Project 2.2.

5B Rocket Design and Build

Introduction
Rockets are designed for a variety of missions and performance requirements. The payload of a
rocket is that crucial component that often provides the constraints for the engine thrust and flight
control.

In this project you will design and build a rocket to perform a mission specified by your teacher.
The thrust available is limited to the engine you tested in the last activity.

Equipment
Engineering notebook
Pencil
PC with internet access or Open Rocket

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Procedure

1. Start OpenRocket from the start menu PLTW AE folder, then open the file estes_alpha_iii.rkt
from my Rocket folder groupshare

2. Go to the Edit tab then preferences -> change to Default imperial then change Mass to
grams

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3. Record the weight for each component below.
Nose Cone: _____20.4________
Launch lug: _____.748________
Outer body tube: _____.939________
Inner motor tube: _____1.38________
Fins: _____6.28________
Rocket engine: _____15.3________
Parachute with shroud lines: ______1.69_______

4. Follow the steps below to add and simulate the rocket launch.
Add the A8-3 motor to the body tube

Select the body tube and add motor

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Edit the windspeed find the weather for Wednesday and add the wind
Start with a launch angle of 20 degrees

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Configure the simulation to the following and plot

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Edit the launch angle until the distance from the launch to the landing is about 100 feet

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5. Screen capture each screen of the Design, Fuel, Pad, and Launch results for your final
Weebly report.
6. Construct the rocket designed under the direction of the teacher. READ the instruction first
then view this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNXWxh5TTe8
Just noticed a slight glitch, the mylar ring goes against the 1" mark and not the 2" 1/4 mark.
7. Assemble the rocket as if it was to be launched.
8. Write a small reflection of the rocket design and predicted performance.
The rocket design was designed by a toy company, I simply put it together and figured out the
best angle to launch it at. I predict the rocket will succeed in landing 100 feet.

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Conclusion

1 Explain how the mission influenced the design process.

The mission of getting the rocket to land 100 feet from the launch site influenced the design
process because I had to alter the launch angle against the wind to keep it within the mission.

2 Explain some of the design challenges you faced.

It was difficult to recreate the rocket in Autodesk Inventor Pro on certain steps and I had some
trouble gluing and putting the rocket together.

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