A few weeks ago, after months of designing, building, and testing, both of Dublin High’s rocketry teams launched their rockets. The launch marked a huge step towards achieving their goal of winning the American Rocketry Challenge (TARC). The two teams, the Gael Force Cosmonauts and the Gael Force Space Corps, operate within the Aerospace Club, a community of students united by a passion for aeronautics and astronautics. The club has now been participating in TARC for three years, with the number of teams and members growing each year.
The Cosmonauts are led by captain Evan Fielding and the Space Corps by captain William Su, two seniors whose multiple years of engineering experience have underlied their teams’ success. From early this summer until now, the teams have been putting tremendous effort into every single detail of their rockets. Whether it was the nose cone, the body, the egg holder, or the air brakes, they have been innovating relentlessly to produce the most successful features. There’s no need to analyze the launch data to conclude that the event marks a huge improvement in the Gael Force Rocketry program from its creation three years ago. For the first time, the teams are far ahead of schedule, allowing them to launch repeatedly and make improvements each time.
To ensure the safety of all participants, rocket launches, in compliance with FAA guidelines, take place in safe zones run by model rocketry clubs. This year, the Gael Force teams launched at the Lunar Club in Livermore. On the morning of the launch date, they prepared all their parts and tested their components prior to assembling the rockets. After a near 2-hour drive to the launch site, the rockets were promptly set up on the launch rods and fired; they soared, deploying their parachutes and components, all while recording data via the altimeter and barometer. The data that was later analyzed showed both teams nearing their target height of 790 feet.
“The first launch for the new members of the Gael Force Cosmonauts was quite the success, reaching very close to the targeted rocket height,” Evan shared. “The data from the launch shows a clear path forward to soon make an even better rocket.”
The Gael Force Space Corps similarly walked away from the launch feeling proud of their accomplishments.
“The January launch was an exceptional feat of engineering for the Gael Force Space Corps. It truly was the culmination of our efforts throughout the season and represented a major step forward in our commitment to win TARC,” shared William.
Although the launches were outstanding, the teams still have their work cut out for them. They are hoping to improve their egg holders to protect the two eggs required for TARC and their airbrakes to allow for smoother landing. Both teams are hoping for a shot at TARC Nationals in Virginia.
Aerospace Club President Atiksh Paul shared some uplifting remarks about the launch.
“After the successes with the January launch, GFSC is definitely shaping up to be a contender in ARC this year. With the newest addition to the club of Aerospace Academy, we’ll be able to introduce even more students to rocketry and keep our momentum strong for the future, especially for the younger engineers on GFC.”
And so, the journey to nationals continues, and with dedication and persistence, the Gael Force rocketeers stand out as a rising force in TARC.