Three Seattle-area teams, Team Starry Night from Interlake High School in Bellevue, Team RocketTree from Smiling Tree in Sammamish, and Odle Middle School Team 1 from Bellevue, performed well in the national finals of the 2024 American Rocketry Challenge. Team Starry Night finished 15th, Team RocketTree finished 21st, and Odle Middle School Team 1 finished 25th out of 100 teams competing in The Plains, Va. The competition involved designing, building, and testing rockets capable of meeting specific mission parameters set by the contest’s sponsors, such as the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry.
The Rocketry Challenge had more than 5,000 students from 922 teams across 45 states participating in the event. Rockets were required to carry a payload of one raw egg with a specific flight duration and altitude. The goal was to showcase the innovation and skills of the next generation of aerospace innovators. Teams from various schools, including Newport High School, STEMZ Education, and Skyline High School in the Seattle area, also competed in the finals. The top 25 finishers received an invitation to participate in NASA’s Student Launch initiative to further explore rocketry with high-powered rockets and challenging mission parameters.
Members of Team Starry Night from Interlake High School include Eesha Jain, Dorah Wang, and Thomas Chang, while members of Team RocketTree from Smiling Tree include Sathvik Nair, Sanaa Menon, Veena Vijay, Vaibhav Narayanan, and Abhiram Nair. Odle Middle School Team 1 included Henghua Liu, Hengqing Liu, Venba Dinesh, Aashvi Kuchhal, and Monhita Sai Karthik. Each team put in significant effort to prepare for the competition and demonstrated their skills in rocket design and flight.
The national finals of the American Rocketry Challenge highlighted the talents and dedication of young students in the field of aerospace and rocketry. With the support of sponsors like the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry, students were able to showcase their creativity and problem-solving abilities through building and testing rockets. The event provided a platform for students to explore their interests in aerospace and pursue future opportunities in the industry.
Despite the challenges and intense competition, Team Starry Night, Team RocketTree, and Odle Middle School Team 1 represented Seattle-area schools with pride and excellence in the national finals of the Rocketry Challenge. Their achievements in designing and launching rockets that met specific mission parameters demonstrated their commitment to learning and innovation in the field of aerospace. The top finishers in the competition were invited to participate in NASA’s Student Launch initiative, offering them the opportunity to further develop their skills and explore the exciting world of rocketry.
In conclusion, the 2024 American Rocketry Challenge provided students from across the country, including Seattle-area teams, with the chance to showcase their talent and passion for aerospace and rocketry. The event brought together thousands of students to test their skills in rocket design and flight, with the top finishers earning a special opportunity to continue their exploration in NASA’s Student Launch initiative. The success of Team Starry Night, Team RocketTree, and Odle Middle School Team 1 reflects the dedication and hard work of students and educators in preparing for and participating in the competition. The future looks bright for these young aerospace innovators as they continue to pursue their interests and make significant contributions to the field.
