Pictures from the Paragon Dragoon II Launch, June 6-7, 2004

Search and recovery
Monday, June 7, 2004

Images of this event were posted with permission of Paragon Astronautics.

Dragoon II impacted several miles from the launch site.

Using a digital camera photo of the impact to determine where to start looking, Stratofox started looking in the hills. It turned out not to be the ideal search strategy...

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(1536x1024 1249K) (500x333 34K) As Stratofox (along with everyone else) prepares to go look for it, we dig out our fire extinguishers. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 1212K) (500x333 34K) Ian and Justin put the fire extinguishers in their backpacks and prepare to climb the hill which obscured the view of the impact in the still images, to see what's on the other side. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

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(1536x1024 1473K) (500x333 37K) Nate arrives from his train observation post in Gerlach and scrambles up to join Ian and Justin. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 1262K) (500x333 30K) At the top of the first ridge, we can't see any smoke or the rocket. This picture was originally taken of the Paragon crews searching the valley below - we were watching for their safety since they didn't have radios. But also appearing in this picture, unknown to us at the time, is the BLM Ranger truck at the playa edge near where Ranger Corey Smith has just put out the fire at the crash site. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(1536x1024 1350K) (500x333 32K) Another view of the terrain behind the first ridge, where we expected to find the impact site. But this later proved useful since it was under the flight path and we could say we didn't find any large or small debris here. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 1069K) (500x333 23K) Justin and Nate walk ahead while we check the ridge line. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

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(1536x1024 1179K) (500x333 29K) We met up with one of the Paragon search teams. They had taken off without radios but we were keeping an eye on their safety from the ridge until they returned to their vehicle. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 965K) (500x333 22K) A view of the playa from the ridge line where we were searching. This shows the semicircular scar/disturbance from the Burning Man event is still visible 9 months after they had finished their cleanup. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(1536x1024 1532K) (500x333 40K) We're heading back down to our vehicles after we've determined that the rocket did not come down behind any of the terrain obstructions up on this ridge. It must be further away past the next ridge. Nate is shown in this picture. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(1536x1024 1545K) (500x333 42K) We're heading back down to our vehicles after we've determined that the rocket did not come down behind any of the terrain obstructions up on this ridge. It must be further away past the next ridge. Justin is shown in this picture. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(1536x1024 1433K) (500x333 37K) Sure enough, it was just around the next corner. The crew is digging for debris in the crater where the remains of the Dragoon II rocket are mostly now underground. And we were among the last ones there. Upon arriving, we provided an additional shovel and brought out an ice chest full of cold drinks for everyone. We also brought out some sun block, since it appeared we were all going to be there for a while. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(1536x1024 1423K) (500x333 38K) The crew takes turns digging for debris. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 1252K) (500x333 31K) FAA AST aerospace engineer Michael Ahearne helps pick up debris. The FAA staffers both helped, even though they didn't have to. And they earned a lot of respect in the process. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(1536x1024 1338K) (500x333 31K) The crew takes turns digging for debris. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 1330K) (500x333 30K) Others fan out collecting debris that was thrown up in the air by the impact. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 1238K) (500x333 28K) Others fan out collecting debris that was thrown up in the air by the impact. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

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(1536x1024 1230K) (500x333 26K) The dig site as viewed from a distance while Ian was helping search for debris. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 1021K) (500x333 26K) Scooter the Rocket Retriever Dog shelters in the shade of Mark's vehicle. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 963K) (500x333 26K) Kevin and Laura (right) talk with an eyewitness who videotaped the impact. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(1536x1024 1081K) (500x333 30K) Kevin talks with and thanks Michael for his help. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 1157K) (500x333 27K) FAA aerospace engineer Ed Springer helps search for debris. The FAA staffers both helped, even though they didn't have to. And they earned a lot of respect in the process. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(1536x1024 1286K) (500x333 30K) Only about 5 pounds of Dragoon II were recovered from the crater and surrounding terrain. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 1378K) (500x333 33K) The ice chest and sunblock provided by Stratofox sit near the dig site. Things are starting to wind down as the rate of debris discovery decreases. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(1536x1024 1045K) (500x333 26K) The looks on people's faces tell the whole story of disappointment. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 951K) (500x333 23K) BLM recreation coordinator Dave LeFevre (one of the staff who manages use of the Black Rock Desert) talks with Paragon crews. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(1536x1024 1268K) (500x333 31K) The digging is done, as much as is going to be attempted. Most of the rocket is too far down to dig without risk of the wall of the hole collapsing and injuring people. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 1540K) (500x333 39K) The digging is done, as much as is going to be attempted. Most of the rocket is too far down to dig without risk of the wall of the hole collapsing and injuring people. Several wall collapses have already occurred while getting to this point - the sand just doesn't stay together in a way that would be needed to continue deeper safely. In order to go deeper, a much wider hole would be needed along with a method to shore up the walls to prevent collapse. BLM and FAA staff agreed that its removal would not be required because it would cause more damage than necessary and create potential for serious injury. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(1536x1024 1281K) (500x333 32K) This is all that was recovered of the Dragoon II rocket, which once weighed 400 pounds on the launch pad. The bread rolls were brought out by some of the Paragon crew and the bottled water was brought by Stratofox. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 1384K) (500x333 34K) Stratofox always tries to credit the person who found the rocket. In this case it was BLM Ranger Corey Smith of BLM's Field Office in Cedarville, California. (That's in Surprise Valley, in the far northeastern corner of California near the Nevada and Oregon borders.) True to her emergency training, she was first on site and put out the small fire that had been started. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

Back: Launch and flight Up: Paragon Dragoon II Launch Next: Paragon Dragoon II Launch

Images of this event were posted with permission of Paragon Astronautics.

