In 2014, the Civilian Space eXploration Team’s (CSXT) 2014 rocket reached 385,800 feet (73.1 miles) above mean sea level while hitting a top speed of 3,580 miles per hour. Both of these are world records that broke the records of a previous launch by the team.
Although major spaceflight organizations are doing some amazing things, amateur teams are pretty impressive as well. CSXT, in particular, has made some great achievements when launching rockets over the past several decades.
Below we’ll tell you more about the Civilian Space eXploration team.
The Civilian Space eXploration Team (CSXT) is a space flight-focused team comprising about 30 civilians. The team works together to conduct amateur rocket launches.
With the work that they do, CSXT aims to establish altitude records and learn more about the ins and outs of space flight. The team has already conducted multiple amateur rocket launches, which they have been doing since their establishment in 1995.
The team’s first attempted rocket launch was in August of 1995 and they have gone on to launch many more rockets over the past several decades.
CSXT was created by Ky Michaelson, who remains the program director to this day.
As part of the group’s operation, several different segments work together in harmony to carry out amateur rocket launches. The three segments include the Rocket Design and Ground Support Equipment team, the Avionics and Ground System Design team, and the Wind Waiting System Development team.
These teams work together to plan and manage various launches and work towards their goals of establishing altitude records.
The CSXT program has carried out many rocket launches to this day, with the first one being in August 1995. Here’s a full list of the rocket launches that Ky Michaelson and his team have carried out.
Before setting their sights on space shots, the team made several rockets that were intended for lower altitudes. Here’s how it all started.
The D.R. Hero rocket launch took place in August of 1995 and was a catastrophe at takeoff (CATO). This rocket was 18 ft (5 m) tall and had a diameter of 6 inches.
Although the rocket was planned to reach a height of 100,000 ft (30,000 m), the motor failed and the rocket barely left the ground.
In August of 1996, the Joe Boxer rocket was launched. This rocket was also 18 ft tall (5 m) and 6 inches in diameter. This rocket launch was a success, but although it was planned to reach 70,000 feet (21,000 m) it only reached 66,000 feet (20,100 m) instead.
Claims assert that this was the first amateur rocket to reach a height of more than 50,000 feet (15,000 m).
There were many space shots performed by the team as well. This started with the first launch in 1997.
This launch took place with a rocket that was one foot shorter than previous launches at 17 ft tall (5 m) and 6 inches in diameter.
The two-stage rocket was intended to get to a height of 400,000 ft but the second stage of the launch failed due to electronics failure. The rocket, however, was detached and was recovered with the help of a parachute.
This rocket was only 15 ft (5 m) tall and 8.625 inches in diameter.
The plan was for this rocket to reach 60 nautical miles (110 km) and a max speed of 3,205 mph. At 45,000 ft there were problems when the wind sheared off the fin and the rocket broke apart.
Despite the lack of success with this rocket launch, it did set a record. The amateur rocket took the record for the highest amateur rocket speed at 3,205 mph.
In this 2002 launch, a rocket launched with a solid propellant motor. The plan was for the rocket to reach Mach 5.
This rocket launch failed due to the motor burning through the casing 3 seconds into the launch.
The 2004 GoFast rocket ended up being the first amateur rocket to reach and exceed 62 miles (100 km) which is known as the boundary of outer space. The rocket also set a high-speed record at 3,420 mph, which it reached in only 10 seconds.
This was a fairly tall rocket compared to others by the team at 21 ft (6 m) tall and 10 inches in diameter.
10 years later, the CSXT team set a new record with their next GoFast rocket. This rocket became the highest and fastest amateur rocket that was launched.
This GoFast rocket got to an altitude of 385,800 ft and also reached a top speed of 3,580 mph.
If you want to learn more about Ky Michaelson and the Civilian Space eXploration Team, there are a few places that you can look.
One of the best places to learn more about the CSXT team and their rocket launches is on Ky Michaelson’s website. This website also links to other useful places on the web as well including Ky Michaelson’s YouTube Channel and Facebook profile.
There are other great websites to follow to stay up to date on the latest happenings in space exploration and rocket launches as well. Keep a close eye on spacesymposium365.org to get the latest updates and news and consider attending the Space Symposium.
Although there are other amateur rocket launch teams out there, the Civilian Space eXploration Team is one of the most successful and impressive.
Ky Michaelson’s team has made some great accomplishments over the years and has a very interesting history. CSXT has done a lot to move amateur rocketry forward and has set some amazing world records during the process.
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