Hi Folks:
Regarding the government's (Homeland Security and the BATF) fear that an amateur rocket motor might be used in a terrorist weapon, I have a simple suggestion, and I haven't heard it before, so maybe it's a new one.
For a rocket motor to be used in a weapon, its performance MUST be predictable with a high degree of accuracy. And manufacturers like Aerotek take pride in their quality control, which INSURES this predictability.
Of course, for other reasons, amateur rocket motors are useless as weapons anyway, but the government doesn't seem aware of this fact, or it they've heard it, they don't believe it. So here is my suggestion. Instead of manufacturing all rocket motors with the same level of quality control, manufacturers like Aerotek could offer TWO classes of motors. That is, one for NASA and the military, and one for the amateur market.
The "mil.-spec." motors would be made to the same high standards used for all motors today, but the performance of the "am.-spec." motors would INTENTIONALLY be varied from motor to motor. This could be accomplished by the addition or subtraction of a burn rate modifier, the goal being to vary their thrust and total impulse by plus or minus 5%, or 10%, or some experimentally arrived-at figure that would make them useless for targeting.
In the actual manufacturing process, 5 or 6 propellant grain batches would be prepared, each with a slightly different chemistry. The cured propellant grains would be randomly mixed like Lotto balls, and THEN loaded into the motors, or packaged for sale as "reloads". Visually they'd all look identical, and it would be impossible to tell one from another without destructive testing.
Of course, you couldn't use them for things like altitude competitions, but for MOST amateur rocket applications they'd be just fine. When you bought an "am.-spec." H motor, you'd understand that its total impulse might be 200 nt.-secs., or 220 nt.-secs., or some random figure in between.
The purchase or possession of a "mil.-spec." motor without the proper permits would be illegal, and regulations regarding the purchase, possession, and use of "am.-spec." motors would be GREATLY relaxed.
The NAR, TRA, and ARSA are currently trying to negotiate a settlement of the "perceived" terrorist problem, and of course, I hope they succeed, and that ALL civilian rocketry is exempted from HSA and BATF regulation. But if the arguments and negotiations hit a dead end, the idea I've expressed above, if properly presented, might be a saving-plan. What do YOU guys think?
Dave Sleeter