There's a moment of silence, then flame blasts from the tail of the rocket. A moment later the rocket is streaking into the sky, trailing fire and smoke. The motor burns out, but momentum continues to push the rocket up into the clear blue sky.

Suddenly there's a puff of smoke, and a brightly-colored parachute appears. Cheers and applause greet the sight, and congratulations are extended to the rocket's designer -- a fifteen year old boy.

"Rocket Science" isn't as difficult, or exclusive, as most people think. Thousands of people throughout the world are building and launching rockets without the benefit of engineering degrees or government funding.

Part of the thrill of model rocketry is the knowledge that even if your own rocket is far smaller than an actual space-faring vehicle, the same principles apply equally to both. Even the motors work the same way.

There are organizations all over the world which sponsor rocket launches and provide fellowship and education for rocketry enthusiasts, but you can also build and launch a rocket by yourself.

If you're new to rocketry, you'll want to begin by selecting a kit, from an Internet store or at your local hobby store. Kits come in various sizes, and there are a variety of designs available, but most will contain the same basic elements: a body tube, fins, a nosecone, and a recovery device (a parachute or streamer).

Body tubes are frequently made of cardboard, but sturdier models have body tubes made from a composite material called phenolic, which is slightly heavier than cardboard but much more resistant to damage. Fins can be made from balsa wood or fiberglass.

Most model rockets fly on solid propellant motors, which burn a mixture of rubber and ammonium perchlorate to produce expanding gases which squirt out the nozzle at the tail end of rocket and push it off the launch pad.

The five phases of a typical model rocket flight are directly related to the parts and performance of the motor.

The first phase is Ignition and Liftoff. This is when the motor is fired and the rocket leaves the launch pad. This merges into the Powered Flight stage, as the rocket is boosted higher and higher into the air while the propellant burns.

The Coasting phase is next with the propellant now burned out, but the rocket continues to climb due to its momentum. Inside the motor, a delay grain is burning.

When the delay grain has burned through, an ejection charge is ignited. Ideally, this happens very close to the moment the rocket has reached the highest point of its climb and has begun its descent.

During the Ejection phase, the ejection charge pops the nosecone off the top of the rocket and deploys the parachute. Recovery, the final phase, is the safe return to earth of the rocket on the parachute.

Motors are not included with make-it-yourself rocket kits, and must be purchased from a dealer. Motors come in many different sizes. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for your particular model and the size of the field in which you will be launching.

There are also regulations governing the age you have to be to purchase a motor and the size of motor which may be purchased without being certified by an official rocketry organization. Check with your local authorities for more information.

Rocket motors are ignited using an electronic launch controller, which regulates the flow of current between a battery and the motor. A safe launch controller has a key-operated safety interlock, which prevents accidental ignition when setting the rocket up on the launch pad.

Launch controllers, launch pads and launch rods (which make sure the rocket's initial boost is pointed the right direction) also must be purchased separately from the kit. Although this ground support equipment can be obtained relatively inexpensively, you may want to do your first launches with a club, which will provide ground support, instead of buying it yourself right away.

When selecting a launch site, first determine the size of the field you'll need. The larger the rocket, the larger the space required. Check with your local rocketry organization or governmental authoroties to find out what regulations govern the launch of rockets.

Whatever the local requirements, you'll need a space away from buildings, power lines, and trees. The launch area should be level, so your launch pad will be stable, and the ground should be free of flammable materials.

All spectators, including the person launching the rocket, should stand a safe distance away from the launch pad; minimum distance will depend on the size of the motor being used. The launch should be preceded by a countdown clearly audible to everyone in the immediate area.

As in any new activity, it's best to start small in rocketry -- but as your skills and knowledge develop, the only limits on your rocketry activities are you own imagination and the laws of physics.

There are few better ways to introduce young people to the excitement and possibilities of science - and to the broad horizons of their own potential - than rocketry.

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