

Holiday gifts
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... I'm a little late with this entry, but better late than never. It seems that there are some holidays that are more favorable to certain types of gifts than others. For example, snow skis might be more welcome during the Xmas holidays than in m ...
[Read More]

At Last.. Time To Get Some Rocket Work Done
 The BlastFomThePast shop has recently  seen a lot of idle time in respect to building rockets. There were just way too many other unrelated projects and activities vying for my time. This past week, I was able to concentrate on the Mountaineer IV build. All construction, filleting, and ...
[Read More]

Some New Rocket Display Stands
 Mrs. BlastFromThePast and I frequently shop at Sam's Club. Every so often we purchase these humongous rolls of plastic food service film.  A roll lasts us for a very long time, but when it does finally run out, I am left with some interesting packaging parts.  These are the plastic ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: April 10th, 2023
 After over five months of chronic cold, snow, ice, and wind, this week's weather conditions along the Colorado Front Range have finally been suitable for flying model rockets. A massive high pressure system has parked itself over the state, bringing warmer, calmer conditions. Yesterday, I ...
[Read More]

Progress On The Workbench
This past Monday, after returning home from the launch session at Founders Park, I found that the afternoon weather was still calm enough to run the Mountaineer IV outside and apply some primer. Yesterday, the model received the final  sanding and cleanup treatment.  It is now ready for ...
[Read More]

Mountaineer IV Update
I opted to brush-paint this model. Yesterday the nose got its black finish, and the rest of the model received the yellow color coat. Today, I will be masking off the fins and airframe bands for the application of red paint. Check out this gorgeous Castle Rock sunrise at 6:24 this morning! Fire in ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: April 17th, 2023
Great weather conditions in Castle Rock this past Monday marked the first group launch of 2023 among members of our ever-growing Front Range rocketry 'gang'. This day I was joined at Founders Park by three of the latest folks to become part of our group: David Frey, his son Xander, both from ...
[Read More]

My First Pad
A lot of people have been posting about their first launch of the spring... or their first launch pad.    You've inspired me to think back to my first launch pad. I wasn't sure just how much money I could sink into this hobby, (HA,HA~!) so I tried to assemble what I thought was needed ...
[Read More]

BAR Fleet #142 - Mountaineer IV
Source: Scratch-built, Modified Omega  Estes Industries # K-52 / 1252 Designed by Mike Dorffler Type: Sport / Payload Stages: Two Engine Type: 24mm both stages Recovery:  Parachute / Tumble Booster Length:  12.8cm (5.0 in.) Sustainer Length: 35.5cm (14.0 in.) Payload/Nose Length: ...
[Read More]

Rainbow Connection
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues...   Recently, I was searching the internet for things related to rocketry, trying to inspire another topic about rockets to come to mind.  Among the listings, I spotted something else, totally distinct from rockets that caught my ...
[Read More]

Back In The Day, Part 51 - The Old Fleet Mountaineers
Having just completed the Mountaineer IV model rocket, I thought it would be a good time to re-cap the history of this series.  In the late 1970s, I flew three Omega Mountaineer model rockets for the purpose of launching Cineroc flights for Herb Desind of Silver Spring, Maryland. Mountaineers ...
[Read More]

Back To The Deltie Airshow
Not much longer after the finishing touches were applied to the Mountaineer IV model, I had the pieces, parts, and partially completed assemblies of the Edmonds Deltie Airshow arrayed back on the work bench. Last night, the remaining balsa parts were cut out and the three gliders were completely ...
[Read More]

The REAL BlastFromThePast Workshop!
 In the past, whenever I have posted pictures of my workshop here on the blog, they have always depicted a clean, organized, uncluttered, shiny work environment. Those pics, that give the impression that I am a consummate neat-freak, are completely mis-leading. Here is the reality: This is ...
[Read More]

More Progress On The Deltie AirSLOW...
 I've added some steps to this build that don't appear in the original kit instructions.  First off, some CWF is applied to all of the small gaps in the wing and fuselage joints, then sanded smooth. I've also chosen to round the leading and trailing edges of all the wings and stabs, as ...
[Read More]

The Simpliest Launch Pad
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... We return to my roots today, with an entry that focuses on saving money.  I'm always on the lookout for a way to save money, reduce costs, and do something cheaper or less extravagantly.  This includes looking at ways to home-build or ...
[Read More]

More Deltie, Please!....
The Colorado Front range has seen quite a bit of overcast, rainy weather this past week, so there has presented itself precious little time to get outside to paint models or do anything in the way of flying them. I did encounter an afternoon with a bit of respite from the drizzle when I managed to ...
[Read More]

