MTA Launch Event, 2023-12-09

by Dave Nordling, President, Reaction Research Society


The RRS held a work event on December 9th at the Mojave Test Area that turned into a launch event thanks to Bill Inman. Dimitri Timohovich was the pyrotechnic operator in charge.

The first task was to oversee the pouring of the new reinforced concrete launch pad just north and parallel to the Claybaugh pad. This will be the future site of the 60-foot launch rail system coming soon to the MTA. This will enable the RRS to launch liquid rockets of nearly any size.

The second task was to discuss the launch rail design that may use an existing pivoting base with a hydraulic ram system. Significant changes and repairs may be necessary but its size and capabilities may be sufficient to provide a head start to completion of the project by the summer. Rushd Julfiker is leading the project.

The third task was safely transferring the RRS LNG horizontal liquid cylinder for refurbishing and testing by RRS member, Zach Lesan. Zach and Anna were able to move the asset with society assistance. The society will fund the project to rebuild a suitable mobile support pallet structure and return the cylinder to working order. With this complete, the RRS will have LNG capacity available to customers that would like to work with this cryogenic fuel.

The last task was launching of Bill Inman’s old high-powered rocket that housed his instruments and recovery system he will use on the upcoming Solar Cat vehicle when it is ready to launch. He managed to get a similar speed and altitude to represent the same conditions expected from the steam rocket flight,


MTA Work Event, 2023-11-04

by Dave Nordling, President, RRS.ORG


A small working group of RRS members and the director of research met at the RRS MTA to discuss ideas and proposals for a 60-foot launch rail suitable for liquid fueled rockets to be flown from the RRS MTA. This project is the society’s next primary focus for infrastructure upgrades to provide greater support to the amateur rocket community. The society will soon appoint a project leader from within our membership to lrad and complete this task.

Over this year, many ideas have been circulated but none thus far have provided detailed plans. As this is a fully funded project, the society will take this on internally using best practices seen with other rocketry groups. The working group made several key design decisions about the 60-foot launch rail:

Launch rail will be a fixed asset operating only at the RRS MTA

Launch rail will have at least 60-feet of rail length using 2-inch aluminum extrusion

Rockets will be placed on top of the rail with a maximum height of 42-inches from ground level.

Launch rail will be raised and lowered by a hydraulic lift system.

Launch rail will have its own thick launch pad just parallel and to the north of the existing Claybaugh pad and launcher. A quote from our supplier has been received.

The launch rail project has begun immediately and more progress statements will be coming in the next months. Several key components in the new launch rail are already at the MTA.


Progress will be reported at next RRS monthly meeting at the Compton-Woodley Airport at 730pm, November 10, 2023.


June 2023 Meeting

by Joel Cool-Panama, Secretary, RRS.ORG


The Reaction Research Society held its monthly meeting at the Compton/Woodley Airport location, 7:30 PM PST.

Agenda topics of the meeting were:

  • Wolfram launch on 5/20 cancelled, postponed
  • Lynwood Unified Girl STEM conference, 6/1
  • Funding received for 60ft launch rail, prefabbed containers, solar panels
  • USC upgrade proposal for horizontal pad
  • 6/10 UCLA launch event
  • 7/21 Aerospace launch event
  • Larry CalFire recommendation letters
  • Discussion of 45kW power generator purchase
    • Our current generator is only 7kW
    • Society will likely need to replace the current generator
  • Liquids and Cryogenic Fluid Handling class
    • Cryogenic Training, Colorado School of Mines, 7/31-8/4

Past Events

There was a launch event scheduled for May 20th, held for society member Wolfram’s personal project. Unfortunately, he suffered from a pinched nerve on the day of the launch, and chose not to make the drive to the MTA while dealing with the pain. We’ll have future opportunities for Wolfram’s next test flight of his 2-stage Gas Guzzler rocket.

On June 1st, Society Secretary represented the Society at the Lynwood Girl’s STEM conference. The Society was last represented at this event a few years ago, so it is appreciated that Joel took the time out of his busy schedule to attend.

