Richard Nakka's Experimental Rocketry Web Site


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PHOTO GALLERIES INDEX

This page presents a photo gallery of my early rocketry work covering the years 1972 - 1986

  • Goddard Gallery -- Various Rocket Flights
  • Von Braun Gallery -- Rocket Motors and Static Tests
  • Korolev Gallery -- Miscellaneous Rocketry
  • Oberth Gallery -- Rocket Flights Chronicle  

  • My choice of names for these galleries pays homage to four of history's greatest rocket engineers who were my inspiration. All, incidently, started off as amateur experimental rocket builders -- Robert H. Goddard, Wernher Von Braun, Sergei P. Korolev, and Hermann Oberth.

    Various Rocket Flights GODDARD GALLERY
    photo1 Flight C-31, Sept. 1983 Rocket being prepared for launch
    photo2 Flight C-31, Sept. 1983 More of rocket being prepared for launch
    photo3 Flight C-31, Sept. 1983 Rocket starting to lift off launch pad
    photo4 Flight C-31, Sept. 1983 Rocket soars skyward leaving a trail of smoke
    photo5 Flight C-31, Sept. 1983 Rocket descending by parachute
    photo6 Flight C-32 Sept, 1983 Liftoff!
    photo7 Flight C-33 July, 1984 Checking out the rocket prior to launch
    photo8 Flight C-33 July, 1984 3-2-1-ignition-Liftoff!
    photo9 Flight C-34 July, 1984 Puff of smoke signals ignition, then a column of smoke
    photo10 Flight C-35 Aug. 1984 Last minute launch preparations
    photo11 Flight C-35, Aug. 1984 Rocket engine fails shortly after liftoff, flames spew from rocket
    photo12 Flight C-37, Nov. 1984 Setting up rocket for a winter launch
    photo13 Flight C-27, Sept. 1982 Most launches took place at the Red River Floodway site
    photo14 Flight C-23 Sept. 1981 My orange rocket climbing into an overcast sky
    photo15 Flight C-23, Sept. 1981 A graceful return after a successful flight
    photo16 Flight C-20 Aug. 1981 Rocket climbing on a pillar of smoke
    photo17 Flight C-18, July 1980 Rocket begins to break apart after engine failure
    photo18 Flight C-18, July 1980 Sky is scarred with fragments of burning propellant
    photo19 Flight C-14, July 1979 Soaring beyond the moon
    photo20 Flight C-16, Sept. 1979 The spectacle of a late evening launch
    photo21 Flight C-9, Aug. 1973 Liftoff, view from a ringside seat
    photo22 Flight C-6, June 1973 One of my earlier rockets, set to go
    photo23 Flight C-3, May 1973 A favourite photo of mine
    photo24 Flight B-1, April 1972 One of the first flights (B&W, really old!)
    photo25 Flight B-1, April 1972 A less-than-graceful end to the flight
    photo26 Flight A-1, Feb. 1972 Landing in a snow covered field after my first ever rocket launch

    Rocket Motors and Static Tests VON BRAUN GALLERY
    photo27 B-II, B-III and C-II Engines View of three engines I developed
    photo28 "D" engine, April 1972 The largest of the rocket engines
    photo29 Propellant grains, 1984 Two experimental rocket propellant grains
    photo30 Engine static test stand, 1982 Apparatus for static (ground) testing of engines
    photo31 Engine static test stand, 1982 Another view of engine test stand
    photo32 Rocket static test, May 1982 Spectacle of a rocket static firing
    photo33 C-II engine static test, June 1973 Earlier and less sophisticated test stand
    photo34 C-II engine static test 2, June 1973 Engine firing produces geyser-like exhaust plume
    photo35 C-II engine static test 1, June 1973 Unsuccessful first firing of engine produces fireball

    Miscellaneous KOROLEV GALLERY
    photo36 Electronics package, 1983 Electronic payload
    photo37 Parachute recovery system Various components of the parachute recovery system
    photo38 Burnrate test apparatus, Jan. 1986 Apparatus for pressure-burnrate testing of propellant
    photo39 Burnrate test apparatus, Jan. 1986 Apparatus for pressure-burnrate testing of propellant

