Tag Archives: Education

Cub Scout Launch is a BLAST!

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Parents and scouts enjoying a smooth safe launch.

Parents and scouts enjoying a smooth safe launch.

Cub Scout troop 701 in Sunbury, Ohio successfully launched their rocket projects this past Sunday. CORSA provided full launch support which allowed the scouts the experience a genuine NAR sport launch. Each flier filled out a launch card every time they flew. Erich Zahn provided assistance with packing recovery systems, and inserting motors/igniters to those who needed it. After the rockets were ready, the scouts had their rockets checked out by Paul Demus who was the RSO (Range Safety Officer), then proceeded to Ed Hingsbergen who was the LCO (Launch Control Officer) for their final trek out to the pad. 30 different fliers flew a total of 55 flights. There were no CATO’s or RUD’s but a few rockets did experience recovery failures including one “heads up” lawn dart. The motor report for the launch is:
…
1/2A – 4
A – 24
B – 10
C – 4
unknown – 13

A small sample of the many rockets the scouts flew.

A small sample of the many rockets the scouts flew.

The scouts flew a variety of Rockets. There was a Estes Mini Fat Boy in a red white and blue paint scheme, an Alpha III, a Shuttle Xpress, two Phantom Blues that went up solo then were launched in a drag race, and many, many others.

Scouts and parents didn’t just show up, fly, and leave. Many questions were asked and answered as the crowd made observations about flights. A scout asked why the rockets seemed to float sideways (parallel to the ground) before ejection. A CORSA member explained the relationship of the wind, center of gravity, center of pressure and why the rocket floated sideways. After seeing all the different motors people were using one parent asked what all the numbers and letters meant on the side of the motor. Paul Demus explained the code which prompted even more questions. It was good to see the participants engaging in rocket discussions.

The scouts and their parents gradually left with the smell of black powder in their rockets and smiles on their faces.

CORSA members Paul Demus (left) and Ed Hingsbergen review launch operations before scouts arrive.

CORSA members Paul Demus (left) and Ed Hingsbergen review launch operations before scouts arrive.

CORSA members Paul Demus and Erich Zahn are ready to help the scouts.

CORSA members Paul Demus and Erich Zahn are ready to help the scouts.

5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - LAUNCH!

5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 – LAUNCH!

Rocket Team at OSU Launch Support

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CORSA Director Lloyd Newman assists a first time rocketeer at the pad.

CORSA Director Lloyd Newman (left) assists a first time rocketeer at the pad.

By- Erich Zahn NAR 98427 and President of the Rocket Club at The Ohio State University

The purpose of the Ohio State rocket launch was to give our new members experience building and launching a low powered rocket (LPR) and also to have fun. Considering many of the new members did not have any experience with rockets, this was their chance to start learning about rocketry. We bought an educational pack of Estes Vulcan Rockets for everyone to build. It was fairly cheap and was able to be put together with wood glue in about an hour so it was the perfect model to give our members for one of the first meetings. It was active enough to get them excited for the school year and for the club but critical enough that they had to think about the design of their model. With the Vulcans we used Estes B6-4 motors since they could be launched in a nearby field without risk of losing the rockets.

That next week we launched the rockets at a nearby park with the help of the newly formed NAR chapter the Central Ohio Rocketry and Spacemodeling Alliance (CORSA). The members of CORSA were generous enough to bring their launch stand so that we could launch multiple rockets at once. As well as ensuring the general smooth running of the launch, they were also able to help out the rocket team when the friction fit motors were slipping out the back of the rockets. There were still several motor separations but without their help half of the rockets may not have been able to launch. Throughout the entire launch there were many “wows!” and lots of talk on how their flight went as well as how the current flight is going; lots of “that was a good one” or laughing if it spun out of control. One member expressed their excitement by stating they wanted to start launching their own rockets. Luckily there were no CATO’s; however, there was one case where the center of pressure (CP) was too far away from the center of gravity (CG) and the rocket spun out of control nearly 20 feet off of the launch pad. No one was hurt but everyone was given the spectacle of a failed launch. Overall everyone enjoyed the launch! They appreciated the help and shared knowledge from the CORSA members. This was a great launch to start out the semester with and I know all of them look forward to more launches in the future!

 

Members of the Rocket Team at The Ohio State University installing their motors before flight.

Members of the Rocket Team at The Ohio State University installing their motors before flight.

Rocket Team President and CORSA Member Erich Zahn assists a team member at the pad.

Rocket Team President and CORSA Member Erich Zahn (left) assists a team member at the pad.

Lloyd Newman, CORSA Director, assists Erich Zahn, Rocket Team President and CORSA member, with failure analysis on a rocket motor that failed to ignite.

Lloyd Newman (left), CORSA Director, assists Erich Zahn, Rocket Team President and CORSA member, with failure analysis on a rocket motor that failed to ignite.

Lift off!

Lift off!

Members of the Rocket Team at The Ohio State University ready for launch.

Members of the Rocket Team at The Ohio State University ready for launch.

Members of the Rocket Team at The Ohio State University ready for launch.

Members of the Rocket Team at The Ohio State University ready for launch.

Another successful lift off!

Another successful lift off!

Erich Zahn, Rocket Team President and CORSA member, assists other rocket team members at the pad.

Erich Zahn(right), Rocket Team President and CORSA member, assists other rocket team members at the pad.

Presentation to Cub Scout Troop 701

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Cub Scout Troop 701.

By – Ed Hingsbergen NAR 71396

On September 14, Lloyd and I attended a meeting of Sunbury Cub Scout Troop 701. Lloyd gave an energetic presentation of an introduction to model rocketry. He described what does and does not constitute a model rocket,and talked about the forces at work on a rocket in flight. He also explained the model rocket safety code, and how observing it leads to a remarkably safe and exciting hobby.

Lloyd N. NAR #97987 explains what a shock cord is & why it's important.

Lloyd N. NAR #97987 explains what a shock cord is & why it’s important.

The Scouts were attentive and engrossed, and full of questions. After the presentation, they were anxious to get a close look at the rockets Lloyd had brought, and learn all that they could. Lloyd and I enjoyed the opportunity to work with the Cub Scouts, and look forward to working with them at their launch planned for September 27.