Safety

Safety is always at the forefront of our minds. We want to ensure that all participants and well as spectators of the rocket launch are safe. As you scroll through this page you can find all the protocols that we will be following to ensure our saftey as well as the safety of others at the launch site.

Launch Site Safety Requirements

1. Materials

We will use only lightweight, non-metal parts for the nose, body, and fins of our rocket.

2. Motors

We 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.

3. Ignition System

We will launch our rockets with an electrical launch system and electrical motor igniters. Our 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.

4. Misfires

If the rocket does not launch when we press the button of our electrical launch system, we 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.

5. Launch Safety

We will use a countdown before launch, and will ensure that everyone is paying attention and is a safe distance of at least 30 feet. If we are uncertain about the safety or stability of an untested rocket, we 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, we will observe a safe distance of 1.5 times the maximum expected altitude of any launched rocket.

6. Launcher

We will launch our rocket from a launch rod that is pointed to within 15 degrees of the vertical to ensure that the rocket flies nearly straight up, and we will use a blast deflector to prevent the motor’s exhaust from hitting the ground. To prevent accidental eye injury, we 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.

7. Size

The rocket will not contain more than 125 g (4.4 ounces) of propellant or 320 N-sec (71.9 pound-seconds) of total impulse.

8. Flight Safety

We will not launch the rocket at targets, into clouds, or near airplanes, and will not put any flammable or explosive in payload.

9. Launch Site

We will launch the 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. We will ensure that there is no dry grass close to the launch pad, and that the launch site does not present risk of wildfire.

10. Recovery System

We will use a recovery system such as parachute so that it returns safely and undamaged and can be flown again, and we will use only flame-resistant or fireproof recovery system wadding in our rocket.

11. Recovery Safety

We will not attempt to recover the rocket from power lines, tall trees, or other dangerous places.