9/2/08

Exporter 2000 Achieves Purple Ribbon!

Over the labor day weekend I brought Exporter 2000 to the MN State Fair to be judged in 4H. I worked hard on putting together an attractive display and put as much into it as I could. The judge really liked my project, and said that he even learned some about high-power rocketry! I was very pleased. I've always wanted to get purple at the State Fair for an aerospace project!


Here I am showing my Animal Motor Works 54mm high-power rocket motor casing to the judge.
Here's me demonstrating my motor retention system.

14 comments:

cj said...

Wow! Congrats on your purple ribbon!

High Power Rocketry said...

Hey how did you get a 54mm motor! : )

DTH Rocket said...

R2K--I saved up and bought it from Performance Hobbies. I can't wait to get certified to use it. I hope I can get level 1 on a single use motor. Can I?

Thank you CJ.

High Power Rocketry said...

Is it a single use motor? I dont really know much about AMW, didnt know they made single uses...

But yeah high power is great. Nothing like taking a really heavy rocket and sending it to near (or past) the speed of sound. That is the best part of a J or I motor... it just throws this heavy broom length thing for miles and miles.

I am going to a launch this weekend, they may have level 3 certifications going on there so that means M and N motors : )

Anonymous said...

Hello DTH! =) I'd like to know if the universe really expands every hour?

DTH Rocket said...

Hello, Christin A, I don't know very much about theoretical physics... I've heard some people say that the Universe is expanding because of the Big Bang, but I'm pretty critical of that theory.

R2K--I said that weirdly. I meant I'm hoping that I can get certified for level 1 on a single-use motor, because the casing that I have only uses level 2 reloads. Most of the reloads are K-impulse for my casing. It'll be a few years before can use it!

I'm hopefully going to a HPR launch this weekend too, but the weather might not be the greatest.

High Power Rocketry said...

Oh I understand:)

You could always get a Ces 38mm case, they dont cost that much.

As for the big bang, I strongly suggest that everyone take that theory with a grain of salt. As a scientist, it is important to be honest and admit what we dont know. We DO NOT know the origins of the Universe, or even if there was an origin. (There is not end or beginning to the earth, for example, but it is finite all the same.) All religious implications aside, the big bang theory is not supported well enough for me to accept at this point. Great idea, but not conclusive.

However (and we dont have to deal with the controversy here), dont take this to mean I am in much doubt about other theories like gravity, or natural selection. They have lots of support.

DTH Rocket said...

What about evolution?

High Power Rocketry said...

No one doubts evolution, it is as concrete as gravity or the fact that the earth is round.

However... people who have a problem, have a problem with Natural Selection. Make sure you know the name of something you dont agree with, its always a good idea :)

Lets keep this to rocketry and space thou...

I should clarify, Christina we know that the universe is expanding. And there is little reason to doubt this. There is something called the doppler effect with sound (sirens or train horns change sound at speed). Well light does the same thing, we can use the light of a galaxy to find out how fast it is moving away from us. Google "Edwin Hubble" for more info.

Anyway that isnt easy to dispute, but I still personally dont see why the big bang theory is acceptable just yet. Needs more proof!

DTH Rocket said...

"No one doubts evolution, it is as concrete as gravity or the fact that the earth is round."

How can you say that???? There is too much evidence against it for it to be a scientific law, and taught like one in schools, though I have no problem with it being a "theory." For instance (this is just the reason I was thinking about the other day), the second law of Thermodynamics: "The entropy of the Universe can only increase or stay the same. It can never decrease." In order for something to become more ordered it has to increase the entropy of its surroundings. As of now no one has found a way that the mutation of DNA into a more complex system can cause its surroundings to become less ordered. That should be reason enough why it should not be taught as a "scientific law!" That's just the least of it! There are many reasons. Most of them don't disprove the theory, they just make it really hard to be true. Yet many scientists try to make it work. I wonder why??

I know that was a little off-topic, but I just had to just say that in response to your comment.

DTH Rocket said...

Oh, you're talking about micro-evolution. I don't have a problem with that.

High Power Rocketry said...

"the second law of Thermodynamics: "The entropy of the Universe can only increase or stay the same. It can never decrease.""

Living things create entropy all the time. In order to make a single cell into an adult human, it takes tons of fuel (food) that is burnt. A HUGE amount of entropy is created in the process. Sadly, living things are not that efficient! Thats why we eat 3x a day.

Here is Natural Selection in a nutshell:

Living things contain genetic information that controls many of their traits.

DNA in a child is a combination of DNA from both parents. This means kids look like parents, but are always alittle different.

Organisms are always in competition for food and mates. Organisms that are more likely to survive, and-or more likely to get a mate, are more likely to pass their DNA along.

Over time, this automatically (there is no mechanism to prevent it) ensures that organisms best suited to an environment will become more common over generations.

I cant see how any of these things can be refuted (all well known simple facts), or even how one could prevent this if one wanted!

The fossil evidence and the countless ways organisms are adapted to niches is out there, but not really needed.

I STRONGLY suggest you use science and science methods as you go on your way to becoming a big name in the rocketry world, and leave religion to your religion. I know you do not think they should be split apart, but the methods of one do not support, and cannot test or overwhelm the other.

The best thing you can do is learn the science with an open mind and see if you agree or not. But dont take the word of your pastor or friend or parents when it comes to science. You know more about it than they do.

DTH Rocket said...

My mother is kind of a genius when it comes to science. She has a degree in chemistry, and I listen intently when she talks about science. My pastor is also kind of a genius. Even you might have heard of John Piper. Though he isn't a scientist, he's very wise and smart, able to teach intelligently from the Bible, and I believe what he says.

And there's nothing to say Christianity doesn't agree with science. It just doesn't agree with some secular theories. There are many Christian scientists whose work and research are completely valid.

"Over time, this automatically (there is no mechanism to prevent it) ensures that organisms best suited to an environment will become more common over generations."

How do dinosaurs come from micro-organisms, even after BILLIONS of years of "Natural Selection?"

I've gotta read that biology module on evolution.

Besides that discussion, There's a good chance I could fly Exporter 2000 tomorrow afternoon. If everything goes well I'll post the onboard video! It's supposed to be a partly-cloudy day, so there should be some interesting patterns of cloud shadows over the terrain. We'll see. This flight keeps getting postponed! But not this time!! Not if I can help it!

High Power Rocketry said...

"How do dinosaurs come from micro-organisms, even after BILLIONS of years of "Natural Selection?"

By billions of years of Natural Selection! That is quite a bit of time!

But I would gladly like to hear your alternative explanation, with evidence. I am always skeptical, but also always willing to listen with an open mind.

If you honestly want to learn more about natural selection, feel free to read this web page.

http://www.talkorigins.org/origins

/faqs-evolution.html

Just recombine those parts into one link.

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