Delaware Rockets for Schools soar Saturday

1:16 p.m., May 6, 2004--The Smokin’ Plover high-powered rocket will be launched as the exciting climax to the eighth annual Delaware Rockets for Schools Program, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., with the launch scheduled for 2 p.m, Saturday, May 8, at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes. The program is designed to increase awareness of engineering, math, technology, space and environmental sciences.

The event will be held rain or shine and is free, but park entrance fees will be in effect, which are $2.50 for Delaware residents and $5 for all others. More than 3,000 persons are expected to attend the launch day.

The event will feature rocket launchings contests, kite demonstrations, “Launching a Dream” space shuttle bus tours, a Coast Guard helicopter search and rescue demonstration, a police helicopter, poster contest and other activities. Schools from throughout Delaware and the Delaware Civil Air Patrol will participate.

Launched by Pinnacle Aerospace for the fifth year, the Smokin’ Plover rocket is 12 feet long and 4.25 inches in diameter. It develops an average of 1,100 pounds of thrust, accelerating the rocket to a maximum velocity of 1,500 miles per hour several seconds after the launch. Delaware Technical & Community College will provide the rocket’s payload, which will send information back throughout the flight as an engineering test of electronic data-gathering systems. Other rockets will be launched after the Smokin’ Plover.

The program is sponsored by the AeroSpace Education Department and the Delaware AeroSpace Education Foundation in conjunction with the Aerospace States Association, Delaware Space Grant and several other state, federal and private-sector organizations.

For more information, call (302) 738-7749 or (302) 645-8983 or visit [www.dasef.org].

Article by Sue Moncure

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