Category: <span>Launch</span>

2023 April – North Site

STOP! March 5 2022 NO GO For Launch

NO GO – March NCR Launch

Mother Nature prevails. The weather forecast for the Briggsdale area has precipitation starting before midnight tonight and going until noon Saturday, turning to snow.  Sunday doesn’t look any better.  The predicted temps during launch time will be below freezing, albeit only a smidge with winds 17 to 20 mph blowing towards the road and with 100% cloud cover. Call me soft but we’re going to scrub.  SCORE in Pueblo plans to fly with warmer temps predicted but stronger winds. 

NOGO FOR LAUNCH – Dec 4, 2021

Members and Friends,
There is a scheduled Northern Colorado Rocketry launch event on Sat, 12/4 at the Atlas launch site.

Members and Friends,

Go figure. Opportunities change that quickly…..

National Forests along northern Front Range enter fire restrictions; provide fall safety reminders

Release Date: Nov 30, 2021

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (Nov. 30, 2021) – Due to dry and warm conditions and recent fire starts, the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests’ Clear Creek, Boulder and Canyon Lakes ranger districts along with the Pawnee National Grassland are enacting Stage 1 fire restrictions effective at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1. Stage 1 fire restrictions limit where and what type of fires visitors can have and remain in place until rescinded.

The following is PROHIBITED under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions:

  • Igniting, building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire (including fires fueled by charcoal or briquettes) outside of a permanent metal or concrete fire pit or grate that the Forest Service has installed and maintained at its developed recreation sites (campgrounds and picnic areas).
  • Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
  • Operating a chainsaw without an effective and properly installed spark arrestor, a fire extinguisher kept with the operator, and a shovel.
  • Blasting, welding, or operating a torch with an open flame without being in a cleared area of at least 10 feet in diameter and having a fire extinguisher kept with the operator.
  • Using an explosive. This includes but is not limited to fuses, blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets, tracers, and incendiary ammunition. (Fireworks are always prohibited on National Forest lands).
  •  

Violation of Stage 1 fire restrictions could result in a maximum fine of $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for more than six months, or both. If responsible for causing a wildfire, one could be held accountable for suppression costs of that fire.

Looks like SCORE is still planning to launch at the Hudson Ranch.

Northern Colorado Rocketry – Affiliated with both NAR and TRA

2021 MHM Launch

Awesome flying on the Pawnee for Mile High Mayhem this year.

Thanks to George Barnes for all the great photos!

Launch log data coming soon.

2021 NCR May Days [North Site]

Launch Summary

Happy May Day!  Huge THANKS to Jack Matthews for towing both ways and for range set up with the help of Scott Dukes, David Pinter and everyone else that assisted.  We were OK to proceed as planned with the scheduled Saturday May 1st and Sunday May 2nd launch event, at the North site, subject to the normal precautions.  Basic COVID hygiene protocols were still in effect:  If you had a fever or if you felt  sick, don’t show up;  keep at least 6′ or more between your prep area and the next person.

An orientation briefing for participants was held and included a discussion of safety and emergency procedures, fire conditions and instruction, applicable rules and regulations, and what is expected of participants with respect to the use of NFS lands under our special use permit. Waiver was from 9 AM to 6 PM but we were pretty much done by 5 when weather started to threaten.  

* Photos uploaded by George Barnes, huge thanks!

Launch Logs

 

April 2021 [North Site]

Saturday April 3rd, 2021

Secretly named the Count Down launch (4-3-21) Our Pawnee Open can only be described as Epic.  Huge thanks to Jack Matthews for towing out the equipment trailer early in the day and then for doing much of the range set up, with help from Scott Dukes and David Pinter and Jesse Frey and am sure I’m forgetting others. We slowly orgainized and got everything ready for an early start on Saturday.  Waiver went from 8 AM till 6 PM.  So great to be back out on the range with so many rocketry family friends.  

Weather Conditions

In a word – stupendous.  A quiet chill Friday night warmed to a glorious clear day on the prairie, with temperatures reaching into the seventies and just a hint of a breeze.  Clear sky at night with a -3.8 magnitude visible pass of the ISS.  

Launch Logs Day 1

Launch Logs Day 2

2021-03 – Atlas Launch

2021 – February Freeze

We are Good to Go with our scheduled and approved launch on Saturday April 5th and Sunday April 6th, from the North Site, subject to change – Mostly cloudy and High Winds predicted.  Range and waiver should be active by 9AM on Saturday.   The Pawnee National Grassland remains fragile and dry, so extra precautions are in order.  Please stay on the authorized roads and please don’t park more than 100’ off the road at the flight line.

 

 

 

Vehicles must remain on approved/maintained roadways.  Driving on the Pawnee Grasslands is not allowed during any NCR sanctioned activity.