Animation and Visual Effects Physics Rocketry Camp

Results

2010-08-07T15:00:00.030-05:00

The judging was close but the winner of the Animation & Visual Effects Physics and Rocketry Camp is Minden High School. They received $1250 for their school to purchase materials relating to things they learned at camp. We expect to be hearing great things from them in the future.

Congratulations to our runners up, Caddo Magnet High School who made a good showing and earned their school $750 for STEM materials.

The final scores from the judges that include rocket design (30%), 3-D Modeling (30%), Video Documentary (30%) and Camp Bucks (10%) is:

Minden - 234

Caddo Magnet - 186

Parkway - 170

Ruston - 130

Plain Dealing - 114

Green Oaks - 60

The final independently verified launch results are as follows:

A big thank you to all of the participating students and teachers for making this a wonderful camp.

Morning Jitters

2010-08-07T09:02:00.003-05:00

Today is the big day with every team making a ten minute presentation to our panel of judges, Dr Anderson, Col Ward and Mr Barber. The day started inauspiciously with a little bit of rain but the clouds broke through and the teams got a very good omen indeed.

At breakfast, you could feel the tension as teams discussed their presentations to the judges and engaged in some last minute worrying about their videos.

Judging starts here in a bit and the teams are anxiously awaiting their turns. Good luck everybody and we'll see you on the flipside!

Burning the Midnight Oil

2010-08-06T23:00:00.001-05:00

It's the final moments here at Camp and the teams are working hard to meet an eleven o'clock deadline...

The finishing touches are taking effect and everyone is crossing their fingers that they can get finished in time.

Everyone has worked hard to reach their goals and we here at the LSUS Animation & Visual Effect Physics and Rocketry Camp look forward to seeing their final presentations.

Get some sleep, we'll see you all tomorrow.

Rocket Launching

2010-08-06T21:29:00.001-05:00

Today was the final launch day for the teams and excitement was in the air. Each team as allowed three cycles of fifteen minutes each to fire their rocket as many times as they could to get the best film footage and hopefully have a successful launch at the same time.

We had some amazing and successful launches, like this one from Plain Dealing...

And Parkway had a spectacular parachute deployment at the apex of their flight for an amazing display of rocket craftsmanship.

There were a couple that gave us a some alarm, such as Green Oaks, but they came through beautifully...

We also had high speed footage of the rockets taken, here's Plain Dealing at 3000 frames per second!

In the end, the final flights went of well with every team filming a successful launch. We're ready for tomorrow and the teams are excited. We'll see how the presentations go, it's still anybody's game!

Photos from Friday

2010-08-06T21:28:00.000-05:00

The day started with an aura of excitement as teams worked hard toward their final launch deadline. The Rocket Teams worked on their final touches before heading outside to get in as many good launches as they could.

While inside, the AVE Modeling Team tried to keep up with the changes being made in the lab. Since the rockets and the model must match each other, the Modeling Team had to work hard to ensure that any last minute changes were reflected in the 3D model.

At the end of the launches, the teams retreated en masse to the AVE labs to work on their video presentations.

It's been a lot of hard work and there's still more to come, but we wish them the best of luck.

Saturday's Schedule

2010-08-06T11:00:00.000-05:00

Saturday's Color is White

7:30-8:30 Breakfast at Port - University Center

9:30-11:20 Team Presentations to Judges - SLA

11:30-12:30 Final Launches - Soccer Field

12:30-2:00 Luncheon and Awards - University Center Ballroom

Teacher Challenge

2010-08-05T21:12:00.001-05:00

We would like to have some feedback on the Camp experience you have had. For $75 Space Camp dollars write us 200 words or more about any positive experiences you have had at this camp, especially those that reinforce or highlight our concentration on STEM.

Please reply in a facebook message to the John Miralles account by 11PM tomorrow evening to qualify for your camp dollars.

Spray Paint

2010-08-05T20:30:00.001-05:00

Want your rocket to pop on film? Do you want your rocket to have that "finished" look? Or do you just want it a little prettier?

Spray paint is available for use with your camp bucks throughout Thursday evening and Friday morning up until the final launches. We have black, red, orange and yellow available to use.

The cost is $50, and we will charge a $100 deposit on the cans. Any team that does not return their can of spray paint to a Camp Staff member will be charged $150 camp dollars.

PLEASE NOTE: Only teachers may purchase and use the spray paint and they are responsible for seeing that it is returned to a Camp Staff member.

Apollo 13 Challenge

2010-08-05T20:15:00.001-05:00

"Failure is not an option." - Gene Kranz, Flight Director Apollo13

Tonight's Challenge was difficult on several levels, testing not only a team's technical knowledge but also their ability to work with each other under less than ideal circumstances. The team's were split into two components, Ground team and "Astronauts". The Ground Team must successfully communicate a design for a command module to the astronauts using only text messaging.

