Amateur Rocket Heads Into Space

scubacuda writes "Space.com has an article on a group of amateur rocketeers (the Civilian Space Xploration Team) hoping to send the first amateur rocket, Primera Spaceshot 2002, into space by the end of June from the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. If all goes well with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the team will send a rocket stands about 17 feet tall (5.18 meters) and weighs 550 pounds (249 kilograms) 62 nautical miles (114 kilometers) in the atmosphere (12 miles higher than the 50-mile altitude largely regarded as the boundary of space). (MSN version here)"

Comments

10 minute flight.

[Linuxathome]

All this in just 10 minutes? Wow, talk about instant gratification.

On a side note, the article says:

Michaelson said his team, made up of people from around the country, had an original launch date of Sept. 26, 2001, but pushed it back to June following the terrorists attacks of Sept. 11.

How much are you willing to bet that Tom Ridge's folks are keeping a keen eye on their team? Whatever they learn about rocketry must give the feds the willies.

Re:Solid, not liquid

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, as I remember Goddard did okay using the primitive technology and limited knowledge and experience he had. I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that a bunch of determined and knowledgable amateurs could build a working liquid rocket. A bunch of amateurs have done things at least as complex before, and will continue to do so in the future, whether you like it or not.