Posted on by Nancy Atkinson

Record Launch Attempt for Model Saturn V Rocket

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If you are interested in model rocketry, take a look at this. One man hopes to make a world record by launching a 36-foot (10.9-meter) tall Saturn V model rocket. Steve Eves has been working for two years on building the rocket, and he’s counting down to this Saturday, April 25 when the launch is planned. The launch pad is on a farmer’s field near Price, Maryland, about 50 miles (80 km) east of Baltimore. The model is 1:10 scale of the original Saturn V rocket.

According to an article on the DC Space News Examiner, the rocket weighs over 1,600 pounds (725 kg), and will be powered by a massive array of nine engines: eight 13,000ns N-Class motors and one 77,000ns P-Class motor. The estimated peak altitude of the flight is 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) . Just like the original Saturn v, nothing of this scale has ever been attempted in model rocketry. The model Saturn V will be a world record attempt for the largest amateur rocket to ever be launched.

ROCKETS Magazine and The Maryland Delaware Rocketry Association (MDRA) are supporting the event, to mark the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon mission in 1969. Word has it that several astronauts, including Alan Bean, the fourth man to walk on the moon, have signed the rocket.

Best of luck to Steve Eves!

Source: DC Space Examiner

10 Replies to “Record Launch Attempt for Model Saturn V Rocket”

  1. XD oh my god … this is HUGE !! ( to be an amateur rocket )

    i wonder what hight it will reach

  3. best of luck to the guy who built it.
    I wonder when the first model rocket will get to orbit…though that does raise the question of where the border lies between model and…non-model…

  4. If it had liquid fuel engines – then I’d be impressed.

    Joking, it’ll be way cool to watch.

    I reckon Top Gear’s launch of the Reliant Robin was on par though. Look it up on youtube. It’s the best thing ever.

  5. No live video net coverage? It should. Guess we’ll have to wait to see it at YouTube.

  6. I was hoping that the story would a address several questions that came to my mind – were permissions needed from FAA, does the govt limit the size or scope of private launches of anything? just curious.

  7. Congratulations Steve on a fantastic project. I watched the launches of Apollo in awe as a young teen. This will be quite a sight.
    I didn’t read anything in the article about recovery. Hopefully he’ll be able to get it back more or less intact?

  8. Here is a youtube link with Steve discussing in more detail about the rocket. It will deploy 5 parachutes in hopes of a safe landing.

  9. Thanks for the link to the video, bunker9603. As a former (teenage) rocketry enthusiast, I was wondering about recovery of the ‘hobby rocket’. Wow, 5 ‘chutes. Best of luck to Steve and his crew. @Astrofiend, If it had ion engines – then I’d really be impressed 🙂 . Hope to see the launch on YouTube or better yet live. It oughtta be quite a sight.

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