Rocket record bid to fire imaginations (From Gazette & Herald)
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Rocket record bid to fire imaginations
8:40am Wednesday 11th July 2012 in News
Thornton Dale Primary School pupils set for lift-off
CHILDREN in Ryedale have joined a NASA-led attempt to launch the most water-powered bottle rockets into the air 24 hours.
Pupils at Thornton Dale Primary School spent the afternoon launching the bottle rockets as part of “The 24 Hour Rocket Challenge”.
The group of 50 pupils from Reception to Year 3 joined many other school groups, clubs and families aiming to launch at least 1,000 rockets made from drinks bottles over a 24-hour period from noon on Wednesday.
If the attempt to set a new world record is successful, the children will be given certificates for their role.
Teacher Dave Cash said: “I’m hoping the children go away from today with an impression of what can be done with STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and maths. There seems to be quite a lot of interest in the challenge.
“We’re hopeful we will break the record. Hopefully it will prime their interest in possible future careers.”
He said the bottles were launched up to 60 metres in the air by pumping air through water into each bottle, building pressure so the water is pushed out of the bottle, thrusting it into the air.
The challenge has been set up by NASA in partnership with the University of Central Lancashire.
It is hoped the rocket launch will fire children’s interest in the launch of the UCLan-NASA Hi-C mission, which will endeavour to capture high resolution images of the sun.
