Resources
This is your information center about all things rocketry!
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Information
A nice chart explaining when you need an FAA Waiver or a NAR/TRA Certification for your large rocket. | |
Reviews, Tips, and News (formerly Essence's Model Rocketry Reviews) | |
George Gassaway's Rocketry Pages | |
Archive of manufacturer's plans and instructions | |
Motor performance data | |
A small book that explains much of model rocketry in a concise way | |
Archive of plans, catalogs, rocket nostalgia. Links to nostalgia rocketry vendors. | |
How high and how fast will my rocket go? This page will tell you that and a lot of other stuff. | |
When your motor fails catastrophically (has a "cato", as we say), and we tell you to go "fill out a MESS form"? This is what we're talking about! | |
A site devoted to the history of the first 59 kits from Estes (from roughly 1959 to 1973) | |
The information is somewhat dated, but still an excellent introduction to the hobby | |
SoAR member Everett Stowe's 1/48 scale Saturn V project, and some info about his 1/25 project. | |
Roger Smith's Rocketry Blog | |
Chris Michielssen's blog of model rocket building techniques. | |
A YouTube video of a lecture by Professor Chris Bishop where in just an hour he leads you through the laws of motion, physics of a rocket, and propellant chemistry, illustrating solid, liquid, and hybrid rocket motors, at a grade school level! | |
Free and open source software for designing rockets and running flight simulations. Requires Java. | |
A podcast that strives to entertain as well as inform you on High Power rocketry. From the producers of The Model Rocket Show. | |
Not your father's water rockets. These rockets fly to 1000 feet or more with no fire whatsoever! | |
Analysis tools for Tomorrow's Rocket Engineer | |
A STEM Resource for Teachers, Home School Providers, and Students | |
Interesting thoughts on Space Elevators and Astronomy compiled by an elevator company |
Associations
The oldest consumer rocketry organization in the world | |
Organization of high power rocketry enthusiasts | |
Canada's Sport Rocketry Association |
Clubs
South East Alabama Rocketry Society (NAR) | |
Music City Missile Club -- Nashville, TN (NAR) | |
Birmingham Rocket Boys (NAR, TRA) | |
Group of Georgia Tech Students participating in the NASA University Student Launch Initiative | |
Rocketry Of Central Carolina (NAR, TRA) | |
Huntsville Alabama Rocketry Association (NAR,TRA) | |
Site for both ROSCO (NAR) and Tripoli South Carolina (TRA) | |
Rocket Club at Georgia Tech |
Dealers
High power rocket kits, motors, and supplies | |
Kits, Motors, and supplies | |
Kits, Motors, and supplies | |
Kits, Motors, and supplies | |
Kits, Motors, and supplies | |
Kits, Motors, and supplies | |
Kits, Motors, and supplies, also manufacturers Modelrockets.us rocket kits | |
Original Kits, as well as RockSim flight simulator, Motors, Supplies, and kits from other manufacturers | |
Kits, motors, etc. | |
kits, motors, accessories, etc. Home of SEMROC Repro-Repo licensed reproductions of classic rocket kits. | |
Mid- and High power rocket motors from Aerotech | |
A full line of rocket kits, motors, recovery gear, and supplies. | |
Carries Estes and Quest model rockets along with other hobby products | |
A new vendor with one kit, Bullet Bobby, and a collection of out of production Estes kits. Now home to Vander-burn Rocketry. | |
Kits and Accessories. As of 2022 makes and sells the former Sunward line of kits. |
Local Dealers
Grayson, Ga, on Hwy 78 between Snellville and Loganville | |
Various Locations: has a specific selection of Estes rockets and motors, from beginner to mid-power. Part of this selection is exclusive to Hobby Lobby, such as the Luna Bug, the Solo, and Cherokee-E. | |
Various Locations: Has a limited selection of Estes beginner rockets | |
One of the largest stores in the chain, Kennesaw Hobbytown has a large selection of Estes rockets, motors, and accessories, and now has a selection of smaller LOC/Precision rockets and accessories. | |
Newnan, Georgia | |
