| Testing and Firing |
| You should construct a few engines exactly the same and test fire a number of them to find out what to expect when you finally do launch a rocket . The engines can be buried nozzle end up in the ground and fired. Time the burning of the engine to figure out the rate of combustion of the propellant. Inspect the casing to see how it stood up. If everything seems okay you can construct a static testing fixture to measure the thrust. Keep in mind that even a small engine can put out a few hundred pounds thrust for a split second. When you do launch a rocket, keep people away from the launch site and under cover. Check out the skies for airplanes or other traffic. Don't launch rockets under conditions of low visibility or heavy winds. |