Launch Information

The National Experimental Launch or BALLS 2004 is a three day event running from Friday September 10th until Sunday September 12th. The Black Brant is scheduled to fly on Saturday September 11th. Sunday is being reserved as the backup day.

Launch Location

From Reno:
Take Interstate 80 East from Reno, about 30 miles from Reno take the Wadsworth/Pryamid Lake exit #43. (The last cheap gas is available at the I80 truck stop at this exit.) Take highway 447 north about 75 miles to Gerlach. As you approach the town of Nixon don't take the Pyramid lake exit, instead drive through Nixon and continue north to Gerlach. About 5 miles before you get to Gerlach you will pass through the company town of Empire. (The store by the road here is the only thing locally that can be considered a supermarket. Stop on your way through to buy ice and anything else you forgot.) Be carefull about your speed going through all these little towns.

From Gerlach (Brunos), go northwest on Highway 447 for one mile to the fork. Take the right-hand fork, Hwy 34, and continue 11 miles to the entrance of the playa. Note: The 3-mile playa entrance (first turn-off) is not an entrance to the launch site. The launch site is about 6.3 miles from the entrance. If you have not been to a Black Rock launch or are not familiar with driving in the desert it would be best if you follow someone who has been there before or at least go out in pairs of vehicles. If you do not have a GPS it strongly recommended that you do not attempt to find the launch site, follow someone.

If you'd like to follow the Black Brant out to the launch site see the section on Travel Schedule and Meeting Points.

N 40 degrees 48.5 minutes (40.80833 Degrees N)

W 119 degrees 9.0 minutes (119.15000 Degrees W)

Range Fees

Range fees pay for the BLM fee, and for providing the porta-potties at the launch site. All who attend must pay the range fee. The fees are:

$40.00 Pre-register (Must be received prior to September 3, 2004)

Click here for the registration form

$60.00 On-Site

Driving on the Black Rock Playa

The Arizona High Power Rocket Association (AHPRA) has compiled some great tips for driving at Black Rock. This is considered must reading for anyone planning on attending BALLS.

Camping & Lodging

Stay at Bruno's Country Club and Casino (775) 557-2220, the only motel in Gerlach, with only simple clean rooms. Register at the bar just down the street and do book ahead. We try and organize our launches so that we don't collide with other users but Brunos is usually fully booked weeks before a launch.
Stay in Fernley or Reno, but it's a long drive. Motels in Fernley include: Fernley Super 8 (775) 525-5555, the Truck-Inn Motel and Casino (775) 351-1000 and the Starlite Motel (775) 575-2444.
Camp out. The BLM allows us to camp out on the lake bed, or at the Cove near the launch site. All garbage must be packed out and you must use the PortaPotties we are required to provide. There is often a strong wind in the late afternoon and/or early evening (it usually passes after an hour or two). Make sure that your tent is firmly staked (many people take them down for the day). See the following note on campfires.
Take an RV. They can be rented in Reno and can be driven onto the lake bed without problem (but be carefull if it rains). Please park your RV end on at the launch site, or in the second row, so as not to take up as much of the flight line.

Travel Schedule and Meeting Points

The Black Brant and team departs Los Angeles on Wednesday September 8th and stop for the night in Reno. The team will be staying at the home of Jimmy & Jonny Oldham. The rocket & team depart Reno and meet for lunch at Bruno's Country Club and Casino. Jeff Jacobs and his "R" hybrid project will be joining us. After lunch we will head out to the launch site. Anyone who is not familiar with driving on the playa should try and meet up with the team either in Reno, or at Bruno's and follow us out.
If you can not meet the team get to Bruno's and follow someone out.