HomeModel Rocketry Club - NAR Section #846

Model Rocketry Club - NAR Member #846

Quicklink: https://nescitech.org/rocketry

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Our Rocket Builds and club meetups take place on certain Fridays 6:00-8:00 pm and certain Sundays, 2:00-3:30 pm at NESciTech.

This year we hosted a team of students for the American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) that competed in a regional competition in March and has been selected to compete in a national competition in Virginia. See NEWS ARTICLE on ARC web page.

NOTE: because weather can change suddenly, please go to the CMASS.org website for a final check on conditions before driving to Acton for a launch. Or you can call us (508-720-4179).

For upcoming launches this year, see details and directions below.

ABOUT THE SCI-TECH ROCKETEERS:

New England Sci-Tech (NEST) hosts the Sci-Tech Rocketeers (STR), a model rocketry club where you can learn to design, build, and fly model rockets. The club is open to adult members, as well as children ages 13 up. Younger children may participate with parent supervision or when enrolled in a workshop where rocketry is taught as an activity. A child's first-time rocket is free thanks to a grant from the National Association of Rocketry (NAR), #846. Please consider joining the NAR as well as the Rocketeers.

WHEN WE MEET:

STR members may meet at NEST on some Fridays, 6:00-8:00 pm, and/or certain Sundays 2:00–4:00 pm. However, other unofficial times may be scheduled to meet or to build or launch rockets. Club coordinators may include NEST staff, adult club members, and high school or college age helpers who have rocketry experience. It is NEST policy that a single membership for a child is actually a two-for-one – a parent can participate with the child for free. Therefore we encourage parents to participate with their children or to help mentor and lead. No previous rocketry experience is necessary.

WHAT WE DO:

Official business meetings are called when needed.
Other meeting times are for building, painting, designing, learning.
Occasional guest speakers will present information about a topic.
Launches will be scheduled on weekends as often as possible.

Note: Adult supervisors and mentors who will be primarily teaching children are required to read the rules of the National Association of Rocketry, FIRST Code of Conduct, and undergo a background screening through Sterling Volunteers.

If dropping off a child for this workshop, please fill out the Workshop Student Permissions Form.

MODEL ROCKETRY BEGINNER
DESIGN AND BUILD COURSE 2026:

This course will guide students through the fundamentals of model rocketry, from basic aerodynamics and propulsion principles to hands-on design and construction. By the end of the course, students will successfully design, build, and launch their own model rockets.

This workshop is a prerequisite for 2027 ARC participation (American Rocketry Challenge).

May 24, 2026 - Week 1: Introduction to Model Rocketry

• History and evolution of rocketry

• Basic physics of flight (Newton’s laws of motion)

• Overview of model rocket components and materials

• Safety guidelines and regulations

• Building a model rocket using a kit

May 31 - Week 2: Aerodynamics and Design Principles

• Forces acting on a rocket (thrust, drag, lift, gravity)

• Rocket stability and center of gravity, point of pressure

• Sketching initial designs and concepts of a custom rocket
• Usage of OpenRocket to model and simulate the design

June 7 - Week 3: Propulsion and Recovery Systems

• Types of model rocket engines and classifications

• Engine selection and installation

• Recovery systems: parachutes, streamers, and tumble recovery

• Nose cones will be pre-printed by students’ design.

• Assembling the airframe and fins

June 14 - Week 4: launch in Acton - test your rocket!
(Weather permitting - check here)

ROCKET BUILD WORKSHOPS:

We have scheduled some regular workshops when members can come to NEST to build, repair, and prep rockets for launch. Workshops are free for members of NEST and/or the rocketry club. Non-members please pay $10 at the door. Experienced builders may bring your own rockets or design and build your own using rocket parts we provide. New or beginner level builders will be offered beginner level kits to purchase from us at the workshop. Our aim is to have all beginners build the same basic rocket so we can easily coordinate the instruction. Youth and members get your first rocket for free thanks to a grant from NAR (National Association of Rocketry). Support or join NAR here!

ROCKET LAUNCHES:

For most launches, here is what to expect: We will set up an STR club tent and/or table at the designated field on certain Saturdays from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm on dates when we can join the CMASS club launches. Sometimes we can rent the Acton fields on certain Friday or Sunday afternoons. Be sure to read what to expect at rocket launches.

ACTON LAUNCHES: For directions to the field, use GPS address of 341 School St., Acton. NOTE: because of weather can change suddenly, please go to the CMASS.org website for a final check on conditions before driving to Acton for a launch.

AMESBURY LAUNCHES: Use GPS address of Woodsom Farm Park, Amesbury, MA. Better yet, go to the CMASS page here.

WHAT TO BRING: Bring $5 per rocket you plan to launch for the field rental fee (pay once, launch as many times as you like). You may purchase rocket engines from us at the field for $4 each. Bring about $10 more if you plan to get food or drinks at the hot dog stand. (Note: sometimes the hot dog stand does not show up, so you may want to BYO snacks and drinks.) Bring sunscreen, hat, water bottle, and optionally a folding beach chair. We often provide a 10×10 pop-up canopy for shade, some folding chairs, and extra water. Don't forget to bring your rocket!

PLEASE NOTE: These fields are NOT available for casual use. Both sites are town property and must be reserved and/or rented by the clubs for specific dates for our launches. Launching at other times by other people is not authorized and could jeopardize our ability to use the fields for rocketry.

