Michael's Craft Stores are promoting, in conjunction with Estes Industries, a "Space Exploration Rocket Days". This event, held at Michael's stores throughout the country from April 17, 2004 through May 1st, 2004, will provide Scouts the opportunity to complete Requirement 3 of the Space Exploration merit badge except for the two rocket launches. Estes Industries will provide a model rocket to be built to each Boy Scout registering for the event. Michael's will provide an opportunity for scouts to build their rocket at the store. Scoutmasters can bring troop members to participate and a certificate will be presented, upon completion of building the rocket, and the certificate can be presented to the merit badge counselor.

This is a Boy Scout event and does require registration prior to participation. REGISTER NOW! Call or visit your local Michael's store between January 2 and March 5, 2004 to register your troop.

To find the nearest Michael's store, call 800-642-4235 or visit www.michaels.com

Note: Registration doesn't start until January 2nd, despite the "Register Now" in the advertisement. If you know a scoutmaster or scout, pass the word along. As for the requirement of launching the rockets they build, contact your local rocket club, easily located at the National Association of Rocketry.

Posted by: Ted at 06:50 AM | category: Rocketry
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For some reason, rocketeers like to add the words 'of death' to the description of unconventional designs. The first time I'd heard this, I was admiring a huge fiberglass pyramid that was being prepared for launch. When I asked what it was, the owner proudly informed me that it was the Flying Pyramid of Death.

It's like an unwritten rule or something.

I've seen the Flying Tetrahedron of Death, the Flying Traffic Barrel of Death (including flashing traffic warning light), and the Flying Port-o-potty of Death (aka Our Stinkin' Rocket). But people soon enough branched out into things 'of Doom' and 'of Destruction'.

And of course, anything can inspire a rocketeer. For instance, the Vatsaas Brothers built and flew The Happy Birthday Party Napkin Rocket of the Apocolypse. The source for that should be self-explanitory. Well, except for the 'Apocolypse' part, but we already covered that.

You should visit their site and admire what can be wrought of insane genius.

Posted by: Ted at 06:48 AM | category: Rocketry
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After a windy and rainy week, the weatherman was predicting a beautiful weekend. Except for being a little colder than expected, it was absolutely gorgeous.

Even the traffic cooperated, and I made it to the launch site in record time. I'd planned to show up early to help set up the flying range anyway. About 15 minutes after I got there, the equipment trailer arrived and we got to work.

More help arrived and soon we had things ready to go. We had 7 low-power pads for Estes-sized stuff, a pair of pads slightly farther away for mid-power, and four high-power pads set up out away from the crowd.

We had a great crowd for this launch. There were several Team America teams from various schools, testing prototype egg-lofters. I've talked about them before, do a search of this site on 'Team America' for more info. I helped one group out who had never before flown a rocket. They showed up with a basic rocket, and I walked them through the prep and check-in after which they made a successful flight. They're going to do fine, they asked a lot of questions and spent the day watching people set up and fly more complex rockets. We also had a group of Boy Scouts. Lots and lots of kids, which is great.

There was also a reporter from the Wall Street Journal there, researching an article on recent government regulations and overreaction against various activities. I don't know when the article will appear or if he'll even mention it, but he got the whole story of the Air Munuviana and watched her with us.

First up for me was my original high-power rocket, an upscale of the old Centuri Groove Tube. I flew her on an H128 White Lightning motor for a perfect crowd-pleasing flight. Because the wind was so light, I put a 45" parachute on her and she managed to drift about a mile. I had to cross an icy-cold running spillway to get to the field she was in, and got glared at by some hunters in the treelines. On the way back, I hiked past a small pond and saw a beautiful swan floating there peaceful as could be. I took a couple of pictures with my crappy digital camera, but they don't do it justice.

That motor was my last solid-propellant high-power motor, and I needed to burn the rest of my stock before the first of the year, thanks to the BATFE and their ever-changing interpretation of the rules and regulations. (This paragraph brought to you by the 'hyphen'. Yay!)

