Download the Assembly Instructions
The Antares Explorer model rocket kit is the perfect combination of science fiction style and high-altitude performance. With its sleek and aerodynamic design, this rocket is capable of reaching impressive altitudes, yet still maintains a unique and eye-catching appearance with its bright decals, six fins, and asymmetric layout (where fins are not equally spaced around the rocket). Despite its high-altitude potential, the Antares Explorer is anything but a boring model.
The small diameter and lightweight design of this rocket allows it to take off with a high-thrust 24mm diameter, C11 motor, while also being capable of reaching even greater heights with D and E motors. The kit comes with easy-to-follow instructions and special cardboard alignment guides for positioning the fins and the stylistic antenna mounts. You'll find that the build process is deceptively simple, and perfect for anyone looking for a challenging yet achievable project.
This is one of those rockets that begs to be upscaled, as it has all the stylistic features of a classic rocket that is sure to be a collector's rocket. You might want to get two or three rockets for your rocketry treasure chest.
Whether you're an experienced model rocket enthusiast or a beginner looking to get started, the Antares Explorer is sure to provide hours of excitement. So why wait? Take your love of science fiction and high-altitude performance to the next level with the Antares Explorer model rocket kit!
We rank this rocket as a Skill Level 3 rocket on the Apogee Components complexity scale. That means it is a little more challengeing to build, but can be put together by beginner rocketeers, although we suggest that it be used with modelers that have built at least one rocket before.
Because it is built around a 24mm diameter rocket motor, this spaceship is capable of using larger motors that will put it up high into the stratosphere. A lot of first-time fliers without experience will put the biggest motor in it on the first flight, which for this model will probably end up getting lost. It takes a bit of wisdom to know to start with a smaller motor until you get a feel for how fast and high it will go. It's important to have a good understanding of how to safely and correctly prepare the rocket for launch and to be familiar with the different types of rocket motors available.
The asymmetric layout and six fins of the rocket may require more attention to detail and a higher level of skill to ensure a stable and straight flight. There are two cardboard jigs that will help guide you through the process of placing the fins correctly, and we highly recommend that you use them.
You will find that there are some small decorative wood parts that have to be placed around the rocket motor. This assembly task requires a bit of extra skill and may require placing them into position with tweezers. Additionally, the launch lug is trimmed at a 45° angle on the front and back. This is a decorative step, and may be new to some modelers.
Overall, while the Antares Explorer model rocket kit can be a rewarding project for those with experience, it may not be the best choice for those who are just starting out in the hobby.
Below are some generic videos from our library of construction techniques that may be useful to you when building and flying this kit. They will help you take this already great rocket, and make it even better with a smoother surface and give it that "wow" experience that other people drool over.
- Sealing Balsa Wood Fins so you get a glossy surface
- Sanding the fins after applying the sealer
- Positioning Pressure Sensitive Decals
- How To Fill Body Tube Spirals
- Model Rocket Engine Code Explained for Beginners
- How to Prep a Rocket for Launch
- Selecting a Launch Controller
- Using the Estes Igniters and Plugs in black powder motors
- Preventing Parachute Line Entanglement
- Motor Mount Assembly
- Attaching Balsa Fins to a Tube using a fin alignment jig
- Drawing lines down your body tube
- Attaching Strings to Plastic Parachutes
We think you'll enjoy this model if you choose to buy it. We think it has a nice shape and it is a thrill to fly.
<== Click on the image to the left to automatically start the RockSim Launch Visualizer. There is no software to download -- try it right now for FREE!
The RockSim Launch Visualizer is an interactive 3D environment where you can test fly this rocket kit. Here are some things you can try right now:
- Pick any rocket motor and a ejection delay (from 1/4A to a D-size engine)
- Change the launch angle
- View the rocket and the trajectory from any perspective
- See how high it flies, and how far it travels from the launch pad
- Get a perspective on how fast the rocket flies
- Share your launch simulations with your friends
If you create a Launch Visualizer account, you can do even more things:
- Use larger rocket motors (up to a G-size)
- Pick any launch site on the earth
- Adjust wind speed and direction
- Upload your own RockSim files to test in the Launch Visualizer
For help with the features of the RockSim Launch Visualizer, click here.
Want to put the launch visualizer widget on your website? Contact us for details.
As with all Apogee kits, the Antares Explorer kit is packed with high quality components and well considered engineering. Together, these make for a quick building rocket with great performance, style and the ability to stand out from the crowd.
The kit comes bagged, with an attractive full-color cardstock insert to show off how the rocket looks when completed.
The Antares Explorer is a simple kit with a striking look. Care has been taken to minimize the number of parts while still providing interesting details. This is done through a combination of decals and judicious use of laser cut surface details. Together with all the other parts, the result is a rocket kit that will be a reliable sport flyer without looking like the other rockets on the pad.
The white glassine coated tubes are easy to mark on and with minimal spiral groves they are also easy to finish. At the same time, they are both light and strong which will lead to a sturdy rocket that will still fly to high altitudes, or fly well on smaller motors. These tubes are manufactured to tight tolerances so that you can be sure that everything will fit as it should.
