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Forrest Mims was interested in science and electronics as a youth and even built an [[analog computer]] while in high school.<ref name = "ME 1987">{{cite magazine | last = Mims | first = Forrest | title = A Homebrew Analog Computer |magazine= Modern Electronics | volume = 4 | issue = 12 | pages =39–41 | date = December 1987 | issn = 0748-9889}}Mims describes the analog computer he built in high school. The article has a photograph and schematics of the computer.</ref> Mims graduated from [[Texas A&M University]] in 1966 (major in government with minors in English and history) then became a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force.<ref name = "Blind">{{cite news | title = New Device Helps The Blind | work = The San Antonio Light | page = 2 | date = April 15, 1966| quote = Although a political science major at A&M, Mims's second interest obviously is 'science and inventing things.'}}</ref> While serving in [[Vietnam]] as an intelligence officer, Mims continued his model rocket hobby.<ref name = "Rocketry in Vietnam">{{cite journal | last = Mims | first = Forrest M. | title = Model Rocketry in Vietnam | journal = Model Rocketry | volume = 2 | issue = 4 | pages =23–25 | publisher = Model Rocketry, Inc | ___location = Cambridge, MA | date = January 1970 | url = http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/rockets/ModelRocketry/ModelRocketry.html}}</ref> At Texas A&M, Mims developed an infrared obstacle-sensing device and he experimented with it at the Saigon School for Blind Boys and Girls. Launching model rockets in an area accustomed to rocket attacks and working with blind children resulted in a story in the military newspaper, [[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|''Stars and Stripes'']].<ref name = "Stars Stripes 1967">{{cite journal | title = There Is No Substitute For Talent | journal = Pacific Stars and Stripes | volume = 23 | issue = 291 | page =9 | ___location = Tokyo, Japan | date = October 19, 1967}}</ref> This caught the attention of an Air Force Colonel, who arranged for Mims to be assigned to the Weapons Laboratory at Kirtland AFB even though Mims lacked an engineering degree.{{sfnp|Mims|1986 |pages=62–69}}
Roberts and Mims were both assigned to the Lab's Laser Group in 1968. Roberts had reactivated Reliance Engineering and built an infrared intrusion alarm for his uncle's fish farm in [[Florida]]. Later, Roberts and Stan Cagle, a civilian worker who also went to Oklahoma State, started building a power supply they hoped to sell.{{sfnp|Mims|1986|pages=27–28}} Mims became an advisor to the Albuquerque Model Rocket Club and met George
===Model rocket kits===
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