LOST 12/6/08 at NCR Atlas launch site
3" x 36" white rocket with red nosecone, 38mm motor mount with Cesaroni 2 grain casing.
I tracked it visually until about when it reached apogee. I never saw the ejection charge or any deployment. I was a motor ejection rocket and should have hit about 2K on a Ces H153. If it augered in, I would estimate it would be somewhere about .3 to .5 mile at about 95 degree E of the launch site. If it managed to pop its chute, it is probably .5 to 1 mile southeast of the launch site.
Aside from the motor casing, parachute, and a few other components that might still be of value, this rocket was built originally by Mark Casteel, President of PHITS up to about 2001 and, therefore has historical and sentimental value. I made a few modifications and have flown it several times since Mark turned all of his fleet over to club members.
$20 reward (and my eternal gratitude) for its return.
I totaly up for a group search of both sites. Ive been meaning to head up to the north site sometime soon and look for my lost rocket.
If I find anyones rocket I will post it here and DO NOT need any kind of reward for anything found.
If anyone is up for a saturday or sunday and go for a walk in search of lost rockets Im in. Just give me a few weeks notice.
Yes, I would hope that any of us who launch would waive any type of reward for finding someone else's rocket. But alot of us bring kids up and the reward is aimed more at them, the non-participants. If the possibility of a reward gets more folks out there looking, then I don't care who I pay it to.
What time was the MIA rocket launched? Do you know the decent rate? I watched a few rockets visually and have an idea for the wind layers. At least till about noon, the strong NW winds only came down to about 3-4K. Below that there was a ~10 knot wind from the SSW. Below 1K there was just a slight breeze from the SE. If your rocket launched under these conditions and arced off to the east, I'd start looking for your rocket about .4 miles NE of the pad.
Chad -
I don't recall the exact time but I believe it was around noon or a little later.
- Jon
Then my guess still stands- I'd start looking to the NE between a quarter and a half mile out.
In a perfect world I'd have an iPhone application that downloaded wind aloft data and forecasts, and provided a landing location based on rocket altitude, boost angle, and decent rate. I could sit in a chair at the LCO table and make estimates. The math isn't that complicated, but I don't know much more than visual basic.
Good luck hunting. I'd help this weekend, but I'm out of town.
Chad
Yeah, that was where I looked. Unfortunately the tail is white and the ground was covered with snow. IF it is on top of the ground (as opposed to being driven a foot or so into the ground) it will be easier to spot when there isn't snow.
can you point out your rocket on any of Mike's pictures?
Unfortunately, I don't see it in his pictures.
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