WORLD WIDE WEB — August 6th marks an important milestone in the life of Rocketry Planet: it's the first year anniversary of the web site's launch. In just one year, Rocketry Planet has established itself as the industry leader and continues to set new records.

The site's creator, Darrell Mobley, was also the founder of Rocketry Online, the oldest and longest operating news portal in the hobby. After selling that site in 2000 due to his father's long-term battle with cancer, which ultimately claimed his father's life late in that year, Mobley took a six year hiatus before returning to the hobby with fresh ideas to bolster his original vision.

"When I originally got into hobby rocketry in the mid 90's, we were also witnessing the beginning of the Internet revolution," Mobley said. "There was so much information available everywhere, you didn't know which way to start. What was needed was a Yahoo (search engine) just for rocketry web sites."

At the time, Yahoo was enjoying its position as the most widely used search engine on the Internet and Google was just starting to flex its muscles. So Mobley set out to assemble as many rocketry web site links on one site as possible, leading to the daunting task of managing all those links. In the end, he ended up having to write his own search engine database software to store the constantly growing and changing number of URLs.

Success begat success and as the database grew, so did the site's features, eventually adding other community-based features such as industry news, forums, auctions and chat. The site became extremely successful and actually contributed to Mobley's career growth in the Internet industry: apparently there is a market for Internet community-building skills.

The six year hiatus didn't occur in a vacuum as the Internet and the open source movement brought more powerful software packages to the web site owner. Where discussion forums were an unknown entity 10 years ago except on the major pay sites like Compuserve and America Online, new software brought that feature to individual web site owners by the drove. Content management system (CMS) software, originally the mainstay of the national news powerhouses, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cost, was being developed under the GPL license and brought database-driven, article-oriented content management to market, opening a world of new opportunities. Combined with advancements in multimedia, broadband and personal technology, the opportunity was ripe to bring a new hobby rocketry portal into existence.

During the last year, Rocketry Planet has led the hobby with reporting on the controversial lawsuit filed seven years ago by the Tripoli Rocketry Association and the National Association of Rocketry against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Combined with product release information, breaking industry news and frequent launch reports, in addition to keeping you up-to-date on what the traditional media is saying about the hobby, the Rocketry Planet Newsdesk is always buzzing with the latest news.

The site has also assembled an impressive 10 year archive of new articles from the hobby's recent past. According to Mobley, "Rocketry Planet has assembled an archive of hobby rocketry industry news articles in much the same way as Deja News did with UseNET newsgroups postings shortly before being acquired by Google. It's important that we preserve the history of our small hobby."

Today, the site leads the hobby with record-setting performance, serving 23,249 unique visits in July alone. "I'm amazed at the numbers the site is cranking out," Mobley said about the traffic on the site. "It has shattered all of the old records I accomplished when I owned Rocketry Online." The site served nearly 900,000 visitors this first year. July, along with October of 2006, proved to be banner months for site traffic, attributed to important dates occurring during those months relative to the hobby's pending lawsuit.

"It's been a wonder ride, this past twelve months," Mobley said. "I'd like to thank all of the site's members and visitors for making it possible, and particularly the site's advertisers," added Mobley. "Our premiere partners at LAUNCH Magazine, Graphix & Stuff, Giant Leap Rocketry, Madcow Rocketry, LOC/Precision, Scotglas, Hawk Mountain, BurnSim and Sirius Rocketry really helped make this possible."

But the accolades didn't stop there. "In particular, I'd like to thank Tad Danley, for without his reassurance and constant urging, the site never would have made it beyond the idea phase," Mobley went on to say. Danley, who now lives in the Austin, Texas area, met Mobley at an Atlanta-area regional launch sponsored by the Tripoli Atlanta Rocketry Association in 1997.

The two developed the type of friendship that is typical with some of the people you meet in the hobby, constantly providing friendship and encouragement in times of emotional need. "Tad went where many family members couldn't, was always positive and uplifting. Even when we didn't speak to each other for more than a year at a time, it was just like we had talked yesterday when we did contact each other. He is probably the kindest, most real, person I have ever met. I don't know of a better man."

08-05-2007 03:26 PM  #1
lkal32 NAR 86607 L1   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 146	HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROCKETRY PLANET! and many more to come! Congratulations Darrell on your success and contributions to our beloved hobby. Thank you.

08-05-2007 04:20 PM  #2
BearTX New Member   Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4	Congratulations Hey!!!! This is great. Another fantastic accomplishment by Darrell! Keep up the good job bud. Doug

08-05-2007 05:02 PM  #3
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2585	Quote: Hey!!!! This is great. Another fantastic accomplishment by Darrell! Keep up the good job bud. Another fantastic friend, Doug from Dallas! He was my mentor when I got into high power in 1995! How's the monsoon season in Texas going?

