The "Carbon Edge 54" rocket

The "Carbon Edge 54" rocket is a "minimum diameter" rocket whose airframe is entirely made of carbon fiber. This material is even stronger than fiberglass, and it is also lighter! The fins are fiberglass, and the nose cone is plastic.

"Minimum diameter" rockets are ideal for altitude attempts. The motor exactly fits inside the airframe tube. Since the rocket's diameter is the smallest possible, aerodynamic drag is minimized.

Here is the Carbon Edge 54 being launched out of a launch tower. More conventional launch rods are not used in this case, since the "launch lug" (which mates a rocket to the launch rod) would increase drag quite a bit. Also, a tall tower helps to launch the rocket straighter.

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