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Amateur Rocket Heads Into Space

Posted by Hemos on from the fly-me-to-the-moon dept.

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)"

4 of 244 comments (clear)

  1. Ignore this post. by Performer+Guy · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Erasing screwed up moderation selection.

  2. Re:Better than NASA I hope by The+G · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    I have no idea how the 5280' mile got its length.

    Blame the Romans. Lacking the technology to measure minutes of arc like us modern-types, they had to make do with low-tech measurements like "one thousand paces."
    --G

  3. Re:Silly European Tricks... by JayAndSilentBob · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    This tubby bitch always tells that fuckin' amy story. But he never says anything else! Snoogans.

    --


    Love,
    Jay and Silent Bob
  4. 46 nano-meters would be a short launch. by Paul+the+Bold · · Score: 1, Offtopic
    Damn, I hate the english system of units.

    When I first read your post, I was confused as to why somebody would shoot a rocket 46 nano-meters. Then I noticed that 280,000 ft. is not 46 nm, so I thought maybe you meant km, but that would be 85 km. Then I figured it out: nautical miles. I did a google search, and found that n.m. is the correct abbreviation for nautical miles. I hate the english system.

    Only the english system of units would have so many different measurements of length. Stupid footlongs, chains, fathoms, feet, inches, miles, and nautical miles. I hate it that we still use those units in this country.

    To repeat, I hate the english system of measurement.

    I'm off my soapbox for now.