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

Just Plug It Into Your Computer

The nose cone of the Estes Oracle™ rocket contains a tiny solid-state digital video 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 30 seconds of video from the high-flying launch.

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 green 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 30 seconds of video during the flight, taking 9 video frames per second.

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 the remaining 20+ seconds of video will show the nice aerial images as the rocket descends by parachute.

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 sharp enough to see a lot detail 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.

To view an actual video taken from the Oracle rocket, click here.

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 a AAA size battery in the camera. The rocket is then ready to prep for flight.

Colorful Appearance - No painting or decoration is required.

Large Size - Makes this rocket impressive to look at. And it also makes it easier to spot in the air, and on the ground.

Slow Liftoff Speed - It is heavy rocket, so it takes off slow and loud, just like you like. Right?

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.

Durable Nylon Fabric Parachute - The 18" (46cm) parachute is brightly colored so you can find the rocket in the sky and on the ground. Because it is fabric, it is more durable and can take a high speed deployment.

Equipent needed to use this rocket kit:

• WINDOWS 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. (Computer NOT included).
• "AAA" alkaline battery. (Not Included).

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

• Rocket Motors (Not included with this kit - See the motor selection above).
• Launch Pad & Launch Controller (Not included with this kit)

Q. What launch pad should I use to launch the Estes Oracle rocket kit?

A. Since this is a big rocket, you'll need very stable launch pad. We offer a couple of choices: the Aerotech Mantis Launch Pad, and the Estes Porta Pad-E. Note: This kit requires a 3/16 inch diameter launch rod. These twp pads comes with a larger 1/4 inch rod. But they both will accept the 3/16 inch rod. A 3/16 steel rod can be purchased at hardware stores.

Q. What launch controller can I use to ignite the motors?

A. We offer two different controllers that can be used for mid-power size rockets. The Aerotech Interlock and the Pratt Hobbies GO-BOX Controller.

Rocket Motors - This is a reminder that this kit does not come with rocket motors. See the chart at the top of this page to see which motors will work in this particular rocket kit.

Epoxy Clay - While it has a 1,001 uses around the house, it works great on rockets to make super-strong fillets where the fins attach to the rocket. Better than regular epoxy because it stays in place and doesn't ooze all over the rocket. So you can get perfect fillets on all your fins, without having to do them one at a time. On this particular rocket kit, it works greats to make the fin fillets and to fill any dings you might get on the styrofoam nose cone.

Sunward Nomex Ground Cover Blanket
Product No. 29310

Provide a bit extra fire protection to the grass under the launch pad with the 5-by-5 foot nomex blanket.

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

This file can be opened with the FREE demo version of RockSim (click here). Both Windows and Macintosh versions are 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.