Rocket Science
This propels a rocket upward.
What is force?
The main character and leader of the Rocket Boys.
Who is Homer Hickam?
The state where Coalwood is located.
What is West Virginia?
Homer’s biggest challenge in getting support for rocketry was this person.
Who is his father, John Hickam?
In real life, Homer Hickam’s father actually supported his interest in this field.
What is engineering?
The Rocket Boys experimented with this chemical to improve their rocket fuel.
What is potassium nitrate?
Homer’s father, who wanted him to work in the coal mines.
Who is John Hickam?
The main industry of Coalwood.
What is coal mining?
The Rocket Boys had to prove their innocence after being accused of this.
What is the forest fire?
Unlike in the movie, the Rocket Boys actually built this many rockets.
What is 35?
This famous scientist inspired Homer Hickam’s passion for rocketry.
Who is Wernher von Braun?
The supportive teacher who encouraged the Rocket Boys.
Who is Miss Riley?
The year the events of October Sky take place.
What is 1957?
Miss Riley encouraged Homer despite struggling with this illness.
What is Hodgkin’s disease?
The Rocket Boys did not really get expelled from school for this incident.
What is the forest fire accusation?
The Rocket Boys launched their rockets from a place they called this.
What is Cape Coalwood?
Homer’s best friend and a key Rocket Boys member.
Who is Quentin?
This historical event inspired Homer to build rockets.
What is the launch of Sputnik?
Homer was forced to work here when his father was injured.
What is the coal mine?
Unlike in the movie, Homer’s success at the National Science Fair was threatened by this real-life event.
What is the theft of his project materials?
The scientific principle stating that every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
What is Newton’s Third Law?
Homer’s older brother, who was a talented football player.
Who is Jim Hickam?
The company that owned the coal mine in Coalwood.
What is the Olga Coal Company?
The challenge the Rocket Boys faced in obtaining quality nozzles for their rockets.
What is needing machinists from the mine to help them?
In real life, Homer Hickam went on to work at this space organization.
What is NASA?