Due to the expected poor weather on this upcoming weekend UROC's Spring Launch will be rescheduled yet again. Current weather forecasts show that conditions at Frank Hunt Field will not be acceptable for a launch event this weekend (April 7/8) as a result, the Officers and Board Members of the Utah Rocket Club have decided to postpone the event again.
We understand how frustrating this is, and it is for the officers as well. Unfortunately, there are limiting factors involved with deciding to hold a launch and all these must be considered. The officers are evaluating upcoming dates for another attempt at a Spring Launch and will announce it here as soon as a decision has been made. Our tentative makeup date will be the following weekend (April 14/15) but we will post confirmation on this once we have recived the approvals required.
Hang in there!
Due to the expected poor weather on the originally scheduled weekend, UROC's Spring Launch will be rescheduled for April 7/8.
This launch will be held as a two-day event. We have permission from the BLM for overnight camping at the launch site. We invite members to camp out Saturday evening and take advantage of the great weather early on Sunday as well. This launch will be held under the Tripoli Research rules. Also be aware that only members of UROC are allowed to participate in the launch. If you are not a member you can sign up online or at the launch.
As always, we will need help running the launch, RSO, LCO, pad managers and lots of help setting up and tearing down the range. We do have a Porta Potty ordered for this launch. Set up is expected to begin around 8:00 am and we will fly in to the early afternoon or until the wind gets to be too strong and if the weather permits maybe start up some model rocketry in the evening.
Sunday morning should prove to be some excellent flying time. The range should be set up, ready to go long before the wind catches us.
If the weather conditions for the upcoming launch deteriorate or if the fire hazard becomes too high, we will try to notify everyone via our normal modes including the website, facebook, and twitter.
The Utah Rocket Club's official schedule is set and is available on the website for your viewing pleasure. Among the changes from last year, the club has reduced the number of member meetings in favor of quality over quantity. While the club does have some very good presentations throughout the year at meetings, if a specifc presentation is not planned the meetings are very administrative and not very interesting to the general membership. So, some of the monthly meetings have been deemd Administrative and will be for the officers and board members to plan activities and address issues. Members are still more than welcome to attend but should not feel obligated to do so.
An additional launch date after HellFire has been added to the schedule and an additonal Sport Competition has been added to the first half of the year. There will be additional workshops, contests and other events added to the calendar as they are confirmed.
We hope that these changes to the club's activity schedule continue to improve the overall enjoyment of our members.
UROC's upcoming launch for October 14 is a go. We anticipate the launch only taking place on Saturday (Oct 14) as opposed to a two-day launch due to the low temperatures but it looks like we should have a pretty good day. A porta pottie will be onsite and the trailer is expected to roll in around 830am or so on Saturday morning. The more folks we have to help set the equipment up the quicker we can get flying. We do expect winds to increase later in the day so the earlier we can get the launch system up and running the more flight time we will have.
Details about the October Launch
It's safe to say that Halloween is many people's favorite holiday. This appears to be the case with Mitch. He has come up with a couple of contests for us to participate in at the UROC Launch in October (14 and 15) to get us all in the Halloween spirit.
1. Best Halloween themed/decorated rocket - Entries will be judged first. The highest ranking rocket to successfully fly safely is the winner. Mitch will be providing prizes for these contests (thanks Mitch!) Fiirst prize is two G motors. Second prize is a Quest kit.
We will also be holding a "Most Repeated Flights" Contest, basically, whoever has the most successful, safe flights with any one rocket during the October launch will win. Same prizes for this contest as for the Halloween contest (Thanks again Mitch!).
In the event that a minor wins the first in either contest, the motor will be presented to their parents or guardian.
We'd really like to thank Mitch for the donations and the great ideas for the contests and would very much like to ask everyone to participate. We've got a few weeks to go before the launch and really looking forward to some greatr competition!
This launch will be held as a two-day event if the weather is cooperative. We have permission from the BLM for overnight camping at the launch site. We invite members to camp out Saturday evening and take advantage of the great weather early on Sunday as well. This launch will be held under the Tripoli Research rules. Also be aware that only members of UROC are allowed to participate in the launch. If you are not a member you can sign up online or at the launch.
As always, we will need help running the launch, RSO, LCO, pad managers and lots of help setting up and tearing down the range. We do have a Porta Potty ordered for this launch. Set up is expected to begin around 8:00 am and we will fly in to the early afternoon or until the wind gets to be too strong and if the weather permits maybe start up some model rocketry in the evening.
Sunday morning should prove to be some excellent flying time. The range should be set up, ready to go long before the wind catches us.
