Category: Launch Announcements

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ROC Continues to Support TARC in 2016!

ROC has a long history of support for the Team America Rocketry Challenge.

“Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) is an aerospace design and engineering event for teams of US secondary school students (7th through 12th grades) run by the NAR and the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). Teams can be sponsored by schools or by nonprofit youth organizations such as Scouts, 4-H, or Civil Air Patrol (but not the NAR or other rocketry organizations). The goal of TARC is to motivate students to pursue aerospace as an exciting career field, and it is co-sponsored by the American Association of Physics Teachers, Estes Industries, the Department of Defense, and NASA.”

ROC has a special launch discount for TARC teams that is separate from our youth group discount. At almost all ROC launches there are TARC mentors on hand to assist with timing and observation of flights.

If you know of a TARC team that could use some help, encourage them to contact us or come to a ROC launch. They can fill out the form on the “Youth Group” page of rocstock.org

For more information about TARC:

Home

American Rocketry Challenge

Members of ROC who are also TARC mentors:
Rick Dickinson, Apple Valley, CA
Richard Dierking, Temecula, CA
David Smith, Lake Elsinore/Barstow, CA
David Erbas-White, Mission Viejo, CA
John Wahlquist, Rosamond, CA

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JANUARY LAUNCH IS CANCELLED!

Due to a combination of factors beyond our control, the launch this Saturday is cancelled.

The weather and lake bed conditions are poor and deteriorating, and we have not yet received our FAA waiver for 2016.

The FAA is actively working on our waiver, but do not expect to have it to us by Saturday.

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We are watching the weather for the January launch…

The forecast for next week is unsettled and unsettling.

From Monday, Jan 2, to the launch date of Saturday, Jan 9, there is significant chance of rain on the lakebed each day.

The chance of rain is around 50% to 60% each day.

High Temps will likely be in the low 50s all next week, with lows in the mid 30s.

We will be monitoring the situation closely, and providing updates as better information becomes available.

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FAA “Drone” Registration Regulation

 

The FAA has issued an Interim Final Rule requiring anyone who flies small unmanned aircraft to register, and to mark each aircraft with their registration number.

This applies to radio controlled and other guided flying machines that weigh between .55 and 55 pounds ( 250 grams to 25 Kilograms ). This is being discussed as registration of “drones”, but includes helicopters and airplanes.

It does not mention rockets, and TRA has said on their Facebook page that it does not apply.
Please note that ROC does not allow ANY R/C aircraft over or near any parking, spectator, or safety area. Flights over the range require permission from a board member, the LCO and the RSO.

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Weather Prediction for December Launch

Lakebed weather for next Saturday’s launch is looking cool, almost calm, and very clear. The low Saturday morning will be right at freezing, and the high 55°F. Light and variable breeze much of the day. Humidity about 41%, and the UV index 3 out of 10.