Page 11 - Desert Wings 5-29-15
P. 11
May 29, 2015 Community News Desert Wings
facebook.com/EdwardsDesertWings www.aerotechnews.com/edwardsafb 11
%UDQFK(OHPHQWDU\VWXGHQWVKDYHVXFFHVVIXOODXQFK
Air Force photograph by Rebecca Amber
Branch Elementary School held their third annual Intermediate Space Challenge May 26. The Southern Kern Aeronautics and Rocketry club volunteered as the launch crew for this year’s
competition.
by Rebecca Amber Mentors are invited to teach the students how “It’s one of the few times we have hands- Now Walker and other volunteers are in
Staff writer to build their rockets.
on, apply-what-you’ve-learned-in-school the process of writing a curriculum that can
Branch Elementary School students According to Branch Elementary School
cheered as rockets they built were launched teacher Kim Cantrell, the project requires events and students have the control in this be adapted in different schools. Though the
in the school’s third annual Intermediate detailed attention. The mentors in her class
Space Challenge May 26. taught the students to follow the mantra, “If project,” said Cantrell. idea started with Rocketry, she hopes to see
you think you’re done, do it again.” The les-
The competition includes 4th-6th grade son was that the rocket can continually be When the rocket is complete, it’s primed it applied in other areas like wind energy, so-
classes that work on a Big Daddy Rocket improved.
Kit for around two weeks leading up to the and ready for competition. lar panels, alternative fuels, medical research
big day. Throughout the process, the students
learned about Newton’s Laws of Physics and 7KH¿UVWGD\RIFRPSHWLWLRQMXGJHVHYDOX- and food storage.
Each class operates like a small business materials like different types of glue. They
during the design and construction phase. also learn to work with care because the ate the banners and rocket integration. “We want to see this program go across
Students are assigned to teams for t-shirt whole class is depending on each individual
design, banner decorating, rocket design, or to put together a rocket that will be able to The second day of competition is the California for starters,” said Walker. “Then
the pit crew to help with any additional tasks. VXVWDLQÀLJKW
rocket launch. The Southern Kern Aeronau- we’d like to see it go across the United
tical and Rocketry Club volunteered as this States.”
year’s launch crew. Altitude trackers are used
to verify the altitude reached by each rocket Branch Elementary Third Annual Rocket
from two locations. After launching, a chute Challenge Winners:
deploys for the landing.
1st place: 4th Grade—Mrs. Grooms Team
The Intermediate Space Challenge was 3, “Space Warriors” reached 630 ft.
founded in Mojave, Calif., 11 years ago
by small business owner, 2nd place: 5th Grade-Mr. Wilson Team 5,
Marie Walker, who was
in attendance at Tuesday’s
competition. She read a
study that said by sixth
grade a student will decide
if math is hard or fun and
VKHZDQWHGWR¿QGDZD\WR
ensure that the answer was
always “fun.”
At the time, SpaceShi-
pOne was competing for
the Asari X-Prize at the
Mojave Air and Space
Port. Walker was inspired
by the competition and
headed to Walmart to pur-
chase a few rockets and Air Force photograph by Rebecca Amber
start a competition of her Team 9, the Supernova Specialists, was awarded “Best Banner”
own. at the 3rd Annual Branch Elementary School Intermediate
“They had to do the Space Challenge.
flight twice to win the
prize and I copied that idea,” said Walker. “Galaxy Mustangs” reached 644 ft.
Walker invited Branch Elementary to at- 3rd place: 6th Grade—Mrs. Cantrell Team
Air Force photograph by Rebecca Amber tend the rocket challenge and after doing so, 11, “Cosmic Noise” reached 610 ft.
Chris Birkinbine, Southern Kern Aeronautics and Rocketry president, led this year’s Branch began their own competition, cham- Best Banner: Team 9, “SuperNova Spe-
volunteer launch crew.
pioned by Cantrell. cialist”
