Launch Themes

by Larry Baskett, LUNAR #151

Often it seems that there's not much to distinguish one launch from another except for how many CATOs occurred. To spice things up a little, and perhaps to generate more volunteer interest, I'd like to propose making themes for some of the regular launches. These themes, of course, will not exclude anybody from flying anything he or she wants. They consist of a couple of events held in concert with the regular sport launch to make it more unique and exciting. Also, if you haven't tried building a rocket that fits the theme, it might give you an incentive to attempt something new.

PROPOSED THEME LAUNCH SCHEDULE

February:  Mini Motor Rockets
Events:    People's choice
           Spot landing

March:     Classic Rockets/Fantasy Ships
Events:    People's choice
           Oldest rocket (construction date)

June:      Scale Rockets
Events:    People's choice
           Best simulation of prototype flight
           profile/payload operation

August:    Oddrocs (unconventional rockets; flying art)
Events:    People's choice
           Midwest qualified flight award (most
           abnormal flight path)

September: Multi-stage Rockets
Events:    People's choice
           Duration of the first stage

October:   Superrocs
Events:    Longest rocket
           Estes Mean Machine drag race (one mass launch)

ELABORATION ON EVENTS

In all events, every rocket entered must make a safe flight.

People's choice: Any rocket that fits the theme can be entered. Entrants place their rockets on a dedicated table. Each rocket must have an identifying tag with the entrant's name and the rocket's name. The entrants also write their names and their rockets' names on one collective sheet of paper. Voters simply put a tally mark on this sheet next to the name of their favorite rocket, one vote per person. Entrants cannot vote for their own rockets. The rocket with the most votes wins. If conditions are windy, rockets may need to be secured to the table with masking tape or some other method.

Duration: Each entrant times his/her own rocket and reports the time to the RSO. The longest time wins.

Spot Landing: Each entrant measures the distance his/her rocket lands from a designated target and reports it to the RSO. A tape measure or measuring string will be provided. The shortest distance wins.

The rest of the events are self-explanatory. Events that require some type of judging are judged by the event coordinator.

EVENT COORDINATOR

This is the volunteer who sets up the event, tallies up the scores, judges as necessary, and distributes the prizes. This person need not have much rocketry experience, so this is a good way to get people other than the "usual suspects" involved.

PRIZES

Kits left over from the Hobby Haven buyout
Gift certificates solicited from vendors
Ribbons or certificates
Flight cards

HAVE FUN

The important thing to keep in mind is that these themes are purely for fun--these events don't count for NAR contest points or anything like that (although formal contests are plenty fun too). Bring your mini-motor rockets to the February launch!

Information date: Feb. 23, 1997 lk