[BA-Rockets] New Project, Old Goal: Launch Site at Ames Moffett Field

[Craig R. Saunders]

It has become absolutely vital to the survival of model rocketry in the Bay 
Area that we secure a new launch site.  We've all seen what's happened to 
BayNAR over the last few years without a regular flying field.  And with 
the encroachment of housing next to Robertson Park in Livermore, LUNAR's 
primary launch site is nearing the end of its useful life.

A number of people have made runs at trying to arrange a launch site at 
Moffett Field.  From what I've heard, each had some success but either ran 
up against an intransigent decision maker or eventually ran out of steam 
trying to navigate the rat's maze of bureaucracy.

I propose that we organize a task force of BayNAR and LUNAR folks to work 
together to produce a formal proposal to run regular, recurring model 
rocket launches at Moffett Field, present the proposal to the decision 
makers, steer it through the approval process and once it's approved, 
manage the organization of the initial events.

There was some informal discussion of this topic at Wednesday's LUNAR 
meeting.  The reason that I'm sending out this message is that we've had 
this discussion a number of times.  And there have been a wide range of 
suggestions which at face-value seem to be worth trying.  Of course, I'm 
sure that some of them have already been tried.  And possibly some haven't 
been considered yet.  So, one of the goals of this project is to collect 
all of the ideas, those that have been tried and those that haven't.  And 
as a result, we should have the best chance at being successful.

One of the suggestions from the LUNAR meeting was that NASA is once again 
sponsoring Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) for 2005 and that our 
goal for this project should be to hold qualifying launches for local TARC 
teams at Moffett Field.  I think that this is a excellent idea for a number 
of reasons - Several TARC 2004 finalists came from the Bay Area and 
qualified at launches conducted by LUNAR.  So we have a track-record and 
can demonstrate success.  It's a NASA program, so there is an inherent 
reason for Ames Moffett Field to participate.  And it also gives us other 
NASA resources that can provide support.  And almost as important, 
supporting TARC 2005 presents us all with a deadline.  It means that we 
have to get our act together and that decision-makers have to make their 
decision in a specific time frame or it won't happen.

What I'm suggesting is that we put together the kind of proposal that a 
services firm (advertising, consulting, accounting) would create to land a 
new, significant customer.  Or the kind of proposal that a non-profit 
organization would create to secure grants for a new program.  In fact, 
that's what we are.  It's what we're doing - so we need to show them that's 
what's behind all of this.

At this point, I have started 3 documents:

* Outline of a proposal with stuff that has been discussed while I've been 
in ear-shot.
* PowerPoint presentation that will be the executive summary of the proposal.
* To-Do list
* Collection of information, stories, contacts, links and anything else 
that might be relevant

This will probably be a one-year project and will require the participation 
and contributions of a number of people.  If you are interested in 
participating or have something to contribute to the effort, please let me 
know.  When we have critical mass, I will schedule a meeting where we can 
review the past efforts and discuss how to accomplish the objective.

Lastly, I want to say that I know that a number of folks have tried to do 
this before and may still be working it.  I don't want to step on anyone's 
toes. I'd like to help.  As do a number of other folks who share your 
concerns and interests.

Thanks,
Craig