American Rocketry Challenge resources.
Practical guides for students and families at every stage of ARC preparation — from first-time competitors to teams refining their qualifying strategy.
Eric Song's NAR Level 2 Certification Journey: From L1 to a 5,000-Foot Flight
Follow Eric Song's verified path from NAR Level 1 to a Level 2 certification flight using a J-class motor that reached 5,000 feet.
What High-Power Rocketry Safety Teaches Us About Student Rocket Coaching
Learn how stability checks, recovery planning, range discipline, and flight-data review shape safe, student-owned rocket coaching.
NAR Level 1 vs. Level 2 vs. Level 3: A Practical Certification Comparison
Compare NAR Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 high-power rocketry certification, including motor classes, prerequisites, reviews, and limits.
A Student Rocket Learning Path: From 3D Printing and Mini Rockets to ARC
Plan a practical student rocketry progression from CAD and 3D printing to mini rockets, flight testing, and American Rocketry Challenge preparation.
How to Choose an American Rocketry Challenge Coach (and Whether ARC Is Right for Your Student)
A parent's guide to evaluating ARC coaching: what good coaching actually looks like, the questions to ask, signs ARC fits your student, and honest reasons it might not.
ARC Avionics and Altimeters: Recording Altitude and Hitting Your Target Score
How American Rocketry Challenge teams use altimeters to measure apogee and flight time — how barometric altimeters work, mounting and venting, reading flight data, and tuning toward the target.
Choosing a Motor for Your American Rocketry Challenge Rocket
How to choose an ARC rocket motor — reading the motor designation code, total-impulse classes, thrust curves, matching the motor to liftoff mass and target altitude, and ejection-delay timing.
Simulating Your ARC Rocket in OpenRocket: From Design to Predicted Altitude
Use OpenRocket to design and tune an American Rocketry Challenge rocket — build the model, set mass and the payload, check stability margin, and simulate apogee and flight time before you build.
How to Prepare for ARC Season: A 12-Week Training Overview
A practical 12-week preparation roadmap for ARC teams — what to focus on each phase, from initial design through qualifying flights.
ARC vs. Hobby Rocketry: What's Actually Different
Compare American Rocketry Challenge rockets with hobby rockets, and see how scoring constraints change design, testing, and team training.
Getting Started with the American Rocketry Challenge
A complete beginner's guide to ARC — who can enter, how teams form, key dates, and what you need to build your first competition-ready rocket.
Designing 3D-Printed Rocket Fins: A Student Guide to Aerodynamic Stability
Learn how to design, print, and test 3D-printed rocket fins using CAD and iterative prototyping. A practical guide for ARC-track students.
Recovery System Basics: Parachutes, Ejection Charges, and Safe Landings
A practical overview of rocket recovery systems for students, covering parachute sizing, ejection charge testing, and competition-ready deployment.
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