I though it would be a good idea to have a list of common terms, abbreviations, and acronyms that beginners ask about. Here's what I've started. Please let me know of other terms that beginners might not know, or might have only a vague notion. I'm not included vendors because there are so many. Not intending to include every possible entry, just those that may be new or confusing to beginning (low power or high power) rocketeers.
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APCP: ammonium perchlorate composite propellant, contains ammonium perchlorate (NH4ClO4), a synthetic rubber binder, and various additives. APCP produces two to three times the impulse/mass compared to blackpowder (BP). All high-power motors, and some mid-power and low-power motors, contain APCP as the propellant.
BALLS: TRA’s other annual launch, held on the Black Rock Desert playa, usually in September. It emphasizes research rocketry; spectators are actively discouraged. (see LDRS)
BAR: born-again rocketeer, someone who did rocketry when young and rediscovered it as an adult.
BP: blackpowder. Fine granulated BP is used as ejection charges. Most low-power motors, and some mid-power, use a solid cylinder ("grain") of BP as the propellant.
BT-5/20/50/etc: Old designation for paper body tubes, developed by Estes. Actual dimensions of these can be found on JimZ's site.
CA: Cyanoacrylate; super glue, crazy glue.
CATO: a motor overpressurises, damaging or destroying the case, nozzle, forward closure, and may result in a rapid unscheduled disassembly of the rocket as well.
CF: carbon fiber; CF cloth or roving is used to make very strong, lightweight (and expensive!) tubes.
Chuff: a phenomenon sometimes seen with APCP motors. Motor ignites briefly then goes out, often several times (think “old locomotive sound”). It may go out after several chuffs, or it may launch the rocket.
Core sample (see lawn dart): a lawn dart wherein the nose cone has been lost and the airframe contains a lovely cylinder of dirt/clay.
CWF: Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Filler, usually diluted w/water for filling wood grain.
Dual deploy: recovery that minimizes wind drift. An altimeter fires a charge at apogee that deploys a streamer or a drogue (or just separates the rocket so it is unstable), and falls rapidly. Then at a designated lower altitude (e.g., 500 feet) the main chute deploys for a soft landing.
Electric match: a device for electrically igniting (some) rocket motors or an ejection charge; looks like a match head with two wires attached. Uses much less current
Experimental rocketry: see Research rocketry
Fillet: a bead of adhesive applied to a body-fin joint, then smoothed with finger or tool. Strengthens the joint.
High-power: motors H impulse and larger
Igniter: see Motor starter
Lawn dart (see core sample): recovery system does not deploy, rocket streamlines down to Earth.
LDRS: Large Dangerous Rocket Ships, TRA’s premier annual launch and annual member’s meeting. Usually 4-5 days (Thurs-Mon)
Mid-power: motors from E to G impulse
Modroc: usually low-power rocket, i.e. D motors and smaller
Motor starter: a device for electrically igniting a rocket motor. Usually has a nichrome bridge wire between two insulated copper wires; the nichrome is coated with an easily-ignited mixture. (old name: igniter)
NAR: National Association of Rocketry. Low, mid, and high power, generally seen as emphasizing low and mid power.
NARAM: NAR Annual Meet, NAR’s premier annual launch, usually runs 4-5 days.
OpenRocket: a free app for designing rockets; calculates Cp, Cg, weight, etc., and models flights for a rocket.
QT: Titebond Quick&Thick, a type of glue that is thick enough to stay where it is applied. Often used for fillets, as all fillets can be done at the same time without running or dripping.
Research rocketry: rocketry involving homemade motors; old designation “EX” or “Experimental” The latter is out of favor due to potential confusion by the FAA, which has a completely different (and very strict) definition for Experimental.
Rocksim: an app sold by Apogee Rockets for designing rockets; calculates Cp, Cg, weight, etc., and models flights for a rocket.
Shred: rocket comes apart during flight
Starter: see Motor starter
TN: tubular nylon, used for heavy-duty shock cord
Total impulse: the total “oomph”, thrust times burn time, of a rocket motor, usually in Newton-seconds (N-s). Directly dependent on both type and mass of propellant in the motor.
TRA: Tripoli Rocketry Association. International organization generally seen as emphasizing high-power rocketry, though low and mid power flights are almost always welcome. Also endorses research rocketry.
