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Make: Rockets: Down-to-Earth Rocket Science

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Make: Rockets, Down to Earth Rocket Science, is for all the science geeks who look at the moon and try to figure out where Neil Armstrong walked, watch in awe as rockets lift off, and want to fly their own model rockets.

Starting from the ground up you how to build all sorts of rockets and associated equipment with clear, step-by-step directions. It's easy to skip the more detailed material, but when you are ready, Make: Rockets will help you rise to new heights with detailed coverage of the math and science behind building, flying and tracking rockets. 

You will learn:

* How to safely build and fly solid propellant, water and air powered rockets.
* All the techniques needed to build model rockets, launchers and trackers.
* How to recover rockets by parachute, streamer, glider, helicopter recovery and more.
* How to fly payloads like cameras, altimeters and the ever popular egg lofter!
* How to pick the right motor and parachute for any rocket or payload.
* Aerodynamic principles for designing stable, low drag rockets that slip through the air--including one rocket that can hit 500 mph!
* How to use free rocket simulators to figure out about how high a rocket will go before you fly it.
* How to track the rocket and figure out how high and fast it really went.

If you are a hobbyist just getting started with rocketry, a teacher or parent looking for ways to get kids interested in math and science, or an advanced rocketeer who wants a deep understanding of the science and math behind rocket flight, this book is for you.

519 pages, Paperback

First published June 25, 2014

41 people are currently reading
82 people want to read

About the author

Mike Westerfield

15 books4 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Profile Image for Lindsay Smith-Munoz.
159 reviews
September 25, 2020
I gave this 5 stars because I think it is about as complete as anyone could want, unless they were looking for a source on high powered rocketry(the author has a different book for that). We don't, at this stage, plan on doing 80% of what is in this book, but it was still a great resource for tips for building a rocket, even if you are using a kit, and doing fun stuff like sticking a camera in it, or measuring the height it flies.
Profile Image for James.
3,962 reviews32 followers
April 27, 2015
I mostly scanned this, I've played with low-power rockets in the dark, distant past and this looks like a good fairly complete read on the subject. Includes things like water and ballon rockets as well. I suspect I'd like his high power rocket book better since I loved the first edition Harry Stine one.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews

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