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by HungryGuy on August 20th, 2004

HungryGuy

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It is possible to build a model rocket that can reach orbit?

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Answers. 15 helpful answers below.

  • by MarkPNeyer on August 22nd, 2004

    MarkPNeyer

    This question is somewhat vague. It is possible for an object to orbit the earth at any height. So long as the gravitational acceleration of the rocket is equal to the square of the velocity divided by the distance of the rocket from the center of the earth, the rocket will orbit the earth. The closer the rocket is to the earth, the faster it needs to go in order to fall into an orbit. I assume by asking if the rocket can 'reach orbit' that you are really asking if it can make it into outer space.

    Another grey area is exactly what is meant by 'model rocket.' I will assume that you mean something relatively small, like a toy, and thus for the sake of this answer I will limit the mass of the rocket to 10 kg ( about 22 pounds. Note that this is still large - it's just an approximation and you'll see that it really doesn't matter. )

    In order for an object to reach outer space, it must reach what is called 'escape velocity.' The escape velocity of the Earth is 11,200 m/s (about 25,000 mph). An expensive model rocket engine delivers an impulse of about 100 Newton-seconds. We need to impart an impulse of (11,200 m/s * 10 kg ) = 112,000 Newton seconds to our rocket if it is to escape the pull of earth's gravity. - so we would need 1,120 of these engines if we were to get our rocket into space. Each engine weighs around 0.1 kg, so 1,120 engines would way 112 kg - around 250 pounds. That's way over 10 kg limit we set on the size of our rocket.

    So, no, it's not possible. If you want to get going that fast without your fuel weighing you down, you can't do it using powered fuels like model rockets - you're going to need some compressed liquid oxygen.

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  • by Hotmale.com on March 26th, 2007

    Hotmale.com

    I think once you've gotten into the technology needed to get a rocket to go that high, and that maneuverable, it would no longer be considered model rocketry. It would be considered a space program by then.

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  • by Anonymous on April 6th, 2005

    Anonymous

    The real answer is no

    At the present time amatuer rocket technology is not capable
    of reaching orbit.

    Advanced groups of amatuers (Graduates engineers,chemists,
    software specialists) have their rockets at about 80,000 feet.

    They will go higher.

    Some NASA engineers (private ventures)are close to the mark using the
    technology the got at NASA and a whole lot of personal
    genious.. )


    These are not model rockets.
    They have more computer technology than
    on the nasa moon flight


    Hey, but what do I know

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  • by Michael_M5114 on April 10th, 2012

    Michael_M5114

    it is
    http://ddeville.com/derek/Qu8k.html

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  • by Anonymous on March 14th, 2008

    Anonymous

    No. If you want to use solid fuel as a propellant, you would need a huge booster, which would disqualify the rocket as a model rocket. Look at the size of the solid fuel boosters on the Space Shuttle. They are huge, and they burn for only two minutes after liftoff, then fall back to earth where they are recovered.

    A private citizen might be able to put a rocket in orbit, but such an endeavor would be enormously expensive. The problem is that damn gravity!

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  • by ChaiCustard on April 22nd, 2007

    ChaiCustard

    Yes. Stick it onto a real rocket. (use V. good glue!).

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  • by VivaNOLA on March 26th, 2007

    VivaNOLA

    If by "model" rocket, you mean one that has been created by someone other than a government or a company, rather by a private citizen just for fun, then yes. Granted, it would be exceedingly expensive, but the technology is available, and if money is not an issue then there is no reason why the technology couldn't be implemented by a group assembled by a private citizen just for the hell of it.

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  • by Mc_Dumbledore on May 7th, 2012

    Mc_Dumbledore

    If you were to use Estes D12-0T engines, and the Earth had no atmosphere, and every engine fired and produced specified thrust, it may take 536,870,911 engines arranged in 29 stages, with a first stage diameter of 1290 ft, and for a total retail cost of $3,129,957,411.13.

    These are very rough numbers, and the Earth has air - which makes this answer wrong.

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  • by canoeguide on April 10th, 2012

    canoeguide

    Of course it is. Rather expensive hobby, though.

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  • by Kool_K on February 18th, 2011

    Kool_K

    The smallest rocket that could launch a tiny 1.5 kg satellite was Vanguard (~ 10 000 kg total mass), see the link for pictures. I suppose it is not possible one build a significantly smaller rocket and yet be able to launch a 1 kg nanosatellite (cubesat) into orbit.
    At 10 tonnes a space carrier can not be named model rocket!

    http://cubesat.ifastnet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=150

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  • by Kool_K on February 18th, 2011

    Kool_K

    The smallest rocket that could launch a tiny 1.5 kg satellite was Vanguard (~ 10 000 kg total mass), see the link for pictures. I suppose it is not possible one build a significantly smaller rocket and yet be able to launch a 1 kg nanosatellite (cubesat) into orbit.
    At 10 tonnes a space carrier can not be named model rocket!

    http://cubesat.ifastnet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=150

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  • by Paul_Y5326 on March 10th, 2011

    Paul_Y5326

    It CAN be done however, like the other guys said it would be extremely expensive and hard to construct, and also most likely illegal for some reason, i know a bunch of guys done it and it must of triggered a launch warning by radar seeing as it was all coated once round in some kind of tin foil, we had apaches choppers flying about and police cars in the nearby area barely 15-20 minutes later (UK, BTW)

    You must think (weight,shape,motor design,aerodynamics,gravity,trajectory,escape velocity......this list is endless)


    p.s this isnt our rocket..

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  • by Cruiser on April 10th, 2012

    Cruiser

    Yes anything is possible but you will need FAA clearance to do it or you will go to jail it you attempt a launch that high without clearance.

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  • by Scumop on April 10th, 2012

    Scumop

    These guys might be able to do it. The story titles are suggestive of some kind of success.
    http://www.theregister.co.uk/Wrap/lohan/

    Current project takes rocket up to a high altitude (80,000ft) by balloon. Rocket launched from balloon.

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  • by rosskill on September 30th, 2010

    rosskill

    Mostly.

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