1 Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) September 2014 Kick-off Meeting TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

What is TARC? 2 TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

Team America Rocketry Challenge “Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) provides 7 th through 12 th grade students a realistic experience in designing a flying aerospace vehicle that meets a specified set of mission and performance requirements. Students work together in teams the same way aerospace engineers do” 3 TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

4 TARC AIAA OC Rocketry Video on line at

 International Rocketry Contest  Up to 1000 teams  7 th through 12 th graders  Compete for scholarships and a trip to an Air Show in Europe  Each year a challenge is issued in the form of a specification Maximum weightMaximum weight Minimum lengthMinimum length Certain altitudeCertain altitude Duration of flightDuration of flight PayloadPayload And more…And more… 5 TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

6 TARC AIAA OC Rocketry  Once you are given a specification for a rocket with payload You design and simulate your rocket using a CAD programYou design and simulate your rocket using a CAD program You build and test launch your rocketYou build and test launch your rocket You modify your design and test launch again until the specifications are metYou modify your design and test launch again until the specifications are met You qualify by declaring 3 test flights to be scored – before flightYou qualify by declaring 3 test flights to be scored – before flight If you are in the top 100 teams, you go to Washington DC for final fly-offsIf you are in the top 100 teams, you go to Washington DC for final fly-offs

The Challenge 7 TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

 Rocket requirements Must comply with the NAR safety codeMust comply with the NAR safety code Must be no less than 650mm (25.6”) longMust be no less than 650mm (25.6”) long Must not exceed 650 grams in weightMust not exceed 650 grams in weight Use an approved “F” motor or lower (or multiple motors total of 80 Newton-seconds or less)Use an approved “F” motor or lower (or multiple motors total of 80 Newton-seconds or less) Payload (egg and altimeter) portion must return separately on its own parachutePayload (egg and altimeter) portion must return separately on its own parachute Must contain one approved altimeter (PerfectFlite APRA or Pnut)Must contain one approved altimeter (PerfectFlite APRA or Pnut) Portion with rocket motor must return separately with any safe recovery methodPortion with rocket motor must return separately with any safe recovery method May not be a kit designed to carry an eggMay not be a kit designed to carry an egg No pyrotechnic charges except those provided as part of the commercially made motorNo pyrotechnic charges except those provided as part of the commercially made motor  Flight requirements Must attain an altitude of exactly 800ftMust attain an altitude of exactly 800ft Must have a total flight duration of 46 – 48 secondsMust have a total flight duration of 46 – 48 seconds Must carry a payload of one raw hen’s egg, 55 – 60 grams in weight and return undamagedMust carry a payload of one raw hen’s egg, 55 – 60 grams in weight and return undamaged  Team members (not adults) do the work 8 TARC AIAA OC Rocketry There are more rules – see the Team Handbook – the final authority

2014 – 2015 Scoring  Similar to golf – the lower the score the better  Target altitude is 800 ft Each foot your altitude is different costs 1 pointEach foot your altitude is different costs 1 point Accuracy is down to 1 foot measured by an on- board altimeter (PerfectFlite APRA or Pnut)Accuracy is down to 1 foot measured by an on- board altimeter (PerfectFlite APRA or Pnut)  Target time window is 46 to 48 seconds from liftoff until the payload touches down (or can no longer be seen) In the window costs 0 pointsIn the window costs 0 points Each second your time is different costs 4 pointsEach second your time is different costs 4 points Time is measured to.01 seconds idependently by two observers on the groundTime is measured to.01 seconds idependently by two observers on the ground  Up to three Qualification Flights must be made between 9/2/2014 and 3/30/2015 – you MUST make two  Second flight at finals will be 775 feet and seconds 9 TARC AIAA OC Rocketry Final score is the sum of the two best scores Scores must be received by at the offices of AIA by 3/30/2015 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

How are you going to do this? 10 TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

11 Assemble a team TARC AIAA OC Rocketry Teams must be sponsored by a non- profit organization with a youth program Teams must be 3 – 10 members All members must be in 7 th through 12 th grades You need a lot of different skills – not just “rocket scientists” – members that Like to lead and manage Technically skilled for design Mechanically skilled to helpe build Computer literate for Computer Aided Design and simulation Members that like to track budgets and fundraise One team member must be the Program Manager Each team member must make a significant contribution to the design, building and/or launching Team members can be added or dropped until the 1 st qualification flight No limit to the number of teams from any one sponsoring organization. But if more than 3 teams qualify from one sponsor, only the 3 teams with the best scores can go to finals Those 3 teams can add members from other qualifying teams from that sponsor up to a maximum of 10 per team

