A PSA regarding CMASS launch rods

tlainhart wrote:

As a flyer and an RSO I've noticed on occasion at our launches that some launch rods are installed incorrectly into their holders.

The launch rods that we use for club launches are (faintly) painted red to note which end is to be installed into the Corian holder (the Spad-Pad). The presence of the paint is sometimes enough to cause a rocket to hang on the rocket as it exits, which can result in unintended consequences as it did yesterday.



 

Thanks for this post, Todd.  DEFINITELY something to keep in mind for the future! 

Yesterday I installed the rods on all the pads up to #8. Unfortunately, I didn't catch the error on #10 until after the launch. The paint is hard to see.
I'm thinking we should have some documentation on how to set up the launch area that can be posted here and linked to from the FB page. Some text, some diagrams. There seems to be enough willing help, (like me) but not all of us know all the intricate details yet. (like me).
I've worked in a manufacturing environment pretty much all my life and so I know from experience that relying on "tribal knowledge" is a good way to shoot yourself in the ass. I'm willing to volunteer to contribute to getting some procedures down "on paper" so there'll be a place people can go to get an idea of what to do and when and how to do it. And if we already have such a document, please let me know. Either way, we need to get the word out to more people so we don't have any replays of yesterday's incident.
Fortunately, this one was dealt with quickly.
It would also be a good thing to try to educate more people on how to use the launch pads. Especially for newcomers. And all hail newcomers and cub scouts and all the rest. They need all the encouragement and help we can give them so we can keep the hobby and sport alive.
There's my 2¢ for now. Please feel free to comment on my ideas, or mess me privately here on on FB.
I'm here to help.
Rick