On Sept. 9, 1982, the first private rocket launched from a Texas cattle ranch.
The Conestoga 1 rocket was designed by Space Services Inc. of America and built from spare parts of other rockets. It was named after a type of covered wagon that used to transport American settlers westward to the new frontier during the 19th century. The 36-foot rocket lifted off from a private launch facility on Matagorda Island, Texas and flew for 10 and a half minutes. It reached an altitude of 195 miles and became the first privately funded rocket to reach space.
The only payload on board was 40 gallons of water, which didn't serve much scientific purpose, but it was ejected from the spacecraft at peak altitude to serve as a visual marker so ground crews could watch.
The Conestoga 1 rocket was designed by Space Services Inc. of America and built from spare parts of other rockets. It was named after a type of covered wagon that used to transport American settlers westward to the new frontier during the 19th century. The 36-foot rocket lifted off from a private launch facility on Matagorda Island, Texas and flew for 10 and a half minutes. It reached an altitude of 195 miles and became the first privately funded rocket to reach space.
The only payload on board was 40 gallons of water, which didn't serve much scientific purpose, but it was ejected from the spacecraft at peak altitude to serve as a visual marker so ground crews could watch.
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TechTranscript
00:00On this day in space.
00:03In 1982, the first private rocket launched from a Texas cattle ranch.
00:08The Conestoga-1 rocket was designed by Space Services Incorporated of America
00:12and built from spare parts of other rockets.
00:14It was named after a type of covered wagon that used to transport American settlers westward to the New Frontier during the 19th century.
00:21The 36-foot rocket lifted off from a private launch facility in Matatorga Island, Texas and flew for 10 and a half minutes.
00:27It reached an altitude of 195 miles and became the first privately funded rocket to reach space.
00:33The only payload on board was 40 gallons of water, which didn't serve much scientific purpose,
00:38but it was ejected from the spacecraft at peak altitude to serve as a visual marker so ground crews could watch.
00:43And that's what happened on this day in space.
00:46NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology