Schools
Shelby Rocket Club blasts off to national tournament
Finalists are competing for more than $60,000 in scholarships and prizes and a chance to attend the Paris International Air Show
For the third time in six years, Utica Community Schools students have rocketed themselves to a national championship.
The Shelby Junior High School rocket club will join 100 school groups from across the nation for the Team America Rocketry Challenge May 9 in The Plains, Virginia outside of Washington D.C.
UCS students participating in the project include Dana Apfel of Utica High School and Mark Snay and Jacob Jensen of Shelby Junior High School. The club’s adviser is Shelby JHS teacher Andy Davis and club mentor is Art Kakhler.
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To qualify, students have to launch a rocket that meets a specified flight time (between 46 and 48 seconds) and travels to a height of 800 feet. In addition, an egg placed inside in the rocket must not crack during the ride.
Students are required to use competition specifications to design, build and test the rocket and its parachute.
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The top 42 teams at the national tournament will advance to a second round with new height and time restrictions, requiring their rockets to travel to 775 feet and back within 45 to 47 seconds.
Finalists are competing for scholarships and prizes totaling more than $60,000 and the chance to travel to the Paris International Air Show in June.
The winning team will represent the United States in the International Rocketry Challenge, facing off against teams from the United Kingdom and France.
