when in US the ITAR still applies AFAIK - getting any access to or knowledge transfer from ITAR project to non-US person, etc... Looks like starting from 1K plegde - invitation to test fire the engine - may run afoul of it.
I don't know. When I was in university we had similar projects going on (scratch-fabricated hybrid rocket motors, not aerospikes though) and I know there were non-citizen students participating. Didn't seem to be a problem.
I think the issue would be that they intend this engine to be the upper stage of a satellite launch platform. ITAR kicks in when you get up to that capability I believe.
Can ITAR apply to open source projects? i.e. if someone starts an open source rocket engine project not in the US, are people based in the US allowed to contribute in any way without running afoul of ITAR?
Comments
is it subject to ITAR?
Almost certainly, unless they are not operating from within the US: http://www.fas.org/spp/starwars/offdocs/itar/p121.htm#C-IV
when in US the ITAR still applies AFAIK - getting any access to or knowledge transfer from ITAR project to non-US person, etc... Looks like starting from 1K plegde - invitation to test fire the engine - may run afoul of it.
Yes, that is my understanding. I believe that unless they are entirely non-US based, this would be subject to ITAR.
I don't know. When I was in university we had similar projects going on (scratch-fabricated hybrid rocket motors, not aerospikes though) and I know there were non-citizen students participating. Didn't seem to be a problem.
I think the issue would be that they intend this engine to be the upper stage of a satellite launch platform. ITAR kicks in when you get up to that capability I believe.
Can ITAR apply to open source projects? i.e. if someone starts an open source rocket engine project not in the US, are people based in the US allowed to contribute in any way without running afoul of ITAR?