Rocket Manual for AmateursTitleForewordTable of Contents
Chapter 1 - Organization, Safety, and the Scientific MethodI.
Organizing a Rocket Society and a Program of
ExperimentationCompositionThe Adult AdvisorThe Technical
AdvisorConstitution and Safety CodeModel ConstitutionSafety
Code
Seeking Technical Help
II. SafetyPersonnal and Group Safety Practices
III. Safety Through Scientific ProcedureIV. Amateure Rocketry
and the Law
Chapter 2 - Basic Rocket DesignThe NozzleThe Rocket BodyThe Nose
ConeThe FinsDiaphram and IgniterPropellantLaunching the Rocket
Chapter 3 - Rocket PropellantsI. Types of PropellantsLiquid
PropellantsAdvantages and DisavantagesCombustion Performance of
Liquid PropellantsCorrosive and Toxic Effects of Liquids
Solid PropellantsAdvantages and DisadvantagesDangers and Hazards
of the Solid Propellants
Propellant Grain Shapes and Methods of FormingNeutral Burning
and the Use of InhibitorsBurning RateBurning TimeSolid Propellants
for Amateur UseThe Caramel "Candy" PropellantZinc and Sulfur -
MicrograinOther Compositions of Zinc and Sulfur
II. Safety Rules - Propellant HandlingA. Handling and StorageB.
Mixing and Loading
Solid and Liquid PropellantsCombinations and
CharacteristicsLiquid PropellantsSolid Propellants
Chapter 4 - Rocket Motor SystemsI. Principles of PropulsionII.
Rocket Motor Design: For AmateursSimplified Nozzle CalculationsMore
Advanced Rocket Thrust Chamber Calculations1. Combustion
Temperature2. Nozzle CalculationsCombustion ChamberMathematical
AidsNozzle Exit-to-Throat-Area RatioCoefficient of ThrustExpansion
Ratio
Features of Liquid Motor SystemsSome Advantages of Liquid
SystemsDisadvantages of Liquid Systems
Some Systems for the Future
Chapter 5 - More Advanced Rocket DesignComponentsNozzlesFin
DesignNose ConesDiaphrams and IgnitersThe Combustion Chamber
Some Amatuer Rockets You Can Build1. A Small Test Rocket2. A
High Performing 4-Foot Rockets3. The Fort Sill - Beta4. An
Outstanding Amateur Research Rocket
Chapter 6 - Rocket InstrumentationTypes and Uses of Instruments
in the Amateur FieldTelemetering Systems and SafetyProtection of
InstrumentsSome Simple Instruments You Can ConstructSecond Stage
Ignition DevicesRecording AccelerometersA Coding Disc for
TelemeteringA Flashing Light Assembly
Chapter 7 - Preflight TestingWhy Test?What Can You Test?Some
Simplified Test ProceduresA Basic Static Test StandThrust-Measuring
DevicesA Rocket CentrifugeMeasuring Motor Wall Temperature and
StressA Device for Testing Bursting StrengthA Home-Made Wind
TunnelA Static Testing Bay
Trajectory CalculationsA Simplified Method for Computing
Over-all Flight Performance of Small Missiles
Chapter 8 - Layout and Construction of the Launching SitePrimary
Safety ConsiderationsRemotenessCoverLimited ObservationAssignment
of TasksOne-Man Control"Scouts Out" SecurityFirefighting and First
AidRoutine
Layout of a Launching SiteLaunching SiteLaunching AreaLaunching
PitImpact AreaImpact PointImpact ZoneRoad BlockRoad GuardRange
GuardCountdownFueling Pit"By the Numbers"Protective Pits and
Barricades
The Launching PitThe Fueling PitObserver BunkersRange Guard
SheltersSpectator BunkersLatrines and General Field
SanitationCommunicationsThe Launching RackRemote Control Firing
Systems
Chapter 9 - Safe Range Procedures at the Launching SiteI.
Positions and ResponsibilitiesRange OfficerSafety OfficerFueling
SupervisorSpectator Control OfficerKey ManFuelersPit MenRange
GuardsObservers and TrackersRecorders and ComputersFirst-Aid
Men
II. Range ProcedurePrefiring Procedure1. Briefing2. Firing
Stations-Scouts Out3. First Reports4. All Clear in the Launching
Area5. Fueling6. Positioning7. Take Cover
Firing Procedure8. Safety Check-Second Reports9. Ready on the
Right-Ready on the Left10. Prepare to Fire11. Safety Officer
Clears12. Countdown
In-Flight Procedure13. Maintain Cover-Open Firing Switch14.
Observation and Tracking15. Impact Observation
Postfiring ProcedureA. For a Successful Firing16a. All Clear17a.
Reset Safety Devices18a. Reporting of Data19a. Recovery of
Rocket
B. For an Unsuccessful Firing16b. Handling a Misfire or "Dud"
Rocket17b. All Clear18b. Reset Safety Devices19b. Reporting of
Data20. Critique and Evaluation
Chapter 10 - TrackingHow to Track Your Rocket - How to Evaluate
its PerformanceA Basic System for TrackingUse of the Plotting
BoardThe Principle of IntersectionThe Principle of Triangulation -
Chart BDetermining Alititude from Reported Data - Use of Chart
C
Observer Methods and TechniquesMeasurement of AnglesMeasuring
Vertical AnglesUse of the Army Mil Scale Measuring AnglesOther
Methods of Estimating AltitudesUse of the CameraTracking by
RadioAids to Visual TrackingLights, Smoke and Vapor TrailsAids to
Determining Point of Impact
AppendixesAppendix A - Summary of State Laws Affecting Amateur
RocketryAppendix B - First-Aid Advice for Rocket GroupsThe Three
Lifesaver Steps in First AidA. Stop the BleedingB. Protect the
WoundC. Prevent or Treat Shock
First-Aid Measures for General InjuriesA. Chest WoundsB. Belly
WoundsC. Jaw WoundsD. Head WoundsD'. Severe BurnsE. Fractures
First Aid for Injuries Sustained From Rocket FuelsI.
OxidizersII. Propellant Fuels
Appendix C - Useful TablesTable of AltitudesDistance in Feet
from Observation Point to Point "X" (Base
Distance)Quantity-Distance TableThickness of Materials Required to
Protect Against Penetration of Fragments from Projectiles and Bombs
at a Distance of 60 FeetFunctions of NumbersNatural Trigonometric
FunctionsLogarithms 100 to 1000Decimal of an Inch and of a Foot
Appendix D - Rocket SymbolsAppendix E - Rocket
FormulasPropellant PerformanceThrust Chamber CalculationsNozzle
DimensionsLengths of Convergent and Divergent Sections for Nozzles
Having a Convergent Angle of 30* and a Divergent Angle of 15*
General FormulasBallistic Formulas
Appendix F - Glossary of Missile TerminologyAppendix G -
Bibliography
The Author
