AVHS AVIATION CLUB

ROCKET 101
CRASH COURSE TO LEARN TECHNIQUES IN JUST A FEW
MINUTES!

PAYLOAD SECTION
Nose Cone - creates an aerodynamic shape, may also
hold payload
Airframe - holds the payloads in place
Bulkhead - separates the egg from the electronics
Altimeter - measures the change in pressure to
calculate the height of apogee. Must have vent holes
in airframe
Tube Coupler - connects the payload section to the
motor section by means of shock cord. Also protects
the payload from the ejection gases
Shock Cord Attachment -connected to the body tube
and nose cone to keep parts of rocket together in the
process of recovery.

MOTOR SECTION
Launch Lug or Rails - helps guide the rocket upwards
until it reaches enough velocity for the fins to engage
Parachute - assist in the safe recovery of the rocket
Shock Cord - Absorbs the shock and Allows the rocket to
fall out of the sky at a safe force
Centering ring - attached the engine mount to the
airframe
Engine Mount - holds the rocket inside the rocket
Engine Retainer - prevents the motor from being
ejected by the ejection charge
Fins - attached at the rear, provide stability/guides the
rocket in a straight path(made most of the time out of
balsa wood or plywood)

FINS
Calculations are often
made with accurate and
precise measurements

WADDING PAPER/NOMEX PADS

Put between the motor mount and shock
cord. Flameproof paper preventing the
shock cord and parachute from melting.
Can also use Nomex pads, reusable
wadding, that wraps around the
parachute.

RECOVERY - PARACHUTES AND STREAMERS

Streamers are only used for very small rockets,
typically low powered.
Parachutes are made out of plastic, Mylar, or ripstop nylon.
Shroud lines can be carpet thread or Kevlar cord
The spill hole reduces oscillation and increased
descent rate.
Oscillation is a swaying motion as the parachute
spills air from its sides.
Adding a riser lifts the parachute out of the
turbulence of the rocket, but increases the risk of

ROCKET MOTORS

DONT TRY TO MAKE THESE YOURSELF. DONT

DO IT. IT MAY SEEM TEMPTING. DONT DO IT.
Dont even start with
reloadable motors. I
have seen them
explode with my own
eyes.

MOTOR SIZES

Motor diameters are

measured in
millimeters.
Sizes for low and midpower rockets include
13mm, 18mm, 24mm,
and 29mm.

BLACK POWDER MOTOR

C - The letter indicates the total
impulse power produced by
the motor. Each letter doubles
the power
6 - The first number gives the
average thrust of the motor
inn Newtons.
5 - The last number indicates the
delay seconds between the
end of the trust and the ejection
charge

BLACK POWDER MOTOR BURNS

Black powder motor burns from the rear
forward.
When the propellant is spent, it ignites
the delay charge.
The delay charge burns forward and
ignites the ejection charge.
The clay nozzle forces the pressure
forward, expelling the nose cone and
recovery system.

COMPOSITE MOTOR BURNS

Composite motor burn from the
inner core out.
The delay element is ignited with
the propellant and burns forward.
Because of this, tracking smoke is
produced immediately.
The delay element ignites the
ejection charge.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
1st Rule: Only use model engines that are pre-packaged, never brew,re-use,or repack a used rocket engine. (It's really dangerous and you can get extremely
hurt by by doing those things.)
2nd Rule: When building the rocket, don't ever use any metal parts.
3rd Rule: Make sure that before the launches, countdown should always be
initiated
4th Rule: Before you fly your rocket, always check the condition of your rocket.
Make sure that your recovery system and parts of the system are all in top
form. Make sure that the nose cone isn't not completely sticked to the body
tube or else that can cause the model rocket to explode.
During Launches, countdowns will always be initiated and its everybody's

Vendors
Apogee Components: https://www.apogeerockets.com/
Hobbylinc: http://www.hobbylinc.com/
Bay Area Rocketry: http://bayarearocketry.com/
Altimeter - Perfectflite: http://www.perfectflite.com/

Any Questions?