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How to Make a Rocket Aerodynamic

One of the primary forces that act upon a rocket in flight to destabilize it is aerodynamic drag. It is exerted by the surrounding air upon the rocket directly against the direction of its velocity, depriving the rocket of speed. Careful design of the rocket's body and attention to detail can reduce drag, resulting in higher altitude attained.

Things You'll Need

Sandpaper
Model rocket
Epoxy resin
Clear-coat hobby finish

Instructions

- 1
  Sand nicks and burrs from the surface of the rocket's body and the edges of the fins with sandpaper.
- 2
  Coat the rocket in as smooth and glossy a finish as you can manage to reduce friction drag.
- 3
  Place the fins as far away from the nosecone as possible and round their leading edges by sanding.
- 4
  Experiment with a three-fin design, if your rocket currently employs four fins. Doing so will eliminate 25% of your interference drag.
- 5
  Fillet the fin roof connection, the bridge of cement where the fin meets the outer surface of the body, with sandpaper. File it down to a smooth, rounded channel.
- 6
  Use parabolic, hemispherical, or ogive-shaped nosecones in the construction of your rocket, as these produce the least aerodynamic drag.
- 7
  Position the launch lug, if present on your rocket, nearer to a fin roof connection to reduce parasitic drag. If possible, remove the lug entirely and launch the rocket with a tower system instead.
- 8
  Launch in calm weather conditions with little or no wind to induce the angle of attack. This phenomenon, called "weathercocking," will cause your rocket to veer into wind.

Aviation