{"id":11163,"date":"2015-08-07T17:23:02","date_gmt":"2015-08-07T21:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=11163"},"modified":"2015-08-07T17:23:02","modified_gmt":"2015-08-07T21:23:02","slug":"reach-for-the-stars-rocketry-contest-winners-to-celebrate-at-space-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=11163","title":{"rendered":"Reach for the Stars: Rocketry contest winners to celebrate at Space Camp"},"content":{"rendered":"

An announcement from the\u00a0Reach for the Stars<\/a>\u00a0program:<\/p>\n

Reach for the Stars ~ National Rocket Competition Winners
\n<\/strong>to Celebrate at Space Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n

In response to the nations call for more interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) activities \u2013 over 1000 kids across the nation participated in the ninth annual\u00a0Reach for the Stars ~ National Rocket Competition<\/strong>. At the end of the competition those who had the \u201cRight Stuff\u201d* were victorious. The annual Competition, for ages ten to eighteen, runs continuously.<\/p>\n

\"9th<\/a>Girl Scouts of Connecticut – winner Maya Watson<\/em><\/p>\n

With minds set on the task at hand, competitors prepared their rockets, aimed the launch rod and awaited the countdown. \u201cReady light – On!\u201d 10\u20269…8\u20267\u2026 \u201cAll systems – Go.\u201d\u00a0 6\u20265\u20264\u2026 Everyone held their breath. 3\u20262\u20261\u2026 \u00a0With a whoosh, the small rocket leaped from the launch pad and soared hundreds of feet into the air. All eyes turned skyward. \u201cWait for it\u2026Wait for it!\u201d With a pop, the parachute opens and the rocket descends for a near perfect touch-down.<\/p>\n

Contestants in the competition had to build and launch their own solid-fuel powered rocket. The competitions were held in their area by schools, scouts, youth groups and\u00a0Challenger Learning Centers<\/strong>. The closest average landing by parachute to a target after two launches wins the local event. Local winner\u2019s results were then submitted to the national competition headquarters. This produced four national winners.<\/p>\n

The winners of the\u00a0Reach for the Stars ~ National Rocket Competition<\/strong>;\u00a0Alani Davidson, Kalli Riemer, Emily Schmidtlein\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Maya Watson\u00a0<\/em>will celebrate with their families\u00a0at\u00a0Space Camp<\/strong>\u00a0in\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cRocket City\u201d Huntsville,\u00a0<\/strong>Alabama.\u00a0All national winners will launch their rockets in celebration under an \u201cOctober Sky\u201d from\u00a0Homer Hickam Field<\/strong>.**\u00a0Most of the competitors and many of the family and friends have read his inspirational book,\u00a0Rocket Boys<\/u>\u00a0or seen the movie,\u00a0October Sky<\/u>.\u00a0<\/em>Competition director,\u00a0Jack Colpas<\/em>\u00a0says, \u201cGetting the opportunity to launch their rockets from a exciting location is an important part of the celebration.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"9th<\/a>North Kansas City High School \u2013 <\/em>
\nwinner Emily Schmidtlein (2nd\u00a0from left, top row)<\/em><\/p>\n

In addition to the launch, the kids will be awarded a\u00a0Space Shuttle Challenger<\/strong>\u00a0commemorative coin and certificate that honor the memory of the first Teacher-in-Space,\u00a0Christa McAuliffe<\/em>\u00a0and the crew of the\u00a0Challenger<\/strong>. The certificates are signed by\u00a0Captain Jon McBride<\/em>, who piloted\u00a0Challenger<\/strong>\u00a0on one of its earliest missions.<\/p>\n

Winners get to experience the Astronaut Training Simulators at\u00a0Space Camp<\/strong>. They will take turns walking in the 1\/6 gravity of the moon, move about mock space in a MMU (Manned Maneuvering Unit) and test their intestinal fortitude in the Spatial Disorientation Simulator.<\/p>\n

Then they get to tour\u00a0the\u00a0US Space & Rocket Center\u00a0<\/strong>with their friends and families.\u00a0<\/strong>The group gets to\u00a0visit the Space Shuttle Simulator – Pathfinder,\u00a0<\/strong>see the amazing display at Rocket and Shuttle Parks, the Apollo Courtyard and the Saturn V Hall. \u201cThe\u00a0U.S. Space & Rocket Center<\/strong>\u00a0(USSRC) is a\u00a0Smithsonian<\/strong>\u00a0Affiliate<\/strong>\u00a0and the Official Visitor Center for\u00a0NASA\u2019s<\/strong>\u00a0Marshall Space Flight Center<\/strong>. The Center has one of the largest collections of rockets and space memorabilia anywhere in the world.\u201d (rocketcenter.com\/museum<\/a>\u00a0)<\/p>\n

This is a fantastic opportunity for a young rocketeer.\u00a0Reach for the Stars ~ National Rocket Competition<\/strong>\u00a0directors Jack and Kathy Colpas boast, \u201cNational winners receive memories to last a lifetime – and bragging rights for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n