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Amateur Rocketeers Regroup After Booster Explodes
By Leonard David
Senior Space Writer
posted: 03:30 pm ET
25 September 2002
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A homebuilt rocket designed to be the most powerful and sophisticated amateur rocket to nose its way into space blew apart shortly after liftoff last week. The Civilian Space eXploration Team (CSXT) rocket was launched from a remote site in the Nevada desert on Sept. 19. The SpaceShot 2002 Primera craft was billed as a high-speed assault on space, using a powerful solid-propellant motor built to push the vehicle to more than five times the speed of sound in just 15 seconds. Instead it flew into pieces, spewing debris across the desert. The vehicle carried an array of sensors and other gear, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite antennas and receivers, transmitters, color camera, data recorders and event-timing computers. Live color video was to be transmitted from the rocket throughout its flight. The launch was scrubbed several times early last week due to too much cloud cover, ground winds or high-speed winds above the site. An early morning clear and calm day on Sept. 19 led to the rocket's countdown and liftoff. "The launch was spectacular and the rocket was performing as planned," said Eric Knight, CSXT project co-leader and avionics team manager. "However, the rocket experienced motor failure during the flight and the flight was terminated." Recovery options were initiated after the failure, with some payload items recovered intact, according to a witness at the launch. While the exact cause has yet to be determined, initial speculation centered on a burn through of the rocket motor's casing.Another SpaceShot rocket was flown in September of 2000. That vehicle also failed to reach space. It was buffeted by wind shear at high altitude, ripping off one fin with the rocket then busting itself up. "This is just a beginning of a wonderful journey of civilians directly participating in the exploration of space. We're very close to accomplishing what many thought impossible. The challenge and excitement has just begun. Stay tuned," Knight said. "Additional details will be provided as they become available."
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