L1 Certification

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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.

Background Information

NASA's online Beginner's Guide To Rockets will get you started on many of the basic principles governing rocketry. If you manage to make your way through all of these, you will understand the vernacular often used in rocketry.

Safety Codes

NAR

Materials. I will use only lightweight, non-metal parts for the nose, body, and fins of my rocket.

Motors. I will use only certified, commercially-made model rocket motors, and will not tamper with these motors or use them for any purposes except those recommended by the manufacturer.

Ignition System. I will launch my rockets with an electrical launch system and electrical motor igniters. My launch system will have a safety interlock in series with the launch switch, and will use a launch switch that returns to the “off” position when released.

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 countdown before launch, and will ensure that everyone is paying attention and is a safe distance of at least 15 feet away when I launch rockets with D motors or smaller, and 30 feet when I launch larger rockets. If I am uncertain about the safety or stability of an untested rocket, I will check the stability before flight and will fly it only after warning spectators and clearing them away to a safe distance. When conducting a simultaneous launch of more than ten rockets I will observe a safe distance of 1.5 times the maximum expected altitude of any launched rocket. Launcher. I will launch my rocket from a launch rod, tower, or rail that is pointed to within 30 degrees of the vertical to ensure that the rocket flies nearly straight up, and I will use a blast deflector to prevent the motor’s exhaust from hitting the ground. To prevent accidental eye injury, I will place launchers so that the end of the launch rod is above eye level or will cap the end of the rod when it is not in use. Size. My model rocket will not weigh more than 1,500 grams (53 ounces) at liftoff and will not contain more than 125 grams (4.4 ounces) of propellant or 320 N-sec (71.9 pound-seconds) of total impulse. Flight Safety. I will not launch my rocket at targets, into clouds, or near airplanes, and will not put any flammable or explosive payload in my rocket. Launch Site. I will launch my rocket outdoors, in an open area at least as large as shown in the accompanying table, and in safe weather conditions with wind speeds no greater than 20 miles per hour. I will ensure that there is no dry grass close to the launch pad, and that the launch site does not present risk of grass fires. Recovery System. I will use a recovery system such as a streamer or parachute in my rocket so that it returns 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.

L1 Requirements

The following is a combination of the NAR and TRA requirements and rules.

You must be at least 18 years old to be certified for Level 1. Although it is good practice to already be a member of NAR and/or TRA before certifying, in practice it is not enforced. Motors must be certified and non-experimental.

Your certifier (in NAR) needs to be either two people with the level you are attempting for, or one person with the level above the one you are attempting for. They must witness the flight.

TRA and NAR

This section is a verbatim copy of TRA's page on L1 certification. Level 1 Certification allows flyers to fly High Power Rockets with a total installed impulse up to 640 newton-seconds.

Airframe

The rocket must be built by the flyer. The rocket shall have a display on the exterior identifying the calculated center of pressure. The rocket must be of "conventional rocket design". "Odd Rockets" including flying pyramids, saucers and flying spools will not be allowed for any certification flight. The rocket may be either a kit or scratch built. Scratch built rockets may contain commercially built components.

Recovery

Standard parachute recovery is required. Non-parachute recovery methods (e.g. tumble, helicopter, gliding, etc) are not permitted for certification flights. If the rocket is using dual deployment, the first recovery event may be via a drogue-less or streamer as long as the main or second event uses a standard parachute.

Motor

The certification flight must be with a single certified H or I motor (tested total impulse between 160.01 and 640.00 n-sec).TRA does not allow staged and/or Clustered rockets for certification flights while NAR states you must use at least one HPR motor on your certification rocket. The flyer shall be observed by the certifying member or their designated representative during the assembly (if a reload or hybrid) and preparation of the motor. Single use motors are permitted.

Electronics

Electronics are not required for level 1 certification flights.

Pre-flight Inspection

The model will be subjected to a safety inspection prior to flight. The safety inspection form is on the back of the NAR High Power Certification Application. During the safety inspection the modeler will be expected to provide oral answers to technical questions related to the safety and construction of his model. The questions may include (but not limited to) identification of the model’s center of gravity and center of pressure, methods used to determine model stability, and interpretation of the rocket motor’s designation. The certification team will initial (or check) the blocks indicating that model safety, motor certification, and the existence of a FAA waiver (if required) in effect were verified prior to flight.

Certification Flight

Level 1 Certification flight may take place at any insured launch. The certifying member (i.e. Prefect, TRA Director, NAR certifiers or TAP Member) must be present and witness the certification flight. The certifying member must witness the rocket ascend in a stable manner and descend in stabilized manner controlled by the recovery system.

Post-Flight Inspection

The rocket must be presented to the certifying member for inspection. If the rocket cannot be recovered, but can be inspected in place (power lines, tree, etc...) this is acceptable. The certifying member shall inspect the rocket for excessive damage. Excessive damage shall be considered damage to the point that if the flyer were handed another motor, the rocket could not be put on the pad and flown again safely. Damage caused by wind dragging will not cause a disqualification. If successful, the certifiers will sign the correct sheet to indicate that the certification attempt was successfully completed.

== Post-Post-Flight The certification sheets are returned to NAR or TRA Headquarters. No fees are required. The certification sheet must be returned by the certified individual or the event sponsors to NAR or TRA Headquarters to allow updating the NAR or TRA database. NAR sends an updated membership card showing the certification level upon receipt of the certification paperwork.

Non-certification

Any of the following will result in non-certification for a certification flight:

• Motor Cato
• Excessive Damage
• No recovery system deployment or tangled recovery system deployment
• Rocket drifting outside the specified launch range
• Components coming down not attached to the recovery system.
• Any other violation of TRA safety code associated with this particular flight.
• Any other legitimate reason the certifying member deems merits non-certification

Launch Locations

Map

Time launch begins

etc

Launch Day Procedures

Who You Will Meet

RSO

Mike

Cliff

Stu

What You Need To Bring

People Fuel - water food money etc

Car Fuel - petrol

Appropriate Clothing

Vendors

BAR

Range Layout

Big, cars on the side, site in the middle

Packing Your Parachute

It should not be too tight. Etc.

Here is a video.

Here is how a NAR member does it. (Cliff)

Look at these great diagrams.

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.

Here is a great video to watch.

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.

How to install an igniter

Place in the nozzle of rocket, and tape the igniter to the rocket so it does not slide out. Make sure not to short the leads of the igniters.

Here is a great video to watch.

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.

Final Steps

Mailing It In

You must mail in your certification form to have the rocketry association acknowledge your achievement. These are the addresses of NAR and TRA.