Changes

*'''Will the flight of the model rocket vehicle “bust” the launch site's FAA waiver?''' This is very important. You must be able to anticipate the altitude your rocket will fly to and be prepared to show simulation data if asked for it. For a single motor, you may be denied a launch if you expect to reach within 15% of the waiver height (15,000' for LUNAR and 16,800' for TCC). This won't be an issue for L1's, but you will certainly be asked what your rocket's expected apogee is, and you better be prepared to answer with an accurate model to back your number.

*'''Will the flight of the model rocket vehicle “bust” the launch site's FAA waiver?''' This is very important. You must be able to anticipate the altitude your rocket will fly to and be prepared to show simulation data if asked for it. For a single motor, you may be denied a launch if you expect to reach within 15% of the waiver height (15,000' for LUNAR and 16,800' for TCC). This won't be an issue for L1's, but you will certainly be asked what your rocket's expected apogee is, and you better be prepared to answer with an accurate model to back your number.

*'''Will the rocket penetrate cloud cover?

*'''Will the rocket penetrate cloud cover?''' In accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) (the FAA regulations pertaining to who can or can't use airspace), high power rockets cannot be launched into cloud cover greater than 50% or visibility less than 5 miles.

=== Motors ===

=== Motors ===

*'''Is the motor certified?'''

*'''Is the motor certified?''' NAR, TRA, and NFPA Safety Codes require that only certified motors be used. Motors are certified by undergoing testing as set forth by the NFPA. TRA and NAR have a reciprocity agreement so that motors that are certified with one organization are upheld by the other. Main takeaway: make sure your motor is certified (it will be) and would be good to know which organization did the certification [http://www.thrustcurve.org/searchpage.jsp  (easily looked up online)].

*'''What is the motor type and average thrust? Is the delay time is approximate for rocket?'''

*'''What is the motor type, average thrust, and rocket weight? Is the delay time is approximate for rocket?''' Motors may be single-use or reloadable, and can be solid, liquid, or hybrids. SSI currently only uses solid motors. Your L1 motor will likely be a single-use motor as these are less prone to errors in assembly that can occur with reloadable casings. The rule of thumb regarding motor selection is a 5-to-1 thrust-to-weight ratio. The motor delay should be set appropriately for the rocket configuration and weather conditions. Motors with longer delays have lower weight recommendations so be sure to run simulations and have a good idea of what delay you need on launch day.

*'''Is the igniter a low-current igniter?'''

*'''Is the igniter a low-current igniter?''' '''''DO NOT USE LOW-CURRENT IGNITERS FOR YOUR MOTOR IGNITION''''' I repeat. '''''DO NOT USE LOW-CURRENT IGNITERS FOR YOUR MOTOR IGNITION''''' Low-current igniters, as their name suggest, ignite with very little current -- so little in fact that the continuity test can set them off. This means that if you do not follow this ''very important warning'', you could end up in a situation where you put your rocket on the rails, connect up the leads, go to press the button for continuity and '''''BAMMMMM''''' YOUR ROCKET GOES FLYING OFF IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE. '''''DO NOT USE LOW-CURRENT IGNITERS FOR YOUR MOTOR IGNITION''''' AKA '''NO Electric Matches'''. E-matches are ok for ejection charges in avionics bays (for L2s+), but they should '''NOT''' be used for motor ignition.

*'''Does your rocket motor have the ejection charge installed?'''

*'''Does your rocket motor have the ejection charge installed?''' This involves pouring a small amount of ejection charge into the top of your motor and putting a cap on it. Do not forget to do this. People have forgotten before (apparently) so don't let that be you, otherwise you'll find rocket will go up quickly, and then proceed to come down ''very'' quickly. And dangerously. And you won't get certified. So don't forget.

*'''Is sufficient wadding/Kevlar installed?'''

*'''Is sufficient wadding/Kevlar installed?''' Wadding, sometimes referred to as dog barf, is fire-retardant, blown-cellulose insulation (used in home insulation) that protects your rocket/shock cord/parachute protector from getting blown to smithereens by your ejection charge. The Kevlar pads in the Firestorm kits serve an equivalent purpose of protector your parachutes from getting fried. Be sure the Kevlar pad fully wraps around the area of your parachute that is facing the ejection charge. Use your head on this one -- what good is a Kevlar covering, if it isn't covering the part of your parachute that is going to get blasted with BP/Pyrodex?

*'''What kind of motor retention system is installed?'''

*'''What kind of motor retention system is installed?''' Motors can be retained with either a friction fit (not recommended) or a positive retention system such as motor clips or retaining rings (what you'll be using for Firestorms) Examine the motor retainer and retaining rings carefully and make sure the smaller ring is sitting inside the groove of the retainer, not just pressed into the retainer anywhere. Give your motor a good pull (the RSO may do this also) and make sure the motor cannot fall out in anyway.

*'''What prevents the motor from flying-through the rocket?'''

*'''What prevents the motor from flying-through the rocket?''' Give your motor a good push (the RSO may do this also) and make sure neither the motor nor the motor tube move inside the airframe.

=== Rocket Construction ===

=== Rocket Construction ===