March 1, 2021
Ten or more regional sites will host fly-offs
Arlington, Va. – To protect the health and safety of teams, teachers, mentors, and families while continuing to build the next generation of STEM leaders, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) will extend competition deadlines and hold National Final Fly-off at multiple regional sites to determine the 2021 American Rocketry Challenge champion. The 2021 National Finals will take place over a two-week period in mid-late June at 10 or more launch sites across the country (to be selected based on the location of this year’s finalists).
“While the pandemic continues to pose challenges for all of us, it is not dampening the enthusiasm or excitement for The American Rocketry Challenge. Our rocketeers’ stories and ingenuity continue to inspire our industry, and we cannot wait to see what they accomplish this year,” said AIA President and CEO Eric Fanning. “Even with the continued challenges, we have found a creative way to have the nation’s top 100 teams compete later in the summer and at sites closer to home. This solution will enable the competition to flourish, while prioritizing the health and safety of the American Rocketry Challenge community.”
The top 100 teams qualifying for the National Finals will be announced on May 21 along with the official launch sites. Over June 12, 13, 19, and 20, launch sites will host multiple three-hour launch windows, consistent with local and state COVID-19 safety requirements, along with federal guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A virtual awards ceremony will be hosted on Monday, June 28, to celebrate the winners of the 2021 American Rocketry Challenge.
The American Rocketry Challenge will also crown winners in its marketing and virtual presentation competitions, as well as continue for a second year, its summer Kerbal Rocketry Challenge—a video game competition requiring contestants to apply real-world physics and engineer principles in a virtual environment .
For more information, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions on the American Rocketry Challenge website.
