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My choice of names for these galleries pays homage to four of history's greatest rocket engineers, all who, incidently, started off as amateur experimental rocket builders -- Robert H. Goddard, Wernher Von Braun, Sergei P. Korolev, and Hermann Oberth. |
| photo1 | Flight C-31, Sept. 1983 | Rocket being prepared for launch |
| photo2 | Flight C-31, Sept. 1983 | More of rocket being prepared for launch |
| photo3 | Flight C-31, Sept. 1983 | Rocket starting to lift off launch pad |
| photo4 | Flight C-31, Sept. 1983 | Rocket soars skyward leaving a trail of smoke |
| photo5 | Flight C-31, Sept. 1983 | Rocket descending by parachute |
| photo6 | Flight C-32 Sept, 1983 | Liftoff! |
| photo7 | Flight C-33 July, 1984 | Checking out the rocket prior to launch |
| photo8 | Flight C-33 July, 1984 | 3-2-1-ignition-Liftoff! |
| photo9 | Flight C-34 July, 1984 | Puff of smoke signals ignition, then a column of smoke |
| photo10 | Flight C-35 Aug. 1984 | Last minute launch preparations |
| photo11 | Flight C-35, Aug. 1984 | Rocket engine fails shortly after liftoff, flames spew from rocket |
| photo12 | Flight C-37, Nov. 1984 | Setting up rocket for a winter launch |
| photo13 | Flight C-27, Sept. 1982 | Most launches took place at the Red River Floodway site |
| photo14 | Flight C-23 Sept. 1981 | My orange rocket climbing into an overcast sky |
| photo15 | Flight C-23, Sept. 1981 | A graceful return after a successful flight |
| photo16 | Flight C-20 Aug. 1981 | Rocket climbing on a pillar of smoke |
| photo17 | Flight C-18, July 1980 | Rocket begins to break apart after engine failure |
| photo18 | Flight C-18, July 1980 | Sky is scarred with fragments of burning propellant |
| photo19 | Flight C-14, July 1979 | Soaring beyond the moon |
| photo20 | Flight C-16, Sept. 1979 | The spectacle of a late evening launch |
| photo21 | Flight C-9, Aug. 1973 | Liftoff, view from a ringside seat |
| photo22 | Flight C-6, June 1973 | One of my earlier rockets, set to go |
| photo23 | Flight C-3, May 1973 | A favourite photo of mine |
| photo24 | Flight B-1, April 1972 | One of the first flights (B&W, really old!) |
| photo25 | Flight B-1, April 1972 | A less-than-graceful end to the flight |
| photo26 | Flight A-1, Feb. 1972 | Landing in a snow covered field after my first ever rocket launch |
| photo27 | B-II, B-III and C-II Engines | View of three engines I developed |
| photo28 | "D" engine, April 1972 | The largest of the rocket engines |
| photo29 | Propellant grains, 1984 | Two experimental rocket propellant grains |
| photo30 | Engine static test stand, 1982 | Apparatus for static (ground) testing of engines |
| photo31 | Engine static test stand, 1982 | Another view of engine test stand |
| photo32 | Rocket static test, May 1982 | Spectacle of a rocket static firing |
| photo33 | C-II engine static test, June 1973 | Earlier and less sophisticated test stand |
| photo34 | C-II engine static test 2, June 1973 | Engine firing produces geyser-like exhaust plume |
| photo35 | C-II engine static test 1, June 1973 | Unsuccessful first firing of engine produces fireball |
| photo36 | Electronics package, 1983 | Electronic payload |
| photo37 | Parachute recovery system | Various components of the parachute recovery system |
| photo38 | Burnrate test apparatus, Jan. 1986 | Apparatus for pressure-burnrate testing of propellant |
| photo39 | Burnrate test apparatus, Jan. 1986 | Apparatus for pressure-burnrate testing of propellant |
| photo40 | Flight A-1, February, 1972 | My very first amateur experimental rocket flight... |
| photo41 | Flight A-1, February 1972 | After a short, ballistic flight to about 40 feet.. |
| photo42 | Flight B-1, April 1972 | After completion of the A-series of flights... |
| photo43 | Flight B-1, April 1972 | Although the recovery parachute deployed, it did so prematurely... |
| photo44 | Flight B-3, May 1972 | This rocket was equipped with an experimental "pendulum switch"... |
| photo45 | Flight B-6, July 1972 | The rocket for Flight B-6 was equipped with the D-II motor... |
| photo46 | Flight B-8, August 1972 | This rather handsome rocket had a length of 45 inches... |
| photo47 | Flight B-8, August 1972 | Liftoff ! The rocket was equipped with a "mercury switch"... |
| photo48 | Flight PT-1, January 1973 | The PT series of flights, which followed the eighth and last of the "B" series... |
| photo49 | Flight C-1, March 1973 | The moment of liftoff...the rocket for Flight C-1 begins... |
| photo50 | Flight C-6, June 1973 | Silhouetted against a twilight sky, the rocket climbs |
| photo51 | Flight C-6, June 1973 | My friend and "launch assistant" Ray Bodnar... |
| photo52 | Flight C-6, June 1973 | Immediately after liftoff, the rocket swerved quite sharply... |
| photo53 | Flight C-7, August 1973 | After the loss of the rocket from the preceding flight... |
| photo54 | Flight C-7, August 1973 | Boosted aloft by less than ½ pound of KN-Sucrose propellant in the B-200... |
