Intercollegiate Rocket Launch Competitions
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ESRA is hosting annual Intercollegiate Rocket Launch Competitions for student-designed and -built rockets capable of lofting a 10-pound payload to 10,000 feet above ground level (as a minimum).
The objective of these competitions is to get college engineering and science students involved in hands-on rocket design, construction, and operations. In doing this, we hope to provide them with valuable experience, making them very marketable to space industry employers. This is especially important as the older generation of space professionals retires and also as new entrepreneurial companies start expanding into the business of space launch and operations.
A primary emphasis of the competitions (in addition to engineering design and construction) is on communication skills, both written and oral. Student teams are required to present their rocket design in an oral presentation and written paper, similar to paper presentations at professional conferences.
And of course, safety is of utmost importance. Judges and event staff review the presentations and inspect the rockets for safe hardware design and launch and recovery procedures. All personnel are kept safe distances from the rockets at launch through recovery. The launch site is selected so that rockets do not reach adjacent buildings or roads.
The Launch Competitions are progressing down a path of increased numbers of participants and multiple levels of competition. Currently, only the “beginner” level of competition is offered: launch a 10-pound payload closest to 10,000 feet above ground level and recover the payload and all rocket parts intact. Future “advanced” competitions will be added for those teams who want to make the next step. Examples of advanced competitions include higher altitudes and/or specific features to demonstrate (e.g. thrust vectoring, active controls, precision recovery, flyback boosters, etc.).
And eventually, the goal is to expand the competitions into Experimental Sounding Rocket Expos that include workshops, demonstrations, and participation by clubs and entrepreneurial companies.
As the competitions grow and we gain experience and capability, we want to include the public more and more. Initially, we will start with K-12 students, who can observe the college students preparing the rockets before launch and then watch the launches. By having younger students talk to the college students and seeing their interest and enthusiasm, we hope to capture their imagination and provide a motivation for learning science and math and then pursuing technical degrees and careers.
Third Intercollegiate Rocket Launch Competition
The 3rd Intercollegiate Rocket Launch Competition will be held June 26-27 (with backup launch day June 28), 2008, at a new site near Green River, UT, pending permit approval.
Schedule:
Thursday, June 26
| 8:00-9:00 AM | Registration at John Wesley Powell Museum basement meeting room, light breakfast provided |
| 9:00-9:30 AM | Welcome by Green River Mayor, photo (bring rockets) |
| 9:30 AM | Weather observation, decision to proceed to launch site or conduct presentations |
| 9:30 AM-12:00 | Travel to launch site, begin launch preps -or- oral presentations |
| 12:00-1:00 PM | Lunch at launch site -or- lunch in Museum parking lot (provided) |
| 1:00 PM | Weather observation, launch decision |
| 1:00-5:00 PM | Launches -or- oral presentations |
| 5:00-6:30 PM | Break |
| 6:30-8:00 PM | Social at Green River City Park, hors d'oeuvres provided |
Friday, June 27
| 8:30-9:30 AM | Meet at launch site (good weather) or Museum (poor weather), light breakfast provided |
| 9:30 AM | Weather observation, launch decision |
| 9:30 AM-12:00 | Begin launch preps -or- oral presentations |
| 12:00-1:00 PM | Lunch at launch site -or- lunch in Museum parking lot (provided) |
| 1:00 PM | Weather observation, launch decision |
| 1:00-5:00 PM | Launches -or- oral presentations |
| 5:00-6:30 PM | Break |
| 6:30-8:00 PM | Awards Banquet at Tamarisk Restaurant (across the street from Museum) |
Saturday, June 28
--repeat Friday's schedule as needed to make up for weather delays--
Sunday, June 29
--repeat Friday's schedule as needed to make up for weather delays--
“Go” Weather criteria (at launch site)
- Passable (dry) roads
- Winds less than 10 kts from any direction
- No thunderstorms within 5 miles
- Ceiling above 15,000 ft MSL
Registration:
Teams launching rockets are required to provide insurance certificates for at least $1,000,000 coverage, listing the US Government as additional insured, for the Bureau of Land Management permit. Mail certificates to ESRA, 665 N 400 E, Logan, UT 84321 by March 20 2008.
