Launch Report: September 30, 2001
It used to be a tradition to fire off rockets at my
birthday party. However, I hadn't upheld that tradition for four
years. Shame. This year, I would reinitiate that old tradition.
I had already tested two rockets earlier that I
had planned to fly today to see if they were worthy designs. One
of them (Sunbird II) I lost, but the other (Roswell or Bust!) was quite
a neat little flyer, and I decided to save it for the end.
The first rocket I launched (despite the frustrations
of trying to ward off some very obnoxious little kids) was my tiny Micro-Maxx-powered
WAC Corporal. It flew rather well, but the upper section lawn-darted
like it had the first time. I found that rather irritating.
The next launch was of my scale Tomahawk rocket,
which I had built about a year ago. This rocket features a payload
section, but since I couldn't figure out anything to put it it, I dismantled
a clothespin and put one of the wooden members into the payload section
just to have something to fill it.
The third launch of the day was Space Racer II,
on a A6-4. I had someone track it as it ascended, but we unfortunately
didn't get any valid altitude data.
The fourth and fifth flights of the day were made
by Roswell or Bust! Both flights were successful, and it seems that
Roswell or Bust! is fast becoming one of the most successful WAEC designs.
It seems that reward should go to a more orthodox design, but it is the
truth.
Luckily, the only causualty (but not fatality) of
the day was one of my launch controllers; I tripped over the cord on my
attempt to inspect Roswell or Bust! after flight. Oops.
I would definately qualify this to be a very successful
birthday launch. Let the tradition live.