Ready, Set, Launch: Woodbridge team participates in rocketry challenge

WOODBRIDGE — On May 17, a team from Woodbridge’s Boy Scout troops met two teams from Maryland on Capitol Hill for “Rockets on the Hill.”

This event kicked off the National Finals of the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC).

The Woodbridge team was one of three Virginia teams, the other two being from Nativity Catholic School in Burke and Falls Church High School. These teams were among 101 finalists from across the country who had the chance to participate in the national competition on May 18 in the Plains in Northern Virginia.

In addition to meeting with members of Congress, the competing students were to share their experiences in the competition and what they learned during it.

Attendees were to hear from Col. Donald McMonagle, USAF (Ret.), former NASA Astronaut on three shuttle space flights, and Program Director for Space Launch Services at the Raytheon Company, as well as Eric Fanning, President and CEO of Aerospace Industries Association.

The winner of May 18’s competition, a high school team from Madison, Wisconsin, will advance to the International Finals in June.

TARC, which is this year honoring the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, requires a team of middle and high school students to launch a rocket carrying three raw eggs that must reach an altitude of at least 856 feet before separating and returning the uncracked eggs to Earth – all within 43 and 46 seconds and with strict height and weight requirements.

Now in its 17th year, the Rocketry Challenge has inspired more than 70,000 middle and high school students to explore education and careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) fields. The winner of Saturday’s competition will advance to the International Finals, taking place in Paris in June.