building a high-power rocket

Building a High-Power Rocket

Did you know? It takes only about eight minutes for a Space Shuttle to accelerate to a speed of more than 17,000 miles per hour.

Rockets for Schools

Components

• Nosecone• Payload Bay• Coupler • Airframes• Parachute• Motor Tube• Centering Rings• Fins

Body TubesPhenolic body tube: Carbon fiber body tubes:

Note the spiral in the shadowed area.

Quantum body tubes:

Materials

• Epoxy• Sandpaper• Sanding blocks• Popsicle sticks or other flat sticks• Plastic cups• Masks• Wood filler

Step 1: Constructing Motor Tube

Attaching forward centering ring:

Nylon strap attached:

Step 2: Filling Spirals

Filling spirals:

Sanding off excess filler:

Step 3: Fins

Sanding the fins:

Epoxying the fins in:

Fin jig:

Step 4: Payload Tube

Attaching bulkhead: Eyebolt:

Putting epoxy in

payload tube: Inserting coupler:

Step 5: Nosecone

Sanding the cone:

Screwing the cone

into the tube:

Step 6: Extras

Drilling hole for rail button: Drilling pressure hole:

Rail button:

Step 7: Painting

Priming rocket:

Painting rocket:

Finished Rocket!

Rocket launching:

Launch Video:

Suggestion

Model rocket kits like this are usually sold at local hobby stores such as Hobby Lobby, etc.