Long ago we decided that if we could hold the Water Rocket World Record for 10 years, that we would publish the details of how we made our High Pressure Water Rockets, to help get more people interested in competing. Little did we know at the time we passed the 10 year mark that there was a group in Capetown, South Africa who were already secretly designing a rocket similar in design to ours.
 |
| U.S. Water Rockets X-14 High Pressure Water Rocket |
Our very first World Record was 1,421 feet (433 meters), set on September 2, 2004. For qualification, we had to average two flights in a 2 hour time period. Those flights were 1,382 feet and 1,450 feet high. The average of the two flights was the 1,421 foot world record, surpassing the former World Record held by Anti Gravity Research of 1,242 feet. In the following few years, we incrementally raised the record multiple times, culminating in a record of 2,044 feet.
By September of 2014, no other team had surpassed our 1,421 record from 2004, so we began work on a series of videos explaining how we build these rockets. The videos are available on our YouTube Channel along with many of our other experiments and tutorials. Additional information can also be found on our website at www.USWaterRockets.com if you are interested in learning more. If you'd like to compete against the new record holder, Ascention III, then visit www.WRA2.org to see what it takes to qualify your rocket!
Part 2 of the video series explains multiple methods we created to eject the parachute from our rockets. These designs date back over 12 years, and our early work seems primitive by modern standards, yet it was enough to hold the record for an astounding 11 years!
 |
| Various Parachute Ejection Systems are Explained in Part 2 of our Video Series |
Check out the video here:
Part 1 of the video series discusses the most difficult part of the High Pressure Water Rocket, the Pressure Vessel. The video explains several methods for making this component and includes detailed animations and live action video of actual rocket builds, explaining the processes. Check out the video, and let us know what you think!
Important: High Pressure Water Rockets can be very dangerous. They can explode and cause great harm, or they could impact something and cause injury or property damage. Always follow the appropriate safety precautions when working with these kinds of rockets. Be safe!
