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So You Want to Launch a Rocket? The FAA is Here for You (2017)

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Re: So You Want to Launch a Rocket? The FAA is Here for You (2017)

#2
OP is a useful overview of the relevant regulations.

And in case anyone disputes the need for regulations, it's worth remembering that any rocket that can put a payload into orbit — any size of payload — is de facto an ICBM: not a very good ICBM by modern military standards, but an adequate one. Expecting your government to pay no attention to your microsat launcher is like expecting them to ignore the unlicensed tank factory in their back yard.

Re: So You Want to Launch a Rocket? The FAA is Here for You (2017)

#3
post #2

OP is a useful overview of the relevant regulations. And in case anyone disputes the need for regulations, it's worth remembering that any rocket that can put a payload into orbit — any size of payload — is de facto an ICBM: not a very good ICBM by modern military standards, but an adequate one. Expecting your government to pay no attention to your microsat launcher is like expecting them to ignore the unlicensed tan…

I would wager you coulld weaponize a micro/cubesat enough to cause much more than icbm levels of chaos by attacking other sats (GPS, Spy, Comms, etc.) Thinking in terms of 1940's missles is a bit outdated.

Re: So You Want to Launch a Rocket? The FAA is Here for You (2017)

#4
post #2

OP is a useful overview of the relevant regulations. And in case anyone disputes the need for regulations, it's worth remembering that any rocket that can put a payload into orbit — any size of payload — is de facto an ICBM: not a very good ICBM by modern military standards, but an adequate one. Expecting your government to pay no attention to your microsat launcher is like expecting them to ignore the unlicensed tan…

I would wager you coulld weaponize a micro/cubesat enough to cause much more than icbm levels of chaos by attacking other sats (GPS, Spy, Comms, etc.) Thinking in terms of 1940's missles is a bit outdated.

Miss-iles, that's a very appropriate typo. "But I'm not planning to do any damage intentionally, and I'm expecting nothing to go wrong!" Well - the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry, and things going wrong at orbital velocities tend to have unintended...impacts, if you will.

Re: So You Want to Launch a Rocket? The FAA is Here for You (2017)

#6
post #5

What happens if I go to Russians?

Then the Red Airforce will ask a lot of questions about what you're doing. The last thing they want is the US confusing your rocket launch with a preemptive nuclear strike.

Then, the rest of the government will have their pick at you. By international law, each country is responsible for anything that gets launched into orbit by their citizens/companies/from their territory.

Re: So You Want to Launch a Rocket? The FAA is Here for You (2017)

#8
Highly editorialized title. The original (sane) title is So You Want to Launch a Rocket? The FAA is Here for You.

This is especially eggregious given the overall positive tone of the post, see:

The point is, you do need federal permission to launch a rocket from the United States. And, if you are a U.S. citizen or other entity you need FAA approval to launch anywhere in the world. The Commercial Space Launch Act says so. You also need permission to reenter a reentry vehicle or operate a spaceport. The one thing my protégé had wrong, however, is that you don’t need a license—or even an experimental permit—to launch a toy rocket or even a somewhat large amateur rocket.

Re: So You Want to Launch a Rocket? The FAA is Here for You (2017)

#10
post #5

What happens if I go to Russians?

They will have equivalent regulations, and they will tell the US all about your rocket anyway so World War III doesn't start because you thought it would be cool to try to sneak something into space.
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