Robert Pearlman is a space historian, journalist and the founder and editor of collectSPACE.com, a daily news publication and community devoted to space history with a particular focus on how and where space exploration intersects with pop culture. Pearlman is also a contributing writer for Space.
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Discover this week's must-see night sky events, moon phases, and stunning astrophotos. Sign up for our skywatching newsletter and explore the universe with us!Space.com's Sci-Fi Reader's Club. Read a sci-fi short story every month and join a virtual community of fellow science fiction fans!So you want to launch a model rocket but have never done so? It must be difficult, right? It is rocket science, after all… Fortunately, there are kits today that make it as easy as just opening the box, loading in an engine and finding a safe place from where to fly. Of course, there are also beginner's kits — some of which are profiled below — that include basic, step-by-step assembly instructions, adding to what many find fun and challenging about the model rocketry hobby.Estes Industries' NASA SLS model rocket kit is ready to fly out of the box, offering a quick way to stage your own backyard moon missions.So you are eager to get started and just want to skip to the launch — well, why not start with NASA's next-generation heavy-lift rocket that will send the next astronauts to the moon? Estes Industries has taken one of the most complex engineering challenges and simplified it to a scale model that practically anyone can fly. Thecomes out of the box pre-assembled and pre-painted. In fact, it can double as a display model worthy of any office or space enthusiast's room. Pre-launch preparations are as easy as attaching the included transparent fins and loading the rocket with an Estes C6-3 engine . You will also need a launch pad and controller, which can be used with most, if not all, of the rockets you will build and fly.Estes Rockets' Alpha III comes with all of the parts to quickly and easily assemble into a flying model rocket, including pre-colored body tube, nose cone and fins.requires only glue and other common household tools to create a rocket that flies as high as 1,150 feet . The body tube, nose cone and fins come in attractive black and orange colors and the set includes stickers to add to the decorations. The Alpha III kit also introduces the basic assembly of the engine mount and recovery system the will become the basis for many other more advanced rockets. Estes's Alpha III rocket sports a striking orange aesthetic along with a lightweight and slender design, which helps to create an awesome look as it soars through the air. It's compatible with several Estes engines and would be great fun for any beginner getting into model rocketry.Estes Industries' Journey Launch Set includes the model rocket and the portable pad and controller needed to set it soaring.is the set for you. Its high altitude, low weight and launch set make it a fun and engaging experience for beginners. The kit not only includes a rocket designed for the beginner, with the same ease to build, but also the Porta-Pad II and Electron Beam Launch Controller, so you can launch as soon as you complete assembly! . There's no reason this wouldn't be a good option for more experienced users, either, but with everything you need to launch, a maximum altitude of over 1000 feet and a striking aesthetic, this rocket is a top choice for beginners.Estes Industries' Rascal & HiJinks set includes two model rockets — double the fun for two hobbyists, siblings or yourself!This set takes the best of the ready-to-fly kits, doubles it to include two rockets and includes the launch pad from which to set them soaring! Pre-painted and with unique decals, theare perfect if you and a friend want to share in the fun, or you just want the quick enjoyment of two launches in succession. You still need the extras as identified with the Journey Launch Set, like the engines and recovery wadding, but there is no assembly required. Just like the Journey Launch set, the Rascal and Hijinks set from Estes wouldn't go amiss for more experienced flyers. But, you get a 2-in-1, it's ready to launch, minus a couple of extras, and with a low weight and a cool look, it's great fun and a top choice for beginners.Naturally, beginners include young kids and Stomp Rockets are ideal for little ones as they're a great entry point into what model rockets can do. Made of plastic and foam, and without the need for electronics, engines, explosives and any cords and sharp parts, kids can get their hands on and launch a colorful rocket up to 200 feet in the air. It's a great STEM kit and all it takes is for someone to stomp on the pad, which will send a jet of air through a tube into the launch stand and propel the rocket up into the air. Of course, it's aimed at younger kids and an adult looking to launch a model rocket would become bored with this fairly quickly, but it's a great starting point for young ones and it's safe for them to use.Another top, safe-for-kids option, the National Geographic Power Rocket uses a motorized propeller to take off and simulate a launch, without the need for ignition or explosives. There's no hiding that this is better suited to kids rather than adults looking to take their first steps into model rocketry, but with three different modes, a maximum altitude of 200 feet and a rechargeable battery that will power 20 flights on a single charge, it's hard to look past this rocket as a top option. The real plus side of this rocket is that it simulates the excitement of a launch thanks to its motor; it's made of safe materials, so kids can get hands-on and you don't need recovery wadding as a secondary rotor extends out on descent, which allows it to return to the ground safely. It's an inexpensive, safe and engaging way to get kids excited about model rocketry.Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!, a daily news publication and community devoted to space history with a particular focus on how and where space exploration intersects with pop culture. Pearlman is also a contributing writer for Space.com and co-author of"Space Stations: The Art, Science, and Reality of Working in Space” published by Smithsonian Books in 2018. In 2009, he was inducted into the U.S. Space Camp Hall of Fame in Huntsville, Alabama. In 2021, he was honored by the American Astronautical Society with the Ordway Award for Sustained Excellence in Spaceflight History. In 2023, the National Space Club Florida Committee recognized Pearlman with the Kolcum News and Communications Award for excellence in telling the space story along the Space Coast and throughout the world. Can't wait for Artemis 2 to make history? Get up to 20% off these awesome Lego NASA Artemis rocket sets Can't wait for Artemis 2 to make history? Get up to 20% off these awesome Lego NASA Artemis rocket sets The biggest and most expensive Lego Star Wars set ever made is over £130 off in Amazon's UK big spring sale Looking to save credits on a Lego Star Wars deal? Get one of the lowest prices we've ever seen on the 654-piece Tantive IV Starship set Can't wait for Artemis 2 to make history? Get up to 20% off these awesome Lego NASA Artemis rocket sets
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