Rocketry Planet

ASH GROVE, Indiana USA — After a five second countdown and the pressing of an ignition switch, Gus Piepenburg's rocket began to spew black smoke and sparks.

Gus Piepenburg's rocket takes off Sunday during the Tripoli Indiana high power launch in Ash Grove. Photo: Brent Drinkut.

Another second later, the 8-1/2 foot rocket launched into the sky, reaching an altitude of 15,536 feet Sunday over a cornfield in northern Tippecanoe County.

"It came pretty close to being almost three miles straight up," Piepenburg said.

Rocket enthusiasts of all ages made the trip to a field near Ash Grove to launch several rockets with members of Tripoli Indiana, a rocketry club established in January.

Vic Barlow, president of Tripoli Indiana, said the group mainly launches high power rockets.

"We are very interested in the educational aspect of rocketry," Barlow said. "We would like to involve people in Tippecanoe County in rocketry, particularly students."

The rockets launched varied in size, from about a foot to roughly 8 feet tall. Some were painted with a design, such as flames, while some weren't painted at all.

West Lafayette resident Jack Midkiff, 13, was one of the younger people to launch a rocket.

Jack said he learned rocketry from his dad, Sam Midkiff, who accompanied him.

"I thought it was really cool that they flew it really high," Jack said. "What keeps me interested is how high they get flown with just a little engine."

Members have to be careful how high they launch their rockets.

The club, Barlow said, received a standing waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration to launch rockets no higher than 16,000 feet.

"We would encourage anyone who has any interest in rocketry to get in touch with us," Barlow said.

Most of the club members, Piepenburg said, have been flying rockets for three to five years and they're looking to expand.

"There are bits and pieces of these people out there and we're just trying to find them," he said.

Copyright © 2009, Journal & Courier.