Launch Site Survey and Planning

Planning a launch should involve specific review of safety requirements. This is not limited to HPR Launches. When you agree to conduct a launch in a school yard or sporting field, you are responsible for conducting the launch according to all applicable rules. A site survey can, for example, determine the maximum motor rating allowed to launch at a given site based on the maximum supported altitude of flight. This is dependent on the dimensions of the area, and on proximity to occupied structures and roadways. more...

I have had the experience of conducting Class 1 launches in several locations that were risk-averse to the point of involving the fire marshal's office in approval of the event. This is actually not a problem, as it is an opportunity to educate other professionals about rocketry. A good site survey with basic information overlaying a map image of the site will result in a bit of back and forth about the rules, likely recovery area of the rockets, and clearance to occupied structures an roadways makes an interesting presentation.

There are several online tools I recommend for the simplicity and fairly high accuracy of mapping. Both Google Maps and Google Earth are free and work in a browser tab. They include areal views suitable for an accurate understanding of the area\. They also include measuring tools that are fairly easy to use.