MACON, Georgia USA — With the deadline for entries looming for the Team America Rocketry Challenge, there was at least one group of young people who weren't concerned about their application arriving before the cutoff, which was Nov. 30.

Members of Boy Scout Troop 566 in Warner Robins registered their team weeks ago, as soon as registration opened. They were the first team in the country to sign up, in fact.

The team from Troop 566 has been working since the summer on their rocket.

After all, they have only one shot.

For the last several years, the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry, in partnership with NASA, the Department of Defense and member companies of the AIA, have sponsored the Team America Rocketry Challenge.

It is the world's largest model rocket contest and is open to students in grades 7-12. Each team must include at least 3 young people and represent a single school or nonprofit youth organization. The rocket must be designed, built and flown by the team members.

Each year the goals for the rocket launch change. For the 2007 competition, the rocket must travel 850 in the air, stay up for a duration of 45 seconds and carry a payload of a raw egg, which must land unharmed.

Last year, the first place team at the national finals in May took a share of $60,000 in prize money and received a trip to the Farnborough International Airshow near London.

At their last meeting, the five-member team from Troop 566 planned their work for December. The schedule is pretty tight: Finish the actual building of the rocket by Dec. 10, so that they can spend the next weekend performing test flights.

At this point, their biggest concern seems to be the payload Ð the raw egg that must remain undamaged when the rocket lands after reaching an altitude of 850 feet.

For these guys, there is not a lot of guesswork involved. Eggs have been weighed and measured down to the last gram, along with the area where the egg will rest inside the rocket.

"Their rocket will be falling a little faster than it did last year, so the egg needs to have a little more cushion," explained Adam Hartman, payload specialist for the team.

"We have been getting data, making measurements," Adam said. "We have been working on this part the hardest right now."

The paint - another factor that the boys will consider before launching - hasn't been chosen yet.

One member suggested a multiple color scheme, which the boys thought would be really cool looking - until they calculated the additional weight from the extra paint.

In space flight, every little milligram really does matter.

The boys have compiled all kinds of data on flying their rocket, from how different motors work at different altitudes to the effect of wind strength and humidity on the flight, and taken these factors into account while building their rocket.

The team, which finished 55th last year in the national finals, has decided to change their engine to a reloadable one that will require cleaning after each flight versus a single-shot engine.

While it is amazing that these boys are building a rocket, trying to earn their spot in the finals to compete for the top honors, what is even more amazing is that these teenagers are spending their free time studying physics and engineering concepts to learn how to build and fly a rocket.

But don't worry - since these are teenage boys, the warning of all work and no play isn't part of their calculations. While planning their schedule for December, the rocketry team members also planned their Christmas party, right down to the pepperoni on the pizzas.

Even though their rocket has yet to lift off, the team has already planned a fund-raiser to raise money to travel to the finals.

After all, they were the first to register. So coming in first at the finals is the logical next step in their teenage minds.

Sound cocky? Maybe. But that superpositive attitude is standard for individuals who seek to meet and exceed challenges - people like test pilots, astronauts, engineers who design space shuttles and teenage rocket builders.

"Our team has been working really hard," explained program manager Jacob Johnson, an eighth grader at Feagin Mill Middle School "I know we are going to make the finals so we need to start asking for sponsors."

To raise money for their rocket and the expenses associated with the competition, the scouts are looking for supporters. If you or your business is interested, contact Charlie Singleton, 923-7623.

You may be a part of helping these young people reach the stars.

Copyright © 2006 — Macon Telegraph