CO2 Rocket

thingiverse

The class project for my daughter's last school term involved designing and constructing a CO2-powered rocket, limited to dimensions of 300mm long, 50mm thick, with fin protrusions not exceeding 30mm. The rockets were launched horizontally using a trigger device that punctured 8g CO2 canisters, attached to a 400m braided fishing line between two poles, and the distance covered was measured by the class. After referring to provided resources, my daughter designed a rocket with a parabolic nose cone for directional stability, tapered airfoil fins for minimal drag, and a tail that narrowed inward during the glide phase after propellant exhaustion. This innovative design allowed her rocket to cover the full distance and be one of the fastest, though it sustained damage upon impact at the end of the course. Photos of the event were taken from TV due to poor quality. The rocket was constructed by printing and gluing together two halves, attaching parallel hooks made from 1.6mm stainless steel TIG welding rod along the centerline, and pressing an 8g CO2 canister into the rear.