August 2022

Sunday, 31 July 2022

Friends, Fans, Colleagues, World

I regret to inform you that a great light in the firmament no longer shines for us as it has for so many years.

Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away. Her light however, like the ancient galaxies now being seen for the first time, will remain for us and future generations to enjoy, learn from, and draw inspiration.

Hers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all.

I, and the rest of our family, would appreciate your patience and forbearance as we grieve her loss until we can recover sufficiently to speak further. Her services will be for family members and the closest of her friends and we request that her and our privacy be respected.
Live Long and Prosper,

Kyle Johnson

God Speed, Uhura

Randy

Looking for something entertaining and fun to read?

If you'd like something entertaining and fun to read, get your copies of the entire Rocket Babe series, paperback or Kindle. Here's how...

Get The Entire Series On Kindle!

Just click the Amazon links below:

Rocket Babe: Reflection

Prefer Paperback? No Problem!

Signed / personalized paperback copies of Rocket Babe - Dust Storm, Rocket Babe - Fallen Angel, Rocket Babe - Ant Men and Rocket Babe - Reflection are all available directly from the author!

Books are great gifts for any occasion! Holidays, birthdays or just because!

Dust Storm $10.00
Fallen Angel $12.00
Ant Men $13.00
Reflection $13.00

Standard book rate shipping: $4 for 1st book; $1 for each additional book per address in the same order. Please allow 7-10 days for shipping, longer during the holidays.

*Special "Set" pricing! Get all 4 books for $46.00 includes shipping within the continental U.S.! Saves over $10 off the regular price and shipping!

*Shipping outside the USA available. Contact us for a postage quote before placing your order.

HOW TO ORDER:

Send your email order to Verna at: vernarockets@hotmail.com with BOOK as the subject.

List each dedication separately and clearly. Be sure to include the full shipping address.

Verna will reply with how to send in your money order. Sorry, money orders only.

If you have any questions PLEASE email us: vernarockets@hotmail.com

Verna Starr Cestris Fighter!

Randy

Just click the BLUE link below the banner!

THE AMERICAN ROCKETRY CHALLENGE (TARC)

Now is the time to get started.

Direct from the NAR website:

The American Rocketry Challenge (TARC) is an aerospace design and engineering event for teams of US secondary school students (6th through 12th grades) run by the NAR and the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). Teams can be sponsored by schools or by nonprofit youth organizations such as Scouts, 4-H, or Civil Air Patrol (but not the NAR or other rocketry organizations).

The goal of TARC is to motivate students to pursue aerospace as an exciting career field, and it is co-sponsored by the American Association of Physics Teachers, Estes Industries, the Department of Defense, the Federal Aviation Administration, and NASA. The event involves designing and building a model rocket (650 grams or less in weight, 650 millimeters or more in length using NAR-certified model rocket motors totaling 80 N-sec or less of total impulse) that carries a payload of one Grade A Large egg for a flight duration of 42-45 seconds, and to an altitude of exactly 850 feet (measured by an onboard altimeter), and that then returns the egg to earth safely, without cracking it. Onboard autonomous control systems are allowed; radio-control and pyrotechnic charges are not.

The goal of TARC is to motivate students to pursue aerospace as an exciting career field, and it is co-sponsored by the American Association of Physics Teachers, Estes Industries, the Department of Defense, the Federal Aviation Administration, and NASA. The event involves designing and building a model rocket (650 grams or less in weight, 650 millimeters or more in length using NAR-certified model rocket motors totaling 80 N-sec or less of total impulse) that carries a payload of one Grade A Large egg for a flight duration of 42-45 seconds, and to an altitude of exactly 850 feet (measured by an onboard altimeter), and that then returns the egg to earth safely, without cracking it. Onboard autonomous control systems are allowed; radio-control and pyrotechnic charges are not.

TARC is entering its 21st year - TARC 2023. It is the largest model rocket contest ever held. Co-sponsored by the NAR and the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the first 20 years of TARC together attracted 14,429 middle & high-school teams made up of a total of over 85,000 students from all 50 states. These students had a serious interest in learning about aerospace design and engineering through model rocketry. The top 100 teams each year come to a final fly-off competition held in mid-May near Washington, DC, to compete for $100,000 in prizes and a free trip to either the Paris or the Farnborough (England) air show in Europe (Farnborough in even years, Paris in odd years). These teams are selected based on the scores reported from qualification flights that they conduct locally throughout the US by April 3, 2023.

The entry forms, rules, and other details about TARC 2023 are posted on the AIA’s website. Event registration for TARC 2023 is open from May 18 until December 1, 2022. The TARC 2023 National Finals will be held on May 20, 2023 at its normal site, the Great Meadow facility in The Plains, VA (45 miles west of Washington, DC).

end...


Now is the time for clubs and individuals to make themselves available to the teachers and students of their local groups listed above. Verna & I have been involved in TARC many times and we can tell you it's a lot of fun!

Randy