Rockets soar at Sisters Middle School

"Rocket Rod" Moorehead has been shooting off rockets for nearly 45 years, so when the traditional fifth grade rocket launch takes place each year at Sisters Middle School, he is definitely in his element.

Friday morning, June 5, weather conditions were perfect for each fifth grader to send a rocket into the sky, up to 500 feet above the launch pad on the athletic field north of the gymnasium.

The students combined science, design, and art in creating their missiles from scratch.

"We provide a balsa nose cone, a cardboard tube, and eventually the motor, but the kids make their own unique rocket," said teacher Tanya Harding. "The kids design their own fins, decoration, and cone shape, so they really have to think things through."

Moorehead appreciates the process that the students follow over a two-week period in completing the project.

"It is a cool program because kids totally create the rocket basically from scratch," he said. "The paint jobs are always great."

The rockets are driven by a "C-class" motor that is ignited electronically, and can propel a rocket up to 150 miles per hour.

"They really take off, so having four of them go at a time is quite a show," he said.

Moorehead loves sharing his passion and invites those interested to come to a rocket event the weekend of June 21-22 on private land near Brothers. Information is available at http://www.oregonrocketry.com or from Rod himself at 504-4525.