April 23rd, 2009
Record Launch Attempt for Model Saturn V Rocket
Written by Nancy Atkinson
Steve Eves model Saturn V. Credit: ROCKETS Magazine
If you are interested in model rocketry, take a look at this. One man hopes to make a world record by launching a 36-foot (10.9-meter) tall Saturn V model rocket. Steve Eves has been working for two years on building the rocket, and he's counting down to this Saturday, April 25 when the launch is planned. The launch pad is on a farmer’s field near Price, Maryland, about 50 miles (80 km) east of Baltimore. The model is 1:10 scale of the original Saturn V rocket.
According to an article on the DC Space News Examiner, the rocket weighs over 1,600 pounds (725 kg), and will be powered by a massive array of nine engines: eight 13,000ns N-Class motors and one 77,000ns P-Class motor. The estimated peak altitude of the flight is 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) . Just like the original Saturn v, nothing of this scale has ever been attempted in model rocketry. The model Saturn V will be a world record attempt for the largest amateur rocket to ever be launched.
ROCKETS Magazine and The Maryland Delaware Rocketry Association (MDRA) are supporting the event, to mark the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon mission in 1969. Word has it that several astronauts, including Alan Bean, the fourth man to walk on the moon, have signed the rocket.
Best of luck to Steve Eves!
Source: DC Space Examiner
Filed under: Space Flight
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April 23rd, 2009 at 5:02 pm
XD oh my god … this is HUGE !! ( to be an amateur rocket )
i wonder what hight it will reach
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:40 pm
To be technical anarchy, it is a hobby rocket. Not an amateur rocket.
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:42 pm
best of luck to the guy who built it.
I wonder when the first model rocket will get to orbit…though that does raise the question of where the border lies between model and…non-model…
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:44 pm
If it had liquid fuel engines – then I'd be impressed.
Joking, it'll be way cool to watch.
I reckon Top Gear's launch of the Reliant Robin was on par though. Look it up on youtube. It's the best thing ever.
April 24th, 2009 at 6:29 am
No live video net coverage? It should. Guess we'll have to wait to see it at YouTube.
April 24th, 2009 at 6:33 am
I was hoping that the story would a address several questions that came to my mind – were permissions needed from FAA, does the govt limit the size or scope of private launches of anything? just curious.
April 24th, 2009 at 6:36 am
Congratulations Steve on a fantastic project. I watched the launches of Apollo in awe as a young teen. This will be quite a sight.
I didn't read anything in the article about recovery. Hopefully he'll be able to get it back more or less intact?
April 24th, 2009 at 8:18 am
Here is a youtube link with Steve discussing in more detail about the rocket. It will deploy 5 parachutes in hopes of a safe landing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9R1bgB6ifo&feature=related
April 24th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Thanks for the link to the video, bunker9603. As a former (teenage) rocketry enthusiast, I was wondering about recovery of the 'hobby rocket'. Wow, 5 'chutes. Best of luck to Steve and his crew. @Astrofiend, If it had ion engines – then I'd really be impressed
. Hope to see the launch on YouTube or better yet live. It oughtta be quite a sight.
April 25th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Godspeed, Steve Eves