Senior Space Cadet
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- Joined
- May 23, 2020
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I know general consensus is that rockets fly higher if they don't spin.
I'm not from Missouri, but I have to see for myself.
Here's the rub: so fins designed for spin create more drag, but spin not only makes the rocket fly straighter, drag at the rear also makes it fly straighter. If you put a cone shaped flair, at the back end of a rocket, would it not fly straight? So my thinking is, you wouldn't need as much fin surface area to make the rocket fly straight if you make it spin. Maybe way less.
There is also the question of whether altitude is the only priority? A rocket that flies beautifully, but not so high, might be a good goal.
Another question is, if your construction skills are less than perfect, and mine certainly aren't, is it possible that spinning will result in a much straighter, and therefore higher, flight?
So here's the test I'd like to do. Build two identical rockets, except that one has more or larger fins that don't make the rocket spin and one has less or smaller fins that do.
One obvious test I might try is build one with three fins at a slight angle and one with four fins inline with the body.
I know I'm going to get hammered on this, but I need to see for myself.
I'm not from Missouri, but I have to see for myself.
Here's the rub: so fins designed for spin create more drag, but spin not only makes the rocket fly straighter, drag at the rear also makes it fly straighter. If you put a cone shaped flair, at the back end of a rocket, would it not fly straight? So my thinking is, you wouldn't need as much fin surface area to make the rocket fly straight if you make it spin. Maybe way less.
There is also the question of whether altitude is the only priority? A rocket that flies beautifully, but not so high, might be a good goal.
Another question is, if your construction skills are less than perfect, and mine certainly aren't, is it possible that spinning will result in a much straighter, and therefore higher, flight?
So here's the test I'd like to do. Build two identical rockets, except that one has more or larger fins that don't make the rocket spin and one has less or smaller fins that do.
One obvious test I might try is build one with three fins at a slight angle and one with four fins inline with the body.
I know I'm going to get hammered on this, but I need to see for myself.