Where to Download OpenRocket and Find Its Documentation

Updated

OpenRocket's official site, openrocket.info, is the single place to get the simulator and its supporting material. The current download offered there is v24.12, available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and as a JAR file. From the same site you can reach the Documentation, User Guide, Developer Guide, the old Wiki, Technical Docs, and Release Notes, plus community support through Discord and the Rocketry Forum.

Downloading OpenRocket

The site presents v24.12 as the current release, with separate options for each platform:

  • Windows — installer/download for Windows systems
  • macOS — download for Mac
  • Linux — download for Linux
  • JAR — a platform-independent Java archive, listed under "Other operating systems"

If you are unsure which file fits your machine, the JAR option is the cross-platform fallback since it runs wherever a suitable Java environment is available. The site does not state system requirements or installation steps on the page, so check the Documentation or Release Notes after downloading if you hit setup questions.

Documentation and Guides

OpenRocket's site links to several distinct documentation resources, each aimed at a different reader:

Resource Best for
Documentation General reference on using the simulator
User Guide Step-by-step help designing and simulating rockets
Developer Guide Contributing to or extending the codebase
Wiki page (Old) Legacy reference material
Technical Docs Underlying technical details of the simulation
Release Notes What changed in each version, including v24.12

Start with the User Guide if your goal is to build and fly a design; use the Developer Guide and Technical Docs if you want to script extensions or understand the simulation internals.

Community and Support

Two community channels are listed on the site:

  • Discord — join the OpenRocket Discord community for discussion and help
  • Rocketry Forum — a broader rocketry community where OpenRocket topics come up

There is also a Contact page with contact info if you need to reach the project directly.

Getting Involved and Donating

OpenRocket is described as free and open source. The site includes Get Involved! and Donate links for users who want to contribute to development or support the project financially. The page does not specify donation amounts or payment platforms, so follow the links for current details.

What You Get Once Installed

The download is only the entry point. OpenRocket is a model rocket simulator that lets you design and simulate rockets before building and flying them. Its advertised capabilities include:

  • 2D and 3D design views
  • Custom components or commercial parts from a built-in database
  • A solid rocket motor database
  • Six-Degrees-of-Freedom flight simulation with over 50 variables
  • Wind modeling at different altitudes
  • Advanced plotting and export of simulation results
  • Scriptable custom extensions
  • 3D renders and PDF export of design drawings
  • A rocket optimizer that adjusts parameters toward a chosen goal
  • Real-time feedback on center of pressure, center of gravity, maximum altitude, max velocity, and stability
  • Multi-stage, dual-deployment, and clustered-motor configurations

If you want to confirm any of these features before committing, the Documentation and User Guide linked from the site are the fastest way to check how a specific capability works.