Georgia Wing Aerospace Education

Georgia Wing Model Rocketry Program

"Non est ad astra mollis e terris via."

Welcome to Georgia Wing's Model Rocketry Program, where we "trust but verify," with math and altimetry. The entire CAP Model Rocketry program can be completed during a weekend-long event. We encourage AEOs to drive this STEM opportunity with those cadets who are ready. Vital resources, program requirements and videos are provided below. We continue our Best Practice of customized hyperlinking and commentary, which allows for a continuous read of the salient points. Advanced efforts can lead to college and university scholarships for our cadets.

References

Redstone Phase: Written Witness | HO Witness | Approval | Certificate

Titan Phase: Written Witness | HO Witness | Approval | Certificate

Saturn Phase: Written Witness | HO Witness | Approval | Certificate

STAGE ONE - REDSTONE

This stage is named after the PGM-11 Redstone missile which was a direct descendant of the German V-2. The Redstone missile was in active service with the U.S. Army from June 1958 to June 1964. In 1961 the Redstone was utilized for four sub-orbital launches of the Project Mercury manned space program.

1. The Written Phase
The cadet must successfully pass a written examination on the history of rockets and the lives of four great rocket pioneers: Robert Goddard, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Hermann Oberth, Werner von Braun.

2. The Official Witness Log (OWL) and Testing
The cadet must have the squadron testing officer (STO) administer the required test, and sign the cadet's Official Witness Log (OWL).

3. The Hands-On Phase
The cadet is required to build two non-solid fuel rockets, with alternate sources of power. There are four options:
   (1) the rubber band powered Goddard "rocket";
   (2) the AlkaSeltzer® and water rocket;                               Engineers like this one...
   (3) the rubber band junk "rocket";
   (4) and the compressed air and water pop-bottle rocket.        and this one.

4. The Official Witness Log (OWL) and Model Rocket Flights
The cadet must have a Qualified Senior Member (QSM) witness the launch of the two models, with alternate sources of power, and sign off the Official Witness Log (OWL). A Qualified Senior Member (QSM) may be any unit command staff member, or a currently registered Aerospace Education Member (AEM).

5. The Role of the Squadron Commander
After completion of all the above requirements, the cadet is entitled to the Redstone certificate. The Squadron Commander must review the Official Witness Logs and sign the certificate so the cadet may advance to Titan Stage.

6. Summary Content


Konstantin Tsiolkovsky	Hermann Oberth


Robert H. Goddard	Werner von Braun

STAGE TWO - TITAN

This stage is named after the Titan family of expendable rockets used between 1959 and 2005. A total of 368 rockets of this family were launched, including all the Project Gemini manned flights of the mid-1960s.

1. The Written Phase
The cadet must pass an examination on Newton's Laws of Motion and Rocket Aerodynamics.

2. The Official Witness Log (OWL) and Testing
The Squadron Testing Officer (STO) must administer the written test and sign the cadet's Official Witness Log (OWL).

3. The Hands-on Phase
(1) The cadet is required to build two rockets in this stage: One may be a commercial single-stage kit model powered by a commercial, solid fuel model rocket engine. (The example used in the text is the Estes Alpha.)

(2) OR In some states, model rockets are considered a fire hazard, or for other reasons, are outlawed.

If this is the case, the cadet has the option to launch and safely recover a commercial airpowered rocket. If the cadet chooses this option, he/she must give mathematical proof of the altitude achieved in the flight. This can be done using an astrolabe (as featured on page 29 in Aerospace Dimensions, Rockets, Module 4), or one of the commercial altitude finders such as the Estes Altitrak®.

(3) If the cadet lives in an area where rockets are allowed, he/she is required to build a single-stage model rocket that is a scale reproduction of an actual rocket from Aerospace history. (An example is the Estes Redstone.)

(4) If the cadet lives in an area where rockets are outlawed, a plastic scale model of an actual rocket, from aerospace history, may be built and presented to the QSM. Rockets like the V-2, Redstone, Nike, Sidewinder, etc. are examples of scale models. Models from "sci-fi" movies, or TV series, do not count.

