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Our two founding
members, Scott Miller and Roger Sadowsky, were Instructors at the
Michigan Space and Science Center here in Jackson, Michigan.
They taught at the day and overnight rocket camps for many
years. Most of the groups were Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or
groups from other large organizations. The participants
enjoyed learning about space history, math science and rocket
science. They built rockets which they launched on the
grounds at the MI Space and Science Center on the Jackson
Community College Campus. Mostly what Scott and Roger found
missing was the next step beyond the small model rockets.
They pursued the link between what they were launching and the
larger rockets that eventually led to the Space Program.
What would be necessary to take the launches to the next level.
The first obstacle
was a location to launch that had enough space to recover the
rockets and that was outside of controlled airspace. The
Space Center had limited room and did not have adequate recovery
area.
In the meantime
they enjoyed launching with
Team
One and
Tripoli
Michiana at Three Oaks down by the Indiana border. Roger
Coats from Tripoli Michiana and Stuart Davis from Team One were
very helpful with the proper guidance in starting a club halfway
between them in the southern center portion of the state.
They secured a site in Jackson
near Rives Junction thanks to the Gumbert family and began the
necessary steps to apply for a waiver. Soon we were
launching at our own field and our member numbers rapidly
grew. This location has since become our winter launch site.
We have now also
secured a second site at Michigan
International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan thanks to the
generosity of Barry Gibbs. That facility has become out
spring-fall launch site.
We are a 501(c)3
non-profit corporation and concentrate on education in the science
and math fields with local area youth. Our next goal is the expansion of our club
member's expertise in the classroom and greater Jackson
area. We participated in the AAAS (American Association for
the Advancement of Science) International Public Science Day 2001
competition with our first member Scott Hasbrouck, a middle school
student who created the website and hosted the event at his
school. We presented two demonstrations that day and joined
guest speakers Jack Lousma (retired Colonel and Astronaut on
STS-3) and David Frazier (Director of the Jackson Community
College Flight Center) to assist the students in their pursuit of
science and how it affects our everyday lives.
We continue to grow
in many ways with each new member. We encourage our members
to actively contribute to our club with their diverse talents and
ideas. We coach our younger members who are just learning
the trade and support our seasoned veterans in their quest
for the next level of certification
(click
here to see our certification page).
We also assist in
the Rockets for Schools Program in Muskegon, Michigan
(click
here for more information).
If you would like
to join us, please check our bulletin board for the next launch
and bring along your rockets for a fun, relaxed day of sending our
creations to the great blue sky.
To
find out more out joining us at our launches click here.
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