Sport Rocketry

The National Collection of Model and Sport Rocketry Every journey to space begins with a spark. This is true whether you are talking about the literal spark that starts the com- bustion process in a rocket, or the meta- phorical spark of inspiration that kindles a lifelong passion for science and spaceflight. This spark is the central theme behind the exhibit Inspiring Rockets, which opened in February of 2015 during the National Association of Rocketry's Annual Conven- tion (NARCON) at The Museum of Flight in Seattle. The exhibit celebrates the sport of hobby rocketry and features historical rockets and associated artifacts from the collections of G. Harry Stine, Vern Estes, Lee Piester, and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR). It also includes prize- winning rockets and boost gliders that flew in recent Team America Rocketry Chal- lenge events and at the World Spacemod- eling Championships in both recent years and dating back to the 1970s. The location chosen for the exhibit just off the nose of NASA's Full Fuselage Trainer (FFT) is very deliberate. The FFT is a full- scale mockup of a Space Shuttle orbiter that was used by all Shuttle astronauts to train for their missions. For many, it was their first experience getting up close and personal with a Shuttle before their even- tual journey(s) to space. For many astronauts, however, their journey began years before, often launched as some will attest by flying model rock- ets. Shuttle Astronaut and long-time NAR rocketeer, Jay Apt, offered up his own per- sonal story to illustrate the journey from model rocketry to a career in space. The first artifact encountered in the exhibit is SPORT ROCKETRY MAY/JUNE 2017 35 by Geoff Nunn NAR 99220, Adjunct Curator for Space History at The Museum of Flight Lighting THE Spark Lighting THE Spark

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