Currently trying to build a rocket to launch into space

[Dr 118]

TL;DR

im a first year a level student that wants to launch a small scale rocket into space

its always been a dream of mine to visit the stars and now that I'm old enough and in a levels i wanted to send a bit of myself to space in a rocked like a hair or something but I've ran into some problems and came here to ask for your opinions on what fuel i should use and what material i should use the the shell of rocket as am only in first year a levels so any suggestions would be much appreciated and the fuel will take up about 90 percent mass and launch the rocket about 830Km the maths behind it i can take care of but just need to know some good and prerferably somewhat affordable materials to use but i am willing to break the bank a little

 

[berkeman]

Welcome to PF.

Your Profile shows that you are in the UK, so I did a Google search on amateur rocketry clubs in the UK and got lots of hits. Maybe try the same search to find the one that is closest to you. Linking up with your local club is definitely the best way to learn more about amateur rocketry and to get some hands-on experience.

 

[mfb]

Space (100 km) is an extremely ambitious goal. There are only a few amateur teams worldwide that have achieved it. You'll need years to learn with smaller rockets and probably a 6-digit budget. BPSspace is working towards a space shot. He is funding it with his 6000 Patreon subscribers and revenue from YouTube and other stuff and he has been working on this for years. His videos should give you an idea of the challenge involved. Among many other things, he had to develop his own solid fuel mixture because commercial options don't offer the right thrust profile to reach 100 km.

 

[marcusl]

I suggest that you use capitalization and punctuation in future posts. It’s pretty hard to parse your thoughts without them.

 

[Dr 118]

Thanks for the tip it's my first time using a platform like this

 

[phyzguy]

Thanks for the tip it's my first time using a platform like this

And yet still no punctuation nor capitalization of the second sentence.

 

[Flyboy]

I love the enthusiasm, but as others have mentioned, a space shot is not an easy task. Trying to jump straight into that is recipe for disaster.
My advice would be to start small. Aim for 1km first. Then go for 2-3. Then 5. Then 10. Ease into it, get a feel for how to build a safe and sound rocket. Learn about how to run your telemetry, your recovery, and your staging (because you are going to need staging). Start learning how to cast your own motors, which is quite probably the single most dangerous part of this exercise.

And most importantly, start working with folks in the field already. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel… learn lessons from more experienced people who have walked this path before, especially when it comes to regulations and coordinating with the government. Once you get past a certain point, you start edging into the territory where governments get… concerned. Space shots are well past that threshold and you will need to coordinate with them for the safety of yourself and others.

 

[Dr 118]

I wasn't aware of any regulations or rules around the topic, thank you for giving me a hit about that i have since done further research into the matter. I will work my way up to that goal, I was just wondering about which fuel to use or any tips about the best one. I am working under a personal mentor as their rocketry clubs near me.

 

[phyzguy]

If you're going to launch a rocket to even 10 km, you're potentially going to cross paths of commercial aircraft. I suspect that the last thing you want to do is shoot down a commercial aircraft and kill several hundred people.

 

[Dr 118]

I had thought of this, which is why I was going to pick a launch day with minimal air traffic using a tracker, such as Flightradar24

 

[jrmichler]

You might want to familiarize yourself with the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR's).

From 14 CFR Part 1: Rocket means an aircraft propelled by ejected expanding gases generated in the engine from self-contained propellants and not dependent on the intake of outside substances. It includes any part which becomes separated during the operation. Note that they define a rocket as an aircraft.

From 14 CFR Part 91.135: each person operating an aircraft in Class A airspace must conduct that operation under instrument flight rules (IFR) and in compliance with the following:
(a) Clearance. Operations may be conducted only under an ATC clearance received prior to entering the airspace. Class A airspace is above 18,000 feet and below 60,000 feet.

There may or may not be special considerations for model rockets, but violation of the FAR's can lead to some very unpleasant experiences. Try search term Violation of FAR's. Here is a quote from https://www.faa.gov/about/office_or...ractice_areas/enforcement/enforcement_actions: There is no dollar limitation on assessments for violations of the commercial space statute or regulations, and the maximum civil penalty the FAA may impose in commercial space cases is $100,000 (excluding inflation adjustments).

 

[berkeman]

You might want to familiarize yourself with the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR's).

OP is in the UK, so it looks like their equivalent of the FAA is the Civil Aviation Authority:

https://www.caa.co.uk/

 

[Flyboy]

Yeah, that’s one of those things where you should reach out to an existing organization first and start working with them. It’s a great opportunity to learn not just rocketry, but also how to navigate the paperwork.

 

[Dr 118]

Can anyone give me some advice about some sort of rocket launch simulator? I have been looking for one, but the best I've found is Kerbal Space Program.