Shuttle launch system for model rocket

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides a shuttle launch system for a model rocket which includes a model rocket engine having a propellant charge for propelling the model rocket in a first direction and an ejection charge for ejecting matter in a second direction generally opposite the first direction.
The system includes a booster rocket having a longitudinally extended tube with a peripheral side wall, an inner chamber and top and bottom ends and an engine receiving chamber adjacent the bottom end of the tube.
A shuttle glider support structure is mounted on the booster rocket, the support structure operative to releasably support a shuttle glider thereon.
A fluid passage extends between the inner chamber of the booster rocket and the shuttle glider support structure such that a portion of gas compressed by the ejection charge of the model rocket is redirected from the inner chamber through the fluid passage and out of the shuttle glider support structure.
The shuttle launch system further includes a shuttle glider having a fuselage and at least one wing.
The shuttle glider is removably mounted on the shuttle glider support structure on the booster rocket.
The shuttle glider is then separated from the booster rocket upon ejection of matter from the ejection charge of the model rocket engine held within the engine receiving chamber, the ejected matter compressing fluid within the inner chamber, a portion of compressed fluid being redirected from the inner chamber through the fluid passage and outward from the shuttle glider support structure thereby propelling the shuttle glider outward from the booster rocket.
The present invention also provides a method of launching a shuttle glider from a model rocket which includes providing the booster rocket, model rocket engine, shuttle glider support structure, fluid passage and shuttle glider described above and removably mounting the shuttle glider on the shuttle glider support structure.
The propellant of the model rocket engine is ignited thus launching the booster rocket and shuttle glider into the atmosphere