| photo55 | Flight C-7, August 1973 | After descending gracefully for nearly a minute... |
| photo56 | Flight C-9, August 1973 | The nosecone for this rocket was made up of three sections... |
| photo57 | Flight C-9, August 1973 | Liftoff...view from a ringside seat!... |
| photo58 | Flight C-9, August 1973 | After departing the launch pad, the rocket rapidly climbed... |
| photo59 | Flight C-12, July 1979 | The rocket for Flight C-12 was, without question, the oddest looking... |
| photo60 | Flight C-9, Aug. 1973 | The parachute ejection triggering (PET) module used for Flight C-12... |
| photo61 | Flight C-14, July 1979 | Launch Assistant Ray Bodnar skillfully adjusting the launch pad legs... |
| photo62 | Flight C-14, July 1979 | A pencil-thin smoke trail attests to the swift acceleration of this rocket... |
| photo63 | Flight C-14, July 1979 | Due to a moderately strong wind, the rocket drifted far downrange... |
| photo64 | Flight C-16, September 1979 | Beginning with this flight, my rockets were painted fluorescent orange... |
| photo65 | Flight C-16, September 1979 | The parachute ejection triggering module that debuted aboard Flight C-16... |
| photo66 | Flight C-16, September 1979 | The rocket for Flight C-16 attained a similar peak altitude to that of... |
| photo67 | Flight C-17, June 1980 | The rocket for Flight C-17 awaiting launch... |
| photo68 | Flight C-17, June 1980 | With just a few hundred feet left to descend... |
| photo69 | Flight C-17, June 1980 | "Recovery Assistant" Brenda (my sister) closely examines... |
| photo70 | Flight C-18, July 1980 | The "Launch Director", carrying his trusty tape-recorder... |
| photo71 | Flight C-18, July 1980 | Shortly after liftoff, at an altitude of some 50 feet, an ominous puff... |
| photo72 | Flight C-18, July 1980 | The propellant grain shatters into several still-burning fragments... |
| photo73 | Flight C-18, July 1980 | The upper fuselage was split wide open by the sudden pressurization... |
| photo74 | Flight C-19, July 1981 | A new rocket and motor were constructed... |
| photo75 | Flight C-20, July 1981 | The rocket for Flight C-20 was fitted with somewhat larger fins... |
| photo76 | Flight C-21, August 1981 | Liftoff! As well as certain changes to the rocket... |
| photo77 | Flight C-21, August 1981 | Safe ending in a grassy field... |
| photo78 | Flight C-23, September 1981 | My orange rocket standing out against a pallid sky... |
| photo79 | Flight C-23, September 1981 | A gentle descent provides contrast to a dramatic sky... |
| photo80 | Flight C-24, September 1981 | By this time, the physical appearance of the rockets had pretty much... |
| photo81 | Flight C-27, September 1982 | Outstanding in his field. My father posing next to one of... |
| photo82 | Flight C-30, October 1982 | Stick out your tongue. The "tongue" is actually... |
| photo83 | Flight C-30, October 1982 | Inaugural flight of the C-400 motor... |
| photo84 | Flight C-30, October 1982 | Resting in a bed of cattails... |
| photo85 | Flight C-31, September 1983 | Conducting a pre-launch checkout of the rocket... |
| photo86 | Flight C-31, September 1983 | The rebuilt electronic module, which consisted of the PET circuitry |
| photo87 | Flight C-31, September 1983 | A view of the "back" side of the electronics module... |
| photo88 | Flight C-31, September 1983 | Ray Bodnar genuinely adjusting the launch pad while my brother, Blair... |
| photo89 | Flight C-31, September 1983 | The 5 lb. (2.3 kg.) rocket for Flight C-31, powered by... |
| photo90 | Flight C-31, September 1983 | Literally in the blink of an eye, the rocket catapults itself skyward... |
| photo91 | Flight C-31, September 1983 | Due to a near absence of wind, the rocket descended with minimal drift... |
| photo92 | Flight C-31, September 1983 | Uh, Rich, maybe next time you should park a bit further away... |
| photo93 | Flight C-32, September 1983 | The C-400 motor takes to the sky for a second time... |
| photo94 | Flight C-33, July 1984 | Final checkout of the rocket prior to commencement of the countdown... |
| photo95 | Flight C-33, July 1984 | 3 - 2 - 1 - Liftoff of Flight C-33! Perfect launch conditions... |
| photo96 | Flight C-33, July 1984 | The rocket gently descending not far from the launch pad, from where it... |
| photo97 | Flight C-34, July 1984 | Preparing for the third flight of the C-400 motor... |
| photo98 | Flight C-34, July 1984 | A puff of smoke signals ignition, which soon swelled into a column of... |
| photo99 | Flight C-35, August 1984 | Back to aluminum fins for this flight... |
| photo100 | Flight C-35, August 1984 | Shortly after clearing the launch rail, something went awry.... |
| photo101 | Flight C-37, November 1984 | Setting up for a launch under winter-like conditions... |
| photo102 | Flight C-38, November 1984 | The last flight of the "C" series... |
Wernher Von Braun Wernher Von Braun Wernher Von Braun
Sergei P. Korolev Sergei P. Korolev
