Hot Dogs and Rockets!

If they're combined, does it make it a Rocketdog? Not necessarily, but SARA member Darrell Dewoody is not only launching rockets at our monthly gatherings, but is also offering good eats at his newly launched concession stand, which he hopes will take off and become a regularly scheduled service at the club..

In February, Dewoody offered up delicious grilled hot dogs, with all the trimmings, potato chips, water, soda and other goodies that soothed the appetites of rocketeers, young and old. At this weekend's club launch, the menu will expand to include hamburgers.

The concession stand is a great idea, providing comfort food after prepping your rockets, or conveniently filling in that edge where lunch can be purchased prior to packing up and heading out from another great day at the site!

Let's show our support in making this a successful venture and thanks to Dewoody for providing this much needed service at our venue.

Desert Heat 2012 Wrap-Up

As dawn broke over the TIMPA site on the morning of Saturday, March 24, the tents and RVs slowly disgorged sleepy-eyed campers into a beautiful, calm morning. The launch pads were ready, the PA system crackled to life, and two critical elements to the success of any rocket launch began preparation: large pots of strong coffee, and rocket motors.

Thus began the start of Desert Heat 2012, the annual two-day rocketry celebration hosted by Tucson's own Southern Arizona Rocketry Association. Volunteers took their places at the registration table, safety check-in, LCO desk, and Rent-a-Rock stations. Carloads of fliers, family supporters, and onlookers joined the campers who had arrived the previous evening. The steady stream of cars continued throughout the morning and early afternoon, providing a crowd estimated at close to a thousand people during its peak. Rockets were assigned pads, and the flying began in earnest. Before the event ended on Sunday at 1:00 p.m., 774 rockets would be launched, a record for a SARA event.

Read More Desert Heat 2012 Wrap-Up

SARA at Yuri's Night

The Southern Arizona Rocketry Association (SARA) had a great booth featuring the Crayon Rocket flown by the Arizona Rocketry Team (AZRT) to over 3,200 AGL at Desert Heat 2012 then donated to SARA for community outreach events like this.

Steve Lubliner also demonstrated different types of rockets by launching them outside between the aircraft on display!

Yuri's Night at Pima Air and Space Museum

Human Spaceflight became a reality 51 years ago with the launch of a capsule called "Vostok 1" on April 12th, 1961. The capsule was carrying Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who took his place in history as the first human to leave the bounds of Earth and enter outer space.

Every year, thousands of space enthusiasts gather around the world for Yuri's Night to remember and celebrate this monumental achievement which opened the floodgates to manned exploration of outer space. This year's theme is Make an Impact.

One of SARA's commitments is outreach to the community, encouraging young people's interest in math and science through rocketry. We will again be participating in the Yuri's Night celebration at the Pima Air and Space Museum on April 13th from 5PM - 9PM.

The Pima Air & Space Museum will bring community Space Science educators to the museum for an evening of hands on learning and inspiration for children of all ages. The event includes hands on activities and historical connections to manned space flight with lectures and demonstrations by local science educators.

Admission after 5:00pm is $10.00 for adults and children 12 and under free. Last admission is at 8:00pm.

The Flight Grill will be open for dinner.