American Rocketry Challenge 2023 Finishes
and 2024 Begins

The NAR-Aerospace Industries Association co-sponsored American Rocketry Challenge wrapped up its 2023 program with the National Finals at Great Meadow in The Plains, VA on May 20 and a national champion was crowned.  Out of the 798 teams of 6^th through 12^th graders from 45 states that entered the ARC 2023 program, the 450 who completed qualification flights, and the 100 from 27 states whose scores earned them an invitation to the Finals, the winner was a team of 7 students from Hardin Valley Academy in Knoxville, TN, flying in their first Finals.  Their combined two-flight score of 13.4 edged out Tharptown High School from Russellville, AL (14.8) and earned them $22,500 in cash (including the $2500 “rookie team” bonus) and a trip to the Paris Air Show the week of June 19 courtesy of Raytheon Technologies, where they will compete against the winning teams from similar Challenge events in the UK, France, and Japan.   Full ARC 2023 results are posted at https://rocketcontest.org/result/2023/

Meanwhile, the ARC 2024 program has begun.  Registration is open from now until December 1.  Go here to register:  https://rocketcontest.smapply.io/prog/2024_american_rocketry_challenge/ The full rules are posted at https://rocketcontest.org/wp-content/uploads/American-Rocketry-Challenge-2024-rules-version.pdf but here is a short summary:

• Same dimension, weight, and motor power limits as always
• Altitude goal 820 feet for qualification (different for the Finals)
• Duration window 43-46 seconds
• One egg, any orientation
• Must use two different body diameters (no less than 6 inches of each): top part no larger than T-70 and the bottom part no smaller than 63.5mm (which is bigger than T-70 but a bit less than T-80)
• All parts must recover connected together under parachute
• Allowed altimeters: Perfectflite Pnut and Firefly; and Jolly Logic Altimeter ONE or TWO (but not THREE)
• Finals on May 18, 2024 and qual flight deadline April 8.