PART 13: PREPERATION FOR LEVEL-1 CERTIFICATION FLIGHT:

For a Level-1 Certification Flight you ust be an active member of Tripoli Rocketry Association, and have your member certification form with your Tripoli number on it. This rocket project will cost about $150.00 to $200.00 as previously stated in part 12. The certification process requires that the person being certified acquire an H motor reload from the Level-2 Prefect who will sign off on the flight, or another person who is level-2 certified. The motor must be assembled and and the rocket prepped for launch by the person attempting the certification flight. This includes packing and installing the parachute, any payload that is being flown, installing the motor into the rocket, and the igniter in the motor. If rocket requires inspection by the RSO (range saftety officer) then it must be cleared for flight before it can be launch.

A successful certification flight requires a nominal flight with deployment of a parachute. The rocket does't have to be retrieved for successful certification. If a certificaton flight is successful and witnessed by a Tripoli Prefect, the prefect will sign the members certification form. The member sends the signed yellow level-1 certification form to Tripoli Headquarters. Upon receipt of the certification form by Tripoli Rocketry Association, the member will be certified to level-1. Then, the level-1 certified member is able to purchase H and I class reloadable rocket motors, which are considered as "easy access" and don't require a LEUP (low explosives users permit) from the BATF.

With H class reloadable motors, the Astrobee D rocket project will nominally weigh 3.5 to 4.0 lbs with the 6 ft cross parchute and accelerometer board installed in the payload. Apogee for this rocket will conservatively be from 800 to 2,700 feet depending on which H motor reload is flown. This rocket can be flown at up to a maximum weight of 6 lb for lower altitudes for limited flying fields. For using these motors at the listed weights in the table below, refer to information in part 2 regarding thrust to weight ratio guidelines.

Projected performance based on Standard Day Conditions of 59 deg F. at sea level and 6 ft. cross parachute:

  Lift-off Weight (lb)

 Max Altitude (ft)

 Time To Apogee (sec)

 Maximum Velocity (ft/sec)

 Mach No.

  Accel (g's)

 Coast Time (sec)

  Chute Descent Time (min)

               

 2.5

 2752

 12.1

 553

 0.48

 25.8

 10.7

 4.12

 3.0

 2376

 11.7

 462

 0.40

 21.4

 10.3

 3.25

  3.5

 2007

 11.0

 394

 0.34

 18.2

 9.6

 2.54

 4.0

1678

 10.3

 341

 0.29

 15.8

 8.9

 1.99

 4.5

1400

 9.6

 300

 0.26

 13.9

 8.2

 1.56

 5.0

1172

 8.9

 266

 0.23

 12.4

 7.5

 1.24

 5.5

 986

 8.2

 238

 0.21

 11.2

 6.8

 1.00

 6.0

 836

 7.7

 215

 0.19

 10.2

 6.3

 0.81


Motor used for all cases is 29/240 casing with H180W reload kit (3.5 to 4.0 lb is ideal weight with accelerometer board)

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