Nova Water Rocket - Part 3 of 3 - First Flights

In this 3 part series we build and fly a mid-powered water rocket called Nova that can fly to 1000 feet (300m). In this episode we cover those first flights.
0:00 - Introduction
1:02 - Testing deployment mechanism
1:36 - Explosion
2:19 - Setting up for flight
3:48 - First Flight
5:06 - Second Flight
6:16 - Outro

[@dannybenhur6123]

You guys are amazing inspiration for Aerospace students.

[@pavanj.b3197]

i jus tlove how everything just clicks into place its so satisfying

[@tcsyme]

Congrats George, Nova looks to be behaving perfectly!

[@ptonpc]

"What are you doing?" "We're testing the deployment system" BOOM!! Seriously though. I love these videos and the knowledge you are imparting.

[@NMRocketry]

AWESOME!! A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one! Love to see it. Keep up the great work! 🚀🚀🎉🎉🚀🚀🆙

[@herzigfrancois5444]

As usual, impressive performance ! Well done George !

[@AirCommandRockets]

Thank you François :)

[@etcavole]

Fantastic, as usual on this channel!

[@pavanj.b3197]

this is like the best rocket channel ever!

[@arro_rockets]

This is a very nice project!

[@Jesus-vs4rc]

Love your videos keep it up!

[@fromaflafl2198]

Congrats on another successful rocket. and with a bit of tweaking. couldn't you maybe do 400m with 400 PSI.

[@AirCommandRockets]

Thanks :), I think if the rocket holds together at 400psi, then that's fairly close to what we would expect in altitude.

[@Flybrei]

Very cool👍

[@Heedmann]

I'm very impressed the you answered my question so fast thank you so much I appreciate that I will keep you informed of any thing I do because it's a great hobby and water is definitely available

[@JulianMakes]

Awesome!

[@joshuabarosin779]

If you were to reprint in a different plastic here is another plastic to consider, ASA. It's derived from ABS and it was made with UV resistance in mind. It IS stronger than ABS and less dense than PETG. It's also easier to print than ABS and you don't need to have an enclosure to get good prints.

[@AirCommandRockets]

Thanks for the tip. This sounds promising.

[@maltedeck5680]

great channel tbh!

[@mjproebstle]

very nice video and flights - top rocket! bring on 400 psi! cheers!!

[@dannybenhur6123]

Congratulations.

[@Shreyam_io]

To avoid cracking of nose cone... one can use nylon but it needs high temperature printing head... You should invest in this for future builds...

[@AirCommandRockets]

Thanks, you're the second person to recommend Nylon. We may need to give this a go.

[@toddhampson7234]

very nice rocket George .. Congrats :)

[@AirCommandRockets]

Thanks Todd. Good to hear from you :)

[@MuhammadDaudkhanTV100]

Cool

[@benisjammin8926]

Could you do a low-tech launcher video? It would be awesome for people who don’t have access to lathes and I think it would be a fun challenge. Keep up the good work, and congrats on the launch!

[@AirCommandRockets]

Stay tuned ... something is coming along those lines :)

[@fromaflafl2198]

a "Low tec" launcher would go grade with the relatively simple Nowa rocket series.

[@user-oj6ei6hl7n]

I admire you so much..

[@DaWalkDude]

Shall I advice using a nylon or polycarbonate filament for extra structural strength? Perhaps you could try some of the salt/tempering techniques out there to further improve the soundness. That was a fantastic maiden too. Really inspiring to get myself into high power water rocketry too!

[@AirCommandRockets]

Any suggestions for appropriate filament materials is appreciated. We don't have much experience with the various printing materials. I know they all have their pros and cons in terms of printability and dimensional accuracy, thermal stability and post processing options. Great to hear if you are going to have a go at some of the higher power water rockets. :)

[@DaWalkDude]

@@AirCommandRockets PLA is fantastic for quick prototyping, inexpensive and dimensionally accurate, plus it’s perhaps one of the easiest materials to print. Nylon is harder to print, but it’s much more resistant to impact and harder too!

[@AirCommandRockets]

@@DaWalkDude One of the reasons we went with PLA was because it is such a common printing material that most people have easy access to, and it is easy to print. I think we'll have to give Nylon a go.

