Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Nike Hercules is my favorite rocket — and it's also one of the most complex I've ever flown. Two stages, a cluster of four motors, electronic staging, and 20 fins. When a rocket has this many moving parts, you can't keep it all in your head. You need a checklist.
In this Short, I explain why I created a pre-flight checklist for my complex rockets — and why the first time I flew the Nike Hercules, something went wrong because I forgot a step.
✅ Why the Nike Hercules is my favorite rocket
✅ What makes a two-stage cluster rocket so complex
✅ Why a checklist saves your rocket (learned the hard way)
✅ How to make sure everything works the first time
🔗 Watch the full video: youtube.com/watch?v=GRaL6Zhxc_A
🔗 Get the Nike Hercules kit: apogeerockets.com/Model-Rocket-Kits/Skill-Level-5-Model-Rocket-Kits/Nike-Hercules
📄 Download the free pre-flight checklist: Available on the Nike Hercules product page under "Downloads"
🔔 Subscribe to learn more about hobby rocketry — from building and flying tips to launch day checklists and everything in between!
I'm Tim Van Milligan, and this is the Apogee Rocketry Workshop. May the wind be light, the skies be blue, and may all your rockets fly straight and true.
#ModelRocketry #NikeHercules #ApogeeRockets
The Nike Hercules is my favorite rocket — and it's also one of the most complex I've ever flown. Two stages, a cluster of four motors, electronic staging, and 20 fins. When a rocket has this many moving parts, you can't keep it all in your head. You need a checklist.
In this Short, I explain why I created a pre-flight checklist for my complex rockets — and why the first time I flew the Nike Hercules, something went wrong because I forgot a step.
✅ Why the Nike Hercules is my favorite rocket
✅ What makes a two-stage cluster rocket so complex
✅ Why a checklist saves your rocket (learned the hard way)
✅ How to make sure everything works the first time
🔗 Watch the full video: youtube.com/watch?v=GRaL6Zhxc_A
🔗 Get the Nike Hercules kit: apogeerockets.com/Model-Rocket-Kits/Skill-Level-5-Model-Rocket-Kits/Nike-Hercules
📄 Download the free pre-flight checklist: Available on the Nike Hercules product page under "Downloads"
🔔 Subscribe to learn more about hobby rocketry — from building and flying tips to launch day checklists and everything in between!
I'm Tim Van Milligan, and this is the Apogee Rocketry Workshop. May the wind be light, the skies be blue, and may all your rockets fly straight and true.
#ModelRocketry #NikeHercules #ApogeeRockets
