Pictures of AeroPAC XPRS III, Sept 23-26, 2004

All pictures from AeroPAC's XPRS III launch on Sept 23-26, 2004 at the Black Rock Desert.

This is just an initial look at my pictures from XPRS III.

I have added captions for 3/4 of them. The last quarter of them have some which still need to be flipped to vertical. I won't have a chance to finish that and split it into more bite-sized pages (instead of everything on one page as shown here) until later in the week.

(1536x1024 993K) (500x333 25K)	Martin and Stan Hemphill, our visitors from Taiwan, with their rental vehicle. Since they travelled to Black Rock with Owen and me, we loaned them some Stratofox signs for the trip.
(1536x1024 977K) (500x333 23K)	Martin glances at my truck before heading down to look at Pyramid Lake.
(1536x1024 743K) (500x333 13K)	Pyramid Lake in the Paiute Indian Reservation, Nevada.
(1536x1024 1101K) (500x333 20K)	Pyramid Lake in the Paiute Indian Reservation, Nevada.
(1536x1024 1466K) (500x333 33K)	Martin practices skipping rocks on Pyramid Lake.
(1536x1024 1304K) (500x333 24K)	There was an excellent turnout in Gerlach for the AeroPAC setup on Thursday.
(1536x1024 1197K) (500x333 25K)	There was an excellent turnout in Gerlach for the AeroPAC setup on Thursday.
(1536x1024 1485K) (500x333 37K)	There was an excellent turnout in Gerlach for the AeroPAC setup on Thursday.
(1536x1024 1442K) (500x333 33K)	Most of the students from Japan arrived early enough to meet us in Gerlach at setup time.
(1536x1024 859K) (500x333 16K)	The AeroPAC convoy crosses the playa enroute to set up the launch site.
(1536x1024 774K) (500x333 15K)	The AeroPAC convoy crosses the playa enroute to set up the launch site.
(1536x1024 588K) (500x333 13K)	The Launch Director's RV leads the AeroPAC convoy. Vehicles from the convoy are visible in my rear-view mirror.
(1536x1024 612K) (500x333 13K)	The Launch Director's RV leads the AeroPAC convoy.
(1536x1024 713K) (500x333 12K)	The AeroPAC convoy spans a long distance along the playa.
(1536x1024 752K) (500x333 13K)	The AeroPAC convoy crosses the playa enroute to set up the launch site.
(1536x1024 798K) (500x333 13K)	The AeroPAC convoy crosses the playa enroute to set up the launch site.
(1536x1024 637K) (500x333 11K)	The AeroPAC convoy crosses the playa enroute to set up the launch site.
(1536x1024 696K) (500x333 13K)	The AeroPAC convoy crosses the playa enroute to set up the launch site.
(1536x1024 822K) (500x333 17K)	The AeroPAC convoy crosses the playa enroute to set up the launch site.
(1536x1024 739K) (500x333 16K)	The Launch Director's RV leads the AeroPAC convoy.
(1536x1024 973K) (500x333 27K)	The Launch Director's RV stops and the convoy arrives.
(1536x1024 992K) (500x333 17K)	As usual, Karl Baumann of Mojave Desert High Power Rocketry (the yellow canopy) has already arrived before the convoy and selected a good spot. From this point the Launch Director gets out the plans and everyone starts building the launch site and flight line around Karl's spot.
(1536x1024 1162K) (500x333 22K)	I've estimated the distance that I should park east of the center of the flight line to have a camp site beyond the reserved vendor spots. (I guessed correctly - this spot was later approved and I didn't have to move.)
(1536x1024 968K) (500x333 20K)	Volunteers begin emptying the trailer.
(1536x1024 1659K) (500x333 35K)	Paul and Larry use the site plans to mark (with biodegradable markings) reserved spaces for key participants in the launch.
(1536x1024 1693K) (500x333 33K)	A rope is used to draw a straight line for the flight line.
(1536x1024 1670K) (500x333 33K)	Peter Clay shows Stan Hemphill how and where we put in the stakes to hold up the flight line rope. This is the line that people must stand behind during launch operations.
(1536x1024 974K) (500x333 19K)	Owen DeLong carries a crate out of the trailer as the Launch Control table begins to take shape.
(1536x1024 1009K) (500x333 29K)	Steve Preston looks for supplies that others have requested from the trailer.
(1536x1024 1498K) (500x333 26K)	Martin Hemphill pounds a stake for the flight line perimeter rope on the east side.
(1536x1024 1504K) (500x333 34K)	Rails and rods for the launch pads are laid out in an array in preparation for launch pad construction.
(1536x1024 1410K) (500x333 28K)	Owen DeLong carries tripods for the public address system speakers.
(1536x1024 1840K) (500x333 40K)	Paul Hopkins marks (with biodegradable markings) reserved spots for key launch participants.
(1536x1024 1918K) (500x333 38K)	Installation of the flight line rope now continues on the west side.