08-05-2007 05:57 PM  #4
BearTX New Member   Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4	I think we can put the flippers away for awhile. Mother natures temper is starting to shine through. Glad to see the site is going well. Question for you, would you like some old pic's that I have for posting somewhere? Got some from rocket days past in soft copy.

08-05-2007 06:05 PM  #5
Johnnie Certified TRA Level III   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 165	Darrell, Your original web site ROL was my life line when I started in 1997, and when you posted on TRF in 2006 and I knew you were back by starting Rocketry Planet, I was elated again. Thank you for for all you have done for this hobby. Johnnie

08-05-2007 06:14 PM  #6
dixontj93060 Certified Level Two   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 39	Well, I knew there was something different going on here when back in August 2006 I made a suggestion for a change and it was implemented within 8 hours. What a concept--listening to your readership! Thanks Darrell! And keep up the good work!

08-05-2007 07:14 PM  #7
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2585	Quote: Question for you, would you like some old pic's that I have for posting somewhere? Got some from rocket days past in soft copy. Yes, I can definitely find a place for some photos from the days gone by. Those are my best memories! Quote: Thank you for for all you have done for this hobby. Johnnie, members like you make it all worthwhile. It's a pleasure making a positive contribution for those who take the time to say thank you. Quote: What a concept--listening to your readership! Not just listening, responding! And usually in the manner suggested. Responding to member feedback is an important factor in online communities. Responding in a way that the member feels valued is equally as important. Just this past week, a member suggested changes to the auctions to make it easier for seller's responding to buyers. I stayed up to about 2AM working with him to implement the change. I can't do everything everyone asks, but I will try to find a way to do most of it if the request appears to be beneficial to the community. The results are speaking for themselves. It's much more exciting to actually do community building than performing baby sitting functions.

08-05-2007 10:00 PM  #8
Verna Certified Level One   Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 23	Darrell, Congratulations on everything you have accomplished with ROL and Rocketry Planet!!! For what it is worth, I want you to know that my internet time for rocketry is very limited, so when I have a few moments to catch up on the hobby, I come to RP. Your articles are enjoyable, informative and well written. The site is always fresh and very appealing to the eye. In other words, RP is exactly what I am looking for in a rocketry website. Randy and I think RP is WORLD CLASS! Congratulations on your past and current success but there is no doubt about it, your best is yet to come! Verna

08-05-2007 10:16 PM  #9
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2585	Quote: For what it is worth, I want you to know that my internet time for rocketry is very limited, so when I have a few moments to catch up on the hobby, I come to RP. Your articles are enjoyable, informative and well written. The site is always fresh and very appealing to the eye. In other words, RP is exactly what I am looking for in a rocketry website. Verna, it is humbling when such acclaim comes from people I have grown to respect as much as you and Randy. The way you and your family represent family values in the hobby of rocketry, you are glowing ambassadors for the sport. I thank you for your kindness and your patronage of Rocketry Planet.

08-05-2007 10:48 PM  #10
k3td Earth-bound misfit   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 64	Congratulations on a great first year! Darrell, I am humbled that you would recognize me - and honored to be a friend. Any encouragement and help I have given you pales in comparison to what I received from you in person at my Level 2 Cert flight and online so many times in so many ways over the years! Many folks are glad to have you back in the hobby; you are helping a whole new generation of flyers plus all of us old timers. Now, we both need to go fly something! Hope to see you at LDRS or before! Tad

08-06-2007 07:23 AM  #11
DumasBro2 I Felta Thi Frat Boy   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 215	Congratulations and thanks Darrell. Nice to see your child grow up in the last year and great anticipation on where it will be heading.

08-06-2007 08:49 AM  #12
BearTX New Member   Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4	I will see if I can zip up what I have and ship them to you in the near future. Days gone by are good times to remember!

08-06-2007 10:34 AM  #13
R2K Certified Level Three   Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 145	Congrats man, I hope to see your hits get to 20,000 a day! Perhaps with any help I can provide. It is strange, but around the time you sold it I seemed to have stopped reading rocketry online. For better or worse, I go here more than any other rocketry page. There are lots of great touches, btw the images for the banner at the top are just great! Whoever chose them really knows what to look for in a good rocketry photo. Here is to a great 2nd year.

08-06-2007 05:58 PM  #14
Dwatkins Certified Level One   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 22	HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARREL!!! I am another one who when I started in 1997 stumbled across ROL. Was sad when you sold it and it went down hill. It was like loosing an old friend. I would not have done my level one with out ROL. May have never found HPR. It inspired me to go all the way to Level 3, Get my local club SCAM to do the Half Scale Honest John, and the 6X ACME Sptifire. Now a group of us are working on a project for Ball's. Thanks for all the help Darrel and the inspiration to dream bigger. Dennis Watkins NAR L3CC

08-06-2007 07:48 PM  #15
pkmpd Certified Level One   Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 14	Pat On The Back! Darrell...I'm a newbie (just joined tonight) and IMHO this website rocks! Great job.

