L1 Certification

In order to understand high power rocketry enough to launch and successfully recover an L1 rocket, you must read, live, and understand the following information.

L1 Requirements

L1 rocket certification allows individuals to launch rockets with an impulse up to 640 Ns. The requirements include:

• The airframe must be built by the user with external markings for the centers of gravity and pressure. Rocket kits may be used.
• A standard parachute must be used for recovery, even if a dual-deployment method is used.
• An H or I motor may be used (with impulse < 640 Ns).
• No electronics or altimeter is required.

Launch Day Procedures

Prepping Your Motor

If using a single use motor or Disposable Motor System, make sure to check that the delay on the ejection charge is correct using a simulation software (i.e. OpenRocket). If needed adjust the length of the delay grain. Then place the correct quantity of ejection propellant in the correct location. Cap it.

Range Safety Check

Is your paperwork in order?

Motors

Is the motor certified, what is the motor type and average thrust? Is the delay time is approximate for rocket?

Will the rocket penetrate cloud cover?

Does your rocket motor have the ejection charge installed?

Is sufficient wadding/Kevlar installed?

What kind of motor retention system is installed?

What prevents the motor from flying-through the rocket?

Rocket Construction

Stability? Is the CG in front of the CP? Be able to identify both.

Is the nose cone fitted correctly?

Launch lugs and/or rail guides properly installed, positioned, and aligned?

Fins atttached securely and in a manner that will not cause an unsafe flight?

Is an appropriately-sized recovery system installed and attached?

Are there vent holes?

Launch Pad Procedure

The rocket should slide freely on the rail. The pad angle should be within 20 degrees of the vertical axis (normal to the surface of the earth). Flight critical electronics (if there are any) should be armed before putting in igniters. Any radio control equipment should also be nominally operating before arming the igniters.

Success and Failure

Following the launch, the rocket will be inspected; should the airframe be deemed suitable for flight given a new motor, it will have passed L1 certification. Failed deployment, motor cato, drifting beyond a particular range (see launch officer), or the violation of other safety codes will result in a failure. L1 certification, however, is an excellent introduction to the basic operations of rockets and recovery! See Pegasus for a description of an L1 rocket used as a testbed for an L3 concept.