The suborbital thread!

[Rik ISS-fan]

This is really bad news:
https://sscspace.com/science-rocket-landed-in-norway/
The Payload of the Texus 58 mission landed 40km further down range than planned. It came down outside the Esrange launch range, 15km into Norway. This could have been very dangerous to people.
I thing this is a chip that Norway is going to use to block orbital launch from Esrange, we shall see.

[russianhalo117]

Furthermore, the TEXUS 58 mission was launched earlier this morning at 05:20 UTC from Esrange using a VSB-30 sounding rocket.
...

They launched this from the MAN launcher at the Maxus launch pad instead of the Skylark tower; that normally was used for VSB-30 rockets. Apparently they still haven't fixed the damage from the abnormal solid static firing test, that resulted in a big fire and damage.

AFAIK the STERN HyEnD N₂ORTH rockets were launched from the MRL Launcher.

Actually they did briefly start preliminary work but stopped work when the work was deemed greater than envisaged to restore the tower.

[Rik ISS-fan]

Furthermore, the TEXUS 58 mission was launched earlier this morning at 05:20 UTC from Esrange using a VSB-30 sounding rocket.
...

They launched this from the MAN launcher at the Maxus launch pad instead of the Skylark tower; that normally was used for VSB-30 rockets. Apparently they still haven't fixed the damage from the abnormal solid static firing test, that resulted in a big fire and damage.

AFAIK the STERN HyEnD N₂ORTH rockets were launched from the MRL Launcher.

Actually they did briefly start preliminary work but stopped work when the work was deemed greater than envisaged to restore the tower.

Thanks for the info, possibly the Esrange topic in the commercial segment is a beter location to continue this discussion.

[SpaceThomas]

UP Aerospace SpaceLoft XL launch failure May 1st 2023:

https://kvia.com/news/2023/05/01/spaceport-america-rocket-explodes-moments-after-lift-off/

[catdlr]

UC Berkely LOX Propane test

May 2, 2023

The first of two static motor tests by UC Berkeley students at FAR

[Steven Pietrobon]

UP Aerospace SpaceLoft XL launch failure May 1st 2023:
https://kvia.com/news/2023/05/01/spaceport-america-rocket-explodes-moments-after-lift-off/

Launch, RUD and falling debris.

[Fmedici]

Unusual way to retrieve information, but according to the chat of the NASA-TV Wallops stream (video no longer available, chat here: https://video.ibm.com/channel/nasa-tv-wallops) the SDO EVE Calibration experiment was successfully launched from White Sands on 3 May at 18:30 UTC. I couldn't find any other source confirming that the launch took place unfortunately.

[catdlr]

N₂ORTH Rocket | 64.4 km / 211,000 ft - Student Hybrid Rocket Altitude Record

May 6, 2023  ESRANGE
On Tuesday, 18th April 2023 at 11:05 LT, HyEnD successfully launched its N₂ORTH rocket from the European Space and Sounding Rocket Range ESRANGE in Sweden. With an oxidizer mass of 95 kg and a launch elevation of 81°, the rocket reached an altitude of more than 64.4 km after about 2 minutes. This almost doubled the previous altitude record for student-built hybrids.

[Fmedici]

Does anyone have any news about TEXUS 59? It was supposed to be launched from Esrange shortly after TEXUS 58 (as soon as 1 May according to ESA) but its launch campaign has expired and there have been no updates from any of the players involved.

[Yeknom-Ecaps]

Unusual way to retrieve information, but according to the chat of the NASA-TV Wallops stream (video no longer available, chat here: https://video.ibm.com/channel/nasa-tv-wallops) the SDO EVE Calibration experiment was successfully launched from White Sands on 3 May at 18:30 UTC. I couldn't find any other source confirming that the launch took place unfortunately.

The launch is confirmed on the Wallops Flight Facility page.

https://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code810/

and the excellent "Jonathan's Space Report"

https://planet4589.org/index.html

[Rik ISS-fan]

Does anyone have any news about TEXUS 59? It was supposed to be launched from Esrange shortly after TEXUS 58 (as soon as 1 May according to ESA) but its launch campaign has expired and there have been no updates from any of the players involved.

According to the Esrange website [rocket & balloon activities], TEXUS-59 still has to launch. While MAPHEUS-13 was launched. While TEXUS-59 was planned to launch before MAPHEUS-13.

[catdlr]

[Fmedici]

For the SERA 4 launch there's also the CNES stream, that has a smaller lag:

[catdlr]

SERA 4

[jcm]

Unusual way to retrieve information, but according to the chat of the NASA-TV Wallops stream (video no longer available, chat here: https://video.ibm.com/channel/nasa-tv-wallops) the SDO EVE Calibration experiment was successfully launched from White Sands on 3 May at 18:30 UTC. I couldn't find any other source confirming that the launch took place unfortunately.

The launch is confirmed on the Wallops Flight Facility page.

https://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code810/

and the excellent "Jonathan's Space Report"

https://planet4589.org/index.html

The source I use is the NASA Blue Book, at http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code810/files/BlueBook.pdf
(page 6 has recent launches)

[jcm]

Per sites.wff.nasa.gov/code810/files/BlueBook.pdf
expected apogee was only 2 km

[catdlr]

June 06, 2023
RELEASE 23-066

NASA announced Tuesday that the University of Alabama in Huntsville is the overall winner of the agency’s 2023 Student Launch challenge.

More than 800 students from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico launched high-powered, amateur rockets on April 15, near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, as part of the culminating event for the agency’s annual Student Launch challenge.

