Serving Experimental & Professional Rocketry Since 1995

RCS News (Click here to view the news archive page)

5/18/09
Joint Statement on the BATFE Litigation
Since the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives has not appealed the decision of the Federal District Court of March 16, 2009, which ordered the agency to vacate their classification of APCP as an explosive, and the period for their ability to do so has expired as of May 16, 2009, on advice of counsel, we believe that the judgment is considered final although we have not received confirmation from the BATFE. Accordingly, members may operate under the understanding that APCP rocket motors are no longer regulated as an explosive material by BATFE, and no longer require permits formerly required by the agency to buy, sell, or possess such motors.

Members possessing a LEUP are advised that they should evaluate their individual situation based upon whether they possess (or plan to possess) and store materials that are still considered regulated by BATFE. While APCP rocket motors are now no longer regulated under the requirements of the "Orange Book" and are not subject to requiring a LEUP, other materials may be subject to these requirements.

Members are also reminded that both TRA and NAR safety codes stipulate what motors they may possess, depending on their level of flyer certification. These rules still apply to our members. We likewise strongly encourage vendors of hobby rocket motors to continue to work cooperatively with the rocketry community to only sell rocket motors to customers who possess flyer certifications commensurate with the motors they wish to purchase. Ensuring we maintain our strong level of self-regulation will be an essential element in our ability to retain this freedom from overregulation by outside agencies.

Members should immediately contact the leadership of TRA or NAR should they encounter situations where any BATFE personnel conduct themselves inconsistent with the final judgment of the Federal District Court.

Ken Good, President
TRA President

Trip Barber, President
NAR President

3/25/09
RCS Adds R-45HTLO Premix w/CAO-5 and HX-752 to Products List
In response to customer requests, RCS has added R-45HTLO polybutadiene resin premixed with 0.95% CAO-5 antioxidant and 2.38% HX-752 bonding agent in 1/2 gallon packaging (P/N R45HXHG) to its products list.

This premix should be used for propellants that contain 400 micron or larger Ammonium Perchlorate, or whenever maximum propellant strength is desired. HX-752 is unique among the commonly-used bonding agents in that it does not release Ammonia during propellant processing and does not cause the propellant to undergo a "dry mix" phase. Premixing HX-752 with the R-45 is necessary due to a tendency of the bonding agent to homopolymerize in its neat state at room temperature. R-45HTLO OH values generally range from 0.80 to 0.86; the manufacturer's reported value is printed on the container label.

NOTE: HX-752 is a suspected mutagen, women of childbearing age should not handle this product. See the HX-752 MSDS link on the "Products" page for more information.

An updated RCS order form is now available for download in PDF format from the "Products" and "Contact" pages.

3/18/09
Joint TRA/NAR Statement on the Lawsuit vs. BATFE
After a conference with our legal counsel, we provide the following information to our members on how to proceed in the aftermath of the favorable decision by Judge Walton in our lawsuit to eliminate the unjustified regulation of Ammonium Perchlorate Composite Propellant (APCP) imposed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE). We cannot offer legal advice to individual members, and members should consult their own legal counsel if there are any questions about how to proceed.

First, we should assume that the judge's decision "vacating", or rendering null and void, the BATFE regulation of APCP will not take effect until the period for appeal by the BATFE has passed without their filing an appeal. This will be approximately 60 days from now. However, even if an appeal is filed, it is possible for the Court’s judgment to be in effect and BATFE regulation to be nullified while the appeal is pending. We will advise you if this is this is the case.

If BATFE should appeal the decision, regardless of the fact that there is almost no credible basis for such an appeal or for the appeal to be approved by the Department of Justice, we should await the results of the appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals before assuming that BATFE no longer regulates APCP in the long term. However, unless the appellate court grants the agency a “stay of judgment” (which they may request, should they appeal) final judgment will be considered in effect at the end of the 60 day period mentioned above. At that time, the Judge Walton’s decision will take effect and could only be nullified by an overturn on appeal. Should the appellate court grant BATFE a stay of judgment, we will have to await the decision of the court before Judge Walton’s decision would be considered final and in effect.

