LUNAR Events

Our monthly launches at Robertson Park are generally held from 8:30am to 12:30pm on the third Saturday of the month, unless preempted by other civic events. Our monthly launches at Snow Ranch are held on the first saturday of the month when there is no fire danger. See the online calendar for details.

The Robertson Park Launch Site

(See also this rocket's eye view from Larry Baskett's InitiaCam.)

It's easy to drive to our Robertson Park launch site, which is on the south side of Livermore at the soccer practice field of Robertson Park, adjacent to the Rodeo Grounds. Generally we hold sport launches, where you are free to launch any sort of rocket that conforms to the NAR or Tripoli safety code. All rockets are subject to a preflight safety inspection by the Safety Check Officer, and are flown following our established field procedures.

LUNAR's Robertson Park launch site has been certified by the Fire Marshal up through "F" power. We formerly were certified through "H" power but due to enrochment of housing in the area that has been reduced to "F".

Snow Ranch Launch Site

The Snow Ranch launch site is located on highway 4 about 30 miles east of Stockton. Here is a rockets eye view of the launch site by Jamie Clay and a topographic map of the area (the map is centered on the launch site). The Ranch is about an hour drive from Livermore. The field is certified Level 2 with a 15,000 foot ceiling. We are currently allowing up to K motors on that field. The Snow Ranch (http://www.orvisranch.com) launch site is a field on an operating cattle ranch so normal ranch rules apply.

• If you open a gate, close it.
• Don't bother the bulls, cows, and especially the calves.
• Don't tear up the turf.
• Stay on the marked roads. In the wet months your car will disappear in the mud if you stray off the road.
• There are wild animals in the area, including squirrels, rabbits, rattle snakes, coyotes, eagles, and mountain lions. Keep an eye on your children and don't stick your hands and feet where you cannot see. Especially stay away from the rock fences, the black berry bushes, and the brushy rock formations. They are full of snakes but they won't bother you if you don't bother them.

There are no amenities at the field so bring everything that you will need. We will rent a porta potty for the event.

LUNAR has a Rocket Hunter radio locator receiver you can use to find lost rockets. You must supply the transmitter. See the Radio Locator page for more information.

Note, however, that you can only count on flying motors up through "G" on a drop-in basis. Flying "H" and larger motors requires both HPR Level 1 certification (NAR or TRA) and the presence of a licensed Class III Pyrotechnician to supervise the flight. There are a few licensees in the club, so it is likely (but not guaranteed) that one will be on hand at any given launch.

Flight Costs

A per-flight launch fee (25 cents for A - E motors, 50 cents for F and G motors, and $1.00 for H and above motors) is charged specifically for equipment maintenance. This allows us to keep our highly regarded launch equipment in first class shape by frequent replacement of igniter clips and upgrades such as all stainless steel launch rods. Members can earn four launch credits by volunteering for range jobs such as equipment setup, Range Safety, Launch Control, equipment takedown, etc. You do not need to be a LUNAR member to fly. Non-members are charged a $5/day flying fee in addition to the per-flight fee to help cover our costs for insurance and equipment maintenance. However, if you are going to be flying with us more than once during the year is is usually less expensive to join LUNAR.

Once or twice a year we hold sanctioned contest launches for points in the NAR national contest standings. These are often organized in conjunction with other rocket clubs in the area (BayNar, AeroPac) but you don't have to be a member of any of them (or even the NAR) to participate. You are welcome to join just for the spirit of competition! See the contest calendar for a list of dates.

LUNAR section meetings take place every other month. See the online calendar for dates and topics.

A typical LUNAR meeting covers club business, followed by a presentation by a club member and/or visiting expert on some aspect of rocketry, ranging from simple building tips to advanced science and engineering principles.

The meetings are held at the Robert Livermore Community Center or the Carnagie building in Livermore. Consult the directions page to see how to get there.

LUNAR in the San Francisco Chronicle. (10/19/2007)

LUNAR mentioned in the California Rangeland Trust News. (Fall/Winter 2006)

LUNAR at the EBRC Air Show 2005.

LUNAR at the EBRC Air Show 2003.

LUNAR on Channel 2 News 2/26/2003.

