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