Meeting Recap March 12

Posted by Dwight Wilson and Susan Kealey 
 
​Rotary Meeting March 12, 2015 Recap
 
 
  • Dianne called the meeting to order, and we sang ‘You’re a Grand Ole Flag”.
  • Dante Hall started with the quote “Be the Change You Want to be in the World.”
 
 
​Rotary Meeting March 12, 2015 Recap
 
 
  • Dianne called the meeting to order, and we sang ‘You’re a Grand Ole Flag”.
  • Dante Hall started with the quote “Be the Change You Want to be in the World.”
 
  • Guests
    • Steve Wilson ---- Marshall Coleman, Executive Director for Redwood Glen an artist community, and they have provided us an auction item.
  • Happy/Crappy News
    • Rosi Fontana’s car went into the shop after her brake light came on, and she is attending her 50th college reunion.
    • Joy Enriquez says she glad to be back and is feeling much better and gave a gift to the Foundation.
    • Teresa Adam’s son is turning 40.  She also said the Pillacitos school activity that she participated in through the Chamber was a success (she was teaching business math).
    • Charise McHugh announced her daughter is a speaker on Friday at a conference where she had written a chapter in a book on Eating Disorders.
    • Ralph Ely has been touring Florida these past few weeks (in some cold weather) and now has two nephews from Germany visiting.  He mentioned real estate is incredible right now and prices are at an all time high.
    • Ginger Child-Minoletti stated with the strong dollar, this is an unbelievable time to visit world wide, especially Europe.
    • Irwin Cohen who gets massages once or twice year had two in the last two days and feels great.
    • Catherine Yague announced they are building a second house at Church & Kelly.
  • Announcements
    • Dianne introduced Karen Larson who is the Manager at Rotocare.  Lots of changes at the clinic, and she announced that the new CEO of the Peninsula Rotocare will be at the Magic of the Coastside.
    • We need to sell 106 additional tickets. There will be a raffle, and the prizes will be $500/$350/$150, and tickets will sell for $20.
    • Kevin O’Brien has a “Surprise” for the night.
    • Catherine Yague announced the distribution of the committee sign up sheet.  Assignments include:  1) Decorations and Bar; 2) Ticket Sales; 3) Setting up Tables; 4) Break down and clean up crew.
    • Next week’s meeting will be a planning meeting for Magic of the Coastside. 
  • Liz announced that Rotary is involved in the Annual Easter Egg hunt with the Boys and Girls Club on April 4th.
  • Seacrest School children wrote thank you letters for the dictionaries that were passed around for us to read..
PROGRAM - "ROCKET ENGINES"
 
Irwin introduced Ryan Bae & Steven Xu
 
Ryan Bae
-MSE Aerospace Engineering University of Michigan 2014 - research on ion thruster modeling/design
-BSE Aerospace Engineering UCLA 2012
-Propulsion Engineer at Space Systems/Loral, I work on propulsion system design/development for large communication satellites
-UCLA Rocket Project (student group) funded by AIAA for 2 years - design lead, built hybrid rocket and competition in Utah for 2 years
 
Steven Xu
-MSE Aerospace Engineering USC
-BSE Aerospace Engineering Cal Poly Pomona
-Propulsion Engineer at Space Systems/Loral
 
Ryan always wanted to go into space, into aerospace; Steven grew up with Star Trek and wanted to help us to get there.  He became an engineer instead of space ship captain.
 
  • What are Rocket engines?  They create thrust from stored propellants; applications include launch vehicles, spacecraft/satellites;
    • propellant is what shoots out the back
    • source of energy--where does the energy come fm? high pressure gas, hot gas to high speed. 
    • specific impulse=measure of rocket efficiency--use that and sound smart at a cocktail party
  • Why is rocket science so hard?
    • We are dealing with very wide ranges of temperatures; as high as 6000 degrees.  The fuel is liquid oxygen.  One small mistake can lead to catastrophic failure.  The Interdisciplinary nature of rocket science also presents a challenge. 
  • Types of Rocket engines
    • chemical--most common, highest thrust, low efficiency
    • solid--simplest, least efficient, can't throttle/shut off
    • Hybrid--more complex, better efficiency, throttlable/turn on and off
    • Liquid--most complex, best efficiency
    • electric propulsion--low thrust, high efficiency, used mostly in space.  It is very efficient, less propellant needed which is a big advantage--less weight=less fuel.  One use is to orient craft, thrusters.  No chemical combustion.  Electricity comes from solar panels.  Can build up speed, over time. 
    • Voyager is powered by nuclear power which is starting to decay. 
 
The Future/Exotic Rockets
  • nuclear reactor (what could go wrong?)
  • Antimatter Rocket
  • Alcubierre Drive--Star Trek/warp drive; contracting spacetime