LUNAR on Evening Magazine 11/7/2002.

LUNAR at the EBRC Air Show 2002.

LUNAR highlighted on the Fresh Gear TV show.

LUNAR on the SciSquad TV show.

LUNAR at the East Bay Radio Controllers Aeromodeling Show, October 8, 2000. Demonstrating model rocketry to the aeromodelers.

LUNAR Goes To The Moon, July 17, 1999, 30 year anniversary of the moon landing.

NAR Regional meet III, 21 April 96

Livermore Air Show, 9-10 Sept 95

NAR Regional meet II, 20 Aug 95

Map of Robertson Park, Livermore, CA 94550

From the North and East Bay:

From the East Using Concannon Blvd.

Take 580 towards Livermore and get off at the "Livermore Ave" exit. Turn south towards town. Keep going until you've driven clear through town and are going out the other side (about three miles). After you pass the City Hall/Police station get ready to turn right at Concannon Blvd. in about 1/2 mile. After a short (1/4 mile) stretch, turn right again onto Robertson Park Road which will take you past the city corporation yard and two Soccer fields. We launch from the large grassy field just past the Soccer fields.

From the West Using South L St.

Take 580 towards Livermore and get off at the "Portola Street" exit. Take a right on "L Street" and go all the way through the center of Livermore (about 3 miles). You will pass "First Street," "Second Street," etc. and come to a four way stop sign at "College Ave." Straight ahead is a bridge. Continue south across the bridge. About 100 yards past the bridge is a sign on the left for Robertson Park and the Rodeo grounds. Turn left there onto "Robertson Park Road" and follow it around passed the Rodeo grounds. Just past the Rodeo grounds, the road makes a sharp right turn and directly ahead of you is a dirt parking lot. Park there. We fly on the grass field adjacent to that parking lot.

From the South Bay:

From the East Using Concannon Blvd.

Take 680 north over the Mission Grade. After you're on the far side of the grade, prepare to take Hwy. 84/Vallecitos Rd which peels off to the right. Follow this ~7 miles to Livermore. As you come into town, you'll see a shopping center with an Albertson's on your left. This is Concannon Blvd. Turn right and go ~2 miles. Concannon takes you right past the entrance to Roberston Park. Turn left onto R obertson Park Road which will take you past the city corporation yard and two Soccer fields. We launch from the large grassy field just past the Soccer fields.

From the West Using South L St.

Take 680 north over the Mission Grade. After you're on the far side of the grade, prepare to take Hwy. 84/Vallecitos Rd which peels off to the right. Follow this ~7 miles to Livermore. As you come into town, you'll see a shopping center with an Albertson's on your left. This is Concannon Blvd. Turn right and go ~1 mile to the light at Arroyo. Turn left and go another mile. Just before the bridge is the entrance to Robertson Park and the Rodeo grounds on the right. Turn right onto Robertson Park Road and follow it past the Rodeo grounds. Just past the Rodeo grounds, the road makes a sharp right turn and directly ahead of you is a dirt parking lot. Park there. We fly on the grassy field adjacent to the parking lot.

From Pleasanton:

From the East using Concannon Blvd.

Take Stanley Blvd. out of Pleasanton to Livermore. As you come into town, turn right at the ARCO station (Murietta Blvd.). Follow this for a mile to the second stop light. Go through the light but prepare to turn right immediately (like in 100 ft) onto College Ave. Follow College about 2 miles until it ends at a "T" with Livermore Ave. In front of you will be City Hall/Police station. Turn right onto Livermore Ave, then right again at Concannon Blvd. in about 1/2 mile. After a short (1/4 mile) stretch, turn right again onto Robertson Park Road which will take you past the city corporation yard and two Soccer fields. We launch from the large grassy field just past the Soccer fields.

From the West using South L St.

Take Stanley Blvd. out of Pleasanton to Livermore. As you come into town, turn right at the ARCO station (Murietta Blvd.). Follow this for a mile to the second stop light. Go through the light but prepare to turn right immediately (like in 100 ft) onto College Ave. Follow College about 1 mile until you reach a four way stop sign at South L Street. Turn right and there is a bridge immediately in front of you. Continue south across the bridge. About 100 yards past the bridge is a sign on the left for Robertson Park and the Rodeo grounds. Turn left onto Robertson Park Road and follow it past the Rodeo grounds. Just past the Rodeo grounds, the road makes a sharp right turn and directly ahead of you is a dirt parking lot. Park there. We fly on the grassy field adjacent to the parking lot.

