MTA Firing Event, 2024-04-14

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by Dave Nordling, Reaction Research Society

The RRS had a short firing event at the Mojave Test Area on April 14, 2024. I was the pyrotechnic operator in charge that day. Although less rain fell than at prior events, the cold spring weather at Koehn (not so) Dry Lake remained but with low winds.

Rushd Julfiker, our director of research, had built his commercial hybrid motor and mounted it for a static firing. The Contrails 38mm, 16-inch motor is the same model I’ve used in the past with some success. Dimitri Timohovich also apprenticed under me and oversaw operations including remote fill and drain operations. Although a hybrid motor has a solid fuel grain, the compressed liquid oxidizer constitutes a liquid rocket classification by CALFIRE standards.

Dimitri Timohovich had built a portable switch box which I have used in prior operations. It simplifies connections and has the features necessary to assure safe and compliant operations. Rushd managed a good fill operation and a clean ignition. Severing the nylon feedline often requires a boosted charge on top of the electric match. A small portion of aluminum/HTPB/AP composite grain is sufficient to cleanly sever the line while assuring sufficient ignition energy to start the fuel grain burning in the flow of the exiting nitrous oxide.

The basic objective of loading and static firing a hybrid motor at the RRS MTA was met. Rushd and Dimitri are both seeking their Class 1 pyro-op licenses and this experience adds to their growing base. After safing the nitrous system, the motor and mounting was removed and stored for a reloading later. Rushd intends to fire again at a later date, but with a load cell in the system to record thrust.

Dimitri and I observed the restroom facility (Bldg 12) at the MTA now has a functional shower inside and a working hot water system. We thank Osvaldo Tarditti for making several trips to the MTA to complete this amenity for our members and guests.

Dimitri and I discussed and examined the propellant feed system for the upcoming LACMA project with American Artist. Most fittings were present, but some changes to the schematic were necessary to simplify our first firing operations expected next month in May 2024.

For those interested in using the RRS MTA, contact the RRS president.

MTA Launch Event, 2024-03-30

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by Joel Cool-Panama, Secretary, Reaction Research Society

On Friday, 3/29/2024, Dimitri Timohovich was able to pick up and deliver the hydraulic equipment for the 60 foot launch rail.  Rushd Julfiker was able to come out and help him off load the equipment.  They then went up to the Butterfield’s home in Ridgecrest and picked up the shop equipment donated to the RRS.  They off-loaded that gear into the Dosa building and called it a night.

Early Saturday morning saw a fair amount of rain in the desert and the nice smooth road we used to get in and out of the MTA is once again a sloppy mess.  Even though it was slippery, all that planned to be at the MTA made it there.

With help from Dave Nordling, his friend Matt Giovannucci and Bill Nelson; Dimitri was able to put the shop equipment away into the Rockwell trailer and container 11.  The hydraulic equipment is sitting in front of container 14.

The RRS would like to thank the Butterfield family for their generous donation of the shop gear.  These items will greatly help the RRS in its future endeavors.  

 RRS member Wolfram Blume continues to make progress on his gasoline-fueled ramjet system but opted to postpone his work at the MTA to avoid the inclement weather on Saturday. He may have been the wiser man that day. The weather was very challenging on the drive into the MTA. Greater rainfall than expected throughout the morning made the western road very difficult but many made the journey. 

Dave Nordling served as pyro-op on that launch day bringing his friend, Matt Giovannucci, on what was a less than stellar day.  Cold temperatures and light rain persisted through the morning, but winds remained light and even stopped with the sun coming out that afternoon.  The road drained sufficiently to make the return drive easier but it was a mess.

New RRS members, Jeff and Chase Lang came to MTA and fired a series of six custom built H-sized solid motors. Member Jason Kobel joined them.  All seemed to perform as expected with a single ignition problem rectified by replacing the igniter and refiring that motor.  They had a model rocket they flew a few times from our 1010 rail on G-motors. After fixing a GPS tracker problem, they were able to retrieve their rocket downrange each flight.

Bill Nelson and Dave Nordling conducted fit checks of the first 1936 GALCIT rocket engine and its thrust stand replicated from the photos and scant information from JPL archives.  This was an important milestone for the LACMA funded project with American Artist.

