A t-shirt gift for the scientifically-inclined youngster of any age.

As a matter of fact, I am a Rocket Scientist.

Posted by: Ted at 06:00 AM | category: Rocketry
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1 That's great! Almost makes me wish I had a kid so I could get him one!

Posted by: Victor at February 26, 2004 10:34 AM (L3qPK)

2 Thanks, dude! I'm going to have to put you on commission.

Major redesign of the Web site is happening this weekend if I can ever get the ASP code working right.

Love your blog, check it daily when the boss isn't watching. See you at Great Meadow next month?

Posted by: Doug Pratt at February 27, 2004 10:06 AM (D6ZyB)

3 You made my day, Doug! Great Meadows is a go, and the TARC kids I'm mentoring are planning to be there with at least one rocket for test flights.

Any word on the Sky Ripper J? I've got the parts for an upscale Yellow Jacket just begging for Level 2 cert.

Posted by: Ted at February 28, 2004 01:26 AM (2sKfR)

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A t-shirt I designed a few years ago about model rocketry.

(in the extended entry) more...

Posted by: Ted at 05:16 AM | category: Rocketry
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Des-what?

Descon stands for Design Contest, and it's an online rocketry event held three or four times a year. People from all over the world enter their original rocket designs, and folks vote for their favorites. Prizes are donated by various hobby businesses and are awarded. Sometimes there's a theme or specific requirements, sometimes it's a free for all.

Mookie won it once, when she was 10 years old. I believe she's still the only kid and only female to ever take first place. In the extended entry is a photo of her posing with her prize. more...

Posted by: Ted at 09:03 AM | category: Rocketry
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Yesterday afternoon after work I met with the team of high school students that I'm mentoring for this year. Five city kids - three boys and two girls - who are going to design, build and fly a complex rocket with the hopes of earning scholarship money.

This is a bright and motivated group. They've already settled on their design and will be building two versions, one with balsa fins, and a second with fiberglass fins. Construction started last night, and we also went over some rocketry basics, simple aerodynamics, and I gave a quick demo on the flight simulation software they'll be using.

The quickie version of the task they're trying to accomplish is that they have to build and fly a two-stage rocket that will fly as close as possible to 1,250 feet in altitude (measured by an electronic altimeter carried onboard), and get it back. The payload they have to carry aloft is two fresh eggs, and they have to bring them back to earth unbroken.

They're competing with almost one thousand other teams from all around the US for scholarship money. The contest is sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association and NASA is heavily involved.

Some of the coolest perks from last years contest was for teachers to attend NASA educational workshops, and the top ten teams were given the opportunity to design science experiments that were carried aloft in NASA research rockets. Teams also got to meet shuttle astronauts and Homer Hickam, former NASA engineer and author of Rocket Boys (October Skies). Other guests attending the finals included Senator Enzi from Wyoming (a rocketeer and space proponent), as well as the honchos from NASA and Boeing.

For more information and details, please check out the rocketry links over on the right hand column, my Rocketry category, or this post.

Posted by: Ted at 08:39 AM | category: Rocketry
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One of our fellow rocketeers is the Laboratory Director and Chief Metallurgist at the Chamberlain/Scranton Army Ammunition Plant. As time allows, he's running a series of tests on common hobby rocketry materials and construction techniques. Test descriptions and results can be found here. Even if you aren't into the technical aspects of it, some of the equipment and methodology is interesting.

Posted by: Ted at 08:26 AM | category: Rocketry
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