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Record-Breaking Model Rocket Launch Set For April 25

Posted by timothy on from the mx-missile-would-have-been-more-exciting dept.

darkjohnson writes with this impressive excerpt from Rocketry Planet: "On April 25, 2009, history will be made. At Higgs Farm in Price, Maryland, Steve Eves will enter the history books as the person who flew the largest model rocket in history. The rocket will weigh over 1,600 pounds, it will stand over 36 feet tall and it will be powered by a massive array of nine motors: eight 13,000ns N-Class motors and a 77,000ns P-Class motor."

45 of 156 comments (clear)

  1. Takes me back by stoolpigeon · · Score: 4, Funny

    Even though it makes this stuff look pretty simple in comparison, it still makes me want to dig out my old home made launcher and build a rocket.
     
    I remember as a teenager saving up for months to buy the Estes designer's kit. I set up a card table in my room where I designed and built quite a few rockets - nothing that used bigger than a D engine. I'll never forget the night I left a bottle of dope open on the table. Very bizarre dreams that night. Learned to keep the window open when I worked on stuff and to shut everything up when I was done.

    --
    It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
  2. So..... by cortesoft · · Score: 5, Interesting

    When exactly does a model rocket become just a rocket?

    1. Re:So..... by SputnikPanic · · Score: 4, Insightful

      When the FAA and NASA know about it...

    2. Re:So..... by VonSkippy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      When it's more then a glorified pop-bottle rocket.

      Which means it has to have active stabilization and a guidance package.

    3. Re:So..... by 644bd346996 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The FAA probably already knows about this rocket. I've been to a few launches with a local rocketry club, and they always get FAA clearance. My understanding is that they have a permanent clearance for their launch site for the first few thousand feet, but when they're launching the high-power rockets, they get unlimited clearance, making the area essentially a no-fly zone for planes. (Although that clearly didn't stop the Predator drone that was hanging out above us one day.)

    4. Re:So..... by Anachragnome · · Score: 2, Funny

      Sometime just before the government steps in and shuts down the whole project.

    5. Re:So..... by antispam_ben · · Score: 2, Funny

      When an antagonistic foreign power launches it. I get the feeling this guy is about to be declared an antagonistic foreign power.

      --
      Tag lost or not installed.
    6. Re:So..... by notthepainter · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I was talking with a friend about 5-10 years back and the FAA had recently pulled all approvals for model rocket launches. Being the resourceful group that model rocketeers are, they found some connections and got all set to launch from some Navy proving grounds. FAA got wind of that and got all huffy and said "no no no boys."

      And then the Navy got all huffy at the FAA, "You talking to me?"

      Must have been a fun few meetings!

    7. Re:So..... by gringofrijolero · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Well, in theory the civilian FAA should have more authority over domestic airspace in peacetime. And until a formal declaration of war is in effect, we are at "peace". The FAA decides what airspace is restricted, not the military.

      --
      Todos mis movimientos están friamente calculados
    8. Re:So..... by notthepainter · · Score: 3, Informative

      I'm not a pilot, nor a military person, but http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_use_airspace may give some clues. Basically, as told to me the Navy had some airspace that was "theirs" and didn't take kindly to the FAA trying to tell them what they could do with it.

    9. Re:So..... by gringofrijolero · · Score: 3, Interesting

      No sir. The FAA sets those areas at the request of the military. If it came down to a real legal turf war, the FAA must have the ultimate authority. Otherwise we are under military rule. As far as I know the US is not...yet.

      --
      Todos mis movimientos están friamente calculados
    10. Re:So..... by deander2 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      it's a model rocket because it's a 1/10th scale replica of the saturn V.

      --
      http://kered.org
    11. Re:So..... by RoFLKOPTr · · Score: 2, Informative

      The FAA has no authority over MILITARY AIR SPACE.

