Carsten Pribadi

How does fin shape and structure affect a rocket's trajectory?

Started Mar. 11, 2025

Abstract or project description

In this research project, I will be investigating and analyzing how a rocket's fin shape, fin count, and overall fin design impact its trajectory and flight attributes such as the apogee, the flight time, the weathercocking, etc.

I will be designing and building multiple rockets, running these digital designs through a simulation software, and then launching them for myself to see how the rocket's performance is affected by these changes in the fins. All of the rockets will be exactly identical besides their fins, meaning that the rockets' lengths, body tube diameters, materials, and motors will all be the same.

The changes I will be making in these fins include the fins' heights, their sweep length, and their count (3 or 4). After the experimentation process, I will compare my real life results with what the simulation software predicted, and thoroughly analyze the difference between the two sets of results and make a conclusion and scientific explanation from there.

In short, I will be building and designing multiple rockets with various different fin structures, running their digital designs through simulations to make a prediction, and launching them in real life to see how they compare to the simulations' results. I will then draw a conclusion based on my results, and give a scientific explanation to why these changes in flight performance occur.