My Rocket Launch

 Today is 'Earth Day' - And yes, also my final year for the Cub scout rocket launch. We the final year cub scouts, called the Webelos (Acronym for We'll Be Loyal Scouts), have the most difficult rocket to build and fly- a 2-stage engine rocket called Loadstar II!

How I Built It?

But before I tell you how the launch went, I've to share with you how I built it (with my Dad's help). First we put the engine storage inside the cardboard tubes. Then we drew lines on the cardboard tube to show where the fins and the launch lug goes. After that we glued the fins with super glue. Unfortunately it got on our hands*. Then we glued the launch lugs to the cardboard tube. 

A couple days later when all the glue was rock solid, I spray painted the rocket. We had to paint a first coat (called primer) let it dry and sand it with sandpaper and apply second coat of brown color. About two days later I put decals on the rocket for decoration.

           

How It Works?

Now I'll tell you how it works. First the booster stage (the bottom part) gets ignited and the rocket flies high and eventually ignites the secondary stage (the upper part). Then the flame from the secondary stage pops the booster stage off and the booster stage falls to the ground. And after that the air pressure in the rocket gets higher and higher eventually making the nose cone pop off to which releases the parachute and it gently glides down.
     

How It Flies?

Now for the exciting launch! In the vast open fields of Fishers Meadows we launched the rockets (5 rockets at a time on a battery powered launch pad). All the rockets go thrice if they have time. My first time with single stage engine went horribly. The parachute didn't deploy clean and due to that one of the fins dismantled on impact with ground. We had to super glue the fin back to the rocket on the field. Here's the video of the first launch.

The 2nd time was the best (one of the best for the 2-Stage Engines that Webelos scouts built from scratch). The rocket flew straight off the field. With lots of Wows!!!   

      

* in order to get super glue off hands rub with oil until it peels off. the longer you don't use oil the longer it take for the oil to peel the super glue off.