Dr. Doug's boys do it again...

I just got my copy of "The Circle", the newsletter of Mitchell Community College. Inside I saw an article about Neil Taylor and Richard Good, 2 of the students that participated in our launches this past season getting their project ready for the Level 2 USLI competition at NASA.

Well, they both got paid internships at Goddard Space Flight Center this past summer!

Neil was at GSFC's Lunar & Planetary Science Academy. He's a NASA Aerospace Community College Scholar, one of only 79 accross the country.

Richard's internship was at GSFC in their Small Heliophysics Satellite & Instrumentation lab. Interns are assigned to projects sponsored by NASA science and engineering mentors. In addition to research, they receive training in leadership and networking.

Both Neil & Richard are going to UNCC where they're pursuing engineering degrees this year.

Hats Off to you both! Well done and good luck this year. 

LINK to full article as pdf

dr

Flying NanoSat

From NASA's space place, a .pdf of how to construct a flying NanoSat. There's got to be a way to make this into a rocket...

LINK

dr

LDRS 2011 on the Science Channel

Got a note from Roy that "Large Dangerous Rocket Ships" (Promo LINK) is back again and better than ever. Hosted by Kari Byron from Mythbusters, prepare for the return of the burn with rocket drag races, and the famed Odd Rocket competition. Tune in Sunday, October 30 at 10PM e/p!

Before that, at 8:00 pm, is their Chunk-O-Ween special I believe. I checked the TWC website and it looks to be all happening on cable channel 260 or 1260 in HD. Don't know about sat TV.

Just the kind of programming that'll get you back in the mood to send large objects into the sky... thanks Roy!

dr

A message from NAR HQ about the new DOT proposals

Got this from NAR HQ, as well as some other sources... please read:

Several weeks ago the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) decided that, based on a 2010 change in some obscure shipping safety test procedures, it should terminate a special shipping exemption that it has granted since 1978 to companies and vendors who ship model rocket motors and igniters.  This special exemption, DOT-SP 7887, lets these products which are technically classified as "Explosive 1.4S" get shipped in containers labelled with a black and white "Flammable Solid" hazardous material label rather than a bright orange "Explosives" label. 

This DOT action will not increase your cost or change your access to the products; the same HAZMAT shipping fee applies in either case and consumers can buy them the same way regardless of how they are labelled in shipping.  The issue is one of public perception: we all know that model rocket motors are not going to "blow up" and are not really "explosives" in the way that the public interprets that term.  Having them start to show up in schools, hobby stores, and private residences with an alarming orange "Explosives" label on them will simply feed public fears and misperceptions about our safe hobby and these safe products.  It will not improve public safety, because shipping them has never posed a risk to that safety. 

The largest model rocket motor manufacturers, Estes, Quest, and Aerotech, have filed petitions to get this exemption continued rather than canceled.  This will be tough to achieve. To help their case they have asked their vendors to send e-mails of support for continuing the exemption to the Department of Transportation Associate Administrator responsible for making this decision.  I think that it is in our hobby's interest for us as NAR members to join the manufacturers in this effort.  If you would like to be part of this, please cut and paste the text below the dotted line into an e-mail from you to specialpermits@dot.gov as soon as possible, preferably by the end of this coming weekend.  

Be safe, have fun, and pay forward.

Trip Barber

President

National Association of Rocketry 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

TO: specialpermits@dot.gov
Subject: DOT-SP 7887 Show Cause Response

Dear Associate Administrator,

The purpose of this e-mail is to request that DOT-SP 7887 exemption to ship model rocket motors and igniters in containers marked as "Flammable Solid" rather than as "Explosive 1.4" be kept in force asit has been since 1978.  This Special Permit, previously DOT-E 7887, is important to those ofus who enjoy the hobby of model rocketry.

To my knowledge, there has never been a fire or safety incident involving the shipping of model rocket motors and igniters, whether by public carrier or USPS.  Further I believe that shipping these safe and non-explosive consumer products labelled as "Explosives" will create unnecessary fear and difficulty for those handling, transporting, receiving, storing, selling and using them.  Model rockets have a superb safety record and wide public acceptance as a safe product based on 54 years of experience.  Having them now start to arrive in consumer hands labelled as explosives could put at risk the reputation that our hobby has earned.

After 33 years of use, the termination of the Special Permit is unwarranted and will not contribute to public safety because shipping model rocketsas Flammable Solids has not created any risk to safety. 
Please keep the Special Permit in place as written.

- Your Name and Address (city & state)

Update on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 7:15AM by DOC R.