Larger sandbags were brought to the MTA.  The Rice Hydro hydraulic hand pump owned by the society seems to have an internal seal or a check valve problem which prevented proof pressure testing of the methanol run tanks that day.  More work on the fuel and oxidizer feed and control system will take place next month.  The analog thrust measurement system consisting of a stylus and scrolling paper roll is still under design. Dimitri may have a suitable variable speed motor for driving it. We are holding schedule for a June event with the film crew.

A toilet auger and rotary snake has been put in the workspace in the toilet container which will help fix major clogging problems on the spot. Everyone has thus far been careful but it is better to have the means to unjam the plumbing on site and not need it than the alternative.

RRS President, Frank Miuccio, found a small roll-top desk for the Office Container 14, but will bring it to the MTA later.

Next month’s meeting will be at the gymnasium of the Mary Star High School in San Pedro on Friday, April 12th, which is the day before the 2024 RRS Symposium held at the same location.

MTA Firing Event, 2024-03-02

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by Joel Cool-Panama, Secretary, RRS.ORG

The UCLA Prometheus team arrived to the MTA late Friday night under cold winds and light rain. Taking shelter from the elements, many set up their tents inside the Dosa Bldg.

The UCLA team brought their latest custom hybrid motor for a horizontal static fire. Dave Nordling served as pyrotechnic operator with Rushd Julfiker and Dimtiri Timohovich apprenticing. After passing low pressure leak check, they corrected issues in high pressure leak check.  Some minor control issues set back first hot fire to just past sunset. First igniter was a dud. Pyro-op in charge permitted a second attempt with a new igniter. Improper sequencing pushed out the second igniter before the booster charge could light the motor grain under the rush of the oxidizer stream which resulted in the dumping of the nitrous oxide flow over the grain with no ignition.   After some consideration to adjust the timing and reset a new electric match, given the late hour and a concern about hard starting the motor with a recently oxidizer soaked grain, the pyro-op in charge opted to call off the event.  Our unpaid volunteer pyro-ops sometimes will stay late, but sunset is generally considered the cutoff point. UCLA put a great deal of effort and ingenuity but with no success by the end of the event as sometimes happens despite best efforts. UCLA was very courteous throughout the whole event and the RRS looks forward to the Prometheus team’s return to the MTA.


Dimitri and his colleague, George Warner, began the trenching and electrical work this weekend needed to connect our new diesel generator at the MTA which will soon serve our larger electrical and lighting needs around our facility.  The work continued through Sunday, 3/3/2024. The crew cabin (Bldg 15) and the office (Bldg 14) were the first fully-owned RRS owned to be connected to electrical power as they have air conditioning. This will be a welcome resource in the late summer months.


Rushd Julfiker is working on his 38mm Contrails hybrid kit motor for an initial static fire.  Rushd refilled the society’s nitrous bottle. Dave Nordling and Dimitri Timohovich brought and shared their resources and experience. A hybrid motor firing hasn’t been done in a few years and its good to bring this work back as society. Unfortunately given the late hour and missing the nylon tubing needed, Rushd will return at a later date.

Osvaldo Tarditti worked on the shower systems in the restroom facility. We hope to have this convenience working in the coming months. The toilets, urinals and sinks continue to run well even during high usage periods.  The convenience of this facility at our remote location has been a much lauded benefit.

Dave Nordling added metal folding handles to the backsides of the wooden privacy panels in the windows of Bldg’s 14 and 15 for easier removal and replacement.  These heavy panels help insulate the interior from the beating sun. Also, the RRS ate its first meal inside Bldg 15.  The large interior space also can offer our visitors shelter from the elements once we add the beds and more chairs inside.


Dimitri brought the methanol run tanks and empty gas bottles used only for public exhibitions to the MTA. Dave Nordling brought the steel support frames to the MTA along with several components for the fluid feed systems for the 1936 GALCIT engine replica. The first engine parts will be brought to the MTA this coming Thursday when American Artist visits the site for the first time. We look forward to his visit and beginning the first steps in the project.



RRS members involved with the LACMA / American Artist project including RRS President, Frank Miuccio,will be at the MTA on Thursday, March 7, 2024. This will be the first time that American will see the site. Establishing the filming location for the static fire of the 1936 GALCIT replica rocket engine will be the first priority. American’s cinematographer (Chester) and a documentary film crew from PBS will also be present that day.

Next monthly meeting of the RRS will be March 8, 2024, at the Compton/Woodley Airport.