Design Brief
for the
Rocket Project
©
Name ___________________________________
Sticker/Student #
Design Process
1. Clarify the problem specifications and constraints. (design brief)
Design Problem: Our firm has been hired by a toy manufacturing company to
design a rocket for them to mass-produce and sell.
Requirements
 The rocket must fly as straight as possible.
 The rocket must fly as high as possible.
 Recovery system should work properly.
 It must also retain structural integrity. (can be flown again)
Constraints
 You must use a B6-4 engine.
 The rocket must follow the recommended specifications for a B6-4 engine.
2. Research and investigate.
Read the rocket manual and then answer the questions that follow. They will
provide you with some of the information that you need to be successful. Then
continue to research rocketry. Utilize the library and the internet to find more
information.
©
2005 – L. Zajac/J. Clayton - Roxboro Road Middle School
1
Rocket Manual
Hundreds of years of using, testing, and
improving rockets make it possible for you to
build a flight-worthy rocket now. The Chinese
developed the rocket concept over 700 hundred
years ago with the invention of black powder.
You share the knowledge of such great scientists as Wernher VonBraun and Robert Goddard when you
construct and test fire your rocket. Dr. Goddard is the father of modern rocketry and did a lot of tests at
MIT in the 1920’s. Hitler tried to develop rockets for warfare in WWII. Then the USSR and US
started the space race in the 1950’s as part of the cold war.
Making and testing model rockets is fun and can be profitable. Our modern world is depending
more and more on rockets. It takes people with know-how to build, test, and guide these rockets. The
result has been a huge rocket industry employing thousands of people that has emerged in the last 40
years. Building your miniature rocket may be the first step in starting you on a career in the rocket
industry!
Travel into space is becoming more important all the time. Telephone messages are bounced
from satellites in space and pictures are being sent back from space. Television signals span continents
by going to satellites and back to earth. People are traveling into space more and more. All of these
things depend upon rockets. Rockets and space travel are becoming so important that by the time you
graduate from college many new and exciting jobs in the rocket industry will have been created.
Rockets were developed for warfare, space exploration, and to put up satellites. Today most
rockets are used to put up satellites that help with communications, weather, and observations of other
planets and ours. We can look at crops and forests for disease and insect problems, oceans for pollution
and temperature shifts and weather to see how storms form and move. It has been estimated that
weather satellites have saved over 5 billion in property damage and 10,000 lives in the past decade.
Someday there will be humans living in space stations as an alternative to living on earth. They will be
able to more closely observe earth, maintain better communication systems, and do special gravity free
research in space.
Use this booklet and rocket-making project to learn about rocketry and have fun doing it.
2
Engineering Criteria
Rockets are engineered to carry as big a payload as possible, and to travel as far and fast as they
can. They are also built to go exactly to the place intended or be on target. As your design and
construct your rocket you will want to make it so it will be able to fly straight, high, and be recovered
and flown again. Keep the following engineering and basic scientific principles in mind as you work
and you will be pleased with the results.
1. General Shape and Aerodynamic design: As a rocket is basically a self propelled arrow it should
look like one. Your rocket may also reach speeds over 100 Miles Per Hour (MPH) and therefore
must be very aerodynamic. Aerodynamic means how easily air flows over a vehicle and if you
think of such things as a fish, bird, plane, or submarine a general shape comes to mind. In
designing your rocket it should be smooth and sleek. The fins should have rounded edges and the
nose cone is to be smooth, rounded at the point and meet the airframe with no step edge. Fins are
designed to stabilize the rocket in flight and make it go in a straight line. If fins have to little
surface area they will not catch enough air to work. If they are to big they will cause too much drag
and slow the rocket down as it picks up speed. The effect of fins is like putting your hand out the
window of a moving car. For the rocket you are building 8 – 16 square inches of total fin surface
area is about right. When a vehicle is rated it is the coefficient of drag.
2. Structural Strength and Weight: The airframe is the part of the rocket that holds the other parts in
place and gives the rocket its shape. The concept in designing fast boats, cars, planes, or rockets is
to have them strong enough to hold together but be as light as possible. In order for your rocket to
go fast and high you need to find a balance between the weight of your rocket and the power of the
engine. When a vehicle is rated it is the horsepower (HP) to weight ratio.
3. Engines: All engines used in model rockets are to be bought at the store. There are two reasons for
this. First they are much better than anything you could make and have a much better nozzle.
