Additional URoc/Tripoli Launch Pictures by Shon Reed

A Tripoli member, Shon Reed, decided to help us out by taking some really nice pictures of the actual launch.  They were so nice I decided to include them here.

Photo by Shon Reed

Photo by Shon Reed

Photo by Shon Reed

Photo by Shon Reed

January 2011 URoc/Tripoli Launch

We have met with Tripoli, the national rocketry club, they have agreed to let us piggyback our avionics team's packages this spring.  This will help the avionics team to calibrate their data, and test their systems designs so that everything will work on the big launch.  The rockets we are testing on are a lot smaller than what we will be using for our space launch, but the data gathered will be very useful.  Also due to some awesome Electrical Engineering undergrads who professionally film wedding, etc. We now have a film crew that will be documenting all our events and progress.  They will eventually make it into a documentary in hopes of selling it to Discovery or some other studio.  We are very grateful to them for all their efforts and are glad to welcome them on board.  I will try to include their company name and contact information soon, as well as our sponsors from Tripoli.  Here are some pictures from today's launch:

The launch site past Eagle Mountain and Fairfield, before Rush Valley

Joseph Green, Brandon Terry and Jed Marti (Tripoli Sponsor), and Mike and the video crew filming

Setting the launch site up.  We launched on a J 550 size rocket motor.

Kelvin and Lydia Bailey all excited for launch

Brandon Terry, Joseph Green, and Kelvin Bailey

Here's a video of the actual launch, Lydia's not a fan of the loud noise made by the rocket.

Here's a video of the landing of the rocket.

Bad News

Well we have bad news. Do to some problems with BLM paperwork, we had to postpone the launch date. It's a real bummer to all of us, but we will have to postpone. The new proposed date is in May, May 8th is what we are planning on at the moment as long as that works with their schedule. This is good and bad news. Good because it means we have more time to prepare for launch, we won't be as rushed, and have a higher chance for success. The bad news is that it will be after graduation and may be a conflict for post graduation plans. It also turns out that the weather in May is much better for this kind of launch, so it may be for the best after all. Stay posted for more details.