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2002 National Sport Launch (NSL) host announced |
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2001 Archived News by Superstition Spacemodeling Society
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Thursday, November 01, 2001 |
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GILBERT, Arizona USA -- The Superstition Spacemodeling Society (NAR section #506, TRA Prefecture #047) is proud to announce that it has won the bid to host the annual National Sport Launch (NSL) for 2002.
The launch will be held over the Memorial Day weekend at the end of May 2002. The NSL is the National Association of Rocketry’s launch with the emphasis lots of sport rocketry flying at all certified impulse levels.
NSL 2002 will be held close to Goodyear, Arizona a short drive from the Phoenix metropolitan area. The actual launch site is known locally as Rainbow Valley. The site is privately owned ranch land, and offers the rocketeer miles of relatively flat desert. Vegetation is minimal, and recoveries of even the highest flights are relatively easy. The FAA waiver SSS has traditionally operates under offers flying up to 7500’ MSL (the site is at about 1200’ ASL), with call-in windows up to 12,000’ MSL! The SSS may also obtain a waiver for a night launch, which has been a tradition at some of our other regional events.
The launch site is located close to a number of amenities varying in price and location. Most of these are located in Goodyear, only a short drive from the launch area. There will be camping at the launch site, and RV’s are welcome. Phoenix Sky Harbor airport is also close by, along with all of the conveniences and amenities one could expect from the nations’ sixth largest city. There’s even a casino within easy driving distance from Goodyear.
Best of all, the SSS offers a lot of experience with big launches. We’ve hosted the NSL in 1993, and have co-hosted a past NARAM. More recently, SSS has hosted the G. Harry Stine regional launch as a muli-day event.
SSS has also made important innovations in range management. Within the last year, the SSS has implemented a modification of the famous ‘Mis-fire Alley’ that has reduced launch cycle times to some of the shortest to be found ANYWHERE in the country! Developed by NAR Section Advisor Wally Etzell, this new system increases efficiency while at the same time decreasing distraction to the range crew. The net result is a safer range that offers rocketeers a chance to maximize their flying time!
More information will become available as arrangements are made. In the meantime, please direct inquires to the launch director, Peter Riddell, at
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. You can also call at (480) 497-1960.
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