Rocketry

I like to build and launch rockets — both small model rockets, like the kind you can find in toy and hobby shops, and larger “high-power” rockets, which can weigh several pounds and require certification to fly.

In addition to the rockets themselves, I also build little flight computers that go in the payload sections of the rockets and measure things like altitude, acceleration, etc. I didn’t know anything about building my own electronics when I started, so my first attempts were pretty basic. I wouldn’t call what I have now sophisticated, but it’s gotten to the point it tracks the data I’m interested in, plus I added GPS and a radio (and a loud beeper) to make the rockets easier to find after launch.

My Rockets

Cosmic Cargo (by Estes). A simple, inexpensive, and small rocket. I've left mine unpainted, but launched it repeatedly and repaired it several times. — Cosmic Cargo (by Estes). A simple, inexpensive, and small rocket. I’ve left mine unpainted, but launched it repeatedly and repaired it several times.

Green Eggs (from Estes). It has a nice-sized payload, and was the first rocket I built as an adult.

So Long (by Estes). The rocket that sorta got me back into rocketry as an adult -- the package claims it can reach 3,600ft! It has two stages, but is very sensitive to wind with its large fins and slow liftoff speed. — So Long (by Estes). The rocket that sorta got me back into rocketry as an adult — the package claims it can reach 3,600ft! It has two stages, but is very sensitive to wind with its large fins and slow liftoff speed.

Orbitron (by Estes). A simple, inexpensive rocket with a larger payload. I launch this in parking lots or smaller fields when I'm worried about rough landings. — Orbitron (by Estes). A simple, inexpensive rocket with a larger payload. I launch this in parking lots or smaller fields when I’m worried about rough landings.

LOC-IV (by LOC Precision). My first high-power rocketry, I used this to get my Level 1 certification.

Cosmic Cascade (by Estes). A simple, plain two-stage rocket. It has a very small payload.

Mayhem (by Estes). An excellent two-stage rocket with a large payload that was designed to use the (now defunct) E12 engines.

LOC-IV X2 (by LOC Precision). Essentially a longer LOC-IV, this rocket has an electronics bay to support "dual deploy" -- electronically controlled parachute deployment. — LOC-IV X2 (by LOC Precision). Essentially a longer LOC-IV, this rocket has an electronics bay to support “dual deploy” — electronically controlled parachute deployment.

“Nene” Flight Computer

My initial computer tracked altitude and acceleration and was soldered together then just put in the rocket’s payload section — where it bounced around and would lose power when big jolt occurred. I lost it, and the rocket it was in, on its third flight. That inspired me to make it sturdier and add tracking / locating functionality.

My current computer — which is named “Nene” — tracks a lot more: altitude, acceleration, velocity, heading, pitch, roll, GPS coordinates, and some performance-related data. It also has a radio (for sending out those GPS coordinates) and a very loud beeper to help find the rocket, since these rockets can easily go out of sight with larger engines. I’ve also made some 3D-printed sleds to mount the electronics don’t get damaged by the g-forces of launch and landing.

The computer’s source code and the design files for the sleds are all open source and publicly available on github.

Some of the flight computers I’ve built on different sleds for different-sized payload bays.

Launch History

Name	Engine	Date	Altitude (m)	Acceleration (m/s/s)	Comments
Green Eggs	C11-5	2026.11.08	64.8	109.5
Green Eggs	D12-5	2026.11.08	215.1	172.4	Very windy day — long walk to get this back.
LOC-IV	G67	2026.11.08	169.2	68.6	My chute release band snapped again, and I broke a couple fins :( I did, however, win my club’s “Turkey Shoot” competition by landing closest to a target (29’9″!)
So Long	F15-0, F15-8	2026.10.18	1,151.9	96.2	The bottom stage fins (though not the bottom stage engine) got stuck on the rail — so this went a fair bit higher than it should have.
LOC-IV	I357	2026.10.18	810.5	243.8	My parachute release band snapped — so the parachute opened at apogee.
Mayhem	D12-0, D12-5	2026.09.13	373.3	169.1	Tracker glitched again — need to rebuild the computer to fix a flaky connection
LOC-IV	H112	2026.09.13	555.6	77.1
LOC-IV	H242	2026.08.30	555.5	215	Started using a parachute release to reduce drift distance
Cosmic Cargo	C6-7	2026.08.30	236.4	150.1
Cosmic Cargo	A8-3	2026.08.09	29.9	216
Mayhem	D12-0, D12-5	2026.06.13	386	180.7	Finally got two-stage data! Tracker glitched, though, so finding it was a pain.
LOC-IV	H148	2026.06.13	529	132.8	Level 1 Certified!
Mayhem	E12-0, E12-6	2026.04.26	0		Both engines exploded shortly after ignition, destroying the rocket :(
LOC-IV	G67	2026.04.26	198.8	151.4	First time using a reloadable motor! Nose cone popped off, though, and the parachute didn’t fully open.
Green Eggs	D12-5	2026.04.26	227	181
Orbitron	C11-5	2026.03.29	78.5	138.35	Parachute finally opened correctly!
Orbitron	C11-5	2026.03.01	91.7	198.4	Parachute still didn’t open, chipped a fin.
Cosmic Cargo	A8-3	2025.12.24	44.1	219.6	Parachute deployed but didn’t open — unclear why.
Cosmic Cargo	A8-3	2025.11.23	41.8	215.6	Need to seal the bulkhead. The ejection charge blew the rocket apart; the computer free-fell but was recoverable.
So Long	F15-0, F15-8	2025.07.20	0		Lost :(
Green Eggs	D12-5	2025.07.20	255.1		I lost data partway through, the rocket was at 255.1m and climbing.
Cosmic Cargo	C6-7	2025.07.20	278.6		First launch!