Grassroots Ad Campaign Launched For The Discovery Channel


October 6, 2003 - A grassroots campaign started last week to put a series of commericals on the Discovery channel starting in November. Discovery will air a program called "Rocket Challenge". They spent over $1 million producing the special on rocketry and LDRS held this summer. Frank Uroda from Public Missiles is promoting the idea of airing three 15 second commercials during each airing of the program. The program will air six times. It is estimated that the program will reach six million homes.

According to Mr. Uroda, "In a nut shell, the 3 hour show "Rocket Challenge" will air twice on Nov. 3, three times on Nov. 10, and once on Nov. 17. We cannot pick and choose which shows or hours to run our ad. We must buy one 15 second spot in each hour of the show and for every time the show is run. The full package for 18 insertions was originally $93,000 but after some major negotiation between me and the accounts manager, I got the rock bottom price of $68,000 (to be paid in advance)."

The advertisements will direct interested viewers to a web site tentatively called, "FlyRockets.com." Pat Gordzelik, a newly elected TRA board member and a group of individuals have joined Mr. Uroda in trying to pull off this grassroots effort. Mr. Gordzelik was able to pursuade the NAR and TRA boards to support the effort after extensive discussions. "I was able to get the support of the Tripoli BoD and finally NAR to support this. My analogy of a infomercial that "never asked for the order" would not get the phones to ring, finally swung em over.", stated Mr. Gordzelik.

He further stated that "We have developed a plan for the ad using an astronaut to endorse rocketry as a whole. It will be 18 fifteen second ads at a cost of 68k. We are also working on attaining outside corporate sponsorship. Frank is developing a raffle website to garner funds from interested individuals. The whole plan will be formally introduced probably this weekend as time is short."

Frank Uroda stated, "Yes it is a big risk and a lot of money. But wars are not won by small, incremental moves. It is the bold strokes that win the wars. We are in a war now, actually a battle of attrition. It’s a battle we are sure to lose. The regulators have nothing but time and money on their side. We have neither. We have but one choice, grow or die. There is still time to do this but now it must be done by the organizations since all of us manufacturers are on the verge of bankruptcy."


A web site has been set up to take donations for the ad campaign. Vendors can also donate prizes for the Mega raffle to be held to support the campaign. The web site address is : Save Rocketry Now

reposted from ARSA News

- iz

Save Rocketry Now status report

from http://www.saverocketrynow.org

Rocketeers are AWESOME people!!! I commend you all for being so supportive and generous! Now it's up to you, the donors, if you would like to continue to donate further or buy raffle tickets until the clock runs out. All donations from this point on will go to Phase 2 of my plan; the Popular Mechanics print ad campaign. Please read my original proposal for the details.

Frank R Uroda

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the details of the 'plan' can be viewed at http://www.saverocketrynow.org/more_information.htm


- iz

I will check it out

__________________
I know the answer to everything........YEAH RIGHT

I must have missed something.
Are we talking about like national and international space programs?
Or are we promoting the hobbiest aspect?

Rocket Challenge airtime schedule

the airtime schedule of Discovery Channels "Rocket Challenge" coverage of LDRS is now available online or at http://tinyurl.com/sabe


- iz

Save Rocketry Now ad is online

from www.space-rockets.com/arsanews#discover :

October 31, 2003 - The Save Rocketry Now grassroots campaign has finished the commercial to air on the Discovery channel during the "Rocket Challenge" series. The commercial was taped last Thursday at the Cosmodrome in Kansas using a professional production company. NASA astronaut Sam Gemars is in the advertisement. The 15 second spot to be aired several times during the "Rocket Challenge" series promotes viewers to get involved in rocketry and directs them to the web site www.flyrockets.com for more information.

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you can download the 10 MB xvid/avi format video from www.saverocketrynow.org or alternate formats from www.space-rockets.com/arsanews#discover

- iz

from Greg Deputy at greg@blastzone.com (repost from RMR)

The FlyRockets.com site is now live, we invite you to take a look. If you get the placeholder when you go to http://www.flyrockets.com DNS has not propagated for you. You can also see the site at http://dev.flyrockets.com

If you have submitted Club or Vendor info please take a look at the listings and email me directly with any changes or updates. We are missing club info for the following states:

Alaska
Arkansas
Delaware
New Hampshire

Are there any clubs out there? I bet there are, if you dont see your club listed, please email me!