(1536x1024 688K) (500x333 18K)	John Coker is AeroPAC's First Commissioner (equivalent of the club president.)
(1536x1024 1996K) (500x333 40K)	Construction of the ARLISS site begins. ARLISS stands for "A Rocket Launch for International Student Satellites" - it's a cooperative program by Stanford University and AeroPAC. In this photo, canopies are placed on the ground where they'll be set up. This view is facing west. The ARLISS camp is starting a new second row behind the flight line. The launch site will eventually grow to 4 rows from the flight line, with the front row being longest at over 1/2 mile long.
(1536x1024 2428K) (500x333 55K)	After other reserved areas were marked, we claimed the Stratofox camp site, wide enough for sites for Stan and Martin Hemphill, Owen DeLong and me.
(1536x1024 1293K) (500x333 31K)	You'd never believe how much stuff comes out of that trailer.
(1536x1024 1583K) (500x333 34K)	Vendors begin to arrive and construct their camps in their reserved spots.
(1536x1024 1586K) (500x333 31K)	Launch Director Peter Clay answers a question by pointing where the next things need to be set up. Everyone has questions for him all through the construction and operation of the launch site.
(1536x1024 1199K) (500x333 21K)	The public address system speakers are getting set up.
(1536x1024 1137K) (500x333 20K)	Mike Brest points to answer a question about where each launch pad should be set up.
(1536x1024 2283K) (500x333 59K)	Each cluster of launch pads has its own electronics. When this is done, all 35+ launch pads will be remotely operated from the Launch Control table. Pads are set up in arrays at 100, 200, 500 and 1500 feet from the flight line, allowing the Pad Manager to assign launch pads for each rocket based on minimum safe distances for the size of the motor it uses.
(1024x1536 1488K) (500x750 90K)	Running the launch pad control cables out from the flight line...
(1536x1024 994K) (500x333 15K)	Mike Brest pulls this control cable as far as it will go. More extensions will be added.
(1536x1024 1771K) (500x333 36K)	Mike Brest pulls this control cable as far as it will go. More extensions will be added.
(1536x1024 1160K) (500x333 21K)	More people keep arriving throughout the afternoon. The flight line continues to grow.
(1536x1024 1854K) (500x333 41K)	More public address system speakers are installed.
(1536x1024 1039K) (500x333 23K)	These will be the Range Safety Officer (RSO) tables, where rockets are inspected for safety before being assigned a launch pad.
(1024x1536 1427K) (500x750 68K)	Controller boxes have been placed where the launch pads will be installed.
(1536x1024 1651K) (500x333 31K)	The new tripod bases are placed for the 200-foot launch pads. These are a big improvement, allowing rods or rails to be more easily swapped out as needed for each rocket.
(1536x1024 1321K) (500x333 23K)	The new tripod bases are placed for the 200-foot launch pads.
(1536x1024 1324K) (500x333 23K)	Blast plates are installed on the 200-foot launch pads.
(1536x1024 1597K) (500x333 31K)	Construction is beginning in earnest at the ARLISS site. Dozens of students coming from 8 universities in Japan make a lot of the work get done in parallel.
(1536x1024 1356K) (500x333 27K)	Construction is beginning in earnest at the ARLISS site. Dozens of students coming from 8 universities in Japan make a lot of the work get done in parallel.
(1536x1024 1329K) (500x333 32K)	Stanford Professor Bob Twiggs leads the construction of the ARLISS site with help from students from participating universities.
(1536x1024 1560K) (500x333 38K)	University students build the ARLISS site.
(1536x1024 793K) (500x333 23K)	Most of us had heard of John Coker's project to build a pack of Crayola rockets, made to look like scaled-up crayons. Planned to launch on Sunday morning, this is one of many highly-anticipated projects which will launch at XPRS III.
(1536x1024 1024K) (500x333 31K)	John Coker and his 8-pack of Crayola rockets.
(1536x1024 1051K) (500x333 17K)	A ladder is needed for construction of the 500-foot launch pads (500 feet from the flight line.)
(1536x1024 1602K) (500x333 33K)	Construction of the 500-foot launch pads.
(1536x1024 1174K) (500x333 19K)	At this point on Thursday the east end of the flight line is only about 500 feet from the center (with a gap for spots for vendors who haven't arrived yet.) By Saturday it will extent more than 1/4 mile each direction from the center.
(1536x1024 1488K) (500x333 28K)	At first the west end of the flight line is filling in faster as more people arrive. Some of this is because ARLISS is on that side. Also, on the left the black signs with launch pad numbers have been put up for the 100-foot pads.
(1536x1024 1145K) (500x333 19K)	Launch pad numbers are going up on the 200-foot row of launch pads.
(1536x1024 1732K) (500x333 39K)	One set of public address system speakers will be placed at the 200-foot launch pads so that people setting up rockets on the pads can hear announcements from the Launch Control Officer without having to bring a radio with them.
