U.S. rocketry students soar to first place at Farnborough

Courtesy Photo | A rocket built by the U.S. team launches during the International Rocketry Challenge at the Farnborough International Air Show, July 15, 2016. Teams were required to build and launch a rocket carrying two raw eggs to exactly 850 feet and back uncracked within 44 to 46 seconds and give an oral presentation. (Courtesy photo by Alex MacNaughton for Raytheon)  

FARNBOROUGH, HAMPSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM

07.15.2016

Story by Master Sgt. Eric Burks 

U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa   

By Lt. Col. Karen Roganov
USAFE-UK Public Affairs

FARNBOROUGH, England – A new crop of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) students could one day represent the DoD’s future workforce after rocketing to success at the Farnborough International Air Show.

Eighth-grade students from Odle Middle School in Bellevue., Wash., won first place in the International Rocketry Challenge at the air show July 15.

Leading up to the competition, students had the opportunity to meet with pilots, engineers, and even an astronaut, gaining perspective into potential future careers.

“I want to work in aerospace some day,” said 14-year-old Srivatshan “Sri” Sakthinarayanan.

Sri and others participating in the competition are often the type of students later recruited into STEM-related careers.

“The majority of people who fly these fighters have a science, math or engineering background,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Nick Green, in front of his F/A-18 Super Hornet. “I don’t want to say it’s a one-way ticket to flight school, but it gives you a competitive edge.”

Green is assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 at Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., and his undergraduate study was STEM-focused, leading to a degree in Airway Technology.

The DoD, along with NASA, are partners with the Team America Rocketry Challenge leading up to the international competition. Aerospace corporate sponsors made the students’ travel in Europe possible to be held in front of spectators at one of the world’s largest air shows.

Edging out teams from the United Kingdom, France and Japan, the contest the U.S. team won required them to build and launch a rocket carrying two raw eggs to exactly 850 feet and back uncracked within 44 to 46 seconds.

Teams qualified by winning their respective national championships. In the U.S., that meant beating out nearly 5,000 students from 780 teams across the country, according to John Hochheimer, contest director for the International Rocketry Challenge.

An oral presentation accounted for 40 percent of their score and put the U.S. ahead this year in a very close competition, added Hochheimer.

All eighth graders, the U.S. team included Mikaela Ikeda, 12; Stephanie Han, 13; Karl Deerkop, 14; Larry Jing, 14; and Sakthinarayanan.

As to the future, Sri said the team hopes to come back again next year. He also relayed his personal secret to rocketry success: "When you enjoy stuff, it comes into your brain naturally."

• Date Taken: 07.15.2016
• Date Posted: 07.16.2016 10:37
• Story ID: 204156
• Location: FARNBOROUGH, HAMPSHIRE, GB