    Rocket Flights Chronicle   OBERTH GALLERY
    photo40 Flight A-1, February, 1972 My very first amateur experimental rocket flight...
    photo41 Flight A-1, February 1972 After a short, ballistic flight to about 40 feet..
    photo42 Flight B-1, April 1972 After completion of the A-series of flights...
    photo43 Flight B-1, April 1972 Although the recovery parachute deployed, it did so prematurely...
    photo44 Flight B-3, May 1972 This rocket was equipped with an experimental "pendulum switch"...
    photo45 Flight B-6, July 1972 The rocket for Flight B-6 was equipped with the D-II motor...
    photo46 Flight B-8, August 1972 This rather handsome rocket had a length of 45 inches...
    photo47 Flight B-8, August 1972 Liftoff ! The rocket was equipped with a "mercury switch"...
    photo48 Flight PT-1, January 1973 The PT series of flights, which followed the eighth and last of the "B" series...
    photo49 Flight C-1, March 1973 The moment of liftoff...the rocket for Flight C-1 begins...
    photo50 Flight C-6, June 1973 Silhouetted against a twilight sky, the rocket climbs
    photo51 Flight C-6, June 1973 My friend and "launch assistant" Ray Bodnar...
    photo52 Flight C-6, June 1973 Immediately after liftoff, the rocket swerved quite sharply...
    photo53 Flight C-7, August 1973 After the loss of the rocket from the preceding flight...
    photo54 Flight C-7, August 1973 Boosted aloft by less than ½ pound of KN-Sucrose propellant in the B-200...
    photo55 Flight C-7, August 1973 After descending gracefully for nearly a minute...
    photo56 Flight C-9, August 1973 The nosecone for this rocket was made up of three sections...
    photo57 Flight C-9, August 1973 Liftoff...view from a ringside seat!...
    photo58 Flight C-9, August 1973 After departing the launch pad, the rocket rapidly climbed...
    photo59 Flight C-12, July 1979 The rocket for Flight C-12 was, without question, the oddest looking...
    photo60 Flight C-9, Aug. 1973 The parachute ejection triggering (PET) module used for Flight C-12...
    photo61 Flight C-14, July 1979 Launch Assistant Ray Bodnar skillfully adjusting the launch pad legs...
    photo62 Flight C-14, July 1979 A pencil-thin smoke trail attests to the swift acceleration of this rocket...
    photo63 Flight C-14, July 1979 Due to a moderately strong wind, the rocket drifted far downrange...
    photo64 Flight C-16, September 1979 Beginning with this flight, my rockets were painted fluorescent orange...
    photo65 Flight C-16, September 1979 The parachute ejection triggering module that debuted aboard Flight C-16...
    photo66 Flight C-16, September 1979 The rocket for Flight C-16 attained a similar peak altitude to that of...
    photo67 Flight C-17, June 1980 The rocket for Flight C-17 awaiting launch...
    photo68 Flight C-17, June 1980 With just a few hundred feet left to descend...
    photo69 Flight C-17, June 1980 "Recovery Assistant" Brenda (my sister) closely examines...
    photo70 Flight C-18, July 1980 The "Launch Director", carrying his trusty tape-recorder...
    photo71 Flight C-18, July 1980 Shortly after liftoff, at an altitude of some 50 feet, an ominous puff...
    photo72 Flight C-18, July 1980 The propellant grain shatters into several still-burning fragments...
    photo73 Flight C-18, July 1980 The upper fuselage was split wide open by the sudden pressurization...
    photo74 Flight C-19, July 1981 A new rocket and motor were constructed...
    photo75 Flight C-20, July 1981 The rocket for Flight C-20 was fitted with somewhat larger fins...
    photo76 Flight C-21, August 1981 Liftoff! As well as certain changes to the rocket...
    photo77 Flight C-21, August 1981 Safe ending in a grassy field...
    photo78 Flight C-23, September 1981 My orange rocket standing out against a pallid sky...
    photo79 Flight C-23, September 1981 A gentle descent provides contrast to a dramatic sky...
    photo80 Flight C-24, September 1981 By this time, the physical appearance of the rockets had pretty much...
    photo81 Flight C-27, September 1982 Outstanding in his field. My father posing next to one of...
    photo82 Flight C-30, October 1982 Stick out your tongue. The "tongue" is actually...
    photo83 Flight C-30, October 1982 Inaugural flight of the C-400 motor...
    photo84 Flight C-30, October 1982 Resting in a bed of cattails...
    photo85 Flight C-31, September 1983 Conducting a pre-launch checkout of the rocket...
    photo86 Flight C-31, September 1983 The rebuilt electronic module, which consisted of the PET circuitry
    photo87 Flight C-31, September 1983 A view of the "back" side of the electronics module...
    photo88 Flight C-31, September 1983 Ray Bodnar genuinely adjusting the launch pad while my brother, Blair...
    photo89 Flight C-31, September 1983 The 5 lb. (2.3 kg.) rocket for Flight C-31, powered by...
    photo90 Flight C-31, September 1983 Literally in the blink of an eye, the rocket catapults itself skyward...
    photo91 Flight C-31, September 1983 Due to a near absence of wind, the rocket descended with minimal drift...
    photo92 Flight C-31, September 1983 Uh, Rich, maybe next time you should park a bit further away...
    photo93 Flight C-32, September 1983 The C-400 motor takes to the sky for a second time...
    photo94 Flight C-33, July 1984 Final checkout of the rocket prior to commencement of the countdown...
    photo95 Flight C-33, July 1984 3 - 2 - 1 - Liftoff of Flight C-33! Perfect launch conditions...
    photo96 Flight C-33, July 1984 The rocket gently descending not far from the launch pad, from where it...
    photo97 Flight C-34, July 1984 Preparing for the third flight of the C-400 motor...
    photo98 Flight C-34, July 1984 A puff of smoke signals ignition, which soon swelled into a column of...
    photo99 Flight C-35, August 1984 Back to aluminum fins for this flight...
    photo100 Flight C-35, August 1984 Shortly after clearing the launch rail, something went awry....
    photo101 Flight C-37, November 1984 Setting up for a launch under winter-like conditions...
    photo102 Flight C-38, November 1984 The last flight of the "C" series...

    Poster


    Biographies

    Robert H. Goddard     Robert H. Goddard

    Wernher Von Braun

    Sergei P. Korolev     Sergei P. Korolev

    Hermann Oberth


    Last updated

    Last updated November 22, 2013

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