SURPRISE - July 1-day Launch is on - Thanks to our Tropical System

Everyone: ROCC Launch - Saturday July 19th 10:00-3:00. (Launch name - Rocketeers of the Corn 08) Due to an updated forecast of this tropical system moving up the coast over the weekend. We will have North / NorthEasterly winds that would make the rocket recovery over the South side of Williams Farm. We could do some 3.3 lb and under launches but limiting altitude due to trees beyond our field. Note the Soybeans are about 6" to 8" tall, so bring your streamers. Kip was OK with this decision. Now remember there will be no recovery attempts made into the corn if a rocket strays. Also, No porta-potty, no time to arrange it. It will be HOT, bring lots of water and sunscreen, shade tents if you got em. Call Ralph for more information. 704-560-0147.

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Our Planet discussion - on the ROCC Group about July meeting

Everyone: We have a discussion started in our ROCC Group on Our Planet about the July Meeting. Feel free to join our discussion. Brad is the moderator of the site and can approve you joining if not already a member. If you trouble just email me at roccprez@bellsouth.net . To join the discussion click here Thanks, Ralph

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No July Launch - Anyone up for a meeting?

Everyone: Well it is July 16th and it�s been a peaceful month and a half off for me except for a quick trip to Oburg last weekend for the TRA Research launch. The winter and spring launch season has been a good one especially with the culmination coming at NSL 2008 in Orangeburg Memorial day weekend. Our club was well represented and we did such a good job volunteering on an individual level that we earned an honorable mentioned as unofficial volunteers for the event. It was really great to see Trip Barber mention ROCC as part of the volunteer group that hosted the launch. Burl was so appreciative to us that he will be calling on us to help with another big event in the future. So, on that note I have several orders of business we need to address going into the slow summer months. No more launches at the farm until Fall. Crop update for Williams Farm: As you know Kip had Barley in the South fields this spring and all that has been harvested and cleaned up as good as it gets, the soybeans have been planted in the South field and they are up a good 6 inches or so now. The soybeans generally are not harvested until November so that is our expected return date to the farm. The corn on the other hand is doing well and growing fast in the North fields. Hopefully, and say a prayer they have a good crop of corn this year. Kip�s cost to plant the crops have doubled this year so it is more important than ever to get a good yield. If all goes as plan the corn will come out in October. Read on for Meeting Items and Meeting/Launch Options

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Freedom Launch

Hey folks... I've just been looking at the ICBM site and Tom Henderson is starting to post about the upcoming Freedom Launch on August 30, 31 & Sept. 1st. He's looking for help on range duties just like the NSL weekend. Saturday and Sunday are sport days, Monday the 1st is a research day. Pop on over to tripolisc.org and check it out. I can say from previous outings that it's great fun. DR

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Planning Ahead

I was thinking about what was said at a great evening session at the NSL hotel by Gary Daughtry about the up coming Shuttle missions and their scheduled dates. I went over to the NASA page and here's the latest mission schedule. LINK

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Cool PIX

Well I hope everyone had a safe but great Independence day. I was looking for something to post here and Astronomy Picture of the Day came through with a beauty this morning! Check it out HERE This was taken in Austrailia to celebrate Austrailia Day, with fireworks, comet McNaught, and a ripping lightning storm. Ain't nature grand? APOD is a great site to visit, with a lovely photo every day to help learn about our universe. DR

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Rockets Magazine has their NSL 2008 pictures up.

Everyone: Check out rockets magazine's website here LINK as they have now posted up some of their NSL pictures. There are lots of shots with ROCC members, none with myself in them, anyway check them out there are some really good ones. Ralph "I can't my ugly mug in anything" Roberts

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Reminder: Discovery Series "When We Left Earth"

Doc wanted everybody to remember that the Discovery Channel series about the American space program continues tonight at 9pm (EDT). We watched the first two episodes last Sunday, and they looked great. Those of you with Discovery in High Def please tune in and enjoy it for those of us stuck with standard def!

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June Launch - Cancelled

Everyone: UPDATE - Talked to Kip and Terry Baucom today. Kip began harvesting today but as a result the field is extremely dry and has a lot of debris from the harvesting setting on top of the stalks, it is drier than anticipated. Terry deemed the fire threat as too risky to fly plus the forecast for the extremely hot weather weighed into making the decision. So, after polling the club officers and a few others we have decided to cancel the launch this month. Thanks, Ralph Roberts ROCC Prez

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First NSL2008 pictures are up

Ralph got us pictures from the weekend, and they're up for you viewing pleasure. See them here A second group of pictures is (spread out over 5 pages) here . The second set of photos was shot by our friend Steve Rogers who says, do whatever you want with them! Also, anyone who can identify anything in these pictures, please shoot me an email so I can add names of people and rockets. jeanrATwireknotDOTcom. Thanks.

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