The American Rocketry Challenge is an annual American model rocketry competition for students in grades six to 12 sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry.[1] Co-sponsors include NASA, United States Department of Defense, the American Association of Physics Teachers and the Civil Air Patrol.[2] Previously known as the "Team America Rocketry Challenge," the name was changed following the 2019 event.
The event receives local and national media coverage and usually draws well-known representatives of the Defense Department, NASA, the FAA, and other government agencies. Past National Fly-Offs have been attended by United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Rocket Boys author Homer Hickam, former NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe, U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, and former NASA Administrator, Charles Bolden.[3]
The 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017 International Fly-Offs were won by the American winners of TARC.[4][5][6][7]
- ^ Aerospace Industries Association. "Contest Background". Archived from the original on 1 August 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ Barber, Trip (2006). "Team America Rocketry Challenge, 2006". Sport Rocketry. 48 (5): 5–12.
- ^ Barber, Trip (2003). "Team America Rocketry Challenge 2003". Sport Rocketry. 45 (5): 12–23.
- ^ Ebersole, Jenna (July 26, 2010). "U.S. Penn Manor TARC rocket team tops in the world". Lancaster New Era. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- ^ Aerospace Industries Association. "American Students Win International Rocket Contest Fly-Off". Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ "U.S. Team Wins International Rocketry Competition". AIA-Aerospace. Aerospace Industries Association. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ Roberts, Jen (2017-09-13). "High school rocket club wins international competition in Paris". www.stlmag.com. Retrieved 2024-04-20.