This page, its contents, and the Hitchhikers Guide logo are copyright 1997 by:
Nicholas Burlett, Nathaniel Grady and William
It is common belief that only geniuses can design an build rockets. This is absurd; anyone with a good understanding of how model rockets work can create their own design. This section of The Guide is designed to aid in the design and building process.If you haven't built rockets before, please go to Your First Rocket, a tutorial on building your first simple rocket, before consulting this section.
When designing a model rocket, certain safety rules must be followed. These rules are listed in the NAR Model Rocket Safety Code.One of the most important parts of this code is part two:
"Recovery. I will always use a recovery system in my model rocket that will return it safely to the ground so it may be flown again. I will use only flame-resistant recovery wadding if wadding is required by the design of my model rocket."Never attempt to create your own rocket fuel. It is highly dangerous, and you can easily be killed doing so!!!
When starting to design a rocket, sit down and plan out your ideas. Think about these things:What type of engine do I want to use?Next, draw out your plans. The picture dosen't have to be perfect, just a brief sketch. From these plans, you can then go directly and build your rocket, or draw them to scale, labeling the measurements.
How long should the body tube be?
Which recovery system is appropriate for the design I'm thinking about?
How big do the fins need to be? What shape should they be?
What parts am I going to need to build this?
This section should be of help in deciding on a design, and then building it.