We were visiting some friends recently when the two dads found themselves needing some entertainment for 2 young boys. We decided that it was model rocket launching time! It had been quite a few years since both dads had launched rockets, but we felt confident in our memory and ability to follow instructions, so we headed right out to Wal-Mart to pick up some supplies on the way to the field. We’ll cover how to go about this activity with your kids and offer up some tips along the way.

Where can I get model rockets?

The first thing you will need to launch rockets is the actual rockets (pretty obvious, we know). There are many different stores that carry model rockets. Hobby stores offer the greatest variety of rockets if you are looking for something special, while the main discounters (Target, Wal-Mart, etc.) carry rockets, launch kits, and engines as well nowadays. If you head to one of the discount stores, your best bet is to look in the toy section where they keep model airplanes and helicopters.

What type of rocket should I get?

We found that Wal-Mart offered one launch kit option, which had the launch pad, remote controller ignition system, and a rocket to assemble. They also carried two other single rockets that were pre-assembled. Depending on the age of your kids and your level of skill with assembling potentially complex models, decide whether you want the Ready-to-Fly rockets or the more advanced rockets that require assembly. Many model rockets require more than one day to assemble as you must glue them together, then paint them or apply decals. We tried both types, and would recommend starting with the Ready-to-Fly models before investing in the more complex types. The Ready-to-Fly version took a couple of minutes to attach the fins and the parachute, while the other one took at least 25 minutes to work through the assembly instructions. If your kid enjoys building things, then making the entire rocket would be a great activity on its own. Most rockets come with decals so your kid can decorate it as well.

The launch kit that we purchased came with the launch pad itself, which is a tripod-type stand with a long metal rod that guides the direction of the rocket when launching. This kit also came with the electrical ignition controller, which provides the electrical charge to ignite the engine and blast the rockets off. Look for controllers that have a safety key to ensure no accidental launches occur while you are prepping the rocket.

Engines are typically sold separately from the rockets and come in many different sizes and power ratings. Each rocket will have documentation on the box explaining which engine sizes are compatible. We went for the largest engine size that would fit in our rockets to maximize how far into the sky they would go. When buying engines consider how many launches you will want to do and account for the fact that some may not work correctly. We had two rockets and brought along 9 engines, all of which worked. If you want to teach your kids how the engines actually work, this site provides a good visual of the process.

Safety

Safety is very important with this activity as you are dealing with powerful engines. We felt it was OK to have our kids help place the rocket on the launch pad, but we made sure they were 15 to 20 feet away when we were connecting the controller clips to the engine and when actually launching. We always held the controller and allowed the kids to hit the button. With older kids they could start to do some of these things on their own…with supervision, of course.

Preparing for Launch

For each launch you have to prepare the engine as well as the parachute and nose cone. For the parachute you fold and roll it up per the instructions, wrap the cords around the parachute, stuff several sheets of wadding into the fuselage (this is to protect the parachute from burning), insert the parachute, and then secure the nose cone in place.

Launching

For the engine, an igniter is placed into the hole of the engine and secured in place with a plastic plug. The engine is then inserted into the rear end of the rocket and secured in place by the metal clips on the rocket body. Once ready, the rocket is placed on the launch rod and from a safe distance (the ignition controller usually has a 15-20 foot cord), a safety key is inserted, a countdown is done, and your kid presses the launch button.

Rocket Flight

Our rockets went 800-1200 feet in the air and were pretty hard to see at their highest point. One of the most exciting parts was tracking the descent of the rocket and trying to get to where it was going to land. This is easier if there is little wind and the parachute system works correctly, of course.

Dad Says: I’m not sure if the dads had more fun or the kids with this activity. It brought back some great childhood memories and once you’ve invested in the launch pad, controller, and some rockets, you just need to buy new engines every time.

Dad’s Friend Says: Get at least two rockets and plan on losing one of them unless you have a very large field and no wind. I’ll definitely be getting some more engines to bring the kids out again.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 23rd, 2009 at 3:11 am and is filed under Uncategorized. If you use RSS, you can subscribe to the RSS feed , or if you would rather receive an e-mail, please subscribe to the e-mail in the lower right hand corner of this page. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.