For nine months prior, teams of middle school, high school, college, and university students were tasked to design, build, and launch a rocket and scientific payload to an altitude between 4,000 and 6,000 feet, while making a successful landing and executing a scientific or engineering payload mission.

“Our students share unique perspectives and design innovative technologies to address real-world difficulties of space exploration,” said Kevin McGhaw, director of NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement – Southeast Region. “As NASA celebrates its 23rd year of Student Launch, we are proud to help develop the next generation of skilled engineers and explorers capable of supporting NASA’s Artemis missions.”

The complete list of award winners are as follows:

 
2023 Overall Winners

First place: University of Alabama in Huntsville
Second place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Third place: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
3D Printing Award:

College Level:

First place: Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
 
Middle/High School Level:

First place: East Aurora High School, East Aurora, New York

Altitude Award:

College Level:

First place: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
Second place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Third place: University of Alabama in Huntsville

Middle/High School Level: 

First place: Spring Grove Area High School, Spring Grove, Pennsylvania
Second place: Camas High School, Camas, Washington
Third place: MATHmania Robotics, Mission Viejo, California
Best-Looking Rocket Award:

College Level:

First place: North Carolina State University, Raleigh
Second place: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg
Third place: Auburn University, Alabama
 
Middle/High School Level:

First place: Cedar Falls High School, Iowa
Second place: Yamhill Carlton High School, Yamhill, Oregon
Third place: Boy Scouts Troop 17, Charlottesville, Virginia
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Reusable Launch Vehicle Innovative Payload Award:

College Level:

First place: University of Alabama in Huntsville
Second place: Washington University in St. Louis
Third place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Judges’ Choice Award:

Middle/High School Level:

First place: Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Second place: Seabrook Intermediate School, Seabrook, Texas
Third place: MATHmania Robotics, Mission Viejo, California
Project Review Award:

College Level:

First place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Second place: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 
Third place: University of Notre Dame, Indiana
AIAA Reusable Launch Vehicle Award:

College Level:

First place: New York University, New York
Second place: Washington University in St. Louis
Third place: University of Alabama in Huntsville
AIAA Rookie Award:

College Level:

First place: United States Military Academy, West Point, New York
Second place: Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas
Third place: University of Central Florida, Orlando
Safety Award:

College Level:

First place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Second place: University of Alabama in Huntsville
Third place: University of Notre Dame, Indiana
Social Media Award:

College Level:

First place: University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus
Second place: North Carolina State University, Raleigh
Third place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
 
Middle/High School Level:

First place: Morris County 4-H Rocketry Club, Morris County, New Jersey
Second place: East Aurora High School, East Aurora, New York
Third place: Boy Scouts Troop 17, Charlottesville, Virginia
STEM Engagement Award:

College Level:

First place: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
Second place: University of Notre Dame, Indiana
Third place: University of Alabama in Huntsville
 
Middle/High School Level:

First place: Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Second place: MATHmania Robotics, Mission Viejo, California
Third place: Camas High School, Camas, Washington
Service Academy Award:

First place: The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York
Vehicle Design Award:

Middle/High School Level:

First place: Yamhill Carlton Rocketry, Yamhill, Oregon
Second place: Spring Grove Area High School, Spring Grove, Pennsylvania
Third place: Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Payload Design Award:

Middle/High School Level:

First place: Portland Rocketry, Portland, Oregon
Second place: Yamhill Carlton Rocketry, Yamhill, Oregon
Third place: Seabrook Intermediate School, Seabrook, Texas
 

Student Launch is one of NASA’s nine Artemis Student Challenges, activities that connect student ingenuity with NASA’s work returning to the Moon under Artemis in preparation for human exploration of Mars.

"Students are required to meet complex requirements and high expectations, literally,” said Fred Kepner, an education program specialist, and activity lead for Student Launch at Marshall. "Student Launch is an authentic learning experience – one offering students experience working through the same processes NASA and our partners use for safety and quality control of space missions.”

Marshall hosts Student Launch with management support provided by NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement - Southeast Region. Funding is provided, in part, by NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate and NASA’s Next Gen STEM project. Additional support is provided by Northrup Grumman, National Space Club Huntsville, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Association of Rocketry, Relativity Space, Bastion Technologies, and Siemens Digital Industries Software.

Replays of this launch event and award ceremony are available on NASA's Marshall YouTube and the Student Launch Facebook page.

For more information about the Student Launch challenge, visit:
 

https://go.nasa.gov/2HWL80t

-end-

    
Press Contacts

Katherine Brown
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1288
[email protected]

Christopher Blair
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
256-544-0034
[email protected]

Photo Caption and Credits:

NASA Names Winners of 2023 Student Rocket Launch Competition
Student teams ready their rockets for launch during NASA’s Student Launch competition near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, April 15.
Student teams ready their rockets for launch during NASA’s Student Launch competition near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, April 15.
Credits: NASA/Charles Beason

Students from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, carry their rocket to the launch pad during NASA’s 2023 Student Launch competition near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, April 15.

Credits: NASA/Charles Beason

Students from New York University, in the Bronx, showcase their rocket during NASA’s annual Rocket Fair April 13, near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Credits: NASA/Charles Beason

[catdlr]

This video was captured with a RunCam Split 4 in 2.7K with 60fps located at the boat tail of the rocket. Stay tuned for more onboard footage soon!

[zubenelgenubi]

Launch thread
Electron : F38 DYNAMO-A suborbital : Wallops LC2

[Fmedici]

It looks like the Polish company Space Forest launched its Perun suborbital rocket on 21 June 2023. Launch site, launch time and apogee remain unclear atm.

https://twitter.com/SpaceForest2/status/1673615160236298241