Vertical Divider

Ontario is currently in Phase 3 of its re-opening plan.  We will follow Ontario provincial requirements for Chatham-Kent.
The following procedures will also be followed:

• 1 person will act as LCO for the day
• Visual safety checks only
• No common work areas; bring all your own supplies
• Maintain physical distancing of 6’
• Current limit of 100 people
• Self-check including temperature before arrival
• Cold or flu—stay home
• ​Bring your own sanitizer, gloves, masks if you wish
• No bathroom

Schedule Changes:

Next Meeting:
Saturday, October 2, 2021
11:00AM-12:00PM
​This will be a virtual event using Google Meet.
If you are interested in attending but did not get the invitation e-mail for the last meeting, please e-mail us.

September Launch:
POSTPONED:  Saucer S.W.A.R.M. IV:  International Man of Space 
NRC and Sport Launch
Saturday, September 18, 2021.
8:00AM
​Weather Permitting

​October Launch:
The Harvest Classic 2021 
Thanksgiving Day
​Monday, October 11, 2021 (note the change)
8:00AM
​Weather Permitting

Check the weather forecast.

Charlotte was the big winner in both of our 500th Flight events!  Check out the details.

Father, son, and grandson recover an Estes Shuttle.

Family-friendly science and engineering come to life

S.W.A.R.M. members of all ages have enjoyed launching around Chatham-Kent.  Many senior members bring their children to launches to get them interested in and excited about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).
​
S.W.A.R.M. members have also run demonstration launches at the Chatham-Kent Early Years Centre and the Thamesville Threshing Festival, as well as running build and fly sessions with Girl Guides, the Brigden 4H Club, and local schools.

A Grade Six class awaits the launch of their Marvin the Martian rockets.

Four Girl Guides show off their rockets, ready to launch.

Girl Guides preparing their rockets for flight.

CONTESTS AND COMPETITIONS

S.W.A.R.M. offers many fun contests and competitions for rocketeers of all levels.  Work at your own pace trying to achieve S.T.A.G.E.R. goals; build and fly for fun in Saucer S.W.A.R.M., M4, or the Simulated Rocket Series; or compete NAR-style at The Harvest Classic or Legends of Rocketry meets.

NATIONAL ROCKETRY COMPETITION

S.W.A.R.M. launches are now all NAR National Rocketry Competition certified.  This means that you may fly any of the six NRC events for the year at any of our launches and have your scores count toward the national standings in your age division (under 14, 15-22, 23+, or team) and posted on the NAR's National Scoreboard.  The NRC events for 2021-2022 (July 31, 2021-June 30, 2022) are:

1/4A Streamer Duration
1/2A Rocket Glider Duration
A Parachute Duration
A Helicopter Duration

B Eggloft Altitude (with altimeter)
B Altitude (with altimeter)
Sport Scale

If you have never competed before, don't worry!  We can provide you with a rocket kit and engines for your first NRC launch and advice you need--for free!  Check out our NRC Starter Set for details.

NRC Section Championship Update: 
​A new NRC season has started!  Help S.W.A.R.M. climb the ranks by simply making an NRC flight in one of this year's 7 events.  For the 2019-21 NRC competition, S.W.A.R.M. finished in 14th place (out of 33 sections) with 167 points.  We were only 7 points out of 13th place.  Let's finish in the top 10 for the 2021-22 year!

More exciting Rocket Projects!

National Association of Rocketry (NAR) News

Join the NAR

S.W.A.R.M. member Mark Halinaty pictured on the NAR website with his Mars Snooper from NARAM-60.

National Association of Rocketry Annual Events

Up next:

Check out NARCON 2021 on the NAR YouTube channel.

Rules Change Proposals Passed for 2019-20 Cycle
RCP#2019-01:  Simplified wording for the awards process.
RCP#2019-02:  Change the requirement to have at least two competitors in a division.
RCP#2019-04:  Disqualification of craftsmanship models that are missing significant components.
RCP#2019-05:  Permit different event selection for different competition divisions.
RCP#2019-06:  Add 1/4A-B rocket glider duration to NRC events.

2020 Website Excellence Award Winning Sites
Monroe Astronautical Rocket Society (MARS) Section #136
Southwest Michigan Association of Spacemodeling Hobbyists (SMASH) Section #500
Blue Mountain Rocketeers (BMR) Section #615
Dallas Area Rocket Society (DARS) Section #308

Loss of a Friend

Mark Halinaty, my brother and one of S.W.A.R.M.'s founding members, died suddenly in his sleep on Monday, April 26, 2021, at the age of 61.  He is survived by his wife, Debbie; his children Michael, Adam, and Amy; Adam's wife Brittany; and his grandchildren Brooke and Nolan.  Although Mark did not live in Chatham, he was a very active S.W.A.R.M. member.  He attended as many launches as he could, sometimes driving 3 hours to arrive at 9 am to launch some rockets then visit our mom before heading back home for the day.  He was certainly S.W.A.R.M.'s most enthusiastic flier.  He would launch small, beat up sport rockets on A and B engines, competition rockets with me as part of our team, H-Bomb, and larger, beautifully finished rockets on F and G engines--sometimes all in the same day!  Mark often attended our meetings, too, especially those that were held virtually.  He always greeted my crazy ideas for launch competitions enthusiastically and offered support when I needed it.  Our club badges and pins were a donation from Mark.  He was a collector of rocketry memorabilia and thought we had to have them because they were cool!
Mark departed this world far too early.  He will be greatly missed by me, S.W.A.R.M., and all those he touched during his lifetime.