BALLS is THE premier Experimental Rocket Launch in the Continental US. It spans 22 years however this year will be the 21st time it is held in the Black Rock Desert, North of Reno, near Gerlach, Nevada. There was no event in 2001 because of 911. Please see our Official BALLS History further down.
BALLS brings dedicated rocketry enthusiasts devoted to the leading edge of non-professional rocketry activities together for the best demonstration of experimental motor design using today's best technologies, and probably the largest non-professional rockets seen anywhere.
BALLS 21 is a venue for projects that should NOT be flown publicly due to safety and legal restrictions. This may include, but is not limited to, LARGE rockets, complex staging or clustering, metal rockets, self designed and/or fabricated rocket motors and new technologies being developed or proven. Black Rock Dry Lake has always been the site of large rocket launches. Its wide open vastness is unprecedented for its high altitude recovery record. Through the years BALLS has grown into non-professional rocketry's show place of the best there is. The quality, craftsmanship, shear size, power, technology and edge cannot be compared to any other launch anywhere. The best thing is the exchange of new thoughts and methods that are presented openly to anyone who asks. This launch will be primarily for Research Motors and/or Dangerous projects. Do NOT come to observe unless you are directly involved in flight activities, a Pre-Approved Experimental Project or invited by persons active in such ventures
Our insurance does NOT permit non Tripoli Members to be present out on Pad Areas and Away Cells. This will be strictly enforced.
Registration is REQUIRED by EVERYONE planning to attend.
THIS IS NOT A FAMILY EVENT,
CHILDREN ARE DISCOURAGED
OFFICIAL BALLS HISTORY
LOCATION - All BALLS Events held at Black Rock, Nevada
CONCEPT - Proposed as BALLS by Steve Buck, owner of High Sierra Rocketry. Designated for K-motors and above.
Advertised as FireBALLS by AeroPac, when they took over, and/or Big Ass Load Lifting Suckers (BALLS).
Today BALLS is just BALLS, the world's greatest Research Rocketry Event.
| EVENT | SPONSOR | DATE | NOTES |
| BALLS 1 | Steve Buck | August 19, 1991 | One day event in conjunction with LDRS 10 |
| BALLS 2 | Steve Buck to AEROPAC | August 17, 1992 | One day event in conjunction with LDRS 11 |
| FireBALLS 003 | AEROPAC | September 6, 1993 | One day event in conjunction with Aeronaut 4 |
| FireBALLS 004 | AEROPAC | 1994 | Stand Alone |
| FireBALLS 005 | AEROPAC | August 1995 | One day event in conjunction with LDRS 14 |
| BALLS 006 | LTR | August 1996 | Stand Alone |
| BALLS 007 | AEROPAC | July 21-22, 1997 | Held in conjunction with No-Balls on July 19-20 |
| BALLS 8 | AHPRA | August 1-3, 1998 | Stand Alone - Held a week before LDRS17 (Utah) |
| BALLS 9 | AHPRA | September 1999 | Stand Alone |
| BALLS 10 | AHPRA | September 29-October 1, 2000 | Stand Alone |
| BALLS Canceled Due To 9/11 | 2001 | ||
| BALLS 11 | AHPRA | September 28-30, 2002 | Stand Alone |
| BALLS 12 | AHPRA | September 19-21, 2003 | Stand Alone |
| BALLS 13 | AHPRA | September 10-12, 2004 | Stand Alone |
| BALLS 14 | AHPRA | September 16-18, 2005 | Stand Alone |
| BALLS 15 | AHPRA | September 20-October 1, 2006 | Stand Alone |
| BALLS 16 | AHPRA | September 29-30, 2007 | Stand Alone |
| BALLS 17 | AHPRA | September 27-29, 2008 | Stand Alone |
| BALLS 18 | AHPRA | October 2-4, 2009 | Stand Alone |
| BALLS 19 | AHPRA | September 24-26, 2010 | Stand Alone |
| BALLS 20 | AHPRA | September 30-October 1&2, 2011 | Stand Alone |
| BALLS 21 | AHPRA | September 21, 22 & 23, 2012 | Stand Alone |