The Ground Team were given images of an Apollo command module...

Which proved to be more difficult to describe than one might think...

But the teams pulled through and relayed specifications to their astronauts who modeled the module as best they could.

And the final results were pretty conclusive. Congratulations Ruston!

Pictures from Thursday

2010-08-05T20:05:00.001-05:00

Today started with an interesting lecture of Kathy Williams from Sci-Port Discovery center. She provided information about various space missions as well as a project for the students in the form of a Messenger spacecraft.

Students from Plain Dealings prepare to launch their rocket in the noonday heat with Safety Instructor Charles Crawford overseeing.

A Plain Dealing student is shoots High Definition video of the entire launch, while under the tent other students are filming with the high speed camera at frame-rates in excess of 3000 per second!

Ruston reviews high speed footage at the mobile high speed camera command station.

Caddo Magnet instructor Jeremy Jinx takes pictures of his team preparing to launch, while we take pictures of him!

Students are enthralled as Dr. Boucher gave his riveting and motivating speech, "Never Give Up!"

Friday's Schedule

2010-08-05T20:00:00.003-05:00

Friday's Color is Green.

7:30-8:30AM Breakfast at Port - University Center

8:45-9:30 Movie Discussion - SLA

Rocketry Team
9:45-11:45 Final Launches - SC107

AVE Model Team
9:45-11:45 Modeling - TC225A

AVE Movie Team
9:45-11:45 Filming and Editing - TC RM 258

12:00-12:30 Lunch at the Port - University Center

Rocketry Team

12:45-2:45 Final Launches - SC107

AVE Model Team
12:45-2:45 Final Modeling/Turntable - TC225A

AVE Movie Team
12:45-2:45 Final Filming- TC RM 258

3:00 END OF LAUNCHES AND 3D/DESIGN ANIMATION

3:00-5:45 Create Team Presentations - TC RMS 258; 225A
3:00-5:45 PC Lab Support/Analysis Available - TC RM 224A

6:00-7:45 BBQ at Poolside - Clubhouse

8:00-11:00 Labs Open - TC RMS 258; 225A

Wind Tunnel Challenge

2010-08-05T19:50:00.001-05:00

How well does your rocket fly? Can you prove it?

For an additional $25 in Camp Bucks, establish a drag value for your rocket by 11pm tonight, August 5th, and report your results on your facebook group. The drag value must be supervised and signed off on by camp staff.

Parts

2010-08-05T08:30:00.007-05:00

The following parts will go on auction at facebook at 8:30. All teams have been invited to the group "Rocket Team Auction". This is where all bidding should take place. Any bids posted to a place other than "Rocket Team Auction" will not be considered. Bidding will close at 11:45 promptly. Your facebook account can be accessed here.

Note: "Band Height" is the height from the base of the nose cone to the point where it begins to curve. All measurements have an uncertainty of +-0.5cm.

Nose Cone:
Height: 5.00cm
Band Height: 2.5cm
Diameter: 11cm
Thickness: 0.3cm
Mass: 44.9g
Auction #01
Starting Bid: $70

Nose Cone:
Height: 5.54cm
Band Height: 1.8cm
Diameter: 10.5cm
Thickness: 0.3cm
Mass: 41.6g
Auction #02
Starting Bid: $70

Nose Cone:
Height: 8.28cm
Band Height: 4.67cm
Diameter: 11.5cm
Thickness: 0.12cm
Mass: 35.3g
Auction #03
Starting Bid: $70

Nose Cone:
Height: 8.23cm
Band Height: 5.22cm
Diameter: 11.47cm
Thickness: 0.24cm
Mass: 65g
Auction #04
Starting Bid: $60

Nose Cone:
Height: 10.93cm
Band Height: 5.5cm
Diameter: 10.5cm
Thickness: 0.1cm
Mass: 51.1g
Auction #05
Starting Bid: $75

Nose Cone:
Height: 12.8cm
Band Height: 5.4cm
Diameter: 11.0cm
Thickness: 0.59cm
Mass: 81.9g
Auction #06
Starting Bid: $50

Fins (3):
A: 16cm
B: 18cm
C: 23cm
D: 9cm
Mass (each): 33.5g
Max Thickness: 0.72cm
Min Thickness: 0.24cm
Auction #07
Starting Bid: $125

Fins (2):
A: 7.97cm
B: 13.3cm (curved)
C: 14.7cm
Mass (each): 9.2g
Max Thickness: 1.18cm
Min Thickness: 0.57cm
Auction #08
Starting Bid: $40

