Get Ready for Rocket Day!

Janet & Charles Hoult

Assured Space Access Technologies, Inc. (ASAT)

2008 AIAA Passport to the Future Teacher Workshop

21-22 July 2008
Hartford, CT
 So, What’s a Rocket Day?
• Objective is to encourage students to consider a career in science,
technology, engineering or mathematics
• A Rocket Day is a school-sponsored coming together of rocket enthusiasts
to fly their model rockets
• Rocket Days sometimes include competitive events
– Team America Rocketry Challenge
– Coming closest to predicted apogee altitude
• Type of rocket flown depends on student grade level
– Grades 3-5 fly water rockets…compressed air drives water from soft
drink bottles converted to rockets
– Grades 6-9 fly small solid rockets
– Grades 10-12 fly larger solid rockets
• Rocket Day includes many activities
– Classroom instruction on rocketry & space exploration
– Workshop for each student to build his own model rocket from a kit
• Can be done on a weekend to encourage parental participation…It can be a
great picnic opportunity
 Workshop Outline

• Introduction to Rocket Day will focus on three topics

1. How rockets work
2. Rocket assembly workshop
3. Rocket Day activities
• Overview of supplemental material
• Wrap up
 How Do We Get Started?

• The best way to begin model rocketry is with an Estes flying model rocket
Starter Set or Launch Set. You can either start with a Ready To Fly Starter Set
or Launch Set that has a fully constructed model rocket or an E2X® Starter Set
or Launch Set with a rocket that requires assembly prior to launching.

• Both types of sets come complete with an electrical launch controller,

adjustable launch pad and an information booklet to get you out and flying in no
time.

• Starter Sets include engines, Launch Sets let you choose your own engines
(not included). Buy motors at your local hobby store. You’ll need four ‘AA’
alkaline batteries and perhaps glue, depending on which set you select.
 How Easy & How Much Time Does It Take to Build My Rockets?

Estes model rocket kits range from ready to fly in just minutes to those that
provide many enjoyable hours of building fun. Estes kits are classified into five
categories.
READY TO FLY (RTF): No paint, glue or modeling skills required. Rocket
comes assembled and is ready for liftoff in just minutes.
E2X® ROCKET KITS: No paint or special tools needed. E2X® kits contain parts
that are colored and easy to assemble. Simply glue the parts together as per the
instructions, apply the self-adhesive decals, attach the recovery system and you
are ready to blast off! Assembly takes 1 hour or less.
SKILL LEVEL 1 ROCKET KITS: Requires some painting, gluing and sanding.
Features laser cut balsa fins, slotted body tubes, plastic nose cones and self-
adhesive decals. Step by step instructions make building very easy. Assembly
takes at least an afternoon.
SKILL LEVEL 2 ROCKET KITS: First tier of more advanced kits. Requires
beginner skills in model rocket construction and finishing. Features laser cut
balsa or plastic fins, plastic nose cones and unfinished body tubes. Assembly
may take a complete day.
SKILL LEVEL 3 ROCKET KITS: Second tier of more advanced kits. Requires
moderate skills in model rocket construction and finishing. Features multiple
laser cut balsa fins and parts, unfinished body tubes, complex designs and
plastic nose cones. Assembly may take a couple of days
Past and Future of Rocketry
 Early History
• In the beginning….
– Circa first century AD China, according to legend…
• Casual experimentation with mixtures of powered sulfur,
charcoal & saltpeter gave off lots of bright light & smoke
• If this mixture was confined to a bamboo tube with plugged
ends & thrown into a fire, there would be a loud bang. Many
evil spirits were thus frightened away
• That’s how fireworks were invented
• But, sometimes one end of the bamboo tube was imperfectly
closed, and the bamboo went flying
• That’s how rockets were invented!
– Circa tenth century AD China
• Rockets were developed as weapons of war
– Early rocket technology diffused over East Asia
 More History
• Sir William Congreve (1772-1828)
– British artilleryman, stationed in
India, observed rockets used as
weapons of war
– He inspired the Royal Army & Navy
to adopt rockets as weapons
– Most famous application was the
British naval attack on Fort McHenry,
Md, in 1814. Documented in
Francis Scott Key’s poem, “The Star
Spangled Banner” with the phrase,
“the rocket’s red glare”
– After the Napoleanic wars, the British
military abandoned rockets (only for
a while) because they were less
accurate than guns
 Konstantin E. Tsiolkovskii (1857-1935)

– A poor provincial school teacher working in

Kaluga far from Moscow was the first to
begin the theoretical mathematical study of
rocket flight
– In 1903, he published, in Russian, “The
Exploration of Cosmic Space by Means of
Reaction Devices”
– It included what’s now called Tsiolkovskii’s
law (more later on this), one foundation of
ballistic missile and interplanetary rocket
flight
– First proposed multi stage rockets…lower
stage velocity (DV) added to upper stage DV
to reach very high total velocity
– First proposed liquid oxygen (lox) –
hydrogen propellants
– Envisioned humanity spreading into space
 Dr. Robert H. Goddard (1882-1945)

• Did the work for which he’s most famous while a

professor at Clark Univ. in Worcester, MA
• Patented a vacuum tube amplifier before de Forest!
• First applied the de Laval steam turbine nozzle to
rockets…significant performance improvement
• Built & launched the first liquid rocket in Auburn, MA in
1926
• With Guggenheim funding, continued to build ever
more sophisticated rockets until 1935
• Later rockets were launched from Roswell, NM
• Published “A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes”
in 1919
• Widely scorned by the media (esp. The New York
Times) for his “errors”
• After the 1969 Apollo landing on the moon, the NY
Times finally published a “correction”
 Dr. Werner M. M. Freiherr von Braun (1912-1977)

• Mother gave him a telescope as a confirmation

present at age 12
• While at the Technical University of Berlin joined
the Spaceflight Society
• Hitler came to power while he worked on his
Doctorate, & Wehrmacht funded his studies
• Joined the Nazi Party & SS and led the V-2 V-2
development team at Peeneműnde
• Emigrated to U.S. after the war and led U.S. Army
ballistic missile (Redstone & Jupiter) development at
Redstone Arsenal
• Responsible for Jupiter C that launched first U.S.
satellite (Explorer 1)
• Joined NASA when it was established and led the
Saturn (Apollo) development work

Von Braun & Saturn V first stage

 ICBMs and SLBMs: The Space Race
• The two most significant World War II technologies, the atomic bomb and
the ballistic missile, were integrated by the USSR & the USA starting in the
mid 1950s
• The object of this quest was a practical Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
(ICBM) with a nuclear warhead. The country with ICBMs was thought to be
secure.
– A variant was the Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM)
– It was possible to attack ICBM bases before they could launch their
missiles, but the submarines hosting SLBMs were much harder to
locate & destroy
• The USSR’s rocket program was the more extensive during the late 1940s
and early 1950s…they first deployed large ballistic missile weapons
– The West was thoroughly frightened
– “Catch up to the Russians” had the highest priority
• Most early space launches used ICBMs as boosters
– Provided a public window onto secret military capabilities

