Setting up a Stratofox-style camp, Step 1:
Get out the crate with stakes and tarps.Stake down two tarps.The far/left one is for a ground cover under the group tent.The near/right one is for a ground cover under the canopy.(Most tents do not come with adequate stakes for use at Black Rock,in case of high winds.These "stakes" are actually 10-inch nails with washers I got fromHome Depot. However, most camping supply stores sell 10-inch stakeswhich are only slightly lighter duty. I have some of each.)
Setting up a Stratofox-style camp, Step 2:
Place all the crates and ice chests on the under-canopy tarp.If setting up camp during the daytime, the canopy would go upat this point to provide shade.Since these pictures were taken while setting up camp after midnight,the canopy waited until Step 5.
Setting up a Stratofox-style camp, Step 3:
Set up the group tent.In this picture, the tent poles have been extended and the tentplaced on the ground.
Setting up a Stratofox-style camp, Step 3 (continued):
Set up the group tent.In this picture, the main poles for the group tent are now holdingit up.Don't omit the rainfly on any of the tents -it's also helpful for shade and protection from wind.
Setting up a Stratofox-style camp, Step 4:
Move the crates and ice chests into the group tent.This provides shade for the ice chests and weight to hold down thelarge tent in case of wind.
Setting up a Stratofox-style camp, Step 5:
Set up the personal tents around the canopy.
The Stratofox camp is complete.
With no wind (as was the case at XPRS II)this can be done by one person.With wind, help would be needed.
Owen's SUV and my truck parked at the Stratofox camp
on the AeroPAC flight line.
A rocket launch as seen from the Stratofox camp.
Owen returns after recovering one of his Estes Porta-Potty rockets.
I think this one was named "Tom's Cabin",following Tom Rouse's complaint that too many Estes rockets werebeing launched at AeroPAC's high-power meets.
When the wind stopped to absolutely still,
suddenly the biting bugs came out.Bug repellent didn't seem to work on these critters.But they did seem to like white colors, such as this canopy.Fortunately, they disappeared when the slightest breeze started again.
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.In this picture, AeroPAC members display some of their rocketswhile prepping one for flight.
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.This is a picture of the camp of Paul and April Sutchek fromLeft Coast Rocketry of Petaluma.
When the launch control officer (LCO) says "heads up"...
This isn't just a rocket. It's a Weber Barbecue with
something like a K motor.Its flight was aerodynamically stable so the builder did hishomework correctly.It flew a few hundred feet up but failed to deploy its parachute.Ouch.
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.These are two of the nine vendors who attended XPRS II.
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.A line of rocketeers wait with their rockets for pad assignments.On the left under the canopy is the Range Safety Officer (RSO)table where rockets get inspected. With RSO approval, they mayproceed to the Launch Control Officer (LCO) where an assistantwill assign a pad based on launch rod/rail and motor size.(There are minimum safe distances for various motors, fartheraway for more powerful ones.)
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.A warning sign can be seen in the foreground on the flight line.Behind it are speakers for the public address system.Further in the background are rows of 10 launch pads each at100, 200 and 500 feet from the flight line.More launch pads in the far distance were brought by membersif their rocket(s) needed something the club doesn't provide.
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.In this picture, AeroPAC members display some of their rocketsat their camp.
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.Each of these canopies is part of a separate camp site.
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.These rocketeers have built an elaborate shade structurewhich looks quite comfortable.
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.Yes, all these rockets are intended to fly,even the 4-engine replica of an "Eagle" lunar spacecraftfrom the 1970's sci-fi show "Space 1999".
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.Everyone at this camp was actively prepping rockets for flight.
I ran into Cliff Sojourner, a former college classmate and
former co-worker, whom I didn't know was going to be at XPRS.In this picture, Cliff shows his Crayon rocket which he hadprepped for his Level 1 high-power rocketry certification flight.About an hour later I was the LCO who launched Cliff's rocket,which succeeded and met the requirements for certification.(Well, I let Cliff's son Aiden press the button to launch it.Aiden was so proud of his Dad.)
This camp was all the way on the west end of the flight line
on Friday.(I was on Friday's east end - so this was the farthest away frommy camp. But the flight line grew at least 50% both directionsby Saturday, probably somewhere around 1/2 mile long.)
