Rocketry Planet

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa AFR — MIP Holdings, one of South Africa's leading software companies, has helped a local amateur rocketeer launch a challenge on the country's space record. With financial and logistical assistance from MIP, Johann Karsten tried to become the first person in South Africa to launch a rocket 10km into space.

The attempt late last year, termed UJ1, has yet to be verified as the rocket has not been recovered after a successful launch. However, there are ongoing efforts to track down the rocket, with a cash reward of R500 on offer.

Karsten, a University of Johannesburg Mechanical Engineering graduate, had been drawn into amateur rocketry through the South African Rocketry Association's (SARA) 10km amateur rocket challenge, issued in January last year.

"Amateur rocketry is a growing hobby in South Africa," says Karsten. "Building a rocket to go one or two kilometres high is a challenge, but building a rocket that can reach 10km in altitude is a completely different ball game. For instance, the highest verified amateur rocket launched in South Africa reached less than 5km."

MIP sponsored Karsten's construction of a rocket that could break the South African amateur record. It was a complex design using a hybrid fuel technology, which is being researched worldwide as it is relatively safe.

This involves using a liquid oxygen source and a solid fuel. Karsten used nitrous oxide as an oxidant and polypropylene (common plastic) as the fuel. Separately they are non-reactive and therefore safe. They are brought together at high temperature and pressure, which creates a powerful reaction, providing thrust through a carbon nozzle. The rocket was designed to be launched and safely recovered through a two-parachute system. The entire rocket would be recovered and could be reloaded and relaunched.

"We successfully launched the rocket from a launch site south-east of Witbank," reports Karsten. "It accelerated off the launch pad with an incredible roar and thrust into the sky. It flew completely out of sight and we continually heard it thrust for few seconds thereafter. Our tracking system was a radio transmitter and receiver that required a 6km line of sight. This, unfortunately, did not pick up the signal from the ground and we needed an aerial search."

MIP funded and organised the aerial search and rescue operation, involving gyrocopters and one helicopter. They spent hours in the air searching for the rocket and trying to pick up a signal from the radio tracking device, but this was not successful.

"We could not have made the record attempt without funding from MIP and the University of Johannesburg," adds Karsten. "While the rocket has not yet been located, I am still confident that someone will find her and return her to us. We will continue writing to local newspapers and pilots. We have offered a R500 reward for the recovery of the rocket and hope that in the months to come she will turn up somewhere. The altitude-recording electronics on-board store flight data on flash disk-type memory. This means it does not require power to retain the data. When the rocket is retrieved, a new battery will be connected and the maximum altitude reached can be verified."

"At MIP we believe passionately in the power of innovation and entrepreneurship," says Richard Firth, chairman and CEO of MIP. "For that reason, we had no hesitation in supporting Johann. We will continue to assist in finding the rocket, so we can be certain of the outcome of the record attempt."
 
About the company:
MIP offers enterprise IT solutions to administrators of medical aid schemes, managed healthcare, employee benefits and life assurance and investment products. MIP is an undisputed leader in these fields, as evidenced by the many accolades and awards the company has gathered over the years.

These include awards for technical innovation from the Department of Trade and Industry, and being honoured in the global Computerworld Honours Programme as a world leader in providing IT services on a risk-based billing model. In this regard, MIP is a world leader.

MIP has offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Pretoria.

Reader comments:

#1 Re: MIP sponsors 10km South African space record attempt

They were going for a 10 km altitude and they were using a tracking system good for 6 km?

And this was a sponsored flight?

Adrian A on 01-26-2008 11:13 AM

#2 Re: MIP sponsors 10km South African space record attempt

Perhaps that explains: "The attempt late last year, termed UJ1, has yet to be verified as the rocket has not been recovered after a successful launch."

ddmobley on 01-26-2008 11:28 AM

#3 Re: MIP sponsors 10km South African space record attempt

10 KM isnt space

But sounds like great fun. 10KM = 32,800 feet or so? Sounds like something a skinny N could do in style. Or go carbon L to L flight to 50K for similar cost (according to shadow aero).

New Ocean on 03-07-2008 02:30 PM

#4 Re: MIP sponsors 10km South African space record attempt

Yes guys 10 k's is nothing.....when you buy the kit buy the reload buy the motor buy the electronics buy the everything put it together and voila guaranteed by manufacturer to go 10 Km on a N.
The problem in SA is there are no rocketry related manufacturers and therefore these are all home built motors rockets altimeters etc.
I used to be heavily involved in Rocketry in SA in the beginning stages when we were fighting just to be allowed to mix sugar propellant or even make igniters as these are all illegal in SA.
So yes if you buy everything or live in a country where rocketry is huge and support and suppliers are around every corner then it's nothing....otherwise cut them / us some slack !
Oh and 10 km up does not relate to 10km horizontally....
Thanks.

Izeman on 07-15-2008 03:09 AM

#5 Re: MIP sponsors 10km South African space record attempt

Quote:

Oh and 10 km up does not relate to 10km horizontally....
Thanks.

You lost me...

How - er - what - ah - huh?


EDIT: I assume this is related to earlier comments about the tracking system only having 6km range.

UncleVanya on 07-15-2008 10:58 AM

#6 Re: MIP sponsors 10km South African space record attempt

it wont drift for 10km. unless they are real unlucky, or its very windy. in which case they shouldnt be launching

Chrisn on 07-17-2008 01:45 AM

#7 Re: MIP sponsors 10km South African space record attempt

Quote:

it wont drift for 10km. unless they are real unlucky, or its very windy. in which case they shouldnt be launching

I finally get it. There was a comment back a bit about the 6km range of the tracker. Now I understand.

UncleVanya on 07-17-2008 11:24 AM

#8 Re: MIP sponsors 10km South African space record attempt

10Km is great dont get me wrong. I guess its not your fault that article is so bad. This wont be a space record because it didnt go into space.

New Ocean on 07-21-2008 10:09 PM

#9 Re: MIP sponsors 10km South African space record attempt

Quote:

10Km is great dont get me wrong. I guess its not your fault that article is so bad. This wont be a space record because it didnt go into space.

Oddly enough the definition of "space" is complex. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%A1rm%C3%A1n_line Take careful note of the fact that in this article they state their is NO DEFINITION by international law of where a country's airspace and outer space begin. The 62.1 mile Karmen line is defined but a country like South Africa could designate 10km to be space over their country if they wanted.

Not that this is likely...

UncleVanya on 07-21-2008 11:32 PM

#10 Re: MIP sponsors 10km South African space record attempt

Interesting point. I always assumed the "min. altitude at which a satellite can make at least one orbit" was the key to about 60 mi being space.

My condition here would be: if a WW2 prop plane can fly to your altitude, it aint space.

Also guilty of these things, I call near space from 100,000 to space.

Quote:

Oddly enough the definition of "space" is complex. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%A1rm%C3%A1n_line Take careful note of the fact that in this article they state their is NO DEFINITION by international law of where a country's airspace and outer space begin. The 62.1 mile Karmen line is defined but a country like South Africa could designate 10km to be space over their country if they wanted.

Not that this is likely...

New Ocean on 07-25-2008 01:23 PM

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