When trying to describe the subculture of high power rocketry to my non-rocket flying friends (ie, most of the people I know), I often include this vignette. Rocket people like acronyms – maybe because of NASA? And a lot of our launches are named with acronyms: LDRS (Large and Dangerous Rocket Ships), NSL (National Sport Launch), etc. And then some of the launches are spelled in all-caps to sound like acronyms, but are really just about testicles. Case in point: BALLS.
Check out this compilation of video from this year’s BALLS (the 18th annual) in Nevada’s Black Rock desert. Highlights are the keg of beer launched at 1:10, the 3-stage flight to ~60,000 feet at 4:00, and the various crashes and explosions throughout:
Rocketry Planet has an article up about the new FAA procedures for securing waivers for super larger, super high-flying rockets. The first project to go through the process was slated to fly today at XPRS: it’s called the 99K Project and it’s a two stage rocket (P in the booster, N motor in the sustainer). Wowser–I’ll update here when I hear how the flight went.
I went out to the eastern shore of Maryland today for the Maryland Delaware Rocketry Association’s monthly launch, and what a day! The weather was absolutely gorgeous – sunny and up to the mid 70s, not a cloud in the sky, and hardly a whisper of wind the whole day.
After two flights on I motors this summer, my Lunch Money was ready for its first J. I built a J350 last night and thought I had everything ready to go. Unfortunately at the launch I discovered the threaded inserts for my motor retention had both pushed through the rear centering ring. I needed a motor retention solution – not feeling too comfortable with friction-fit only flying a J motor with an adapter – but luckily Ken of Performance Hobbies was on hand to provide some retention hardware. After some drilling, screwing, friction-fitting, and other tomfoolery, I was finally ready to fly:
This was my friend Erin’s first rocket launch – she enthusiastically helped get Lunch Money on the launch pad and later flew her own rocket. Maybe she’ll get hooked on rocketry too!?
Liftoff on a J350 – fast and straight:
My housemate Liz came out to the launch along with our friends Alisha and Kristina – first time at a rocket launch for all. They bravely delved into MDRA’s handy rocket bucket to find rockets to fly. Participation makes rocketry so much more fun!
I’m getting ready for tomorrow’s MDRA launch and just finished assembling an Aerotech J350 to fly in my Lunch Money (a 4″ PML Endeavor):
So far Lunch Money has flown on an I218 Redline and an I211 White Lightning – this will be its first flight on a J motor, and what I now realize is only my 4th flight in Level 2 territory (Level 2 cert flight with a J350 in Cheaper than a Girlfriend and two K-powered flights for the University Student Launch Initiative).
One word: Wow. The winds went away. The clouds went away. And the rocketeers brought the big stuff, loading up all the large projects they’d been saving for better weather. Here are some pictures I took (you might have already seen these on Rocketry Planet too), starting off with the Wildman drag race – seven rockets on one L and six M’s.
$10 worth of raffle tickets. Three prizes (so far) including a $225 retail value altimeter/accelerometer/timer from Over the Top Rocketry. I’m really excited – more coming soon.
I need to take another picture in better light, but this conveys the general color scheme I chose for Lunch Money’s first paint job:
After flying it a few times at LDRS it may need new paint anyway, so then I’ll go back and have time to actually fill in all the little holes, sand it a lot more, and make it a work of art. For now, this will do.
My 4″ diameter Public Missiles Limited (PML) Endeavor kit “Lunch Money” is almost ready to fly at LDRS 28. Here are some pictures of the construction from a few months back – more coming soon!
Over the Fourth of July weekend, there will be two types of rocketeers in America: those at LDRS (Large and Dangerous Rocket Skips) 28 in Potter, NY, and those who wish they were there.
My rockets will be small to medium-size for that launch, but it’s still nice to fly something! I’m putting the final touches on my new 4″ diameter Public Missiles Ltd. Endeavor kit – the last coat of primer is nearly dry and the first paint will go on tonight.
With the Endeavor drying outside, I decided to sort through my rocket boxes and figure out what to take to LDRS. Pictured below: my heavily-reinforced 2.6″ Sandhawk (think J570), some reloads (H123W, H148R, I218R, I211W, J350W), 54-38mm and 38-29mm adapters, my Aerotech reload casings (1 24mm, 3 29mm, and 4 38 mm), and the piston and electronics bay from the Endeavor.
National Association of Rocketry Level 2 high power rocketeer ... originally from the foothills of the Ozarks in Arkansas ... now living in the heart of Washington, DC ... flying rockets wherever I roam - read more.
