If you're thinking about getting into mid-power rocketry (E-G motors), this model rocket kit may just be what you need. It can be flown on both 24mm (C, D & E) and composite 29mm (E, F, G) rocket motors. It uses an adapter to switch from one to the other. The parts to build the adapter are included with the kit (along with instructions). At the time of writing, this Apogee rocket costs $17.58, which is very low for a mid-power rocketry kit. As it can also be flown as a low-power rocker, on Estes and Quest motors, it's almost like getting two rockets for one low price. According to the face card, the Aspire can reach altitudes of over a mile and comes down on a streamer. It gets better, on a G80 motor, it is said to go supersonic and exceed Mach 1 speeds. These feats can be achieved due to its slender shape and low weight. Speaking of weight, Apogee suggests using FIXIT epoxy clay to create fin fillets if you plan to use high-thrust motors. The rocket built for review was given regular, 15 minute, epoxy fin fillets instead. The epoxy will add some weight to the rocket.

Parts List

The plastic bag the kit comes in includes the parts listed below and a printed face card, which indicates the kit is made in the U.S.A.

- 2 airframe tubes
- airframe coupler
- 5 centering rings total
- 1/4" launch lug (3" long)
- plastic nose cone
- 4 balsa fins
- golden Mylar streamer
- shock cord (300# Kevlar)
- instructions booklet
- tube marking guide (to be cut out)
- shock cord mount (to be cut out)
- decal
- launch information and flight datat sheet

Construction

This skill level 2 model rocket kit is very easy to build. You start by joining the body tubes and marking the body tube. Attach the fins and launch lug.

Attach the streamer to the shock cord after attaching the shock cord to the nose cone. Glue the shock cord mount into the body tube.

That's all there's to it. The only part left is to build the, optional, 24 mm motor adapter.

Finishing

Sky blue is obviously not the best color to use for a high-altitude rocket. This kit was built in a hurry to have it ready in time for a launch. The idea was to use two shades of blue (one much darker). It turned out the two blues didn't look good together and there was no time (12 hours from launch) to come up with much of another paint scheme.

As it turns out, this rocket jumps off the pad and all you really see is the smoke trail, the blue isn't much of a problem. The decal looks nice, but wasn't used.

Measurements

The Aspire stand 29" (73.66 cm) tall on the launch pad with a diameter of 1.176" (29mm).

Flight Data

The face card only lists one suggested motor, an Aerotech F20-7. The launch instructions sheet lists far more (with projected peak altitude and velocity) : C11-7, D12-7, E6-6, E9-6, E15-10, E30-7, F10-8, F20-7, F21-8, F23-7, G80-10.

The Aspire was launched on an Aerotech F23-7FJ Blackmax Econojet motor and jumped off the pad with lots of black smoke and engine noise. Once the smoke trail stopped, the rocket was nowhere to be seen. Then, finally, a puff of white smoke, the ejection charge just fired. You could hear people say "That thing was still going up!".

As I'm no good at estimating altitudes, I could't say if it reached the projected 2,876 ft (for an F23-7). It almost certainly cleared well over 2,000 - 2,500 feet.

The next thing was recovery, will it come down in one piece... A few seconds after the ejection charge fired, you could see the golden streamer glimmer in the sunlight every so often. As it continued to come done, it became more and more visible. Recovery involved a bit of a walk, no damage to the rocket at all.

Several months later, the Aspire was launched again. An F20-7 was used this time. It cleared the pad in a hurry and went up, up and up. I think I saw the ejection charge fire. That was the last that was ever seen of this rocket. No one on the field saw the streamer come down (or heard it) and the rocket could not be recovered.