Time for the Air Munuviana! Because of the complexity of this rocket, I have a checklist that I follow during the prep work, and I did do a couple of practice runs at home too. The nice thing about the checklist is that I can see exactly where I stopped if I get interupted, and with the number of folks at the launch, I got interupted often by people asking questions.

Oh yeah, the kids dubbed her the "Cow Rocket" and she drew great attention and lots of 'wows' even before flight.

I put together the hybrid motor (my first ever without assistance) and she was ready to fly. We took her out to the pad and pictures were taken. A minor problem with the nitrous venting was corrected and the countdown began.

Beauty! She took off straight as an arrow, coasted for a good while, and just after arching over at apogee the chute ejected perfectly and she floated down to a perfect landing about 200' from the pads.

That was so much fun, let's do it again! I hustled back to the truck and started to get Air Mu ready for another flight. That first one was on an H70, and I'd just gotten a new I80, which is twice as powerful and burns twice as long. Quick cleanup of the engine casing from the first flight, disassemble the electronics and reset everything for the next flight, put together the new motor and we're on our way out to the pads again. Once again shouts of "Cow Rocket!" are heard.

Everything goes smoothly this time with the nitrous fill and venting, but at ignition something goes wrong. The rocket is undamaged, and in fact it never left the pad. Back to the truck we go, amid many awwws and even a moooo or two.

Taking apart the motor showed us what happened. The pressure of the filling nitrous pushed the pre-heater grain down too far and when it ignited the nitrous just dumped out the nozzle instead of combusting with the fuel grain. Very rare, but not unheard of.

I didn't have enough time to try for another flight, since we had plans. So for the day, Air Munuviana successfully made her maiden flight, and managed to not kill anyone with an accident on the pad (to any government agents reading this, that is a joke. see Websters.).

Next scheduled launch is December 13th, depending on weather.

Now for the pictures. Remember I mentioned 'crappy digital camera'? I didn't get a liftoff shot of the Air Munuviana. Several other people were also taking pictures, so if anyone sends me some good ones, I'll post them. What I did post in the extended entry are three shots. more...

Posted by: Ted at 08:57 AM | category: Rocketry
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1 Cool! Let us know if the WSJ article mentions you!

Posted by: Susie at November 16, 2003 09:52 AM (0+cMc)

2 "Cow Rocket!" Fabulous!

Ted, I hope you got my note before you left for the field. You have no idea how disappointed I was to not make it to the launch.

Posted by: Victor at November 16, 2003 10:14 AM (16A49)

3 Moo-velous!!!

This is so cool...

Posted by: Stevie at November 16, 2003 12:05 PM (0uVot)

4 Woo hoo! Too bad about the second flight, though. BTW, do you know what altitude Air Munuviana probably reached? How high might Cow Rocket have gone on that second flight?

Posted by: Tuning Spork at November 16, 2003 04:48 PM (4T4Zw)

5 That is so neat.

Posted by: LeeAnn at November 16, 2003 05:59 PM (HxCeX)

6 That's one small step for man, and a giant leap for Munu-ind.

Great work.

Posted by: Simon at November 16, 2003 11:57 PM (GWTmv)

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Air Munuviana makes her maiden flight. I've got fresh batteries for the digital camera, so pictures will be posted tonight or tomorrow.

Update: Perfection! Details (and some pictures) tomorrow.

Posted by: Ted at 06:31 AM | category: Rocketry
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Tonight on the Discovery Channel, beginning at 8pm Eastern Time, three episodes of Rocket Challenge will air. Each episode is one hour long, and after they show, the entire block will repeat. Show times are:

8pm and 11pm - Wild and Wierd Rockets
9pm and midnight - How High Can You Fly?
10pm and 1am - Supersonic Speed Demons

See here for their complete broadcast schedule for November.

Posted by: Ted at 09:08 AM | category: Rocketry
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If you don't know what this is all about, look here for links to previous posts.

