Rocket Project

Our first prototype for the rocket’s nose cone was made from a hollow paper cone that we lightly filled with balsa wood shards using hot glue. Although this version was easy to make and very light, it turned out to be too weak and unstable because it was mostly hollow. It didn’t hold up well and could easily bend or break. 

For our second attempt, we made the nose cone out of solid balsa wood. This version had a much better weight—not too heavy, but not too light either—and because it wasn’t hollow, it was much stronger and less likely to fall apart.

The body of our rocket was made using five pieces of printer paper, tightly rolled so that the inner diameter matched that of the motor and secured with tape to form a sturdy tube. Inside the body, we added a balsa wood stick on the inner wall to help stabilize the motor and keep it in place during launch. 

We attached four fins made from balsa wood to the lower part of the rocket, slightly hanging off the end. These fins were hot-glued onto the body and were important for keeping the rocket stable and flying straight. 

Finally, we added two short segments of a straw to the side of the rocket, which allowed it to stay aligned on the launcher and use the rod to guide it smoothly during takeoff.

During our test launch, several parts of the rocket worked successfully. The rocket reached an impressive height, showing that the motor was secure and the design was aerodynamic. The body of the rocket stayed strong and kept its shape throughout the flight and after the impact of the landing, which proved that the construction was solid and could handle the force of launch, flight, and landing.

However, there were a few issues that needed improvement. Although the nose cone popped off as planned to release the parachute, the parachute got stuck inside and failed to deploy. This reduced the nose cone's ability to land safely. Additionally, some of the fins came loose. It wasn’t clear whether they detached during flight or as a result of the landing impact, but since the rocket did not fly in a straight path and veered to the side, it’s likely that the fins detached mid-flight. These issues showed us that we need to pack the parachute more carefully and reinforce the fins using stronger attachment methods.