Build & Launch a Rocket

Inspired by the movie “Hidden Figures,” The Discovery invites you to prepare for lift-off when you build a compressed-air rocket using the provided template and then test your rocket’s flight capabilities using the museum’s compressed air launcher to send your spacecraft soaring toward the moon!

About Hidden Figures “Hidden Figures” tells the story of Black women who worked at Langley Aeronautical Laboratory in Hampton, Virginia, starting in the early 1940s. This group of dedicated female mathematicians, known as “human computers,” used pencils, slide rules, and adding machines to calculate the formulas that would launch rockets and astronauts into space.

Note: This activity is designed for all ages. Younger rocket builders may require assistance from an adult/caregiver. Multiple attempts to successfully build and launch a rocket are encouraged.