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izzy

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A Media Resources web page has been created to help journalists to understand the importance of and issues facing hobby rocketry, in order to prepare stories for dissemination.

This internet page is at www.rocketreporter.org

Additional information is requested to populate this page. Sought immediately is information concerning links to published articles and broadcasted videos; descriptions of and links to special (club) projects; links to rocketry sites; the name, location and link to rocketry clubs; and high quality photos of rockets, launches, meetings, competitions, science fairs, and the like.

Additional calls for information will be made as the breadth of the page is expanded. The current page was designed to provide a minimal set of information as quickly as possible. The page is being developed daily, and updated nightly. To submit information, please see the instructions on the media page.

[ rocketreporter.org front page : ]

The United States of America is the leader in mankind’s effort to colonize and explore space. Hobby rocketry plays an important role in stimulating the fascination of young minds in this direction, and provides an essential teaching tool and experimentation paradigm for developing technological expertise in areas necessary in this endeavor, for those in elementary, secondary and higher education. Recent changes in Federal law, that traverse in unpredictable ways through State and Local law, threaten to take rocketry out of the hands of Americans—the only people ever to set foot on a heavenly body other than the Earth. The entire industry supporting amateur rocketry is threatened with collapse. This web page provides information for people that want to know more about what is happening, and for journalists interested in developing stories in this regard.

While this concept is endorsed as a useful concept, it is NOT an official Senator Enzi site, and no entities are posted with his endorsement.

This site is furnished without charge as a service, by individuals passionate about rocketry. Although effort has been taken to ensure the authenticity of the information presented, that responsibility lies with the individual(s) generating each given entry. Thank you for your interest in amateur rocketry, and for visiting this site. Any and all comments are encouraged and appreciated (please contact Webmaster)

- iz

TRA 90217 NAR 80381
 
the "Published Media Stories" button will display all print news and e-zine coverage of the fight to deregulate hobby rocketry, from all over the country. Please check it often.

- iz
 
March 15, 2003 - The shipment of consumer rocket motors under 62.5 grams is severely restricted by the Homeland Security Act since United Parcel Service (UPS) is rejecting these motors. Recently, a hobby shop in Illinois tried to ship two boxes of "F" and "G" motors (all under 62.5 grams) to high school students preparing to launch their "Team America" entries. UPS returned all boxes as prohibited items due to restrictions placed on UPS by the Safe Explosives Act contained in the Homeland Security Act.

One of these boxes was marked with UN1325, which ships under the non-explosive category of Flammable Solid. UPS revealed that they are rejecting UN1325 items that are reclassified from Explosive to Flammable Solid under DOT Exemption E-7887. DOT Exemptions lack the legal authority to exempt Explosives from the Safe Explosives Act.

The problem is shipping companies have to ensure their employees that handle explosive materials are not prohibited persons under the Safe Explosives Act. In large companies like UPS, there are individuals who fall into the prohibited persons category that would come into contact with shipments considered explosive by the ATFE. Shipping companies simply do not want to risk potential fines and criminal prosecution that would result if prohibited personnel came into contact with explosive cargos. A UPS manager stated that they are only accepting explosives that are exempt under Section 845 (a). Consumer rocket engines are not exempt in Section 845 regardless of the weight of propellant.

UPS dropped all explosive cargos except those exempted in Section 845 (a) of the Safe Explosive Act. On February 23rd, they published a list of UN numbers they would accept based on those exemptions. They are UN0012, UN0014, UN0044, UN0055, UN0174, UN0276, UN0323, UN0338, UN0339, UN0379, UN0432 and UN0446. Virtually all consumer rocket motors fall into a category of UN0454, UN0351, NA0276, NA0323 or UN1325.

Estes Industries has issued repeated press releases stating that they are not having any problems shipping motors to customers. The reason is that Estes Industries ships their rocket motors via commercial truck to distribution centers where it goes by commercial truck to various hobby stores around the country. At the moment, commercial trucking firms are still shipping explosives rejected by UPS. However, several trucking firms are considering the discontinuation of these shipments. As for other consumer rocket motor companies and hobby shops, their motors have UN numbers that are still not accepted by UPS. That leaves them with either the US Postal Service (USPS) or Federal Express to get their product to consumers.

