Elsberry, MO HPR Launch Field Availability

The land owner in Elsberry, Dick Mayes, said they had their best year ever.  He said in about 2 weeks we should be able to fly rockets - maybe the weekend of Oct 24 and 25.  I mentioned we planned to ask the FD to join us as well (as we did fireworks with them once before I joined).  My neighbor's nephew is (at least was) the fire chief there.  So I can ask my neighbor to contact him for us.  The farmer started harvesting some beans, but is waiting aagin till tomorrow to see how they are doing.  I also asked about flying SO-SO (Marvin's ride) in Elsberry and he said we "can shoot whatever you guys want to".  I did e-mail them a link to videos and sent some pics as well.  I went on to ask if we could let folks in town know so they could come to watch.  I told him that I suspected it would be spring before we would try that and that we had to be 2,000ft away.

From Dan Welling

Addieville, IL HPR Launch Field Availability

Spoke with the Addieville Farm Folks today.

If the fields stay dry, we'll be able to have a launch there in a couple of weeks...they are harvesting the beans now and the corn soon to follow.

I'll keep you posted.

From Don Hanson

So, we need to see when folks want to try to do a HP launch.

Launch controller

The club decided based primarily on David's research and the reputation of Bdale and Keith to go with the Altus Metrum product.  However ... David saw a Wilson FX launch controller in action and fell in love with it.  If I recall correctly, it is a chunk less costly than the one from Altus Metrum.

Trailer

While we have a great plan for how we are laying out the trailer, it has not been started.  We want to foam between the inside walls and the skin - to keep it from rippling in the wind and make things more firm.  Anyway, it is not close to being ready to use. David Pape is getting a quote for spraying foam into the walls. Buying 2 part foam to fill the walls will cost us over $900 in materials.  Another option is to pull all the inner walls out and use 1" pink foam board.  That will cost about $100 ish.  Great Stuff would need (if their estimated volume is correct) about $50 of material.  So even if we double that, it would be in the same neighborhood as puling the walls.

The underside of the floor is non-treated wood.  It needs to be sealed in some way.  We have a few options.

At some point we want to add some eyes or hooks for hanging printed banner (like a flag but with grommets on all sides) to display on our trailer while not on the road.

The layout of this trailer will be very functional for both local launches and for attending regional/national events.

TRA news

At the prefects Zoom meeting last week the BOD announced a few things:

Some attempts at defining what is and is not allowed regarding homemade electronics - particular for anything controlling energetics - by means of implementing new rules has been tossed out.  (Bob Brown was pivotal in making directors see the probable pitfalls of the new rule.)

TRA is changing certification rules for lapsed members.  TRA is NOT doing the same as NAR - once certified, always certified.
 TRA will let you keep your cert for up to 5 years of being lapsed.  But for L2 and L3 the member must take and pass the L2 written test.

TRA is getting more formally involved in IREC with ESRA and Spaceport - so rules regarding safety will likely reflect that.  I asked if/how that would impact students doing research projects outside the parameters of TRA.  

Lastly, there are some newly certified motors out.  Quest has a composite C18W and D20W that both use thier new "fast white" formula propellant.  Aerotech has a long burn motor certified now.  The K76-WN-P has a 20 second burn time - yes, 20 seconds as in a third of a minute.  Hmmm..night be something to consider for the final 2 outboard motors on the retro-futuristic rocket project. That would extend total continuous burn time from 18 to 30 seconds.  To see details go to thrustcurve.org

OK, really lastly, TRA is likely going to quarterly Zoom meetings for prefects ad TAPs.  At the prefects meeting there were 32 folks online and it was not chaos (and the moderator did NOT have to mute people)  lol

First, About the work needed to ready our new Trailer.

• Dan Welling (danw1963@hotmail.com), Dave Pape (david.pape@papestudio.com), and Don Hanson (donlakeshire@yahoo.com) are the in charge crew for the decisions of how to set the new trailer up with shelving and etc.
• They are wondering if there were perhaps some other folks in the club that would like to volunteer to help out?
• We are also going to need some more funding for material, either from more donations or from the club account.
• If you are interested please e-mail Dan, Dave or Don.
• The only real degree of difficulty is that the trailer is out at Dave Pape's (3245 Highway F, Pacific, MO 63069)

Second, 2021 Rocket Photo Calendar.