An appeal could take up to six months, and possibly more time. If there is no appeal, then the regulations are automatically cancelled even if BATFE chooses not to publish a notice of such cancellation.

We will keep our members advised of the status of any appeals and will let you know the exact official date on which the regulations are no longer in effect. After this official date, you will not be required to have BATFE licenses or be subject to BATFE inspection or oversight for sport rocketry operations with APCP in any quantity and should show a copy of the Court judgment to any BATFE agent who takes an opposite position.

Second, members should proceed for now on the basis that all these BATFE regulations remain in effect. Appropriate licenses are still required to buy, sell, possess, and/or store APCP until such time as the regulations are cancelled. If you have a license up for renewal between now and late May (or whatever later date may be determined by any BATFE appeal process), you will have to renew it if you wish to perform any of these transactions.

Third, once the regulations are canceled, members are reminded that high-power user certifications are still required for purchasing or using high-power motors even if BATFE licenses are not. We have a great reputation as a self-regulating group of responsible hobbyists and our future success in defending the freedom we just won back could depend on maintaining this reputation.

Fourth, this Court decision did not change the regulated status of other sport rocketry items such as black powder, some kinds of igniters, etc. To the extent that any of these items previously required licenses and magazine storage, nothing has changed. Nor does the decision affect licensing and regulation by other federal, state or local government agencies.

We thank our members for their continued patience and for their sustained moral and financial support as we have fought this long battle successfully together.

Ken Good, President
Tripoli Rocketry Association

Trip Barber, President
National Association of Rocketry

3/16/09
APCP not an Explosive, Rules Judge Reggie B. Walton
District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton for the District of Columbia today issued an order finding in favor of Tripoli Rocketry Association (TRA) and National Association of Rocketry (NAR) vs. the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE). The decision followed a status hearing this past Friday in Washington.

Walton's order granted a summary judgment motion in favor of the plaintiffs TRA and NAR, denied the summary judgment motion of BATFE, and vacated the classification of Ammonium Perchlorate Composite Propellant (APCP) as an explosive.

Click here to download the 4-page order in PDF format.

1/14/09
Advanced Propellant Formulation and Processing Course to be Held March 14-15, 2009
The next RCS Institute of Experimental Rocket Technology (IERT) Advanced Propellant Formulation and Processing Course is scheduled to be held on March 14-15, 2009 at the PruneYard Plaza Hotel, 1995 South Bascom Ave., Campbell, CA 95008. Please view the "Classes" page for updated information and to download course registration and other documents.

10/8/07
RCS Adds 1 Gallon E 744 Curative, Iron Oxide to Products List
In response to customer requests, RCS has added Desmodur E 744 Isocyanate curative in 1 gallon packaging (P/N E7441G) and Iron Oxide (P/N FEO100G) to its products list.

E 744 has become the preferred room temperature curative for Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene (HTPB). It provides plenty of pot life and good physical properties. Pot life is 2 - 3 hours, cure time is 3 - 5 days at room temperature.

Iron Oxide (Fe2O3) is a moderate burn rate catalyst with a red color that increases the high pressure burn rate of Ammonium Perchlorate oxidized propellants. Our Iron Oxide is a sub-micron particle size that generates good burn rate enhancement with typical formulations. Typical concentration level is 0.5 - 3.0% of propellant weight. RCS's Iron Oxide is sold in a 4 oz polystyrene jar containing 100 grams net weight.

An updated RCS order form is now available for download in PDF format from the "Products" and "Contact" pages.

8/8/07
RCS Offers Kosdon by AeroTech and KBA "Animal-Compatible" Motor Parts for Research Applications
RCS is offering parts used in the recently-introduced and upcoming Kosdon by AeroTech™ (KBA™) and KBA Animal-Compatible™ motors to its research customers.

