Liftoff at Saint Olaf School

Friday, May. 22, 2015

BOUNTIFUL — “Three, two, one, BLAST OFF!!!” chanted the second-grade students at Saint Olaf Catholic School as the first of their rockets was launched. 

Anticipation and excitement reigned as each student got the opportunity to launch his or her own rocket, which they had created, decorated and named.

Earlier in the year, the class had learned about space, planets and rockets. Caleb Norris was so excited about the lesson that he told his father, a rocket scientist who had worked for NASA and ATK and currently is at L-3 Communications. Mike Norris quickly volunteered to help the students create and design their own rockets, and also help with the launch.

Two weeks before launch, Mr. Norris sent templates to the class so each student could build a rocket out of paper and packing tape. The students went right to work: cutting, taping, coloring and naming their own rocket. 

Although they all looked fantastic, second-grade teacher Mrs. Laurie Jacobs did have some misgivings that they would actually fly.

On launch day, when Mr. Norris arrived with a rocket launcher that he had created, he told the students that they first needed to learn more about space and rocket launches. He explained that not everyone in the space program goes into space; it takes all kinds of specialists to make a launch occur. He explained some of the duties and responsibilities of other jobs related to a launch, such as mission control, navigation, propulsion, food and medicine, just to name a few.  

After this, he proclaimed the students mission specialists, and they proceeded to the outdoor launch pad. Mr. Norris had crafted a rocket launcher out of PVC pipe, a bike pump, plastic tubing and batteries.

The first rocket was set on the launcher, the bike pump pumped seven times, the student pressed the ignition button and liftoff! The launch was perfect.  

Subsequent launches using different repetitions of pumping ranged from successful to disaster – some rockets blew up!

Mr. Norris explained that even if a launch was not successful, it was not considered a failure but rather as a learning opportunity to help improve the process.

Hopefully this excitement and interest in space and rockets will continue as Mr. Norris has agreed to start a Rocketry Club at the school next year.