MERCURY CUBS LAUNCH- STAR DATE 17.5.2001
As part of an ongoing project to place the first cub on the moon, Mercury cub pack launched their first rockets at St Andrews Park Hornchurch.
All the cubs built their own rockets with lots of help from Pete Barrett of HART the week before and at 7pm rockets in hand we all set off to the park in dry but overcast conditions. Wind speed approx 10mph.
By the time we set up the launch pad, the wind speed had increased significantly and it started raining.
But in true dedicated fashion Pete was determined not to see the cubs disappointed and we decided to proceed with the first launch. Even NASA would not have launched the shuttle in these conditions!
Rocket "CUB 1 "owned built and coloured by Akela Tony was placed on the pad and following a brief countdown, blasted into the overcast sky .Even the parachute worked! All cubs give a big cheer and Angela, Tony and Gordon applauded from the safety of a nearby shelter and big tree.
All cubs then formed an orderly queue for Pete to prep and launch their rockets. With only a couple of ignitor failures all rockets were launched into the sky .Some reached good heights for A engines and where the cubs had remembered to fit a chute these worked well.
Pete gave a sigh of relief and we packed up headed back to the hall cold ,damp but satisfied that we had joined the space race!
We assembled in the hall to dry off and prior to Grand Howl gave Pete a big Mercury thank you. The project was one small step for a cub but a giant leap for the Mercury cub pack. We are hot on the heels of the Americans and Russians to place a cub on the moon.
Thanks should also go to Adam of aswra for all his help and to Stephen who was daft enough to suggest the idea on such a cold wet day.
Pete was also foolish enough to say he would return and this must truly make him Hornchurch`s most dedicated rocketeer.