5 minute rocket

So one Sunday morning an engineering friend of mine was going to launch his rocket-camera however he decided not to. In light of the situation (beautiful weather and a feeling of rocket-fever) I decided to quickly build a rocket to launch.



Components:

- 1 high density cardboard tube (roughly 2.5cm in diameter)
- 1 standard plastic nosecone (taken from a previous rocket kit)
- 1 Estes D12-3 engine
- some balsa wood
- some glue
- some electrical tape
- an old battery

Note: for all of you that are not familiar with rocket engine classifications, D is the most powerful engine you are legally allowed to purchase.

If you are still interested I have written a full rocket engine classification report. Refresh yourself or learn for the first time just how rocket engines work and what all the letters and numbers mean in their classifications.

Check it out here: Rocket Engine Report

back to the project! So with these materials I literally built the rocket in 5 minutes flat (excluding time for the glue to dry).

Here's how:

1. Engine fit perfectly into cardboard tube (snug fit).

2. Punch a toothpick through the cardboard tube just above the end of the engine to keep the engine in place (instead of shooting up through the tube during launch).

3. Tape old battery into the inside of the nosecone (its hollow) to add weight to the front of the rocket. This is for stability reasons, you can read my full report on this here:

CG and CP in Rocket Stability

4. Nosecone fit perfectly into cardboard tube (snug fit).

5. Tape around the nosecone to secure it to cardboard tube (use electrical tape).

6. Cut out some(4) fins (larger is better for stability reasons, but within reason) out of balsa wood, trying to keep them the same shape and size.

7. Glue the fins onto the bottom of the rocket.


Now just wait for the glue to dry and you have a perfect 5-minute rocket!



Come launch time I decided to quickly spray paint the whole thing bright red (for visibility purposes). We launched this rocket a total of 3 times before we lost it and each launch it went several hundred meters straight up, it also ended up coming down hard because of the lack of a parachute. The first two launches we launched it straight up and you can see a video of the first launch here:

Rocket Launch #1

For the third (and last) launch we decided to angle the rocket at roughly 45 degrees to maximize the distance traveled. The rocket ended up flying across two large fields and into a construction zone. Bye bye rocket.


For anyone bored enough on a Sunday morning and in possession of the above materials I strongly suggest trying to build this 5 minute rocket and trying it out for yourselves! You wont be disappointed in terms of performance.