Ray’s Rockets

Ray’s Rockets http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html Updated August 2010. Return to Ray’s Rocketry Page IMG_8150c August 2010 -- This is the remains of a rocket that crashed and was recently recovered after almost four years in the desert. The reloadable motor hardware is still in great shape. The altimeter is also in working condition and, after installing a new battery, it beeped out the altitude of the rocket’s last flight: 6721 feet. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#0 ec58b15e-1f87-47ad-b9e0-5047aa1c340f http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/IMG_8150c/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/IMG_8150c/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_8150c<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">August 2010 -- This is the remains of a rocket that crashed and was recently recovered after almost four years in the desert. The reloadable motor hardware is still in great shape. The altimeter is also in working condition and, after installing a new battery, it beeped out the altitude of the rocket’s last flight: 6721 feet.</p></div></div> My first experiments with camera payload rockets involved the Estes Astrocam, such as this one mounted on a custom rocket. This was powered by a Flight Systems F100 black powder motor. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#1 ef6072ba-5ef3-4ffc-858a-bbe7fa98b7d3 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/ModAstrocam1/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/ModAstrocam1/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_3">My first experiments with camera payload rockets involved the Estes Astrocam, such as this one mounted on a custom rocket. This was powered by a Flight Systems F100 black powder motor.</span></p></div></div> This was my first 35mm camera rocket. It snapped one frame per flight, using a mechanical timer. These two photos were from its first launch, April 2, 1988. This launch was powered by an Aerotech F80 and two Estes D12’s. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#2 b47caf56-689f-4bcc-a949-2b89fdad9f02 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/FirstCam/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/FirstCam/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_3">This was my first 35mm camera rocket. It snapped one frame per flight, using a mechanical timer. These two photos were from its first launch, April 2, 1988. This launch was powered by an Aerotech F80 and two Estes D12’s.</span></p></div></div> Shortly after building my first 35mm camera rocket, I built this newer one using a motorized camera to shoot a series of photos during the entire flight. The camera was a fixed-focus Ansco that I bought used from a thrift store. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#3 6af23e29-e58f-4c60-9936-1230548be634 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/FirstHakocam1/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/FirstHakocam1/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_3">Shortly after building my first 35mm camera rocket, I built this newer one using a motorized camera to shoot a series of photos during the entire flight. The camera was a fixed-focus Ansco that I bought used from a thrift store.</span></p></div></div> Launching a Super 8 movie camera on an Aerotech I65 “White Lightning” motor in August 1990, at one of the early Tripoli San Diego launches. I was one of the five founding members of TSD back in 1988. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#4 f69c85ac-ee2e-4d39-9d62-610c61662395 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/Aug90Launch1/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/Aug90Launch1/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_3">Launching a Super 8 movie camera on an Aerotech I65 “White Lightning” motor in August 1990, at one of the early Tripoli San Diego launches. I was one of the five founding members of TSD back in 1988.</span></p></div></div> Cris poses with a few of my rockets in 2005. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#5 0c9425a4-96c6-4b35-a1a1-44fab2f6b6b7 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/003_14aFleet/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/003_14aFleet/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Cris poses with <span class="style_3">a few of my rockets in 2005.</span></p></div></div> A few of my rockets in 2004. The one on the far right has a BoosterVision video camera system. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#6 de464f35-d181-47a8-8415-d7677b237acc http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/002RocketFleetVert1/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/002RocketFleetVert1/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_3">A few of my rockets in 2004. The one on the far right has a BoosterVision video camera system.</span></p></div></div> 004_18TVA1 This payload capsule houses a BoosterVision video camera that transmits live video, with sound, to a receiver on the ground. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#7 68afbb79-c808-4af2-894b-b7a27a5024dc http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/004_18TVA1/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/004_18TVA1/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">004_18TVA1<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_3">This payload capsule houses a BoosterVision video camera that transmits live video, with sound, to a receiver on the ground.