Nelson urges students to take up Rocketry Challenge

Tuesday, June 18, 2002

WASHINGTON -- Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson today encouraged Nebraska high school students to participate in the "Team America Rocketry Challenge," a national contest sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry.

The "Challenge" requires students to design, build, and fly a multi-stage model rocket weighing less that 3.3 pounds at liftoff and that can carry two raw eggs and an electric altimeter as close to 1500 feet as possible. A fly-off competition for the top 100 teams will be held in Northern Virginia in April, 2003.

"The Challenge will give Nebraska's students a hands-on opportunity to explore the fields of science and technology," said Nelson.

"These critical career fields will face shortages in coming years. Through the Challenge, young people can explore these fields while having fun and learning more about engineering and aerospace technology."

Five winning student teams will be chosen nationwide. They will share a total prize pool of approximately $50,000 in savings bonds and the teams' school science department will receive a cash prize of $9,000.

The contest celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight in December of 1903.

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