Lee Piester, a rocket enthusiast since his high school days, founded Centuri Engineering in 1962. While studying industrial engineering at Arizona State University, Piester’s passion for rocketry inspired his senior thesis: a comprehensive business plan for a model rocket company. That paper became the foundation of Centuri Engineering.
At first, Centuri focused on selling rocket parts, later expanding into full kits and launch equipment. To meet customer demand for engines, Piester partnered with Estes Industries in an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement—selling Estes engines under the Centuri label. By the mid-1960s, Centuri’s growth was so rapid that Piester designed and built his own engine-manufacturing machinery, bringing production in-house.
The early years of model rocketry were shaped by a dynamic but friendly rivalry between Centuri and Estes. This competition fueled innovation not only in technology but also in the bold, imaginative designs that defined the rockets and packaging of the era. Eventually, both companies were acquired by the Damon Corporation and merged, cementing their shared legacy in rocketry history.
The Original Laser-X Space Probe
Among Centuri’s most iconic creations was the “Laser-X Space Probe” (#KC-50), first appearing in the 1969 Centuri catalog—the same year the United States landed on the moon. At a time when designers were envisioning the spacecraft of the future, the Laser-X stood apart. Its sleek, futuristic style went beyond the basic “tube, fins, and nose cone,” inspiring imaginations to wonder what propulsion systems and missions might define the decades ahead.
The Laser-X is now recognized as one of the earliest futuristic model rocket kits—an icon that bridged science fiction dreams with hands-on hobby rocketry.
The Laser X2 – Redesigned by Lee Piester
Fifty-six years later, that same visionary—Lee Piester himself—has teamed up with Estes Product Development to bring the Laser X into the 21st century. Always one of his personal favorites, Piester set out to update the kit with the features he wished he could have included back in the 1960s.
The all-new Laser X2 incorporates modern improvements while staying true to its roots:
- Molded plastic nose cone and transition – Replacing the original’s balsa nose cone and paper transition.
- Molded rear boat tail – A durable replacement for the original’s hand-built balsa strakes. Boat tails are one of Lee’s favorite rocket features!
- Molded “Laser” fin tips – Strong and stylish, replacing the fragile toothpick details that often snapped on landing.
- Bold new livery – Featuring Lee’s two favorite rocket colors: orange and black.
Put History in Your Hands
The Laser X2 isn’t just a model rocket—it’s a piece of rocketry history reimagined for today’s flyers. With Piester’s personal touch and Estes’ engineering, this rocket is both a tribute to the past and a celebration of the future.
The countdown is on. Are you ready to launch the future imagined in 1969? Click here to order yours today!
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