An Extra-Curricular Hands-On Project-Based Management Learning Program, the T.A.R.C. competition is modeled around the aerospace industry’s design, fabrication and testing processes. All students participate in a team of 3-7 students at SJMS to design, build, and fly a rocket. Like aerospace companies work within specific design parameters, every year the challenge requires teams to achieve the same basic mission-oriented goals of hitting a precise altitude, landing within a specific flight time window, and returning a raw egg (”the astronaut”) without cracking. Each year a unique task is also included; this year we are challenging students to fly their egg horizontally as follows:
TARC gives students opportunities to apply their math and science skills to a real world project outside of the classroom. For many students, this experience yields their first significant personal realization of how what they are learning in school is relevant to endeavors that are fun, challenging, and represent potential future career pathways. Through TARC, students have discovered that they enjoy solving math and science problems in the context of resolving difficult and complex design issues. Often T.A.R.C. is also their first exposure to the aerospace industry. They learn what aerospace engineers and skilled technical workers do and what it takes to become one of those
professionals.
- Rockets must be no less than 650 millimeters (25.6 inches) in length as measured from the lowest to the highest points of their airframe structure in launch configuration, and must not exceed 650 grams gross weight at liftoff .
- They must be powered only by commercially-made model rocket motors of “F” or lower power class . Any number of motors may be used, but the motors used must not contain a combined total of more than 80 Newton-seconds of total impulse based on the total impulse ratings in the TARC list.
- The portion of the rocket containing the egg and altimeter must return to the ground safely with a single parachute of any size as its sole recovery device.
- The portion of the rocket containing the rocket motor must return separately and safely, not connected in any manner to the portion containing the egg and altimeter, using a recovery device of the team’s choice.
TARC gives students opportunities to apply their math and science skills to a real world project outside of the classroom. For many students, this experience yields their first significant personal realization of how what they are learning in school is relevant to endeavors that are fun, challenging, and represent potential future career pathways. Through TARC, students have discovered that they enjoy solving math and science problems in the context of resolving difficult and complex design issues. Often T.A.R.C. is also their first exposure to the aerospace industry. They learn what aerospace engineers and skilled technical workers do and what it takes to become one of those
professionals.