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 _______________________________________________ ERPS-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.erps.org/mailman/listinfo/erps-list