This is a fantastic new launch set. Estes earlier Oracle Digital Video rocket was/is great. Oracle is a big rocket that goes 750 feet in the air with lots of whoosh from D engines and takes 30 seconds of video. But the Oracle does NOT have a launch pad or launch controller so lots of people weren't best pleased with all the extras they had to buy.

The Astrovision Launch Set solves that problem! 12 seconds of video is probably just fine since the Astrovision only gets half as high on smaller (and cheaper) engines. The snap shot mode is cool, too, and replaces the aging AstroCam with its nearly obsolete 110 film cartridge (that needs developing and printing).

But ye olde AstroCam is still the least expensive option for pix from "outer space".

Astrovision is at a great price point for Christmas giving, too. I've already ordered mine!

Hi,
I just want to let you know that the Estes AstroVision rocket

is not Window Vista compatible. In fact, Sandra at Estes

customer service says "At this time none of our products are

Vista compatible and we do not offer a "patch." Estes has

known about this problem for quite some time and is not

honoring their policy of a one year warranty against

manufactures defects. Websters Dictionary describes defect

as "Lack of something necessary for completeness." Sandra

goes on to say "I understand the item was purchased in

November 2007, if the store is not willing to refund your

money due to a return policy they have, perhaps they will

offer you a store credit? This product was created prior to

the "Vista" program, therefore it is not compatible with the

Vista program."
On the AstroVision box it list minimum requirements. These

minimum requirements are met by everyone running the

Vista program.
Just thought you should know. Email correspondence is

available upon request.
Michael Jennings

Well well well...just found out that the software is not Vista compatible. That is bad for Este...I will NOT ever buy from them anymore.... I have been buying for many many years... To make it compatible with Vista would not require a huge effort.... it's a simple piece of software...

If it's not compatable with the dominating software then it's useless and unsaleable to me. Sounded like it would have been fun to get one and try it. Too bad!

While I haven't tested this rocket with Vista, I have figured out solutions to many of the other problems with this rocket, and put together a site with information. http://www.musatcha.com/articles/estesastrovision.php

There I have instructions for getting the video off of it. The software that comes with the rocket is very unclear, and not intuitive. Hopefully those instructions will help.

Another note, the video resolution is 320x240. Only the still images are at 640x480 resolution. Also, expect 4-5 fps during video usage.