Posted August 29, 2026

Dear MDRA Members,

We need to make you aware of the following policies regarding rocket recovery, volunteering and RSO.   Please read and understand before flying at any MDRA location.

1. Rocket Recovery and Lost Rockets

All flyers are reminded that every flight carries the possibility of losing a rocket due to a non-nominal flight or recovery. Examples of non-nominal recovery situations include, but are not limited to:

• Landing outside the designated recovery area
• Landing in a tree
• Landing on a building, structure, or equipment
• Landing on a power line
• Water recovery
• Any other recovery situation that presents a safety concern

Members must consult the BoD before making any recovery attempt after any situation as noted above because the BoD needs to determine if recovery is appropriate.    Members must keep in mind that, in most cases, if a rocket lands outside of MDRA’s designated recovery area, in the woods, or on a building, it should be considered lost and unrecoverable.   Other recovery situations will be assessed on a case by case basis.  

Any decision regarding a recovery attempt is solely at the discretion of the MDRA Board of Directors (BoD). All BoD decisions regarding recovery are final and not subject to negotiation or appeal.

We must also be mindful and respectful of the landowner’s property. Members must not become a nuisance or otherwise create a disturbance while attempting to recover a rocket.

Confrontational, disrespectful, or inappropriate behavior toward any BoD member regarding rocket retrieval will not be tolerated. Such behavior may result in immediate forfeiture of MDRA membership and loss of the right to fly with MDRA.

Please also note that as of September 1, 2026, MDRA no longer has access to a tree climber. Flyers should take that into consideration when planning and conducting flights.

2. Volunteers Are Needed at Every Launch

An MDRA launch is a labor intensive and highly complex event. Currently the same core group of volunteers and BoD members are carrying the majority of the responsibilities required to run launches. That in turn creates an unsustainable workload, leads to burnout and increases the risk of a safety incident.  Running a safe and orderly launch is a shared responsibility and the highest priority for MDRA.   We need your help by volunteering at every launch.

At a minimum, volunteers are needed for:

• Setup and tear-down
• Registration / Check-in
• Range Safety Officer (RSO): must be L2 or L3
• LCO Spotter(s)

Additionally, as needed:

• Pad Managers
  • Low-/Mid-Power
  • High-Power: must be L2 or L3

If we do not have enough volunteers to staff the mandatory positions during a launch, the BoD will pause launch activities until sufficient members step up and assist. Members will soon be able to sign up in advance of a launch on the MDRA website and will always be able to sign up in person during a launch at the registration table. 

3.) All rockets must go through the MDRA RSO process.

A reminder that all rockets, even those that have already been checked by a certifying official for jr L1, L1, L2 or L3 cert attempts, must go through the MDRA RSO process.  No exceptions.  

Please respect these policies and the decisions of the MDRA Board. Our priority is maintaining safe, orderly, and enjoyable launches for everyone.

Thank you for your cooperation and for volunteering to help keep MDRA launches running.

MDRA BoD