Rocket competition stirs kids' enthusiasm

Valley Press on ^ | Saturday, May 16, 2009. | ALLISON GATLIN

[BenLurkin]

MOJAVE - The ear-splitting chorus of enthusiasm from more than 700 elementary school students echoed Friday across the Mojave Air and Space Port, punctuated periodically by the "whoosh" of a model rocket launch as participants cheered their entries in the Intermediate Space Challenge. The annual challenge pits teams of fourth- through sixth-grade classes in a competition to build a model rocket that reaches the highest point during launches conducted in the culminating event at the airport.

Teams also are judged on their essays written on futuristic space-based businesses, banners and marketing strategy and team spirit.

Joshua Middle School in Mojave and Hacienda Elementary School in California City were represented, with 22 teams between them engaged in the friendly competition.

High school students from Mojave and California City mentor the teams, demonstrating principles of flight using paper airplanes and helping them construct the rockets.

The East Kern Airport District staff at the airport play host to the event, launching and retrieving the rockets and covering the varied logistics of some 800 visitors.

Members of Shawnee Moore's fifth-sixth combination class at Hacienda Elementary were focused heavily on the spirit award during Friday's festivities.

"That's the main prize," said student Emily Williams.

The "Kamikaze Watermelons," as they dubbed their team, were decked in shades of bright green with hot-pink accents, matching the watermelon paint job on their rocket and the watermelon slices adorning their banner.

They were equally proud of their team slogan, "We can't be beaten, but we may be eaten," Quinn Chalmers said.

"I like how all the schools get together for a great competition and everyone has a lot of fun," said classmate Shelby Alius, whose clothing was accented with paper watermelon slices.

[BenLurkin]

"WHAT GOES UP ... - Sixth-graders from Hacienda Elementary School in California City watch their team rocket descend from the sky Friday after it was launched in competition at the Mojave Air and Space Port." EVELYN KRISTO/Valley Press

[Kirkwood]

Model rocketry took a big hit after 9/11.

[Viking2002]

LOL I can remember the rocket derby from scout camp. It was a blast (pun semi-intended) just to see if half the entries would stay vertical, and come back intact. I lit off an Estes Mosquito that I'd shoved a D6-5 into. A bit too much thrust, in retrospect - it got about six feet off the pad, lost a stabilizer, hooked a 90 like it was an SR-71 Blackbird at cruise altitude, and shot a quarter mile out the main gate with everyone in it's way ducking for cover. Reminded me of an anti-tank missile that was late for work. LMAO

[Kirkwood]

Most impressive model rocket ever?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj4lj6YSwzg

[Viking2002]

OK, I am officially impressed - that was sweet. We launched one of those, too. (A smaller) Estes, natch. The second stage ignited prematurely, and the whole shebang came apart as soon as it cleared the pad and flew through the grass in several different directions. LOL You'd never think a model rocket derby could turn into such a duck-n-jump contest. LOL

[martin_fierro]

This Estes "Scrambler" could tote an egg into the heavens

I built & flew one of these scissor-wings once. Worked great!!

[BobS]

Those kids are supposed to drill a hole on the end of a rocket engine and glue a cherry bomb there. Then launch it from a pipe.