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(Pearland,
TX - April 15, 2003) – 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, May 3 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 to pioneer 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 May 3 launch will consist of a
1/2-scale version of their space-capable rocket. This launch will prove the aerodynamics
of their launch system and the functionality of the ground tracking system
for larger size launches. This
flight will go faster than the speed of sound, reaching an altitude of
~11,000 feet.
This launch was previously scheduled
for February 8, but out of deference to the lost crew of the Space Shuttle
Columbia, the launch date was postponed until May 3.
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 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 in early 2004.
This rocket will set a world’s record by being the first amateur
rocket launched into space. The full-scale launch would fly to an altitude
of 75 miles above the earth and provide a zero gravity environment for
research and development purposes for several 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, Home Depot, United Space Alliance, Blue Fondue,
Naknan, GPS City and others.
The
May 3 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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