Kai’s rocket flew straight into the soup sign. Bonk. It left a wet bean on the wall. Below the sign, little Pip caught the rocket. “Good news,” Pip said. “It found lunch.” Kai took it back. One paper fin had soup on it. This was not a good start.
The rocket contest would start soon. Kai’s team had built an air rocket. They wanted to win the silver star. Their spaceship had a whole room for flying things. Here, feet could float off the floor. Beyond its round window, Earth shone blue and white. Inside, one bean drifted past Kai’s nose.
The rules hung beside a wide green ring. Each team had to build its own rocket. Only air could push it. Each team got three turns. A flight through the ring earned one point. A soft net caught each rocket beyond it. Three points won a silver star for the team.
Kai had picked the rocket’s shape. It had a light tube and three fins. A balloon sat snug inside the tube. Its neck poked out the back. Let go, and air rushed out. The rocket rushed forward. At least, that was the plan. So far, it had mostly rushed sideways.
Pip held their team card with both hands. Pip was younger than Kai and Tess. This was Pip’s first contest in space. “What if we get no points?” Pip asked. Kai glanced at the other rockets. One had neat red fins. Another had spots. “We still have time to test,” Kai said.
Tess wiped the bean off their rocket. “Perhaps it needs more puff.” Kai thought so too. Rockets needed a good push. Kai filled the balloon until it bulged. Tess moved clear of the test lane. Pip held both thumbs up. Kai aimed at the ring and let go.
Pfffffft! The rocket shot forward. Its thin fins shook. Its nose swung left, then right. It spun once and bumped the net’s edge. Not through the ring. Not even close. Pip lowered both thumbs. “That was a very big wrong turn.” Kai caught the rocket by its nose.
More air had made things worse. Kai ran a finger along one fin. It bent with the slightest touch. The fins had looked fine on the work mat. In flight, they flapped all over. Kai blew gently across one. Flap-flap. The tail shook, just as it had before.
Kai loved the long rockets on the ship’s screen. Some had fins near their tails. Those fins stayed firm as the rockets flew. Kai held their small rocket sideways. “Our fins can’t help if they keep bending.” Tess touched one. It drooped over her thumb. “This one looks tired,” she said.
Kai reached for a fresh sheet of card. There was no thicker card left. But Kai did not need thicker card. A fold might make it firm. Kai cut a new fin and creased it lengthwise. Then Kai blew across it. The fin held its shape. Kai blew harder. Still firm.
“Feel this,” Kai said. Pip pressed the flat scrap. It bent. Then Pip pressed the folded fin. It stayed stiff. Kai showed them the crease. “Fold yours down the middle. Press it flat, then open it a bit.” Tess made one. Pip made one too. Together, they had three firm fins.
Kai chose to take the floppy fins off. There was just time for the new ones. Kai fixed them evenly around the tail. Pip checked that each one held firm. Then the contest light turned green. Their test time was gone. Kai tucked the scraps beneath a strap. “Let’s fly this one.”
Kai took the first turn. The balloon filled. The rocket pointed toward the green ring. Kai opened both hands. Pfffffft! This time, the fins did not flap. The rocket flew straight through the middle. The net caught it with a soft swish. Pip’s thumbs shot up. “One!” Tess took her turn. Swish. Two.
Pip held the rocket for the last turn. “What if I miss?” “We still have two,” Kai said. Pip looked along the rocket’s nose. Kai waited beside the lane. Pip let go. The little rocket crossed the room. Its folded fins stayed firm. Through the green ring it went. Swish. Three.
Their silver star slid from the score slot. Pip caught it before it could float away. “No soup this time,” Tess said. Kai laughed and gathered up their rocket. Pip ran a thumb along one crisp fold. Then all three settled by the round window. Between them floated the rocket, with the silver star tied to its nose.