Home-build Rocket

[Pedro Wilson]

Hi, i'm new in the forum, just singed in.I was thinking of doing a nice science project next year, which i will be on the first year of High School. My main goal with this project is to exceed the limit of 14 km of altitude. I'm not an expert in this subject but i have time to learn.
Below will be the questions i have:

Dimensions, what would be more efficient?

Fuel, what should i use?

Basics physic(and chemistry) subjects i should know before starting.

Expanses, is it too expansive (not a big problem but i have to know if i'm going to spend $500 or $5000)?

Launch site, where would be a good place to launch it (a desert or something?)?


I'm really a beginner so anything you can tell me that will help me with this will be very useful, but please understand that what i'm trying to do is greater than that bottle rockets.

P.s: Sorry for any mistakes i make, English is not my native language. And please don't judge me , i'm just a guy with an idea.

[caKus]

Hi Pedro,

 

The first questions you must solve are : Is it legally permitted in your country ? Are there special regulations ? Is it safe for you and other people ?".

 

When I was a teen (quite a long time ago), I my country, hobbyist were not allowed to build rocket engines but some governement agency could provide a safe engine for experiment. Nowadays, making fly aircraft models is a regulated and restricted activity.

[Pedro Wilson]

Hi Pedro,

 

The first questions you must solve are : Is it legally permitted in your country ? Are there special regulations ? Is it safe for you and other people ?".

 

When I was a teen (quite a long time ago), I my country, hobbyist were not allowed to build rocket engines but some governement agency could provide a safe engine for experiment. Nowadays, making fly aircraft models is a regulated and restricted activity.

 

I think it is permitted, but ''i think'' is never a good answer so i will get in touch with the army or some other government agency so I can clear the things out (as a matter effect i live in Brazil).

It would be safe since i will have the support of my teachers (it would be too dangerous doing this by my self), and about other people that's why i asked about the launching site, i don't want the rocket parts falling into someones head.

Edited December 19, 2012 by Pedro Wilson

[caKus]

I suppose that you must first check with the ANAC (Agencia national de Aviacion Civil) : The airspace at an altitude above 1200 feet (around 400m) is generally regulated. The ANAC must have done some regulations about amateur rockets and you will need an authorization of the Air Traffic Control before launching your rocket : 14 km is a usual cruize altitude for commercial flights !

 

Here is a link to the american National Association of Rocketery. They give some interresting informations about security and they say they can provide safe engines to their members. http://www.nar.org/about.html

 

Saudacoes cordais de Francia.

[Pedro Wilson]

I suppose that you must first check with the ANAC (Agencia national de Aviacion Civil) : The airspace at an altitude above 1200 feet (around 400m) is generally regulated. The ANAC must have done some regulations about amateur rockets and you will need an authorization of the Air Traffic Control before launching your rocket : 14 km is a usual cruize altitude for commercial flights !

 

Here is a link to the american National Association of Rocketery. They give some interresting informations about security and they say they can provide safe engines to their members. http://www.nar.org/about.html

 

Saudacoes cordais de Francia.

 

 

 

Thank you, i will check that. I thought this forum was more active, but anyway thanks for your response.

 

P.s: Just talked to ANAC, my question was '' is there any regulation for construction and launching amateur rockets?''. They said i will receive the answer within 20 day, but as soon as i receive it i will put here.

Edited December 20, 2012 by Pedro Wilson

[Aerospace enthusiast]

I have a story my grandpa told me. But before I say this and you all say he lied I must tell you something you can look him up. He worked for the company endevco which made parts for space shuttles and my grandpa stopped a shuttle launch because of a mechanical problem. He is jeri duke. Okay now to the story. When he was 14 him and his brother built a big rocket. It used simple parts and was very big like 6-10 ft tall. So he built an engine for this thing out of pool chlorine and powdered sugar. They took it to the desert and launched it. Boy did it fly. He said that it went about 30 miles(50 km) into the air and arched over. When they found it there was a car that had the rocket in the windshield and the owner was mad. The lesson learned chlorine is a good oxidizer and put a parachute on the rocket.

 

Hi, i'm new in the forum, just singed in.I was thinking of doing a nice science project next year, which i will be on the first year of High School. My main goal with this project is to exceed the limit of 14 km of altitude. I'm not an expert in this subject but i have time to learn.

Below will be the questions i have:

 

Dimensions, what would be more efficient?

Fuel, what should i use?

Basics physic(and chemistry) subjects i should know before starting.

Expanses, is it too expansive (not a big problem but i have to know if i'm going to spend $500 or $5000)?

Launch site, where would be a good place to launch it (a desert or something?)?

I'm really a beginner so anything you can tell me that will help me with this will be very useful, but please understand that what i'm trying to do is greater than that bottle rockets.

P.s: Sorry for any mistakes i make, English is not my native language. And please don't judge me , i'm just a guy with an idea.

I like your idea I am from Michigan and I'm working on a rocket for a science fair to and what I found is that hybrid engines work great and use PVC pipe instead of metal and for the nozzle I use fire clay and get a narrow funnel for the divergent slope

 

Also don't listen to the Internet chlorine works great

[shreyasshree]

Hi, i'm new in the forum, just singed in.I was thinking of doing a nice science project next year, which i will be on the first year of High School. My main goal with this project is to exceed the limit of 14 km of altitude. I'm not an expert in this subject but i have time to learn.

Below will be the questions i have:

 

Dimensions, what would be more efficient?

 

Fuel, what should i use?

 

Basics physic(and chemistry) subjects i should know before starting.

 

Expanses, is it too expansive (not a big problem but i have to know if i'm going to spend $500 or $5000)?

 

Launch site, where would be a good place to launch it (a desert or something?)?

 

 

I'm really a beginner so anything you can tell me that will help me with this will be very useful, but please understand that what i'm trying to do is greater than that bottle rockets.

 

P.s: Sorry for any mistakes i make, English is not my native language. And please don't judge me , i'm just a guy with an idea.

What about Kno3 + Sugar as a fuel? Will it fly that high?

[barfbag]

@ OP,

 

I will point at post # 6. It seems like solid advice all around, and it appears the poster joined Scienceforums to answer your question which is very nice.

 

Talk of approvals makes me wonder about where you could do this. That posters Grandad went to desert to do it.

 

You could sail into international waters and try a water launch, but the US navy might think you are starting WWIII and shoot you.

 

The parachute sounded like sound advice. The odds of it killing are slim, but would you really want any chance of such thing?

 

If you're successful on this scale I'll commission you to send my DNA to the moon so future generations can clone a few thousand of me.

 

Sounds like a fun project.