Could a private citizen build a rocket that can get into space?

[Red Iron Crown]

Ecuador's civilian space agency uses launch facilities in Russia to deploy their satellites. If they could launch from Ecuador without too many legislative hurdles to leap I'm sure they would.

I think that may be more about Russia already having launch infrastructure than the suitability of the site. I imagine that Ecuador doesn't make their own launchers, just payloads. Which is a shame, as Ecuador may be the location on Earth best suited for launching into orbit.

For our ~400Kg rocket, I think the launch facilities required will be simple enough that we could lug the whole thing up the mountain.

[jwenting]

How hard is it to get a pyrotechnics's license in the U.K. though? In the U.S. that's the easy part. The regulations for actually possessing any amount of explosive material is where they get you. It amounts to having to build a bunker to store it (and I'm even talking about just a few pounds of unprocessed powders), and the bunker needs to be a certain distance from all nearby residences. So, you pretty much need to own land in the middle of nowhere (in addition to your own house) before you can even think about it.

how hard? Think just about impossible.

And the license for the materials, scrap the "just about".

[Tarrow]

How hard is it to get a pyrotechnics's license in the U.K. though?.

It's virtually impossible unless you work for a company that's already in the pyro industry. Using basic blackpowder as an example you need a license to purchase & a separate license to store, in addition to dedicated storage facilities. Then you need licensing and insurance appropriate to whatever you're using the blackpowder for. Manufacture is an absolute no-go for private individuals, with possession of the formulae for blackpowder being technically illegal under current regulations.

[magnemoe]

I think that may be more about Russia already having launch infrastructure than the suitability of the site. I imagine that Ecuador doesn't make their own launchers, just payloads. Which is a shame, as Ecuador may be the location on Earth best suited for launching into orbit.

For our ~400Kg rocket, I think the launch facilities required will be simple enough that we could lug the whole thing up the mountain.

The easiest way to launch an cube sat sized payload is to use an fighter jet as first stage, yes some civilians own old Russian supersonic jets. So you need to find someone and pay to drop an cargo at at say mach 1.5 and 15 km up. Think they could carry multiple ton so it should be more than enough. fireing over ocean and you should bypass most regulations, yes you would want to check in anyway or the guy with the jet might get problems.

[mrfox]

ummm.... gents, its been done.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_Space_eXploration_Team

http://ddeville.com/derek/CSXT.htm

Edited March 29, 2014 by mrfox

[magnemoe]

It's virtually impossible unless you work for a company that's already in the pyro industry. Using basic blackpowder as an example you need a license to purchase & a separate license to store, in addition to dedicated storage facilities. Then you need licensing and insurance appropriate to whatever you're using the blackpowder for. Manufacture is an absolute no-go for private individuals, with possession of the formulae for blackpowder being technically illegal under current regulations.

Think black powder is pretty easy to use get in Norway, some restrictions but mostly based on fire safety as criminals don't use it so this depend a lot from country to country.

However for this mission you would need an more serious solid fuel, you would also need to make to blocks so they fit.

Sold rocket fuel might be easier to get you hand on as its not designed to explode, yes I know from personal experience that the main difference between an solid fuel rocket and a pipe bomb is the hole with rocket engine.

As a kid we got our hand on a lot of sodium chlorate, mixed with sugar this behaves a lot like black powder however it burns far hotter.

Tried to make an pipe bomb, the one in an cola can worked well but it was not enough pressure so we wanted an real pipe bomb, as we knew this could explode seriously and leave lots of shrapnel we went to an field where they had dug two holes. 3 meter deep, 4 wide and 5 meter from each other for some drainage, bomb in bottom of one hole, lit fuse and run for the second hole.

No explosion but an load hiss, suddenly the bomb/ rocket jumped up and down into our hole where it was buzzing around.

After this we tried to make rockets, however none worked as well as the bomb, they all shared the skill of tipping over in flight and coming our direction for some reason.

Yes, round hole up the center of rocket,should have used an knife and made an X for burn, this gave low TWR at launch and higher then close to us.

For some joykilling reason they outlawed sodium chlorat

[Red Iron Crown]

ummm.... gents, its been done.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_Space_eXploration_Team

http://ddeville.com/derek/CSXT.htm

I had no idea this even existed, thanks for the links.

[szputnyik]

Aladár Mézga did it:

http://indavideo.hu/video/Mezga_Aladar_kulonos_kalandjai_1resz_Masodik_dimenzio

-as a child

-under Communism

-without his parents finding out