That awesome photo was taken by the talented Kennie of Tales from the Arctic, and if you knew how briefly the rocket would be in that frame, once the motor ignites, you would be even more impressed. The rest of the photos illustrating this post are hers, Leah Leah and her brother Terry shot the video.
Shortly after noon, Leah, Travis, Hilary and I, along with two of Leah's sisters, her brother, and two nephews, headed out onto frozen Arctic Bay to launch the rocket. Shortly after we got set up Kendra arrived, camera in hand to record the event for posterity.
The first launch went staggeringly well (and I'm not sure but this may well be the most northernly launch of a model rocket) which made me feel a whole lot better. I had visions of a sputter and then nothing else. Travis didn't want to press the button to launch the rocket, (no I swear, its on tape) and although Hilary volunteered I did the honours.
The rocket is startlingly loud, when it takes off. In fact it did just that, frightened the video person so footage ends right after the launch. It is hard to convey just how quickly the rocket gains altitude, and just how high it climbs, roughly to the height of that mountain pictured behind the rocket a couple of posts ago.
My other big fear, that the parachute wouldn't eject and we'd watch helplessly as the rocket sped into the ground, also didn't materialize, and the rocket spun lazily back to earth. The recovery team ran out to get it before the parachute settled to the ground. It didn't take too much convincing to get a second motor ready and launch it again.
While the second launch appeared to go well it didn't quite. I noticed that it launched at more of an angle than the first rocket. I didn't discover until later, at home, the reason why. During the launch one of the two tabs that secure the rocket to the launch rod came off. This effectively kills tomorrows planned launch, delaying it until we can get another part for it. The other thing that happened is that apparently decals do not perform well at sub zero temperatures. While watching for the parachute to deploy I noticed something orange drifting down. It turned out to be one of the decals from a fin.
All in all it was a very fun afternoon. More photos and the video below the fold.
Its always a good sign when a Raven flies over the launch pad!
Preparing the rocket for launch.
Making sure the igniter is in place.
The gallery.
Mission Control (after the first launch – note discarded motor).
Launch pad clear?
The rocket drifts lazily back to earth.
The Recovery Team heads out.
The Recovery Teams heads back in.
All ready for the second launch.
Like Skylab, one of the fin decals falls back to terra firma.
Got it!
Initiator Rocket Launch – Arctic Bay NU from Clare Kines on Vimeo.
Comments
10 responses
LOVE seeing all the excited kids running back from recovered rocket. Great fun!!
That video is priceless. I know I’ve told you this before, but in that video at that distance you could be my dad (a much younger version of course hehe). One day we will meet, and I’m gonna give you a big hug.
I agree with Fawn – the shot of the kids running back looks like so much fun! How cute!
Great post, pics and video! I’m grinning from ear to ear.
Brings back alot of memories of my brother and me building and firing of rockets when we were kids and into young adult hood. LOL.
Thanks for the video and photos.
That is one of my favourite photos also Fawn and FT. I love how she captured the playful mood the kids were in.
Hey Tina, thanks for adding “a much younger version”. Your father must have been a very handsome man.
Thanks Dave, we all had grins like that.
Hi M&M. I like to think that I’m still in my young adulthood. And no time like the present to get the kids in touch with their inner geek.
What fun! Take that, Kenn Borek! If you could squeeze me into it, you’d be in business.
Hi Nancy. I think that Travis and my ability to launch a person to northern destinations is still a couple of years off. We’re having trouble keeping the sandwiches frozen. Once the kinks have been worked out we’ll be open for business.
Wow! The video is great…the photos are amazing! How in the WORLD did Kennie capture that rocket? I love the photo of the kids running and the houses nestled at the base of the mountains. Terrific post, Clare! I’m sorry it took me so long to see it!
She did a great job in capturing it Kimberlee. I’ve not been able to duplicate it in several other launches.