Naughton Lovell 7S

Yr. 7 SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

Task 4 Rocket Science

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Contents
The Task..............................................................................................................................3
QUESTIONS.........................................................................................................................4
1. List all the components necessary to build a model rocket............................................4
2. What are the main stages or rocket systems for building a rocket?...............................5
3. What variations of model rocket engines exist?.............................................................6
4. What are the various sizes of black powder engines?....................................................7
5. According to CASA: What regulations exist regarding the use of model rockets?...........7
6. What is the maximum height model rockets can reach without a permit?.....................8
7. What size rocket engine do you hypothesise will be used for your project based on
your knowledge from questions 5 & 6?..............................................................................8
8. What environmental conditions must be considered when launching rockets?..............9
9. What are the main safety issues requiring attention when launching from the school
oval? How can these be minimised?...................................................................................9
Bibliography of Research Websites:..................................................................................10

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The Task
Your task is to investigate basic rocket science and build a model rocket with purpose to
launch. You must report on the success of your project and keep a journal of the entire
process. To begin, you will need to find the answer to some questions listed below. Once
you have answered these questions you will need to begin researching on how to build a
model rocket. The project will be an individual activity. The school will supply the balsa
wood for fins and engine fastener, rocket engine, fuse and 3D printer for the nose cone
and materials for the parachute. Simply put, you only need to source a suitable
cardboard tube for the rocket body.

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QUESTIONS
1. List all the components necessary to build a model rocket

Components of a model rocket:

Component
Motor mount/bulkhead
Fins
Air frame/body tube
Launch lug
Shock cord
Nosecone
Parachute/recovery system
Engine/motor hook
Required tools
Scissors
Pencil
Masking tape
Ruler
Sand paper
Modelling knife/scalpel
Hot Glue and PVA Glue
3D Printer
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Material
Balsa wood
Balsa wood
Cardboard tube
Plastic straw
Elastic cord
Plastic
String, elastic cord and
B6-4 Rocket Engine

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2. What are the main stages or rocket systems for building a rocket?
The main rocket stages are the nosecone design, tail fin creation and attachment as well
as the main body structure. These stages all revolve around the aerodynamics of the
rocket and the stability of the rocket. The nose cones purpose is to reduce the amount of
air resistance that the rocket faces during flight. Tail fins are used to balance the weight
and stabilize the flight of the rocket as it gets launched. The main body structure of the
rocket is critical as it is the housing of the recovery system and engine system.
The main rocket systems are the engine system and the parachute/recovery system. The
engine system is the sole reason why the rocket is launched and travels in an upward
manner presuming there is no environmental or technical issues (including human error).
The recovery system determines whether the rocket will come back to the ground slowly
and safely or whether it falls from the sky in an unsafe manner. Each one of these stages
and systems play a major role in determining the rockets ability to successfully launch.
Main rocket systems and stages:
Engine system installation and ignition
Tail fin creation and attachment
Main body structure
Nosecone design
Parachute/recovery system design and installation

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3. What variations of model rocket engines exist?
There are two variations in model rocket engines. One is the Black Powder Model Rocket
Engine and the other one, is the Composite Model Rocket Engine. The Black Powder
Engines are the most common engine type for launching rockets as it is more cost
efficient and simplistic. Most other powder rocket engines have some modified version or
closely-related version of black powder inside of them as it is not only safe to launch but
can be predicable during its flight. Black Powder Engines are compacted tightly into a
solid stick allowing for fixed, predictable burn rates.
Composite Powder Engines are much more expensive than Black Powder Engines but are
far more powerful. This rocket engine uses a propellant similar to those of booster
engines of a space shuttle. As Composite Rocket Engines are more powerful these
engines are used for larger sized rockets, though smaller composite rocket engines do
exist it is much more cost efficient when they are used for bigger rockets.

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4. What are the various sizes of black powder engines?

As can be seen in the table below there are various sizes of black powder engines
ranging from 1.25 Newton/sec to 320 Newtons/sec. A, B and C black powder engines are
the standard size for a rocket engine and have a length of 70mm and a width of
18mm. Each black powder engine value essentially doubles the amount of power in the
engine. E.g. B = 5 Newtons/sec, C = 10 Newtons/sec. Rocket engines from sizes D and
upwards are for larger rockets with diameters of 29mm, 38mm and 54mm.