The Apogee exclusive nose cone is an elegant 5:1 ogive made of a beautiful white high-impact polystyrene. This makes it a light and strong component, but its smooth finish and easy sandability make it a breeze to finish. It is very accurate and the fit into the tubes is exceptional so there's no fussing with tape to get a "good enough" fit.
The fins are the definining stylistic feature of the Antares Explorer and the precision laser-cut basswood included in the kit makes it easy to get a fine finish that remains rugged flight after flight. All the small details on the Antares are also cut out of the basswood, ensuring an excellent fit and quick construction. The tight grain of the basswood makes filling a quick and easy process. Moreover, the basswood exacts only a slight weight penalty over the much less rugged balsa.
A colorful parachute brings the Antares Explorer home and ample kevlar shock cord minimizes the probability of a zipper even on those less than perfect flights. The included components provide a reliable recovery system to make flying the Antares a second (or third, or forth!) time quick and easy.
With its 24 mm motor mount, the Antares Explorer will handle a wide variety of motors. The crimped engine hook makes engine retention simple; and the combination of precision laser-cut centering rings with the aft vanes around the motor make the mount extremely strong and able to handle any motor you may want to throw at it.
In addition to the sturdy cardstock parts, the Antares Explorer kit includes laser cut jigs to assist with proper alignment of the fins and surface details. These alignment jigs make building of the kit much simpler than it might otherwise be, and they ensure that the careful builder can achieve perfectly straight fins quickly.
The clear vinyl decals on the Antares Explorer are designed to work with the underlaying paint to form an overall unified look. Being printed vinyl, however, they are simultaneously easy to apply and rugged over the long term. They are bright and create an altogether stunning final product with very little work.
As with all Apogee kits, the instructions are fully illustrated and carefully crafted to guide the builder through the process of creating the finished Antares Explorer. Any particularly tricky tasks are highlighted and explained to ensure your success. The Antares Explorer instructions even include additional steps for guidance in painting and application of the decals.
Use the chart below to help determine which motor to use for this kit.
Estimated Altitude Predictions generated using RockSim
| Motor | Manuf & Type/ Casing | Color | Comment | Alt. | Delay* | Price | Buy Now! |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
E6-4 #03154 |
Apogee Single Use |
Blue Thunder |
2529 ft (771 m) |
See Motor |
$23.18 |
||
C11-3 #05765 |
Estes Single Use |
-- |
Excellent first flight and small field motor |
491 ft (150 m) |
See Motor |
$16.13 2 pack |
|
E20W-7 #52007 |
AeroTech Single Use |
White Lightning |
2018 ft (615 m) |
See Motor |
$37.04 2 pack |
||
E30T-7 #53007 |
AeroTech Single Use |
Blue Thunder |
2161 ft (659 m) |
See Motor |
$36.37 2 pack |
||
F30FJ-6 #63006 |
AeroTech Single Use |
Black Max |
2389 ft (728 m) |
See Motor |
$30.00 |
||
E18W-7 #51807 |
AeroTech 24/40 |
White Lightning |
Restricted: 18+ |
2246 ft (685 m) |
See Motor |
$40.65 3 pack |
|
E28T-7 #52807 |
AeroTech 24/40 |
Blue Thunder |
Restricted: 18+ |
2185 ft (666 m) |
See Motor |
$40.65 3 pack |
|
F24W-7 #62407 |
AeroTech 24/40 |
White Lightning |
Restricted: 18+ |
2559 ft (780 m) |
See Motor |
$46.00 3 pack |
|
D12-5 #05782 |
Estes Single Use |
-- |
1090 ft (332 m) |
See Motor |
$18.55 2 pack |
||
E22 #70012 |
Cesaroni 1-Grain |
Smoky Sam |
Restricted: 18+ |
1446 ft (441 m) |
6 sec |
$28.38 (HAZ) |
|
E31 #70013 |
Cesaroni 1-Grain |
White Thunder |
Restricted: 18+ |
1578 ft (481 m) |
7 sec |
$28.38 (HAZ) |
|
E12-6 #05786 |
Estes Single Use |
-- |
1659 ft (506 m) |
See Motor |
$36.43 (HAZ)3 pack |
||
D22-4W #05712 |
Quest Single Use |
White Lightning |
1152 ft (351 m) |
See Motor |
$19.76 2 pack |
||
E26-7W #05716 |
Quest Single Use |
White Lightning |
1660 ft (506 m) |
See Motor |
$23.97 2 pack |
||
D15T-7 #51407 |
AeroTech 24/40 |
Blue Thunder |
Restricted: 18+ |
1260 ft (384 m) |
See Motor |
$33.30 3 pack |
|
E35-5W #05718 |
Quest Single Use |
White Lightning |
2042 ft (622 m) |
See Motor |
$26.74 2 pack |
||
|
Delay* given is recommended for 8mph winds. Please double check with your RockSim file. Note: These motors (HAZ) are shipped with a HAZMAT fee on top of the standard UPS/FedEx ground shipping costs. (Learn More about HAZMAT Fees). These motors are non-returnable due to shipping regulations. If you are purchasing an age- or certification-restricted motor, please email or fax us a copy of your ID, or NAR or TRA membership card as soon as possible so we can get your order shipped promptly. We will keep note of your status on file, so you only have to do this once. If you are not certified, please see our information page for additional details on membership and high power certification. YOU MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD TO PURCHASE RELOAD KITS. 18+ - You must be at least 18yrs of age to purchase ths motor. Rocket motors are sold separately from the kit. For more help in selecting rocket motors, see our video tutorial. If you're unsure, start with the "First Flight" recommendation or the one with the lowest altitude, then go up from there. For other motors that are not tested or not listed here, download the Antares Explorer RockSim file and load it to see if it will work in this rocket kit. See also Technical Publication #28 for guidance on selecting appropriate rocket engines other than those listed in this chart. | |||||||
Motor Adapters double the motor sizes you can use! With the Rocketarium 18/24mm Motor Adapter, fit a 18mm motor in a 24mm casingThe Rocketarium 18/24mm Motor Adapter allows you to change motor size in an instant! Just drop the adapter into your kit, and double the number of motors you can use.
