Rockets Away!

We held the Cub Scout Rocket Launch yesterday afternoon. This was the third time we'd tried to hold the event, failing to complete the launch in June at the graduation owing to rain and missing last month because of scheduling conflicts. We had to get the event in during the summer, because the boys worked hard on their rockets and were all looking forward to the chance to send them aloft.

Boys. High explosives. Go figure.

Ever wondered what a Rocket Launch looks like? Well, wonder no more:

Cub Scout Rocket Launch

It's a very simple set-up, and lends itself well to a fun, quick summer event. Set up a couple tables to stage the rockets, cordon off an area to set up the launchers (adults only, please!), and have the boys line up to blast off! We opt for simple, inexpensive rockets that can easily be put together in a weekend (in one day, actually, that's how quickly we put ours together!).

---

Here's a fantastic shot of a rocket immediately after liftoff:

We have lift-off!

You can see the rocket engine just starting to catch in the full-size picture. This shot took about 148 takes...

---

And, finally, there's gotta be one in every group:

Houston, we have a problem...

The lawn dart.

---

I used to be heavy into model rockets as a young adult. I built intricate model kits, from replicas of the space shuttle to two- and three-stage monstrosities, as well as some home-designed and built kits using balsa wood a quarter inch thick for fins. Having ready access to a large open field meant that on pretty much any given day in the summer there was a good chance I was launching something into orbit...

And now I get to share this with my son...

That is all.