Design 1A Rocket challenge by Rusty Howson

3) Test designs

rhowson4 — 2025-05-05 16:46:38 UTC

Include:

What design idea are you testing?

your design

Image of built rocket before flight

how far it went (test 3 times)

Image of rocket after flight

1) Build a first rocket

rhowson4 — 2025-05-05 16:47:56 UTC

Insert a picture of your first rocket?

How well did it work?

Any thoughts on how to make it better?

2) Brainstorm design ideas

rhowson4 — 2025-05-05 16:48:13 UTC

As a group, brainstorm ideas for making rockets that travel further. Record these ideas either in a google doc or visually on paper and insert/link in a post

First rocket

rhowson4 — 2025-05-05 17:03:31 UTC

This was my first rocket. 3 fins and a pointy nose. Taping the top of the tube and connecting the nose cone was kind of a pain and could be improved. Went pretty far though!

Build/test template

rhowson4 — 2025-05-05 17:06:06 UTC

1) What is the design idea you are testing?

2) Insert a picture of your rocket(s)

3) Test your rocket (preferably multiple times) and record the data like so:

Design #X

Test 1:

Air pressure: XX psi

Distance traveled: XXX ft/m

Test 2:

Air pressure: XX psi

Distance traveled: XXX ft/m

Project inspiration

rhowson4 — 2025-05-07 18:04:50 UTC

This instructables post was the inspiration for the project. The post is mostly about how to build the launcher, but contains some rocket building instructions towards the end (Step 13)

jscott28_2 — 2025-05-07 19:51:04 UTC

Pointy top

Rocket

gmartin25_3 — 2025-05-07 19:51:49 UTC

cto28 — 2025-05-07 19:52:06 UTC

jscott28_2 — 2025-05-07 19:52:47 UTC

Change the angle of launcher

gmartin25_3 — 2025-05-07 19:55:36 UTC

Adding weight (paper clips or dimes)

Initial Brainstorm

znelson28 — 2025-05-07 19:56:18 UTC

Not bulky
Stylish but simple
Rocket nose is taped well (no air gaps)
Weight distribution
Three or four fins
Nose cone is pointed
As narrow as possible

First Rocket

crosedale25 — 2025-05-07 19:56:21 UTC

tape nosecone to the top better

cto28 — 2025-05-07 19:56:35 UTC

First Rocket

dmargaritoreyes28 — 2025-05-07 19:57:29 UTC

First Rocket

znelson28 — 2025-05-07 19:57:46 UTC

gmartin25_3 — 2025-05-07 19:59:39 UTC

Team name brainstorm

gmartin25_3 — 2025-05-07 20:00:20 UTC

qcarr28 — 2025-05-07 20:07:54 UTC

qcarr28 — 2025-05-07 20:11:16 UTC

ibaristiran28 — 2025-05-07 20:16:55 UTC

Tested Rockets

znelson28 — 2025-05-07 20:38:19 UTC

Test Rocket 1:

Narrow nose

Three fins

40 PSI

Horizontal length: 137 feet

Test Rocket 2:

Narrow nose

Four fins

40 PSI

Horizontal length: 154 feet

Test Rocket 1 After Flight

znelson28 — 2025-05-07 20:38:59 UTC

Bent nose cone

Test Rocket 2 After Flight

znelson28 — 2025-05-07 20:43:20 UTC

Slightly bent nose cone

maybe add paperclip for weight

smenning27 — 2025-05-07 21:00:23 UTC

jlion28 — 2025-05-07 21:00:49 UTC

gtan28 — 2025-05-07 21:01:28 UTC

Rocket #1

mfranklin28 — 2025-05-07 21:02:36 UTC

PDF of rocket fins

rhowson4 — 2025-05-07 21:04:57 UTC

PDF of rocket cones

rhowson4 — 2025-05-07 21:05:26 UTC

First rocket

syee28_1 — 2025-05-07 21:26:32 UTC

Flew over to the YMCA parking lot. Never to be seen again

First Rocket

hshimotake28 — 2025-05-07 21:28:18 UTC

Flew really far, hit the ground hard

First Working Rocket

mfranklin28 — 2025-05-07 21:49:10 UTC

Paper Airplane

mfranklin28 — 2025-05-09 17:55:39 UTC

This definetly not flying

Final Rockets

znelson28 — 2025-05-09 20:30:33 UTC

Final rocket 1:

Narrow nose

Regular barrel

Four fins

30 PSI

Horizontal length:

Final rocket 2:

Narrow nose

Short barrel

Three fins

30 PSI

Horizontal length:

Final rocket 3:

Narrow nose

Regular barrel

Five fins; 2 high on the barrel and 3 low

30 PSI

Horizontal length:

Final Rocket 1 Before Flight

znelson28 — 2025-05-09 20:45:21 UTC

Final Rocket 2 Before Flight

znelson28 — 2025-05-09 20:48:07 UTC

Rockets in order of distance traveled (bottom=farthest)

bbuell28 — 2025-05-09 20:56:37 UTC

All Rockets made

bbuell28 — 2025-05-09 20:56:55 UTC

Final Rocket 3 Before Flight

znelson28 — 2025-05-09 21:00:01 UTC