The Auburn University Student launch Initiative (USLI) team is attending SEARS launches this year to test their rocket. They are also known as the Titans of Trajectory. Learn more on their website. Chris Short is one of the team members.
Visit the official website for more info.
Tracking Wildlife from Space
by Patrick Barry
It’s 10 o’clock, and do you know where your Oriental Honey Buzzard is?
Tracking the whereabouts of birds and other migrating wildlife across thousands of miles of land, air, and sea is no easy feat. Yet to protect the habitats of endangered species, scientists need to know where these roving animals go during their seasonal travels.
by Patrick Barry
At one time or another, we’ve all stared at beautiful images of spiral galaxies, daydreaming about the billions of stars and countless worlds they contain. What mysteries—and even life forms—must lurk within those vast disks?
John Hansel, Cliff Oliver, and I had the pleasure of attending the 2008 Florida Winter Nationals near West Plam Beach, FL. Florida Spacemodeling Association/Tripoli West Palm organizes the event. Rick Boyette and Al Bycheck head up the effort. The launch was well attended and lots of launches. No numbers yet.
We were there for the first two days. Saturday had near perfect conditions. Sunday was a bit more windy. Cliff Oliver attempted his NAR Level 3 Certification on Saturday. His rocket was called Tempory Insanity. It was a 7.5 inch diameter rocket about nine feet tall. The launch was tremendous on the AMW M1850 Green Gorilla. Apogee was 5000 feet and recovery was perfect for L3 success. John Hansel’s big flight was the 12 inch V2 on the AMW M1850 also. Both 1850s did not light on the first try. Paul Robinson of AMW was there and he recommended using a sliver of Blue Thunder propellant with the igniter. John’s V2 produced some drama as the main was out but took a while to open. The V2 landed at the flight line and hopped into a lawn chair under a pop-up. No harm done. I launched my Thor on a J570 with the ATC-2K for on-board video on Saturday. I launched the Stealth on a K550 on Sunday.
Cliff and I met Derick Deville from Miami at the Saturday banquet. It turns out he mixed the S motor for the CSXT Sub Orbital flight. He brought a huge rocket called Black Dragon for the Monday Research Day and a P motor to power it. We saw the rocket on Sunday. We left on Monday AM so we did not see it fly.
John got a chance to visit his Parents and his Sister. His Parents attended the Sunday launch. We found out his Mother has eagle eyes and was spotting rockets way before we could.
One of the great flights was Harold and Bob’s 12 inch V2 on a N motor.
If you get an opportunity I recommend attending a major launch like the Winter Nats or Southern Thunder.
Greg
Note, more Winter Nat photos are here and an album on Cliff’s L3 is here.
Bernie’s Snowman
Cliff’s L3 Rocket on a M1850GG
Cliff Oliver of SEARS is planning a Level 3 attempt at the Florida Winter Nationals wit Temporary Insanity on a AMW 1850 Green Gorilla. You can view his Level 3 package here. Good luck Cliff!
Greg
An edible craft to tie into a space unit or space derby! Great for a boy scout pack meeting or birthday party. Read more here.
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Another use for the ATC-2K Camera. It is mounted looking upward on John Hansel’s launch Tower.
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Greg
The EMRR rocketry calendar is handled differently this year. You can get it from Cafepress. The large size is especially nice. See the details here.
Congrats to these Austin, TX scouts on launching 965 rockets simultaneously on May 12th 2007! Read a launch report on Rocketry Planet. Also visit the event web site.
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