</span></p></div></div> Me with few of my rockets in 2004. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#8 ac1a40a4-79b2-4b4f-9e59-1ea1116baf81 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/003RocketFleetRay1/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/003RocketFleetRay1/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_3">Me with few of my rockets in 2004.</span></p></div></div> Occasionally I used this strap-on altimeter pod to record the altitude of my smaller rockets. On some of the more recent versions, the altimeter is carried in the payload capsule. My larger rockets currently have an altimeter bay located ahead of the tail section, and use the altimeter for deployment of the parachutes as well as recording the altitude. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#9 34ded650-a56a-4ec7-90f4-916705af95d3 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/005AltPodMounted1/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/005AltPodMounted1/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_3">Occasionally I used this strap-on altimeter pod to record the altitude of my smaller rockets. On some of the more recent versions, the altimeter is carried in the payload capsule. My larger rockets currently have an altimeter bay located ahead of the tail section, and use the altimeter for deployment of the parachutes as well as recording the altitude.</span></p></div></div> HakoC1Prep1 One of my 4” diameter rockets with a central 38mm motor mount surrounded by eight 24mm mounts, plus twelve 24mm strap-on boosters. The boosters are designed to drop off after their motors are expended. Timed lengths of Thermalite fuse are used to ignite the 24mm black powder motors. The fuse is ignited by the flame of the large center motor. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#10 59c6c323-f713-4c4c-b346-b19ce1599e6a http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/HakoC1Prep1/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/HakoC1Prep1/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">HakoC1Prep1<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_3">One of my 4” diameter rockets with a central 38mm motor mount surrounded by eight 24mm mounts, plus twelve 24mm strap-on boosters. The boosters are designed to drop off after their motors are expended. Timed lengths of Thermalite fuse are used to ignite the 24mm black powder motors. The fuse is ignited by the flame of the large center motor.</span></p></div></div> One of my 4” diameter rockets with a central 38mm motor mount surrounded by eight 24mm mounts, plus twelve 24mm strap-on boosters. These boosters are designed to drop off after their motors are expended. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#11 7315636a-6069-46b4-b252-7523fd3bce0d http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/HakoC1Pad1/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/HakoC1Pad1/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_2"><span class="style_4">One of my 4” diameter rockets with a central 38mm motor mount surrounded by eight 24mm mounts, plus twelve 24mm strap-on boosters. These boosters are designed to drop off after their motors are expended.</span></p></div></div> One of my basic A-series 35mm camera rockets. These small rockets are the workhorse of my fleet and are what I fly most often. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#12 06e2a788-2059-4725-8e8a-91acab8b0743 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/02-18HotSpringsPad/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/02-18HotSpringsPad/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_3">One of my basic A-series 35mm camera rockets. These small rockets are the workhorse of my fleet and are what I fly most often.</span></p></div></div> July 2005 - A shiny new 2.6” diameter rocket with improved camera payload capsule. This rocket features an interchangeable altimeter bay above the tail section, and the camera is triggered by an electronic timer. The camera capsule also contains a micro siren to aid in locating it after the flight. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#13 71833ea2-e077-4c22-b033-7286bb6a1a0c http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/NewRocket72f12f05/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/NewRocket72f12f05/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_3">July 2005 - A shiny new 2.6” diameter rocket with improved camera payload capsule. This rocket features an interchangeable altimeter bay above the tail section, and the camera is triggered by an electronic timer. The camera capsule also contains a micro siren to aid in locating it after the flight.</span></p></div></div> One of my 2.6” rockets in two-stage mode. This one uses a timer in the interstage coupler to ignite the second stage. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#14 fa830caa-db13-4605-9f21-74cd2b955bfd http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/002_19TwoStage/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/002_19TwoStage/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_3">One of my 2.6” rockets in two-stage mode. This one uses a timer in the interstage coupler to ignite the second stage.</span></p></div></div> A 2.6” rocket with an older style payload capsule and two 38mm strap on boosters. