COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

PRINS. MEMO NO. 25

April 2, 2002

ELEMENTARY / MIDDLE / SECONDARY

TO:	Principals
FROM:	Patricia I. Wright Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
SUBJECT:	Team America Rocketry Challenge

In celebration of the 2003 centennial of powered flight, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) has teamed with the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) to sponsor the "Team America Rocketry Challenge," a rocket design and launch contest for U.S. high school students. The five winning student teams will share a total prize pool of approximately $50,000 in savings bonds. Their supervising teachers' schools will share $9,000 in cash.

The Challenge involves designing, building, and flying a multi-stage model rocket weighing less than 3.3 pounds at liftoff. The payload requirements involve taking two raw eggs, remaining unbroken in flight, and an electronic altimeter. During the flight, the rocket must maintain, as close as possible, an altitude of 1500 feet. The fly-off competition will be held in Northern Virginia on April 12, 2003.

To obtain the contest-entry application, visit the AIA website at:

http://www.aia-aerospace.org/aianews/features/team_america/team_america.cfm

AIA represents the nation's major manufacturers of commercial, military and business aircraft, helicopters, aircraft engines, missiles, spacecraft, related components, and other materials. The NAR is the nation's largest and oldest non-profit organization for sport-rocketry consumers, focusing primarily on education, public information, and the establishment of nationally recognized safety standards for sport-rocket motors and sport-rocket flying.

For additional information contact J. P. Stevens at 202-371-8514 or mailto:jstevens@aia-aerospace.org.

PIW/GRW/ahr