Stratofox
Reconnaissance and Recovery SIG update
It's obvious by now that only private
enterprise has any chance of getting private citizens to travel into
near space any time soon. Sudden increase in private launches is in
response to the government pulling the feeding tube from space programs
as it is evident from this timely report:
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/rocketscience-05o.html.
US President Bush strongly supported space program in 2004 State of the
Union address but decided, to our strong disappointment, to redirect
science and technology funds to private pension plans this year.
Stratofox mission is to provide support in launch and recovery to an
increasing number of space launches initiated by private teams who
tirelessly build and launch their rockets to the edge of space. Off
road runners with binoculars used bicycles and 4WD vehicles to search
and recover used rockets in the past but proved to be too slow to
search huge playa and mountains around it.
Special Interest Group was formed from most trusted Stratofox team
members to find a solution to faster recovery missions. The result of
their hard work is Strato Hawk System SRS-4A, a reconnaissance
aircraft and ground station designed for better support in rocket
search and recovery.
The exact specifications of the aircraft
are classified. However, recent testing revealed that, when
disassembled, it can be transported on Ian's truck to the area of
operation. That's the same famous truck that carried first private
rocket returned from space last year.
Strato Hawk SRS-4A is a medium-altitude,
long-endurance unmanned aerial search system designed to provide
Stratofox search team with medium resolution, near-real-time imagery of
rocket search areas.
GPS and it's ability to remain in flight
for long periods of time, enables the Strato Hawk to provide eyes in
the sky for search in hard to reach areas and federally owned land
where land vehicles are not allowed.
The aircraft's 280 nautical mile range
and 2.6 hours of endurance, combined with amateur radio and
line-of-sight communication links to the ground segment, permit
operation of the system from Ground Mission Control in cool, beer
equipped area, miles away on the playa.
During last weekend test flight, the
vehicle flew for over 2.5 hours and at a sufficient hight to clear the
mountains around the Black Rock desert. The test was done on remote
road in Nevada to avoid publicity and FAA regulations.
The superior performance of the Strato Hawk system will significantly
enhance the team's ability to recover private rockets returned from the
edge of space. The program will be managed by highly trained
professionals with knowledge in amateur radio, remote control, flying,
and Unix.
