What is rocket candy?

Rocket candy is basically rocket fuel made from sugar and a binder. An oxidizer, potassium nitrate, or potassium perchlorate is then added to the sugar/binder mixture to liberate the energy from the molten sugar.

Among amateur rocketry hobbyists, this formulation is very popular as the ingredients are easy to obtain and safe enough to work with. A typical rocket candy usually consists of 35 percent sugar and 65 percent oxidizer. Additive, like metal flakes, red iron oxide, carbon black, etc., are sometimes added for sparks or to change the ballistic characteristics of the rocket fuel.