The Home Lab Skyblazer II Rocket User manual

Slide the four Fins into
their grooves on the
Engine Mount.
Step 1:
How to Assemble Your Skyblazer II Rocket
3
1
2
2.2
2.1
3
2
1
2.4
3
2.3
Step 2.1: Place the Shock Cord across the
Shock Cord Mount as shown.
Step 2.2: Dab glue over the Shock Cord on
panel 2 of the Shock Cord Mount
as shown.
Step 2.3: Fold panel 1 of the Shock Cord
Mount over panel 2 and dab glue
over the Shock Cord on panel 3.
Step 2.4: Fold the glued panels (1 & 2) over
panel 3, and press the folded
panels together firmly between
your fingers.
Step 2:
4 Fins
You Will Also Need
1 Glue Bottle 1 Pair of Scissors
Your Skyblazer II Rocket Kit Includes
1
www.nasa.gov www.madscience.org
1 Stabilizer Fin Tube
1 Parachute
The Space Shuttle was the world's
first reusable spacecraft and the first
spacecraft in history that could carry large
satellites both to and from space. The Shuttle
launched like a rocket, could maneuver in Earth's
orbit like a spacecraft, and landed like an airplane.
NASA launched its Space Shuttle fleet in 1981, and
retired it 30 years later in 2011.
1 Engine Holder Ring
1 Engine Hook
1 Adapter Ring
1 Engine Mount Tube
1 Shock Cord
1 Nose Cone
1 Set of Stickers 1 Shock Cord Mount
3
2
1
1 Body Tube
1 Engine Mount
1
x4

3.5
3.4
3.1
3.2
3.3
Step 5.1: Pass the Parachute strings
through the hook of the Nose Cone.
Loop the strings over the Parachute and
pull it through. This ties the Parachute
to the Nose Cone.
Step 5.2: Tie the unglued end of the Shock Cord to the hook of the Nose Cone.
Step 5.3: Fold the Parachute in half several times to make it a small square.
Step 5.4: Push the Parachute and strings inside the Body Tube. Push the Nose
Cone into place over the end of the Body Tube. Your model rocket is complete!
WARNING: Please refer to the model rocket engine manufacturer's directions
for launch instructions. Adult supervision is required when installing and using model rocket engines.
Step 5:
Step 4:
4.3
4.1
4.2
5.3
5.4
5.1
5.2
Step 3.1: Push the metal Engine Hook into the slot on the Engine Mount
Tube.
Step 3.2: Slide the Engine Holder Ring over the top of the Engine Mount
Tube. Align the top of the ring with the top of the tube.
Step 3.3: Apply a band of glue around the tube right below the Engine Holder
Ring.
Step 3.4: Insert the Engine Mount Tube into the Engine Mount Assembly. Be
sure to align the Engine Hook on the tube with the slot inside the Engine
Mount. The Engine Holder Ring will slide into place over the glue on the
Engine Mount Tube as the tube is inserted. The tube should sit level with the
bottom of the Engine Mount; only the metal hook should stick out.
Step 3.5: Apply a band of glue around the top of the Engine Mount Tube, then
slide the Adapter Ring over the tube.
Step 3:
The Science Behind Your Skyblazer II Rocket
Most vehicles move by pushing against something else. The tires of a car push against the ground to move the car forward.
In space, there is no ground or air to push against. How can things move forward? Rocket engines do this! As a rocket burns fuel, it
pushes hot gases out of the back. This causes the rocket to move forward. This works according to Sir Isaac Newton's third law of
motion: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Your model rocket includes an aerodynamic nose cone, a parachute,
and stabilizing fins, just like the full-sized rockets NASA launches into space!
Step 4.1: Apply a band of glue
around the Adapter Ring, then slide the Body Tube over it. Push the Body Tube
down so it covers the plastic piece.
Step 4.2: Apply a band of glue around the middle of the Body Tube. Slide the
Stabilizer Fin Tube down the tube until it sits over the glue. Turn the Stabilizer
Fin Tube until its two launch rod mounts are positioned between the Fins on the
Engine Mount below.
IMPORTANT! The stabilizer fins must be placed at the center of the body tube
in order to work. Fins placed higher or lower will affect the flight of the rocket.
Step 4.3: Add glue to the back of the Shock Cord Mount and place it 5cm (2")
down inside the Body Tube. Press it firmly against the inside wall of the tube so
that it sticks.

Step 1: Cut a strip of paper 4cm (1.5") wide and 28cm ("11) long.
Step 2: Wrap the paper strip around the pencil to make a paper tube.
Step 3: Tape the tube at the top, middle, and bottom to keep its shape, then pull out the pencil.
Step 4: Trim both ends of the paper tube to make them even.
Step 5: Fold down one end of the paper tube, and tape it to the tube body.
Step 6: Insert the straw into the open end of the paper tube.
Step 7: Test-launch your paper rocket by blowing through the straw. What do you notice?
3
www.nasa.gov www.madscience.org
The Paper Rocket
You Will Need
Continue Your Explorations
1 Sheet of Letter-Size Paper
(8½" x 11")
1 Pencil 1 Ruler1 Drinking Straw
(thinner than
the pencil)
1 Pair of
Scissors
1 Roll of
Transparent Tape
Directions
pencil
paper
tapetape tape
tape
blow
1:
3:
5:
7:
2:
4:
6:

What's Going On?
This simple rocket demonstrates how rockets travel through
the atmosphere. It's very difficult to fly a rocket in a straight
line without fins! Fins make a rocket more stable without
adding too much weight. A “stable” rocket flies in a
predictable path, with less twisting and wobbling.
When you blow into the straw, you force air into the rocket
and increase the pressure inside. This pressure forces the
rocket to fly off the end of the straw so the air can escape.
The force of the escaping air continues to propel the rocket
forward. All rockets are propelled upward by the force of
gases escaping out of their base. Model rocket engines and
real rockets that go into space often use solid fuel. Gas is
produced when this fuel is burned. These gases are made so
quickly that they build up lots of pressure, and escape out of
the bottom of a rocket with incredible force!
The first rockets were used for
fireworks in China in the 1200's.
Modern rockets have been used in
space travel to send humans to the
Moon, and to launch satellites, and
probes to other planets.
Step 8: Cut out the 3 fins on this page by following the
solid lines.
Step 9: Fold each fin along the dotted line.
Step 10: Attach the fins to the open end of your rocket
by taping the folded tabs to the paper tube.
Step 11: Try launching your rocket with the fins in place
by blowing through the straw again. How has
its flight changed?
Step 12: Test your launch skills by trying to hit a target,
like the back of a chair. When you achieve this,
try more difficult targets!
TM
Silly Putty went into
space on the Apollo 8
mission. The crew of
Apollo 8 used it to secure
tools in microgravity on
their way to the Moon.
Fi s:
n
8:
9:
10:
11:
Fins:
12:
BP0154 © 2013 The Mad Science Group. All rights reserved.
0
3
5+