Brilliant Labs will be helping youth construct and launch their own rockets this week. (Submitted)
50 years ago today, the Apollo XI mission launched, taking us to the moon, and youth across the region are celebrating with their own rocket launches.
Brilliant Labs, an non-profit education group in Atlantic Canada, is hosting events throughout the week to commemorate the historic event.
Executive Director Jeff Willson says he hopes to inspire the next generation of aerospace engineers.
“So we’re trying to inspire youth to consider careers in aerospace. As humans continue to want to explore the solar system and beyond, there are absolutely some opportunities for careers in aerospace, especially aerospace engineering,” he said in an interview.
He says the Apollo XI mission was a technological and engineering feat, and one that involved 150,000 engineers and researchers around the world.
Rocket launches will take place Tuesday in Saint John at the field in Millidgeville at 11:30 AM, and in Grand Bay-Westfield at the Rivervalley Middle School Ball field at 6 PM.
The rocket launches aim to get youth interested in aerospace engineering. (Submitted)
There are two kinds of rockets youth will be launching.
“The first is kind of a bottle rocket, which uses compressed air to launch the rocket, and then the second are model rockets using model rocket engines where there’s actually an ignition and an actual launch of a motor,” he said.
Willson says getting youth interested and involved in ‘STEAM’—science, technology, engineering, arts and math—is what Brilliant Labs is all about.
There are camps being held all week long where youth can build and launch both bottle rockets and model rockets. More details about when and where they will be held can be found on Brilliant Lab’s website.
