Rockets!

 We've finally finished our laws of motion rockets and built "real" model rockets to launch at NASA Goddard!

Here they are on the launch pad from left to right: Choclo's, Mxyl's, Klenda's, Oob's, Zorg's, and Leena's.

We had used a bulk kit of 12 Astra IIIs, and, yes, we made all of them (although some were for other kids in the class).  Our family did seven of them because Choclo made one for the Emperor as a birthday present.

 I chose this kit because it had a pre-molded fin assembly - much easier than working with balsa wood, exact-o knives, and small children!

It was quite easy to build, and the fins were beautifully straight.  In fact, the rockets really came out beautifully, except....

The pre-molded launch lugs were too small for the rails.  In the top picture, you can see that each rocket is strung on to a metal rod or "rail."  This is important because the rails guide the rocket straight up .  Every model rocket has a "launch lug" which is the part of the rocket that rail goes through. 

What you are actually seeing in this picture is the pros (the one in the hat is the launch officer and our first cousin, once removed) trying to get the launch lugs to stretch out enough so that the rockets will move smoothly on the rails.

After all the building, it is incredibly frustrating to have the rocket not work correctly because of a problem  that came from the factory!

They actually worked our rockets enough that they were able to launch, but, of the other kids in the class, only one was able to launch.

Still, it's an ill wind that blows no good.  The friction on the rails reduced the altitude of the rockets, but then, since they didn't go as far, we had a much better recovery rate.  We retrieved 6 of the 7, and we usually only get half of them back....

We plan to enlarge the holes on the launch lugs and try again next month!