MTA work event, 2023-02-08

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by Bill Claybaugh, RRS.ORG

The first elements of the new launch rail were brought to the RRS MTA from Colorado. This included the base, modular guide rail and the hydraulic lift system.

Unpacking upon arrival at the RRS MTA
Base mount sitting on the new pad, anchors being made ready

More work to the mounting (bolts) and changes to the hydraulic lift fluid system was necessary. A list of items and tasks were generated for later completion. At this time, the launch rail is not ready for use. Also, the design does not allow the rocket to be mounted and lifted from the horizontal position. The rocket is loaded vertically and attached to the rails by a pair of bellybands similar to the previous launch.

Partial deployment of the new launch rail system, more work required

Launch preparations including mixing, pouring and casting will take place in late April this year as planned. Completing the new launch rail will be added going forward.

Thanks to Joe Dominguez and Rushd Julfiker for their assistance.

80th Anniversary RRS Symposium

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by Dave Nordling, President, RRS.ORG

The Reaction Research Society is pleased to announce we will be holding our 80th anniversary space and rocketry symposium on Saturday, April 15, 2023. Invited speakers are from universities, government agencies and local industries. We will have exhibitions and demonstrations throughout this all day event starting at 8AM and ending at 5PM.

Mary Star High School, San Pedro, California

The symposium will be held at the Mary Star High School in San Pedro, California.

https://goo.gl/maps/112MqaEXF6VSqM3GA

More details will be forthcoming including our list of speakers and our fundraising projects.

The society had a successful series of symposiums from 2017 through 2019 until the pandemic forced us to cancel the 2020 Symposium. After three years, we’ve decided to relaunch just in time to celebrate eight decades as an educational and research focused organization. The prior symposium was such a success that we have already begun to confirm speakers including Aerospace Corporation, Northrop Grumman, Ventura Energy Systems, Cal Poly Pomona, CALFIRE and the FAA.

Contact our vice president, Frank Miuccio, for information. We look forward to sharing our past, present and plans for the future at the symposium.

vicepresident@rrs.org

2022 RRS Constitution Ratified

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by Dave Nordling, President, RRS.ORG

The 2022 RRS Constitution has successfully passed a ratification vote as determined by our election chairman, Drew Cortopassi, on 2/1/2023 and confirmed by the executive council on 2/6/2023. The new Constitution takes effect immediately and fully replaces and supersedes all previous versions. The new Constitution will be placed on the new RRS.ORG website when it is launched at the end of this month.

The changes are largely minor with some removal of outdated portions still remaining from past decades. Changes were also made for consistency and to more accurately reflect and define how we operate today. The last revision to the RRS Constitution was over 30 years ago. The arduous review and overhauling process took nearly 4 years since the council first approved the formation of the three member Constitutional Committee which was formed February 2019 and dissolved in January 2022.

I would like to thank all of those who served on the Constitutional Committee and the prior executive councils for their persistence and dedication to this important governing document of our organization.