Make: Rockets

Chapter 23. Onward and Upward

Reloadable Motors

All of the motors used so far in this book have been single-use black powder motors. There is another kind of motor that is less expensive per flight and often smaller as well. Reloadable motors use the same aluminum perchlorate solid propellant rocket fuel that was used in the solid propellant strap-on boosters for the Space Shuttle. For model rockets, chemicals are sometimes added to produce different colored flames or more smoke. Like the Space Shuttle motors, reloadable model rocket motors are reusable. The motor case is made from aluminum, while the forward closure and aft closure are made from brass or aluminum. These parts are reloaded with propellant, a smoke charge, an ejection charge, a ...