His Neighbors Didn't Like Rockets Either

Dr Robert Goddard, Father of American Rocketry


Dr. Robert Goddard with his rocket.

In 1919 he published a scientific paper entitled ''A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes" in which he described a liquid propulsion system for rockets that could allow us to reach the Moon. The New York Times published an editorial suggesting that Dr. Goddard was '...either playing a joke or was ignorant of elementary physics if he thought that a rocket could work in the vacuum of space.' Yes, the media really does keep us enlightened.

On March 16, 1926, Goddard tested an actual rocket at his Aunt Effie's farm in Auburn Massachussetts. Eventually the neighbors opposition forced him to go to Roswell, New Mexico where he continued his experiments. Goddard, though he held some 200 patents in rocket technology, received little recognition for his work... in the United States.

In Germany, Dr. Wernher von Braun read Goddard's paper and developed the V2 program that became the basis for the American and Russian space efforts. Von Braun, now working for the American missle agency, said of Goddard: ''Don't you know about your own rocket pioneer? Dr. Goddard was ahead of us all.''

Today the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt Maryland is named in his honor.

Here's an Interesting Article [click to read] on Dr. Goddard from the New York Times.

So, what are we missing when we shut down Augusta's 'Rocket Boys?'

Augusta County shuts down Rocket Boys ... 14: Dreams of space

Part 14: Dreams of space ... Augusta County shuts down Rocket Boys

Part 1 ... October Sky
Part 2 ... Who is VAST?
Part 3 ... What is agri-tourism?
Part 4 ... Francis Chester
Part 5 ... Launch location -- Croft Field
Part 6 ... How it began ... anonymous complaint
Part 7 ... "It's only a formality"
Part 8 ... VAST prepares for BZA meeting
Part 9 ... VAST presents case to BZA meeting
Part 10 ... VAST denied Special Use Permit
Part 11 ... Augusta County denies BZA hearing tapes
Part 12 ... The legal case begins
Part 13 ... Community reaction
Part 14 ... Dreams of space

Remember the movie October Sky that told the true story of Homer Hickam of West Virginia, a coal miner's son who was intrigued by the Soviet Sputnik satellite in the 1950s that streaked across the October sky?

That incident inspired Homer to study rocketry, win a science contest, go away to college, and eventually earn his Ph.D. and become a NASA scientist. And it all began when he and his friends put together and launched model rockets even though some of the town people tried to shut them down.

Just imagine ... in Augusta County there is a new generation of Rocket Boys who could be future NASA scientists, much like Homer.

And in western Augusta County with its large tracts of land, there appears to be the perfect place for a local rocket club to teach science in the wide open spaces, smack in the middle of 500 acres of land, isolated from surrounding properties. But you would be wrong.

This series looks into the background of a group of boys and adult volunteers who were blindsided by an anonymous complaint that brought the government into what should have been a recreational, educational activity in the middle of a 500-acre farm field void of government involvement.

It looks into Augusta County's desire to cultivate agri-tourism, and Del. Steve Landes' agri-tourism bill that passed this year's General Assembly, and questions the fairness of the decision of who can participate in agri-tourism ... and who can't.

And it looks at community reaction ... questions that have been brought up by county citizens who wonder if they will be next by what is perceived as an overbearing Big Government mentality.

I had not seen the movie October Sky for a number of years so checked it out of the Churchville Library to once again get the feel of students who dream ... and the adults who nurture those dreams. In the movie, one adult who encouraged Homer was his teacher Miss Riley who died at age 31 of Hodgkin's Disease but not before she planted the seed for him to look beyond the coal mines and pursue his dreams of space.

In Augusta County, we hope to one day see local dreams played out once again, and we hope the Rocket Boys are allowed to again fly the skies of western Virginia.

Feedback about this series is welcomed.

Related stories:
- SWAC Girl: Del. Landes' agri-tourism bill passes House
- WHSV TV-3: Agritourism Brings Boost for Augusta County
- NBC 29: Rocketry club goes to court to get permit
- Staunton News Leader: Sparring launches in rocket case
- Staunton News Leader: Rocket club grounded
- Staunton News Leader: Aerospace Team may scratch launches
- Staunton News Leader: Why can't we give rocket club a chance?
- Staunton News Leader: Zoning board denies permit for rocketry club
- Waynesboro News Virginian: Throttle up: Rocketry appeal heats up
- Waynesboro News Virginian: Zoning board denies liftoff of Swoope rockets

Other bloggers write about Rocket Boys:
- Yankee Phil: Local boys trying to be good ... denied in Augusta County
- Yankee Phil: More info on ... Local boys trying to be good ... denied in Augusta County
- The Journey: No rockets on company property
- Virginia Virtucon
- StrictlyVA

THYME Magazine

Citizen Journalism with a Better Flavor


Volume II, Issue VII

Winter in Virginia [click to read] special edition.

