MACON, Georgia USA — Today, we are going to ponder the answer to the age old question: Which came first, the eagle or the egg? In the case of Boy Scout Troop 566, it just might be a tie.

Three Scouts from the local troop - Adam Hartman, Michael Graul and Jacob Johnson - have all attained the rank of Eagle, the highest rank in Scouting, in the past year. They reached this height while also participating in the troop's rocket team, building a rocket to travel to an altitude of 850 feet while carrying a raw egg safely inside.

To attain the rank of Eagle, a Scout must earn at least 21 merit badges, work his way up the ranks of scouting and complete an Eagle service project.

For the Team America Rocketry Challenge, a national model rocket contest in which the troop is participating, the five-man team from Troop 566 competed against 690 other teams from around the country by designing, building and testing their rocket.

The Troop 566 team was notified last week that their rocket's qualification flight scored in the top 100 and they have been invited to the final fly-off in May.

Earning Eagle, building a rocket - they both sound like plenty of work. Combine that with school, band and other activities and you've got a pretty busy life.

So why do it?

Michael Graul earned his Eagle rank in March. It was from Michael's interest in rockets that Troop 566 formed the team last year. Michael, a 15-year-old freshman at Houston County High, plans on studying aerospace engineering.

"I just love to see things fly," he explained. "It has been a lot of work, both the Eagle and the rockets, but in a way they are related. Both have the element of velocity."

At the national finals in May, where the top 100 teams will compete, the top prizes include a trip to the International Air Show in Paris and $60,000.

Michael's comments are echoed by Jacob Johnson, an eighth grader at Warner Robins Middle School, who says he never doubted that he would get his Eagle this year or that the rocket team would make the finals.

Jacob, who completed his Eagle rank in March, said that for the Scout team, being Scouts was a challenge that turned into an advantage.

"Most of the teams that compete are school teams, meaning that they go to the same school. The five of us go to different schools, so we have to work around our schedules. But that has been a positive thing because it has taught us a lot about precision and discipline - things you have to know about to launch a rocket."

Adam Hartman, who earned his Eagle in November 2006, explained that the challenges are linked in being able to work with others and lead others.

Adam, a 9th grader at Mount de Sales Academy, plans on attending the Air Force Academy and study aerospace engineering.

"The rocket team especially is an example of team work. Everybody has to work at it to get to that 850 feet. Everybody has to speak up when they have an idea and everybody else has to listen."

The finals for the Team America Rocketry Challenge will be May 19 outside Washington, D.C. Only two teams in Georgia made the finals this year.