CAR Safety Update
Posted by Ian Stephens on November 24, 2005As a result of discussions in the RSO Committee, the following Safety
Updates have been issued.
1. Mandatory Use of Launch Rails and/or Launch Towers
It has been the practice of CAR, particularily in the Alberta and BC
regions, that rails or towers were the only launch gear that launch
organizers would allow to be used for rockets with an installed
impulse of 160Ns or greater. This has not been enforced nor has this
ever been ratified or codified by CAR.
Subject to inclusion in future editions of the CAR Safety Codes and
RSO Guidelines, the CAR Executive is taking the step of endorsing the
RSO Committees recommendation to not allow the use of launch rods,
and making it mandatory to use rails or towers on ALL rockets with an
installed impulse of 160 Ns or greater.
In addition, the CAR Executive strongly endorses the recommendation
that all rockets over 80Ns use rails or towers instead of rods.
Rather than being an effort to frustrate rocketeers that swear by
rods, this move is being made in the interest of improving overall
safety for our members and equally importantly, spectators at our
launches.
2. Multi-Stage Rocket Requirements
In response to some events this past year and in general, the higher
risk from higher impulse multi-stage rockets, the CAR is endorsing a
recommendation from the RSO Committee that any multi-stage flight with
an installed impulse greater than 160Ns must be equipped with a device
that will disable subsequent stage ignition in the event of a
non-nominal boost phase.
Clearly there are many possible methods that can be employed, but as a
courtesy to those who may be planning multi-stage projects, this early
notice should help in the planning.
Also, the RSO Committee has been in contact with several avionics
suppliers, and can advise as follows:
- MAD MUSIC
Robert Galejs, the creator of the Magnetic Apogee Detector, is working
on a Magnetic Upper Stage Ignition Control (MUSIC). It will be flight
tested over the next few months.
- Ground Control Radio
This technology exists and is widely available.
In addition, established altimeter suppliers have offered the
following information:
- AltAcc 4
Scott Bartel at BlackSky has indicated that the new AltAcc 4,
scheduled for release this spring, will have a user-progamable channel
where the user can set their own parameters, for example a 5 G
acceleration for a minimum 4 seconds) which must be met before the
AltAcc will enable second stage ignition. While this may not solve
flights that tip aggressively off the pad, it will ensure that the
rocket is at least well down range prior to second stage ignition.
- R-DAS
Similar situation to BlackSky
- AFC-877
Current firmware on the FC offers second stage inhibition if apogee
has been detected.
The RSO Committee will provide more information as it is made
available.
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