Rocket Fin Engineering

Rocket systems are designed by engineers to push heavy payloads into space. Engineers iterate systems to improve design efficiency. A rocket’s guidance system keeps the vehicle flying straight. The subsystem usually includes three fins. Fins can be different shapes and sizes. In this activity, students experiment with the shape of a fin. They use NASA’s Rocket Modeling software to change the leading edge angle of a trapezoidal fin to optimize the rocket system’s height. They then draw the optimal fin in solid modeling software and 3D print it.