4. The Official Witness Log (OWL) for Construction and Flight of Rockets.
The cadet must prove, before flight, that the models are stable. The cadet may use the swing test described in the text for proof of stability. A Qualified Senior Member (QSM) must then witness the successful launch, flight and recovery of the model rockets required in this phase. It is the responsibility of the Qualified Senior Member (QSM) to see that the NAR Safety Code guidelines are followed in all model rocket launches. The cadet must demonstrate NAR Safety Code Proficiency, follow a set pre-flight checklist, and execute the launch and recovery with safety. If the QSM feels that the cadet has been responsible in all areas of the NAR safety code, then he/she may sign the OWL for this phase.

5. NAR Safety Code
The cadet must demonstrate knowledge of the NAR Safety Code and give practical proof of this knowledge during all launches.

6. The Role of the Squadron Commander
After completion of all the above requirements, the cadet is entitled to the Titan certificate. The Squadron Commander must review the completed Official Witness Logs and sign this certificate so the cadet may advance to the Titan stage. It is recommended that the certificate be presented at a squadron awards ceremony.

7. Summary Content

	Newton's Laws of Motion, Simplified First Law: (inertia) Every body remains in a state of rest or uniform motion (constant velocity) unless it is acted upon by an external unbalanced force. This means that in the absence of a non-zero net force, the center of mass of a body either remains at rest, or moves at a constant speed in a straight line. Second Law: (momentum) A body of mass m subject to a force F undergoes an acceleration a that has the same direction as the force and a magnitude that is directly proportional to the force and inversely proportional to the mass, i.e., F = ma. More correctly, especially for rockets losing mass (fuel) in flight up through the atmosphere: The total force applied on a body is equal to the time derivative of linear momentum of the body. Third Law: (reaction) The mutual forces of action and reaction between two bodies are equal, opposite and collinear. This means that whenever a first body exerts a force F on a second body, the second body exerts a force −F on the first body. F and −F are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. This law is sometimes referred to as the action-reaction law, with F called the "action" and −F the "reaction".

STAGE THREE - SATURN (Named after Von Braun's Saturn V Rocket)

1. The Written Phase
    a. The cadet is required to pass an exam on how to determine a model rocket's altitude at the apogee of its flight.
    b. The cadet is required to pass a second component of the written examination that covers model rocket engines.
    c. The cadet is to have a working knowledge of the NAR Safety Code.

2. The Official Witness Log and Testing
The squadron testing officer must administer the test and hear the recitation of the NAR Safety Code.

3. The Hands-On Phase
The cadet is required to build ONE rocket in the Saturn Stage.
a. The cadet MAY ELECT TO BUILD a two-stage rocket that requires two engines to reach altitude. The rocket must reach at least 500' and be safely recovered.

b. OR the cadet may elect to build a model rocket that is capable of carrying at least a 3-ounce payload to an altitude of 300' or more.

c. OR the cadet may elect to build a model rocket that has a separate glider attachment. The glider and rocket must return to earth safely and within NAR Safety Code guidelines.

d. OR, if the cadet lives in an area where solid-fuel model rockets are outlawed, he/she may elect to build an air-powered rocket of his/her own design from scratch. It may be launched by a commercial launcher such as the Estes or Air Burst. If this is the case, the cadet must give proof of the altitude attained, by the scratch-built model, using an astrolabe or a commercial model such as the Estes Astrotrak®. This must be verified by the QSM as part of the OWL sign-off.

4. The Official Witness Log For Flight and Recovery of the Models
A qualified senior member (QSM) must witness the launch and safe recovery of the rocket. All of the NAR Safety Guidelines must be followed and the Official Witness Log (OWL) must be signed by the QSM after these flights.

5. The Role of the Squadron Commander.
The squadron commander is required to sign the OWLs for the Saturn stage. After completion of this stage, the cadet is entitled to receive the official CAP Model Rocketry Badge.

Georgia Squadrons Supporting Model Rocketry Program

GA-142 Walton County Composite Squadron

GA-045 Sandy Springs Cadet Squadron

GA-090 Cobb County Composite Squadron

Model Rocketry Video from Each Stage

We provide a few sample videos of model rocket launches below, but cadets and seniors should be advised of the complete Model Rocketry Video Gallery which is being assembled in the Gallery of Aerospace.

Redstone Stage

Alka Seltzer Rocket Launch

Mentos and Diet Coke Explored

Titan Stage

Saturn Stage

This page is presently under development, please check back for updates.