Minutes of ERPS General Meeting #254 (Note corrected number)
20 February 2003
The President called the meeting to order at 8:32 PM. Members present
were Kevin Bollinger, Bill Clawson, Rick Eversole, Sean Lynch, David
Masten, Pierce Nichols, Julie Porter, Dan Solvin, Adrian Tymes, Michael
Wallis, David Weinshenker, and Chris Winter. Niles Grant, a visitor, also
attended.
Reports and discussion on agenda items were as follows:
CMT
---
Kevin Bollinger
Nothing to report
DOCUMENTATION
-------------
Chris Winter
Nothing to report
INFOTECH
--------
Sean Lynch
The list has been modified to reject cross-posts. (Kudos to Sean
for developing the anger-parser software.. ;-) )
Sean is considering banning Hotmail users from participating,
since Hotmail has recently been randomly bouncing messages.
LIAISONS
--------
Michael Wallis
March 25-27 is designated California Space Week.
California Space Day -- similar to the "March Storm" run in
Washington by ProSpace -- will take place in Sacramento March 18th.
The California Spaceport Authority has an event in southern
California on 26 February.
Michael is still unable to connect with anyone at Hytek Servos.
LOGISTICS
---------
Sean Lynch
Nothing to report
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
--------------
Michael Wallis
The first draft of the paper we will be presenting at ISDC is
complete and being polished.
Per their Web site and e-mail postings, Armadillo Aerospace is
making significant progress.
Sean reports that the person who did his wedding video may be
willing to undertake some pro bono work for ERPS.
TREASURER
---------
Michael Wallis
The treasurer reported that we have money. Then he reported
that, thanks to a generous donation by Adrian's mysterious benefactors,
we have even more money.
CHIEF SCIENTIST
---------------
Kevin Bollinger
Kevin continues working on finding and testing substances
hypergolic with peroxide. He will soon have a small test engine for this.
He has discovered a source for 650 cu. ft. (71.2 liter) composite
tanks good to 3,000 psi, and certified until 2009, at a very reasonable
price.
Regarding changes to the terms of our insurance policy at the
Ranch: this has been resolved. The only requirement (and not a new one)
is that Kevin or Chuck must be on premises when we are testing. We
have an opportunity to send a representative to the next meeting of the
Antelope Valley Association and, possibly by paying some dues, get
more input into how things run at the Ranch.
FLIGHT CONTROLS
---------------
Bill Clawson
Dan is doing the layout for the Gizmocopter interface PWA.
Julie announced that she can convert ExpressPCB layout files to
Gerber plots -- an ability we will no doubt make use of in future.
PROPELLANTS/SPARGER/FF
----------------------
Pierce Nichols
In treating his sparger with the nitric acid, Pierce "dislodged all
manner of crud". He needs some more (HNO3, not crud). Chris will pick
this up at San Jose Scientific ASAP and deliver it to CDI.
We are consuming mass quantities of deionized water, and it is
getting too expensive to buy it from stores. We should either find a
cheaper source or acquire our own deionizer unit. This will be looked into.
REGULATORY
AFFAIRS
-------
Randall Clague
John Wickman (frequent poster on ARocket) has connections
with the US guvmint and is trying to get the Senate to amend the
Homeland Security Act to remove the provisions that threaten to curtail
amateur rocketry activities. Comments are needed ASAP. Contact
Michael for details, or subscribe to the ARocket list.
SAFETY
------
Dave Masten
Safety is AOK.
TESTING
-------
Dave Masten
We hope to do a static firing of the modified KISS-3 engine this
weekend. The pacing item is a new valve for the hydrant above the test
stand. This valve was damaged in the recent cold snap. Simply put, it
snapped in the recent cold. But it will be a snap to fix.
Development of software for the new data acquisition system has
been on the back burner due to higher-priority activities. Dave expects to
complete it and integrate the DAS withing the next two weeks.
ERPS should work up a plan of what we want to do at the Ranch
within the next one-two years. This includes facilities. For example, do
we want to put up the remaining wooden forms and cast a concrete
blockhouse or build a blockhouse out of cinder blocks?
**** PROJECTS
Composites
----------
Kevin Bollinger
Nothing to report
Gizmocopter
-----------
Bill Clawson
See entry for Flight Controls.
KISS
----
Dan Solvin
Later this year, we may have an opportunity to fly an
independently developed GPS unit on KISS 4+. Modifications of the
KISSvehicle to contain the unit may turn out to be difficult, so a backup
option to fly the unit on the PC-Bird rocket, a new testbed for electronics,
is being developed. PC Bird is currently being built by Dave W., has a
5.5" OD, and will use solid OTS propellants. Allowable dimensions within
PC Bird are to be forwarded to the GPS builder. This option may be 6-9
months out.
The weekend of 12-13 April looks like the earliest opportunity for
a KISS 4 flight at MTA; however the middle of May is looking more likely.
KISS 4 will test a CV (cavitating venturi) in flight with a full propellant load
of 10 liters. Hopefully the CV will eliminate the chugging observed on all
previous flights. Due to the likelihood that KISS 4 will get close to Mach
1, robust new fins will be added as well.
By the end of next week, Pierce will complete a Turbocad
drawing of a proposed box tower intended for both KISS and Spike.
POGO
----
Dave Masten
A task list has been published.
Engines are being manufactured.
First flight, to demonstrate stability augmentation, is estimated to
happen within 6-9 months.
SMARTFLIGHT
-----------
Dave Weinshenker
Dave W flew a 3" HPR rocket bought at Black Rock in 2001. The
Canadian-made Pro-38 motor pushed the rocket to 780 feet --
respectable performance for a G-size motor.
Progress on the A/D electronics is slow but continuing.
Spike
-----
Sean Lynch
The next Spike meeting is scheduled for 7 March.
SPARGER/FF
----------
Pierce Nichols
See the entry for propellants.
NEW BUSINESS
------------
Michael reported we have received an observer-class membership
application from the Boston area.
Meeting #254 adjourned at 10:10 PM. The next meeting will take place
on 6 March 2003. The location is the Coco's on Oakmead at Lawrence
Expressway in Sunnyvale (1206 Oakmead) where we met one month ago.
AFTERMATH
=========
Some money was collected. I don't have the figures on this. (But
with the posting of this document, I owe $0.75 more.)
We had all been wondering if there would be some sort of
celebration to mark the tenth anniversary of ERPS' founding (actually it
was ten years plus two days). I asked Michael if he would be setting
something up, and he said it was a piece of cake. I had three, and they
were all delicious.
Respectfully submitted,
Chris Winter
Secretary, ERPS
+++ PLEASE ADVISE THE SECRETARY OF ANY ADDITIONS OR
CORRECTIONS TO THESE MINUTES +++
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