(1536x1024 1333K) (500x333 24K)	Construction continues on the 200-foot row of launch pads. In the middle-right background, Pad A on the 500-foot row is under construction.
(1536x1024 1529K) (500x333 27K)	Late in the afternoon, it's beginning to look like a serious launch site. Well, it is.
(1536x1024 185K) (500x333 28K)	Paul Hopkins prepares to go install his Amateur Radio simplex repeater on a hill overlooking the playa. This will give people with Ham Radio licenses extended range for their low-power handheld radios.
(1536x1024 1114K) (500x333 27K)	Mike Dennis from Washington State with his V2.
(1536x1024 1147K) (500x333 26K)	Launch Director Peter Clay speaks at Friday morning's pre-launch meeting. Flyers and attendees are all requested to attend the meeting.
(1536x1024 1289K) (500x333 31K)	Attendees listen at the Friday morning meeting.
(1024x1536 990K) (500x750 53K)	Jamie Clay brings his scale model Mercury rocket to the RSO table for inspection. His Friday flight is to test all the systems in preparation for his Level 3 certification attempt on Sunday with this rocket. This is also the same rocket used to make the Mercury Joe videos on videorocketry.com.
(1536x1024 787K) (500x333 22K)	Jamie and his crew even have Mercury Joe Season Two t-shirts.
(1536x1024 734K) (500x333 23K)	A peek into the Mercury capsule...
(1536x1024 613K) (500x333 15K)	The astronaut (an action figure) poses with the Mercury Capsule.
(1536x1024 1284K) (500x333 29K)	Jamie holds up the Mercury rocket to answer questions that the Range Safety Officer has during the inspection.
(1536x1024 1048K) (500x333 22K)	Then Jamie holds up the rocket to give the same view for the camera. It also gives you an idea how much work he put into building it.
(1536x1024 1217K) (500x333 24K)	This is an AeroPAC tradition when an rocket carrying ARLISS payloads is about to be launched. One of students who is flying a payload aboard the rocket tell everyone what research they are performing. In this photo, the student is from Japan. Many of the Japanese students are competing with "comeback" payloads, trying to land nearest to a Japanese flag which has been planted in the desert. Scholarship money to be given to the project landing closest to the target was put up by Stanford University, University of Tokyo and Zilog Corporation (of Silcon Valley, California), which makes the comeback payloads a popular project for students.
(1024x1536 537K) (500x750 14K)	The first ARLISS launch of XPRS III lifts off from Pad C (one of four pads in the 500-foot row.)
(1024x1536 464K) (500x750 10K)	A successful ARLISS flight carries up student research payloads and ejects them at apogee to begin performing their research. Since each ARLISS payload has its own parachute, it's normal for the Launch Control Officer to announce how many parachutes that spotters have counted. All the parachutes successfully deployed soon after this picture.
(1024x1536 555K) (500x750 16K)	Jamie Clay's Mercury rocket lifts off from Pad A.
(1024x1536 471K) (500x750 10K)	Jamie Clay's Mercury rocket makes a smooth climb.
(1024x1536 461K) (500x750 7K)	Jamie Clay's Mercury capsule, booster and escape tower deploy separate parachutes.
(1024x1536 463K) (500x750 7K)	Jamie Clay's Mercury capsule, booster and escape tower successfully descend under parachute.
(1024x1536 531K) (500x750 15K)	The second ARLISS flight lifts off from Pad C carrying more student research payloads.
(1024x1536 455K) (500x750 10K)	The second ARLISS flight continues climbing.
(1024x1536 471K) (500x750 10K)	The second ARLISS flight continues climbing.
(1536x1024 1185K) (500x333 27K)	Students whose payloads are aboard the rocket watch anxiously.
(1536x1024 1169K) (500x333 29K)	Students whose payloads are aboard the rocket watch anxiously. One student takes a photo of their reactions to tell everyone at home.
(1024x1536 557K) (500x750 18K)	Not all large rockets are ARLISS (university research) flights. This belongs to an individual. (Anyone have more info?)
(1536x1024 1298K) (500x333 30K)	Becky and Jim Green do a lot of work to help keep every launch running. Becky is AeroPAC's Treasurer. Among many other things, she handles registration at launches. Both are Level 3 certified rocketeers.
(1536x1024 1265K) (500x333 30K)	High Power Rocketry Magazine (of the Tripoli Rocketry Association) and RocketRage were some of the vendors at XPRS III...
(1536x1024 1068K) (500x333 31K)	Nadine Kinney of Photos by Nadine is a well-respected professional photographer at high-power rocketry launches. She'll make prints of your rocket launching.
(1536x1024 1473K) (500x333 31K)	These are the new warning signs that debuted at XPRS III. The main change was to implement the Board of Directors' recent decision that all pets must be leashed. (Unfortunately, a few dogs have been a serious and growing problem which have caused restrictions for all the others.)
(1024x1536 577K) (500x750 17K)	An ARLISS rocket launches from the 1500-foot pad.
