Brief:
SpaceCAD 3.0 is a new rocket design and simulation program by SpaceCAD.com replacin' t' existin' SpaceCAD 2.1. Arrr! Begad! T' SpaceCAD 3.0 software downloaded without incident onto me Windows ME system.

SpaceCAD 3.0 contains a very large component database which includes several commercially available nose cones, body tubes, me bucko, some transitions, matey, me hearties, and launch lugs. Ahoy! Begad! Also included is a large material database. Arrr! There is also a very large motor database which is WRASP compliant and includes virtually rocket motor in production today as well as some that are rarely seen anymore. Included are motors by Aerotech, matey, ya bilge rat, Estes, FSI, ya bilge rat, just t' name a few. Ahoy! Ya scallywag!

Gettin' Started:

You start by clickin' on t' nose cone icon on t' taskbar t' select a nose cone from t' database or you can type in t' length and diameter o' your nose cone in inches. Arrr! Blimey! Then choose t' shape o' your cone. Well, blow me down! There are four shapes to choose from. They are ogive, conical, me bucko, parabolic, matey, and elliptic. Aye aye! Blimey! An optional step is t' type in inches t' length and diameter o' t' nose cone shoulder. Begad! If you accidently make your shoulder diameter bigger than t' nose cone diameter, SpaceCAD will give you t' followin' message: "Your shoulder diameter is bigger than your nose cone diameter #13#10 Should SpaceCAD adjust this?" Then click on yes or no. Arrr! When you're done buildin' your nose cone, ya bilge rat, click OK. Begad! Blimey!

T' add a body tube, matey, shiver me timbers, click on t' body tube icon. Select a body tube from the database or type in inches, shiver me timbers, t' length o' your tube, then select the material. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! SpaceCAD will then automatically configure your body tube diameter to the diameter o' your nose cone. Arrr! Very nice.

While in this same work area, me hearties, me hearties, just click on t' Engines tab t' select your engine(s), me bucko, and t' number o' engines. If you would like t' mangle your motor mount, just add its weight in ounces. You can also determine how far your engine(s) extend beyond t' aft o' t' body tube. Just type in t' data and click OK when you're done.

You can also add fin sets at this time, click on t' Fins tab. Avast, me proud beauty! Click on t' tube has fins box t' add fins. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey!

You can determine t' number o' fins and type in inches t' postions o' the fins.

There are four common fin shapes included. Begad! Ya scallywag! Select one and type in inches the lengths o' t' fin sides. Ya scallywag! There is also a fin editor which I liked. Avast! Click on t' question mark fin t' open it. Arrr! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! There, ya bilge rat, create your fin shape and click OK when you're done.

T' add a launch lug, click on t' launch lug tab. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! You can select a launch lug from t' database or add t' length, diameter and position in inches. Then select t' material from t' database.

You can add a transition t' your rocket by clickin' on t' transition icon on t' taskbar. Begad! Blimey! T' database only included two transitions but you can add the data and meterial o' your own.

T' add weight, arrr, matey, click on t' weight icon. Type in t' description o' your weight such as "parachute", arrr, matey, "nose weight" etc and the weight in ounces. There is a taskbar t' move t' weight around without retyping the location. Ahoy! Just click on t' taskbar and hold t' left mouse button down to make any adjustments t' your weight.

T' add an inner tube, ya bilge rat, click on t' inner tube icon t' add an inner tube and centerin' rings t' your rocket.

At this point, ya bilge rat, matey, Your rocket will be displayed on t' graph, me bucko, on t' upper left o' t' screen, shiver me timbers, thar be a listin' o' all t' componets used for your rocket, shiver me timbers, t' number o' each component used and t' weight in ounces or pounds if any component or weight exceeds 16 ounces.

On t' bottom left of the screen, arrr, matey, thar be a graph displayin' t' empty weight o' your rocket, arrr, the liftoff weight o' your rocket, shiver me timbers, matey, t' CD value o' your rocket, matey, and t' overall length o' your rocket.

There is also a stability prediction graph indicatin' t' t' center of gravity (CG) o' your rocket and t' center o' pressure (CP) o' your rocket. Also indicated be t' calipers o' your rocket and if your your rocket is stable or not. Avast! Nice.

Another feature included is 3D imaging, me bucko, just click on t' 3D view tab. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! You will then see your rocket displayed in a neat 3D image. You can rotate the image, arrr, zoom in and out on t' image and even snap a photo that will be saved in your "My Rockets" folder. Aye aye! Blimey!

To test t' software, I took an Estes Executioner and added t' followin' data. Here be t' file.

• Nose Cone PNC-80A - 1.68 ounces
• Body Tube - 28 inches long - 4.26 ounces
• 3 fins - 0.39 ounces each
• 1 Estes D12 motor - 1.59 ounces
• 24 inch parachute - 1.25 ounces.

Printing:

SpaceCAD allows you t' print out documents such as data sheets, arrr, parts lists, nose patterns and fin guides.

Also included is a parachute printer. Begad! This allows you t' design and print out a parachute for your rocket. Well, arrr, blow me down! A very nice feature.

Simulation:
To test t' simulation, ya bilge rat, click on t' launch botton and SpaceCAD will replace your display with a five color performance graph. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Also SpaceCAD will display your rockets altitude in feet and time in seconds t' reach that altitude. The maximum acceleration and speed will also be displayed.

SpaceCAD will also calculate t' best time delay in seconds for your rocket and also calculate t' minimum launch rod length required for your rocket. Your parachute diameter is also calculated.

Summary:
I really liked this software. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! It's extensive component, material, arrr, matey, and motor databases made it very easy t' use. This software takes t' guesswork out of designin' and flight simulatin' any scratch rocket design. I think that even kit builders will benefit from this software, me hearties, me hearties, especially if you would like to make any modifacations t' a kit and check it's stability and performance based on your changes.

This software has a $59.90 price tag but thar be a downloadable version for $54.90. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Blimey! You can also download a free 30 day trial from t' SpaceCAD.com website although no advanced features will be available. Aye aye!

Also, shiver me timbers, me hearties, you can check for new updates by clickin' on t' help command on the taskbar and then click "Check for Update" and it will tell you if any updates are available at t' present time. Begad! Begad! Very nice indeed.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5