12 Early Team Tasks TARC AIAA OC Rocketry Each team member should read and understand the contest and safety rules in the Handbook Meet often to discuss options and work on your design Identify what you need to know and needed areas of expertise Establish a schedule with dates and stick to it Estimate your costs and your fundraising needs and methods

13 NAR Safety Code Highlights TARC AIAA OC Rocketry Use only lightweight, non metal parts for the nose, body, and fins Use only certified and approved commercially made motors Use an electrical launch system with safety interlock for the ignition switch Use a launch rod, tower or rail pointed to within 30 degrees of vertical Don’t launch at targets, into clouds, or near airplanes Assure adequate space (“F” motors require a minimum of 1000 ft across launch site You must use a recovery system (parachute(s) or streamer Read the full Model Rocket Safety Code in the Handbook

14 Schedule and Budget TARC AIAA OC Rocketry Schedule: Use Microsoft Office “Excel” or Open Office “Calc” to show tasks and time – then stick to your schedule! Budget: Use the same tool to get an estimate of what you will spend on this project – then you know how much money you will need to raise

15 Research areas of expertise You might want to have each member research a different area and report to the team to share their knowledge Areas of expertise might include Payload (protect the eggs) Recovery (deliver eggs from altitude) Airframe design, fins, nose cone Rocksim CAD Design Motors and igniters Effects of weather on the rocket Collect and analyze launch data Construction and finish Budget and fundraising Discuss design concepts – you might want one joint design, or try several different designs TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

16 Evaluate potential designs Make use of your technology experts Long or short body Shape of nose cone Shape of fins Placement of egg payload Protection of egg payload Shape of parachute Black Powder or APCP motor Materials to use The list goes on and on The team needs to make educated decisions TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

17 Design and Simulate with Rocksim TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

18 RockSim – Design & Motor Selection TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

19 RockSim - Simulation TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

20 Order and receive parts and motors TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

21 Build your design(s) Construction is as important as design for consistency of flights TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

22 Test and Tune Your Design TARC AIAA OC Rocketry Record details of the vehicle, motor, flight, and weather conditions for EACH flight to use to refine your design after the launch

23 Where can you launch? TARC AIAA OC Rocketry Very restrictive - NOT in your back yard, park, or school yard State of California requires the landowners permission, the local fire authority’s permission, and often a permit ($300 - $1,000 per day) Rockets above 500g and with larger motors have more restrictions in California Best to launch at organized launches (Distances are from the city of Orange) R.O.C. in Lucerne Dry Lake past Apple Valley (about 100 miles) D.A.R.T. at Fiesta Island near San Diego (about 90 miles) S.C.R.A. at Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area (about 35 miles) – limit is 500g rockets and “C” motors in spring There are more sites even further away – we will use those if needed

The Qualification Flight  The Qualification Flights are your ticket to the finals  You can make up to 3, your final score is the sum of the best 2  There is no single qualification event – you can make a qualification flight at any launch with a NAR observer  You declare your Qualification Flight BEFORE the launch  The NAR observer will inspect your rocket before flight Safety – is it stable and well built?Safety – is it stable and well built? For rule compliance – one egg, motor size, correct altimeter, separates, payload on parachuteFor rule compliance – one egg, motor size, correct altimeter, separates, payload on parachute  He will record the results  You need to send in the results 24 TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

25 Qualify! TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

26 TARC AIAA OC Rocketry Video on line at

27 Attend Finals near Washington D.C. TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

Previous TARC Years YEARThe ChallengeTop 100Teams Mentored AIAAResult ft, 45 sec, 1500g, 2eggs, “G” motors, any recovery rd Alternate ft, 45 sec, 1500g, 1 egg on side, “G” motors, any recovery No Joy ft, sec, 1000g, 1 egg, “F” motors, streamer th National - > SLI ft, sec, 1000g, 1 egg, “G” motors, 15” parachute Too Busy with SLI ft, sec, 650g, 1egg, “F” motors, parachute Too Busy with SLI ft, sec, 650g, 1 egg on side, “F” motors, 15” parachute & 92 teams to finals ft, sec, 650g, 2 eggs, “F” motors, 2 parachutes (2 flights) teams to finals 28 TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