The rocket is fully dressed and ready to fly. In the extended entry are photos of the decals and paint job. They're not great photos, but you'll get the idea. There are eight of them, but sized rather small to help the bandwidth.

Maiden flight is next saturday, the 15th of November, at The Plains, Virginia. more...

Posted by: Ted at 02:13 PM | category: Rocketry
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1 Awesome!!! Love the cow-fins!

Posted by: Tuning Spork at November 08, 2003 05:02 PM (9ttrm)

2 How nifty is that?

Posted by: LeeAnn at November 08, 2003 05:25 PM (HxCeX)

3 Too cool! So when is it supposed to start sendin' pictures back from Pluto?

Posted by: Tiger at November 08, 2003 08:49 PM (6QDjI)

4 Aw, man, you are too cool...
I saw the POW flag, then I saw this other decal...
The first thing I noticed was Stevie Ray's hat...I was tryin' to figure out the rest of it..and...DAMN! A whole 'nother decal just for Mr. Vaughan.

Ted, you are da man!

Thank you so much for both decals...and those fins are way cool, too...

(When I first clicked onto here, I was thinkin' to myself that I need to ship you cookies along with the hat, for takin' so long. Now that I've seen this, I'll be shipping a coupla varieties along with the hat....all homemade, though. Hmmm...can you mail a spice cake? With cream cheese frosting?)

Posted by: Stevie at November 08, 2003 10:30 PM (nbNVc)

5 Ted, the only one I didn't see was yours: your mu.nu meatball. It's fabulous, otherwise

Time to put up the Sharks logo. What a crappy game.

Posted by: Victor at November 08, 2003 11:06 PM (16A49)

6 Wow! What a lot of work! I'm honored to be represented on your rocket. Thanks, Ted!

Posted by: Susie at November 09, 2003 01:13 AM (0+cMc)

7 Absolutely gorgeous!

Posted by: Jennifer at November 09, 2003 05:46 AM (peLv7)

8 Woohoo!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at November 09, 2003 07:10 AM (jtW2s)

9 I see the meatball now (must've been blinded by tears and exhaustion)...but is it the mu.nu meaball or the nasa meatball? I can't quite tell thru the flash glare...?

Posted by: Victor at November 09, 2003 10:45 AM (16A49)

10 Above the names is the MuNu meatball, NASA's inferior version is in line with the 'space and rocket' logos, but not in any picture.

Posted by: Ted at November 09, 2003 11:49 AM (2sKfR)

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For rockets of the size that I fly, most of my final painting is done with cans of spray paint. For the real big rockets, people either use automotive paint guns or take the rocket to a local auto-paint shop. Sometimes you can make a deal where they'll paint your rocket for a reduced price if they can use up leftover paint from another job.

The most interesting finish I've ever seen on a big rocket didn't use paint at all. One guy laminated uncut sheets of US one dollar bills (info available here on how to get them) onto his rocket. I remember it took just over one hundred bills to cover the entire airframe, and he said it was actually a bit cheaper than taking it into the shop for a professional paint job.

Posted by: Ted at 09:29 PM | category: Rocketry
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Yesterday I ranted about the BATFE and their latest attempt to expand their power. Publicola left a comment to that post that is so dead-on accurate that I wanted to make sure you had a chance to read it. It's fairly long, but worth the time it takes to read through.

In it, he wrote this, which is the best summary of the BATFE I've ever seen:
"Publicity is BIG for them. More press, more congressional attention = bigger budget. That's what it's all about."

Exactly. The BATFE will do anything to keep the control they have and to grow their empire, including issuing official letters and reports to sympathetic congressmen that are full of factual errors, misrepresentations and deliberate lies. They also like to hold press conferences to announce sensationalized events that always turn out to be less than meets the eye. The BATFE has gone so far as to assign agents as part of the staffs of certain cooperative members of congress.

