Project APEX

by 434 Aerospace

QUICK START GUIDE

Your first simulation in minutes

Everything you need to go from zero to a completed flight simulation — motor loaded, geometry entered, results in hand.

Circle 1 -2
Open the simulator
No install, no account — just open and go

Navigate to the Simulator page and Project APEX loads immediately. The interface has three main areas: the sidebar on the left for inputs, the summary bar across the top for key metrics, and the chart panel on the right for results.

Tip: APEX works best in a wide browser window. If you’re on a laptop, use full-screen mode (F11) for the best experience.
Circle 2 -2
Load the motor
Search ThrustCurve.org or drop a .eng file

You have two options for loading a motor:

Option A — Search ThrustCurve: Click the Motor DB button in the top bar. Search by name, impulse class, or manufacturer. Click any result to preview its thrust curve, then click Load . Over 4,700 motors available.

Option B — Drop a .eng file: If you have a RASP .eng file , drag and drop it onto the motor drop zone in the sidebar. The thrust curve is parsed instantly.

Once a motor is loaded, the motor badge in the header shows the motor name, class, total impulse, and burn time. The thrust curve preview appears in the sidebar.

Circle-3-2.webp
Enter rocket geometry
Airframe, nose cone, fins, mass

Navigate to the Simulator page and Project APEX loads immediately. The interface has three main areas: the sidebar on the left for inputs, the summary bar across the top for key metrics, and the chart panel on the right for results.

ParameterWhat to enter
Airframe diameterOuter diameter of the body tube
Rocket lengthTotal length from nose tip to base
Nosecone shapeOgive (most common), Von Kármán, conical, or parabolic
Nosecone lengthLength of nosecone section only
Fin root chordFin length where it meets the body
Fin tip chordFin length at the tip (0 for triangular fins)
Fin semi-spanDistance from body to fin tip
Launch massTotal mass including motor (with propellant)
CG positionDistance from nose tip to centre of gravity
Tip: Save your geometry as a CSV config once you have it right — use Save Config in the header. Next time, load it with Load Config and skip the re-entry.
Note on CG: Enter the CG position measured from the nose tip, not from the base. This is the standard rocketry convention.
Circle 4 -2
Run simulation
One click — results in under a second

Click the orange Run Simulation button in the header. The RK4 integrator steps through the full flight at 0.05s intervals from launch through apogee and descent. Results appear immediately.

Circle 5 2
Read the results
Summary bar, charts, and stability analysis

The summary bar at the top shows your key metrics at a glance: apogee altitude, peak velocity, peak Mach, peak acceleration (G-load), burnout altitude, coast time, and stability margin. Colour coding indicates whether each value is in the expected range.

The chart tabs give you the full flight profile:

Flight tab — altitude, velocity, Mach number, and acceleration vs time. Peak annotations show exact values and timestamps.

Aerodynamics tab — Cd vs Mach curve, drag component breakdown, Reynolds number, and dynamic pressure.

Stability tab — CP and CG positions tracked through the flight, stability margin in calibers, and fin geometry reference.

Stability rule of thumb: A stability margin of 1–2 calibers is generally recommended for HPR flights. Less than 1 is marginally stable; more than 2 may cause weathercocking in wind.