Our government has kept an eye on me since the 1950s. As Han Solo said
in Starwars, "Bring 'em on, I'd prefer a straight fight to all this
sneaking around." I trust they're aware of my several procurements of
reagents from Skylighter, Firefox-FX, et al. Thus far, small R&D lab
quantities of our common oxidizers, from KN to KClO4 (and -ClO3, for
that matter) are offered and shipped across the land. It seems the
line is drawn when it comes to storing, transporting, or trading in,
such compounds and mixtures. "In-proess" formulations within a safe
lab are rarely of concern (and often extremely dangerous to handle).
I do respect those who chose to remain under the radar. I prefer a
more candid and matter-of-fact approach to these matters. I suppose
it's a matter of style, character, and vested interests--or property
risks.
What, me worry? No. I merely remain alert, mindful, and concerned for safety.
I do not think any of this can be regarded as "civil disobedience," can it?
Edward
On 2/25/21, roxanna Mason <rocketmaster.ken@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
My same thoughts, the gov is making criminals out of us enjoying our
hobbies.
K
On Thu, Feb 25, 2021 at 3:46 PM Bruce Beck <bbeck7@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Do you have an ATF license and if not do you feel at all vunerable?
On Thu, Feb 25, 2021 at 1:03 PM Dr Edward Jones <RocketPioneer@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Not many years ago this aRocket forum was effervescent with
experiments, tests, questions, answers, and wise observations my
dozens of enthusiasts, IIRC.
I've only recently resumed hands-on rocket science/engineering/tech
after a few years playing with fire and reaction motors in Mojave.
Good fortune has brought me back to Socorro, in the Land of
Enchantment, home of both the Energetic Materials Research Test Center
[read 'explosives and propellants"] and New Mexico School of Mines now
known as NM Tech, as well as the illustrious and notoriously quiet Mr
Ray aRocket Calkins himself.
Ray commutes to ABQ where he's about to graduate with a federal A&P
License. He's simultaneously engaged with R&D projects at the nearby
SpacePort America, and befriending me with assistance and personal
support in my new life here.
I was an engineering coop training student at White Sands Proving
Ground before Sputnik One and NASA, studying at then NM A&MA, now NM
State U. The Army paid my way (GS-2, Step One, $1.17/hr) letting me
work hands-on with the then-newish HAWK dual-thrust propulsion system.
Now I'm eighty-one, socially isolated, living with permssion in an
"abandoned" house Ray found for me when my place in CA burned last
year in those wildfires.
Ray and I have been playing with fire in reaction motors together
since 1989, when with the support of Dr Henry Spencer we cofounded the
Rocket Science Institute right here in Socorro, on the anniversary of
Apollo 11. Our notion at that time was to cooperatively design, test,
and fly the first amateur (non-government, private non-professionals)
rocket to the Moon. Older aRocket readers will recall our "Lunaris
Project." Thank you again, Henry!
Today I'm developing do-it-yourself ematch igniters for nozzle-less
KNSB motors, cast in paper cases, burning blends of sorbitol, xylitol,
and fructose oxidized by KN with modest additions of AN and AP, along
with the usual condiments. I'm learning again about vacuum degassing
of hot mixes. Happily these little motors can be static and flight
tested nearby.
So what's happening in the low-tech, old-school realm of amateur
rocketry?
Curious, always.
Edward Jones