There was a great symposium presented recently at the Johnson Space Center by former astronuats from all over the world. Some may find the presentations of great value:
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Spaceport America 2019
Re Living Apollo 11 Mission
Re-live Apollo 11 as it happens
Ben Feist has done a great job working with recreating the Apollo 11 mission: https://apolloinrealtime.org/11/
Ben also did a terrific job with Apollo 17: https://apollo17.org/
It would be something if he could do one of these for each Apollo mission 🙂
BBC 13 Minutes To The Moon
The BBC is providing a great Pod Cast series called "13 Minutes To The Moon". This is something for those interested in the Apollo program : https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w13xttx2
June Sport and Contest Launch
The weather at the field was very nice and pleasant today. Even though along the the Columbia Gorge waterfront it was really blowing, We had very little wind during the morning launch hours of 9 am to noon.
We had sport flyers and a contest. Myself and Don Buchanan competed and did pretty good since we have not had a contest for a while. I was able to succeed in the B Eggloft duration with two succussful flights and have the egg return from its flight without any damage. I will used that egg in my morning omlette the following day 🙂
Glenn Wilson passed his level 2 written test with a score of 100 % and that is awesome. I look forward to seeing him and Don out at the up comming NXRS launch in Brothers which is next weekend.
Thank everyone who made it out and I hope to see you all at a future launch event.
For those interested in Apollo 11 web items, Ben Feist made a great Apollo 11 live as it happens experience of Apollo 11: https://apolloinrealtime.org/11/
May 4th Launch Photos
We had the rare luck of trying out a new Field this past weekend. It was a trial run and it turned out to be AWESOME! We had a NOTAMS in place for a 3500 AGL waiver for the site. This was not publicized really very widely since this was a new location.
We hope to have another launch at this site in June. Once it has been approved by the FAA more will be published.
We had a good turn out of about twelve people including the land owners.
Here are some great photos provided by Vernon:
Vernon Buchanan certified level 1 at the site with a great rocket 🙂
How Did we get the TV Transmission from Apollo 11
Here is a great video explaining how we in 1969 were able to see the TV transmission of the Apollo 11 mission:
Exos Aerospace News
WASHINGTON — Exos Aerospace flew its SARGE reusable sounding rocket for the second time March 2, but winds kept the rocket from achieving its planned altitude.
The Texas-based company launched the Suborbital Autonomous Rocket with Guidance, or SARGE, rocket from Spaceport America in New Mexico at about 12:45 p.m. Eastern time March 2. The launch had been scheduled for early January but postponed twice because of issues linked to the partial government shutdown.
The launch, called “Mission 1” by Exos, reflew the same rocket it launched from the spaceport on a “Pathfinder” mission in August 2018. The rocket carried several small research payloads and was intended to reach a peak altitude of 80 kilometers. The rocket, though, reached only a peak altitude of about 20 kilometers before gliding back to a landing about 1.2 kilometers from the launch pad.
John Quinn, chief operating officer of Exos, said in a later email that engine shut down when it hit a limit for instantaneous impact point (IIP) on its trajectory. The vehicle is designed to shut down its engine during ascent if it runs the risk of impacting outside a “safety circle” seven kilometers in radius around the launch site. That’s intended to protect the major buildings at Spaceport America, including the hangar for anchor tenant Virgin Galactic, that are 7.1 kilometers away, and lowers the company’s insurance costs.
The rocket’s control system wasn’t good enough to overcome high winds on ascent that threatened to push the instantaneous impact point outside the safety circle. “As the winds buffeted the rocket the gimbal correction was insufficient to keep it close enough to center of the circle to keep the IIP within the 7 km circle,” he wrote.
Despite missing its planned altitude, Quinn said the flight was otherwise successful. “This was a great test. Any flight where Exos and its payload customers can walk away with another set of data and an intact vehicle/payload makes for a good day.”
Exos says it will move into regular commercial operations of the SARGE vehicle, but didn’t state when their next launch would take place. The company also plans to use SARGE as the basis for an orbital launch vehicle called Jaguar able to place payloads weighing up to 100 kilograms into low Earth orbit.
Summer Engineering Expeditions
Come to Oregon State University's Bend Oregon campus to design, build and launch rockets under beautiful clear skies.
This experimental learning program is perfect for high school juniors and seniors who are fascinated by science and want to explore what it's like to be a rocket scientist or engineer.
Participants will work in teams to build and launch high-power rockets, will analyze the resulting data, hear from experts and learn from the best. math, physics, rocket engineering, geodesy, GIS and data analytics come together in one comprehensive project.
Skills gained at this immersive program will benefit participants as they head to college or technology jobs.
This is a selective program that requires a teacher recommendation. Rolling admissions through April 15th 2019.