Southern Arizona Rocketry Association
Tucson, AZ
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Launch Control Officer (LCO)General There is no certification level requirement for the LCO position. The LCO controls the progress of the launch from the LCO table. The LCO shall announce the range procedures and any special conditions or announcements that apply to the launch before the launch begins and at any time during the launch that may be appropriate to do so. Flight Cards Fliers will proceed from the RSO table to the LCO table with their rocket and flight card. When the flight card is received, the LCO should inspect the flight card for evidence of the RSO inspection. If the RSO has not signed the flight card, the LCO should instruct the flier to return to the RSO table. If the flight card is in order, the LCO assigns a launch pad to the flier and enters the pad number on the flight card. The flight card is then submitted into the queue of flight cards maintained by the LCO so that the first card received is the first card to launch (FIFO). Range Operation The LCO shall determine when the range is cold and instruct fliers to begin loading rockets on their assigned launch pads. The range is cold when: 1) The launch controller safety key is in the off position. 2) All previously loaded rockets have been launched or have been determined to be a "no go". When the loading process has been completed by all fliers the LCO will arm the pads by turning on the safety key. The next flight card in the queue will be selected and the flyer shall then be announced and instructed to step up to the launch controller. The LCO shall announce the information pertaining to the flight (name of flyer, name of rocket, motor information and launch pad number). The LCO and the RSO shall then determine that the range is safe to launch this rocket. The range is safe when: 1) the rocket being launched is on an appropriate launch pad. 2) The circle centered on the launch pad with a radius equal to the minimum required safety distance from the launch pad is clear of people. 3) The airspace is clear. 4) Any people adjacent to the area have been made aware of the launch. When the safety conditions are met, the LCO shall announce that “safety is go”. The LCO shall then provide a 5-second countdown concluding with “launch”, “start” or “go”. The command to launch must be given, since stopping after “one” may be interpreted as a hold. The LCO must be aware of any change in the safety conditions during the countdown. If the LCO sees or anyone calls out a safety concern an immediate “hold” in the countdown must be called and the situation evaluated. When the safety situation is resolved, the LCO shall start a new 5-second countdown. The LCO must keep everyone on the range informed of the progress of the flight, particularly when the flight or recovery does not go as planned. The LCO shall announce where separated rocket parts or errant rockets are about to land so that people in the area have time to locate the rocket or other debris and move if required. When the flight goes as planned, the LCO should comment on it. If the flier called to launch is not ready or a misfire occurs, the LCO will call them to the LCO table and return their flight card. The LCO shall instruct them to return the flight card to him when they are ready to launch and he will put the card in the end of the queue. Some high power rockets will require that their onboard systems be turned on or have safeties removed, this should not be considered “not ready”. If arming the rocket will take some time, the LCO may launch the next rocket in the queue to keep things moving and then launch the high power rocket when it is armed. |
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