NASA coming to Carthage for WSGC Rocket Launch

Carthaginians, NASA is coming to Carthage. The Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium (WSGC) will host the 7th Annual First Nations Launch and the Annual Collegiate High-Powered Rocket Launch this Saturday, April 23 at Richard Bong State Recreation Area (26313 Burlington Rd., Kansasville, Wisconsin). Nearly 50 rockets will be blasting into the sky, reaching mile-high heights.

Representatives from NASA’s Kennedy and Johnson Space Centers, The Boeing Company, and Orbital Technologies Corporation will be on location April 21-23, serving as judges for this year’s competitions. Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch will kick-off the WSGC launch event. There will be 29 teams in attendance, representing nine states and 22 schools.

The Lake Michigan Launchers are the first team to represent Carthage in the Collegiate Rocket Launch. Students on the team include Monica Kasper, Alex Abbott, Jacob Haag, Nate Lee, and Brad Krueger. Kasper was instrumental in starting a rocket club on campus and generating interest in rocketry after attending the NASA-sponsored program, Learn to Launch at Kennedy Space Center, in summer 2015. The Lake Michigan Launchers will be one of 11 teams designing, building, and flying scale rockets.

The Carthage team will launch the Black Brant II, based out of Bristol Aerospace, currently known as Magellan Aerospace, located in Canada. The rocket stands 79.5”, weighs approximately 9 pounds, and has a 4” diameter. WSGC Program Manager, Chris Thompson, will also launch a dual-deploy 3” diameter rocket, obtaining Level II High-Powered Rocket Certification through the Wisconsin Tripoli Rocketry Association. WSGC rockets are on display in Straz 80.

Approximately 100 students will be on campus Thursday, April 21 and Friday, April 22. The public is invited to attend the First Nations Launch oral presentation from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 21 and the College Rocket Launch oral presentation from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 22 in Todd Wehr Center Jockey B.

You are also invited to attend the launch events and support the Carthage rocket team, The Lake Michigan Launchers this Saturday. Come watch rockets soar into the sky! Admission is free, but parking is $8 for Wisconsin plates, and $11 for out of state.

Events begin at 8:45 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. Learn more