1997 Discussion

CSXT - Civilian Space eXploration Team

The REST OF THE STORY first civilian amateurs fly the CSXT rocket to space

1997 First Attempt

SPACE SHOT 1997

By Bruce Lee

This is a the beginning of the story for the first amateur attempt to launch to space. Ky Michaelson wanted to be the first to fly a rocket to space. He teamed up Rick Lohr and John Johnston to build a possible space shot rocket. They came up with a 2 stage design. Bruce Lee and Tony Cochran joined on for ground and launch support for the attempt. We will never know if it could make it to space (which was highly doubtful with this rocket, it really didn't have enough power), since the second stage did not light.

After this attempt, Ky was looking for other rockets that possibly could. People would contact him or he would contact other people and solicit proposals. Ky would forward the proposals to Bruce so I could run the numbers and see if it could make it to space. None of the proposals I received ever had a chance to make it to space. Just to be sure of the software I was using, which was Rogers Aeroscience, I called the owner, Chuck Rogers, to discuss the suborbital potential of his software. Oh yes, he has worked many years in aerospace and yes this program was built with the special mechanisms to calculate properly, space shots (actually he blew my mind with his math knowledge of orbital mechanics). Chuck joined the CSXT team later after the 2000 attempt, but we did consult with him after the 2000 attempt failure for his opinion on the failure mode since he was in attendance.

1997 First Attempt

From the article:

Putting the 'S' in CSXT

Making the Largest Successful Amateur Motor Ever

By Derek Deville

In 1995, with Ky Michaelson at the helm, the Civilian Space eXploration Team (CSXT) was formed with the sole mission of building and launching the first amateur rocket into space. In 1996, their flight of the Joe Boxer Rocket to about 66,000 feet primed the team and helped initiate some momentum.

In August 1997 the team made their first space-launch attempt with a 90-pound 6-inch-diameter two-stage vehicle. The first stage worked; however, after staging separation, the second stage failed to ignite. The abbreviated flight peaked at an estimated 77,000 feet, and the upper stage reentered supersonic and impacted the playa of the Black Rock Desert.

CSXT - Civilian Space eXploration Team

The REST OF THE STORY first civilian amateurs fly the CSXT rocket to space

1997 First Attempt

1997 First Attempt

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