LUNAR Launch Photos and Video

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2005a 2005b 2005c 2005d 2005e

LUNAR Launches 2005e

This photo gallery contains pictures and video submitted by LUNAR members. The pictures were taken at different launches. We have identified the launch where possible, however, by the time the pictures get to this website, the photographers are often a little hazy as to exactly which launch they took the pictures. I can usually figure out the year the picture was taken so that seems to be the safest organization for this list. Clicking on a picture will display the full size one.

August 20, 2005 - Robertson Park

Today seems to be the day to break things. Rockets that is.



Things started out very good. I got my SpaceshipOne to fly straight and true after adding the second pack of clay recommended by Estes. Using only the single pack of clay in the nosecone works OK if you don't do any fancy finishing. If you do anything more than a single coat of paint, you run the risk of having an unstable flight. See the May launch pictures for several examples of unstable flights. I contacted Estes and they sent me a second pack of clay. That did the trick.

Next up was my Mean Machine on an E9-8. This rocket has flown many times and is just about as stable as it is possible to make.	Unfortunately, it does not matter how stable your rocket is if the engine clip hooks on the standoff and your rocket tries to fly away with the pad.

At least the parachute worked.	Later, I tried again and had a perfect flight.

Throughout the day, we were treated to an array of rockets including gliders.

Helicopters.

Small rockets.	And, big ones.



Lots of big ones. And, my stubby flew too (the short red one), with a nose full of aliens with parachutes. Unfortunately, it hit the pavement before they could get out. They were trying to eacape as I ran to pick up the pieces.

We were treated to a V2 launch.	Up it goes.

Ejection! There's the nosecone but where is the rest of it?	Oh, Oh, isn't the body supposed to have a parachute attached? This does not look good.

Greg Wong flew his three stage Triad Video Rocket on a D12 -> B6 -> A6-4.
The quicktime video is about 2.2 Megs. View
More pictures are available on Greg's website. http://www.soundingrocket.com/myrockets/video.shtml#triad

And so went another great day of flying with LUNAR. We picked up the pieces to go home (or, more likely, swept them into plastic bags) to be glued back together and flown again next month. :-)

August 4-7, 2005 - Aeronauts 2005

Some LUNARites went to Aeronauts. The following pictures are from Aaron.

September 17, 2005 - Robertson Park

The following pictures and video were taken by Steve Jurvetson at the September launch.

Eril's Video Rocket

September 23-26, 2005 - XPRS

The Pat and George Wagner got some great pictures at XPRS. A large contingent of LUNARites were there.

XPRS

October 3, 2005 - EBRC Airshow

LUNAR ran the lunch time show at the EBRC airshow again this year.

EBRC Airshow

December 3, 2005 - Snow Ranch

We held our first launch of the season at Snow Ranch thanks to a last minute rain to reduce the fire danger. Snow Ranch launches are some of the only launches where rocketeers pray for rain (do rain dances, wax cars, whatever it takes). This is because we cannot launch until the end of the fire season, which ends with the first good soaking. (most of the pictures for this launch are by Dave Flournoy).

As you can see from the picture, things were still pretty dry. A big event of the launch was our first vendor. Discount Rocketry showed up selling engines and other parts. We hope to see them again.

A very pretty 2 stage. Away it goes.

A patriotic red, white, and blue rocket.

Eric and one of his new creations. Eric loves interesting engines.

Oh, Oh, is that a bowling ball I see??? Yes, it is, a 16 pound bowling ball. Heads-up everyone we are launching a bowling ball. Look at that, it flies.

It wasn't the goes up part we were worrying about, but the comes down part. Unfortunately, it did not come down fast enough and floated off, never to be seen again. I think this was another one that got lost.

This does not look good. What could these guys be cooking up. More rockets waiting to fly.

Parts is parts, but these are big, green parts. They fit together nicely.

Getting it to stand up.

Putting some fire under it.

And away it goes.

About this time, a high power engine blew its aft closure and ejected the burning fuel elements into the grass. The grass had been wet in the morning but the North wind dried it all out. About 20 people immediately rushed out and started stomping it out until the fire control team could get there with the back pumper. We decided to suspend the high- and mid-power launchs until we could get the fire truck ther just to be safe.

This little, tiny, pink thing was on the high-power pads. Putting a big engine in such a little rocket on a windy day is just trying to lose it. The owner asked me to take a picture, just in case. Yep, I was right, it didn't come back.

Here are a bunch more photos by Dave Fluortnoy.

The last guys to fly had the right idea about what to do about the high winds. I found their flight card (It had blown away from the LCO).

All images on this page by William Orvis unless otherwise labeled.

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As you can see from the picture, things were still pretty dry.	A big event of the launch was our first vendor. Discount Rocketry showed up selling engines and other parts. We hope to see them again.

A very pretty 2 stage.	Away it goes.

A patriotic red, white, and blue rocket.

Eric and one of his new creations. Eric loves interesting engines.

Oh, Oh, is that a bowling ball I see??? Yes, it is, a 16 pound bowling ball.	Heads-up everyone we are launching a bowling ball. Look at that, it flies.

It wasn't the goes up part we were worrying about, but the comes down part. Unfortunately, it did not come down fast enough and floated off, never to be seen again.	I think this was another one that got lost.

This does not look good. What could these guys be cooking up.	More rockets waiting to fly.

Parts is parts, but these are big, green parts.	They fit together nicely.

Getting it to stand up.

Putting some fire under it.

And away it goes.

About this time, a high power engine blew its aft closure and ejected the burning fuel elements into the grass. The grass had been wet in the morning but the North wind dried it all out. About 20 people immediately rushed out and started stomping it out until the fire control team could get there with the back pumper.	We decided to suspend the high- and mid-power launchs until we could get the fire truck ther just to be safe.

This little, tiny, pink thing was on the high-power pads. Putting a big engine in such a little rocket on a windy day is just trying to lose it. The owner asked me to take a picture, just in case.	Yep, I was right, it didn't come back.