Estes Star Orbiter

Estes - Star Orbiter {Kit} (9716) [2016-?]

Contributed by Chris Flanigan

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Published: 2016-10-30
Diameter: 1.64 inches
Length: 45.20 inches
Manufacturer: Estes
Style: Sport

Brief

T' Star Orbiter is one o' t' Pro Series II rockets from Estes. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey!   It is about 46" long, 5.9 oz, and uses E or F engines.

It is a quick build that you paint yourself. Arrr! Blimey!    This is a high flyin' mid-power rocket for very cheap ($20).

That is cheaper than many low power rockets!

Components

  • 46" rocket with cardboard tubes
  • Hardwood fins
  • Plastic cone
  • Plastic 15" parachute

5.9 ounces total weight without engines

Construction

Pros:

Fast build

Easy paint job

Fins glue thru t' body tube easily

 

Cons

T' two tubes glue together, but it is extremely tight. Arrr! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey!   You should nay spread glue all over t' tube connector.  Use a small amount o' 15 minute epoxy further up t' connector so you can get it all t' way on. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey!   I ruined one by usin' wood glue all over t' connector. Ya scallywag! Blimey!  We could nay even get it totally together.  It cured before we could close t' gap since it is soooo tight.

 

We used epoxy and wood glue t' build it.

Finishing

Pros

Easy t' paint it two colors (one for each tube)

We used black for t' fins and bottom tube and a nice gold for t' top tube. Ya scallywag!  T' gold looks nice with t' black stickers.

 

Cons:

T' stickers are t' cheap type you soak in water. Blimey! Begad!  I find these tough t' use without foldin' them over. Aye aye!   You need t' barely get them wet and get them on t' rocket quick. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag!   Don't over soak them.

Construction Score: 4

Flight

Pro

It went perfectly straight up with an estimated 2000 feet!   It came straight down...perfect flight.

We shot it twice with F15-8 Estes engines today.

No Cons

Recovery

Pros

Simple t' install t' recovery materials

Very inexpensive model 

Cons

T' parachute is plastic 

Uses paper wadding

Summary

Overall it is a nice lookin' rocket that flies very high.   It is very inexpensive t' build ($20 kit).

T' only upgrades we recommend are t' 15" nylon parachute and non-flammable wadding.

Overall Rating: 5

Flights

ID
Date
Flyer
Rocket
Kit
Motors
Altitude
Action
76092
2023-05-13 photo
Steve Lindeman
Star Orbiter
Estes - Star Orbiter {Kit} (9716) [2016-?]
E12-4
-
list
74171
2020-09-06
Ty Bliss
Star Orbiter
Estes - Star Orbiter {Kit} (9716) [2016-?]
E12-4
1,200 Feet
list
73907
2020-05-30
Ty Bliss
Star Orbiter
Estes - Star Orbiter {Kit} (9716) [2016-?]
D12-5
400 Feet
list
73886
2019-12-28
Ty Bliss
Star Orbiter
Estes - Star Orbiter {Kit} (9716) [2016-?]
D12-5
400 Feet
list
75171
2019-11-09
Gerrit Rickwalt
Star Orbiter
Estes - Star Orbiter {Kit} (9716) [2016-?]
Aerotech F42
-
list
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