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OASIS Sponsors Junior Rocket Scientist League at Loscon

by Tina Beychok

As part of its involvement with this year's Loscon, OASIS once again sponsored the very popular 'Build Your Own Spaceship' panel as part of childrens' programming. Using various styrofoam forms, pipe cleaners, construction paper, popsicle sticks, glue, and foam cutters, about two dozen kids used their imagination to build the spaceships of their dreams.

The various projects ranged from rocketships, to a gigantic ray gun that was used as part of a Masquerade entry the next night, to eight-legged aliens. One young enterprising engineer even constructed what appeared to be some sort of plutonium bomb device inside a Dyson sphere (be afraid...be very afraid).

And, of course, once the ships were complete, a large intergalactic war was the next inevitable step! Regardless of which side was victorious, all parties appeared to have great fun.

OASIS would like to thank the following people: Dr. Jim Busby and Patrick Fahey for volunteering to egg on the kids' imagination, as well as providing appropriate supervision; Alison Stern, head of Loscon Children's Programming, for allowing us to have the panel; and the children themselves, not only for their fabulous and creative projects, but for being so helpful in cleaning up afterward.

Great job, all you junior rocket scientists, and see you next year!