5. According to CASA: What regulations exist regarding the use of model rockets?
Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) state that model rockets fall into 3 categories:
1 Small Model Rockets: or Low Power Rocketry (LPR) are rockets which weight less than
500 grams, carry less than 25 grams of propellant and produce less than 20 Newtonseconds (Ns) of impulse. These can be flown almost anywhere and to any height.
2 Model Rockets: or Mid Power Rocketry (MPR) are rockets that weigh between >500g
and 1500 grams, carry less than 125 grams of propellant and produce less than 320Ns of
total impulse. In controlled airspace, these rockets canto a maximum fly 121.7 metres
above ground level. In this case, you will require an instrument issued by CASA which
has varying rules to abide by.

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If you are outside of controlled airspace, you can fly these to any altitude below
controlled airspace e.g. if there is controlled airspace starting at 600 metres, that will be
your maximum ceiling.
3 High Power Rockets: or High Power Rocketry (HPR) are rockets which weigh >1500
grams and/or have greater than 62.5 grams in an individual motor and/or produce
greater than 160Ns in an individual motor. You must have a CASA instrument in place to
operate high power rockets regardless of the height you want to fly them.
With all rockets common sense should prevail and you always consider your surrounding
environment.
The basic rules
* Your small model rocket must weigh less than 500g, carry less than 25g propellant,
produce less than 20 Newton-seconds of impulse and be made of balsa, wood, paper or
plastics or a combination of those materials, but contain no metal as structural parts.
* Do not operate in a movement area or runway of an aerodrome, or the approach or
departure path of an aerodrome without approval.
* Do not operate in a manner that is hazardous to persons, property or aircraft.
* When launching larger model rockets, refer to Part 101 of the Civil Aviation Safety
Regulations'1998 (CASRS).
* Consider the benefits of approved rocket areas.
* Read the safety information available through clubs and associations.
* Your model rocket must be in compliance with the model rocket safety code

6. What is the maximum height model rockets can reach without a permit?
CASA states the following in relation to the height model rockets are permitted to fly:
The maximum height a model rocket can reach without a permit depends on whether the
area is a controlled airspace. In a controlled airspace the maximum height is 121.7
metres above ground level. Uncontrolled air space a maximum roof height is 600 metres
above ground level. Controlled airspace is generally quoted as Above Mean Sea Level
(AMSL) and therefore you need to consider the altitude of your launch site.

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7. What size rocket engine do you hypothesise will be used for your project based on your knowledge
from questions 5 & 6?
After researching questions 5 and 6 and taking in consideration the dimension of my
rocket the hypothesised engine size could be black powder A, B or C. This is based on my
rocket weighing 70 grams and an overall length of 33.6cm which classifies it as a Small
Model Rocket (SMR) which requires no permit and can be launch anywhere using
common sense.

8. What environmental conditions must be considered when launching rockets?

The environmental conditions that are ideal to launch my model rocket is when the wind
is no more than 32 kilometres per hour. I need to ensure the launch site is not located on
flammable surface or a surface that is likely to ignite e.g. dry grass.
I will not launch my model rocket in a manner that is hazardous to people or property.

9. What are the main safety issues requiring attention when launching from the school oval? How can
these be minimised?
Launch site: One of the main safety issues at the launch site would be the possibility of
a fire. To prevent this issue from occurring a cleared area, free of tall trees, powerlines,
buildings, dry brush and grass or other easy-to-burn materials. Additionally a fire
extinguisher will need to be included as part of the safety equipment.
Ignition: The main safety issue during the ignition system is that the rocket may fall or
launch in an unsafe or unpredictable way and possibly harm other students. A launch lug
needs to be attached to every rocket to assist in correct trajectory. Also this issue could
be minimised by ensuring that all persons need to be at least 5 metres from the model
rocket when it is being ignited. The use of an electrically operated ignition system will
allow for a more distanced ignition and therefore reducing the number of people within
the 5 metre perimeter.
Launching & Recovery: The main safety issues during the launch would be people who
arent aware that a rocket is getting launched and could be within the 5 metre perimeter.
This could be minimised by using an audible five-second countdown before the launch of
the rocket. Another 5 metre perimeter could also be set up were the rocket is supposed
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to land after the launch. If a misfire occurs no one is allowed to approach it as the rocket
engine may still be working.

Bibliography of Research Websites:

http://www.nar.org/safety-information/model-rocket-safety-code/
http://www.nar.org/landing/building-rockets-preview-of-member-guidebook/
https://www.apogeerockets.com/education/downloads/Newsletter294.pdf
http://ausrocketry.com.au/launching-model-rockets
http://www.pyrocreations.com/black_powder_rockets
http://what-when-how.com/rocket-motor/about-black-powder-rocket-motor/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Building-a-Model-Rocket-Introduction/
http://www.asp-rocketry.com/uploaded_files/files/About-Model-Rocket-Engines.pdf?
1424889095888

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