Tag Archives: MTA

MTA Firing Event, 2024-04-27

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by Dave Nordling, Reaction Research Society

The UCLA hybrid rocket team had a static fire event at the RRS Mojave Test Area (MTA) on Saturday, April 27, 2024, under dry and fair weather. Osvaldo Tarditti was the pyrotechnic operator in charge. I was able to assist him a few times in monitoring the progress. The UCLA team has advanced their custom grain and motor design and has improved their nitrous oxide feed system over the last few years. After having some operational challenges and resolving some leak testing issues, UCLA was able to conduct two static firings from the RRS MTA vertical test stand.

Bill Nelson and I met at the MTA to examine and assemble the propellant feed tanks and the associated valve manifolds that will be used in the static firing of the 1936 GALCIT engine replica the society built from a few archival sketches from Frank Malina and Jack Parsons.

RRS member Bill Nelson was able to repair the internal check valve inside our hydrotest pump and conduct a hydrostatic proof pressure test on both welded stainless pipe tanks we will use in firing the replica of the 1936 GALCIT liquid rocket engine prototype as part of the LACMA funded project for American Artist. Both tanks held 1.5 times the design pressure for 5 minutes without leak or bulging as expected.

Bill Nelson and I filled three of the larger gunny sacks with the sand that normally collects in certain areas around the MTA. More will be necessary to build a wall similar in size and appearance to those seen in archival photos in the Arroyo Seco in October 1936. The substantial weight of each required a motorized means of transport, but we were able to lay them next to the replica engine and vertical spring stand for a sense of scale.

Some of the other feed systems require further adjustment and design changes, but all is progressing nicely to an expected first firing with regulated nirogen gas pressurized liquid methanol and regulated gaseous oxygen propellants in the month of May 2024.

For use of the RRS MTA, contact the RRS president.

Next RRS monthly meeting will be Friday, May 10th, at the front office of the Compton/Woodley Airport at 7:30pm.

MTA Work Event, 2024-02-17

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by Joel Cool-Panama, Secretary, RRS.ORG

This is a summary of the goals and accomplishments at the MTA work event of February 17, 2024.  In attendence were members Dave Nordling, Bill Inman, Bill Nelson, Osvaldo Tarditti and Joe Dominguez.  The society facilities manager, Dimitri Timohovich and our director of research, Rushd Julfiker also attended.

Dave Nordling and Bill Nelson assembled kitchen shelving units in the Bldg 14 office.  The society food stuffs and kitchenware were moved into the newly organized office. A desk and file cabinet are expected to arrive once suitable items can be found.

Osvaldo Tarditti worked on the shower in the restroom facility, Bldg 12

Dimitri moved the new diesel generator into the 10-foot locking container, newly designated “G2”.  Weld repair of the 60-foot launch rail structures began on Sunday, 2/18/2024.

Next work event is planned for March 2, 2024, to continue many of the same tasks.  American Artist and representatives of LACMA will be visiting the MTA on Thursday, March 7, 2024.  Keith Yoerg’s drone footage of the MTA in its most recent configuration was very helpful to the production team.

Next monthly meeting will be held March 8, 2024 as always on the second Friday of each month at the front office of the Compton/Woodley Airport.

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Unfortunately, the RRS has chosen to suspend the 2024 Regeneratively Cooled Engine competition as of June 18th, 2025. We've determined that our designated judges are unable to judge the competition. The Society will review the competition, and we will inform you of when we're able to bring it back.

We express our sincere apologies. Until then, have a blast!

- RRS Executive Council