We constructed the physical rocket from the finalized OpenRocket design, assembling the body tube, nose cone, fins, and motor mount to the specified dimensions and mass. During assembly, we prioritized keeping the fins aligned and the motor mount secure, though both later proved to be weak points in the final build.

We launched the rocket using the A8-3 motor and calculated an actual apogee of 44.1 m, along with the rest of its flight performance. During the flight, one fin detached mid-air, and the parachute failed to deploy properly because it was sized too large for the body tube, both of which affected the recorded results. However, the parachute ejected in the final launch after alterations. 

Comparing our calculated apogee of 44.1 m to OpenRocket's predicted 50.2m shows the physical rocket underperformed the simulation by about 6.1 m, likely due to the mid-flight fin loss increasing drag and destabilizing the ascent. This gap points to specific construction issues, undersized parachute clearance (which was fixed), and insufficient fin security, rather than flaws in the original stability calculations themselves.

The parachute should be reduced in size to deploy more reliably, and the motor mount should be reinforced through a thicker retention structure or stronger adhesive to prevent motor movement during flight. Additionally, the nose cone should be redesigned for improved aerodynamic symmetry, and the fin attachment method should be strengthened, as one fin detached during flight, to ensure structural integrity throughout the flight profile.