Model Rockets

Model Rockets

Liftoff! Three . . . two . . . one . . . liftoff! A model rocket shoots into the sky. The rocket can fly up to 1, 500 feet (457 m) high! Watching these small rockets fly can be fun and exciting. Model rockets aren't just for fun, though. They also teach us about science and space.

The History of Rockets People in China invented rockets about eight hundred years ago. They filled tubes with gunpowder and shot them at their enemies. Later, scientists built rockets that could go into space. Starting in the 1950s, people began building model rockets for fun.

Parts of a Model Rocket A model rocket kit comes with all the parts a rocket needs.

A model rocket's body is a long tube made of cardboard or plastic. The nose cone fits into the top of the tube. The size and shape of a rocket's body and nose cone can change how it flies.

Fins help the rocket fly straight. The engine burns fuel to push the rocket into the air. A parachute helps the rocket fall safely back to Earth.