[@makerbeelab5546]

@@AirCommandRockets PETG is supposed to be softer, but I found it to be rather fiddly. I would use something like "semiflex" from ninjaflex - which is a mix of Polyurethane and PLA. It makes rubbery semi rigid structure similar to hiking plates. That material would never crack. I would print the outer/top part in that material while having the bottom part in PLA with a slightly thicker double contour wall.

[@DoRC]

I wonder if having a small tube at the end of your fill funnel that actually went into the rocket and left a little bit of space for air to come out would make filling with water easier.

[@AirCommandRockets]

I agree, something like that would work well.

[@a330turbinex7]

Superb rocket! Is there some sort of plans, tutoral, stl files so that we can build it also?

[@AirCommandRockets]

STL files are available here: www.thingiverse.com/thing:5502347

[@dolphinmodeactivated2152]

I made a plastic rocket and it is amazing! My rocket reached about 50 meters, and its my first rocket

[@Heedmann]

Hi I definitely enjoy you guys i have done water rockets myself and was curious why you use such a small nozzle I have used only 22mm never thought a 7 mm nozzle would work on water I would think you would get much higher with a bigger nozzle ...eve. 11 mm is pretty small ..

[@AirCommandRockets]

Hi, good question. We prefer the smaller nozzles for the longer burn time the give and the slower flight speed. The rockets are much easier to track with a camera. The overall performance difference is small compared to full size nozzles so if we aren't going for any records it doesn't really matter. Smaller nozzles also work better with foam.

[@user-ol7ns1dr3n]

what program do you use for calculations? 0:11

[@jasebatey5468]

🚀👍😎

[@Froestenpust]

Awesome series of videos! I am watching them one by one since episode 1! As I built WR back in the days, my son grew up and is interested in this now, I want to make a step up in building WR's: I printed your enhanced version of the Nova Parachute System (aka Phoenix), but saw your bottle adapter here. May I ask you to publish it together with you repository at Thingiverse? Best regards, Peuqui

[@istvanfrank9201]

Nagyon jó

[@etmax1]

I guess I'm one of the odd ones out here, I love the whole space program and that people can in this day and age design their own rockets and launch them. Water (and air) as the propellant is a great environmentally friendly option, it's a pity you can't do it like that with the commercial programs. I enjoyed watching the thought processes you went through and how you refined it all. Does it encourage me to go through this process as well? Sorry no, I simply have too many other interests and so little time to pursue them.

[@MaximusTheChosenOne]

You have the time Trust me

[@aidansbunker4744]

I’m new to this channel, so I don’t know if this was answered. Do you Use De Lavel/converging diverging nozzles on the rockets? Would it be practical?

[@carlhitchon1009]

Water doesn't expand when leaving the throat, so a diverging nozzle section does not help.

[@AirCommandRockets]

We don't use CD nozzles for our water rockets. However, you would get a benefit during the air pulse phase of the thrust (when the water stops coming out). There is also a possibility of CD nozzles being useful when foam is used in the rocket.

[@Heedmann]

I also believe that the main thrust come frome the air after the water has been expelled the water just gets it of the pad ..true or false??

[@AirCommandRockets]

No, about 2/3 of the total impulse comes from the water phase, and about 1/3 when the air comes out.

[@Heedmann]

Is there any other reason for nozzle size besides the scale down for visual appearance....and does convergent /divergent ever come into play at all

[@AirCommandRockets]

Nozzle size is also affected by the type of release mechanism you use. If you are using a very common Gardena hose connector, then 9mm is the size. There are very similar ones called Maxiflow that are 15mm in diameter. For regular water a divergent section really isn't going to help you. If you are doing purely gas and or foam then you will get some benefit.

[@powerhousepaperairplanesrogers]

If you us boiling hot water. It should increase the height too.

[@alienbeef0421]

Is the launch noise coming from the rocket, or the launcher?

[@AirCommandRockets]

From the rocket.

[@ckdigitaltheqof6th210]

The only way to get it faster is increasing the pressure, however, if the water can reduce to a lighter element ( mist or steam gas) in a seperate stage/chamber, then you can exirt even more pressure, thus save more fuel time range, save more launch stand pads( from dense water damage blast), probably faster as acceleration is lengthen.

