First off we are talking about the rocket vehicle not just the motor
in this section
A model rocket or high power rocket consists of a few basic components,
and this section covers the basics, it is not meant to cover all areas
of the rocket but will be a good starting point to understand how the
rocket works and why some times they fail, and when a rocket fails it
can be quite spectacular.
This is the foremost part of the rocket and it is there primarily to make the rocket streamline and aerodynamic.
This is the main structure of the rocket and provides a point to connect all other components, again this is streamline and aerodynamic. This can consist of one part as in most model rockets or multiple sections as in more complex models and HPR rockets.
These are here to help provide stability of the rocket, but also produce drag which will lessen the performance of the rocket. So sizing of fins is very important.
This provides the propulsion for the rocket and in some cases provides
the ejection charge for deploying the recovery system, i.e parachute or
streamer.
This will consist of a shock cord a cord, webbing or elastic that will
join the nose cone and the body to keep then together once the nose cone
has been ejected, this will have a parachute or streamer attached which
is to slow the descent of the rocket once it has reached apogee (the highest
point of its flight).
The varying stages of a rocket flight can be split into the following.
Ignition
This is when the motor is first lit, most model motors the ignition is
very easy and quick, however some motors may show a slight delay as the
motor starts to develop pressure inside to be able to produce enough thrust
to lift the rocket.
This is the stage of flight where the motor is developing usable thrust
that is pushing the rocket.
This is part of the flight where the motor is not developing usable thrust
and the rocket will be slowing due to drag and gravity. Often during this
phase the motor will produce smote to from a trail to aid tracking the
rocket.
This is the highest point of a rockets flight idealy for model rockets
this is the point to eject the recovery system as it is the point where
the rocket will be traveling slowest. For high power rockets that can
fly much higher it may be inappropriate to deploy a the main recovery
system at this point so it is common to either deploy a smaller drogue
parachute or simply split the rocket into sections joined by the shock
cord so as to make the rocket fall in an unstable manner so it falls slower,
then to deploy the main recovery system at a lower altitude
During recovery the rocket may drift with the wind so it important to
have a large enough recovery area.
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