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Team America Rocketry ChallengeTeam America Rocketry Challenge(TARC)(TARC)

2013-20142013-2014

September 2013 Kick-off MeetingSeptember 2013 Kick-off Meeting

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Video on line at http://aiaaocrocketry.org/AIAAOCRocketryDocs/TARC2013/TARC_TeamAmericaRocketryChallenge.wmv

Team America Rocketry ChallengeTeam America Rocketry Challenge

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

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What is TARCWhat is TARC Team America Rocketry ChallengeTeam America Rocketry Challenge International Rocketry ContestInternational Rocketry Contest Up to 1000 teamsUp to 1000 teams 77thth through 12 through 12thth graders graders Compete for scholarships andCompete for scholarships and

a trip to an Air Show in Europea trip to an Air Show in Europe Each year a challenge is issuedEach year a challenge is issued

• Maximum weightMaximum weight• Certain altitudeCertain altitude• Duration of flightDuration of flight• PayloadPayload

Your team designs, builds, and flies your design to meet the Your team designs, builds, and flies your design to meet the challengechallenge

Top 100 teams compete in finals Top 100 teams compete in finals Top 20 teams go on to compete in NASA Student Launch InitiativeTop 20 teams go on to compete in NASA Student Launch Initiative

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2013 – 2014 Challenge2013 – 2014 Challenge Attain an altitude of exactly 825 ftAttain an altitude of exactly 825 ft Flight duration must be 48 – 50 secondsFlight duration must be 48 – 50 seconds Must carry a payload of two raw hen’s Must carry a payload of two raw hen’s

eggs & return undamagedeggs & return undamaged• Eggs can be flown in any orientation Eggs can be flown in any orientation

(vertical/horizontal)(vertical/horizontal)• Each egg must weigh 57 – 63 gramsEach egg must weigh 57 – 63 grams

Rocket must stay tethered togetherRocket must stay tethered together Recovery of the rocket must be two Recovery of the rocket must be two

parachutes of equal sizeparachutes of equal size Rocket may be any size but must weigh Rocket may be any size but must weigh

less than 650less than 650 Powered by “F” or lower motor(s) listed in Powered by “F” or lower motor(s) listed in

approved motorsapproved motors Team members (not adults) do the workTeam members (not adults) do the work There are more rules – see the Team There are more rules – see the Team

Handbook – the final authorityHandbook – the final authority55

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2013 – 2014 Scoring2013 – 2014 Scoring Similar to golf – the lower the score the betterSimilar to golf – the lower the score the better Target altitude is 825 ftTarget altitude is 825 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-Accuracy is down to 1 foot measured by an on-

board altimeterboard altimeter Target time window is 48 to 50 seconds from Target time window is 48 to 50 seconds from

liftoff until the rocket touches down (or can no liftoff until the rocket touches down (or can no longer be seen)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 by observers on Time is measured to .01 seconds by observers on

the groundthe ground Up to three Qualification Flights must be made Up to three Qualification Flights must be made

between 9/2/2013 and 3/31/2014 – you MUST between 9/2/2013 and 3/31/2014 – you MUST make twomake two

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Final score is the average of the two best scoresScores must be received by at the offices of AIA by 3/31/2014One point will be deducted for teams that submit at least one score before 3/2/2014 (that is good – lower scores are better)

Previous TARC YearsPrevious TARC YearsYEAR Top

100AIAA Result

2008 750ft, 45 sec, 1500g, 2eggs, “G” motors, any recovery

22.20 22.28 3rd Alternate

2009 750ft, 45 sec, 1500g, 1 egg on side, “G” motors, any recovery

17.60 23.60 No Joy

2010 825 ft, 40-45 sec, 1000g, 1 egg, “F” motors, streamer

29.60 4.00 8th National -> SLI

2011 750ft, 40-45 sec, 1000g, 1 egg, “G” motors, 15” parachute

15.87 31.86 Too Busy with SLI

2012 800ft, 43-47 sec, 650g, 1egg, “F” motors, parachute

13.20 21.13 Too Busy with SLI

2013 750ft, 48-50 sec, 650g, 1 egg on side, “F” motors, 15” parachute

16.12 4 & 9 No Joy at Nationals

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Skill: TeamworkSkill: Teamwork

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Communications…Communications…I know that you believe you understand what you I know that you believe you understand what you

think I said,think I said,

but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meantwhat I meant

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PlanningPlanning

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How are you going to do this?How are you going to do this?

