The U.S.S. Atlantis series of high-power rockets have been my favorite large-scale rocketry projects of the last
couple of years. Yes, they fly! The original U.S.S. Atlantis was based on an old kit that Estes produced in the
late 1970's, the only difference being that my verson was much larger. Scaling up old fondly-remembered kits is
popular among high-power rocketeers, and I particularly liked the U.S.S. Atlantis as a subject since it had that
Star-Trek feel, and was a unique rocket--not the standard "three fins and a tube" configuration.
My original Atlantis flew four times before its premature demise due to an electronics problem (I have future plans
for building a duplicate of this model once again). At the time of it's "self-destruction," I already
had the second version under construction.
The second Atlantis model I designed to look like an updated version of the original, of the same basic design,
but with enough differences to make it look like the original ship had undergone a "refit." I am particularly
proud of this model, as it contains quite a bit more detail than the original, and has flown several times successfully.
The second Atlantis was designed to fly on J-K impulse Aerotech hybrid motors, and carries two sets of electronics
for recovery, one to serve as backup for the other. I look forward to flying this model again once the new flying
season rolls around. The U.S.S. Atlantis models have been crowd pleasers, having each won a people's choice award
at the yearly Midwest Regional Fun-Fly, a popular two-day rocketry event that in 1996 flew close to 1000 rockets!
For more information about the original U.S.S. Atlantis, and complete details of it's construction, refer to the
November 1995 back issue of High Power Rocketry "The Flight of the U.S.S. Atlantis," where I describe
my work on the model. A second article on the latest Atlantis model is in the works...
Left: The original Atlantis cought just at the moment of ignition by Norman Heyen's camera. This photo was
taken just before her first flight on an Aerotech reloadable I-284.
Right: The fire and smoke of another I-284 propel Atlantis to it's third sucessful flight at NIRA's Eat
Cheese or Fly '95. This Norman Heyen Photo also appeared on page 3 of the November-December 1996 issue of Sport
Rocketry.
Read more about the first USS Atlantis in High Power Rocketry, November 1995, The Flight of The USS Atlantis.
Turn
the page for more U.S.S. Atlantis info ond photos!
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