Flight Analysis of the Sounding Rocket

Abstract

I ATTEMPTING to reach altitudes above those obtainable by sounding balloons, the rocket motor may be utilized to propel a suitable body. In this analysis a wingless shell of revolution will be considered in vertical flight. It was felt that, before entering into practical experimentation, it was desirable to have a preliminary performance analysis based on simplified assumptions, using the most recent data for air resistance at high speeds. As a matter of fact, this analyis was completed without the knowledge of a similar investigation. However, as this treatment is more general in discussing the influence of the design parameters and more suitable for application to particular cases, the authors believe it is worth while to present the analysis. The equations of motion for flight in vacuo have been included to show the optimum performance and for comparison purposes. After developing similar expressions for flight with air resistance, a series of calculations was carried out using the method of step-by-step integration. The dimensions of the rocket chosen were felt to be feasible for practical construction. The motor efficiencies for the two cases were chosen to match closely the reported results of R. H. Goddard and Eugen Sanger. The calculations have not been extended to further cases, as the amount of labor that would be required was not felt justified at the present time.