James Koch's Water Rocket
James' Dihydrogen-Monoxide Missile ready to fly Water rockets are growing in popularity. They are inexpensive, much safer and reasonably easy to construct. Compressed air and water form the rocket fuel.

At launch, the rocket nozzle valve is opened, releasing the rocket for flight. The compressed air forces the water out at high speed and the missile accelerates upwards. The resultant thrust is proportional to the mass flow rate of the water.

(TEXT HEREUNDER STILL BEING EDITED: Details need to be verified or corrected)

James' rocket, flown in March 2010 at a park in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was made from about seven straight-walled 2-litre soda bottles, six of which were joined together to provide 12 litres of water and compressed air. The seventh was cut and shaped as the nose-cone (which could be used as payload area). The total mass before launch, including water, was about 7kg. The air was compressed to about 3.5 bar.

( A video clip will shortly be posted to www.youtube.com )

Early morning pre-flight tension The rocket was made for this little lad Crew setting up on launch pad Michael pumping in Energy (Compressed Air)
First flight - low pressure, slow acceleration Setting up for 2nd flight Adding water to improve specific impulse 2nd Launch - Jason astonished. Reached +-60m altitude
Return to earth. Must put a chute on next time.
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