Launches

This page was last updated on April 21, 2018
NOTE: It's getting harder and harder to find and keep good rocket fields in Texas. If anyone knows of a field that could be used for rocket club launches, please contact me directly at rocket877@aol.com with the location and owner's name and contact info. Even a field that is available only once a year or during a particular season can be useful. I'll do a primarily evaluation, contact the owner about access and pass on the info to the appropriate Texas rocket club officers.
Texas Rocket Launch Sites - Texas Burn Ban Map , NAR Launch Calendar

	Texas Rocket Launches
April 21, 2018	Tivy Antler Classic - JROTC rocket meet at Tivy High School in Kerrville Tx - 8 AM to Noon The Alamo Rocketeers will be providing Range Safety and Contest Judging Members, please sign up at the club Facebook event page
Canceled due to Rain April 21, 2018	Dallas Area Rocket Society (DARS) Model Rocket Launch at Gunter - 10 AM to 4 PM This launch may be rescheduled to April 28, 2018. Check DARS website and Yahoo group for details
April 21, 2018	NASA/Houston Rocket Club (NHRC) High Power Rocket Launch at JSC - 9 AM to 5 PM
April 26-28, 2018	SystemsGo launch at Stewart's Hillview Ranch north of Fredericksburg off the Willow City Loop Rockets launched all day. Schedules vary due to weather, student readiness, and other variables. Go to the SystemsGo website for more information Members sign up on our Facebook event
April 28, 2018	Alamo Rocketeers, Members only, Model Rocket and NAR HPR launch at the South Texas Regional Airport at Hondo, Tx - 9 AM to 1 PM This is our first launch at this location so we are keeping it small, Alamo Rocketeers' members, their families and invited guests only. Members will be responsible for their guests at all times. Our rocket range will be in the middle of the South Texas Regional Airport surrounded on all sides by active runways. This will be a NAR model rocket launch with some HPR flying up to J impulse. A NAR L2 and Tripoli Prefect will be present and HPR certification flights will be permitted with advance notice. A motor vendor will be present but you much order motors in advance at rocket877@aol.com. Everyone flying HPR must show their NAR or TRA membership card with appropriate HPR certification. The FAA waiver is 13,500 MSL. The yellow circle on the photo to the right (click on the photo for a larger image) has a radius of 1500 feet! The center of the circle is where we will be setting up. The debrief will take place at El Restaurante Azteca , 1708 Avenue K in Hondo, immediately after the launch. Members can sign up for this launch on our FaceBook event page
April 28, 2018	Tripoli Houston #002 Research Launch at the Texas Double T Ranch
May 5, 2018	NASA/Houston Rocket Club (NHRC) Model Rocket Launch at JSC - 9 AM to 5 PM
May 5, 2018	Austin Area Rocketry Group (AARG) Tripoli Research Launch at the Apache Pass - 9 AM to 5 PM
May 6, 2018	Dallas Area Rocket Society (DARS) Model Rocket Launch at Arlington - 10 AM to 2 PM
May 12, 2018	Alamo Rocketeers Monthly Model Rocket Launch at the Kitty Hawk Flying Field - 9 AM to 1 PM This is a family-friendly launch and new people are always welcome. There will be a debrief at Grumpy's Mexican Cafe immediately after the launch. Please sign up at on our Facebook page if you are coming to this launch.
May 19, 2018	Dallas Area Rocket Society (DARS) Model Rocket Launch at Gunter - 10 AM to 4 PM
Canceled May 19, 2018	Alamo Rocketeers NAR Model Rocket & High Power Rocket Launch at the Texas Double T Ranch - 9 AM to 1 PM This is a family-friendly launch with no range fees or club membership requirements to fly model rockets. High power flyers must present their NAR or TRA membership card with appropriate HPR certification. This launch has been canceled because AARG and TH2 will be holding monthly launches there and the land owner and his family want a weekend to themselves.
May 19, 2018	Tripoli Houston #002 Research Launch at the Texas Double T Ranch.
Sunday June 17, 2018	Alamo Rocketeers Monthly Model Rocket Launch at the Kitty Hawk Flying Field - 9 AM to 1 PM Happy Father's Day! Best Estes Big Daddy wins a prize. Please sign up at on our Facebook page if you are coming to this launch
	Texas Rocket Club Launch Windows (Check Club websites for details)
1st Saturday	Austin Area Rocket Group at Hutto Tripoli Research launch (winter) or Apache Pass (summer)
1st Saturday	NASA/Houston Rocket Club at JSC - NAR High Power
2nd Saturday	South Texas Aerospace Club at Beeville Municipal Airport - NAR High power
2nd Saturday	Tripoli Houston Rocket Club at Hearne Municipal Airport - Tripoli Research
3rd weekend	Alamo Rocketeers at the Kitty Hawk Flying Field - NAR Model Rockets , alternating 3rd Saturdays and Sundays - See schedule above
3rd Saturday	Boots & Chutes at Hutto, Texas - NAR Model rockets - 10:30 PM - 1:30 PM
3rd Saturday	NASA/Houston Rocket Club at JSC - NAR High Power - September through May

