Considerations for Launching Amateur Rockets at X-Prize Cup 2006

摘要

The X-Prize Cup event represents an opportinity for the general public to witness technology development in the areas of aerospace design, manufacture, and exhibition. Of particular interests in the exhibit of high performance amateur rockets. The goal of this exhibit is to allow the general public to safely view the launching of these high performance rockets. These amateur rockets vary in design with some vehicles at the 2006 event having very impressive size and capabilities, such as a height of 20 feet, weight of 5000 lbs, speed of 1.2 Mach, and an altitude of 20,000 feet above ground level. The FAA worked with the rocket operators, Tripoli Rocketry association and X-Prize Cup Foundation, to evaluate the safety of launching these amateur rockets. The FAA Worked closely with the X-Prize Cup Foundation and Tripoli Rocketry Association to determine safe launching guidelines and requirements for amateur rockets launched at the X-Prize Cup event in Las Cruces, NM on October 20-21, 2006. This paper describes the analysis that supported the FAA decision to approve the X-Prize event, and present findings for evaluation high performance rockets, that are classified as amateur rockets by the FAA for regulatory purposes.