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A group of engineers will
set a World's Record by launching the first amateur rocket to reach space.
ASA, The Amateur Spaceflight Association will take one step closer to this
goal on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003, with a rocket launch from the Gulf Coast
Regional Spaceport in Brazoria County. ASA intends this flight to be
another milestone in their quest for low cost access to space.
ASA is a non-profit company formed with the intent of pioneering the field
of amateur space exploration. Rob Morehead, chief engineer and founder of ASA,
stated, "The primary focus of ASA is to encourage, assist, and
facilitate the amateur's reach into space, enabling the more rapid
advancement of space research."
The February 8 launch will consist of a 5/12-scale version of ASA's
space-capable rocket. This launch will prove the aerodynamics of the launch
system and the functionality of the ground tracking system for larger size
launches. This flight will travel faster than one and a half times the
speed of sound, reaching an altitude of approximately 15,000 feet.
Fred Welch, president of the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Corporation,
said, "This launch really opens the door to space for Brazoria County.
Everyone is getting behind the fact that the county is an excellent place
to launch rockets, and ASA is a prime example."
Hernandez Engineering of Clear Lake was hired to complete a flight safety
analysis and determine what flight systems can safely launch from the
Brazoria County site.
"The ASA team members are amateurs only because of the fact that
they're doing this on their own time," said Bob Seiwell of Hernandez
Engineering.
The second phase of ASA's development will be a full-scale rocket that
should be ready for launch late in 2003. This rocket will set a world's
record by being the first amateur rocket launched into space. The
full-scale launch would go to an altitude of 75 miles above the earth and
provide a zero gravity environment for research and development purposes
for up to five minutes. The vehicle would return to earth with its payload
and touch down via parachute.
ASA hopes to develop relationships with research bodies such as
universities and other research institutions interested in micro-gravity
experiments. There is a growing market in the United States and overseas
for this type of research. This company hopes to develop an operating
history to routinely launch micro-gravity experiments from the Brazoria
County site.
Corporate sponsors of ASA include Rabbit Semiconductors, Performance
Rocketry, United Space Alliance, Blue Fondue, Naknan, AWC, GraphTek and
Microcosm.
The February 8 launch is open to the public. The Gulf Coast Regional
Spaceport is preparing a special viewing area near the launch site at the
Brazoria County Modeler's Association runway on FM 523. For information
contact the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport at 281-652-1629. Additional
information about ASA is available at
www.asa-houston.org
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