Family Rocket Day Helps Children Learn Science - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Family Rocket Day Helps Children Learn Science

School's out for summer, but kids are learning about science during summer break...
Launching rockets hundreds of feet into the sky entertains everyone.
Jon Schaeffer was over on the campus at BSC watching some take flight.
BSC Campus/Arts and Science Complex

"We love the smell of gun powder in the morning."
Pat Riepl has been launching rockets with his kids for years.
Now he's the official rocket man for an event that encourages young people to learn about science.

(Pat) "It's pretty cool because not only are we doing rockets here I brought some spools out to fly for the kids because they look at it and think well jeeze that's not going to fly."
With over one hundred people showing up to lift off you can expect as many rockets to hit the sky.
(Meredith Traeholt/Program Coordinator) "Today is family Rocket Day. They can build some rockets some with engines we also have some that are powered by air pressure and some powered an effervescent tablets."
 "If you're talking all of the different kinds I'm sure it will be in the hundreds."
The rocket man helping the youngsters rockets ascend has been here since the event started nine years ago.
(Pat Riepl/Rocket man) "She says pat lets do these rockets and brought me up and I thought yeah this is fun.
You know gives me a chance to fly em too because who doesn't like flying rockets.
These kids enjoy it as much as he does.
 "It's pretty cool".
With some help from science and a little charge these mini missiles take flight...
 While a couple may not look like missiles "nat" they still grab everyone's attention.
Bismarck we are go for launch.
 Jon Schaeffer--KXNEWS.

Pat is building a 14 foot missile replica that he hopes to have veterans sign as well.
He says that it's so big he'll need F-A-A clearance just to launch it.
Pat say's he plans to launch it in the next year.