Boy Scouts Rocket Academy

New Scouts that sign up in 2015 will receive their very own model rocket courtesy of the Huntsville Space and Rocket Center. All Scouts are invited to attend one of our six exciting Rocket Academies to “Blast Into Scouting”! Scouts will have the opportunity to participate in crafts and stations that will culminate in the launching of their model rocket! The best part about this event is that it is FREE for Scouts who joined in the Fall of 2015 and only $5 for any Scout that wants to attend. Come and join us for this half-day adventure and let your cadet take orbit! You may attend at any location. Event is from 8:30-12:00.

September 19th –

Camp Sequoyah (Anniston) & Camp Jackson (Scottsboro)

September 26th –

Camp Westmoreland (Florence)  & Camp Comer (Mentone)

October 3rd –

Huntsville Space and Rocket Center & Oak Mountain State Park

REGISTER by TEXT! Text blastoff to 24587

Or register online.

 

Schools Like HARA Demos

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HARA has an active presence in the community with many schools. Here are some notes we have received about our presentations. Read more

July Meeting & Launch Newsletter

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July 9th Meeting
HARA’s attendance was a bit larger than average Thursday night as we hosted the Russellville TARC team for some congratulatory snacks and to hear about their experience at the Paris Air Show and the international Rocketry Challenge where they took 1st place. The team members shared their individual storied and answered questions from club members about how they approached TARC and ultimately managed to become the 2015 world champions. Something that stood out was that the team had over 60 launches on their TARC rockets and had very well characterized their rocket and its sensitivity to changes. That work would pay off. Now, their team members are talking about starting an SLI team. Read more

Launch Tomorrow in Manchester (July 11th)

Hello rocket fans! HARA will hold a rocket launch in Manchester TN tomorrow. The range will open at 10 AM. Our waiver will permit flights up to 10,000 ft.

The weather reports show it to be hot (90s) and winds 5 – 10 MPH. There is a 40% chance of T-storms in the early afternoon.

We are not bringing some of our usual launch equipment. Our equipment trailer is not road worthy at the moment. If you have special launch needs, please contact Daniel, the club president at president@hararocketry.org.

Next HARA meeting is July 9th

Happy Independence Day!

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Scenes of Southern Thunder 2015

The Father’s Day Summer weekend launch is all about rockets and people. There were a lot of both this year and here’s what it looked like.

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Read more

Russellville wins World Rocketry Championship in Paris

558773610e5e9.imageAfter winning the national level in TARC the Alabama team has gone on to win the rocket contest for the USA by beating France and Britain. Members of the team are Christian Ruiz, Niles Butts, Andrew Heath, Katie Burns, Evan Swinney, Cady Studdard and Chelsea Suddith.

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The international rules were the same as the TARC rules that 695 other teams this year across the country and here locally had to follow. Russellville had two excellent flights qualified by HARA that took them to the finals in Manassas. Congratulations to the team, teachers and parents and all who supported this TARC victory. DSC_0170s

Southern Thunder 2015

Southern Thunder is the largest rocketry event in the Southeastern United States!  Low, middle, high power enthusiasts and clubs from all over the southeast region will be in attendance. This annual regional launch is co-hosted  by the Music City Missile Club (MC2) and the Huntsville Area Rocketry Association (HARA).
You do not need to be a member of MC2 or HARA to fly and of course spectators are always welcome!  So come join us for the largest launch of the year.  We promise it will be a fun experience for the entire family!

Learn More at the MC2 Website: Southern Thunder 2015

We’re Number One!

russivle wins tarcThe Alabama team from Russellville has won first place in the TARC finals. They receive a cash prize of $20k and will be traveling to Paris in June as the guests of the Raytheon Company representing the United States to fly against the winners of the TARC-equivalent event in the UK and France at the Paris Air Show, which is the biggest aerospace show and exhibition in the world in 2015. 695 teams (representing over 5000 students) entered TARC 2015 from 48 states, 459 teams made at least one qualification flight attempt (66%, a record high percentage), and the 101 teams that came to the Finals represented 28 states plus the US Virgin Islands. Congratulations to the Russellville team on their decisive win with flights scores of 12 and 4 to total 16. Second place was 33 and third was 37. This is the first Alabama team to win the TARC championship. The next best was Bob Jones that came in third nationally in 2010, John Paul II was fourth in 2013 and Liberty Middle fifth in 2012.

Geezer TARC is about to commence…

Geezer TARC, HARA’s version of TARC for “older” rocketeers begins with the announcement of the 2016 TARC challenge at Nationals this weekend. It is open to any interested rocketeer over 21, and provides an excellent way for TARC mentors (or potential TARC mentors) to get a feel for the difficulties that will be faced by their teams in the upcoming months.

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Duane Mayer’s winning rocket for 2015 – the yellow and black “Beast”

 

Standard TARC rules for 2016 season will apply, except for the following:

1) Geezer TARC begins with the announcement of the 2016 rules in May and ends with the contestants’ rockets being launched at a single event (date TBD, but well before school starts in late summer).

2) Each contestant may enter up to two rockets. These rockets may not fly before the official launch date, and the score shall be determined by the first flight of each on that date. The contestant’s score shall be the better of the two flights, or the score of one flight if only one rocket is entered.

3) Any commercial altimeter may be used to determine altitude. However, reflights are not allowed if there is an altimeter malfunction; in this case, the flight will be disqualified (So choose a reliable altimeter).

4) There is only one rocket per design, and there are no test or sub-scale flights permitted for the design. Its merit will be judged solely by the rocket’s performance at the contest launch. If two rockets are entered, they must be of substantially different design – different number of motors, fins, or something major – an inch shorter or taller does not constitute a substantial difference, nor does the same design at a different scale (e.g., BT-70 versus BT-80 versions).

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Bullpup 1 – a dual 24mm cluster for 2015. This was my best performer.

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Der Eggcracker – a minimum diameter TARC rocket. This one was too efficient; it went WAY over altitude.

 
In the past, we have launched at a horse farm in Harvest. This year’s launch will probably be at “Pegasus field” in Research Park in Huntsville or at a HARA launch in Manchester. The launch will take place in late July or early August, and yes, you must be there to fly. That’s part of the contest – we want to witness what happens! We will try to pick a date that will be agreeable to all schedules.

Geezer TARC measures your ability to design an rocket to meet the TARC challenge – there are no proxies or test flights, as this would defeat the purpose. There is only one rocket for each design, and its first flight will be at the launch. If you enter two rockets, each must be based on a different design (like “Sure Thing” versus “Hail Mary”). This is a major part of the fun of the contest – we spend a lot of time designing a rocket to meet the challenge, but will it do it without modifications, on the first flight?

Good luck, and see you on the field!