Water Powered Rocket

Milliseconds after Launch

I designed and fabricated an apparatus for launching a custom built carbon fiber and aluminum rocket body for use with the sophomore lab course. The rocket and launcher was built to withstand over 160 PSI giving it the thrust to fly upwards of 25 meters. The base unit is made of 60 series aluminum and stainless steel, it has two ports, one for air and the other for the air pressure gauge. Water is loaded into the rocket engine through a top cap and the rocket is launched by spinning a release ring actuated by a bike brake cable. The rocket is 15 inches in length and 2 inches in diameter and weighs just 150 grams. The above photo was taken just milliseconds after release of the rocket, the water jet is visible in the upper left hand corner of the image.

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