7th BAR Birthday!
 Once again, it's time to celebrate another consecutive year of involvement in the model rocketry hobby. I haven't exactly yet decided what I will do to mark the occasion. Maybe go out and launch a rocket, weather permitting. Or possibly sit down and process an order with Estes or AC Supply. ...
[Read More]

Streamers and other delights
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... Well, it happened just yesterday. Our rocketry club FINALLY hit the weather right, and a handful of dedicated rocketeers showed up to launch whatever they've been working on all winter long..and most of this spring as well. In one case, it was a ...
[Read More]

And Now For Something Way Cool !...
 Yesterday afternoon I was hanging around the house when the doorbell rang. It was my neighbor from across the street, Mike Perreault. As you all remember, Mike was featured in my recent post covering the April 17th launch here in Castle Rock. Mike is new to the hobby, and is as enthusiastic ...
[Read More]

Photos From The Estes Tour
Mike Perreault and Jim Gazur sent me their pictures taken at the recent Estes Industries tour at Penrose Colorado. Enjoy... Bill Stine all set to lead the tour.  That's a really Big Bertha! - photo by Jim Gazur Here are some photos taken by Mike Perreault in the main rocket building room... ...
[Read More]

Andy Northern's Semroc Ruskie
From the Estes Model Rocket Facebook page, Andy Northern posted -  " Recently completed this one. It started out as a Semroc Ruskie but I wanted to try something different. This is my first attempt at a camo pattern. The decals are from the Revell 1/48 scale Spitfire and the wheels and ...
[Read More]

NewWay Angled Invader Background
The original Estes Invader was produced from 1976 to 1980, shown above in the 1977 catalog. I did buy, build and fly one in the late 1970s. More recently, I built two of the "Classic Series" reissues in 2016.  To see that build: CLICK HERE This build is from New Way Space Models, another ...
[Read More]

Tackle it Again
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... Recently, the topic of the best range box came up again. And as you might expect, the more people involved, the more options and options popped up. Frankly, I started with a plastic fishing tackle box when I was new to this hobby, if only because ...
[Read More]

An Anniversary...Of Sorts
 This summer marks the 50th anniversary of my very first model rocket launch. The problem is, I have no inkling of the exact date of the launch, or any details pertaining to which model it was, as well as any flight data.  I just know that it occurred in the summer of 1973. I ...
[Read More]

NewWay Angled Invader, Part 1, Parts
This will be a fun one! All parts are clean and well made. The bright yellow nose cone and detail pieces are 3D printed. The fit in the square tube is very good. Different assemblies are in separate sealed plastic. Parts of interest: The New Way sandpaper, emery board and Q-tip set. A large heavy ...
[Read More]

NewWay Angled Invader, Part 2, Parts Prep & Seams
This was very tight balsa - I thought at first it was basswood. The filling should turn out very well. As always -  I sand off the laser cutting ash also removing the hold-down tics. The inset picture shows the upper arm of the wing fins. Laser cutting is not perfectly square but flares out ...
[Read More]

FAI World Championships for Space Models Returns to US For First Time in 31 Years
The 2023 FAI World Championships for Space Models is being held in Austin, Texas, in July of 2023. This is the first time in more than 30 years that the event has been held in the United States. Hosted by ...
[Read More]

NewWay Angled Invader, Part 3, Gluing Up The Wing & Filling Balsa
The kit includes a variety of jigs to help alignment when gluing. These are cleverly laid out on thick cardstock. The first piece is used to align the two piece wing fin. The alignment piece is to the right in the first picture. After glue is applied, use some weight to hold the two pieces even ...
[Read More]

NewWay Angled Invader, Part 4, Filler Primer & Engine Mount
These are the square "dowels" that are glued on the outside tubes. Here the pieces are sprayed with filler/primer. Two of the smaller fins, there are four in total. These are glued as ribs over the open area on the wing. Before with filler/primer sprayed on the left,  On the right, sanded to ...
[Read More]

Schoolyard Soccer Field Launch! June 10, 2023
I already had plans to go to the Orlando R.O.C.K. Launch today.  I couldn't sleep and found myself checking the alarm clock. So, I got up early and headed to the schoolyard soccer field. The Estes Aerospace Club FIRECAT was launched with a A8-3. It was inevitable, one of those overhanging ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: June 9th, 2023
 Friday, June 9, the Colorado Front Range was blessed with some very fine weather, prompting a rocket-flying jaunt to Founders Park in Castle Rock. On hand to poke some holes in the sky were Mike Goss, Mike Perreault, David Frey and family: wife Anne, and two sons: Xander and Maxi ...
[Read More]

