It can’t hurt to ask…
When we were in Las Cruces, my rocket mentor, Tom Atchison, did just that. He got an enthusiastic reply to his unusual proposal to use this mobile missile tracking system to track civilian rockets in a new competition launching this summer. We could use it for an independent audit of launch performance (distinct from the on-board GPS and altimeter logs that all of the rockets will carry).
This mobile EODAS system uses infrared, visible ultraviolet, and thermal sensors to provide “imaging, pyro event detection, and spatial position data from airborne payload delivery systems operating in hazardous environments.”
…not to mention some very cool home videos. =)
Rocket Mavericks is a new international rocketry and civilian space exploration competition. Tom is the founder and describes it well: “if you have heard of the Surf Mavericks, then you can get some idea where we are headed, but rather than surfing, we are focused on rockets.”
(I am trying to help this new non-profit with some enthusiasm and photos.)
Many adults remember Estes rockets fondly when we were kids. 300 million launches of Estes rockets sure leaves an impression. I find that it kindles a love of science – rocket science, that is – in our children. It is deeply inspirational and motivational to a new generation who sometimes wonder where the excitement is in learning physics, math and science in general.
As adults, scientists love to explore the frontiers of the imagination. We all retain some of the magic of that childhood wonder — especially the geeks among us — perhaps rekindled by a new challenge.
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