(1024x1536 485K) (500x750 11K)	An ARLISS large rocket launches from the 1500-foot pad.
(1024x1536 461K) (500x750 9K)	The ARLISS rocket climbs.
(1024x1536 455K) (500x750 9K)	The ARLISS rocket climbs.
(1024x1536 461K) (500x750 10K)	The ARLISS rocket climbs.
(1536x1024 1335K) (500x333 35K)	Students observe as their ARLISS payloads fly.
(1536x1024 1240K) (500x333 32K)	The Comeback Competition scoreboard is still empty as most payloads have yet to fly, and results are still pending on those that have flown. The 8 Japanese educational institutions participating in ARLISS at AeroPAC's XPRS III are Nihon University, Genba Shugi, University of Tokyo, Tohoku University, Tokyo Institute of Technology (Matunaga), Tokyo Institute of Technology (Takadama) and Soka University.
(1536x1024 1108K) (500x333 30K)	Stanford Prof Bob Twiggs and AeroPAC member Carl Reisinger post results from the early ARLISS flights.
(1536x1024 1236K) (500x333 35K)	University students work on their payload electronics.
(1536x1024 1450K) (500x333 34K)	The ARLISS site is composed of a series of canopies covering workspaces for each university's teams.
(1536x1024 760K) (500x333 13K)	AeroPAC member Erik Ebert sets out in search of his rocket that successfully lofted and then released ARLISS student payloads.
(1536x1024 998K) (500x333 15K)	The center section of Erik's rocket is quickly found.
(1536x1024 1294K) (500x333 28K)	Erik Ebert and ??? (sorry - too many new names for me. I'll have to ask Erik his friend's name again.)
(1536x1024 1405K) (500x333 28K)	Erik listens to the beeps from the altimeter to learn how high the rocket went above ground level.
(1536x1024 1511K) (500x333 32K)	Erik listens to the beeps from the altimeter to learn how high the rocket went above ground level.
(1536x1024 1980K) (500x333 43K)	With the altitude now known, Erik smiles by his rocket. This confirms everything worked perfectly. He's proud to have helped the students fly their payloads.
(1536x1024 1742K) (500x333 34K)	Erik smiles by his rocket. In the background are my truck and Erik's rental RV.
(1536x1024 1650K) (500x333 38K)	Erik smiles by his rocket.
(1536x1024 1720K) (500x333 31K)	The booster section of Erik's rocket was visible a hundred yards or so from the center section.
(1536x1024 1293K) (500x333 22K)	The booster section of Erik's rocket, with the AeroPAC flight line partly visible about 1/2 mile in the background, and partly disappearing in the mirage that occurs on every warm or hot day. The nose cone of Erik's rocket is visible in the near background with its own parachute.
(1536x1024 2056K) (500x333 42K)	Erik smiles with his rocket's booster section.
(1536x1024 1375K) (500x333 26K)	Erik smiles with his rocket's booster section.
(1536x1024 1583K) (500x333 32K)	Erik smiles with his rocket's booster section.
(1536x1024 1494K) (500x333 28K)	Erik smiles with his rocket's booster section.
(1536x1024 1902K) (500x333 40K)	The nose cone from Erik's rocket was the final part we needed to recover.
(1536x1024 1607K) (500x333 33K)	Erik smiles with the nose cone of his rocket.
(1536x1024 1508K) (500x333 28K)	Erik picks up the nose cone of his rocket.
(1536x1024 855K) (500x333 17K)	I'm standing on my truck looking to see if we can find any of the ARLISS payloads driving on the playa. I'm demonstrating one of Stratofox's methods of searching on the playa. The principle behind this is simple - every foot off the ground that you raise your point of view vastly increases the distance you can see without interference from the mirage.
(1536x1024 839K) (500x333 17K)	I'm standing on my truck looking to see if we can find any of the ARLISS payloads driving on the playa.
(1536x1024 1035K) (500x333 20K)	I'm standing on my truck looking to see if we can find any of the ARLISS payloads driving on the playa.
(1536x1024 1138K) (500x333 21K)	I'm standing on my truck looking to see if we can find any of the ARLISS payloads driving on the playa.
(1536x1024 1170K) (500x333 23K)	I'm standing on my truck looking to see if we can find any of the ARLISS payloads driving on the playa.
(1536x1024 1107K) (500x333 22K)	I'm standing on my truck looking to see if we can find any of the ARLISS payloads driving on the playa.
(1536x1024 1173K) (500x333 24K)	I'm standing on my truck looking to see if we can find any of the ARLISS payloads driving on the playa.
(1536x1024 1185K) (500x333 24K)	I'm standing on my truck looking to see if we can find any of the ARLISS payloads driving on the playa.
(1536x1024 847K) (500x333 19K)	I'm standing on my truck looking to see if we can find any of the ARLISS payloads driving on the playa.