National Events

May 16-20, 2018	Tripoli Central California will host LDRS 37
May 26-28, 2018	National Association of Rocketry (NAR) National Sport Launch (NSL-2018) at Genesco, New York
August 4 - 10, 2018	National Association for Rocketry (NAR) Rocketry Festival 2018 & NARAM 60 at Pueblo, Colorado
September 21-23, 2018	BALLS is THE premier Experimental Rocket Launch in the Continental US. The event spans 28 years however this year will be the 27th time it is held in the Black Rock Desert, North of Reno, near Gerlach, Nevada.
September 2018	Thunda 2 Down Under 2018 - YouTube Video

Types of Rocket Launches

Class 1, Model Rockets	Rockets are limited to 1,500 grams (3.3 Pounds) total weight and no more that 125 grams of propellant in commercially made and certified motors. Some restrictions may apply based on field size and other considerations. Model Rocket launches are governed by the NAR Model Rocket Safety Code
Class 2, High Power Rockets, Tripoli Commercial	Rockets may be larger than 3.3 pounds total weight. The motors must be commercially manufactured and certified between "H" and "N" (great than 160 N sec and less than 40,960 N sec) impulse. Maximum altitude and impulse is determined by the FAA waiver in effect and field size. Individual fliers must be certified by NAR, TRA or CAR if the launch is hosted by one of these organizations. Most clubs allow model rockets to be flown at their high power launches but is best to check with club officers before showing up. These launches are governed by either the NAR High Power Rocket Safety Code or the Tripoli Code for High Power Rocketry.
Tripoli Research	Hosted by Tripoli Rocket Association prefectures only. All fliers must be current TRA or NAR members and TRA High Power Rocketry Certified Level 2 or higher to fly research (home-made) motors. Commercially manufactured motors may be used, consistent with the certification level of the individual. Maxiumum altitude and impulse are determined by the FAA waiver and field conditions. Some clubs allow invited guests and spectators but it is best to check with club officers before showing up. These launches are governed by the Tripoli Research Safety Code
Independent, Outlaw or Wildcat Launch	Rockets and motors appropriate to the field conditions and FAA waiver are generally acceptable. Both commercially manufactured and homemade motors may be used. All flights must be approved by the Range Safety Officer (RSO). These launches are sometimes uninsured and individuals attending the launch may be asked to sign a liability waiver.
NAR Meet or Contest	Rocket competitions sponsored by NAR clubs. The United States Model Rocket Sporting Code or "Pink Book" establishes the rules. Rockets are limited to 3.3 pounds propellant and "G" or less impulse. Meets can be classed as Local, Open, Regional or National depending on the scope of the meet, i.e. the number of participants and NAR sections. Regular or sport (non-competition) flying is usually allowed at NAR meets.
Snap	A launch that isn't regularly scheduled
Night	A launch conducted at dusk or night with modified or specialized rockets using lights. A FAA waiver is not required for Night Launches which use only Class 1 rockets. Night Launch Yahoo Group
Model Rocket with benefits	Primarily a model rocket launch, however a FAA waiver will be in effect and high power certification and well-behaved HPR flights are welcome as long as they don't get in the way of the other flights.

