LAKEVILLE, Michigan USA — Some teenagers like to drive fast cars or motorcycles. However, at one local high school, they're operating vehicles that do 350 miles an hour and can travel 3,500 feet in the air.

The Lakeville High School Rocket Club is making last minute preparations for a big competition this weekend.

VIDEO: The Lakeville Rocket Team will take part in the Michigan Aerospace Competition.

"For the electronic altimeter we need another inch and a quarter. I'd say there's lots of room," said one student, who was checking a rocket.

Two teams, 11 members in all, are heading for Muskegon for the Michigan Aerospace Challenge. 

They're carefully packing the parachutes and shaping the cushioning for the payload. They'll take on 20 other teams from around the state, and will be judged on their math and their oral presentations, but the big payoff comes at liftoff.

Jason Pozsgay, from the Sky High team, says it's fun, but he does get a bit nervous before competition. "I like to build the rocket. It's fun to see it launch."

"We get very nervous. We launch them over an inlet of Lake Michigan called Lake Muskegon. The Coast Guard goes out and retrieves our rockets for us," said Macy Payne, from the Mariner Six team.

On a typical rocket, the fins are made of fiberglass. The body is made of cardboard. The nose cone is made of plastic. It weighs about seven pounds and can go 350 miles an hour.

"They have to get clearance from the FAA to launch these," Payne said.

They burn the same type of fuel used on space shuttle boosters. As you might guess, these kids are pretty smart. Several of them are considering careers in engineering.

"We can take what we learn in our high school science classes and apply it here. Anything that you can apply is worth learning," noted Payne.

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