How can AIAA OC Section help?  Teams must be attached to a non-profit organization with a youth program such as AIAA, a school, scout troop, 4H  Each organization can have any number of teams of 3 to 10 members each, but only 3 teams can go to finals  If your school, 4H, scout troop or other youth program will not let you form a team attached to them, you can become an AIAA team or we will find other professional organization  For any team We will provide mentoring as neededWe will provide mentoring as needed We will provide a place to meet with PCs with RocksimWe will provide a place to meet with PCs with Rocksim We will provide construction materials (glue, fin jigs etc.)We will provide construction materials (glue, fin jigs etc.) We will have many launch outings to test and fine-tuneWe will have many launch outings to test and fine-tune We will help you put together a field box with essential tools and support materials – we have 10 tool boxes to LOANWe will help you put together a field box with essential tools and support materials – we have 10 tool boxes to LOAN 29 TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

Budget  Teams are responsible for their own expenses Materials to build one rocket: $25 - $50 (2 or more per design)Materials to build one rocket: $25 - $50 (2 or more per design) Motors to launch: $6 - $19 each (10 – 30 launches total)Motors to launch: $6 - $19 each (10 – 30 launches total)  Small “E” Black Powder Single Use: $6.00  Estes or Aerotech APCP “E” Single Use: $15 - $18  Estes or Aerotech APCP “F” Single Use: $18  Aerotech or Cesaroni APCP “E” Reloads: $9 - $15 + One Casing  Aerotech or Cesaroni APCP “F” Reloads: $15 - $19 + One Casing Transportation to the launches (gas and vehicle)Transportation to the launches (gas and vehicle) WHEN you make the finalsWHEN you make the finals  Air Fare to Washington DC - $400/person  Hotel ($89/room/night – share rooms)  Meals ($5-$10/meal) 30 TARC AIAA OC Rocketry Fundraising Sales: Garage, Sees Candy, Mary Kaye Cosmetics Corporate Sponsors: Industry, Aerospace, Local Businesses Do chores, beg parents to help (it’s your responsibility to raise money, not your parents)

Schedule /2 – 12/12: Sign up (completed paid application received) 9/2 – 12/12: Sign up (completed paid application received) September 20 & 28 th – AIAA OC Section TARC 2015 kick-off September 20 & 28 th – AIAA OC Section TARC 2015 kick-off October 11: ROCtober Youth Launch at Lucerne Dry Lake October 11: ROCtober Youth Launch at Lucerne Dry Lake November 8: ROCstock – large launch at Lucerne Dry Lake November 8: ROCstock – large launch at Lucerne Dry Lake Sept – Dec: Design, build, and test – the earlier the better Sept – Dec: Design, build, and test – the earlier the better2015 Jan – 3/30: Refine design and continue to test Jan – 3/30: Refine design and continue to test 3/30 – Must have completed all qualification flights 3/30 – Must have completed all qualification flights 3/30 – Qualification flight forms RECEIVED at AIA 3/30 – Qualification flight forms RECEIVED at AIA 4/3 – top 100 teams announced 4/3 – top 100 teams announced 5/9 – Final Fly-offs near Washington DC 5/9 – Final Fly-offs near Washington DC 5/10 – Alternate Final Fly-off in case of inclement weather 5/10 – Alternate Final Fly-off in case of inclement weather More Information TARC AIAA OC Rocketry

32 How to proceed from here TARC AIAA OC Rocketry Teams can go on line to sign up OR complete the “TARC 2015 Application Packet” Each team member needs to submit the completed and signed “Parent/Guardian Consent & Release Form” – this can also be done on line

33 A Few General Tips TARC AIAA OC Rocketry New teams might want to build and fly 2.6” rocket kit as a group, or have each member build and fly a smaller kit to get some experience before designing. Start as soon as possible with your design – time passes very fast and school must come first. Select your motor early from RockSim and validate with test flights – motors can be difficult to find December - March After you select and validate which motor you will be using, buy all the motors you need at one time with the same lot number Prepare for bad weather and cancelled launches January through March Our Favorite Launch Site – Lucerne Dry Lake – isn’t always Dry

Thank you Questions? 34 TARC AIAA OC Rocketry Disclaimer: Read the handbook and the rules. If there is any discrepancy between this presentation and the official NAR and AIA documents, those documents win.