While the USPS is exempt from the Safe Explosives Act, it will only accept the smallest of the model rocket motors assigned UN0454 or NA0323 for domestic mail via surface transportation only. Before rocket motors can be mailed prior written permission must be obtained from the Manager, Business Mail Acceptance, USPS Headquarters, Washington, DC . For other consumer rocket motors, manufacturers and hobby stores are left with Federal Express. The DOT approved an emergency exemption that permits these companies to ship their motors via air cargo. Unfortunately, consumers are faced with $60 hazmat fees plus overnight air charges to buy these consumer rocket motors. One hobby shop employee related how customers are surprised to learn that a rocket motor (under 62.5 grams) costing $17.95 has a shipping cost around $80. Small business hobby shops and motor manufacturers are facing financial ruin as they lack any economically viable way to ship their product due to the Safe Explosives Act.

[ reposted from www.space-rockets.com/arsanews with permission ]

see https://www.rocketreporter.org for daily updates on news coverage and other important infromation regarding hobby rocketry regulation ]

- iz
 
here is an excerpt from news article entitled "Homeland Security Act could cause model rockets' descent"

Sen. Michael Enzi, R-Wyo., said he has looked into the issue and agrees with the model rocket enthusiasts.

He has introduced legislation that would put remove the propellant from the list of explosives that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms regulates. "A rocket propellant is not designed or intended to explode," he said.

Trip Barber, a retired Navy captain and Pentagon weapons specialist, said he has examined the propellant and concluded it is of no interest to terrorists.

"It's not physically possible to use a model rocket to shoot down an airplane," he said.

Barber said there is an ample supply of gunpowder available at gun stores for black powder gun enthusiast terrorists could use. He said the banned propellant only gives off smoke.

more nation-wide news coverage of the hobby rocketry crisis is available, updated daily!

visit https://www.rocketreporter.org and see what's new

- iz
 
March 18, 2003 - Gail Davis, chief of the ATF's public safety branch in Washington, D.C. stated in an article on the Space.Com web site that hobbyists can simply apply for a "Limited" permit that requires a background check, a $25 fee and get finger printed to buy rocket motors using over 62.5 grams of propellant. "There's a process for that and it's not an impossible process," Davis said. While it may be possible for some, it is an impossible process for many and will force them out of the hobby. Second, even if consumers get a "Limited" permit, it is so limited that for most consumers it is useless.

All ATFE permits require the applicant provide storage for explosive materials. This can be an explosive storage facility on the applicants premises or a storage facility belonging to someone else, provided the applicant can prove they can use the other person's explosive storage facility. It has been proven through many tests that ammonium perchlorate composite propellant is not an explosive, but since the ATFE permit is to buy and use explosives, the ATFE requires permit holders to be able to store explosives. It is reasonable to assume that consumers living in apartments, condominiums and houses in residential areas are going to have difficulty providing their own explosive storage facilities. Their only alternative is to find someone willing to give them permission to store explosives. Most people would agree that this would not be simple or easy. In fact, it would be highly unlikely for someone to find another individual or company willing to let a stranger have access to their storage facility.

For those lucky enough to provide some means of storing explosives, pass the background check and are given an ATFE "Limited" permit, they face a second hard reality. The "Limited" permit only allows the holder to buy from dealers and manufacturers in their state of residence. Most states do not have manufacturers or dealers selling consumer rocket motors with over 62.5 grams of propellant. So even after going through the entire ATFE permit process, the hobbyist cannot find anyone to buy from in their state. For them, the "Limited" permit is useless.

[ from www.space-rockets.com/arsanews with permission ]

- iz
 
although not a problem for me, as I don't dabble in HPR, it IS a problem for most any flyer in New Hampshire.... Most (if not all) flyers in southern New Hampshire (doug???) who belong to a club belong to CMASS.... over the state line....

i am sure this is true of MANY folks who live near a neighboring state.
 
Yeah. The limited permit is useless for me. Even though there is a High Power motor manufacturer in NH (Animal Motor Works)... there is not a single field that I know of (and Paul Knows of) big enough to fly those birds. The only exception for this is the lakes freezing over... however... launching on the lakes and snow is tricky, and not to mention cold.
 
well, i received a note from another rocketry buddy talking abou this site and highlighting a section they have called "Rocketeer pictures" wherein you can send in pictures (with captions and, as i understand it, stories). These pictures will be made available to the press to serve as a one stop shop for pix if they feel they need one for a story or something. It's an interesting concept and I thought i would send them a few pix.

While I was gathering up the pix I had the desire to explain what went into some of the pix. I guess I kinda got out of control and just kept typing. I doubt they will use it, as it is very long, but felt it had some important things to say so I am copying it here as well.

for what it's worth...

-----------

Greetings,

This became a lot longer than I had anticipated, but I felt the need to provide this level of detail.

