Mounting a video camera to your rocket

Adding any USB keychain camera to record your rocket's early flights can offer several benefits from a technical and personal enjoyment perspective. Here's why you might consider it:

1. Performance Analysis: Video footage can provide valuable insights into your rocket's performance during launch, ascent, apogee (the highest point), and descent. You can observe the rocket's stability and the deployment of recovery systems and identify any unexpected behaviour or failures. This data is crucial for troubleshooting problems and making improvements for future launches.

2. Educational Value: If you're involved in academic projects or workshops, video footage of rocket flights can be an excellent teaching tool. It can help students and enthusiasts understand rocket dynamics, aerodynamics, and the science behind rocketry. Viewing actual flights can spark interest and inspire future engineers and scientists.

3. Safety: Recording flights can help in assessing the safety of your launches. By reviewing the footage, you can ensure that your rocket doesn't harm people, property, or itself. It's helpful in verifying that your launch site is adequate and that your rocket operates as intended within safety parameters.

4. Documentation and Progress Tracking: Keeping a visual record of your flights allows you to document your progress over time. You can compare different flights to see how modifications affect performance. This historical record can be gratifying to look back on and useful for presenting your work to others.

5. Sharing and Community Engagement: Rocketry is a hobby that thrives on community involvement and sharing experiences. Posting your flight videos online can help you connect with other enthusiasts, receive feedback, and contribute to the broader community. It's also a great way to share your passion with friends and family who might not be able to attend launches in person.

6. Personal Enjoyment and Satisfaction: There's a significant personal enjoyment factor. Watching your rocket fly from an onboard perspective can be thrilling and provides a unique viewpoint that you can't get from the ground. It adds an extra layer of excitement to the hobby.

In summary, adding a USB keychain camera to your rocket's flights can enhance your understanding of rocket behaviour, improve safety, document progress, engage with the community, and increase the enjoyment of your hobby. It's a relatively low-cost addition that can yield high-value insights and experiences.

Camera Hood Link from Apogee

https://www.apogeerockets.com/Building-Supplies/Wraps-and-Canopies/Camera-Hood-for-2-6in-BT-80-Dia-Tubes-WHITE

Let me know if you have yet tried to add a camera to your rocket. It is a worthwhile project for when you're doing your early BP flights or even up to your L1 certification. The higher the power of the rocket, the more you will need to consider mounting your camera on an angled internal sled.

3D Printed

Check out the 3D Printed hood that will fit almost any A8088 Camera for external mounting to any side airframe.

3D Printed Link

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2388840

Just add your own camera and ZipTies to suit the size of your airframe.

Video of Vidrock 808

Let us know what you may have tried so far yourself.  I will look forward to seeing your video soon.