New Launch Procedures

Lynn Kissel, LUNAR #009

In an effort to streamline our launch procedures, we are proposing a new scheme for check-in and pad assignments for rockets at the LUNAR launches.

The new launch procedures decouple the inspection process from pad assignment; each is done separately. The inspection and pad-assignment processes will be based on the concept one sees at may banks, wherein a single queue (first in, first out) feeds multiple service sites (in our case, inspectors or launch pads).

The first step in the new process is to take your prepped rocket and completed launch card to the inspection queue. One or more RSO's will be examining rockets for safety. After passing a careful inspection by the RSO, your completed launch card is validated and returned to you. At this point, you can proceed to the pad-assignment queue (but you don't have to!). (See the article on launch-day operations by Warren Massey for some of the items that the RSO will be looking for during the inspection.)
The second step is to take your prepped rocket and validated launch card (from step 1) and proceed to the pad-assignment queue. Here, the RSO will take your validated launch card and assign you to a launch pad. This assignment will only take place when a pad is vacant and available for use.

This new system might seem more complex, but it has several attractive features. Most importantly, you'll never be bumped from your pre-assigned pad by a misfire from the rocketeer in front of you, since the RSO won't assign you to a pad until it is free for your use.

Another interesting feature is that, instead of taking your validated launch card to the pad-assignment queue, you can go sit down, or go over to yack with your rocket buddies, or run after the ice cream truck and get a "Red Bomber" frozen treat! You can also get more than one rocket/launch-card combo validated. Some well prepared rocketeers might submit a whole days worth of rockets early in the morning and never visit the inspection table for the rest of the day!

However, this system as detailed here has one negative feature; it increases the temptation to the rocketeer to make changes or substitutions to the inspected rocket before launch. This form of uncivilized rocketeering is also possible with our current system, but these new procedures increase the risk. A modification that would eliminate the problem would involve storage of the inspected rocket with the RSO until it is assigned to a pad, but this seems to be an unnecessarily restrictive step at this point.

SIGNIFICANT MODIFICATIONS TO THE ROCKET AFTER THE LAUNCH CARD HAD BEEN VALIDATED REQUIRES RE-INSPECTION OF THE ROCKET. If individuals are found to be violating this restriction, they can be banned from launching for the remainder of the day by the RSO.

Let's try these new procedures and refine them during the coming months. I'd encourage you to think about the effectiveness of our procedures and to bring any suggestions or comments about our operations to me or any of the Board members for consideration.

Information date: Oct. 1, 1996 lk