Filming a TV program for KQED on, of all things, rocketry as an inspiration for math and science education. From 500M hobby rocket launches to date… to civilian space exploration and STEM education programs like Mavericks… to student payloads flying to the ISS… to employment in “new space” startups enabled by commercial space competition, the opportunities now lie on a continuum. For space innovation, it feels a bit liberating, like the mainframe to PC transition.
Apollo inspired a whole generation of kids to pursue science and engineering. Hopefully we are entering an era where curiosity and exploration can migrate forth from the dream world to the final frontier.
The photo is timely, as my son will be launching that Epic cluster rocket tomorrow. He designed and simulated it and used esoteric materials to let it fly with motors on each fin tip, RF tracking, video capture, flight telemetry and on-board ignition of the central motor by flight computer.
I’ll be flying the winged Sledgehammer on an Aerotech M1315 motor. Erik is prepping the Bruiser XL, all 12 feet of her.
And I’ll try to support each of these flights with the cool pad cam perspective from below.
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