Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tank!uxc!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!mailrus!cornell!vax5!myk
From: myk@vax5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Model Rocket Engines
Keywords: model rocket safety
Message-ID: <17612@vax5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU>
Date: 24 Dec 88 18:09:52 GMT
Sender: news@vax5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU
Distribution: sci
Lines: 34

After real, serious rocket scientists started launching rockets, it
occurred to some curious folks that 'they could do that too'.  Welding
together some metal pipe and sheeting, they mixed together some 
chemicals, and started doing things in their backyards.  The American
Institute of Aeronautics estimated back then that if someone participated
in this kind of thing for a period of one year, there was a ONE IN SIX
chance of being seriously injured or killed.  This sort of person is
referred to today as a 'basement bomber'.  Because of the many awful
injuries that occurred, many states banned model rocketry entirely.

Fortunately, in the mid 1950's, a chemical engineer by the name of
G. Harry Stine worked out a way of sealing a small amount of propellant
inside a thick paper tube in such a way as to make it much safer to
handle.  It was found that if other safety precautions were obeyed as
well, such as making rockets out of cardboard, plastic, etc. rather than
metal, injuries became very rare.

A recent article in this newsgroup suggested using a model rocket engine
as an explosive, rather than a propulsive device.  This is in violation
of the Model Rocketry Safety Code, a set of sensible precautions which
is packed with every commercially available model rocketry product.  In
the more than 30 years since 'modern' model rocketry was begun, more than
300 million model rocket motors have been manufactured, and there have
been almost no (perhaps even NO) serious injuries.  There is a legend
among model rocketeers, called the 'Idiot'.  This is someone who comes
along, ignores the Safety Code, and causes a catastrophe.  As far as I
know, the Idiot has not come along yet.   Don't let it be you.

Please, please, NEVER USE MODEL ROCKET ENGINES FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE THAN
LAUNCHING MODEL ROCKETS.  They are quite safe, when used as intended.
Using them in other ways is foolhardy, demonstrates a lack of concern for
a hobby that many thousands of people enjoy, and in my opinion shows a
lack of maturity and personal integrity (the manufacturers trust us not
to misuse them).