Rocketry 101

Jeremy YoungAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics at UCF

Jeremy Young

Outreach Coordinator

AIAA UCF

youngj25@knights.ucf.edu

Placed 1st in FSGC Hybrid Rocket Competition

Motion of Model Rockets

Motion of Model Rockets

Motion of Model Rockets

Newton’s 3rd Law

Parts of a Model Rocket

Example of Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB’s)

Flight Dynamics

Roll

Cannot Control RollCan Control Roll

4 Forces on Airplanes and Rockets

Lift from Fins

Fin ShapesRECTANGULARSimple to make, least aerodynamic

SWEPTSimple to make, slightly better aerodynamics

TAPERED SWEPTMoves Center of Pressure back, good design for fast moving rockets.

CLIPPED DELTAGood aerodynamic fin, used on low-drag, high-performance rockets

TRAPEZOIDALGood aerodynamic fin for payload rockets, moves the Center of Pressure forward.

ELLIPTICALBest aerodynamic fin, difficult to construct.

Nose Shapes

Having a smooth finish on the nose is more important than shape (for rockets flying under the speed of sound).

Parachute vs. Streamer

The spill hole reduces oscillation and increases descent rate.

Parachute with Spill Hole

Streamers

The best length to width radio is 10:1 to create the most drag as the streamer flaps in the wind.

Streamer recovery is faster than parachute recovery and reduces the recovery area.

Rocket Flight Profile

Measuring Altitude of Rocket

x y71 tan(31.8) = y

44.02 ft = y

•Altimeter – measures the changing air pressure to calculate apogee. Must have vent holes in airframe in order to operate properly.

Parts of a Motor (A8-3)

Launch Controller

Motor

Thrust Curve