(1536x1024 869K) (500x333 19K)	I'm standing on my truck looking to see if we can find any of the ARLISS payloads driving on the playa.
(1536x1024 944K) (500x333 23K)	I'm standing on my truck looking to see if we can find any of the ARLISS payloads driving on the playa.
(1536x1024 1228K) (500x333 26K)	I'm standing on my truck looking to see if we can find any of the ARLISS payloads driving on the playa.
(1536x1024 1209K) (500x333 26K)	I'm standing on my truck looking to see if we can find any of the ARLISS payloads driving on the playa.
(1536x1024 1101K) (500x333 24K)	I'm standing on my truck looking to see if we can find any of the ARLISS payloads driving on the playa.
(1536x1024 1054K) (500x333 23K)	I'm standing on my truck looking to see if we can find any of the ARLISS payloads driving on the playa.
(1536x1024 990K) (500x333 22K)	I'm standing on my truck looking to see if we can find any of the ARLISS payloads driving on the playa.
(1536x1024 934K) (500x333 27K)	During my 2-hour shift as Launch Control Officer on Friday, I didn't get many chances to take pictures. But one of the pictures I took was after I handed the microphone to a student to tell everyone what he was flying on an ARLISS rocket.
(1024x1536 1160K) (500x750 59K)	This model rocket lost a fin and landed nose first. While it may seem silly to some readers, this is part of the learning process. This rocketeer got his rocket back and then could figure out what went wrong in order to improve in the future.
(1536x1024 932K) (500x333 20K)	A student reads from a script that she wrote and describes her payload aboard an ARLISS rocket which is about to be launched. Like the other students, this is her moment in the spotlight for which she travelled all the way from Japan to Black Rock.
(1024x1536 533K) (500x750 16K)	The ARLISS rocket lifts off from Pad C.
(1024x1536 479K) (500x750 11K)	The ARLISS rocket climbs.
(1024x1536 485K) (500x750 10K)	The ARLISS rocket climbs.
(1024x1536 488K) (500x750 10K)	The ARLISS rocket climbs.
(1024x1536 474K) (500x750 10K)	The ARLISS rocket climbs.
(1536x1024 1247K) (500x333 34K)	Jim Green supervises as excited students help carry an ARLISS rocket which he built up to the Range Safety Officer's table. At this point, Owen DeLong (far left) is serving a 2-hour shift as RSO.
(1536x1024 1071K) (500x333 22K)	Having been through the Range Safety Officer's inspection and then assigned a launch pad, students who have payloads aboard Jim Green's ARLISS rocket help to carry it into the range.
(1536x1024 1333K) (500x333 30K)	A student described his university's payloads flying aboard this rocket.
(1024x1536 512K) (500x750 15K)	An ARLISS rocket lifts off carrying more student payloads.
(1024x1536 436K) (500x750 8K)	The ARLISS rocket climbs.
(1024x1536 525K) (500x750 17K)	A large rocket lifts off from Pad A.
(1024x1536 462K) (500x750 10K)	The large rocket from the previous picture continues to climb.
(1024x1536 453K) (500x750 9K)	The large rocket's motor burns out and continues coasting past the end of its smoke trail. This is normal.
(1024x1536 476K) (500x750 13K)	A large rocket lifts off from the 1500-foot pad.
(1024x1536 490K) (500x750 12K)	A large rocket lifts off from the 1500-foot pad.
(1024x1536 459K) (500x750 9K)	The large rocket from the previous photo climbs.
(1024x1536 457K) (500x750 7K)	The large rocket from the previous photo climbs.
(1024x1536 432K) (500x750 7K)	The large rocket from the previous photo airstarts its second stage.
(1536x1024 1909K) (500x333 42K)	This rocket landed close to our camp. We had been watching it and stepped away.
(1536x1024 1162K) (500x333 32K)	The owner of the rocket soon came to pick it up.
(1536x1024 1106K) (500x333 32K)	My next-camp neighbor Mike Dennis prepares his V2 for launch.
(1536x1024 388K) (500x333 7K)	A rocket lands nearby under parachute.
(1024x1536 603K) (500x750 28K)	A rocket lifts off from the 200-foot row. The liftoff wasn't quite straight but did straighten out, which possibly indicates the wind was blowing at the time and the rocket wasn't fast enough off the rail to avoid the wind catching the fins. This process is called "weathercocking".
(1024x1536 490K) (500x750 11K)	The rocket continues to climb.
(1024x1536 462K) (500x750 8K)	The rocket continues to climb.
(1536x1024 370K) (500x333 4K)	A rocket descends on parachute.
(1536x1024 360K) (500x333 5K)	A rocket descends on parachute.
(1024x1536 774K) (500x750 34K)	This is the reason we have safety distances from the flight line to the launch pads. Something unexpected occurred on this launch.
(1536x1024 561K) (500x333 12K)	Then again, once in a while, some situations defy efforts to plan for them. When you see something like this, you get concerned.
