***RE-POSTPONED***

Due to ongoing red flag fire conditions, we will be unable to conduct our launch in Amesbury on the 16th of November. We will see what we can do to reschedule in December.

To make it absolutely clear, CMASS does not allow "sparky" motors at any of our launches.

CMASS Flag 3

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17 September 2011 - CMASS visit to MMMSC Launch

Details
Published: Sunday, 02 October 2011 11:50
Written by Kenn

With the non-availability of our usual field in Amesbury, some of us took up the Maine Missile Math & Science Club (MMMSC or M3SC) offer to share their field in Berwick, Maine. MMMSC had scheduled a launch for 24 September so as not to conflict with the CMASS schedule but they were able to reschedule the field to take us in on our date.

About a dozen CMASS members joined the MMMSC members on a day that had beautiful weather; mostly clear skies with high clouds and fairly light winds. The field itself is a sod farm so it’s as flat as a table and easy to follow a rocket all the way to the ground. The area the farmer has allowed the launches on is about one-third or less of the total planting space but about five times larger than the Amesbury field. There is parking at the edge of the field off the access road. On the other side of the road, though, is a stand of rocket-eating trees (ask Mike Sherrod). Another cool feature is a center-pivot irrigation system that potentially sweeps through the launch area. It’s about one-half mile long and moves at a very forceful, steady pace when operating. This day, fortunately, it was not in use.

As courteous guests, we didn’t show up empty handed; I brought along the new CMASS six pad launch controller, table-top pad holder, HP pad for our small rail and all the wires, clips, battery and speaker to make it all work. The motors used ranged from A impulse up to G. Right now, without a waiver, G is the upper limit of motor that can be fired with MMMSC; when more launch fees or club memberships are collected, equipment will upgrade and waivers will be applied for. There were a total of more than 60 flights.

A few weeks earlier at a previous MMMSC launch, the area we were set up in was mostly harvested with some patches of nice grass still in play. This time around, the grass had been turned under so the walk out to the pads was over rough terrain. By the end of the day, a couple of paths were pretty well smoothed out.

There was another familiar face at the launch; Jim Flis came up to check it all out. He set up shop but had a much more restrained day than the anniversary he had originally planned. And, there was no CAKE. Frown  To that end, we’ll need to find a place near the field to go out to dinner after any launches up there. Eating at the field was pretty good; Scott Costigan, President of MMMSC, grills hot dogs and has sodas on ice.

Scott will fit his club’s schedule around CMASS and Cherryfield Tripoli so there won’t be any conflicts and more opportunities to fly. The calendar on the MMMSC page now contains the schedules for those three clubs and CATO in Connecticut. - Kenn

Bobolinks Discover Redstone Rocket In Warren, NH

Details
Published: Saturday, 17 September 2011 21:38
Written by Alan

September 17, 2011 - Warren, NH

As we all know the Amesbury launch was cancelled today...

"The Amesbury field is NOT going to be available for our September 17 launch. The first hay cutting on the part of the field we use was pushed back because of the birds. The same thing happened last year and the farmer didn't bother with the second cutting." -billspad

...so instead I decided to take advantage of the great weather and hike the Webster Slide which is a section of the Appalachian Trail about one hour north of Concord, NH. To get there you take I-93 north to Plymouth State University and then some back roads through Rumney and Warren to the trail head. It was a beautiful fall day with blue sky and cool temperatures so the trip up north was quite enjoyable.

With about 5 miles to go by car to arrive at the start of the hiking trail, I drove through the center of Warren onalt NH route 25. Like most small New England towns, you see all the things you expect to see in a small New England town: a town hall, a white steeple church, a town common complete with USA flag pole and    R e d s t o n e     R o c k e t  ! ? ! ? !

Not exactly what I was expecting. I of course stopped to check this out.

So I figure, maybe a replica Redstone like the one at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord. I took a look up the inside from the business end. Hmmmm. Although the engine, steering vanes and guidance system had been removed, its 100% genuine.

According to the kiosk on the town common, in 1970 local Ted Asselin thought that school students in NH should have more exposure to the space program.

With Alan B. Shepard, Jr. having been the first American in space and a native of nearby East Derry, NH, Mr. Asselin contacted the Redstone Arsenal to inquire on the surplus rockets. The Redstone Arsenal basically said, "yes, we have these available, you can have one for the town, but the U.S. government is not going to provide any funds to transport or erect it on the location."

In 1971, Mr. Asselin and a friend drove a tractor trailer to Alabama, loaded the rocket on board, and drove it back to NH. They did incur a heafty fine in Ohio for lacking the proper permit, but completed the trip and the Redstone Rocket has been standing in the Warren town common ever since.

It needs a coat of paint. Tony ?

-Alan

  1. August 2011 Acton Launches
  2. NARAM 53