May 6, 2010
As we enter 2010, the Longhorn Rocket Association (LRA) continues to grow in numbers and aspirations. With membership approaching 50, the LRA is expanding its projects to new levels. As always we continue to hold smaller model rocket launches at the Pickle Research Center (PRC). However, we met a new milestone this last month when the majority of the rockets launched at PRC were designed and built entirely by members. Participants learned valuable lessons that will be used in the design of higher powered rockets, the biggest of which was the need to design fin size for stability. Some of the fins were designed poorly, which resulted in rockets that did not fly straight, thus crashing into the ground.
Following the LRA’s success last spring at Rockets ’09 in Fredericksburg, LRA members are once again active in the design and building stages of two more high-powered amateur rockets. As with last year’s goals, the two rockets are designed to carry a one-pound payload to a mile high and surpass Mach 1 respectively. The “one pound-one mile” rocket this year will carry a deployable glider while the “supersonic” rocket hopes to reach new levels by proving faster-than-sound flight capabilities. We plan to launch these rockets this April in Waco, TX.
This year has also been the beginning of a new chapter for the LRA. Thanks to a generous gift of $25,000 from Lockheed Martin, we have begun the design of an ambitious project to build a rocket that will reach an altitude of 100,000 ft. (19 miles). Also included in this project is the design and construction of a mobile launch rail and static test facility. We hope to have this project completed within the next year and currently have plans to launch from the Black Rock desert in Nevada.
Members of the Longhorn Rocket Association are very excited to see the growth over the last three years and we are looking forward to the new heights that our organization will reach in the years to come. As always we invite anyone interested to attend our meetings and participate.