Please keep in mind we're still finishing up the site, there are still a few rough edges here and there. Also keep in mind we are not asking for suggestions on what needs to be changed, etc. We're days away from the show, its time to polish and be ready!

Thanks for all your help and contributions.

Greg Deputy
greg@blastzone.com

(reposted by iz)

I would like to get a copy of "Rocket Challenge" played on Discovery. If anyone could help me, I'll pay for your time. davehindmarsh@yahoo.com

the Hatch-Kohl bait and switch


consider this analysis of the propellant exemptions in the Hatch-Kohl substitute bill


the propellant exemptions:

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"... or model rocket motors containing no more than .9 pounds of ammonium perchlorate composite propellant ..."


"... for purposes of powering recreational model rockets may possess and store quantities not to exceed 25 pounds of such propellants."
--


the definitions in NFPA 1122, 2002 Ed. (excerpted for editorial review):

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3.3.6* Model Rocket. A rocket that (1) weighs no more than 1500 g (53 oz)with motors installed; and (2) is propelled by one or more model rocket motors having an installed total impulse of no more than 320 N-sec (71.9 lb-sec); and (3) contains no more than a total of 125 g (4.4 oz) of propellant weight.

3.3.8* Model Rocket Motor. A rocket motor that has a total impulse of no greater than 160 N-sec (36 lb-sec), an average thrust of no greater than 80 N (18 lbf), and a propellant weight of no greater than 62.5 g (2.2 oz), and that otherwise meets the other requirements set forth in NFPA 1125, Code for the Manufacture of Model Rocket and High Power Rocket Motors.

A.3.3.6 Model Rocket. A model rocket has structural parts made of paper, wood, and breakable plastic; it has a means for its return to the ground so it can be flown again; and its primary use is for purposes of education, recreation, and sporting competition.

A.3.3.8 Model Rocket Motor. Where the term model rocket motor is used in this code, it includes both assembled, reloadable model rocket motors and manufactured, expendable model rocket motors.
--


and the end result:

--
"... or model rocket motors [assembled, reloadable model rocket motors and manufactured, expendable model rocket motors that have a total impulse of no greater than 160 N-sec (36 lb-sec), an average thrust of no greater than 80 N (18 lbf), and a propellant weight of no greater than 62.5 g (2.2 oz)] containing no more than .9 pounds of ammonium perchlorate composite propellant ..."

"... for purposes of powering recreational model rockets [a rocket which has structural parts made of paper, wood, and breakable plastic, that (1) weighs no more than 1500 g (53 oz) with motors installed; and (2) is propelled by one or more model rocket motors having an installed total impulse of no more than 320 N-sec (71.9 lb-sec); and (3) contains no more than a total of 125 g (4.4 oz) of propellant weight] may possess and store quantities not to exceed 25 pounds of such propellants."
--



finally, John Wickman's commentary on ARSAnews

from Hatch-Kohl S724 Senate Bill
at http://www.space-rockets.com/hks724.html
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H-K S724 has serious problems and deficiences that make it unacceptable. The first is that the exemption only applies if the APCP is used in model rocket motors. Nowhere are "model rocket motors" defined in the bill. Consequently, the ATFE will define this term.. Will it be defined as "rocket motors made of cardboard tubes and clay nozzles" or "with an impulse not to exceed 160 Newton-seconds" or "single use applications only". We don't know.

Another problem is the term "recreational model rockets". Again, it is not defined in the bill and will be defined by the ATFE. Will that definition be "made of cardboard tubes, wood fins and plastic nosecones" or "not to exceed a lift off weight of 3 lbs" or "not to exceed a diameter of 3 inches and length of 48 inches"? We do not know. However, no one expects the ATFE to write definitions that will be favorable to the future of rocketry.
--

- iz

I suspected there is an unstated concern about the domestic creation of home-brewed RPGs.

__________________
Forming opinions as we speak

ATFE Test Results At Hill AFB Reported

an article about the ATFE test results at Hill AFB using hobby rockets and APCP is available from the the ARSA News story page

- iz