More 18mm Odd'l Rockets Sputnik Tests
  I drove to the Orlando ROCK club launch afterward the early morning June 10 soccer field launch. I delivered a large order of Odd'l Rockets kits and supplies to Roger of jonrocket.com.    Pigasus and Little Green Man kits are available again!   I did ...
[Read More]

NewWay Angled Invader, Part 5, Pod Tubes, Engine Mount & Jigs
The outside pod tubes glue onto the outside edges of the main wing fins. I don't think most builders would fill the (visible) inside seams. It's easy to do.  Apply CWF using a hobby knife, let dry and sand. You can only go so far until you can't reach the interior seams with sandpaper. The ...
[Read More]

NewWay Angled Invader, Part 6, Parachute Assembly & CA On The Tube Edges
The New Way kits don't use the regular Avery style adhesive disks to reinforce the parachute tie points. These are Tyvek, a reinforced paper you can't tear. Stick one circle under the chute material, centering it under the pre-punched hole. Soft fold over the other end and center the second circle ...
[Read More]

NewWay Angled Invader, Part 7, Sanding The Pod Fins
I went ahead and painted the interior of the pods with Day-Glo orange. It took five brush coats to get full coverage over the sprayed white undercoat. TIP: You must use a white undercoat when using phosphorescent colors. Day-Glo colors are very translucent. Here's how the pods and pod fins fit ...
[Read More]

NewWay Angled Invader, Part 8, Gluing On The Pod Fins & Launch Lugs
I don't use a lot of glue when initially setting on the fins. Apply a glue line down the root edge, shown on the left. Run a fingertip down the side edges of the fin leaving a line of glue in the center. Wipe off your finger and repeat the finger line down the other side. This refines the glue to ...
[Read More]

NewWay Angled Invader, Part 9, Rib Positioning
Here's how the Guide "G" fits onto the wing and helps align the smaller ribs. The tabs set over the sides of the G piece and hold it on the face of the wing.  This entire post is dry fits - no glue yet. I found I had to widen the slots for an easier fit of the ribs. The instructions say the ...
[Read More]

NewWay Angled Invader, Part 10, Rib Gluing & Nose Cone Details
Set the rib over its position on the wing and mark the glue area with pencil. Every time I've built an Alien Invader model I applied glue all the way down the root edge out of habit. Glue is only needed on the upper and lower ends - not in the middle. Here's how the wings look, ready to be glued ...
[Read More]

NewWay Angled Invader, Part 11, Gluing On The Wings
You can use the smaller jigs for alignment to hold the body and wing in place as the glue dries. For a tighter fit at the glued root edge - I wanted to apply a light pressure on the slot and tab. I ran some masking tape from the body tube, over the outside edge of the wing and back down to the ...
[Read More]

NewWay Angled Invader, Part 12, Gluing On The Wing Pods
TIP: I have started sanding the fillets before painting the rocket. Hold the glued area up to a light and you can see the rough areas in the shiny dried glue. These will be seen after the spray paint is applied. I lightly sand the rough fillets with a piece of 800 grit. Why 800 grit? 400 grit ...
[Read More]

NewWay Angled Invader, Part 13, White Undercoats
The already painted interiors of the wing pods have to be masked off from the white, then later black paint. I found a good size is 1 1/8" long pieces. It takes two overlapping pieces to cover the open ends. I wouldn't go much larger than this. You want the overlap to be small to get good coverage ...
[Read More]

NewWay Angled Invader, Part 14, Last Minute Touch-up and Upper Body Yellow
Every little glue blob, balsa grain and divot shows when paint is applied. Along the sides of the nose cone detail pieces was a slight open line in the 3D print. A water based CWF filler wouldn't stay in after the model was sealed so I ran some medium CA glue into the crack applied with a ...
[Read More]

NewWay Angled Invader, Part 15, An Easy Mask
Look between the two launch lugs and you might notice there isn't a glue fillet on the inside joints. These lugs are too close together to smooth out a glue fillet. I could apply the glue with a Q-tip, but trying to get the excess glue cleaned up and out might not be worth the effort. I like a ...
[Read More]

NewWay Angled Invader, Part 16, Decals
It's tempting to apply the big tube wrap decal first. TIP: Soak and apply a few smaller decals to get an idea of the soaking times and how they transfer. Here's the positioning of the wing decals. The three stripe decal positions a little different than the original and reissue Estes kit. Before ...
[Read More]

NewWay Angled Invader, Finished
        The New Way kits are very well produced. The square tubes are heavy duty. This kit is highly recommended!               White decals! There is no other way to capture this look. ...
[Read More]

