At the meeting we mostly discussed the results of April 27th launch. Regarding safety we discussed the USC launch in particular. Our the pyrotechnic operator for the launch Jim Gross mentioned that the UCS guys did better about reducing the number of people around the loading station. However he also expressed that they could still be more organized in their efforts on launch day. (For example they were speed drying epoxy with a blow dryer prior to launch) Although we are aware that this is a college project and the added constraints, particularly with time, that come along with that. He also noted that he was not made aware of the flight computers safety feature to not ignite the second stage depending on the flight trajectory and felt that this was important information for the pyrotechnic operator to be made aware of. A suggestion was made that some sort of prelaunch presentation or review of the flight software would be very beneficial.

Regarding launches in general it was expressed that we want to be more diligent about having people who are launching fill out a flight data sheets with information like max altitude and the range of the recovery area. This was apparently something we were more diligent about in the past but we have lapsed on its enforcement. I made the suggestion that if we implement this again we should also make as simple guide as possible showing how to calculate those numbers for anyone new to the process.

We also discussed the possibility of having a special meeting in September but the details aren’t set. The USC guys would like to host a meeting at their Lab on the USC campus, so they can show us all the neat stuff they have going on there and how they’ve been building their rockets. That promises to be interesting so don’t miss it.

I also had the opportunity to show everyone my tilt sensor. After seeing Osvoldo’s magnetic apogee detector and hearing about a mercury based tilt sensor for parachute deployment I decided I needed to make something like that for my rocket. It’s just a simple tilt sensor hooked up to an Arduino microcontroller. The Arduino is programmed to check that the device has been armed, and count how long the sensor has been activated. That way any jostling won’t set it off. Only when it’s held on, as when it will when the rocket reaches apogee and leans over, will the parachute be deployed. Based on feedback that I got I will run it in a test configuration first (launched on a rocket but not controlling deployment) to see how it behaves and how long if at all the deceleration phase, after burnout and before apogee, will set off the switch. Based on the results I may need to adjust the programming and have it ignore the first activation caused by deceleration, or I may have to abandon the idea entirely.

Eric Claypool showed up and he gave me a hard copy of the files of the media that are currently on the RRS website.[the previous site] We discussed what to do next with the website; the First thing to do is install WordPress on the server. Once that happens I can start working on a live version of the new site under a different address. Once we’re satisfied we then just switch the address. Eric also brought his LOX/Alcohol rocket engine for us to take a look at.

Next Meeting: June 14th Gardena Recreational Center, 1670 West 162nd Street Gardena, CA
Next Launch/Static test has been set for October 5th at the MTA

Regarding the next launch, I don’t know what anyone else is working on for it but here is what I hope to have ready. Sucrose/potassium nitrate motor static test and flight test with additional testing of an Arduino based flight computer, and a static test of my peroxide/gasoline engine. I also hope to do some testing for a hydrogen peroxide based quasi-hypergolic ignition system (where the heat from the decomposition of the peroxide ignites the propellants.) I haven’t done any detailed design yet but I’ve found a reasonable vendor for 30% peroxide and a lab glassware vacuum distilling kit on ebay, so I may be cooking up some peroxide at some point soon. If you need some let me know, but I don’t plan to make a lot.

-Richard Garcia

The secondary sights are up functioning and going just fine. (facebook.com/ReactionResearchSociety, youtube.com/ReactionResearchSoc, twitter.com/ReactionResSoc) I’ve made some progress with wordpress but it still needs some work.

Frank brought a few old newsletters and he has let me borrow them to scan, which is already mostly done. He also let me borrow a book on Peroxide rocket race cars. I found a guide on making a simple make shift book scanner, and I used it to scan the book. (http://www.instructables.com/id/Bargain-Price-Book-Scanner-From-A-Cardboard-Box/) I gave it a try and it ‘s pretty easy and doesn’t take too long.

Hey I have a great Idea! Let’s all scan any books on rocketry that we may have that are out of print or hard to find and start making an RRS digital library. I love books, and it would be great if we get more accesses for the rare books we’ve all collected over the years, it would make a great resource. If  you have any books on rocketry you’d like to share, I volunteer to help you scan them or to scan them for you. Drop me an email if you’re interested and I’ll do what I can. (my understanding is that it’s not a copyright violation if it’s used for nonprofit educationalpurposes which defiantly covers the RRS) Also if you have any RRS newsletters, lets scan those too.

I contacted Tripoli and NAR about insurance, they suggested ether Lloyds of London (the guys we got the high quote from before) or talking to the Quad Cities group who self insures. I will contact them and I also received a suggestion to look up New York Life for insurance.

No mention was made of our new lease. I forget to bring it up, sorry about that, it was a pretty busy conversation. I’ve asked them about it in an email. Hopefully they will be making all the details clear.

Recently an open source 3D printed rocket competition has been announced. I’ve joined the competition and submitted an initial design. The thing is pretty short, it’s over in June and it just started. If anyone is interested in joining me, just drop me an email.

(http://www.openspaceuniversity.org/, here is a link to a video of a 3D printed rocket someone has already made earlier http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bt2vQdgpZZg)

Osvaldo brought a Magnetic Apogee Detector he put together from a kit. The device works by deploying the parachute when it detects that the rocket has tipped over by measuring the earths magnetic field. We went outside for a demonstration where he used it to set off an ematch.
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There was discussion regarding recording the mounting features at the test stands at the MTA to assist in static testing. I’ll see what I can do about that when I go there for the upcoming launch. It was also suggested that we start developing some standard static test equipment for data collecting. The idea was to use something like an Arduino to record thrust or pressure etc. I wasn’t planning on working on something like that until I had a rocket that really needed it, but if you’re interested send me an email and I’d be happy to contribute.

Getting the membership cards is coming along and will hopefully be ready for when the membership updates will be sent out.

The April 27th launch at the MTA is still on. USC RPL will be launching a rocket. There may also be some launches of some micro grain rockets and static testing and launching of some Sugar/KNO3 rockets.

 
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My Peroxide/Gasoline rocket won’t be ready by then. But I may have a Sugar/KNO3 rocket to static test and launch. I was inspired by Osvaldo’s magnetic apogee detector to start working on a tilt sensor based apogee detector using an Arduino that I hope to fly if the sugar motor static test goes well.

-Richard Garcia

The next launch has been delayed. A firm date has not yet been set but it will probably be April 20th. The UCS members will be launching a rocket. It will be launched from the same tower they intend to use for their planned suborbital space shot. A static firing of a small peroxide-gasoline rocket may also take place. (But only if I can finish the last of the parts and get the peroxide in time)

We received a quote from the first lead regarding insurance coverage for launches and we felt it was to high so the search will continue.

The executive council stated a goal of sending out yearly membership renewal requests and providing additional payment options (something like PayPal online) by June 1st. We intend to use the responses to generate an updated membership database.
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We have also been looking into making membership cards. A sample was shown at the meeting. It had a white background, black text, and it also had the RRS logo, and was made out of similar material to credit and ID cards.

We have been discussing wanting to do a 70th anniversary symposium for the RRS this summer. This is in early planning.

The executive council stated that an announcement will be coming soon, probably at the next meeting, regarding a dual use agreement for the MTA.
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-Richard Garcia