Frequently Asked Questions About
RockSim's Advanced Features:
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1. Where is "Help Manual" for Rocksim?
- There are many different help files available. Click Here to discover all the possiblities for learning how to use RockSim.
2. Does RockSim v9 work with Windows VISTA (including 64 Bit edition) operating system?
- YES! As of April 1, 2009, there are no known problems of RockSim working with Vista. Of course, once Microsoft issues a new patch, all bets are off.
3. What are the known bugs in RockSim v9?
- (Posted 3/31/09)
The only minor but we have found recently is the OK button to close the Optimum Mass Plot does not function. The window can be closed by clicking on the X in the top-right corner. On Mac, it requires a Force-Quit.
4. How do you add new rocket motor files into Rocksim?
- Please note that Apogee Components does not make engine files. Those come from the manufacturer that makes the motors. If the manufacturer does not have them yet, you can create the engine file yourself.
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- Please see a quicktime video of the simple procedure used in RockSim v9: Click Here. You can also watch videos on how to add the new motors to RockSim.
For V7 and prior editions: Click Here to find motor web sites, and see a QuickTime movie that will walk you through the steps of adding a new motor into RockSim.
5. How do you create cluster engine mounts in RockSim?
- Click Here to read a step-by-step article that will walk you through the simple steps of creating a cluster engine mount.
6. How do you find the Maximum Weight a rocket motor can lift?
- Click Here to read the article that explains how "Manufacturer's Recommend Lift-Off Weight" is determined.
7. How do you use the "Subassembly" feature in RockSim?
- A video tutorial is available for RockSim version 9.0. Or click Here to read this step-by-step article that walks you through the creation of a simple engine mount. Once you create one, you never have to make an engine mount in your future RockSim designs.
8. How do you create a Strap-On Booster stage in RockSim v9?
- A video tutorial is available for RockSim version 9.0. This was the main new feature in RockSim v9.
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- Strap-on booster stages were not possible in older versions of RockSim. But, you can do a few tricks to get some usable data. Click Here to view the four-part article that will walk you through the steps in creating strap-on booster tubes on the outside of the core tube.
9. What is the difference between the RockSim Stability Method, and the Barrowman Method?
- The RockSim method is actually the Barrowman method. That's where we started. And then we enhanced it to allow things like: fins attached to boattails, tube fins, ring tails, and strap-on pods. For more information on the differences, please click here to read a detailed article.
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10. What are other articles available to learn how to use RockSim?
- These articles are here to help you get the most information out of RockSim. This is rocket-science after all, so there is so much to learn that will make you a better model. But you do not need to read these if you are a casual user of the software. It gives you easy-to-understand summaries that have most of the information you need for your current rocket project. For more articles about RockSim, see our Peak-of-Flight Newsleter archives.
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FREE stuff For People Interested In RockSim
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Program Manual (3 MB PDF)
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Less-Frequently Asked Questions About RockSim:
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1. Someone gave me an older version of RockSim. Can I get the upgrade price?
- No. The license to use RockSim is not transferable from one individual to another.
2. How come a short conical nose cone gives me the highest altitude?
- A. The biggest limitation is the estimation of the Coefficient of Drag. RockSim uses a set of formulas called the DATCOM drag estimation method. For nose cones, the formulas use the wetted surface area. That means, a bigger or longer nose cone will have a higher drag coefficient. A cone has the lowest surface area, so by the equations, it will also have the lowest drag coefficient. This is NOT true in real life. But it is the limitations of the formulas that RockSim uses. If you have better formulas, please send them to us, and we'll be happy to implement them in the next version of RockSim.
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- Also, the more complex the model, the harder it is to predict ahead of time. The altitude predictions are a good estimate, but are not going to be dependable until you actually test fly the real rocket and make your own observations.
3. Can I design gliders?
- Yes and No. RockSim v9 will allow you to create a rocket that looks like a glider or airplane. But it won't simulate the model's glide. The reason is that on a glider, the tail fins are at a different angle of attack than the main wing. The reason: So it can pull out of a glide. In RockSim v9, the program assumes that all fins are at a zero angle-of-attack. So the rocket won't glide, but it will follow a ballistic trajectory. Hopefully one day, we'll be ready to allow each fin to be set a different angles of attack.
4. Is there a Discussion Forum for RockSim users?
- Not officially. But there is a place where you can get your questions answered and get honest opinions from real RockSim users. That is the Rocketry Forum. (http://www.rocketryforum.com/) The RockSim guys hang out in the "Support and Recovery " area.
5. Where can I find out about the history of RockSim?
- There is a history of RockSim page where you can read all about RockSim. This will tell you how it was originally created, as well as what were the changes in each revision.
6. What is the maximum altitude and velocity that rocksim is accurate to?
- RockSim uses the 1976 U.S. Standard Atmosphere model. In that model, the maximum simulation altitude is 86,000 meters (282,152 feet). The maximum velocity is Mach 2.0. For greater speeds and altitudes, we recommend the RS-PRO software.
7. My computer crashed. I lost my copy of RockSim. What can I do about it?
- Please call us at 719-535-9335, or send us an email. We'll send you a link to download the v8 or v9 (which ever one you purchased). You'll need your license file to get it out of trial mode and into the full version mode. If you lost you're license file (we told you to archive it), there is a $10 fee for us to create a new one for you. Click here to order a new license file.
If you have another question about RockSim, click on the "email us" button on the top of the sidebar. We'll be happy to answer your question.
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"I received the RockSim program and everything loaded without a problem. An excellent program! I have worked with several simulation programs within the defense industry which were not designed as well as yours. Congratulation on this software. I am new to HPR, and enjoy homebrew designs. I am sure I will find this software the key to the design.
-- Dale Hagert
"The RockSim program is the best there is. I use it religiously, and I don't fly anything I haven't sim'd.
I really, really recommend, that if you are serious about this hobby, that you purchase the software. It's probably the best investment you will ever make for your Rocketry hobby."
– Chuck Longton
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