Special Events

MASA is celebrating its 20th year!    

To help celebrate the 20th Anniversary, we will be having a commemorative rocket competition.  

The rules are simple... build any rocket of your choice, any size (but limited to an E motor max), any kit or scratch design, and decorate it to somehow commemorate the first 20 years of MASA.  Use your imagination - anything goes....  it can commemorate 1998 somehow (favorite movie released that year, John Glenn's return to space, etc.) or it can commemorate 20 years, 2 decades, or it can just simply say "Happy Birthday, MASA" on the body tube.  Get creative, have fun, think outside the  box, and bring your commemorative rocket to MASA's April launch for a special birthday launch.  We will come up with other ideas to help celebrate 20 years in the coming months.  

This will be a monthly NAR event at the beginning of this year to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, July 20, 2019. The contest objective is to launch a model rocket and have it land closest to an area on the launch field representing the moon. The contestant whose rocket lands closest to the Tranquility Base target is the winner for the month. The closest landing for the entire year will win an additional grand prize at the annual picnic. 

Contest Rules

1. The contest is open to model rocketeers of all ages. 

2. Contestants must follow the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) Safety Code.

3. Modelers must provide their own model rocket, engine, igniter, and prepping tools. The NAR Section will provide recovery wadding and the launch equipment suitable for 1/8” and 3/16” diameter launch lugs. 

4. Contestants fly as individuals. This means they prep their own rockets.

5. Model rockets must use a single (NAR classification and safety certified) engine for each flight that is a “C” class engine or less. 

6. Model rockets must pass a preflight safety inspection and engine confirmation at the launch site prior to launch. 

7. Model rockets must land safely by a recovery system using either a streamer or parachute for their recovery. If the rocket’s landing is unsafe the flight will be disqualified. 

8. Model rockets must not separate into two or more unattached parts during flight. 

9. The contest flight must be declared before launching by notation on the flight card, and must be that rocket’s first flight of the day. (No practice flights with the competition rocket.)

Contest Judging 

1. Modelers may launch their declared competition model one time, each month of the contest. 

2. A launch is a successful ignition of the engine so that the model leaves the launch pad. 

3. The object of the event is to determine whose flight comes closest to Tranquility Base. 

4. If a model rocket lands within 100 feet of Tranquility Base, contestants must leave the model rocket undisturbed until the model rocket is measured. 

5. Officials will measure all model rockets that land within 100 feet of Tranquility Base. 

6. Measurement will be from Tranquility Base’s center marker to the tip of the model rocket’s nosecone. The measurement becomes the contestant’s score. 

7. The person with the smallest measurement (i.e., closest to Tranquility Base’s center) will be declared the winner. The next smallest score will be second place and so on.

8. Decisions of the judges are final. 

MASA and NAR Sections across the United States will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo moon landing.  Stay tuned for details!

(The following message is from Chuck Neff, NAR Section Activities Chair)

In a little under nineteen months, America will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the July 20th, 1969 successful Apollo 11 moon landing.  Not that we ever need a reason, but this would be a perfect opportunity for the NAR to do what we do best - launch rockets!!

As it just so happens, the anniversary of that day is on a Saturday this year so I think we should all schedule a launch and invite the public to see just that!  With some planning, NAR Sections could make some local or even regional news by conducting a well practiced launch and recovery of a Saturn V (or even a Saturn 1B) scale model!  Imagine the publicity the NAR could get from holding a nationwide coordinated launch effort to commemorate the moon landing event!

Now, nineteen months away may seem like a very long time, however when we think about what needs to be done to hold launches that could potentially attract large crowds, the time for planning will soon be upon us.  Even more so if your Section would elect to build and launch a large scale model in front of visitors and the media.

Thanks to all for your efforts - especially those continuing to "Pay It Forward" to keep Model Rocketry headed in the right direction (aim them up!) and help maintain NAR's excellent safety record.