• Hi Everyone,
• I am writing to inform you that Nadine Kinney has started accepting preorders for her 2021 rocket photo calendar, and I spoke with her – Kaboom Krewe’s Marvin the Martian rocket takes up the entire month of April!
• I have discussed with Nadine and we have a bulk order price available to us.  Our price is $13.00 per calendar.
• I will collect preorders and get them together so we can all enjoy a wonderful calendar at a great price. If you haven’t had one of Nadine’s calendars in the past, it’s not just the calendar that you get, there are some coupons included in each month for various vendors and manufacturers. 
• Pickup can be arranged at a monthly club meeting or porch pickup at my house located in Maplewood.
• I would like to ask for payment in advance if possible. I can accept paypal, money order, or cash. 
• To place your preorder, please send me an email to mrwalsh85@gmail.com. In the subject line, please type out MARVIN CALENDAR so I can easily look for your email, and then in the email, indicate how many calendars you would like and how you would like to pay. I will take your information down and send a confirmation e-mail with the qty and total cost to be paid, and whatever information is needed to remit payment.
• Once they’ve arrived, I will send all an e-mail informing that they’ve arrived and are available for pickup.
• If you are not local, but want to get in on this pre-order, please shoot me an e-mail and we will figure out how to get these to you.
• Thank you for your time, Mike Walsh - Kaboom Krewe

Our next model rocket launch is scheduled for Sunday, September 27 at Buder Park - under SPECIAL RULES due to the Coronavirus Pandemic - read and understand below.

As always, please check the website for last-minute updates before heading to the field, or check your email if you are subscribed to the email list.

We'll start setup at 8:30 am and should have the range open by 9:00 am. The range will stay open for as long as people are flying, but we're typically done by 12:00 or 1:00 pm.

If you have any questions, please email admin@stlouisrocketry.com.

PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND THESE NEW RULES. YOU WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO ATTEND A LAUNCH AND FLY ROCKETS IF THESE RULES ARE NOT FOLLOWED.

In order to comply with the latest guidelines issued by the St. Louis County Department of Public Health (DPH), SLRA’s Buder Park rocket launches will be limited to a maximum of ten people (two officers and eight flyers). Additionally, SLRA will not be able to host students, scouts, or any other groups at our park launches until social distancing is lifted. Here’s how we’re going to manage that:

1. Prior to each launch, each person who wants to attend must register by emailing Dan Crank at danno@danno.org. If you are a NAR member, please include a scan or photo of your NAR card with your first registration email (I will keep these on file until they expire). If you are not a NAR member, I will send you instructions for signing a liability release electronically.
2. Slots will generally be assigned to people first come first serve, but…
3. To ensure as many people as possible get to fly, priority will be given to people who registered for a previous launch but did not get a slot, and people who did not register for the previous launch. For example: Bart registers for the May launch, gets a slot, and attends. Lisa registered for the May launch, but did not get to attend because Bart got the last slot. Maggie did not register for the May launch at all. If all three register for the June launch, Lisa has first priority for a slot, then Maggie, then Bart (regardless of when they sent their registrations). Then, if Bart doesn’t get to fly in June, he goes to the top of the list for July.
4. Lists will be finalized 48 hours before the launch and everyone who sent a registration will be notified by email whether or not they got a slot. If there is a no-go for weather, flooding or any other reason, it will also be decided 48 hours before the launch if at all possible.
5. Any kids over the age of two count towards our limit of ten participants
6. People slotted as officers will get to fly rockets, but will be expected to help as LCO (launch control officer) and / or RSO (range safety officer) for a portion of the launch. SLRA club officers and people whose names are on our GSLMA permits can act as launch officers; others may be deputized at the discretion of an officer. There will be no badges (although Don will try to sell you a name tag).
7. As with everywhere else, DPH-issued social distancing guidelines will be in effect at all times during the launch. Specifically for us, this means:
   1. While at the launch pads or flight line or anywhere else, maintain a distance of six or more feet from anyone who is not a member of your household. Please approach the launch pad one at a time to rack your rockets.
   2. Only the LCO should be at the launch control table (there will be no sign-up sheet as we’ve had in the past).
   3. RSO inspection of rockets, when necessary, will be “hands-off” at a distance of six or more feet.
   4. Please bring a mask (a bandana is OK) and wear it while in the vicinity of the flight line or launch pads, unless wearing a mask would compromise your health (let me know if this is the case). If you’re by yourself in your prep area, or out in the field retrieving a rocket, you are not required to keep your mask on (although you can if you wish).
8. It goes without saying that all rules of the NAR Safety Code remain in effect.
9. If you have any questions or concerns about these rules, please email Dan Crank at danno@danno.org. This is a new situation for all of us, and we’re figuring it out as we go. If you have ideas about how to make the launch better (“better” being defined as safer, fairer and more fun - in that order), please bring them up for discussion with the club.

