Standing over 45 inches tall, the Star Orbiter comes with the quick release motor retention system just as the other Pro Series kits do. (9750 Pro Series II 29MM Retainer Set – is also sold separately). Construction of this kit is not difficult and the altitudes you will reach are very impressive! Building and finish work can easily be accomplished over a few days.
WHAT YOU NEED TO BUILD: Scissors, pencil, ruler, fine sandpaper, epoxy, carpenter’s glue, hobby knife, masking tape, clear tape, primer (white), paint (black, orange) and clear coat (optional). (Tools, construction and finishing supplies not included.)
WHAT YOU NEED TO LAUNCH (sold separately): Pro Series II Launch Base and Pro Series II Launch Controller, Estes model rocket engines, starters and Pro Series II Recovery Wadding. Six C 1.5V high quality alkaline batteries are also required for launch controller (not included).
WARNING
009716
Shane –
Summary: Best rocket currently in my fleet. Can’t get enough of flying it.
Pretty simple construction. The kit comes without a motor block, so you can use third-party motors longer than the ones Estes offers, even in a stock configuration.
When I outfitted mine with a Jolly Logic Altimeter Three, it clocked ~800ft on E16-4s and E16-6s, and close to 1300 ft on F15-4s and F15-6s. It always flew straight as an arrow, absolutely no roll at all. Flight prep and recovery are easy. Perfect performance on 8 flights.
Modifications to my airframe: Wood glue swapped out in favor of J-B Weld 24-hour epoxy rated to 5020 psi. Fins strengthened with thick printer paper tacked on with Gorilla brand aerosol glue. Aft launch lug epoxied to fin/body tube joint instead of solely to the body tube, forward launch lug moved to align correctly. Motor mount recessed so that the aft end of the body tube is flush with the end of the motor mount tube instead of the aft centering ring. Unpainted and un-decaled for test flights. Estes wadding swapped out for fireproof paper-based household insulation, commonly called “dog barf”.
Recommended modification: Swap the stock coupler out for a much longer one extending all the way to the forward centering ring of the installed motor mount. Mine suffered a compression failure along the spiral seam, just aft of the forward launch lug, and I’ve seen others whose rockets have had similar damage. Strengthening the tube with a longer coupler should prevent this.
Good design overall, this one will become a regular flyer at my launches.
Tim Fritts –
WHAT TO TAKE TO THE RANGE, MY Favorite Rocket
This one gets shoot at least rwo of three time every time I go out.I have two, one built as the kit came and the other I made a few changes.Updated the centering rings to wood and added a a piece of 750# Bonded Kevlar Shock Cord about 2x longer than the total length of the rocket and tried it around the motor mount and pulled up into the rocket body though a small hole drilled in the top wooden centering ring, tied an overhand note attached my rubber shock cord and upgraded the launch lugs to 3D Printed 1/4 inch Launch Lugs from Rocketry Works. Added a 18″ Nylon parachute from Apogee Rockets which opens fast and packs very nice. Finally, I painted it black and white and added all the decals. Use Estes E16-6, F15-6 or push it with a Areotech F26FJ-9, F50T-9, G38FJ-7
This is a great high flier for all ages. Thanks
Sine Nomine –
This rocket is built to go high – really high. It’s not a minimum diameter 29mm kit, but it’s close. That means it will hit serious altitudes even with an E. My first flight was with a D12 (using a 29-24mm adapter) and it still made it past 500′. If you’re planning on flying with composite motors, you will want to use epoxy and reinforce the fins with CA. You’ll probably want a chute release too because you’re going to be walking a long way to recover it.
Jonathan Burton –
This is a fantastic rocket. Also a fantastic introduction kit to mid power for a kid who’s a little older and ready for bigger motors. I only built mine right now to be single deploy. So only baby g’s f’s and E’s i will fly this rocket on. I painted mine bright hazard orange and named it Agent orange. This rockets fins while being thick balsa are super sturdy. I absorbed super liquid super glue in them to sturdy them up, then covered them in a lot of paint. This rocket flies amazing on E12 motors as well as the f’s and g’s. I find it a little too heavy for e9’s and don’t prefer flying it on those motors.
Don Allen –
This is a great mid-power rocket especially using the F and G engines. I’ve just gotten two more in preparation to make it a 2 stage using one of the kits for a booster on the BT-60 body tube. I use an ejection baffle at the mid-point. This will also serve as a stronger anchor point for the shock cord. I’ve learned from past experience to use a wider (and longer) shock cord as too-thin of a shock cord will zipper the tube. I plan on replacing the balsa wood with 1/8″ plywood and I use good old JB Weld epoxy on the motor mount. A slotted airframe would be an ideal upgrade too. I use Titebond wood glue on most parts and it makes great glue fillets for the fins. The retainer rings work well especially using the 24 to 29 mm adapter. No engine blocks needed. This design is just simply awesome. On the next kit build, it will get 1/4″ launch lugs to go on my 6″ launch rod. I find it’s easier to spot if the bottom tube is black and upper tube is red/orange.
Leo –
Great flyer
The Star Orbiter is an easy to build sleek looking rocket and is one of my favorites.
I’ve purchased several Star Orbiters and the one I’m flying right now is converted to dual deploy recovery having it’s successful maiden flight on 5 September 2016.
As of this writing the max altitude reached so far is 2726 feet. But it won’t stop there…
Here a video example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPEEPmfB_r4
And here a build thread: http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?134806-Estes-Star-Orbiter-9716
Anthony –
My favorite rocket
I love this rocket so much I cleared the shelf of them. Very simple, light weight, durable and easy to modify. It rips off the pad. I hit 2500 feet and 359 mph with a G40-7. Recommend dual deploy with ejection charge removed with this particular rocket and engine combo. This rockets decent size will allow you to keep sight of it even at high altitudes. I recommend papering the fins for added durability. Really great rocket.
Louie –
looks good…
And yet another cool looking Pro Series 2 kit I gotta have….