Waiver: A document that is submitted to the FAA; upon approval it waives part of FAR101 and permits high-power rocket flights (technically, permits Class 2 rockets).
Zipper: occurs when a shock cord rips a groove down the length of the airframe during recovery.
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APCP: ammonium perchlorate composite propellant, contains ammonium perchlorate (NH4ClO4), a synthetic rubber binder, and various additives. APCP produces two to three times the impulse/mass compared to blackpowder (BP). All high-power motors, and some mid-power and low-power motors, contain APCP as the propellant.
BALLS: TRA’s other annual launch, held on the Black Rock Desert playa, usually in September. It emphasizes research rocketry; spectators are actively discouraged. (see LDRS)
BAR: born-again rocketeer, someone who did rocketry when young and rediscovered it as an adult.
BP: blackpowder. Fine granulated BP is used as ejection charges. Most low-power motors, and some mid-power, use a solid cylinder ("grain") of BP as the propellant.
BT-5/20/50/etc: Old designation for paper body tubes, developed by Estes. Actual dimensions of these can be found on JimZ's site.
CA: Cyanoacrylate; super glue, crazy glue.
CATO: a motor overpressurises, damaging or destroying the case, nozzle, forward closure, and may result in a rapid unscheduled disassembly of the rocket as well.
CF: carbon fiber; CF cloth or roving is used to make very strong, lightweight (and expensive!) tubes.
Chuff: a phenomenon sometimes seen with APCP motors. Motor ignites briefly then goes out, often several times (think “old locomotive sound”). It may go out after several chuffs, or it may launch the rocket.
Core sample (see lawn dart): a lawn dart wherein the nose cone has been lost and the airframe contains a lovely cylinder of dirt/clay.
CWF: Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Filler, usually diluted w/water for filling wood grain.
Dual deploy: recovery that minimizes wind drift. An altimeter fires a charge at apogee that deploys a streamer or a drogue (or just separates the rocket so it is unstable), and falls rapidly. Then at a designated lower altitude (e.g., 500 feet) the main chute deploys for a soft landing.
Electric match: a device for electrically igniting (some) rocket motors or an ejection charge; looks like a match head with two wires attached. Uses much less current
Experimental rocketry: see Research rocketry
Fillet: a bead of adhesive applied to a body-fin joint, then smoothed with finger or tool. Strengthens the joint.
High-power: motors H impulse and larger
Igniter: see Motor starter
Lawn dart (see core sample): recovery system does not deploy, rocket streamlines down to Earth.
LDRS: Large Dangerous Rocket Ships, TRA’s premier annual launch and annual member’s meeting. Usually 4-5 days (Thurs-Mon)
Mid-power: motors from E to G impulse
Modroc: usually low-power rocket, i.e. D motors and smaller
Motor starter: a device for electrically igniting a rocket motor. Usually has a nichrome bridge wire between two insulated copper wires; the nichrome is coated with an easily-ignited mixture. (old name: igniter)
NAR: National Association of Rocketry. Low, mid, and high power, generally seen as emphasizing low and mid power.
NARAM: NAR Annual Meet, NAR’s premier annual launch, usually runs 4-5 days.
OpenRocket: a free app for designing rockets; calculates Cp, Cg, weight, etc., and models flights for a rocket.
QT: Titebond Quick&Thick, a type of glue that is thick enough to stay where it is applied. Often used for fillets, as all fillets can be done at the same time without running or dripping.
Research rocketry: rocketry involving homemade motors; old designation “EX” or “Experimental” The latter is out of favor due to potential confusion by the FAA, which has a completely different (and very strict) definition for Experimental.
Rocksim: an app sold by Apogee Rockets for designing rockets; calculates Cp, Cg, weight, etc., and models flights for a rocket.
Shred: rocket comes apart during flight
Starter: see Motor starter
TN: tubular nylon, used for heavy-duty shock cord
Total impulse: the total “oomph”, thrust times burn time, of a rocket motor, usually in Newton-seconds (N-s). Directly dependent on both type and mass of propellant in the motor.
TRA: Tripoli Rocketry Association. International organization generally seen as emphasizing high-power rocketry, though low and mid power flights are almost always welcome. Also endorses research rocketry.
Waiver: A document that is submitted to the FAA; upon approval it waives part of FAR101 and permits high-power rocket flights (technically, permits Class 2 rockets).
Zipper: occurs when a shock cord rips a groove down the length of the airframe during recovery.
