Meeting #319

Attending: Michael W, Eric W, Kevin B, Julie P.
– Dave W called before the meeting
– Dan S call as we were wrapping up
Call to order: 8:20 p.m., Sept. 11th, 2007

Peroxide:

  • Dave W called in a report of “Nothing new to report”.
  • He fell recently and broke his wrist and is still recovering.

Ranch:

  • Kevin reported that Chuck is still at the ranch and doing well. He’s been enjoying the generator.

Engines:

  • Kevin is refurbishing the 750 lb. thrust engine
  • He’s also planning on building a copper electroforming machine for making engines. It’s coming alone slowly though.

Vehicles:

  • Kevin reported that Project Lever is moving ahead
  • He has all the major structural elements in hand
  • He still needs some special 8020 nuts and bolts that are designed to dampen vibration.
  • His first vehicle will use the 750 lb. engine and be mono propellant powered.
  • He is also planning a second vehicle using the same modular design that will use the 750 in a bipropellant mode (changing the end cap).
  • He has small COâ‚‚ tanks for pressurant
  • He may use nitrogen or argon in them if the welding gas supplier will fill them, or COâ‚‚ if they won’t
  • He is also tracing down some clear composite propane tanks to see what their characteristics are.
  • He has been planning an RCS system that should be 1 1/2 inches square
  • Julie mentioned that she had picked up a AeroMirco ducted fan and would see if it might be usable for a GizmoCopter type vehicle.

Other:

  • SiliCon is fast approaching, Oct 5th to 7th at the DoubleTree Hotel in San Jose, CA. Michael will try to contact their Programming staff about our offer to do a Rocket Panel and to see about a Club Table.
  • FAA AST is holding their regular fall meetings Oct 10th and 11th at the FAA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
  • The 2007 Wirefly X Prize Cup will take place Oct 26th to 28th at Holloman AFB in New Mexico.

Meetings:

The meeting was held at the Round Table Pizza at Old San Francisco Road and Wolfe in Sunnyvale. People seemed to like the location but there was another group (who hadn’t been on the calendar) using their private room. People suggested that the second Thursdays would be good, so Michael W arranged with the manager to book them through the end of 2008.

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Adjourned: 9:03 p.m.

General Meeting #319