After my Friday LCO shift, I tried helping Owen look for a
parachute that separated from his rocket.(Yes, that means his rocket didn't come down in one piece.)While searching, I found this rocket.We had been asked not to pick up rockets if the owner might stillbe looking for them. So I brought the GPS coordinates anddescription back to the RSO table.And BTW, someone had turned in Owen's parachute at the RSO tablewhile I was looking for it.
A distant view of the XPRS II flight line from the south
while searching for Owen's parachute.
Steve Wigfield's "Mega Buck Rodger" rocket.
On the way to look at the Black Rock Range, Owen and I stopped at
the landing site from Paragon's Dragoon 1 rocket which flew in June.We found the "rocket print".And Owen holds a chip of metal which may be from the rocket.
I'm holding the rocket chip from Dragoon 1 which we found in the
dirt at the landing site.Owen gave it to me so I can deliver it to Kevin Sagis in Denverwhen I visit there later this year.(photo by Owen DeLong)
I showed Owen where the Stratofox 2 camp had been in August
at the Upper High Dry lakebed.(Owen had helped organize Stratofox 2 and then couldn't make itbecause of work.)In this photo, our vehicles are parked on top of the "island"in the lakebed.
Owen stands by his vehicle on the Upper High Dry island.
The Upper High Dry lakebed in the Black Rock Range mountains.
(Caution, it takes serious 4x4'ing near some ravines to get here.Don't try to get here alone or without a two-way radio.)
On the way back from Upper High Dry, Owen drives ahead.
The Black Rock Point volcano at sunset.
The Black Rock Point volcano at sunset.
A rocket launch on Saturday morning.
Note that the flight was very straight -this is a large powerful rocket.But this pictures shows how even a small breeze can start todistort the exhaust trail within the first second of the flight.
The same rocket as in the previous frame has experienced an
in-flight failure.
The same rocket as in the previous frames is plummeting
without parachute deployment.Whenever this happens, the other rocketeers cringeknowing how much work went into building it.
On Saturday the AeroPAC flight line has grown significantly.
Remember, XPRS isn't just a regional launch meet - this isis a Tripoli national meet hosted by AeroPAC.And you can tell it's by far the largest launch of the year.
Setting up a Stratofox-style camp, Step 1:
Get out the crate with stakes and tarps.Stake down two tarps.The far/left one is for a ground cover under the group tent.The near/right one is for a ground cover under the canopy.(Most tents do not come with adequate stakes for use at Black Rock,in case of high winds.These "stakes" are actually 10-inch nails with washers I got fromHome Depot. However, most camping supply stores sell 10-inch stakeswhich are only slightly lighter duty. I have some of each.)
Setting up a Stratofox-style camp, Step 2:
Place all the crates and ice chests on the under-canopy tarp.If setting up camp during the daytime, the canopy would go upat this point to provide shade.Since these pictures were taken while setting up camp after midnight,the canopy waited until Step 5.
Setting up a Stratofox-style camp, Step 3:
Set up the group tent.In this picture, the tent poles have been extended and the tentplaced on the ground.
Setting up a Stratofox-style camp, Step 3 (continued):
Set up the group tent.In this picture, the main poles for the group tent are now holdingit up.Don't omit the rainfly on any of the tents -it's also helpful for shade and protection from wind.
Setting up a Stratofox-style camp, Step 4:
Move the crates and ice chests into the group tent.This provides shade for the ice chests and weight to hold down thelarge tent in case of wind.
Setting up a Stratofox-style camp, Step 5:
Set up the personal tents around the canopy.
The Stratofox camp is complete.
With no wind (as was the case at XPRS II)this can be done by one person.With wind, help would be needed.
Owen's SUV and my truck parked at the Stratofox camp
on the AeroPAC flight line.
A rocket launch as seen from the Stratofox camp.
Owen returns after recovering one of his Estes Porta-Potty rockets.
I think this one was named "Tom's Cabin",following Tom Rouse's complaint that too many Estes rockets werebeing launched at AeroPAC's high-power meets.
When the wind stopped to absolutely still,
suddenly the biting bugs came out.Bug repellent didn't seem to work on these critters.But they did seem to like white colors, such as this canopy.Fortunately, they disappeared when the slightest breeze started again.
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.In this picture, AeroPAC members display some of their rocketswhile prepping one for flight.
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.This is a picture of the camp of Paul and April Sutchek fromLeft Coast Rocketry of Petaluma.
