Gangwon Science High School Students Successfully Launch Rocket to 300m Altitude

Gangwon Science High School Students Successfully Launch Rocket to 300m Altitude

“A Remarkable Achievement by Six Senior Students, from Design to Launch”

시사k뉴스 지형덕 기자

2024.11.06

On November 5, senior students at Gangwon Science High School (Principal: Lee Kyung-ae) successfully launched a solid-fuel rocket they had built themselves in Mado-myeon, Hwaseong, South Korea, sparking considerable attention. The team of six students—Beom Byeong-hwi, Kim Myeong-jun, Kim Seung-yu, Jeon Sang-young, Park Jeong-hwan, and Kwon Soon-hyun—came together with a shared passion for rocket engineering. Over a year of dedicated research and experimentation with launch vehicles, propellants, and parachutes culminated in the successful rocket launch.

The rocket, classified as a J-class solid-fuel rocket powered by KNSB propellant, was equipped with sensors to collect data on pressure, altitude, humidity, temperature, and acceleration. It also featured a camera to capture ground footage during its flight. The rocket achieved its target altitude of 300 meters, reaching a maximum speed of 320 km/h (Mach 0.26). At peak altitude, the parachute successfully deployed, allowing for safe retrieval of the rocket via GPS tracking. The launch process, from liftoff to recovery, went off flawlessly.

In addition to the core team, four first-year students with an interest in aerospace engineering observed the launch, igniting their passion for rocket research.

Third-year student Kim Myeong-jun expressed his hopes for future student-led growth, stating, “I hope this is just the beginning, leading to continued opportunities for students to learn and grow together. I plan to pass on my knowledge of rocket design to my juniors and hope a culture of self-driven, challenging activities will persist.” He also shared aspirations to author a beginner’s guide to rocket building, aimed at nurturing aerospace talent.

Fellow team member Beom Byeong-hwi reflected on the year-long journey, saying, “I’m incredibly proud of what we accomplished together despite the busy schedule. The most critical factor in rocket activities is safety. We prioritized it in every phase, from design to test launches.”

Principal Lee Kyung-ae expressed pride in the students’ perseverance through multiple smaller launch attempts, ultimately achieving a successful long-range launch. She emphasized the school's commitment to fostering scientific clubs that encourage voluntary participation in research. "We plan to expand opportunities for students to engage in hands-on scientific exploration, supporting club activities that transition into genuine research and challenges,” she said.

This successful rocket launch marks a significant milestone in fostering the next generation of aerospace engineers at Gangwon Science High School.

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