Proficiency in space exploration implied proficiency in ballistic missiles

 Sergey Korolyov (1907-1966)

• Caught up in Stalin’s purges and sent to Siberian

Gulag
• His identity was a state secret throughout his
lifetime…press only referred to him as the “Chief
Designer”
• Led the design bureau creating all early Soviet
ballistic missiles
• Responsible for building and launching Sputnik,
the first earth satellite
• Led the team building & launching the first
successful lunar probes…Luna 3 took the first
photographs of the Moon’s far side
• Died due to a botched surgical procedure
 Cosmonauts, Astronauts
(& Taikonauts)
• First man in space was Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin
– Fighter pilot
– First single orbit flight (12 April 1961)…Awarded the
Hero of the Soviet Union
– Died in a MIG-15 crash in 1968
• First man to step onto the lunar surface was Astronaut Neil
Armstrong (1930-) Gagarin
– Commander of Apollo 11, first Moon landing (16 July
1969)
– Taught at Univ. of Cincinnati (1971-1979)…now retired
• Today, hundreds from many nations have flown in space
– 294 Americans
– 72 Russians
– Others from Saudi Arabia, France, Canada, Italy, Armstrong
Israel, Japan, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Mexico,
Ukraine, Switzerland, Netherlands, etc.
• Now, the first two Chinese Taikonauts have orbited the
earth!
 Ballistic Missile Defense
• Ballistic missile defense schemes have been around since the 1960s
• In the 1970s, the US studied Sprint, Spartan & Safeguard while Russia
deployed Galosh
– All used nuclear warheads to negate incoming reentry vehicles
– Problem was, the nukes did vast damage via Electro-Magnetic Pulse
(EMP) to the assets they were trying to protect
– Hence the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty…If you couldn’t make it work,
then you might as well sign a treaty against it
• Modern hit-to-kill warheads make ballistic missile defense practical…no EMP
– Consist of tracking systems (radars and infrared (IR) sensing satellites),
rocket-boosted hit-to-kill warheads (based on dry land or on ships), and
command, control and battle management elements
– Main issue with current systems is their inflexibility…improvements in the
pipeline are
• Migrating from ground-based radars to space-based IR satellites for
vastly better coverage
• Migrating from fixed-site silo launchers to ship-based launchers to
better engage evolved threats and scenarios
• Improved sensors for better discrimination between reentry vehicles
and decoys
 Back to the Moon, on to Asteroids & Mars
• Constellation system
– Orion is the new Crew Capsule…slightly larger than Orion
that used by Apollo
– Ares I is a two stage booster for the Orion Crew
Capsule…first stage is a stretched Space Shuttle
Solid Booster rocket, & second stage uses an
improved version of the Apollo J2 LOX-hydrogen
rocket engine
– Ares V is an unmanned cargo carrier…also uses
legacy Space Shuttle & Apollo hardware
• After the Space Shuttle is grounded around 2010,
Constellation provides follow-on capability
• Manned missions include rendezvous with the
International Space Station, return to the Moon,
establishment of a permanent lunar base, rendezvous Ares I Ares V
with near-earth asteroids and finally, landing on Mars
• Time frame is next two decades
– Early testing has begun…static firings, capsule drop
tests, etc.
 Theory of Rockets

Dr. Eric Besnard

California State University, Long Beach

Project Director, California Launch Vehicle Education

Initiative
http://www.csulb.edu/rockets/
 How does a rocket work?
• Exercise 1:
– Take a balloon and blow it up – Do not tie it
– Release the balloon
– What happens? Why?
• Exercise 2:
– Take a cart with a pile of bricks on it
– Stand on the cart and throw bricks backward
– If there is no friction on the wheel, what happens? Why?
 Thrust
• This effect comes from conservation of
momentum Rocket
– Momentum:
(large mass,
• Definition: mass x velocity (speed)
“small” velocity)
• A truck at 40 miles per hour has more
momentum than a car at 40 miles per
hour
• A car at 40 miles per hour has more
momentum than a car at 20 miles per
hour
– Newton’s first law of motion: When no
external forces are applied on the object,
momentum is conserved
– Mass exits backwards at a certain speed or
velocity
– Therefore object moves forward at a speed
which will conserve momentum:
→ THRUST is generated Gas
(small mass,
large velocity)
 Rocket Flight

Newton’s second law of motion: Rocket reaches Recovery

forces acting on the object will Apogee Altitude. Systems
Ejection Charge Deployed
change the momentum of the Tracking Activates Recovery
Smoke System
object: Generated
F=ma During
Time
- F: sum of all forces Delay /
Coast Motor
- m: mass of object Phase Burns Out
- A: acceleration of object
Forces on our rocket:
Drag (air) Rocket
Safely
Weight (gravity) Returns
to Earth
Thrust (engine)
Rocket
Accelerates &
Gains Altitude
Fins stabilize
1 8 8
the rocket Electrically Ignited Touchdown, Replace the Motor,
Rocket Engine Igniter & Recovery Wadding.
Provides Lift-Off Ready to Launch Again!
Launcher rail guides the rocket
 Propellants
• Liquid Propellants
– Fuel & Oxidizer stored separately
• Liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen (Space Shuttle)
• LOX-alcohol, LOX-kerosene (early ballistic missiles)
– Combined in combustion chamber
– Combustion pressure attained by
• Turbopumps
• Stored gaseous pressurant
• Solid Propellants
– Heterogeneous, aka composites, (modern ballistic missiles)
• Oxidizer & Fuel, while mixed intimately, are stored as distinct
molecules
• Oxidizer (NH4ClO4) and fuel (Al) held in a rubber matrix (also fuel)
• Black powder…this is what most model rockets use (10% powdered
sulfur, 75% salt peter (KNO3) & 15% powdered charcoal)…plus a
teeny bit of binder
– Homogeneous
• Fuel & Oxidizer are part of the same molecule
• During combustion, molecule decomposes and components burn
• Gun cotton
 Nozzles

• All modern rockets use a de Laval concept

– Subsonic converging section
– Sonic throat
– Supersonic diverging section
• Conical: easy to manufacture & ~98% efficient…this is what model
rockets use
• Bell: more difficult to manufacture & ~99+% efficient
• Multiple cooling concepts
– Regenerative: Propellant flows thru hollow nozzle walls until it’s injected
into combustion chamber
– Ablative: Nozzle wall chars, & the char insulates the uncharred nozzle
wall
– Film: A thin propellant film coats the nozzle wall and insulates it
– Heat sink: The nozzle just gets hotter during firing…this is what model
rockets use
 Rocket engines
• Generate high velocity gas by chemical reaction (burning)
of propellants: LOX
– Something which burns: fuel tank
– Something which carries oxygen: oxidizer Solid
Rocket
• Unlike aircraft engines which take the oxygen from the Booster
atmosphere (“air-breathing” engines), rocket engines carry
their own oxygen so they can fly in space (where there is LH2
no atmosphere) tank
• Examples of Propellants:
– Estes rockets: black powder
– Space Shuttle Orbiter:
• Oxidizer: liquid oxygen LOX (≈
-320 F) & liquid hydrogen, LH2 Orbiter
(≈ -425 F)
– Space Shuttle Solid Rocket
Boosters:
• Composite solid propellant
– Space Ship One:
• Hybrid; nitrous oxide (laughing
gas) & rubber
 A Really BIG rocket engine

