Rocketry - Introducing the engineering marvel to students

Throughout the history of development in science and technology, rocketry has found wide applications in research and development. Ranging from a being a hobby to the varied crucial applications that it finds in military and space exploration missions, Rocketry

has an indispensable place in the science and technology era.

Being one of the most innovative tools developed by human beings, rockets are our windows to the outer space. They are the vehicles carrying material, information, and the seeds of discovery and invention to and from the outer space. Rocketry has given means to humanity to reach out to the otherwise unreachable and unexplored vastness of the outer space. As such, it has played a crucial role in the development of life and society back home on earth.

There are different types of rockets. They may be tiny model rockets, made up of paper, cardboard and using material like balloons, water and so on, or they may be missiles or space probes. Rocketry programs are a great learning tool in the classroom. In many schools and other education institutions around the globe rocketry is used for teaching physics. Construction and design of rockets makes for interesting engineering programs for school students.

The beauty of the study of rocketry lies in the simplicity of its basic principles. The motion of a rocket is a direct application of the Newton’s laws of motion and gravitation. These basic laws of physics govern the functioning of most of the world around as we see it. Yet, rocketry is a simple and indigenous application of these laws of nature. As such, rocketry is an amazing training and teaching tool because of the ease with which it connects the simple principles of physics to the application of a rocket’s motion. Rocketry integrates the principles of physics and engineering to various aspects of the rocket’s design, motion, trajectory, launch, payload etc.

At Space Trek, we curated a Rocketry camp with an aim to teach all these principles in a fun way to students. Our 3-days rocketry camp has been developed and conducted by some of industry’s most experienced instructors. To be ahead of a rapidly developing rocketry scenario, our curriculum developers keep innovating and updating the activities.

Students work in teams to design and launch a rocket. The core philosophy at Space Trek is to make students learn by doing. Following a project-based learning approach, the educators and experts at Space Trek have developed an innovative curriculum to teach Rocketry to students. Using state of the art technology, students immerse in an engaging project where they get a hands-on experience of applying the principles of physics in real life situations.

The Rocketry program at Space Trek uses the STEM integrated learning approach. Teaching Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to students in an industry- simulated approach is important to give them an exposure of industry and prepare them for the STEM careers ahead with the correct training and skill development. With an increase in the demand for STEM skills, it has become all the more imperative that program such as rocketry is taught and being introduced with the engineering programs for school students.

At Space Trek, students are challenged to work in teams and get into the shoes of industry experts. Playing different roles in a small scale NASA launch team, they fulfil the different responsibilities assigned to their respective roles while also ensuring the success of their simulated NASA mission.

Students not only work on the construction, design and modelling of rockets, they also learn how to launch their rockets into specific orbits while maintaining the correct speed and acceleration and ensuring the safety of the payload. While on their mission, they learn the important soft skills like team work, leadership, team management as well as the crucial scientific skills of accuracy and precision. The teams with the most accurate results are awarded with medals. These winning medals and the participation certificates prove to be a great source of encouragement amongst the students.