Tote that barge, lift that bail...

Launch-Day Operations

by Warren Massey, LUNAR #007

[Setup/take-down, LCO, RSO and registration are duties that need to be performed at every launch. Here is a brief description of what these jobs entail. As you'll see, none of these jobs are very difficult. All LUNAR members are required to participate and volunteer to do their fair share of the work to make the launches possible.

Aside from being necessary, these jobs are also fun! It's a great way to meet people and there is always a warm sense of satisfaction to a job done well. As we all know, there's more to launching rockets than pushing the button! ed.]

Setup

People wanting to help with setup should try to arrive at the field around 7:30 A.M. Go to where the equipment is being unloaded or has been unloaded and say "I want to help", we'll put you to work.

One of the first things you need to know about setup is that nothing gets taken out onto the field until the measurements that locate the steel stakes and the pads are made (this is because the two measuring tapes used get hung up on anything sitting out on the grass). The measuring of the field and placement of the stakes and pads takes a minimum of four people; two working the tape measures, one or two carrying stakes and pads and one driving the stakes in. The list of measurements to use is in the registration box. Any time after the stakes are driven in, the wooden blocks that support the barrier string/tape may be placed on the tops of the stakes (pull out the retainer pins and leave them hanging for now). The installation of the barrier string/tape needs to wait until after all the pad cords and PA system cords have been placed and until after the pads have been setup. When it finally is installed, start and finish at the LCO station, rotate the support blocks so that the barrier is always to the inside of the stake and pull it fairly tight as you install it. It helps to have a second person following the installer, replacing the retainer pins in the support blocks.

Since only 4 to 6 people are needed for field layout and little else can take place on the field until after layout is complete, any additional workers can help in the equipment staging area by cleaning the launch rods with the Scotch-Brite pads, sorting the launch rods and igniter clips by type into two groups or possible even pre-configuring the pads by installing a blast deflector, small launch rod and rod standoff on each one. After the field is laid out, lots of other stuff can happen all at once.

The LCO station gets setup with the control support table, control, battery and foot switch. Twelve cords are connected to the control and rolled out to the pads. Each of the pads gets: spiked down to the ground, a blast deflector, a pad number sign, a small launch rod, an ordinary igniter clip and a launch rod standoff. Each pad also gets its own coffee can to be used as a trash receptacle (as do the RSO, LCO and registration tables). The bigger rods and more esoteric igniter clips are evenly divided into two sets and each group of six pads gets one set of each.

A couple of people (with a truck) need to retrieve 3 or more tables and 4 or more chairs from the field house and while there, unlock the bathrooms and the gate to the soccer field. One table is setup along side the LCO alley, another setup for the RSO and a third is setup for registration. Any additional tables brought down would be for general use and may be placed wherever convenient. The RSO and registration tables get two chairs each.

AC power needs to be run from the box on the south side of the field to the LCO station and the PA system (amplifier, microphone, speakers) needs to be setup. Note that the PA amplifier is the only device that gets plugged into AC power. Everything else is battery powered.

The club banner needs to be setup over the registration table. The table needs to be setup with the registration box, sign-in sheets, transaction log and member roster on clipboards, pens, cash box and launch worker sign-up board.

LCO - The Launch Control Officer is responsible for supervising the launching of the rockets and seeing that conditions are safe to do so. This means making sure that pads are not and cannot be armed when people are close by them. It also means looking and listening for aircraft and not launching any rockets when any are near by.

The LCO is given a list of rockets by pad number with information on each. He announces the rocket, taking special pains to make everyone aware of any flights labeled as "heads up." He determines if he or the owner will be "pushing the button." When the button pusher is in place and it is safe to do so, the LCO arms the correct pad, checks for aircraft and gives the go-ahead to the button pusher who counts down. When the countdown reaches 2 or 1 he steps on the foot switch enabling the launch button which at 0 is pressed and held until the rocket fires or fizzles. The LCO observes the flight and watches for proper operation of the recovery system; if it fails to recover properly then he will call heads up and make everyone aware of any possible dangers.

RSO

The Range Safety Officer has overall responsibility for the safety of the range and can shutdown flying if he deems it necessary. Most often though he depends on the LCO to make good decisions about the safety of actions occurring on the range. This is so the RSO can carry out his other major duty, the inspection of rockets prior to flight to determine if they are safe to fly. If they are safe to fly then the RSO will assign a launch pad to the rocket. If, in the opinion of the RSO, the rocket is not safe to fly, he will tell the owner that and also explain why that decision was made. As always, if he chooses he may ask for advice from other more experienced members.

For most rockets the inspection process is fairly simple. The RSO checks to see that the fins and launch lug are securely fastened to the body tube. He checks that the engine is properly installed (i.e. that it is not hanging half out of the rocket because the glue on the engine block set too soon) and it is secure from either moving forward when thrusting or being ejected during recovery. While at the engine it is also a good idea to check to see if the igniter wires are possibly shorted together. He goes on to check for a functional recovery system. This can be no more than checking that the nose cone is not on too tight and asking the owner if the recovery system is present and did he remember the wadding to protect it from the ejection charge. The flight cards of any large rockets which are not rejected yet are somewhat questionable in the eyes of the RSO need to be marked as "heads up" flights so everyone else will be made aware of the potential for a problem.

Registration

This person watches over the launch sign in sheet, sells flight cards, hands out and receives membership applications and answers questions about the club. When money is received for flight cards or as membership dues, he collects it, makes change as necessary and records it on a transaction log.

Take-down

This starts with picking up all the trash from around the pads and placing it in the trash cans. Then it's just a matter of consolidating all the like hardware (rods, deflectors, clips, etc.) together and then carrying it over to the pickup area next to the sidewalk. When pulling the pads off the ground, pull on the legs next to the spike to avoid breaking the legs off the pads. After removal don't leave any low profile objects (steel stakes, launch rods, igniter clips, blast deflectors) sitting off by themselves in the grass as they may be overlooked and left behind when we leave.

Information date: Oct. 1, 1996 lk