Kyle Koos Web Administrator for USLI Webpage

Posted: 23rd September 2010 by Silent Renegade in Uncategorized
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The name is Kyle and I am from Nevada, I am learning how to create and improve websites. So, if you have any suggestions how I can improve this one, please leave comments and your thoughts about this matter.

Mentor and Building Assistance

Posted: 7th September 2010 by gbrandt in News
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Bill Munds of Puget Sound Propulsion has agreed to be our NAR mentor. And, Steve of B&J Fiberglass, here in Bellingham, has volunteered to help us build our body tubes of carbon fiber and other lightweight materials. Steve’s 40+ years of composite work will prove invaluable to our USLI efforts.

Test of Northwest Indian College Space Center Launch Complex

Posted: 7th September 2010 by gbrandt in News
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Last week Dave and Gary started to mow the Northwest Indian College Space Center Launch Complex. It’s located near the old blockhouse site on the extension of Kwina Road after it intersects with Hillaire Road. It took two days of mowing the tall grass, black berries, and smallish trees with the College’s Billy Goat brush whacker. About 1/3 acre was cleared.

On Friday, FAA and Canadian Aviation Agency permissions were obtained for a launch on Sunday, September 5. At 8:00 am on the 5th, Gary, Shelley, Lars, Niels, and Leif (Shelley’s cousins that were visiting from Sweden) set up the ground support equipment to do a launch. The principle purpose behind the launch was to test communications with various aviation agencies, test the launch rail and control box, and test the operating procedures for launching and recovering the rockets.

The weather was overcast with light winds blowing from 1-5 knots from the Southwest. We launched a model rocket first to test the winds at altitude and recovery strategy. The rocket flew to a measured altitude (on-board altimeter) of 561 feet and drifted about 100 yards to the South and landed in very tall grass. Shelley’s cousins are all well over six feet tall and that height was very useful in directing Nils to the landing area. The rocket was successfully recovered and the launch pad was adjusted to compensate for the wind.

Shelley contacted Bellingham and Victoria Air Traffic Control Centers the appropriate 5-10 minutes prior to launch to receive clearance. We then launched BOB, a mid-power rocket that carried a camera and altimeter and had an F motor. It flew about 1000 feet, the altimeter and camera both malfunctioned and it took about 15 minutes to recover it.

Our next flight was with Ariel, the black and red rocket that many of you have seen. Shelley received permission from Bellingham and Victoria to launch and Ariel roared into the sky on an H motor. The altimeter recorded 1452 feet, speed – 204 mph, and 65 g’s of acceleration (if you weighed 100 pounds, you would have weight 6500 pounds at peak acceleration, and of course you’d have been a puddle at those forces!). Recovery was about 300 feet from the launch pad, and again the camera didn’t work!

We closed up shop, notified the appropriate agencies and called it a very successful day. Everything worked as we hoped that it would. Recovery will require some form of visual signaling as well as working 2-way radios and audible alarms fastened to the rockets.

We hope to have an opening ceremony that will include launching one or more rockets in early October. We want to include the College as well as tribal members as part of the introduction to the Northwest Indian College Space Center Launch Complex.

On September 25-26 Dave will be taking several students to Mansfield, WA so that he and they can attempt to earn the Level 2 Certifications. This will permit us to purchase and fly the larger rocket motors that we will need for our NASA project and competition.

A video and slide show are here.

Two More Certified!

Posted: 7th August 2010 by gbrandt in News
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Patrisha and Justin earned their Level 1 NAR Certifications at UROC Hell Fire 15 on the Bonneville Salt  Flats north of Salt Lake City, UT. Hot, sunny and not much wind. They both launched Madcow 34 inch Patriots using CTI H255 motors. Altitudes were in the 2500-3000 foot range (both brand new Altimeter Ones malfunctioned). Altitudes are based on the other  launched Patriots from the NASA USLI/SLI HPR workshop. In all, nine were certified and one had a non-firing ejection charge and it blew apart after hitting the ground as a result of its balistic recovery.

NWIC Space Center earned the best USLI “Team Spirit” award and Justin just barely missed out winning the “Closest to Launch Pad Landing” award. We had several of the participants launch M motors with sucessful recoveries by all.

All day in the salt and heat was pretty tiring.

NASA USLI Workshop

Posted: 6th August 2010 by gbrandt in News
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Gary, Justin, Mariya, Patrisha, and Michael attended a 4-day NASA sponsored workshop about the Unisversity Student Launch Initiative. We toured ATK facilities near Promentory Point, UT, built two Patriot rockets and learned a great deal about the USLI ins and outs. Tomorrow we launch our rockets at Bonneville Salt Flats.

Level 2 NAR/TRA Certification Test Taking

Posted: 7th June 2010 by gbrandt in General, News
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This is the response to a question that Gary asked Kent Newman, president of the Washington Aerospace Club regarding taking the Level 2 certification written test:

It’s easy, Gary.   Both NAR and TRA have a test question pool on-line that becomes the source of the written test for each organization. 

Let me know if you can make a meeting; I can administer a test to you and/or whomever at that time.  If not convenient, the test may be administered at a launch, too.  The test must be taken and passed before the L2 certification flight attempt.  The test will be held (up to a year) until the flight is successfully completed.  The test and the completed flight paperwork will be submitted together to the organization of your choice. 

Simple!
Kent

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Gary,

I believe that the idea is an excellent one and the club would truly enjoy the opportunity to support your group in any way that we can.
Tell me about your timetable as it becomes available.  For us, the earlier, the better!  We’re excited!  🙂

Kent, President, Washington Aerospace Club, NAR Section 578

From: Gary Brandt [mailto:gbrandt@nwic.edu]
Sent: Friday, June 04, 2010 11:08 AM
To: Kent Newman
Subject: NWIC and NASA’s University Student Launch Initiative

Hi Kent,

We’re seriously considering applying for the USLI, the college version of what Peter and his high school folks did this year. As a member of WAC, and as we get more $, the students will also become members, I am formally asking WAC for launch assistance, mentoring and reviewing. Not only does this make sense (WAC has already been extremely supportive of and helpful to us) for all of us, but it is also a requirement for the USLI. What do you think?

Thanks in advance,

Gary

Gary L. Brandt
Faculty
Northwest Indian College
computers/robotics/electronics/rocketry
360-392-4318
blogs.nwic.edu/spacecenter

We’re Starting!

Posted: 3rd June 2010 by gbrandt in General
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The Northwest Indian College Space Center is pursuing the NASA University Student Launch Initiative after a successful First Nations Rocket Launch competition sponsored by the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium and hosted by the College of Menominee Nation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok7B9I5BeEA&layer_token=3a2a9e049ee330be