Tripoli Rocketry Association
Encyclopedia
The Tripoli Rocketry Association (TRA) is one of the two major organizing bodies for high power rocketry
in the United States. (See also: National Association of Rocketry
.) It was founded in 1964 in the Pittsburgh, PA region as a high school science club, integrating both rocketry and space science. It slowly evolved into a USA-national organization, with a focus on advanced high-power rocketry. The founder was Francis G. Graham. Early members who helped expand the club were Curtis W. Hughes, Kenneth J. Good, and Arthur R. Bower, with Thomas J. Blazanin leading its formalization as an incorporated national organization.
Tripoli organizes many rocket launches, both regional events hosted by local prefectures and larger international launches like LDRS ("Large Dangerous Rocket Ships") and BALLS. They also provide insurance for organized launches, administer a member certification program for flying high power rockets, and perform testing and certification of commercial hobby rocket motors.
Tripoli has expanded internationally over the years, and currently has clubs in many different countries including the U.S, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Tripoli was involved as a plaintiff in a nine-year lawsuit (in conjunction with the National Association of Rocketry as a co-plaintiff) against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
(BATFE) as the defendant, regarding its claims of jurisdiction over and legal classifications regarding permitting, storage, and use of ammonium perchlorate composite propellant
(APCP) in rocket motors. On March 16, 2009, the US District Court for the District of Columbia found in favor of TRA/NAR, and ordered the BATFE to vacate APCP from its list of regulated explosives.
High powered rocket
High-power rocketry is a hobby similar to model rocketry. The major difference is that higher impulse range motors are used. The National Fire Protection Association definition of a high-power rocket is one that has a total weight of more than 1500 grams and contains a motor or motors...
in the United States. (See also: National Association of Rocketry
National Association of Rocketry
The National Association of Rocketry 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...
.) It was founded in 1964 in the Pittsburgh, PA region as a high school science club, integrating both rocketry and space science. It slowly evolved into a USA-national organization, with a focus on advanced high-power rocketry. The founder was Francis G. Graham. Early members who helped expand the club were Curtis W. Hughes, Kenneth J. Good, and Arthur R. Bower, with Thomas J. Blazanin leading its formalization as an incorporated national organization.
Tripoli organizes many rocket launches, both regional events hosted by local prefectures and larger international launches like LDRS ("Large Dangerous Rocket Ships") and BALLS. They also provide insurance for organized launches, administer a member certification program for flying high power rockets, and perform testing and certification of commercial hobby rocket motors.
Tripoli has expanded internationally over the years, and currently has clubs in many different countries including the U.S, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Tripoli was involved as a plaintiff in a nine-year lawsuit (in conjunction with the National Association of Rocketry as a co-plaintiff) against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is a federal law enforcement organization within the United States Department of Justice...
(BATFE) as the defendant, regarding its claims of jurisdiction over and legal classifications regarding permitting, storage, and use 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) in rocket motors. On March 16, 2009, the US District Court for the District of Columbia found in favor of TRA/NAR, and ordered the BATFE to vacate APCP from its list of regulated explosives.
External links
- Main web site
- LDRS 28 - 2009 web site
- Balls 18 -2009 web site
- Australian web site
- Queensland web site
- West Australian web site
- Patricia Leigh Brown; A Cult of Backyard Rocketeers Keeps the Solid Fuel Burning; New York Times, October 14, 2006
- Mike Anton; Spare Time Rocket Science; Los Angeles Times, January 18, 2008