How to rockets stabilize themselves with little or no fins?
I just thought of NASA's satellite carrying rockets and realized they have almost no visible stabilizers. I wondered how they were able to fly relatively straight. Do they move the output of exhaust or something like that?
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Gyro controlled exhaust ducting, if you check out the time before these existed, you'll note the number of spectacular fails from destabilization
Feb 3, 2009. 7:16 AMMoonrabbit
says:
Now if you're looking for a way to make a rocket stabilize with little to no fins for some personal application where gyros may not be an option... Mmmm gyros.... Ahem... Just look at the fins on a shotgun slug. Shotguns for buckshot don't have a rifling on in the bore because they'd be damaged by the shot. So they put the rifling on the slug it's self. .50 cal BMG has something like it too, even though those barrels are rifled. The tapering at the back of the bullet has something to do with the stabilization as well. I forget what they call that shape of bullet, something like 'Boat-tail.' This will be a little more practical for something like a model rocket.
Jul 12, 2009. 9:15 AMgeodez
says:
actually, i have seen some shotguns with rifling. the only affect is the shot flies in a hollow tube-shape instead of a ball.
Jul 12, 2009. 9:14 AMgeodez
says:
as nova hawk said, the gyro controlled exhaust ducting, also 3 small half cylinders around the exhaust pipe arranged in a sort of drill-bit type shape allow it to be stabilized with no visual stabilizers. also a heavier front end works nicely if it is to fly in an arc.
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