DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY ©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 How to be a Rocket Scientist Rocket Workshop

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Today’s Timetable  (now); this talk  – Coffee  – 12.45; Rocket construction  – Lunch  1.45 – Travel to University playing fields to fly rockets  3.00 (approx) return to Science Learning Centre  3.30 – Plenary and Evaluation  4.00 – End of Workshop

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Rocket Workshop  Why do we need to go into space  How do rockets work?  Flying rockets for research  Flying model rockets –Practical background, costs, sources –Flight instructions –Safety

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 William Herschel The Nature of Light – The Electromagnetic Spectrum Gamma-ray X-ray Infra-red Radio Wavelength   Energy E Ultraviolet Visible Isaac Newton ( )

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Why Go Into Space  Most of the spectrum lies outside the visible  The Earth’s atmosphere stops this radiation  We need to get instruments outside the atmosphere

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Thrust Is What We Need!  Rockets do not “push” against anything –If they did, how would they work in space?  Law of conservation of momentum –Comes from Newton’s laws of motion  What is momentum? –Property of all moving objects (p) –Momentum = Mass x Velocity (p=mv)

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Conservation of Momentum m 1 v 1 = m 2 v 2

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Conservation of Momentum Δm is small, but the exhaust gas is hot, so u ex is large. Momentum change is large.

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Generic Curriculum Links  Sc1 – Scientific Enquiry –Ideas and Evidence (1b) –Investigative Skills  Sc4 – Physical Processes –Forces and Motion (2a-d)

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Rocket Components

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Rocket Operations

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 NASA/Ames

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 The J-PEX Spectrometer ) ) Ion etched, blazed grating. ) ) MoSi multilayers for high reflection ) ) Spherical figure, 2.2m focal length

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Telescope aperture

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 T-minus 1 month

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 White Sands Missile Range T-minus 2 weeks

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Carlton TV ©2000

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Carlton TV ©2000

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Carlton TV ©2000

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Cut Down!  The payload functioned well  We did not get any data  We recovered the telescope intact  Chance to fly again

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005

9.55pm 21 st Feb 2001 NASA/WSMR

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Black Brant burnout Despin Payload Separation Payload door open Payload switch on Go to Sirius Detector door open Go to Capella Blind offset > G191-B2B Telescope on Telescope/payload off Black Brant impact Parachute deployment Payload impact T + 50 T + 60 T + 70 T + 80 T + 90 T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T + 860

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Carlton TV ©2001

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Now its your turn!

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 What you need  Starter kit –Launch pad, electronic controller, one rocket –Cost ~ £25  Solid rocket motors –Purchase separately –Cost ~£5 per pack of 3  Igniters –Purchase spares –Cost ~£1.50 per pack of 6  Recovery wadding –Cost ~£3.00 per pack of 50 sheets (need 3 per flight)  Additional model rockets –Cheapest ~£6.00, up to ~£20.00  Risk Assessment –See example on CD

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Important information  Model rocket shops –Deepsky Rockets ( –Rockets ‘n’ Things ( –Apollo 11 Rockets (  More information on the web –UK Rocket Association ( –Blastoff 4 Britain (

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005

What can you do?  Simple measurements of altitude –Using triangulation –Video of flight  Measure velocity and acceleration –Frame capture/video  Launch and recover an egg  Take aerial photos  Fly some electronics –e.g. Altitude vs. time measurement  Start a rocket club

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Rocket Engines

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Rocket Preparation

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Rocket Preparation Rocket Preparation

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Regulations  Rocket motors up to and including E – class are unregulated –i.e. No license required –You can fly these anywhere, within the bounds of common sense –But take note of safety codes  They  They do fall under the regulations for keeping and storing fireworks –You can purchase and keep limited quantities at home for near-term use –To store in a public building need a secure store and a license “to keep” (about £15 from local council)

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Safety Code 1.Launch Site - launch model rockets outdoors in a cleared area, free of tall trees, power lines, building and dry brush and grass. Launch site will be at least as large as that recommended in the following table. 2.Launcher - launch model rocket from a stable launch device that provides rigid guidance until the model rocket has reached a speed adequate to ensure a safe flight path. 3.To prevent accidental eye injury, always place the launcher so the end of the rod is above eye level or cap the end of the rod when approaching it. Cap or disassemble launch rod when not in use, never store it in an upright position. 4.Launcher will have a jet deflector device to prevent the engine exhaust from hitting the ground directly. Always clear the area around launch device of brown grass, dry weeds, or other easy-to-burn materials 4.Launcher - will have a jet deflector device to prevent the engine exhaust from hitting the ground directly. Always clear the area around launch device of brown grass, dry weeds, or other easy-to-burn materials Total Impulse Engine Type Minimum Size B 60 metres

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Safety Code 5.Ignition System - The system will be remotely controlled, electrically operated and will contain a launching switch that will return to off when released. The system will contain removable safety interlock in series with the launch switch. All persons will remain at least 15 feet (5 meters) from the model rocket. 6.Launch Safety - Ensure that people in the launch area are aware of the pending model rocket launch and can see the model rocket’s liftoff before beginning an audible five-second countdown. If rocket suffers a misfire, do not approach it or the launcher until the safety interlock has been removed or that the battery has been disconnected from the ignition system. Wait one minute after a misfire before approaching the launcher. 7.Flying Conditions - Launch rockets only when the wind is less than 20 miles (30 kilometers) an hour. Do not launch rockets into clouds, near aircraft in flight, or in a manner that is hazardous to people or property. 8.Launching Angle - Launch device will be pointed within 30 degrees of vertical. 9.Recovery Hazards - If a model rocket becomes entangled in a power line or other dangerous place, do not attempt to retrieve it. 10.Follow instructions!

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 General Rules 1.Follow the safety guidelines. 2.Practice rocket preparation. 3.In the event of a misfire, remove the safety key from the controller and wait 60 seconds before disconnecting the micro-clips. Then remove the rocket and replace the igniter. 4.Only “launch crew” should be near controller. 5.Recovery of the rocket should only be by a chosen recovery team or launch crew. 6.Do not leave the launch site.

©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 Finally  This presentation (rslc_rocket.ppt) can be downloaded from… Along with the example risk assessment (included in NAGTY workshop document – nagty_rocketwkshop.doc)

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY ©M.A.Barstow – Rocket Workshop 2005 How to be a Rocket Scientist Rocket Workshop