DIY Space rockets.

[Ianab]

News the other day, about some NZ guys building a "backyard" rocket that technically got into "space". Not into orbit, just over 100 km up. But it did get to Mach 5.6, and 121 km up. They also recovered the payload after a chute landing. 

That was Rocket Lab a few years back, now it's DIY stuff. 

And yes a couple of University backed teams did if first, but these are just some guys that like rockets. 

[YellowHammer]

That's pretty cool, good for them.  It isn't an easy feat, that's for sure.  

[Nebraska]

I built them as a young man in 4-H had a small club. It was a fun diversion and for a while I dreamed of being an aerospace/aeronautical engineer.  I then discovered an aversion to calculus. 

[WV Sawmiller]

That's pretty cool, good for them.  It isn't an easy feat, that's for sure. 

Robert,

   Sure its easy. Haven't you ever walked out in a briar patch and heard a big old Eastern or canebrake rattler start buzzing at you from an unknown location? I bet I could jump that high under such circumstances.

[YellowHammer]

Yeah, they would have to recover me at splashdown if I stepped near a rattler!

Martha and I used to joke that her stuff was supposed to go up and stay up (NASA) and mine (Army) was supposed to go up, but come down and go boom.

Oddly enough, there isn't a whole lot of difference between advanced rocket propellant and high velocity explosives, they are formulated from a lot of the same ingredients, it all comes down to controlling the energy in different ways.

Nozzles are all pretty much carbon, some sort of nickel or other non rusting, material. 

Cases are usually steel, aluminum or graphite.

Then it's all about stability in flight, going straight and staying straight. 

Fun stuff. I miss it sometimes, but our 4rth of July's celebrations usually make up for it. 

 

[Ianab]

Oddly enough, there isn't a whole lot of difference between advanced rocket propellant and high velocity explosives, they are formulated from a lot of the same ingredients, it all comes down to controlling the energy in different ways.

Yeah, rocket science can often be described as "controlled explosions"

I'm just impressed by what can be accomplished by back yard tinkerers now. 

[thecfarm]

I thought I had something with Estes rockets 50 years ago.

[Ianab]

Forgot to add a link to the news article. 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360669789/watch-huge-relief-kiwis-launch-worlds-first-self-funded-rocket-space

[rusticretreater]

Fascinating.  Budding Robert Goddards! I did model rockets for awhile and still stop and look at them when I am in the hobby store. 

It surely can be a dangerous thing when making your own big'un.  The problem is that disaster is always a part of the development process. I remember reading about the fella who built his own rocket then died trying to fly it into space.

Interesting how their launch pad looks a lot like the Estes launch pad I used. I wonder what their future plans are for this.  

From imagination in the early 1900's to just another hobby in the 2000's.  Only physics holds us back.

[Ianab]

Interesting how their launch pad looks a lot like the Estes launch pad I used. I wonder what their future plans are for this. 

Scaled up to fit on a light car trailer? Same idea, just scaled up. 

Don't know about future plans, but Rocket Labs were started in NZ, although more US based now, but most of their space launches are still from NZ. They aren't the "big boys" in space launches as their current rocket is small one, about 100kg into orbit. So not direct competition to SpaceX, but they can launch a small load into a specific orbit, so have that niche business. They also developed carbon fiber, 3d printed rocket engines and battery powered rocket engines. So simpler and lighter systems that can get loads into orbit cheaper than other options. 

Big issue with space launches is what's around you, or in the airspace. When the last SpaceX Starship had a RUD, they had to divert a lot of airliners because of falling debris. Rocket Labs launches from the East Coast of NZ, which is open ocean until Sth America, with hardly any planes in the area. These guys were in the hills NW of Christchuch, middle of nowhere, but still had to work with Civil Aviation.

I think these guys just like launching rockets, which is an admirable hobby in itself.