Home Rocket Design

[Paul Renaud]

Hi there! You may enjoy this video on Nuclear propulsion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMLgJlJX0Rk
Particularly, I enjoyed the discussion surrounding Specific Impulse – “a measure of how efficiently a reaction mass engine creates thrust.” – wikipedia
From here you are going to rapidly warm up to 2 options: the Nuclear Thermal engine option using Hydrogen fuel or the Nuclear Electric engine option using Xenon or Krypton fuel.
What a great topic to learn about Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and more! I wonder how I could introduce this as a transversal module (testable across subjects) at schools? Any ideas?

[charlotteellett]

I have very rudimentary education in building a rocket as I used to work at Space Camp, and most camp sessions either put together a kit or designed and built a custom body to protect a payload, and then we launched them on our field. (Those below the cut-off age of 7 typically built a paper rocket and used a powerful air launcher.) We didn’t build the engines, but used standard model rocket ones.

I’ve always wanted to get into this hobby and that was unfortunately my only chance to experience it until then. Now, I want to start my children with it as soon as they’re ready, to give them the opportunity to learn and enjoy it early. I have kits and some knowledge of safe procedures and will start there when developmentally ready, then probably go through a certification program if they enjoy it enough to put in the time.