Space Act Helps Students Blast Off

High school students recently launched a rocket 35,106 feet into the air with help from Marshall Space Flight Center.

A space act agreement between the Marshall Center and Fredericksburg High School, in Fredericksburg, Texas, facilitated the donation of a rocket fuel grain and nozzle, key elements in the project.

The students are enrolled in the school's two-year Aeroscience Program, designed to teach engineering, propulsion and aerodynamics. The highlight of the course is the design, construction and launching of a rocket capable of carrying a 35-pound payload.

The successful launch of the 22-foot, 410-pound hybrid rocket set a record altitude for the school, which has launched eight previous rockets.

"This partnership between Marshall and Fredericksburg High School provided an excellent opportunity for Marshall to utilize its resources to enhance the educational experience of these students," said Rhonda Childress-Thompson, facilitator of the agreement. Thompson is an engineer in the Technology Transfer Department.