Hi from Huntsville, AL AKA Rocket City!!

This forum is for new members to introduce themselves and tell us how they got started in water rocketry.
flatmaster
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Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:26 pm

Hi from Huntsville, AL AKA Rocket City!!

Post by flatmaster »

Ironic that I should be posting from the city where the Saturn V was designed.

I've accepted a job with Alabama Science in motion as the physics specialist. Basically, I facilitate the movement of lab supplies around high schools, help educate physics teachers (who were most-likely bio or chem majors), and work on outreach programs. I remember doing some bottle rocketry in high school. Obviously, it was a blast!

Whereas we'll have a budget, what would be the cheapest and safest way to make several water-rocket modules that I could move around high schools? How do pre-made launchers compare to home-made ones? I've read the simplest launcher is simply a rubber stopper, but I want to have standard pressure for everyone so there can be a competition.

Would it be too much of a liability? I remember when we did it in high school, all the students stood well aways back while the teacher pulled the chord.

Also, what online resources would get me started off with only a basic program? Google hasn't prooven very fruitful. Thanks!!

Flatmaster
Graveyard
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Joined: Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:40 pm

Re: Hi from Huntsville, AL AKA Rocket City!!

Post by Graveyard »

Hello Flatmaster,
I've gotten involved in water rockets through my Son, He's in the UK engineering college and 2 years ago had a launcher project.
I googled water rockets and was amazed. I'm a machinist and I kinda took over his project. I built a simple version of a launcher and the Engineering rep at the college wanted it because he goes around to High schools and tries to recruite engineering students for college.
He also does the 4-H camps and stuff.
Anyway, I got creative and decided to design a launcher that would accept an empty rocket, add water, pressurize and launch remotely.
You add a measurred amount of water with each rocket and a regulator insures that each rocket releases at the same pressure.
Here's a few photos of the old and new...

Sorry, the first photos are the newest
Thanks,
See ya
Attachments
this is the remote control
this is the remote control
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here's the new one
here's the new one
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User avatar
Tim Chen
WRA2 Member
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Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 1:44 am

Re: Hi from Huntsville, AL AKA Rocket City!!

Post by Tim Chen »

flatmaster wrote:Ironic that I should be posting from the city where the Saturn V was designed.

I've accepted a job with Alabama Science in motion as the physics specialist. Basically, I facilitate the movement of lab supplies around high schools, help educate physics teachers (who were most-likely bio or chem majors), and work on outreach programs. I remember doing some bottle rocketry in high school. Obviously, it was a blast!

Whereas we'll have a budget, what would be the cheapest and safest way to make several water-rocket modules that I could move around high schools? How do pre-made launchers compare to home-made ones? I've read the simplest launcher is simply a rubber stopper, but I want to have standard pressure for everyone so there can be a competition.

Would it be too much of a liability? I remember when we did it in high school, all the students stood well aways back while the teacher pulled the chord.

Also, what online resources would get me started off with only a basic program? Google hasn't prooven very fruitful. Thanks!!

Flatmaster
If you don't have access to a complete machine shop like Graveyard (I', jealous!) then I can suggest tyou take a look at this simpler design that U.S. Water Rockets has been building that anyone can make with only simple tools. It's something even I can follow!

http://www.uswaterrockets.com/journa ... ial_Part_1


:W
Tim Chen
Captain, Team Enterprise