Chute Release Water Rocket Deployment Techniques

[@KeithBNimble]

I cant tell you how excited I am for this video. Just launched my StratoFins rocket with my grandkids yesterday. This will be a much appreciated update to the setup.

[@thorinti]

Excelentes vuelos!! Muy bueno el sistema de liberación del paracaídas 👌

[@StratoFins]

Thank you. The Chute Release is excellent and as you can see in the video enables several variations on how it can be employed with a variety of rockets.

[@dasfreakster]

Do you need the coins when using the first method with rubber bands on either side of the nose cone?

[@StratoFins]

Any type of water rocket requires some sort of weight in the nosecone or it will flip during launch. Modeling clay is the safest, coins are okay, and even water can be used. A typical 2-liter bottle rocket needs about 1 - 1.5oz. of weight as part of the nosecone, which can include the weight of the nosecone itself. There needs to be enough mass in the front to direct the flight or the weight of the fins on the rear will want to flip and take over.

[@KeithBNimble]

How do you attach the camera to the rocket?

[@StratoFins]

Use outdoor two-sided tape (gray tape with red backing) from Lowe's or Home Depot to attach the camera to the bottle and balance the opposite side with metal washers or coins. Weigh whatever camera you use and weigh out an equal amount of washers or coins to attach to the opposite side of the bottle in the same location. I don’t remember whether it is the 5 lb or 10 lb (could be 15 lbs) two-sided tape that I use. I still have a large roll from when I purchased it maybe 6 years ago, but I have lost the packaging. I did experiment with the stronger tape 20 lbs or higher and they were too strong to deal with. You will want to replace the tape periodically and reposition the camera occasionally whether you want to face the nose or the tail. Something like this: www.lowes.com/pd/Scotch-1-in-x-5-ft-Two-Sided-Tape/50053419 ought to work. You definitely want to use a parachute if you are launching a camera so that it returns in one piece.

[@KeithBNimble]

@@StratoFins Thank you.

[@shawnabeasley7924]

jj

[@shawnabeasley7924]

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