The Society is pleased to announce that we have received funding for a number of planned improvements to the MTA. Some of the money is set to pay for new solar panels, as well as to pay for the previously installed one. Two other items paid for here are a prefabbed containers, one a 20ft office space, and the other a 40ft crew cabin. Finally, and arguably the most important, is money for a proposed 60ft launch rail for liquid rockets. A final design for the same has not been chosen yet, but proposals are currently being sought out from various sources by the Executive Council.

Current Events

USC is currently proposing making improvements to the short launch tower at the MTA. Our contact who has proposed this project is currently set to graduate from the school this year, so time is likely of the essence. His proposal however, surely to everyone’s pleasure, is to set female anchors into the concrete pad.

There is a launch event set for June 10th. There are two groups who will be using the site on that day. One is a children’s group led by Frank and Larry. They will be launching B and C rockets, and Baby Berthas. The second group to use the site on that day will be UCLA, who will be launching F and G rockets. This is a senior capstone project for their students. At the same time, Dave and Joel will be traveling there to handle UCLA, and Dave will be bringing some more supplies for the restroom.

In regards to the restroom, Dave is pleased to announce that it has passed the initial tests, and is functional. However, the water heater for the shower and sink has not yet been installed. It’s first live demonstration will be at the 6/10 Launch Event tomorrow.

The society is pleased to announce that we had a new member attend our meeting this month. Adrew Fuller is an intern at Northrop Grumman, and was invited by his coworker and fellow member, Michael R. During the discussion with him, it was brought up that a Northrop Grumman internet launch event might be proposed.

Also, Bill Inmann mentioned towards the end of the meeting that he’s made some upgrades to his Solar Cat steam rocket. He has apparently made the controls of the rocket wholey wireless, which could improve safety immensley.

*Future Events

On July 21st, the Aerospace Corporation is set to have a launch event at the MTA. Aerospace has agreed to pay the full MTA price, for what will be an internet launch event. Aerospace employee Jerry Fuller is also set to do a hybrid launch.

Society Treasurer Larry has previously expressed a desire to discuss Calfire recommendation letters, however, as of the time of this meeting, he has requested that the discussion be tabled. It was mentioned by other members that Caleb Phillips is our contact at Calfire, and he has apparently made some comments in regards to the difficulties in acquiring the number of recommendations required for obtaining a license. One idea suggested is the minimum number being no more than some proportion of current license holders in total. It was also brought that, in regards to obtaining a class 3 license, CALFIRE truly only asks for a few recommendations from other Pyro-ops, and will accept some references from non-family me,bers which are only character references in nature.

Another future issue discussed was in regards to the purchase of a 45kw power generator. It needs to be determined what are the MTA’s power needs, and this will have to be done by measuring the appliances there. It should also be determined how many appliances should be in operation at once on the site. It was suggested that we should ask FAR what their average power usage is, to use as a baseline. The importance of this discussion will increase as time continues on, since the Society will need obtain a new generator in the next several years.

In regards to upgrades, the Society’s donors would like to receive an all-in figure the cost of upgrades we would like. President Dave has been working on producing a figure, and our donors haven’t yet agreed to it as a whole, but our best bet is to try and demonstrate our ability to carry out the upgrades in a timely fashion, and on budget, in order to make use of their generosity.

Regarding usage of the MTA, Vice-President Frank has scheduled another class. This one is for the Boyle Heights YMCA. He’s currently planning to host their launch on September 9th.

Keith Yoerg has again brought up that the society could surely use more launchers at the MTA. If they were portable then they would be better yet, since they could be repositioned as needed, to be best viewed from the blockhouse. He has again mentioned that he would like to see regularly scheduled events held at the MTA, to drum up interest in rocketry, and the Society. Keith and Michael Rouleau were going to investigate designs of a multi-rail launcher with six 1010 rails. The council approved funding for this important improvement to aid in future launch events.

Frank was also pleased to announce that Mary Star, the location for this year’s Symposium, has already scheduled us to host it there again next year, on April 13th. Having a set date and location will make planning much easier than it was this year, and we are pleased again with Frank’s hard work.

The next society meeting will be on July 14th, 2023, at the Compton/Woodley Airport location. Contact the secretary for details. We meet the 2nd Friday of each month at 7:30pm.