Weather conditions were just about perfect as the students from the Pupil Referral Unit prepared to launch their model rockets; blue skies, unlimited visibility, reasonable winds from the east. The students have been building their model rockets and learning about rocketry and space travel for three months. The rockets that they built are each 14.5 inches tall.

Delrado Harrigan preparing to launch his model rocket

They are models of the Cross Bow SST, and they each have 8 fins. After some initial preparation at the PRU campus, the students and staff loaded into cars and set out for the launch site in the Forest. Each rocket is propelled by a small solid fuel engine, and they each have a parachute for recovery.

At the launch site, the students completed the final preparations for launch; they inserted inflammable tissue into the rocket tube, folded and packed the plastic parachute and shock cord, inserted the igniter wire into the engine, and placed the rocket on the launch pad. To launch these graceful vehicles, the students attached small alligator clips to each of the igniter wires. The clips are attached to a long wire that leads to the battery-powered launch control panel. The launch control has a safety key. When all systems were ready, the students checked to be sure the launch area was clear, pushed in the safety key in order to illuminate the launch light, and then pushed the launch button.

With a loud ‘whoosh’ the rockets exploded into the air, leaving a trail of smoke. At about 200 feet the engines burned out and the parachutes ejected, and the rockets slowly descended to earth. The boys certainly had their exercise as they chased after the rockets and tried to catch them before they hit the ground. These rockets are reusable, and can be launched again by inserting a new engine.

The rocketry unit is funded through a grant from the Anguilla Community Foundation. In addition to building the rockets, the students are learning about the space program, the solar system, aerodynamics (force, thrust, gravity, lift), Newton’s Third Law of Motion (for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction), and measurement.

Now that they have built and launched these starter rockets, they will attempt to build a much more complex rocket over the course of the next few weeks.

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