This is the same goverment bureau that originally required fingerprinting of Cub Scouts before being allowed to launch model rockets as part of (long-established) Scouting programs. When the complaints began flooding in, they allowed the smallest possible exception, which helped Scouts but left educational institutions out in the cold.

This is the bureau that managed to wreck quite a few Fourth of July fireworks displays last year by requiring complete background investigations on everyone in contact with 'explosives'. That meant that every warehouse worker, truck driver and railroad employee needed that check. Predictably, the universal reaction was "we won't carry those items". By the time the rule was rescinded, it was too late for many towns.

This bureau has already started to clamp down on all those potential terrorists who use RC cars, planes and boats. Their plan is to require licensing for all users of radio-controlled toys.

If you click on the Rocketry category link at the bottom of this post, you'll see my other articles about the BATFE and their efforts to protect us all from ourselves.

It's not just rockets or RC or even guns. This is an organization out of control, and Homeland Security has given them a smokescreen and excuse that they are using to grab even more power.

By the way, if you like reasoned argument and debate about the 2nd Amendment, you really should visit Publicola. He cites sources and research throughout his work, and he writes well.

Posted by: Ted at 06:59 AM | category: Rocketry
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This site (click this link) has just been put up thanks to the volunteer efforts of rocketeers across the US. It will be referred to during the commercial breaks of The Great Rocketry Challenge scheduled to air beginning November 9th on the Discovery Channel.

Lots of great information there.

Posted by: Ted at 05:32 AM | category: Rocketry
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1 There was something on the discovery channel about rockets the other night dad. We were flipping through the channels as we were giong to bed. Just thought that I would mention it.

Posted by: Robyn at November 06, 2003 10:54 AM (gWcjd)

2

Posted by: Ted at November 06, 2003 11:11 AM (Qj620)

3 The Rocket Challenge series is outSTANDING coverage that shows what a exciting hobby rocketry is for people of all ages, how it inspires creativity, technical prowess and craftsmanship. It’s also a lot of fun!

here is the re-air schedule

[ Times shown are EST ]

--- Thursday/Friday, Nov 13/14 2003 ---
08:00 PM Wild and Weird Rockets
09:00 PM How High Can You Fly?
10:00 PM Supersonic Speed Demons
11:00 PM Wild and Weird Rockets
12:00 AM How High Can You Fly?
01:00 AM Supersonic Speed Demons

--- Saturday, Nov 15 2003 ---
12:00 PM Wild and Weird Rockets
01:00 PM How High Can You Fly?
02:00 PM Supersonic Speed Demons

--- Saturday, Nov 22 2003 ---
05:00 PM Wild and Weird Rockets
06:00 PM How High Can You Fly?
07:00 PM Supersonic Speed Demons


and here are the blurbs from TDC

Wild and Weird Rockets

The largest amateur rocket competition blasts off in Kansas -- with a chance to break world records and put some of the most unusual rockets into the atmosphere. Can the Aurora hit Mach 2? And can an outhouse really fly?

How High Can You Fly?

The highest bowling ball wins! Rocketeers launch rockets with 16-pound bowling balls in a heavyweight altitude challenge. And which team will win from the ground up as teams race to build and launch an 8 ft rocket from scratch in just a matter of hours.

Supersonic Speed Demons

Speed is the challenge, as rocketeers compete to build and fly the fastest home built rocket at speeds over 1300 miles per hour. And viewers will see who can launch a rocket with the most precision in a target based, high-stress competition.

[ source: The Discovery Channel Online at http://dsc.discovery.com/schedule/series.jsp?series=24306&gid=11495 ]

- iz

Posted by: Ismaeel Abdur-Rasheed at November 10, 2003 11:05 PM (tfP3d)

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November 4, 2003 - The ATFE and its contractor, Applied Research Associates, have been purchasing high power rocket motors, rocket kits, launch rails, electrical launchers and other items to conduct tests at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. The purpose of the tests is to provide proof that high power rockets can be used to shoot down commercial aircraft during landings and takeoffs. The tests will be documented by videotape. It is expected that the video tape will be
released during a press conference for maximum media exposure.

