In this episdode, we welcome Steve Taylor from The Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA)

Each year, ESRA accepts over 150 collegiate teams from around the world to compete in the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) for the prestigious title of overall winner!

Each team designs, builds, tests and launches rockets with a payload size of up to 2.2 Kg and target altitudes of either 10,000, 30,000, 45,000 even up to 100,000 feet! Rockets are typically 4 to 8 inches in diameter and 8 to 20 ft. long. Multistage rockets and all chemical propulsion types (solid, liquid, and hybrid) are allowed. The goal is to have participants learn their skills by doing (motto: Learn by doing) in a safe educational rich environment.

The IREC has been an annual occurrence since 2006. The competition achieved international status in 2011 – when schools from Canada and Brazil joined – and has continued to grow rapidly ever since. More than 1,800 students attended the 2024 competition, representing over 120 schools from 22 countries on 5 different continents.

ESRA has operated the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) since 2006.

Competitions have been held in the following locations:

2006-2016 - Green River, Utah

2017-2024 - Spaceport America, New Mexico

This year, it happens at 2025 - Spaceport Midland, Texas.

For more info, Visit: https://soundingrocket.org

Mentioned in this episode:

The Rocketry Forum

We welcome Special Guest Randy Millikin of RailButtons.Com!

Randy Millikin of RailButtons.Com joins us to talk about his products, and to talk rockets with us.

Some background on Mr. Millikin:

I began my hobby of rocketry in the early to mid 70’s and stopped once I discovered girls, cars and got my first bass guitar.

I launched my last rocket for many years somewhere around 1976.

But then one day around 2003, while surfing the web, I came across Aerotech’s website and discovered this interesting thing called, High Power Rocketry!

I remember thinking, WOW...M motors!

The biggest I ever flew as a kid was a D, because E’s were not made yet (or if they were, I couldn't afford them!)

I thought to myself, “ I need to find out more about this!”.

With that information filed away, I finally was able to attend a launch in 3 Oaks Michigan in 2005.

I went with my 6 year old son and my father. I was blown away and haven't looked back since.

I ordered a few Estes kits that I built with my son and flew them at the school yard near our house.

That brought back so many great memories that I just had to start building bigger rockets and fly them with bigger motors.

About a year and a half later, I got my TRA Level 1 cert in 3 Oaks.

The next year, I was able to get my Level 2, again in 3 Oaks, and a few years later, my Level 3 at LDRS28.

So why am I doing this?

Matt Strum started selling railbuttons in the 90's and had a very successful on-line business for over 10 years.

When he decided to stop selling railbuttons, it left the hobby with fewer (and more expensive) options.

After exchanging some email, he helped me with information about how he was able to provide the hobby with such and inexpensive choice for railbuttons.

It is my goal to keep supplying inexpensive railbuttons for our hobby and keep Matt's vision moving forward.

He was able to sell thousands and I hope to be able to do the same for many years to come.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Rocketry Forum

CG and Andrew visit Steve Eves' workshop where many local High Power rocketry enthusiasts had a party. We talk to Steve, Chris Pearson and a few fellow rocketry folks with a few fun conversations.

Enjoy!

Mentioned in this episode:

The Rocketry Forum

Welcome to another Rocket Friends episode (Formerly called Workshop Talk)

In today's episode it's a Rocket Friends general rocketry discussion. We're joined by our good friend Andrew Kleinhenz and we cover a broad range of topics including:

-Becoming a Prefect of a Tripoli chapter for the first time

-The full story of "The Fainter of Goats"

- The resolution to the AP supply issue from Aerotech

- Speaking of...the right way to get into motor making

- First time @ Airfest thoughts

And more! Patrons, stay around after the closing theme for a cute short story at the end!

"The Fainter of Goats " rocket...which has an amazing story that we share in this episode!

Mentioned in this episode:

eRockets

eRockets

The Rocketry Forum

Welcome to the Season 11 premiere of The Rocketry Show!

In this episode, we talk to Tom Fetter on a deep dive on why do our rockets turn into the wind?Tom's done a lot of research, and was excited to join us to share!

Mentioned in this episode:

eRockets

eRockets

The Rocketry Forum

CG and Gheem gather for another test episode drop.

We're making sure everything is good to go for the new season. We got a question from a listener that CG thought would make a good topic for this test drop episode...

Mentioned in this episode:

The Rocketry Forum

CG and Gheeem get together to test our new podcast distribution setup before we start the new season by mid October.

We talk about what we've been up to the past couple of months as well!

Mentioned in this episode:

The Rocketry Forum

North Coast Rocketry

As we prepare for a new season of The Rocketry Show, we have some technical work to do...

This MIGHT cause a glitch in our feed that you might notice when we flip the switch, so to speak.  Hopefully not!

CG explains in this short drop...

We remember one of the key founding members of Estes Rockets.  Gleda Estes passed away earlier this year while we were out of production.  We chose to dedicate an episode to her memory by listening to a re-enacting of the early years of Estes Rockets that she and husband Vern performed at NSL 2018.

Welcome to our first "Rocket Friends episode of the new show format. This type of show was formerly called "Workshop Talk".

In this episode we are joined with Bill and Rachel Daigle and they catch us up on their hobby adventures.  Also in this episode:

• CG's flight computer project ticks along, and he talks about how that is shaping up.
• Gheem is grilled by all of us on what it's like to have his High School rocket team accepted into the NASA Student Launch competition this year.

Enjoy!