Kerf vs OpenRocket

OpenRocket simulates the flight — Kerf designs the airframe and electronics that make it fly.

17/17in Kerf today

9/17in OpenRocket (included)

0behind a paid tier

2026-05-24last reviewed

Grouped by discipline (D1–D14), same as Kerf's own capability list. Click a section to expand it.

D1 Geometry & core CAD 0 of 2 matched

Capability	Kerf	OpenRocket
Airframe 3D B-rep CAD (nose cone, body tube, fins)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/brep`	no source ↗
Assembly BOM (airframe + avionics)	yes `src/components/BOMPanel.jsx`	no source ↗

D5 Aero / marine / space 9 of 11 matched

Capability	Kerf	OpenRocket
6-DOF flight dynamics + stability derivs	yes `packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/flight_dynamics/sixdof.py`	yes source ↗
Barrowman aerodynamics / CP-CG stability margin	yes `packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/vlm_viscous.py`	yes source ↗
Standard atmosphere (USSA76)	yes `packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/flight_dynamics/atmosphere.py`	yes source ↗
Drag estimation (form + base + friction + wave)	yes `packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/vlm_viscous.py`	yes source ↗
Fin flutter analysis	yes `packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/fin_flutter.py`	yes source ↗
Motor database integration (Thrustcurve / RASP .eng)	yes `packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/propulsion/motor_database.py`	yes source ↗
Monte-Carlo dispersion / landing scatter	yes `packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/monte_carlo.py`	yes source ↗
Recovery event simulation (parachute / streamer deployment)	yes `packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/recovery.py`	yes source ↗
Propulsion (Tsiolkovsky / staging / specific impulse)	yes `packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/propulsion`	partial source ↗
Trajectory export (CSV / KML)	yes `packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/flight_dynamics`	yes source ↗
Orbital mechanics (Kepler, J2/J3, Hohmann)	yes `packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/orbital`	no source ↗

D6 Electronics / EDA / silicon 0 of 2 matched

Capability	Kerf	OpenRocket
Avionics PCB design (altimeter, GPS, deployment)	yes `src/components/PCBView.jsx`	no source ↗
SPICE / pre-compliance sim (ignition driver, RF, power)	yes `packages/kerf-silicon/src/kerf_silicon/bridges/ngspice_bridge.py`	no source ↗

D10 Electrical / energy / PLC 0 of 1 matched

Capability	Kerf	OpenRocket
Recovery / pyro deployment electronics (e-match driver, dual-deploy)	yes `src/components/SchematicView.jsx`	no source ↗

D14 Cost / materials / LCA 0 of 1 matched

Capability	Kerf	OpenRocket
Should-cost estimation (airframe materials + machining)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/costing/tolerance_cost.py`	no source ↗

yes shipped
partial works with limits
paid tier present, but behind an add-on or meter
no not available

Corrections welcome. These rows are read off published documentation on the date shown and go stale as products ship. If a row is wrong, open an issue — the source file is public/compare/openrocket.md and every claim in it carries a link.