This guide is a general overview of what you need to get your level 1 certification.
TLDR
1 Attend a launch
2 Buy a rocket
3 Buy a motor
4: Sign Up
5:Fly!
Getting a level 1 certification is a straight forward process. This overview is by no means a technical handbook.
Step 1: Go to a Launch
Just go! Chances are you aren't too far away from a launch site. The NAR/TRA both have prefectures (clubs) located throughout the United States. Typically, these clubs fly once a month and are free to watch. Say hi, ask questions, and watch some rockets fly! To find a local club use of one the maps linked below. Check out this first time launch guide!
Step 2: Pick a Rocket
There is no requirement on how large or small your rocket needs to be. However, there are limitations on how big of a motor you can fly. We will get to that in the motor section.
Generally, the advice is to low and slow. A 4" diameter rocket that is 2-3 pounds is a very popular means to do this. You can build your own rocket from scratch or you can purchase a kit. For our example we will use our Fishhawk Level One Rocket Kit. This kit includes all of the items needed (minus the motor) for the flight of our rocket.
You do not need an engineering degree to fly a level 1 rocket. But you will need to know some of these basic parts.
Nose Cone: An aerodynamic piece that allows the rocket to “cut through’ the air. This will also be used to keep the recovery system inside the rocket.
Airframe: a kraft paper tube that keeps the rocket together. Airframes could also be made from materials such as carbon fiber or fiberglass. However, are not necessary for these rockets. They also require additional tools, personal protective equipment and cost significantly more.
Fins: A little drag is good! Amateur rockets are passively stabilized. There are two values we need to consider. The Center of Pressure (CP) and Center of Gravity (CG). The CG is s imply the balancing point of the rocket. Think of the CP as the point where all the aerodynamic forces are balanced. In real life this value is hard to calculate and is constantly changing. But at our scale we pretend it's in 2D along with the CG. For the rocket to be stable, the CG needs to be forward the CP. It is a good rule of thumb to have the CG is one diameter (4”) forward (toward the nose) of the CP.
Motor Mount: Keeps the motor straight up and down and prevents it from falling out. Transfers thrust to the rest of the rocket. In the Fishhawk kit, it also provides a convenient attachment point for the fins. It will also serve as a mounting point for our shock cord.
Shock Cord: Rope that keeps the rocket, parachute, and nose cone together.
Parachute: Allows the rocket to safely descend back to earth. The parachute is deployed via a small black powder charge. That charge is built into most motors you can use for a level 1 certification. We will show you how to check that in the next section. You do not need any additional electronics or advanced systems on board for your level one. (Nor is it recommended)
Rail Guides: Recall that calculating CP is difficult. That is because it varies given the rockets velocity. The fins are effectively useless for us until the rocket is moving. We launch rockets off a launch pad to accomplish this. Launch pads use a steel base and 80/20 tube as a rail. Rail guides slide into the 80/20 to help guide the rocket straight as its gaining velocity.
Since every rocket is different we will not go over how to build the rocket in this guide. To Learn how to build the Fishhawk go this this link.
Step 3: Sign up for for NAR/TRA
The best organization to join is the one that is closest to you. The certification process for each of them is slightly different procedurally, but the same in every other aspect. Both NAR and TRA recognize each other's certifications.
Step 4: Pick a Motor
For certification flights, we use solid rocket motors. Every motor has a certain total impulse. This is quite literally thrust multiplied by the duration of the burn. In order to get a level 1 certification, you need to use a rocket motor that has a least 160 Newton-Seconds (Ns) but no more than 640Ns of total impulse. This is also known as a “H” or “I” class motor. The H class is 160-320Ns and an I class is 320Ns-640Ns. You’ll notice that each class’s upper bound is twice its lower bound. This is the same for all rocket motors A-O! For those who are level 3 certified, they can fly a motor with up to 41,000 Ns!
It would get pretty stale if there were only one type of motor for each class. So motor manufacturers create a variety of different types of propellants with unique color and thrust characteristics within the classes. However, each motor will have the same designation code.
The delay charge is important since it will determine when the deployment charge goes off after the motor burns out. It will almost always be higher than you need it. We want the parachute to be deployed at apogee (the highest point in the rocket’s flight). For the Fishhawk rocket on an H100, we need a 7 second delay. So the motor will become an H100W-7. You will need a specialized tool to do this, but there is a very high chance someone at the launch will have one to borrow. For your level 1 certification you are allowed to purchase 1 H or I motor for your attempt.
What motor should I buy?
There is no singular right answer. Motors are expensive to ship. There are also a variety of different brands. The best brand to get is the one that your local on-site motor vendor sells. The Fishhawk rocket was designed with the Aerotech H100W-14 in mind. It is a single use motor. It is a prefabricated motor you fly directly out of the box. It doesn't get more straightforward. Other brands like Loki Research, require the purchase of reusable hardware that you fill with a propellant kit. That is best for those who want to get a more in depth experience. Regardless of what brand you choose, you must purchase one from a vendor. You are not allowed to fly your own propellant for a certification flight. The general advice is to stick with an H motor for your level 1 certification flight especially if this is your first time flying a rocket.
Step 5: Fly!
You finally get to the part you have been waiting for. Check out this detailed guide on how to fly the Fishhawk rocket. If you purchased another brand or built your own it will be similar.
When you get to the field, let them know that you are wanting to do your level 1 attempt. Depending on what club you are attending, different people will be required to be a witness to your flight. Once you assemble your rocket the Range Safety Officer (RSO) will inspect your rocket to verify that it is sound and ask you some general questions about the rocket. There isn’t a specific set of questions they might ask, but if you follow along this guide, you will be more than prepared.
After you fly your rocket, the RSO will inspect your rocket and sign off your papers to mail into TRA or NAR. Congratulations! You are now level 1 certified!
What’s Next?
That is up to you! As a level 1 certified flier, you can buy and fly as many H and I motors you want. You are also able to participate in other high power activities like being at the launch pad for your team’s competition or help out with a massive project. There are 2 more levels of certification, both those are out of scope of this guide. But the first step to either of those is your level 1 certification.