an altimeter mounted inside each rocket which tracks the altitude reached. Timing is done by National American Rocketry (NAR) judges and volunteers on the ground. Judges also validate that the rocket and both eggs are still undamaged after landing. Any damage to either the rocket or the eggs results in a disqualification.
This year 724 teams competed. Both teams from the First Baptist Church of Manchester qualified to be among the 100 teams, from 27 states to move on to the Finals, outside of Washington, DC, this May.
Finals start early on Saturday morning and run most of the day. There is a coin flip the night before to determine the height for the first flight. The flip determined flight 1 would be 810 feet. In order to move on to Round 2, teams must score within the top 42. Both teams moved on! The Purple Dragons had scored a 7-point flight – which had them in the top 10 early on. Hannah’s team, the Pumas, hit some altitude trouble and scored in the top 28 for round 1. There was a lot of excitement in the air as both teams moved on to round 2, the last round.
Final scores and outcomes are determined by the sum of both flights for each team. As the last round started, the weather changed, and things become a lot more challenging! Winds picked up, it began to rain, but
there were still pockets of hot air called thermals, which also affect how quickly a rocket is able to land. If a parachute gets caught in a thermal, it might hang and swirl in mid-air for what feels like an eternity. (In reality, it is less than a minute but often diminishes a team’s chances for a low score).
Unfortunately, a thermal caught one of our teams, causing the Dragons to drop from the top 10 to 27th place for their final score. The Secret Agent Pumas’ second flight followed the Dragons. They attempted to launch; however, they ran into some difficulties with their engine and ignition! They had multiple start-stops. After two engine changes ON the launch pad, and four failed attempts, the rocket finally took off! Everyone cheered! It had been worth the wait. The rocket hit the desired altitude within three feet, and ascended within the timebox! They had received a nearly perfect score of 3 on this tumultuous flight! That was enough to boost them into 11th place nationally! Teams that fell within the top 25 also earn the opportunity to participate in a NASA high-powered rocket launch project later this fall.
It was an amazing, and blessed weekend. Both teams did a fantastic job and ended the competition well. Careful study of next year’s competition guidelines has already begun, as each team prepares to start again… after a much-deserved break, of course!
Submitted by Kristin Chen
JUNE 2022
THE LION'S ROAR
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