Guest Author - Violette DeSantis

When you think about racing you usually think of fast cars from NASCAR to Formula One. Racing extends beyond the automotive world. There are leagues for trucks, motorcycles and even boats. Racing is so popular that there is a channel dedicated to covering it.

This summer there was progress in what is to become the Rocket Racing League (RRL). Granger Whitelaw, a man who had a team racing cars in Indianapolis, and Dr. Peter Diamandis, a man who knows rockets, are creating a new form of racing. The vehicle they are creating is called the Rocket Racer.

Testing has been underway on the Rocket Racer and a race aircraft before it, the EZ-Rocket was retired. This year saw the dream of Rocket Racing come alive as the Rocket Racer had its first exhibit race in Oshkosh WI.

Right now there are six teams in the Rocket Racing League. The goal is to have ten Rocket Racers by 2010 racing 4 laps around a 5-mile raceway. The “Raceway in the Sky” is one mile wide, two miles long and one mile high. Like the excitement of Star Wars’ podracing the raceway will combine virtual obstacles. The raceway or race course is seen by the racers with special helmets and control panels. Race fans can see the race on big screens or watch from home on TV or on their computer.

The races are elimination heats which means more than one race takes place. They keep racing until only one Rocket Racer is left to take the win. The race pilots come from different backgrounds. One current racer is Rick Searfoss, a retired NASA Astronaut. He is joined by aerobatic pilot Sean Tucker.

The racers have to figure out how to keep their aircraft in the air. There is four minutes of rocket burn, which is what rapidly moves the rocket forward, and then it glides for 12-15 minutes without power. Much like other forms of racing there will be pit stops as well.

To look at the video currently available at Aero TV, a Rocket Racing paddock looks no different then what you would see at a NASCAR race.

For more information and cool videos to date check out the following sites:

Rocket Racing League Video
Rocket Racing League Photos
Aero-TV Network

Remember to stop by the News for Kids forum and share what you think of a Rocket Racing League with us.

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