PPP - Perriello tied at best

Public Policy Polling has new numbers from the 5th congressional district.
In a two-way race, Rep. Tom Perriello is tied with state Senator Robert Hurt, 44-44.
In a three-way race, Perriello is tied with former Rep. Virgil Goode 41-41.
Hurt gets only 12 percent in a three-way race. That hurts.

Is Lefty VA Blogger a Racist or a Sexist???

A Feud is Brewing in VA

Apparently a lefty blogger made disparaging comments about a member of the House of Delegates on Twitter. He called Del.Charniele Herring a beast and told her to STFU. See more here

JMU Felony Possession of a Snowball.

A JMU Duke Basketball Guard was arrested for Felonious Snowballing.
He decided that it would be cool to throw snowballs at a truck and an unmarked cop car.
See the story here

Coming later this week

Public Policy Polling plans to release a poll from Virginia's 5th Congressional District later this week.
Yes, it's easy to poll people when they are stuck in their houses with lots of snow falling. But they are doing callbacks in areas where houses lost power in the storm.
Better get the polling done before the next storm.

Augusta County shuts down Rocket Boys ... part 3

Part 3: What is agri-tourism?

See part 1 and part 2.

I received an email in mid-December from Charles Neff, president of Valley AeroSpace Rocketry Club, who questioned Augusta County's desire to bring in agri-tourism when they appeared to contradict themselves by shutting down the rocket club. He wrote:

I listened to the “Agri-tourism Brings Boost For Augusta County” story on WHSV this morning with great fascination … especially since an activity that would be considered Agri-tourism was shut down in Augusta County by the Board of Zoning Appeals.

The December 17, 2009, TV-3 story was about Augusta County supervisors' desire to bring agri-tourism into the area:

Agritourism may be helping to generate income in Augusta County during a time when farmers are struggling the most.

While farm land may be vanishing in Virginia, in Augusta County, it's still increasing. Officials believe that agritourism may be bringing in a boost.

Weddings and horseback riding may seem unrelated, but they're both a part of what's bonding tourism and agriculture in Augusta County.
...
Augusta County Board of Supervisors member Nancy Sorrells believes this is just the beginning for agritourism.

Sorrells says, "There's no doubt it's bringing in money but I just don't think it's reached it's full potential."

The money agritourism is bringing to the county may be worth just a little bit more. "If I take a dollar and spend it in the community, that's just a dollar. But this community has to build roads that I use, has to build schools. But, if a visitor comes here and spends a dollar, it's really worth $5 because they go home," says Sorrells.

Del. Ben Cline (24th District) supports agritourism in Augusta County and is taking the message all the way to Richmond.

Cline says, "Agriculture is our top industry and in Augusta County, it's extremely important. So, we want to encourage all aspects of farming, including agritourism."

While agritourism is getting a lot of attention, Sorrells says if it's bringing in money, it's a good thing. Sorrells says, "I think we need to explore all kinds of ways to bring money into our area and the money that would come in that has the least impact on our tax bases is good money. So, if we need to find ways to hype that up, I say go for it."

The Augusta County Board of Supervisors has delayed any decision about rezoning its exclusive agriculture district until its meeting in January 2010.

From 2002 until 2007, Augusta County farmland increased two percent.

At that meeting in January the Augusta County Board of Supervisors voted to eliminate exclusive agriculture and, yes, open it up for agri-tourism, as reported by the Staunton News Leader:

County leaders hope by eliminating a restrictive agriculture zoning district, it will provide farmers more freedom to pursue alternative business options on their property.

The Board of Supervisors informally voted Wednesday to preliminary approve eliminating the county's exclusive agriculture district and convert that land to a general agriculture designation.

The move would open up more agriculture land to be able to have additional operations, which range from small business to agritourism uses. Unlike those on general agriculture-zoned land, residents in the exclusive agriculture district cannot apply for special-use permits to allow non-farming business.

Two comments were left on the WHSV TV-3 website about agri-tourism. The first:

The Augusta County Board of Zoning Appeals disagrees with Ms. Sorrells and Mr. Cline. The BZA effectively shut down the activities of a safe, educational, and family oriented model rocket club in Sep 09. They sided with a small group of residents who were terrified that a cardboard rocket from a 10 yr old might land on their property once or twice per year. The County has lost a free educational resource and agritourism income as a result.

The second comment:

This is very interesting! Someone needs to inform the Augusta County Board of Zoning Appeals about this! Our club, which had held monthly rocket launches in a Swoope (Augusta County) farm pasture for 14 months, was notified that a Special Use Permit was required which the Zoning Board subsequently denied. Although not huge, our events brought people to the County. They stayed at local hotels, they ate at local restaurants, and they shopped at local stores. If you think rocket launches shouldn't be considered Agri-tourism since it's unrelated to agriculture (other than the farm field), you should know that Hot Air Balloon Rides, Hang Gliding, Cross-Country Skiing, Music Festivals, Biking, etc. are all considered Agri-tourism. None of them have any closer relationship to agriculture than our activity. I believe the County is contradicting itself...