If the weather conditions for the upcoming launch deteriorate or if the fire hazard becomes too high, we will try to notify everyone via our normal modes including the website, facebook, and twitter.
The Ken Eva Memorial Meet (KEMM) took place on Saturday, April 22 out at Frank Hunt Field. The weather was very cooperative and there was a fairly good turn out for the competition.
We had some scouts set up launch pads to handle their launches to gain their rocketry badges as well. There were 11 contestants in the competition and some great flights. Matt Goode was the meet champion followed closely by Bruce Bell.
Results for individual events are listed below. The next NAR competition event is Pioneer 2017 and it takes place Saturday, June 3 at Frank Hunt Field as well.
You can view photos from the launch in the UROC Gallery
Place | Contestant | NAR Number | Section | Total Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
C Division | ||||
1 | Goode, Matt | 100903 | 523 | 2016 |
2 | Bell, Bruce | 20636 | 523 | 1524 |
3 | Bell, Sally | 85169 | 523 | 672 |
4 | Redd, Randall | 6333 | 523 | 324 |
5 | Snaufer, Mark | 29609 | 523 | 120 |
6 | Steele, Carrie | 78080 | 523 | 60 |
6 | Steele, Cassidy | 81474 | 000 | 60 |
6 | Steele, Katie | 80121 | 000 | 60 |
7 | Steele, Cody | 46810 | 000 | 30 |
7 | Stewart, Pearce | 101610 | 000 | 30 |
8 | Morstadt, Bob | 60107 | 000 | 0 |
T Division | ||||
1 | Team, Pod Bay Doors | T-201 | 523 | 2400 |
2 | Team, Pod Babe Doors | T-202 | 523 | 1224 |
Sections | ||||
1 | UROC | 523 | 8340 | |
2 | IND | 0 | 180 |
Place | Contestant | Number | Section | Prototype | Static | Flight 1 | Flight 2 | Total | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C Division | |||||||||
1 | Bell, Bruce | 20636 | 523 | D-Region Tomahawk | 570.0 | 98.0 | 66800 | 600 | |
2 | Goode, Matt | 100903 | 523 | Space Shuttle | 470.0 | 140.0 | 61000 | 360 | |
3 | Bell, Sally | 85169 | 523 | IQSY Tomahawk | 460.0 | 100.0 | 56000 | 240 | |
-- | Redd, Randall | 6333 | 523 | Jupiter | 535.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | |
T Division | |||||||||
1 | Team, Pod Bay Doors | T-201 | 523 | Sandhawk | 600.0 | 100.0 | 70000 | 600 | |
2 | Team, Pod Babe Doors | T-202 | 523 | D-Region Tomahawk | 530.0 | 100.0 | 63000 | 360 |
Place | Contestant | Number | Section | Flight 1 | Flight 2 | Total | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C Division | |||||||
1 | Goode, Matt | 100903 | 523 | 185 | 185 | 540 | |
2 | Bell, Bruce | 20636 | 523 | 182 | 182 | 324 | |
T Division | |||||||
1 | Team, Pod Bay Doors | T-201 | 523 | 381 | 381 | 540 | |
2 | Team, Pod Babe Doors | T-202 | 523 | 88 | 88 | 324 |
Place | Contestant | Number | Section | Flight 1 | Flight 2 | Total | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C Division | |||||||
1 | Goode, Matt | 100903 | 523 | 62 | 62 | 600 | |
2 | Bell, Sally | 85169 | 523 | 31 | 31 | 360 | |
3 | Bell, Bruce | 20636 | 523 | 28 | 28 | 240 | |
T Division | |||||||
1 | Team, Pod Bay Doors | T-201 | 523 | 48 | 48 | 600 | |
2 | Team, Pod Babe Doors | T-202 | 523 | 20 | 20 | 360 |
Place | Contestant | Number | Section | Flight 1 | Flight 2 | Flight 3 | Flight 4 | Total | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C Division | |||||||||
1 | Bell, Bruce | 20636 | 523 | 36 | 24 | 32 | 92 | 360 | |
2 | Goode, Matt | 100903 | 523 | 32 | 33 | 65 | 216 | ||
3 | Redd, Randall | 6333 | 523 | 50 | 50 | 144 | |||
4 | Bell, Sally | 85169 | 523 | 28 | 28 | 72 | |||
T Division | |||||||||
1 | Team, Pod Bay Doors | T-201 | 523 | 52 | 52 | 360 | |||
-- | Team, Pod Babe Doors | T-202 | 523 | SEP | 0 | 0 |
Place | Contestant | Number | Section | Flight 1 | Flight 2 | Total | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C Division | |||||||
1 | Goode, Matt | 100903 | 523 | 2.2% (88 s) | 22 | 300 | |
2 | Redd, Randall | 6333 | 523 | 12.2% (101 s) | 122 | 180 | |
3 | Snaufer, Mark | 29609 | 523 | 46.7% (48 s) | 467 | 120 | |
4 | Steele, Carrie | 78080 | 523 | 68.9% (28 s) | 689 | 60 | |
4 | Steele, Cassidy | 81474 | 000 | 68.9% (28 s) | 689 | 60 | |
4 | Steele, Katie | 80121 | 000 | 68.9% (28 s) | 689 | 60 | |
5 | Steele, Cody | 46810 | 000 | 77.8% (20 s) | 778 | 30 | |
