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Preview "Reach for The Stars" (2176k)
Only within the last 70 years has our understanding of rockets allowed us to "blast-off" into space. Robert Goddard, an American physicist, flew the first liquid propellant rocket in 1926, getting 184 feet closer to the stars. Since that time, the United States and other countries have continued to study and improve rockets and spacecraft. With the launch of the Russian spacecraft, Sputnik, on October 4, 1957, rockets actually left the Earth's atmosphere. On July 20, 1969, astronauts from the United States landed on the Moon.
Learn
more about the basics
of rocket
science.
Learn more
about the history of rocket science.
Women have played an important role in space exploration. In 1963, Valentina Tereshkova of the Soviet Union became the first woman to travel in space, orbiting the Earth for over 70 hours in her spacecraft Vostok V.
Later, Sally Ride, an American physicist, became the first American woman to travel in space. She orbited the Earth and carried out scientific investigations in the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983. Since that time, many women astronauts have "blasted-off" in the Space Shuttle. Millie Hughes-Fulford (host of the National Science Partnership video, "Reach for The Stars"), spent nine days in space aboard the Shuttle Columbia in 1991. She flew as a NASA Scientist-Astronaut conducting experiments aboard Spacelab Life Sciences (SLS-1), the first Spacelab mission dedicated to biomedical studies.
This may be a Brownie Girl Scout's first experience with rockets. Model rocketry is something that far too many girls and women have never had an opportunity to try. Limited experience, and the concern that rockets are dangerous and loud, is often a deterrent. We strongly encourage you to give this a try. The girls love the activity and the company that makes the rocket has included carefully thought-out steps that, if followed, will provide a fun-filled and safe experience.
Learn more about
the National
Association of Rocketry.
If you use ClarisWorks, an
air rocket simulation is available.
Materials
assembled rocket
engines
igniters
recovery wadding
launch pad (available through your local council)
controller (available through your local council)
What to Do
1. Select a field (football fields are great) or playground away from power lines, tall trees, and low flying aircraft. Try to find an area at least 76 meters (250 feet) square. The area should be clear of dry weeds and brown grass.
2. Choose a calm day, with little or no wind, and good visibility for your rocket blast-off.
3. Review the safety rules with your troop.
4. Set up the launch pad. Have one of the girls demonstrate how to place the rocket onto the launch pad. Replace the safety cap and key.
5. Follow the directions provided to prepare for the
launch, involving the girls as much as possible. Be sure
to show the girls each of the parts, explaining the
purpose of each. For example, you will want to ask the
girls what they think the purpose of the following parts
are:
a. the launch pad? (to direct rocket straight up)
b. the metal blast deflector? (to prevent the hot gases
from the engine from melting the plastic launch pad or
igniting the ground below it)
c. the streamer? (to make the falling rocket visible and,
more importantly, to break its fall)
d. the recovery wadding? (to prevent the streamer from
melting)
e. the streamer? (to make the falling rocket visible and,
more importantly, to break its fall)
f. the launch controller? (to send an electrical charge to
heat the igniter)
g. the igniter? (to ignite or light the engine)
h. the engine? (to provide the propellant that will thrust
the rocket upward)
I. safety cap? (the cap protects the pointed end of the
launch rod in the event it is fallen upon)
j. safety key? (to prevent the rocket from launching
accidentally)
NOTE: point out that the safety key and cap are connected because the key is not needed until the last minute before countdown, when the cap can be removed.
6. Show the girls the controller and explain how it will work (the key, button, distance from launch site, batteries).
7. Go through the checklist and explain the launch procedure. Do a dry run if necessary.
8. Begin the countdown and.....BLAST-OFF!
Helpful Hints
1. Be sure to get permission when launching your rocket in a public area.
2. The larger the launch area, the more likely your chance of recovering your rocket for future launches.
3. The recovery device should slide easily into the body tube. If it doesn't, unfold and repack it again.
4. Check that the batteries in the launch controller work before the meeting. Do this by inserting the key without attaching it to the rocket and touching the two clips to each other. The light should go on. You may want to have 4 extra AA batteries on hand just in case.
5. If the rocket does not take-off (ignition failure), follow the directions provided with your rocket. In all cases, remove the safety key from the launch control system, and wait one minute before approaching the rocket.
6. Visit your local hobby shop and buy extra engines and rockets so that, if one is not recovered, you have a back-up.
