ARLINGTON, Virginia USA — Middle and high school students around the country are making a push to qualify for the Team America Rocketry Challenge and earn an invitation to the final round of competition in May.

A total of 690 teams from 48 states and the District of Columbia have signed up for the fifth annual TARC, the world's largest rocket contest. The teams must successfully launch their handmade model rockets and earn a qualifying score to make it to the finals, scheduled for May 19 at Great Meadow in The Plains, Va.

This year students are shooting for an altitude of 850 feet and flight duration of 45 seconds while returning the raw-egg payload safely to the ground. Teams must make the successful launch by April 8 and turn in their paperwork by April 9. Finalists will be notified by April 13.

Scholarships and other prizes for the winning teams total more than $60,000.

For the second year in a row the Raytheon Company is adding an incredible extra incentive for the teams -- a trip to an international air show for the winners.

"Rewarding the TARC winners with a trip to the Paris Air Show in June 2007 continues our commitment to promoting math and science education among young people," Raytheon Executive Vice President for Business Development Thomas M. Culligan said. "We hope this will help motivate the winners and all the competitors to stick with science and math, and ultimately pursue a career in aerospace."

AIA and the National Association of Rocketry sponsor the competition with partners NASA, the Defense Department, the American Association of Physics Teachers, and 38 member companies.

The event is part of efforts to spur interest in aerospace careers among young people, which is important because the workforce in both industry and government is aging and a new generation of workers is needed as people leave in the coming years.

For more information visit http://www.rocketcontest.org

Founded in 1919, the Aerospace Industries Association represents the nation's leading manufacturers and suppliers of civil, military, and business aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, space systems, aircraft engines, materiel, and related components, equipment services, and information technology.

Source: Aerospace Industries Association

02-08-2007 03:33 AM  #1
bfo New Member   Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 4	We are running the Same contest in the UK under the banner of UKAYRoC with the winning UK team going to the finals in the US. I was off visiting one of the schools I'm mentoring yesterday. Great to see kids excited about rocketry. Cath Bashford

02-08-2007 06:47 PM  #2
lkal32 NAR 86607 L1   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 137	Im in the TARC competition with two of my friends. This is the first time my school has entered but I think we have a good chance to make it to finals. Im using a more complicated design, but its proven itself to work before. We need to get in more test flights within the next month, but Im excited. I cant wait to see how it turns out.

02-08-2007 07:59 PM  #3
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2146	Quote: Im in the TARC competition with two of my friends. This is the first time my school has entered but I think we have a good chance to make it to finals. Im using a more complicated design, but its proven itself to work before. We need to get in more test flights within the next month, but Im excited. I cant wait to see how it turns out. I applaud you for your effort. When so many others your age are distracted by so many meaningless things, you are proving who you are by competing and designing to win. I hope you do well in the competition.

02-09-2007 12:44 AM  #4
lkal32 NAR 86607 L1   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 137	Thanks ddmobley, I cant say how much of an enjoyment its been so far, but its really special when you can share your fun and excitement with others. Ive had launches with over 40 people come to watch, and you wouldnt believe the support people are willing to offer. Its actually weird when a high school rocket team gets more attention than the football team. Its a challenge I love taking and I could only wish that more people could realize what the competition can do. Ive not only learned so many new things, Ive been able to get people excited about things out of the norm, and being able to share my enthusiasm for rocketry with others is really special in the end.

02-10-2007 09:25 PM  #5
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2146	Passion is a good thing. And passion about something like rocketry can take you far in life. As we enter an even greater technological era than we have been in for the past ten years, the next ten to twenty years promise to be exciting. And you get the play a part in that. Good job!