ROCKETRY CHALLENGE TEAM MEETING
WHO ARE WE?
We
are a bunch of guys who are interested in, or think they might be interested
in, building and launching model rockets in competition.
DO YOU NEED
PRIOR EXPERIENCE IN ROCKETRY?
No. You just need a willingness to learn the
basics by getting familiar with the RockSim computer
program and reading the Handbook of Model Rocketry.
WHAT HAVE OUR
GOALS BEEN IN THE PAST?
We have competed
in the Team America Rocketry Challenge
since its inception during the 2002-03 school
year by designing, building, and launching one or two-stage rockets, carrying one
or two eggs, to target altitudes and/or times in the air.
HAVE WE BEEN
SUCCESSFUL?
We have qualified several
times for the National Finals, held in
WHAT IS OUR
GOAL THIS YEAR?
To compete in the
2005-06 event and win the National Championship. This year, the competition will involve
launching a rocket to exactly 850 ft and with a target time in the air of 45
sec. Specific rules will be announced in
early September on www.rocketcontest.org. The top 100 teams in the country are invited
to the finals in May.
HOW WILL WE
APPROACH OUR GOAL?
a. learn how to
design a rocket using RockSim
b. know what is in
the Handbook of Model Rocketry and other important sources
c. contribute
ideas to the team on how to solve the problem at hand
d. help the team
build the final product
e. participate in
trial and qualifying test launches held at NASA.
HOW OFTEN DO WE
MEET?
It depends. We meet as needed during September to
November to design the rocket and run simulations. From December to January we build and test
the rocket. In February we finalize the
rocket and conduct our qualifying flights.
Figure on spending at least 75 hours over the next 6 months. You will be required to participate in 70% of
the meetings in order to qualify for prizes awarded to the finalists.
WHO WILL GUIDE
YOU THROUGH ALL OF THIS?
a. Dr. Marintsch and Mr.
b. The Team Captain will coordinate the efforts
of the remaining members of the team.