ARC Nationals and NAR Certifications

About This Project

This year our rocket club has five students attempting to obtain their Level One certifications through the National Association of Rocketry. Acquiring the certification involves each student Purchasing rockets and motors, then building, flying, and recovering their own rocket. They must also pass both oral and written tests Before they fly their rocket. The cost per student is approximately $300. Additionally, we have a ten student high school team attempting to qualify for the American Rocketry Challenge at the national level. In order to qualify, students must launch scratch-built rockets in a precise manner, manipulating the rocket's flight characteristics to achieve a target altitude in a specified amount of time. The students this year are learning to use a 3D printer and CAD modeling software for design and are attempting to 3D print the majority of their rocket bodies. They must extensively test and refine their design through up to 40 test flights that will require a rocket motor for each test. These test flights are used to evaluate flight capabilities and ensure flight performance and OpenRocket predictions match. Rocket building materials will cost approximately $500. The cost of 40 motors will run around $2500.