Minutes of ERPS General Meeting #261
05 June 2003
The President called the meeting to order at 8:17 PM. Members present were
Mark Blair, Rick Eversole, Sean Lynch, David Masten, Pierce Nichols, Gerald
Nordley and his wife, Julie Porter, Adrian Tymes, Michael Wallis, David
Weinshenker and Chris Winter. Roger Gregory, co-inventor of a rotary
engine, also attended in order to set up a working relationship with ERPS.
Reports and discussion on agenda items were as follows:
DOCUMENTATION
-------------
Chris Winter
Nothing to report
INFOTECH
--------
Sean Lynch
Nothing to report
LIAISONS
--------
Michael Wallis
Pierce reported that, at SA'03, he had struck up a friendship with
Jonathan Goff, who plans to visit the Bay Area in July and wants to see our
facilities. Jon is a mechanical engineering undergraduate at Brigham Young
University and is working on a pintle-injector engine. Anyone with
questions about this can ask him directly on the ERPS mailing list.
Michael said our presentation on "FAST" at the International Space
Development Conference went well, although it was poorly attended. Later,
at the National Space Society board meeting, Adrian proposed FAST as an NSS
legislative initiative and reported some interest from them. This will be
discussed further by the ERPS board.
LOGISTICS
---------
Sean Lynch
Nothing to report
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
--------------
Michael Wallis
The reporter from the East Bay Community Newspapers, previously mentioned
in the context of doing a story on this year's ISDC, did attend that
Memorial-Day-weekend event. Apparently, she found little of interest.
TREASURER
---------
Rick Eversole
The treasurer reported that, since he has disbursed funds for POGO
engines, sparger parts, two drums of 50% peroxide feedstock, and a water de-
ionizer, we have substantially less money than before.
CHIEF SCIENTIST
---------------
Kevin Bollinger
Nothing to report
FLIGHT CONTROLS
---------------
Dave Masten
Dave requested that someone else take over Flight Controls, since his time
is fully occupied with POGO, peroxide, a paying job, personal life, etc.
This matter will be taken under advisement.
The next Gizmocopter meeting will be held at CDI. Date and time: Thursday,
12 June; 7 PM.
PROPELLANTS/SPARGER/FF
----------------------
Pierce Nichols
Pierce called for a work party at the Ranch on Saturday. The goal is to
make an initial run of his sparger with peroxide, and to train some
alternates who can operate the system when he is unable to be on site. The
plan is to assemble at his house at 9 AM, then proceed to the Ranch.
Pierce also reported that our facility at the Ranch passed its hazmat
evaluation with flying colors, and that we have two 500 lb. drums of 50%
peroxide there for processing.
Dave W has his "teacart FF apparatus" under final assembly at CDI.
REGULATORY
AFFAIRS
-------
Dave Weinshenker
Dave W reported that Senator Enzi's bill, S 724, continues to do well in
the Senate, but that letters to Representatives are needed. He also called
for those interested to submit comments on the BATFE's NPRM for the Safe
Explosives Act.
There was some discussion of the recently concluded COMSTAC meeting in
Washington, DC. Adrian will collect some electronic documents related to
this and pass them to Chris for the archives.
SAFETY
------
Dave Masten
Safety is AOK.
TESTING
-------
Dave Masten
As noted before, peroxide is the pacing item for testing.
**** PROJECTS
Composites
----------
Kevin Bollinger
Nothing to report.
Gizmocopter
-----------
Dave Masten
See Flight Controls, above.
KISS
----
Dan Solvin
Modifications to the test fin can are complete, and KISS 4 is ready for
static testing. What's needed now is enough peroxide for a full series of
diagnostic runs.
POGO
----
Dave Masten
Engines for POGO (two full sets plus two spare engines) are finished. They
will be shipped COD to Rick's office; it turns out to be the fastest way. A
POGO meeting will be scheduled when we have them in hand.
SMARTFLIGHT
-----------
Dave Weinshenker
Dave W flew PC Bird at Dairy Aire. Prototype electronics worked well on
this flight, its second, as they did on the first. The only problem was
that the main 'chute stuck in the tube, and the vehicle came down on the
stabilization 'chute. Despite this, the rocket incurred no structural
damage.
Spike
-----
Sean Lynch
Sean is still awaiting completion of the engine design. The current plan
is to test-fire and prove out an aerospike engine before investing more
design time on the vehicle structure.
NEW BUSINESS
------------
Dave Masten announced with evident pleasure that Steve and Joyce Traugott
are the proud parents of a baby daughter named Angela. Mother and daughter
are doing well; GLOW (*) was not reported.
Julie Porter presented a document on using a flat-bed scanner mechanism to
measure HTP concentration, and some material on Atmel's AVR chips. The AVR
is a PIC workalike.
Meeting #261 adjourned at 9:12 PM. The next meeting will take place 19 June
2003 at a Coco's location TBA.
(*) GLOW in this context means "Gently Launched Offspring Weight" (among
other possibilities).
Respectfully submitted,
Chris Winter
Secretary, ERPS
+++ PLEASE ADVISE THE SECRETARY OF ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THESE
MINUTES +++
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