DPF stands for a Dollar Per Foot

TCPF stands for Ten Cents Per Foot

The Rules are as follows:

  • Open to US and Canadian Universities and Colleges only
    • No High-Schools
  • All team members must be current students or has graduated in the school year of the launch
    • Each team must have a minimum of four team members
  • Single-Stage Rockets Only
    • No dropping tanks or other portions of the rocket
  • Liquid Propellants Only 
    • No solids or hybrids or monopropellants.
    • All DPF contestants must use liquid oxygen as an oxidizer.
    • All TCPF contestants must use nitrous oxide as an oxidizer.
  • Pressure Fed Rockets
    • Must use a commercially rated pressurant bottle.
    • The commercial bottle must not be filled or used above its commercial rating.
    • A relief valve is not required on the pressurant bottle.
    • The pressurant bottle must be able to be pressurized independent of the propellant tanks.
    • The pressurant bottle must be filled before propellant loading.
    • A main pressurant valve must be supplied that can remotely turn pressure on and off to the propellant tanks.
    • It is recommended that the initial pressure in the propellant tanks be supplied by the ground or by filling the pressurant bottle to a higher pressure to make up for pressurizing the propellant tank ullage to flight pressure.
    • It is not allowed to top-off the pressurant bottle after pressurizing the propellant tanks.
  • Each propellant tank must have one of the following for the Rocket Emergency Depressurization System (REDS).
    • 12 or 24-Volt Normally Closed, Solenoid Vent Valve
    • 12 or 24-Volt Motor Driven, Normally Closed, Ball Vent Valve
    • 12 or 24-Volt Relay that when powered, removes the power from a Normally Open, Solenoid Vent Valve
  • The rocket REDS vent valve wires must go to a single pull-off connector with 24-inch wires on the pull-off side to connect to the ground portion of REDS.
  • Both propellant tanks must be proof tested using water to 150% of their maximum operating pressure.
  • Relief Valves
    • Only commercial relief valves are allowed and burst disks are NOT allowed.
    • The LOX propellant tank must utilize a relief valve.
    • The fuel propellant tank must utilize a relief valve, if either of the following:
      • The fuel is cryogenic or a liquified gas.
      • The fuel is pressure fed by a separate regulator
    • Propellant tank relief valves must be set to 125% of the propellant tank maximum operating pressure.
  • The igniter must be tethered to the ground or launch rail to prevent it from flying away.
  • Must use Two-Stage Recovery
    • Deploys drogue-parachute at apogee
      • Prematurely deploying the drogue parachute on the way up will disqualify the team.
    • Deploys main-parachute below 1000-feet
      • Deploying the main parachute at apogee will disqualify the team.
      • Main-parachute deployment above 1000-feet will be penalized by subtracting $1 for each foot above 1000-feet from the award.
    • Must use two independent recovery electronics and batteries
    • It is highly recommended that you test fly your recovery system before you fly for DPF and TCPF.
  • Recovers Successfully
    • Returns on main parachute.
    • Returns with nosecone and drogue parachute tethered to the rocket.
    • Sustains only minor damage.
      • One fin broken off on landing.
      • Rocket engine nozzle damaged on landing.
      • No structural damage.
      • The rest of the rocket must be in flyable condition.
  • Rocket may have GPS/Telemetry to enable easy location of your rocket when it lands.
    • If you can't find your rocket, you will not be given the DPF or TCPF money.
  • Rocket must be rail or tower launched.
    • No active control systems
    • No movable fins
    • No canards
    • No TVC
  • Launches must be performed at FAR Site.
  • The rocket must be recovered the same day it is launched.
  • Altitude must be determined by two commercially available recovery electronics.
    • The altitude must be determined by the lowest altitude measured of the two.
  • The rocket or rocket engine must not have received the TCPF or DPF award before.
  • Must meet FAR/Mars safety requirements.
    • See FAR-Mars Safety Form
    • FAR-Mars Safety Form must be presented before rocket is placed on the launch rail or tower.
  • OPTIONAL: The team can provide FAR with a complete set of the rocket design plans so that they may be shared with other student groups. If another student group successfully builds and launches this design, they will receive the one-dollar-per-foot prize AND the original design team will also receive the same one-dollar-per-foot amount!
  • Launches requiring a new FAA COA.
    • A predicted altitude over 250,000-feet.
    • Launch team is responsible to acquire a new FAA COA.
    • COA must be coordinated with FAR.
    • Copy of COA must be sent to FAR two-weeks before launch.
  • Registration
    • Register through FAR Competition Registration webpage.
      • Register two-weeks before launch.
      • This registration does not substitute for a launch request.
    • File a Launch Request two-weeks before launch.
    • Currently there is no end-date for this contest.

Awards:

  • DPF is $1 per foot of altitude above the end of the launch rail or tower.
    • Payable to the launch team's school account
  • TCPF is $0.10 per foot of altitude above the end of the launch rail or tower.
    • Payable to the launch team's school account