Press Release:
Contact (updated 8/12/2008): Wanda Pan-Christiansen, Executive Director
The Lyceum of Monterey County
831-372-6098
wanda@lyceum.org
Lyceum Teens say Ready, Set, Launch……
Each year, over 10,000 students in Monterey County, including Salinas and Salinas Valley, participate in Lyceum programs and academic events. From the arts, sciences, music, languages and technology, to the Monterey County History Day, Mock Trial and 4th/5th Grade Spelling Bee, our programs are structured to excite each child’s intellect and bolster his/her academic skills and self-confidence – that is, to inspire a love of learning that will last them a lifetime. We are working hard to expand our hands-on, experiential offerings throughout Salinas and Salinas Valley at this time, please contact us with ideas, community needs, and suggestions! We are also searching for locations and partnerships in the Salinas area to hold joint-classes.
Local Students Launch High Power Rocket
Four local students built a high power rocket, and plan to launch it at a site southwest of Fresno on Sunday, November 20th. The ten-pound, six-foot tall rocket, which they named “Prometheus”, should attain an altitude of over 2,500 feet before deploying a parachute and safely descending. The four students are part of a Lyceum of Monterey County sponsored science class, titled: “Blast Off With Rocket Science”. Jonathan Gordon (8th grade, Pacific Grove), Matt Djubasak (8th Grade, Monterey), Rebecca Rosen (11th Grade, Carmel), and Benjamin Schmidt (9th grade, Carmel) constructed the rocket over a period of five Saturday mornings. The goal of the class is to promote interest in science and engineering. The students learned the techniques necessary to build a high power rocket from cardboard, wood, and plastic parts. They learned about post-World War II rocket programs and developed teamwork skills.
The class instructor, Lance Wright from Pacific Grove, is a member of Tripoli, the national high power rocketry organization, and holds a Level 2 high power rocketry certification.
The rocket was modeled after the American MX-774 rocket that was built in the 1950’s. The MX-774 was a precursor to the Altas family of rockets, which were a key part of the early American space exploration and ICBM programs.
The rocket was constructed in accordance with the Tripoli Safety Code, and the motor was purchased and used at the launch site in accordance with BATFE regulations. The model rocket uses the same rocket fuel as the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters, and will be launched with a motor with over 700 newton-seconds of total impulse. This is around 50 times the power in the small model rockets that can be purchased at hobby stores. The launch will be conducted by Tripoli Central California, a high power rocket club, which obtained a waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration for airspace clearance to launch model rockets up to 17,000 feet.
The Lyceum's mission is to inspire a life-long love of learning. We accomplish this by offering enrichment classes that aim to stimulate individual creativity, intellectual promise and academic motivation in children. The Lyceum's uniquely diverse program enriches the daily lives of children. We help them not only prepare for the future, but to have an impact on it. The Lyceum of Monterey County is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Check out our website at: www.Lyceum.Org.
