Certification. I will only fly high power rockets or
possess high power rocket motors that are within the scope of my
user certification and required licensing.
Materials. I will use only lightweight materials such as
paper, wood, rubber, plastic, fiberglass, or when necessary ductile
metal, for the construction of my rocket.
Motors. I will use only certified, commercially made rocket
motors, and will not tamper with these motors or use them for any
purposes except those recommended by the manufacturer. I will not
allow smoking, open flames, nor heat sources within 25 feet of these
motors.
Ignition System. I will launch my rockets with an
electrical launch system, and with electrical motor igniters that
are installed in the motor only after my rocket is at the launch pad
or in a designated prepping area. My launch system will have a
safety interlock that is in series with the launch switch that is
not installed until my rocket is ready for launch, and will use a
launch switch that returns to the "off" position when
released. If my rocket has onboard ignition systems for motors or
recovery devices, these will have safety interlocks that interrupt
the current path until the rocket is at the launch pad.
Misfires. If my rocket does not launch when I press the
button of my electrical launch system, I will remove the launcher's
safety interlock or disconnect its battery, and will wait 60 seconds
after the last launch attempt before allowing anyone to approach the
rocket.
Launch Safety. I will use a 5-second countdown before
launch. I will ensure that no person is closer to the launch pad
than allowed by the accompanying Minimum Distance Table, and that a
means is available to warn participants and spectators in the event
of a problem. I will check the stability of my rocket before flight
and will not fly it if it cannot be determined to be stable.
Launcher. I will launch my rocket from a stable device that
provides rigid guidance until the rocket has attained a speed that
ensures a stable flight, and that is pointed to within 20 degrees of
vertical. If the wind speed exceeds 5 miles per hour I will use a
launcher length that permits the rocket to attain a safe velocity
before separation from the launcher. I will use a blast deflector to
prevent the motor's exhaust from hitting the ground. I will ensure
that dry grass is cleared around each launch pad in accordance with
the accompanying Minimum Distance table, and will increase this
distance by a factor of 1.5 if the rocket motor being launched uses
titanium sponge in the propellant.
Size. My rocket will not contain any combination of motors
that total more than 40,960 N-sec (9208 pound-seconds) of total
impulse. My rocket will not weigh more at liftoff than one-third of
the certified average thrust of the high power rocket motor(s)
intended to be ignited at launch.
Flight Safety. I will not launch my rocket at targets, into
clouds, near airplanes, nor on trajectories that take it directly
over the heads of spectators or beyond the boundaries of the launch
site, and will not put any flammable or explosive payload in my
rocket. I will not launch my rockets if wind speeds exceed 20 miles
per hour. I will comply with Federal Aviation Administration
airspace regulations when flying, and will ensure that my rocket
will not exceed any applicable altitude limit in effect at that
launch site.
Launch Site. I will launch my rocket outdoors, in an open
area where trees, power lines, buildings, and persons not involved
in the launch do not present a hazard, and that is at least as large
on its smallest dimension as one-half of the maximum altitude to
which rockets are allowed to be flown at that site or 1500 feet,
whichever is greater.
Launcher Location. My launcher will be at least one half
the minimum launch site dimension, or 1500 feet (whichever is
greater) from any inhabited building, or from any public highway on
which traffic flow exceeds 10 vehicles per hour, not including
traffic flow related to the launch. It will also be no closer than
the appropriate Minimum Personnel Distance from the accompanying
table from any boundary of the launch site.
Recovery System. I will use a recovery system such as a
parachute in my rocket so that all parts of my rocket return safely
and undamaged and can be flown again, and I will use only
flame-resistant or fireproof recovery system wadding in my rocket.
Recovery Safety. I will not attempt to recover my rocket
from power lines, tall trees, or other dangerous places, fly it
under conditions where it is likely to recover in spectator areas or
outside the launch site, nor attempt to catch it as it approaches
the ground.
MINIMUM DISTANCE TABLE
Installed Total Impulse (Newton-Seconds)
Equivalent High Power Motor Type
Minimum Diameter of Cleared Area (ft.)
Minimum Personnel Distance (ft.)
Minimum Personnel Distance (Complex Rocket) (ft.)
0 -- 320.00
H or smaller
50
100
200
320.01 -- 640.00
I
50
100
200
640.01 -- 1,280.00
J
50
100
200
1,280.01 -- 2,560.00
K
75
200
300
2,560.01 -- 5,120.00
L
100
300
500
5,120.01 -- 10,240.00
M
125
500
1000
10,240.01 -- 20,480.00
N
125
1000
1500
20,480.01 -- 40,960.00
O
125
1500
2000
Note: A Complex rocket is one that is multi-staged or that is
propelled by two or more rocket motors
