| [Not displaying correctly? View web version.] | Peak-of-Flight Newsletter #567: | | 
In RockSim, you sometimes need a triggering event in order to create complex simulations that are otherwise impossible to accomplish. An example might be an unpowered strap-on booster pod, where you need some sort of trigger to tell the software that the unpowered upper stage needs to separate from the booster stage and be recovered on its own. The “trick” that I use to trigger events like this, is to create a “fake” rocket engine that I put inside the pod, so RockSim is tricked into thinking this is a powered stage that needs to be tracked. In this article, I’ll go through the steps required to create the fake motor, and also explain in more detail what it means to “trigger an event.” Also In This Issue: The Launch Visualizer is Here!  The Launch Visualizer™, which Apogee released on Friday, February 11, 2022 was a project that took two years of development to accomplish. And we invite you to try it out by going to the website: https://www.RockSim.com
You might be wondering, what does the Launch Visualizer do? And why should you even give it a try? In this article, I'll answer those questions for you, so you understand why this might be the most important rocketry simulation tool to come out since... well, since we first introduced RockSim about 20 years ago. | | Read the rest of this week's article, either on a downloadable PDF for printing out, or on our website (great for viewing on your phone)! Previous issues of our newsletter are found at our archive page. |
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| Check out the latest products to hit Apogee's shelves! | Launch Visualizer | | 
The Launch Visualizer is a new rocket simulator that provides a full 6-degrees of freedom using your RockSim design files. That means you get to see the full range of motion of your rocket from lift-off to touchdown in a 3D environment. Best yet, it's web based, so you don't have to load any software. And you can run it on your smartphone, tablet, Chromebook, or laptop. It's what you've been waiting for. See a sample simulation of a three-stage flight here. |
| Apogee Razzle Dazzle | | 
Want a little excitement at your next launch? The Apogee Razzle Dazzle will help you achieve just that objective. It looks like a single stage rocket where in actuality, it is a two stage rocket. The decals on the fins provide dazzling camouflage to hide the separation line between the stages. So your spectators may not notice anything out of the ordinary while the rocket is sitting on the pad. But when it takes off, they will be astonished to see that the rocket is staged and it boosted higher than they expected. It catches everyone off guard, and makes for a very pleasing experience. |
| Apogee Atomizer | | 
The first thing you’ll notice on the Atomizer is the ring-tail at the base. This large annular wing provides extra stability because it increases the amount of fin area. The other thing it does is to protect the fins from a hard landing and makes them much stronger than traditional rockets. What’s not to love about a stronger rocket that flies straighter? The Skill-Level-2 Atomizer is easy to build, although it is recommended to those modelers that have previous rocketry experience in the past. |
| Apogee Habu | | 
You’ll enjoy hearing the applause from your friends when flying the Habu rocket kit, as well as the pleasant experience of building it. The Skill-Level-1 Habu is an easy to build rocket intended for the first time modeler that wants to build a model that has basla fins. It is one of the simpler rockets that will teach you the basic techniques that you’ll need to know in order to assemble more complex rockets. |
| NCR Corporal | | 
The Corporal was the first guided missile put into use by the U.S. Army. Originally designed as a test vehicle to study the problems associated with long-range rockets, the Corporal missile was later turned into a tactical battlefield missile capable of carrying either a conventional or nuclear warhead. This is a new semi-scale model of the Corporal from North Coast Rocketry that is 2.64" in diameter, 57" long, and designed to fly on 29mm diameter F and G-size rocket motors. It is sleek and graceful both on the ground and in the air. |
| Estes New Shepard | | 
From Estes comes this 1/66th scale model of the Blue Origin New Shepard suborbital launch vehicle. It is almost ready to fly, so you can launch it in 5 minutes from opening the box. It flies to on 18mm diameter C and D motors. It is as great a desktop model as it is a flying model rocket. If you're into scale models of manned rockets, this is a must-have for your fleet. The New Shepard has already flown 14 passengers into space! |
| Make Carbon Fiber Tubes | | 
Here is an extensive and detailed video course on how to make Ultra-Lightweight Carbon-Fiber Rocket Tubes. They're so light, they give you an unfair advantage in competition. These are the ones that my daughters, Allison and Ashley used in Romania last September at the 2021 World SpaceModeling Championships. Allison was part of the senior Silver Medal winning USA team, and Ashley took home the Bronze Medal in the Jr. Division. The girls were taught how to make their own tubes, so if they can do it, so can you. The training course consists of 5 hours and 42 minutes of video instruction, covering everything I know about how to make a successful tube with a glass-finish using a 2-piece mold. It even includes all the secret techniques and materials, and where to buy them, including where to get the 2-part mold. This course is on the Udemy website, not at Apogee Components. The coupon code of TEAM-USA will get you enrolled for a discounted price of $15.99. The coupon expires on February 10, so use it now! |
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“I've looked at numerous sites for rockets and parts and always keep coming back to Apogee. In addition to rocket kits, they have an excellent selection of components for designing and building your own rockets. I haven't found any other sites that have the breadth and variety of parts that Apogee sells. They sell items singly or in bulk at great prices, so you can buy exactly what you need for any project. Also, their service is fast, efficient, and very customer-oriented. Definitely a great place to shop.” -- Van Wilson | |
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We're looking for someone to write a definitive guide to selecting igniters, controllers and batteries for rockets. We'd love to have a newsletter article on that topic, because we get lots of inquiries about it. Is that you? Do you know how many e-matches can be set off in a cluster by a 3.7v 400 mAh battery? See our Newsletter Guidelines on how to submit an article on this topic and get paid up to $350 for your time.
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 I'm now actively seeking writers for articles to appear in this newsletter. And I want unique and cutting-edge articles because that is what you want to read, right? I realize this, so to get articles from outside writers that have the same level of quality, I'm going to have to pay a lot of cash to make it worth it for them. So I've come up with a compensation package where I'll pay up to $350 for good how-to articles. Are you a writer, and does that interest you? That is a lot of cash! Far more than you'll get by writing for other magazines. And with over 23,000 worldwide subscribers, if you write for the Peak-of-Flight Newsletter, you'll gain a lot of notoriety. Writing for the Peak-of-Flight Newsletter is a great way to show off your rocketry projects and your technical expertise, at the same time as helping out other rocketeers. Imagine how great you'll feel knowing that you made a difference to the hobby. If you're interested in writing, see the guidelines on our site. | |
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