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Scouting America · Merit Badge
Space Exploration
History and purpose of space exploration, rocket principles, model-rocket build and launch, and designing an inhabited base.
Counselor Qualifications
Model rocketry is the highlight. I keep an Estes Alpha-III starter kit, a launch pad, and a handful of A8-3 motors ready. Safety code compliance (National Association of Rocketry) is non-negotiable.
Dustin Gamble — B.S. and M.S. Aerospace Engineering; Technical Fellow at Lockheed Martin; registered Scouting America Merit Badge Counselor (Los Padres Council).
My Counselor Plan
My operating notes for counseling this badge. Scouts can skim for context; other counselors are welcome to borrow what's useful.
- Check local fire/park regulations before scheduling a launch day.
- For req 3, purchase at least 2 rockets per Scout — they will lose one.
- Bring laminated NASA 'Rocket Parts' diagrams for quick identification drills.
- Build the inhabited-base requirement (7) around a shared 'campsite on the Moon' prompt so Scouts can compare designs.
- Capstone option: run the Telemetry Rocket project (see below) as the build-and-launch requirement to turn the badge into a 'mission control' experience.
Capstone Project: Telemetry Rocket — Mission Control Build
Go beyond a simple model rocket build. Scouts design, build, launch, and analyze a rocket carrying a live telemetry payload, so the badge becomes an authentic aerospace engineering experience with a natural AI-assisted coding tie-in.
See full project page (with requirements mapping) →
Project concept
A telemetry-enabled model rocket using a LILYGO T-Beam Supreme as the flight computer and a Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V3 as the laptop-connected ground receiver. The T-Beam includes an ESP32-S3, GPS, LoRa radio, and onboard sensors — a strong all-in-one platform for a Scout STEM activity. The Heltec board is the small USB ground radio that receives the live data stream.
Recommended hardware
Rocket: Estes Lil' Spite (2.0 in diameter, ~292 g dry, projected ~1200 ft unloaded). It is lighter than the larger Estes options, leaving better margin for the telemetry payload. A 29 mm motor retainer is included so motors can be swapped quickly during testing. First-choice motor: Estes E16-4 (lower, more manageable flights than F15-4, while still giving a meaningful motor comparison).
Bill of materials
- 1 × LILYGO T-Beam Supreme (US915) — flight computer / GPS / LoRa radio
- 1 × Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V3 (902–928 MHz) — USB ground receiver
- 1 × Estes Lil' Spite rocket kit
- 1 × Estes Pro Series II 29 mm motor retainer
- 1 × Estes E16-4 engine pack
- Optional: 1 × Estes F15-4 engine pack for comparison flights
- Optional: 1 × Estes Jayhawk if a larger airframe is desired for easier packaging
Estimated cost for the core setup is about $167–$170 before tax and shipping, with additional cost for optional motors or a second rocket.
Coding / AI learning component
Scouts use AI to help write and debug the firmware and ground software in stages — a clean progression that makes the project a real software project, not a one-off sketch.
- Read GPS and sensor data on the T-Beam
- Package telemetry data into a simple message
- Transmit the message over LoRa
- Receive the data on the Heltec
- Log the telemetry to a laptop as CSV
- Review the data after flight to compare performance between rocket builds or motor choices
Why this fits the badge
This project matches the spirit of Space Exploration — it makes the Scouts think like a real mission team. Instead of just building a rocket, they design the flight experiment, build the payload system, launch and recover the vehicle, analyze the data, and compare how different rocket shapes or motors change results. It gives a natural 'mission control' feel that is more exciting and memorable than a standard rocket build, and it ties the badge into hands-on lessons in space systems, embedded electronics, radio telemetry, coding, data logging, and experimental testing.
Requirements Checklist
28 total requirement items. Check marks are saved locally in this browser so you can track progress as you work. This is a convenience view — the official requirements on scouting.org are the source of truth.
1. Purpose of Space Exploration
Tell the purpose of space exploration and include the following:
2. Space Pioneer Trading Card
Design a collector's card, with a picture on the front and information on the back, about your favorite space pioneer. Share your card and discuss four other space pioneers with your counselor.
3. Model Rocket
Build, launch, and recover a model rocket. Make a second launch to accomplish a specific objective. Rocket must be built to meet the safety code of the National Association of Rocketry. Alternative if local laws prohibit launching: make a model of a NASA rocket, explain the functions of the parts, and give the history of the rocket. Identify and explain the following rocket parts:
4. Principles of Space Flight
Discuss and demonstrate each of the following:
5. Missions
Do TWO of the following:
6. Crewed Vehicle or ISS
Describe the purpose, operation, and components of ONE of the following:
7. Inhabited Base
Design an inhabited base located within our solar system (such as Titan, asteroids, or other locations). Make drawings or a model of your base. Consider and plan for the following:
8. Careers
Explore careers related to this merit badge. Research one career to learn about the training and education needed, costs, job prospects, salary, job duties, and career advancement. Discuss your findings with your counselor.
Additional Resources
Safety and Youth Protection
All merit badge counseling sessions follow Scouting America's Guide to Safe Scouting. Scouts meet with me either accompanied by a parent or guardian, or in a group with at least one other Scout and one other registered adult present. I hold current Safeguarding Youth training.