Updated St. Louis County DPH guidelines effective May 18: https://stlcorona.com/dr-pages-messages/public-health-orders/director-of-public-health-business-and-individual-guidelines-for-social-distancing-and-re-opening/

St. Louis County Parks and Recreation page, with park-specific information: https://www.stlouisco.com/Parks-and-Recreation

--The fine print---

Launch pads are usually set up in the southeast corner of the park, but this may change based on wind direction and other activities nearby.

Anyone who is a current, paid member of the National Association of Rocketry or Tripoli Rocketry Association is welcome to participate. Due to insurance regulations, those who are not a member of one of the two national organizations will need to have a NAR or Tripoli member inspect and fly their rockets for them. Non-members will also be asked to sign a liability release. If you wish to fly your own rockets, please be prepared to show your NAR or Tripoli membership card, or a receipt of payment if you are a new member who has not yet received a card.

Please note that these launches may be cancelled for a number of reasons, notably: weather conditions (rain, high wind), park conditions (mud, flooding), or scheduling conflicts (another group’s use of the park makes it impossible to safely launch, or not enough SLRA members are available to run the launch). Please check the “current launch status” on the front page of our website, http://dmortproductions.com/stlrocketry, before making your way to the park.

Buder Park launches are conducted under the NAR safety code as “Class 1” rocket launches. Class 1 launches carry the following restrictions:

Rockets must weigh less than 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) at liftoff, including propellant.
Rockets must contain no more than 125 grams (4.4 ounces) of propellant – this includes most motors up through G class (although see the note below regarding high-altitude launches). Only certified, commercial motors are allowed.
Rockets must be made of wood, paper, or breakable plastic, and contain no substantial metal parts.
Rockets must employ a recovery system such as a parachute, streamer, helicopter, glide, tumble or featherweight recovery
Decisions of the LCO (launch control officer) and RSO (range safety officer) are final with respect to these restrictions and safety in general. Our goal is safety for everyone involved.

The total size of Buder Park is approximately 2100 x 1200 feet, which according to the Model Rocket Safety Code is large enough to fly a G motor rocket. However, please keep in mind that we are usually not the only users of the park – we share it with radio control aircraft flyers, archers, sports teams, joggers, and many others. Also, the perimeter of the park is lined with very tall trees, and just beyond the north treeline you will find the Meramec River. Have some idea of how high your rocket is expected to go before you launch, keep the wind conditions in mind, and use common sense. Experienced SLRA members will be happy to advise you to make sure your rocket is safe and likely to be recoverable.

Finally, please remember to take adequate precautions in hot weather – use sunscreen and bring water or sports drinks to stay hydrated. One nice thing about Buder Park is that there is plenty of shade around the edges of the field, so please take shelter from the sun when you need to.Posted in Mail_All_Users, Uncategorized | Leave a replyPosted in Mail_All_Users | Leave a replyPosted in Mail_All_Users | Leave a reply

SLRA is having our regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening, September 22nd.

It will be held at Bandana's Bar-B-Q, 11750 Gravois Road, Sunset Hills, MO 63127-1804.

There is a $100 total food/drink order minimum for the group. So we need at least 10 people to be in attendance.

Please email us at admin@stlouisrocketry.com to let us know if you will attend this meeting in person.

Due to COVID-19, this meeting will also be held on Zoom:

Topic: SLRA September business meeting
Time: Sep 22, 2020 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82499118290?pwd=S21VRHAxTlgvRmJYRGlHaXlyY2hDUT09

Meeting ID: 824 9911 8290
Passcode: 669056

If you're a member of SLRA and are registered on the website, you can view minutes of previous meetings here: Meeting Minutes Page, The meeting minutes will be the basis of our "old business" discussion.

THE STANDARD AGENDA FOR ALL MEETINGS IS AS FOLLOWS:

1. Minutes from the August 25th Meeting
2. Treasury Status.
3. Recognition of Achievements
4. Recognition of Contributions
5. Members expenses.
6. Old Business - Trailer
7. New Business

Online and paper membership forms with payments received by mail to be processed by treasurer and president.

Please email admin@stlouisrocketry.com if you have new business for the meeting.

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