Second they are much safer. In the past people tried to build engines themselves with poor results
and may tragic accidents. Then the ESTES company developed the engines sold today. The
government space program buys their engines from a special company also. Engines are rated in
size by thrust over time.
4. Payload Space: This is the small part of the rocket that delivers the payload. Payload was a term
devised as the cost per pound to deliver a warhead or put up a satellite. Payload space is rated in
cubic space. The payload you may deliver is a parachute person or an insect.
3
5. Recovery System: This is a special system developed recently in the space program. As the need to
reuse space vehicles over again developed, it became necessary to bring cost down. The space
shuttle was the first real attempt to do this. Model rocketry has always done this, since part of the
fun is to re-fly your rocket again, or display it in your room, etc. To do this a special system has to
be developed. A system is when a number of events or processes take place to cause some desired
result. An example is when you take a hot shower, and we hope you do! Most of us just turn the
faucet, adjust the temperature, and hop in. But how the water get from Lake Ontario to your house,
then is heated, delivered to your bath, taken away again, re-cleaned, and returned to Lake Ontario is
and example of a complex system. Think about this, we may discuss it sometime. The recovery
system we use has four parts, and each has a job to do. First is the shock cord (see Cross Section
Drawing and The Rocket Engine Fire Cycle) which holds the nose cone, streamers, and airframe
together. The streamers or parachute are used to slow the fall of the rocket so it does not crash.
The engine has a special backfire feature that pushes the streamers, payload, and nose cone out of
the airframe. The wadding is used to maintain a barrier between the engine blast of fire and the
streamers that will melt. Look over the drawing and design a system that will work.
6. Ground Support Systems: We have three teams on the ground that supports a rocket launch. The
first is the launch team. There are two launch pad officers, one safety officer, one countdown
officer, and you the launcher. Each person must launch his or her own rocket from mission control.
When you are called you are to give your rocket to the launch pad officer. The launch pad officer
will slide the launch lug (see drawing) on the launch wire, hook up the rocket, then go to mission
control. The safety officer will give the OK for countdown. The countdown officer will relay the
countdown to the tracking team during your launch. The second team is the
tracking team and they are at a tracking station 150 meters away from the
launch pad. They use a sighting gun to determine how high your rocket goes
and they record the height on the clipboard. The third team is the recovery
team, which is located around the school grounds. They are generally made up of specially
recruited hyperactive 7th grade classmates. The GPS (Global Positioning System) officers are part
of the recovery team. They use the GPS instrument to pin point the rockets landing site using
longitude and latitude coordinates and record the data on the clipboard.
NOTE: Your job is to understand the above engineering data, use it as much as you can to build, fly,
and recover your rocket. To accomplish this task you are to use the following directions and drawing.
You may work alone or as a team BUT each one of you must have a rocket of your own to fly. If you
come and ask an intelligent question I may give you an answer or advice as to where to find one!
4
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Materials- my model rocket will be made of lightweight materials such as paper, wood, rubber, and plastic suitable for the power used and
the performance of my model rocket. I will not use any metal for the nose cone, body, or fins of a model rocket.
Motors- I will use only commercially made NAR-certified model rocket motors in the manner recommended by the manufacturer. I will not
alter the model rocket motor, its parts, or its ingredients in any way.
Recovery- I will always use a recovery system in my model rocket that will return it safely to the ground so it may be flown again. I will use
only flame-resistant recovery wadding if wadding is required by the design of my model rocket.
Weight and Power Limits- My model rocket will weigh no more than 1,500 grams (53 ounces) at lift-off and its rocket motors will produce
no more than 320 Newton-seconds (71.9 pound-seconds) of total impulse. My model rocket will weigh no more than the motor
manufacturer¹s recommended maximum lift-off weight for the motors used, or I will use motors recommended by the manufacturer for my
model rocket.
Stability- I will check the stability of my model rocket before its first flight, except when launching a model rocket of already proven
stability.
Payloads- My model rocket will never carry live animals (except insects) or a payload that is intended to be flammable, explosive, or
harmful.
Launch Site- I will launch my model rocket outdoors in a cleared area, free of tall trees, power lines, buildings, and dry brush and grass. My
launch area will be at least as large as that recommended in the accompanying table.
