Amateur Experimental Rocketry is, in my humble opinion, one of the most challenging, exciting and educational hobbies. Unlike Model Rocketry or High Power Rocketry, experimental rocketry is an activity whereby rockets are designed and constructed entirely from "scratch". Most components -- including motor and propellant-- are self-made. The goal of Amateur Experimental Rocketry (AER), often simply referred to as Amateur Rocketry or Experimental Rocketry, is to design, build, test and launch rockets. In this context, rocket may refer to the motor itself, or to a complete vehicle that consists of motor, fuselage (and stabilizing devices such as fins), nosecone, and payload. One of the greatest challenges is to develop and build such a motor, one that is safe to produce and operate, reliable, and one that provides predictable and consistent performance. A second big challenge is to develop a recovery system, such as parachute deployment, that operates with a high degree of reliability under the demanding conditions of launch followed by high speed or high altitude flight. Striving to achieve these goals (and many others) and to overcome the inevitable obstacles, is what makes this such a challenging (and at times frustrating) and educational pastime, and one that requires diversified skills combined with a good dose of ingenuity. The outcome of all this, more often than not, is that one learns to genuinely comprehend that which is colloquially known as Rocket Science.

It might be said, then, that Model Rocketry and High Power Rocketry are best suited to those who wish to make and fly rockets, and Experimental Rocketry is perhaps best suited to those who rather wish to make rockets fly.

Mar.29, 2018-- After many successful flights (a grand total of 42), I have retired my Zeta and DS rockets. I have since turned my attention to a new rocket project. Deemed the Xi Rocket, this rocket incorporates design improvements based on experience with its two predecessors. The Xi rocket has already been launched four times. As is the nature of rocketry, a few unexpected issues arose in the early flights that required some design alterations.

Oct.27, 2017--- Lately I have been endeavouring to update some of my older web pages. Reading over some of the pages, I have noticed that some information is clearly outdated and in some cases new developments have provided additional information that is pertinent. For example, the webpages on sucrose propellant and dextrose propellants have been overhauled. Other pages have had broken links fixed or removed.

Mar.19, 2016-- The newly-created DS Rocket page chronicles the flights of my latest rocket project. The DS rocket is being flown in conjunction with the Zeta rocket. Eventually I plan to fly both at the same launch outing. My primary objective of the DS rocket project is to experiment with means of improving aerodynamic efficiency, such as with the use of fall-away launch guides.