AeroPAC's XPRS III launch meet, Sept 23-26, 2004

Students work on their electronics.


I took some pictures on the west end of the flight line before beginning my 10-12AM shift as LCO. This canopy stood out with several large rockets leaning against it.


On Saturday morning, the AeroPAC XPRS III flight line as viewed from the west end.


At one camp, other model-building handywork was on display. This is a model of the science fiction "Eagle" spacecraft from the 1970's TV show "Space 1999".


I think this is Mike Brest's Level 3 certification flight.


A large rocket (possibly an ARLISS flight) lifts off from Pad D.


A rocket lands in the range.


I'm taking my turn as Launch Control Officer. The child standing at the LCO table is waiting to "press the button" to launch his model rocket. I sometimes let kids observe from this close if they show they can watch without touching the control panel except when instructed to do so. This one hung around a lot whenever anyone would let him - perhaps a future LCO in training? (photo by assistant LCO Jim)


I'm taking my turn as Launch Control Officer. (photo by assistant LCO Jim)


This videographer from Italy is making a documentary about America's desert southwest. He got a lot of footage from the AeroPAC launch.


As usual, I asked a spokesman from among the students flying payloads on an ARLISS flight to say who they are and what they're flying. This student describes his university's payloads.


A rocket lifts off, but veers a little in some wind shear.


This rocket is doing a bit of a corkscrew pattern, indicating possible uneven thrust or damage to a fin.


The rocket continues coasting after its motor burns out.


A large rocket lifts off from Pad C.


The rocket climbs.


The rocket climbs.


Students carry an ARLISS rocket out to its launch pad.


Students carry an ARLISS rocket out to its launch pad.


Students carry an ARLISS rocket out to its launch pad.


Students carry an ARLISS rocket out to its launch pad.


Students carry an ARLISS rocket out to its launch pad. Ed Hackett prepares Pad A.


At Pad C, Owen DeLong assists students setting up another ARLISS rocket.


John Coker and Peter Clay help prep an ARLISS rocket for launch.


Students at the pad while Ed Hackett prepares an ARLISS rocket for launch.


On Pad C, John Coker's ARLISS rocket is ready to go. John and the students who have payloads aboard the rocket stand for a group photo.


On Pad C, John Coker's ARLISS rocket is ready to go. John and the students who have payloads aboard the rocket stand for a group photo.


The 500-foot row pads are for powerful rockets with at least M motors (or something else about them that makes the rocketeer or LCO want them to be 500 feet from the flight line.) This shows some of the effects, as the heat from earlier launches has caused loose desert sand to clump together as clods and blasted them away forming a small hole.


Several students help Ed Hackett to put his rocket on the launch rail at Pad A.


Several students help Ed Hackett to put his rocket on the launch rail at Pad A.


Several students help Ed Hackett to put his rocket on the launch rail at Pad A.


At Pad C, John Coker's ARLISS rocket is ready so everyone there starts to leave the pad.


Several students help Ed Hackett to put his rocket on the launch rail at Pad A. There are a lot of students present for this one so the rest stand nearby and watch.


Ed Hackett's ARLISS rocket is raised toward the vertical position.


Ed Hackett prepares his ARLISS rocket for launch while students who have payloads aboard it watch.


On Pad B, Peter Clay (left) and his brother Jamie prepare Peter's rocket for launch. Peter's rocket is called "USS Bakula" (written in a Star Trek type font on the rocket, named tongue-in-cheek for actor Scott Bakula of Star Trek Enterprise.) On this flight the rocket experienced significant fin flutter nearly to the point of failure, which was captured by its on-board video. You can see the video at Jamie's personal web site at http://www.dph.com/vidroc/XPRS_2004/index.html.

Peter is AeroPAC's Launch Director. Jamie is AeroPAC's Webmaster. Both of their positions are voting seats on AeroPAC's Board of Directors.


The nose cone on Peter's rocket contains a downward-facing video camera and transmitter.


On Pad A, Ed Hackett's ARLISS rocket is ready to go. Ed is on the far right. All the students who have payloads aboard his rocket assemble for a group photo.


A group photo with Ed Hackett and all the students who have payloads aboard his rocket.


A group photo with Ed Hackett and all the students who have payloads aboard his rocket.