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Backyard Rocketeers Keep the Solid Fuel Burning

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the bureaucratic-nincompoop-idiot-handwringers dept.

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."

6 of 334 comments (clear)

  1. Re:And what about guidance systems? by Dunbal · · Score: 3, Funny

    whereas guided rockets are right out?

          You are supposed to use your "dumb" rocket in rural areas far away from people and buildings. Who cares if you kill yourself, your fellow nerds, or a cow with it? Guided rockets on the other hand just might give people silly ideas about being able to deliver "payloads" with specific PK50's to "targets"...

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  2. Re:Well, they *are* making ROCKETS! by dsanfte · · Score: 5, Funny
    "They can't launch a model rocket because they did something stupid in collage?"


    Well that depends, some of those college art classes are havens for subversive types. I mean, all those girls with dark clothing and piercings, you know they're up to something. Probably just creating more body cavities in which to hide rocket fuel for the terrorists.
    --
    occultae nullus est respectus musicae - originally a Greek proverb
  3. I wonder if I have to get a license for a spud gun by slickwillie · · Score: 2, Funny

    How about my cow-launching catapult?

  4. Re:Well, they *are* making ROCKETS! by patrixmyth · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh my god, like my government, totally treats me like such a child. All my friends are using solid rocket fuel. It doesn't hurt anything. They want me to store it securely. Like, whatever. They say fast burning chemical rocket fuel is dangerous in residential neighborhoods. NO WAY! Totally more people slip in the bathtub and stuff. It's so unfair. They even want me to keep records and have a permit and junk like that. What do I look like, some kind of clerk. I'm gonna be a rocket scientist, someday, and they are so going to be like, oh we should have just trusted him more, but I'm just gonna laugh... Whatever.

    --
    "Don't you know you're going to shock the monkey?"- Peter Gabriel
  5. Re:Shut them down! by Nataku564 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I have it on good authority that the 9-11 terrorists were wearing deodorant that day, thus allowing them their calm and cool (and fresh smelling) exterior to belie their true, nefarious, intent.

  6. Oblig... by hcob$ · · Score: 2, Funny
    If you're going to tell people to shut up every time they post something you disagree with and can't counter why the fuck are you even posting on slashdot?
    You must be new here.
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    Cliff Claven
    K.E.G. Party Chairman
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