Texas Tech University Center for Engineering Outreach
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May 26, 2005

High School Students Fly High

On a clear and sunny May 22, 2005, an Estacado High School class launched Matador 1, which launched the class into history. Estacado High School students, with some help from the Texas Tech University College of Engineering, became the first high school students to break Mach. The students designed and made a 10-foot, solid-propellant rocket.

The students, teachers and engineering staff prepared for the launch day all semester. From designing the rocket to the post-launch analysis, the students had a hand in each step of the rocket-building process.

“We have worked the whole semester on the rocket,” Manuel Sanchez, the mach rocket crew team leader said. “It was a class project.”

The group of high school students designed the rocket and worked together to finish with a successful launch. Everyone had a part in the project, and each student needed to cooperate to get the job done.

“We had to get all the plans and materials together,” Santiago Carrizales said. “Everyone had a job and had to know what to do.”

The group tested the rocket many times since the beginning of the semester. The rocket improved each time, but once the rocket failed. Alex Armenta said the class had to redesign part of Matador 1.

“We started with a boat tail, but when we tested it, it failed,” Armenta said. “We had to work in a thrust plate to make it work.”

Each of the three young men said engineering is in his future. Sanchez said he would like to become a civil engineer.

Three days after the launch, May 25, the faculty and staff of the College of Engineering and the Lubbock community congratulated the group of high school students and their advisors. The relationship between the city and the college also was celebrated.

The Lubbock Independent School District teamed up with the College of Engineering through the Texas Tech Center for Engineering Outreach. The center conducts a Teacher Training Institute, Engineering Camp, and the Pre-college Engineering Academy. The program has been working for about five to seven years. The program has received some funds from the City of Lubbock.

The Texas Tech University Center for Engineering Outreach works to integrate engineering into Kindergarten through age 14 education, creating feeder programs at the regional and state levels for Texas Tech, according to the Center's strategic plan.

According to the plan, the center hopes that “by inspiring and preparing a larger and more diverse population of K-14 students to become engineers, the Texas Tech University Center for Engineering Outreach will improve recruitment, retention and diversity in the Texas Tech University College of Engineering and serve as a model for engineering outreach programs across the nation.”

“This is a great accomplishment,” LISD Superintendent Wayne Havens said. “It couldn't have been done without Texas Tech.”

Local, state and national governmental representatives celebrated the students. Mayor Pro Tem Tom Martin read a special proclamation from Mayor Marc McDougal's office in honor of the students' accomplishment.

The city council member congratulated the students on behalf of the mayor, and the city council and the City of LUbbock. Senator Robert Duncan also honored the students in the Texas state Senate. Sen. Duncan acknowledged the successful launch.

On the national level the United States House of Representatives and Congressman Randy Neugebauer recognized the Estacado students and teachers. A member of Rep. Neugebauer's staff read the proclamation at the ceremony, Tuesday.

Many other proud attendees were at the ceremony. The family members of some of the students were present. Andrea Armenta, Alex Armenta's sister, said the launch was neat to see, but the weather was hot Sunday.

“He talks about architecture and engineering all the time,” Andrea Armenta said. “It is really good for him to do this as a sophomore, and this program is one of the main reasons he goes to Estacado.”

At the presentation of the proclamations, the students reported some of the group's preliminary findings. The analysis illustrated that the average velocity of the rocket was 536.13 meters per second, and the Matador 1 reached an altitude of more than 13,000 feet.

The students said the altitude reached was lower than expected because of outside forces. The rocket cracked and curved, but still broke the sound barrier. Before the launch, Matador 1 weighed 24.27 kg, and the motor burned out in about six seconds.

Although the rocket's largest parachute tangled inside the rocket, Matador 1 came down to Earth at a rate of about 80 miles per hour. The rate is low because a smaller backup parachute was released.

Members of the Mach Rocket Crew were Martin Adams, Jacinta Alvarez, Alex Armenta, Santiago Carrizales, Arnulfo Davila, Evan Davis, Mikel Gatica, Robert Hinojosa, Joshua Klemme, Keevin Pruitt, Mathew Rocha, Manuel Sanchez, and Oscar Walton.

The CanSat Crew members were Valentin Baca, Cayla Barrientos, Jamesha Bradley, Team Leader Amparo Garcia-Gomez, Joshua Klemme, Bridgette Ozuna and Keevin Pruitt.

Project advisors were Greg Burnham and Lynn Bryant, engineering instructors at Estacado High School; John Chandler, director for the Center for Engineering Outreach; and Pat Gordzelik, vice president of the Tripoli Rocketry Association.