Rough Landing for Neptune 1

BELVIDERE, IL – Another problem parachute marred an otherwise perfect flight for the Space Program in Training (SPIT).

Bob and Daniel prepped Neptune 1 with an Estes B-6-4 engine.  The rocket is lighter than Hi-Jinks and flies even higher on low powered engines.  The parachute opened successfully on the ground in pre-flight testing.  They set it on the launch pad.  Daniel counted down and launched it.  Neptune 1 shot off the pad noticeably quicker than the other rockets in the SPIT arsenal.  While no real data were collected, the Space Program in Training estimates the rocket climbed at least 500 feet into the air.  Both Bob and Daniel lost sight of it near apogee.

The rocket descended quickly.  The parachute did not deploy in the air.  Neptune 1 crashed north east of the launch site, about 50 yards away.  Daniel recovered the rocket and reported no damage.

• Posted in: B-6-4 ♦ Launch ♦ Launch / Pre-Flight ♦ Lincoln Elementary School ♦ Neptune 1 ♦ Recovery / Post-Flight
• Tagged: b-6-4, belvidere, crash, launch, Lincoln School, neptune 1, recovered