Estes Shuttle - Assembly and Launch (Explorer 1 - A Beautiful Failure)

You even have the crawler! ❤️😢

I once built an Estes V-2 and it came out beautifully. Especially the paint job (all paint lines were razor-sharp). It was so nice, I planned on flying it only once and then keeping it as a display model. When I went to fly it, I had the only D-engine failure I ever had. It detonated and blew the entire rocket into tiny shards. All except the (plastic) nose cone which flew up maybe 20 feet and came down on the chute. 😢

Beautiful Job!!! Love the time and effort and the crawler you put into this one. The lift off was perfect but sorry to see it crash. We live and learn but it sure was a great video and rocket to it but the big one. Good Luck on the repair!!

I was thinking when you added all that electronic hardware it might affect the flight. Check for stability with a tethered hand flight and go up one engine letter.

4:19 The elevons are kicked all the way up, that's why it pitched over so quickly..

I used to have quite the collection of Estes and home-made style rockets from Estes parts as a kid. I used to love this much. I forgot all about Estes rockets for YEARS until just a few min ago. Would love to build some of their advanced stuff now as an adult!

Back in the 70's when I had first gotten involved in rocketry, I had my only mishap with solid rocket motors. Fortunately, by that time in '77, I had started recording my launches, the one with the mishap actually being the first one I recorded. It was a three stage rocket all stages using the Estes D motors; D-12-0, D-12-0 And a D-12-(I forget, but it was a coaster for the chute). I pushed the launch button and almost immediately felt a searing pain at my nose. Didn't see much of the launch up to that moment, certainly couldn't a thing of it afterward. By the time I had gotten up with the blood running down my face I expected a stream of questions to come from my friends, but there wasn't, there was just one question that was asked many times accompanied with laughter. "What happened to you!?" With gathered up rocket parts, broken parts, spare parts and tools, we then headed back to the barracks (Oh yea, did I forget to mention that this happened on a USAF base, neglecting to get permission to launch a rocket? lol). The recording was replayed over and over on our way back to the barracks and figured out what had happened. There must have been a crack in the first motor sometime in it's handling from manufacturing to the point where I bought it and possibly exacerbated when I had dropped it a short distance. Either way, in less than a half second the first stage ignited the second stage. Next, while the first stage, still firing but w/o discernable thrust, was shot out by the second stage sending the first stage to it's new destination, my nose. The rest of the continued it's appointment with the ground. Ok, ok, where was I to get hit by the motor, now projectile? Lol, you haven't figured that one out yet? Thinking, with all my previously boosting stages, I was at a relatively safe distance but behind a slightly into the wind  tipped rocket (all jokes aside).

It took me forever to find someone with the new shuttle.  I'm getting ready to buy one of my own. Hope you get a better launch out of it!

That was great editing. Sorry the launch didn't go as planned.

My guess is the camera contributed to the launch failure? Reminds me of my first go at the SR-71 blackbird model, which took a long curved flight path. Looks like a lot of work went into this. I am disappointed though that the new shuttle kit (not sure how long it has been around) is different from the old one, which was closer to scale. As I recall it flew successfully (including the orbiter glider) more than once. Wish I still had that one and that Estes still sold it.

loved the video and launch, hope mine goes better, loved all the assembly shots

Flies like a dream.

I was considering this rocket, but you completely talked me out of it!!

P.S. The A Team Theme made this perfect!~

Adding the camera moved the center of gravity behind the center of pressure.

Nice model...I totally respect the effort you put into this...thanks for sharing! This is exactly why I only launch my models privately with a few close friends who share a love and appreciation for the hobby and NOT in front of just whoever. I think it's really disrespectful and upsetting when people laugh and find it entertaining when somebody's model has a bad crash. They have no idea what kind of work goes into these things.

I have been on the fence about getting this model, but seeing what a nice job you did on it is good motivation. I am sorry it crashed, however. Did you refurbish it?

We built the same rocket. The weight is not well balanced at all. It shot up then rolled flat. Chute opened 10 feet from the ground. Engine had a 4 second delay. Shuttle detached well though! I see the kit is no longer available on the Estes website. Awesome looking end product though!

Really nice work but bad luck on the day. Hope you can repair it.

Where do I find this shuttle? I can’t seem to find it on any website