Australian Rocketry - High Power Rocket Safety Code

High Power Rocket Safety Code - Above G Motors

HIGH POWER ROCKET SAFETY CODE

1. 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.

2. OPERATING CLEARANCE. I will fly high power rockets only in compliance with Civil Aviation Safety Authority Regulations and all other federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations.

3. MATERIALS. My high power rocket will be made of lightweight materials such as (but not limited too) paper, wood, rubber, and plastic, or the minimum amount of ductile metal suitable for the power used and the performance of my rocket.

4. MOTORS. I will only use commercially-made certified rocket motors in the manner recommended by the manufacturer. I will not alter the rocket motor, its parts, or its ingredients in any way.

5. RECOVERY. I will always use a recovery system in my high power rocket that will return it safely to the ground so it may be flown again. I will use only flame resistant recovery wadding if wadding is required by the design of my rocket.

6. WEIGHT AND POWER LIMITS. My rocket will weigh no more than the motor manufacturer's recommended maximum lift-off weight for the motors used, or I will use motors recommended by the manufacturer of the rocket kit. My high power rocket will be propelled by rocket motors that produce no more than 40,960 Newton-seconds of total impulse.

7. STABILITY. I will check the stability of my high power rocket before its first flight, except when launching a model rocket of already proven stability.

8. PAYLOADS. Except insects, my high power rocket will never carry live animals or a payload that is intended to be combustible, explosive, or harmful.

9. LAUNCH SITE. I will launch my high power rocket outdoors in a cleared area, free of tall trees, power lines, buildings, and dry brush and grass. My launcher will be located at least 460 metres from any occupied building or public highway. My launch site will have minimum dimensions at least as great as those in the launch site dimension table.

HIGH POWER ROCKET MINIMUM LAUNCH SITE DIMENSIONS

Installed Total Impulse (N-sec)	Equivalent Motor Type	Minimum Site Distance (Metres)
160.01 - 320.00	H	300
320.01 - 640.00	I	915
640.01 - 1280.00	J	1,610
1280.01 - 2560.00	K	1,610
2560.01 - 5120.00	L	3,220
5120.01 - 10240.00	M	4,830
10240.01 - 20480.00	N	6,440
20480.01 - 40960.00	O	8,050

10. LAUNCHER. I will launch my high-powered rocket from a stable launch device that provides rigid guidance until the rocket has reached a speed adequate to ensure a safe flight path. To prevent accidental eye injury, I will always place the launcher so the end of the rod is above eye level or I will cap the end of the rod when approaching it. I will cap or disassemble my launch rod when not in use and I will never store it in an upright position. My launcher will have a jet deflector device to prevent the motor exhaust from hitting the ground directly. I will always clear the area for a radius of 3 metres around my launch device of brown grass, dry weeds or other easy - to - burn materials.

11. IGNITION SYSTEM. The system I use to launch my high-powered rocket will be remotely controlled and electrically operated. It will contain a launching switch that will return to "off" when released. The system will contain a removable safety interlock in series with the launch switch. All persons will remain at a distance from the high-powered rocket and launcher as determined by the total impulse of the installed rocket motor(s) according to the accompanying Safe Distance Table.

HIGH POWER ROCKET SAFE DISTANCE TABLE

Installed Total Impulse (Newton-Seconds)	Equivalent High Power Motor Type	Minimum Diameter of Cleared Area (Metres)	Minimum Personnel Distance (Metres)
0.00 – 160.00	G or smaller	0	10
160.01 -- 320.00	H	15	30
320.01 -- 640.00	I	15	30
640.01 -- 1,280.00	J	15	30
1,280.01 -- 2,560.00	K	25	60
2,560.01 -- 5,120.00	L	30	90
5,120.01 -- 10,240.00	M	40	150
10,240.01 -- 20,480.00	N	40	300
20,480.01 -- 40,960.00	O	40	450

12. LAUNCH SAFETY. I will ensure that people in the launch area are aware of the pending high power rocket launch and can see the rocket's lift-off before I begin my audible five-second countdown. I will use only electrical igniters recommended by the motor manufacture that will ignite rocket motors within one second of actuation of the launching switch. If my high power rocket suffers a misfire, I will not allow anyone to approach it or the launcher until I have made certain that the safety interlock has been removed or that the battery has been disconnected from the ignition system. I will wait one minute after a misfire before allowing anyone to approach the launcher.

13. FLYING CONDITIONS. I will launch my high power rocket only when the wind is no more than 32 kilometres per hour and under conditions where a flight might not be hazardous to people, property, or flying aircraft. Prior to launch, I will verify that no aircraft appear to have flight paths over the launch site.

14. PRE-LAUNCH TEST. When conducting research activities with unproven designs or methods I will, when possible, determine the reliability of my high power rocket by pre-launch tests. I will conduct the launching of an unproven design in complete isolation from persons not participating in the actual launching.

15. LAUNCH ANGLE. I will not launch my high power rocket so its flight path will carry it against a target. My launch device will be pointed within 20 degrees of vertical. I will never use rocket motors to propel any device horizontally.

16. RECOVERY HAZARDS. If a high power rocket becomes entangled in a power line or other dangerous place, I will not attempt to retrieve it. I will not attempt to catch my high-power rocket as it approaches the ground.

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