Level 2 Certification 

 

Level 2 high-power certification is open to all members who hold a current Level 1 certification. The candidate needs to pass the Level 2 written examination and build, fly, and successfully recover a rocket using a certified HPR motor in the J to L impulse range.

Only L1 certified members may take the L2 written examination. The candidate must pass the Level 2 written test before attempting a Level 2 certification flight.

Level 2 Certification Procedure

Level 2 Certification allows flyers to fly High-Power Rockets with a total installed impulse between 640.01 and 5120.00 n-sec.

A certification authority (Prefect, TAP, or Tripoli Director) has a responsibility to perform the following steps:

1. Confirm completion of the written test. As of July, 2025, Tripoli strongly encourages candidates to complete the Level 2 written test using the Level 2 Online Test prior to arriving at the range. This streamlines the certification process and reduces administrative burden on certifying authorities.  
   
   Take the Online Written Exam
   
   
2. Once the candidate passes the written test portion they should present the certifying authority with the certification form they recieved from the test. The authority will complete the appropriate section of the Universal Certification Form indicating that the written test portion has been passed.  That signed Universal Certification Form must be given to the candidate, who will be required to present it before flying the certification flight.
   
   
3. Before the certification flight, the certification authority shall review the predicted flight characteristics to ensure they comply with the TUSC and FAR 101.25 as well as any special conditions for the launch site. The certification authority may not impose additional conditions on the candidate beyond the requirements that are listed here, such as requirements for specific flight experience.
   
   
4. Inspection of the prepared rocket motor to ensure it complies with the paragraph below entitled Motor.
   
   
5. Pre-flight inspection of the rocket with motor to ensure it complies with the paragraphs below entitled Recovery and Airframe.
   
   
6. Observation of the certification flight in accordance with the paragraph below entitled Certification Flight.
   
   
7. Inspection of the recovered rocket in accordance with the paragraph below entitled Post-Flight Inspection.
   
   
8. After accomplishing the steps above, the certifying authority shall determine whether the candidate’s rocket and flight constituted a successful certification. The certification authority shall make the determination for a non-certification in strict compliance with the conditions listed below in the paragraph entitled Non-Certification. The goal is for all certification authorities to apply the rules equally.
   
   
9. Following a successful certification, the certification authority should sign the Universal Certification Form in the appropriate place and hand it to the candidate. The candidate is responsible for emailing it to HQ at the address listed on the bottom of the form. The form will also serve as proof that the candidate is certified at the new level until receiving a new membership card with the updated certification listed.

Written Test - The candidate must be certified for Level 1 before taking the written examination for Level 2. The Level 2 written test is a 50-question exam that must be passed before flying the Level 2 certification flight. In order to pass, the candidate must score 90% or higher. The preferred method of taking the written test is via Tripoli’s official online testing platform, which automatically records results and issues a printable confirmation that can be recorded on the Universal Certification Form. The online test also includes real-time feedback and allows for retakes after a cooldown period. 
If a manual (paper) test is administered, the certifying authority must adhere to the original testing protocols. The test form must not be given to the candidate to keep and should be destroyed after recording the results. The written test (online or paper) is valid for a one-year period.

Airframe - The rocket must be built entirely by the flyer. The calculated center of pressure must be marked on the rocket. The rocket must be of conventional rocket design, meaning stabilized by fins and recovered under parachute. "Odd Rockets" such as flying pyramids, saucers, and flying spools, will not be allowed for any certification flight. The rocket may be either a kit or scratch-built. Scratch-built rockets may contain commercially built components. The Certification Authority has the authority to refuse the use of premanufactured assemblies or rockets that do not reflect a candidate’s ability to build a rocket. Although 3D printed fin cans are allowed, rockets that are entirely 3D printed are not.

Recovery - Parachute recovery is required. Non-parachute recovery methods (e.g., tumble, helicopter, gliding, etc.) are not permitted for certification flights. If the rocket uses dual deployment, the first recovery event is not required to use a parachute. It may be either drogueless or streamer if the main event uses a parachute to decelerate the rocket to no more than the landing velocity allowed by the Tripoli Unified Safety Code.

Motor - The certification flight must be powered by a single, certified J, K, or L motor (total impulse between 640.01 and 5120.00 n-secs). Staged or Clustered rockets may not be used for certification flights. The certifying authority is not required to witness the candidate build or prepare the motor but will make themselves available to answer questions about building or preparing the motor.

Electronics - Electronics are not required for level 2 certification flights.

Certification Flight - Level 2 Certification flight may take place at any insured launch. The certifying authority (i.e. Prefect, TRA Director, or TAP Member) must be present and witness the certification flight. The certifying authority must observe enough of the flight to know that the rocket ascended in a stable manner and descended in a safe manner controlled by the recovery system. The certifying authority is not required to see the entire flight.

Post-Flight Inspection - The rocket must be presented to the certifying authority for inspection as recovered (all parts included). If the rocket cannot be recovered but can be inspected in place (power lines, tree, etc.) that may be acceptable at the discretion of the certifying authority. The certifying authority shall inspect the rocket for excessive damage. Excessive damage shall be considered damage to the point that if the flyer were handed another motor, the rocket could not be put on the pad and flown again safely. Damage caused by wind dragging after a safe landing will not cause a disqualification.

Non-Certification - Any of the following will result in non-certification for a certification flight:

• Motor Cato
  
  
• Excessive Damage
  
  1. Excessive damage is defined as damage to the rocket which would prevent flying it again safely.
     
     
  2. A zipper of a quarter caliber or less is acceptable.
     
     
  3. Cosmetic damage to fillets is acceptable, but a fin tab that is no longer securely bonded to either the motor mount tube or body tube is not acceptable.
     
     
• Rocket exceeding the waivered altitude, the expected altitude as limited by FAR 101.25(G), or drifting outside the specified launch range.
  
  
• Failed recovery system deployment, including failure to eject deployment system, tangled recovery system, failure of chute release to release, or other failure that allows the rocket to descend faster than designed even if there is no damage to the rocket.
  
  
• Components which descend separately from a recovery system.
  
  
• Any other violation of the TRA safety code associated with this particular flight.