Three...two...one...

For many, it's one of the rites of passage: Launching a solid-fuel model rocket. For many, it's also a rite of passage to have that rocket float downrange and forever out of sight. Or have it land in a tree, forever out of reach. Or have it explode in a bazillion pieces, forever to be confetti.

We've had such a rocket in our posession for over a year now, a gift with great appeal, but lost in the shuffle of daily life. Today, we vowed to put that rocket into a very low-altitude and short-duration orbit and take it off our "someday" list.

When we left home, there wasn't much of a breeze, but when we arrived at the Hanover Courthouse park, about 20 minutes away, there was enough of a wind to extend the colors on the flagpole straight out. Knowing we'd have to consider some sizeable downrange drift, we set off across the soccer fields, eyeing the perfect launch site.

The video below speaks for itself, along with the "recovery" follow-up.




The one adjustment we made was one that, ironically, Big Red had suggested while we were assembling the rocket at home: In Boys Life, he had seen a suggestion to cut a hole in the parachute, in order to allow a faster (but still controlled) rate of descent. One knife, one slice, and poof, instant holey chute (pun not intended, but not bad).

Unfortunately, during the packing of the chute for launch #2, the protective wadding must have been too tightly packed, for the parachute failed to deploy, resulting in the main tube burying itself about 2" in the ground. We also suspect the rocket engine may have been faulty, for the observed altitude achieved seemed much lower than on launch #1.

All in all, the experience was positive, and we'll likely be heading to WalMart for more rocket engines. We'll also be investing in a backup rocket. Because the trees always beckon, and they're always hungry.