January 7th, 2026

Generated by AI. Be sure to check for accuracy.

Meeting notes:

• Club Introductions and Membership Updates: Bryce welcomed attendees, introduced the 2026 Washington Aerospace Club board members, highlighted the need for a membership coordinator, and facilitated introductions for new members including Arjun, David Braswell, Carly, and Mike Dixon.

  • Board Member Introductions: Bryce introduced the club's leadership team for 2026, naming himself as president, Jack Poehlman as vice president, Peter Shirky as secretary, Dale Woodford as treasurer, Jim Palmer and Patrick Naumann as members at large, Conrad as another member at large, and Dave Walp as web admin and social media manager.

  • Membership Growth and Coordination: Bryce reported significant membership growth, nearly tenfold in 2025, and emphasized the need for a dedicated membership coordinator to manage the roster and assist with the joining process, inviting volunteers to step forward.

  • New Member Introductions: Several new attendees introduced themselves, including Arjun, who expressed interest in joining and working on the Moonlighter project; David Braswell, who joined to support his son Charles's astronaut ambitions; Carly, who enjoys rockets and wants to learn to build them; and Mike Dixon, a returning hobbyist and ham radio enthusiast.

• Feature Presentation: Amateur Experimental Rocket Propulsion: Patrick Naumann delivered an in-depth presentation on amateur rocket propulsion, covering propulsion types, safety rules, solid and hybrid motor development, and his own liquid engine project, with active participation from Bryce, Ken, and other attendees.

  • Propulsion Types Overview: Patrick explained the main propulsion types—solid, hybrid, and liquid—detailing their chemical phases, operational principles, and the relative complexity and efficiency of each, including niche types like nuclear and electric propulsion.

  • Solid Motor Development and Safety: Patrick described the composition and operation of solid motors, common fuels and oxidizers, pros and cons, and Tripoli safety rules, emphasizing the importance of safe manufacturing, storage, and the use of non-ferrous materials.

  • Hybrid and Liquid Motor Rules: He outlined the rules for hybrid and liquid propulsion under the Tripoli Unified Safety Code, including material restrictions, oxidizer and fuel requirements, remote fill and dump procedures, and the necessity of static vents and oxygen-compatible materials.

  • Moonliner Motor Case Study: Patrick presented the development process for the Moonliner solid motor, from initial formula and small-scale testing to the inclusion of burn rate catalysts, scaling up, and static firing, highlighting the focus on visual effects and the iterative testing and characterization process.

  • Liquid Engine Project (RMS Liquid): He detailed his ongoing RMS Liquid project, aiming to create a class one liquid motor for 38mm rockets, describing the design, operational steps, challenges encountered during static testing, and plans for further development and troubleshooting.

• Board Meeting Recap and Club Business: Bryce summarized the outcomes of the December board meeting, including final 2025 membership statistics, officer continuity, and the need for a membership coordinator, and discussed ongoing launch planning and group projects for 2026.

  • Membership Statistics and Officer Updates: Bryce reported that the club ended 2025 with 141 members, including 83 paid adults and 58 student/junior members, and confirmed that most officers are continuing in their roles, with a few new board members joining.

  • Launch Planning and Coordination: He announced that planning for the March launch is underway, with Dale leading the event and Peter coordinating FAI-adjacent competitions, and reiterated the call for volunteers to assist with launch setup, teardown, and safety roles.

  • Membership Coordination Role: Bryce emphasized the urgent need for a volunteer to lead the membership coordination system, responsible for managing the roster and assisting with the joining process.

• 2026 Group Projects and Participation: Bryce announced that the club will pursue five group projects in 2026, covering a range of rocketry challenges, and invited members to contact project leads or check their email for more information and participation opportunities.

  • Project Selection and Leads: Instead of selecting a single group project, the club chose five diverse projects for 2026, each with designated leads, and circulated contact information via email for interested members.

  • Participation Requirements and Benefits: Bryce clarified that participation in group projects is open to all paid, student, and junior members, as project funding comes from membership dues, and highlighted the benefits of involvement, including hands-on experience and club support.

  • Upcoming Project Activities: He noted that planning meetings, budget assignments, and project approvals will occur in the coming month, with announcements for build sessions and design meetings to follow.

• Upcoming Launches and Events: Bryce and Dale discussed upcoming launches, including the 60 Acres launch and the new 'Misfits' event at the Tri-cities sod farm, and provided details on volunteer needs, event logistics, and certification opportunities.

  • 60 Acres Launch Coordination: Bill Barnes, as launch coordinator, requested volunteers for setup, teardown, and launch safety roles, and provided instructions for those interested in learning about launch operations.

  • Misfits Launch Event: Dale announced the 'Misfits' launch at the Tri-cities sod farm, explained the event's structure, invited members to fill out a participation poll, and described preparations such as equipment cleaning and camping logistics.

  • Certification and Night Launches: Dale and Jim clarified the requirements for Tripoli and NAR certifications at the event, including the need to bring online test results, and discussed the possibility and rules for night launches, subject to interest and compliance with safety guidelines.

• Contest Launches and NRC Registration: Bryce announced that contest launches are now registered as NRC launches, streamlining the process for members interested in national competition and ensuring results are automatically uploaded to the national scoreboard.

  • NRC Launch Registration: Bryce explained that contest launches from January through April are registered as NRC events, covering parachute, streamer, gyrocopter, and rocket glider categories, and that successful flights will be recorded for national competition eligibility.

• Celebrations and Show and Tell: Bryce led a segment recognizing member achievements, including Matthew's viral Moonliner video, and facilitated a show-and-tell session where members presented recent projects and discussed technical details.

  • Moonliner Video Recognition: Bryce and Jack congratulated Matthew for producing a Moonliner project video that garnered over 36,000 views and significant community engagement, presenting him with a commemorative thumbnail image.

  • Project Presentations: Members showcased various rockets and components, including a 54mm submin rocket, the Red Rider group project, miniature experimental motors, a Falcon 9 replica, and a T vault minimum diameter rocket, sharing technical specifications and flight experiences.

• Certification Test Updates: Jim and Bryce informed attendees that NAR Level 2 and junior high-power written tests are now fully online, with the same question pools and criteria, and provided guidance on accessing and submitting test results.

  • Online Test Transition: Jim explained that the NAR written tests can now be taken online, are valid for a year from the exam date, and require only the certification number for event participation.

  • Access and Submission Instructions: Bryce clarified that test results can be looked up on the forums, and that the process and criteria remain unchanged, with the main difference being the online format.

Follow-up tasks:

• Membership Coordination Volunteer Recruitment: Identify and recruit a volunteer to take on the membership coordination role to help manage the growing member roster and answer membership questions. (Bryce, Board Officers)

• Stoke Space Presentation Coordination: Contact Stoke Space to arrange for a representative to give a presentation and possibly a tour for club members. (Bryce, Ken)

• Equipment Cleaning Party Organization: Confirm attendance and provide location details for the equipment cleaning party at Jack's house to those who volunteer to help clean launch equipment. (Dale)

• Misfits Launch Poll Follow-Up: Follow up with members who have not yet filled out the Misfits launch poll to ensure accurate headcount and equipment planning. (Dale)

• Group Project Information Distribution: Send an email with more information and contact details for each of the five group projects to all club members. (Bryce)

• Composite Tube Workshop Scheduling: Reschedule the composite tube workshop to avoid conflict with the trailer cleanup and notify interested members of the new time. (James)