History of Northern Colorado Rocketry 2002

By Jon Skuba

On May 18, 2002, Punching Holes in the Sky of Northern Colorado (PHITS), NAR Section 565, merged with Tripoli Rocky Mountains (TRM), TRA Prefecture 72, to form NCR representing both NAR and TRA. Combining the clubs gave NCR about 75 members. By the end of 2002, that number had swelled to 120.

Eric Parsons was the club's first President, narrowly winning in over Conway Stevens. Alan McBride was the club Tripoli Prefect and Glen Colon-Bonet the Tripoli Secretary.

It was a year fraught with problems for the hobby. Aerotech continued to have difficulties with relocating and rebuilding their production facility after the October 2001 fire. The few Aerotech motors that were burned either came from people’s inventory or were made by Ellis Mountain. For the better part of four months, the worst drought in Colorado history closed down all launch sites in state. And the Homeland Security Act of 2002, signed into law on November 25, left us pondering what the future had in store.

Meanwhile, Animal Motor Works and Cesaroni Technologies introduced their own propellant lines, quickly gaining popularity for more reasons than just availability. Numerous flyers upped their certification levels. And after it all, 106 NCR rocketeers managed to air 438 flights with a mighty 84,091 Nsec of thrust from 47.78 Kg of propellant.

Despite a few bumps in the road, 2003 was great year for NCR.

At January’s meeting, citing numerous time conflicts with his new profession as a realtor, Eric Parsons stepped down as club President. Joe Hinton won the ensuing election, edging Conway Stevens for the position. Alan McBride and Glen Colon-Bonet continued as TRA Prefect and Secretary.

In February, minutes before the opening of the waiver for the club launch, damage to one of the Space Shuttle Columbia’s wings resulted in its breakup high over the southwestern U.S. The launch continued but not without due consideration for the tragedy that had just occurred.

February, March and April brought relief from the drought conditions of 2002. More precipitation fell on the Front Range during February than in all of 2002 and it kept snowing well into spring. With the ground nearly devoid of any vegetation from the previous year, the freshly sprouting grass painted the rolling plains a bright emerald green.

The new and improved Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives had set May 24, 2003 as the date to begin enforcement of new regulations controlling the manufacture, sale, and use of ammonium perchlorate composite propellant motors exceeding 62.5 grams in propellant mass. There was a great deal of posturing and politicking from the club on up to the U.S. Congress. Senator Enzi, R-WY, introduced legislation to make hobby rocketry exempt from some of the BATFE’s regulations. The bill never made it out of committee. The NAR and TRA continued with their litigation against the BATFE. The case has yet to be settled. The future looked grim for hobby rocketry.

The club held extra launches to enable members to burn non-compliant motors before the deadline. Due to the uncertainty of the future of the hobby, these launches were well attended. The three day April launch was the best attended local launch in Colorado history. But, despite foretelling of doom regarding our hobby, new members kept showing up at a rate of about four a month.

May 24 came and went. Aerotech had only just begun production from its plant in St. George, Utah. The supply of motors was getting thin.

In September, to everyone’s surprise, Aerotech resumed shipping "Easy Access" rocket motors to vendors like Hobbytown USA, Just Rockets, and Magnum. All of a sudden, there were numerous I435s, H180s, I357s, and J350s, among many others. Even the "great white shark" of Easy Access, the J570 was back.

Cesaroni introduced their Pro54 series of motors and found an outlet in our own Jim Amos. Animal Motor Works continued to certify more of their colored loads including the Blue Babboon.

The Icarus Challenge enjoyed its third season while several new contests kept members busy. The Race To Space got underway and saw heavy activity throughout the year. The Vern Estes Challenge drew lackluster participation but ended with several outstanding flights. And even the spectators enjoyed Beer Boosts 1 & 2.

The year ended strong with nearly one quarter of all the flights for the year lifting off in the downturn months of October, November and December. And although the future of motor availability still remains uncertain the availability of Easy Access motors from Hobbytown USA, numerous members applying for LUP’s and LEUP’s, and with MissileWorks offering to provide "flight services" for motors out of their inventory, the coming months still hold the promise of "bigger, faster, and higher".

Copyright © by Northern Colorado Rocketry Club All Right Reserved.

Published on: 2006-01-25 (3875 reads)