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 altitude, an altitude verified by FAA analysis of the team's flight data. 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.
History
The team was established in 1995 by a group of model rocket hobbyists interested in spaceflight. The team is supported by corporate sponsorship.
Team Composition
Currently Ky Michaelson is the program director. CSXT's program was subdivided into three teams:
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 tall and 6 inches in diameter. It was anticipated to reach. The actual launch height was not reported. This rocket failed in a large CATO motor failure just above the ground.
Launched on August 18, 1996 this rocket, was also tall and 6 inches in diameter. The name of the Rocket is attributed the largest contributing sponsor, Joe Boxer. It was anticipated to reach, however, the actual height obtained was only. 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.
Space Shot - 1997
Launched on July 21, 1997 this slightly smaller rocket was 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. 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.
Space Shot - 2000
This rocket was launched on September 29, 2000, and was tall and 8.625 inches in diameter. It was expected to reach with a maximum speed of. After launch the rocket encountered problems at 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.
Space Shot - 2002
This rocket was launched on September 19, 2002. It was launched at the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. The rocket was equipped with a solid propellant motor. The motor was to accelerate the rocket to Mach 5. The rocket was equipped with GPS receivers and antennas, video recording devices, and a series of flight monitoring devices. Three seconds after the rocket launched the motor burned through the casing, causing the rocket to fail.
Space Shot 2004 "GoFast" Rocket
The rocket was launched on Monday, May 17, 2004. This rocket was the first amateur rocket to exceed, the official boundary of outer space. It was launched at the Black Rock Desert. The rocket reached top speed of in 10 seconds, and reached an estimated altitude of. The avionics were recovered by deployment of a parachute. The final verified altitude was released as. The rocket was tall and in diameter, and used an ammonium perchlorate based solid propellant.
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 gradeInertial Measurement Unit that flew onboard shows that the GoFast rocket reached an altitude of and hit a top speed of.
