Preparing for the 2018 Spaceport America Cup Perspectives from University of Texas, Texas A&M, Rice University and their mentors Andy Berger L3, NAR 88372 TRA 14032 Launch Operations Team Lead Spaceport America Cup
COGNITA PER EXPERIENTIAM Learn by Doing
Wh What at is is the the Spaceport Spaceport Ameri America Cup? Cup? • The Spaceport Cup began as IREC – the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition, for student rocketry teams from all over the world and operated by ESRA (Experimental Sounding Rocket Association) • Each team must design, build, test, launch and recover a rocket carrying a payload (8.8 pounds or greater) to a target apogee either 10,000 or 30,000 feet above ground level. • This is a daunting challenge even for an experienced NAR High Power rocketeer. • Most of these flights are M, N or O impulse class. A majority of the flights are Commercial CTI or Aerotech reloads heading to 10k’.
Mo More in info • Trophies, Cash prizes and bragging rights are earned by teams in each category, including a special prize for Payload projects. • During Tuesday’s Conference session, major recruiters from Aerospace industry are set up in the common hallway to speak with students on careers, internships, etc. • Teams can use Commercial rocket motors or they can design, test and build their own solid, hybrid or even liquid motors. • ESRA leverages growing numbers of experienced NAR and Tripoli L3 flyers to provide Range Safety reviews as well as LCO and Pad Managers.
2017 2017 Spaceport Spaceport Am Americ erica Cup Cup 1,100 Students, 100 staff
Wh Where is is the the even event hel held? • Prior to 2017, the event was held in Green River, Utah, under the IREC title. • Last year’s event was the inaugural Spaceport America Cup held at Spaceport America, 45 miles north of Las Cruces, New Mexico • In addition to the SPA facilities and airspace, they also provided incredible staff resources covering security, EMS and Fire Protection.
Wh When does does the the even event occur? occur? • Typically mid ‐ June: Monday, June 19 th , 2018 to Saturday, June 23 rd . • The event kicks off Monday evening with team check ‐ in and a all ‐ hands staff meeting and initial safety briefing • Tuesday is Conference Day – All teams spend the day in the Las Cruces Convention Center talking to judges, displaying their rocket and presenting research posters and technical documents • Wednesday is out at Spaceport America setting up camp and preparing for their launch window • Thursday thru Saturday – Launch and Recovery Operations • Saturday evening – Awards ceremony/banquet
Teams set up their display areas Full house for the kickoff meeting Team Base Camp Dinner and Awards Ceremony
Hi Histor ory • The first IREC was held in 2006. Until 2017, IREC was held each year in Green River, UT. • The competition achieved international status in 2011 – when schools from Canada and Brazil joined – and has doubled in size every year since 2013. • By 2014, IREC was the world’s largest international rocket competition. • In 2017, Spaceport America adopted the event and renamed it Spaceport America Cup. • For 2018, event registration was capped at just under 130 teams. Registration was only open for 9 days…
Fully loaded flight line MIT's launch with successful flyaway rail guides Colorado State Liquid Motor Launch
Wh What at ki kind nd of of wa waiver does does a Spaceport Spaceport ha have? • White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) shares it’s airspace with the Spaceport but is separated from it by the Jornada Mountain Range. • WSMR is a military testing site with a permanent FAA waiver to all commercial air traffic. This extends from ground to space. • During the event, the WSMR airspace chief attends the event to ensure all skies remain clear for the student rockets. • All WSMR airspace activity is halted for the duration of the SPACup • Sharing the White Sand’s airspace allows students rocketeers to soar their rockets to nearly unlimited altitudes.
A very busy RSO station before final departure to the pads Another launch during a busy day A CATO event from Day 1 Going vertical
Judging Judging Cri Criteri eria Ov Over ervi view ew • Technical poster and podium sessions before an expert judges panel during a conference day prior to launch operations • Written technical report covering project concept, requirements, design implementation, and testing • Written technical report appendices on safety analysis, including hazard & risk assessments • Quality and competency of final design implementation • Amount of student researched & developed systems, versus Commercial Off ‐ The ‐ Shelf components • Rocket flight performance, in particular the accuracy of their target altitude and successful recovery • Payload innovation and functionality • Professional conduct and use of procedures/checklists
Recovery Team discovery University of Minnesota with remnants of their payload Harry Spears provides final RSO review Dinner and Awards Banquet
In Incr creasin sing Use Use of of Me Mento ntoring • Few universities have academic guidance with any substantial high power rocketry experience. • Competing teams are HIGHLY encouraged to reach out to the hobby rocketry community for experience, expertise, guidance and mentoring. • Teams are also HIGHLY encouraged to test their projects whenever possible. Having a local HPR field has been critical to successful teams • Maybe, there’s a school near you looking for support?
Virgin Galactic was a major sponsor 1 st place Payload Project Texas A&M Hybrid launch Tower Launch Control
Do Do the the studen udent’s ha have to to certif certify to to fly fly the these ro rockets? • #1 – This is NOT a NAR or Tripoli sanctioned or sponsored event • As an academic event in the US, under NFPA 1127, the students are authorized to build and launch academic, scientific, and/or research rockets without high power certification. • As NAR and Tripoli mentorship to the schools expands, more students are getting HPR certified each year. • ESRA and Spaceport America Cup (SAC) staff closely follow NAR and TRA high power and research rocketry rules and guidelines with exceptions. • ESRA and SAC maintain their own launch risk program and event insurance. • Thus, while using the best of both hobby communities, this is not a NAR or Tripoli sanctioned event. • NAR or Tripoli members who volunteer are using their high power and experimental rocketry knowledge under the policies, procedures, rules, and guidelines of ESRA/SAC and are solely covered by the ESRA/SPA risk management plan and event insurance.
Keynote Speaker – Mike Moses, President, Virgin Galactic Texas A&M with their award
Country of Origin Poland Mexico 2018 Team 2% Turkey 1% (5 of 7 continents represented) 9% India Statistics 2% England 1% USA Teams 76 Egypt 2% Brazil 4 Switzerland Canada 20 2% Switzerland 2 Egypt 3 Canada England 1 16% USA Teams India 2 62% Mexico 1 Poland 3 Brazil 3% Turkey 11 Total 123
Sponsorship • Virgin Galactic • NASA • Blue Origin • ULA • SpaceX • Most of the vendors provide staffing • JACOBS needed for judges as well as critical • Orbital ATK financial resources for running the • Ball Aerospace event. • Aerojet Rocketdyne • A large number of students made great contacts during the event • Many others…
Interested in Helping??? • We are looking for: • Experienced L3 HPR flyers with experience working with student groups • Experience supporting national events like National Sport Launch, LDRS, etc • Many projects are research/experimental so experience in this area is highly desired. • As always, high salary, flexible hours, huge fringe benefits, 401k, great health and life benefits, etc. The whole package! Plus a free staff shirt! Website – www.spaceportamericacup.com Come visit us at our booth for Launch Videos and more information
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