[@florianwiedenbein8812]

which programe u use at the beginnigng of the video to run simulation of the rocket

[@simulationprince8718]

I wonder is it's possible to make a rideable one hmm

[@gregripp]

How does foam augment the water to increase performance?

[@AirCommandRockets]

That's a good question. We suspect it is the increased exit velocity. Air comes out at the speed of sound, water comes out about 1/10th of that and foam is somewhere in between.

[@upmanyubhati]

Hi George, which software did you use at 0:11 thanks.

[@AirCommandRockets]

www.aircommandrockets.com/sim/simulator.htm

[@upmanyubhati]

@@AirCommandRockets thanks a lot George ,best of luck for the horizon project

[@artemchesterton]

Hi, George. Where can I get such a program for calculating a rocket? Thanks.

[@AirCommandRockets]

Open Rocket is here: openrocket.info/

[@artemchesterton]

Hi, George. Thanks for the link to the simulator. Could you give an example of how to calculate a simple single stage water bottle rocket for an Open_Rocket

[@Shreyam_io]

Damn ... you definitely underestimate your work while simulation 😂 That' great stable flight with higher altitude..

[@AirCommandRockets]

The simulations are normally quite accurate when we only use water. When you add foam you get a boost in performance, but the simulators don't have any foam parameters.

[@Shreyam_io]

@@AirCommandRockets maybe you can interpolate a function with all the testings you're doing.. For water equivalent to foam...or something

[@AirCommandRockets]

@@Shreyam_io We don't quite yet have enough data points to make that extrapolation reliable. This is because there are a lot of factors that influence foam formation in the rocket. Hopefully some day someone will come up with some kind of a model for foam that will produce more reliable results.

[@nobeldas6397]

does adding shampoo increase the thrust somehow ?

[@AirCommandRockets]

It's the foam that the shampoo creates that helps to increase the total impulse. You end up with about 2/3 the average thrust but for twice as long when compared to water.

[@Jkauppa]

i suggest liquid air canister compressed air water or burned carbon/wood/plastic/sugar alone or assisted rocket

[@Jkauppa]

you could have two stages, the liquid air being the second stage

[@Jkauppa]

steam, valve launched, ultra-heated rock, heated air rocket

[@goosevf191]

How would you know how much psi is needed for the rocket?

[@AirCommandRockets]

We run a simulation

[@Heedmann]

And how about an aluminum chamber covered in carbon fiber to achieve 2000 psi i understand the whole non metal thing but for a record altitude do you think is possible to get 10000 ft or am I crazy

[@AirCommandRockets]

You certainly could make a pressure chamber like that and get very good performance out of it. There are easily available COPV tanks that have an aluminium liner and reinforced with a carbon fiber wrap. They will hold 300 bar and their non-destructive test pressure is 450bar (6500psi)

[@AirCommandRockets]

10,000 feet is certainly within realm of possibility for a highly optimized, perhaps multi-stage water rocket.

[@bencordell1965]

how would a rocket go with 22mm carbon fibre tube

[@AirCommandRockets]

A water rocket? ... What is the total volume? What is the total weight? What launch pressure? What size nozzle? etc.

[@bencordell1965]

@@AirCommandRockets yeah a water rocket made from the 22mm carbon fibre tube that alot of camera mojnts and frames are made of ...people use it for quafcopters and hexacopters etc..so i supose 22mm diameter 600mm long and whatever pressure it could take? could you see that working?

[@AirCommandRockets]

@@bencordell1965 It would work as a water rocket, the one limiting factor is the small volume.

[@Heedmann]

So I make my own release but I was eoundering about altitude difference if any I used 22mm only I wasn't impressed with the garden hook up because I'm a fan of launch tube for extra sumthing it seems to have

[@fynmitchell8018]

How much do these rockets cost ruffly?

[@AirCommandRockets]

Probably in the order of $70 worth of materials ... not including the electronics.

[@fynmitchell8018]

Thanks mate.

