“3, 2, 1, Contact!”

And the rockets were off on April 23 in Phil Zarelli’s seventh-grade science class. Since mid-March, students learned about force, speed, momentum and energy conversion to carefully design rockets made of 2-liter bottles and other materials.

On launch day, students filled their rockets with 10,000 milliliters of water before placing them in a launcher in the discus ring and pumping up the pounds per square inch. Zarelli would get students ready before they pulled the string. Breezy weather surprised students as a blastoff usually sprayed each rocketeer.

Students recorded the distance and time each rocket traveled.

Nathan Whitney took the record of the day with his silver rocket that went nearly to the fence at more than 112 meters. He said his good effort came from teamwork of working with his family.

Students continue to launch their rockets this week, weather permitting.