11 replies to this topic

[Righteous Fondue]

Has anyone else participated in TARC at their local school/youth group/etc.? I did it this year, and my team qualified, so we'll be heading to Washington D.C. for Nationals in May, and it'd be pretty sweet to see and/or meet some nerfers there. If you did do it, what results have you had? What fatal errors have you had? Any interesting stories to share?

For anyone who doesn't know what this is, we essentially have to:
"Build and fly for a qualification score before March 25, 2013, a model rocket that carries one raw egg “on its side” to an altitude of 750 feet, stays airborne for between 48 and 50 seconds using a 15-inch-diameter parachute as the sole recovery system, having a gross liftoff weight of no more than 650 grams, and a rocket motor no bigger than 80 N-sec of total impulse (power class “F”). "

I think this should be fine in Off-Topic, if I'm wrong, Moderators please close this.

Edited by Righteous_Fondue, 20 February 2013 - 12:36 AM.

[DartSlinger]

I haven't participated, but this sounds very interesting. What is your design like, especially the rocket motor and fuel type.

If the egg breaks, are you disqualified?

[Daniel Beaver]

Could you link to some more information about this? I have never heard of it.

[Righteous Fondue]

Here's the link

Our rocket is a relatively simple one, it's a single stage, runs on F20-4W or F20-7W motors, breaks into two sections when the ejection charge goes off. Yes, if the egg breaks you fail that attempt, and if it happens at Nationals you are disqualified from the competition, but if something fails due to manafacturers error, like the engine not deploying the ejection charge (as what happened with one of my team's rockets), igniters not lighting the motor, or the motor exploding (this also happened to my team)
There's always a moment after your rocket hits apogee and starts it's descent before the parachute deploys where you hold your breath and hope it comes down safely. If it doesn't...
Well, not many rockets survive hitting concrete or even dirt at near terminal velocity.

[Draconis]

Too much cardboard. Needs moar foam.

[Icysushi]

Thank you for posting this,I never knew about this and will definately mention this to some of my tech teachers at school. I'm assuming it is too late to enter this year, but when do you have to register( for future refrence)?

[Paddyb98]

Alright, I'm no genius with model rockets (I've taken a few summer classes), but I am a bit curious as to where you can successfully retrieve rockets with Class F motors after you launch them. We used to fire of class C's and almost always lose half of them.

Edited by Paddyb98, 20 February 2013 - 08:59 PM.

[DartSlinger]

I am a bit curious as to where you can successfully retrieve rockets with Class F motors after you launch them. We used to fire of class C's and almost always lose half of them.

If you launch them in a large open field, you can track where they land by just watching the rocket float down on its parachute.

[Righteous Fondue]

Thank you for posting this,I never knew about this and will definately mention this to some of my tech teachers at school. I'm assuming it is too late to enter this year, but when do you have to register( for future refrence)?

I think Registration is due in November or September, I'd talk to your teachers now and get things ready for next year. My school is even thinking about making it an elective next year, which would be pretty cool.

[Jilliop]

YES I am involved in this at my school!We haven't actually tested our rocket though, not even built it, so whenever we do I will let you know! It's my first year, and congrats on nationals! If we make it I will see you there

[Righteous Fondue]

YES I am involved in this at my school!We haven't actually tested our rocket though, not even built it, so whenever we do I will let you know! It's my first year, and congrats on nationals! If we make it I will see you there

Glad to hear! My team started in early January, as soon as we got our parts in, so we also got to take advantage of the extra third qualification flight you get if you fly before February 18th or so.

[Jilliop]

Glad to hear! My team started in early January, as soon as we got our parts in, so we also got to take advantage of the extra third qualification flight you get if you fly before February 18th or so.

We started in November, but we focused on building rockets that weren't relevant to the challenge. We just needed some experience because our whole team, save for one person, were new to it. So odds are, we won't make it to nationals, but good luck