Flying My Quark

by Allena Hail, LUNAR #441

One Saturday at Livermore park, people were launching hundreds rockets. It was [the monthly launch of the] LUNAR rocket club. Most people were in line to get a launch pad assignment. One of those rockets was called a Quark. It was about 2 inches in height and green with bright orange fins. Because I had a gold ticket, I didn't have to wait in the long line for a pad assignment. On the way to pad 9, I was wondering if I would ever see my Quark again. It is sooo cute!

I tried to get it on the rod but it was too big. I replaced the rod with a smaller one and slid my little Quark down the rod to the bottom. Then I put the clips on the igniter leads. The clips seemed bigger than the rocket.

I pushed the button when it was my turn. I must have blinked because I didn't see it leave the pad. I looked up and saw nothing in the sky. I looked at the ground but I couldn't see it. Someone yelled "There it is!" and pointed up into the sky. I looked up and saw a puff of smoke but still couldn't see my Quark. I continued to look for it, it had to come down soon.

When someone pointed to the ground and said "It's stuck in the ground!", sure enough there was four bright orange fins sticking out of the ground. When I went to go get it, all the green body was stuck in the ground. When I pulled it out, it was all dirty but it was OK.

So every time I fly my Quark I check the ground for bright orange fins sticking up where I think it lands.

[Ed: This is our first newsletter article from a Youth member of LUNAR! The article says a lot about Allena's knowledge of our sport and her enthusiasm for it. Did you note that she had a GOLD CARD that she got from volunteering at the launch? It would be great if we heard more from our Youth (<11), Junior (12-14) and Senior (15-17) members - they bring a different and welcome perspective to our activities.]

Information date: July 2, 1998 lk