Launch Learning Through the Science of Flight

Aerospace connects abstract physics to something students can see, feel, and hear. When a rocket climbs higher after a redesign, the lesson sticks. The STEM Explorers: Aerospace program puts students in the role of flight engineers—testing hypotheses, collecting data, and iterating on designs through thirty-four class periods of hands-on challenges.

Students explore how aerospace principles support professionals in fields such as

• Aerospace engineering and aircraft design
• Meteorology and atmospheric science
• Military and defense technology
• Space exploration and propulsion systems
• Sports science and projectile analysis

They do not just read about forces. They launch, measure, and redesign to prove what works.

Science

• Newton’s laws of motion applied to rocket propulsion
• Forces acting on objects in flight—thrust, drag, lift, gravity
• Controlled experimentation with single-variable testing
• Energy transformation from potential to kinetic energy

Technology

• Altitude measurement tools and data collection instruments
• Graphing and data analysis to identify trends
• Design software and engineering notebooks for documentation
• Stopwatches and precision measurement techniques

Engineering

• Iterative design process—build, test, analyze, redesign
• Designing to specifications and constraints
• Optimizing variables for maximum performance
• Presenting engineering solutions with supporting data

Math

• Measuring angles, distances, and heights
• Basic trigonometry for calculating apogee
• Graphing flight data and interpreting results
• Ratios, proportions, and unit conversion

Action Reaction (4 lessons):

• About Zip Lines—Learn about the forces that act upon zip lines

• Construct the Rocket and Zip Line—Construct, test, and observe a zip line rocket

• Let’s Investigate a Little Further—Investigate the effect of slope on zip line rocket performance

• Bear the Load—Design a balloon-powered zip line ride to transport a small character

Variables of Rocket Flight (7 lessons):

• About Rockets—Gain foundational knowledge related to rockets

• Launch Angle—Experiment with different launch angles and determine the best angle for maximum distance

• Launch Rod Height—Learn the effect of different launch rod heights on flight distance

• Achieving Accurate Flight—Design a rocket that lands inside a target within three launch attempts

• Rocket Length—Explore the impact of rocket body length on flight

• Nose Cone Mass—Vary nose cone mass and observe the effect on flight

• Fin Design—Test different fin designs and observe how each affects flight

Motion Force Mass (8 lessons):

• Propulsion—Introduction to water rockets and unit overview

• Construction—Design and construct a water bottle rocket

• Fuel Pressure Testing and Analysis I—Experiment with different air pressures to test effects on apogee

• Computing Apogee II—Experiment with different water volumes to test effects on apogee

• Fuel Pressure Testing and Analysis II—Use the altimeter and trigonometric functions to calculate apogee

• Fuel Pressure and Testing Analysis II—Experiment with fuel pressures to test effects on apogee

• Fin Design—Design different fin shapes for the water rocket and test effects on flight

• Challenge: Ready, Aim, Fire—Create a model water-delivery rocket for fighting fires