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Model Rocketry - In General
What is it? Model rocketry is a safe and fun
hobby/sport/recreation/educational tool.
What are they made of? Model rockets are made of lightweight
materials such as paper, wood, rubber, and plastic. They contain
very little or no metal.
What powers them? Model rockets are powered by safe,
commercially made, solid-fuel motors. The motors are used only once,
but the rocket may be launched many times by using a new motor each
time. The motors are ignited by an electrical current from a safe
distance. You do NOT make your own motors. You do NOT use fuses.
Model rockets are NOT fireworks! Advanced rockets may use
"reloadable" motors where you assemble commercially-made
motor parts into a reusable casing. You must be 18 or older to
purchase these reloadable motors.
How do you get the rocket back? All model rockets are
required to have some sort of "recovery system" to bring
the rocket gently back to earth. Usually this will be a parachute or
streamer. However, some rockets will glide back just like the space
shuttle or spin down like a helicopter.
How high and fast can a model rocket go? Because model rocket
motors come in different sizes and different "powers", a
model rocket can go to different altitudes (heights) depending upon
which motor you put in it. On a small motor, some rockets may only
go up 100 feet, but rockets that use larger motors may go up over
1,000 feet! Some rockets even use several motors in different
"stages". A three-stage rocket could go up over 2,000
feet! Most model rockets can travel at several hundred miles per
hour. Some advanced model rockets can go faster than the speed of
sound!
Is it safe? Modern model rocketry, which started in about
1957, has a proven safety record with well over 500 million
launches. All rocketeers must follow the "Model Rocketry Safety
Code" as developed by the National
Association of Rocketry.
How much room do I need to launch model rockets? For the
smallest rockets on the smallest engines, you need a launch site
that is at least 50 feet on a side. However, the recommended size
goes up quickly. For large model rockets on big engines, you need a
site that is at least 500 feet on a side. Most of the time, an open
area the size of an athletic field (soccer, football, baseball,
etc.) will work fine. The bigger that the rocket is, and the
higher that it goes, the larger an area you'll need.
Are rockets hard to build? Model rocket kits come in
different skill levels. The rockets at the lowest skill levels are
easy to build and don't require any painting. You can probably put
one together in an hour or less. As the skill levels go up, the
rockets will become more complicated and will require more time and
effort to build. Some simple rockets may be purchased
pre-built or "ready-to-fly".
How much does it cost to start out in model rocketry? You
should buy a "starter set" for about $29 to $45. It
contains a rocket kit, a launch pad, a launch controller, and enough
supplies for a couple of launches. You'll probably spend a few
dollars more on glue, some new batteries for the launch controller,
and some extra engines to launch the rocket even more times. The
launch pad and controller will work for nearly any rocket you build
in the future, so you're set to start a great hobby!
 Aren't
there bigger rockets and engines? Yes! There are
large model rockets which weigh up to 3 pounds and use bigger
engines (like E, F, and G's!). They are more expensive, and
they need bigger, heavier-duty launch equipment than smaller
rockets. You also need more room to fly them. High power
rockets are those that weigh more than 3 pounds or use engines of
size H or larger! The complexity and cost go up again, but, in
return, you get to fly big rockets that make big smoke and big
noise. Be warned, though, that bigger rockets bring with them
more rules and regulations! For more information on big
rockets, see the Tripoli Rocketry
Association.
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