June 13--A few dozen aviation campers had the chance to build and launch their own rockets to see who could claim "Rocket Man" supremacy. The activity was one of several on their first day of Aviation Summer Camp at WVU, sponsored by the NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium.
Kingwood resident Hunter Plume said that he was looking forward to the camp, questioning why someone wouldn't want to attend.
"If you launch rockets and build robots, why not? " Plume said.
Plume was part of the team that created a rocket made of Styrofoam, a plastic bottle, clay and a couple of other materials. When launched, it hung in the air for 6.64 second, the longest time in the initial round of launches.
The rockets were powered by air and water and launched with a cord that launcher and Bridgeport native John Thomas said was like pulling a string.
There are about 35 campers from across the state participating, said Marcie Raol, camp director.
Raol said the goal is to inspire middle school students in fields related to STEM education -- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
Most of Wednesday was spent doing various activities on WVU's campus, Raol said. Other events as part of the camp include trips to Clarksburg and Wheeling and hearing from NASA Astronaut and WVU alum Jon McBride.
Copyright 2013 - The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.
