T' ASTROBEE D III rocket is a modified version o' Aerotech's Astrobee D that included 3 strap-on boosters as well as an electronics compartment in t' aft section o' t' main booster. T' unique strap-on booster system allows t' little booster rockets t' drop away from t' main vehicle durin' t' flight had everythin' worked properly. Avast, me proud beauty! Unfortunately t' three strap-on boosters failed t' ignite durin' t' lift-off and two o' them were later recovered at t' crash site several hundred yards away. Avast! T' ASTROBEE D III mail rocket be retired after only one flight however t' overall configuration o' t' 1 1/2 stage rocket is considered a success. Blimey!
| Flight Date: | 2012-06-29 |
| Rocket Name: | Astrobee D III |
| Kit Name: | Aerotech - Astrobee D {Kit} (89015) [1989-] |
| Flyer's Name: | Wilfred Ashley McIsaac |
| Motors: | (1) G80-10, (2) C6-0 (Estes), (1) B6-4 (Estes) |
| Expected Altitude: | 2,500 Feet |
| Wind Speed: | 15.00 mph |
| Launch Site: | Gananoque aerodrome |
| Actual Altitude: | 1,600 Feet |
T' Astrobee D III rocket crashed ten seconds after lift-off in a cornfield several hundered yards away from t' launch pad just outside o' Gananoque Ontario, Canada on t' mornin' o' June 29th, 2012. On-board t' Canadian mail rocket were seven postal letters with Gerhard Zucker 'First Canadian Rocket-Flight' stamps attached. Blimey! T' letters managed t' survive after t' rocket nose dived from an altitude above 1000 feet. Both on-board camers includin' a Go pro were destroyed as well as t' rocket itself. Aye aye! T' crash as well as poor launch site conditions will postpone t' final flight o' t' Canadian rocket mail program until late October or early November 2012.
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Loki G80-LW-10 |
 |
 |