Space derby

Infobox WorldScouting
type = events
name =Space derby

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image-size =250 px
caption =Space derby kit
f-date = Annual
country = United States
owner = Boy Scouts of AmericaThe space derby is a Cub Scouting event in the United States of America that is similar to the pinewood derby car race. [cite book |title=Cub Scout Leader How-To Book |publisher=Boy Scouts of America pages= 9–44 to 9–47 |isbn=0-8395-3832-4] Cub scouts (the young-age division of the Boy Scouts of America) race miniature balsa wood rockets that are propelled by a rubber band and propeller.

Construction

The space derby kit consists of a balsa wood block, propeller assembly, rubber bands, plastic sheet (for fins), and a mounting bracket. The wood block comes out of the box with a drilled out center hole. The block is carved into the desired shape, sanded and painted. The mounting bracket and fins can be added either before or after painting. The rubber band is inserted through the center hole with one end on the propeller and the other held in a cross-piece at the rear.

The race

The completed rockets are wound up with as many as 100 or more turns on the propeller and suspended on a string from a (separate) bracket with the propeller held in place. Two, three or four string "lanes" are typically used. The rockets are held in place and "launched" when the mechanism releases the propeller.

ee also

*Raingutter regatta

References

External links