Rocket Motors

Hobby rocketry typically involves the use of either solid or hybrid motors, although liquid fuelled motors could be used also. Commercially available solid motors consisting either Black Powder (BP) or Ammonium Perchlorate (AP) are the most popular however mono propellant and bipropellant hybrid motors using nitrous oxide are also available.

Rocket Store usually stock a large range of solid motors with larger motors available as Special Order items. We do also stock hybrid reloads with hybrid motors available as Special Order Items. These can be found in our Online Store.

Introduction to Rocket Motors

There are 3 main types of commercial motors currently used in the UK for rocketry.

Black Powder Motors

The first type of solid motor is the very common and well known Black Powder motors, these are typically made by Estes, Quest and a couple of other manufacturersand millions have been sold. Although known as Black Powder motors they typically consist of Potassium Nitrate, Sulphur and Charcoal.

Estes are the only black powder motors currently available in the UK and motors are available in A-D sizes. Estes do offer an E motor, however the E engine is not covered under the same pyrotechnic exemption in the UK as A to D are, and are therefore not legal in the UK unfortunately.

Black Powder motors are typically sold in packs of 3 or 4 and cost approximately £9 - £16 per pack depending upon size. The engines are ignited using small igniters provided with the motors.

Ammonium Perchlorate

The second type is also another form of solid motor, but this time made from mainly Ammonium Perchlorate. These range in sizes from D though to O, however larger AP motors are available for Sounding Rocket projects.