The Tripoli Rocketry Association is one of the two major organizing bodies for high power rocketry in the USA (See also: National Association of Rocketry). It was founded in 1964 as a high school science club,integrating both rocketry and space science, and slowly evolved into a national organization. The founder was Francis G. Graham; early members who helped expand the club were Curtis W. Hughes, Kenneth J. Good, and Arthur R. Bower; also Thomas J. Blazanin completed the national scope of the organization. Tripoli organizes many launches, both local ones organized through local prefectures and larger national launches like LDRS and BALLS. They also provide insurance for organized launches, and handle certification of members for flying high power rockets. High power rocketry is a hobby similar to model rocketry, with the major difference being the rockets flown are significantly larger. ... The National Association of Rocketry (NAR) is the governing body for the sport/hobby of model rocketry in the United States of America. ...

Tripoli is involved in a seven year old lawsuit with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives regarding the legal classification and the use of ammonium perchlorate in rocket motors. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF or BATF or BATFE) is a federal agency, a special federal police service within the United States Department of Justice. ... Ammonium perchlorate is a chemical compound with the formula NH4ClO4. ...

External links

• Web site
• Patricai Leigh Brown; A Cult of Backyard Rocketeers Keeps the Solid Fuel Burning; New York Times, October, 14, 2006