Cherokee-M pre-flight checklist

• Day before launch

  • Check in with tap members
  • Build motor according to manufacturer's instructions
  • Prepare igniters
    1. Check resistance
    2. Short igniters to prevent misfire
    3. Don safety goggles
    4. Test fit
    5. Remove
    6. Set aside
  • Build ejection charges (2 drogue, 2 main)
    1. Check resistance
    2. Don safety goggles
    3. Short matches to prevent misfire
    4. Pack powder, 4 grams (7/8 tsp) for drogue, 5 grams (1 tsp) for main
    5. Set aside
  • Prep electronics bay
    • Install Electronics
      1. Mount altimeters on board
      2. Install and zip-tie batteries
      3. Visually verify wiring
    • Verify wiring continuity
      1. Disarm AltAcc
      2. Power-up electronics
      3. Connect bulbs to all charge connectors
      4. Un-shunt charges
      5. Arm AltAcc
      6. Verify continuity
      7. Remove all bulbs
      8. Verify no continuity
      9. Shunt charges
      10. Verify continuity
      11. Disarm AltAcc
      12. Power-down electronics
    • Install igniters
      1. Don safety goggles
      2. Verify AltAcc is powered-down
      3. Verify charges are shunted
      4. Connect igniters
    • Verify igniter continuity
      1. Don safety goggles
      2. Verify AltAcc is disarmed
      3. Verify charges are shunted
      4. Power-up electronics
      5. Un-shunt charges
      6. Arm AltAcc
      7. Verify continuity
      8. Shunt charges
      9. Disarm AltAcc
      10. Verify charges are shunted
      11. Verify AltAcc is disarmed
      12. Power-down electronics
    • Seal charge conduits
    • Verify electronics are powered-down




• Day of launch, at camp

  • Assemble rocket
    • Don safety goggles
    • Install electronics bay
    • Verify electronics
      1. Verify charges are shunted
      2. Verify AltAcc is disarmed
      3. Don safety goggles
      4. Power-up electronics
      5. Un-shunt charges
      6. Arm AltAcc
      7. Verify continuity
      8. Shunt charges
      9. Disarm AltAcc
      10. Verify charges are shunted
      11. Verify AltAcc is disarmed
      12. Power-down electronics
    • Pack recovery rigging
    • Install shear pins
    • Verify electronics
      1. Verify charges are shunted
      2. Verify AltAcc is disarmed
      3. Don safety goggles
      4. Power-up electronics
      5. Un-shunt charges
      6. Arm AltAcc
      7. Verify continuity
      8. Shunt charges
      9. Disarm AltAcc
      10. Verify charges are shunted
      11. Verify AltAcc is disarmed
      12. Power-down electronics
  • Install motor
  • Weigh rocket
  • Verify Cg/Cp
  • Fill out flight card
  • Alert tap members
  • Check in with RSO
  • Check in with LCO
  • Transport rocket to pad




• Day of launch, at pad

  • Lower rail
  • Load rocket on pad
  • Don safety goggles
  • Install igniters (don't hook up yet)
  • Raise rail
  • Arm electronics
    1. Don safety goggles
    2. Verify charges are shunted
    3. Verify AltAcc is disarmed
    4. Power-up electronics
    5. Un-shunt charges
    6. Arm AltAcc
    7. Verify continuity
    8. Verify charges are not shunted
    9. Install hatch
  • Don safety goggles
  • Hook up igniters
  • Check continuity
  • Pictures
  • Back off and set up camera for liftoff
  • Alert LCO, TAP members, photographers
  • Launch!