• 5 F-1 engines were used on

the Saturn V on its way to
the Moon
• 1.5 million pounds thrust
each!
 Smaller rockets, same technology…
Designed and integrated by Long
Beach State students
Aerospike rocket engine static fire test
When something goes wrong…
Prospector-4 flight
A slightly bigger rocket: sized for 20 lb to orbit!
Model Rockets
 Partial Model Rocket System Architecture

Model Rocket
System

Flight Data Segment Ground

Segment Segment

Training
Materials
Simulations

Airframe Propulsion Launcher Controller Facilities

Fins Motors Launcher Controller Field

Tube Igniters Anemometer Batteries Ground
Nose Cone Support
Equipment
Lug
Parachute
 Typical Model Rocket Components

10) Fin 6) Shock Cord Mount

2) Shock Cord

7) Body Tube
1) Nose Cone

9) Motor Hook

8) Motor Mount 11) Launch Lug

5) Shroud Lines
3) Parachute 4) Tape Rings
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 Your rocket

Ejection
charge for
deployment
of recovery
system
Non-thrust delay
and smoke for
tracking charge
Solid
propellant High thrust
charge for lift-off
and acceleration
Nozzle
 How to Read the Motor Code
This letter indicates total impulse produced by
the motor. Each succeeding letter denotes
twice the total impulse as for the previous letter.
Example: B motors have twice the impulse of A
motors.

This number shows the motor’s average

thrust in newtons, or the average ”push”
exerted by the motor.

This number is the delay in seconds

between the end of thrusting
(burnout) and ejection charge action.
Motor types ending in 0 have no
delay or ejection charge, and are for
use in booster stages only.

Estes motors are color-coded for recommended use. GREEN motors are for use in single
stage models; PURPLE motors for the top stages of multi-stage rockets and very light
single stage rockets; RED motors for all booster and intermediate states of multi-stage
models. BLUE are “plugged” and are used for rocket powered racers and radio controlled
gliders, they contain no delay or ejection charge.
Rocket Motor Impulse Classes

Type Total Impulse

(newton - seconds)
¼A 0.31-0.62
½A 0.63-1.25
A 1.26-2.50
B 2.51-5.00
C 5.01-10.00
D 10.01-20.00
E 20.01-30.00
 B6-4 Thrust Profile

Max.Thrust
(pounds)

Compressed Black Powder Propellant

Thrust (newtons)

Specific Impulse – 80-83 sec

Exhaust velocity – 2550-2650 ft/sec

Average Thrust = Total Impulse / Duration

Ejection
Charge
Propellant Burnout Activates

Delay Period – No Measurable Thrust

Time (seconds)
 Estes Rocket Motor Code
Each rocket engine has a code printed upon the outer jacket. An example of one
such code is A8-3.
The capital letter (e.g., A) indicates total impulse produced by the engine. Each
succeeding letter represents a power range with maximum total impulse twice the
impulse as the previous letter. (Example: A single C engine can produce anywhere
from 5.01 to 10 newton-seconds of impulse, a G engine 80.1 to 160 newton-
seconds.) Anything over a G engine is considered high power model rocketry.
The first number (e.g., 8) specifies that engine's average thrust in newtons or the
average push exerted by the engine. Thus a B6-0 and a C6-0 will both produce the
same average thrust of 6 newtons, but the C6-0, having twice the total impulse, will
fire for twice as long. The rocket engines produce maximum thrust shortly after
ignition and thrust declines to a steady-state which is maintained for up to 2.5
seconds prior to burnout.[2]
The final number (e.g., 3) indicates the delay between burnout and the ejection
charge, in seconds. Engines with a delay of zero are typically used as booster
engines in multi-stage rockets and there is no ejection charge. In this case, the
burning propellant ruptures through the top and hot bits of propellant enter the
nozzle of the upper stage engine, thus igniting that engine and forcing the booster
assembly away, usually to tumble safely to earth.
 Thoughts on Payloads
• A payload is something “useful” that flies on a rocket
• Even though most beginning rocket hobbyists do not attempt to fly
payloads, the issue merits discussion
• Payloads considered to be acceptable to the larger community include
– Eggs…usually to meet a requirement that they be returned to earth
intact
– Cameras…Estes Astrocam 110™, kit no. 1327. Can take great pictures
from altitude
– Aircraft such as rocket-boosted gliders…e. g., Estes Screaming Eagle,
kit no. 2117, and many more
– Any onboard sensors, including any telemetering system, acoustic or
radio-based
• Payloads NOT considered to be acceptable to the larger community include
– Any vertebrate life form, especially mice. The SPCA takes a strong
stand on this point. Insects, however, are OK
– Anything that goes bang upon impact, and, even worse, any incendiary
device
 Typical Model Rocket Launcher & Controller

Package it Package it
Launch
comes in comes in
Rail

Launch
Key

Launch Status
Slot for tilting
Button Light
Launch Rail
Solid Rocket Motor Functionality
Rocket Day Organization
 Rocket Day Organization
• Range Safety Officer (RSO) - Yourself or the leader who is in charge. The
RSO has the final say in all situations. The RSO carries the safety key at all
times and checks the air-worthiness of all rockets.
• Launch Control Officer (LCO) - This person is responsible for actually
firing the rocket. Control panel set-up and dismantling is also this person’s
responsibility.
• Tracking Officer (TO) - This person is responsible for the set-up, operation
and coordination of the tracking sites (TO).
• Data Control Officer (DCO) – In competitions involving apogee altitude &
time of flight, this individual collects, organizes and disseminates all preflight
and flight data.
• 1-2 Tracking Crews - These could consist of several positions at each site.
Positions could include: tracking the rocket to measure its altitude, recording
altitude data
• Recovery Crews - Consist of several people who follow the flight, recover
and return the rocket to the Preparation Table under the RSO’s direction.
• Staffing Sources – Older, more experienced students should be recruited
for most of these positions. Potential sources include Boy Scouts, Civil Air
Patrol, Junior ROTC, or members of a local model rocket club (see the NAR
web site for a listing of these)
Launch Site Layout
Tracker 1
Tracker 2
Range Safety Officer
Data Recording
Table & Data Control
Officer
Preparation Table
Recovery Team
Launch Control
Officer
National or Club Flag
Range-In-Operation
Pennant (optional)
Student-Observers
Parking Area
(optional)
Launching Pad
 Further Rocket Day Suggestions
• In addition to the above suggestions, a table could be set up for preparation
of the rockets before flight with someone responsible to coordinate the flow
of rockets to the pad. After the data is recorded, the Data Control Officer is
responsible for collecting and compiling the individual data cards into one
report.
• Preparing for a Rocket Day well in advance and rehearsing the various
operations, including misfire responses, prior to a public performance will
ensure a high level of safety and provide a well-coordinated program that
everyone will enjoy. The importance of staging a Rocket Day has its value in
stressing teamwork during the ground operations while promoting good
competition during the flight portion.
• Cross training your students in all of the various roles mentioned above will
familiarize them with the entire launch operation and increase the level of
interaction each student experiences. The possibilities of a Rocket Day are
unlimited and it is a wonderful way to bring any rocket or space unit to a
conclusion.
 Safety Considerations
Estes Alpha III Starter Set Rockets

• What’s a reasonable field size?

