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| | OpenRocket Introduction (Simplified) |
| <div style="float: left;">[[Main Page|← Contents]]</div>
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| <div style="float: right;">[[Downloading & Installing|Downloading & Installing →]]</div>
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| [[Main Page|↑ Back to Contents]]
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| {{UserGuideHelp}}
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| == What is OpenRocket? ==
| | What is OpenRocket? |
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| Welcome! [[File:icon-256.png|thumb|800 px|right|The OpenRocket logo.]]
| | OpenRocket is an open‑source program used to design and simulate model rockets. It was created in 2009 by Sampo Niskanen as part of his master’s thesis at the Helsinki University of Technology. The thesis is available on the OpenRocket technical documentation page. |
| OpenRocket is an open source model rocket simulation software application. It was originally developed by [http://sampo.kapsi.fi/ Sampo Niskanen] in 2009 as part of his master thesis at what was then [https://www.aalto.fi/en/aalto-university/history <em>Helsinki University of Technology</em>]. If you want to have a look at his thesis you can download it from OpenRocket's [http://openrocket.info/documentation.html technical documentation page]. Written entirely in Java, OpenRocket is fully cross-platform. Have a look at the [[Downloading_%26_Installing|next section]] if you need information about how to open the program on your computer. <br /><br /> | |
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| OpenRocket is intended to be used by rocketeers who want to test the performance of a model rocket before actually building and flying it. The software accurately computes the aerodynamic properties of rockets and simulates their flight, returning a wide range of technical results. <br /><br /> | | OpenRocket is written in Java, so it works on all major operating systems. If you need help installing or launching it, see the Downloading & Installing section. |
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| The program can be roughly divided into two sections: <br /><br />
| | OpenRocket helps rocketeers predict rocket performance before building and flying. It calculates aerodynamic properties and simulates flight, producing detailed technical results. |
| - <strong>Rocket design</strong>, where you can design the model rocket you intend to build, choosing from a wide range of <strong>body components</strong>, <strong>trapezoidal</strong>, <strong>elliptical</strong> and <strong>free-form fins</strong>, <strong>inner components</strong>, and <strong>mass objects</strong>. During this phase you will see a 2D representation of the rocket you are building and various technical information (<strong>size</strong>, <strong>mass</strong>, <strong>apogee</strong>, <strong>max. velocity</strong>, <strong>max. acceleration</strong>, <strong>stability</strong>, <strong>centre of gravity</strong> (<strong>CG</strong>), <strong>centre of pressure</strong> (<strong>CP</strong>)) about your rocket, so you can have already a good idea of its performance even before running any simulation. <br />
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| - <strong>Flight simulation</strong>, where you can run one or more simulations of your rocket's flight, choosing from one or more <strong>motor configurations</strong>. Each simulation (calculated using the Runge-Kutta 4 simulator) returns a wide range of data about the rocket's flight. Unfortunately, for the moment a graphical visualization of the rocket's flight is not available ([http://openrocket.info/contribute.html help needed]). <br /><br />
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| For more information about OpenRocket's features and a few screenshots you can have a look [http://openrocket.info/features.html here].
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| == How this guide is organized ==
| | Main Parts of the Program |
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| <strong>Note: since work on the <em>User's Guide</em> is still currently in progress, many sections are still incomplete or empty. This subsection also explains the content of those sections, as it's meant to be a reference when the guide will be completed.</strong> <br /><br />
| | 1. Rocket Design |
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| This guide presents information on how to <em>use</em> OpenRocket. This wiki contains a certain amount of technical information, but the <em>[https://github.com/openrocket/openrocket/wiki Developer Wiki]</em> on GitHub has information for developers about building OpenRocket from source, packaging it, and contributing to the project. <br /><br />
| | You build a virtual rocket using: |
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| We'll try to explain how to fully exploit all of OpenRocket's features. We'll start off at a relatively basic level and then look at more and more complicated parts of the software. Depending on your level of experience and your learning objectives, you should either start reading from a specific section, or end reading at a specific section. <br /><br />
| | Body components |
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| You're reading Section 1, the Introduction. <br /><br />
| | Trapezoidal, elliptical, or free‑form fins |
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| The next section, [[Downloading & Installing]], explains how to install OpenRocket. You can look for a <strong>packaged binary</strong> with everything you need, or learn <strong>how to install Java</strong> on your computer (or find out if it is already installed) and then <strong>how to launch OpenRocket</strong>. If you have already managed to launch the program, skip this section. <br /><br />
| | Internal components |
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| [[Getting Started]] gets you started. If you are an experienced user you should be able to get most of what is explained there on your own, but we recommend that everyone read it so you can fully understand how OpenRocket is organized. <br /><br />
| | Mass objects |
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| From sections [[Basic Rocket Design]] and [[Basic Flight Simulation]], you will learn how to design some basic rockets and simulate their flights, using OpenRocket. These sections are useful for both experienced and non-experienced rocketeers, since they basically show how to use most of the software. <br /><br />
