NARHAMS Model Rocket Club

The NARHAMS model rocket club serves Maryland and the Washington Metropolitan Area. The club is an official chapter section of the National Association of Rocketry (NAR). First established in 1965, NARHAMS is the oldest continuously operating model rocket club in the United States and was named Section of the Year for 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006, and 2007. We are also the National Championship section for 2001 and 2004.

Next Launch:	May 26, 12:00 pm Mt. Airy, MD	Mt. Airy, MD Weather Forecast
Next Meeting:	Jun 2, 5:30 pm College Park, MD	Mt. Airy, MD Weather Forecast

May Sport Launch

The Mt. Airy sport launch scheduled for May 19 has been rescheduled to May 26, with Bradley Grant as launch manager. There is a G8 Summit at Camp David May 19-20, with additional flight restrictions that prevent model rocket launching in the area. Since many people will be away for the holiday weekend, the ABC Triathlon event has been rescheduled to August 18.

ABC Triathlon Fun Event

UPDATE: Since the May launch is rescheduled, this event has been moved to August 18.

NARHAMS is hosting a triathlon fun event at Mt. Airy, MD on Saturday, August 18. The event is open to everyone, and there is no fee to participate. Winners will receive ribbons, and possibly other special prizes. If there is enough participation, contestants will be split into junior and senior divisions, with prizes awarded in each.

Event rules:

The same model must be used to make 3 flights. Minor repairs may be made between flights as needed.
Models cannot separate into two or more unattached parts.
All flights must be returned.
If the model lands in a location where it cannot be returned (tree, power line, etc), but is visible to a contest official, it will be scored as returned, and a similar model may be substituted for subsequent flights.
In the event of a catastrophic failure, a similar model may be substituted for a reflight and subsequent flights.
First flight must use an A-powered motor and parachute recovery. The goal is to achieve maximum flight duration.
Second flight must use a B-powered motor and streamer recovery. The goal is to achieve maximum flight duration.
Third flight must use a C-powered motor and any recovery type. The goal is to land closest to a target spot on the ground.
All flights must be completed by 3 pm.

Scoring:

For flights 1 and 2, the flight score is the duration in seconds, divided by the maximum duration of all flights in that round, and multipled by 50.
The score for flight 3 is the distance in meters, measured from the nose of the model to the spot. Any model landing more than 50 meters away, will be scored as 50.
Flights that are disqualified or cannot be returned will receive a score of zero for rounds 1 and 2, or 50 for round 3.
Total score for the event is the score from flight 1, plus flight 2, minus flight 3.

Example:

Flight 1 duration is 30 seconds, and the maximum of all contestants is 40 seconds. Score = (30 / 40) * 50 = 37.5
Flight 2 duration is 35 seconds, and was also the maximum of all contestants. Score = (35 / 35) * 50 = 50
Flight 3 distance is 7.5 meters. Score = 7.5
Total score = 37.5 + 50 - 7.5 = 80

If you have any questions, please contact Chris Kidwell

Goddard Contest

The annual contest held at Goddard Visitor Center to commemorate the anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing will be held on July 15, 2012. The event is free and open to the public. Prizes and trophies will be awarded to the top places in the spot landing event. Full details are available here.

The Goddard Contest is sponsored by the Maryland Space Business Roundtable.

2012 Kit Bash Contest Rules

Parts for the 2012 Kit Bash Contest were distributed at the April meeting. The following are the rules for the contest:

If you purchase a kit please be a good sport and follow through by participating.
You may use any or all parts in the bag (including the bag) in any combination you see fit. We again encourage you to use as many of the parts as you can. Yes you can use this piece of paper if you need to, but you must still follow the rules!
You may not add any additional pieces or parts that are not in the bag, with the exception of adhesives and nose weight. Please consider all parts in the bag before deciding upon your design, to reduce the chance that you may need to make radical changes post-build.
You can use any paint or decals of your choice.
You are strongly encouraged to build a two-stage rocket. Note the complexity multiplier in the scoring rubric below.
You must fly your model at a club launch at either Old National Pike Park or the Ag Center before the end of November. The flight does not have to be an optimal flight, but needs to be stable and safe.
Models only need to make one successful flight to qualify. The model does not have to be painted and decaled when it flies, but construction must be complete.
Each modeler will write up a description of their rocket. You are encouraged to include design and concept, background and anything else that makes your rocket unusual and or noteworthy.
Voting will be a two step process, one involving the rubric below, the second being the peer voting at the NARHAMS Holiday Party. Winners will be announced and prizes given out at the Holiday Party.
Each attendee at the holiday party will be given the opportunity to cast a single vote for the rocket they like best. Winner will be named fan favorite.

