This month my article is about rockets. Sure we all know something about them. But I got to wondering what the history of rockets is. I decided to find some information on them.

The Ancient Chinese were the first to make a rocket. The first time it made its debut in history was 1232 AD when it fought off a Mongol assault on Kai-feng-fu. Not until the 20 century did people start to think about the principles of rockets. This is when people started to think about large rockets. The 13 to the 18 century had some sign of experiments with rockets. For example Joanes de Fontana who had lived in Italy designed a surface-running rocket-powered torpedo. In 1960, Kazimierz Siemienowicz, published a series of drawings of a stage rocket. In 1696, Robert Anderson, published a two-part treatise on how to make rocket molds, prepare the propellants, and perform the calculations.

In Britain Sir William Congreve developed a rocket that could fly over 8,000 feet. During the 19 century rocket enthusiasts and inventors began to appear in most countries. Some people thought these people were geniuses. You can just guess what everyone else thought th about the inventors. As far back as 1821 sailors would use rocket-propelled harpoons to hunt whales. By the end of the 19 century geniuses and not so geniuses had developed a stake in rocketry. Now we use rockets for space exploration and in wars.

Just for fun I decided to add instructions to make your own model rocket including how to launch them.

* Paper, regular 8-1/2- by 11-inch paper, such as computer printer paper or even notebook paper.

* Plastic 35-mm film canister (see hints below)

* Cellophane tape

* Scissors

* Effervescing (fizzing) antacid tablet (the kind used to settle an upset stomach)

* Paper towels

* Water

* Eye protection (like eye glasses, sun glasses, or safety glasses)

Hints: The film canister MUST be one with a cap that fits INSIDE the rim instead of over the outside of the rim. Sometimes photography shops have extras of these and will be happy to donate some for such a worthy cause.

Keep in mind: Just like with real rockets, the less your rocket weighs and the less air resistance (drag) it has, the higher it will go.

You must first decide how to cut your paper.

You may cut it the short way or the long way to make the body of the rocket. There is no one right way to make a paper rocket.

Try a long, skinny rocket or a short, fat rocket. Try a sharp nosecone or a blunt nosecone. Try it with fins or without fins. Experiment! Here's just one idea for how you might cut your whole rocket from one piece of paper:

Here are the basic steps:

1. Cut out all the pieces for your rocket.

2. Wrap and tape a tube of paper around the film canister.

Hint: Tape the canister to the end of the paper before you start wrapping. Important! Place the lid end of the canister down.

3. Tape fins to your rocket body, if you want.

4. Roll the circle (with a wedge cut out) into a cone and tape it to the rocket's top.

1. Put on your eye protection.

2. Turn the rocket upside down and remove the canister's lid.

3. Fill the canister one-third full of water.