Category Archives: Uncategorized

Feedback from Gene Kranz

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Fellow SLRAers,

Here is some feedback that I received from Gene on or Apollo 11 celebration:

DAVE,
THE APOLLO 11 CELEBRATION WAS TRULY A GREAT AFFAIR AND WAS THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE... I THINK THAT ONCE AGAIN YOU HAVE SET A NEW MARKER FOR PERFORMANCE. DID YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM WITH YOUR SATURN LAUNCH... GLAD THAT IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS MOSTLY REPAIRABLE.

SAVE THE TIME AND TROUBLE ON THE OVERSIZE CHECK.. I DONT KNOW WHAT THEY WOULD DO WITH IT. USE THE FOAM CORE TO BUILD A NEW ROCKET...
CHEERS

Gene Kranz
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DAVE,
REFERENCE THE AIRLINE COSTS.... I DO NOT EXPECT TO BE REIMBURSED... HOW ABOUT USING IT AS SEED $ FOR YOUR NEXT PROJECT OR CONSIDER IT A DONATION TO THE PLANETARIUM... EITHER WAY IS OK WITH ME.
CHEERS

Gene Kranz

The fact that Gene does not want to be reimbursed for his airline travel speaks volumes for his enthusiastic support of our STEM education and outreach effort. I spoke with John Lakey regarding this generous donation by Gene, He is considering using the money to pay for much needed equipment for the planetarium. Once again, job well done everyone!

Happy Rocketeering!

Dave

Wednesday May 14th Welcome Dinner for Gene and Marta Kranz

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 Last Friday, I met with the Moonrise Hotel Banquet Coordinator Wendy Walker.  We are now set for our Welcome Dinner for Gene and Marta Kranz.  The event will be held in the Apollo 11 Room.  This room provides us with an awesome location to have our dinner; with privacy, plenty of space, round tables that accommodate up to 10 people, and wet-bar for purchase of beverages (soda, tea, coffee, and alcoholic beverages).

The cost to attend this even is $35.  The dinner selections are as follows:

1.  Mahi Mahi with Brown Rice Pilaf and Grilled Asparagus
2.  Roasted Chicken with Potato Gouda Gratin and Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Grapes
3.  Pork Loin with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Green Bean Amandine

All three dinners come with a garden salad for starters.

Here is a listing of the following club members who will be attending:  Dan Crank, Don Hanson, Heino and Janna Pull, John and Jackie Buckley, Ken Gianino, and myself.
If possible, I would like to collect everyone's dinner selection and money tomorrow at our meeting.

I am planning on having scale model rockets for the table center pieces.  The scale theme is famous NASA and Science Center rockets.  If you have a rocket you would like to show off, let me know.  John Buckley's Thor-Able comes to mind as a perfect centerpiece for the table that John Lakey will be seated at.
We have the room reserved from 3:30 - 8:00 pm.

3:30-5:00 Room Set-up
5:00 -6:00 Happy Hour/Meet and Greet
6:00-7:00 Dinner
7:00-8:00 Take-Down

See you all at the meeting tomorrow night!
Happy Rocketeering!
Dave Kovar

Apollo 11 45th Anniversary Commemoration Update

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The activity level in organizing the Apollo 11 45th Anniversary Commemoration has stepped up significantly over the past several weeks.  I spoke with John Lakey (SLSC Planetarium Director) today.  He informed me that 160 students have signed up to participate in the Friday May 16th Apollo 11 45th Anniversary Commemoration Education and Outreach Event.  That leaves only 90 spaces left.  All Fourty-four rocket kits have been picked by the local area Boy Scout troops who have signed up for the Precision Duration Model Rocket Competition that is going to be held Saturday May 17th at the SLSC Archery Field,  Nearly all of the scouts will be participating in the May 3rd pre-launch activity at Buder Park.  Lots of volunteer help is still needed for the May 3rd Buder Park and the May 17th SLSC activities.

The Welcome Dinner with Gene Kranz is still on for Wednesday May 15th at the Moonrise Hotel.  I will be going to the hotel on Friday to meet with the Banquet Director to discuss detail for this event.  I am hoping to send out the cost information for attendance to this event on Friday.  One change, the dinner is going to be held in the Apollo 8 room.  Earl Mullins, President of the Bon Terre Space Museum, is providing a $200 donation for pay for rental of the Apollo 8 room.

I met with Anna Green today (SLSC Education Director), to discuss the presentations by Gene Kranz that will be given during he Friday and Saturday events.  She is going to start putting together the PowerPoint presentations so that we can get them sent off to Gene for his approval prior to the event.

Construction of my Apollo 11 Saturn V is continuing.  I have completed putting on all the wraps and am now working on the engine shrouds and fins.  I can't wait to put it on the pad.

I am still looking to someone with a truck to haul the club trailer around on May 3rd, 16th, and 17th.  Let me know if you can help me out on this one.

Happy Rocketeering!

Dave Kovar

 

Challenger Learning Center 10 Year Anniversary this Saturday – Volunteers Still Needed

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This Saturday November 16th, from 10 am – 5 pm, the St. Louis Challenger Learning Center (CLC) will be celebrating it’s 10-year anniversary. CLC Director Tasmyn Scarl Front has invited us to participate by putting on a static display and paper helicopter building session/duration competition.  Model rocket kits and club t-shirts will be given out to the top finishers.  Let me know if you would be interested in helping out, it should be lots of fun! CLC will be providing lunch for the volunteers.  My contact information is: email-kovardad@gmail.com phone – (314) 296-3171

Please email or phone me if you would like to help out.  Let me know if you need any further information.

The Challenger Learning Center is located out by Lambert Airport at 205 Brotherton Lane
St. Louis, MO 63135

For more information on CLC, go to http://www.clcstlouis.org/

Happy Rocketeering!

Dave Kovar

October Fly is Go at Elsberry!!

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OK folks we are go for the launch.   The beans and corn have all been picked, and the weather forecast looks fantastic.  Possible shirt sleeve weather at the end of October!

 

So here is the plan for the weekend.

 

I plan to be in Elsberry around 6:30AM  at Our Place restaurant for breakfast.   If you get there early we can handle registration at the restaurant rather than on the field.

 

Contest registration fee is $7 per competition unit.

 

At 8AM we will head over to the field (5 minutes) and begin setting up.   I hope to begin flying by 9AM.

 

Contest range hours will be 9AM until it gets too dark to fly on Saturday, and approximately 8AM until 3PM on SUnday, when contest flights will cease.

 

If you don't know how to get to the field see the SLRA website at www,stlouisrocketry.org where you can find directions.

 

As a reminder here are the contest events:

 

A HD

A BG

B ELD

C SD

A PD

Predicted duration