– Keep in mind that most rockets will come down on their parachutes
– Biggest hazard from an impact outside the field is it would put the rocket
someplace where it couldn’t be easily recovered
– For an Alpha III the predicted apogee altitude is about 1100 ft = 335 m.
Then 85% of all impacts would fall into a square field about 85m = 280 ft
on a side.
• What government rules must we pay close attention to?
– Federal Aviation Regulations Part 101.25 require you notify your local
FAA office at least 24, and not more than 48 hours in advance of launch
– Federal Aviation Regulations Part 101.23 (mostly common sense)
should also be considered compliant
• This material is covered in detail in other reference material
 A Rocket Day Logistics Check List
• Things you the teacher should plan to provide
– Rocket Launchers and Controller Panels (one for every dozen students
is a good planning number)
– Fresh batteries to power ignition circuits
– Fire extinguishers and first aid kits If you bring them, they won’t be
needed & v.v.
– PortaPotty (if no other facilities are available)
– A loud hailer so all can hear the count down and RSO instructions
– Inclinometers (2) and either a traffic wheel, GPS or a long tape measure
are needed to measure apogee altitude. A good inclinometer choice is
Estes Industries Altitrak™ #302232, $23.75 each
– A hand held anemometer to measure launch winds. A good choice is
Edmund Scientific’s SkyMate Windmeter #30823-43, $99.95. A nice-to-
have, but not essential.
• Things you should remind each participant to bring
– Sun screen & hats
– Water & soft drinks. Possibly food also
– Folding chairs for the old folks. Also blankets in cold weather
– Cell phones for the two Trackers to communicate with the Data
Recording Table, the Data Control Officer, the Range Safety Officer, the
Launch Control Officer & yourself
Procedures for One- and Two-Tracker
Estimation of Apogee

Based on Estes Technical Report

TR-3, “Altitude Tracking”, 1988
 Quest Inclinometer
Quest Skyscope inclinometer No. 7812, $7.00
 Altitude Estimation with a Single Inclinometer
• First, acquire an inclinometer, either by
making your own from a protractor with a
weighted string, or by buying an Estes
Altitrak™
• Next position an observer up wind from
launcher by a distance (d in the sketch) Wind
approximately equal to the predicted
apogee altitude. Measure the distance d
– Estes catalog provides predicted
H
apogee altitudes for their rocket kits
• After liftoff, the observer tracks the rocket by e
sighting along the instrument spine
– Or by pointing the Altitrak™ d
• When he perceives the rocket has gone as Observer Launcher
high as it will, he notes the angle (e in the
sketch) on the instrument scale/protractor
• Use formula to estimate apogee altitude H = d tan(e)
 Estes Altitrak™

• How high did it really go? Next time,

measure it with this easy to use
device. Follow the rocket in the
sights to apogee, release the trigger
to lock the reading. Easy-to-read
display gives you your altitude in
meters along with the elevation
angle. Use two Altitraks for greater
accuracy. Great for school and
science projects!

• Estes 302232
– $23.75
 Two-Tracker Layout

Wind

Tracker Launcher Tracker

h* h*

• Locate the two Trackers equidistant from the Launcher along a line
parallel to the average wind
• The distance from the Launcher to each Tracker is approximately
equal to the predicted apogee altitude h*
• Minimizes bias error in estimated apogee altitude
 Apogee Altitude Estimation

h*
Tracker
e1 Launcher e2 Tracker

d
• Measure maximum elevation angles e1 and e2 with Estes
Altitraks™, or Quest Skyscopes
• Measure distance d with a traffic wheel, or tape measure, or GPS
• Estimate apogee altitude h* from
tan(e1) tan(e2)
h* = d
tan(e1) + tan(e2)
Federal Aviation Regulations
Part 101
 Federal Aviation Regulations

101.21 Applicability.
top
This subpart applies to the operation of unmanned rockets. However, a person
operating an unmanned rocket within a restricted area must comply only with
§101.23(g) and with additional limitations imposed by the using or controlling
agency, as appropriate.
[Doc. No. 1580, 28 FR 6722, June 29, 1963]
§ 101.22 Special provisions for large model rockets.
top
Persons operating model rockets that use not more than 125 grams of
propellant; that are made of paper, wood, or breakable plastic; that contain no
substantial metal parts, and that weigh not more than 1,500 grams, including the
propellant, need not comply with §101.23 (b), (c), (g), and (h), provided:
(a) That person complies with all provisions of §101.25; and
(b) The operation is not conducted within 5 miles of an airport runway or other
landing area unless the information required in §101.25 is also provided to the
manager of that airport.
[Amdt. 101–6, 59 FR 50393, Oct. 3, 1994]
101.23 Operating limitations .

top
No person may operate an unmanned rocket—
(a) In a manner that creates a collision hazard with other aircraft;
(b) In controlled airspace;
(c) Within five miles of the boundary of any airport;
(d) At any altitude where clouds or obscuring phenomena of more than five-
tenths coverage prevails;
(e) At any altitude where the horizontal visibility is less than five miles;
(f) Into any cloud;
(g) Within 1,500 feet of any person or property that is not associated with the
operations; or
(h) Between sunset and sunrise.
(Sec. 6(c), Department of Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 1655(c)))
[Doc. No. 1580, 28 FR 6722, June 29, 1963, as amended by Amdt. 101–4, 39
FR 22252, June 21, 1974]
101.25 Notice requirements .

top
No person may operate an unmanned rocket unless that person gives the
following information to the FAA ATC facility nearest to the place of intended
operation no less than 24 hours prior to and no more than 48 hours prior to
beginning the operation:
(a) The names and addresses of the operators; except when there are multiple
participants at a single event, the name and address of the person so
designated as the event launch coordinator, whose duties include coordination
of the required launch data estimates and coordinating the launch event;
(b) The estimated number of rockets to be operated;
(c) The estimated size and the estimated weight of each rocket; and
(d) The estimated highest altitude or flight level to which each rocket will be
operated.
(e) The location of the operation.
(f) The date, time, and duration of the operation.
(g) Any other pertinent information requested by the ATC facility.
[Doc. No. 1580, 28 FR 6722, June 29, 1963, as amended by Amdt. 101–6, 59
FR 50393, Oct. 3, 1994]
Model Rocketry Safety Code

