Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
ApogeeRockets.com -
Before you head to the launchpad, you need to know with 100% certainty that your rocket's electronics and deployment systems will work flawlessly. In this video, Tim Van Milligan from Apogee Components walks you through the essential steps of ground testing—the ultimate way to verify your rocket's dual-deployment and staging electronics before flight!
Ground testing ensures your altimeters power on, your batteries have enough juice, and your ejection charges are strong enough to separate your rocket and deploy your parachute safely.
What You Will Learn in This Video:
What Ground Testing Is: Understand why verifying your electronics on the ground is the single best way to prevent a catastrophic crash.
The Two-Phase Testing Method: Learn the difference between Phase 1 (indoor electronics verification) and Phase 2 (outdoor physical deployment testing).
Indoor Igniter Testing: Watch how to safely test an altimeter’s ability to fire an igniter indoors using a Bluetooth-enabled altimeter (Featherweight Blue Jay+).
Choosing the Right Igniters & Batteries: Discover why standard Estes igniters are a bad idea for electronic deployment, and why low-current E-matches (like FireWire igniters) and proper LiPo batteries are crucial.
Outdoor Ejection Charge Testing: Step-by-step instructions on setting up an outdoor deployment test to ensure your black powder charge is strong enough to shear your pins and cleanly eject your parachute.
Safety First: Crucial safety tips, including wearing safety glasses, securing your rocket against recoil (Newton's Third Law!), and keeping a safe distance.
ApogeeRockets.com -
Before you head to the launchpad, you need to know with 100% certainty that your rocket's electronics and deployment systems will work flawlessly. In this video, Tim Van Milligan from Apogee Components walks you through the essential steps of ground testing—the ultimate way to verify your rocket's dual-deployment and staging electronics before flight!
Ground testing ensures your altimeters power on, your batteries have enough juice, and your ejection charges are strong enough to separate your rocket and deploy your parachute safely.
What You Will Learn in This Video:
What Ground Testing Is: Understand why verifying your electronics on the ground is the single best way to prevent a catastrophic crash.
The Two-Phase Testing Method: Learn the difference between Phase 1 (indoor electronics verification) and Phase 2 (outdoor physical deployment testing).
Indoor Igniter Testing: Watch how to safely test an altimeter’s ability to fire an igniter indoors using a Bluetooth-enabled altimeter (Featherweight Blue Jay+).
Choosing the Right Igniters & Batteries: Discover why standard Estes igniters are a bad idea for electronic deployment, and why low-current E-matches (like FireWire igniters) and proper LiPo batteries are crucial.
Outdoor Ejection Charge Testing: Step-by-step instructions on setting up an outdoor deployment test to ensure your black powder charge is strong enough to shear your pins and cleanly eject your parachute.
Safety First: Crucial safety tips, including wearing safety glasses, securing your rocket against recoil (Newton's Third Law!), and keeping a safe distance.
