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
How do I make a record claim?
Post your record claim to the
WRA2 record submissions forum.
Items required:
Onboard video for both flights.
Ground videos for both flights
Raw altimeter data for both flights
Weight of the flight ready rocket.
Time and date for each flight.
Optional Items:
Design drawings
Detailed still photos
Simulator data
A forum account needs to be registered to post your submissions (registration is free).
Why do I need a website?
The website is needed to make public your record claim. There are many free hosting sites
available to choose from so cost is not an issue.
Do I have to have a website set up before I join?
No. Just say that the website will be set up later when filling out the registration form.
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.
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 capture the entire flight. You wouldn’t want the flight to be invalidated because the ground camera lost sight of it
when it landed behind a tree or building.
Wouldn’t my rocket go higher if I didn’t have a camera onboard?
It would go higher but the flight would be invalid. Everyone must pay the same weight penalty.
Why are firecrackers or black powder not allowed for deploy?
Fire safety! You wouldn’t want to start a forest fire or burn down a
building with a deploy or rocket malfunction
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.
I have an old non-metal SCUBA tank, can I use this for my pressure vessel?
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.
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.
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 it was different from your forum name.
Maybe you should try to put the teams website public so everyone can see their work.
We are adding a standings page. We will ask the teams involved if they want to have
a link on the standings page to their website. Thanks for the suggestion.
I love the new site update. Looks really nice and clean. I just have one question
though. 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? Just a question.....
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!
The link I followed to this site said there was a C class and unlimited class
where are your official rules for these classes? Or do they not exist?
The class "C" is our newest class. As the association grows we will add
more classes. Plans are to add an "altitude challenge and a water rocket powered car competition are being finalized.
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.
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. CO2 also has a higher amount of energy stored at the same pressure and the altitudes
achieved using it could not be fairly compared to rocket pressurized using ordinary air. If CO2 (or other gasses)
were to be allowed at some point the altitudes achieved would have to be adjusted to compare with air pressurized
rockets. One suggestion would be to multiply the CO2 achieved altitude by an adjustment factor of 0.85. An example
would be to compare two rockets, one air powered and one CO2 powered, both reach 1000 feet. The CO2 rocket would
have the 1000 foot altitude multiplied by 0.85 which would give a true altitude of 850 feet when comparing to the air
powered rocket. Our rules committee will examine that in the future.
If you have any questions, please join our Water Rocket Forum to discuss them with the membership
