Amateur rocket to try for Space

Hi ...

This was posted to slashdot.org about 3pm today:

> Science: Amateur Rocket to Carry Ham Radio Payload to Space
> 
> n1ywb writes "An amateur rocket team this month will attempt to send a
> 21-foot-tall rocket carrying a ham radio avionics package into the
> fringes of space. The launch by the Civilian Space Xploration Team
> (CSXT) could occur as early as Monday, May 17. Some 20 months ago, the
> last CSXT try to reach space ended some three seconds after launch
> when the rocket's engine exploded. Avionics Team Leader Eric Knight,
> KB1EHE, says CSXT has since rebounded from that devastating blow with
> a newer, bigger vehicle. In terms of Amateur Radio, the GoFast rocket
> will transmit telemetry on the 33-cm amateur band and Amateur TV at
> 2.4 GHz using a high-quality color camera. The avionics also
> incorporate multiple global positioning system (GPS) systems to record
> the vehicle's precise location and flight path, redundant data
> acquisition and storage systems, and a variety of data sensors. Plans
> call for the solid-fuel rocket to zip upward from the desert floor and
> reach a speed of more than 4000 MPH in about 9 seconds. The suborbital
> vehicle will attain an altitude of 100 km or 62 statute miles--high
> enough to be considered 'space'--linger there for a couple of minutes
> then arc back to Earth some 26 miles down range. The whole thing will
> take somewhat less than a half-hour. If successful it would mark the
> first amateur rocket launch into space."

    Michael

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Wallis   KF6SPF       (408) 396-9037        [email protected]

"And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up
 in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of
 it."           Philemon 1:6