(1536x1024 1249K) (500x333 34K)	As Stratofox (along with everyone else) prepares to go look for it, we dig out our fire extinguishers. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1212K) (500x333 34K)	Ian and Justin put the fire extinguishers in their backpacks and prepare to climb the hill which obscured the view of the impact in the still images, to see what's on the other side. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1473K) (500x333 37K)	Nate arrives from his train observation post in Gerlach and scrambles up to join Ian and Justin. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1262K) (500x333 30K)	At the top of the first ridge, we can't see any smoke or the rocket. This picture was originally taken of the Paragon crews searching the valley below - we were watching for their safety since they didn't have radios. But also appearing in this picture, unknown to us at the time, is the BLM Ranger truck at the playa edge near where Ranger Corey Smith has just put out the fire at the crash site. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1350K) (500x333 32K)	Another view of the terrain behind the first ridge, where we expected to find the impact site. But this later proved useful since it was under the flight path and we could say we didn't find any large or small debris here. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1069K) (500x333 23K)	Justin and Nate walk ahead while we check the ridge line. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1179K) (500x333 29K)	We met up with one of the Paragon search teams. They had taken off without radios but we were keeping an eye on their safety from the ridge until they returned to their vehicle. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 965K) (500x333 22K)	A view of the playa from the ridge line where we were searching. This shows the semicircular scar/disturbance from the Burning Man event is still visible 9 months after they had finished their cleanup. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1532K) (500x333 40K)	We're heading back down to our vehicles after we've determined that the rocket did not come down behind any of the terrain obstructions up on this ridge. It must be further away past the next ridge. Nate is shown in this picture. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1545K) (500x333 42K)	We're heading back down to our vehicles after we've determined that the rocket did not come down behind any of the terrain obstructions up on this ridge. It must be further away past the next ridge. Justin is shown in this picture. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1433K) (500x333 37K)	Sure enough, it was just around the next corner. The crew is digging for debris in the crater where the remains of the Dragoon II rocket are mostly now underground. And we were among the last ones there. Upon arriving, we provided an additional shovel and brought out an ice chest full of cold drinks for everyone. We also brought out some sun block, since it appeared we were all going to be there for a while. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1423K) (500x333 38K)	The crew takes turns digging for debris. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1252K) (500x333 31K)	FAA AST aerospace engineer Michael Ahearne helps pick up debris. The FAA staffers both helped, even though they didn't have to. And they earned a lot of respect in the process. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1338K) (500x333 31K)	The crew takes turns digging for debris. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1330K) (500x333 30K)	Others fan out collecting debris that was thrown up in the air by the impact. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1238K) (500x333 28K)	Others fan out collecting debris that was thrown up in the air by the impact. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1230K) (500x333 26K)	The dig site as viewed from a distance while Ian was helping search for debris. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1021K) (500x333 26K)	Scooter the Rocket Retriever Dog shelters in the shade of Mark's vehicle. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 963K) (500x333 26K)	Kevin and Laura (right) talk with an eyewitness who videotaped the impact. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1081K) (500x333 30K)	Kevin talks with and thanks Michael for his help. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1157K) (500x333 27K)	FAA aerospace engineer Ed Springer helps search for debris. The FAA staffers both helped, even though they didn't have to. And they earned a lot of respect in the process. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1286K) (500x333 30K)	Only about 5 pounds of Dragoon II were recovered from the crater and surrounding terrain. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1378K) (500x333 33K)	The ice chest and sunblock provided by Stratofox sit near the dig site. Things are starting to wind down as the rate of debris discovery decreases. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1045K) (500x333 26K)	The looks on people's faces tell the whole story of disappointment. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 951K) (500x333 23K)	BLM recreation coordinator Dave LeFevre (one of the staff who manages use of the Black Rock Desert) talks with Paragon crews. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1268K) (500x333 31K)	The digging is done, as much as is going to be attempted. Most of the rocket is too far down to dig without risk of the wall of the hole collapsing and injuring people. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1540K) (500x333 39K)	The digging is done, as much as is going to be attempted. Most of the rocket is too far down to dig without risk of the wall of the hole collapsing and injuring people. Several wall collapses have already occurred while getting to this point - the sand just doesn't stay together in a way that would be needed to continue deeper safely. In order to go deeper, a much wider hole would be needed along with a method to shore up the walls to prevent collapse. BLM and FAA staff agreed that its removal would not be required because it would cause more damage than necessary and create potential for serious injury. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1281K) (500x333 32K)	This is all that was recovered of the Dragoon II rocket, which once weighed 400 pounds on the launch pad. The bread rolls were brought out by some of the Paragon crew and the bottled water was brought by Stratofox. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1384K) (500x333 34K)	Stratofox always tries to credit the person who found the rocket. In this case it was BLM Ranger Corey Smith of BLM's Field Office in Cedarville, California. (That's in Surprise Valley, in the far northeastern corner of California near the Nevada and Oregon borders.) True to her emergency training, she was first on site and put out the small fire that had been started. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)