Explore the activities below to learn all about rockets - the different parts of a rocket, how rockets are important for space exploration, and how they've changed throughout history!
 

On Demand Activities

Rockets 101       Activity: Rocket Design Challenge      Spotlight Story: Rosa Avalos-Warren      Story Time and Craft Activity      Explore Outside

Rockets 101

What is a rocket? How are they used?

A rocket is a tall and thin vehicle that is used to carry things into space.

They carry people, supplies, satellites, or other spacecraft like rovers and probes into space. 

What the rocket carries into space is called a "payload."

Examples of Rockets and Their Payload

A composite image. On the left is a white rocket standing upright. On the right is a crew of four astronauts in some sort of vehicle.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was used to send NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 to the International Space Station as part of the NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Astronauts pictured are NASA's Shannon Walker, Victor Glover, and Mike Hopkins, and astronaut Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency 

A composite image with a rocket on the left and a Mars rover on the right.

United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station carrying NASA's Mars Science Lab (MSL) spacecraft which included the Curiosity rover.

A composite image with a rocket on one side and the James Webb Space Telescope on the other.

Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope onboard, is seen here at the launch pad, Thursday, December 23, 2021.

An illustration of a rocket, with arrows pointing to various part indicating what the part is.

This is an annotated illustration of a Saturn V rocket. On the left is an illustration of the outer view of the aircraft, on the right an illustration of the inner view. There are red arrows pointing to different sections. The very top of the rocket is the nose cone. As the rocket widens, the next section is the payload system, immediately followed by the guidance system. The majority of the body which contains the propulsion system. At the very bottom of the rocket are fins which kick out from the rocket's cylindrical body. 

What are the parts of a rocket?

This image shows the parts of the rocket, which are called systems. This particular rocket is the Saturn V, which was used to bring Apollo astronauts into space and to the Moon. 
Each system plays a very important role in the purpose of the rocket. 

  1. The nose cone is designed and shaped to cause air to move smoothly around a rocket.
  2. The payload system is what the rocket will be bringing to space - astronauts, spacecraft or supplies.
  3. The guidance system is the part that holds computers, sensors and other things to help control the rocket. 
  4. The body of the rocket is the part that holds the propulsion system inside, and also holds the nose cone on top and the fins on the bottom.
  5. The propulsion system is made up of the engines, fuel, tanks, pumps that push the rocket through the air and through space. Did you notice that most of the rocket is the propulsion system?
  6. The fins keep the rocket stable and control the direction the rocket travels in.

Take a closer look!

  • Look closely at the second and third pictures above - the Atlas V rocket and the Ariane 5 rocket. Can you find the different rocket systems? 
  • What do you notice about the way each rocket looks? What is the same? What is different? Rockets share some design elements but depending on the mission, some rockets need to be designed differently.

Get a closer look at the Space Launch System rocket that will be used for future Moon missions.

In this video, astronaut Christina Koch describes in more detail that different parts of this rocket.

Think about it!

  • Did you recognize the four parts, or systems of the rocket? 
  • How does the Space Launch System rocket differ from the Saturn V rocket above? How are they the same?

Activity: Rocket Design Challenge

Let's take your Rockets 101 knowledge one step further. Your challenge is to build and test a rocket model that can reach a certain target.

Gather these materials:

  • a piece of paper
  • tape
  • a straw
  • scissors
A piece of paper with scissors, tape, and a small rod on top of it.

Step 1: Make the body of your rocket.

a. Fold your paper in half and then half again.

b. Cut the paper along the folds. 

c. Take one of the pieces of paper you just cut. Roll it around the straw, using the shorter edge. 

Tip: Try not to wrap it too tightly around the straw, but also not too loose.

d. Once the paper is wrapped around the straw, tape the sides down so the paper does not unroll.

A composite of three images. The furthest left shows a folded piece of paper, the middle shows paper partially rolled around a small cylindrical rod, the final shows the paper completely rolled around a small cylindrical rod.

Step 2: Make the nose cone.

a. Pinch the top of your rocket body to make the pointy nose cone of the rocket.

b. Use tape to keep the pointy shape but also to block air from coming out of the top end.

A rolled rod of paper with a pinched pointed end.

Step 3: Add the fins that will keep your rocket from being wobbly.

a. Take one of the pieces of paper you cut earlier and fold it to make a point, like pictured.

b. Hold it up to the body of your rocket to measure how long you want your fins to be.

c. Cut the triangle tip off and then cut it at the fold so you end up with two of the same-sized triangles.

d. Tape the fins onto the body of your rocket.