The ATFE plans were first discovered by a high power rocket vendor who recognized the name of ATFE agent, David Shatzer, as he purchased launch rail equipment. Mr. Shatzer has been traveling across the country purchasing other high power rocket supplies using the cover story that he is a high power rocket hobbyist. He changes the story with respect to who he will be flying with depending on his geographical location. Applied Research Associates has purchased at least 40 J350 rocket motors and large numbers of rocket kits from
different suppliers.

It was reported to ARSA that Applied Research Associates employees along with ATFE agents were to conduct tests yesterday at Hill Air Force Base using a target drone to simulate a commercial aircraft. The high power rockets were to be launched out of a parked van. The rockets were going to be launched one at a time at the drone as well as several at a time. The rockets did not contain explosive warheads. It is not known whether the drone was rigged to simulate an explosion as a high power rocket passed by.

The information in this story was made available to Senator Mike Enzi's staff. It is not know at this time, what action, if any, Senator Enzi plans to take. Watch for further updates on this story as it develops.

Thanks to Izzy of Rocket Forge for posting the article to the Rec.Models.Rockets (RMR) newsgroup.

First of all, some questions immediately come to mind:

1. Does Agent Shatzer posses a LEUP (Low Explosives User Permit)? We are required to in order to purchase these motors. In other words, it's already regulated.

2. Is Agent Shatzer posses at least a Level 2 certification from the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) or Tripoli? We are required to in order to purchase these motors. In other words, it's already regulated.

3. Is Agent Shatzer storing his motors in a BATFE-approved magazine? Getting approval for his magazine shouldn't be hard since he is a BATFE agent, but the magazine requirements are not simple to comply with. Again, it's already regulated.

Someone brought up a good point - the BATFE doesn't have to videotape anything but a van driving up, opening the doors and launching a rocket from the back. That alone will be sufficient to scare enough idiots Senators and Representatives that they will get their way.

And what exactly is it that they want to do? They want to eliminate hobby rocketry. Not because it will make anyone safer, nor will it stop a single terrorist action, because there are easier and more effective ways to shoot down airplanes. In fact, using one of our unguided rockets is a pretty damned silly method with virtually no chance of success.

But they could point to this and crow that they're protecting Americans.

Here's a nice quote from C. Stewart on RMR:
The actual point of the silly cloak-and-dagger routine is that the BATF wants to be able to shout loudly that "Terrorists can easily get model rockets!" while showing vids of this character doing just that... wait till they trot out those vids at the scarefest... er... "press conference".

Update: David W. states in RMR: The cert requirement is only in NFPA 1127, which at this time is not very widely adopted, as far as I know. And J350 reloads currently require neither an LEUP nor storage, althought how that gets interpreted and/or enforced depends on which agent you talk to.

So the only people who are being required at this time to follow the more stringent proposed regulations are hobby rocketry enthusiasts. I hate these bastards with a passion.

Posted by: Ted at 04:45 AM | category: Rocketry
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On November 29, in Toano, Virginia. That's between Richmond and Norfolk on I-64. This is the first launch at this field as they've just gotten permission to fly there. FAA waiver to 8000 feet. Directions can be found here, and as always spectators are welcome.

Posted by: Ted at 08:20 AM | category: Rocketry
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Starting November 9th, the Discovery Channel will be airing three episodes of Rocket Challenge, titled Wild and Weird Rockets, How High Can You Fly, and Supersonic Speed Demons.

You can find the times and dates of the programs here.

Thanks to RocketForge for the pointer.

Posted by: Ted at 10:23 AM | category: Rocketry
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That would be me.

This weekend's rocket launch, BattlePark 2003, in Culpeper, Virginia has been cancelled. The heavy rains of the last week prevented the farmer from getting his crops in on time, so we cannot use the field.

No word on when or if there will be a rain date.

