Spaceport America Cup 2023

Our annual tradition continues as we take some time away from launching to mix and mingle with other teams and our sponsors. Join @ Virgin Galactic for a night of space trivia and moon gazing in the dark New Mexico skies. Trivia starts at 6:30pm and ends at 8:30pm and will be at the NMSU Clubhouse on the beautiful NMSU Golf Course. Trivia teams will be limited to six participants each and the top three trivia teams will get a tour the next day (Saturday, June 24th) of the Gateway to Space, the Virgin Galactic facility at Spaceport America.

Starry Nights will continue at the NMSU driving range and look up at the moon and stars with telescopes from local astronomers from the Astronomical Society of Las Cruces and NMSU Department of Astronomy. 

Pre-register for Starry Nights using this link, only one response is needed per team: https://forms.gle/VjAkbj8GLwJrXEdU9

Less than 25 teams have submitted this form as of today.

This survey is very similar to the first student team survey and is very easy to complete.  

ESRA requires a full, final listing of attending students with their TRA Member ID#'s.

Failure to complete this form will make your check in process VERY VERY SLOW.

You will need to download the template, complete it and submit it within this form.

One submission per team.

https://forms.gle/MALFPZrt74b9RawA8

The webhost facility internet connection was cut and is being restored as we speak.

We will update everyone once the connection is restored.

From a recent incident at a NAR launch.

Please ensure your teams are extra safe while working on rockets away from the Vertical Launch Area (VLA).

https://www.nar.org/message-from-the-president/

Here's the message from Dr. Hochheimer:

Safety Minute:

I would like to bring up a safety issue that occurred over the weekend. This is intended to be a reminder to all about the importance of ensuring that onboard or component electronic systems should be operated and secured in a safe manner, on and off the flying field.

An incident happened at one of the hotels in town where some of the National Sport Launch attendees were staying. Please note, while the incident is still being investigated, I will not provide specific information about what happened. In brief, a high-power rocket motor accidently ignited in a hotel room. There were no serious injuries, but the room was damaged and guests at the hotel had to leave their rooms while the fire department controlled the situation and cleared the smoke. Let me remind all of important safety considerations:

• Please avoid bringing high-power motors into hotel rooms, especially with ignitors inserted into the motors.
• Do not assemble ejection charges in hotel rooms.
• Do not assemble complex rockets in hotel rooms.
• Treat assembled rocket motors, igniters, and ejection charges with care and high levels of safety.
• Please, make sure that all electronics are turned off and disconnected from any igniters or ejection charges when not in a safe location.
• Please understand the safe operation of all electronics you use.
• Please ensure there are no igniters in any rocket motors, particularly high-power motors, unless on the pad or otherwise deemed safe at an outdoor location.
• Please follow the NAR Model Rocket and High-Power Safety Codes on and off the flying field.

Please download this document and share it with your team.

https://www.soundingrocket.org/sa-cup-documents--forms.html 

Proper Clothing for the Spaceport America Cup

This document provides student team members, staff and volunteers with a highly recommended style of clothing for dealing with the harsh desert environment out at Spaceport America's Vertical Launch Area.  The southern New Mexico desert can often reach temperatures in excess of 110F or 42C.  

Wearing inappropriate clothing such as flip flops, swimming attire, etc can lead to points deductions or even removal from the site.