Rockets For Schools
[Print Version]
SECONDARY LAUNCH EVENT - Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Rockets For Schools?2. Where is Spaceport Sheboygan?
3. Who can participate in Rockets For Schools?
4. When are the 2011 launches scheduled?
5. What does the Secondary Education Program consist of?
6. What is the Rocket for Schools competition?
7. Is there more information regarding the grading criteria?
8. What does the rocket launch and support activities consist of?
9. What aerospace education activities are planned for the Secondary Students?
10. What is the difference between the Class-1 and the Class-2 rockets?
11. The high-power rockets are very large. How safe is this activity?
12. What is the cost of the Secondary Launch Program?
13. Where can I get more information?
14. Can someone meet with my group to further explain your program?
Our objectives are:
- To stimulate knowledge about the benefits of aerospace.
- To increase public awareness of aerospace technologies and the importance of this technology for our environment and economic future.
- Promote aerospace education as an interdisciplinary framework for teaching math, science, and technology.
- Inform and motivate students, educators and the public.
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- Rockets For Schools Competition
- Rocket Launches and Support Activities
- Aerospace Educational Activities
The launch teams are to complete the following tasks before arriving at Spaceport Sheboygan for the launch:
- Build and finish their rocket Class-1 or Class-2 kit
- Design and build a payload to be launched in their rocket
- Design a mission patch and informational display about their payload
- Complete the worksheet
- Have all the forms completed and returned to us by April 11th, 2011
| 1 | Rocket Construction | 150 point |
| 2 | Rocketry Worksheet | 100 points |
| 3 | Payload Design | 50 points |
| 4 | Presentation | 85 points |
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Student teams will be graded on their skill and attention to detail while building and finishing their rocket.
Each advisor is asked to go to our website at www.rockets4schools.org and click on Education. Under Required Reading click on "Rocketry Basics" and download the required reading information. You will also need to either fill in online the Secondary Launch Worksheet and print it out our just print out the form and indicate your answers. If you are unable to download this information please contact us and we will send it to you.
After reviewing the "Rocketry Basics" study guide and viewing the "Rocket Motor Tutorial" the team members must complete the Rocketry Worksheet. Only one worksheet per team.
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Students must design, build and fly a payload on their rocket. The students are encouraged to be creative in designing a payload to explore the unique environment of sounds, sights, acceleration and pressures experienced during a launch.
There are two restrictions placed on your payload:
- Payloads must be less than 1.5 pounds in weight
- No live animals are allowed in your payload
Your team must develop a "science fair" type display. The display should contain a "Mission Patch" designed by the team members. Also, your display should contain information on your payload experiment. A 40" x 30" space on a display table will be set aside for your display. Your display will be available for public viewing during the entire weekend. Each team will be required to give a 5 to 10 minute presentation on Friday. Presentations will be given at your display.
This presentation must include:
- Introduction of team members
- Discussion of your mission patch
- Discussion of your payload
- What your team learned
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- Mission Control
- Rocket Tracking
- Recovery
- Balloon Launching
- Video Production
- A multi-media bus from NASA showing the work preformed at the Glenn Research Center in Ohio
- A micro-gravity drop tower to demonstrate the effects of weightlessness
- Advanced High-power rockets from Tripoli Rockery Association, Inc.
- Pictures of Earth taken from the Space Shuttle
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10. What is the difference between the Class-1 and the Class-2 rockets?
Launch teams that have previously flown a Class-1 rocket can choose to build the Class-2 rocket. Our Class-2 rocket is 5.5 inches in diameter and will reach an altitude of 5000 feet.
All rockets are inspected by members of the Tripoli Rocketry Association to ensure they can be flown safely. Any problems found with the rocket's construction are corrected before the rockets are taken to the launch pad.
Launch operations follow Tripoli's safety guidelines and are conducted by Tripoli personnel. The marine and air space is controlled by the Coast Guard and Civil Air Patrol respectively to ensure the launch can proceed safely.
All rocket launches are directed over Lake Michigan. If there is a rocket failure, they will splash down safely in the water.
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| Class-1 rocket | $450.00 ($270.00 Team Entry Fee & $180.00 Rocket/Motor Cost) |
| Class-2 rocket | $580.00 ($270.00 Team Entry Fee & $310.00 Rocket/Motor Cost) |
Please note that the launch team program fee includes the cost of the rocket kit. The rocket kit includes illustrated, step by step instructions and all parts necessary for construction (except epoxy, paint and payload). Motors are furnished on launch day.
Email - Carol Lutz at carol@rockets4schools.org or Daniel Bateman at dbateman@rockets4schools.org
Phone - (920) 458-6299
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