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<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">First of all, I want share that NRVR members in 2018 (both in the region and within Virginia Tech) seem to approve of what NRVR is about and what we represent both to the public and to Virginia Tech. I say this, specifically because a number of you have recently stepped up, pooled resources and spent a bunch of time, energy and money to help equip NRVR for safely launching more and bigger rockets than we ever have before! And for this.. we thank you.</p>
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<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">On that note.. we have some really exciting news to share about the June Launch. While we're spinning up and getting ready for the BFSL July launch, if you're an NRVR member, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">this <strong><em>June</em></strong> launch actually represents what <em><strong> I </strong></em>think is a special growth-milestone for us a high power rocketry club.</span></p>
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<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">I feel like this summer kind of represents a kind of "coming out" party for us as we mature from a few rocket geeks flying stuff and having fun at Kentland, to a real club with a vision we can execute on, some serious resources, serious new safety measures and some seriously dedicated and engaged members. </p>
<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">We couldn't do this stuff without you (and still have fun ;).</p>
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<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">So check it out..</p>
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<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>June Launch is Like Christmas!</strong></span><br />This Saturday we are SUPER blessed by such awesome members pouring into and partnering with the club.. we're going to be able to test out BOTH, a brand new, high end wireless launch control system AND a bunch of brand new (and newly redesigned) high power pads!</p>
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<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>New (REAL) Wireless Launch Control System:</strong></span></p>
<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">First, up our brand new TeleLaunch LCO syustem by Altus Metrum:<br /><img src="cid:Altus.png@1529561726.531" alt=""><br /><br />(thanks to David Bloom, one of our new members who helped us chose and purchase this awesome, new, multi-bank wireless system).</p>
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<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">This is the Altus Metrum TeleLaunch LCO system. It's suuper nice (like $1500 nice). The system (since its inception several years ago) has been maturing and being tweaked and refined (by BDale at Altus Metrum) as a custom built wireless launch control sysem with safety, modularity and flexability in mind. This system is state of the art in-house fabricated by the engineers at Altus who design cube sats and other spce bound critical electronic systems. The TeleLaunch LCO system uses 70cm HAM radio band, has a TWO MILE range, employs AES-256bit encryption, integrated armed/continuity pad-sdie strobe + armed alarm, plus a ton of other cool features (that we'll be exploring Saturday). The unit pictured above represents Altus Metrum's official unveiling of its "v2" of the TeleLaunch system that has been in beta-to-get-to-market development mode over this past year. I've actually been quietly egging BDale on over the past year, to go public with it, and once Bloom (our member sponsor) approached US and said he would be a) willing to sponsor the purchase of a nice wireless system, and b) was a big Altus Metrum fan.. I knew the planets were coming into alignment. </p>
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<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">BDale has been great (not blocking my emails and facebook chats over the last year).. and even took some feature suggestions from myself and others in the community (<a href="http://git.gag.com/?p=hw/telelco;a=summary">it's open source</a>!). The TeleLCO v2 system (<a href="https://altusmetrum.org/TeleLaunch/">in its less polished form</a>) has been in beta and actively used by other clubs in CO and other event launches around the US for several years now.. but I guess meeting BDale a couple of years ago was just meant to be, becuase now NRVR is the FIRST club to put this, now officially released, commercially available, 70cm, encrypted wireless system through its paces. </p>
<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/10P43WtA8njnKRntQVUq4ddKXUx0uMlCmq-L7-PFSZ6I">More info on <em>our version</em> here if interested</a> (and also see the previousl, older link).</p>
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<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">A big thanks to all the club officers, board members, and most of all David Bloom for helping work with us on picking and finally settling on the final make, model and config of this modular system that will grow with the club for years to come.</p>
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<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Pads Pads and More Pads!</strong></span></p>
<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">Have you noticed that NRVR is launching more and more BIGGER rockets.. <em><strong>and</strong></em> has been in <em>dire</em> need of more, high quality, <em>reliable</em>, and <strong>big </strong>high power pads? Boy we officers sure have.. It's been a realy stressful issue (not having enough big pads).. and so some of our members have really stepped and helped out!</p>
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<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">A quick thanks to Carlos, Bob, Eric Paterson, Pat Artis, Jordan Truesdale, and others who have helped us flesh out the details of what we need and how to get there.</p>
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<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">First up.. our friends in the VT Aerospace department heard our frustrated discussions and have seen our sorry pad situation and have now partnered with us (partially helping enable the VT-AOE students with <em>their</em> large projects) to help fill that big-pad gap. So thanks to VT Aerospace (specifically Eric Paterson), and a bunch of research by Carlos and Bob... we now also are the proud holders of the new VT-AEO, custom built "Biggun" launch pad that should safely fly our BIGGEST rockets (up to like 120lbs!) on both 1515 and Untistrut! </p>
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<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">(nice Hokie colors eh? :)<br /><br /></p>
<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">This super nice, custom built $600 MONSTER PAD by <a href="https://www.frankumperformance.com/pads">Frankum Performance Rocketry out of Texas</a> is a MUCH needed addition to our growing 300 and 500ft away pad lineup.. This will allow us to do more big L and M-class launches (like the ones we have at the upcoming NRVR BFSL July Launch). </p>
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<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Wait.. More Pads? Yup!</span></p>
<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">We're really spinning up for the summer! Bob's got the big "Axel Pad" back from the welder, and his old quad pod has been reincarnated in a completely new, rock solid design that we're trying out for the first time this summer.</p>
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<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">And as if THAT were not enough.. Pat tells me he's also donated to NRVR a classic "Black Sky" launch HP pad too! This is really cool from a rocket hobby history perspective, as yeears ago, BlackSky was one of the first big advocates of moving the hobby from launch lugs and steel shaky rods to rigid extruded rails. So having an original BlackSky pad in our collection is a really cool piece of hoby rocketry history.<br /><br /></p>
<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">Well, that's about it.. Ive sent another rambling typo-ridden email into the wee hours of the morning. I just wanted to share some of what we officers, the board and engaged members have been working on to get us to a safer, more reliable place as we fly bigger and bigger projects.</p>
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<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">Take care.. and we hope to see you Saturday for all these great new systems we're unveiling Saturday to make your rocketry experiences more safe and memorable (but in a good way ;).</p>
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<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">Tweeks</p>
<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">NRVR President</p>
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<p style="margin:0;padding:0;font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; word-wrap: break-word;">p.s. If you're still reading this email.. We STILL need helpers to setup, RSO/LCO, and break down! and THAT MEANS YOU. ;)</p>
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