AeroPAC's Aeronaut 2004 launch meet, July 30 - August 1, 2004

A rocket continues coasting after its motor burns out.


There's a rocket up there somewhere...


Even the model rockets require inspection at the RSO table.


A rocket speeds away from Pad 12.


They don't actually make crayon rockets. But there's a crayon piggie bank which is popular to turn into the exterior of a rocket for that effect. So these are all custom projects when you see them.


A little bit of wind weathercocks this rocket off the pad before it straightens out.


Some people are still out at the pads installing the igniters in their rockets while others return after completing launch preparations.


Everyone has cleared away from the pads and the LCO closes the range before launching the next rack of rockets.


Another launch that I almost didn't get. The rocket itself is off the top of the frame.


The crayon rocket lifts off.


Three seconds later, the crayon rocket is still burning.


Sometimes the owners of rockets ask the LCO to "drag race" two or more of them. In this race, one rocket lit much before the other so we have an obvious winner...


The corkscrew pattern indicates an in-flight failure.


This rocket has tracking smoke to make it easier to follow its descent without binoculars.


Several of us responded to a radio request for assistance. Professor Twiggs of Stanford tried to rescue one of his students who got stuck in the mud, and got stuck himself. Before you laugh though, how many of you who have been to college can remember any of your professors ever trying to do something like this for you?


The rescue vehicle is the one on the right. Today's hero is David James with his Toyota 4x4 pickup with oversize tires. Mike Brest and I stood by with our 4x4 trucks but weren't needed, except to provide a tow strap.

Three vehicles are stuck. David working on the first one, which is Professor Twiggs' truck.


This is the first vehicle that got stuck, belonging to one of Professor Twiggs' students named Sean. He had gotten stuck on Saturday night trying to find an exit from the lakebed in the dark.


Mike Brest's truck (left) and mine (right) stand by in case we're needed. But David had everything under control.

The Ham Radio antenna on my truck was how we received the distress call from the three stuck vehicles.


Sean's truck is by far in the worst position. He got here in the dark the previous night.


AeroPAC member Paul Hopkins was one of the would-be rescuers who ended up also needing a rescue. The Ham Radio antenna on his vehicle is how he called to me at the AeroPAC launch site 15 miles away.