CR4 Photos - November 28, 1999
This page contains thumbnail images of photographs taken with a 35 mm camera mounted in a 4-inch diameter rocket. Images from other flights of the CR4 can be accessed from the Photo Album page.

Launch Date: Sunday, November 28, 1999, ~1:30 pm
Event: MTMA Launch No. 5
Launch Location: Summit County Fairgrounds, Tallmadge, Ohio
Weather: Sunny, 45 degrees F, WNW wind ~15 mph
Map of Launch Site:

Map of SCFG Launch Site

Flight Notes: Launched on an NCR F62-4 Dark Star. This was the first launch on an NCR motor with the camera installed. Previously, the camera-less rocket has flown on F62-6 motors, which have too long of a delay for the camera's extra weight. This flight went off without a hitch. The rod was tilted into the wind leading to a lower-altitude arcing flight with ejection just after apogee. The recovery system on the booster deployed fully, while one of the chutes on the payload bay was slightly tangled. The payload drifted right back to the range with the booster less than 200 feet downwind. I caught the camera payload section and it snapped an out-of-focus picture of me just as I was closing the shutter door. The first seven pictures below are from this flight with the last one taken just after recovery with the camera still installed in the payload bay.

At this time, only low-resolution images are available. Additional resolutions and exposures will be added below as time and server space allow.

The first seven images are shown from a "nosecone up" perspective.
 
Thumbnail Image
Frame
Description

Negative 1 (click to download low-resolution image 34KB)

1

Facing west, looking through the range.

Negative 2 (click to download low-resolution image 22KB)

2

Western edge of the launch range, facing SW. That's Tod's wife's van.

Negative 3 (click to download low-resolution image 19KB)

3

Area SW of the launch range, facing SW.

Negative 4 (click to download low-resolution image 23KB)

4

Area SW of the launch range, facing SW.

Negative 5 (click to download low-resolution image 31KB)

5

Area SW of the launch range, facing SW.

Negative 6 (click to download low-resolution image 34KB)

6

Area SW of the launch range, facing WSW. Just after apogee.

Negative 17 (click to download low-resolution image 36KB)

17

SE from the launch pad, nose pointing WNW. The smoke trail is a remnant of the Dark Star's exhaust. The figure in blue is me, giving chase.

Negative 23 (click to download low-resolution image 17KB)

23

MTMA junior videographer. My oldest son video taped the entire prep, launch, and recovery. Tod's wife's van is behind him to the right.

The 35 mm film from CR4 was procesed and printed on 4"x6" prints. These were scanned at 300 dpi for high-resolution, reduced by 50% (effective 150 dpi) for medium-resolution, reduced by 50% again (effective 75 dpi) for low-resolution, and reduced by 50% yet again (effective 37.5 dpi) for thumbnail-resolution.

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This page was created on May 25, 1999, and last updated on June 16, 2000.