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Thousand Oaks High School students enter rocket contest
TOHS kids hope to compete next spring in a model rocket contest outside Washington, D.C.
Students from Thousand Oaks High School have registered to participate in the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC), the world’s largest model rocket contest. About 10,000 middle and high school students participated in last year’s contest, which was sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry. The Defense Department and NASA are both government partners in this year’s competition which marks the fourth year of the Team America Rocketry Challenge. David Gates, team manager, said he was excited about the opportunity to participate in the contest and hopes his team will qualify to be among the top 100 teams that will travel to the national finals event in The Plains, Va., just outside of Washington, D.C., on May 20. Student teams, which can be from schools or nonprofit educational groups, must design, build and fly the rockets themselves. Rules for the 2006 TARC require the team to launch the rocket to 800 feet in the air and keep it aloft for 45 seconds. The rockets will carry a raw-egg payload that must return unbroken. This is the first year of the contest that time and altitude are factors to the team’s success. Team supervisor Joseph Carolan, Thousand Oaks High School chemistry teacher, said the contest is an excellent opportunity for students to learn hands-on lessons in aerodynamics. Participants apply concepts like computing trajectory and eliminating drag to their models and see the results immediately, Carolan said. “There’s a deep satisfaction in knowing things you have learned are helping launch something into the sky. This brings these concepts home to the real world for the students.’’ The contest promotes teamwork, delegation of tasks and group decisions. Winners will share $60,000 in cash and savings bonds. Successful teams may also go on to take part in NASA advanced rocketry programs. Teams have until April 9 to qualify for the final round of competition scheduled for May 20 at Great Meadows in The Plains, Va. The undertaking has costs associated with it, and the TOHS team is looking for sponsors to help defray the cost of supplies, practice launches, and, if chosen for the finals, hotel and travel costs to Washington, D.C. For more information, please send an e-mail Carolan at jcarolan@conejo.k12.ca.us. |
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