In Colorado agri-tourism is recognized as a growing industry and includes all the above-mentioned activities plus fishing, hunting, wildlife photography, horseback riding, farm and cannery tours, cooking classes, wine tastings, cattle drives, harvest festivals, corn mazes, roadside vegetable stands, and much more.

Does Augusta County want agri-tourism?

Next -- Part 4: Francis Chester ... the only lawyer willing to represent VAST in Augusta County?

Cross-posted at Virginia Virtucon and SWAC Girl

Augusta County shuts down Rocket Boys ... part 2

Part 2: Who is VAST?

See part 1.

Who is VAST? From their website:

Located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, the Valley AeroSpace Team (VAST) is the area's only public rocketry club. VAST is a chartered Prefecture of the Tripoli Rocketry Association (Tripoli Western Virginia #36) and a chartered Section of the National Association of Rocketry (NAR Section #687).

What Do We Do? The Valley AeroSpace Team holds meetings, workshops, and launches for the purpose of aiding and encouraging all those interested in rocketry. We also strive to increase public understanding and interest in rocketry by engaging in fun, scientific, and educational activities.

Why Hobby Rocketry? Since we can’t all work for NASA or catch a ride on the Space Shuttle, we’re left to do the next best thing … launch our own. The thrill of watching something you built streak out of sight riding a tail of flame and smoke is hard to beat. Whether they’re small model rockets or the larger, high-powered versions, they’re all fun and educational. Rocketry is an activity enjoyed by families and enthusiasts of all ages. People from all walks of life enjoy this hobby.

Is Hobby Rocketry Safe? Following strict safety codes has made rocketry one of the safest recreational activities available. In more than fifty years of hobby rocketry, there has not been one fatality or serious injury. Under the umbrella of our two national sanctioning organizations, the Tripoli Rocketry Association (TRA) and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR), Valley AeroSpace Team members launch rockets ranging from small scale models to custom designed high power rockets.

A safe, family-oriented, educational activity for young people in a rural area sounds like a good thing. After all, we could use more wholesome activities because meth and other drugs are a big problem.

Instead of doing drugs or hanging out at the mall or getting in trouble, young people overseen by volunteer advisors were fortunate to participate in what could be a stepping stone to future education and careers.

I can almost hear Captain James Kirk on the USS Enterprise saying, "Space ... the final frontier...."

Next -- Part 3: What is agri-tourism?

Augusta County shuts down Rocket Boys ... part 1

Part 1: We have our own October Sky in Augusta County

Remember the movie October Sky that told the true story of Homer Hickam of West Virginia, a coal miner's son who was intrigued by the Soviet Sputnik satellite in the 1950s that streaked across the October sky?

That incident inspired Homer to study rocketry, win a science contest, go away to college, and eventually earn his Ph.D. and become a NASA scientist. And it all began when he and his friends put together and launched model rockets even though some of the town people tried to shut them down.

Just imagine ... in Augusta County there is a new generation of Rocket Boys who could be future NASA scientists, much like Homer.

And in western Augusta County with its large tracts of land, there appears to be the perfect place for a local rocket club to teach science in the wide open spaces, smack in the middle of 500 acres of land, isolated from surrounding properties.

Wrong.

Not in Augusta County. Just like the town went after Homer and his friend, the county has shut down the kids in the local rocketry club. One anonymous complaint was all it took to deny further launchings. The complainer's identity was never revealed but the name has been widely circulated through the western Augusta rural grape vine.

An activity that had been ongoing for 18 months with the landowner's permission was suddenly over. A county that had a supervisor and state delegate promoting "agritourism" seemed to contradict itself by shutting down the rocketry club.

Since the club was first founded in 2005, over 400 area youth launched their first rockets. In October 2007 VAST co-hosted 250 Boy Scouts as part of their District Camporee in Rockingham County called "October Fly" as part of the 50-year anniversary of the launch of Sputnik.

At the current location, known as Croft Field, there were usually four to eight children at launches that were held monthly over a Saturday and Sunday with less participation during the winter month and more during the summer. The most fliers they had was the last launch in August of 2009 when 19 showed up. Usually an average of 15-25 spectators were present. Bad weather sometimes prevented launches on one or both days.

The club has outlined and documented the entire case on the club's website where the following announcement is now posted:

Until Further Notice
VAST was denied a special use permit by the Augusta CountyBoard of Zoning Appeals on September 3rd, 2009. The decison has been appealled to the Circuit Court of Augusta County. VAST is awaiting a hearing date.

And that's where I began my research into a case that was in the local newspapers and specifically brought to my attention by the club's president. A "routine" request for a special use permit ended up not so routine and VAST went to court to appeal the Zoning Board's denial of a group of boys who wanted to fly rockets in Augusta County, Virginia.

Next: Part 2: Who is VAST?