Slashdot Mirror
Backyard Rocketeers Keep the Solid Fuel Burning
Jamie Clay points out a New York Times article about one sticky wicket faced by
members of the Tripoli Rocketry Association, whose members are some of the private citizens trying to bust into the space-launch business (or just having fun) by financing and building their own rockets.
An excerpt: "On Tuesday, lawyers representing Tripoli and the National Association of Rocketry and officials of the firearms bureau will head to Federal District Court in Washington to resolve the seven-year-old dispute over the hobbyists' use of a flammable propellant, ammonium perchlorate composite, or APCP. The chemical is the main ingredient on the space shuttle's solid rocket boosters. ... The firearms bureau classifies APCP as an explosive and, amid post-Sept. 11 security concerns, requires that anyone who uses more than two ounces of propellant undergo federal background checks."
"Yep. I live in Houston, TX and the city has decided that you need an explosive storage permit to keep any. And they won't give a permit to anyone in a residential area."
I would actively work to ensure that position is maintained.
"(A club member found out after paying the non-refundable permit fee of over $200."
It was his responsibility. They didn't change the policy after he paid them, did they?
-fb Everything not expressly forbidden is now mandatory.
"If you would work to keep that position maintained, then you either have nothing but free time to waste, or don't put your energy in the right direction."
Oh really? I have a legitimate interest in local fire codes.
>"Please, won't someone please think of the children!"
Oh I don't give a flying goddamned fuck about some vermin children. I want the guy with the fireworks factory in his garage to choose between going to prison for felony bombmaking activities, or putting a legitimate bond up front for whatever his neighbors think is appropriate. And that amount will be up to them, not him.
We aren't talking about gasoline. We are talking about someone intentionally handling dangerous materials in violation of the law and without notifying people who could be affected. A reasonable person could call a gasoline fire an accident. A reasonable person might have a big problem with a secret fireworks lab.
-fb Everything not expressly forbidden is now mandatory.
the composite propellant they regulate isn't an explosive. It just burns hot and fast. Homes have all kinds of items more dangerous to firefighters in them and no permit is needed, including: gasoline in cans, aerosol cans, propane bottles (I have 6 for my grill), insecticides, ammo for guns, etc.
Simple, then power the rockets with *those*.
Table-ized A.I.
[QUOTE=jd]The easiest way to resolve this, in my humble(ish) opinion, would be to have State-run storage facilities and launch facilities for amateur rocketeers... [/QUOTE] Why get the state involved? I don't really want my taxes subsidizing someone else's hobby. Let the rocketeers all chip in and buy some secure storage facility somewhere. If that's too expensive or troublesome, it may be time to choose a different hobby.