The launch in the video took place from Spaceport America in New Mexico on November 6, 2015, with a 20-foot tall SpaceLoft-10 sounding rocket from Colorado-based launch provider UP Aerospace.
It was the company’s fourth mission for NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program, which selects “promising new space technologies from industry, academia and government, and provides them access to relevant environments for flight testing.”
As the launch begins, the rocket immediately starts spinning rapidly. This is known as spin-stabilization, a common strategy used for some satellites or rocket launches to control altitude. Like a spinning top, motion about one axis on a rocket can be controlled if it’s spinning fast enough.
At 60 seconds into the flight (1:17 in the video), the mission successfully releases the nose fairing and ejects the 11 pound re-entry capsule known as Maraia.
Now that was awesome!
ReplyDeleteSweet!! That was cool
ReplyDeleteIt makes you want to go and launch something, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteSweeet!
ReplyDeleteWay Cool!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks,
David