      The FAA has absolute authority over all domestic airspace. Period. Special-Use Areas are only designated for the awareness of civilian pilots... so they know they may be flying in the presence of military jets and to avoid the area if possible. Special-Use Areas are also often subject to advisory times where there will be excessive activity, or dangerous training procedures that require a buffer zone, during which the FAA (not the Navy) will close the airspace to non-emergency civilian aircraft.

      Now, that's not all to say that the FAA use their absolute authority to be dicks to the military. The Navy still pretty much gets to do what they want in their SUAs and MOAs, and the FAA will still probably release a NOTAM about a model rocket launch and whatnot if the Navy tells them to..... but if the FAA wanted to be dicks and disallow it, they very well could.

  3. I think this dude has crossed a line by netruner · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The German V2 rockets were only 46 feet in length - although they were much heavier.

    What I'm trying to say is this dude's rocket ain't no model - he's launching a real rocket.

    --



    DISCLAIMER: This post was not checked for speling and grammar- if you complain- you're a whiner
    1. Re:I think this dude has crossed a line by Nimey · · Score: 2, Funny

      Is he German and does the rocket's flight path point towards London?

      --
      Hail Eris, full of mischief...

      E pluribus sanguinem
  4. broken summary by mjensen · · Score: 3, Informative

    "On April 25, 2009, history will be made. At Higgs Farm in Price, Maryland, Steve Eves will enter the history books as the person who flew the largest model rocket in history. The rocket will weigh over 1,600 pounds, it will stand over 36 feet tall and it will be powered by a massive array of nine motors: eight 13,000ns N-Class motors and a 77,000ns P-Class motor."

    1. Re:broken summary by the_other_chewey · · Score: 4, Informative

      eight 13,000ns N-Class motors and a 77,000ns P-Class motor

      So that's a 90-microsecond array?
      (They mean Ns - yes, case matters with physical units...)

  5. Surprised they let him by nurb432 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Not joking here, i'm surprised the government has not stepped in and stopped him.

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
    1. Re:Surprised they let him by yodleboy · · Score: 2, Funny

      "they can have my rocket when they pry it from my cold, dead hands"
      "when rockets are outlawed, only outlaws will have rockets"
      weak, i know. it's a boring rainy day...

    2. Re:Surprised they let him by John+Hasler · · Score: 4, Informative

      The BATF tried to stop all amateur rocketry beyond the toy size but they lost the lawsuit. A Federal judge ruled that solid rocket fuel of the type used by these rockets is not an explosive.

      --
      Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
    3. Re:Surprised they let him by John+Hasler · · Score: 2, Insightful

      > Why did they?

      Because it is in their nature to grab for power and "terrorism" provided an excuse.

      --
      Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
    4. Re:Surprised they let him by sjames · · Score: 4, Insightful

      In order to justify it's existance and grow, a government bureau must continuously find new excuses to add layers of regulatory bureaucracy and new things to regulate. They were far far more interested in throwing their weight around and making people kiss their ass than they were in any sort of safety or public well-being.

      The fact that the rocket engine cores cannot be made to explode even intentionally was irrelevant to them. A regulatory agency saw a group of people who they weren't directly regulating. The group was small enough to not create an inconveniently noisy public protest but large enough to stroke their collective ego.

    5. Re:Surprised they let him by rossifer · · Score: 2, Informative

      Well, with a maximum altitude under 5000 feet, this guy's not going for performance, he's just putting a scale model up in the air high enough to say it flew. High performance means high propellant mass fractions (where up to 90% of the launch weight is propellant) and almost certainly multiple stages. This rocket has an 18% propellant fraction and is single stage. It will look very cool coming off the launchpad and that's all it needs to do.

      The government gets interested when you start heading for 50,000 feet, 100,000 feet, or higher. The other thing the government gets interested about is guidance systems on rockets. If it's a self-stabilizing rocket that goes up and down with no guidance system, just follow the FAA rules to make sure there are no aircraft in your flight envelope and the government doesn't really care.

  6. Kind of like being... by StarManta.Mini · · Score: 4, Funny

    .....the world's tallest midget?

