The Green Planet Team at the BALLS Launch Pad

The rocket name (with Planet logo sticker) is an homage to the Planet Labs team, who I first met at this launch location when they were testing the Phonesat payload idea as a NASA/Google project.

For this rocket, we did a custom build using a very lightweight but strong tube (originally used in mortar casings) of a minimum-diameter airframe. So the rocket body is also the solid-rocket motor casing, and an aluminum rear retention ring secures it in place.

The nosecone is also lightweight, and I know that it will collapse when going supersonic, so I tried an experiment using a series of duct-tape strips to help it hold together.

Altogether, the rocket’s dry weight was just 1.7 lbs. Launch video — it’s short!