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Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bbn!rochester!kodak!ornitz
From: ornitz@kodak.UUCP (barry ornitz)
Newsgroups: sci.math,sci.misc
Subject: Re: Rockets
Message-ID: <1051@kodak.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 4-Dec-87 11:47:40 EST
Article-I.D.: kodak.1051
Posted: Fri Dec  4 11:47:40 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 9-Dec-87 04:39:03 EST
References: <349@xroads.UUCP>
Reply-To: ornitz@kodak.UUCP (barry ornitz)
Organization: Eastman Kodak Co, Rochester, NY
Lines: 41
Keywords: Engine design, safety
Summary: Saffety First - This is not for beginners.
Xref: mnetor sci.math:2539 sci.misc:661

In article <349@xroads.UUCP> wiz@xroads.UUCP (Mike Carter) writes:
>
>I am part of a reasonably sane assemblage of Amateur rocket enthusiasts
                ----------------?
>here in Arizona. What I'm looking for is a Mathematical
>wizard who can reduce gas law equations into step-by-step calculations. I have
>limited math background and need not only to be able to calculate volume
>and density flows but also use the product to design nozzles. We're growing
>weary of paying exhorbitant prices for minimally powered engines from various
>suppliers. The K250 (producing 10 secs of 2300 Newton secs of thrust) is
>a good engine, but the price is prohibitive for now. Using some knowledge
>we have from various books, we are short a few pieces; (1) Gas Law math
>made easy (I see you're laughing) (2) Better equations for nozzle design.
            ===================== *Not Really*
>(3) Composite solid propellant formulas (we have 3, they are inefficient
>and experimentation isn't our bag).
>Thanks for your help.
>                           Mike of the MAD Scientists Rocket Club.

Mike,
There is a good reason for the prohibitive prices.  The manufacturer has spent
a great deal of time to optimize his design for performance, reproducibility,
and especially safety.  From your posting, I can see that you do not understand
very much about thermodynamics, reaction chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
Until you understand at least the fundamentals of these subjects, I question
whether you can safely go beyond the commercial engines in your experiments.
                ------
It has taken many years of hard work to develop the safety record we have
today with model rocketry.  Please don't send us back to the days of amateur
pyrotechnics. BTW, there is a model rocketry mailing list; are you a member?
                                   Barry

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|  ___  ________  |
| |  / /        | |  Dr. Barry L. Ornitz   UUCP:...!rochester!kodak!ornitz
| | / /         | |  Eastman Kodak Company
| |< < K O D A K| |  Eastman Chemicals Division Research Laboratories
| | \ \         | |  P. O. Box 1972
| |__\ \________| |  Kingsport, TN  37662       615/229-4904
|                 |
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