[Moonbase-discuss] Re: NASA & privateers

[Randall Clague]

At 12:40 AM 10/01/2001, Samuel Coniglio wrote:

>Randall and I want to educate and introduce you to the new generation of 
>trend-setters in space.

I'm not trying to proselytize; I just want to tell people what I'm doing, 
and why.

>Experimental Rocket Propulsion Society (ERPS)-- Randall and I are members 
>of this group. We have been developing and testing liquid-fueled rocket 
>engines.  Our primary fuel is 98% pure Hydrogen Peroxide. Our ultimate 
>goal is to build and fly a reusable amateur rocket ship to sub-orbit.
>http://www.erps.org

Correction: the ultimate goal is to go all the way to orbit.  FYI, we have 
a meeting on Thursday; http://www.erps.org/email/show-msg.cgi?msg=008713 is 
the URL for the previous announcement, and the venue hasn't changed.

>JP Aerospace-- Based in Sacramento, this group has successfully launched 
>rockets via weather balloons.  They use a launch platform of several 
>balloons lifting a truss that is  100 feet in diameter. The rocket 
>launches from a cannister in the center of the platform.
>http://www.jpareospace.com

Typo, it's http://www.jpaerospace.com.  JPA has a balloon launch this 
weekend from Black Rock.  Their insurance company doesn't allow them to 
invite spectators, but there's always work for volunteer helpers.  Several 
ERPS members have helped at JPA launches.  Anyone can hold a balloon...

>This is just the tip of the iceberg.  I haven't even mentioned LunaCorp, 
>MIRCorp, XCOR, Kelly Space, Kistler, Pioneer, Rotary, SpaceDev

The nice thing about the amateur/entrepreneurial space community is that 
it's small enough that we all know each other.  Sam and I attended an XCOR 
rocket engine demo near Pac Bell park a few months ago, and Jim Benson of 
SpaceDev usually invites attendees of the Space Frontier in LA to come to 
San Diego for a tour the day after the conference.

-R


--
Clague's First Law of Troubleshooting:
If you see smoke, it isn't a software problem.
Randall Clague          rclague@rclague.net