Water Rocket World Record Frequently asked Questions

If you have any other questions, please join our Water Rocket Forum to discuss them with the membership.

Does it cost anything to join the WRA2?

There is no cost to join and there are no dues or entry fees. Simply fill out the short Membership Application. There are no fees required for submissions.

Record claims and Submissions Questions

How do I make a record claim?

Post your record claim to the WRA2 record submissions forum.

A forum account needs to be registered to post your submissions (registration is free).

What is as a "personal best"?

A "personal best" is a flight that was not compliant in one or more of the rules for that particular class of rocket. For example a flight where the onboard camera malfunctioned but went to an impressive altitude. These flights will not be considered world records because one or more rules were not complied with and are treated as "practice flights".

Can a team's flights be "disqualified?

Yes, a team can be disqualified if a team has blatently disregarded safety rules. For example, a team flying a rocket with metal parts would be disqualified.

Why do I need a website?

The website is needed to make public your record claim. There are many free hosting sites available such as youtube, facebook or other social media to choose from so cost is not an issue.

Do I have to have a website set up before I join?

No, you do not.

Payload and Deployment System Questions

Why is an onboard video camera required?

The camera is required to prove that the flight took place. Flight duration and time to apogee can be compared to that altimeter graph. Ground videos can be inconclusive as it is nearly impossible to determine the actual altitude accurately based on a ground video due to changes in elevation due to terrain, views being obstructed by trees. buildings, or losing site of the rocket with the ground camera.

Wouldnt my rocket go higher without a camera?

It would go higher but the flight would be invalid. Everyone must pay the same weight penalty. Small cameras are very inexpensive and lightweight so there is no reason to not use one.

Why are firecrackers or black powder not allowed for deploy?

Firecrackers and black powder present a fire hazard and the possesion and use of them is prohibited by law in certain parts of the world..

Materials Questions

What kind of materials am I allowed to build my rocket with?

You may use any materials except metal. Metal is dangerous if contacting power lines and could provide shrapnel danger if the pressure vessel fails. Soft drink containers, plastic, cardboard, wood, fiberglass are acceptable.

What parts of the rocket cannot be made from metal?

The parts of the rocket that cannot be made are the nozzle, fins, body, and the end plugs. Metal parts attached to the outside of the pressure vessel such as rivets, screws, nuts, bolts, brackets, or guides. These can become dangerous projectiles travelling at high speed which could kill you. Since metal conducts electricity, these parts could also create a hazard should the rocket land near power lines.

What parts made from metal are allowed. I have a tomy timer that has metal gears, spindles, and springs. Would I be able to use it on my rocket?

Small metal parts are allowed inside an enclosed payload bay. This would include: springs, wires, latches, electronics, and batteries as long as they are enclosed inside a seperate payload bay.

What if my rocket was constructed using metal partts and I remotely pressurize and launch it from far away or from behind a bunker?

Since not eveyone has access to bunkers or expensive remote launching equipment, your rocket would have an unfair advantage over everyone else. Your rocket would be disqualified and not be eligible for a world record. There are all kinds of materials that can be used in place of the metal.

What would happen if I already built my rocket using an aluminum nozzle?

Any flights already made would be considered ineligible for a world record due to a non compliant rocket but may be listed as a personal best as all the other non compliant flights would be. You would have to modify the rocket to meet WRA2 rules and fly it again and resubmit the flights with the compliant rocket.

I have an old non-metal SCUBA tank, can I use this to make my rocket?

No, you must engineer and build the pressure vessel yourself. Use of manufactured high pressure enclosures are forbidden. Any kind of container that wasn't originally designed for high pressures is acceptable.

Water Rocket Forum Questions

I just completed the membership application. Why isn't my team name on the memberlist page?

Membership applications take approximately 24-48 hours to process, after that you should see your team name on the memberlist page.

The forum says I need to post 15 posts to view the advanced topics. Do I still need to post 15 if I join the WRA2?

No. WRA2 members gain instant access to the advanced forums plus the exclusive members only forums.

I was a member of the forum and just recently joined the WRA2 and I do not have access to the advanced forum. What do I do?

Send a private message to the forum administrator (WRA2) and give the team name you used on the WRA2 membership application (especially if the name you applied using was different from your forum name).

Competition Questions

Does anybody even have the record for the class B and if so what is their website and altitude record.

The class "B" record currently stands at 1060 Feet. The altitude was achieved by the millennium rocket prior to the formation of the WRA2 and is grandfathered in. This altitude was achieved without the onboard camera and with only a single flight. Without the camera this rocket has a weight advantage.

If i were to launch a 2 stage rocket that didn't break the current world record but because the current one had no onboard camera and didn't meet the world record flight criteria then would I get the record or would the old one still stand because I didn't beat it?

The first team to beat 1000 feet with a WRA2 compliant rocket will be able to claim the WRA2 Class "B" world record. The bar had to be set somewhere and 1000 feet seemed reasonable. Since we have teams launching Class "A" rockets around 2000 feet with a single stage, 1000 feet seems a reasonable starting point for multi-stage. We wouldn't want someone claiming a "world record" by flying a rocket 300 feet. Good luck in your quest for 1000 feet!

I was planning on making a 2 stage rocket using a water cooler bottle as the first stage but I think it might be too heavy. What if I have a friend that is NAR certified for high power and he was a member of my team and we launched our rocket at his launch site that has airspace clearance, would we be able to launch a larger and heavier rocket in the class B competition.

No, the maximum weight for the rocket cannot exceed 1500 grams (dry). Even though with a high power certification, you may be able to launch the rocket at that launch site, it would not be eligible for any water rocket world records. The reason is that this would give unfair advantage to anyone that was willing to go through the expense of gaining a "high power" license. This was one of the main reasons we formed the WRA2 to be a separate entity from the NAR's of the world. All WRA2 competitions were designed to be accessible for everyone and that launching could be done in one's own back yard if necessary. If we allowed heavier rockets to compete there would be only big budget professional pyro teams competing and no one else would be able to afford to compete.

Bottled Air Questions

Which tank do you mean is my question?  The rocket tank or the scuba tank? It reads like you are talking about the scuba (or SCUBA) cylinder. It is much more likely that homemade rocket pressure vessel would fail than a DOT approved and inspected scuba tank would.

We are referring to the rocket "pressure vessel"  If we allowed manufactured tanks to be used as the pressure chamber on the rocket the contest would quickly degrade into a "who has the most money to buy the biggest tank" As of the 1st of January 2009 SCUBA tanks as a pressure source will be allowed (with special rules to equalize the use of tanks with that of a compressor). Copies of tank and operator certifications will need to be submitted when filing any record claims.

The rules say I have to maintain full launch pressure for 10 minutes if I use a SCUBA tank. Why is this?

There are 2 reasons for the holding at launch pressure. The first is to negate the advantage of quickly filling the rocket and launching it. This is known as a stomp rocket. This rule is intended to equalize using a tank with a compressor. When using a compressor the rocket is filled over a long period of time so the rocket must be constructed strong enough to hold the pressure for long periods of time. A "stomp rocket" does not have to hold the pressure and can be constructed lighter which would give a team using a tank an advantage.

If I were to provide a copy of my tank certification and a copy of the receipt from the filling station can I use a CO2 tank to fill my rocket if I provide this documentation?

Venting CO2 into the atmosphere is a cause of global warming and should be discouraged. Since CO2 has a higher amount of stored energy at the same pressure as air, it would be unfair to everyone to allow it's use. Use of bottled breathable air is allowed under the rules as long as the special rules preventing stomp rockets are adhered to.

If you have any questions, please join our Water Rocket Forum to discuss them with us.