Fins (3):
A: 10.5cm
B: 13.4cm
C: 16.5cm
Mass (each): 18.1g
Max Thickness: 0.74cm
Min Thickness: 0.14
Auction #09
Starting Bid: $115

Fins (3):
A: 4.95cm
B: 6.88cm
C: 3.0cm
D: 10.64cm
Mass (each): 9.2g
Max Thickness: 0.62cm
Min Thickness: 0.33
Auction #10
Starting Bid: $60

Fins (3):
A: 6.94cm
B: 3.35cm
C: 2.0cm
D: 4.41cm
Mass (each): 4.1g
Max Thickness: 0.61cm
Min Thickness: 0.33cm
Auction #11
Starting Bid: $40

Fins (2):
A: 8.45cm
B: 1.42cm
C: 5.79cm (curved)
D: 2.89cm
E: 10.15
Mass (each): 9.7g
Max Thickness: 0..72cm
Min Thickness: 0.22cm
Auction #12
Staring Bid: $75

Fins (3):
A: 9.73cm
B: 9.22cm
C: 7.11cm
D: 2.35cm
E: 0.77cm
Mass (each): 10.6g
Max Thickness: 0.80cm
Min Thickness: 0.33cm
Auction #13
Starting Bid: $75

Fins (3):
A: 7.03cm
B: 3.35cm
C: 2.13cm
D: 4.39cm
Mass (each): 3.8g
Max Thickness: 0.61cm
Min Thickness: 0.30cm
Auction #14
Starting Bid: $40

~~Fins (3)~~: (SOLD)
A: 7.96cm
B: 5.59cm (curved)
C: 2.28cm
D: 9.68cm
Mass (each): 9.1g
Max Thickness: 0.62cm
Min Thickness: 0.30cm
Auction #15
Starting Bid: $50

Fins (2):
A: 8.3cm
B: 12.9cm
C: 13.0cm
D: 2.3cm
Mass (each): 12.7g
Max Thickness: 0.59cm
Min Thickness: 0.10cm
Auction #16
Starting Bid: $30

You are welcome to trade or sell parts amongst teams, but all transactions must be reported to Camp Staff by the end of the day so that Camp Space Bucks Standings can be updated.

Social Media Challenge

2010-08-04T21:30:00.001-05:00

As a part of your camp experience, each team was assigned a facebook page in the name of an astronaut from an Apollo mission. You will find out which astronaut you have been assigned the first time you log onto facebook. (Information on logging onto facebook was given in the teacher's package.) You were also given a group, Rocket Team 1-6 where you can post discussions about your rocket designs, modeling or animation. You are already a member of your designated group which can be found under the "groups" tab in facebook. Please keep in mind that although this group is specific to your team, these posts are PUBLIC to all teams as all teams are friended to each other.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHALLENGE:

For every post made to your group page (not your wall) from your account you will receive five camp bucks per post, to a maximum of twenty-five camp bucks per day. For example, a Team which posts to their group four times in one day will receive twenty camp bucks. A Team which posts fifty times in one day will receive twenty-five camp bucks.

The Discovery Camp staff will be moderating these posts for content, camp rules on language and civility apply at all times.

Your facebook page can be accessed here.

Photos from Wednesday

2010-08-04T20:50:00.001-05:00

Last night students viewed the film October Sky and this morning had a chance to have a Skype interview with Homer Hickam, author of the best-selling book Rocket Boys which served as the inspiration for the movie.

Later, the six teams divided into sub-groups for AVE Modeling, AVE Movie and Rocketry. The AVE Movie subteams worked with the high speed cameras.

While the modeling team worked on fin designs...

In the science labs, the Rocketry teams worked diligently on fin, parachute and nose cone designs.

And then launched their first prototype rockets before returning to the labs to diagram fins for the AVE Modeling Team.

Thursday's Schedule

2010-08-04T20:45:00.002-05:00

Thursday's Color is Yellow.

7:30-8:15AM Breakfast at Port - University Center

8:30-9:30 Messenger Mission - SLA

Rocketry Team

9:30-11:45 Redesign/Test/Build - SC107

AVE Movie Team

9:30-11:45 Filming/Editing/Analysis - TC RM 258

AVE Model Team

9:30-11:45 Redesign/ 3D Model Creation - TC RM 225A

12:00-12:30 Lunch at Port - University Center
12:45-1:30 "Never Give Up" - SC335

Rocketry Team

1:45-4:45 Redesign/Test/Build - SC107

AVE Movie Team

1:45-4:45 Filming/Editing/Analysis - TC RM 258

AVE Model Team

1:45-4:45 Redesign/ 3D Model Creation - TC RM 225A

4:00-4:45 Regroup in Main Teams/Team Strategy Session - TC Building

5:00-6:45 Apollo 13 Challenge - TC Lobby 2nd Floor

6:00-6:45 Dinner at Port - University Center

7:00-8:45 Labs Open - TC225A; TC258; SC107
9:00-11:00 Movie: The Right Stuff - SC335

ATTENTION

2010-08-03T21:33:00.000-05:00

Please remember to come to breakfast tomorrow prepared with your team names, flag designs, and team designations (who is doing modeling, rocketry and AV).

