Rocketry

Welcome to the Rocketry portion of the Kansas STEM Website. Here you will find information about the Kansas STEM Rocketry Project including forms for the Kansas State Fair and other materials to help as you prepare for your county or the state fair.

State Fair Forms (2023):

**** Posters, Display Boards, & Notebooks, No additional exhibit information is required; no manila envelope is needed for these exhibits.  All other exhibits need the additional information included in a manila envelope. All other exhibits need the additional information included in a manila envelope. Displays, notebooks and posters have been combined into one score sheet for all divisions.

Microsoft Word documents of these files are available by using the contact page to request documents in that version.

Documents in PDF format can be opened using a PDF viewer such as Adobe Acrobat Reader which can be obtained from:  https://get.adobe.com/reader/

If using the Firefox web browser, PDF’s may not have fallible fields present, please either save the file or open in a different browser.

Helpful Information:

Resources:

Reasonably priced materials are available for every project in Kansas 4-H. You can order the materials for your project online or contact your local Extension Office.

High & Mid-Power Rocketry Information

2 comments

    • Scott Lockhart on February 25, 2016 at 6:08 pm
    • #
    • Reply

    Hello. I’m the Rocketry Leader in Sherman county. I’m currently updating our county fair book based primarily on the 2015 State Fair Exhibit Guidelines and wanted to verify I’m correctly reading the guidelines related to High Powered Rockets.

    Using the guidelines set forth by the NAR, TRA, and NFPA 1122, 1125, and 1127, rockets are High Powered when any of the following conditions are met:
    1. >1500 grams weight at launch (53 ounces, or 3.3125 pounds)
    2. >125 grams propellant (total of all engines in rocket)
    3. >160 Newton-seconds total impulse (for a single H class motor, or higher), or uses multiple motors (in clustering or multi-staging) with a total impulse of >320 Newton-seconds
    4. uses any motor with an average thrust >80 Newtons
    5. uses any hybrid motor or motor designed to emit sparks

    For the purposes of Kansas 4-H Space Tech, the definition of “High Powered” rockets is further restricted from those listed above to include larger sized Model Rockets, include Mid-Powered rockets, and to limit the upper end of motor power allowed as follows:
    1. >2″ in diameter (not including the fins), AND longer than 3 feet (including fins)
    2. Uses a single motor or a combination of motors in either clustering or multi-staging that have a total impulse of >20 Newton-seconds. (single E-class motors, 2Ds, 4Cs, 8Bs, etc.)
    3. NO rocket may be launched using a single motor or combination of motors in either clustering or multi-staging with greater than 640 Newton-seconds of total Impulse (single J-class motors, 2Is, 4Hs, 8Gs, etc.).

    There appears to be no restrictions regarding single use black powder vs. composite or reloadable motors.

    Thanks for the assistance.

    1. Hi Scott,

      You are correct, there are no specific rules on the motor composition in the current Kansas 4-H State Fair Rules for 2016. That means provided NAR and NFPA are adhered to it is acceptable to use black powder, composite, composite relodable, or hybrid engines. The Kansas 4-H SpaceTech Action Team is not currently aware of any safety violations or other specific items that, at this time, justify the implementation of additional rules governing the engine format of rockets displayed at the state fair. This of course may be subject to change at the discretion of the Kansas 4-H SpaceTech Action Team as the rules are reviewed.

      To that end it is worth noting that rule C. 18. (Exhibit Rules for ALL rocketry categories) Still applies where it states: “If a safety violation is noted by the judges, superintendent, or other staff, the exhibitor’s rocket, at the judges’ discretion, will receive a participation ribbon. All information necessary will be given to the NAR and TRIPOLI for investigation and possible revocation of membership.”

      As well as C. 18. (Exhibit Rules for ALL rocketry categories) and other subsequent rules on motors as part of the actual display at the state fair. Rule C. 18. states: “Engines and igniters, under any circumstance, ARE NOT permitted with the exhibit and constitute an immediate disqualification.”

      Lastly its worth noting that Rule B. 3. (Exhibit Definitions for ALL rocketry categories), which you have noted above, is still in effect for 2016.
      3. For the purposes of Kansas 4-H SpaceTech a high powered rocket is defined as a rocket that meets any of the following criteria:
      a. Is 2 inches or greater in diameter (not including fins) and taller than 3 feet (36 inches including fins)
      b. Weighs more than 3.3125 pounds (53 ounces or 1500 grams) at the time of launch;
      c. Uses an ‘E’ engine or larger to launch (2D’s, 4C’s, 8B’s, etc.);
      d. The total impulse of all engines used in the rocket is greater than 20.01 Newton-seconds of thrust.
      e. Models powered by rocket motors not classified as model rocket motors per NFPA 1122, e.g.:
      i. Average thrust in excess of 80.01 Newtons
      ii. Contains in excess of 2.2 ounces (62.5 grams) of propellant and are limited to only H and I motors.

      I hope that helps, if you need further details or have more questions please feel free to reach out to Deryl Waldren in the Northwest Area Office.

      Thanks for the great question,

      Tony

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