Staging High Power Rockets

A How-To Guide For Staging High Power Rockets

by Ray Dunnakin

• 20 pages, Softcover saddle stitched (stapled)
• 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"
• Color cover w/ B&W illustrations
• 20 photos and diagrams
• ISBN 978-0-9707604-4-9

Description

Black powder rockets can be easily staged by using a special booster motor that has no delay and no ejection charge, and by placing the upper stage directly over the booster in close proximity. When the front end of the booster motor propellant ruptures due to combustion pressure, burning particles of black powder are blown forward into the nozzle of the upper stage motor, igniting the easily lit black powder there. High Power fliers don't have it so easy. Not only are higher-energy composite propellants harder to light, they must be lit from the very top of the motor core.

In this booklet Ray Dunnakin walks us through techniques that allow air starting of these high power motors. Once free of the constraint of having to put the upper stage motor directly over the booster, many other configurations can be used. Ray discusses inline (with large separations), parallel and parasite staging, all with multiple motors.

Contents

Chapter 1 – Introduction

Chapter 2 – Inline Staging

Chapter 3 – Parallel Staging

Chapter 4 – Parasite Staging

Index