The Snow Ranch is located about 30 miles east of Stockton on highway 4. turn in at the stone gateposts shown here.

Map of 9601 E Highway 4, Farmington, CA 95230-9607

From The North Bay And East Bay From Oakland Northward:

Take I-80/580/680 (whichever is closer to you) to State Route 4 and head east. Continue on 4 all the way to Stockton where it goes north on I5 one exit and then east to 99. Go south on the combined 4/99 two exits until 4 splits off again at the “Farmington” exit. Continue east on 4 and in about 17 miles you'll come to Farmington. This is your last chance to buy food or other supplies (but there is presently no gas station). Continue about 10 miles further on 4 east and you will cross the Milton-Eugene road. About 1 mile beyond the Milton-Eugene road, Highway 4 bends slightly to the right. On your left you will see two stone gateposts. This is the entrance to Snow Ranch (the sign reads “Orvis Cattle Company”). Turn in and travel up the driveway until you reach the houses and garages. Turn right immediately before the garage, go over the cattle guard and follow the road into the field. A few hundred feet beyond the cattle guard the road branches. Take the right branch and continue about one mile to the launch site. There is a gate about halfway along that you must open, and be sure to close and re-latch it after you have passed. CAUTION! Stay only on the road. The land on either side can be very soft and a car (even a 4WD) can easily get stuck.

From The East Bay From San Leandro Southward:

Take 580 east over the Altamont Pass. Continue straight when 580 splits off to the right and the road changes to 205. Continue on 205 until it merges with I-5 north in Tracy. About 10 miles up I-5 you will come to the junction with SR 4. Take 4 east (that’s the second “4” exit, the first one is west) about three miles where it merges with 99. Go south on the combined 4/99 two exits until 4 splits off again at the “Farmington” exit. Continue east on 4 and in about 17 miles you'll come to Farmington. This is your last chance to buy food or other supplies (but there is presently no gas station). Continue about 10 miles further on 4 east, and you will cross the Milton-Eugene road. About 1 mile beyond the Milton-Eugene road, Highway 4 bends slightly to the right. On your left you will see two stone gateposts. This is the entrance to Snow Ranch (the sign reads “Orvis Cattle Company”). Turn in and travel up the driveway until you reach the houses and garages. Turn right immediately before the garage, go over the cattle guard and follow the road into the field. A few hundred feet beyond the cattle guard the road branches. Take the right branch and continue about one mile to the launch site. There is a gate about halfway along that you must open and be sure to close and re-latch it after you have passed. CAUTION! Stay only on the road. The land on either side can be very soft and a car (even a 4WD) can easily get stuck.

From The South Bay:

Take I-680 north over the Mission Grade. After you're on the far side of the grade, you have a choice of continuing up 680 to 580, or taking SR 84 to Livermore and through town to 580. The all-freeway route adds about 12 miles to the trip, but there are now a large number of stoplights along the route through Livermore, so time-wise it’s about the same. Once on 580 east, continue over the Altamont Pass. Continue straight when 580 splits off to the right and the road changes to 205. Continue on 205 until it merges with I-5 north in Tracy. About 10 miles up I-5 you will come to the junction with SR 4. Take 4 east (that’s the second “4” exit, the first one is west) about three miles where it merges with 99. Go south on the combined 4/99 two exits until 4 splits off again at the “Farmington” exit. Continue east on 4 and in about 17 miles you'll come to Farmington. This is your last chance to buy food or other supplies (but there is presently no gas station). Continue about 10 miles further on 4 east, and you will cross the Milton-Eugene road. About 1 mile beyond the Milton-Eugene road, Highway 4 bends slightly to the right. On your left you will see two stone gateposts. This is the entrance to Snow Ranch (the sign reads “Orvis Cattle Company”). Turn in and travel up the driveway until you reach the houses and garages. Turn right immediately before the garage, go over the cattle guard and follow the road into the field. A few hundred feet beyond the cattle guard the road branches. Take the right branch and continue about one mile to the launch site. There is a gate about halfway along that you must open, and be sure to close and re-latch it after you have passed. CAUTION! Stay only on the road. The land on either side can be very soft and a car (even a 4WD) can easily get stuck.

