Rocket competition sparks kids' dreams

ROCKET LAUNCH Students keep their eyes to the sky as they watch their rockets being launched during a school rocket launch competition Friday at Mojave Airport. Middle school students from Mojave and California City competed in the annual rocket launch competition presented by the airport. EVELYN KRISTO/Valley Press

Rocket competition sparks kids' dreams

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Saturday, October 29, 2005. By MARISSA BELLES Valley Press Staff Writer

MOJAVE - Miniature rockets of every color lined up on launch pads Friday as students anxiously waited for liftoff at Mojave Airport.

About 800 third- through sixth-graders from Mojave and California City participated in the Intermediate Space Challenge at the nation's first inland spaceport.

"This is a great event for these kids," said Bonnie O'Bar, director of educational services for the Mojave School District. "It allows them a hands-on activity in math and science and gives them a glimpse of what their future can hold."

Chanting their school names and looking skyward, students waited eagerly to hear the altitude announced by event organizer Marie Walker. The third-graders didn't compete, but were invited to get excited for next year.

Some of the rockets reached almost 600 feet before parachuting downward.

"This is my favorite day of the year," Walker said. "To see the kids get so hyped up and excited is just wonderful."

Walker came up with the idea for the competition after giving her sons rockets for Christmas last year. She lunched with Stu Witt, Mojave Airport's general manager, and they planned last year's event.

"People thought we were nuts, but I think we are the smart ones," Witt said. "One of these kids is going to get the disease, and it's our job to foster that."

The competition is divided into two launches, with points awarded for altitude, color, marketing strategy and spirit. Individual awards are given in each category, and an overall winner is named.

"They go nuts when the overall winner is announced," Witt said over the shouts of excited students. "It's great, isn't it; I mean, look at these kids."

For the second year in a row, Robert P. Ulrich Elementary School took home the grand prize trophy. Organizers increased the number of awards this year because they didn't want the day to be just about competition. "They will have plenty of time for that later," Walker said. "Right now they need to be inspired and have fun."

Between the two launches, classes viewed various aerospace displays and demonstrations.

Michael Laughlin, a systems technician for XCOR Aerospace, handed out postcards as his colleagues demonstrated how a rocket engine works. "It picks their imagination," Laughlin said. "Showing them a rocket engine, having them meet pilots or stand next to a rocket-powered plane gives them experiences that far exceeds a traditional science lesson."

One thing different about this year's competition was that all the rockets were miniature models of Canadian Arrow rocket ships; last year, the models were a mix of SpaceShipOne and Arrow rockets.

Students from Mojave Senior High School's Engineering Academy visited Joshua Middle, Robert P. Ulrich Elementary and California City Middle schools once a week to help them assemble the rockets.

"The curriculum was divided into five units, and each week we'd cover a different one," 15-year-old Amanda Mathis said. "It's fun to be a mentor, especially because engineering is something I'm considering studying in the future."

That is the hope and attitude Walker and Witt are trying to instill and nourish.

"My dream is for this to become statewide, regional and eventually a national event," Walker said. "It could happen and I'm going to do everything I can to see it through."