2007 Rules

To promote and support improving understanding of and appreciation for science, math and technology, the Aerospace Challenge is open to any youth interested in aerospace and space.  This competitive activity calls for individuals or teams of at least two students to present a model rocket demonstration and launch. Participants have an opportunity to EXCEL at and to ACHIEVE a level of performance and completion of model rocketry tasks.

PURPOSE

The Aerospace Challenge is designed as a demonstration of skills and knowledge acquired by students in the area of model rocketry.  Participants have an opportunity to challenge themselves individually and/or work in a team to perform various tasks associated with model rocketry.

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

• Participants may compete individually and may combine scores or a team score.
• Participants must be 14 on or before January 1 to qualify as a Senior in the calendar year of participation.

AEROSPACE CONTEST RULES

The aerospace competition shall consist of the following scored components.

• Rocket launch & spot landing
• Written exam
• Craftsmanship inspection
• Parts identification
• Additional components may be added specifically for teams that would not be part of the individual contest or score.

LAUNCH AND SPOT LANDING

Prior to their first launch, each participant or team will discuss and describe procedures for launching a model rocket; rocket preparation, launcher preparation, launch, and recovery.  Each participant or team shall have three attempts to launch and spot land a rocket within a 10 foot diameter circle.  The rocket must attain a minimum height of 200 feet.  The best of the three launch attempts shall be counted toward the final score.  Scoring shall be done as follows: TEN penalty points will be assessed for every 10 feet the rocket lands outside and away from of the target area. (Within the circle scores 100 points, 10 feet away scores 90 points, 20 feet scores 80 points, etc.  Over 100 feet away scores 0 points.)  The distance measurement for the spot landing will be measured from the nose cone of the rocket to the ten-foot diameter circle.  Penalty points may also be added for an unsafe launch.  Failure to successfully launch a rocket or failing to attain the minimum height will result in disqualification of that launch.  There are no limits on size of rocket or type of engine used.  The best launch score will be counted on an individual basis and will be combined with best scores of the other events.  Team launch scores also apply as individual scores.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION

Exam questions may encompass model rocketry, aerospace, outer space, physics, safety, and other related areas.  The question formats may be true/false, multiple choice, fill in the blank, or short essay.  Questions have a value of TEN (10) points and are scored individually.  Team score is the high individual score of each team.  If the short essay format is used, up to 20 penalty points may be assessed per question.

CRAFTSMANSHIP

Each person OR team is to bring one model rocket to present for evaluation purposes.  It does not have to be launched.  Evaluation is based on rocket appearance and construction including, but not limited to: fins, engine mount, launch lug, recovery system, nose cone, finish & overall general appearance.  The Team score will be the single score for the rocket submitted by the team or the highest score of the individual rockets submitted.  A team may submit one rocket or one for each member of the team.

PARTS IDENTIFICATION

Ten to 20 model rocket parts will be provided for identification and description of its function.  Identification of each part will have a point value of FIVE and description of its function will have a point value of FIVE.  Each participant will complete the Parts I.D. component individually.  The Team score will be the high individual score.

OVERALL SCORING

Each participant will accumulate points based on the best individual scores on each event component.  Team scores are determined by counting the high score for each event component.  To further clarify, for those events in which both team members work together, the best score is used for both participants.  Highest overall accumulated scores are recognized.

 

4-H AEROSPACE CHALLENGE

            COUNTY/STATE:  ______________________________    DATE:  _______________

INDIVIDUAL OR TEAM MEMBER 1:

NAME:  ________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS:  ____________________________________________________________

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(CITY)                                                             (STATE)            (ZIP)

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:  _____________________________________________

COUNTY: ___________________________________  AGE AS OF 1/1:  ____________

Please describe your experience with model rocketry in the space provided:

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TEAM MEMBER 2:

NAME:  ________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS:  _____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

(CITY)                                                             (STATE)            (ZIP)

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:  _____________________________________________

COUNTY: ___________________________________  AGE AS OF 1/1:  ____________

Please describe your experience with model rocketry in the space provided below:

_____________________________________________________________________________________

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TEACHER, EXTENSION AGENT or VOLUNTEER LEADER

AUTHORIZATION/CONFIRMATION:

 

 

4-H AEROSPACE CHALLENGE

NAME(s) :  ___________________________________        COUNTY ________________

A 3 to 5 minute presentation on preparing for a model rocket launch will be scored according to the criteria below.  The participant or team then has 3 launch opportunities with the BEST LAUNCH used for scoring.  Objectives are to reach an altitude of 200 feet and landing the rocket as close to a 10 foot diameter target circle as possible.

 Launch Site
(not to scale)

		Pad 1	Pad 2
		100"		One or two launch pads will be placed 100 feet from the 10 foot diameter spot landing site.  Launch pads must be at least 20 feet apart.  Only one model rocket may be launched at a time under N.A.R. safety guidelines.  The objective for each launch is for the rocket to reach an altitude of at least 200 feet and land as close to the spot landing site as possible.  Each individual may launch three times or the team may launch three times.  An altitude tracker will be used to determine that rockets reach 200 feet.
			10' Diameter Spot Landing Site

4-H AEROSPACE CHALLENGE

NAME(s): ________________________________     COUNTY/STATE ______________

 

4-H AEROSPACE CHALLENGE

Name(s):  _______________________________     County/State _________________

Scores are determined for each of the scoring components and entered into the summary form below.  The individual with the highest total score of ALL components is acknowledged as the best participant with 2nd and 3rd to follow.  Team scores are the combined high individual scores of the team members.  The "best team" is determined as the one with the highest score.

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

TEAM SCORING - High Individual Scores for the Team

CERTIFICATION of PARTICIPATION and SCORES:

DATE:  ______________________

EVENT COORDINATOR:  _____________________________________

                                                     (signature)

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                                                     (title or affiliation with event)