Launcher- I will launch my model rocket from a stable launch device that provides rigid guidance until the model rocket has reached a
speed adequate to ensure a safe flight path. To prevent accidental eye injury, I will always place the launcher so the end of the rod is above
eye level or I will cap the end of the rod when approaching it. I will cap or disassemble my launch rod when not in use and I will never store
it in an upright position. My launcher will have a jet deflector device to prevent the motor exhaust from hitting the ground directly. I will
always clear the area around my launch device of brown grass, dry weeds, or other easy-to-burn materials.
Ignition System- The system I use to launch my model rocket will be remotely controlled and electrically operated. It will contain a
launching switch that will return to "off" when released. The system will contain a removable safety interlock in series with the launch
switch. All persons will remain at least 15 feet from the model rocket when I am igniting model rocket motors totaling 30 Newton-seconds or
less of total impulse and at least 30 feet from the model rocket when I am igniting model rocket motors totaling more than 30 Newtonseconds of total impulse. I will use only electrical igniters recommended by the motor manufacturer that will ignite model rocket motors
within one second of actuation of the launching switch.
Launch Safety- I will ensure that people in the launch area are aware of the pending model rocket launch and can see the model rocket's
lift-off before I begin my audible five-second countdown. I will not launch my model rocket so its flight path will carry it against a target. If
my model rocket suffers a misfire, I will not allow anyone to approach it or the launcher until I have made certain that the safety interlock
has been removed or that the battery has been disconnected from the ignition system. I will wait one minute after a misfire before allowing
anyone to approach the launcher.
Flying Conditions- I will launch my model rocket only when the wind is less than 20 miles per hour. I will not launch my model rocket so it
flies into clouds, near aircraft in flight, or in a manner that is hazardous to people or property.
Pre-Launch Test- When conducting research activities with unproven model rocket designs or methods I will, when possible, determines
the reliability of my model rocket by pre-launch tests. I will conduct the launching of an unproven design in complete isolation from persons
not participating in the actual launching.
Launch Angle- My launch device will be pointed within 30 degrees of vertical. I will never use model rocket motors to propel any device
horizontally.
Recovery Hazards- If a model rocket becomes entangled in a power line or other dangerous place, I will not attempt to retrieve it.
LAUNCH SITE DIMENSIONS
Installed Total Impulse (N-sec)
0.00--1.25
1.26--2.50
2.51--5.00
5.01--10.00
10.01--20.00
20.01--40.00
40.01--80.00
80.01--160.00
160.01--320.00
Equivalent Motor Type
1/4A, 1/2A
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
Two G's
Minimum Site Dimensions (ft.)
50
100
200
400
500
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,500
5
Cross Section Drawing of Model Rocket (Assembly Drawing)
Nose Cone
12” string
Shock Cord
(Rubber band)
Anchor
(Glued to
inside of body tube)
Body Tube
12” String
Launch Lug
Wadding
Engine Mount
(Glued to the inside
of body tube)
Engine
(removable)
Fins
Engine Clip
Drawn By: Lynn Zajac
6
Date: 4/10/00
Streamers
(32” to 52”
long)
The Rocket Engine Fire Cycle
Backfire
White Smoke
Engine Cutoff
Thrust phase
Backfire
There are several phases to the rocket's flight. The first is the thrust phase. It is during
this time that the impulse section (propellant) of the engine burns. Once it has
exhausted, the coasting phase (delay) begins. The engine is still active, but it is
burning smoke, permitting you to follow the flight. The rocket is still climbing, using
its momentum. Then, the Ejection charge ignites, which actives the recovery system.
This is usually a parachute to permit the slow descent of the rocket, or it can be a
streamer so that you can follow its path. Recover the rocket, make any adjustments or
repairs, install a new engine, and then launch again.
How to pack the engine.
7
Rocket Specifications
Total Height:
9 to 16 inches (tip of nose cone to bottom of engine)
Body Tube:
1 inch diameter (4/8 inch radius)
Nose Cone:
base = 1 inch diameter
Height = 1 4/8 inches to 2 4/8 inches
Streamers:
32 to 52 inches in length
Fins:
Must have 3, 4, 5 or 6 fins
Calculating fin area:
1. lightly draw one fin
2. count number of boxes in one fin
3. divide by 16 to get the number of square inches per fin
4. multiply by the number of fins that you are using
5. answer must be between 8 – 16 representing the total area in
square inches
Engine:
11/16” inch diameter
Fits ¾” engine mount
8
History (5pts)
1. What happened over 700 years ago, which had an impact on rocketry?
_______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. Who is Robert Goddard?
_______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. What happened post-WWII to advance the rocket industry to what it is today?