Estes Industries
 Model Rocketry Safety Code

1.Materials
My model rocket will be made of lightweight materials such as paper, wood, rubber, and
plastic suitable for the power used and the performance of my model rocket. I will not
use any metal for the nose cone, body, or fins of a model rocket.
2.Motors/Engines
I will use only commercially-made NAR certified model rocket engines in the manner
recommended by the manufacturer. I will not alter the model rocket engine, its parts, or
its ingredients in any way.
3.Recovery
I will always use a recovery system in my model rocket that will return it safely to the
ground so it may be flown again. I will use only flame-resistant recovery wadding if
required.
4.Weight and Power Limits
My model rocket will weigh no more than 1500 grams (53 oz.) at lift-off, and its rocket
engines will produce no more than 320 Newton-seconds (4.45 Newtons equal 1.0
pound) of total impulse. My model rocket will weigh no more than the engine
manufacturer’s recommended maximum lift-off weight for the engines used, or I will use
engines recommended by the manufacturer for my model rocket.
5.Stability
I will check the stability of my model rocket before its first flight, except when launching a
model rocket of already proven stability
6.Payloads
Except for insects, my model rocket will never carry live animals or a payload
that is intended to be flammable, explosive, or harmful.
7.Launch Site
I will launch my model rocket outdoors in a cleared area, free of tall trees,
power lines, buildings, and dry brush and grass. My launch site will be at least
as large as that recommended in the following table.
LAUNCH SITE DIMENSIONS
Minimum Installed Equivalent Engine Type Site Dimension
Total Impulse (feet) (meters)
(Newton-seconds)
0.00 1.25 1/4A & 1/2A 50 15
1.26 2.50 A 100 30
2.51 5.00 B 200 60
5.01 10.00 C 400 120
10.01 20.00 D 500 150
20.01 40.00 E 1000 300
40.01 80.00 F 1000 300
80.01 160.00 G 1000 300
160.01 320.00 2Gs 1500 450
8.Launcher
I will launch my model rocket from a stable launching device that provides
rigid guidance until the model rocket has reached a speed adequate to
ensure a safe flight path. To prevent accidental eye injury, I will always
place the launcher so that the end of the rod is above eye level or I will cap
the end of the launch rod when approaching it. I will cap or disassemble
my launch rod when not in use and I will never store it in an upright
position. My launcher will have a jet deflector device to prevent the engine
exhaust from hitting the ground directly. I will always clear the area around
my launch device of brown grass, dry weeds, and other easy-to-burn
materials.
9.Ignition System
The system I use to launch my model rocket will be remotely controlled
and electrically operated. It will contain a launching switch that will return to
“off” when released. The system will contain a removable safety interlock in
series with the launch switch. All persons will remain at least 15 feet (5
meters) from the model rocket when I am igniting model rocket engines
totaling 30 Newton-seconds or less of total impulse and at least 30 feet (9
meters) from the model rocket when I am igniting model rocket engines
totaling more than 30 Newton-seconds of total impulse. I will use only
electrical igniters recommended by the engine manufacturer that will ignite
model rocket engine(s) within one second of actuation of the launching
switch.
10.Launch Safety
I will ensure that people in the launch area are aware of the pending model
rocket launch and can see the model rocket’s liftoff before I begin my
audible five-second countdown. I will not launch a model rocket using it as a
weapon. If my model rocket suffers a misfire, I will not allow anyone to
approach it or the launcher until I have made certain that the safety interlock
has been removed or that the battery has been disconnected from the
ignition system. I will wait one minute (60 sec) after a misfire before allowing
anyone to approach the launcher.
11.Flying Conditions
I will launch my model rocket only when the wind is less than 20 miles (30
kilometers) an hour. I will not launch my model rocket so it flies into clouds,
near aircraft in flight, or in a manner that is hazardous to people or property
12.Pre-Launch Test
When conducting research activities with unproven model rocket designs or
methods I will, when possible, determine the reliability of my model rocket by
pre-launch tests. I will conduct the launching of an unproven design in
complete isolation from persons not participating in the actual launching.
13.Launch Angle
My launch device will be pointed within 30 degrees of vertical. I will never
use model rocket engines to propel any device horizontally.
14.Recovery Hazards
If a model rocket becomes entangled in a power line or other dangerous
place, I will not attempt to retrieve it. As a member of the Estes Model
Rocketry Program, I promise to faithfully follow all rules of safe conduct as
established in the above code.

Signature__________________________________________
*This is the official Model Rocketry Safety Code of the National Association
of Rocketry and the Model Rocket Manufacturers Association.

Important Note: “G” engines must be sold to and used by adults (18 and up)
only.
To launch large model rockets weighing more than one lb. (453 g) but no
more than 3.3 lbs. (1500 g) including propellant or rockets containing more
than 4 oz. (113 g) but no more than 4.4 oz. (125 g) of propellant (net weight),
you must notify and perhaps obtain authorization from the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA). Check your telephone directory for the FAA office
nearest you or contact Estes Industries for further information.
National Association of Rocketry
Model Rocket Safety Code

Ref: NAR website

 Model Rocket Safety Code
1. Materials. I will use only lightweight, non-metal parts for the nose, body, and
fins of my rocket.
2. Motors. I will use only certified, commercially-made model rocket motors, and
will not tamper with these motors or use them for any purposes except those
recommended by the manufacturer.
3. Ignition System. I will launch my rockets with an electrical launch system
and electrical motor igniters. My launch system will have a safety interlock in
series with the launch switch, and will use a launch switch that returns to the
“off” position when released.
4. Misfires. If my rocket does not launch when I press the button of my electrical
launch system, I will remove the launcher's safety interlock or disconnect its
battery, and will wait 60 seconds after the last launch attempt before allowing
anyone to approach the rocket.
5. Launch Safety. I will use a countdown before launch, and will ensure that
everyone is paying attention and is a safe distance of at least 15 feet away
when I launch rockets with D motors or smaller, and 30 feet when I launch
larger rockets. If I am uncertain about the safety or stability of an untested
rocket, I will check the stability before flight and will fly it only after warning
spectators and clearing them away to a safe distance.
6. Launcher. I will launch my rocket from a launch rod, tower, or rail that is
pointed to within 30 degrees of the vertical to ensure that the rocket flies
nearly straight up, and I will use a blast deflector to prevent the motor's
exhaust from hitting the ground. To prevent accidental eye injury, I will
place launchers so that the end of the launch rod is above eye level or will
cap the end of the rod when it is not in use.
7. Size. My model rocket will not weigh more than 1,500 grams (53 ounces)
at liftoff and will not contain more than 125 grams (4.4 ounces) of
propellant or 320 N-sec (71.9 pound-seconds) of total impulse. If my model
rocket weighs more than one pound (453 grams) at liftoff or has more than
four ounces (113 grams) of propellant, I will check and comply with
Federal Aviation Administration regulations before flying.
8. Flight Safety. I will not launch my rocket at targets, into clouds, or near
airplanes, and will not put any flammable or explosive payload in my
rocket.
9. Launch Site. I will launch my rocket outdoors, in an open area at least as
large as shown in the accompanying table, and in safe weather conditions
with wind speeds no greater than 20 miles per hour. I will ensure that there
is no dry grass close to the launch pad, and that the launch site does not
present risk of grass fires.
10. Recovery System. I will use a recovery system such as a streamer or
parachute in my rocket so that it returns safely and undamaged and can
be flown again, and I will use only flame-resistant or fireproof recovery
system wadding in my rocket.
11. Recovery Safety. I will not attempt to recover my rocket from power
lines, tall trees, or other dangerous places.
LAUNCH SITE DIMENSIONS
Installed Total Equivalent Motor Minimum Site
Impulse (N-sec) Type Dimensions (ft.)
0.00--1.25 1/4A, 1/2A 50
1.26--2.50 A 100
2.51--5.00 B 200
5.01--10.00 C 400
10.01--20.00 D 500
20.01--40.00 E 1,000
40.01--80.00 F 1,000
80.01--160.00 G 1,000
160.01--320.00 Two Gs 1,500
Revision of February, 2001
Tripoli Safety Code for Advanced Rocketry

