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[Rocketman]

Hello all.

My name is Grady, but I go by Woody most of the time. I'm from East Texas. I recently got re-interested in astronomy, and space flight. I was about 7 years old when I first started to wonder what stars were. I remember getting a happy meal at McDonald's with constellations all over it. I love rockets! I've built several small rockets before, but I have graduated to larger scale rockets. I'm currently waiting to launch the second flight (first one was a disaster. I still get teary eyed) of my first design. I call my rocket Skyfire, and here is a picture below.

img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/MetalheadRocketeer/Skyfire_XR2.jpg

It is 102 inches tall by 2.6 inches in diameter. It can be flown using any 29mm motor. I will soon add electronic devices such as an altimeter, and in later configurations a flight computer... that is when I get my level one license. I enjoy looking at the sky. I marvel at the vastness, and beauty of space. If I could choose between living this life or being a space rock.. I'd probably choose the space rock (that is if there are babe space rocks. lol) I'm excited to learn everything, and anything I can about space. Who knows maybe one day soon we can all go up, and have a big party on the Moon. Albeit quite unlikely, but it's never a bad thing to dream.

I'm looking forward to some quality conversations


-Grady

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Heh...oh man,

On the CAF, we have resident Asteroid hunters, Lunar experts, Comet chasers, and now I would like to designate you as our resident Rocketeer.

I used to launch much smaller rockets in a empty lot in Chicago with school buddies. The great thrill when it swooshes away...almost out of sight, and slowly parachutes back to Earth... ;D

Thanks for your postings, and if it's quality you want...you have come to the right place!

[Rocketman]

..swoosh it is.



Estes Skywinder which almost hit the neighbor in the head. He was drunk, and it was hilarious!

[Maddad]

Welcome aboard, Rocketman. Got film footage of your shot at your neighbor?

[Rocketman]

Well I did, but there was a bit of profanity so I deleted it. I will make a video of my Skyfire XR2 launch whenever I get it ready.

[Rocketman]

Check out this site for some great rocket videos, and rocket info.

vernk.com

[Rocketman]

Here is my Telescope.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Grady,

Please tell about your scope and it's specifications. Looks like a 4" inch refractor?

Can't tell by the pic.

[Rocketman]

It's a Meade DS90. It's a 90mm (3.5 inch) refractor. 1000 mm focal length. It came with 25, 12, 4 mm eyepieces, and a 3x barlow. It has the Autostar #494 computer (still can't get that set up.. it just turns, and turns.. perhaps I'm doing something wrong). I paid 190 bucks for it. It's a nice scope, but it's really only good for looking at the Moon. Viewing stars is useless since they only end up looking like what I can already see with the naked eye. That's the only disappointing thing about it. I do like it however. As I stated before I have seen Jupiters' belts, Saturns' rings, and Mars partially when it was close last year. I would like to eventually get another telescope, but I simply can not afford 3000 bucks!


I want a scope that will allow me to see some real detail. Any recommendations?