PACIFIC GROVE, California USA — Bobby Wright's love for science and space has launched his dreams and pursuits skyward — more than 6,000 feet in the air.

On a clear August day in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, Wright carted out his 12-foot high-powered rocket, designed from cardboard tubing and Wright's childhood desire to one day explore space. Three months of work were about to be tested, as the rocket was set to launch by remote control from a safe distance several hundred feet away.

Nineteen-year-old Bobby Wright, of Pacific Grove, builds rockets at home and launches them in the dessert. The engineering student and his father, Lance Wright, are drawing plans to build and launch a surveillance rover into space and win a $25million prize offered by the founders of Google. Photo: Orville Myers.

Three... two... one...

With 1,200 pounds. of thrust, the rocket defied gravity and lifted into the air, ultimately reaching a maximum velocity of 400 mph. Instruments showed the rocket reached 6,479 feet before falling gently back to earth at the end of a parachute.

Wright, a 19-year-old Pacific Grove native who attends UC-San Diego, is a high-powered hobby rocket designer. In July, he earned his Level 3 certification, the top high-powered rocket certification granted by the Tripoli Rocketry Association, which handles restrictions for construction and launching of model rockets and high-powered rockets.

The certification means he is qualified to test other high powered rocket launches for certification. He is also one of the youngest in the Tripoli Rocketry Association to achieve the designation.

Wright's passion has propelled him to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering. He spends his summer and winter breaks working as a student technician at the Naval Postgraduate School's Rocket Propulsion Laboratory in Monterey.

"I've always been interested in space. Since I was little," said Wright, who built his first model rocket while attending the All-Saints School summer program as a child. "The concept of getting closer to space fascinates me."

His work at NPS has mainly focused on rocket propulsion, although his résumé states he's also tested lasers and assembled engines.

There are only a handful of launch sites on the West Coast, including two private properties in California near Fresno and Stockton. Two other sites, one south of San Diego and another in the Mojave Desert, are located on public land. For his most recent launch, Wright and his father, Lance Wright, traveled to the Black Rock Desert in Nevada.

Wright acknowledged the idea of launching model rockets may seem fantastic, but it's a serious hobby for those who partake.

"I guess a lot of people think it's hackneyed, everybody launching rockets everywhere, but it's not," Wright said. "It's like a NASA (launch), but on a much smaller scale. It's science."

Achieving certification at levels 1 and 2 required a verbal test and successful launches monitored by Level 2 and Level 3 certificate holders.

Level 3 testing included an in-depth profile of his plan, verbal testing, and approval from two Level 3 certificate holders. He also had to launch, land and recover the rocket in the exact condition it was pre-launch.

Wright designed his rocket during the final three months of his freshman year at UC-San Diego. He sent out the plans to a company that specializes in cutting and fitting rocket parts, a pricey proposition.

"It was expensive," said Wright, who listed the total cost of parts at about $2,000. "I was hesitant to actually do it for that reason."

Wright used a cylinder-shaped motor the size of a large flashlight to launch his rockets. Black gun powder sparked ignition. The motor runs on solid fuel, which can only be purchased by licensed merchants at launch sites.

Launches are controlled by remote control, but their direction and acceleration are uncontrolled upon ignition. The only thing that is controlled is parachute deployment, which is used to safely land the rocket.

Once launched, land-based monitors measure the travel distance. Wright needed to clear 6,000 feet in order to achieve his level 3 certification.

Since investing so much time and energy into his hobby, Bobby Wright has managed to bring his dad into the fold. Lance Wright is also a member of the Tripoli Rocketry Association, although not a Level 3 like his son.

"I was interested in supporting his interest, and I got excited about it myself," said Lance Wright, who accompanies his son to launches, where the two operate separate rockets. "We work independently, but he's given me advice. That way, we are able to go together as a father-son combo."

While son is on his way to working on real-life rockets and launching them into space, dad has an ambitious project of his own: launching a rover into space. The creators of Google are offering $25million to the first person who can launch a surveillance rover into space, and Lance Wright hopes to land the prize.

Father and son are mapping out the details, but the price tag is significant. Lance Wright said it could cost as much as $10,000 to build a rocket and rover that could handle the launch.

Even if that doesn't happen, Bobby Wright knows that in time, his dreams of reaching the stars will literally come true.

Copyright © 2008, The Herald.

01-08-2008 03:50 PM  #1
R2K Certified Level Three   Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 115	Re: Pacific Grove High grad builds and launches hobby rockets "While son is on his way to working on real-life rockets and launching them into space, dad has an ambitious project of his own: launching a rover into space. The creators of Google are offering $25 million to the first person who can launch a surveillance rover into space, and Lance Wright hopes to land the prize. Father and son are mapping out the details, but the price tag is significant. Lance Wright said it could cost as much as $10,000 to build a rocket and rover that could handle the launch." Um $10,000 to build a rocket and rover that will go to the moon? Do they mean $10,000,000? Because even that is unlikely Ad astra...

01-09-2008 05:49 AM  #2
Steve_Shannon Will fly beer for rockets   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1682	Re: Pacific Grove High grad builds and launches hobby rockets Quote: "While son is on his way to working on real-life rockets and launching them into space, dad has an ambitious project of his own: launching a rover into space. The creators of Google are offering $25 million to the first person who can launch a surveillance rover into space, and Lance Wright hopes to land the prize. Father and son are mapping out the details, but the price tag is significant. Lance Wright said it could cost as much as $10,000 to build a rocket and rover that could handle the launch." Um $10,000 to build a rocket and rover that will go to the moon? Do they mean $10,000,000? Because even that is unlikely Ad astra... Well, given that their $2,000 rocket went to 6,000 feet... I hope this is a case of the reporter failing to recognize a joke played at his expense.

01-28-2008 07:41 PM  #3
Handeman Certified Level One   Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 11	Re: Pacific Grove High grad builds and launches hobby rockets I'm wondering what they're doing out in CA. What's with having to reach 6000 ft to get his L3?

01-28-2008 07:47 PM  #4
Steve_Shannon Will fly beer for rockets   Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1682	Re: Pacific Grove High grad builds and launches hobby rockets Quote: I'm wondering what they're doing out in CA. What's with having to reach 6000 ft to get his L3? Well, this whole sentence Quote: Once launched, land-based monitors measure the travel distance. Wright needed to clear 6,000 feet in order to achieve his level 3 certification. didn't make sense to me, but I really think it is just the reporter saying something about which he knows nada.