Tripoli Safety Code - August 1, 1987

 Tripoli Safety Code for Advanced Rocketry
• 1. ROCKET MOTORS: 1.1 Tripoli members will use commercially
manufactured motors that have met Tripoli's Motor Listing Committee's
requirements for performance and fitness for rocket propulsion, and listed
as such on the Recommended Motor List.
• 1.2 An Advanced Rocket Motor will be electrically ignited as the
manufacturer suggests using ignition materials supplied or approved by the
manufacturer.
• 1.3 Advanced Rocket Motors will not be altered or modified to change their
thrust performance, nor will they be reloaded once spent.
• 1.4 Commercially Manufactured custom designed or new experimental
motors may be used without being listed on the Recommended Motor List
provided the manufacturer supplies proof of satisfactory static tests.

• 2 ADVANCED ROCKET VEHICLES:

• 2.1 Advanced Rockets will be built as light as is reasonable for the intended
purpose of the rocket. The use of metal will not be permitted in the nose
cone, airframe, motor mount, or fins of an Advanced Rocket.
• 2.2 An Advanced Rocket will have a suitable means for providing stabilizing
and restoring forces necessary to maintain a substantially true and
predictable upward flight path.
• 2.3 An Advanced Rocket shall be constructed so as to be capable of more
than one flight. It will be provided with a means of slow and safe descent. If
a rocket is to descend in more than one part, then the parts should conform
to this code requirement.
 Tripoli Safety Code for Advanced Rocketry
• 2.4 Any equipment, devices, or material which relies upon flammable,
smoldering, or otherwise combustible substances, which is not a motor,
shall be designed, built, and implemented, or otherwise used in a manner
which will minimize the possibility to cause a fire after launch.

• 3. LAUNCH PLATFORMS AND IGNITION SYSTEMS:

• 3.1 A launching device, or mechanism, must be used which is sufficiently
rigid and of sufficient length to guarantee that the rocket shall be
independently stable when it leaves the device. This launching device shall
be sufficiently stable on the ground to prevent significant shifts from the
planned launch angle, or the accidental triggering of any first-motion ignition
devices.
• 3.2 The launch pad, or device, shall have a blast deflector sufficient to
prevent damage, or fire hazard, to surrounding equipment, the launch pad,
or the surrounding area.
• 3.3 A launch angle of less than 30 degrees from vertical must be used when
flying Advanced Rockets.
• 3.4 Any and all ignition systems on Advanced Rockets must be remotely
activated electrically.
 Tripoli Safety Code for Advanced Rocketry
• 3.5 The launch of any rocket must be completely under the control of the
person launching it. When flying alone, the individual person is responsible
for range safety, and launch control safety. When flying at a non-Tripoli
sponsored meet it is recommended that a Range Safety Officer (RSO), in
control of the launch range be present. The RSO will turn over control of the
launch, for the duration of the countdown to the designated Launch Control
Officer (LCO) when the launching range is deemed safe to launch. When
flying at a Tripoli sponsored meet, a Tripoli approved RSO must be present
in addition to the LCO.
• 3.6 Minimum requirements for a Tripoli approved RSO are (a) Confirmed
Tripoli membership in good standing, (b) Advanced Rocketry experience
similar or equal to that expected at a particular launch, and (c) Satisfactory
completion of Tripoli's RSO Training Program, or equivalent.
• 3.7 The launch system firing circuit must return to the off position when
released if a mechanical launch system is used or reset if an electronic
launch system is used. A permissive circuit controlled by the RSO at all
times, and capable of releasing the firing circuit is advisable.
• 3.8 Excessive lengths of fuse, or complex pyrotechnic ignition arrangements
should be avoided. The simplest and most direct ignition trains are
encouraged to promote range safety.
• 3.9 Igniters should be installed at the last practical moment, and once
installed, electrical igniter wires should be shorted and/or pyrotechnical
systems mechanically protected to prevent premature ignition from EMI or
heat sources.
 Tripoli Safety Code for Advanced Rocketry
• 3.10 When flat blast plates are used on a launch pad, a stand- off will be
used to keep the nozzles of the motors a minimum distance from the blast
plate of one body diameter.

• 4. FLYING FIELDS AND CONDITIONS:

• 4.1 All launches of Advanced Rocket vehicles must be conducted in
compliance with Federal, State, and Local law.
• 4.2 Rocket flights must be made only when weather conditions permit the
average person to visually observe the entire flight of the rocket from lift-off
to the deployment of it's recovery system. No Advanced Rockets will be
launched when winds exceed 20 miles per hour.
• 4.3 No Advanced Rocket shall contain an explosive warhead, nor will they
be launched at targets on the ground.
• 4.4 An Advanced Rocket flying field must be equipped with an appropriately
rated fire extinguishing device. Each launch pad must have a five gallon
container filled with water within 10 feet of the pad. A well stocked first aid
kit, and a person, or persons, familiar with their use must be present.
• 4.5 Advanced Rockets shall be launched from a clear area, free of any easy
to burn materials, and away from buildings, power lines, tall trees, or flying
aircraft. The flying field must be of sufficient size to permit recovery of a
given rocket within its confines.
 Tripoli Safety Code for Advanced Rocketry
• 4.6 At no time shall recovery of an Advanced Rocket vehicle from
power lines or other dangerous places be attempted. Any rocket that
becomes entangled in a utility line (power, phone, etc.) is a hazard
to the utility line and untrained persons who may be attracted to it.
The owner of the vehicle will make every effort to contact the proper
utility company and have their trained personnel remove it.
• 4.7 No Advanced Rockets shall be hand caught during descent.
• 4.8 All persons in the vicinity of any launches must be advised that a
launching is imminent before a rocket may be ignited and launched.
A minimum five second countdown must be given immediately prior
to ignition and launch of a rocket.
• 4.9 All launch pads will not be located within 1,500 feet of any
permanent structures. A spectator line will be established parallel
with the launch controller's table. No vehicles will be parked within
50 feet of the spectator line. Launch pads for class B motors will be
no less than 150 feet from the spectator line. Launch pads for
motors exceeding J class, or clusters of G, H, and/or I's shall be set
200 feet from the spectator line.
• 4.10 No one will be permitted to sit within the area between the
parked vehicle line and the spectator line, other than the RSO, LCO,
and designated assistant(s) at the launch control table.
 Tripoli Safety Code for Advanced Rocketry

