There had been strange lights in the sky before 1947, butnever like this. In June of that year, an experienced civilian pilotreported “saucer-like discs” over Mount Rainier. ByJuly the papers were running stories about a rancher who discoveredstrange wreckage in the desert near Roswell. Accounts of mystery“aircraft” and other unknown aerial phenomena weregaining public notice. Something strange was going on and the people incharge wanted answers.

In 1949, a clandestine group of government scientists met at asecret airbase in Nevada to form Project Star Hopper. The goal was toproduce a fast and maneuverable piloted vehicle to compete with theunidentified objects commonly referred to as “flyingsaucers.” With the nation’s best engineers on thetask, plans were drawn up for a sleek and functional atomic-poweredvessel that could be launched quickly to intercept the aggressors. Theresult was the Star Hopper – the world’s firstinterplanetary spacecraft. A small fleet was constructed and tested,and by 1955, they were ready to protect the skies from alien invaders.Or so we were told…

Was there really a Project Star Hopper? It’s hard tosay. No documents or proof exists – just rumors andspeculation. Based on the scant evidence available, Estes has designeda detailed model of this cryptic craft. The Estes Star Hopper is aBeginner-Level kit that all rocket lovers will be thrilled to own andfly. This is a no-glue, no-paint, snap-together kit that anyone canbuild and launch all in the same day. Featuring detail-molded plasticfins, nose cone, and engine mount, this kit not only looks great but isbuilt to survive even the roughest landings. Pre-finished in a retroatomic-age silver paint scheme, the Star Hopper is a stylish kit thatlooks great and flies even better!

Prep the Estes Star Hopper with a recommend Estes engine (notincluded) and get ready for fantastic flights up to 400 feet– great for demonstrations and small field flights. Watch atapogee as the rocket ejects a 18-inch streamer to slow its fall andhelp you track it to the ground. With the twist-on engine retainer forfast engine loading, and a relatively wide body tube for easy ejectionwadding and streamer packing, you’ll have your rocket readyto launch in no time! While the real Star Hopper may only be a myth,the Estes Star Hopper is real and ready to fly today!