Use the chart below to help determine which motor to use for this kit.
Estimated Altitude Predictions generated using RockSim
| Motor | Manuf & Type/ Casing | Color | Comment | Alt. | Delay* | Price | Buy Now! |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
B6-2 #05746 |
Estes Single Use |
-- |
Small field flights |
201 ft (61 m) |
See Motor |
$16.48 3 pack |
|
B4-2 #05748 |
Estes Single Use |
-- |
Small field flights |
195 ft (59 m) |
See Motor |
$16.48 3 pack |
|
C6-3 #05737 |
Estes Single Use |
-- |
536 ft (163 m) |
See Motor |
$17.85 3 pack |
||
C12-4 #05700 |
Quest Single Use |
Fast Black Jack |
647 ft (197 m) |
See Motor |
$16.07 2 pack |
||
D16-4 #05703 |
Quest Single Use |
Fast Black Max |
815 ft (248 m) |
See Motor |
$18.54 2 pack |
||
C5-3 #05734 |
Estes Single Use |
-- |
482 ft (147 m) |
See Motor |
$17.85 3 pack |
||
C18-4W #05706 |
Quest Single Use |
White Lightning |
655 ft (200 m) |
See Motor |
$16.07 2 pack |
||
D20-4W #05709 |
Quest Single Use |
White Lightning |
884 ft (269 m) |
See Motor |
$18.52 2 pack |
||
|
Rocket motors are sold separately from the kit. For more help in selecting rocket motors, see our video tutorial. If you're unsure, start with the "First Flight" recommendation or the one with the lowest altitude, then go up from there. For other motors that are not tested or not listed here, download the Antares Explorer RockSim file and load it to see if it will work in this rocket kit. See also Technical Publication #28 for guidance on selecting appropriate rocket engines other than those listed in this chart. | |||||||
To see how the Antares Explorer looks and performs with each motor configuration, download the FREE RockSim design file.
This file can be opened with the FREE demo version of RockSim. Both Windows and Macintosh versions are available.
What is a RockSim Design file?
The RockSim software gives you a lot of information about the flight characteristics of this rocket: how high, how fast, where it will land, how will it react to wind, etc. The "design file" is intended to save you time. All the parameters (size, shape, weight, fin design, etc.) of this rocket have already been entered into the RockSim program, and saved as an electronic database file. You can just open it up in your copy of RockSim and start loading different rocket motors to run launch simulations. It's fun and educational to see the rocket zoom skyward, even before you built it. For more information about RockSim and to download a FREE 30-day demo version, click here.
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
Cellophane tape
Hobby Knife - Hobby with #11 Blade
- Adhesives - Wood Glue
Razor Saw
Sanding Block (or Sanding Tee)
- Bowl of water for wetting decals.
- Finishing Supplies like sanding sealer, paint and sandpaper (200 and 400 grit).
- Recovery Wadding - Disposable | Reusable
- Rocket Motors - See the motor selection tab.
Launch Pad & Controller - See FAQs tab for recommended choices.
- Aluminum angle for drawing lines on the body tube, or the Estes Ultimate Tube Marking Guide
Tamiya Putty for plastic seam filling and touch-ups.
We offer three different controllers that can be used for mid and high-power size rockets. The Aerotech Interlock, the North Coast Rocketry LaunchMaster™, and the Pratt Hobbies GO-BOX Controller.
At the top of this page, where the kit dimensions are, you'll find the location of the CP. This is the important number you should be looking at for stability. You want the CG location to be in front of the CP by about one tube-diameter. A greater distance between the CG and CP is OK. For more information on rocket stability, please click here.
Since this is a larger rocket, you'll need very stable launch pad. We offer the Aerotech Mantis Launch Pad and the Estes Pro Series II Launch Pad.
Watch this YouTube video - How to Select Model Rocket Engines
We encourage you to learn the proper motor selection technique. Please watch our YouTube video that will walk you step-by-step through the process
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