Introduction: 10 Minute Rocket
This instructable will teach you how to build a simple, ultra light rocket from household items (and of course a rocket engine)
Here's the supply list:
- 1 tube of superglue
- 1 roll of tinfoil
- 1 straw big enough to fit around your launch rod
- 1 deck of playing cards that you don't mind parting with
- 1 C rocket engine
- several rocket engine detonators + plugs
- 1 electronic detonator (and necessary cables)
WARNING: This is totally dangerous. I didn't die, but you might. It is NOT MY FAULT if you hurt yourself following these instructions.
Step 1: Building Yourself Some Fins
The fins themselves are pretty simple, the difficult part is positioning them evenly around the rocket. To make a fin, first you'll need to fold a playing card in half hamburger style. Take your superglue and seal the folded halves together, like a sandwich. Glue is going to ooze out the sides and get all over your fingers, but just suck it up and take it like a man. Make two of these sandwiches and let the glue completely dry.
Now you can need to do a little bit of measuring, but nothing too complicated. Take one of the folded cards and put it perpendicular to the other, forming an L. Mark off the edge and cut it away so you're left with one square-ish shape. Repeat with the other folded card and, if you've done everything correctly thus far you should be left with two pseudo-squares.
Take these faux-squares and cut diagonally across from the curved corner to the corner directly opposite. You should now have four fin shapes, congratulations. Now onto the difficult part, attaching them.
Step 2: Attaching the Fins
Basically, you want the fins to be completely perpendicular to each other. I realize that this is darn near impossible, but if you somehow screw up the positioning horribly the rocket could possibly come back and hit you in the face. Take your time.
I've attached a template PDF to this step, I would recommend printing it out and using it as a guide when you're gluing. Superglue is really REALLY good at bonding cardboard, so you're only going to get one shot at this. Line up your engine, apply a small amount of glue to the edge of the fin, and take the dive. The first fin is the easiest, but every other fin has to be positioned as accurately as possible to prevent the rocket from spinning out. Again, just take your time and it should be fine.
Once you have all the fins loosely attached, apply a liberal amount of glue to the seams. You do not want one of these falling off mid flight.
Put the rocket in the sun to dry, the next step is going to take a while.
Attachments
Step 3: Sculpting a Nose Cone
Take a large piece of aluminum foil, about 5" by 5", and begin to shape it into a cone. This step is a little tricky and it takes a bit of practice, but you'll probably get it after your third or fourth failed cone. You'll want to rub it on a smooth surface to work out all the kinks, and over time (with liberal amounts of elbow grease) the cone should begin to take shape. Be sure to check that the tip is centered after every few minutes of honing, if it is skewed it could also affect the trajectory of your rocket.
Once you're satisfied with your cone, just glue it onto the end of your rocket. Mine happened to fit perfectly within the cardboard tube, but it's fine if yours is a bit larger. I applied a good puddle of glue around the cone and waited for it to harden, just to ensure the cone was attached snugly.
Step 4: Attaching the Launch Lug
Cut a piece of straw about the length of your rocket's body. Carefully glue it between two of your fins, and position it parallel to the body. Wait for it to dry, and then again apply more glue. You don't want this one to fall off either, it's a pretty crucial part of the rocket.
Once your launch lug is dried on, you're all done. FInd a good open area to launch it and prepare the detonator.
Step 5: LAUNCH
Carefully insert the detonator and seal the hole with a plug. Clip the leads onto the ends of the detonator, and tilt the launch pad away from you at about a 45 degree angle. Step back, and press the button. If all goes according to plan, the rocket should shoot off the launch pad and fly pretty darn far. I've attached a video of two launches to this step; the first was a failure, but the second was a success. Just note that it was a really windy day, I would really recommend launching on a much calmer day. Have fun!
Attachments
Be the First to Share
Recommendations
Make It Bridge
Big and Small Contest
For the Home Contest
103 Comments
4 months ago
Great article. The only thing I would add is that it is NOT recommended to launch a rocket past 30 degrees from vertical.
7 years ago on Introduction
Great. Except I'm not a certified rocket launcher and I don't want to have to buy myself a engine or whatever it is called. If you have any suggestions please let me know. I'm only a beginner. First time.
Reply 6 years ago
You dont have to be certifed to get small engines
8 years ago on Introduction
This looks like a neat project to try out with my son.
10 years ago on Introduction
cool rockets.are its works?
10 years ago on Introduction
Well gee I just read all of ur comments and i think that i would learn less in a beginning physics class!
10 years ago on Introduction
Great instructable. I've thought about doing this in the past and just haven't taken the time. Clever idea for the nose cone. If you backed each fin up a little then they could help support each other(see diagram). The only problem with a rocket like this is if it maintains a parabolic trajectory towards the ground rather then just tumble because if this happens then it will continue to gain momentum as if falls and can do considerable damage. Hopefully when the ejection charge blows it will blow the nose cone off causing it to tumble rather then follow a parabolic trajectory.
10 years ago on Introduction
Hello (zach),
I loved the instructable, and it reminded me of rocket I made last summer. By made I mean that I found as many engines as I could, chad staged them, and stuck fins on 'em. Attached is a picture. It flew. Mostly.
14 years ago on Introduction
LOL... Did this with a D engine. We glued a kabob stick to it so it looked just like a bottle rocket. Fun stuff, still have all our fingers !
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
and eyes?
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Yes but i doubt he can hear anymore lol
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Yep, I can still hear, although all of the industrial tools I've used have knocked my hearing out in a few places.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Unfortunately, I'm blind in both ears and deaf in both eyes, so...
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
lol
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Yep, both eyes
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Gluing a pointy stick to an already unstable rocket is about the only thing you could do that is more stupid then actually making it in the first place.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
The stick makes it stable.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Cast the first stone...
12 years ago on Introduction
HAHA
I saw somebody launch a multi-stage one of these! Just loosely tape a booster engine (something like a B6-0) to a regular engine (say, a B6-5), put a cone-shaped thing on top, and tape the fins to the upper engine, but so that they extend down past the lower one a bit. WHen he launched it, it went up for a ways, we saw the second stage ignite, and then… it just disappeared into the sky.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Is the booster engine on top, or on the bottom?