| | During design, OpenRocket shows: |
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| Sections [[Advanced Rocket Design]] and [[Advanced Flight Simulation]] build on the material explained in sections 4 and 5. These sections are meant for experienced rocketeers, since they explain how to use OpenRocket to design more complicated rockets and run simulations with them. <br /><br />
| | Size |
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| [[Rocket Analysis]] is about analyzing the rocket you have built and optimizing its performance. It is suitable both for experienced and non-experienced users. <br /><br />
| | Mass |
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| [[Custom Expressions]] is about <em>Simulation listeners</em>, i.e.; a way to monitor and interact with flight simulations while they are running. It is suitable for experienced users. <br /><br />
| | Apogee |
| Finally, [[Simulation Listeners]] is about some extra features that have not been, until then, explained. Also, you can have a look at [[Component Details]] for a full list of rocket components available in OpenRocket and their uses. <br /><br />
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| | Max velocity |
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| | Max acceleration |
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| | Stability |
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| | Center of gravity (CG) |
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| | Center of pressure (CP) |
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| | This gives you a good idea of performance before running simulations. |
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| | 2. Flight Simulation |
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| | You can run simulations using different motor configurations. OpenRocket uses a Runge‑Kutta 4 solver to compute flight data. |
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| | Note: There is no graphical flight animation yet. |
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| | How This Guide Is Organized |
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| | This guide explains how to use OpenRocket. Developer information (building from source, contributing, packaging) is on the Developer Wiki. |
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| | You are currently in Section 1: Introduction. |
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| | Section Overview |
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| | Downloading & Installing – How to install Java, check if it’s installed, and launch OpenRocket. |
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| | Getting Started – Basic orientation for all users. |
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| | Basic Rocket Design – Learn to build simple rockets. |
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| | Basic Flight Simulation – Learn to run basic simulations. |
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| | Advanced Rocket Design – For experienced users designing complex rockets. |
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| | Advanced Flight Simulation – For advanced simulation setups. |
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| | Rocket Analysis – How to analyze and optimize your rocket. |
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| | Custom Expressions – Covers simulation listeners for advanced monitoring. |
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| | Simulation Listeners – Extra features not covered earlier. |
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| | Component Details – Full list of rocket components and their uses. |
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| Good reading! | | Good reading! |
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| <div style="text-align: center;">
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| <div style="float: left;">[[Main Page|← Contents]]</div>
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| <div style="float: right;">[[Downloading & Installing|Downloading & Installing →]]</div>
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| [[Main Page|↑ Back to Contents]]
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| </div>
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OpenRocket Introduction (Simplified)
What is OpenRocket?
OpenRocket is an open‑source program used to design and simulate model rockets. It was created in 2009 by Sampo Niskanen as part of his master’s thesis at the Helsinki University of Technology. The thesis is available on the OpenRocket technical documentation page.
OpenRocket is written in Java, so it works on all major operating systems. If you need help installing or launching it, see the Downloading & Installing section.
OpenRocket helps rocketeers predict rocket performance before building and flying. It calculates aerodynamic properties and simulates flight, producing detailed technical results.
Main Parts of the Program
1. Rocket Design
You build a virtual rocket using:
Body components
Trapezoidal, elliptical, or free‑form fins
Internal components
Mass objects
During design, OpenRocket shows:
Size
Mass
Apogee
Max velocity
Max acceleration
Stability
Center of gravity (CG)
Center of pressure (CP)
This gives you a good idea of performance before running simulations.
2. Flight Simulation
You can run simulations using different motor configurations. OpenRocket uses a Runge‑Kutta 4 solver to compute flight data.
Note: There is no graphical flight animation yet.
How This Guide Is Organized
This guide explains how to use OpenRocket. Developer information (building from source, contributing, packaging) is on the Developer Wiki.
You are currently in Section 1: Introduction.
Section Overview
Downloading & Installing – How to install Java, check if it’s installed, and launch OpenRocket.
Getting Started – Basic orientation for all users.
Basic Rocket Design – Learn to build simple rockets.
Basic Flight Simulation – Learn to run basic simulations.
Advanced Rocket Design – For experienced users designing complex rockets.
Advanced Flight Simulation – For advanced simulation setups.
Rocket Analysis – How to analyze and optimize your rocket.
Custom Expressions – Covers simulation listeners for advanced monitoring.
Simulation Listeners – Extra features not covered earlier.
Component Details – Full list of rocket components and their uses.
Good reading!