For the first prototype of our rocket, we did not include the data bot in the launch, but instead, we used a weight that simulated the mass of the data bot. Unfortunately, the prototype exploded and the parachute did not deploy, due to the time in air being too short. When rebuilding our rocket for the final launch, we had to change a lot of the design in order to have a chance at success.
Some of the modifications that we made to our final design included using liquid Elmers glue instead of the stick to make sure that the rocket body was much harder. Other modifications included a shorter body, larger nose (but still light due to it being foam), and a parachute without a hole in the middle. The larger nose's purpose was to allow the data bot to fit inside, because our first model did not have enough space for the actual data bot. Much to our dismay, in the final launch, our rocket did not leave the launch pad. The igniter went off in the rocket, but since the motors were left out in exposed air, humidity, and temperature swings for a week it did not work. Our group definitely believes that the rocket would launch if the motors were working as our rocket was much lighter and the parachute was working in our test runs.