{"id":11770,"date":"2015-11-17T16:34:14","date_gmt":"2015-11-17T21:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=11770"},"modified":"2015-11-17T16:34:14","modified_gmt":"2015-11-17T21:34:14","slug":"winners-of-the-reach-for-the-stars-national-rocket-competition-honored-by-nar-aiaa-estes-and-homer-hickam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=11770","title":{"rendered":"Winners of the Reach for the Stars National Rocket Competition honored by NAR, AIAA, Estes and Homer Hickam"},"content":{"rendered":"

An announcement from the Reach for the Stars<\/a> organization:<\/p>\n

NAR, AIAA, Estes and Homer Hickam Honor
\nReach for the Stars –\u00a0<\/strong>National Rocket Competition Winners at Space Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n

Three winners of the\u00a0Reach for the Stars ~ National Rocket Competition:<\/strong>\u00a0Kalli Riemer, Emily Schmidtlein<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Maya Watson<\/em>\u00a0celebrated with their families at Space Camp<\/a> in \u201cRocket City\u201d Huntsville, Alabama. For the past 9 years – over 50 percent of the national winners have been girls! \u00a0Girl Scouts<\/a> have taken an amazing seven national wins.<\/p>\n

\"2015Winners-2\"<\/a><\/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 Challenger Learning Centers<\/a>. The closest average landing by parachute to a target after two launches wins the local event. Local winner\u2019s results are submitted to the national competition headquarters.<\/p>\n

In response to the nations call for more interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) activities \u2013 nearly 2000 kids across the nation participated in the ninth annual\u00a0Reach for the Stars ~ National Rocket Competition<\/a><\/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. More information about this and the Astronaut Hall of Fame Event is available at www.therocketman.net<\/a> .<\/p>\n

The national winners launched their rockets in celebration under an \u201cOctober Sky\u201d from Homer Hickam Field.** Most of the competitors and many of the family and friends have read his inspirational book, Rocket Boys or seen the movie,October Sky.\u00a0Competition director,\u00a0Jack Colpas<\/em>\u00a0says, \u201cGetting the opportunity to launch their rockets from an exciting location is an important part of the celebration.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to the launch, the kids were awarded a Space Shuttle Challenger commemorative coin and certificate that honor the memory of the first Teacher-in-Space,\u00a0Christa McAuliffe<\/a><\/em>\u00a0and the crew of the Challenger. The certificates are signed by\u00a0Captain Jon McBride<\/em>, who piloted Challenger on one of its earliest missions. They also received an autographed photo and letter of congratulations from author,\u00a0Homer Hickam<\/a><\/em>. Estes<\/a> \u2013 the world leader in educational rocketry provided $200 to help with travel expenses and a model rocket for each winner.<\/p>\n

Presentation was made by\u00a0Vince Huegele<\/em>, educational chair for the National Association of Rocketry<\/a> (NAR),\u00a0Matt Green<\/em>\u00a0– Space Camp Operations, US Space & Rocket Center<\/a> and\u00a0G. Alan Lowrey<\/em>\u00a0– Regional Director, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Matt Green<\/em>\u00a0put the winners through their paces as they experienced the Astronaut Training Simulators at Space Camp. They took turns walking in the 1\/6 gravity of the moon, moved about mock space in a MMU (Manned Maneuvering Unit) and tested their intestinal fortitude in the Spatial Disorientation Simulator.\u00a0Alan Lowrey<\/em>\u00a0photographed the kids throughout the day. The pictures are available at www.flickr.com\/photos\/OctoberRockets<\/a><\/p>\n

Then they got to tour the US Space & Rocket Center with their friends and families.Two teachers,\u00a0Tina Hackey<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Dennis O\u2019Connell<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 whose efforts produced a national winner – joined in the celebration. The group gets to visit the Space Shuttle Simulator – Pathfinder, see the amazing display at Rocket and Shuttle Parks, the Apollo Courtyard and the Saturn V Hall. \u201cThe U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC) is a Smithsonian Affiliate and the Official Visitor Center for NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center. 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<\/em> boast, \u201cNational winners receive memories to last a lifetime – and bragging rights for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n