Inspiriation!

Here is a link to a Wired article about the launch of QU8K, an amateur rocket that reached an altitude of 121,000 feet in an attempt to claim the Carmack 100kft Micro Challenge prize.

Amateur Rocket QU8K Reaches 100,000


Here's a short video of the launch:

The Jones Boys

I came across a wonderful rocketry site about a man and his son, and their passion for rocketry.  Their site is full of great stories and photographs chronicling their journey.  They started small, and now the Dad is up to Level 2 certification in High Powered Rocketry.

Check out Jones Boys' Rocketry, where they "poke holes in the sky one rocket at a time."

Follow them on Twitter at @JonesBoysRoktry

They Have Arrived

My Amazon shipment arrived today, and it contained an ESTES Rascal & Hi Jinks Model Rocket Launch Set (see unboxing photo).

George and I will try to launch both of these beauties this weekend, Wind and equipment willing.  Naturally, we'll be adhering to the NAR's Safety Code at all times!

We'll be sure to take some video at the launch area.

Video Camera Experiment on a small rocket

Here is a link to a blog post by a guy who was given a key chain camera, and went looking for things to do with it.  He decided to buy his fist Estes rocket!  A little bit of duct tape later...

Video Camera On Model Rocket

Here are the exhaustive reviews of these 808 keychain DVRs mentioned in the post.

Amateur Rocketry Links

National and Local Organizations/Clubs

• National Association of Rocketry

• Tripoli Rocket Association - dedicated to high-powered rocketry

• Amateur Rocket Society of America

• Rick McKee's Arizona Rocket Consortium

• Superstition Spacemodeling Society (awesome project: Upscaled Estes Cherokee-D)

• Arizona High-Power Rocket Association (Tripoli) launches large Estes to M's monthly

• Experimental Rocket Association of Arizona (Serious shit)

Reference Info

• Rocket Motor Classification at Wikipedia

• FAQ on Amateur Rocketry at Rocketry.org

• Good introductory reference at Fly Rockets (includes legal issues, certification, where to buy)

Instrumentation

• Winged Shadow Systems provides altimeters, airspeed, and other instrumentation designed primarily for R/C aircraft.
• Apogee Rockets carries the AltimeterOne and other cool stuff.
• Adept Rocketry sells instruments, including a $20 altimeter!

Buy Rockets

• Estes official site

• Estes at Amazon

• DynaStar official site - makers of Mid-Power Model Rockets (D, E, F)

• DynaStar at Amazon

• Quest Aerospace at Amazon

• High-Q Rocket by Quest (higher power rocket)

• Discount Rocketry

• Other sellers of larger rockets at FlyRockets.com