Fri, Jan 30, 2009
Competition To Held May 16
Student rocket teams are preparing their launch vehicles for
qualification flights in the opening round of the world's largest
rocket contest. A total of 653 teams from 45 states and the
District of Columbia have registered for the 2009 Team America
Rocketry Challenge, the seventh installment of the annual
competition.
The contest challenges 3- to 10-member teams to design and build
model rockets by hand, then successfully launch them and return a
raw-egg payload to the ground unbroken. This year's contest goals
are an altitude of 750 feet and a flight time of 45 seconds. The
rockets must transport one egg laid horizontally to mimic the
position of an astronaut.
The 100 teams with the best qualifying scores make it to the
final round fly-off at Great Meadow in The Plains, VA -- near
Washington, DC -- on May 16. The teams registered for the contest
in December and have until April 6 to submit a qualifying
score.
The Aerospace Industries Association sponsors the annual
contest, along with the National Association of Rocketry and
several partners: NASA, the Defense Department, the American
Association of Physics Teachers and three dozen AIA member
companies.
The goal is to increase interest in science, math and
engineering education among middle and high school students to
ultimately steer them to careers in aerospace. The industry faces a
workforce challenge as many current employees are nearing
retirement eligibility.
There is plenty at stake for the teams - the total purse is
$60,000 in scholarships and prizes. Two AIA companies provide
additional prize premiums. Lockheed Martin gives $5,000 in
scholarship funds to each of the top three teams, and Raytheon pays
for the winning team to attend the International Paris Air Show in
June. Some of the top teams may also be invited to take part in the
NASA Student Launch Initiative, an advanced rocketry program.
Since the first TARC in 2003, about 50,000 students have taken
part.
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