(1536x1024 787K) (500x333 14K)	The out-of-control rocket settles down within the safety zone before reaching the flight line. So the precautions of recommended safety distances were correct after all.
(1536x1024 562K) (500x333 7K)	On Friday night, some excess propellent was burned off.
(1536x1024 1047K) (500x333 15K)	The flight line on Friday night.
(1536x1024 930K) (500x333 21K)	At Saturday morning's meeting, a camera crew was a conspicuous difference from regular attendees. They're from TechTV.
(1536x1024 1178K) (500x333 24K)	Launch Director Peter Clay speaks at the Saturday morning meeting.
(1536x1024 1462K) (500x333 33K)	Saturday morning's attendance is the highest yet. We're going to reach peak attendance for the event by this evening.
(1536x1024 1000K) (500x333 24K)	The TechTV camera crew follows AeroPAC member Steve Pope as he puts his rocket on Pad 22. His rocket has lots of custom electronics allowing him to do two-way communications to query the status of the rocket's on-board systems.
(1536x1024 1173K) (500x333 26K)	Dan from the Screen Savers interviews Steve Pope as he puts his rocket on Pad 22.
(1536x1024 1556K) (500x333 35K)	Steve Pope sets up his rocket on Pad 22 while the TechTV crew films and asks questions.
(1536x1024 1294K) (500x333 30K)	Steve Pope sets up his rocket on Pad 22 while the TechTV crew films and asks questions.
(1536x1024 1567K) (500x333 35K)	Steve Pope describes for the TechTV crew what electronics are at each launch pad.
(1536x1024 1160K) (500x333 24K)	I couldn't resist the irony of interviewing the TechTV crew for the AeroPAC web site, even though it was just a few quick questions and then getting out of their way. This is Dan Huard of TechTV's "The Screensavers". They came from Los Angeles to cover Steve Pope's rocket and the ARLISS program.
(1536x1024 1227K) (500x333 26K)	More video of Steve Pope and his rocket.
(1536x1024 1084K) (500x333 27K)	More students describe their ARLISS payloads before they're launched. On the left, Tom Rouse is serving a 2-hour shift as Launch Control Officer. (On the lower right, a completely separate discussion is happenning. Launch Director Peter Clay is showing someone where to find some tools they're looking for.)
(1024x1536 494K) (500x750 13K)	An ARLISS rocket launches from Pad D in the 500-foot row.
(1024x1536 459K) (500x750 10K)	The ARLISS rocket climbs.
(1024x1536 471K) (500x750 10K)	The ARLISS rocket climbs.
(1024x1536 543K) (500x750 18K)	A rocket lifts off from Pad 28 in the 200-foot row.
(1024x1536 532K) (500x750 16K)	The rocket from the previous phot climbs.
(1024x1536 485K) (500x750 9K)	An ARLISS rocket launches from Pad C. Nadine Kinney of Photos by Nadine is taking a close-up photo with permission of the LCO.
(1024x1536 519K) (500x750 16K)	The ARLISS rocket climbs.
(1024x1536 485K) (500x750 15K)	The ARLISS rocket climbs.
(1024x1536 473K) (500x750 10K)	The ARLISS rocket climbs.
(1024x1536 485K) (500x750 10K)	A large rocket lifts off from Pad A on the 500-foot row. Again, Nadine photographs the launch.
(1024x1536 509K) (500x750 16K)	The rocket climbs.
(1024x1536 451K) (500x750 11K)	The rocket climbs.
(1024x1536 475K) (500x750 12K)	The rocket climbs.
(1024x1536 507K) (500x750 17K)	The rocket climbs.
(1024x1536 514K) (500x750 20K)	The rocket climbs.
(1536x1024 939K) (500x333 22K)	The ARLISS status board...
(1536x1024 1017K) (500x333 26K)	The ARLISS site...
(1536x1024 1150K) (500x333 31K)	Students work on their electronics.
(1536x1024 1243K) (500x333 34K)	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.
(1536x1024 1704K) (500x333 32K)	On Saturday morning, the AeroPAC XPRS III flight line as viewed from the west end.
(1536x1024 996K) (500x333 25K)	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".
(1024x1536 529K) (500x750 14K)	I think this is Mike Brest's Level 3 certification flight.
(1024x1536 516K) (500x750 15K)	A large rocket (possibly an ARLISS flight) lifts off from Pad D.
(1536x1024 1028K) (500x333 19K)	A rocket lands in the range.
(1536x1024 978K) (500x333 21K)	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)
(1536x1024 1049K) (500x333 26K)	I'm taking my turn as Launch Control Officer. (photo by assistant LCO Jim)
(1536x1024 1394K) (500x333 35K)	This videographer from Italy is making a documentary about America's desert southwest. He got a lot of footage from the AeroPAC launch.
(1536x1024 1148K) (500x333 26K)	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.
(1024x1536 461K) (500x750 9K)	A rocket lifts off, but veers a little in some wind shear.