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• Assemble a team• Read and understand the rules in the handbook• Read and understand the NAR Safety Rules• Meet often as a team to discuss and execute• Ask yourselves: What do we need to know?• Make a plan including timetable and budget• Research the topics from what we need to know• Design your rocket using a CAD program• Simulate your rocket’s flight & select your approved motor• Fine tune the design and the motor selection• Order parts and motors• Build your rocket• Test Fly your rocket and compare against simulation• Modify your design and test fly again (iterative)• Declare qualification flights and fly your rocket

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NAR Safety Code HighlightsNAR Safety Code Highlights

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• 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

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Assemble a teamAssemble a team

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• Teams must be 3 – 10 members• All members must be in 7th through 12th grades•You need a lot of different skills – not just “rocket scientists”

• Members that like to lead and manage a team • Technical members to help design• Mechanically oriented members to help build• Members familiar with the computer• 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 first qualification flight

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Early Team TasksEarly Team Tasks

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• Identify a project manager to be responsible for the team• Each team member should read and understand the contest and safety rules in the Handbook• 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

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Schedule and BudgetSchedule and Budget

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•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

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Research areas of expertiseResearch 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

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Technology leads share researchTechnology leads share research

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Discuss design conceptsDiscuss design concepts

Use the research from team technology leads to begin your design

You might want one to start out with one design, or want to test concepts with several designs

You might want one joint design, or one from each of several team members

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Evaluate potential designsEvaluate potential designsMake 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

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Determine how to protect your payloadDetermine how to protect your payload

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Test your PayloadTest your Payload

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Design and Simulate with RocksimDesign and Simulate with Rocksim

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RockSim – Design & Motor SelectionRockSim – Design & Motor Selection

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RockSim - SimulationRockSim - Simulation

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Order and receive parts and motorsOrder and receive parts and motors

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Build your design(s)Build your design(s)Construction is as important as design for consistency of flightsConstruction is as important as design for consistency of flights

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Where can you launch?Where can you launch?

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• 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

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Test and Tune Your DesignTest and Tune Your Design

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The Qualification FlightThe Qualification Flight The Qualification Flights are your The Qualification Flights are your

ticket to the finalsticket to the finals You can make up to 3, your final You can make up to 3, your final

score is the average of the best 2score is the average of the best 2 There is no single qualification There is no single qualification

event – you can make a event – you can make a qualification flight at any time there qualification flight at any time there is an independent senior NAR is an independent senior NAR member present and an adult to member present and an adult to observe at a launchobserve at a launch

You declare your Qualification Flight You declare your Qualification Flight BEFORE the launchBEFORE the launch

The NAR observer will inspect your The NAR observer will inspect your rocket before flightrocket before flight• For safety – should it be stable and is it For safety – should it be stable and is it

built well?built well?• For rule compliance – two eggs, motor For rule compliance – two eggs, motor

size, correct altimeter, correct parachutessize, correct altimeter, correct parachutes2929

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The Qualification Flight Cont’dThe Qualification Flight Cont’d The NAR observer will The NAR observer will

watch and time your flightwatch and time your flight The NAR observer will The NAR observer will

inspect your rocket after inspect your rocket after flightflight• The observer will record your The observer will record your

altitude and timesaltitude and times• The observer will inspect your The observer will inspect your

eggs for damageeggs for damage• The observer will inspect your The observer will inspect your

rocket for serious damage – it rocket for serious damage – it must be able to fly againmust be able to fly again

Send your scores in to Send your scores in to TARC/AIA to be received by TARC/AIA to be received by 11:59PM EST on 3/31/201411:59PM EST on 3/31/2014

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Qualify!Qualify!

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Video on line at http://aiaaocrocketry.org/AIAAOCRocketryDocs/TARC2013/ASAT_TARC2010-W-Beeps.wmv

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Attend Finals near Washington D.C.Attend Finals near Washington D.C.

