When everything fires as planned, this rocket climbs straight off the pad, tracks high into a hazy sky, and pops its chute right at apogee, drifting down onto dry grass for a clean recovery. That is exactly what the Sigma 2 did on its test launch, and the maker, ARRO Rockets, made sure the whole flight was documented from three angles at once: a low-angle ground camera, a wide ground camera, and an overhead aerial drone that followed the descent all the way to touchdown. Getting apogee and the parachute on film from above is the kind of coverage most of us only dream about.
The airframe itself is a slender white cylinder with black markings and stabilizing fins, a clean and classic look. The launch hardware deserves credit too. The pad uses grey metal framing with a central vertical rail, all sitting on a four-point square base, and the rocket was loaded onto that rail for a fully vertical departure.
Preparation looked properly done, with drill bits, safety goggles, and adhesive all part of the work before the countdown ran from five down to zero. The motor lit with a satisfying whoosh and the rocket accelerated rapidly upward.
One sobering note from the maker: the earlier Sigma 1 was lost. That makes a fully successful flight and recovery here feel earned, and it raises a fair question about what will be changed going forward to keep Sigma 3 safe.
Project by ARRO Rockets. Watch it on their YouTube channel: