NASA’s proposed follow-on to the Space Shuttle program is called the Space Launch System (SLS). At the heart of the SLS is a large booster rocket. Based on NASA artist conceptions, Dr. Zooch has produced a flying model rocket kit of the proposed SLS booster.

I took the attached photo at the Tripoli Tampa Rocketry Association Launch a few weeks ago. It captures the lift-off of a Dr. Zooch SLS kit built by Chris Michielssen.  As explained in a series of posts to his excellent Model Rocket Building Blog, Chris modified the kit a little by adding a few home-made decals and changing the position of the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB)s.

Note the “flame fins” which attach to the rocket for flight to ensure that the rocket is stable.  Chris has painted them to resemble the flames from SRBs. Chris describes how he builds and paints flame fins in his blog.

The Dr. Zooch SLS kit is available from JonRocket.com.