Engine Analysis
Just as the simple illustration to the side shows, Newton's 3rd Law is the following: "For every force, there is an equal but opposite force". Just as the engine ignites and expels its energy towards the ground during launch, the rocket is launched upwards with an equal amount of force.
For my engine, I was originally going to use a E8-6, but due to the wind conditions, I stepped it down to a D12-7. But what exactly do the components mean? The initial letter "D" in the engine name is the level of impulse, where each engine's impulse is double of the previous one ( A = 2.5 Ns, B = 5 Ns, C = 10 Ns, D = 20 Ns, E = 40 Ns, etc).
Therefore, the engine and rocket go off with an impulse of 20 Ns in this case. The first # -- 12 -- in the name stands for the amount of average force of the rocket, making this specific engine going off with an average force of 12 N. Finally, the last # in the sequence -- 7 -- is the delay between the ignition and the pushback that releases the parachute. In this case, the delay was 7 seconds. Below is some data regarding this.
For my engine, I was originally going to use a E8-6, but due to the wind conditions, I stepped it down to a D12-7. But what exactly do the components mean? The initial letter "D" in the engine name is the level of impulse, where each engine's impulse is double of the previous one ( A = 2.5 Ns, B = 5 Ns, C = 10 Ns, D = 20 Ns, E = 40 Ns, etc).
Therefore, the engine and rocket go off with an impulse of 20 Ns in this case. The first # -- 12 -- in the name stands for the amount of average force of the rocket, making this specific engine going off with an average force of 12 N. Finally, the last # in the sequence -- 7 -- is the delay between the ignition and the pushback that releases the parachute. In this case, the delay was 7 seconds. Below is some data regarding this.
The Eggscaliber Scenario
Engine Choice & Why
As I briefly described above, my original choice for this rocket was a E8-6, but went with a D12-7 instead due to the wind conditions on the launch day. Had I used the E8-6, the rocket would've done what Mary's Vagabond did: instead of landing close to the launch pad, it would have been carried far by the wind. The reasoning to this would be due to the higher impulse, as more force was released from the engine at a faster rate and, thus, accelerated to a higher altitude.
Additionally, the rocket was capable of using C engines, but I did not go with it. The reason to this was simply because I wanted the most optimal flight, and using a C rocket engine would result in a less exciting and short-lived flight with the rocket reaching only a fraction of the altitude it reached with the D engine.
Additionally, the rocket was capable of using C engines, but I did not go with it. The reason to this was simply because I wanted the most optimal flight, and using a C rocket engine would result in a less exciting and short-lived flight with the rocket reaching only a fraction of the altitude it reached with the D engine.