_______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Modern Applications – (5pts) Give at least three examples of how rockets are used
today.
1. ___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________
Scientific Research - (5pts) Define the following words.
1. Aerodynamic Design _________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
2. Stability ___________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
3. Weight-to-Horsepower Ratio ___________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
4. Engine ____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
5. Recovery System ____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
6. Ground Support Stations ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
9
Major parts of a rocket
and their purpose (5pts)
1. ___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________________________
5. ___________________________________________________________________
6. ___________________________________________________________________
7. ___________________________________________________________________
8. ___________________________________________________________________
9. ___________________________________________________________________
10. __________________________________________________________________
11. __________________________________________________________________
12. __________________________________________________________________
Desired specifications for a B6-4 engine (5pts)
Total Height: __________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Body Tube: ___________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Nose Cone: ___________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Streamers: ____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Fins: ________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Engine: ______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
10
3. Come up with as many different solutions as possible.
Sketch 5 different nose cone shapes. (5pts)
Sketch 5 different fin designs. (5pts)
11
4. Choose and justify the best solution. (10pts)
Circle your best nose cone and fin design.
Explain why you feel it is the best choice. _________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Draw your designs on the airframe below and decide what size you would like your
rocket to be.
Are your fins hanging down past your
body tube? ______
If yes how far
___________
If no fill in ½”
___________
Body tube height
___________
Nose cone height
+ ___________
(Must be between 1 ½” – 2 ½”)
Total height
___________
(Must be between 9”-16”)
 Now make a working drawing of your rocket on the computer using the template
that your instructor will provide. (60pts)
12
5. Develop a prototype:
Below, you will find written instructions on how to construct your rocket. Follow along
in the packet as your instructor demonstrates. When you have completed a step, put a
check mark next to the number in the space provided.
DAY 1 – Collect materials and make basic blanks
(DAY 1) Air Frame and Engine Tube Forming
Materials: 8 ½” x 14” sheet of white paper, 24” gummed paper box tape, glue,
8 ½” x 7” piece of white paper, 8” piece of gummed tape
Tools and Machines: 1” dia. plastic forming tube, ½” dia. metal forming tube, pencil, ruler, marker
___1.
You will first need to make the airframe (body tube). With the long edge of the paper parallel
to the plastic forming tube, take the 8 ½” x 14” sheet of paper and start rolling it around a clean
dry forming tube. Stop when the paper starts rolling up on its self.
Put a thin line of glue down on the paper. Smooth the glue down
glue
with your finger and continue to roll the rest of the sheet. Put a
thin line of glue at the end of the paper to keep it from unraveling.
Note: The paper should slide easily on the forming tube. If it doesn’t then you have gotten
glue on the tube and you will need to start over.
Note: Make sure there are no wrinkles. If so, start over.
___2.
Cut the gummed tape 24 inches long.
___3.
Practice rolling the tape around the tube at a 45 angle. The tape must cover the white paper
completely and resemble the inner core of a toilet paper roll.
___4.
Place the tape under the faucet for just a few seconds. Take the tape back to the table and
finger paint until slimy. Wrap the tape around the forming tube at a 45 angle.
Note: Make sure there are no wrinkles. Your rocket should not look like Granny.
___5.
Carefully slide the airframe from the forming tube and place it in your locker to dry. Let dry
for 24 hours.
___6.
Make the engine tube in the same way only use the ½” diameter metal forming tube, 8 ½” x 7”
piece of paper, and 8” piece of gummed paper. Slide it off the forming tube and let it dry, in
your locker, for 24 hours.
(DAY 1) Nose Cone Blank Construction
Materials: 2” x 2”Styrofoam stock, 12” piece of string, rubber band (shock cord),
1” dia. Dowel, glue, 1/8” dowel
13
Tools: marker, miter saw, belt sander, clamp, drill press, hammer
scissors, 9/64” drill, scroll saw
___1.
Put the Styrofoam on your drawing. Put marks on the foam where your nose cone begins and
ends. Add a couple of boxes to its length. This will give you enough room to file.
___2.
Cut the Styrofoam on the scroll saw, leaving the line. Then sand down to the line lightly on the
belt sander.
___3.
Cut the dowel on the miter saw. Slip the dowel in under the saw until it meets the red line
(1/4”) on the table. Clamp it in place and saw through the dowel. (Must have teacher
instruction first). Sand both sides of the dowel on the sanding board.