Tip: Put tape onto the fin first, then tape it to the body. Then bend the fin where it's attached and tape the other side to make to stick out from the body.

Now your rocket is ready to blast off!
 

A composite image. On the left is paper folded into a triangle. On the right is paper folded into a triangle with the tip snipped off.
Two small right triangles made of paper.
A composite image of four pictures. The far right shows a paper rocket with two fins detached. The second and third picture close ups of attaching the fin. The fourth is the completed paper rocket.

Step 4: Prepare your target

Be creative! I chose a colander from my kitchen as a "crater" on the Moon!
 

 

A colander sitting on carpet.

Step 5: Launch your rocket using your propulsion system—you and the straw! Put your rocket onto the tip of the straw and blow!

A paper rocket on a straw in the foreground. A colander on carpet in the background.

Step 6: Make changes to your design

Did your rocket hit the target? 

Can you make your rocket fly further? Did you need more propulsion to get it to your target?

What would happen if you changed something about your rocket - the length or weight of the body or the number of fins or if you added weight to your nose cone?

Change one thing about your rocket and launch it again. 

How did this launch differ from the first time you launched?

Two images showing a paper rocket at various distances from a colander on the floor.

Spotlight Story

Rosa Avalos-Warren

  • Rosa Avalos-Warren is an aerospace engineer for NASA and is a member of the Artemis mission team.
  • Rosa was born in Lima, Peru and is the first in her family to go to college in the United States. 
  • When she was young, she saw the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy on television and was determined to play her part in making sure nothing like that would happen again.
  • Her family supported and encouraged her passion as she worked her way to NASA. Rosa earned her bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and her master’s degree in mechanical engineering, while interning and working in various roles at NASA. 
  • As a mission manager, she is in charge of making sure Artemis astronauts can communicate with Earth at all times, through ground stations and satellites with the Near Space Network. She also supports launch vehicles and robotics missions in her role as network director.
  • She has led over 30 missions at NASA since 2009. 
  • Rosa is a trailblazer because she is a role model to Latinas and other young women of color who want to be a part of space science.
  • Learn more about Rosa in our STEM in 30 show about rockets! 

Think about it!

  • Is there someone that you look up to? What do you like about this person? Draw a picture about your role model and give it to them as a surprise!

Story Time and Craft Activity

Check out these books from your library to explore stories about rockets, engineering and hard work. Then do the craft activity and create your own rocket story!

Cover of the book "Hare and Tortoise Race to the Moon," by Oliver J. Corwin

Hare and Tortoise Race to the Moon

by Oliver J. Corwin
(best for ages 4-8)

In this twist on a classic Aesop's Fable, Hare and Tortoise build rocket ships to race to the Moon.
 

Book cover of Moonshot

Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11

by Brian Floca
(best for ages 4 - 8)

This book tells the story of the flight of Apollo 11, the mission that sent the first people to the Moon. Pay special attention to the description of the Saturn V launch.

An book cover with an illustration of a girl working on paper rockets.

Bonnie's Rocket

By Emeline Lee, illustrated by Alina Chau
(best for ages 6 -11)

Just like her father who is an engineer on the Apollo 11 moon mission, Bonnie goes through the trial and error of designing and building rockets.
 

Craft Activity

Make a Cardboard Tube Rocket

Materials Needed:

  • short cardboard tube, like a toilet paper tube or paper towel tube
  • colored paper
  • scissors

Watch this video to learn how to make a rocket out of a cardboard tube.

Let's Imagine

  • Where in space do you want your rocket to go?
  • What payload will your rocket carry? Will there be astronauts on board? Or maybe a robot or rover traveling to a faraway planet?
  • Don't forget that every rocket launch starts with a countdown. Make sure to count down from 10!

A rocket blasting off.

Explore Outside

Here are some suggestions for exploring rockets in your area.

Rocket Launches to Space

Rocket launches are happening all the time by NASA and other groups. Depending on where you live, you can watch a rocket launch live and in-person.

If you can't be at the actual launch site, sometimes you can see rockets from miles away.

Check out these websites for dates of upcoming launches.
Launches in Florida
Launches in Virginia

Find a model rocket club near you

Take your interest in rockets a step further by connecting with a model rocket club at your school or in your area.

With model rocket clubs, you can build and launch rockets together.

The National Association of Rocketry map of clubs in the United States

American Rocketry Challenge

The American Rocketry Challenge is the world's largest rocket competition for middle school and high school students.

100 finalists will compete against each other for the title of National Champion on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at Great Meadow in The Plains, VA, about 50 miles west of Washington, DC. 
 

Soar Together at Air and Space is made possible by the generous support of Northrop Grumman.

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