Construction and Launch of High Power Rockets

Oral Presentation
10:45-11:05 a.m. CDT on April 14, 2021

Continuing the work of the 2020 High Power Rocket team, this year’s team sought to construct, prepare, and launch two high power rockets, also seeking to certify two members of the team at High Power Level 1. High power rocket certifications take place at three levels, allowing the user to purchase higher power motors after each successful certification. High power rockets are rockets using motors above the ‘G’ power class, having combined total impulse greater than 320 Newton-seconds or a liftoff mass above 1500 grams. Three main phases made up this project: construction, testing, and final launches. The construction phase consisted of three sections: rocket construction, launch platform and rail, and the ignition circuit. The rockets constructed and launched were the Apogee Zephyr and the LOC Vulcanite H76, powered by class H and class I motors, respectively. Certification at each level requires the rocket is constructed by the one being certified, per Tripoli and NAR. The testing phase focused on the launch system, seeking to answer two major questions: Does the circuit ignite the fuse? Does the launch rail support and guide the rocket? Finally, the launches took place outside Brainard, Nebraska. Due to the efforts of the High Power Rocket team, Benedictine College now has a High Power Level 1 Certified student.

Connor Muehler, John Morran, Maximilian Davy, Michael Roche, Steve Spencer, Patrick O’Malley, School of Engineering

Location