MTS Ultimate Air Rockets

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Building Rockets, and Building Memories

We remember the first time we put a rocket on the launch pad.  Hours of build time, well saved money for rocket motors, then that moment of truth when the launch button was pushed – was it a high flier or a dud?  In those seconds of aerial bliss when the rocket did shoot up into the air we knew that the preparations were all worthwhile.

We believe that moments like this made us passionate for the craft.  Unfortunately, disappointments can put a quick end to the day.  While passion for success keeps the committed strong, the price of failure can be costly.  This is not the case with MTS Air Rockets which can be built from paper, or more durable, but still inexpensive, materials like cardboard tubes, pipe insulation, and anything else your imagination can dream up.

MTS Air Rocket

A lot of complex thinking went into making it SIMPLE

Make Magazine excited a new generation of flight with Rick Shertle’s air rocket launcher kit. We saw complexities in some air launchers that felt like a barrier for entry, and we wanted to make a launcher that was more accessible and easier to embrace.  Let’s face it, it’s not about the launcher; it’s about the rockets!  We wanted to leave the fun part of experimenting with rocket design up to you by powering your launch with a safe and reliable system.

As industrial designers, we ask questions like “what happens if we change this?” or “how could we make this better, faster, stronger, and cheaper?”  While designing our launcher, we asked those questions often and came up with some clever solutions.

Many, many prototypes later…

We looked at all of aspects of creating and building – design, materials, production, user experience – and tried to come up with the best possible solutions for creating our best launcher.  We tested out different tanks and configurations, explored what materials would work best, and played with design elements to make the launcher more user friendly.

Safer! Cheaper! Greener!

Once we were satisfied with our prototype, we went back to the original scope of the project to see if we accomplished what we set out to do.  Our results improved upon the safety of existing options by employing safer materials, creating a more solid base, and moving the filling and release stations a safe distance from the launcher.

Our launcher doesn’t require batteries, so it’s efficient and doesn’t add cost after the fact, plus we’re upcycling propane canisters that otherwise would not be reused, which helps keep manufacturing costs down.

Elbow grease and imagination is all that is required

Our air launcher is human powered – once the launcher is assembled, a bicycle pump is all you need to pressurize the tank with air.  When you pull the trigger, an immediate blast of air is directed out of the PVC guide at the top, which sends your rocket into the air.

How the rocket looks is up to you – you can use paper or cardboard to build your rocket, add fins, attach parachutes or wings, use a foam tip for bounce recovery… the possibilities are endless.  The air launcher invites rocketeers of all levels to be creative, invent, and launch.

This launcher celebrates our comprehensive design background and we’re excited to share it with our community.  We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Would you like to learn more about building your own?

We want people everywhere to enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes with building the launcher as well as the reward of crafting your own rockets.  If you have a group that would enjoy building and launching rockets please contact us for details about how you can obtain the launcher kit and many more ideas for rocket creation.

Wonder what a typical experience looks like?

A bit about us

MTS Ventures is a full service product design firm specializing in product engineering, prototyping, and industrial design built on a foundation of manufacturing expertise.

Our in-house design team can be engaged to turn ideas into reality, refine existing products, or take completed designs straight to manufacture.  We understand the entire manufacturing process and have the project management expertise to ensure that products are delivered with both cost and quality goals in mind and in a timely manner.

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