Civilian Space eXploration Team
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The Civilian Space eXploration Team, known as CSXT, is a team of about 30 civilians interested in private spaceflight. They are not interested in profit or personal gain and pursue space exploration purely due to interest. The team was created by Ky Michaelson. It has made several rockets just attempting to reach new heights. The most recent two launches were intended to enter space. The first one failed, however, the second succeeded, making CSXT the team that designed the first amateur rocket to enter space.
Prior private-funded space launches were achieved by the Orbital Sciences Pegasus since 1990. The CSXT space flight of May 17, 2004 preceded SpaceShipOne's first private-funded manned space flight by 5 weeks.
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[edit] History
The team started in 1995 by the joining together of civilians all interested in spaceflight. They have undergone a series of projects that all aim towards space flight. There is very little information about their first few launches, as the information is documented almost solely by the team members. The team is supported by a series of sponsors. Major sponsors have included Joe Boxer, Fuscient, Go Fast Sports, and Rocketman Enterprises. A complete list of sponsors is available at http://www.the-rocketman.com/CSXT/sponsors/default.asp.
[edit] Team Composition
Currently Ky Michaelson is the program director. Under him there are three managers. The Avionics Manager, Program Manager, and Finance Manager are Eric Knight, Jerry Larson, and Jodi Michaelson respectively. Under the Program Manager there are three teams: 1) Rocket Design and Ground Support Equipment, 2) Avionics and Ground System Design, and 3) Wind Weighting System Development. These teams are led by Ky Michaelson, Eric Knight, and Jerry Larson, respectively. Each team has several members to help the team work together to design the entire rocket.[1]
[edit] D.R. Hero
This rocket was launched in August 1995. It was dedicated to Dar Robinson, a member of the team. The rocket was 18 feet (5 m) tall and 6 inches in diameter. It was anticipated to reach 100,000 feet (30,000 m). The actual launch height was not reported. This rocket failed in a large CATO just above the ground.[1]
[edit] The Joe Boxer Space Launcher
Launched in August 1996 this rocket, was also 18 feet (5 m) tall and 6 inches in diameter. The name of the Rocket is attributed the largest contributing sponsor, Joe Boxer. It was anticipated to reach 70,000 feet (21,000 m), however, the actual height obtained was only 66,000 feet (20,100 m). The entire rocket was recovered after it fell to the ground. This rocket was considered a large step towards future rockets, as it was considered successful. There were no failures in any of the systems and this was the first rocket to be recovered after obtaining more that 50,000 feet (15,000 m).[2]
[edit] Space Shot- 1997
This slightly smaller rocket was 17 feet (5 m) tall and 6 inches in diameter, with an upper stage dart, only 3 or 4 inches across. It was the first two stage rocket launched by CSXT, and was expected to reach 400,000 feet (120,000 m). The rocket was a P 13,500 first stage as booster for a N motor upper stage. This would have been the largest high performance two stage flight in the history of hobby rocketry, beating by double the O 10,000 to M Kosdon flights. The first stage burn went well. The electronics failed to start stage 2, however, Stage 1 successfully detached, and was recovered with a parachute. Stage 2 reached 77,000 feet (23,500 m) as a boosted dart, before returning at supersonic speeds. Even if both stages worked well, it seems unlikely that this rocket would have made it to 400,000 feet (120,000 m). Performance of such a complex rocket is hard to predict, but it probably would not have passed 200,000 feet (60,000 m) even under ideal conditions. However simply passing 100,000 feet (30,000 m) with both motors burning would have put this among the top 10 launches in the history of the hobby.[1]
[edit] Space Shot- 2000
This rocket was launched on September 29th, 2000 and was 15 feet (5 m) tall and 8.625 inches in diameter. It was expected to reach 60 nautical miles (110 km) with a maximum speed of 3,205 mph (5,158 km/h). After launch the rocket encountered problems at 45,000 feet (13,700 m) where the wind sheared off the fin causing the rocket to break apart. The fins were simply not robust enough to handle Max-Q conditions. Although the launch was fairly unsuccessful, it did set a record for amateur rocket speed of 3,205 mph (5,158 km/h).[1]
