Competition Rules:
"Basic" Category
-
Design, build, and launch a rocket with a 10-lb (minimum) payload
closest to 10,000 feet above ground level (AGL) (14,320 feet above mean
sea level).
- Rocket must reach at least 5000 feet and not exceed 12,000 feet AGL to receive points for altitude.
"Advanced" Category
- Design, build, and launch a rocket with a 10-lb
(minimum) payload closest to 25,000 feet above ground level (29,320
feet above mean sea level).
- Rocket must reach at least 12,500 feet and not exceed 27,000 feet AGL to receive points for altitude.
Rules common to both Categories:
- Rocket must clear the launch rail to qualify in the competition.
-
All rocket and payload components must be recovered. Maximum points are
awarded if components are in re-flyable condition after recovery (less
consumables such as propellants or battery charge).
- Maximum points are given for student-designed and -built components, though commercial components are acceptable.
- Nontoxic solid, liquid, or hybrid propulsion is acceptable.
- Maximum points will be awarded for clear assignments of personnel, use of
checklists, communication discipline, and level of preparation/readiness
for launch.
-
Payload design is not specified. Rocket must be designed to reach
target altitude independent of any payload function. Bonus points will
be awarded based on Judges' assessment of payload functionality and
innovation.
- A commercial altimeter
must be flown to verify peak altitude. A judge will accompany the
ground recovery team to verify the peak altitude reported by the
altimeter. The altitude must be verified within two hours from the time
the team is released to recover the rocket (see note below).
- A technical paper, no longer than 12 pages, describing the rocket design must be submitted to paul.mueller.iii@gmail.com by May 26, 2010, 5:00 PM MDT. Papers from the 4th IREC can be found here for reference.
-
A 25-minute oral presentation with 5 minutes for questions will be
given at the Competition. All participants are required to attend all
presentations in their Category (Basic or Advanced). Presentations from the 4th IREC can be found here for reference.
- A safety plan identifying potential hazards, risk assessment, and mitigating procedures must be submitted to paul.mueller.iii@gmail.com by May 26, 2010, 5:00 PM MDT.
International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
|
| Attendees are reminded that some topics discussed in
the papers and presentations could be controlled by the International Traffic in Arms
Regulations (ITAR). US Nationals, which are US Citizens and Green Card
Holders, are responsible for ensuring that technical data they include in their papers and presentations is not export restricted by the ITAR.
Non-US Nationals are likewise responsible for ensuring that they do not
disclose ITAR export restricted information to other non-US Nationals
in attendance.
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Note:
Teams are responsible for finding their rockets within 2 hours of being
released to look for it. ESRA is currently working with the Bridgerland
Amateur Radio Club (BARC)
of Logan, Utah, to have them place small transmitters on the rockets to
help locate the rockets after they have landed. BARC has built some small transmitters to place on the teams'
rockets, and they will use their radio finding equipment to track the
rockets during descent and locate them after they have reached the
ground. Teams who elect to use this free service will be asked to pay a $75 deposit to cover the cost of the transmitter if it is
not returned to BARC in working condition after the flight. Also, teams
are still responsible for finding their rockets; BARC cannot be held
responsible for loss of points, etc., if the rocket cannot be found
within the 2-hour window. To use the transmitter, the rocket must have a cavity that is not surrounded by metal or carbon fiber composite. The dimensions of the transmitter are on the drawing here and a photo of the "guts" is below:
Rocket finding transmitter
For the judging sheet, click here.