Here is Jim’s version of last Sunday afternoon: First of all, my usually understanding wife doesn’t like the name Beaver Lodge for our house. I, on the other hand, like it because it helps create a mystique that we are living up in the mountains away from civilization. We actually have lots more deer, bear, turkey, hawks, raccoons, squirrels, bats, snakes, caterpillars, spiders, and ants than beavers, but those names just don’t fit well as a name for our “lodge.”
This past Sunday (8-6-2006) Marita’s Mike and son David came by for a visit. Christopher and Edward love hanging with David so Mike’s and David’s arrival was eagerly anticipated. The first thing that came out of the boys’ arsenal (literally) was an eight-foot long three-stage rocket built by Christopher.
This “Long August” rocket is mounted for takeoff at the top of the wood frame, with the tail fins level with Edward’s hairline. David is on the left. The rocket’s tube is an 8-foot plastic florescent light bulb protector available from Home Depot. The first stage is an “E” motor, designed to be pushed out when the second motor, a “D”, fires after being lit by the expended “E.” The white one-foot long object within the tube, at the top of the fins, is a finless third stage using an “A” motor. After being lit by the expended “D” motor, the third stage is supposed to blast its way up the tube, through the green nose cone, and continue higher.
Here we have a magnificent takeoff.The weight of the three motors makes the first stage exhaust nice and thick.
The Long August rocket near the end of the “E” motor firing. The delay before “D” motor startup was a wee-bit too long and the rocket nosed over and headed straight down back to Earth. Then, just when it seemed we were watching a catastrophic failure, the rocket did something we’ve never seen before, the “D” motor ignited, and the rocket made a “U” turn and started heading straight up again. We were all completely amazed.
This rocket was guiding itself to new heights!
Below we see the second (“D” motor) stage bring the Long August way up. You can make out the very faint rocket at the top of this picture. This is really far up at this point – I would guess between 600-800 feet.
After topping out again, the rocket nosed over for its second time, and crashed on the pool deck.
The three rocketeers inspect the spent rocket, after removing the third stage which never fired. Christopher is holding what had been the 8-foot clear plastic tube; David is holding the third stage white tube. They feel that the third stage moved up the tube after the rocket nosed over, and was too far from the second motor to be ignited.
Edward and David took a PVC pipe and fired the third stage bazooka style. Without fins it lost its directional stability. Uncle Mike’s comment was that he sees a future for Edward, in the military.
Christopher checks out the tail. It appears that the second motor, that was mounted a few inches up the tube, must have melted the tube enough to bend it to bring the rocket out of its first dive. It then melted the tube the other way to make the rocket fly straight up again. Improbable as this may sound, it is the only explanation we have at this point.
Front end of the rocket showing the crumpled top of the rocket tube. Uncle Mike is in the background, perhaps wondering how he managed to marry into this family.
The full rocket team: Christopher, Edward, David, Uncle Mike. Where are they all heading? Fourth year H.S., Third year H.S., Fourth year college, back home again.
Heather’s notes: A fun time was had by all. I love that they create their own rockets rather than use kits. Where was Katherine – she was taking movies of the launches.
Heather
Comments (13)
That was awesome! Thanks for sharing!
i love that………
that movie, october sky, is one of my absolute favorites
Have a great Sunday, Bryan
That was great! What an exciting day! I especially love how the rocket did the U-turn! RYC: If you (or your kids) have any questions re: any certain subject in particular, I am willing (if you need) to see if I have or can find other links to help. I have used http://www.ask.com quite often myself, but whenever I can find sites especially developed to inform people about certain subject matter, I find that they are often more helpful.
Thank you again for all of the really “spiritually meaty” things that you share. Carolyn
Yep! That’s the movie I was thimking about…..”October Sky”! You may have future Rocket Engineer on your hands! Have a Blessed Sunday! In Christ’s Love……Monic
Incredible! Only in America! Do it in Singapore and you’ll need clearance from the authorities….and probably won’t go beyond 100 ft.
Those are some good looking young men. Bet that was a fun afternoon with the rocket.
Sounds and looks (by the pics) that they all had a wonderful time!! Thanks for sharing this. It wonderful to share happy moments with one another.
Hope you have a wonderful Sunday, Heather!
God be with you!!
My son went to the county Science Fair with his rocket project in grade school. It was really fun putting the whole thing together and watching it. Have a wonderful Sunday.
Love ya, Darlena
Cool! Once the thing headed downward I was expecting to hear that you all had to run for your lives as the second motor sped its descent right at you! Very interesting that it turned out to do the opposite. Does sound like a wonderful time was had by all!
tim
Hi Heather, thanks for stopping by and for all your prayers. They are greatly appreciated.. Hope you have a blessed week…………Teresa
this is so interesting, good photos, thanks for sharing
That rocket was amazing! I’ve never seen a homemade rocket before. I’ll bet you had a really exciting day. And the guys must have been thrilled too. Do they do this kind of thing a lot? I wouldn’t know where to begin making a rocket. I’ll bet you were proud! Good that you got movies of it. That will be great to look back on years from now!
Reminds me of October Sky- I loved the movie so much I bought it. If these guys haven’t seen it, they should- based on a true story- quite inspiring.
I love the setting of you Beaver lodge- beautiful!