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Back Rock Society?

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rml!...@lll-winken.llnl.gov

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May 30, 1994, 8:28:58 PM5/30/94
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When going through the Glossary for the recent posting, I was reading through
my entry for the Black Rock Society and it occured to me that I haven't
heard anything on this group since the initial organizational article in
HPRM about two years ago. This is supposed to be an amateur group similar
to the PRS or RRS being started by Tom Blazanin.

Did it ever get off the ground? Is it viable? If so, I should incude the
mailing address and contact information like I do for the RRS and PRS. If
not, I should delete it.

- Jack

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al jackson

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Jun 1, 1994, 2:57:03 AM6/1/94
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In article <1994053100...@lll-winken.llnl.gov> rml!ja...@lll-winken.llnl.gov writes:
>From: rml!ja...@lll-winken.llnl.gov
>Subject: Back Rock Society?
>Date: Tue, 31 May 1994 00:28:58 GMT


>When going through the Glossary for the recent posting, I was reading through
>my entry for the Black Rock Society and it occured to me that I haven't
>heard anything on this group since the initial organizational article in
>HPRM about two years ago. This is supposed to be an amateur group similar
>to the PRS or RRS being started by Tom Blazanin.

>Did it ever get off the ground? Is it viable? If so, I should incude the
>mailing address and contact information like I do for the RRS and PRS. If
>not, I should delete it.

>- Jack
>


I talked to Tom Blazanin about this when I was at LDRS 11. He sent me
a package of material about the Black Rock Society .... I thought it
was an ok idea .... but when he later sent me a letter and said the dues
would be >75< smackers a year.... I reconsidered.....
Later I thought it would be more my worthwhile to join the Reaction
Research Society which is already established and already does
experimental rocketry.


Al

Dean R. Oberg

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Jun 2, 1994, 2:21:12 AM6/2/94
to


Yes, the Black Rock Society (BRS) for Experimental
Rocketry is alive and progressing slowly towards a fully
functioning national/international organization. The rest of
this post will attempt to explain how it came to be, what the
BRS intends to accomplish and our approach to rocketry.

Certainly no one can question the tremendous progress
that has been made in commercial solid motors in power,
reliability and availability. And surely advanced rocket
power has driven the creation of more sophisticated payloads,
superior composite components, innovative guidance packages
and other on board electronic wizardry. But for many of us
rocket propulsion is still the consuming fascination. The
rising interest in experimental rocket propulsion has been
clearly documented by recent articles by George Morgan and
Dave Crisalli in the High Power Rocketry magazine. This
expanded coverage has brought new depth and excitement to a
magazine which already excelled in production quality and
technical content. (HPR editor Bruce Kelly is a BRS member.)

Though Amateur or Experimental Rocketry is not new, the
early 1990's witnessed an accelerated evolution of private
sector interest and capability. Experienced amateur rocket
enthusiasts felt revitalized and newcomers were catching the
"dream that wouldn't down" as Goddard put it. Two years ago
a small group of rocketeers, primarily composed of Tripoli
Rocketry Assoc. (TRA) members, saw the need for an organized
approach to safely expanding the horizons of private sector
rocketry. As a result we formed the Black Rock Society which
is dedicated solely to experimental rocketry but has deep
roots in high power rocketry. It was founded by Tom Blazanin
and has been carried along by the current officers, Stephen
Waelder (Pres., Texas), Randy Thomas (Vice Pres., Alaska) and
Dean Oberg (Treasurer, New York). The BRS is still in its
embryonic stage but its members are committed to keeping this
form of rocketry available, safe and supported.

The BRS was created to supplement the TRA, not compete
with it. We fully support the efforts and purposes for each
organization. We are extremely non-political and place our
emphasis on learning, documenting and sharing the many
technical design and construction issues of rocket propulsion
systems and vehicles. High on our list of priorities is
establishing regional static test locations and maintaining
private sector launch access to our name sake the Black Rock
desert. We encourage all well planned and safely executed
rocket experimentation. Safety guidelines are being adopted
that are intended to help self-regulate our approach and
method to experimental rocketry, not the size, power, fuel,
construction material or productive purpose. We expect a
high level of professional conduct from our members,
including adherence to all applicable federal, state and
local regulations. Many members plan to convert their
activities to commercial ventures when the time is right.


We hope to work hand-in-hand with the TRA perhaps with
cosponsored events and cooperative efforts where mutually
beneficial. The two organizations could jointly promote
advanced rocketry education and shared technical information
resources. In almost every area but propulsion system
construction, high power and experimental rocketry can be
cross functional and can benefit from the exchange of ideas.
Given that the BRS and TRA have many common members we should
be able to create crossover avenues for high power and
experimental rocketeers while retaining autonomy for each
organization. Certification or recognition for successful
work with different sizes, classes or types of motors may be
desirable. But the main idea is to encourage all forms of
safely conducted experimental rocket research including
solids, liquids and hybrids.

Without a doubt there is greater risk involved in
experimental rocketry and participants need to proceed
cautiously and plan for possible failures. There is no
substitute for responsible behavior, mature conduct and
common sense in all rocket activities. Information is the
big key, sharing what works to prevent duplication of old
pitfalls and problems. While rocket propulsion is a proven
science, it threatens to become a lost art. The educational
benefit of experimental rocketry is in personally recreating
proven laboratory/test cell experiments, learning to measure
and analyze the results yourself. Rocket flight, of course,
is the ultimate proof. In those respects it is like any
other scientific classroom/lab experience. The BRS fully
supports this direct, hands on, learning experience that
often leads to new discoveries by revisiting in small steps
where mankind has made giant leaps before.

Attached to this post is a BRS membership form that
those wishing to join can print out and mail in with the
small fee. An official newsletter will commence publication
shortly. The first national level meeting is being planned
to coincide with the dates and locations of either LDRS or
FIREBALLS but will be an independent event. We will post the
place and date as soon as more information is available.


Dean R. Oberg 65 Chateau Terrace
TRA #191, AEROPAC #40, Snyder, NY 14226-3929
RRS Corresponding, BRS #14 (716) 839-2158
BRS Treasurer ai...@freenet.buffalo.edu



Quoting Eric Burgess from the forward to B. J. Humphreys'
book, Amateurs and Rockets, "It is often forgotten that an
amateur is not the same as a novice. Often he is very much
the expert who cannot get someone to foot the bill for his
work ..."


BLACK ROCK SOCIETY
FOR EXPERIMENTAL ROCKETRY
Route 1, Box 100
Loving, TX 76460
Phone: 817-378-2590 FAX: 817-378-2593

Membership Application
=============================================================
Annual Dues payment of $25.00 payable to the Black Rock
Society must accompany this application.

Name: ___________________________________ Age: _____

Address: ___________________________________

___________________________________

Phone(hm): ___________________ Phone(wk): ___________________

FAX: ___________________

Business or Employer: ______________________________________
============================================================
Experimental Rocketry Interests or Areas of Expertise:

1) ____________________________________________________

2) ____________________________________________________

3) ____________________________________________________

List additional info on back if applicable.
============================================================
Are you a member of any other rocketry or aerospace
organizations.

Yes ___ No ___
If Yes, pleae specify: _____________________________________

____________________________________________________________
============================================================
Endorsement and Reference:
( Must be completed by a charter Black Rock Society Member )

Name: ________________________________ BRS # ______

Signature: ________________________________ Date: _________
============================================================
Please forward Membership Applications and Dues to:

Black Rock Society
PO Box 591, Buffalo, NY 14226-0591

--
(Dean R. Oberg)

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