This post was prompted by my recent endeavor to create a safe, yet effective way for high school age kids to launch home made bottle rockets….
Ever wonder what fuels the space shuttles? The solid rocket boosters contain the propellant that initially gets the rocket off the ground. The main propellant is ammonium perchlorate, a white granular chemical that, believe it or not, is not terribly toxic. The rest of the fuel consists of aluminum, iron oxide, epoxy, and some sort of polymer (a molecule that helps hold all the fuel parts together). The solid rocket boosters sit underneath the external tank are ignited electronically, often from the ground. These monstrous tanks of fuel weigh 1.3 million pounds when full, and produce 2.8 million pounds of force(that's a lot of force!)
So if your kids decide they want to do a rocket launch experiment for their science fair project, here's my advice: buy a rocket launch kit with a solid fuel component. I've spent a good deal of time trying to get fuel like Alka-Seltzer and water, vinegar and baking soda, and compressed air to work as good propellants. And despite the numerous you-tube videos showing nice rockets, liquid and air propellant just doesn't work. Trust me, it's safer for them to get an Estes electronic rocket launcher. Happy rocket launching!
