IHI Conducts "Let's Launch Plastic Bottle Rockets!" Monozukuri Class at the Toyokita Festival, Held by Toyosu Kita Elementary School in Koto Ward, Tokyo
On November 9, IHI conducted a "Let's Launch Plastic Bottle Rockets!" Monozukuri Class as part of the Toyokita Festival held by Toyosu Kita Elementary School in Koto Ward, Tokyo, near the Toyosu Head Office. In the class, which aimed to provide children with a better understanding of the space development work that IHI is involved in and the principles of rocket launches, children were able to experience everything from assembling plastic bottle rockets to launching their rockets. 48 children participated in the class.
Plastic bottle rockets are made by building a rocket body using an empty plastic bottle and attaching fins made from milk cartons. Children had fun building their own rockets, changing the arrangements and angles of the fins so that their rockets could be launched even further. Each child would then fill their plastic bottle rocket with water, place it on the launch pad, and use a pump to pump air into the bottle. This would increase the pressure in the bottle. When the bottle was lifted from the launch pad, the compressed air would then be ejected forcefully, spraying water out and launching the rocket high into the air. Participants and staff members joined in the rocket launch countdowns.
Some days after the event, IHI received numerous messages from the children who participated, written on colorful paper, saying things like "Launching the rockets was fun!" and "I was glad my rocket went so far!" The event was a richly fulfilling one not only for the children, but also for the staff that took part.
IHI will continue to contribute to the development of the craftsmen of the future, such as local children, by participating in community educational events and conducting educational programs.