SIGN UP FOR SCI-TECH ROCKETEERS CLUB (STR):

There are three ways to become a model rocketry club member:

NEST Member: Become a member of New England Sci-Tech (NEST) and join STR for free*. Children under 13 may participate with parent members supervising. You may attend as many sessions as you like, all year long and have all the additional benefits of NEST membership. No NAR club leadership or club voting privileges apply.
Rocketeer Associate Member: Become a member of STR separately from NEST by paying yearly STR club dues*. You may attend as many rocketry sessions as you like, all year long. No additional NEST benefits apply. No NAR club leadership or club voting privileges apply.
Active Full Member: Join in either category above, then also join the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) and make your club affiliation STR-846 in your NAR membership profile. This allows you to hold an officer position, vote at business meetings, and be a club leader. Since STR is an affiliated NAR club, we must follow the rules of NAR. Therefore, we highly recommend that you join the National Association of Rocketry for the benefits they provide, such as rocket flight liability insurance, six issues of their Sport Rocketry magazine, access to the “Member Resources” website, and access to NAR technical reports, high-power certification, and club member pages. (SEE NAR BENEFITS LISTED BELOW.)

*Participants reimburse NEST for take-home items, consumables such as engines during launches, specialty paints or rocket parts, and rocket kits.

MODEL ROCKETRY - ADVANCED
DESIGN AND BUILD COURSE:

(ran last year - we may run this again in the spring)

Course Overview:

This short course builds on prior rocketry experience and introduces students to multi-stage rocket systems. Through two intensive classes, students will learn the principles of staging, advanced propulsion, and structural integration, culminating in the construction and launch of a two-stage rocket.

Class 1: (TBA) Advanced Design & Construction

Topics Covered:

• Principles of multi-stage rocketry

• How staging works (booster and sustainer stages)

• Benefits and challenges of two-stage rockets

• Engine selection and ignition sequencing

• Structural considerations and stage coupling

• Review of dual deployment and recovery systems

Hands-on Activities:

• Building a two-stage rocket from a kit (included)

Class 2: (TBA) Engines & Troubleshooting

Topics Covered:

• Launch procedures for multi-stage rockets

• Troubleshooting stage separation and recovery

Hands-on Activities:

• Building a two-stage rocket from a kit (continued)

• Installing booster and upper-stage engines (2 engines are included)

• Dry run for stage separation and recovery deployment

(TBA) Launch in Acton

• Launch of student-built two-stage rockets

• Post-launch debrief and analysis

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RESOURCES FOR MODEL ROCKETRY

NAR – National Association of Rocketry
Sport Rocketry - NAR's YouTube Channel
Model Rocket Safety Code – download file
Doing Rockets by Douglas R. Pratt of Pratt Hobbies
OpenRocket – open source rocket CAD and simulator

Sources of model rockets and supplies

Apogee Rockets – sells their own brand and has lots of information on model rocketry
Estes Rockets – sells their own brand and has lots of information on model rocketry
Aerospace Specialty Products (ASP) – sells their own brand and has lots of information on model rocketry
Sirius Rocketry – sells wide variety of rockets from other companies
Quest Aerospace – sells their own brand and has lots of information on model rocketry
Discount Rocketry – wide variety of rockets and engines. Jim and Ruby Myers will help you with anything you need. They also have a very good educational sections with pages of information about rocketry and links to educational videos.
Michaels – Shoppers World, Framingham. A few kits. No longer sells rocket engines. Not much else.

Other Rocketry Clubs and Places

Central Massachusetts Spacemodeling Society (CMASS) – a rocketry section in Massachusetts under the National Association of Rocketry (NAR). They do high-power rocketry!

Helpful Rocketry References

MODEL ROCKET SAFETY CODE – (file download) published by the National Association of Rocketry (NAR)
Using Model Rockets to Ignite Students’ Interest in STEM – a rocketry curriculum by Thomas M. Sarradet, Jr., for educators.
A STEM BASED MODEL ROCKETRY CURRICULUM: FOR THE TEAM AMERICA ROCKETRY CHALLENGE – (file download) an article by Jessica Renee Napier about STEM education and rocketry.
TARC – Team America Rocketry Challenge is the world’s largest student rocket contest and a key piece of the aerospace and defense industry’s strategy to build a stronger U.S. workforce in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

JOIN NAR (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ROCKETRY)

They are the oldest and largest sport rocketry organization in the world. Since 1957, over 100,000 serious sport rocket modelers have joined the NAR to take advantage of the fun and excitement of organized rocketry.

Sport Rocketry Magazine

Sport Rocketry is the official journal of the National Association of Rocketry. It is published bi-monthly and features regional launch coverage, “how to” articles, rocket plans, scale data, competition tips, product reviews and much more!

Visit Organized Rocket Launches

NAR members and Sections host hundreds of launches each year—both sport launches and competitions—from the local and regional levels to national events.

The National Rocket Competition

The new competition rulebook- SportingCode, details a new approach to competition known as the National Rocket Competition or NRC.

Exclusive Members Only Forum

Members have exclusive access to their members-only forum which will allow you to engage in meaningful conversations about the topics that matter to you. There are communities for General Rocketry, High Power Rocketry, Competitive Rocketry, plus many more! Also supports a digital library with all of NAR’s 400+ publications

The NAR Provides Insurance

While they’re proud of their safety record, it helps to know that NAR members are covered by $5 million worth of personal liability insurance to give that site owner added peace of mind!

Connect With Local Clubs

Your sport rocket designing, building, and flying is always more fun when you have rocket flying friends joining you. If you’d like to have a club closer to you, they’ll even show you how to start a new one!

High-Power Rocketry

Build bigger, climb higher, and fly faster! As an adult NAR member, you can become qualified to purchase and use rocket motors more powerful than those allowed to be sold to the general public!

National Events

The National Association of Rocketry holds annual national events; NARCON, NSL, and NARAM. The events move around the country and appeal to every type of rocket enthusiast.

Join the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) and make your club affiliation STR-846 in your NAR membership profile.