DOWNEY, Calif. – The first rocket may have been a dud, but the test was a rousing success as far as the Girls In STEM Club are concerned. Friends Milenna Choy and Camila Corona have loved rockets since they joined two years ago and they dream of one day visiting Mars.

“The whole part of science is you’re not going to get everything correct, you’re not going to do everything at the first time,” said Choy. “You should always do it and try it again and again until you get your right results.”

What You Need To Know

  • Rocket Fever! begins Saturday Aug 15 at 10 a.m. and will broadcast live on their YouTube channel

  • The City of Downey holds a rich history of aviation and aerospace that spans more than 70 years

  • Dedicated to honor astronauts lost in the quest of space exploration and to inspire children to explore and engage with the STEM fields, Columbia Memorial Space Center opened in 2009

  • The Apollo Boiler Plate 12, an unmanned, transonic abort test vehicle is on permanent view outside of the Columbia Memorial Space Center

“When we sent men to the moon,” added Corona, “the Saturn 5 rocket was actually tested from every booster to every metal sheet to make sure it was perfect. That rocket never failed and never crashed.”  

Choy and Corona are helping to test rockets for the upcoming annual Rocket Fever festival, which will be held virtually for the first time. Over 100 registered participants were sent rockets to assemble at home and soon, they’ll be able to watch them launch next to the Columbia Memorial Space Center.

“So I really like my rocket,” said Choy. “I used all my colorful washi tape with it because I wanted it to be pop and pretty and I can see it at home.”

For these girls, the rocket festival is not just fun and exciting. It’s about inspiring them to find careers in science.

“Only boys went to the moon and I’m pissed,” said Corona. “It’s just boy’s footprints everywhere and I think we need some girl’s footprints up there.”

Footprints on a path these two friends want to take. And they know it’s science that will take them there.


Benjamin Dickow has been promoting Girls In STEM for the last five years.
 
“We know that women and young women are interested in STEM, but they make up a very small percentage of the workforce that actually become scientists or engineers,” said Dickow, the President and Executive Director of the Columbia Memorial Space Center. “In order for us to change that and change the percentages, we need to start early.”

It’s the constant surprises that attract these young students.

“I really like the reaction about rockets because you don’t know what to expect,” said Choy. “You’re going to fly so high or you’re just going to go woop and then you’re just going to go down. You never know what to expect. I just think it’s really cool.”

From blast off to safe landings, it all starts with STEM.