When the launch control officer (LCO) says "heads up"...
This isn't just a rocket. It's a Weber Barbecue with
something like a K motor.Its flight was aerodynamically stable so the builder did hishomework correctly.It flew a few hundred feet up but failed to deploy its parachute.Ouch.
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.These are two of the nine vendors who attended XPRS II.
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.A line of rocketeers wait with their rockets for pad assignments.On the left under the canopy is the Range Safety Officer (RSO)table where rockets get inspected. With RSO approval, they mayproceed to the Launch Control Officer (LCO) where an assistantwill assign a pad based on launch rod/rail and motor size.(There are minimum safe distances for various motors, fartheraway for more powerful ones.)
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.A warning sign can be seen in the foreground on the flight line.Behind it are speakers for the public address system.Further in the background are rows of 10 launch pads each at100, 200 and 500 feet from the flight line.More launch pads in the far distance were brought by membersif their rocket(s) needed something the club doesn't provide.
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.In this picture, AeroPAC members display some of their rocketsat their camp.
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.Each of these canopies is part of a separate camp site.
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.These rocketeers have built an elaborate shade structurewhich looks quite comfortable.
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.Yes, all these rockets are intended to fly,even the 4-engine replica of an "Eagle" lunar spacecraftfrom the 1970's sci-fi show "Space 1999".
I took some pictures along the flight line before starting
my 2-4PM LCO shift on Friday.Everyone at this camp was actively prepping rockets for flight.
I ran into Cliff Sojourner, a former college classmate and
former co-worker, whom I didn't know was going to be at XPRS.In this picture, Cliff shows his Crayon rocket which he hadprepped for his Level 1 high-power rocketry certification flight.About an hour later I was the LCO who launched Cliff's rocket,which succeeded and met the requirements for certification.(Well, I let Cliff's son Aiden press the button to launch it.Aiden was so proud of his Dad.)
This camp was all the way on the west end of the flight line
on Friday.(I was on Friday's east end - so this was the farthest away frommy camp. But the flight line grew at least 50% both directionsby Saturday, probably somewhere around 1/2 mile long.)
After my Friday LCO shift, I tried helping Owen look for a
parachute that separated from his rocket.(Yes, that means his rocket didn't come down in one piece.)While searching, I found this rocket.We had been asked not to pick up rockets if the owner might stillbe looking for them. So I brought the GPS coordinates anddescription back to the RSO table.And BTW, someone had turned in Owen's parachute at the RSO tablewhile I was looking for it.
A distant view of the XPRS II flight line from the south
while searching for Owen's parachute.
Steve Wigfield's "Mega Buck Rodger" rocket.
On the way to look at the Black Rock Range, Owen and I stopped at
the landing site from Paragon's Dragoon 1 rocket which flew in June.We found the "rocket print".And Owen holds a chip of metal which may be from the rocket.
I'm holding the rocket chip from Dragoon 1 which we found in the
dirt at the landing site.Owen gave it to me so I can deliver it to Kevin Sagis in Denverwhen I visit there later this year.(photo by Owen DeLong)
I showed Owen where the Stratofox 2 camp had been in August
at the Upper High Dry lakebed.(Owen had helped organize Stratofox 2 and then couldn't make itbecause of work.)In this photo, our vehicles are parked on top of the "island"in the lakebed.
Owen stands by his vehicle on the Upper High Dry island.
The Upper High Dry lakebed in the Black Rock Range mountains.
(Caution, it takes serious 4x4'ing near some ravines to get here.Don't try to get here alone or without a two-way radio.)
On the way back from Upper High Dry, Owen drives ahead.
The Black Rock Point volcano at sunset.
The Black Rock Point volcano at sunset.
A rocket launch on Saturday morning.
Note that the flight was very straight -this is a large powerful rocket.But this pictures shows how even a small breeze can start todistort the exhaust trail within the first second of the flight.
The same rocket as in the previous frame has experienced an
in-flight failure.
The same rocket as in the previous frames is plummeting
without parachute deployment.Whenever this happens, the other rocketeers cringeknowing how much work went into building it.
On Saturday the AeroPAC flight line has grown significantly.
Remember, XPRS isn't just a regional launch meet - this isis a Tripoli national meet hosted by AeroPAC.And you can tell it's by far the largest launch of the year.