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Top 20 teams invited to SLITop 20 teams invited to SLI NASA Student Launch Initiative program NASA Student Launch Initiative program

by invitation onlyby invitation only Learning opportunity working with Learning opportunity working with

NASA including:NASA including:Design, construction, scheduling, Design, construction, scheduling, purchasing, finance, logistics, press, purchasing, finance, logistics, press, educational engagement, web site educational engagement, web site development, technical documentation, development, technical documentation, scientific payload design, testing for a scientific payload design, testing for a reusable lanch vehiclescientific payloadreusable lanch vehiclescientific payload

Organized similar to NASA project life Organized similar to NASA project life cyclecycle

Write Proposal, Preliminary, Critical, and Write Proposal, Preliminary, Critical, and Flight Readiness Reviews and present via Flight Readiness Reviews and present via WebEx to engineers at Marshall Space WebEx to engineers at Marshall Space Flight Center, Tour Marshall Space Flight Flight Center, Tour Marshall Space Flight Center, Exhibit at Rocket Fair, Launch Center, Exhibit at Rocket Fair, Launch rocket in Huntsville, Alabamarocket in Huntsville, Alabama

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How can AIAA OC Section help?How can AIAA OC Section help?

Teams must be attached to a non-profit organization with a Teams must be attached to a non-profit organization with a youth program such as AIAA, a school, scout troop, 4Hyouth program such as AIAA, a school, scout troop, 4H

Each organization can have up to 5 teams of 3 to 10 members Each organization can have up to 5 teams of 3 to 10 members eacheach

If your school, 4H, scout troop or other youth program will not If your school, 4H, scout troop or other youth program will not let you form a team attached to them, AIAA can have 5 teams let you form a team attached to them, AIAA can have 5 teams or help find other professional organizations to helpor help find other professional organizations to help

For any teamFor 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 We will help you put together a field box with essential tools and

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BudgetBudget Teams are responsible for their own expensesTeams 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: $6.00Small “E” Black Powder Single Use: $6.00 Estes or Aerotech APCP “E” Single Use: $15 - $18Estes or Aerotech APCP “E” Single Use: $15 - $18 Estes or Aerotech APCP “F” Single Use: $18Estes or Aerotech APCP “F” Single Use: $18 Aerotech or Cesaroni APCP “E” Reloads: $9 - $15 + One CasingAerotech or Cesaroni APCP “E” Reloads: $9 - $15 + One Casing Aerotech or Cesaroni APCP “F” Reloads: $15 - $19 + One CasingAerotech 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/personAir Fare to Washington DC - $400/person Hotel ($89/room/night – share rooms)Hotel ($89/room/night – share rooms) Meals ($5-$10/meal)Meals ($5-$10/meal)

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FundraisingSales: Garage, Sees Candy, Mary Kaye CosmeticsCorporate Sponsors: Industry, Aerospace, Local BusinessesDo chores, beg parents to help (it’s your responsibility to raise money, not theirs)

ScheduleSchedule20132013

• 9/2 – 12/31: Sign up9/2 – 12/31: Sign up• September – AIAA OC Section TARC 2013 kick-offSeptember – AIAA OC Section TARC 2013 kick-off• Sept – Dec: Design, build, and test – the earlier the betterSept – Dec: Design, build, and test – the earlier the better

20142014• Jan – 3/31: Refine design and continue to testJan – 3/31: Refine design and continue to test• 3/2 – Should have completed first qualification flight3/2 – Should have completed first qualification flight• 3/31 – Must have completed all qualification flights3/31 – Must have completed all qualification flights• 3/31 – Qualification flight forms RECEIVED at AIA3/31 – Qualification flight forms RECEIVED at AIA• 4/4 – top 100 teams announced4/4 – top 100 teams announced• 5/10 – Final Fly-offs near Washington DC5/10 – Final Fly-offs near Washington DC

More InformationMore Informationhttp://rocketcontest.orghttp://AIAAOCRocketry.orghttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/NARTARChttp://www.nar.org 3737

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How to proceed from hereHow to proceed from here

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Team completes the “TARC 2014 Application Packet”

Each team member completes the “Parent/Guardian Consent & Release Form”

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A Few General TipsA Few General Tips

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• 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• Buy all the motors you need at one time with the same lot number• There can be a long lead time on motors starting December as 1000 teams buy 20 similar motors each from just a few manufacturers• Prepare for bad weather and cancelled launches January through March

Our Favorite Launch Site – Lucerne Dry Lake – isn’t always Dry

Thank youThank you

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Questions?Questions?

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