The Rocketry Show

This was recorded several months ago, and CG's finally getting it posted.The next episode is about two weeks out, where CG has LOTS to follow up on, and it has a LOT to do with the delay getting this one posted.Enjoy!Mentioned in this episode:The Rocketry Forum

In this episdode, we welcome Steve Taylor from The Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA)Each year, ESRA accepts over 150 collegiate teams from around the world to compete in the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) for the prestigious title of overall winner! Each team designs, builds, tests and launches rockets with a payload size of up to 2.2 Kg and target altitudes of either 10,000, 30,000, 45,000 even up to 100,000 feet! Rockets are typically 4 to 8 inches in diameter and 8 to 20 ft. long. Multistage rockets and all chemical propulsion types (solid, liquid, and hybrid) are allowed. The goal is to have participants learn their skills by doing (motto: Learn by doing) in a safe educational rich environment.The IREC has been an annual occurrence since 2006. The competition achieved international status in 2011 – when schools from Canada and Brazil joined – and has continued to grow rapidly ever since. More than 1,800 students attended the 2024 competition, representing over 120 schools from 22 countries on 5 different continents. ESRA has operated the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) since 2006. Competitions have been held in the following locations:2006-2016 - Green River, Utah2017-2024 - Spaceport America, New MexicoThis year, it happens at 2025 - Spaceport Midland, Texas.For more info, Visit: https://soundingrocket.orgMentioned in this episode:The Rocketry Forum

We welcome Special Guest Randy Millikin of RailButtons.Com!Randy Millikin of RailButtons.Com joins us to talk about his products, and to talk rockets with us.Some background on Mr. Millikin:I began my hobby of rocketry in the early to mid 70’s and stopped once I discovered girls, cars and got my first bass guitar.I launched my last rocket for many years somewhere around 1976.But then one day around 2003, while surfing the web, I came across Aerotech’s website and discovered this interesting thing called, High Power Rocketry!I remember thinking, WOW...M motors!The biggest I ever flew as a kid was a D, because E’s were not made yet (or if they were, I couldn't afford them!)I thought to myself, “ I need to find out more about this!”.With that information filed away, I finally was able to attend a launch in 3 Oaks Michigan in 2005.I went with my 6 year old son and my father. I was blown away and haven't looked back since.I ordered a few Estes kits that I built with my son and flew them at the school yard near our house.That brought back so many great memories that I just had to start building bigger rockets and fly them with bigger motors.About a year and a half later, I got my TRA Level 1 cert in 3 Oaks.The next year, I was able to get my Level 2, again in 3 Oaks, and a few years later, my Level 3 at LDRS28.So why am I doing this?Matt Strum started selling railbuttons in the 90's and had a very successful on-line business for over 10 years.When he decided to stop selling railbuttons, it left the hobby with fewer (and more expensive) options.After exchanging some email, he helped me with information about how he was able to provide the hobby with such and inexpensive choice for railbuttons.It is my goal to keep supplying inexpensive railbuttons for our hobby and keep Matt's vision moving forward.He was able to sell thousands and I hope to be able to do the same for many years to come.Mentioned in this episode:The Rocketry Forum

CG and Andrew visit Steve Eves' workshop where many local High Power rocketry enthusiasts had a party. We talk to Steve, Chris Pearson and a few fellow rocketry folks with a few fun conversations.Enjoy!Mentioned in this episode:The Rocketry Forum

Welcome to another Rocket Friends episode (Formerly called Workshop Talk)In today's episode it's a Rocket Friends general rocketry discussion. We're joined by our good friend Andrew Kleinhenz and we cover a broad range of topics including:-Becoming a Prefect of a Tripoli chapter for the first time-The full story of "The Fainter of Goats"- The resolution to the AP supply issue from Aerotech- Speaking of...the right way to get into motor making- First time @ Airfest thoughtsAnd more! Patrons, stay around after the closing theme for a cute short story at the end!"The Fainter of Goats " rocket...which has an amazing story that we share in this episode!Mentioned in this episode:eRocketseRocketsThe Rocketry Forum

Welcome to the Season 11 premiere of The Rocketry Show!In this episode, we talk to Tom Fetter on a deep dive on why do our rockets turn into the wind?Tom's done a lot of research, and was excited to join us to share!Mentioned in this episode:eRocketseRocketsThe Rocketry Forum

CG and Gheeem get together to test our new podcast distribution setup before we start the new season by mid October.We talk about what we've been up to the past couple of months as well!Mentioned in this episode:The Rocketry ForumNorth Coast Rocketry

As we prepare for a new season of The Rocketry Show, we have some technical work to do...This MIGHT cause a glitch in our feed that you might notice when we flip the switch, so to speak.  Hopefully not!CG explains in this short drop...

CG and Gheem gather for another test episode drop.We're making sure everything is good to go for the new season. We got a question from a listener that CG thought would make a good topic for this test drop episode...Mentioned in this episode:The Rocketry Forum

  We remember one of the key founding members of Estes Rockets.  Gleda Estes passed away earlier this year while we were out of production.  We chose to dedicate an episode to her memory by listening to a re-enacting of the early years of Estes Rockets that she and husband Vern performed at NSL 2018.

