I’ve adopted the Invision Power Services Community Suite (IPS) as the basis for the new version of RocketReviews.com. The IPS architecture is similar to the one I developed for the existing RocketReviews.com web site. Like the architecture I developed, IPS makes it easy to expand the site by adding new features (IPS calls them “applications” and “modules”) on top of the existing framework. IPS’s architecture, though is more robust and capable than the one I developed.

In addition to providing a framework for custom functionality, IPS ships with a number of full-feature applications including a discussion forum, an image gallery, a blog, and a chat application. IPS implements hooks allowing the existing application and custom ones added later to work together.

I’ve installed IPS at Community.RocketReviews.com. You can log into the

Continue reading Help Determine the Future of RocketReviews.com ...

That went smoother than I had expected, so, of course, something went wrong later.

Earlier today, I found the server running very slow. After some debugging, I discovered that the hard drive had filled to 100% of its capacity. I had copied all the files from two 500GB hard drives onto the one hard drive since the system is now running with one drive. But, I forgot to turn off the automatic backups which used to be written to the second drive. So, the system drive quickly filled up.

Continue reading Here We Go Loop De Loop ….. ...

I’ve been fighting back-to-back colds or the flu since Christmas and it’s caused me to fall behind in doing things like posting reviews that have been submitted and in answering emails. I’m working on catching up now. I apologize for the delay in publishing reviews that have been submitted. There are about a half-dozen in the queue right now.

The site’s Rocksim and OpenRocket Libraries currently have some problems. When I added the OpenRocket Library, I based it on the existing Rocksim Library and I discovered a problem. To fix the problem, I had to delete entries for many of the Rocksim files. The entries are being re-added over time, but some of the meta-data describing the entries is still missing. I’ll update the entries as time permits. Eventually, though, I need to revisit how the design files are stored and indexed.

Continue reading RocketReviews.com Web Site Update ...

Bellevue Hobby Center is currently offering the Estes Interceptor E kit for under $20. They have a couple of other discontinued Estes kits at bargain prices, too. I have no relationship with Bellevue and do not know how many of the kits they have available. (Edit: The Interceptor E kits are now out-of-stock at Bellevue.)

AMW is having a 20% off sale on all products. Use the coupon code cyber. Sale runs through Monday evening.

Archtype Rocketry has announced a sale beginning Friday.

With the purchase of any rocket kit with a value of $99.99 or more, Binder Design will include a free 3.9 Avionics Bay kit valued at $34.99! (Excludes Excel with Dual Deploy kit.) This special offer runs through

Continue reading Rocketry Holiday Sales ...

Here’s another deal I found with the Rocketry Deal Finder. Amazon has the Quest Shuttle Intrepid kit at 45% off list price. It is eligible for free “Super Saver Shipping” (on orders over $25) and for free two-day Amazon Prime shipping.

The catch is that Amazon is listing them as “Not in Stock.” But, they are accepting orders at the low price and promising to ship them later. So, I’m not sure if you’ll receive the motors at the low price or not. But, it’s worth a try.

9/24 UPDATE: The Amazon offer no longer appears at Amazon.com.

Others, however, have found that the new igniters work well in Estes and Aerotech composite motors. Michael Fritz, Marketing Director at Estes-Cox, responded to the reports of failure by posting:

…as I’ve stated elsewhere, we tested a huge number (thousands – all off of our E Launcher) of these before releasing them to the public…and considering our production history with our standard igniters, we have a pretty good handle on how to make them and make them work. I know this will sound very CYA, but we have been using them with the PSII composite motors here at the rocket ranch, launched off our E Pad (and new PSII pad) with the

Continue reading Testing the Estes Pro Series II Igniters ...