Space Exploration Rocket Launching!

Troop 413 had a successful rocket launching session Tuesday evening to culminate their work on the Space Exploration Merit Badge.

First task was assembly of the launching pad.

Then, careful placement of the rocket,

...with a little help from the dads, of course!

Then careful connection of the electronic launch controller clips to the igniter wire ends.

Then activation of the safety pin, final countdown, launch button...

...and, Lift-Off!!

Some rockets went about a thousand feet up, while a few climbed what appeared to be over 2,000', until they were just a speck in the sky, and then floated back down to earth under canopy or streamer. A gusty SouthEast breeze made trajectory calculation a bit tricky, but there were only two roof landings - one on the nearby church and one on the elementary school. (Both were successfully recovered, but that's another story!)

Here's a mini-movie of a few launches!