___4.
Drill a 9/64” hole in the center of the 1” dowel on the drill press. Use the jig. (must have
teacher instruction first)
___5.
Measure the string 12” long and cut it to length.
___6.
Attach the string to the 1” dowel. Lay the string over the hole in the dowel so that it covers the
hole. Hammer the thin dowel into the hole, pushing and pinching the string inside.
___7.
Cut the excess 1/8” dowel down without cutting the string.
___8.
Place glue on the surface of the 1” dowel and one end of the piece of Styrofoam. Push the glue
into the surface by spreading it around with your finger. Kiss the two pieces together and wrap
the string and the rubber band (shock cord) around them to hole it together.
___9.
Place it in your locker and let dry at least 24 hours.
DAY 2 – Refine blanks and start sub-assemblies
(DAY 2) Air Frame and Engine Tube Cutting
Tools and Machines: Scroll Saw, pencil, ruler, marker
___1.
When the airframe is dry, place it on your drawing and line it up with the airframe that you
drew. Put a mark on the tube where the airframe should start and end.
___2.
Then cut to length using the scroll saw. (must have teacher instruction first) Note: Make sure
you leave the line.
___3.
Sand down to the line using the belt sander. (must have teacher instruction first) Note: You
should still see the line, but just barely.
___4.
The engine tube should be cut in the same manner. Its length should be the same length as an
old used engine. (2 ¾” long)
14
(DAY 2) Engine Mount Construction
Materials: 4 ½” piece of wire, tape, glue
Tools: Pliers, metal blocks, hammer, drill press, old engine
___1.
Measure a piece of wire 4 ½” inches long and cut it with a pair of pliers.
___2.
Then place the 4 ½” piece of wire in the grove on one of the metal blocks. Have one end of the
wire hang over the edge of the block about 2/8”. The other end should hang off more than an
inch. Then put the other block over the piece of wire.
___3.
Keeping the wire and blocks together put them in a vice on the corner of the bench.
___4.
Use a ball peen hammer to bend the ends of the wire towards the block with the grove in it.
Take the blocks and wire out of the vice.
Note: The wire should have 90 angles and fit over and engine like the diagram below.
2 7/8”
Place your clip over this diagram to
check the length and shape.
___5.
Test Engine
Place a used engine inside the engine tube and drill a 1/16” hole ¼” from the end of the engine
tube. (Use jig on drill press, do not drill through the engine)
___6.
Poke the longer end of the engine clip completely through the hole that you just drilled.
___7.
Cut the longer end of the wire down to the edge of the tube using a pair of pliers. Then cut the
other end of the wire down so that it only extends over the brown cardboard part of the engine.
It cannot extend into the center of the engine.
___8.
Layer up enough masking tape around the engine tube and engine clip to make a snug fit into
the airframe. (Keep tape tight and smooth) This completed item is the engine mount. See the
engine mount assembly drawing below.
Engine Clip
Tape
Engine Mount
Assembly Drawing
1/8”
7/8”
Engine
1 ¼”
2 6/8”
Engine Mount
15
___9.
Put glue all around this area of
the engine mount
Smear glue all over the tape (squeeze glue into
the creases where the layers of tape come
together, only on the top, to seal and keep the
tape from unraveling). Smear glue all around
the engine clip on the end where it pokes
through the tube. The old engine should still
be inside the tube but do not get any glue on it.
Creases of tape
___10. Now put glue on your finger and coat the inside of the airframe.
___11. Then slide the engine mount inside the bottom of the airframe. The old engine should be
sticking out the end of your rocket. Line the bottom of the engine tube and the bottom of the
airframe tube up together. Make sure the engine mount is straight in the airframe.
(DAY 2) Anchor
Materials: 1 square inch of paper (anchor), 12” piece of string, glue
Tools: scissors
___1.
Cut a piece of string 12 inches long.
___2.
Put a drop of glue on a 1 square inch piece of paper.
___3.
Place the string across the paper in the glue.
___4.
Fold the paper and the string over twice. Then put glue one the outside of the paper and push it
down inside the airframe as far as you can. Sticking the paper to the inside of the airframe. Let
it dry for 24 hours with the rest of the string hanging out the end of the airframe.