From The Central Valley:

From anywhere in the Central Valley, take I-5 towards Stockton. On the south side of Stockton is the junction with SR 4. Take 4 east about three miles where it merges with 99. Go south on the combined 4/99 two exits until 4 splits off again at the “Farmington” exit. Continue east on 4 and in about 17 miles you'll come to Farmington. This is your last chance to buy food or other supplies (but there is presently no gas station). Continue about 10 miles further on 4 east, and you will cross the Milton-Eugene road. About 1 mile beyond the Milton-Eugene road, Highway 4 bends slightly to the right. On your left you will see two stone gateposts. This is the entrance to Snow Ranch (the sign reads “Orvis Cattle Company”). Turn in and travel up the driveway until you reach the houses and garages. Turn right immediately before the garage, go over the cattle guard and follow the road into the field. A few hundred feet beyond the cattle guard the road branches. Take the right branch and continue about one mile to the launch site. There is a gate about halfway along that you must open, and be sure to close and re-latch it after you have passed. CAUTION! Stay only on the road. The land on either side can be very soft and a car (even a 4WD) can easily get stuck.

The red star is the planned range head. The white areas are concrete. There are bleachers on the concrete and backstop fences that edge the concrete with the 2 baseball fields.

The yellow star is the entrance for the trailer. The area with ovals near the yellow star is an open BMX track with bumps and jumps that can be up to 5 or 6 feet.

The green star is about where the bathrooms are.

Directions from Livermore

1. Take I-580 East
2. I-5 South
3. Exit at Sperry Avenue and go East
4. Turn right onto Ward Avenue and go South to the park

Here's a link for Google Maps to the Patterson Launch Site.

We'll be flying from behind the baseball fields, so we may not be visible from the road.

Map and driving directions.

Livermore Carnagie Building
2155 Third St.

At the Carnagie building, we meet downstairs.

Map and directions

Livermore Library
1188 South Livermore Ave.

At the Livermore Library, we meet in the Community room which is to the right after you enter the library.

Map and directions

From the North and East Bay:

Take 580 towards Livermore and get off at the "Livermore Ave" exit. Turn south towards town. After about two miles you’ll come to a large flagpole which is First Street. Go three more blocks and turn left on East Ave. This is a 5 way interesction with 4th street to your right and East Ave. diagonally to your left. The Robert Livermore Community Center is just over one mile down East Ave. on your left. The Carnagie building, is to your right, a couple of blocks down 4th st. on your right. The Livermore Library is about 5 blocks straight ahead on the left.

From the South Bay:

Take 680 north over the Mission Grade. After you're on the far side of the grade, prepare to take Hwy. 84/Vallecitos Rd which peels off to the right. Follow this ~7 miles to Livermore. As you come into town, you'll see a shopping center with an Albertson's on your left. Continue into town until you reach 4th street. Turn right on 4th street and follow it across town to the light at Livermore Ave. This is a 5-way intersection and East Ave. is the one diagonally right. The Robert Livermore Community Center is just over one mile down East Ave. on your left. The Carnagie building is on the North side of 4th street before you reach Livermore Ave. To get to the Livermore Library, turn right at South Livermore Ave. and go about 5 blocks. The library is on your left.

From Pleasanton:

Take Stanley Blvd. out of Pleasanton to Livermore. As you come into town, turn right at the Arco Station (Murietta Blvd.). Follow this for two miles (it will change names to Fourth Street along the way). About a mile down Fourth Street you’ll come to the light at Livermore Ave. This is a 5-way intersection and East Ave. is the one diagonally right. The Robert Livermore Community Center is just over one mile down East Ave. on your left. The Carnagie building is on the North side of 4th street before you reach Livermore Ave. To get to the Livermore Library, turn right at South Livermore Ave. and go about 5 blocks. The library is on your left.

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