About this site: The purpose of this site is to disseminate information about experimental rocketry in general and liquid propellant experimental rocketry in particular. Experimental rocketry is different from model rocketry or high power rocketry, although it may incorporate elements of both. It is not a sport. It may be a hobby for some, but for most experimental rocketeers, it is far more than that. It is a compulsion, a drive for perfection in engineering design. Model rocketry is about building and flying rockets. High power rocketry is about building and flying bigger and more powerful rockets. There may be those interested in various sporting aspects of both; competitions to see how high one can make a rocket fly, how much one can lift, etc. Those are the beginnings of experimental rocketry. The experimenter does not ask "How high can I go?" or "How much payload can I carry?" They questions they ask begin with how to build a rocket that will reach a specific altitude or carry a specific payload or perform some other task. Data collection and analysis is an intrinsic part of their investigations. The purpose of the rocket experimenters is to design and build rockets, rocket engines, payloads and/or recovery systems that accomplish specific goals. The goal may be a specific altitude or carrying a specific payload, but it may also be testing propellant combinations, new engine or recovery system designs or building an on-board telemetry package or flight computer. Experimental rocketry encompasses, in a way that no other endeavor I am familiar with does, nearly every branch of math, physical science, engineering, and related technologies. This makes it an ideal teaching and learning tool. The sucessful rocketeer will become literate in a broader range of science and technology than almost any other person. In addition, it requires good hands on skills, common sense, and a healthy dose of clever gadgeteering.
Liquid propellant rocketry is my favorite branch experimental rocketry. Although I was involved with model rocketry as a kid, I never got involved with High Power Rocketry. I decided about 15 years ago that rocketry was my preferred vocation as well as my avocation, and I have never looked at it as a hobby. For me, it has always been a pursuit of knowledge and technology suitable for manned space travel. Technologies that I do not feel are applicable to the construction of viable space transportation systems have little interest for me. While many may believe that solid propellant rockets are the best method for achieving orbit on a low budget, and others cling to hybrid rockets as that hope, I have always believed that a viable space transportation system must function in a manner similar to ships and aircraft; namely they must be quickly, easily and rapidly refueled and re-launched in a matter of minutes or hours instead of weeks or months. Thus any major disassembly to replace spent components, fuel grains, pyroactuator charges, etc. is counterproductive to the vision of rocket transportation as I view it. So I try very hard to avoid them.
Having said that, for sheer "wow!" appeal, solids and hybrids are great. In fact I have some plans for a Zinc/Sulfur micrograin rocket on the Rocket Projects page.
In addition, I am working on a number of electronics projects for rockets. Most of these can be adapted for MR or HPR. The idea of this electronics research is to develop telemetry, tracking, and instrumentation payloads that can be easily reconfigured for certain missions, as well as providing data to allow autonomous control by the rocket itself. Frequent visitors to Am/Ex and HPR launches will likely agree that the biggest area where work needs to be done is in the area of recovery of launch vehicles. So I will be dedicating a lot of effort to the design of robust and reliable recovery systems. I'm going to have lots of expensive electronics flying on my birds. I want them back.
The areas of my current research projects are listed below. Some are new projects, just getting started. Some are projects that I have been working on for a while. Some are just ideas that I haven't even made web pages for, just place holders for when I get something made. I hope you enjoy browsing through these pages and I hope you find something here that can help you.
Experimental rocketry is most definately NOT a hobby or a sport. It can be very dangerous and even fatal for those who are inexperienced or inattentive. This site is designed to be a public repository of knowledge gained through experimental rocketry. These are not toys. None of the rocket projects described on this site should be attempted without adequate preparation, training, study, and prior research. Minors should not perform this kind of research without adult supervision, and I know some adults who should not perform this kind of research without adult supervision. Learn all you can about the technologies involved before attempting to build or launch any experimental rocketry project. Join a news list like "Arocket" and ask questions. Above all, BE SAFE!!! DISCLAIMER
By providing and releasing into the public domain, the information and techniques I have learned, I do not recommend that anyone attempt to build or try anything described herein. I publicly disclaim any and all responsibility for your life, limbs or property if you attempt to reproduce any of the experiments or activities described in this site. The reader accepts all responsibility for any actions they may take as a result of their actions, and accepts the consequences thereof.
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Last updated: 8 May, 2002