6 | Stewart, Pearce | 101610 | 000 | 87.8% (11 s) | 878 | 30 | |
-- | Bell, Bruce | 20636 | 523 | DQ | 0 | 0 | |
-- | Morstadt, Bob | 60107 | 000 | DQ | 0 | 0 | |
T Division | |||||||
1 | Team, Pod Bay Doors | T-201 | 523 | CAT | 67.8% (29 s) | 678 | 300 |
2 | Team, Pod Babe Doors | T-202 | 523 | CAT | 78.9% (19 s) | 789 | 180 |
The first UROC launch for 2017 was held on Saturday, March 18 and into Sunday March 19. We had a good number of people attend over the two days and in general the launch was a success. We had the trailer onsite Friday night so we were ablle to begin setup early on Saturday morning. We had a good number of helpers to carry pads out, set up the range marking and wire the control system. The launch was set up as a Tripoli Research launch and we had pads set up for Model Rockets up to non-complex M motors. The largest motor flown over the weekend was an L and it was a succesful flight. FAA coordination was handled by Jim Yehle and went smoothly. Our waiver was open from 8am to about 5pm on Saturday and until we closed up operations on Sunday around 2pm.
Overall the launch was great, highlights included beautiful weather on Saturday and Sunday morning. Of course wind picked up around 12:30 and lasted most of the rest of the day Saturday. It was never strong enough not to be able to launch but folks were tired and the night launch just didn't happen. We had a good number of people camping out on Friday and Saturday night in rigs ranging from tents to big fifth wheel RVs. Everyone had a great time talking, listening to music at cooking meals.
Here is a link to some photos from the launch
If you attended the launch and have some photos or videos you like to share please submit them to the website.
HellFire, sponsored by the Utah Rocket Club (UROC) takes place this year August 3,4,5,6. Though HellFire is technically an amateur launch, we’re talking serious rocketry here. Participants from around the country launch rockets ranging from foot-tall wonders to towering monsters that weigh in at over one hundred pounds, feature high-tech electronics, use a propellant similar to that used on the space shuttle, and lift off with 750 pounds of pure thrust.
Now in its 22nd year, HellFire continues to grow. Many people attend not to launch, but simply for the thrill of watching. Between launches, visitors enjoy examining rockets and components close-up and speaking with the experts who build and launch them.
Spectator Admission to HellFire is free and the public is welcome. HellFire will be held on the Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover, Utah. Take Exit 4 on Interstate 80 and follow easy-to-spot signs. The event takes place 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, August 3 through Sunday, August 6.
Discounted registration for flyers is available for UROC members.
Many more details to come over the next weeks.
Tips for visitors:
UROC's planned NAR Sport Launch scheduled to take place on March 21st appears to be a go! UROC President Ken Park recieved notification from the BLM SLC Field office that the launch site has been cleaned up and our documentation is in place. Additionally, the FAA waiver is in place and will be activated if the launch commences. The weather appears to be cooperating for this launch and we will continue to update the UROC.org website with any further news or announcements regarding the launch.
It's time to get out there and fly!
Click this link for all of the Launch Site Details
UROC president Ken Park recieved a phone call today from the BLM agent responsible for taking care of the recent toxic waste spill at our Frank Hunt Field launch site.
The agent reported that the clean up is already in progress and they fully expect the launch site to be available for our February 21st Research Launch! This is much faster than any of us expected. Of course things change so please watch this site for further details and updates about the upcoming launch.
UROC would like to thank the BLM Salt Lake Field office for responding to this issue as quickly and professionally as they have. We really appreciate their support and assistance!
With this new, the new 2015 flying schedule will be posted to the website shortly. Stay tuned!