Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!ucsd!ucbvax!hplabs!hplabsb!dsmith
From: dsmith@hplabsb.HP.COM (David Smith)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Model Rocket Engines
Keywords: model rocket safety
Message-ID: <5065@hplabsb.HP.COM>
Date: 27 Dec 88 18:00:48 GMT
References: <17612@vax5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU>
Reply-To: dsmith@hplabsb.UUCP (David Smith)
Distribution: sci
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Labs, Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 18

In article <17612@vax5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU> myk@vax5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU writes:
>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.

I know of one.  My high school chem lab partner was setting up a rocket.
He didn't tell me what he did wrong, but the rocket fired while he had
his hand under it, and blew off the outer two sections of each of his
right index and middle fingers.

I guess I should add that the making and firing of Estes rockets was a
high point of our family reunion this last summer.  It was the first
time for all of us but one brother in law.
-- 

			David R. Smith, HP Labs
			dsmith@hplabs.hp.com
			(415) 857-7898