by Dave Nordling, Pyrotechnic Operator, RRS.ORG

The Reaction Research Society (RRS) held a liquid-fueled static fire event of the UCLA Rocket Project’s latest designs at the Mojave Test Area (MTA) on Saturday, November 1, 2025. We also had a member project that day with Austin Sennott and Charles Sharp launching three versions of their Half-Cat design.

The weather was quite good that day with very low winds and mild temperatures. The teams seemed well prepared and briefed me on their operations prior to commencing propellant operations. RRS member, Bill Nelson, assistef me in overseeing the event as my apprentice.

UCLA’s first static firing had a no-start condition on their igniter due to an open circuit which was easily corrected, but the team opened the run valves dumping the alcohol and liquid oxygen. They ran the tanks until empty and waited to let the reminder of the liquid left in the horizotnal internal space of the engine evaporate. UCLA would correct their mistakes on the next run.

While the UCLA engine was drying and the system rendered safe, the Half-Cat team got the next operation and conducted fuel filling and remote nitrous oxide filling. The Half-Cat design has flown nearly a hundred times at both the RRS MTA and FAR. They had three successful launches with only one recovery system getting tangled. All vehicles were r

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