Project HALO - Sky Launch 1 Launch Report

HAL5 made amateur rocketry history on Sunday, May 11, 1997. At 8:25 AM EDT, HAL5's Project HALO team performed the first amateur rockoon mission when it successfully launched its Sky Launch 1 rocket from a high altitude balloon. HAL5 also made hybrid rocketry history as well, becoming the first organization to launch a hybrid rocket from a high altitude. Based on an estimated rocket apogee between 30 and 36 nautical miles, HAL5 can now claim the world record for highest altitude achieved to date by an amateur rocket -- and by a hybrid rocket of any kind.

When and Where

Dates:

Site survey was held on Friday afternoon, May 9, 1997
Site setup was held all day Saturday, May 10, 1997
Rockoon mission was performed on Sunday, May 11, 1997

Times:

Site setup began on Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. EDT
Launch operations began early Sunday about 3:30 a.m. EDT
Balloon launch occurred after Sunrise at 6:59 a.m. EDT
Rocket launch occurred at 8:25 a.m. EDT

Where:

Grass field in Hampstead, NC, along US highway 17 on east North Carolina coast

Purpose of Project HALO

The purpose of Project HALO is to make access to space more affordable for students, amateurs, experimenters, and researchers. It is combination technical and educational program. The program is divided into several phases. All phases have opportunities for student involvement at all grade levels. See the Project HALO Home Page for more details.

Phase 0 was for developing rocket subsystems and testing them on the ground and at high altitude.
Phase 1 is to build the rocket and successfully launch it from a balloon.
Phase 2 will be to develop the operational capability for inexpensive and routine access to space using rockoons.

Goals of HALO Sky Launch 1

Project HALO Sky Launch 1 marks the completion milestone for Project HALO Phase 1, Proof of Concept. As such, this successful launch was the final test for Project HALO to proceed onto Phase 2, Operational Rockoons, when we can start to launch student payloads.

GOALS OF HALO SKY LAUNCH 1

STATUS

Primary Goals of HALO Sky Launch 1

Launch the balloon without damaging the balloon, gondola, or rocket

ACHIEVED

Maintain the temperature inside the oxidizer tank to high altitude

ACHIEVED

Successfully launch the rocket from the balloon

ACHIEVED

Verify computer predictions using data transmitted from rocket

FAILED

Benefits of Meeting Primary Goals

Gain confidence to proceed onto Project HALO Phase 2

ACHIEVED

Have one success from which to approach potential donors and clients

ACHIEVED

Honors from Meeting Primary Goals

First amateur group to have a successful rockoon mission

ACHIEVED

Important data point for future hybrid rockoons

Important data point for hybrid upper stages

World Records for HAL5

Highest altitude achieved by an amateur rocket (by any means)

ACHIEVED

Highest altitude achieved by an amateur rockoon

ACHIEVED

Highest altitude achieved by an hybrid-motor rocket (any organization)

ACHIEVED

Highest altitude achieved by an amateur hybrid-motor rocket

ACHIEVED

Secondary Goals of HALO Sky Launch 1

Have the rocket exceed an altitude of 50 nautical miles (nmi)

FAILED

Have the rocket exceed an altitude of 100 kilometers (km)

FAILED

Recover the rocket

FAILED

Recover the balloon gondola

FAILED

Benefits of Meeting Secondary Goals

Have one success from which to approach potential donors and clients

Can place the recovered rocket in a museum (how about the Air & Space?)

Can inspect recovered rocket and/or gondola for damage

Can recover valuable electronics for future reuse

Honors from Meeting Secondary Goals

First amateur group to get their own rocket into space

First group (amateur or professional) to get a hybrid rocket into space

First amateur rocket recovered from space

Potential Records from Getting into Space

Least expensive rocket-to-space program, start to first flight (less than $ 20,000 (1997 USD))

Least expensive rocket space mission, manufacturing and operations (less than $ 8,000 (1997 USD))

Technical Details

SL-1 Mission Overview

SL-1 Balloon Gondola Description

SL-1 Rocket Description

SL-1 Hybrid Motor Description

Reports and Press Releases

1997-Mar-22 --- First Attempt --- scrubbed due to prelaunch malfunction.

Pre-Attempt HAL5 Press Release (text)
Post-Attempt HAL5 Press Release (text)
Article by Tim Pickens -- Rocket Systems Lead
Article by Greg Allison -- HALO Program Manager

1997-May-03 --- Second Attempt --- postponed due to weather

Pre-Attempt HAL5 Press Release (text)
Article by Tim Pickens -- Rocket Systems Lead

1997-May-10/11 --- Third Attempt --- successful launch!

Pre-Attempt HAL5 Press Release (text)
Post-Attempt HAL5 Press Release (text)
Article by Tim Pickens -- Rocket Systems Lead
Article by Larry Scarborough -- Balloon Gondola Lead
Article by Peter Ewing
Article by Gene Young
Article by Greg Allison -- HALO Program Manager
Article by Bill Brown -- Balloon Systems Lead
Article by Ben Frink
Article by John McCallum
Article by Ron Creel
Editorial by Steve Unger
Article by Steve Mustaikis

Amateur Radio Frequencies and Telemetry Decoding

See Bill Brown's WB8ELK Home Page or details.

Modified from original version for the web.