Certification¶
Status: L2 CERTIFIED ✓¶
Tripoli Level 2 - Certified 22 February 2026 Tripoli Level 1 - Certified 24 January 2026
Tripoli Membership¶
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Organization | Tripoli Rocketry Association |
| Member Number | 38105 |
| Status | L2 Certified |
| Expires | November 2026 |
L2 Certification Flight¶
Flight Video¶
Flight Details¶
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 22 February 2026 |
| Location | Enköping, Sweden |
| Organization | SMRK (Swedish Model Rocket Club) |
| Motor | AeroTech J350 |
| Result | Successful |
Rocket Configuration¶
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Kit | Apogee Peregrine |
| Length | 175 cm |
| Diameter | 100 mm |
| Liftoff weight | 3100 g |
| CG | 115 cm from nose tip |
| CP | 130 cm from nose tip |
| Expected altitude | 1100 m |
| Actual altitude | ~1000 m (estimated, flight log pending) |
Recovery Configuration¶
Dual deployment was required by the 500m landing radius constraint. Simulations showed that with main-only recovery from ~1000m, any wind above 4 m/s would carry the rocket beyond the allowed radius.
Triple-redundant ejection system:
- Electronic #1 (CATS Vega): 18" drogue parachute at apogee
- Electronic #2 (CATS Vega): 48" main parachute at lower altitude
- Motor backup: Original 14s factory delay left unmodified as independent safety charge
Electronics¶
| Device | Purpose |
|---|---|
| CATS Vega | Flight computer, dual deployment control (2 pyro channels) |
L2 Written Examination¶
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Passed | 27 January 2026 |
| Certificate # | 2343 |
Certifying Authority¶
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Rolf Örell |
| TRA # | 3728 |
| Role | Tripoli Prefect |
Official Documents¶
Download L2 Certification Form (PDF)
L1 Certification Flight¶
Flight Details¶
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 24 January 2026 |
| Location | Enköping, Sweden |
| Organization | SMRK (Swedish Model Rocket Club) |
| Motor | AeroTech H128W-14A |
| Result | Successful |
Rocket Configuration¶
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Kit | Apogee Peregrine |
| Length | 175 cm |
| Diameter | 100 mm |
| Liftoff weight | 2350 g |
| CG | 115 cm from nose tip |
| CP | 130 cm from nose tip |
| Stability margin | 15 cm (~1.5 calibers) |
Flight Data¶
| Parameter | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Apogee | 208 m | 140.8 m |
| Recovery | Dual electronic | Motor ejection |
The lower actual altitude was likely due to additional unplanned weight (two flight computers, LiPo batteries, etc.) beyond the original weight budget.
Electronics¶
| Device | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CATS Vega | Primary flight computer | Data logging only - not used for deployment |
| Friend's logger | Backup data logging | Additional altitude verification |
Recovery Configuration¶
Originally planned dual deployment with electronic ejection. Pivoted to motor ejection on launch day due to:
- Cold weather conditions
- Swedish safety rules requiring ejection charge testing before flight
- Simplified approach for certification flight
Delay adjustment: H128W-14A has 14s factory delay. Calculated 6s needed for 208m apogee. Drilled out 8 seconds, but unknowingly had +2s disk in delay adjustment tool. Actual delay ~8 seconds - still successful deployment past apogee.
Certifying Authority¶
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Rolf Örell |
| TRA # | 3728 |
| Role | Tripoli Prefect |
Rolf is one of Tripoli's Lifetime Members and reportedly the first Tripoli Prefect in Europe.
Official Documents¶
Download L1 Certification Form (PDF)
What's Next: L3¶
L1 and L2 served as verification that the fundamentals were understood correctly. L3 is a different challenge — building a rocket from scratch rather than using a kit.
| Requirement | Status |
|---|---|
| Current L2 certification | ✓ |
| TAP member #1 | Rolf Örell (confirmed) |
| TAP member #2 | TBD |
| Scratch-built rocket | Design phase |
| Documentation package | Not started |
| Review flight | Not scheduled |
Acknowledgments¶
Special thanks to those who helped make both certifications possible:
- Rolf Örell - Certifying authority for L1 and L2
- Peter Steen - Launch support and guidance
- Anton Vannesjö - Launch support and guidance
Lessons Learned¶
L1¶
- Know your tools - The Aerotech delay adjustment tool has a +2s disk; understand all components before launch day
- Swedish launch requirements - Ejection charge testing required; plan for motor ejection as fallback
- Weight matters - Additional electronics increased weight beyond budget, reducing altitude by ~30%
- Motor procurement - Cannot transport motors on Tallink passenger ferries (blanket ban on dangerous substances); must purchase locally in Sweden or find alternative transport