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September 2015 Launch Report
September 19-20, 2015 at Centreville Sod Farm

I made my customary solo journey over to Maryland’s Eastern Shore to get a rocket in the air. The beach traffic was dying down this time of the year and I managed my way over the bay bridge to meet fellow rocketeers for breakfast at Ram’s Head without much delay. I enjoy Eggs Benedict and coffee before picking up the away cell trailer at Higgs Farm in order to bring it to the sod farm for some scheduled big flights.

We arrived at the sod farm and made quick work setting up the away cell trailer and the rest of the field. The field was wet from recent rains but the diesel irrigation pump continued to clang noisily in the background all day. The sky was blue with puffy clouds traversing south to north with light variable winds.

I helped others and filmed some flights. Shaken, Not Stirred did not get a chance to fly Saturday. However, I returned early Sunday morning with Shaken, Not Stirred in hand. I let others fly before me but I was not happy with the wind as it was taking many rockets into the ever hungry soy beans. Finally in the afternoon, the wind shifted slightly from the northwest allowing me to install Shaken, Not Stirred onto the pad with a H100-IMAX for propulsion. This would be Shaken, Not Stirred’s first flight on a H100-IMAX.

At the conclusion of the countdown, Shaken, Not Stirred slowly lifted off into the overcast sky while arcing into the breeze and over the flight line. At 1,240 feet the drogue was deployed and Shaken, Not Stirred danced while the breeze returned her to our side of the flight line. Shaken, Not Stirred landed on a patch of dead sod close by. Upon retrieval, it was discovered that Shaken, Not Stirred incurred damage forward of the fin canister. This was due to a weaken condition in that spot during flight #71 which failed to deployed the main. Eight landings later must have been too much as the fin can and sustainer are now in two pieces. Luckily it can be repaired.

Once again I assisted others before it was time to pack up the away cell trailer and return it to Higgs Farm. The field was packed and equipment stowed. The journey home saw much traffic from returning beach goers that added an extra 40 minutes to my commute. See all the weekend’s flights here. Until the next launch . . .
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By Peter E. Abresch Jr.
The next generations of rocketeers

By Peter E. Abresch Jr.

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Shaken, Not Stirred's damage

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The next generations
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Shaken, Not Stirred's damage