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Date: 10/5/2025
Subject: October 11th 2025 - (Day and Night) Launch Announcement
From: Tripoli Minnesota


Correction:

The previous email had the wrong month listed in the title of the email...
And, I added a few sections.
 
TRIPOLI MINNESOTA - PREFECTURE #45 
October - A Month Full of Rocket Launches
This month gives us three launch weekends in a row (weather permitting)...
  • October 11th (Day and Night Launch)
  • October 18th (Student launch / L1 Certification Flights - RSVP)
  • October 25th (Customary "November" Launch)
 
All launches will be held at in North Branch, MN - Central Turf Farms
  • Setup starts at 9:00 am
  • Flying starts at 10:00 am
We now have a signed waiver for a night launch!
  • Dinner Break from 5:00 pm - Dusk
  • Night Launch starts at Dusk
  • Tear down when we are done!
Please stay for tear-down or partial tear-down from the day launch.
Waiver to 20,000ft weather dependent (Day)
and 5,000ft (Night)
Welcome everyone to a month filled with rocket launches!
With a signed waiver enabling us to have a night launch, so we should make the best of it and plan on Saturday, October 11th (the first launch of this month).  If we end up scrubbing the day launch, I would reschedule the night launch for the last launch of the year (October 25th).
 
Things to remember about the night launch:
  • It's easier on all of us if you get your flight cards signed off prior to it getting dark.  Looking at rockets in the daylight is so much easier!
  • It can get cold and damp! 
  • Bright lights can impact vision.  Use red light flashlights if possible.  It takes your eyes 15+ minutes to adjust to the dark.  
The rules remain the same as previous years for the night launching: 

  • 5,000ft max altitude.

  • No certifications at night.

  • Your lights must be visible to 5,000 feet, so no glow sticks or “finger lights”.

  • You must use a tracker above 1,000 feet (you’d be surprised how many lights fail).

  • No glass or anything that could shatter.

  • No camping or fires. 

  • Canopies at night aren’t a great idea, because you can’t see above you where the lights are.

  • Everyone must leave after the launch.  Did I mention NO camping?


***THE FINAL LAUNCH ANOUNCHEMENT WILL BE MADE ON FRIDAY, October 10th***
 
October 18th Student Certification Launch:
This is a club sponsored launch.  If you are a club member and want to attend this launch (to fly or volunteer), there should be more than enough open High Power pads for all that want to fly.  Please send us a message so that we can get an idea of how many club members plan on attending.  Low Power pads will NOT be setup for this launch.  Brian LaRose will be performing the Prefect duties.

The Volunteer Sigh-up Sheet Is Active!

Please take a minute to put your name down if you plan on helping out with any of the many things that need to be done every launch.
There are spots available for:
  • Range Safety Officer (RSO)
  • Launch Control Officer (LCO)
  • Porta Potty tow vehicle (both to and from)
  • Club Trailer towing
Click on the Event Calendar on the website home page and select the green "play / view" button.

Fire, Wind, and No-Water...

One thing I was reminded about is the risk of fire.  It is obvious that we need combustion to get our rockets into the air.  We also need to be extra carful of the potential for fire damage.  With the high winds this weekend, and some areas not seeing much rain, the crops are drying fast and becoming ready for harvest.  This meads they can catch fire easily.  We don't have access to water, and running with a fire extinguisher isn't easy!   With that being said, please be careful.  I'm watching the forecast for Saturday and it's calling for the wind gusts to increase as the day goes on.  If the guests are excessive, we may have to postpone.  Clouds and rain are not the only limiting factors for a Go / No-Go call. 
 
Fire Danger
On-Field Provisions:
Off We Go Rocketry - Gary will be attending the launch with a large assortment of rocket motors and rocketry related supplies.
Food - Brian's Brats
Rest Room - We will have a handicap accessible porta potty at the field.
Trash - There are usually two trash cans located near the LCO table.  Please use them.
If you are new to the club and not aware, I would like to point out a few rules of etiquette:
  • This is a working farm.  Please be respectful of the land, roads, and fields.  The turf is a cash crop.  Let's treat it as such.
  • All vehicles should drive slowly on the roads.  The road is dirt & clay, so if its wet, it DOES get sloppy.
  • When you get to the field, please back into a spot.  We want to keep engine fluid drips as close to the road as possible (farm's request).
  • If there are freshly planted fields that your rocket lands in, only send one person to retrieve it.  Less tracks = less crop damage.
  • The fields are surrounded by drainage ditches.  They are deep!  If you need to cross one, find the spot where the sprinkler crosses.
Rocketry Rules Refresher:  
  • Always make sure pyro charges are disabled until at the pad.
  • With all mid power and high power rockets: DO NOT install igniters until at the pad.  Low power rockets are the ONLY exception.
  • Keep the rocket pointed in a safe direction on your way to the RSO table, and towards the pads once at the table.
  • It's good practice to arm all electronics at the pad, prior to installing the igniter.  
  • Never, ever, ever... catch a rocket.
  • Do not retrieve another person's rocket without consent or knowledge of the flyer.
    •  Ejection charges may still be intact, or electronics may need attention prior to moving the rocket.
    •  It makes it very hard to find a rocket that has already been retrieved.  Note the location and call it in.
  • Only HP certified fliers are allowed at the pads (sorry kiddos).
  • If you hear the air horn, LOOK UP!  
William Schmiedlin
Prefect - Tripoli Minnesota Inc.
prefect@tripolimn.org
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