[@danipeter-szabo1400]

or will be in stock at all

[@danipeter-szabo1400]

When's going to be the servo timer 2 in stock again

[@AirCommandRockets]

Currently we don't plan on putting the timer back on sale. You may want to have a look at Daniel's flight computer here: www.tindie.com/products/daninvents/flight-controller-rev-1/

[@danipeter-szabo1400]

Thank you

[@ajlrockets8925]

You should work for spacex

[@stanisawgorczyca6460]

When you turn on the timer before takeoff?

[@AirCommandRockets]

We arm the timer before we start pressurising. The timer then detects launch and starts the preset delay.

[@stanisawgorczyca6460]

@@AirCommandRockets how it detects startup?

[@AirCommandRockets]

@@stanisawgorczyca6460 The timer has 2 ways. There is a g-switch that detects any acceleration over 2G or optionally It also has a break wire circuit - basically two wires twisted together with a loop of string between them and tied to the ground. When the rocket launches the string breaks the wires and it detects launch.

[@stanisawgorczyca6460]

@@AirCommandRockets where to find g-switch?

[@AirCommandRockets]

@@stanisawgorczyca6460 There you go: au.rs-online.com/web/p/vibration-sensors/4553665

[@yashagarwal3999]

i dont understand how does the foam works

[@17hmr243]

plz do this at a beach and add fine wire in to a cloud to make sand lighting frugle things

[@saxus]

Hey! Is everything okay with you guys? It been a while since the last video.

[@AirCommandRockets]

All good, thanks for asking. We had a short break over Christmas and also did some house renovations just before Christmas. We are back in full swing with Horizon, and have been for the past few weeks. Just working on the next couple of videos now.

[@saxus]

@@AirCommandRockets Good to hear, that you're back in business! I'm waiting for new videos .

[@alirezaahmadian4237]

Why there is no sign of progress in horizen project? Where are you guys? We missed you💜💙

[@AirCommandRockets]

Thanks for the enquiry. Due to lockdowns, a holiday break, work commitments and house renovations we slowed down with the Horizon development. All of that stuff is now done, and we have been working on Horizon for the past few weeks. I still want to finish the booster test pressure chamber before releasing the next progress video.

[@mathias7798]

New Videos soon or?

[@mohammadhassani7385]

can we get access to that simulator?

[@AirCommandRockets]

www.aircommandrockets.com/sim/simulator.htm

[@grininventor]

Can you share the OpenRocket file please ?

[@YavuzSezer]

4:09

[@appumalottar9696]

Sir how to cantrol rocket

[@AirCommandRockets]

What do you mean?

[@johngillon6969]

george: have you considered using beer instead of the soapy water. I'm no expert, just thinking.

[@AirCommandRockets]

We have flown a rocket powered by beer at Thunda 2015. :) We have not posted the video though, as this is a family friendly channel and alcohol and rockets don't mix. But it was fun. :)

[@johngillon6969]

@@AirCommandRockets I appreciate the family friendly aspect completely, perhaps i was thinking the foam. to be family friendly try some mountain dew or pepsi. Love your video's suprisingly interesting to me.

[@lifeless9768]

Why is shampoo used?

[@ShreshthTiwari]

To make ti easier for water to come out

[@REDACT3D]

it's gone from suck to blow! lol

[@seditt5146]

I made one out of a Soda bottle as a kid for a Science fair.... I use to think that was cool, then I seen this.

[@clevy_morish]

4:07 I'm triggered

[@itsrocketscienceadventures913]

Hi George, PM me your address and I’ll send you some brand new 1.25ml bottles. We buy them by the pallet load directly from the manufacturer here in Brisbane. Cran

[@AirCommandRockets]

Thanks very much for the offer but I still have about 100+ bottles left. I'll test them first before putting them on the rocket. I think some of the ones on top may have been exposed to a lot of UV over the years with the sun coming in through the window. There are lots that I have that have been under cover so I will try those first. These are bottles still with the old larger thread that fit most of our nozzles and couplings.

[@dundeedideley1773]

Completely nitpicking here but: your intro animation has a glitch, you'll see it if you go through it frame by frame

[@otaviomoreto6615]

challenge you to land a rocket without using a parachute, rules: do not use parachutes, use propulsion to make a soft landing