Besides taking video, the camera can be switched to still-photo mode. In this configuration, the camera will take three digital photos during the flight in a higher resolution than the video images. Each image is 640 X 480 (width X height) pixels.

With these digital photos, you can share them with your friends, or print them out to paper and use them in a school report.

The digital camera comes with a special USB cable and CD-ROM software to connect to your WINDOWS computer.

The nose cone of the Estes Astrovision™ rocket contains a tiny solid-state digital camera. It is completely self-contained and streamlined so that it allows the rocket to fly high and fast into the sky.

There is no film in the camera; it stores the images in its computer-like memory chip. The advantage of this is there are no moving parts to wear out or jam. There is enough memory on the chip to store 12 seconds of video from the high-flying launch.

Note: The software used in this kit is not currently Vista compatable.

The camera is already set up (no adjustments or tweaking are necessary). Just push the "START" button, and the camera will start recording the flight of your rocket. It is really that simple.

When your rocket is sitting on the launch pad waiting to be launched, you simply walk up to it and push the start button. It will then give a series of beeps for 15 seconds. This allows you to get back a safe distance before the rocket is launched. Then the red LED will come on (steady light), which indicates the video is being recorded. You'll push the launch button on your controller, and the rocket then zooms skyward.

The camera will capture approximately 12 seconds of video during the flight, taking 5 video frames per second. Our test flights actually got 14 seconds of video capture. In still-photo mode, the camera will record three images taken 1.5 seconds apart during the flight.

One great feature of this kit is the camera looks aft during the launch. So what you see in video is the ground quickly receeding as the rocket rises on a pillar of flame and smoke. This part of the flight is typically less than 10 seconds, so you'll get nice aerial images of your launch site from high in the sky.

With this rocket, you can begin your own space exploration program, allowing you to jump right into studying the features of planet earth.

Combining aerial photography and rocketry opens up a whole new world of space studies. It gives you a perspective of an area often unobtainable by any other means. You can study topography, vegetation patterns, even urban sprawl. It is great for educators looking for a way to provide additional science with the excitement that comes from using model rocketry.

When you download it to your computer, you'll get a image resolution of 320 X 240 pixels. That's detailed enough to see a lot of the launch area.

There's more! You can also perform Aeronautic experiments, like measuring the roll rate of the rocket, and how it reacts to wind on the launch field. This video camera is a wonderful and real scientific tool.

Photo taken by the Astrovision

Plastic Nose Cone With Integrated Video Camera - The sleek shape of the nose cone streamlines the air flowing over it. This lowers the drag, and allows the rocket to fly sky high. The video camera is enclosed inside the nose cone. The bump on the outside of the nose is an aerodynamic hood that protects a high quality optical mirror. This mirror allows the camera to look aft while the rocket is moving forward.

Pre-Assembled Rocket - The kit is already put together. All you have to do is attach the parachute, and install three button-cell size batteries in the camera. The rocket is then ready to prep for flight.

Colorful Appearance - No painting or decoration is required.

Button-cell batteries are included! In fact, you get a second set of batteries so you'll have a spare set.

Small Size - This has got to be the smallest rocket camera ever produced. That means you can launch it on smaller motors which are cheap! You'll get a lot of flights out of this rocket!

Plastic fin Unit - The rocket flies straight and true, because the fins are already attached and aligned straight with the rocket body.

Plastic Engine Lock Ring - Allows the engine to be quickly changed out between flights. Just give it a half-a-turn, and it holds the motor snuggly in the rocket.

Colorful Plastic Parachute - The 18" (46cm) parachute is brightly colored so you can find the rocket in the sky and on the ground.

Launch Pad and Controller - This rocket does come with an Estes Porta Pad™ and Electron Beam™ controller. Just add the motors, and you have a complete starter outfit.

Equipment needed to use this rocket kit:

• WINDOWS laptop computer to download digital video. (Works on Microsoft WIN98/2000/NT/ME/XP Operating Systems). 125 MH hard disk storage, 32 MB Memory, USB Interface, CD-ROM Drive. Color Monitor (suggest at least 800 X 600 24-bit color), Video media player to view .avi file. (Laptop computer is NOT included). You need to download the video/images right after flight. If you turn off the device, all images and video will be lost.
• Three button-cell batteries. (Included)
• Phillips-head screw driver is needed to open the battery compartment in the nose cone of the rocket.

To Launch This Rocket Kit, You'll Also Need:

• Rocket Motors (Not included with this kit)
• Launch Pad & Launch Controller: Is included with this kit!
• Launch Controller to ignite the rocket engines requires four "AA" size alkaline batteries (Not Included).

Q. What is Recovery Wadding, and why do I need it for the Estes Astrovision™ model rocket?

A. Click Here for more information about Recovery Wadding.

To see how the Estes Astrovision™ Digital Video camera rocket looks and performs with each motor configuration, download the FREE RockSim design file (click here).

What is a RockSim Design file? The RockSim software gives you a lot of information about the flight characteristics of this rocket: how high, how fast, where it will land, how will it react to wind, etc. The "design file" is intended to save you time. All the parameters (size, shape, weight, fin design, etc.) of this rocket have already been entered into the RockSim program, and saved as an electronic database file. You can just open it up in your copy of RockSim and start loading different rocket motors to run launch simulations. It's fun and educational to see the rocket zoom skyward, even before you built it. For more information about RockSim and to download a FREE 30-day demo version, click here. Windows and Macintosh versions are both available.

Are you new to rocketry? Do you think you know what happens when you launch your rocket? Now you can learn about the events that occur as your rocket is launched into the air. So when you launch your rocket, you'll be prepared and you'll be able to show off your knowledge to observers watching your rocket. This article also gives you links to other references that will give you even more background information about rocketry, so you can become a true rocket scientist and expert.

"Apogee Components is the most informative rocketry company on the web. Tim is a credit to his dedication to the rocketry hobby and should be inductrd into the "Rocketry Hall Of Fame"
-- Steven Foster