American student rocketeers compete to represent US at Farnborough finals
Courtesy
Aerospace Industries Association (AIA)
Above: The Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) is the world’s largest student rocket contest and a key piece of the US aerospace and defense industry’s strategy to build a stronger US workforce in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR), TARC was created in the autumn of 2002 as a one-time celebration of the Centennial of Flight but by popular demand became an annual programme.
The Team America Rocketry Challenge is the US aerospace and defense industry’s flagship programme designed to encourage students to pursue study and careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The competition challenges middle and high school students to design, build, and fly a rocket that meets rigorous altitude and flight duration parameters through a series of certified, qualifying launches. This year’s rules require a rocket carrying two raw eggs to reach 800 feet before returning the eggs to Earth – uncracked – all within 41 to 43 seconds.
Sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the National Association of Rocketry and more than 20 industry partners, the Rocketry Challenge is the world’s largest rocket contest. This year, 800 teams representing 46 states and the District of Columbia designed and built model rockets in hopes of qualifying for the National Finals.
The 100 national finalists announced in April 2018 that will be competing this Saturday (12th May), hail from 28 states and the District of Columbia and will compete for more than $100,000 in prizes and scholarships. They will also be competing for the opportunity to represent the United States at the International Rocketry Challenge taking place at the Farnborough Air Show.
The Rocketry Challenge promotes friendly competition among teams from a diverse set of socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities and geographies – from rural America to major cities. This year, about one third of the students participating are female, including 13 all-girl teams. Numerous teams launched fundraising campaigns in their communities to make their participation this year possible.
AIA President and CEO Eric Fanning congratulated the finalists: “What excites me about this incredible competition is how every year it inspires thousands of young women and men to consider careers in STEM fields and aerospace. Qualifying for the National Finals and ultimately representing the United States at the international competition involves teamwork, critical thinking, and problem solving skills. I’m confident that these students will become the engineers and scientists that enable humans to land on Mars and beyond, and we look forward to hosting them in D.C. next month (May).”
Now in its 16th year, the Rocketry Challenge has inspired nearly 70,000 US middle and high school students to explore education and careers in STEM fields.
UKRoC
ADS organise the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKRoC), running the event annually since 2006. The epic challenge is aimed at students aged 11 – 18 from any UK secondary schools, colleges, educational facilities or youth groups, to design, build and launch a model rocket with a fragile payload.
UKRoC is a great way to engage the next generation of engineers with practical experience of building and executing complex missions. This is an exciting way to learn more about maths and science, with the UK winners getting the chance to compete against teams from the US, France and Japan at the International Finals.
The International Rocketry Challenge Final will take place on Futures Day, 20 July 2018 at the Farnborough International Airshow.
For more information about the Team America Rocketry Challenge and to view the complete list of finalist teams
: www.rocketcontest.org
For information on the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKRoC):
www.adsgroup.org.uk/fia2018/rocketry-challenge
