Centuri Nike Smoke Motor Failure

These photos document the destruction of a rare Centuri Nike Smoke semi scale model due to motor failure at launch. They were taken in northeast Switzerland, on April 16, 1986. The rocket was my second Centuri Nike Smoke, converted to fly with Estes 24 mm D-motors. This was to be the maiden flight. The motor used was an Estes D12-5; it disintegrated upon ignition.

The second photo beautifully captures the launch rod bending due to the force of the detonation. Smoke is still emanating from the body tube in the bottom image. The "United States" decal has yellowed from the heat.

We experienced three motor failures in one day during the launch in question, two with Estes D12-5s and one with an Estes D11-9, resulting in three destroyed rockets. Photography by Marco Schenker.