(1024x1536 463K) (500x750 8K)	This rocket is doing a bit of a corkscrew pattern, indicating possible uneven thrust or damage to a fin.
(1024x1536 447K) (500x750 7K)	The rocket continues coasting after its motor burns out.
(1024x1536 480K) (500x750 14K)	A large rocket lifts off from Pad C.
(1024x1536 468K) (500x750 10K)	The rocket climbs.
(1024x1536 479K) (500x750 9K)	The rocket climbs.
(1536x1024 1197K) (500x333 22K)	Students carry an ARLISS rocket out to its launch pad.
(1536x1024 1449K) (500x333 32K)	Students carry an ARLISS rocket out to its launch pad.
(1536x1024 1445K) (500x333 32K)	Students carry an ARLISS rocket out to its launch pad.
(1536x1024 1340K) (500x333 30K)	Students carry an ARLISS rocket out to its launch pad.
(1536x1024 1287K) (500x333 27K)	Students carry an ARLISS rocket out to its launch pad. Ed Hackett prepares Pad A.
(1536x1024 1021K) (500x333 22K)	At Pad C, Owen DeLong assists students setting up another ARLISS rocket.
(1536x1024 1416K) (500x333 31K)	John Coker and Peter Clay help prep an ARLISS rocket for launch.
(1536x1024 1096K) (500x333 26K)	Students at the pad while Ed Hackett prepares an ARLISS rocket for launch.
(1536x1024 956K) (500x333 19K)	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.
(1536x1024 908K) (500x333 22K)	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.
(1536x1024 1741K) (500x333 40K)	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.
(1536x1024 1452K) (500x333 33K)	Several students help Ed Hackett to put his rocket on the launch rail at Pad A.
(1536x1024 1548K) (500x333 37K)	Several students help Ed Hackett to put his rocket on the launch rail at Pad A.
(1536x1024 1248K) (500x333 28K)	Several students help Ed Hackett to put his rocket on the launch rail at Pad A.
(1536x1024 1375K) (500x333 26K)	At Pad C, John Coker's ARLISS rocket is ready so everyone there starts to leave the pad.
(1536x1024 1692K) (500x333 34K)	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.
(1536x1024 1122K) (500x333 22K)	Ed Hackett's ARLISS rocket is raised toward the vertical position.
(1536x1024 1322K) (500x333 25K)	Ed Hackett prepares his ARLISS rocket for launch while students who have payloads aboard it watch.
(1536x1024 1178K) (500x333 25K)	On Pad B, Peter Clay (left) and his brother Jamie prepare Peter's rocket for launch.
(1536x1024 820K) (500x333 24K)	The nose cone on Peter's rocket contains a downward-facing video camera and transmitter.
(1536x1024 1242K) (500x333 28K)	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.
(1536x1024 1170K) (500x333 24K)	A group photo with Ed Hackett and all the students who have payloads aboard his rocket.
(1536x1024 1335K) (500x333 30K)	A group photo with Ed Hackett and all the students who have payloads aboard his rocket.
(1536x1024 983K) (500x333 20K)	A few of the students stand for a smaller group photo with Ed's ARLISS rocket.
(1536x1024 1286K) (500x333 31K)	Mike Dennis and his rocket called "Whiz". This design takes advantage of the fact that a cone shape is aerodynamically stable. So you don't always need fins to provide stability, if you can accept the extra drag. And that was definitely the point in this case.
(1536x1024 1026K) (500x333 25K)	Mike Dennis and his rocket called "Whiz".
(1536x1024 1793K) (500x333 35K)	As always, Nadine Kinney is busy making sure Photos by Nadine will have great photos of most of the launches available if the rocketeer wants to buy them. She does great photos so if you fly anything, you'll appreciate her work.
(1024x1536 501K) (500x750 16K)	A rocket lifts off from Pad 22.
(1024x1536 500K) (500x750 16K)	A rocket lifts off from Pad 28.
(1536x1024 841K) (500x333 15K)	A rocket comes down on parachute. The Calico Range mountains are in the background.
(1536x1024 1271K) (500x333 25K)	A line of rocketeers waits while the LCO launches the rockets currently out on the range. They won't be allowed to enter the range until he has launched all the rockets currently out there.
(1024x1536 478K) (500x750 14K)	The first ARLISS drag race. Ed Hackett's and John Coker's rockets are launched at the same time because the LCO accepted Ed's and John's suggestion to do so. (Usually rockets are launched separately unless requested otherwise by the owners.) Peter Clay's rocket was also part of the drag race but was not yet off the pad in this photo
(1024x1536 503K) (500x750 13K)	The first ARLISS drag race. Ed Hackett's and John Coker's ARLISS rockets lift off together.
(1024x1536 510K) (500x750 13K)	The first ARLISS drag race. Ed Hackett's and John Coker's ARLISS rockets lift off together.
