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High Power RocketCam Videos

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the if-you-got-the-money-honey dept.

HaveNoMouth writes "What happens when the founder of Xircom and his brother bolt a DV Camcorder to the side of a 200 lb. model rocket and press the red button? The incredible movies (with sound!) at Gates Bros. Rocketry tell the tale. The quality of these movies is by far the best I've seen from the "strap a camera to a flying toy" community. They have a nice gallery of still photos too. If only everyone named Gates did stuff this cool."

4 of 264 comments (clear)

  1. Re:That's Interesting! by JanusFury · · Score: 5, Informative

    There's already been a camera for rocket launchers in FPSes before - Unreal Tournament (and Unreal Tournament 2003, I think) allows you to steer the Redeemer missle in first person.

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  2. Re:Question... by gregwbrooks · · Score: 5, Informative
    I don't know if the Gates Bros. went this route or not, but High Powered Rocketry is a big hobby and has some pretty strict self-policing standards. For example, you can't go buy engine x until you're qualified by your peers on its smaller predecessors. The group also works with various federal and local agencies to make sure John Law doesn't get too itchy about rockets going up in the desert.

    More info? The leading organization is www.tripoli.org.

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  3. Re:How did they keep that thing balanced? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    You counterweight inside the rocket and streamline the bulge to minimize drag. At 200 lb weight, a 10 oz camera sticking 2" out isn't going to cause enough thrust to overcome the resultant stabilization forces from the fins. Also, these motors are producing upwards of 1000 lb (not precise number) of thrust distributed across the cross sectional area of the rocket. Once again, 10 oz vs 1000 lb, it's not much.

  4. Mirror of photos by chevelleSS · · Score: 5, Informative

    link to photos of GB rockets at LDRS