Rocket Derby

Description

Pack 680 celebrates space exploration with our annual October Rocket Derby.  The rockets are pop rockets powered by air and water.  Each scout will get to launch a rocket once, whether it was built individually or as part of a team. Individual building allows a scout to focus on winning a style category, while team building leads to maybe meeting somebody new and practicing teamwork in building the rocket.

Supplies Needed 

Your son will need to bring a 2 liter plastic soda bottle.  Do not bring a plastic water bottle.  Water bottles are thinner and not designed for the CO2 gas that a soda bottle is designed for (40-55 psi at room temperature pressure when you buy them at the store, max rating 150 psi). We pressurize the rockets to 50 psi when launching.

The pack has some decoration supplies, but you are encouraged to supply markers, crayons, stickers, construction paper, and anything else your son might be interested in using to decorate his rocket.

Rules

1. [If building as teams] Each team will be given basic supplies to construct their rockets.  Following a brief explanation of how to build the rockets, each team will be given about 45 minutes to build and decorate its rocket.
2. Boys are permitted to be creative in their design in order to try and get the longest flight time. Parachutes, rifled fins, airfoils, and other tricks are fun to watch. They often don’t work, but this event is about your scout dreaming the possible into life!
3. The rockets will be turned into the derby chairs for show category judging and fueling with water.
4. Once the rockets have been judged and fueled, teams will be called up one at a time to have their rocket placed on the launch pad and pressurized.  Adults will be responsible for pressurizing the rockets and all rockets will be given equal pressure.
5. The boys will launch the rocket under adult supervision.
6. The flight will be timed from lift-off (first motion) until the rocket hits the ground or otherwise completely comes to rest (for example, landed in a tree).
7. A team rocket can be launched a second time by the other scout. Please note that we will not allow repairs or modifications to be made to any rocket after its first launch.  If the rocket gets damaged during the first launch, it will have to fly as-is. If the plastic bottle becomes damaged and can’t be safely pressurized, the derby chair will make a determination about whether to permit the scouts to build a new rocket.
8. Awards will be given out for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for longest flight time.
9. Certificates will be given out for the show categories.  Show categories are:  Most Humorous, Most Patriotic, Most Colorful, Most Creative, Most Spooky, and Most Futuristic, Best Scouting Themed, and Most Awesome. The “Most Awesome” award is selected by the scouts themselves.