SoAR’s October launch at the pasture between Ball Ground and Dawsonville will be this Saturday, from 11 AM to 4 PM. Note the new winter hours (though the next Mill Springs launch will still be summer hours). This will be the last Dawsonville launch until at least January, due to Turkey & GRITS, and Christmas.
This is our mid-power field, where rockets up to G power can be flown. It is very hilly, and cow-patties abound, hidden in the tall grass in the recovery area, so pick your shoes accordingly. Spectators are always welcome. If you’ve got a rocket, come fly it with us.
Looks like we’ll have a perfect sunny day for the launch. Temps will around 70. The wind will come from the northwest at 6 MPH.
For those of you who were with SoAR when we supported NSL 2008 in Orangeburg, you will remember David Klinkman.
David single-handedly designed and constructed the main launch controller we used from 2008 until we purchased the Wilson F/X system. The Wilson cost around $6k to give you an idea of the value David provided to SoAR.
David’s 32-pad computerized launch controller for SoAR
David has not launched with us for a while due to family commitments….and sadly, cancer.
David passed away last week due to complications from the cancer he had defeated. Funeral information.
David was a class act! Jorge will have the controller open at the visitation so people can get an idea of just how capable David was (the inside is a work of art).
It is time for the October RocketTalk meeting at Tuxford Swim & Tennis Club in Alpharetta ttonight from 7:00 PM to about 9 PM.
The RocketTalk meeting is where we bring projects to show and techniques to share, and just talk rockets. We cover everything: build questions and techniques; motors; recovery; new and old models; high and low power; model rocket history; real rockets: etc., etc. etc. If it has anything to do with rockets, we love it!!!! You are guaranteed a few minutes of floor time… so bring your latest projects, questions, ideas, finds, complaints, recipes, clean jokes, ocarina improvisations, etc.
For those who are still uncomfortable with in-person meetings, are unvaccinated, or just can’t get to the meeting, we will still have a remote component to the meeting. We will have a TV, laptop, and web cam at the meeting and those who wish can log onto Zoom and participate from home. Just go to the RocketTalk page and click the big blue button.
Flight Control (Range Safety, Launch Control, Pad Assignment) – For smaller launches, Range Safety doubles as pad assignment…but our small launches are getting to be pretty large doubling up RSO and Pad assignment gets exhausting
Range take down – everything we set up has to come down and then we get to pick up whatever garbage is left behind.
These duties keep falling on the same few people and that’s not fair. So, scroll down to the bottom of this page and click on “Range Duty Sign-up” under ‘Quick Access’. Anyone with a driver’s license can run launch control. Anyone who is an experienced flyer can run Range Safety [If the RSO has a question, there are always one or two Level 2/3 people around to ask]
Mill Springs is a launch where SoAR introduces a lot of people to Rocketry. Please do your part to ‘Pay It Forward!’
Come on out to SoAR’s launch from Mill Springs Academy on Saturday from 9 AM – 2 PM. Weather should be sunny. Temperatures should be in the upper 70’s. Winds will be about 5 mph coming mainly from the southeast.
Mill Springs is our low-power field, suitable for rockets that fly no more than 1000 feet or so. We recommend a maximum of “D” impulse, but experienced rocketeers can and have flown big rockets with up to “G” power on this field. You never know!
As always, the public is welcome to watch or join in.
