NAR American Rocketry Competition 2023

The NAR Rocketry Competition is an annual event that challenges participants to design, build, and launch a rocket to a specific altitude within a set time frame. 

Recently, I had the pleasure of working with a group of high school students who had a passion for rocketry and wanted to participate in the competition. Together, we formed a team and spent countless hours designing and building our rocket, testing different prototypes, and fine-tuning the details to ensure that it would perform at its best during the competition. Our team worked hard to develop our technical skills and knowledge, and we were excited to see how our rocket would fare against the competition.

Construction

REFLECTION

Participating in the NAR Rocketry Competition was an enriching experience for me and my team, despite not making it to the finals. We put in a lot of effort and learned so much from the whole process. We learned about aerodynamics, engineering, and the mechanics of rocket building, including how to troubleshoot issues that arose during the process. By working on our rockets, we gained hands-on experience and improved our technical skills. We discovered the importance of selecting the right materials, calculating the necessary fuel and propellant, and designing the fins and nose cone for optimal stability.

Although we were disappointed by not making it to the finals, we learned that the skills we gained in the process were the real prize. We discovered the importance of persistence, problem-solving, and attention to detail. We learned that each rocket design is unique and that there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to building rockets. We also learned that failure can be a valuable teacher, and that it's essential to remain focused on our goals even when we encounter setbacks. Overall, the NAR Rocketry Competition gave us a chance to apply our theoretical knowledge and hone our rocketry skills in a practical setting.