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The Space Show focuses on timely and important issues influencing the development of outer-space commerce and space tourism, as well as other related subjects of interest to us all.
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| Broadcast
1159 (Special Edition) |  Listen to the show! | | Aired on May 19th, 2009 | | Guests: Neil McGilvray, Robert Utley |
| Guests: Neil McGilvray & Bob Utley. Topics: High powered rocketry, Rockets Magazine, rocket engine certification, Merchant Marine, Somali pirates. Neil McGilvray and Bob Utley were our guests for this Space Show program which focused on high powered model rocketry, also referred to as hobby or amateur rocketry. We discussed the need to be credentialed by either Tripoli or the National Association of Rocketry to be able to fly H and larger rocket engines. Our guests explain this very well and also set out the path from beginner to one who can and does fly the high powered rockets, all the way up to Q engines and larger. Our guests explained the different engines and the size designation, we talked about the new amateur rocket rules by the FAA, and we also discussed the needed FAA flight waivers. The rockets talked about are all solids though hybrids can also be used. The rules do not allow liquids and biprops are not used other than in special locations for special projects and not without a significant set of problems. As a result of listener questions we learned that the rules do not allow for any guidance on the rockets and no animals can be on board any rocket for any reason. We also talked about the launch and flight success rate for high powered rocketry, listen to what our guests said about this. At the start of the second segment, we diverted for a few minutes from the subject of high powered rocketry to talk about the Merchant Marine and the situation regarding the Somali pirates and how crews could and should defend themselves and their ships from attack. Neil is a merchant mariner and still has friends sailing on ships in the area of pirate operation. He was quite outspoken about the problem and possible solutions. He discussed arming the crews, said they were being trained to be armed at this time and talked about how the pirates actually attack a ship. This was information we don't always hear in the traditional news services we all use so I hope you find it as interesting as I did. I thought it was most interesting to learn that the wheel house was the target, that a strategy to defend the ship is to make it go dark, and that even small to relatively larger small arms may be insufficient given some of the weapons the pirates carry on their small boats. While this subject was not that relevant to Space Show topics, Neil was the first guest I have had on the show in the Merchant Marine so I thought it was worth a few minutes of discussion to hear from him and those actually on the ocean as to their perspective of the problem and their recommendations for solutions. In the last segment, we returned to discussing rockets. Did you know that recovering the rocket is the hardest part of the entire flight? Also, more and more computer power is being used on these high powered rocket flights including the managing of electronic packages on board the rocket. We also talked about the cameras used to take pictures of the flight such as those used by Steve Eves and his recent Saturn V launch and flight. We learned that there were on board cameras on the Saturn V plus cameras on the ground being used to document the flight. In addition to the Saturn V flight, we talked about other well known high powered rocket projects. Neil and Bob also told us about Tripoli Rocketry Association's 28th Annual LDRS event July 2-6, 2009 in Potter, NY. Find out more about this event to see if you want to attend at www.ldrs28.org/. Other websites of interest to you include www.mdrocketry.org/ for the MDRA and for Tripoli please use www.tripoli.org/. For Rockets Magazine, use www.rocketsmagazine.com. If you have a question or comment for Neil McGilvray or Bob Utley, you can send your note to me through drspace@thespaceshow.com and I will forward it to them. In addition, you can use the contact information on the Rockets Magazine at www.libertylaunchsystems.com/Contact. If you used the contact page, make sure you put The Space Show and the person you want to contact in the subject line of your email. |
| About our guests... |
Neil McGilvray
Neil McGilvray’s primary responsibility with ROCKETS Magazine is focused on photography and writing articles such launch reports, editorial comment, and human interest aspects of our adventures in rocketry. Liberty Launch Systems is a parallel endeavor that came about as a logical extension of the networking opportunities that ROCKETS Magazine provides. Neil’s role with Liberty Launch Systems, (LLS), is oriented toward identifying and managing projects that can benefit from Liberty Launch Systems expertise. Projects that benefited from LLS are Wedge Oldham and Jeff Anisette’s Nike Ajax Booster, Team Mavericks P-Ref.1 Project, Team Mavericks Q-P Doll Project and most recently Steve Eve’s record breaking 1:10 scale Saturn V. Neil has had articles published in the former HPR Magazine as well as Extreme Rocketry. Neil’s educational and profession back ground is as wide and varied as the rockets he flies. Neil McGilvray is the recipient of a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University, U.S. Coast Guard Unlimited Steam & Diesel Horsepower Merchant Marine License from Calhoon Engineering School, First Grade Stationary Engineers License from the State of Maryland. Neil has worked for the past 25 years as a Project Manger responsible for 10 to 50 million dollar commercial and industrial mechanical systems installation projects, annually. Neil has been a member of Tripoli since April of 1996 and is an active Level III flier. Neil is the current Vice President of MDRA. Neil is known for being the driving force behind some of the largest projects that High Power Rocketry has ever seen such as the 2004 world record setting 1,368 pound “Liberty Project” and the ill fated LDRS 22 P-motor powered “Cow” rocket with subsequent multiple O and P motor flights. Neil was featured with the “Cow” rocket on the Discovery Channel’s Rocket Challenge. Neil appeared as part of Team Loki on Master Blasters and on Weapons Master. Neil has also consulted with the Myth Busters television series. Robert Utley
Bob Utley’s primary responsibility with ROCKETS Magazine is focused on creating the final copy and final editing prior to publication / printing. Bob also is responsible for all of the video content produced by ROCKETS Magazine, of which there are currently 27 titles done by Bob with over 2000 DVD sets sold. Bob also functions as the primary Business Manager of ROCKETS Magazine Liberty Launch Systems is a parallel endeavor that came about as a logical extension of the networking opportunities that ROCKETS Magazine provides. Bob’s role with Liberty Launch Systems, (LLS), is oriented toward managing the business management and specific technical consultation of the projects that can benefit from Liberty Launch Systems expertise. Projects that benefited from LLS are Wedge Oldham and Jeff Anisette’s Nike Ajax Booster, Team Mavericks P-Ref.1 project, Team Mavericks Q-P Doll Project and most recently Steve Eve’s record breaking 1:10 scale Saturn V. Prior to ROCKETS Magazine, Bob Utley has been the technical and creative guy responsible for getting the MDRA Newsletter out to the MDRA membership in a consistent and timely manner via the MDRA web site. www.mdrocketry.org Bob has published over 44 MDRA Reports over seven years. Bob’s earned an A.A. degree from Cumberland/Perry Technical School in electronics. He has a A.A. degree from Cleveland Institute of Electronics in Electronics and Communications. Bob is the holder of several certificates for continued education in Microcomputers, Semiconductors and Integrated Electronics. Bob is President and owner of Excel Service Inc. for over 19 years, which does computer maintenance under contract with the Federal Government only. Bob is also the holder of a FCC Tech Class (Ham) license. Bob has been a Tripoli member since February of 1997. Bob is the current President of MDRA. Bob is an accomplished Level III flier with P-motor making and electronics experience with the “Liberty Project” and has flown O-motors in his own personal projects. Bob was also featured as a Team Loki member in the fourth episode of Master Blasters. Bob also appeared on Weapons Master and Myth Busters television series. His “Eye In The Sky” rocket was featured in Extreme Rocketry and Popular Science magazines.
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