SARGE FLIGHT 3 – MISSION 2 RECAP
An update from our recent (Saturday, June 29, 2019) SARGE-1 launch and recovery from Spaceport America, NM.
This launch was the third launch and successful recovery of the same SARGE-1 rocket. Only two other companies have accomplished this in history.
Exos plans another launch of the SARGE-1 rocket in October. Once we launch it a sixth time, that will set a world record-no other company has launched and recovered, and re-used the same rocket six times. Exos also plans to launch a rocket and re-launch it within 48 hours, which has never been done before. We are making history!
Exos’ emphasis on smaller, lighter rockets, has made Space Available to thousands of companies, universities, and individuals who previously could not afford to send up payloads. Exos makes space available by making space safe and affordable. Therefore, new markets are created which never existed before.
Amazing payloads have already been carried into the edge of space on the SARGE-1 rocket, including breast cancer and brain tumor research from the Mayo Clinic and Harvard University, as well as physics research aimed at learning more about the early moments of the creation of the Universe. Exos has taken up High School experiments for SpaceKids India. Exos is making a difference in the world of science, health, manufacturing in space, and education.
There was a goal in this recent launch (Saturday, June 29, 2019) of reaching the 80 KM altitude goal, but SARGE was unable to do so. If you were able to watch the YouTube launch, live, then you saw the rocket lifted off beautifully (our best launch, actually) and then a few nanoseconds and a few thousand feet into the launch, an anomaly occurred and the rocket began to “swim” back and forth. It did this a couple of times, and then the guidance and directional systems corrected it, and the rocket flew to about 14,000 feet and successfully deployed the drogue and then the parachute, and flew back to the launch site for a safe and soft landing. All payloads and the rocket were recovered in good condition. The rocket will be ready to fly again in October. The Exos team has since met to discuss what caused the anomaly, and what we have learned from it.
All lessons that may have been learned are prodded with the intent of making the rocket even better, and the next launch even higher. We considered this launch, in the end, to be a success, even though SARGE failed to reach our 80 KM altitude goal. This is because the data received from the flight will help get the navigational and directional control systems perfected sooner than without this invaluable data. Once navigation and control are balanced correctly, Exos should reach the 80 KM goal, expected in October.
If you would like to view the video recap of our latest launch, you can do so, here.
