Flight Requirements

All flights that take place at Battlepark must comply with regulations set forth by the Tripoli Rocketry Safety Code, NFPA 1122, NFPA 1127, and the FAA as applicable. Further, Tripoli Central Virginia specifies the following requirements for High Power Contest Flights (NASA SLI, Space Port etc.), Experimental/Research motors, and multi-stage rockets. We understand the requirements are above and beyond what most contest sanctioning bodies stipulate, however, we take these measures to help ensure the safety of those at the range and for our surrounding neighbors.  

High Power Contest Flights (NASA SLI, Space Port etc.)

Tripoli Central Virginia is an avid supporter of aerospace STEM activities as well as high school and collegiate engineering programs. As these programs continue to push the envelope in terms of rocket size, power, and complexity, we have taken measures to ensure that the safety of all launch participants and those that surround our field is maintained.

Limiting risk to personnel and property is our primary focus and one that we take quite seriously.  To this end, we require that all teams that aim to fly a full-scale NASA SLI, Space Port, or other large competition rocket at Battlepark, to complete the Tripoli Central Virginia (TCV) Flight Pre-Approval Form and return to the TCV Board of Directors (BOD) along with a detailed OpenRocket file and flight simulation no later than two weeks prior to the intended launch.

The first flight of any full-scale NASA SLI, Space Port OR other large competition rocket at our location shall be flown on a commercial motor, with full competition recovery systems, simulated payloads of competition size and weight, to an altitude of no more than 4,000ft above ground level.  This flight must be witnessed by at least one TCV BOD member, and the flight limits will remain in place until full success of recovery systems have been demonstrated.

Experimental / Research Motors

Those who aim to fly “experimental (EX)” or “research” motors i.e. non-COTS motors at BattlePark may be asked to answer some or all of the following PRIOR to the RSO approving their flight. Note any EX or research hybrid motor shall be submitted to the Tripoli Central Virginia Board of Directors for approval at least two weeks BEFORE the intended test or flight. Under no circumstances will liquid motors be tested or flown at BattlePark.

  • Name of the Propellant?
  • Propellant type: APCP or Sugar
  • Is the formula a known formula or has it been developed by the flyer?
  • Motor case size: 29, 38, 54, 76, 88, 98, 115, or 154mm
  • Motor designation i.e. M1200
  • Has the propellant been static tested?
  • Has the propellant been characterized?
  • Was OpenMotor or Burnsim used to design the motor? If so, please produce a copy of your simulation.
  • Propellant weight in grams
  • Nozzle throat diameter in 64th of an inch, i.e. #22
  • Total impulse (n-sec)
  • Delivered ISP
  • Burn time (seconds)
  • Maximum pressure (PSI)
  • KN, initial, and peak
  • Peak mass flux

Multi-Stage Flights

Multi-stage high power rockets flown at BattlePark are subject to the following requirements. The RSO may request simulation and or motor data to verify these requirements are met prior to approving the flight. Note multi-stage flights that use “experimental (EX)” or “research” i.e. non-COTS motors are subject to all Tripoli Central Virginia EX motor requirements.

  • Minimum 7-1 thrust to weight for the entire vehicle at lift off. Thrust to weight is calculated off average thrust.
  • Minimum of 3-1 thrust to weight for the subsequent stages. Thrust to weight is calculated off average thrust.
  • Vehicle shall have a minimum velocity of 50 ft/sec at the end of the launch rail.
  • Primary electronics used for staging and recovery events must be COTS, back up electronics may be custom.
  • Electronics responsible for firing the sustainer must incorporate a tilt sensor (lockout set at 20 degrees or less), time to altitude capability, or other mechanism that will keep the sustainer from firing should an anomalous event occur.   
  • The sustainer igniter cannot be installed until the rocket is on the launch rail. Ideally this would be the last step before the stages are connected and the rocket is raised to vertical.
  • The use of any Head-IN ignition systems (forward bulkhead ignition) must be independently reviewed by the Tripoli Central Virginia Board of Directors before they can be used on our range. This design must be submitted to the Tripoli Central Virginia Board of Directors a minimum of two weeks BEFORE the intended flight.
  • The sustainer ignition circuit must incorporate a shunt to ‘safe’ the igniter until the rocket is in a vertical position and the recovery electronics are armed.
  • No electronics can be armed until the vehicle is vertical. The altimeter in the sustainer shall be the first electronic mechanism that is armed.