Sputnik 1 Model Rocket

Sputnik 1 was the first artificial satellite launched by the former Soviet Union on October 4th, 1957. For three weeks in transmitted a radio signal on two frequencies that could be picked up by many people on the surface. After 3 months in orbit, it fell back into the atmosphere and burned up on re-entry.

This is a model rocket version of the famous satellite. In addition to the parts here you will need a section of 13mm body tube (BT-5) and 4 BBQ Skewers (the ones I had were about 3.5mm in diameter). The BT-5 body tube should be just long enough to hold the motor and the 3mm tall engine block. It fits inside both the bottom piece and slides into the nosecone.

This rocket is unique in a few ways. First, the antenna (BBQ Skewers) act as the fins and are attached to the nosecone, not the body. Second, the recovery system (streamer in this case) goes into one of the side compartments in the body and NOT into the body tube (thus no recovery wadding is required).

I've made