Rocket Carrying Ham Radio Payload Reaches Space!
NEWINGTON, CT, May 17, 2004--An amateur rocket carrying a ham radio
avionics package reached the space May 17. Launched from Nevada's Black
Rock Desert, the 21-foot Civilian Space Xploration Team (CSXT)
<http://www.civilianspace.com/> /GoFast/ rocket quickly attained the 100
km altitude to make Amateur Radio and amateur rocketry history. "It
just roared off the pad and flew into space," said Knight, who lives in
Unionville, Connecticut. "Everything went like clockwork this morning,
and it was an awesome experience. We're all kind of on an adrenaline
high right now."
The /GoFast/ vehicle--named for one of the project's commercial
sponsors--lifted off from the desert floor at approximately 11:20 AM
PDT. The CSXT team, plus observers from the Federal Aviation
Administration, were up and at the launch site several hours beforehand,
however, and Knight said the rocket crew--which includes several radio
amateurs--did a "dress rehearsal" prior to the actual countdown and launch.
Knight said several West Coast hams who learned about the rocket launch
from ARRL news accounts showed up to assist in locating the vehicle,
which was estimated to have returned to Earth some 26 to 30 miles
downrange from the launch site. Knight said Monday evening that the
rocket had not yet been recovered, but the ham radio telemetry package
was continuing to transmit.
"We have a telemetry beacon telling us where it is--that it's alive and
waiting to be found," Knight said. The rocket transmitted telemetry on
the 33-cm amateur band and color Amateur TV pictures on 2.4 GHz.
"Everything came together very well," Knight said. His avionics crew
includes eight Amateur Radio licensees, most of whom also were involved
in the 2002 launch attempt. Former Hollywood stunt man--Ky Michaelson of
Minnesota, directs the 18-person CSXT team.