In August of 2000, the Aeroscience Progam students
at Fredericksburg
High School in Texas, launch their Redbird
9-H at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
The students designed and built the 185kg, 7m solid
fueled rocket,
which reached over 10km in altitude. NASA
MSFC PR - Aug.2.00
Rocketry Stores &
Companies
Vendor
List at Rocketry Online!
Rocketry Online provides a huge list of online sites of
rocketry stores, rocket and parts manufacturers, and other
related companies.
Apogee Model
Rocketry A rocket company that specializes in combining
model rocketry with education about rocketry. Some of
their many pages include:
Educational Literature, RocketKits, Software, and more.
Rocketman
Inc. Ky
Michaelson is "The ROCKETMAN". The Rocketman
website sells high-power rockets kits, recovery systems
and videotapes of rocket meets but also much more.
Rocketman supports the Civilian
Space Exploration Team, which claims to be the first
amateur team to fly an advanced amateur rocket to space
after its GoFast two stage rocket reached a 77 mile
altitude in May of 2004.
R.A.T.T.
Works - Advanced high powered rocket manufacturer
of bi-propellant and hybrid rockets. The bi-propellant
version uses Alcohol and Nitrous Oxide. Checkout their
video clips of a hybrid
rocket launch.
Retro
Flight - " specializes in the design and
fabrication of robust high quality composite radio
control high power rocketry kits and sub scale UAV
for hobby and commercial use. Retro Flight kits are
based on sleek, swept wing x-planes, concepts, and
sci-fi spaceships of the past and the future. "
X-15
Project - all composite radio controlled project
X-15 rocket
Video
Rocketry - Clay Brother
Installing a low cost wireless web cam in a rocket,
Jamie Clay provides some great videos from the cameras
looking back at the launch sites as they shoot skyward.
Also, the site offers design information, plans for
future improvements, etc.
Rocketman
Videotapes
Videos of highlights of recent high power rocketry events
such as Big Bad Rockets 2 and Balls 007.
Astrosaint's
Recycled Rocket Page
Manuel Mejia shows how to create rockets with " household
discards and other recycled parts". While using standard
safe motors , he shows how a bit of imagination and effort
can produce something nice and different from the usual
store boat structures.
George
Gassaway's Rocketry Page
George Gassaway's site includes lots of scale information
for various launch vehicles. In particular, check out
hisShuttle Model Homepage. His shuttle models
not only are meticulous models of the real ones, but they
also fly, including dropoff boosters.
"The Clarkston Christian Association, in partnership
with the McMath-Hulbert Astronomical Society is now
offering classes in Unigraphics computer drafting
(CAD). Our classes will be working with teams of amateur
and professional rocket builders to design actual
rocket projects. "
RRS Rocket Propulsion Courses
The Reaction Research
Society occasionally offers courses in rocket propulsion:
".. is a unique "hands on" three day class in
beginning composite solid propellant motor technology.
Students will spend the first day in classroom work
covering theory, materials, procedures, and safety.
The second and third days of instruction will be held
in the field at the Society's Mojave Test Area."
Space
Exploration Merit Badge
In support of the Boy Scouts space exploration merit badge,
this site provides a nice introductory course on both
space and rocketry. The badge requirements include the
building and flying of a model rocket.
Rocket Propellants
Some resources and tutorials dealing with rocket propellants
Pendulum Rocket Fallacy
Though Goddard tried it on his early rocket designs,
you cannot use gravity alone to keep a rocket pointed
upward. Follow these links to understand why:
Your
Motor's Class - Plasma Wind - Aug.26.09 - includes
a spreadsheet tool for determining the letter classification
of any solid rocket ranging from Estes models up to
the Ares I first stage.
CERTA
is a "new, not for profit organization which
promotes math, science and techology education through
hands on experience and participation in experimental
rocketry."
Millenium
Academy - David Luther runs this program in
which offers classes in solid modeling computer drafting
(CAD) tools to design actual rockets.
OrionCraft
- "a non-profit educational outreach to youth
and adults. This group intends to develop new
technologies for use in actual future spacecraft.
These may lead to commercial development and even
real career opportunities."
Rockets4Schools.org
- ths program at "Spaceport Sheboygan has been
Wisconsin's home of Rockets for Schools since its
inception in 1995. May 14-15, 2004."..."Student
teams construct a rocket equipped with a powerful
motor that lifts it into high altitudes."
In this How-To, I will introduce you
to high power rocketry, how to build, get certified,
launch and much more. I will also introduce
you to costs associated with it, which vary
depending on how much fun you want to have.