  7. This is amazing by ZERO1ZERO · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's great that regular folk can do these things One thing though - I wonder just how bi

  8. Uh-oh! by Ironchew · · Score: 2, Funny

    it will stand over 36 fe*END OF CARRIER*

    Little did Timothy know the true purpose of the rocket and its payload. ::evil laughter in the distance::

  9. communications by wjh31 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    honest, its just a communications satellite

    1. Re:communications by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 4, Funny

      It would be ironic, if this thing performed better than North Korea's "communications" rocket. Of course, then North Korean agents would start scrounging the US for model rocket engines, for their next attempt:

      "Hello, Estes http://www.estesrockets.com/rocketengines.php? We would like to buy a lot of engines. Yes, it will be a VERY big model rocket."

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  10. In other news... by Anachragnome · · Score: 3, Funny

    "On April 25, 2009, history will be made. At Higgs Farm in Price, Maryland, Steve Eves will enter the history books as the person who flew the smallest full-scale rocket in history. The rocket will weigh over 1,600 pounds, it will stand over 36 feet..."

  11. The first model rocket with enough energy... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...need to prove the existence of the Higgs Farm. Some have theorized that all vegetables gain their mass from the Higgs field. Now we may finally know.

  12. Model Rocket by Jared555 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I thought model rockets were just when you were following a kit and/or exact instructions..... I would think this would just fall under amateur rocketry....

    From wikipedia:

    A model rocket is a small rocket capable of being launched by anybody, to generally low altitudes (usually to around 100-500 m (300-1500 ft) for a 30 g (1 oz.) model) and recovered by a variety of means.

    According to the National Association of Rocketry, (NAR) Safety Code[1], model rockets are constructed of paper, wood, plastic and other lightweight materials.

  13. A "model" rocket? by sphealey · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I have a hard time seeing how something larger and more powerful than most of Goddard's devices can be called a "model". Amateur-built, sure. But not a "model".

    sPh

    1. Re:A "model" rocket? by stoolpigeon · · Score: 2, Informative

      The only thing I would say that goes against your point is that this is a 1/10th scale model of a Saturn V. That's enough in my mind to call it a model.

      --
      It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
    2. Re:A "model" rocket? by pz · · Score: 3, Informative

      I have a hard time seeing how something larger and more powerful than most of Goddard's devices can be called a "model". Amateur-built, sure. But not a "model".

      sPh

      Did you bother to click to the article? It's a model of a Saturn V. A real Saturn V is ten times taller. So, yes, it's a 1:10 scale model of a frelling HUGE rocket, and is therefore quite large on an absolute scale, but it is still a model.

      --

      Put my fist through my alarm clock with its ding-dong death inside my ear. - The Blackjacks.
  14. High Powered Model Rocketry by wdhowellsr · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This is not a new process just the biggest yet. There have been FAA clearance to 50k feet out west. The difference between a NASA or Military Rocket and a Model Rocket is one costs billions of dollars and has fail rate of thirty percent. A model rocket cost less than fifty thousand and has a fail rate of fifty percent.

    William D Howell Sr.

  15. Don't count your chickens by svnt · · Score: 2, Funny

    I was waiting for an editorial comment to the effect of "knock on wood."

    He could very easily become the person who exploded the largest model rocket before it left the launch pad.

  16. Navy Vs FAA Cagematch by sjbe · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well, that breaks down when the FAA tries to take over control of one of the Navy's designated area of operations.

    Right, because the Navy has weapons and the FAA doesn't. I'll put my money on the Navy in that fight.

    1. Re:Navy Vs FAA Cagematch by UnknowingFool · · Score: 3, Insightful

      And so does the guy at the FAA. While the FAA has jurisdiction over the granting of the airspace, I don't see that they will win in a dispute especially if the Navy is still using those proving grounds. The guy at the FAA who insists that they modelers not launch has one option to force the Navy not to let them launch: revoke the Navy's privileges. Now that's going to be a bureaucratic mess with all sorts of paperwork and battles. When their bosses step in and see what the dispute here's what they are going to hear.

