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."

Comments

Re:And what about guidance systems?

[Dunbal]

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"...

Re:Well, they *are* making ROCKETS!

[dsanfte]

"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.