Posted by: Ted at 04:08 AM | category: Rocketry
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1 Do you live in Virginia? If so, where?

I'm in Richmond, btw. Love the state...it's close to everything.

Posted by: Jon Henke at October 30, 2003 12:50 PM (EHefn)

2 Yep. North of Fredricksburg, south of Alexandria. If you know where Potomac Mills is, right in that area.

Posted by: Ted at October 30, 2003 01:47 PM (bov8n)

3 Nooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

Whatever will become of Air Munuvia??

Posted by: Jennifer at October 30, 2003 01:50 PM (SF76t)

4 I'm sry dad. I know you love going to culpepper.

Posted by: Robyn at October 30, 2003 02:21 PM (gWcjd)

5 Man, that's disappointing. That was about the only weekend I could take to watch the launch, too.

Posted by: Victor at October 30, 2003 03:24 PM (L3qPK)

6 My local club has a launch on November 15th. It's a little closer, but right now I don't have a firm commitment on the ground support equipment needed for hybrid motors (I don't have my own yet). If the gear is there, then Air Munuviana will fly then, if not, then plan B is 'next chance I get'. There's another BattlePark in the spring.

This happens sometimes. It's a major PITA for folks making travel plans and taking time off from work, not to mention the financial hit the local hobby shops take from not being on-site all weekend. But it *is* just a hobby, and those crops are the farmer's living. We're disappointed, but our priorities are straight.

Posted by: Ted at October 30, 2003 04:35 PM (bov8n)

7 Sorry to hear that.

Posted by: tasberry at October 30, 2003 08:12 PM (gBoCZ)

8 well, i reckon i'll have to ride my motorcycle elsewhere. probably head up goshen way if it's nice.

Posted by: chris hall at October 30, 2003 10:14 PM (zH1Gw)

9 Drat. Now I have no excuse to not clean up the yard this weekend.
But seriously, Ted, I'm sorry for you guys. Good for you for having such a good attitude about it, though.

Posted by: nic at October 30, 2003 10:19 PM (16A49)

10 "Yep. North of Fredricksburg, south of Alexandria. If you know where Potomac Mills is, right in that area."


- - -I'm not familiar with Potomac Mills, but I know where Fredricksburg and Alexandria are. My in-laws live in Bowling Green, south of there.

Well, if there's ever a launch in the Richmond area, let me know. I'd like to watch.

Posted by: Jon Henke at October 31, 2003 12:08 PM (EHefn)

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Reposted from early September.

The fall BattlePark 2003 Rocket Launch is scheduled for the weekend of November 1-2. Located in Culpeper, Virginia, this is one of the premier events in the east, with rocketeers attending from all over the eastern U.S. and Canada. I'll be there both days, and Mookie usually makes at least one if not both. This launch features some of the most interesting projects and flights around. As usual, spectators are free, kids fly their rockets for free, and you'll never meet a friendlier group of people. Come on out, walk around, talk to folks, ask questions, and be prepared to say 'wow'. Oh yeah, they've already obtained an FAA waiver for flights to 15,000 feet.

You are invited and welcome. Contact me if you have any questions.

Victor and Nic, are you going to be able to make it? How about you Don, any interest?

Posted by: Ted at 10:53 PM | category: Rocketry
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1 I want to attend. :-(

Posted by: Jennifer at October 28, 2003 01:14 AM (yz7Vb)

2 Wish I could be there! Is this where you're going to launch the Munuvian Express? Take pictures!!!

Posted by: Tuning Spork at October 28, 2003 01:32 AM (rD3Rp)

3 Plenty of pictures. I just got confirmation too on a new motor I ordered, double the power of the original I have.

Posted by: Ted at October 28, 2003 01:55 AM (2sKfR)

4 I'm going to try--no promises, tho. Can you email me directions from the beltway, at victor at ppgworld.com?

Posted by: Victor at October 28, 2003 01:59 AM (FNHVL)

5 i'm about 200 miles sw of culpeper, and if the weather's nice, i just might motorcycle up and catch some of the show. if i do, i'll try to find you and say hi.

chris

Posted by: chris hall at October 28, 2003 02:51 PM (zH1Gw)

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...doesn't mean you can't experiment at home. Scott Binder has started to look into aerospike technology because he wasn't satisfied with the lack of data being reported by the big boys. This should be interesting.