      Navy guy: The FAA is revoking our license to the proving grounds.
      Navy boss: On what grounds?
      FAA guy: The Navy is allowing prohibited actions on the grounds. We have the right to revoke. I have initiated the proper paperwork to revoke.
      FAA boss: What prohibited actions are being allowed?
      FAA guy: They are launching model rockets there.
      FAA boss: So let me get this straight. You have initiated a move that involves at least 6 months of meetings and paperwork. And gotten us into a turf war with the Navy because you don't like them launching model rockets from their site. Gentleman, I thank the Navy for its time. This matter will be resolved here very shortly.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  17. Top Gear by garlicbready · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'm reminded of the TopGear episode
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b4WzWFKQ20

    where they launch a Reliant Robin (old 3 wheel car) as a re-usable space shuttle on the back of one of these things
    I wonder how the size compares?

  18. Google for "MudRock" by FlyingGuy · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Every year they launch from BLM land on the Blackrock dessert. On two days the have FAA clearance to 100,000' MSL

    Last year the highest rocket hit 31,000' MSL and hit just pver mach 3. The motor had a burn time of just a little under 4 seconds.

    And yes the FAA issues NOTAM's ( Notice to airman ) with the appropriate lat and long for the launch area.

    --
    Hey KID! Yeah you, get the fuck off my lawn!
  19. Hire him by tuxgeek · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe N. Korea should hire him
    Considering their most recent attempt was a grand botch-o-lito

    --
    "Suppose you were an idiot...and suppose you were a member of Congress...but I repeat myself." Mark Twain
  20. FAA Rocketry Rules by dtmos · · Score: 4, Informative

    The US Federal Aviation Administration rules relevant to unmanned rocketry are in CFR Title 14, 101.21 to 101.27. In 101.22 one finds the definitions of "Model Rocket", "High-Power Rocket", and "Advanced High-Power Rocket" relevant in the United States:

    101.22 Definitions.
    The following definitions apply to this subpart:

    (a) Class 1--Model Rocket means an amateur rocket that:
            (1) Uses no more than 125 grams (4.4 ounces) of propellant;
            (2) Uses a slow-burning propellant;
            (3) Is made of paper, wood, or breakable plastic;
            (4) Contains no substantial metal parts; and
            (5) Weighs no more than 1,500 grams (53 ounces), including the propellant.

    (b) Class 2--High-Power Rocket means an amateur rocket other than a model rocket that is propelled by a motor or motors having a combined total impulse of 40,960 Newton-seconds (9,208 pound-seconds) or less.

    (c) Class 3--Advanced High-Power Rocket means an amateur rocket other than a model rocket or high-power rocket.

    [Doc. No. FAA-2007-27390, 73 FR 73781, Dec. 4, 2008]

    So according to this taxonomy, Mr. Eves' rocket is an advanced high-power rocket, and is not a model rocket.

  21. Re:It's a good thing... by Deadstick · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The sanctioning organization for model rocketry is called Tripoli, so named because its founder sold a collection of Libyan coins to get the incorporation money. That caused a bit of a flap during the troubles with Khaddafi, but they managed to straighten it out.

    rj

  22. More traditional fuels? by Ellis+D.+Tripp · · Score: 2, Informative

    The propellant formulations (Ammonium Perchlorate Composite Propellant--APCP) used for high power model rockets are essentially the same as the one used in the solid rocket boosters that lift the Space Shuttle.

    Granted, model rockets don't use LOX. LH2 or hypergolics, but some of us are playing around with hybrids like Rutan used on SpaceShipOne.

    --
    Remember "News for Nerds, Stuff that Matters"? Help make it a reality again! http://soylentnews.org
  23. Oh, yeh. by actionbastard · · Score: 2, Funny

    There will be a KABOOM!

    --
    Sig this!