SpaceLoft XL

The SpaceLoft XL is a sounding rocket developed by private spaceflight company UP Aerospace.[2] The rocket is capable of lofting a 79 lb (36 kg) payload to a sub-orbital trajectory with an apogee of about 71.5 miles (115 km). It takes only 60 seconds to cross the Kármán line (the official "edge of space" at 100 km).[3] All launches are sub-orbital, so that they do not complete one orbital revolution. Launches are conducted from the company launch facility at Spaceport America in Upham, New Mexico.[4]

SpaceLoft XL
FunctionSounding rocket
ManufacturerUP Aerospace
Country of originUnited States
Size
Height20 ft (6 m)
Diameter10.45 in (26.5 cm)
Mass780 lb (354.5 kg)
Stages1
Capacity
Payload to
Sub-orbital
71.5 miles (115 km) apogee		79 lb (36 kg)
Launch history
StatusActive
Launch sitesSpaceport America
Total launches13
Successes11
Failures2
First flight25 September 2006
First stage
Engines1 solid
Thrust8240 lbf (36.6kN)
Burn time12 seconds[1]
Propellantsolid

Description

The rocket is 20 feet (6 m) long and 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter, and consists of a single stage powered by a single solid fuel rocket engine. Typical flights last about 13 minutes, with more than 4 minutes of weightlessness.[3] The rocket is reportedly capable of reaching up to 225 km (140 miles) altitude,[5] though its standard apogee is closer to 115 km (71 miles).[3]

Launches

The first launch, SL-1 was made at 2:14 p.m. local time (20:14 UTC) on September 25, 2006, from Spaceport America. During its maiden flight, it experienced an "unexpected aerodynamic effect" and crashed in the New Mexico desert after reaching only 40,000 feet (12 km).

The second launch, SL-2 originally scheduled for October 21, 2006, was successfully carried out on April 28, 2007 at 8:56 a.m. local time (14:56 UTC).[6] UP Aerospace president Jerry Larson had said the rocket was assembled and had been on the launch rail since Tuesday (24 April).[7] The primary payload, Celestis Legacy, consisted of cremated human remains including those of astronaut Gordon Cooper and Star Trek actor James Doohan, whose ashes were also on board the ill-fated Falcon 1 when it malfunctioned in August 2008.

As of 23 November 2019, UP Aerospace has conducted a total of 18 launches, including 13 with SpaceLoft XL rockets, most of which have been successful. The third launch, which was conducted at 14:00 UTC on 2 May 2009, carrying student experiments and the Discovery payload for Celestis, had an electronic anomaly causing an early separation and failed to reach the correct apogee.[8][9] To date, the highest altitude achieved by the rocket was reached by SL-9, which set a Spaceport America altitude record of 77.25 miles (124 km) on October 23, 2014.[10]

See also

References
  1. www.webdotshop.com. "- -- Cesaroni Technology Incorporated -- - Turning tomorrow's vision into today's reality". www.cesaroni.net. Archived from the original on 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2007-05-02.
  2. "UP Aerospace Inc. - Home". www.upaerospace.us.com.
  3. "SpaceLoft™ XL". NASA Flight Opportunities Program. Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  4. "Suborbital Rocket Launches Human Remains, Wedding Rings into Space".
  5. "Spaceloft XL". Astronautix. Archived from the original on 24 August 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  6. "Star Trek's Scotty's ashes fly to space". AP.
  7. "Preparations Under Way For Second Rocket Launch". KOAT. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28.
  8. "Officials Praise NM Rocket Launch". KOAT. 2009-05-02. Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
  9. "Rocket falls short of altitude goal at space port". KVIA.com. 2009-05-02. Archived from the original on May 10, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
  10. "UP Aerospace Inc. - Past Missions". UP Aerospace Inc. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
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