ABSTRACT
All ordnance, including practice rockets, is inherently dangerous, and unfired rockets possess an ability to launch, requiring additional safety considerations. The origins and developmental history of rocketry has been contested by historians over the last century, but may date back as far as 300 AD. Early rocket designs used black powder as a propellant and main charge. During World War I, American physicist Dr. Robert Goddard had great success using double-base powder for rocket propellent, leading to further developments in propellant formulas. These seemingly small changes allowed fielding of lightweight rockets that could be carried by infantrymen, and the tactical impact was great and immediate. There are two types of rockets, surface-to-surface and air-to-surface. Some designs can be fired from both ground and air platforms, but most are configured for one, making this a “Type” characteristic and helpful for identifying an unknown rocket.
