| Cameras and video cameras can be launched on | | | | High powered model rockets can carry large |
| model rockets to take photographs in-flight. | | | | payloads, including cameras and |
| Model rockets equipped with the Astrocam or | | | | instrumentation such as GPS units, and are |
| Snapshot film camera or the Oracle digital | | | | not much different from their military |
| camera, or with homebuilt equivalents, can be | | | | counterparts. However, unlike military |
| used to take aerial photographs. | | | | rockets, high-powered model rockets generally |
| | | | do not contain any type of guidance system. |
| These aerial photographs can be taken in many | | | | |
| ways and with many different types of | | | | Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, high |
| cameras. Mechanised timers can be used to | | | | powered model rocketry in the United States |
| take photographs. Passive methods are also | | | | has been even more carefully monitored by the |
| employed, such as strings that are pulled by | | | | government. Engine vendors and participants |
| flaps that respond to wind resistance. | | | | must be licensed, and all high-power flights |
| Microprocessor controllers can also be used. | | | | require FAA notification.[citations needed] |
| However, the rocket's speed and motion can | | | | |
| lead to blurry photographs, and quickly | | | | Recovery |
| changing lighting conditions as the rocket | | | | |
| points from ground to sky can have an impact | | | | Model and high-power rockets are designed to |
| on video quality. Video frames can also be | | | | be safely recovered and flown repeatedly. The |
| stitched together to create panoramas. As | | | | most common recovery methods are parachute |
| parachute systems tend to fail, model rocket | | | | and streamer. |
| cameras need to be protected from impact with | | | | |
| the ground. | | | | Tumble recovery |
| | | | |
| Instrumentation and experimentation | | | | The simplest approach, and one only |
| | | | appropriate for small rockets or rockets with |
| Model rockets with electronic altimeters can | | | | a large cross-sectional area, is to have the |
| report and or record electronic data such as | | | | rocket tumble back to earth. Any rocket which |
| maximum speed, acceleration, and altitude. | | | | will enter a stable, ballistic trajectory as |
| | | | it falls is not safe to use with tumble |
| Model rocketeers often experiment with rocket | | | | recovery. |
| sizes, shapes, payloads, multistage rockets, | | | | |
| and recovery methods. Some rocketeers build | | | | Parachute/Streamer |
| scale models of larger rockets, space | | | | |
| launchers, or missiles. | | | | The approach used most often in small model |
| | | | rockets. It uses the ejection charge of the |
| High Power Rocketry (HPR) | | | | motor (see below) to deploy, or push out, the |
| | | | parachute or streamer. Air resistance slows |
| As with low power model rockets, high power | | | | the rocket's fall, ending (hopefully) in a |
| rockets are also constructed from lightweight | | | | smooth, controlled, gentle landing. |
| materials, but instead of paper, plastic, and | | | | |
| wood, usually fiberglass, composites, and | | | | Glide recovery |
| aluminum are needed to withstand the higher | | | | |
| stresses during flight which often exceeds | | | | In glide recovery, the ejection charge either |
| Mach 1 (~700 mph) and over 10,000 ft | | | | deploys an airfoil (wing) or separates a |
| altitude. | | | | glider from the motor. If properly trimmed, |
| | | | the rocket/glider will enter a spiral glide |
| High power model rockets are propelled by | | | | and return safely. In some cases, |
| larger motors ranging from class H to O and | | | | radio-controlled rocket gliders are flown |
| can be up to 40 feet tall. Their motors are | | | | back to the earth by a pilot in much the way |
| almost always reloadable rather than | | | | as R/C model airplanes are flown. |
| single-use in order to reduce cost. Recovery | | | | |
| and/or multi-stage ignition may be initiated | | | | Helicopter recovery |
| by small on-board computers, which use an | | | | |
| altimeter or accelerometer for detecting when | | | | The ejection charge, through one of several |
| to ignite engines or deploy parachutes. | | | | methods, deploys helicopter-style blades and |
| | | | the rocket auto-rotates back to earth. |