Moving On Up students attend science camp at China Lake

Students in the Moving On Up Program are honored with certificates of completion at the end the Summer Science Rocketry Camp. They are joined by, from left, Moving On Up teachers Kenrick King , Ruth Sanchez, and Nathan Cheadle, and science camp volunteer coordinators from NAWCWD and the China Lake Museum Foundation Dr. Bob Smith, Susie Raglin, Jim Nelepovitz and Laura Nuckles. Photo by Trish Gresham..

Date: 14-Oct-10
News Release Number: ECL201010141

Dr. Bob Smith, a NAWCWD employee and science camp coordinator, explains how the soda bottle rocket experiment will work. Photo by Trish Gresham.

NAWCWD engineer Steve Griffin, known as "rocket man" to the students, explains the science of rockets during the summer camp. Photo by Trish Gresham..

The China Lake Museum Foundation, with support from the NAWCWD Educational Outreach Program, conducted two Summer Science Rocketry Camps for about 40 local Moving On Up students. The camp's theme was the science of flight, and was focused on aircraft and rockets.

"This was a great opportunity to show the students that there are interesting and rewarding careers in the science and technology fields," said NAWCWD vice commander Capt. Rich Burr, who kicked off the summer camps. "Hopefully this early exposure will spark their interest in science and math, and maybe even a career at NAWCWD."

Students learned the basics of aircraft flight from classroom lectures and gained hands-on experience using computer simulations. A takeoff-and-land contest was conducted using the simulations to stimulate interest and competition. A flight demonstration of a radio controlled model completed the aircraft portion of the program.

The science of rockets was explained with classroom demonstrations and exhibits. Hands-on experience was gained using 2-liter bottle water rockets. Each student personalized their own rocket and launched it as part of the program. To add interest and excitement, a tennis ball was set on top to the water rocket 2-liter bottles. This "second stage" flew two to three times as high as the first-stage bottle, and typically remained in the air more than six seconds. Experiments performed with these rockets included, determining the best amount of water to put in the rocket, and the performance of different weight and diameter second-stage balls.

The final day of the class featured a field trip to the Range Control Center (RCC) and Armitage Airfield. At RCC, the students visited the air traffic control center and the bays where range tests are controlled and monitored. At the airfield, students were met by one of the VX-31 pilots who took them on a tour through the facility and gave them an overview of the squadron's mission. Finally the students were treated to a close-up view and explanation of the controls and switches in the cockpit of an F/A-18E.

Additional camps are being planned. For more information, contact Trish Gresham at 760-939-8578 or patricia.gresham@navy.mil. For more information about NAWCWDs Education Outreach Program contact Gresham or Melissa Finnell at melissa.finnell@navy.mil.

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