Rocket
Boys By Homer Hickam
Homer Hickam's autobiography about his growing up in
a small coal mining town in West Virginia. Hebecame
inspired by Sputnik and the space race to build rockets
himself. This book was made into a movie called October
Sky.
G.Harry
Stine
Here is interesting documentary short video about the
late G.
Harry Stine - the leading co-founder of the model
rocketry hobby, sport and industry. He authored The
Handbook of Model Rocketry, now in its seventh edition.
Rockets
by Robert H. Goddard , available at Dover
Publications, "comprised of two papers written
by Robert Goddard for the Smithsonian Institution:
"A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes" and "Liquid
Propellant Rocket Development." Two of the most significant
publications in the history of rockets and jet propulsion,
these reports--the first published in 1919 and the
second in 1936--were issued at a time when little
was known about rockets and jet propulsion."
Miscellaneous
Articles & Issues
Regulatory
Issues in Rocketry
Consumer rocketry involves very safe fuels that have been
used for decades. Small model
rockets, which typically use a blackpowder based fuel,
are often found in toy stores and have been deemed safe
by various state and federal agencies such as the FTC.
High
Power Rocketry involves motors rated H and higher
(see motor
codes) and use composite fuels, particularly ammonium
perchlorate composite propellant or APCP. A rubber binder
is mixed with the ammonium percholate and renders it
non-explosive. Instead, "it burns in a controlled,
predictable, and focused manner" as needed for
rocket propulsion.
Despite these known physical properties and a history
of safe use, the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
(ATF) decided to put ammonium percholate on its list
of explosive substances and since 1994 has sought to
regulate its use in high power rocketry. HPR enthusiasts
must now pay for permits, must store rockets in certified
magazines, etc.
Subsequent to Sept.11, the ATF went further to place
several new registration and other requirements on the
use of ammonium percholate. This led to various political
action campaigns to change the regulations.
The following links provide more information about
the legal situation:
ATF Joint Statement 03/02/02 - injunction to preven
the ATF from requiring that "motor types whose
propellant grains consisted of 62.5 gram and smaller
units, generally referred to as 'easy access', now
be subject to the magazine and record keeping requirements
of larger motors if the propellant are designed or
intended to be combined and used in a rocket motor
whose total propellant weight is greater than 62.5
grams."
Though the above court case is going well, unfortunately
the recently passed Homeland Security Law adds even
more legal burdens for rocketry.
It subjects any substances listed as explosive by the
ATF to even further restrictions. For example, previously,
moving a composite motor across state lines required
a permit. Now moving it even within a state will require
a permit.
Liability Issues
In the USA suing over any accident, regardless of personal
responsibility. has become a way of life. Insurance
is needed to protect oneself even in a hobby as safe
as rocketry. See these pages for info on liability related
questions:
rec.models.
rockets FAQ - Frequently asked questions page,
about both powered rocketry and scale models, maintained
by Sven Knudsen.
Water
Rockets
A pressurized tank of water won't compete with LOX/LH2
but it can give a good kick for low altitude booster
and a big kick for those who build and fly such things.
Thrust
Into Space (pdf, 125 pages) by Maxwell
W. Hunter. This free on-line book provides an
introduction to propulsion systems and orbital mechanics.
It was written in 1965 but has been reformatted and
color diagrams added. The introduction says it "is
written for the modern, technically-oriented high
school student".
Endorsed by The Space Show, our latest effort
in Rocketry and Aerospace Engineering is the 910 page
book called Rocket Science. Built from hundreds of resources,
it represents some of the key topics in Propulsion both
solid and liquid, High Power Rocketry and Aerodynamics.
We also cover vehicle guidance control and Structural
Design. You will not find a better textbook for your
hobby or professional interests. At only $35.00 its
a bargain. It represents a two year effort to give you
the best in aerospace design. So you can fly any vehicle
at peak performance and safely. Included the telemetry
chapter that offers a full range of projects and payloads
from the industry. The R/C chapter is focused on proven
designs and construction. Rocket Science will be a tool
for you today and into the future. Besides the book
the additional Augustine Committee Report and NASA documentation
makes this a resource above all others. Further we give
you a copy of a spaceflight simulation to see how Orbital
Mechanics works on vehicles like the X-15, X-20, Gemini
capsule and Space Shuttle. And the graphics are nothing
short of impressive.
This writeup
(pdf) provides addition information about the book
The
Next Shuttle CD-ROM by Dave Ketchledge. As described in the PR
posted at "The
Next Shuttle" by Dave Ketchledge - RLV News - Sept.18.05,
the CD contains lots of articles, data, drawings on
rocketplanes that have been built like the X-15 and
on concept vehicles like Dynasoar and Venturestar. Some
chapters are specifically aimed at modelers.
