The Pembroke Pines Charter Middle School, under the guidance
of science teacher Barry Perlman, has done something truly
extraordinary. Together, the students built and launched a
sophisticated rocket, complete with onboard electronics,
telemetry and a payload which carried several schools
crystal growing experiments.
 |
The
rocket was named "The Spirit of Columbia", and is
the largest of it's type ever launched by a school in
South Florida. At over 24 feet tall, it's bigger then a
Patriot missile.
(Picture courtesy
Miami Herald) |
The 140 pound
rocket
was also equipped with a video transmitter which sent live pictures back to launch
control in West Palm Beach.
It was
one foot in diameter and carried 22 experiments from
students at the Pembroke Pines school as well as Crystal
Lakes Middle School in Pompano Beach.
Prior to the launch, an
informational get-together and awards ceremony was held at
the South Florida Science
Museum.
The
rocket project
was funded with a grant from the
Technological Research and
Development Authority.
HighTechScience.org
participated in the event by loaning electrical power
generating
equipment to launch control and
also provided the museum with our Space
Artifact Collection
for visitors & guests to see and explore.
The rocket was constructed at the
High-Tech Productions Science &
Technology Center
located within the Pembroke Pines Charter Middle school.
| Here
are some pictures from the gathering at the museum
prior to the launch. |
Rick Newman of
HighTechScience.org with Michael Leinbach, NASA
Shuttle Launch Director, Kennedy Space Ctr. |
Honored guests and
the students of Pembroke Pines Charter Middle School
that built the rocket. |
HighTechScience.org's
space suit collection at the museum in West Palm
Beach, Florida |
Mrs. Devarn Flowers, principal
of the Pembroke Pines school along with Rick &
Jeanne of HighTechScience.org |
Honored guests and
the students of Pembroke Pines Charter Middle School
that built the rocket. |
Space artifact
collection of HighTechScience.org
on display at the museum |
More
pictures
of the actual launch coming soon.
Here are some Space &
NASA Links
|
Here are links to some fun activities & great places to visit:
|
 |
Click
Here
for current weather
conditions
at our Florida Headquarters |
|
