Rocket How To - READ ME FIRST

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marksteamnz
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Rocket How To - READ ME FIRST

Post by marksteamnz » Sun Nov 13, 2005 3:02 am

Basic Information, Please Read First

SOLID PROPELLENT ROCKETS
The basic types available to the amateur constructor are

Sugar (fuel) with potassium nitrate, KNO3 or Sodium nitrate NaNO3 (Oxidizer) also known as candy propellant. The propellant can be improved by using specific sugars ie dextrose. The components can be dry or wet mixed or melted together, with care.
See http://www.nakka-rocketry.net for a very comprehensive primer on this propellant and a very good education on rocketry.

Zinc sulphur This is a rocket propellant that has fallen from favour as it is less predictable with a isp similar to candy. A manual called Micrograin by BJ Humphries may be available via Amazon or Abe books http://www.abebooks.com

For the advanced experimenter ammonium perchlorate, aluminium powder set in a solid rubber binder is the most powerful propellant the amateur can work with. The solid fuel boosters on the space shuttle use this mix. See http://www.nzex.tk for hobbyists working with this propellant combination.
A very good book is How to make Amateur Rockets
Cheers
Mark Stacey
www.cncprototyping.co.nz

marksteamnz
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Re: Rocket How To - READ ME FIRST

Post by marksteamnz » Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:40 am

Solid propellant rockets
The basic types available to the amateur constructor are
Sugar (fuel) with potassium nitrate, KNO3 or Sodium nitrate NaNO3 (Oxidizer) also known as candy propellant. The propellant can be improved by using specific sugars ie dextrose. The components can be dry or wet mixed or melted together, with care.
See www.nakka-rocketry.net for a very comprehensive primer on this propellant and a very good education on rocketry..

zinc sulphur This is a rocket propellant that has fallen from favour as it is less predictable with a isp similar to candy. A manual called Micrograin by BJ Humphries may be available via Amazon or Abe books www.abebooks.com

For the advanced experimenter ammonium perchlorate, aluminium powder set is a solid rubber binder is the most powerful propellant the amateur can work with. The solid fuel boosters on the space shuttle use this mix. See www.nzex.tk for hobbyists working with this propellant combination.

A very good book is “How to make Amateur Rockets” from
http://www.space-rockets.com/newbook.html

NB oxidisers for solid fuel rockets are becoming hard to come by as the WOT strengthens the hand of the pursed lip brigade.

Hydrogen Peroxide
As a monopropellant this liquid can be decomposed to steam and oxygen, if fuel, is injected as well a higher isp can be achieved but complexity increases
The book Rocket powered racing vehicles using Hydrogen Peroxide of 90% strength by BJ Humphries & Douglas Malewicki gives an overview
Purchase from
http://www.canosoarus.com/17Misc/Products.htm
See these links for details of what can be done
http://www.swissrocketman.com/
http://www.rocketbelt.co.uk/
http://www.peroxidepropulsion.com/
http://www.tecaeromex.com/

Steam Rockets
There is one book on this topic called Steam Rockets byBJ Humphries & FB Wagner III Buy it from http://www.canosoarus.com/17Misc/Products.htm
http://www.tecaeromex.com/
BJ Aerospace on Youtube A very light hearted approach that is NOT RECOMENDED

Monopropellants Nitromethane, Nitropropane etc
Only one company, Turbonique, used these propellants on a large scale. The dangers with this witches brew caused them to abandon the market. Parts sometimes appear on Ebay and the manuals are avalaible from www.the-rocketman.com


This is the correct version of my post the original was truncated when the forum migrated.
Found it in an over looked part of my computer. :)
Cheers
Mark
Cheers
Mark Stacey
www.cncprototyping.co.nz

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