Photos from Tuesday

2010-08-03T20:15:00.001-05:00

Tuesday was a learning day for the Camp. Students learned the basics of movie-making, modeling and rocketry so that they could decide who would be responsible for what tasks in their groups. Tomorrow, each team must divide themselves amongst an AVE Movie team, AVE Modeling Team and a Rocketry Team.

3D Modeling was demonstrated in the PC lab where students were walked through basic rocket designs and were introduced to the programs they would be using.

Students were also given an opportunity to try out the software and do some basic design work.

On the other side of the AVE building is movie-making. Students were walked through the basics of camera set-up including more technical discussions on camera angles. They were also introduced to the movie-making software they would be using.

Students work with their camera to create test footage.

During their Physics lectures, students created several different types of rockets including film canister and balloon.

Tomorrow the students will divide into their three sub-groups and begin the initial design stages for their rocket. We wish them luck. Reach for the stars.

Wednesday Schedule

2010-08-03T19:30:00.001-05:00

Wednesday's Color is Tan

7:30-8:15AM Breakfast at Port - University Center
8:30-9:15 Movie Discussion - SLA

Rocketry Team
9:30-11:45 Design/Test Rocket Designs - SC 107
12:00-12:45PM Lunch at Port - University Center
12:45-1:45 Deliver Design to Model Team TC RM225A
2:00-4:45 Parachute Design/Testing - SC 107

AVE Movie Team
9:30-11:45 Format/ Pre-Compositing/ Editing - TC RM 225A
12:00-12:45PM Lunch at Port - University Center
12:45-1:30 Film Design Transfer - TC RM 225A
2:00-4:45 Filming and Editing - TC RM 225A

AVE Model Team
9:30-11:45 3D Modeling - TC RM 258
12:00-12:45PM Lunch at Port - University Center
12:45-1:30 3D Modeling - TC RM 258
2:00-4:45 Create 3D Model Files - TC RM 258

5:00 Team Pictures - SLA
5:30-6:45 Scavenger Hunt - SLA
7:00-7:45 Dinner at Port - University Center
8:00-11:00 Labs Open - TC225A; TC258; SC107

Tuesday Schedule

2010-08-02T21:40:00.001-05:00

Tuesday's Color is Grey

7:30-8:15AM Breakfast at the Port - University Center

7:30 Breakfast Meeting - Port

8:30-10:15 Video Camera Instruction, Film Editing - TC RM258

8:30-10:15 Photoshop 3D - TC RM225A

10:30-12:15PM Video Camera Instruction, Film Editing - TC RM258

10:30-12:15PM Photoshop 3D - TC RM225A

12:30-1:00 Lunch at Port - University Center

1:15 Newton's Law of Motion - SC335

2:45 Vocabulary - SC335
3:15 Rocketry Basics - SC335
4:00-5:45 Gravity, Pressure - SC335
6:00-6:45 Dinner at Port - University Center
7:00 Movie: October Sky - Clubhouse
9:00-11:00 Computer Labs Open - TC RMS 225A-258

Pictures from Monday - Day One

2010-08-02T19:40:00.001-05:00

Today was the first day of events at the Camp and it was filled with lectures, rocket launches and competition.

Minden assembled their tripod in 1:13 for the fastest time, taking back 200 camp dollars.

Caddo Magnet assembled their tripod in 3:07, taking second place and 150 camp dollars.

Dr Boucher talks about rockets to the assembled teams in the lecture auditorium.

Green Oaks assembles their paper rocket, they took third in this competition.

Parkway student confer with their teacher on rocket design.

Ruston poses with their paper rocket, which took second place.

Plain Dealing prepare to launch their rocket.

Monday Schedule

2010-07-30T17:48:00.000-05:00

2-3 Arrival and Check-in - Clubhouse

3:15 Meet at Basketball Courts - Basketball Courts

3:20 Introduction to Camp Staff - SLA

3:30 Tripod Setup Challenge - SLA

4:00 Space Race Lecture and Video - SLA

4:45 Rocket Challenge - SLA

5:15 Safety Lecture - SLA

5:45-6:45 Demo Launches - Grass

7:00 Poolside Mixer/Dinner - Clubhouse

7:30 Movie: Apollo 13 - Clubhouse