Which criteria would disqualify a rocket from being classified as high power?

The criteria that would disqualify a rocket from being classified as high power is when it has less than 160 Newton-seconds of total impulse. High power rocketry is specifically defined by the impulse classification established by the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) and Tripoli Rocketry Association, where rockets need to exceed certain thresholds of impulse to qualify as high power.

Total impulse is the measure of the total energy that the rocket motor can produce while the motor is burning. If a rocket has less than 160 Newton-seconds, it simply does not meet the minimum requirement to enter the high power category. Therefore, regardless of other construction features or materials, the total impulse is the defining factor for high power classification.

Other options, such as the material composition or the presence of a recovery system, do not disqualify a rocket from being in the high power category as long as the impulse requirements are met. Similarly, having a motor thrust under 80 Newtons is relevant to individual motor specifications but does not directly determine overall classification.