Rubric:
10 to 20 points from peer voting will be added to judge's score.
In addition the judge will award points to each rocket in the following areas:
up to 10 points for creativity/originality
up to 5 points for craftsmanship
up to 5 points for visual appeal
1 point for a safe flight

Complexity multiplier: x1 for single stage or x2 for dual stage

STEM Club Partnership

On October 10, 2011 Carroll Community College STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Club held a model rocket workshop and launch at the college's Westminster, Maryland campus. Here is a link to a photo presentation of the rocket session: STEM presentation. Much thanks to Dr. Raza Khan and Ms. Maria Burness and the STEM Club students for making this possible and asking NARHAMS to help.

Goddard Launches Waiver Update

Our waiver for launches at Goddard Visitor Center has been renewed through September 2012. We will continue with our normal launch schedule on the first Sunday of the month at 1 pm. Special thanks to John Hochheimer, Jennifer Ash-Poole, Jim Filler, and Ed Pearson for working with the FAA and TSA to get a waiver approved for our launches. With that waiver come new restrictions: flights are now limited to D impulse motors and 2000 feet altitude.

NARHAMS in the News!

Dylan Slagle of the Carrol County Times spent the day with us at the Mt. Airy launch on March 15, taking tons of photos, and interviews of Jim Filler and Mike Kelley. His story and photos were published as a full-page spread in the March 30 print edition. There is also a nice video available on YouTube.

Meetings

Meetings are usually held on the first Saturday of each month, starting at 5:30 pm, at the College Park Airport. The first part of the meeting will be a building session or discussion. The business meeting will start around 7 pm, and will end around 9 pm. Any leftover items will get discussed over a late dinner at Ledo's.

The next scheduled meeting is June 2 at College Park Airport, 5:30 - 9 pm

Directions

Launches

Club launches are held on the third Saturday of every month, weather permitting, at Old National Pike Park in Mt. Airy, Maryland. The field can support up to G-powered motors with the appropriate FAA waivers. Launch times vary throughout the year, so be sure to check the Calendar for details. Our launches are always open to non-club members who wish to fly.

Directions to Mt. Airy Field

NARHAMS also supports the oldest public demonstration launches in the United States. These launches are held on the first Sunday of each month at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, starting at 1 pm. Anyone who wishes to fly at these events may do so. Due to the limited recovery area, the flying of high power models and untested designs is discouraged. The impulse limit at Goddard is D engine or less.

Directions to Goddard

Becoming a Member

If this sounds like fun, why not become a member? Dues are only 10 cents a week, with 50 cents minimum required to join. Download the membership form and send it in today!

Please note that to be eligible to vote at club meetings or to compete as a member of NARHAMS, you must also:
a) be a current member of the NAR
b) attend at least one of the previous 3 monthly business meetings

Mailing List

The NARHAMS-members Yahoo group is primarily for NARHAMS members to discuss upcoming events related to the club. Non-club members are free to join in the discussion, but please keep the postings at least somewhat related to model rocketry.

Additional Information

NARHAMS President: Jim Filler
61 Greenknoll Blvd
Hanover, MD 21076
301-524-4447
NARHAMS Section Advisor: Mark Wise
P.O. Box 8507
Washington, DC 20032
651-398-4987
National Association of Rocketry: P.O. Box 407
Marion, IA 52302
800-262-4872
Sign up for the NAR's electronic newsletter here
Public Launches at Goddard: NASA Goddard Visitor Center
301-286-8981

Ed Pearson
6808 97th Pl.
Seabrook, MD 20706
301-577-7775