Welcome to our first "Rocket Friends episode of the new show format. This type of show was formerly called "Workshop Talk". In this episode we are joined with Bill and Rachel Daigle and they catch us up on their hobby adventures.  Also in this episode: CG's flight computer project ticks along, and he talks about how that is shaping up. Gheem is grilled by all of us on what it's like to have his High School rocket team accepted into the NASA Student Launch competition this year. Enjoy!

What's it like to send your hobby rocket to near space?  Our guest, Kip Daugirdas explains.   Kip is a Level 3 rocketeer, and he'll share his experiences and share some inside tips on the topic. He can be found on Twitter: @kipdaugirdas If you wish to follow Kip's Youtube channel, you can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@kdaugi

Steve Taylor, President of ESRA the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA) joins us to talk all things Spaceport America Cup. The IREC event has been going on for over 20 years now, and there is a lot to learn about it!

A bit delayed, but here we are! In this episode, we do a quick review of NARCON 2024, and we give a look behind the curtain to tell you what has been going on...

On this episode, our guest is Vance Martin, an amateur radio operator who goes under the callsign N3VEM. Martin became involved in rocketry as a kid in the typical way; seeing model rockets at the local hobby shop, and discovering the hobby with a friend.  As he moved into middle and high school, he discovered mid and high power rocketry through  online rocketry communities.  While in college he built a PML 1/4 Scale Patriot rocket to use for his Level One, but was unable to find a nearby club to certify, so his L1 rocket sat collecting dust over the years.    After college, Vance discovered ham radio, and earned his amateur radio callsign N3VEM, and built  a portable station in his vehicle so that he could play radio while being out and on the road for work.  As seems to be a pre-requisite for Ham Radio, Vance also became a software and hardware 'tinkerer', so for him, building radio-related projects turned out to be a lot of fun, and is still what he calls his 'primary hobby.' Vance became a Born-Again-Rocketeer about a year ago, when his two older kids found the Patriot rocket stashed in the corner of the family storage room.  They asked 'What is this!?!'  "...and just like that" says Vance " we started building up a fleet of little Estes kits."  Vance decided that it would be fun to combine the two hobbies, and start tinkering with radio and electronic payloads for their rockets. "I knew that 'off the shelf' stuff was available, but being a tinkerer, I wanted to build my own." he recalls.   He continues. "I wanted to target mid-power sized rockets with my projects, since I still live in the same town, and still don't have easy access to a club with a high-power launch site." Vance enjoys his hobbies, and is having fun, saying "I'm still very much a rocketry noob, but I'm having a blast dabbling around with building the rockets, and hacking around at hardware and software for the rockets' payloads." Vance's website is :  https://n3vem.com/blog/RadioRocketV2/

Are you really 'GO' to use your full FAA waiver? Greg Young shares his experiences with this topic, and what he learned is an eye opening education for all rocketeers! About our guest...Greg shares his background in rocketry... My rocketry experience started in 1961, at the ripe old age of 10years, when I ordered, built and flew rockets from Estes Industries. Try as I may, I was not successful at getting local hobby shops to carry rocketry supplies at that time, as the owners felt they were dangerous fireworks.  My flying continued until taking a hiatus during my college, and then post graduate years. When my oldest daughter expressed an interest in rockets (while in 3rd grade) my flying resumed. I joined NAR, and TRA at that time and formed a local rocketry club, the Southtown's Amateur Rocket Society (STARS). When my youngest daughter left middle school for high school, I wound up taking another hiatus, and the club disbanded. My flying hiatus ended when my grandchildren expressed interest in rocketry. I rejoined NAR and TRA, and decided to go through the official high power certification program (something not required back in the 1980's when I flew) and am currently a level 3 flier. I have been involved in 2 NY rocketry groups, one in Geneseo, the other in Penn Yan, and have served from 2016 through the end of 2022 as a member of board of directors, the VP, the waiver holder, the RSO and also served the Prefect of the former for part of that time. I have served on the planning committees for LDRS 34, NSL 2018, and NARAM 62, and during those launches was involved on the field running the range safety operations. Currently I have been involved with local youth (high school and college age primarily), and officially have mentored several school ARC teams which have gone to nationals, and most recently a high school team who was chosen to participate in the 2023 NASA student launch initiative and went on to the nationals in Huntsville. I am hoping to get time to be able to fly more, and mentor more student groups going forward. They are, after all, our future...

The Rocketry Show team talk NSL West 2023 with Ed Lacroix and Matt Abbey.

Jeff Kodysz was a very talented rocketeer. His talents stretched from 3D printing, Lazer Etching, and he had a knack with making logos. He created the current logo for The Rocketry Show that you look at everytime you visit our website or listen to one of our episodes. Jeff passed away a few weeks ago after a short battle with illnesses. He will be missed by his friends, family, and us. We are all glad to have known him.

CG stops by to give a quick update on technical changes some of you may have noticed, and what that means.

The team talk about Narcon 2023, and we review this year’s calendar of big launch events so far…