Rockets

Warped Perception demonstrates exactly why it pays to use a really good slow motion camera, showing off what happens when you drop a model rocket engine into an aquarium, then ignite it. Rest assured, no fish were harmed. Explody bits start at 2:40.

After watching Adam Savage and his pals assemble the new LEGO Saturn V rocket, we already wanted one. But JK Brickworks went and made it even more droolworthy, adding LEDs to the engines, as well as a speaker that plays sounds from NASA’s Apollo missions.

Adam, Will and Norm got their hands on the awesome LEGO Ideas NASA Apollo Saturn V scale model rocket a bit earlier than us mere mortals. Watch them unbox, methodically knoll parts, and build the set. Assembly and story time start at 2:25.

Every time we think we’re done with the fidget spinner fad, somebody comes along and amps these silly playthings up to the next level. The Backyard Scientist decided that he couldn’t spin his fast enough, so he added a propulsion system, and upping the danger factor by 100x.

Based on a proposal by LEGO Ideas members Felix Stiessen and Valérie Roche, this model kit features a 3ft-tall (1:110 scale) model of the Saturn V, the most powerful rocketship ever built. It comes with a lunar lander and three astronaut microfigs. Drops 6/2017 for $120.

Grant “The King of Random” Thompson previously tested the myth that mixing propane and Coca-Cola would turn it into a pressure-packed rocket, and failed. He tried it again with butane, and the highly-flammable stuff works brilliantly. Definitely don’t try this one at home.

After building a car engine we could see inside of, Warped Perception split some model rocket engines down the middle and sealed them under plexiglas so we can watch them ignite. We think an acrylic tube would burn more accurately, but it’s still awesome to watch.

The Slow Mo Guys filmed 6ft tall paper rockets made by a group of students at Purdue University. The rockets were fueled by solid propellants, just like missiles and boosters. They soar faster than the speed of sound, albeit for only a few seconds.

NightHawkInLight walks us through the basic science behind hybrid rockets, and the process behind building a compact rocket using acrylic rod and a canister of oxygen to control its output on demand.

In 1974, daredevil Evel Knievel infamously failed to jump the Snake River Canyon on a rocket bike. Now, stuntman Eddie Braun has pulled off the stunt, launching 2000ft into the sky off a 10-story ramp, at over 400mph. We’re hoping for some GoPro footage, but so far nothing.

Amazing video of the flame of a rocket engine captured with NASA’s new High Dynamic Range Stereo X (HiDyRS-X) camera system. This new technology allows scientists to see every minute detail of a flame, rather than just the bright orange plume we’re used to seeing.

There’s something immensely satisfying about this video of a 75-ton rocket engine being tested by the Korean Aerospace Research Institute. While you’d think the sound would be ear shattering, the white noise produced is soothing enough that we could sleep to it.

Amazing first-person footage of the Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft as it makes its way through Earth’s atmosphere and safely lands on the ground 339,178 feet below. We loved hearing all the sounds it makes on its journey. See just how fast it was coming in here.

To celebrate his 2 millionth YouTube subscriber, inventor, builder, and mad scientist Colin Furze created a giant turning wheel, loaded with rockets, placed precariously in front of cases full of more fireworks. The explosive end result is as bonkers as you’d imagine.

The guys from Jet Granny Cars have a made a very special mobility scooter. Watch as it powers down the Santa Pod raceway, then demonstrates why strapping four rocket engines to your butt isn’t exactly the smartest idea. The wet tarmac didn’t help matters.

Despite the heavy losses suffered by the failed SpaceX cargo mission and the other two missions before it, Smarter Every Day points out that these failures yield priceless data, and that they couldn’t have happened at a better time.

This video footage from a festival in Thailand starts out slowly, but once they light the fuses on their handbuilt rocket ship, you’ll understand why this is easily one of the most awe-inspiring videos we’ve seen in a while. Mirror here.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a rocket-powered bicycle, but it is the first time we’ve seen one go faster than a supercar, hitting 207mph in just 5 secs. We’re just amazed that daredevil rider Francois Gissy managed to hold on to it.

The King of Random makes high-flying rockets using sugar, potassium nitrate and kitty litter. It’s very cheap but also very dangerous, because the resulting mixture is combustible. Also use cardboard instead of PVC tubes.

Daredevil driver Andy Green shows off the interior of the carbon fiber cockpit of the Bloodhound SSC, a mad 135,000hp rocket- and jet-powered vehicle that will eventually hit speeds up to 1,000mph. More on 95octane.

Mountain Dew Kickstart’s new commercial spot features the simultaneous launch of 800+ model rockets, sparkling into the night sky. The behind the scenes video shows off more footage of the pyrotechnic magic – no CGI involved.

FinalCutKing pokes fun at Amazon’s proposed drone-based shipping system with Amazon Rockets – which would offer delivery in just three to five minutes. Just like Amazon Prime Air, it’s got some kinks which need to be worked out.

A fascinating snippet from the BBC 1 series Bang Goes the Theory first explains how a rocket works with simple soda bottles, but then ramps up to the real deal with spectacular results. Though it leaves us wanting much more.

Ryan McNaught (as in “astronaught”) built this incredible Saturn V rocket from over 120,000 LEGO bricks. The 19 foot-tall spaceship even has a tiny NASA Astrovan to deliver its flight crew.

By filling plastic soda bottles with water under extremely high pressures (120psi), these guys managed to launch a rocket to a height of 864 feet. Fortunately, they didn’t us Diet Coke and Mentos.