Although Sunday did not go as smoothly as planned for our Rocket Club, their resilience and perseveration shone through, and we couldn’t be prouder!
We first lost our training rocket due to engine failure. The rocket soared up perfectly, but a glitch in production meant the deployment charge didn’t trigger, resulting in a return to the ground without a parachute. Our rocket hit the ground at 58mph! Undeterred, we tested another motor to rule out any issues with the batch. The test went fine, giving us hope that we maybe had a rouge motor.
With newfound confidence, we prepared and launched the NOAB C Rocket. The rocket launched beautifully but suffered a double engine failure and another parachute-less descent, writing off the rocket. The altimeter did survive however, albeit with a slight shortfall of about 55ft.
Our students truly embodied our school value of Work Hard, Never Give Up. When asked if this meant we would not be going to Chippenham, one of our students replied, “yes we will, we will just build a better one.”
We would like to give a huge thank you to the Dartmoor Slope Soaring Club who took time to speak to our parents and students and gave invaluable insights into RC gliders and the hobby as a whole. Their encouragement lifted our spirits, proving that setbacks are just part of the journey.
We will be improving our rockets with lightweight filament and carbon fibre, ready to hit the correct altitude next time!
Well done rocketeers and a big thank you to all the parents whose unwavering support makes this possible.
#NeverGiveUp