• 4.11 No one will be permitted in the launch area between the LCO table and
the launch pads except vehicle crew for prepping purposes. Crew
photographers or event photographers permitted in the launch area will
maintain a distance of 75 feet from the launch pad.
• 4.12 All rockets to be launched must be presented to the RSO for
inspection, assignment, and logged into the flight record with the LCO. A
copy of the flight records will be sent to Tripoli Headquarters for
documentation purposes.
 National Fire Safety Protection Association

• Developed and adopted ANSI/NFPA 1122 Code for Model Rocketry setting
standards for the safety of the activity of model rocketry. To purchase a copy
of NFPA 1122 write or call:
• NFPA
One Batterymarch Park
Quincy, MA 02269
1-800-344-3555
In addition, many states have adopted their own model rocketry laws and
regulations.
 Safety & Security
• We have provided files for you to read off line
– Model Rocketry Safety Codes
• Estes Industries
• National Association of Rocketry (NAR)
– Tripoli Safety Code (High Power Rockets)
– NAR Range Safety Officer Training
– Safety Laws (Federal & State)
– Federal Aviation Agency Federal Aviation Regulations, Part 101
– National Fire Safety Protection Association
– Range Safety Real Estate (Use only this information!)
– Security (Homeland Security)
– It Should Be Obvious
• Note also that closely related material is found in the Rocket Day
Organization file
• Key things to remember
– Notify the FAA at least 24 hours in advance of launching
– Rehearsal is the key to safe flight operations
 Homeland Security Act and Model Rocketry

The Homeland Security Act includes the "Safe Explosives Act" which has
placed even more responsibility on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms in an effort to keep explosives out of the hands of terrorists. As
would be expected there are now more explosives regulations. However,
some of the information that has been provided to and reported by the media
has several issues confused. Visit
http://www.atf.treas.gov/explarson/safexpact/modelrockets.htm to obtain
accurate information with regard to the ATF and model rocketry. UPS, FedEx
and other carriers continue to carry model rocket engines (model rocket
motors that contain no more than 62.5 grams of propellant per device) that
are properly packaged, marked, labeled and documented in accordance with
the regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (49 CFR). The same
is true with regard to the United States Postal Service for Toy Propellant
Devices (Model Rocket Motors and Igniters that are pre-approved for mailing
by the USPS) that contain no more than 30 grams of propellant per device.
 It Should Be Obvious, But

• The experience-based rules are

– Everyone should stand at least (15 feet for Motors “D” size, or smaller)
or (30 feet for Motors “E” size or larger) away from the launcher before
starting the countdown
– Don’t pick up a freshly fired rocket motor…they’re very hot, and they will
burn you. Remember they can burn other things also
– Don’t ignite a rocket while holding it in your hand…the fumes are very
stinky, and if you drop it, Heaven knows where it’ll go
– If your rocket comes down in power lines, tall buildings, etc. and
becomes tangled there, buy a new one
– Never launch your rocket toward a low blue-black cloud…lightning could
follow the exhaust plume back down to the launch rail, and hence to the
poor dumb sod who just pushed the button
– Never attempt to reload a model rocket motor!
Field Size Needed
 Field Size Needed
Motor Type Total Impulse, Max. Altitude, Min. Field Max. Field
Code Newton-sec meters Size, meters Size, meters
¼A 0 – 0.625 <75 15 <75
½A 0.625 – 1.25 <120 15 <120
A 1.25 – 2.50 <250 30 <250
B 2.51 – 5.00 <400 60 <400
C 5.01 – 10.00 <600 120 <600
D 10.01 – 20.00 <700 150 <700
E 20.01 – 40.00 <800 300 <800
F 40.01 – 80.00 <1000 300 <1000

• Min Field Size is the Estes recommendation (nominal case)

• Max Field size is the greatest distance the rocket could fly (worst case)
 Field Size Depends on Apogee

Minimum Field Width, d

350
300
Aim Point

Field Width (d), m

250 90% Capture
80% Capture
200
70% Capture
d 150
60% Capture
100 50% Capture
50
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Apogee Altitude, m
d
• Considerations are safety & ease of recovery
• Field width needed is proportional to apogee altitude
• Higher capture (impact in the green area) probability implies bigger
field
• Apogee is predicted for each Estes kit, or can be estimated knowing
motor type
Model Rocket Competitions
 Altitude Competition
• No, this isn’t about seeing whose rocket can go higher
• Bigger rocket motors (brute force) will always dominate this kind of
competition
• But, one can define a variation on this: It’s a class competition in
which all competitors build from a common kit design, and compete
for the highest apogee altitude
• Significant factors will be
• Surface finish (drag)
• Best rocket weight
• Most nearly vertical trajectory
• Coming closest to predicted apogee altitude is a favorite competition
• Metric used is (predicted apogee – measured apogee)
Error =
predicted apogee
• Careful testing and adjustment is the most significant factor
• For more ideas, see “Model Rocket Contest Guide” by Robert L.
Cannon, Estes Catalog No. 2815
 Team America Rocketry Challenge
The Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) is the world’s largest model
rocket contest. This national model rocket competition is for U.S. middle and
high school students. It is sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association
(AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) in partnership with
NASA, the Department of Defense, the 39 AIA member companies and the
American Association of Physics Teachers.

The 2008 Challenge was to design, build and fly a model rocket carrying two
raw eggs and return them safely to the ground while staying aloft for exactly 45
seconds and reaching an altitude of exactly 228 meters.

National finals were held at Great Meadow, The Plains, VA in May 2008. The
winner was a team of 10 students from Enloe High School, Raleigh, NC

If a team's score is one of the 100 best, they were invited to compete for a
share of the $60,000 prize package that includes cash, savings bonds,
scholarships and other special prizes at the 2008 National Finals.
For more information and an application, visit www.rocketcontest.org.

To find an NAR club in your area and for information about the
NAR, visit www.nar.org.
 Wind Compensation to Maximize Apogee Altitude

• It’s well known that boosting rockets head into the

wind Altitude
– Were nothing done about this, the results would
be reduced apogee altitude and greater apogee Wind
sensitivity to winds
• Targeting rockets to place apogee more closely above
their launcher causes the trajectory to behave more Flight
like a no-wind, 90otrajectory Path
– Apogee altitude is maximized
– Apogee altitude sensitivity to errors in elevation
angle and wind speed are minimized Launcher
• Accomplished in three steps
Range
– Measure the wind speed and direction…using a
hand-held anemometer and a flag
– Compute elevation angle to maximize apogee
– Adjust launcher azimuth and elevation
angles…launcher rail should be pointed downwind
by an amount found from the next chart

Wind compensation provides a competitive edge

 Wind Compensation
• Use trajectory simulation (Rocksim) to generate the elevation angle that
maximizes the apogee altitude
– Maximum apogee does not occur directly above the launcher
– Modest dependence of the choice of rocket motor

