Rocket Launcher

In February of 2003 in my physics and calculus class we had a huge project to do. My partner Stacia and I built model rockets. We also built two different types of data collecting apparatus. With each rocket launch we computed Acceleration, Force, Velocity, Max Altitude etc. etc. I built three different rockets for the project. They were all built from a kits with cardboard tubes and plastic nose cones. The big modification to the instructions came when instead of paint I "wall papered" the rockets. Each rocket needed a personality. I worked with Adobe PhotoShop to come up with the three themes for each rocket. The designs were printed out on High Gloss paper and glued with 3M Super77 to the various parts of the rocket. Once that was complete I applied 5-7 coats of an auto body clear coat.

The first rocket is a tribute to Robert Goddard. Goddard was the guy that made the first liquid fueled rocket I also put images of Goddard on the fins.

The second rocket I did in a Cowboy Bebop theme. Each fin has one of the three main characters on it with their respected ships on the back side of the fin.

I had to do a rocket in a Tank Girl theme. Tank girl was the most fun to launch, she is also the one who took the most abuse while launching.

Before a single rocket launched there needed to be a rocket launcher. A store bought rocket launcher looks like a cheap square flashlight. It is rare that I get to push a button these days to make something take off and I wanted this launcher to reflect the project. I built a new rocket launcher from common parts that could be found at radio shack. Everything is housed in a plastic "project box". There are two switches, I have a keyed round switch and a push button switch. The rocket must have the key inserted and turned on to launch the rocket. Once the key is in the launcher it warns the user with a 5000mcd "armed" light. The countdown starts then press the momentary contact button switch for "fire". I did the graphics on the launcher with tank girl again and covered the image with 1/8th inch Plexiglas.

I drew a quick schematic of this very simple circuit layout for any one interested.