What More Can a Rocket Do?

Yesterday marked our last and final day of rocket launching. We had been anticipating the arrival of this date for the last week and a half and have been doing everything we can to prepare a sustainable rocket model that would meet all requirements for this project. The journey to arrive at our final launch day was a long and strenuous one, but in the end very rewarding.

Our first day of launching required each group to launch a 2L bottle filled with 500 mL of water. The water within the bottle would act as fuel, allowing our rocket to shoot up toward the sky. In addition to using water to fuel our rocket, we also filled our bottle rocket with 45 psi of air pressure. This launch acted as a test drive and was our first step toward determining an effective bottle rocket structure. In doing so, we viewed other blog posts from our classmates and tried to plan the modifications that we would add to our rocket.

Our second day of launching consisted of two launches for credit. Each group needed to launch both a 2L bottle with no modifications as well as a second bottle with modifications. On our first rocket launch of just the bottle itself, we acquired a time of 5.0 seconds. During this launch we added 500 mL of water and pumped 40 psi of air into our bottle. The second launch consisted of three wings made out of cardboard and held together with duct tape. Unfortunately, this launch only sustained for 2.3 seconds. From this trial, we concluded that the material used for our fins might have been too heavy for our rocket.

Our third day of launching day began our third trial day. During this trial, we added a cone to make it a bit more aerodynamic and a parachute attached under it to lengthen the drop once it has reached its maximum height. This time we filled our bottle with 600mL of water and pumped about 60psi, which sustained it in the air for about 3.2 seconds. Unfortunately we got results that weren’t rewarding but we did get results that will definitely help us to create another rocket that will help us reach our ultimate goal. In doing so, we predicted that our bottle needs to be elongated, new wings need to be added because during this trial they’re too heavy, and finally we need to some how find a balance between our bottle’s modifications with the amount of water and pressure inserted into our rocket. At this point, we utilized the efforts of the internet and found a sight that is added below displaying steps in creating a rocket with a parachute and a cone.

Our fourth day of launching required it to sustain for a total of 5 seconds. In doing so, Lehua was very determined in creating a new rocket to launch with modifications that differed from our previous launches. It consisted of new wings that were made out of plastic portfolios, a plastic cone, straws strung with string to hold our 33 diameter parachute.

On the board read, “Rain or Shine......we’re launching”. Once again, the weather did not feel like cooperating with us. The rain was constant while the wind was extremely strong. The task for today was to launch a rocket that could remain in the air for 10 seconds minimum. If our rocket was able to stay in the air for this amount of time, we would receive 10 point of regular credit as well as 10 extra points. On the final day, we obtained an average of 6.6 seconds or a maximum of time of 9.5 seconds. On our most successful launch of this project, we used 800 mL of water and 60 psi at launching point. Ultimately, this project helped us to problem solve and acquire knowledge of rocket building.