High power rocket kits, motors, and supplies | |
In business south of Atlanta since 1989, Glen and Alvin have a real old style hobby shop, with a small but diverse selection of Estes, Custom, Starlight, and Quest rockets along with the usual planes, trains, cars, and plastic models. | |
In Cumming, GA. Has a small selection of Estes kits and supplies. Their main jam is airplanes, cars, helis, and drones. Online ordering is available. |
Manufacturers
Kits, Motors, and supplies, also manufacturers Modelrockets.us rocket kits | |
Scale, Competition, Educational and Sport Rocket Kits, Components and Supplies | |
Mid-power and High-Power rockets and accessories | |
Original Kits, as well as RockSim flight simulator, Motors, Supplies, and kits from other manufacturers | |
Get balsa replacement parts for classic and current Estes and Centuri kits here | |
Mid to High-power scale models. This company may or may not be in business, but every once in awhile they produce some kits. | |
For over sixty years, the primary source of model rocket supplies | |
FlisKits is BACK! Under new ownership, though Jim Flis is still a designer/adviser. | |
Parts and supplies for high power rockets | |
Mid to High-power rocket kits and components | |
Resin reproduction parts for classic Estes and Centuri kits here, now part of Sirius Rocketry | |
Model rocket company with innovative Q-Jet 18mm motors and tiny Micro-Maxx 6mm motors for backyard flights! | |
Semroc is part of eRockets.biz | |
Small line of kits, including the not-so-small 1/64 scale Saturn V, and parts including Moldin' Oldies nose cones. | |
Original kits | |
High power rocket parts, HyperTek hybrid motors, and Tribbles! (yes, Tribbles!) | |
Waterslide decals for classic clones. Upscale Mars Lander kits. | |
Parachutes | |
Products for model and high power rocketry, including kits, launch systems, hybrid motors, and electronics | |
Josh and Jess Tschirhart's Rocketry Pages - includes scale data, and sources for 3-D printed parts. | |
All sorts of odd rocket kits: monocopters, flying saucers, hourglasses, etc. All made available as free plans to printout. | |
Manufacturer of mid and high power rocket motors | |
Kits and supplies for model rockets. | |
Odd'l Rockets kits are a little different | |
Primarily a free-flight model airplane source, but they have two small swing wing rocket gliders, one capable of radio control. From Macon, GA | |
Radio Controled Rocket Gliders, including "profile scale" | |
3D printed scale models and parts, including a set of grid fins and landing legs for the SpaceX Falcon 9 kit. | |
Mid-Power kits and supplies | |
fin alignment guides, centering rings, stands | |
Mid- to High-power rocket kits and accessories | |
A family of rockets designed by founder Scott Binder | |
Your source for rail buttons for all types of launch rail | |
Electronic devices for rocketry requirements | |
We make gadgets for things that fly. Why shouldn't science be fun? | |
Altimeters for sport rockets | |
Altimeters and timers for sport rockets | |
A full line of rocket kits, motors, recovery gear, and supplies. | |
Low through high power rocket kits and accessories with fiberglass bodies. | |
Mid and high-power rocket kits and accessories | |
Reproduction model rocket kits and accessories | |
Igniter kits | |
Open Hardware/Open Source Altimeters/flight computers | |
Books and eBooks about model rockets, spaceships (both real and fantasy), posters, etc. | |
Parachutes of all types, for rockets, drones, model airplanes, and drogues for hang gliders | |
(now part of Launch Lab Rocketry) Custom laser-cutting; “Upgrades” of larger Estes kits; clones of discontinued Estes Pro-Series II kits. | |
New versions of the Magnum-style folding high power launch pads, | |
Altimeters and GPS Trackers | |
Experimental thrust vector control systems for model rockets (minus the software) | |
A new vendor with one kit, Bullet Bobby, and a collection of out of production Estes kits. Now home to Vander-burn Rocketry. | |
Add tracking tags to your rockets | |
