Minutes of ERPS General Meeting #276
05 February 2004
The President called the meeting to order at 8:20 PM. Members present were
Kevin Bollinger, Rick Eversole, Sean Lynch, Dave Masten, Pierce Nichols,
Gerald Nordley, Julie Porter, Adrian Tymes, Michael Wallis, Dave
Weinshenker, and Chris Winter.
Reports and discussion on agenda items were as follows:
DOCUMENTATION
-------------
Chris Winter
Pierce requested a copy of an ERPS brochure with our meeting location
updated. He plans to post it in the ASME lounge at SJSU and use it as a
recruiting tool. Michael will coordinate with him on that.
Chris asked for suggestions for this year's Data CD-ROM. This will be
discussed off-line.
INFOTECH
--------
Sean Lynch
Viruses continue to bombard our servers, and our software rejects them
all. Subscriber e-mails containing malware are still a problem, and Sean
continues to advise the senders as appropriate.
LIAISONS
--------
Michael Wallis
Henry Vanderbilt has completed arrangements for Space Access '04. Dates
are 22-24 April. See the list or Henry's Web site (http://www.space-
access.org/) for hotel information and other details. Michael is beginning
preparations for an ERPS presentation.
Adrian reported on an event he and Rick attended during the day. NASA Ames
Research Center held the Grand Opening for its Metropolitan Technology
Center and Space Technology Center. The MTC and STC are consortia involving
NASA Ames scientists with professors and students with various U.S.
universities, notably Stanford and San Jose State. A press release from
Ames, obtained from the Web by Chris, mentioned other universities
including Santa Clara University, Carnegie Melon West, and UC Santa Cruz.
According to the press release, The Aerospace Corporation is also involved
in the Space Technology Center, which is led by San Jose State University.
The STC plans to offer Stanford University's series of graduate
engineering courses, "Spacecraft Design". It will also develop a new Web-
based design center called the Integrated Design Network. Utah State
University is slated to be the first remote user of the IDN.
There appear to be some potential benefits for ERPS in becoming involved
with the STC. These possibilities are being explored with a NASA contact.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
--------------
Michael Wallis
The California Spaceport Authority distributed its usual announcements.
TREASURER
---------
Rick Eversole
Rick disbursed some funds to Pierce for shop tool purchases he had made.
Rick is still working on getting a value for the donated Schilling Conan
7P robot arm. It seems all the qualified appraisers get busy at the end of
the year, and stay busy for a month or two. Meanwhile the arm is taking up
space in the shop that could be put to better use.
There was some discussion of costs for the Ranch generator. The pacing
item on this is a quote for insurance premiums, which we still await.
CHIEF SCIENTIST
---------------
Kevin Bollinger
Kevin now has the CD-ROM for the 5th Hydrogen Peroxide Propulsion
Conference in his hands. It includes a paper claiming good performance with
a hypergolic fuel mixture and 65% peroxide.
The last pieces of the keel for Kevin's X-Prize-class vehicle have been
delivered. He expects it will take three years or more to complete the
vehicle. It should be capable of delivering a 500-lb payload to 100 km.
He is experimenting with a new and better electroforming process.
An on-line book linked through the Hobbyspace site describes the "pop-up
trajectory" patented by Kistler Aerospace. This trajectory reportedly lets
an X-Prize vehicle put a small payload in LEO.
FLIGHT CONTROLS
---------------
Dave Masten
Nothing to report
PROPELLANTS/SPARGER/FF
----------------------
Pierce Nichols
Dave W has learned enough through his Teacart FF apparatus to begin design
of "Freezewheel Mark 1", equipment for a continuous-feed process.
Pierce is working on a new condenser tower for his sparger. He plans to
install this at the Ranch in two weeks, and also to replace the heat
exchanger tubing, which has developed a leak.
REGULATORY
AFFAIRS
-------
Dave Weinshenker
Nothing to report
SAFETY
------
Dave Masten
Safety is AOK.
TESTING
-------
Dave Masten
Thanks to Pierce and other ERPS members, the shop now has a new TIG welder
(mentioned previously), a new air compressor, a new band saw, a new
grinder, a new bench vise, a new combo sheet metal shear and bending brake,
and various new hand tools.
**** PROJECTS
Composites
----------
Kevin Bollinger
Nothing to report
Gizmocopter
-----------
Dave Masten
As previously reported, Gizmocopter lifted off under computer control,
while tethered, last year. New lead-acid batteries are on hand to replace
the failed NiCads. The next task is to get the computer to boot with flight
software.
Gizmocopter meetings have moved to Monday nights.
KISS
----
Dan Solvin
Nothing to report
POGO
----
Dave Masten
Fabrication of POGO is moving ahead. The design is complete, and Pierce
has the frame partly welded.
Adrian reported that someone involved with the Western Region Robotics
Forum is very interested in what we're doing with POGO. More on this later,
no doubt.
SMARTFLIGHT
-----------
Dave Weinshenker
There will be launch opportunities at various places on the next three
weekends. Livermore is in the process of moving to a new site, Snow Ranch,
which will allow them to launch bigger motors.
Spike
-----
Sean Lynch
Nothing to report
NEW BUSINESS
------------
Gerry Nordley announced this year's Contact: Cultures of the Imagination,
to take place in March. Attendance at this event is limited by the size of
the conference room at NASA Ames. Those interested should sign up ASAP.
Meeting #276 adjourned at 9:16 PM. The next meeting will take place on 17
February at the Denny's on Bowers Avenue in Santa Clara. Watch the list for
full driving directions.
Respectfully submitted,
Chris Winter
Secretary, ERPS
+++ PLEASE ADVISE THE SECRETARY OF ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THESE
MINUTES +++
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