BZ-UncMtT Firming, Saturday, August 7,1982
vervin Martin, 4-H leader, and Daryl . own it by rei
work at attaching the cord which will ignite the simple “Push thebotton.”
Roeketiy launches a new
project
BY SALLY BAIR
Staff Correspondent
The launch pad is not exactly
Cape Kennedy, and the countdown
is little more than “Push the
button'.” but the excitement of the
launch is thrilling to the members
of the 4-H rocketry project.
The rocketry project is just one
of over a hundred projects offered
in Lancaster County’s 4-H
program, but it is a good example
of the fact that “4-H ain’t just cows
and cooking anymore.”
JJ. Bradley gets ready to launch his six foot rocket which
other 4-H members refer to fondly as "the spear."
in the 4-H world
Rockets will be launched as one
of the demonstrations which will
be a part of the 4-H Fair to be held
August 19 at the Farm and Home
Center as the final activity and
recognition of the summer’s
project work.
Kervin Martin, Penryn, is the
leader of the rocketry project for
the Elm-Penryn Community 4-H
Club, and has been teaching
youngsters to make their own
rockets for the last five years. He
is never in need of members - they
Countdown is a
come forward eagerly to be a part
of his project.
This year his club has ten
members with most being first
year 4-H’ers. However, Kervin’s
two sons, Curtis, 16, and Shawn, 13,
have been in the project for several
years.
In the first year, members learn
to build their own rockets and are
required to launch them at least
twice. There is often more op
portunity to launch them, and the
members seem eager for every
chance.
According to Martin, the project
affords the youngsters the op
portunity to learn many things, but
he lists “patience” first when he
talks about them. He added, “They
also learn simple math skills and
some physics. When they see it in
action they understand it. ”
The small rockets are made
from balsa wood and cardboard
as a
rocket is launched in the backyard of 4-H leader Kervin Mar
tin. Each try is a new experience and offers new excitement,
although the procedure for each launch is the same.
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Martin helps as his 4-H’ers work industriously to get their
rockets ready for the big moment. They are putting in the
wadding and adding parachutes or streamers to make sure
they return safely to earth.
tftcmesfead
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tubing, and can be designed to the
wishes of the individual. Martin
says he purchases the parts to save
the children money, and they
design their own. He estimates
that a rocket may cost between
$3.00 and $B.OO to complete.
Just as the government space
program sometimes hits a few
snags, so it is with the 4-H rocket
project. There is the constant
threat of losing a rocket.
After observing a launch it
seems impossible that a rocket
could disappear from sight, but
Martin says it happens, lie adds,
“It is a disappointment when it
happens to an eight-year-old who
has worked really hard. It is really
a heartbreaker.”
It happened this year to nine
year-old Bill Shenk'jvho said, “It
just disappeared. It never landed. 1
worked pretty hard on it. Now I’m
making my second one. ’ ’
The rockets are launched either
in Martin’s backyard, in a nearby
elementary school playground or a
high school. The igniter is attached
to a car battery but can be laun
ched by a six volt lantern battery.
Martin says he carries two of
everything when traveling to a
launch.
When asked about the danger,
Martin replies, “It isn’t as
dangerous as it looks. Everything
works electrically. They are
launched by remote control. ”
When the rocket falls there is
also little danger of being hit by
one. “There’s nothing to it - it
might scare somebody.’’
Launching the rockets is not just
exciting, it is also a learning ex
perience. At each launch, a
tracker, usually son Curt, uses a
protractor to help figure the
distance and feet per second that
the rocket travels. As soon as the
rocket is recovered everyone
gathers round to hear that in
formation as Martin figures it with
his trusty calculator.
The figures are entered into the
project book as a final record of
“how it works at launch.”
Mike Martin, 10, readily admits
what the others probably feel.
“Book work is boring. Well, it is
not really boring, but not as much
fun as the launching.”
(Turn to Page BK)