Apollo 11 40th Anniversary Model Rocket Launch

This was our tribute to the historic mission of Apollo 11 back in 1969. This was humankinds first venture to put humans on another world. The launch took place in Sandringham, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia on September 20 2009, we had originally planned for a weekend in July, close to the actual anniversary date, but weather did not cooperate.sound familiar?

The rocket is a 1:100 scale Estes model using a D12-3 engine. I scratch built a mobile launch platform and launch umbilical tower to add some realism. In addition, we played the original countdown audio synchronised with the T-0 ignition. The second launch was delayed due to a last moment gust of wind, but we kept going after adjusting the tower and rocket. We had two launches that day and on the second launch a spider kept on crawling onto the rocket, we made sure he was off and out of blast range when we finally launched.

Update:
I download the ppt version of the LUT paper model (http://jleslie48.com/lut480/cs.html), enlarged to match the 1:100 scale of the Estes Saturn V and printed out and glued over a heavy cardboard tower. The base is chipboard. I modified the rocket to have the launch rod run internally, looks much better.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• apollo
• 11
• eleven
• saturn
• five
• space
• NASA
• lift-off
• launch
• rockets
• Apollo11
• Apollo
• television
• history
• Cape
• Kennedy
• Florida
• moonshot
• Saturn5
• Neil
• Armstrong
• estes
• model
• SaturnV
• scale
• rocket
• LUT
• Launch
• Umbilical
• Tower
• Complex
• modelmaking
• Estes
• moonrocket
• lunar
• rocketry

[locow14]

what propulsion system that was used as the parachute was activated. because I like

[ozspace1]

@locow14

I used commercially available model rocket engine (D12-3) from Estes, with built in ejection charge to deploy the parachutes.

Peter

[artisttutorials]

WOW! I HAVE THAT SAME ROCKET! WE ARE BUILDING IT NOW! its hard to build isn't it? or should I say time consuming?

[ozspace1]

@artisttutorials

Yes, it is time consuming, but loads of fun. I actually modified it to have the launch rod pass through the rocket body internally so you can't see it when sitting on the pad. I decided to do that after I had done the main build so took extra hassle and time, but worth doing IMHO.

[mnagmobile1]

that wasnt that high

[ozspace1]

@mnagmobile1

No, but it is a scale model, not designed for performance. There are mod' kits to put 5 engines into them but you might never see it again!

[haresh747]

Now that is something worth watching on youtube! bravo!!!! great job!!!

[WWIflyingace62]

@ozspace1 do you think you could tell me where to get a 5 engine mod kit? im gonna put a gps tracker in mine to find it along with a camera

[237rascalflatts]

where did you grt that.....................

[ozspace1]

@thecravenator42069

Yes, I have now retired it, although 'may' roll out for Apollo 17 40th in December, 2012. It is showing signs of wear and tear internally from the ejection charges...