Civilian Space eXploration Team

CSXT/GoFast space launch, May 17, 2004. Photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ

The Civilian Space eXploration Team, known as CSXT, is a team of around 30 civilians interested in private spaceflight. The team was created by Ky Michaelson. Having conducted multiple rocket launches in an attempt to establish altitude records, CSXT became the first entity to officially launch an amateur rocket into space on May 17 2004, with the successful launch of its "GoFast" rocket to 116 km (72 miles) altitude, an altitude verified by FAA analysis of the team's flight data.^[1]

Prior privately funded space launches were achieved by the Orbital Sciences Pegasus, and many amateur teams have made unverified claims of rocket flights exceeding the boundary of space.^[1]

History

The team was established in 1995 by a group of model rocket hobbyists interested in spaceflight. The team is supported by corporate sponsorship.^[1]

Team Composition

Currently Ky Michaelson is the program director. CSXT's program was subdivided into three teams:^[1]

1. Rocket Design and Ground Support Equipment
2. Avionics and Ground System Design
3. Wind Weighting System Development

The D.R. Hero Rocket

The D.R. Hero rocket was launched in August 1995. It was dedicated to stuntman Dar Robinson, a late friend of Ky Michaelson. 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 (Catastrophe At Take Off) just above the ground.^[1]

The Joe Boxer Space Launcher

Launched on August 18, 1996 ^[2] 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 what was considered a successful flight. All of the rocket's systems functioned as intended and this was claimed to be the first amateur rocket to be recovered intact after reaching more than 50,000 feet (15,000 m).^[3]

Space Shot - 1997

Launched on July 21, 1997 ^[4] 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. During the launch, an electronics failure prevented the ignition of the second stage, though the first stage successfully detached, and was recovered with a parachute.^[1]

Space Shot - 2000

This rocket was launched on September 29, 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. Although the launch was fairly unsuccessful, it did set a record for amateur rocket speed of 3,205 mph (5,158 km/h).^[1]

Space Shot - 2002

This rocket was launched on September 19, 2002.^[5] It was launched at the Black Rock Desert in Nevada.^[1] The rocket was equipped with a solid propellant motor. The motor was to launch the rocket into space in just 15 seconds, after attaining 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] Three seconds after the rocket launched the motor burned through the casing, causing the rocket to fail.^[1]

Space Shot 2004 "GoFast" Rocket

The rocket launched on Monday May 17, 2004.^[1][6] This rocket was the first amateur rocket to exceed 100 kilometers or 62 miles, the official boundary of space.^[6] It was launched at the Black Rock Desert.^[7] The rocket reached top speed of 3,420 mph (5,500 km/h) in 10 seconds, and reached an estimated altitude of 72 miles (116 km).^[6] The avionics were recovered by deployment of a parachute.^[6][8] The final verified altitude was released as 72 miles (116 km).^{[6][9][10][11]}

The rocket was 21 feet (6 m) tall and 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter, and used an ammonium perchlorate based solid propellant.^[11]

Space Shot 2014 "GoFast" Rocket

On July 14, 2014 the team repeated their accomplishment with a second successful space launch, which set new records for the highest and fastest amateur rocket ever launched. Analysis of the data from the recovered military grade Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that flew onboard shows that the GoFast rocket reached 385,800 feet above mean sea level (73.1 miles) and hit a top speed of 3,580 mph (5,800 km/h).^[12]

See also

• Amateur rocketry
• Private spaceflight
• Copenhagen Suborbitals, another amateur spaceflight organization, which is developing a manned space program.
• Sounding Rocket

References

External links

• High Altitude Amateur Rocket Records, HobbySpace.com (2004)
• Mystery Solved: Stratofox Recovers CSXT Booster, Stratofox Aerospace Tracking Team (2004)
• CSXT SpaceShot 2004 - First Amateur Launch to Space, Stratofox Aerospace Tracking Team (2004)
• Recollections of the CSXT Space Shot 2004 (5th anniversary page), Stratofox Aerospace Tracking Team (2009)
• First amateur rocket into space on YouTube, posted by Ky Michaelson
• Rocket Launch - CSXT First civilian rocket to reach space on YouTube, posted by Wayne Vaughan
• CSXT First Civilian Rocket Launch to Space on YouTube, posted by Derek Deville
• Stratofox recovery of CSXT Space Booster, Nov 26, 2004, Granite Range, NV on YouTube, posted by Ian Kluft
• The Rocketman, Ky Michaelson's website.
• GoFast 2014 HD OnBoard Cameras on YouTube, posted by Ky Michaelson

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