Launch Competition Operations
Launch Site Coordinates:
38 deg 54 min 0 sec N, 110 deg 17 min 0 sec W
Directions to Launch Site:
"Back road route" (shorter mileage but slower):
From
Museum, turn right (west) onto Main Street. Turn left onto Long St,
follow until it ends at Green River Ave. Bear left and follow Green
River Ave (next to the railroad tracks), then take the first right onto
Airport Ave (also called 500 S). Follow this road (becomes County Road
1007) until the paved road splits off to the right to the airport. Keep
going straight, onto the dirt road (still County Road 1007), around the
SE side of the airport. Follow this dirt road (also called Old Highway
Hanksville on some maps). It turns onto Old Route 24 (paved) which
heads generally SW. Follow this approximately 9 miles from the airport
turnoff (there will be a large microwave tower on the left at about
mile 7), then turn left onto County Road 1043 (Nine Mile Reservoir
Road). The turnoff is right before the main road (Country Road 1007)
descends into some rough terrain (Jessie's Twist). Proceed on County Road
1043 and the launch site is at a bend (turning south) in the road
approximately 2 miles after the turnoff.
"Major highway route" (longer mileage but probably shorter time):
Get
on I-70 West, go about 13 miles, exit onto Highway 24 South (Exit 149).
Proceed about 4 miles, turn left onto County Road 1007 (former Highway 24, across from turnoff to "Hatts Ranch" ). Head northeast
about 2.5 miles, climbing up through Jessie's Twist, until reaching the
turnoff for County Road 1043. Turn right onto 1043 and go approximately
2 miles to the viewing area.
Map:
This
map indicates the "back road" route to the launch site, the locations of
the launchers, First Aid/Judges' Tent, Viewing Area, and the estimated
parachute drift radius.
If it has trouble loading, the map can also be accessed here.
First Aid/Judges' Tent:
The First Aid/Judges' Tent will have first aid and emergency equipment, plus be air conditioned for emergency cooldown for anyone with heat exhaustion or heat stroke. It will be placed at least 200 feet to the southwest of the launchers.
Launcher setup:
Place the launchers northeast of the main bend in the road,
pointing 045 true (033 magnetic). Launchers must be set between 85
and 87 degrees from the horizontal.
The launch controls will be placed near the First Aid/Judges' Tent, at least 200 feet southwest of
the launchers.
ESRA has a 10/20-foot (10-foot with optional 10-foot extension) launch rail available for use. It uses 1.5"x1.5" ("1515") aluminum extrusion made by "8020" for the guide rail. Rail buttons are commercially available that interface with the rail. It can accommodate rockets with 10-inch fins (approximately; depends on rocket body tube diameter). ESRA also has a launch control box that can supply 12V, 5A signals to 5 different devices on the rocket. Contact ESRA for details.
In the past, teams have been gracious enough to allow their rails and launch controls to be used by other teams. We hope that spirit of friendly competition (emphasis on "friendly") will continue.
Rocket Preparation Areas:
For safety (heat exhaustion/heat stroke) concerns, each team is required to bring and use a sunshade for their rocket preparation area. ESRA has one sunshade available for loan if a team is unable to provide their own. Please contact ESRA to reserve it if needed.
The teams' rocket preparation areas can be placed near the launchers; however all will be evacuated prior to launch. Only those personnel directly responsible for launch, designated judges, the launch director, and range safety officer will be allowed at the launch control area.
Power:
There will be a generator(s) at the First Aid/Judges' Tent that can be used to recharge laptop batteries. It is highly recommended that laptop batteries be fully charged prior to arriving at the launch site.
Viewing Area:
The viewing area will be on the ridge to the east of County Road
1043, 2000 feet due south of the launchers. Park all vehicles not
needed to transport rockets and rails in the flat area at the base of
the viewing ridge.
Porta-Potty:
A porta-potty will be placed in the parking/camping area at the base of the viewing ridge. A $5 fee will be assessed for each use (KIDDING!).
Safety Monitors:
A road monitor will be placed on or near CR 1043 approximately
1000 feet west of the launchers for each launch to watch for road
traffic coming from the west. A person at the viewing area will be
designated to watch for road traffic coming from the south.
“Go” Weather criteria (at launch site)