Wind Compensation for Maximum Apogee

Altitude for Estes TR-11

16
Launcher and Vertical,

14
Angle between

12
10
B-4
deg

8
C-6
6
4
2
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Measured Wind Speed, ft/sec

Use this data with measured wind speed to

estimate the desired launcher elevation angle
An Introduction to the Mathematics of Rocket
Flight
 Trajectory Analysis is Complicated
• First, mathematical analysis of rocket flight is complex
– True of model rockets
– Even more true of large rockets used to launch satellites
– Accurate results can only be obtained if computer and a trajectory
simulation are used
– RockSim™ by Apogee Components is an example of a popular,
commercially available model rocket trajectory simulation
• Reasons include
– Many rocket flights have a complex sequence of many Phases and
Events
– Dynamic equations, in general, cannot be solved other than numerically
• Simplified examples, however, promote understanding, and are described in
the following slides
– Galilean parabola
– Tsiolkovskii D V equation
– Basis of both are the physical laws discovered by Isaac Newton (who,
BTW, also invented the artificial earth satellite)
 The Galilean Parabola
• By rolling a small sphere down an inclined board covered with flour, Galileo
Galilei (1564-1642) discovered that the sphere’s trajectory was always a
parabola
• The reason why awaited Isaac Newton’s (1642-1727) discoveries of the
laws of gravitation and motion
• For a particle moving in a constant gravitational field subject to no forces
other than gravity
Vertical displacement = Ho + Vo sin(g) t – ½ g t2,
Horizontal displacement = Ro + Vo cos(g) t,
Vertical velocity = Vo sin(g) – g t,
Horizontal velocity = Vo cos(g),
Apogee time = Vo sin(g) / g, and
Impact time = Vo sin(g) / g + √(Vo sin(g) / g)2 + 2 Ho / g
• Here, Ho and Ro are the initial altitude and range, Vo is the initial velocity
magnitude, g is the initial angle between the velocity and the horizontal
direction, g is the acceleration due to gravity and t is time.
 Critique of the Galilean Parabola

• The Galilean parabola was derived by integrating Newton’s First & Second
Laws of Motion for constant gravity
• If gravity were not constant, instead of a parabola, the result would be an
ellipse if the particle were on orbit, or a hyperbola if the particle were on a
trajectory that escaped from the earth. That part of an ellipse near apogee
is approximated well by a parabola
• Apogee is defined as that point where the altitude is a maximum (vertical
velocity = 0)
• In spite of what you might think watching a model rocket fly, the Galilean
parabola is a very poor description of a model rocket trajectory
• The reason is aerodynamic drag has a huge influence on model rocket
trajectories. That’s why a computer trajectory simulation is needed for
accurate work.
 Tsiolkovskii’s Delta V Formula
• Tsiolkovskii’s formula describes the impact of a thrust force
– Here, the thrust force is the reaction force acting on a rocket due to the
escape of a pressurized gas in the opposite direction (Newton’s Third
Law)
– Tsiolkovkii’s insight was to realize that thrust was inevitably
accompanied by a loss of rocket mass
• The relative exit velocity c can take alternative forms
c = Isp g,
where g is the acceleration due to gravity, and Isp is the rocket specific
impulse
• Tsiolkovskii’s Delta V (DV) formula is
DV = Isp g loge(Mo / Mf) – (g sin(g) tb),
where Mo and Mf are the initial and final masses of the rocket, tb is the
burn time, and DV is the velocity increase due to thrust.
– The term (Mo / Mf) is called the “mass ratio” and is of great importance
• The term in parentheses only applies to rockets leaving the earth (or any
other planetary body). For a burn on orbit, gravity is balanced by centripetal
acceleration with the consequence that this term vanishes.
 Critique of Tsiolkovskii’s Delta V Formula
• First, the function loge(x) is called the natural logarithm of x . It’s related to
common logarithm, log10(x) through the formula
2.302585… loge(x) = log10(x)
• Again, Tsiolkovskii’s Delta V formula is not very accurate for model rockets
because it does not reflect aerodynamic drag
• Tsiolkovskii’s second great insight was to note that it would be possible to
build multi-stage rockets
– That is, the total DV is the sum of the DVs of the individual stages
– The second stage starts out with DV1 from stage 1 andf then adds its
own contribution to get DV1 + DV2 for the stack
• The multistage formula can be used to estimate the optimal stage masses
to meet a payload mass & mission DV requirements with the smallest (and
cheapest) liftoff mass
– It’s often much less risky to use several stages of routine design rather
than fewer stages with higher technology
– For example, it’s possible to build a single stage booster to launch a
satellite to low earth orbit. But, it’s less risky and expensive to use a two
stage design for this mission.
Other Resources
 Other Resources

Books
1. “50 Model Rocket Projects for the Evil Genius”, by Gavin D.J. Harper. Fun
projects for students.
2. “Handbook of Model Rocketry, 7th Ed.”, by G. Harry Stine, Walthers
Publications. For many years, the bible of model rocketry, but now
somewhat dated.
3. Rocket Science Books, P.O.Box 1401, So. Lake Tahoe, CA 96158,
rocketscience@att.net. Technical books, reports, patents, etc. for the
amateur interested in serious technology

Manufacturers
4. Estes Industries, Inc.,1295 H Street, P.O. Box227, Penrose, CO 81240-
0227. www.estesrockets,com, The largest manufacturer of model rockets.
Also have a significant educational program.
5. Quest Aerospace, Inc., P.O.Box 2409, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147-2409,
www.questaerospace.com. Specialized rocket motors, kit and educational
literature
6. FlisKits, Inc., 6 Jennifer Drive, Merrimack, NH 03054, www.fliskits.com,
jflis@fliskits.com. Hobby rocket manufacturer
 Other Resources

7. AeroTech, 2113 W.850N. St., Cedar City, UT 84720 specialized rocket

motors & high power rockets
8. LOC/Precision, P.O. Box 470395, Broadview Heights, OH 44147,
(330)745-9755. Mainly high power rockets
9. Apogee Components, Inc.,3355 Fillmore Ridge Hts., Colorado Springs,
CO 80907-9024, www.apogeerockets.com. Trajectory simulation
software, rocket kits, how-to-books. Good stuff for the serious amateur
10. Aerorocket, www.aerorocket.com, Truly nifty advanced software covering
many topics from aerodynamics to interstellar trajectories.

Organizations
11. National Association of Rocketry, P.O. Box 407, Marion, IA 52302 (800)
262-4872. The premier amateur rocketry organization. Note that
membership dues fund liability insurance
12. Tripoli Rocketry Association, P.O. Box 87, Bellevue, NE 68005-0087.
The other major amateur rocketry organization, focused on high power
rocketry. They also provide liability insurance to their members
 Other Resources

Educational Materials
13. The eMINTS National Center. www.emints.org, Go to Science: Rockets
│ eThemes │ eMINTs for lots & lots of good stuff, lesson plans, etc., for
the K-12 science teacher
14. Estes Educator, www.esteseducator.com. Select content/curriculums,
and find lots of lesson plans & background material. Part of Estes
Industries, Inc. See 4. above.
15. Besnard, E., “Rockets 101”, http://www.csulb.edu/~besnarde/Rocket-101/
This is the presentation material used by Prof. Besnard for a “Rocket
Day” in Orange County, CA in 2008.
16. http://passporttoknowledge.com/scic/forceandmotion/educators/
Educational material