How do rocket recovery streamers work i have a rocket that uses it and i dont trust that it will return rocket

Question

i heard that rockets that fly to high alltitudes use streamers instead of parachutes but this is only my second rocket and i dont trust that it will bring back down successfully until someone tells me how exactly they work...an answer would be very helpful..please resond

Answer 1

I agree with derail. I assume you are building a model rocket, like the Estes models. I always thought the streamers worked better than the parachutes. Sometimes the chutes would get tangled and act like streamers, then they worked better anyway. As mentioned, it is not unusual to have a rocket float away in the breeze using a parachute, especially if it was a successful launch that reached a high altitude.

The streamers work well. You will like them.

Answer 2

Depends on the size of the rocket. Small estes rockets, streamers are no problem. Getting into the high powered stuff, is where it starts to get tricky. Most of the stuff that goes to a higher altitude will use an altimeter to deploy either a streamer or a very small drouge chute to slow the descent and orient the rocket for a parachute deployment as it gets to a lower altitude. That way, you minimize wind drift, but still recover your rocket intact.

Answer 3

I liked the streamers. In fact, when I bought a new rocket that came with a parachute, I discarded the chute and used a streamer instead. I shot rockets on hot days. That meant that a lot of heat was rising up from the ground. A chute captured the rising air and held the rocket in the air too long. A slight breeze could carry it away never to be found. The streamers allowed the rocket to drop down nearly straight from the point it quit flying. So go ahead and trust the streamer. Sometimes I increased the streamer length to create more aerodynamic drag. I strived to have enough drag, that as the rocket fell, it fell at an attitude parallel with the ground. This meant that the drag of the rocket and the streamer were equally matched. You'll do fine with the streamer. I was apprehensive at first too, but I didn't loose any more rockets.

Answer 4

They work just fine (misspent youth shooting rockets with a friend in suburbian h**l). They may come down seemingly at murderous speed, but its fine.

Just remember, if its going your way and youre looking right at it, move a bit lol.