Posted on 05/16/2009 1:44:37 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...
Model rocketry took a big hit after 9/11.
This Estes "Scrambler" could tote an egg into the heavens
I built & flew one of these scissor-wings once. Worked great!!
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.
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