Paris, France – Boy Scouts Troop 74 from New Jersey took first place today in the International Rocketry Challenge representing the United States at the International Paris Air Show. The team competed against top student rocketeers from across the globe. This year, the United Kingdom placed second, followed by France in third, and Japan in fourth.
The “Troop 74 Rocketeers” won the opportunity to represent the United States by securing the title of National Champion at the 23rd annual American Rocketry Challenge National Finals in May. The team bested a record-breaking 1,001 middle and high school teams who participated in the design, build, and launch competition.
This year marked the first time teammates Chase, Makayo (Mak), and Thomas qualified for the National Finals. Their precision in designing, building, and launching a model rocket was unmatched by any other team in the country.
Eric Fanning, President and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), which sponsors the competition, praised the team: “The International Rocketry Challenge – and the American Rocketry Challenge at home in the United States – are launchpads for the next generation of aerospace leaders, and the ingenuity shown by these students today underscores the limitless potential ahead. Congratulations to the Troop 74 Rocketeers on their first place victory and to all teams for their incredible performances—your achievement today marks the beginning of an exciting journey toward building the rockets of the future.”
“Congratulations to all the teams who took part in this year’s International Rocketry Challenge, and special recognition to Boy Scout Troop 74 on their impressive first place finish,” said Pam Erickson, senior vice president and chief communications officer, RTX. “These students exemplify the creativity, determination and innovative spirit that will shape the future of aerospace. Supporting this competition is an investment in the engineers and innovators who will tackle the complex challenges of tomorrow.”
Formalized in 2015, the International Rocketry Challenge is the final round of competition following four other national rocketry challenges held annually around the globe, including the award-winning American Rocketry Challenge, sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR).
About the American Rocketry Challenge
Since 2002, the American Rocketry Challenge, the world’s largest student rocket competition, has engaged more than 100,000 middle and high school students in model rocketry. The annual challenge invites students to design, build, and fly rockets to exacting requirements and gain hands-on experience solving engineering problems. Sponsored by Aerospace Industries Association, the National Association of Rocketry, and more than 15 industry, government, and academia partners, the American Rocketry Challenge is the aerospace and defense industry’s flagship program designed to encourage students to pursue study and careers in STEM. The program has launched countless careers in aerospace and defense, and its alumni are helping to engineer the vehicles that will take us back to the moon, and, one day, on to Mars. www.rocketcontest.org
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