2-Stage Rocket Launch

3 responses to “2-Stage Rocket Launch”

1. 

   BenODen

   Nov 10, 2006 at 8:08 am

   Ohyeah. That’s one stupendous rocket. Do I read the guide wire streamers right that there was a pretty stiff wind at the time?

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2. 

   jurvetson

   Nov 10, 2006 at 5:28 pm

   Yes, it was gusty in the afternoon (after a very calm morning). I did not post photos of the dust storms as the visibility drops dramatically.

   A stable rocket design will fly straight up with wind. An over-stable rocket will weathercock into the wind, and then fly straight. You won’t get as much altitude going up at an angle, but it can help in rocket recovery because the parachute will pop upwind, and bring the rocket back toward the launch site. With a rocket this size, going out of sight, all bets are off as to where it will return. =)

   But it was a successful launch with full recovery. The builder was only in his 2nd year of rocketry, which is pretty amazing for a project this big.

   Oh, and the third category? An unstable rocket does not need wind to go crazy. They become land sharks or pinwheels or scribbles in the night.
   =)

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3. 

   fartimtf

   Nov 11, 2006 at 1:33 pm

   nice shot love th background
   (from Action Now)

   Reply