Texas Amateur Rocket Launch Sites - Burn Ban Map
Note: Most of the fields listed below are on private property. Permission to fly at these fields is given only to the clubs listed. No individual should attempt to launch rockets at these fields without first consulting with the club contact.

Name of the field	Location as Longitude, Latitude (NOT GPS) + Elevation.	County	Club Website	Normal Launch Window	Current Weather	FAA Waiver (if applicable)	Impulse Limit	Range Fees	Contact
Apache Pass Airport	3040'47"N, 9708'33"W, 402'	Milam	AARG	1st Saturday	Rockdale	10,000/14,000	N	$10 Adults /$7 Members/$5 Range	Jim Jarvis
Arlington	3246'50"N, 9707'25"W, 531'	Tarrant	DARS	3rd Saturday	Arlington	N/A	D	???	Jack Sprague
Beeville Municipal Airport	2821'40"N,9747'29"W, 272'	Bee	STAC, THCT#089	2nd Saturday	Beeville	15K with call-ins to 24.5K	M	None	Bill Yates
Boots n' Chutes	3037'29"N,-9732'44"W, 612'	Williamson	Boots n' Chutes	3rd Saturday 10:30AM to 1:30PM	Hutto	N/A	D	$1 Members $2 Non-members	Donna Johnson
Cal Farley's Boys Ranch	3531'53"N,-10215'15W, 3190'	Oldham	POTROCS	Varies	Tascosa	18K feet	Unknown	$5 members $7 Non-members	Barre Wheatley
Corsicana	3205'45.0"N,9616'18.0"W, 362'	Navaro	DARS	Varies	Corsicana	9250 feet AGL	M	Modroc $5, HP $10 members $20 non-member	Chuck Crabb
Gunter	3325'10"N, 9648'50"W, 649'	Grayson	DARS	Varies	Gunter	1 mile AGL	J	Members HP $10, Non-mem HP $20 Adult Modroc $5	Jack Sprague
Hearne Municipal Airport	3051'39"N,9637'16"W, 285'	Robertson	TH2	2nd Saturday	Hearne	12.5K feet call-ins to16k feet	M	$5/day MR $10/day HPR	Andy Burger
Hutto	3036'49" N,-9729'51"W, 650'	Williamson	AARG	1st Saturday, September-March	Hutto	10,000' AGL	N	Members $7 Others $10	Jim Jarvis
Johnson Space Center (JSC)	2933'30"N,-9505'51"W, 16'	Harris	NHRC	1st, 3rd & 5th Saturday	Houston	2K feet	H	NHRC membership required	Warren Benson
Kitty Hawk Flying Field	2937'25"N,-9816'15"W, 735'	Comal	Alamo Rocketeers	Varies	Garden Ridge	N/A	G	$20/hour field fee, Donations grateful accepted	Art Applewhite
Lake Wichita Park	3350'42.7"N, 9833'32.5"W, 976'	Wichita	NTAC#818	TBD	Wichita Falls	N/A	G	???	Doug Underwood
Prairie Hill	31.635857,-96.787907, 565'	Limestone	DARS	Varies	Prairie Hill	2.5K feet	K	???	Jack Sprague
Roberts Ranch	2921'06"N,-9551'38"W, 75'	Fort Bend	Old Rocketeers	4th Sunday	Needville	N/A	G	None	David Montgomery
Rust Field	2957'25"N,-9847'25"W, 1331'	Kendall	Alamo Rocketeers	November to March	Waring	17.5K MSL	G	None	Art Applewhite
South Texas Regional Airport	2921'33"N,-9910'39"W, 930'	Medina	Alamo Rocketeers	4th or 5th Saturday	HDO	13.5K MSL		Donations accepted	Art Applewhite
Texas Double T Ranch	3012'28"N,-9711'36"W, 523'	Bastrop	AARG,TH2	2nd Saturday	Paige	17.5k MSL	???	???	Jim Jarvis Andy Burger

The Competition Consortium

NAR CONTEST INFORMATION, TIPS, AND NATIONAL RECORD ANALYSIS

Please send updates and corrections to rocket877@aol.com