On-site registration in the basement room of the Powell Museum, 1765(?) E Main St, from 8:00 to 9:00 AM on Thursday, June 26.
Registration fees are as follows:
$400 for teams with up to 6 students and 1 advisor (includes all meals). Additional students and advisors are $100 per person.
Observers, guests of students or advisors: $100 per person, children 12 and under $25 each (includes all meals)
ESRA guests and judges: no charge (includes all meals)
All persons of legal age will be required to sign liability waivers. Minors will be included on liability waivers with their parent or legal guardian.
Additional Awards Banquet tickets: $20 (limited number; first-come, first-served)
The judging sheet can be downloaded here.
Group Photo:
A group photograph, with rockets, will be taken on Thursday morning with the Mayor of Green River at a site of his choosing. We will then head to the launch site (weather permitting) to begin preparations. We are very grateful for the support from the city of Green River.
Awards Banquet:
The Awards Banquet will be held from 6:30-8:00 PM, Friday June 26 (Saturday June 27 in case of weather delays) in the downstairs banquet room of the Tamarisk Restaurant, 870 E Main St (across from the Museum).
This year's Banquet is sponsored by Space Exploration Technologies Inc. (SpaceX), El Segundo, CA (www.spacex.com).
The Guest of Honor and speaker at this year's Banquet is Jim Barrowman of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in suburban Maryland outside Washington, DC. Mr. Barrowman is the originator of the Barrowman rocket stability equations familiar to all rocketeers.
In addition to the third, second, and first place trophies, the Furfaro Award for Technical Excellence will be presented to the team with the best technical paper, presentation, and level of student design and knowledge. The Furfaro Award is named in honor of Jim Furfaro, former engineer at ATK Launch Systems, great supporter of student rocket programs, and Judge at the 1st Intercollegiate Rocket Launch Competition in 2006. Jim passed away in a tragic auto accident later that year.
Cold Drinks and Water:
Cold Drinks and Water at the launch site are provided by Planetary Systems, Incorporated, Silver Spring, MD (www.planetarysystemscorp.com).
Operations:
Directions to launch site:
From Museum, turn right (west) onto Main Street. Turn left onto Long St, follow until it ends at Green River Ave. Bear left and follow Green River Ave (next to the railroad tracks), then take the first right onto Airport Ave (also called 500 S). Follow this road (becomes County Road 1007) until the paved road splits off to the right to the airport. Keep going straight, onto the dirt road (still County Road 1007), around the SE side of the airport. Follow this dirt road (also called Old Highway Hanksville on some maps). It turns onto Old Route 24 (paved) which heads generally SW. Follow this approximately 9 miles from the airport turnoff (there will be a large microwave tower on the left at about mile 7), then turn left onto County Road 1043 (Nine Mile Reservoir Road). The turnoff is right before the main road (Country Road 1007) descends into some rough terrain (Jenny's Twist). There is a wire gate—please close gate after passing through. Proceed on County Road 1043 and the launch site is at a bend (turning south) in the road approximately 2 miles after the turnoff.
Launcher setup:
Place the launchers east of the main bend in the road, pointing 060 true (048 magnetic).
The launch table/bunker will be placed adjacent to the road, 200 feet southwest of the launchers.
Viewing Area:
The viewing area will be on County Road 1007, near the microwave tower (approximately 2 miles from the launch site).
Safety Monitors:
Safety monitors will be placed on CR 1043 approximately 1000 feet west and south of the launchers for each launch. A safety monitor will also be placed at the wire gate on CR 1043 to prevent public traffic from approaching the launch site.
Sponsorships:
Other sponsorships are available, including cash prizes, meals at the launch site, the Thursday evening social, and the porta-potty at the launch site (you will be greatly appreciated!). Securing additional sponsorships will allow us to reduce the fees for the competition.