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This is incorrect. The first student rocket to reach space was by the United States Air Force Academy https://archive.is/20121212202343/http://www.af.mil/news/

This is incorrect. The first student rocket to reach space was by the United States Air Force Academy https://archive.is/20121212202343/http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123176320 https://archive.is/20121212202343/http://www.af.mil/news/sto... https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwuvfKuNqZxQQ2xudkwtQXB4V0k/view https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwuvfKuNqZxQQ2xudkwtQXB4V0k... From here: https://twitter.com/skulumani/status/1131351960622391297?s=20 https://twitter.com/skulumani/status/1131351960622391297?s=2...

fernandopj 7y ago
The article seems to contradict it's own title: > making the USC Rocket Lab only the second amateur group to ever send a rocket to space
- EForEndeavour 7y ago
  I'd chalk it up to the ambiguity of natural language: "A Rocket Built by Students Reached Space for the First Time" as in the particular rocket referred to in the title reached space for the first time in that rocket's existence.
  - notahappycamper 7y ago
    That's being too generous. Other than spacex, essentially every rocket that reaches space does so "for the first time". The title is intentionally misleading
    - EForEndeavour 7y ago
      I strongly disagree. The article describes in detail the student group's years of efforts to reach space, culminating in this success after years of failures. Moreover, they're the first collegiate team to make it to space (and the second "amateur" team). The title is not intentionally misleading, just a bit ambiguous.
- plugger 7y ago
  USC RPL was referring to CSXT, not the USAFA.
plugger 7y ago
From the Drive link. >(At the time of this writing the rocket and payload had not been recovered.) Normally to claim these sorts of records recovery of the vehicle is required. USC RPL's Traveler III was "thought" to have reached space but they didn't turn the avionics on beforehand and therefore didn't verify or recover.
- wallace_f 7y ago
  The article really should mention it. Seems to not do much justice not to. They seem to refer to the CSXT rocket going even higher, but don't mention it by name.
  - plugger 7y ago
    In fairness I've been across these attempts for years. I was at BALLS when the initial Traveler CATOed, I watched it from Bruno's. Today is the first I've heard of this USAFA launch. The Wired article author is most likely much less across this stuff than I am. It could just be a case of USC RPL wasn't aware of the USAFA boosted dart flight. And I still contend that recovery is necessary. USC RPL didn't claim Traveler III "broke the record" despite having good confidence it did given it didn't suffer a RUD during boost. They only "claimed" the record when they had a successful flight AND recovery. This is pretty much SOP for high altitude record attempts in the amateur rocketry community. I suspect it USAFA had recovered their boosted dart we would have most likely heard about it.
    - wallace_f 7y ago
      Thanks for sharing your experience here. I'd actually love to learn more about advances made in amateur rocketry lately, if you have any good links to share.
      - plugger 7y ago
        Currently there are three names that are repeatedly doing successful high alt two stage projects. Curt von Delius, Kip D, and Jim Jarvis. Kip's two stage flight from last year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdkqZV4RirI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdkqZV4RirI Kurt's PHNX4 flight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0imcpdLdB8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0imcpdLdB8 And Jim, well just have a look for Jim Jarvis rocket on youtube! Tripoli's records page is a good place to get more info on high alt record flights. http://tripoli-records.org/records/ http://tripoli-records.org/records/ And TRF is excessively noisy but it's the place where Jim and Kip document their work. Curt's a bit more secretive comparatively. https://www.rocketryforum.com/ https://www.rocketryforum.com/

fernandopj 7y ago

The article seems to contradict it's own title: > making the USC Rocket Lab only the second amateur group to ever send a rocket to space

EForEndeavour 7y ago
I'd chalk it up to the ambiguity of natural language: "A Rocket Built by Students Reached Space for the First Time" as in the particular rocket referred to in the title reached space for the first time in that rocket's existence.
- notahappycamper 7y ago
  That's being too generous. Other than spacex, essentially every rocket that reaches space does so "for the first time". The title is intentionally misleading
  - EForEndeavour 7y ago
    I strongly disagree. The article describes in detail the student group's years of efforts to reach space, culminating in this success after years of failures. Moreover, they're the first collegiate team to make it to space (and the second "amateur" team). The title is not intentionally misleading, just a bit ambiguous.
plugger 7y ago
USC RPL was referring to CSXT, not the USAFA.

plugger 7y ago

From the Drive link. >(At the time of this writing the rocket and payload had not been recovered.) Normally to claim these sorts of records recovery of the vehicle is required. USC RPL's Traveler III was "thought" to have reached space but they didn't turn the avionics on beforehand and therefore didn't verify or recover.

wallace_f 7y ago
The article really should mention it. Seems to not do much justice not to. They seem to refer to the CSXT rocket going even higher, but don't mention it by name.
- plugger 7y ago
  In fairness I've been across these attempts for years. I was at BALLS when the initial Traveler CATOed, I watched it from Bruno's. Today is the first I've heard of this USAFA launch. The Wired article author is most likely much less across this stuff than I am. It could just be a case of USC RPL wasn't aware of the USAFA boosted dart flight. And I still contend that recovery is necessary. USC RPL didn't claim Traveler III "broke the record" despite having good confidence it did given it didn't suffer a RUD during boost. They only "claimed" the record when they had a successful flight AND recovery. This is pretty much SOP for high altitude record attempts in the amateur rocketry community. I suspect it USAFA had recovered their boosted dart we would have most likely heard about it.
  - wallace_f 7y ago
    Thanks for sharing your experience here. I'd actually love to learn more about advances made in amateur rocketry lately, if you have any good links to share.
    - plugger 7y ago
      Currently there are three names that are repeatedly doing successful high alt two stage projects. Curt von Delius, Kip D, and Jim Jarvis. Kip's two stage flight from last year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdkqZV4RirI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdkqZV4RirI Kurt's PHNX4 flight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0imcpdLdB8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0imcpdLdB8 And Jim, well just have a look for Jim Jarvis rocket on youtube! Tripoli's records page is a good place to get more info on high alt record flights. http://tripoli-records.org/records/ http://tripoli-records.org/records/ And TRF is excessively noisy but it's the place where Jim and Kip document their work. Curt's a bit more secretive comparatively. https://www.rocketryforum.com/ https://www.rocketryforum.com/