Catching Up With The Rocket Guy

Jedi Holocron writes "The full article is at Space.Com and reports on the current status of Brian "Rocket Guy" Walker's home-brew space program. This is the guy who is planning to build a rocket in his backyard, funded by his toy inventions. He's scaled back from an X-Prize launch to a mere 15,000 feet with a sky-diving return. This could be the next ride installed next to Disney's Mission:Space if he has his way!!! All told he's now calling it an amateur rocket, however it doesn't look like the model rockets I remember."

Comments

Re:Interesting

[twiddlingbits]

I hope you were not serious. 15,000 feet is not that high, we have mountains that high in the USA. ICBMs reenter at 200,000 feet plus and have a screamingly high velocity. Plus anyone watching on radar would see it go UP first. If he is smart enough to build it I'm sure he will notify someone he is launching it. It won't look like an ICBM -- I guarantee. (apologies to Justin Wilson) I just hope he launches it somewhere (like the middle of the desert) that whatever comes down does not hurt anyone or destroy some property, otherwise it's a cool idea! I hope he makes it!

Re:Interesting

[twiddlingbits]

I did RTFA. I'm not worried about his FUTURE plans, that will never happen for a number of reasons. He even realizes it... When the self-made space traveler began the quest several years ago, the idea was to fly up 50 miles to the border of space. He has since stepped back from bankrolling a full-size rocket design to a more modest missile -- one that shoots to 15,000 feet. .... Walker is not gunning for the X Prize. That's the worldwide competition to hurl passengers to the edge of space and snag a $10 million purse. What appeals to Walker is building a client base of rocket riders, drawing from the skydiver community. Eventually, in step-by-step fashion, rockets toting skydivers and non-skydivers alike can be designed, built, and flown to ever-higher heights, he said. Unless he has some VERY deep pockets or some investors with them he isn't going to get 50 miles up. That requires at least two stages, serious rocket engines, real G&C, heat shield for rentry, life support, a support team, launch platform, etc. He is having fun at a high-level amateur level, but he isn't going to be making any sub-orbital flights. He is a crazy guy who is having fun, a harmless kook. He isn't the next Robert Goddard.

Re:What About the Guy W/Balloons and a Lawn Chair?

[ptbarnett]

Wasn't there some guy a some years ago who tied a bunch of helium balloons to his lawn chair and soon found himself a few miles high?

Yes:

http://www.snopes.com/spoons/noose/balloon.htm

Re:hydrogen peroxide

[Tmack]

Most of his suppliers IIRC had a stipulation that stated they would not attempt to concentrate the peroxide. He does have one guy distilling some 90%, but it is taking alot of time to get any significant quantity. They have also been having a good bit of success using just the 50% and have been experimenting alot with that. 50% would be a better alternative if they can get it to perform well, its easier to get, less dangerous than 90% and probably less expensive. The only drawback is that it isnt quite as powerfull, and is taking alot of R&D time to get it working well.

Tm

If I am not mistaken..

[annisette]

there was a television interview with Mr.Walker some time ago and he talked about the availability of goverment surplus equipment he bought for cents on the dollars, military and space programs, pumps, motors, nozzles, machined exotic metals, he literaly bought close to a million dollars(or more) of "stuff" for a few thousand. It is great that these kind of garage sales are available, he must of been like a little kid when he saw what was available and it probably helped a great deal in the $ department. Perhaps he now has more custom made equipment but it would of been a great shot in the arm to get started. The interview showed him with his parts, his(a) capsule, helmet, and a big smile, he knew he was going for a rocket ride.

Not crazy.

[docbrown42]

Rich people and their crazy ideas...

Only poor people are crazy. Rich people are excentric!