NARHAMS Model Rocket Club

The NARHAMS model rocket club serves Maryland and the Washington Metropolitan Area. The club is an official chapter section of the National Association of Rocketry (NAR). First established in 1965, NARHAMS is the oldest continuously operating model rocket club in the United States and was named Section of the Year for 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006, and 2007. We are also the National Championship section for 2001 and 2004.

Next Launch:	May 15, 12:00 pm Mt. Airy, MD Theme: UFOs over Mt. Airy	Mt. Airy, MD Weather Forecast
Next Meeting:	May 1, 7:00 pm WebEx Topic: open
If a launch is postponed or cancelled, it will be updated here by 6 pm the day prior. Launch is assumed to be a GO unless otherwise noted.

Mt. Airy Launch Update

Please use the forms linked below to register for monthly Mt. Airy launches. Forms will start accepting responses for the current month's launch on the 5th of each month. If you attempt to register before this date, you will receive an error that the launch is full. Please try again at a later date.

Event size is limited, therefore we are asking everyone who wants to fly to sign up in an available time slot. If you are not flying, please do not fill out a form as each form is designed to close when it receives the max amount of responses. If you'd like to volunteer, send a message to Sarah Jackson!

Due to Park regulations, we need to limit current launches to 50 participants or less. To allow as many people as possible to fly, we are splitting the day into two 3-hour sessions. If you would like to attend the March launch and can absolutely be there, please fill out one of the registration forms. If the selected time slot is already full, you will receive a notice and have the chance to try and register for the second time slot. If both time slots are full, you may not fly. We apologize for the necessity of restricting launches, but with luck, this situation will not last for much longer.

Please note, we can only have 50 flyers at any time, including volunteers who are managing the launch. Non flyers (who will not be allowed to approach the launch head area) are limited to 3 people per flyer. And remember, we are still flying under COVID conditions, so face masks and physical distancing are still required.

The time slots are 10 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 5 PM. Your scheduled time is a hard start and stop. Once your time slot has ended, you will need to leave the field. Please do not arrive more than 15 minutes early for your time slot or stay more than 15 minutes after your time slot has ended. If we do not fill up all the slots, we may extend your allowable time on the field, but this option is at the discretion of the launch managers.

To sign up for the 10 AM to 1 PM time slot, fill out this form

To sign up for the 2 PM to 5 PM time slot, fill out this form

Updated Rules for Launches

Due to COVID-19, the State of Maryland requires NARHAMS and all park patrons to follow these rules.

If you are exhibiting signs of COVID-19 symptoms then you can not attend the launch activity.
Face coverings are to be worn properly at all times while participating in rocket activities, especially while at Safety Check-in and Launch Racks. Face covering can be relaxed while at your personal prep area that is a minimum distance of 12 feet from another prep area. If you cannot wear a face mask, a face shield is allowed.
Social Distancing of a minimum of 6ft between family units. To help with maintaining social distancing while waiting for safety check in, cones will be placed at intervals that we ask that you stand at. We ask spectators to spread out as much as possible to maintain social distancing.
Hand sanitizer will be provided and should be use as needed and before and after handling launch equipment.
Failure to follow the above rules could result in being asked to leave the launch field.
NARHAMS reserves the right to refuse to launch a rocket or stop the launch entirely for any reason.

Additional rocket launch specific procedures:

Rack and rail assignment will be made to maintain social distancing between groups. This means full rack usage will likely not be seen during the launch.
The use of digital flight cards and waivers is to help limit material transmission between parties.
The email address being collected is for NARHAMS only. It is being collected in case you need to be contacted for COVID-19 contact tracing.

Goddard Launches Cancelled

Goddard Visitor Center closed to the public on March 13. Therefore, NARHAMS launches at Goddard are cancelled until further notice.

New Launch Site Approved

NARHAMS has received approval for a launching at a new site in Carroll County. The new site is at Krimgold Park, 5355 Woodbine Road (MD Route 94) near Woodbine, MD.

Site is limited to G-powered models and below (same as Mt. Airy). No vehicles or pop-up tents are allowed on the grass, and no PA system is allowed.

Come on out to check out the field, do some fun flying, or get in some TARC practice flights!

Mt. Airy Launches

Club launches are held on the third Saturday of every month, weather permitting, at Old National Pike Park in Mt. Airy, Maryland. The field can support up to G-powered motors with the appropriate FAA waivers. Launch times vary throughout the year, so be sure to check the Calendar for details. Our launches are always open to non-club members who wish to fly. NARHAMS provides launch controllers and pads with 1/8", 3/16", and 1/4" rods, as well as 1010 and 20mm rails.

Please do not contact Frederick County Parks with questions about launches. Instead, email questions to any of the following people:
Alex Mankevich
Sarah Jackson
Jim Miers

Directions to Mt. Airy Field

Goddard Launches

NARHAMS also supports the oldest public demonstration launches in the United States. These launches are held on the first Sunday of each month at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, starting at 1 pm. Anyone who wishes to fly at these events may do so. Due to the limited recovery area, the flying of high power models and untested designs is discouraged. The impulse limit at Goddard is D engine or less.

Directions to Goddard

Meetings

Meetings are held virtually on the first Saturday of each month, starting at 7 pm. Invites to the WebEx meeting are typically sent out a few days before the meeting. Contact Sarah Jackson if you would like to attend.

Becoming a Member

If this sounds like fun, why not become a member? Dues are only 10 cents a week, with 50 cents minimum required to join. Download the membership form and send it in today!

Please note that to be eligible to vote at club meetings or to compete as a member of NARHAMS, you must also:
a) be a current member of the NAR
b) attend at least one of the previous 3 monthly business meetings

Mailing List

The NARHAMS mailing list is primarily for NARHAMS members to discuss upcoming events related to the club. Non-club members are free to join in the discussion, but please keep the postings at least somewhat related to model rocketry.

Click to join:

NARHAMS Store

Need to stock up on some officially licensed NARAHMS logo gear? Check out our online store!

Additional Information

NARHAMS President: Alex Mankevich
NARHAMS Section Advisor: Jim Miers
National Association of Rocketry: P.O. Box 407
Marion, IA 52302
800-262-4872
Sign up for the NAR's electronic newsletter here
Public Launches at Goddard: NASA Goddard Visitor Center
301-286-8981