U.S. May Require Fingerprinting and Study of Rocket Hobbyists

The NY Times ^ | March 9, 2003 | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[Pharmboy]

WASHINGTON, March 8 (AP) — Hobbyists who build and launch high-powered model rockets could soon be subject to background checks, fingerprinting and storage inspections.

Under new provisions set to go into effect May 24 under the Homeland Security Act, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would place further restrictions on the fuel that powers the rockets.

Sport rocketry attracts thousands of hobbyists across the country. The rockets can stand taller than an adult, soar miles into the sky and are designed to land intact nearby.

The new rules will require buyers of the rocket fuel ammonium perchlorate composite propellant to submit their fingerprints and photographs to the bureau. The government will check applicants' backgrounds to see if they are among those banned from possessing explosives, felons, for example.

Under the proposed rules, the government will also inspect the areas where permit holders store explosives at least once every three years.

"You can't even estimate the devastating effect this is going to have on the hobby," said Bruce Kelly, the publisher of the magazine High Power Rocketry, said of the rule changes.

Hobbyists have won the support of Senator Michael B. Enzi, Republican of Wyoming, who is drafting legislation to free rocketeers from the rules. His spokesman dismissed government claims that the regulations would better track explosives while not being "overly burdensome."

Meanwhile hobbyists are mounting a public relations assault on the new regulations. The Web site of the Amateur Rocketry Society of America, posts daily updates on the hobby's dispute with "the feds." This week it gave a plan of action.

"Senator Enzi has requested that you fax your letter and phone your two senators to enlist their support for this important legislation," the posting said of a measure exempting rocketry from the Safe Explosives Act. "If you have not done so yet, please do it this week."

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says the most common model-rocket motors, which are smaller and typically use a weaker fuel, do not require permits and will not be affected.

"The Safe Explosives Act has not, does not and will not affect that exemption," said Gail Davis, chief of the bureau's public safety branch.

But hobbyists fear that restrictions on how explosive material can be shipped will hamper businesses that make and sell rocket motors.

Curtailed shipping could lead to a de facto ban on motor sales, said Gregory Lyzenga, a rocket enthusiast and geophysics researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

"It's not as though there's been a law passed saying `model rocketry is illegal,' but it's just that the materials are unavailable," Mr. Lyzenga said.

Rocketeers are suing the bureau in federal court in Washington to force it to change its classification of ammonium perchlorate composite propellant as an explosive. They say it burns and does not blow up.

[snooker]

I think a scud in the back yard might be too big.

But I am mounting some 16 inch deck guns I got off an old battleship so I can shoot it down.

So I have no problem with size.

snooker

[VRWC_Member428]

They do appear to be getting a mite large. I guess when they get to the size of a scud maybe we should limit the size also.



Is this bigger than a scud?

The name of this rocket is "Down Right Ignorant". It was launched in 1993 at LDRS XI.

The rocket was powered by 1 "O" motor, 5 "L" motors, and 8 "K" motors. The Estes kits sold in stores are rated as A, B, C, and D motors, each consecutive letter having twice the total power output as the previous. This makes an "O" motor 16,000 times more powerful than an Estes A motor.

The rocket at a wieght of 800lbs reached an altitude of 3,500 feet and was sucessfully recovered. Even though it doesn't seem like it, 3,500 feet isn't all that high. Smaller rockets powered by a single O motor have gone beyond 35,000 feet.

All that being said, these rockets are nothing like Scud missiles in that they have nowhere near the range of a scud missile. In order ot equal the range of a scud, a very large and very expensive motor would have to be custom made. Something like that is well beyond the scope and capabilities of the materials available to hobby rocketeers.

[xm177e2]

If I was a terrorist, I would take up rocketry as a hobby. Ranged innaccurate artillery is still good against targets like oil refineries. And oil refineries are doubly a target in this war because of their symbolism. A rocket strike could also be used against a crowded stadium. Hamas has been working with homemade rockets for some time now. They haven't proved very effective, but they are getting better.

[LiberationIT]

Thanks. When you get that evolving stuff down pat, let me know the secret; I've got a ways to go.

Here's another link for really cool videos;

http://www.gbrocketry.com

[snooker]

The scud reference was joke.

snooker

[VRWC_Member428]

The scud reference was joke. I know that, and most here also. But in my experience, there are people who don't quite grasp the concept of sarcasm. Case in point: I made a sign at a recent pro-america rally which read:

"Support Saddams use of ACID - say no to war"

After a couple people commenting that this wasn't an anti-war rally, and my subsequent explanations to the humor-challenged, I ended up trashing the poster. And so in case there are humor-challenged lurkers in here, I thought it would be good to clarify, and also show off one of the biggest darn model rockets I've seen.

As a sidenote, there was also a FULL SCALE model patriot missile at the event. Unfortunately, it had a hard landing which caused extensive damage.

In response to another poster, model rocketry is an inefficient way to deliver weapons which requires a bit of luck to actually hit a target. There are better ways to hit such targets, and the FBI also believes the method I'm thinking of is a very real current threat.

[Nik Naym]

Well, if YOU were a terrorist, you would be an ineffectual one, then.

You apparently have NO CLUE what hobby rocketry is about or is capable of. There is nothing in model or high power rocketry that would make a good weapon of any kind, against any kind of conceivable target.

Why do people continue to make ignorant, harmfull remarks pertaining to a safe, educational and positive pastime?

Nik

[Nik Naym]

And another thing ( boy some of the ignorant comments I am seeing are pi**ing me off) go take a look at the rockets at an organized launch sometime. (Assuming we can still have launches after these idotic new rules)

Take a look at what the rockets are made of. See that stuff? The stuff that most of them are almost entirely made of? Look familiar? It should. What you are looking at is CARDBOARD.

Still think they would make a good weapon?

Nik