Thales supporting future generations of engineers

Ever wondered what student rocketeers looked like?  As a platinum sponsor of this year’s Team America Rocketry Challenge, Thales helped support future generations of engineers as they tested their skills in rocket science. The Team America Rocketry Challenge or TARC, is a youth science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) event for middle and high schools students that is focused on building the workforce pipeline and attracting future talent to our industry.

For the challenge, students-led teams across the country design, build, and fly model rockets that must meet certain performance specifications. With more than 600 teams nationwide, each team must work to qualify throughout the year to compete in the national Fly-Off competition. The national Fly-Off competition, held Saturday, May 9, was the culmination of this year-long program. As part of the competition, the nation’s top 100 qualifying teams come to the Washington, D.C. area for a chance to test their cumulative skills and win the coveted title of national champion.

Each student led-team works hard all year to make the national Fly-Off competition and the top placing teams split more than $60,000 in cash and scholarships. The overall winning team travels to France to compete in the International Rocketry Challenge. This year’s international competition takes place at the Paris Air Show in June.  

Also at the national Fly-Off competition, Thales hosted its own engineering and design competition Thales asked students and visitors to combine their creativity and design skills to build a balsa-wood glider. Prizes were awarded to the budding engineer’s aircraft that flew the farthest within the designated “runway.”

As part of the TARC Fly-Off festivities, on the day before the finals, students, teachers and parents gather on Capitol Hill for an event like no other. This event, called Rockets on the Hill, showcases these students’ achievements to members of Congress and the teams get the opportunity to visit their Congressional Representatives’ offices. Thales’ Vice President of Government Relations for the U.S., Jim Fraser, addressed the nearly 500 attendees. Engaging with the students, he spoke about Thales’ passion for innovation and encouraged these students to continue to pursue their education in STEM.

In additional to sponsoring the core competition this year, Thales also sponsored a team out of Irvine, California. TARC and the student-led teams speak to Thales corporate social responsibility priorities, including innovation, STEM education, and community outreach.