I previously posted some background links on aerospike engines.

Posted by: Ted at 11:55 PM | category: Rocketry
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For those who donÂ’t know what this is all about, check out here and here and here and here and here and here.

A week before her maiden flight, things are going smoothly. Literally. I’ve put the second coat of primer on, and have finished sanding with 400 grit sandpaper (which is slightly more coarse than Charmin). One more coat of primer tonight and I’ll start painting the color coats tomorrow. Decals will go on probably Wednesday – folks, I need to know what flags you want to fly! If you haven’t let me know yet, please do. Tiger, that’s you too (I’m assuming US, but you might prefer Texas – your call).

Posted by: Ted at 08:41 AM | category: Rocketry
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Several years ago I put together a web site devoted strictly to model rocketry. One of the most popular pages was an introduction set up in question and answer format. Looking back on it, I can see that we've come a long way since those early days. I've copied that page into the extended entry, and added links where I could. more...

Posted by: Ted at 05:18 AM | category: Rocketry Resources
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If you click on the extended entry, you'll find a picture of the common rocket motors that Mookie and I fly, to give you an idea of the range available. The 3.5" diskette in the background gives some scale. These are commercially available motors of three basic types.

The back row, from left to right:
Quest MicroMaxx, about 1"x.25" diameter.
Estes mini-engine, 13mm diameter.
Estes standard engine, 18mm diameter.
Estes "D" engine, 24mm diameter. These first four can be purchased in a lot of Wal-Mart type stores, as well as some craft stores. They all use a kind of black powder for propellant.

AeroTech "E" engine, 24mm diameter.
AeroTech "F" engine, 29mm diameter.
AeroTech "G" engine, 29mm diameter. These three all use Ammonium Perchlorate based propellant. In general, each 'letter' is twice as powerful as the one before.

Second row:
Two Dr. Rocket Reloadable Motor Casings for "H" motors. For these, you buy reload kits that provide solid slugs of Ammonium Perchlorate propellant and all of the necessary parts to assemble the motor. The casing on the left holds one more slug than the one on the right, so it's the more powerful motor. The casing on the right is a fully assembled motor. There's no danger here, because the motors need to be electrically ignited to fire. These are both 29mm in diameter.

Front row:
This is the motor for the Air Munuviana. It's a RATT-works "H", again in 29mm diameter. The reason for the length is that this is a hybrid motor, and a tank for nitrous oxide is incorporated into the design. The fuel is a slug of PVC plastic. I've designed the Air Munuviana to handle up to "J" motors and the motor mount will accept motors up to 38mm in diameter.

A little about the diameters. Standard diameters for rocket motors are 10.5mm, 13mm, 18mm, 24mm, 29mm, 38mm, 54mm, 75mm, 98mm, 3 inch, 4 inch and 6 inch. As you can see, I still fly at the smaller end of the range, but I'm slowly working my way up. [insert Tim Allen grunting noises here] more...

Posted by: Ted at 01:48 PM | category: Rocketry Resources
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(Note: I originally posted this in three parts when I first started blogging. I never moved it over from the old site, so I'm reposting it here in revised form.)

See the link on the right side of the page (under "I'm involved") for the official word about the Team America Rocketry Challenge. One thing for sure is that the TARC is proof positive that kids will rise up to expectations.

The task for teams of high school students was that they had to plan, design, build and fly a rocket. Because you can buy kits in Wal-Mart to do that much, a lot of required complexity was added. The rocket had to fly as close as possible to 1500 feet, and since altitude measurement was a required, the team had to plan on using an electronic altimeter.

