ROCC March Rocket Launch, 15 - 16th

Everyone: Official launch announcement for ROCC Sport Launch: Saturday and Sunday March 15th and 16th from 11:00 to 7:00 each day This month's launch looks a little iffy with a front moving in Saturday. Please keep checking the website and email for further launch details. We will not have an option to go around due to the Easter holiday the following weekend. We will try to get this launch in the best we can. Large Boy Scout group to attend early Saturday. David Hutchinson from Pack 214 is bringing at least 47 scouts out for a day of launching. We may be pretty busy Saturday morning. They came out last year and we had a really great time. I would ask all senior members of the club to make yourself available to assist in either with pad management, or to just be available if they need help with prepping, repairs, etc. We will have our new Estes PVC pads available that Todd has been working on. I hope to have all 24 pads up and running at this launch. Please, READ MORE

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February 2008 Launch Report

Welcome, welcome everyone to the February Post-Launch Rocket Report, being brought to you by Louise Ferrell, Assistant Secretary. The forecast for the entire weekend was cold, windy and rain, but, fortunately once again the reports were in error. The weather overall was very good but we had winds that varied from almost calm to strong gusts which made predicting rocket course at times difficult. (Roy�s Note: I myself had two MP flights come in ballistic behind the flight line so we need to take extra care on a rockets angle and try to take into account the effect of �wind Cocking�.)

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Cool link

Todd & Stephanie Haring sent me this link to some photos a NASA friend sent them from the last ISS/Shuttle mission. They're really beautiful, check 'em out! LINK DR

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At Last a P-MOTOR

Ralph was just over a little while ago and showed me this link to video of a P-motor take off at the NAR Winter Nationals. I'll warn you, it's a 32 MB download, but it's well worth it, and you need to turn your speakers UP. Here's the LINK. ENJOY !!! DR

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Stereo Space Station

OK folks, rummage around and find a pair of those red/blue stereo vision glasses (of course you know you have a pair, you're a nerd!) and go to this link. It's really COOL!

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Lunar Eclipse Tonight (Feb 20)

Everyone: Tonight, starting at 8:43pm there will be a full Lunar Eclipse with totallity being reached at 10:01pm and lasting for 50 minutes. It will be almost 3 years before the next one so don't miss it. Thanks, Ralph PS - The military may try to shoot down the Satilite tonight as well, you may want to checkout SPACE.COM for updates. What a great day in space!!!

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February 2008 Launch Announcement

Everyone: Official launch announcement: Saturday and Sunday Feb 16th and 17th from 11:00 to 6:00 each day ROCC Sport launch. This month's launch looks a little in jeopardy, we have both weather and waiver issues. At this time it will only be a 3.3 lbs and under launch unless I can find out if the 2008 waiver is ready. Plus, the weather is looking suspect as of this time. Please keep checking the website and email for further launch details. We may opt to go around one week if we have a chance to have the waiver ready by next weekend. Nar Contest: Gift cards will be awarded to the winners Vendors: Performance hobbies will be there both days Duty Roster: I will have new sign-up sheets for the launches through April next year. Sign up to help, please!!!!!! Porta-Potty: Will be on-site this launch. Flyer-Fees: Please come out and fly and pay your fees. Recommended $8-$10 donation a day per flyer. We still have to pay the Piper. Note: Keep an eye on email and the website for any changes regarding our launch. Questions, comments - Ralph Roberts @ roccprez@bellsouth.net Sincerely, Ralph Roberts ROCC Prez and prefect.

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January post-launch report

Welcome, welcome everyone to the January Post-Launch Rocket Report, being brought to you by Louise Ferrell, a young and intrepid, budding secretarial Rocket Scientist. The forecast for the entire weekend was cold and windy and for the most part it was accurate. Did the cool weather scare folks off? No, dedicated rocketeers and their families made it to the pads both days! Actually, The January Make-up Rocket Launch weekend was probably better than most had anticipated. Defiantly better than the prior regular 3rd weekend which was a cold, dark and rainy weekend.. The Farm had experienced a considerable amount of rain the weeks leading up to the launch so ground conditions were pretty fire safe and ideal considering the morning near frozen state. It was a bit windier and cooler on Saturday but flying conditions were still good. Weather conditions improved on Sunday and by the end of the day the skies were much calmer with a beautiful blue sky. Please, use the "Read More" button...

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Winter Meet Contest Standings

Here are the standings after the January Launch.

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I'm not Cheep... Just Frugal

Remember now, I'm not really cheep. but I am Frugal. For those of you who get the Charlotte Observer, Sunday paper, on the back of the Comic section, there is always a full page add for "Hobby Lobby" (NOT Hobby Town) hobby and craft stores. There are two in the Charlotte area. About once, sometimes twice a month they have a 40% coupon at the bottom of the add for one regular priced item, good for the week. (Hobby Lobby is closed on Sundays.) The store has a fair hobby rocket section in Estes, Quest and some other rocket kit brands. So you can pick up a kit or rocket engine pack for 40% off for that week. That can save you a fair amount of money if you are a coupon user like me. Remember, I'm not a cheep skate, just frugal. And I'm not above asking my neighbors for their Hobby Lobby add for the coupon if their not going to use it, and going by the store a few times during the week. The University store is only a couple of miles from me so it's convenient to do so. This way you can get a $30 dollar Estes/Quest kit at a good price. Even if I'm good on kits, I still at least pickup a couple of Estes E9 engine packs for future use. Estes has re released the "Space Interceptor" in the original size and a upscale size for about $40, plus some other large sized kits like the large "Tomahawk" rocket. This makes them more affordable. The other store is at Independence (Hwy 74) and 51 in the shopping center on the north side of 74. Use 'em if you got 'em. Take Care, and remember to keep those exhaust nozzles clear. And, I'm not cheep, just frugal.

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