Water Rocketry for Everyone!
Bring the excitement of rocketry to your classroom in a safe way with our HydroLaunch Water Rocket System. From testing water rocket engines to launching rockets in a controlled environment, we bring the complete Space Trek rocketry experience to you. Our curriculum is customized for classrooms and our prepared, easy-to-use lessons ensure learning outcomes are met with flying colors.
Features
The HydroLaunch Water Rocket System is not a basic water rocket – it is a complete solution for implementing science and engineering practices (SEPs) in the K-12 classroom. Whether it is the introduction of mechanical complexities that enable students to engage in hands-on engineering of a water rocket, or the planned deployment of a parachute with precision, students become NASA engineers in their launch mission. The HydroLaunch Water Rocket System also requires students to consider and compare the effects of a multitude of variables upon their rockets: rocket mass, air pressure, water volume, nozzle size, fin shape and more. Some of the salient features are:
- Variable thrust profile
- Low fin attachment
- Easy no-spill loading
- Adjustable launch angles
- A safety purge button for launch abort
- Launch Guide for stability
- Detachable fins
- Bottle Engine Test Apparatus for profiling rocket engine performance
- Elev8Eject – the parachute eject mechanism
- Software package that simulates rocket performance and trajectory
- LaunchTrak Altimeter for recording rocket flight
HydroLaunch® is the perfect S.T.E.M. companion for students, teachers, and enthusiasts. The HydroLaunch® Water Rocket system converts a simple soda bottle into the ultimate teaching tool and offers the most versatile water rocket experience. We call it WATER ROCKETRY 2.0.
HydroLaunch Components
Unlike other Water Rockets available on the market, the HydroLaunch® is a complete system that provides all the features expected in a model rocket – from an aerodynamic nose cone to precision cut fins, all you need are a couple of soda bottles for your next rocketry adventure.
A HydroLaunch Water Rocket typically consists of:
HydroLaunch® Nose Cone – A polyurethane nose cone weighing just 80 grams to make your water rocket aerodynamic. Specially designed to house the LaunchTrak, this nose cone adds advanced capabilities to your water rocket.
Nozzle – Threads mated with standard soda bottles, and slots for low profile detachable fins, these rocket nozzles enable you to make a variety of rockets with different size soda bottles.
Nozzle Inserts – 8mm, 10mm and 12mm standard inserts come in your HydroLaunch® water rocket kit, enabling you to experiment with a variety of thrust profiles.
Fins – Low-profile detachable fin holders compatible with the nozzle enable you to use either the standard fins (included in the HydroLaunch® kit) or build your own with our simple guide.
Elev8Eject – The parachute eject mechanism uses a tilt switch to deploy parachutes at apogee, with 0° to 45° launch angles from the vertical.
LaunchTrak Altimeter – The most sophisticated instant flight analysis tool for measuring the performance of your rocket. At 14gms, it is extremely lightweight, and provides more than 10 vital measurements including max altitude, top speed, peak acceleration, engine thrust duration, time to apogee, total flight time, and force on impact with the ground.
Parachute Eject Mechanism
The Parachute Eject Mechanism, or PEM, is a reusable parachute deployment system that side-releases the parachute perpendicular to the rocket body for safe landings. The PEM is compatible with any launch system capable of launching standard soda bottle water rockets, allowing students and enthusiasts alike to experiment with a variety of fragile payloads with a safe return to Earth. With over 75 deployments per charge, the PEM adds a new dimension to your next rocketry expedition. PEM features:
- Reliable tilt switch trigger system
- Fits standard 2L soda bottles
- USB Charging
- Supports launch angles from 45° to 90° from the horizontal
LaunchTrak Flight Data Recorder
For advanced learning, the nose cone of the rocket contains a space for the LaunchTrak flight computer, an instant-ready-to-launch flight analysis tool for not just water rocketry but all forms of model rocketry. Small enough to fit most hobby rockets, and ideal for the HydroLaunch Rocket System, LaunchTrak uses a rechargeable battery and provides 2 hours of use, with capability to record peak altitude, top speed, thrust time, maximum acceleration, average acceleration, coast time, time to apogee, total flight time, descent speed, and impact acceleration on landing. LaunchTrak is a device designed for student engagement and learning focused upon real-life data sets and ideal for all STEM education lessons that focus upon Newton’s laws of motion. At 72mm length and 25gms in weight, it is your perfect companion for any hobby rocket.
Bottle Engine Test Apparatus (BETA)
Researched, designed, and developed at the Kennedy Space Center.
Test water rocket engines as a rocket scientist in your classroom. Conduct the right kind of engine test to make precise predictions. Utilize rocket engine test to refine engineering designs. Manipulate and test variables for your rocket engine performance B.E.T.A. brings to you the ultimate engine testing experience. From a 500 ml to 2L soda bottles, you can use a variety of engine sizes easily available in your region.
- Fully enclosed launcher housing
- A dynamic load cell assembly for variable engine sizes
- Real time data recording and analysis
- Automated control of the arming and launch procedures
- An engaging device for schools to access and meet New Generation Science Standards
- Cloud based data analysis programs for remote learning
Classroom of the Future
We believe every student has the potential to make a contribution to the growing space economy, and it all starts with their first launch. Transform your classroom with standards-based, hands-on rocket science. Our K-12 rocketry curriculum follows the 5E inquiry-based model and fosters collaboration through a mission-based team approach. Our rocketry kits are designed for every level of learner, from simple launchers to our B.E.T.A., and everything in between.
Engagement and learning starts with inspiration. Looking to take it to the next level? Explore our camps, field trip experiences and classroom solutions that inspire the next generation of explorers through the excitement of rocket science.
Real Rockets. Real Science. Real Learning.
NGSS requires three-dimensional learning experiences. While commercially available curricula claim to do this, none meet this as well as Space Trek’s curriculum developed around rocketry phenomena. Consider bundling NGSS, PS2-1 through PS2-3. BETA 2.0 and Space Trek rocketry materials, coupled with our curriculum, provides the perfect intersection for students to analyze and refine a device, utilize mathematical relationships to support a claim, and apply science and engineering ideas to examine force and its effects on an object to exactly meet defined performance indicators. Students will manipulate variables with NASA-like precision to discovery aspects of Newton’s Laws for themselves. This system invites all learners to become scientists and instills confidence within their STEM learning.
HydroLaunch Brochure
Download the HydroLaunch product brochure.
Rocketry Field Trips
Visiting Kennedy Space Center? Make Space Trek a part of your students’ experience! Our add-on programming is standards-aligned and can be tailored to the level of your students. Whether it be two hours or a half-day, our SPACE Lab makes a field trip to KSC complete!
Rocketry Experiences
Space Trek offers a wide variety of camps for students in grades 5-12. Whether you're a global group or local student looking to have an out-of-this-world spring break or summer, there is an immersive camp experience for you!
Rocketry Professional Learning
Space Trek offers professional learning opportunities for educators, whether it's at your place or ours.
Rocketry Curriculum
Our K-12 curriculum follows the 5E inquiry-based model and fosters collaboration through a mission-based team approach and is free for everyone.