TSM Launch Report - October 22, 2005

Saturday morning arrived and weather looked to cooperate for the last launch of the season. The Web site was updated with a GO status, I packed up my vehicle and thought it was a very positive omen to start the car and hear Elton John singing Rocket Man on the radio. The trip to Maple Island was quite spectacular with the trees changing and the sun dancing over the crops across the landscape as I drove. Ron, Viv, and Pete were already setting up and the winds and the skies looked to be just great for a launch. Even with the brisk late October air, things looked good!

Pete started off the flying with his Nike Smoke; it was a great flight with easy recovery. Ron then took his Altitude Junkie II out to the pad to up the altitude ante projecting his flight to 5771 feet, using dual deployment with main chute out at 600 feet. It was a picture perfect flight with recovery a stones throw away. Craig then took his Packer Graphics rocket, formerly the highlight of the Austin High School homecoming, to the pad and we watched another great flight - until about 40 feet off the ground it became one with the power lines northeast of the flight line. It was curious that this was very close to the location where the corn ate his Praying Mantis a couple of months earlier. Alliant Power was called and we tried to explain the dilemma to the service person. I must say it was rather difficult to explain our situation to the service person, between "excuse me, did you say a 'rocket'" and "you are exactly where?" it seemed as though we were caught in some surreal conversation.

About this time the wind seemed to be picking up a bit and some clouds rolling in took away any heat from the sun. Combating this adverse situation many found refuge in the hot drinks being served. I would add however, there was some question at the Rocket Grill as to whom could prepare a better hot chocolate. The generator was awesome, providing power for keeping the drinks hot all afternoon. The generator was also a highlight when our launch control desk doubled as a metal shop for Pete and Tim to work out some issues with a Pro38 closure using a Dremil. One could only be proud of the effort, for they were determined to solve the problems and get Pete's Little John into the skies.

Tom arrived and he prepped an Aurora. It was using a C-slot motor which was not cooperating with any igniters, but it finally took to the skies in what looked to be a fine flight. However at deployment the nosecone with Walston transmitter floated away under the chute and the airframe came in ballistic. Despite the shovel recovery, the airframe looked sound enough to splice and dice it into a flight worthy rocket again. The Walston transmitter, shock cord, nosecone, and parachute after a distant saunter in the skies southeast of the flight line could not be located. Tom thought the transmitter should still be working but after much effort searching, he came up empty handed.

Back at the flight line, Pete and Tim looked happy with the results of their machining with the Pro38 closure. Pete set his Little John out on pad 3 and we began the countdown to what ended in spectacular flames shooting out as the closure failed. Pete, Tim, and Ron rushed to the pad with fire the extinguisher and Ron worked to prevent both the rocket and the electronics around the pad from being consumed in flames. Once the smoke cleared, a dejected group stood around the remains of Little John and the electronics. Later Pete second guessed his choice to launch, but to be true to his rocketeering soul, we all know it would have been wrong to walk away. It reminds me of the Vanguard project; although it too was consumed in flames, good did come from it and today we can admire that the oldest manmade object still in space is Vanguard 1, still orbiting the earth. I'm sure good will result from this too!

So far we had lost one rocket in the power lines, one came in ballistic and one blew up on the pad. Things were starting to look bleak as the winds picked up and the smoldering ashes of Pete's rocket failed to provide suffcient heat to warm the group. The Rocket Grill Maven, however, tried to cheer us all up with a fine feast of treats to warm our spirits.

Ron assessed the damage to the electronics and in Apollo 13 fashion, cobbled together one pad for us to use. Yes Pad 3 was starting to look like Pad 39 at Cape Kennedy, but Craig was not swayed and took his Praying Mantis out for what I believe was a fine flight - Tom and I were digging his Aurora out of the fields at the time and just caught the smoke.

Closing the launch, Warren had his Mercury Redstone ready for flight. Most of it had been scratch built and a very fine tribute to the NASA program. Warren's Redstone took off the pad in what we thought would be another great flight for his rocket, however, moments after clearing the pad it disintegrated in a fiery blur that looked to be a failure of the airframe. We all felt bad for Warren and the Redstone. Hopefully in the winter months we will see the signs of another Redstone to take to the sky in the spring.

So one rocket in the power lines, one ballistic, one fireball, and one disintegrating in flight...the clouds didn't break to shed any light on the October TSM launch, however, not giving in to the grief, a search party went into the woods to search for Andy's BBXtreme that was lost in a tree earlier in the season. Upon arrival to the rocket eating tree the party thought that perhaps using the hot stick in the trailer, there might be some chance of recovering it. The party made its way back and came across Tom searching for the rest of the Aurora. He joined the crew and with the teamwork of all, the BBXtreme was recovered in fine shape from the clutches of the rocket eating tree, ending the 2005 TSM flying season on a positive note.

Thanks to all the folks who have helped make the launches this year a success. From Tim driving from North Dakota, Ron always helping wherever things are needed, Gary being an awesome courier of the PortaJohn, folks coming early and staying late to setup and teardown, to the RocketGrill Maven providing awesome treats, it has been a year of some great flying and teamwork that makes TSM a wonderful club to be part of. Thanks again to everyone and even though we had some mishaps at the fields of Maple Island this last launch, we as Rocketeers will not go silently into the nonflying season, so keep that epoxy flowin' - sim that scratch built bird, and if needed spin that Dremil, for we are proud Rocketeers!