The first rocket designed to capture that vision for the general public was the ESTES-CINEROC. This Cineroc rocket was a camera built into a rocket that would allow hobbyists to watch video of their rocket leaving the ground. This camera and rocket were developed by Mike Dorfler, and marketed in the early 1970’s.

Jamie Clay cut his teeth (so to speak) on the Estes-Cineroc. "Ever since I flew an Estes Cineroc back in the 70’s," he says, "I’ve wanted to return to recording the flight of a model rocket from the rocket itself. It’s exciting to see the ground pull away, the earth below spin gently, the horizon grow." So he set about making his own rocket prototype.

Jamie used an XCam2 wireless video camera and stripped down the camera so that it fit easily into the nose of the rocket, or "launch vehicle." The rocket was a D12-powered custom rocket built from the Estes Phoenix kit according to Jamie. "The only real challenge with the XCam system is that it requires a 12 volt power supply," Jamie continues. "Trick thing to come by when weight is critical." But Jamie put together a power system which gave him plenty of video time and added only a little less than 4 ounces to the total launch weight.

"The launch was flawless," Jamie says. "The signal stayed clear the entire time." He recounts that the only setback was when the "D12 failed to blow a suitable ejection charge to deploy the parachutes." In other words, the rocket did a nosedive toward the ground into a field nearby because the parachute didn’t deploy. On his website, www.dph.com/vidroc/vidroc_1.htm, Jamie details the launch, complete with all the technical details.

He also has a link to the video from his homepage so that you too can watch it. We think you’ll find it as fascinating as we did.

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