Our launch waiver from the FAA reopened for night launches. Creative rockets with strobe lights and various blinking contraptions glittered like alien ships at they drifted down on parachutes in the perfectly clear star sprinkled sky.

This photo by Ian Kluft of a drag race between two rockets shows the path that an unstable rocket can take…. The straight shot on the left is the winner.

25 responses to “The path of instability”

  1. cybele Avatar
    cybele

    hot damn thats great!

    Reply
  2. biotron Avatar
    biotron

    fantastic!

    Reply
  3. _sarchi Avatar
    _sarchi

    Light fantica

    Reply
  4. Vanita Avatar
    Vanita

    Now *that* is a burning man!
    Incredibilis!

    Reply
  5. The Rocketeer Avatar
    The Rocketeer

    Awesome capture, Steve! What camera and exposure setting did you use?

    Reply
  6. boring fact Avatar
    boring fact

    I first thought it to be an image from the burning man…very nice night capture

    Reply
  7. NothingToDeclare Avatar
    NothingToDeclare

    actually, we have a lower waiver for night launches. It’s 15,000 feet if I recall correctly.

    Reply
  8. Mr. Physics Avatar
    Mr. Physics

    Absolutely awesome!!! This is one of my favorite/best photos I have seen in a long time. I love it!

    Reply
  9. Iris V Avatar
    Iris V

    Wow, great lines!!!

    Reply
  10. nep Avatar
    nep

    This picture truly captures an amazing moment.

    Reply
  11. beigeinside Avatar
    beigeinside

    the image alone is great.

    Reply
  12. somnambulant Avatar
    somnambulant

    awesome.. +fav

    Reply
  13. Creativity+ Timothy K Hamilton Avatar
    Creativity+ Timothy K Hamilton

    There is a group for photos with over 2000 views. You may move the photo to that group, if you like. Great shot!

    Reply
  14. *helmen Avatar
    *helmen

    great

    Reply
  15. jurvetson Avatar
    jurvetson

    I just posted a video of a supersonic shred on Revver. The rocket screamed to Mach 2 on a L-size motor, and the pressure wave ripped the fins off making it temporarily unstable (corkscrew). You can hear the warning siren (something I was used to hearing by that point… =) and the chatter of people spotting the fins and other chunks as they rained down around us. A classic RUD – “ Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly”.

    Other videos:
    • Russian Roar ending with “Remember, mortgage before motors.”
    • Big Rocket with N2000 motor
    • Videocam on Rocket launched near Stanford (also Livermore)
    • My first launch… with Baking Soda & Vinegar
    =)

    Reply
  16. jurvetson Avatar
    jurvetson

    Just saw a more dramatic daytime video of a J350 forward closure failure. The rocket is toast. Propellant shoots forward, like you see in the night shot above.

    Reply
  17. thnkfst Avatar
    thnkfst

    that is so cool! I love the design it made.

    Reply
  18. Dew Drop Avatar
    Dew Drop

    wow…very fascinating!!! Awesome shot!

    Thanks for sharing it in "Paths" thread 🙂
    The World Through My Eyes

    Reply
  19. mosippy Avatar
    mosippy

    Totally cosmic. Very cool. Well done!!

    The World Through My Eyes

    Reply
  20. borealnz Avatar
    borealnz

    So beautiful and dramatic!

    The World Through My Eyes

    Reply
  21. BenODen Avatar
    BenODen

    HUH! I just saw something new in the daytime video.. At the end, Is that a Coyote that is just hanging out unconcerned?

    Reply
  22. .s.e.a.n. Avatar
    .s.e.a.n.

    Very cool…

    Reply
  23. schoschie Avatar
    schoschie

    Beautiful photo. This would make a very nice poster.

    Reply
  24. Mr. Physics Avatar
    Mr. Physics

    In Marc’s opinion, this is Great Photography. You are hereby invited to submit this photo for inclusion in the collection of Great Photography, in Marc’s opinion.

    (This is not another one of those award/trophy/icon-based invitation-only groups that clutter up photo comment sections with too many irritating graphics. You don’t get any graphics, can’t vote for or invite anyone else to add their photo, and nothing is asked of you other than to add your photo to the group pool. However, you are welcome to join the group, and submit other photos for consideration.)

    Hi, I’m an admin for a group called Great Photography, in Marc’s opinion, and we’d love to have your photo added to the group.

    Reply
  25. Christopher Vigliotti Avatar
    Christopher Vigliotti

    awesome!

    Reply

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