Louth families to launch rockets this weekend as part of Town Scientist programme
The rocket launch is a culmination of a 6-week online course for the families led by Dr Niamh Shaw and her husband David Bushman
Up to 30 families from across Louth will gather on the grounds of Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) this Saturday 30 August, to launch their own hand-made rockets into the air.
The rocket launch is a culmination of a six-week online course for the families led by Dr Niamh Shaw and her husband David Bushman, a former NASA aerospace engineer. The course took place as part of the Town Scientist programme which seeks to open the worlds of space and science to families and those who may not typically engage with science.
Over the six weeks, the families learned from Mr Bushman all about the science of rockets, what it takes to launch one; as well as how satellites works and how astronauts survive on the International Space Station. At a workshop earlier this month, each family assembled and decorated a rocket approximately 30 cm(12 in).
On Saturday, with Niamh and David’s help, they’ll fit motors and use a special launch platform to send rockets up to 100 feet.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s event, Dr Niamh Shaw said: “Running this course with David over the past six weeks has been a joy. We got to know new families online and then met them in person to build and decorate their rockets - there were stickers, crayons and lots of creativity, and every rocket got a name.
"Even though they’re only about 12 inches high, these little rockets really pack a punch. The best part is they’re reusable. After launch we can recover them and the families can take them home. We’re grateful to DkIT for the use of their grounds and to our Town Scientist partners for making this possible. We’d love to return next year with an even bigger launch.”
The rocket launch is being supported Research Ireland, Louth County Council, Dundalk Credit Union, Louth ABC Programme, Dundalk IT and Engineers Ireland NE Region.
Find out more about Niamh Shaw and Town Scientist here: https://niamhshaw.ie/