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#15 e1d0973e-8142-45ae-8eaa-7c65c7751bbc http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/03-02RedPitPad/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/03-02RedPitPad/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_3">A 2.6” rocket with an older style payload capsule and two 38mm strap on boosters.</span></p></div></div> 04-00TriStar This 4” diameter rocket is fitted with special brackets for parallel staging. This allows it to carry two smaller rockets, which ignite and separate from the booster after the primary motor burns out. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#16 f8c6923e-95db-44c3-901e-59973a5a8e17 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/04-00TriStarUp/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/04-00TriStarUp/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">04-00TriStar<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_3">This 4” diameter rocket is fitted with special brackets for parallel staging. This allows it to carry two smaller rockets, which ignite and separate from the booster after the primary motor burns out.</span></p></div></div> Pads18Stern A small two stage rocket and a larger single stage prepared for launch. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#17 e37ed716-734d-45fd-9eb4-c98e645075ba http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/Pads18Stern31Mar05/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/Pads18Stern31Mar05/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Pads18Stern<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_3"><span class="style_4">A small two stage rocket and a larger single stage prepared for launch.</span></p></div></div> RayTristar1 This was my first Tri-Star rocket, using a large booster two carry two parasite-staged smaller rockets. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#18 ee10d7f0-8d1e-42ec-af4e-9e78912c44f9 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/RayTristar1/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/RayTristar1/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">RayTristar1<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_4">This was my first Tri-Star rocket, using a large booster two carry two parasite-staged smaller rockets.</span></p></div></div> One of my early two-stage flights with a Super 8 movie camera payload. Another Super 8 camera is mounted on the pole above it, capturing the liftoff in slow motion. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#19 1d9e2660-6be5-48c9-9ee0-e664f2fedac4 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/OLD2STAGELAUNCH1/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/OLD2STAGELAUNCH1/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_3">One of my early two-stage flights with a Super 8 movie camera payload. Another Super 8 camera is mounted on the pole above it, capturing the liftoff in slow motion.</span></p></div></div> These two aerial photos depict a dual launch. In the first frame, the smaller rocket can be seen just starting to lift off on a billow of black smoke and sparks. The larger rocket which captured the image is powered by an Aerotech “White Lightning” motor. In the second frame, you can just barely see the small rocket’s trail of black smoke arcing over the old water tower. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#20 1329921f-1cb0-4049-9d2e-0abc6e62b4bd http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/DC%20Duel/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/DC%20Duel/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_3">These two aerial photos depict a dual launch. In the first frame, the smaller rocket can be seen just starting to lift off on a billow of black smoke and sparks. The larger rocket which captured the image is powered by an Aerotech “White Lightning” motor. In the second frame, you can just barely see the small rocket’s trail of black smoke arcing over the old water tower.</span></p></div></div> HAKO5 This was my first successful 4” diameter two-stage rocket. It used a 54mm J-class motor in each stage. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#21 f6126f72-875b-4957-9b89-ae4ed1c83a89 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/RayHAKO5/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/RayHAKO5/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">HAKO5<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_4">This was my first successful 4” diameter two-stage rocket. It used a 54mm J-class motor in each stage.</span></p></div></div> XL2pad One of my early Super 8 movie camera rockets. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#22 2db33f8d-aba4-4372-857e-a43a81b16044 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/XL2pad/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/XL2pad/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">XL2pad<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_3">One of my early Super 8 movie camera rockets.</span></p></div></div> Staging This photo captures the moment of stage separation, as the expended first stage drops off. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets.html#23 ed83379e-d9ed-4125-b4e1-d11a15136daa http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/Staging/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/My_Rockets_files/Media/Staging/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Staging<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption"><span class="style_3">This photo captures the moment of stage separation, as the expended first stage drops off.</span></p></div></div>