Launch Talk June 26th

 

 

 

Welcome to Launch Talk!

My name is Alexander Kennedy and I'm learning about 2-liter pop bottle rockets.  The rocket in this picture is my rocket that I built.  Blue is my favorite color!  As you can see it's standing on the rocket launcher. The rocket is a two-liter pop bottle with cardboard wings of a "swept fin" design.  The highest this rocket has gone is 144 feet.  This is actually the second rocket I built.  The first one flew about 100 feet, so I modified the design a bit. The first rocket was made from two pop bottles.  I cut out the bottom of one and attached it to the end of the other pop bottle.  Then, I used lots of duct tape and paper for the wings.  I think it performed pretty well, but the paper wings tore apart quickly.  I also decided to duct tape the entire surface of the second rocket.

 

Please share your ideas.  I'd like to hear them.  It doesn't seem like more water or more air makes a difference in the launch.  What makes a successful rocket launch in your opinion?