The next requirement was that the rocket had to have two stages. In other words, the first motor has to stop burning before the second motor fires. If you've seen pictures of the old Saturn V moon shots, that's how it worked. Three stages, each one dropping off as it was done.

The last requirement was that the rocket had to carry a payload. Two fresh hens eggs, to be brought back to earth unbroken.

Now that is a challenge!

The organizers expected a couple hundred teams to enter, and planned for twice that. Instead, almost 900 teams of students signed up.

Designing a rocket is like any other engineering project, it boils down to tradeoffs. Think about a car for example; designing for lots of people room means a larger body which means a heavier vehicle which means a bigger motor which means less room for people which meansÂ…

For the rocket design, the only set dimension was the size and weight of the eggs. The teams were provided with eggs that were weighed and measured to be within contest tolerances (and candled to make sure there were no unseen hairline cracks).

Other than that, the design was freeform. Each team was given a list of commercially available rocket motors that they could use for the flight. These motors ranged in size and power – the largest allowed motor was 256 times more powerful than the smallest. The teams had to come up with a combination of staged motors to meet the requirements. There were other considerations too, because some motors required additional electronics to ignite the upper stage.

There are photos of the teams accessable from the TARC page. In particular, look at the rockets they flew in the finals, and how teams devised different solutions to the same problem.

Each team consisted of high school students and a teacher. There were entries from every state and one from an American school overseas (APO address). Over 9000 students were participants. The teachers were there for adult supervision, but the students were required to do the actual design and construction work, and to fly the rockets themselves. Some teams were only a few students, while other teams comprised a whole class. Some schools entered more than one team. Looking at the team photos, youÂ’ll notice a fair number of young ladies involved, including a few all-female teams.

Each team received sophisticated rocket design and simulation software so that they could build and fly ‘virtual’ rockets before starting construction. Teams were not required to use the software, but I think the benefits far outweighed the time spent learning to use it well.

The team photos were taken at the Finals, held in Virginia in May. Many teams couldn’t afford to send the entire team, but I thought it interesting to see that the teams from small towns often had banners or shirts listing their sponsors and local businesses who donated money to help them meet expenses for the contest. For some, it looked like everyone on ‘Main Street, USA’ chipped in!

An unofficial member of many teams were the mentors, who were experienced rocketeers volunteering time to help. Few students and teachers had experience building and flying rockets, so the teams were encouraged to contact their closest rocket clubs for assistance.

And what is a contest without prizes, eh? From the AIA site:
A grand prize pool of $59,000 in cash and savings bonds was shared by the top five teams. In addition, the top ten teams will compete for three $2500 grants to design, build and launch an advanced rocket with NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. Each of the top 25 teams is being invited to send one of their teachers to an advanced NASA rocketry workshop.

This is real rocket science.

The TARC was originally concieved as a one-time event, but the response from students, teachers and industry was so overwhelmingly positive that the 2004 Challenge has already been announced.

A couple of good articles about the 2003 Challenge have been posted this month (.pdf files).

Posted by: Ted at 11:39 PM | category: Rocketry
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Over on the Rec.Models.Rockets newsgroup, Jesse asked:
"How come on real rockets they always have funnel like things on the back of the thruster thingo?"

To which Peter Alway* replied:
"Because the hot flamey stuff that comes out of the thruster thingo is accelleratized to the fastness of that noisy stuff you hear by passing through an other-way funnel-like thingy before it reaches the funnel-like things you see, and by going through the funnel-like things it embiggens, which acceleratizes it to several times faster than that noisy stuff you hear. The faster the flamey stuff leaves the thruster thingo, the faster the rocket travels when it runs out of the gunk it burns."

He's absolutely right you know.

*Peter Alway wrote Rockets of the World and its many supplements as well as historical reference and scale modelling data books. He also raises rabbits and teaches astronomy at a college in the midwest.

Posted by: Ted at 07:57 AM | category: Rocketry
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