Overview

We all wish we could just explore space peacefully, but unfortunately launch vehicles look a lot like missiles if you're trying to cause trouble. The United States tries to prevent countries with nefarious intent from gaining missile technology through a variety of pieces of legislation. This is a running guide of the team's efforts to comply with the relevant laws.

Terms to Know

International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)

This is the original set of laws that governed most defense technologies, including rockets and aerospace. These are some of the strictest laws.

Export Administration Regulations (EAR)

These laws are slightly more permissive than ITAR, though they usually apply to satellites, and not the underlying rocket Technology.

US Munitions List

If your thing is on this list, you get to follow additional rules! This is a really comprehensive list which includes a lot of rocket propellant precursors, and is the primary document that Rocket Team must interface with.

Missile Technology Control Regime

Another way your technology can be controlled. In general, anything that can take a 50kg payload 300km falls under this category.

Compliance

The short version of compliance is don't do anything illegal. The long version is to not do anything illegal, look like you're doing something illegal, convince MIT Administration of both of those facts, and still have time to launch a rocket.

Technology Control Plan (TCP)

The TCP is an agreement with MIT's Office of Sponsored Programs on our use of controlled technologies, information and materials. Janet Johnston and Nicole Lewandowsky are the two points of contact we have in the Office of Sponsored Programs. The TCP must be updated annually, signed by our faculty advisor and AeroAstro Department Head, and list all materials being used.

Rocket Team Propulsion TCP 11-30-2019.docx

Limited Access

While this doesn't provide much assurance to MIT, as team leadership you should limit access to controlled materials, information and technology as much as possible. This protects you personally from a lengthy stay in a federal penitentiary, and Rocket Team as an organization. Anthony Zolnik helps us limit access to our materials by controlling the keys to the storage lockers. This also provides a level of protection for us where the department can vouch for our control of the materials.

Access Log

The access log gives us accountability and a paper trail to show authorities that we can account for all of our controlled materials.