| SPACE SYSTEMS, INC - A Division of the AA Institute |
AA Institute records ground breaking launch for Ascent 2...but disappointed by loss. Article posted: 22 April, 2003 The smoky detonation of ejection charge at apogee and successful parachute deployment at approx. T+04 seconds into the mission were easily visually confirmed, and the descent phase was entirely tracked. The descent appeared wind-swept and attitude profile was affected by strong winds. Due in part to lack of a sizeable launch tracking crew, AAI was disappointed with the loss of the vehicle post-landing. An exhaustive search of the wooded area where the vehicle's parachuted touchdown appeared to have occured failed to uncover Ascent 2 for recovery. Ascent 2 Mission ImagesHowever, to see a "conceptual" photo-fit image of how Ascent 2 would have looked from a close range tracking camera towards the end of its powered flight phase, click here (this is not an actual photograph).  Ascent 2 photographed on the launch pad during pre-flight checks and only minutes before ignition. Part of the launch support rail can be seen at the top of the image. [Credit: AA-Space Systems, Inc.] Ascent 2's flight path & trajectory Ascent 2's flight trajectory. The vehicle's descent and landing vectors are directed towards the observer in this 3D panoramic representation. [Credit: AAI] The "Rocketry & Aerospace" program is an aspirational initiative of the AA Institute of Space Science & Technology
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