Peter
Alway
Author of Rockets
of the World and publisher of Saturn Press (see
next entry), Alway's home site includes a lot of model
rocketry resources.
ARA
Press
ARA press publishes a number of rocket and space related
books, including those formerly available at Saturn
Press, which shut down in 2007. They specialize
"in rocketry publications, offering books, posters,
and booklets for modelers and space enthusiasts."
Many of these are by Peter
Alway (see previous entry).
Model
Rocketry Software - Apogee Rockets RockSim
allows the amateur rocket maker to design rockets "by
pointing and clicking at the parts". Then the rocket
can be run through a flight simulation which will describe
how fast it will travel, how high it will go, when and
where during the flight the parachute is deployed, and
most importantly, it determines if the model will be
stable and therefore safe to fly."
"You don't need to be a rocket scientist or
a computer expert to use it. Just select the parts
to create your design. When your design is complete
open the stabilizer window and watch as the system
checks and stabilizes your design automatically. If
your design is stable run the performance test and
see how high and fast your rocket will go. That's
all it takes now you can build your model rocket and
launch it."
Aerorocket
Aerodynamics Software
AeroRocket "specializes in high speed aerodynamics,
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and aerospace technology
related software development. Other services include
Visual Basic/C++ computer programming, structural analysis
and wind tunnel testing using AeroRocket's subsonic
wind tunnel."
SpaceCAD
Model Rocket Software
This prorgram allows you to build your own rocket designs,
predict flight and stability , center of gravity and
pressure (CP). The program description:
"SpaceCAD allows you to design and build your
rockets very quickly and easily - the perfect rocket
tool for both expert and novice rocketeers. More than
7,000 people are using it today to design real, flying
rockets!"
"a complete trajectory simulation program for
both unguided and VTS (vertical trajectory systems).
The built in chart recorder captures over 29 variables
during launch and flight. The program has a 17 motor
database in MS Excel to select from or you can customize,
The flight manual that comes with the software is
more than a review of the Barrowman equations, its
a fully documented course in flight mechanics and
the methods of performing vertical trajectory control.
"
OpenRocket
This is an open source model rocket simulator written
in Java by Sampo Niskanen as part of his Master's
thesis work at Helsinki University of Technology.
Customize your rocket: Change the appearance
of your rocket by choosing from 10,000 possible combinations
of nose cone, fins and colors. You can select from 3
rocket sizes and a total of 45 rocket engines to soar
through the sky in style!
Challenge your skills: Play in simulator mode
and choose the difficulty level you want by combining
engine power (altitude) with the diameter of the safe
landing zone (from an easy 150 ft to only 15 ft) and
wind force level (from 1 mph up to 30 mph).
Go for points: In arcade mode you have three
launches (one for each scale) to try to land as close
to the center of the target as possible to rack the
largest amout of points and beat the high score for
each difficulty level.
Accurate physics: Wind and gravity play a major
role, so put on your thinking cap and calculate the
optimal launch angle and direction according with the
rocket's altitude and chute delay.
Realistic Environment: Launch rockets in two
different realistic environments: desert or country.
Realistic sound effects complete the atmosphere.
Model
Rocket Altitude Predictor - Mark Sullivan
provides this online altitude predictor program. Also,
available are programs for multi-stageanduser motor.
RocFlight.com- This company specializes in rocket trajectory
software for model & HPR rocketry.
It can simulate with three degrees of
freedom flights up to 30 km and mach 2.0. Aerodynamic
forces are calculated from the rocket model using
US Air Force DATCOM and Barrowman methods. It's
the only program of this type that offers real time
visualization of the entire flight.
Splash
- "a wind-weighted 6 degree-of-freedom (6DOF)
rocket simulation with statistics-based impact analysis
capability. Splash is intended not just for the nominal
trajectory analysis that most simulations are, but
also for splash pattern generation consistent with
FAA/OST requirements. This means that Splash can provide
the data used to determine not just a nominal impact
point but an impact zone complete with statistics
to back up the likelihood of a vehicle impact in any
given region."
Frink,
created by Alan Eliasen. At the simplest level it
just does unit conversion but, as these sample
calculations show, it can do an amazing range
of calculations with one or a few lines of code. It
"is optimized for doing quick, off-the-cuff calculations
with a minimum of typing". You can use in with
a form
or an applet.
You can also download
it and use it off line.