The parts include 38, 54 & 75mm casting tubes, pre-cut paper and phenolic liners for 29-150, 29-250, 38-640, 54-2550 and 75-7600 motors, silicone o-rings and other parts, all at competitive prices.

See the RCS "Products" page for complete part specifications. An updated RCS order form which includes the new KBA and KBA Animal-Compatible motor parts is now available for download in PDF format from the "Products" and "Contact" pages.

5/26/07
Users Page Updated
The RCS "Users" page has been updated with "Simple Green" and "Purple" propellant formulation submissions, provided by one of our customers.

12/7/06
RCS Releases Four EMK™ Experimental Motor Kits™
RCS is making four different "EMK" motor kits available to the research rocket community.

Over the past few years, a number of customers have been requesting that RCS produce experimental motor designs in kit form. After considering several options, it was decided to release an initial line of products based on a variety of popular single-use motor configurations.

These include 60 newton-second (part no. EMK2960SC) and 80 newton-second (part no. EMK2980SC) 'F'-class motors and two different 'G' designs (part nos. EMK29120C and EMK29120S). The 'G' kits are different only in the thickness of the paper liner that is packaged with each kit. The 'C' version uses a thin liner for core-burning designs while the 'S' kit includes a thicker liner which is best suited for longer-burning slotted grains. The two 'F' class kits use the thicker liner that may be used with either cored or slotted grains.

The new RCS EMKs use a one-piece phenolic case that includes an integral molded nozzle. The case has been tested to over 1,000 PSI but is recommended for motors running in the 500-600 PSI range. The nozzle throat and exit cone may be easily drilled to accommodate a wide array of grain designs and propellant formulations. The bulkhead end of the case is threaded to accept an included matching molded forward closure which can be bonded to the case with 5-minute epoxy.

The kits contain universal delay charge components such as an o-ring, delay insulator and an ejection charge cap. Users can separately purchase RCS propellant and delay casting tubes that are specified in the EMK "assembly guides" which are packaged with each motor kit. Alternatively, the guides suggest that the customer purchase AeroTech "RDK" pre-manufactured delay elements for use with the kits. The assembly guides have a detailed assembly drawing on the reverse side which portrays a typical motor configuration. A bondable aft thrust ring is also provided for the user's convenience.

EMK prices range from $8.00 each for the 60 N-sec kit to $10.00 each for the 'G' motor kits. Customers should note that RCS EMKs contain no hazardous materials since the propellant, igniter, delay, delay spacer and ejection charge are not included. Please see the "Products" page and the current RCS order form for more information. In addition, all four EMK assembly guides may be downloaded in PDF format from the "Resources" page.

11/9/06
RCS Introduces AP Blends™
RCS is releasing three new blends of Ammonium Perchlorate (AP) oxidizer for the research rocket community: APB200, APB400 and APB400200.

RCS AP Blends use a combination of coarse and fine AP in optimum particle size ratios and weight distributions to help achieve a high level of processability and castability with HTPB composite propellants. Experimenters will be able to formulate castable propellant with up to 88 weight % solids using these AP blends.

RCS part no. APB200 is a blend of 200 micron and ground AP intended for medium to fast burning rate propellant compositions. APB400 is a blend of 400 micron and ground AP designed for slower burning propellant formulations. APB400200 is a blend of 400 micron, 200 micron and ground AP for extremely high performance and high solids compositions.

In addition, RCS will be offering "standard" 200 and 400 micron AP w/TCP anti-caking agent.

All standard AP and AP Blends will be shipped in 2-gallon UN1H2 poly buckets containing 20 pounds net weight each. Please see the current RCS order form for more information including prices, shipping costs and hazmat fees.

Wanted: Your Input
If there is something you'd like RCS to offer that we haven't mentioned, please email us at orders@rocketmotorparts.com. Every suggestion will be given serious consideration. A number of items have been added to the RCS "Products" page as a direct result of customer requests.