High Power Rocketry Certification

Level 2 HPR Certification, Currently Persuing

Level 1 HPR Certification, 2018

Pictured: My Level 2 Certification Rocket, the Sepetron, takes flight.

The National Association of Rocketry (NAR) offers High Power Rocketry certifications for members who fulfill requirements. Three levels of certification, each authorizing a member to purchase and launch higher impulse rocket motors.

I got my Level 1 certification in 2018. To do this, I had to build and fly a rocket using a motor within the level 1 range (160 to 640 Newton seconds) and recover it undamaged. I built a relatively simple rocket which flew successfully leading to my certification.

To achieve a Level 2 certification, a member must first pass a written test before successfully flying and recovering a rocket using a motor within the level 2 range (640 to 2560 Newton seconds). For this, I built the Sepetron, named after the smallest solid rocket booster in Kerbal Space Program. It uses a flight computer to deploy parachutes along with some 3D printed components.

I look over the rocket and my flight simulation report one last time as I fill out flight paperwork just before launch. Solstice, USLI's 2020 subscale rocket, was launched the same day and can be seen being assembled in the background.

I initially flew the Sepatron in early 2020. While I passed the written test, the upper airframe bulkhead broke leading to a loss of the upper airframe. Because of school, I had to put the project on hold. Now that I have had time to fix the problems, I will fly again next chance I get to go to a launch.