The Latest DARS News!!! (from 1977)

Well, campers, it is the end of yet another year. As we bid farewell to 2014, I thought I would take everyone on a trip back 37 years to when DARS was a mere five years old. Who could have guessed that all these years later the club would still be going strong?

For your reading pleasure, I present to you the November- December issue of the "D/FW Rocketeer." There are a couple of folks featured that still show up at launches from time to time. Chas Russell provides a rather amusing Star Wars parody, and I really wish I had part one of the Boles/ Boyd Interview, because Part Two is certainly worth a read. Who knows, I might even build a "Stinger!" So, it is with pleasure that I present our feature:

Happy New Year, everyone! And until next time, fly 'em fast and high!

Of Vulcans and Holiday Wishes

I'm pretty swamped with last minute Christmas-type stuff, so I thought I would let an old friend speak for me this week. Therefore, here you go!

So from all of us here at STB (basically me, my wife Laurie, and Alex the Wonder Dog...oh yeah, and the cats Pepper and Becky...) we wish you the merriest of Christmases and may all of your eggs be well nogged...

Until next time, fly 'em fast and high!

She Canna Take Any More Cap'in!!!

At this time of year, these words often spring to mind. I guess being of Scottish heritage myself, I've always been fond of Montgomery Scott (aka "Scotty"). If you doubt how tough he was, just remind yourself that he was the only guy in a red shirt that never died. Ok, I ripped that off from a Facebook meme, but its true! My daughter, Jessica, (who is also of Scottish heritage- go figure) gave me this for my birthday:

He stands guard in my office reminding me that even though it may seem that "she canna take any more...." she always did. And if push comes to shove, its always nice to have a phaser.

Until next time, fly 'em fast and high!

Modern History

Sometimes its very easy to get so focused on the past that one actually misses the world going on at the present. I often lament the fact that NASA has become a shadow of what it used to be; starved of funding by a short sighted administration in Washington, and unfocused in its mission (at least compared to the 1960's). However, there is hope. An event happened a few days ago that got relatively little time in the 24 hour news cycle, but it was a significant leap forward in man's exploration of space. For your viewing pleasure, I give you Orion...

http://youtu.be/hOHvCWCv5pk

Yes, Virginia, there is hope.

Until next time, fly 'em fast and high!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

And you know what Thanksgiving means.....Christmas decorating! And you know what Christmas decorating means....Space related ornaments!!! So, since I'm kinda swamped with this job, I'll just give you a pre-tree taste! Here ya go!

From left to right we have:

The moon (ok, not an ornament, but I like it)
An LEM
The Galileo 7 (complete with Spock's voice!)
The Solar System
The Space Shuttle
A GI Joe Astronaut
The Enterprise
Marvin the Martian
A Klingon Bird of Prey (Nothing says "Peace on Earth" like a Klingon attack!)
A night sky globe (again, not an ornament...sue me)

So, there you have it. In moments they will all be on the tree and almost impossible to find! Well, I gotta get back to work!

Until next time, fly 'em fast and high!