| Rocketry was officially sired by the German war | | | | accomplished by mere "amateurs" to boot. |
| machine and its plethora of engineers by the | | | | At both organized and unorganized launches, a |
| invention and construction of the V-1 rocket in | | | | spectator can see everything from simple, crude |
| the midst of World War II. The V-1, along with its | | | | and unpainted models built of cardboard and other |
| improved V-2 sister, was massed produced and | | | | things found around the house to complicated |
| used as terrorist weapon against civilian targets in | | | | engineered specimens constructed from both |
| Great Britain. | | | | commercially bought kits and "built from scratch" |
| Of course, the cold war sparked even greater | | | | designs. These might range in height from a few |
| rocketry as both sides worked feverishly to build | | | | inches to the aforementioned mammoth 25 foot |
| rockets that could deliver atomic bomb payloads | | | | model. |
| on their enemies, real or perceived. Finally, the | | | | The participants also cover a wide range of age |
| engineering capabilities of man succeeded in | | | | groups and experience - basically from toddler to |
| mastering the power of the rocket and the | | | | geriatric age and from newbie to "professional" in |
| guidance systems to be able to deliver their | | | | experience. It seems to matter little as all age |
| payloads with pin point accuracy. | | | | groups and experiences get a thrill from seeing a |
| This brief history is interesting since the | | | | rocket launched. |
| progression of scientific rocketry has not only | | | | In fact, the hobby has become so popular that |
| fascinated us all but has been paralleled by the | | | | there are several organizations that have evolved |
| birth of inspired amateurs that have launched | | | | to promote, sponsor and set guidelines for these |
| countless models since the beginning of rocketry, | | | | launching events. These organizations actually list 5 |
| some of prodigious size and sophistication. This | | | | qualifications and classes of amateur rocketry. |
| great fascination demonstrated by the private | | | | These classifications are based on size and the |
| amateur has proliferated and continues to thrive. | | | | weight of the engine and propellants. Here is a |
| As a matter of fact, experimental rocketry was | | | | quick overview:o Model Rocket (MR) Weight is a |
| well advanced before other "rocketeers" were | | | | maximum of 1 pound. Motors use 4 oz or less of |
| able to purchase rocket kits and accessories | | | | propellant.o Large Model Rocket (LMR) Are |
| commercially. The great boost in amateur | | | | actually sort of a cross between model and high |
| rocketry and motor design was spurred on by | | | | power. Weight is a maximum of 3.3 pounds. The |
| these experimental rocketeers in the 1950s. Many | | | | motors use from 4 oz. to 4.4 oz of propellant. |
| of their motor designs have made their way into | | | | Anything more than 4.4 oz of propellant |
| the commercial market and are now | | | | constitutes a High Power rocket.o High Power |
| manufactured for the mass rocket kit niche. | | | | Rocket (HPR) Any size rocket using commercially |
| Indeed, model rockets of today are powered by | | | | available APCP or Hybrid motors from "H" to "O" |
| everything from water on the basic level to solid | | | | powero Experimental Rocket (EXP) Any size |
| fuel for the giants. Some rockets have been | | | | rocket using APCP or Hybrid motors built by the |
| constructed as tall as 25 feet, contained multiple | | | | rocketeer from "H" to "P" powero Amateur |
| stages, flew faster than the speed of sound, and | | | | Rocket Any size rocket using any size or type of |
| reached extreme altitudes -- all this by | | | | motor (flyrockets.com/levels. |