The Apolloticians from New Deal High School has qualified to compete in the national finals of the 14th annual Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC). The team will face 99 of the top rocketry teams from across the country to claim the title of national champion. The TARC Final Fly-Off will take place May 14 at Great Meadow in the Plains, V.A., outside of Washington, D.C.

“The students worked very hard to meet the requirements for this year’s challenge.  Each year the requirements change and present new challenges which in turn push the students to create new rocket designs, “said Rocky Upchurch, who also teaches mathematics, engineering, and robotics at New Deal High School.  “These are truly innovation guys who have gained experience with problem-solving, teamwork, and creativity.  Their Team Leader, Payton Smith has been the corner stone of this endeavor through his passion for space and aeronautics.  I’m very proud of what they have achieved.”

TARC is the aerospace and defense industry’s flagship program designed to encourage students to pursue study and careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The competition challenges middle and high school students to design, build and fly a rocket that meets specific altitude and flight duration parameters. This year’s rules require a rocket carrying two raw eggs to reach 850 feet before returning the eggs to Earth, uncracked, all within 44 to 46 seconds.

New Deal High school has competed in TARC for the last two years.  The first year was a very productive learning year, with multiple test flights, computer simulations, and some mentoring from Frenship High School rocketry program, the Apolloticians were able to produce a national qualifying rocket.

When asked what his favorite part of rocketry is, Team Leader Payton Smith tells us, “I honestly cannot choose a favorite part of rocketry; I find all of it interesting, but if I had to say, my favorite part is the launch. It’s very exciting and intense when a rocket leaves the ground; it gives me chills every time.”

“This is a great way to end a senior year, with three of us being seniors,” said team member Alex Diaz.  “It will be very interesting to see how other teams across the nation approach this challenge.”

Team member Robby Trevino said, “The excitement leading to the national finals has me overwhelmed and I am ready for the experience.” Robby goes on to say, “It’s very encouraging to see parts of our rocket we developed through a CAD program and then actually having it created with a 3D printer.”

The Apolloticians will compete for more than $100,000 in prizes and scholarships, and the opportunity to represent the United States at the International Rocketry Challenge taking place at the Farnborough Air Show outside of London in July. At the international fly-off, teams from the United Kingdom, France and Japan will face the U.S. champions for the international title.

Sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association, the National Association of Rocketry and more than 20 industry partners, TARC is the world’s largest rocket contest. Now in its fourteenth year, TARC has inspired more than 60,000 middle and high school students to explore education and careers in STEM fields. This year, 789 teams representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands designed and built model rockets in hopes of qualifying for the National Finals.

For more information about TARC 2016, please visit www.rocketcontest.org.

(News release from New Deal ISD)