Rocket Project Reflection Prompts:
Now that this project is complete, how do you feel about it? What things stand out?
Looking back on this project, I have to say WOW! I look at all the hard work our group did and how much fun we had doing it. The fact that we had a flying rocket go into the air and actually fly is all in itself awesome! It was definitely a bonding moment in our group when we all saw our rocket fly. It was a different experience seeing our balsa wood rocket fly than our "Merica the Beautiful" rocket fly. This was by far my favorite project!
What, if any, science or technological things did you learn from doing this project? What is necessary to understand to build a successful rocket?
When building a rocket that you expect to fly you have to calculate the center of mass and the center of thrust. I learned how to do that in this project. Without calculating those two major things your rocket could totally nose dive, spin around and just not work the way you want it to. So when calculating those 2 things you have to have your rocket motors in them. Why? So that when you put the tube on your fingers and slowly drag them across the tube to the center of thrust and mass you can get the right idea. The fins on the rocket create a weight on the bottom of the tube and a surface area on the tube so that the weight and surface area is not on the front of the tube (making it nose dive) but that the weight is towards the back (pushing the rocket forward and straight when you light the motors). That is one of the most important things I think to making your rocket successful. Also when building a rocket motor that you want in your rocket, you should get the right idea of what rocket you want. Example of this is blackpowder and KNO3 sugar motors. If we would've used blackpowder our rocket would gone higher but not stay in the air as long, because we used a sugar motor our rocket went in the air a little longer than most.
What, if any, metacognitive knowledge did you gain? (what did you learn about yourself as a learner - work habits, work ethic, tendencies, etc.)
I learned that when doing my project I tended to be kind of controlling. I wanted to get the project done as fast as I could and kind of expected my teammates to be the same way. I realized that when doing a project you have to slow down and take your teammates input in. If you don't do that then it comes to a point where your done with your teammates and you want nothing to do with them. Since I love my teammates and they're good friends I know that I have to "keep my cool" when working with them and really listen to their input. That is definitely one of the biggest things I learned about myself in this certain project.
How did you collaborate with others in this project? (Who did you work with? What did you contribute? How did you operate as a group or unit?)
I worked with Andrew Maya and Miles McCartney. I made the rocket tube and cut the fins. I also made the motor. The two boys did the parachute and the recovery wadding. At first we all had different ideas of the project. I wanted sparkles and skittles and they wanted... not that. So as we went throughout the project we came to a conclusion that our rocket would be Red, White and Blue. We did this because we thought that this would be simple and it's something we all take pride in. After that point we all kind of came together and worked better as a unit. The best moment we bonded though was when the rocket flew and came down. We all believe that was the most achieving feeling in the world! I wouldn't change that feeling for anything!
If you could do this project again, would you do anything differently? What advice would you give to the next class of rocketeers?
I would organize my time a little better. I recommend other students doing the same. Every Time one component is over with, blog it! The worst part of this class would be when you've done everything but you haven't blogged a thing. It's hard to go back and remember all the components. I would advise everyone to complete and BLOG! It seems to be much easier that way.
Based on your responses above, what advice or suggestions would you give to Andrew to help him design a better rocket project?
Honestly I cannot really think of anything. This project like I said before was BOMB! I can't think of any other project that felt so accomplishing and just awesome! I could go on forever about how much I loved this project.