I have been involved in model rocketry since 1963. I did not have a mentor, adult or otherwise, to help me along the way. But model rocketry struck a cord in me. One that lead me into engineering and a long and fruitfull career of hardware and software engineering that even included developing communications gear for the US Government.

I used my engineering skills and desire to share and taught engineering.

I used my passion for model rocketry and my desire to share and taught rocketry.

But not just the science of rocketry. I enfused rocketry (as a medium) into every imaginable subject and brought it to students from Kindergarten through university level, including dozens of youth groups including CAP, Boy Scounts, Girl Scouts, 4-H, The Vinyard Project for youths with AIDS.

If the interest was Physics, I taught the physics of rockets.

If the interest was math, I showed how to use math to deterimine a models altitude, or the speed with which it traveled.

If the interest was english or journalism, I would teach them to write about rocketry and space.

History? Our history and the history of the world has been much influenced by rocketry.

Shop class, trade skills? The lathe and soldering iron to make nose cones and build control panels.

Art? A Mosaic expressing mans desire to explore.

Pick a subject, any subject and model rocketry can find a home and fire the imagination. It brings subjects to life and takes cold, tedious, seeminly inapplicable rote and turns it into something tangeble. Something you can touch, see, experience.

This has been my experience with model rocketry. My long years of teaching it to myself is why I feel compelled to help others learn so that they can reach so much further than I could hope to. I never felt that I had succeeded so much so as I did one hot and humid graduation evening at our local high school.

I had been elected as a member of our local School Board wherein I had the opportunity to help mold our schoolastic goals. This position had many duties and one of them was attending and participating in Graduation cerimonies. As the graduates marched into the over crowded auditorium, passing the makeshift stage holding the entire School Board and High School administration, they would greet these small town dignitaries with courtious "Mr.'s" and "Mrs's", "Sir's" and "Mam's", until they reached me.

One after another would greet me, but with the title of "Rocket Man", because at some time in their long 12 years of ploding through school, they remembered that day or that week when I came into their class and lit a fire under whatever subject they were studying with an influx of model rocketry and all that goes with it.

The only thing that has ever surpassed the feeling that I felt that moment was the day I received a letter from one of my students. I had just taught several sessions with a class that included a history of rockets followed by an introduction into model rocketry. With the class, we also built a model rocket then went out and flew them.

It was no different than a dozen other such sessions I had done around town and around New Hampshire. And, as was the norm, a week or so later I would receive a large stack of very creative "thank you" notes from all of the students. It was expected from each student and it was always a joy to sit over a hot cup of coffee and read them. One by one.

I then came to this one special letter that I still keep close at hand. It was unusual from the start in that it was a longer note and it was from a girl in the class (*most* unusual!). It seems that this very young girl was living in a not so great situation. It was clear that her and her father did not get along and that he rarely had any connection to her. It was something that disturbed her a great deal yet no one knew of it except for her. And now, me.

She explained that when she came home with her rocket, to finish it up before launch day, she had no expectations of help from anyone. She was on her own. That is, untill her father came into the room to see what she was up to. She showed him and he asked a question. She was able to answer, because she listened in class and knew the answer. So he asked another, then another and suddenly, her and her father were building the rocket.

They couldn't wait for launch day and went and flew it themselves. It was the first time her and her father had EVER done ANYthing together, ever. She said she cried. I did too.

While I have never had the chance to meet this little girl again, in the strictest sense. I did see her in her cap and gown that hot humid day. And I did see her hug her father as she stepped down with her diploma in hand.

If you wish to restrict something. If you wish to stop something. Stop underage drinking. Stop senseless crime, stop pumping out under educated youths and calling it "statistacal". But leave rocketry alone. It is an established basis of something that is good and working within our society. It just never warranted headline news. That is, until someone started to threaten it.

I have attached a few photos that may be of interest. The pictures containing youths are from classes that I have taught. I have permission to post these pictures on my web site and offer them to your site so long as I retain credit for them.

The first (jim_saturn.jpg) can also be viewed at: https://jflis.com/hobbies/rocketry/photos/jim_saturn.jpg
It shows me making a point to an elementary school classroom while giving a talk on Man in Space, using one of my model rocket (scratch built) to get a point across.

The second (scouts00.jpg) shows me mentoring a Boy Scout in hooking his model rocket up to the launch controller. This image can also be viewed at: https://jflis.com/hobbies/rocketry/photos/13-mar-01/scouts00.jpg

the third (scottbranch01.jpg) shows a young boy (Scott Branche) with his personally crafted model rocket that he scratch built at a convention that I was participating in.

