The Civilian Space eXploration Team, also known as the 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 an altitude of 116 km (72 miles) above the surface, which was verified by FAA analysis of the team's flight data.Rocketman Enterprises (2005). CSXT: Civilian Space eXploration Team. Retrieved on 2007-01-27. http://www.the-rocketman.com/CSXT/default2.asp| http://www.the-rocketman.com/CSXT/about/teamlist.htm#| http://www.the-rocketman.com/go-fast.html
Prior privately funded space launches were achieved by the Orbital Sciences Pegasus, and many other amateur teams have made unverified claims of rocket flights exceeding the boundary of space.
Team composition Currently, Ky Michaelson is the CSXT program director. The CSXT's program is subdivided into three teams: Rocket Design and Ground Support Equipment Avionics and Ground System Design Wind Weighting System Development
History The team was established in 1995 by a group of model rocket hobbyists interested in spaceflight. The team is supported by corporate sponsorship.
D.R. Hero 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 in diameter. It was anticipated to reach . This rocket failed in a large CATO (catastrophe at take off) motor failure just above the ground.
Joe Boxer launches Launched on August 18, 1996,Joe Boxer Corp (1996). Joe Boxer and World Class Rocketeer Ky Michaelson Make History. Retrieved on 2014-10-27. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Joe+Boxer+and+World+Class+Rocketeer+Ky+Michaelson+Make+History-a018592805 this rocket was also tall and 6 inches in diameter. The name is attributed to 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 flight was claimed to be the first amateur rocket to be recovered intact after reaching more than .Michaelson, Ky (2004). The ROCKETMAN and Joe Boxer Team Up. Retrieved on 2007-01-28. http://www.the-rocketman.com/boxerstory.html
Space shots 1997 Launched on July 21, 1997,Michaelson, Ky (1997). Launch At Balls 007. Retrieved on 2014-10-27. http://www.the-rocketman.com/CSXT_info.html this slightly smaller rocket was tall and 6 inches in diameter, with an upper stage dart, which was only 3 or 4 inches across. It was the first two-stage rocket launched by CSXT and was expected to reach . 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.
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 .
2002 This rocket was launched on September 19, 2002.CSXT (2002). Disappointed but looking to the future. Motor failure prevents civilian rocket from reaching space. Retrieved on 2014-10-27. http://www.the-rocketman.com/CSXT/news/n9_21_02_disappointed.htm 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.
2004 "GoFast"
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.Space Frontier Foundation (2007). Go "GoFast"! Space Frontier Foundation Congratulates First Amateur Team to Enter Space. Retrieved on 2007-01-27. http://www.space-frontier.org/PressReleases/2004/20040519gofastflight.html The rocket reached top speed of in 10 seconds, and reached an estimated altitude of . The avionics were recovered by deployment of a parachute.ARRL Web: Ham Radio-Carrying Rocket Exceeds Goal; Avionics Recovered Intact (2004-05-20). Retrieved on 2007-01-28. http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/05/19/1/?nc=1 The final verified altitude of the rocket was released as .Civilian Space eXploration Team (2005). GoFast Rocket Maximum Altitude Verification. http://www.ddeville.com/GoFast%20Maximum%20Altitude%20Press%20Release1.pdf
The rocket was tall and in diameter, and used an ammonium perchlorate-based solid propellant.
2014 "GoFast" On July 14, 2014, the team repeated their accomplishment with a second successful space launch. Analysis of the data from the recovered military-grade Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that flew onboard shows that the GoFast rocket reached an altitude of above mean sea level and hit a top speed of .
See also Amateur rocketry Private spaceflight Copenhagen Suborbitals Sounding Rocket References
External links High Altitude Amateur Rocket Records, HobbySpace.com (2004) Mystery Solved: Stratofox Recovers CSXT Booster, Stratofox Aerospace Tracking Team (2004) CSXT SpaceShot 2004 - First Amateur Launch to Space, Stratofox Aerospace Tracking Team (2004) Recollections of the CSXT Space Shot 2004 (5th anniversary page), Stratofox Aerospace Tracking Team (2009) , posted by Ky Michaelson , posted by Wayne Vaughan , posted by Derek Deville , posted by Ian Kluft The Rocketman, Ky Michaelson's website. , posted by Ky Michaelson