Minutes of ERPS General Meeting #253 (Note corrected number)
06 February 2003
The President called the meeting to order at 8:23 PM. Members present
were Kevin Bollinger, Randall Clague, Bill Clawson, Stewart Cobb, Rick
Eversole, David Masten, Pierce Nichols, Julie Porter, Dan Solvin, Adrian
Tymes, Michael Wallis, David Weinshenker, and Chris Winter.
Reports and discussion on agenda items were as follows:
CMT
---
Kevin Bollinger
Nothing to report
DOCUMENTATION
-------------
Chris Winter
Kevin turned over to Chris a second CD-ROM containing
approximately 40 MB of candidate documents for the 2003 Data CD-
ROM. Chris gave printed copies of a second cut at the contents list for
the 2003 Data CD-ROM to Kevin and Michael.
INFOTECH
--------
Sean Lynch
Nothing to report
LIAISONS
--------
Michael Wallis
This will be Randall's last general meeting for the duration. He
leaves Tuesday to take a position with a small, scrappy aerospace
company located in Mojave.
LOGISTICS
---------
Sean Lynch
Nothing to report
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
--------------
Michael Wallis
Columbia's loss on 1 February underscores the vital need for the
sort of work ERPS is doing -- not just the development of alternative
propulsion systems and low-cost vehicles, but the work of educating the
general public about why these things are necessary and how they can
be accomplished.
TREASURER
---------
Michael Wallis
Michael reported our current balance and the proposed budget for
2003. The largest single item in that budget is for propellants. It will
require us to raise a substantial amount every month.
CHIEF SCIENTIST
---------------
Kevin Bollinger
Interesting work is going on in Shanghai, where additives that
make HTP hypergolic with kerosene have been announced. (The
additives go in the kerosene, obviously.) Amines are the key. Sandia
Labs is also doing HTP hypergolics work. It's no surprise that proprietary
details have been withheld by both groups.
Kevin reported that certain parameters for 70% to 90% HTP are
incorrect in Propep. See him for the correct values.
Kevin's sparger should be operational in about two weeks. He will
also have some results to report on his experiments in peroxidizing
biodiesel in a month or so.
FLIGHT CONTROLS
---------------
Bill Clawson
The interface board for Gizmocopteris currently being laid out
using ExpressPCB software. This software permits electronic
submission of the layout to the vendor for fabrication.
PROPELLANTS/SPARGER/FF
----------------------
Pierce Nichols
Time permitting, Pierce expects to passivate his sparger
components at CDI on Sunday -- this if he has some nitric acid. Chris is
to pick up the HNO3 at San Jose Scientific on Friday.
Dave W is working on a prototype of a column-type sparger.
REGULATORY
AFFAIRS
-------
Randall Clague
Fallout from the Homeland Security Act is that foreigners cannot
bring explosives into the U.S. (As defined in the Act, explosives includes
propellant grains.) This is also being discussed on ARocket.
SAFETY
------
Dave Masten
Safety is AOK.
TESTING
-------
Dave Masten
The propulsion system of KISS 3a will be cold-flow tested at CDI
on Sunday.
**** PROJECTS
Composites
----------
Kevin Bollinger
Nothing to report
Gizmocopter
-----------
Bill Clawson
See entry for Flight Controls.
KISS
----
Dan Solvin
Repair of the KISS-3a pressure regulator and relief valve will be
completed on Saturday. As noted, cold-flow tests will take place the
following day.
Static firing is tentatively scheduled for 22 February at the Ranch.
A trip to Mojave appears possible in early April; the target is April 12th.
POGO
----
Dave Masten
Specifications and full documentation are now committed to
paper.
SMARTFLIGHT
-----------
Dave Weinshenker
Launches are set for 15 February in Livermore and 3rd Sunday im
March at Fresno.
Spike
-----
Sean Lynch
Nothing to report
SPARGER/FF
----------
Pierce Nichols
See the entry for propellants.
NEW BUSINESS
------------
The Coco's restaurant on Lawrence south of route 101 seems
eminently satisfactory in all respects. However, the meeting room is
already booked for our next meeting date. We can assemble in the main
room, or try for another location.
Meeting #252 adjourned at 9:34 PM. The next meeting will take place on
20 February 2003. Watch the list for location.
Respectfully submitted,
Chris Winter
Secretary, ERPS
+++ PLEASE ADVISE THE SECRETARY OF ANY ADDITIONS OR
CORRECTIONS TO THESE MINUTES +++
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