actually the concrete rocket flew on a E motor and is not much bigger than most model rockets. And we just finished launching a 14' rocket (made with phenolic tubes) 6" diameter. It went to about 11,200 ft. AGL on a HyperTek M1010 hybrid motor (nitrous oxide and thermal plastic)
In the copy I have:
NFPA 1122 (1997 Edition)
Under
Chapter 1 General Requirements.
1-1.4
"This code shall not apply to the design, construction, production, manufacture, fabrication, maintenance, launching, flight, test, operation, use of, or any other activity in connection with a rocket or rocket motor when carried out or engaged in by any of the following:
(a) The government of the United States of
America
(b) Any state or local government
(c) Any individual, firm,....engaged as a
licensed business in the research,
development, production, testing,
maintenance, or supply of rockets, rocket
motors, rocket propellant chemicals, or
rocket components or parts
(d) Any college or university."
I don't have a copy with me, but we were required to read these codes so that we were sure we complied with them. Near the end it said that this code does not appliy to universities. I think there is a copy in our lab and I will get back to you.
Ricky
The first rocket has been completed. A new bigger rocket is being built which is 90% done.
The video from the first rocket is at:
http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/
I am not sure, but this concrete mix may infact float! I worked on the rocket and the cement is full of small air-filled balls that are used instead of gravel.
Amazing you was not the point. The rocket is made with two layers of carbon fiber and cement that, instead of gravel, has small micro-bubbles, which are filled with air, making it light, and has some latex mixed in it. The carbon fiber keeps the concrete from breaking and crumbling and there is a light layer of epoxy on the outside so that it will be nice and smooth. Find out more:
http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/
The rocket was launched on a White Lightning E motor from Aerotech. The rocket is very light and this was only a test launch. We didn't want to go overkill. Because we are a university we have to have our own safety procedures and are not required to follow NAR rules, etc. We do however adhere to those rules as much as possible. Also, this concete is not any going to hurt any more than a normal phenolic/cardboard tube!
http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/
The concrete rocket was not launched on Federal Property, but the much larger rocket that was built (not of concrete) was:
http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/
That is how the project started actually. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center wrote a proposal to our university to build and launch some very large rockets. The concrete rocket was built as a side project to experiment with using the concrete as a building material. The concrete is actually lighter and stronger than what we have used already....
http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/
I can assure you that the rocket was not made to get around any laws. If we wanted to make a rocket out of metal we could have. As a university we are immune of the laws regarding model rocketry when used for experimentation. Visit UAH's Student Launch Initiative's official website:
http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/
The rocket was made with a couple of sheets of carbon fiber mesh. Then concrete is put on to hold the shape. A thin layer of epoxy is on the outside for smoothness. It is quite strong and very light.
Ok I know there are alot of people who think that the whole concrete rocket thing is stupid. In fact it was done just to see if it could be done. The real project that this team works on is much bigger. I helped. Student Launch Initiative of The University of Alabama in Huntsville's official website is:
http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/
You can fins the videos and such there. The newest videos of our launch to 11,000 ft should be posted soon.
Slashdot Mirror
That would definitely be a feat...
Sorry we can only use the resources that are available
actually the concrete rocket flew on a E motor and is not much bigger than most model rockets. And we just finished launching a 14' rocket (made with phenolic tubes) 6" diameter. It went to about 11,200 ft. AGL on a HyperTek M1010 hybrid motor (nitrous oxide and thermal plastic)
The wall of the rocket is 1/2" thick concrete with some carbon fiber in the concrete. The rocket is entirely concrete.
In the copy I have: NFPA 1122 (1997 Edition) Under Chapter 1 General Requirements. 1-1.4 "This code shall not apply to the design, construction, production, manufacture, fabrication, maintenance, launching, flight, test, operation, use of, or any other activity in connection with a rocket or rocket motor when carried out or engaged in by any of the following: (a) The government of the United States of America (b) Any state or local government (c) Any individual, firm,....engaged as a licensed business in the research, development, production, testing, maintenance, or supply of rockets, rocket motors, rocket propellant chemicals, or rocket components or parts (d) Any college or university."
I don't have a copy with me, but we were required to read these codes so that we were sure we complied with them. Near the end it said that this code does not appliy to universities. I think there is a copy in our lab and I will get back to you. Ricky
Another person building their own spacecraft: THE ROCKETGUY This guy is in the US!
The first rocket has been completed. A new bigger rocket is being built which is 90% done. The video from the first rocket is at: http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/
These rocket flew a piece of concrete on a normal rocket. Our rocket was made entirely of concrete and a carbon fiber mesh.
I am not sure, but this concrete mix may infact float! I worked on the rocket and the cement is full of small air-filled balls that are used instead of gravel.
Amazing you was not the point. The rocket is made with two layers of carbon fiber and cement that, instead of gravel, has small micro-bubbles, which are filled with air, making it light, and has some latex mixed in it. The carbon fiber keeps the concrete from breaking and crumbling and there is a light layer of epoxy on the outside so that it will be nice and smooth. Find out more: http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/
The rocket was launched on a White Lightning E motor from Aerotech. The rocket is very light and this was only a test launch. We didn't want to go overkill. Because we are a university we have to have our own safety procedures and are not required to follow NAR rules, etc. We do however adhere to those rules as much as possible. Also, this concete is not any going to hurt any more than a normal phenolic/cardboard tube! http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/
The concrete rocket was not launched on Federal Property, but the much larger rocket that was built (not of concrete) was: http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/
That is how the project started actually. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center wrote a proposal to our university to build and launch some very large rockets. The concrete rocket was built as a side project to experiment with using the concrete as a building material. The concrete is actually lighter and stronger than what we have used already.... http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/
I can assure you that the rocket was not made to get around any laws. If we wanted to make a rocket out of metal we could have. As a university we are immune of the laws regarding model rocketry when used for experimentation. Visit UAH's Student Launch Initiative's official website: http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/
The rocket was made with a couple of sheets of carbon fiber mesh. Then concrete is put on to hold the shape. A thin layer of epoxy is on the outside for smoothness. It is quite strong and very light.
http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/
It's true! I helped build the rocket. It has a couple of layer of a carbon fiber mesh held together with concrete.
Ok I know there are alot of people who think that the whole concrete rocket thing is stupid. In fact it was done just to see if it could be done. The real project that this team works on is much bigger. I helped. Student Launch Initiative of The University of Alabama in Huntsville's official website is: http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/ You can fins the videos and such there. The newest videos of our launch to 11,000 ft should be posted soon.