Raytheon

International Rocketry Challenge Slated for Tomorrow at Le Bourget

Earlier this week we heard from team coach Susan Vogel and team captain John Easum about the rush he feels for rocketry. Today, we want you to meet Colt McNally, Landon Fisher and Michael Gerritsen. All three make up the team from Heath Side Boys Rocketry that will be participating in tomorrow's International Rocketry Challenge at the Paris Air Show.

These aren't your ordinary run of the mill teenagers. McNally is set to join the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating and, at some point, he wants to attend college to study business. Fisher wants to start his own engineering firm and Gerritsen starts at the U.S. Naval Academy next month.

All three are excited about being in France for the competition and they credit a shared passion for math and science with igniting their love of rocketry. Fisher got his first rocket model at age 12; now he's competing for international bragging rights against the French and the British.

Gerritsen loves the art of problem solving, troubleshooting and mitigation that comes with rocketry. "It's sometimes not just knowing what the problem is, but trying to build a case and convince your friends that you know what the problem is."

McNally admits to becoming hooked on the hard work of achieving successful launches. He insists that technology is dependent on math and science and that the country needs both to continue moving forward.

The team was hosted by Pam Wickham, Raytheon's vice president of Corporate Affairs and Communications, during a recent visit to the Raytheon exhibit pavilion and chalet. They enjoyed the 4D walk-in flight simulator and got a kick out of the 3D augmented reality demos. While we wish all the teams the best of luck tomorrow, we'll be cheering loudly for Team USA in the flyoff.

Image Gallery
Meet the members of the U.S. winning TARC team. (From l-r) John Clemons of Raytheon, team captain John Easum, Michael Gerritsen, Colt McNally, Landon Fisher, and Pam Wickham of Raytheon. The team is in Paris to compete for the top prize at the International Rocketry Challenge. TARC team member Colt McNally, 18, tries out Raytheon's 4D walk-in flight simulator during a tour of the exhibit pavilion at the Paris Air Show. TARC team members Landon Fisher and Michael Gerritsen get briefed on Raytheon technology during a visit to the company's exhibit pavilion at the Raytheon chalet. The members of the U.S. winning TARC team experience 3D augmented reality at the Raytheon exhibit pavilion.
Video Gallery