Model Rocket Propulsion

On this page, you'll find links to other sites that have more information on model rocket motors, propulsion, and how rockets work. Please tell us if they become dead links so that we can remove them.

http://www.im.lcs.mit.edu/rocket/eqns.html Designing a Liquid propellant rocket engine (College Level)

http://users.commkey.net/Braeunig/space/propuls.htm Rocket propulsion formulas (High School and above)

http://library.thinkquest.org/12145/propul3.htm Propulsion Efficiency of a Rocket motor (high school level)

http://impulseaero.com/Software/MotorTutor/index.html Animated Solid Rocket Motor Tutorial. This program presents a clear animated slide show on solid rocket motor nomenclature, and how the internal components burn to produce thrust (FREEWARE).

http://www.rocketvision.com/scripts/WebObjects.exe/RocketVision.woa/37/wo/rs00002H000it400ej/1.2.17Explains how rocket engines work and the impulse/delay code system (beginner level)

http://www.ehobbies.com/ShowContent.asp?ContentID=articles_19991224_ro-engineworks&CATALOG=ROCKETRY Nicer diagrams of how rocket engines work.

http://www.rocketvision.com/scripts/WebObjects.exe/RocketVision.woa/36/wo/3i7000S3100vC200Fn/1.2.9 Discusses how the different types of hobby rocketry differ, how they're the same, and a little bit about the history of hobby rocketry.

http://lekstutis.com/Artie/LandShark/Hobbies/Rocketry/Software.htm a software program for determining the characteristics of different propellant formulations. (college level)

http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/rocket1.htm Introduction to Rocket Performance. An excellent site that mostly describes real rockets, but it is just as applicable to model rockets.

http://www.usrockets.com/motors/grain_geo.html Drawings of rocket motor grain geometries, and how their thrust curves differ.

http://www.ridgenet.net/~thehalls/Rockets/Faq24/faq24.html Unique propulsion systems used in real rockets.

http://www.Aerospace1.homestead.com/Rocketflight.html Contains descriptions of common rocket propellants, and a partial rocketry glossary.

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/dragco.html Definition of the thrust equation (high school level).

http://www.starship.org/LUNAR/handbook/motors.html Primer on rocket motors. How they work, how they are classified, sizes, NAR Certification list, and how to insert igniters.

http://www.dnaco.net/~dantassi/motors.html Dimensions of all certified model rocket motors.

http://www.irving.org/rocketry/types/ Explaination of the different types of rocket motors, from small size to the bigger ones. (elementary level).

http://www.irving.org/rocketry/igniters/ Rocket motor igniters in the presence of strong radio waves. Some safety concerns you need to consider when handling rocket motors, ejection charges, and igniters.

http://home.swbell.net/sbaughmn/propulsion.html Description of the components in composite propellant motors, particular emphisis on reloadable motors.

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Cockpit/1938/data.html Software for designing rocket motors. Very technical.

http://www.fortunepaint.com/thiokol_rocket_basics.htm History, theory, and practical rocket propulsion from Thiokol. The latter parts describe real space motors, but overall, it is a good reference for all modelers.

http://www.cosrocs.org/articles/cato.html Explaination of the term "CATO," and how to prevent them from occuring.

http://www.atf.treas.gov/explarson/fedexplolaw/index.htm BATF Orange Book of Federal Explosives laws. These laws pertain to the chemicals that are used to make model rocket motors.

http://www.fortunepaint.com/gizmos.htm - A bunch of little gadgets for high power rockets and hybrid motors.

http://www.cmass.org/radiocmass.html sounds of rocket motors

http://www.bookcase.com/library/faq/archive/model-rockets/ignition-tips.html tips for igniting motors, including staging composites, clusters, and other high-tech methods. Text only.

Motor Thrust Curves and Data for Simulation Software

http://www.nar.org/SandT/NARenglist.shtml - NAR web page where you can download pdf files of the thrust curves of different rocket motors.

https://www.idrive.com/gacrowell/WRASP list of motors.

http://public.surfree.com/urbanek/rockets/RockSimFiles.htm RockSim motor files for downloading. Includes some of the data files not found at other locations.

http://www.thrustcurve.org/ A large site devoted strictly to motor data files.

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