One small correction to the previous announcement: per County guidelines, any kids over the age of two count towards our limit of ten participants. So please disregard the point about a parent and child only counting as one registration spot - when you register, please let me know the total number of people (including children) you're registering for.

Also, please remember to let me know in your email whether you're a paid NAR or Tripoli member (include your member number) and whether you're a paid SLRA member.

Thanks,

Dan Crank (danno@danno.org)

Our next model rocket launch is scheduled for Saturday, June 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 reply

Just a reminder: since we are limited by St. Louis County to 10 participants, this Sunday's launch is by pre-registration only. As of right now, we have one spot left - but if you register for the launch and do not get a spot, you will be at the top of the list for the next launch.

Most importantly, please do NOT arrive at the field with the intention of participating unless you have confirmation from me that you are registered. If you want to register or have any other questions, please email me at danno@danno.org.

Thanks,

Dan Crank

SLRA is having our regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening, May 26th. Due to COVID-19, this meeting will be held on Zoom:

Topic: SLRA May business meeting
Time: May 26, 2020 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84041302259?pwd=aDJHZ3p0ZUpoVkpHYjA1OFRFeU1WZz09

Meeting ID: 840 4130 2259
Password: 213435

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. Treasury Status.
2. Recognition of Achievements
3. Recognition of Contributions
4. Members expenses.
5. Old Business - please review minutes for last month's meeting for topics
6. 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.

Our next model rocket launch is scheduled for Sunday, May 31st 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. A parent with one or more children only counts as one “slot.”
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 reply

In accordance with directives issued from NAR in response to the Coronavirus, SLRA's May 2nd model rocket launch has been canceled.

Dear SLRA members,

With these idle times, I was trying to improve my access to rocketry research, and I was wondering if any club members might be able to help.  I have a book scanner that does no harm to the book or magazine being scanned.  What I would like to do is to scan complete sets of rocketry related magazines and turn them into pdf files that are searchable with your computer.

If you have a collection of magazines (especially HPR ones like Extreme Rocketry that are no longer available) that I could borrow, I would be more than willing to pick them up - in these socially distanced times, you can just leave them on your doorstep, and phone me for pickup when ready.  I will scan them quickly, and return them to you in the same way.  

What you get is a digital copy of the searchable pdf files for your magazines.

If curious, more information about the scanner is here.

Note - I have no intent or desire to sell these scans - this is no different than what many libraries do with their collections, and no different than if the members of SLRA donated the magazines to a club library for their members use.  Selling them, however, would be a violation of the magazine owners ability to receive revenue from them. Does the SLRA have a library?

If interested,  please let me know by emailing me what you have to share.  If you need boxes for the magazines, I have a few of those I can bring, too.

Regards,

Gary Liming

gary@liming.org

636-778-9998