Appendix A: Glossary

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Catastrophic Failure (CATO)
A failure that, in the opinion of the officials, is not due to or caused by improper design, construction, or preflight preparations of the model. This can include a malfunction of the model rocket motor, a model being run over by a car or stolen, an irreversible error by a meet official such as a lost flight card, or any occurrence beyond the control of a competitor. This does not include improper assembly of a reloadable motor. A flight experiencing a catastrophic failure may or may not be declared an official flight per Rule 11.4 – Catastrophic Failure.
Competitor
A NAR member or a team composed of NAR members entered in a competition.
Entry
A model rocket entered in sanctioned competition. A scale entry must also include its scale data to be an official entry.
First Motion
The instant at which a model begins to move upward under the thrust provided by a model rocket motor.
Gross Launching Mass
The mass of a model rocket in flight condition, including fully loaded motor(s), but not including launching devices or auxiliary equipment which does not become airborne with the model.
Misfire
Failure of a model to make an official flight when its launch is attempted. Failure to launch caused by a malfunction of a meet-provided launch system must not be considered a misfire.
NAR Contest Board
Refers to the National Contest Board of the National Association of Rocketry.
Pitch Axis
An imaginary reference line through a model about which the model might rotate. On a typical model rocket, this axis runs side-ways through the body at the center of gravity. Since a model rocket is usually symmetrical around the roll axis, the pitch and yaw axes are usually indistinguishable. On a typical glider, the pitch axis runs side-ways through the fuselage or boom in such a manner that if the model, during gliding flight, were to rotate about the pitch axis, its nose would move up or down.
Pop/Fly-away Lug
A launch lug or other fitting that guides the rocket during launch, but remains connected to the launcher, or falls from the model immediately after leaving the launcher.
Proxy
The authority to represent or act on behalf of someone else.
Roll Axis
An imaginary reference line through a model about which the model may rotate without changing its direction of travel. On a typical model rocket this axis runs down the length of the model, from the center of the nose cone through the center of the motor nozzle. On a typical glider, it runs down the fuselage or boom, from the nose to the tail, in such a manner that if the model, during gliding flight, were to rotate about its roll axis, one wing tip would rise while the other fell, and the model would bank to one side.
Safety Ruling
A ruling by a contest official denying an entry the opportunity to fly due to considered judgment that the model would be unsafe in flight. It is also a ruling that disqualifies a model which flies in an unsafe manner.
Stage
Any portion or portions of the model airframe containing one or more model rocket motors. An unpowered portion of the model is not considered a stage. Clustered motors that ignite at the same time, but may be contained in multiple airframe portions such as strap-on boosters that separate in flight (i.e., Delta, Soyuz), are considered to be one stage. Upper stages must involve ignition and separation from the airframe in order to count as an additional stage. Air-starting of one or more additional motors, which do not involve separation from the model, is not considered to be an additional stage.
Static Conditions
The state of an entry before an official flight.
Yaw Axis
An imaginary reference line through a model about which the model might rotate. On a typical model rocket, this axis runs sideways through the body at the center of gravity (see pitch axis). On a typical glider, the yaw axis runs vertically through the fuselage or boom in such a manner that if the model, during gliding flight, were to rotate about the yaw axis, its nose would move left or right.