What this event is about
An engineering build where a parachute descends with a ping pong ball payload. Exact scoring (time, accuracy, bonuses) comes from the 2027 rules.
Study plan
Setup (team of up to 2, ~5 min, Eye Protection B; up to 2 rockets, 2 unaltered ping pong balls, 2 parachutes; optional manual bike pump with gauge)
- Pressure vessel: single ≤1 L plastic carbonated bottle, ~2.2 cm nozzle ID, standard neck height <1.6 cm flange-to-opening; label present; integrity unaltered (no cutting/sanding/hot glue/spray paint damage).
- Construction: tape only on pressure vessel (no glues); no metal anywhere on rocket or payload; fins/parts ≥5 cm above bottle opening; blunt/rounded nose that doesn’t touch inside top of a standard bottle cap; no mylar/ultrafilm; air pressure only (no water/chemicals/elastics/RC).
- Payload: parachute attached to ping pong ball with tape only. Practice packing so payload separates cleanly after launch.
- Practice Log (required for full pressure choice): ≥10 flights with ≥5 parameters including pressure (psi), estimated peak height (ft), time aloft (s) + ≥2 team-chosen. Incomplete log → ×0.85 and limited safe pressure; no log → ×0.70 and limited pressure. Use data to justify competition psi.
- Competition: 5 minutes for 2 launches (same or different rockets). Load rocket unpressurized → place payload (no further manipulation) → pressurize to justified psi → “3, 2, 1, LAUNCH!”
- Timing: rocket leaves launcher → payload lands (must separate). No separation → time whole rocket to ground with ×0.90. Ceiling hit on ascent → time stops, ×0.25.
- Score = best single launch time aloft (hundredths; median of 3 timers). Tiebreak = other launch. Know ceiling height in advance; tune pressure to stay under ceiling while maximizing hang time.
- Iteration: change chute diameter/shape, fin count, pressure; log results; bring two flight-ready systems and eye protection.
Tips
Stable slow descent usually beats a huge canopy that collapses.