Rocketry Team Blasts Off for National Finals

A team of Millbrook rocketeers is heading to the national finals of the American Rocketry Challenge. Captained by Owen Collins, teammates Ash Colangelo and Gale Zhang round out the squad, one of only two teams representing New York State. A Millbrook rocketry team has made the finals in three of the last four years of competition and this year was selected from among 1000 entrants. Coached by Dr. Jeff LaCosse, the team will head to Syracuse in a few weeks to compete in the finals.

 

Qualifying entrants must launch a rocket that complies with all specifications and containing a raw egg to a specific altitude and have it remain aloft for a time designated by contest guidelines. Points are deducted for any deviation from maximum altitude or flight duration time and, of course, the egg must return to earth intact and unscrambled. Owen, Ash, and Gale will launch their rocket, called Vanessa, twice at the finals in June. Their qualifying score of 1 was just a single point from the perfect score of 0 so expectations are high.

 

Millbrook’s STEM offerings ensure that the rocketry club is a perennial contender in national competition. Godspeed, Owen, Ash, Gale, and Dr. LaCosse!