Model Rocket Competition

Chris and Carrie participated in a model rocket competition where they built and launched their own rockets.  The event was sponsored by the Cape Canaveral section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).  The event was hosted by the Spaceport Rocketry Association and many of their members were launching rockets of their own throughout the day.  We included pictures of some of their big rockets too.  As usual, you can click on any of the pictures to see a larger version.  If you do, you can press the escape key on your keyboard return to this post.

The kids all built their own rocket in the morning using an Estes E2X kit.
The Spaceport Rocketry Association had a launch stand which accommodated all our rockets. Carol helped the kids get set up for their first launch.
Dave stepped in to help aim the launch rail and connect the wires to the engine ignitors.
Here is a series from Carrie’s launch. The first frame is just after ignition. The second frame is a sixth of a second later. The third frame shows her rocket descending after the parachute deployed.
Here is a trio from Chris’s first launch.
Here is Carrie with her finger on the launch button prior to her second launch and her rocket just after ignition.
And the same series for Chris’s second launch.
This big rocket was about 7 feet tall.
This rocket was even bigger but got hung up on the high power lines visible in the distance of the launch photo. About an hour later it freed itself somehow.
This big rocket carried a glider that detached and spiraled back to earth. The glider is the speck on the right, above the main rocket and its parachute.
What modern competition would be complete without certificates of participation? Both kids had a great time and are eager to build and launch new rockets.

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