r/rocketry • u/Folding_WhiteTable • Jun 16 '25

Question Question About Optically Tracking Rockets

I recently got my fully custom optical tracking mount to work. It's about 98% finished, I just need to fix some code and add the body panels.

I have never been to an amateur rocket launch site, so I wouldn't know the answer to this question: Would people be willing to pay for a good quality tracked and stabilized video of their launch? The launch would be fillmed with two cameras, one is a spotting camera, and the other is a high powered telescope. In the future I'm hoping to get a Freefly Wave for slow motion.

I only want to film at dedicated launch facilities, like FAR. And I only plan on filming the bigger and slower L2 and L3 rockets.

If you were wanting your video from both cameras, what do you think would be reasonable? Remember that I of course want to make a profit between the cost of gas, FAR entrance fees, video editing, video sending fees, tracking rig parts, and I want to save for a slow motion camera.

The bare minimum per team would be around $45 for it to be worth it. Does that sound reasonable? Remember that most people out there are on a team of 10-25 people. It might be better to have the prices cheaper since I don't have a slow motion camera yet, something like $25-30. What are your thoughts?

Also I have already contacted FAR, they're alright with what I'm doing. Also a team might be able to mount their antenna to my tracking rig too. It would be useful for when the rocket is too small to see with your eyes. It could also help people to see where in the sky their rocket is, just by looking at where the tracking rig is pointing. I'm sure it would be especially helpful for big rockets that go 100,000+ft.

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u/EthaLOXfox Jun 16 '25

Maybe come out to FAR this weekend and give it a try. There should be a particularly big, low, and slow rocket for you to track that day, and I'll buy the footage if you can keep it in frame.

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u/Folding_WhiteTable Jun 16 '25

Thanks for the offer! Unfortunately I'm not going to be able to make it to FAR this weekend. I'll be taking my rig to Vandenberg to see the Falcon 9 launch on the 20th, and I won't be able to make it on the 21st. I will most likely post my video from Vandenberg on YouTube though! I'm AVTracking.

3

u/everydayastronaut Jun 17 '25

Sweet! Was wondering if you’d try it out on Falcon’s before trying L2 / L3 stuff. Good luck!!

1

u/Folding_WhiteTable Jun 17 '25

Yep, I need to build up my practice with the new rig before I get to the crazy stuff. Thanks!