08-06-2007 08:02 PM  #16
Sheri Certified Level Two   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 32	Congrats Darrell, Congrats on your first year!!! Your site is great, thanks for all your support and promotion this past year. Sheri

08-07-2007 08:51 AM  #17
Rich Pitzeruse Certified Frat Boy   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 103	Happy Birthday Rocketry Planet!!

08-07-2007 02:15 PM  #18
Steve_Shannon When in doubt, ask Keenan   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1820	Congratulations on this anniversary and best wishes for many more. Rocketry is better because of you and the service, past and present, that you have provided. "Thank you" will have to do until you are better rewarded, Steve

09-18-2007 12:45 PM  #19
Cas2047 Certified Level Two   Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 68	Happy Birthday RP! I find myself jumping onto two forums RP and YORF more often each week. As more folks visit and post here on RP the depth and availability of information increases daily. I really like the fact that this forum, like YORF, isn't over moderated. I appreciate people being able to have differences of opinion, even arguments within civil boundries, all without being publically rebuked, assigneed penalty points, and then put on double secret probation.

09-18-2007 12:56 PM  #20
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2585	Quote: Happy Birthday RP! I appreciate people being able to have differences of opinion, even arguments within civil boundries, all without being publically rebuked, assigneed penalty points, and then put on double secret probation. Thanks! And I have to agree, assigning demerits for misbehavin' is just about the silliest thing you can do to an adult. Maybe that works for the kiddies though!

09-18-2007 01:46 PM  #21
rocketguy101 Frustrated Aero   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 25	Time flies when you're having fun Has it been a year already?!? Congrats, Happy BDay--I am still LPR/MPR but I love reading the stuff on this site! EDIT: ps: I agree w/ the poster above about having suggestions implemented within hours of mentioning them in a post and not even directed at anyone in particular---purty darn amazin'!

09-18-2007 03:24 PM  #22
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2585	Quote: I agree w/ the poster above about having suggestions implemented within hours of mentioning them in a post and not even directed at anyone in particular---purty darn amazin'! Reminds me of a sign that use to hang in the bathroom where I used to work: We aim to please. You too, aim, please.

09-26-2007 07:40 AM  #23
Johnnie Certified TRA Level III   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 165	Happy birthday RP!! Johnnie

10-12-2007 01:26 AM  #24
19KILO gonogo   Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 21	Hey Darrel, Congratulations on your first year! This is my first post, I could not think of a better thread to say hi. I have been lurking as a member just recently but I have been looking at this site almost daily for the good part of this first year. I realy had no idea that your site was that young. Bravo. This realy is THE go to place for rocket info in all spectrums, thank you. As far as forums go I have been hesitant to post only because of my disillusion with TRF. I had to take a break. It seems I'm not the only one. In any case I'm here, hello. Thankyou for what you have brought to this hobby. I hope to see another banner year for you and all involved with our love of this hobby. This site rocks. Mike

10-12-2007 04:13 PM  #25
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2585	Wow, my head is so swollen I can't even look at the monitor to type this! Thanks, Mike, comments like yours makes it all worthwhile! And now that you have broken the ice on posting, we hope to see a lot more of you in the future! Welcome and let the party continue!

10-13-2007 09:10 PM  #26
jimmyc-rocket Certified Level Two   Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 68	Darrell, I have to say this is the best rocketry web page I have found and it is my first stop every day to check Hobby news and get information. I have searched the web and of all the sites here I feel is the best and fastest source to get what I need to enjoy my hobby. you have done a great job so please keep up the good work. hope to have you and this site here for many years to come. Happy Birthday RP. Jim

10-13-2007 10:11 PM  #27
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2585	Thanks, Jim. I enjoy the news and information aspect of what Rocketry Planet provides, it's sort of a passion. When I originally started Rocketry Online, it was created to be a database of website links. I compared it to being the Yahoo of Rocketry. The news aspect of Rocketry Online came later on. With Rocketry Planet, I focused on the news aspect out of the gate, as I found out that is the area that I can make the largest impact. I can't possibly keep up with every rocketry website's information, even though there is over 800 links listed, but I can try to stay on top of the news. I think I do a good job but have a lot of room for improvement still. There is the whole human interest aspect of articles out there that are not being written as of yet but that could change one day. Perhaps one day, someone will introduce themselves to me that has the same journalistic passion that I do and would be willing to help me collect and write news articles for the community.