The Rocket Club is preparing to finally participate in a championship called The American Rocketry Challenge (TARC).

 TARC is the world’s largest student rocket contest, organized by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR). This league is really difficult to participate in, since it only accepts 100 teams throughout the country to go to Washington DC to participate in a final competition.

 “I am very excited about this tournament, as I’ve mentioned before, even though this is our first time participating in TARC, I believe that with our new team of skilled and brilliant people, we can go very far,” said senior club president Dorian Florestal.

  The competition tests which team of teenagers can create a rocket that goes up and down without damaging an  egg placed inside it. Some of the rules include a target altitude of 820 feet for qualification flights. The target duration is 43-46 seconds for all flights. Also, the rocket needs to be a certain length and the rocket must be recovered with all sections attached. All the details and rules can be found  at www.rocketcontest.org.

This club was created 7 years ago, and a few years ago they were doing well. However, after the pandemic arrived, the group ended up losing many members and was almost in danger of being dissolved. However, two students revived the group and made it grow again. 

  “A new wave of students led by Aidan Venckus and Dorian Florestal created a short renaissance and interest in the club, and we’ve been riding that wave of interest since,“ said Quadros. 

 Their membership is high enough so that this year, they were able to enter this competition.

  “Our TARC team is growing as we speak, we have a lot of brilliant minds and ideas for further improving our rocket and increasing our chances of winning,” said Florestal. 

  Florestal said they have the confidence of being able to enter and win this competition.

  Even though this team is  young and has just managed to form after COVID, they are  confident and  united for this new experience.

    “I’m glad to see that a new generation of students are interested in learning, building and flying with us again,”said Quadros