[edit] Space Shot- 2002
This rocket was launched on September 21st, 2002. It was launched in Black Rock, Nevada.[1] The rocket was equipped with a $20,000 dollar solid-propellant motor, which is the largest built by amateurs. The motor was to launch the rocket into space just 15 seconds, after obtaining speeds as fast as Mach 5. The rocket was equipped with GPS receivers and antennas, video recording devices, and a series of flight monitoring devices.[1] During reentry the rocket was to divide into two pieces and the avionics floated safely to the ground using Rocketman brand parachutes. Three seconds after the rocket launched the motor burned through the casing causing the rocket to fail. Debris were scattered, but all within the preplanned safety zone. According to Jerry Larson, Program Manager, “The recovered flight recorders and the vehicle components are making it very clear to us what the problem was…making it very easy for us to fix and continue on." This mission brought the hope, to those on the CSXT, that their goal was attainable.[3]
[edit] Space Shot 2004 "GoFast" Rocket
The rocket launched on Monday May 17th, 2004.[1] A video of the Launch is available at http://www.the-rocketman.com/CSXT/video/default.asp. The mission idea is credited to Ky Michaelson, the head and founder of the team. The name of the rocket was credited to one of the two main sponsors, GoFast Sports (The other large contributing sponsor was Fuscient). The rocket was 21 feet (6 m) tall and 10 inches in diameter. This rocket was the first amateur rocket to exceed 100 kilometers or 62 miles, the official boundary of space. It was launched out of Black Rock, Nevada.[4] The team that built the rocket was estimated at about 25 people. The rocket reached 4,200 mph (6,800 km/h) in 10 seconds. The rocket reached an estimated altitude of 72 miles (116 km). The avionics were recovered by deployment of a parachute which slows the descent and causes the rocket to land nose first.[5] It was commented that the rocket was in such pristine condition upon landing that the rocket could fly again. [6]
The final verified altitude was released as 72 miles (116 km).[7][8]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g Rocketman Enterprises (2005). CSXT: Civilian Space eXploration Team. Retrieved on 2007-01-27. http://www.the-rocketman.com/CSXT/default2.asp
- ^ Michaelson, Ky (2004). The ROCKETMAN and Joe Boxer Team Up. Retrieved on 2007-01-28. http://www.the-rocketman.com/boxerstory.html
- ^ Disappointed But Looking To The Future. Motor Failure Prevents Civilian Rocket From Reaching Space (2002-09-21). CSXT: Civilian Space eXploration Team. Retrieved on 2007-01-27. http://www.the-rocketman.com/CSXT/news/n9_21_02_disappointed.htm
- ^ Space Frontier Foundation (2007). Go "GoFast"! Space Frontier Foundation Congratulates First Amateur Team to Enter Space. Retrieved on 2007-01-27. http://www.space-frontier.org/PressReleases/2004/20040519gofastflight.html
- ^ ARRL Web: Ham Radio-Carrying Rocket Exceeds Goal; Avionics Recovered Intact (2004-05-20). Retrieved on 2007-01-28. http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/05/19/1/?nc=1
- ^ The Associated Press (2004). Civilian Space Team Claims Success With Rocket Launch. Retrieved on 2007-01-28. http://www.the-rocketman.com/CSXT/news/n5_18_04_success.htm
- ^ Civilian Space eXploration Team (2005). GoFast Rocket Maximum Altitude Verification. http://www.ddeville.com/GoFast%20Maximum%20Altitude%20Press%20Release1.pdf
- ^ Lindsey, Clark, HobbySpace.com - Advanced Rocketry: Records, Achievements & Competitions, <http://www.hobbyspace.com/Rocketry/Advanced/records.html>. Retrieved on 6 January 2008
[edit] External links
- HobbySpace.com (2004). High Altitude Amateur Rocket Records.
- http://www.hobbyspace.com/Rocketry/Advanced/records.html
- Stratofox Aerospace Tracking Team (2004). Mystery Solved: Stratofox Recovers CSXT Booster.
- http://www.stratofox.org/pics/csxt-booster-2004/
- Stratofox Aerospace Tracking Team (2004). CSXT SpaceShot 2004 - First Amateur Launch to Space.
- http://www.stratofox.org/pics/csxt-spaceshot-2004/
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