Rocketry

The principle of a rocket is very simple:  the fire comes out one end, and the rocket goes in the opposite direction.  Of course, making the thing go where you want it, when you want it, and the way you want takes some skill.  Especially if you want to be able to use the rocket again.

Keep in mind that rocketry is susceptible to bad weather.  Which is to say, if the weather is bad, organized events will be canceled or postponed, and individual launches ought to be, too.

Rocketry is also subject to a range of regulations, federal, state, and local.  If in doubt, ask someone.  Launching around aircraft is usually bad (though Moffett Field permits launches on certain dates).  Launching around things that will burn and/or blow up is almost certainly illegal, and if it isn't, it ought to be.  (It's also stupid, in an "I'd like to thank the committee for this Darwin Award..." sort of way.)

LUNAR

Description:  LUNAR is the Livermore Unit, National Association of Rocketry, section #534 of the National Association of Rocketry (NAR).

These people own www.lunar.org.  Think about that for a second.  They own lunar.org.  Leaving aside for a moment the matter of what a huge frakking geek score that is, just imagine how hard-core they must be to have gotten that url in the first place.

LUNAR holds organized launches from Moffett Field, usually about once a month.  They also hold launches from someplace called "Snow Ranch".  The Moffett Field launches are for low-power rockets only, the sort you can buy without a license and build with little or no experience.  Snow Ranch launches include high-power rockets, some capable of altitudes up to 15,000 feet.  That's some pretty heavy duty rocketry, to the point where it probably shouldn't be qualified as "model" rocketry anymore.

Note:  There are special rules limiting the transport of rocket motors onto Moffett Field.  Security permits people attending LUNAR events to bring rocket motors with them under special guidelines, but in general, pyrotechnic devices normally are prohibited.  CONSULT SECURITY BEFORE YOU TRANSPORT OR STORE ROCKET MOTORS ON NASA PROPERTIES.  Remember, Ames is a federal facility, and you really, seriously do not want to do anything dumb when it comes to pyrotechnic devices.

Web Site:  http://www.lunar.org/

Location:  Carnegie Building, 2155 Third Street, Livermore, CA (meetings; launches are at Moffett Field, Robertson Park in Livermore, Snow Ranch, Quail Run Park, and possibly other sites)

Launches at Moffett Field take place by Building 158, near Hangar One.

Drive Time from Ames (per Google maps):  n/a for Moffett Field launches,

Public Transit: 

Hours:  Check the web site for dates and timeetings and launches.

Cost:  Adult membership is $25 a year, plus a per-launch fee that ranges from $0.25 to $1 depending on engine size.  Non-members can launch for a $10 launch-day fee, plus the usual per-launch fees.  (So if you're planning on launching at more than two events, it's cheaper to become a member.)