Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ƒ/7.1
400 mm
1/3,200
400

Hillbilly Rocketry always puts on a good show, and it usually involves large projects gone wrong.

Here you see the two-stage Gila Monster, with seven N motors in the booster and six more controlled by computers on board.

But it all went wild overhead. Photo sequence below.

7 responses to “Death Spiral”

  1. jurvetson Avatar
    jurvetson

    blastoff
    IMG_5835

    Despite the non-linear path, the computers deploy the parachutes at apogee:
    IMG_5880

    Upper stage landing
    IMG_5892

    Booster landing
    IMG_5904

    The parade wave to the camera as the Hillbillies roll back into town
    IMG_5930

    Reply
  2. seatonsnet Avatar
    seatonsnet

    If at first you don’t succeed etc, etc.
    Here is something that looks interesting:
    http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120921-lighter-tha n-air-craft-…
    Are you involved in this? I ask because this is something I have been waiting to see happen for at least 20 years.

    Reply
  3. Kevin Baird Avatar
    Kevin Baird

    Ka-BOOM! Great catch!

    Reply
  4. solerena Avatar
    solerena

    Failures look amazing as well…

    Reply
  5. Wind Watcher Avatar
    Wind Watcher

    Ooops

    Reply
  6. Chucil Avatar
    Chucil

    Like cephalopod with the ink, the rocket escaped.

    Reply
  7. jurvetson Avatar
    jurvetson

    Good eye! That is what it looks like.

    And here is a short video someone got of it.

    Reply

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