Tampa Bay Rocketry Association


Night Launch Registration

Pre-registration for a night launch is required and must be submitted no later than 2 weeks prior to the event.


All participants and spectators must be on the field by 30 minutes prior to sundown, and remain on the field until the night launch is concluded. No entrance to or exit from the field will be permitted after dark except in an emergency situation.


Night launching will commence approximately 15 minutes after sunset, and will conclude by 10:45pm. No rockets will be launched after 11:00pm. 


In order for the Launch Control Officer to ensure the range is safe, all personnel entering the range, either at the launch pads or downrange must carry a light source. Battery powered lights or chemical glowsticks are suitable for this purpose. Reflective vests or other outer clothing is recommended. This requirement will not be waived or bypassed.


All rockets, regardless of size, must have an active lighting source visible from at least 300 feet away. Chemical glowsticks are not suitable for this purpose and will not be permitted. Lights must be visible during the entire flight until the rocket is on the ground.


​All separable rocket sections except the nose cone must comply with this rule independent of each other, no shared power supplies or switches. Each section must illuminate independently so that no single lighting failure can cause a failure of all lighting systems. At least one section should strobe, flash, or blink. 


All lighting systems and power supplies must be securely attached to each rocket section.


All night launch rockets must be in-checked with the Range Safety Officer before dark. Rockets presented for in-check after dark will be rejected and will not be launched.


The officer will need to see each section lighting circuit illuminated independently. 


Rocket motors are restricted to "G" impulse and below. High power motors are not permitted at this time.


"Sparky" type motors may be permitted, subject to the Range Safety Officer's review of field conditions. Do not assume the "Sparky" type motors will be permitted.


Cluster motor flights will be permitted as long as the total impulse is 160 N-s or below.


Staged motor flights will not be permitted at this time, due to field constraints. 


All flights are restricted to a maximum altitude of 4,000 feet AGL. 


Any rocket that ends up in a tree or heavy brush shall remain there until the next day. ​​

Night Launch Policies