Amateur rocket fuel

There is quite a number of propellants used in experimental rocketry and often people will get attached to one type or another and become quite knowledgeable about that propellant. The three most common types of propellants are compressed powder, usually black powder, sugar propellant most commonly sucrose, dextrose and most recently, sorbitol and composite propellant using ammonium nitrate or ammonium perchlorate as the oxidizer and a powdered metal usually aluminum or magnesium as the fuel. There are three well known people who are "experts" in each of these propellants: David Sleeter Teleflite Corporation has a book on black powder motors "Amateur Rocket Motor Construction. Richard Nakka is the sugar rocket specialist and has the most comprehensive experimental rocketry website bar none. In rocketry, the propellant is compressed or cast into large forms just smaller than the motor diameter. A motor may use one to as high as seven or more grains in a motor or the propellant may be cast directly into the motor case bonded grains in which case the entire mass of propellant is referred to as the grain.

The earliest rockets were solid-fuel rockets powered by gunpowder ; they were used in warfare by the Chinese , Indians , Mongols and Persians , as early as the 13th century. All rockets used some form of solid or powdered propellant up until the 20th century, when liquid-propellant rockets offered more efficient and controllable alternatives. Solid rockets are still used today in military armaments worldwide, model rockets and on larger applications for their simplicity and reliability. Since solid-fuel rockets can remain in storage for a long time without much propellant degradation, and the fact that they almost always launch reliably, they have been frequently used in military applications such as missiles.

By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy , Privacy Policy , and our Terms of Service. Is it possible and worth it to use liquid propellants like liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen in amateur rockets? What are the other types of liquid fuel used? Moderator's Note: Remember discussion of homemade engines or propellants is explicitly disallowed here, see this meta FAQ. Answers should address solutions that are commercially available for hobby rocket kits.

Isn't Amateur Rocketry today the same as when we had the Basement Bombers of the 's and 60's? The major difference is the propellant used by amateurs today. The packed powders were extremely dangerous and accounted for most of the accidents reported in the media. However, it was a hard, brittle propellant that would often crack upon ignition. This resulted in the motors over pressurizing and failing very dramatically on the launch pad.