The final photo ( scottbranch01_new.jpg) shows a much matured young boy (Scott Branche) with the same rocket in his hands, showing the importance that day, so long ago, meant to him. He is a productive, contributing member of society due, in no small part, to the role that model rocketry played in his life.

Good luck and warmest regards,
Jim Flis
https://fliskits.com/
 
That story about the girl an her father really touched my heart. I have tears in my eyes. Yes - rocketry is important in this country. I too have taught a few classes with rockets :)
 
That was a great story about your rocket classes! I've taught a few 4-H ones myself. Keep up the good work!:)
 
That story brought a tear to my eye as well, particularly since rocketry is one of the things that has brought my daughter and me much closer together as well.

I hope you included that in your letter to your Senator.
 
Right On Jim !!!! Thumbs up.....



Cutt~ ( With tears in his eyes in Denver. )
 
Great story Jim. Sometimes the frustration of a moot point situation stirs up a bit of anger. Out of anger with the current situation, I believe, is what motivated you to express and write about your best experiences with the hobby. They say that some of the best writing is derived from emotion rather than a blank page and blank mind.

In Florida (not sure about other states), our schools host an event called the Great American Teach-In annually. The purpose of the event is to bring in volunteers to talk about their careers, hobbies, or interests in an effort to motivate and inspire kids. I'm a 2 year guest speaker for a local elementary school here where my brother's fiance teaches 3rd/4th graders. I always challenge the kids with one question before I start my presentation - "Can anyone here tell me a school subject that does not apply to rockets?" It's a loaded question of course, but it does allow for me to make some good connections and get their minds thinking. I usually follow with an IMAX film, "Dream is Alive". Play the first 7 minutes and you will feel the thrill a kid gets. By the time the film is over, their ready to handle the parts and make all kinds of rocket "whoosh" noises. The excitement is unreal.

The saddest part of my day, which was totally ironic after such a good experience, was learning from other teachers and the prinicipal that most of the day's guest speakers were not parents or family members of the kids. Rather, they are friends of teachers or invited guests from local companies. Some years, staff members say the kids might have maybe one or two guest speakers when the object of the day is to fill the schedule. So not only are the staff appreciative of my time, but the kids love me even more. The lack of involvement on the parent's part to participate in their child's education is truly disgusting.

In the hopes of an exciting day, I always send the kids off with a loot bag containing all kinds of goodies like stars & moons pencils, balloons (to illustrate propulsion) w/ astronaut prints, cardstock cut-out space shuttle gliders, and other stuff that perhaps they can yank on their parent's arm about.

Hourly wages not earned for participating in event: $40
Loot bags for kids: $50
Time spent prepping and delivering presentation: 10 hours

Receiving a crayon written "thank you" card by the hands of an inspired 9 year old: PRICELESS (See attachment)

To this date, I have received about 30+ thank you cards. Not one was from a parent. All of the cards share the same box as my prized Estes catalogs.

Volunteer your time. You'll never regret it, or forget it.
 
Originally posted by MarkABrown
Eugene, you really are a class act. Congratulations. :)

Aren't we all? ;) I don't think there is any arguement here, but I think we're all in good company. It's great to bounce ideas around and share these types of stories with high caliber folks.

To get back on topic, let's just hope we get the exemptions we need and continue making contributions to "the cause".
 
Eugene,

Your closing line says it all. Not just related to rocketry. In any capasity where one can contribute. Volunteer your time to your kids, their kids, his kids and her kids. All kids.

There isn't anything as rewarding and don't'cha just LOVE them crayon thank you's from the kids????
 
Jim and Eugene, you both have my deepest admiration.
Keep up your "labor of love" for the kids sake.
 
Eugene and Jflis, I am extremely proud to know the two of you. You guys are some of the very best.

My wife has been a teaching assistant for 8 years now. Before that she was a librarian for 20 years, and as a librarian she worked in both school and public libraries.

I know many many stories about parents and their kids that would make you cry. Some that would make you angry. Some that you just plain wouldn't believe (or wouldn't want to believe).

My wife's younger brother is a police officer in Atlanta. He can tell you some really wild stories about parents and children.

I couldn't do either of their jobs. I would literally not be able to prevent myself from physically attacking some of the parents.

The number of stories that they have about parents and children that are *good* is miniscule.

It's very sad.

Consequently, I have the greatest admiration and respect for what the two of you have done and continue to do with children. Goodness knows it is needed.

Keep up the great work !!!

- Ken
 
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