Good Rocket Fuel?

[BV72]

I'm trying to make a homemade small rocket but can't figure out what would be the best rocket fuel (or engine). I'm trying to get this rocket to maybe 52,800 feet (10 miles), it's a strech I know, but anything that can at least get to 30,000 feet will satisfy me.
(this will also be on the off topic thread)

[Jupiter3927]

NASA uses a mix of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to get their stuff into space but alcohol should work too.
Higher proof alcohol will burn better.

Gunpowder will work but it might blow up your rocket if you use too much.

[ray.mcdonough]

Originally posted by Jupiter3927:

NASA uses a mix of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to get their stuff into space but alcohol should work too.
Higher proof alcohol will burn better.

Gunpowder will work but it might blow up your rocket if you use too much.

Keep it dry, though.

[Toastie Buns]

Look up 18mm Rocket Booster motors, or Estes.

They're cheap solid booster engines that'll make your starter rocket. You probably shouldn't do this in your backyard. They're pretty damn safe though, worst you can do is set fire to wherever you launch from. It won't ♥♥♥♥ you up, but it will make your ears ring.

[edorward]

I hope you are actually certified to fly high powered rockets and have found a registered launch location. You cannot just launch a rocket using an engine larger than an H (160Ns impulse) without a cert and FAA clearance. Also, it's incredibly unwise to try to make your own engines. There are plenty of kids from the 50s who tried to make their own and can attest to how much fun it is to live with 7 fingers

As for using model rocket engines, an 18mm engine won't go much higher than 1500 feet under ideal circunstances. The highest I've ever seen anyone get with a mid-power engine (up to a G) is 2/3 of a mile.

[BV72]

Ok, thanks guys!

[invision2212]

large thick steel cylinder rocket shaped

add rocket bell

add liquid nitrogen

fly to the moon

[kamikazi21358]

I haven’t made a homemade rocket like this ever, but I do know Kerosine is used often for rockets and is possibly on the slightly more common side.?

[BV72]

I'll look for it

[Rioka]

As others have sugested, you should buy model rocket motors and use those. This is by FAR the safest choice.

If you are deadset on making your own fuel, a mix of sugar and a nitrate ferilizer is probably your least dangerous option. Get a camping stove, take it outside, put a 1 to 1 mix in a frying pan you don't care about, and slowly heat until the sugar melts and you get a nice slurry, pour into a mold and add a toothpick or somthing else to leave a small hole for a fuse, and let it cool. If at any point it ignites, let it burn, because you are not going to be able to put it out, but be ready for any secondary fires. Start small, and work your way up.

For the love of every god ever worshiped by man, stay the hell away from liquid fuels. Without proper plumbing and enginering knowlege, all you will end up making is a pipebomb.

[Ecclesia]

If launching rockets was easy, we would see it happen alot more. In fact, even NASA is afraid of launching them these days it seems. So yeah, do this stuff at your own risk.

[edorward]

I've done multistage models...

[Rioka]

Originally posted by RoofCat:

just got curious - has anyone ever tried to multistage fireworks - moar boosters and stuff? :FireStrike:

Most professional firewors are morters, as rockets have a habit of turning into the wind(and thus towards the crowds), but I imagine you could have a rocket with a section that would launch charges outwards while igniting a second boosting stage.

[Toastie Buns]

Originally posted by RoofCat:

just got curious - has anyone ever tried to multistage fireworks - moar boosters and stuff? :FireStrike:

Sure, use an accelerometer to detect burnouts and you can stage all day. Your only real problem is clean seperation, and the stages not accidentally lighting the stage above it.

I'd be interested in the solution for clean seperation, because standard procedure in model rocketry is for stage 2 to rip itself free of a paper sleeve. Not very classy, wildly problematic as you'd think. Maybe I need to find an old WW2 vet and get some cordite

[kamikazi21358]

Originally posted by RoofCat:

just got curious - has anyone ever tried to multistage fireworks - moar boosters and stuff? :FireStrike:

I've done multi-stage model rockets before, they are pretty cool. The way the next stage is ignited (or the parachute also) with store-bought model rocket engines is after it is spent there is a small blowback back up into the rocket, which is just enough pressure to push the parachute out or just enough heat to ignite the next motor. This is one way fireworks work too, when the motor is spent in the firework and the blowback upwards ignites the firework. So theoretically, you could put the explosion part of the firework on top of just a simple store-bought multi-stage model rocket even and it theoretically it should work; you get a multi-stage firework.

[kamikazi21358]

Originally posted by RoofCat:

Originally posted by kamikazi21358:

I've done multi-stage model rockets before, they are pretty cool. The way the next stage is ignited (or the parachute also) with store-bought model rocket engines is after it is spent there is a small blowback back up into the rocket, which is just enough pressure to push the parachute out or just enough heat to ignite the next motor. This is one way fireworks work too, when the motor is spent in the firework and the blowback upwards ignites the firework. So theoretically, you could put the explosion part of the firework on top of just a simple store-bought multi-stage model rocket even and it theoretically it should work; you get a multi-stage firework.

I know how store rocket motors are built, I have played with them too as a kid. And even though I haven't tried to take apart fireworks, I also suspect they must have exactly the same build. Rockets blow up chute load in the end, fireworks magnesium and other colorful crap.
I was thinking you could have few fat fireworks glued radially and then in the middle add one (smaller) "firework engine" on top of those. But you would need different, superquick fuse. Something powder based. Or have two fuses in different length where the second one burns down during first stage. Timing could be a problem.
I wasn't looking for higher fireworks, more for a fat rocket engine. I haven't seen as fat rocket motors as a kid as I see fireworks these days. Which made me curious about their power proportions.

And yeah - please kids don't try that at home. Or at least wear full face mask and fireproof gloves. No synthetics. Homes can burn down nicely. Have backup place where you can sleep after. Also make sure you live in a country with free healthcare.

I’m sure if you put dynamite on top of the model rocket you will get one hell of a firework.