As posted in the discussion section, the DOT have decided not to change their shipping regulations and keep BP motors as "Flamable Solid", not "Explosives 1.4" as they had proposed. Way to go everyone! Thanks for the write-in campaign!

October 15th - updated 9/28

It's not looking good for the October window folks. Kip has corn and soybeans to get in between now and November. There's a better crop than he was hoping for apparently and there's a lot of money riding on getting it in intact. Looks like it's going to be another month before we're back on the field from what we've gotten back from Ralph.

dr

Ya might wanna dust off those Skylab hard hats again...

Remember the return of Skylab and the 3,000 pound film vault? Well, look to the skies Friday from the predictions...  LINK

If you want to keep up to date the Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies (yes, there is one!) has up-to-date information HERE

dr

10% off sale in the ROCC store thru 9/19

Cafe press is offering 10% off orders of $40.00 or more this weekend. Shop today! ROCC gets the profits!

dr

The cat's outta' the bag...

OK, the next step has been announced....  LINK

dr

Great showing at Freedom Launch...

Thanks to all who made the trip down to O'burg and showed the colors!

Sandy sent me a couple of videos, they're up on the YouTube page (link to the right) and if you have more photos or a good story send 'em on to me at rocketrycarolina at gmail dot com, we'll get 'em up.

dr

Freedom Launch info (Thanks Roy!)

Are you experiencing Rocket Exhaust Withdrawl symptoms?

I suggest attending “Freedom Launch”, the annual East Coast Rocket Meet

Hoasted = by the Orangeburg NAR (ROSCO) and Tripoli (ICBM) Chapters.

Web site = WWW.tripolisc.net.

Since the Farm crop season is keeping us out of the farm for a while yet, I strongly prescribe a road trip this “Labor Day” weekend ( 3 – 4 – 5 Sept. ) to Orangeburg SC.

Doc Russell has previously said this is like an annual pilgrimage for most of us and even if your not planning to fly, it is well worth it to go and just watch the show.

Multiple venders available for those things that you haven’t been able to get hold of for a while.

 Fliers have come from as far North as Maine as far south as Florida and as far west as Texas.

Fliers or groups who have a rocket project that they can only fly once a year, and want it to be seen, bring it here. So you can always expect a show.

 Not to say that there are no Low or Mid Power fliers. The kids can outnumber the adults.

Usually, they have at least 12 or more Low Power pads set up with 12 or more Mid Power and High Power pads, and about 4 High Power Away Cells.

So there is usually no back ups with plenty of pads available.

Directions to Freedom Launch.

From the Charlotte area.   (The Orangeburg club flies off a “Super Sod” Farm)

Travel Time = from I-77 at Harris Blvd is 2 hours 40 minutes

Take I-77 South to where it ends at Columbia SC.

Merge off the end of I-77 onto I-26 South.

Take I-26 S to Exit 154A (Hwy 301) towards OrangeBurg.

The Super Sod farm is only about ¼ to ½ mile on the Left.

Staying over? (ask for Freedom Launch discount at the Days Inn across the street.)

Days Inn, 1-803-534-0500, Across the I-26 Hwy from the site, Minimal services but has a pool.

Quality Inn and Suites 1-803-531-9200, Exit 145A south (Hwy 601) off I-26.

3671 Saint Matthews Rd (Hwy 601). More services and restaurants within walking distance.

There are many other places to stay at the same exit, 145A off I-26, do a Map Quest for a list.

Flight Fee =  $10 a day and maybe $25 for the weekend.

 Sat, 3 Sept and Sun, 4 Sept.  ( Information as known at this time, more info may be forthcoming )

Sport Launch. = 10 am till 7:00 pm.

Open to all fliers up to their Certification Level. Levels “0” thru “3”

Those wanting to make cert Flights need to make arrangements with available judges.

Ceiling of  10,000 ft daytime. Expected flights over 6,000 ft need to check with Safety Officer first.

Sunday night is the Night Launch (always a good show) 7:30 pm till 9:30pm.

Rockets must be illuminated throughout flight with a 3,000 ft altitude waiver.

Monday, 5 Sept, (Labor Day)  ( Information as known at this time )

Research/Experimental flights.

(A slower laid back day with longer prep times followed by fantastic flights.)

Tripoli Only, Cert Level 2 and 3 Research/Experimental flights.

Tripoli Only, Certification flights of Level 1 to Level 2, and 2 to level 3.

Tripoli Only, Cert Level 1 can launch sport flights with Certified engines only.

Hope to you all out there wearing the ROCC “T” shirts, show the colors dudes!

Roy, ROCC Sec.