Ellis Langford displays his Ariane scale
model rocket at the 13th WSMC in Slovakia.
(Photo by Tom Campbell)
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The WSMC has many different competitions.
Some include time aloft, which is the total amount of time in the air,
highest altitude, and even a competition for a model rocket that looks
the most like a real rocket.
In the past, Langford has received
awards in five national championships, and took home a silver medal in
the 13th WSMC. He has been flying rockets for 14 years and building
them for 7.
To prepare for a competition, Ellis
starts several months in advance by selecting the type of rocket he will
compete with. Although rockets can be used more than once, over-practicing
can damage the rocket. The cost of this hobby, says Langford, "can be as
cheap as $1 or $2, or over $1,000."
Ellis became interested in rockets
at the age of 3, when he found one in his backyard. His father, who works
for NASA and also spent time launching rockets when he was a child, helped
fuel Ellis’s passion for rocketry.
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