NEW IBERIA, Louisianna USA — Members of the Catholic High rocketry research team recently returned to New Iberia from the Large Dangerous Rocket Ships 25 camp in Amarillo, Texas.

The team, led by CHS physics teacher John Sorrel, flew its rocket, the Sorrelium 5, approximately 9,000 feet above sea level, earning an invitation to the LDRS 26 competition next summer in Las Vegas.

The rocket used in the competition was a customized kit rocket weighing eight pounds, which also had a hybrid rocket motor that uses liquid fuel. “Four weeks ago, more than 15 students from CHS decided to step on board a “dream train” without knowing with certainty they could actually accomplish their dream of building and flying a collegiate level rocket at LDRS 25.

These young men and women sacrificed not only hundreds of hours of labor but hundreds of dollars from their own personal pockets to achieve the dream of being one of only a few high school teams in America capable of flying complex high power rockets,” said Sorrel.

Many members of the team also hope to compete in the national Team America Rocketry Challenge competition in May 2007, which is the largest competition in the United States for high school students. If the team is successful at TARC, it could win thousands of dollars and bragging rights for the year.

“The launch was really successful in Amarillo, and I had a lot of fun. It was a memorable experience I will always remember. Next school year, I will be taking a senior physics class and one of the requirements that is required to pass the class is to build a rocket and document the process,” said Kacie Gray, a senior at Catholic High and vice president of the CHS rocket research team.

“This summer was a good experience for the class for next school year.”

President of the CHS rocket team, Benjamin Garcia ,said he also had a great time at camp.

“We saw some amazing rockets, and we also had a chance to meet some professional rocketeers while in Texas. This summer was a great experience for me, and I enjoyed it a whole lot,” said Garcia.