Deltie Airshow Gliders Finished
 I finally managed to sit down the past couple of evenings and take some permanent markers to the three Deltie gliders of this build. Since this is an 'Air Show' model, I decided to render them in red, white and blue. The bottom sides of the delta wings are solid blue to provide greater ...
[Read More]

Dave Combs Candy Rockets
      Dave Combs posted his candy tube rockets on the  NAR Facebook page;   " The Candy Fam The Candy Fam can… The Candy Fam can when we mix a little thrust And make the sky look goooooood"   I really like the fins shaped ...
[Read More]

Rockets Need To Be Round?
 Well, maybe not all rockets -  Still a great video explaining the CP/CG relationship - CLICK HERE
[Read More]

Jay Jarris' Mini Honest John Kit Bashes
KITBASHING : Creation of a new model by combining elements of multiple commercial kit models.   For everybody that bought multiples of the Estes Mini Honest John when WalMart was clearing them out - Here's some ideas on how to customize all those extra kits!     ...
[Read More]

The Blog Is Done!
This will be the last blog post!   Over 7,500 posts over almost 13 years! The blog will remain online until the folks at Goggle decide to delete it. I've been thinking about this for a while.    Odd'l Rockets are still in production.   I'll continue to build ...
[Read More]

LDRS 41 Is Underway!
 The LDRS (Large, Dangerous Rocket Ships) rocket event is an annual gathering of rocket enthusiasts organized by the Tripoli Rocketry Association (TRA), one of the largest amateur rocketry organizations in the United States. The event is a platform for hobbyists to showcase and launch their ...
[Read More]

Launch Date: July10th, 2023
 This post is very much after-the-fact. I had family staying at our home with the associated whirlwind of activity.  At the same time, I had a music gig with a newly formed band for which I only had three weeks of prep and rehearsal time. So, very little time has been spent at the ...
[Read More]

A Near-Miraculous Rocket Recovery !!
During the July 10th launch session at Founders Park in Castle Rock, I flew my scratch-built Astron Alpha. Powered by a B6-4 motor, the bird flew to a very respectable altitude, popped its ten-inch square para-sheet, and immediately began drifting away, courtesy of a brisk wind aloft. It ...
[Read More]

Launch Lug Tip
 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues... Here's a construction tip that was passed along to me. This topic just recently popped up on one of the more public forums.     A father was puzzling over why there was a two inch launch lug included in his son's rocket ...
[Read More]

Another 'Found' Rocket Part.
 I'm always on the lookout for any item that can possibly be used for model rocket construction. This past Independence Day weekend, I acquired a long cardboard tube that was part of the packaging for some glow-tube necklaces. This tube is roughly BT- 20 diameter. When I got it ...
[Read More]

A Sad Day In Model Rocketry Blog-dom.
 The past few weeks, I have been running ragged with having family staying at our home, coupled with preparation and rehearsal for a music gig with a newly formed band. It has been about three weeks since I have had the time to sit down at the computer and peruse my favorite blogs and ...
[Read More]

Deltie Airshow - Glider Attachment Parts Re-Built
 I finally have some time to settle down at the workbench and make some progress on the Deltie Airshow model. Today's focus was on re-building the tips of the booster rocket fins that hold the gliders in place. If you recall, the earlier versions of these parts were built up with three ...
[Read More]

Deltie Airshow - Fin Clean-up
 The booster rocket fins/glider attachments have now been sanded to their finished profile. I rounded both the leading and trailing edges of all fins, plus cleaned up the tip surfaces of the glider attachment pieces. The Edmonds instructions would have the builder leave all edges ...
[Read More]

A Plastic Model Conversion Gold Mine !
 During a recent trip to the local Hobby Lobby I stopped by the plastic model aisle where I found this: This is a "U.S. Space Missiles" kit by Atlantis. The kit includes small plastic 1:128 scale models of  36 historical missiles, mounted together on a display base. In the back of my ...
[Read More]

Deltie Airshow - Ready For Primer
 The booster fin sealing and sanding, a model rocketeer's favorite part of any build, is now finished. And the all important launch lug is in place. Next stop is the BlastFromThePast Painting Facility (a corner of the back yard) to apply the first coat of primer. I may just get ...
[Read More]

Viking IV Scale Model Back On The Bench
  N ow that the Deltie Airshow construction is finished and the model is in the paint queue, I've pulled out the tray containing the parts of a Viking IV scale model, first started about this time last year. If you remember, the model was included in the 2022 binge-build, which never quite ...
[Read More]