DAY 3 – Finish shaping
(DAY 3) Nose Cone Shaping
Materials: tape
Tools: file, lathe
___1.
Make a pattern of your nose cone out of paper. (cut it out of your full size
plans)
___2.
Trace your pattern on all four sides of your Styrofoam with a marker. Then
draw a circle around the dowel on the bottom of the Styrofoam.
___3.
File down to the lines.
___4.
Now remove the lines and file the nose cone round. (make it look like an ice cream cone or
pencil end)
___5.
16
Test fit it to your airframe. Wrap tape around the dowel until it fits inside the airframe.
___6.
Put the nose cone on the lathe and sand to its final shape.
(must have teacher instruction first)
___7.
Tie the end of the string to one end of the rubber band (shock cord). Turn to the cross section
drawing on page 6 for an example of how this looks.
___8.
Put the nose cone on the end of your rocket and hand sand the nose cone to fit the airframe
exactly.
Blend down smooth with body tube
(DAY 3) Fin Construction
Materials: cardboard, glue
Tools: scroll saw, belt sander, clothes pins, stapler, stapler remover, fin jig stand
___1.
You will need a piece of cardboard for every fin in your rocket. Make a pattern of your fins by
cutting it out of your drawing. Place a pattern of your fin and every piece of cardboard
together and put two staples through all of them.
___2.
Cut the fins out using the scroll saw. (must have teacher instruction)
___3.
Sand the deck to final shape with the belt sander to make them straight and aerodynamic. Do
not sand the edge that will be glued to the airframe. If you can try to keep this edge a factory
edge.
___4.
Remove the staple.
___5.
Finish sand leading and trailing edge to make aerodynamic.
___6.
Set the airframe onto the proper jig. Use clothespins to put the fins in place. Note: Adjust the
airframe and the fins so that they are exactly the way you want them. The fins should run
straight and parallel to the airframe and fit tightly up against it.
___7.
Squeeze glue into the corners, between the fin and the rocket, on both sides of the fin. Use
your finger to smooth out the glue and push it into place. Pull your finger upward when doing
this.
___8.
Carefully place your rocket while it is still on the jig in the bin. Let it dry for 24 hours.
DAY 4 – Final Assembly and Testing
(DAY 4) Recovery System Assembly
Materials: 36”-48” streamer material, glue
Tools: punch, scissors
___1.
Measure the streamer material out from the nose to the fingertips or to 3 feet and cut it to
length.
17
___2.
Wrap the streamer around two fingers. Take the streamer material off your fingers carefully so
that it still is in a roll. Then fold it in half.
___3.
Then, using the punch, put about 3 or 4 holes in the rolled up streamer.
___4.
Unravel the streamer carefully because it might rip.
___5.
Fold the streamer in half and at the folded end find two holes that line up. Slide the string
through the holes. Do not tie a knot around the streamers. Let them slide up and down freely
on the string.
___6.
Take the end of the string and knot it to the end of the rubber band.
(DAY 4) Final Assembly and Testing
Materials: straw, scotch tape, glue, wadding, flight check list/grade sheet
Tools: Scissors, YAHOO string
___1.
Remove the rocket from the jig stand and check the fins. Add glue as needed to firmly attach
them to the airframe. Then get your checklist and check things off as you go along.
___2.
Find a scrap piece of Styrofoam and file a grove in it to create a stand. Use this stand to prop
your rocket fins up in the air to keep them from bending.
___3.
Cut a piece of straw ¾” long and place it on the airframe ½ way from the top and bottom so
that the lug is lined up with the engine clip. Hold the straw in place with clear tape wrapped all
the way around the airframe. Do not pinch the straw at all with the tape or your rocket will
never leave the ground.
___4.
Install the wadding streamers and then the nose cone. Make sure the used engine is installed, as
it will be in flight.
___5.
Conduct the center of gravity test or YA HOO test.
___6.
Make any final adjustments.
___7.
Weigh your rocket and record the weight on the grade sheet. Hand it in for a grade and the
teacher’s approval.
Note: Leave the streamers outside of the airframe so they don’t get wrinkled before flight day.
6. Test and evaluate your solution. Use the evaluation sheet that your instructor will provide to
evaluate your flight.
7. Redesign the solution. After your flight and evaluation, decide what to change on your rocket
to improve the flight then redesign it. Re-fly your rocket and evaluate the improvements.
8. Communicate your achievements. On the Flight Evaluation Sheet, answer the questions to
summarize the project solution.
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