Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Making a bottle rocket with a launcher
• Warnings
• Necessities
• Rocket from a bottle
• Rocket from two bottles

It's easy and fun to make a rocket out of a bottle. You can even create and launch a simple bottle rocket by recycling materials you may already have around the house.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Making a bottle rocket with a launcher

1. 
2. You can also paint the plastic bottle if you want to decorate it even further. Do not hesitate to draw a drawing or logo on the plastic bottle or the center of the rocket.
3. 
4. Knead about 1/2 cup of Play-Doh or some other type of clay into the ridges on the bottom of the bottle so that the outside of the bottle is rounded.
5. Cover the clay with duct tape so that it sticks securely.
6. Keep the other bottle intact. This will be the "combustion chamber," where the water and compressed air will come. You also attach this bottle to the launcher, or the other bottle.
7. Drill a very small hole in a cork. Make sure the hole is the same size as the valve of your bicycle pump.
8. Put the cork in the bottle neck of the bottle that is still intact. You can also press it there with pliers so that the cork is even better.
9. Insert the needle valve of your bicycle pump into the hole in the cork. Make sure it fits properly in the hole.
10. Turn the rocket right side up. Hold the rocket by the bottle neck and place it on the valve of the bicycle pump.
11. Launch the bottle rocket. Make sure you are outside in an open area. The missile will shoot up very high and fast, so remove all obstacles and warn those around you before launching the missile. To launch the rocket, do the following:
    • Pump air into the bottle. The rocket will fly away when the cork can no longer withstand the rising pressure in the bottle. This usually takes place at a pressure of about 5.5 bar.
    • Let go of the bottle. The water will spray in all directions when the rocket takes off, so be prepared to get wet.
    • Be careful when you start pumping and don't get close to the bottle, even if nothing seems to be happening. You can injure yourself.

Warnings

• Be careful when using sharp tools to cut the bottle or cardboard, especially if you are under 10 years old.

Necessities

Rocket from a bottle

• For the missile:
  • One sheet of A4 paper
  • A bottle (a two liter bottle is great for a regular size rocket, but if you want to make a mini rocket you can use a regular size water bottle)
  • Material for the fins (thick card stock or thin cardboard is fine)
  • Duct tape (to decorate and assemble the rocket)
  • Scissors
  • Play-Doh or Clay
  • Glue (optional)
• For the launcher:
  • Water
  • Bicycle pump with a needle valve
  • Cork
  • Power drill
  • Drill bit with the same size as the needle valve of the bicycle pump

Rocket from two bottles

• For the missile:
  • Two bottles (two two-liter bottles or two regular-sized water bottles)
  • Material for the fins
  • Scissors
  • Duct tape
  • Play-Doh or cat litter
• For the launcher:
  • Water
  • Bicycle pump with a needle valve
  • Cork
  • Power drill
  • Drill bit with the same size as the needle valve of the bicycle pump