ARocket,
I Think most of the stuff on this list is very interesting.
I doubt if I will ever do anything with sugar rockets, but I wouldn't
deny the discussion just the same.
If I would deny anything, maybe not quoting 8 pages of discussion when you
say " Me Too" ?? It makes the digest get a little low on the SNR.
The Mars stuff sure seems relevant to me. I spent 8 years building amateur
rockets for Mars. yes, hands on propellant processing stuff.
Pumped out (built!) a tank of CO2/Argon at about 1 Psi absolute into
a reactor, filtered, electrolized, compresses and bottled a little
rocket propellant.
Yep, liquid engines, with some solid and some electrical igniters.
It sure felt like the amateur stuff discussed here.
Avionics, propulsion, flight vehicles, launch pads, Hoverslam Landing,
HPR (testing). balloons, submarines and a spinning (Mouse) habitat.
(It got a little off topic sometimes, but the projects were fun. :)
From meeting people in the Aerospace Field, who didn't have a clue or any
experience, and all the reading here, it sure seems to be a pretty
blurry line between amateur and professional. Maybe just what your day
job is ? There are a whole bunch of professionals that are not good enough
to be considered amateurs by this list.
We do need to answer the mail on why what we like is important.
We do need to answer the mail on pollution and how we combat it.
We do need to understand why our hobby is important to the future.
We do need to understand the history and lessons learned.
We do need to discuss how to stay safe. Whether it is working together or
being missed by shrapnel.
We probably need to understand how some math works in this hobby. Maybe
simulation, maybe statistical analysis.
We do not need to bring politics aboard. If we are angry with out family,
friends, coworkers, or neighbors, for being unreasonable, irrational,
misinformed, zealots, Don't bring that here.
I will miss reading Anthony's posts. A bright, experienced guy with good
things to say. If someone (Troll?) bugs you , just don't engage.
-Gar.
PS PETA was very angry with the Mouse Habitat. But they were volunteers.
After the first test they all escaped one night, but returned the next day
for the next run. ( They didn't care, they just ate and bred.
And PETA lost interest in less that a week )