National Association of Rocketry
Encyclopedia
The National Association of Rocketry (NAR) is the governing body
for the sport/hobby of model rocketry in the United States
. It was established in 1957 by Orville Carlisle
and G. Harry Stine
and is currently headed by Trip Barber. It is the oldest and largest model rocketry governing body in the world. Over 80,000 people have been members of the NAR. There are about 5100 current members as of 2011.
The organization hosts a variety of educational programs and model rocketry contests. There are three national NAR events each year:
Together with the Aerospace Industries Association, the NAR also sponsors the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC)
competition for students in the 7th through 12th grades.
There are also hundreds of launches every year hosted by local NAR sections spanning the United States. These launches are conducted in accordance with NAR safety codes and FAA regulations.
The NAR provides its members with low-cost insurance for the sport of model rocketry, maintains a high power rocketry certification program, and publishes a bi-monthly magazine, called Sport Rocketry. It also tests and certifies rocket motors for safety and reliability.
The NAR (along with the Tripoli Rocketry Association
, the other major governing body in hobby rocketry) was involved in a nine-year lawsuit against the BATFE regarding the status of Ammonium Perchlorate Composite Propellant
(APCP), the most common propellant used in hobby rocketry, as an explosive. The NAR and TRA won the lawsuit in 2009, deregulating APCP.
Sport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
for the sport/hobby of model rocketry in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was established in 1957 by Orville Carlisle
Orville Carlisle
Orville H. Carlisle , a shoe salesman in Norfolk, Nebraska invented the hobby that would become known as model rocketry.In 1953, Orville and his brother Robert were joint owners of a shoe store on 420 Norfolk Ave...
and G. Harry Stine
G. Harry Stine
George Harry Stine was one of the founding figures of model rocketry, a science and technology writer, and a science fiction author.-Education and early career:...
and is currently headed by Trip Barber. It is the oldest and largest model rocketry governing body in the world. Over 80,000 people have been members of the NAR. There are about 5100 current members as of 2011.
The organization hosts a variety of educational programs and model rocketry contests. There are three national NAR events each year:
- NARAMNARAMNARAM is the Annual Meet of the National Association of Rocketry . It is the national contest culminating the rocket contest year, and also includes fun, or "sport," flying of model rockets for those who don't wish to compete. The NAR is the governing body for the sport/hobby of model rocketry in...
(the NAR's Annual Meet, the national contest culminating the rocket contest year, held at a different place each year), - NARCON (the NAR's national Convention, with speakers and educational programs), and
- NSL (the National Sport Launch, a large fun, or "sport," launch).
Together with the Aerospace Industries Association, the NAR also sponsors the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC)
Team America Rocketry Challenge
The Team America Rocketry Challenge is an annual American model rocketry competition for students in grades 7 to 12 sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry. The competition began in 2003 as a way to mark the 100th anniversary of flight, but due...
competition for students in the 7th through 12th grades.
There are also hundreds of launches every year hosted by local NAR sections spanning the United States. These launches are conducted in accordance with NAR safety codes and FAA regulations.
The NAR provides its members with low-cost insurance for the sport of model rocketry, maintains a high power rocketry certification program, and publishes a bi-monthly magazine, called Sport Rocketry. It also tests and certifies rocket motors for safety and reliability.
The NAR (along with the Tripoli Rocketry Association
Tripoli Rocketry Association
The Tripoli Rocketry Association is one of the two major organizing bodies for high power rocketry in the United States. It was founded in 1964 in the Pittsburgh, PA region as a high school science club, integrating both rocketry and space science...
, the other major governing body in hobby rocketry) was involved in a nine-year lawsuit against the BATFE regarding the status of Ammonium Perchlorate Composite Propellant
Ammonium Perchlorate Composite Propellant
Ammonium perchlorate composite propellant is a modern solid rocket propellant used in both manned and unmanned rocket vehicles. It differs from many traditional solid rocket propellants such as black powder or Zinc-Sulfur, not only in chemical composition and overall performance, but also by the...
(APCP), the most common propellant used in hobby rocketry, as an explosive. The NAR and TRA won the lawsuit in 2009, deregulating APCP.