USC Students' Rocket Reaches Space in Record-Setting Launch

[FlyBoy]

https://www.space.com/usc-student-rocket-launch-sets-space-record.html

A group of undergraduates launched what is likely the first-ever student designed and student-built rocket past the boundary of space, the University of Southern California (USC) announced today (May 22). Their achievement, if confirmed, completes a decade-long informal competition among engineering schools worldwide to create the first university rocket to achieve spaceflight, officials from USC's Rocket Propulsion Laboratory said in a statement.

Internal analysis shows the students' vehicle, called Traveler IV, crossed the Karman Line that represents the international boundary of space at an altitude of 62 miles (100 kilometers). The analysis confirmed the achievement with 90% certainty, USC officials added.

Students launched the rocket April 21 from New Mexico's Spaceport America, where future space-tourism provider Virgin Galactic is the anchor tenant. The rocket successfully flew aloft at 7:30 a.m. local time, reaching a maximum recorded altitude of 339,800 feet (64.4 miles, or 103.6 km), and a top speed of 3,386 mph (5,449 km/hr).



Way to go USC!

 

[jqavins]

Are they only the second amateurs over the Karman line, after Go Fast?

 

[MaxQ]

Could be...……………..I guess these are the first students to do it?




https://rocketry.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/amateur-rocket-team-launches-rocket-to-73-1-miles/

 

[FlyBoy]

I read an article that said they were trying again next year with the goal of topping the altitude of CSXT.

 

[Peartree]

My brother is a USC grad and gave me a copy of his alumni magazine that had an article about their rocket lab and recent flight past the Karman Line. After reading it, I found it online so I could share it here.

https://magazine.viterbi.usc.edu/fall-2019/features/space-or-nothing/

 

[Yukon@K-9 Rocket Tech]

Are they only the second amateurs over the Karman line, after Go Fast?

Could be...……………..I guess these are the first students to do it?




https://rocketry.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/amateur-rocket-team-launches-rocket-to-73-1-miles/

They're the first full student launch, as apposed to Go Fast where it was a group on amateurs

 

[jqavins]

Sure, but a student group is basically an amateur group with faculty advisers and maybe university funding. What I'd like to know (I think it's yes, and I'd like to confirm) is if this and Go Fast are the only two successful non-professional space shots.

 

[kuririn]

Sure, but a student group is basically an amateur group with faculty advisers and maybe university funding. What I'd like to know (I think it's yes, and I'd like to confirm) is if this and Go Fast are the only two successful non-professional space shots.

The GoFast team did it twice. Second time they set a new record, exceeding the one they set ten years earlier.

 

[Buddy Michaelson]

Has there been any proof saying they had reached the Karman Line? With space being 62 miles, and they claim that they went some where between 60-66 miles, I have my doubts for a 35% R motor. Also the Rocket seemed out of control off the pad resulting in a loss of speed.