Offers 3D printed parts for a flyable 1/100 Soviet N1 rocket. Working on a 1/100 Soyuz. Also offers airshow photo prints of Blue Angels and Thunderbirds. | |
Rocket motors and accessories | |
3d printed parts for scale and upscale rockets | |
Kits and Accessories. As of 2022 makes and sells the former Sunward line of kits. |
Electronics
Open Hardware/Open Source Altimeters/flight computers | |
Earl Estes' (Vern's brother) project from the 1970's, sold by Estes for a short time. Now you can build your own! | |
Altimeters for sport rockets | |
We make gadgets for things that fly. Why shouldn't science be fun? | |
Altimeters and timers for sport rockets | |
Electronic devices for rocketry requirements | |
Experimental thrust vector control systems for model rockets (minus the software) | |
Altimeters and GPS Trackers | |
Telemetry tracking systems. Makers of Kate. |
Forums
Discussion forum about all aspects of sport rocketry. | |
Discussion forum about model rocketry nostalgia and new issues. | |
Discussion of Model Rockets in Competition |
History
Sven Knudson's Archive of Catalogs and Magazines | |
The founder of Estes Industries presents model rocket history | |
A Conversation with Vern and Gleda Estes at Seattle's Museum of Flight. July 2014. | |
How the hobby got started in the late 50's | |
Interesting and nostalgic articles from the very early days of model rocketry | |
Lee and Betty Piester talk about this history of Centuri Engineering at the Museum of Flight | |
Short film about G. Harry Stine | |
Short documentary about model rocketry from the early 60's. Narrated by G. Harry Stine. | |
James Duffy's presentation at NARCON 2016 | |
History of the Large and Dangerous Rocket Ships National Launch | |
History of the National model rocket championships, the National Association of Rocketry Annual Meet | |
Earl Estes' (Vern's brother) project from the 1970's, sold by Estes for a short time. Now you can build your own! | |
Photos of Apollo and Saturn rocket hardware | |
Correspondence between G. Harry Stine and Orville Carlisle, that documents the very beginning of the model rocket hobby. (From Quest Aerospace) |
Blogs
Josh and Jess Tschirhart's Rocketry Pages - includes scale data, and sources for 3-D printed parts. | |
A beginner's perspective on the hobby | |
Roger Smith's Rocketry Blog | |
A podcast (from the producers of the Rocketry Show) about all things Model Rocketry | |
Chris Michielssen's blog of model rocket building techniques. | |
Blog | |
A podcast that strives to entertain as well as inform you on High Power rocketry. From the producers of The Model Rocket Show. | |
Bill Cooke's blog | |
Ed Minton's blog - Model Rocket Projects, Launches, Recollections, and Musings from an Old Fart Born-Again-Rocketeer ! | |
Bill Eichelberger's blog | |
Competition
This is a simplified, less legalese version of NAR Competition Rules (along with suggestions for beginners). | |
While a bit out of date (covers pre-NRC rules), this is good overview of model rocket competition rules and advice | |
The US has one style of model rocket competition, but the rest of the world has another style entirely, explained here. | |
Discussion of Model Rockets in Competition | |
These are the official rules for model rocket competition in the United States | |
Compiled by the NARHAMS section, this covers the old style competition rules (pre NRC) | |
Yearly national competition for middle and high school teams (formerly called Team America Rocketry Challenge) |
Publications
Official Magazine of the NAR, available only through membership and at some hobby shops |
Software
Free and open source software for designing rockets and running flight simulations. Requires Java. | |
Free Aerodynamic Analysis and Flight Simulation Software for Windows (including older versions) from Rogers Aerospace | |
RockSim is a commercial computer program that allows you to design any size rocket then simulate its flight to see how high and fast it will fly! | |
Commercial Model Rocket Design and Flight Simulation software for Windows |
Professional
News and views on professional rocketry all over the world |