(1024x1536 522K) (500x750 16K)	The first ARLISS drag race. Ed Hackett's and John Coker's ARLISS rockets lift off together. Peter Clay's lighter video rocket rapidly catches up.
(1024x1536 507K) (500x750 13K)	The two ARLISS rockets climb in nice formation.
(1024x1536 485K) (500x750 13K)	The two ARLISS rockets climb in nice formation. Peter Clay's video rocket catches up and airstarts its second stage alongside them.
(1024x1536 506K) (500x750 12K)	The two ARLISS rockets climb in nice formation. Peter Clay's video rocket catches up and airstarts its second stage alongside them.
(1536x1024 491K) (500x333 9K)	A rocket lifts off from the 200-foot row pads.
(1024x1536 603K) (500x750 23K)	A rocket lifts off from the 200-foot row pads.
(1024x1536 461K) (500x750 7K)	The rocket coasts after a quick boost.
(1024x1536 521K) (500x750 14K)	One of the rockets comes down on the range under parachute.
(1024x1536 592K) (500x750 18K)	Mike Dennis' Whiz lifts off.
(1024x1536 495K) (500x750 10K)	Mike Dennis' Whiz climbs.
(1024x1536 488K) (500x750 12K)	Mike Dennis' Whiz climbs.
(1024x1536 462K) (500x750 9K)	Mike Dennis' Whiz ejects its parachute. The only problem here is that it's arcing over the flight line.
(1024x1536 467K) (500x750 10K)	The parachute has inflated on Mike Dennis' Whiz. But it's descending toward the center of the flight line. The LCO has already called "heads up" at this point and sounded the siren to make sure everyone knows to look up.
(1536x1024 343K) (500x333 4K)	The parachute has inflated on Mike Dennis' Whiz. But it's descending toward the center of the flight line. It isn't upside down - this is just an effect as it passed me overhead and was then upside-down by my camera's point of view.
(1536x1024 553K) (500x333 13K)	Mike Dennis' Whiz descends under parachute behind the flight line. This is a "heads up" condition and everyone around is watching. It landed in the aisle between the first and second rows.
(1536x1024 551K) (500x333 9K)	Aiden Sojourner's model rocket lifts off. (Aiden is Cliff Sojourner's son.)
(1536x1024 754K) (500x333 12K)	Aiden's rocket drifts far to the east in the wind.
(1536x1024 1921K) (500x333 36K)	Cliff Sojourner recovers his son's rocket.
(1536x1024 511K) (500x333 8K)	An ARLISS rocket lifts off from Pad D.
(1536x1024 389K) (500x333 6K)	The ARLISS rocket climbs. A decaying smoke trail from an earlier launch is also visible in this view.
(1536x1024 1004K) (500x333 23K)	The ARLISS flight status board indicates almost all the payloads have been flown. AeroPAC has delivered for the students who were depending on us.
(1536x1024 1218K) (500x333 25K)	A student prepares a "CubeSat" for launch on an ARLISS rocket. This is a test of the design of some space flight hardware for how it handles G-loading stresses in preparation for having another one just like it launched on a commercial rocket to orbit.
(1536x1024 964K) (500x333 29K)	Dr Shinichi Nakasuka is a professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics from the University of Tokyo. He is coordinating the efforts of all the students who came here from Japan.
(1536x1024 1296K) (500x333 32K)	Students smile for my camera. They really appreciate that AeroPAC is helping them with their studies.
(1536x1024 1229K) (500x333 32K)	Some students prepare the last few ARLISS payloads for flight.
(1536x1024 1370K) (500x333 36K)	Students who are done with flying and retrieving their payloads take a group picture.
(1536x1024 980K) (500x333 22K)	A line of rocketeers waits for the LCO to open the range so they can put their rockets on the pads. These rockets have already passed the RSO inspection.
(1536x1024 1129K) (500x333 30K)	Another line waits for inspection of their rockets by the RSO.
(1024x1536 503K) (500x750 14K)	An ARLISS rocket lifts off.
(1024x1536 459K) (500x750 9K)	The ARLISS rocket climbs.
(1024x1536 457K) (500x750 7K)	Multiple parachutes in the sky indicates the ARLISS rocket has ejected the student payloads and all their parachutes have deployed. Now it's up to the students' projects to perform their research.
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(2048x3072 2109K) (500x750 16K)	John Coker's Crayola rockets launch. Only 4 of the 8 launched on the first batch before I had to leave.
(2048x3072 2012K) (500x750 17K)	4 of John Coker's Crayola rockets climb together.
(2048x3072 2083K) (500x750 21K)	4 of John Coker's Crayola rockets climb together.
(2048x3072 2033K) (500x750 14K)	A scaled-up Mosquito lifts off from Pad 26.
(2048x3072 2023K) (500x750 15K)	A rocket lifts off from Pad 11.
(2048x3072 2871K) (500x750 43K)	Dave Dennis helps his son Mike stacking the stages of a Saturn V replica for flight. I'm sorry I couldn't stay to see this one fly.