[1letterunixname]

Are small, retail model rockets allowed to be launched from large public spaces in the US still? Or do they require a license, realtime transponder, and a bunch of bureaucratic red tape like RC aircraft that is effectively a dead hobby with a Hobson's choice between privacy invasion and cost, over-criminalization, and non-participation.

[irrational]

You mean like Estes rockets? I've taken my kids to the local elementary school grass field and launched them many times. We've never had an issue.

[bschwindHN]

Oh wow this unlocked an elementary school memory I haven't thought about in awhile. I used to launch rockets with one of my teachers at my school's soccer field. I remember the smell of the engines distinctly.

[colechristensen]

https://www.apogeerockets.com/Peak-of-Flight/Newsletter516

If under a certain size, the rules are basically "as long as it isn't hazardous" which is vague but more or less requires common sense.

It's also not that hard to comply with RC aircraft regulations.

Plus, drones are everywhere, it's not exactly a dead hobby. Most of the people who were interested in other kinds of RC aircraft are more attracted to the much easier to handle quadcopter types.