CSXT SpaceShot 2004 - First Amateur Launch to Space

Monday afternoon search

After the rocket landed, we began the search for it.

[picture]
(1536x1024 1063K) (500x333 19K) The helicopter takes off for the initial search. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 1275K) (500x333 23K) After the helicopter returned with some estimates of the area, Stratofox leads a convoy of 10 vehicles to begin the ground search. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(1536x1024 2348K) (500x333 51K) We found someone else's balloon. In standard Stratofox style, we photographed it before removing it in case anyone has any questions later about how we found it. This looks recent - the colors are still bright. But it wasn't one of ours. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(1536x1024 2315K) (500x333 48K) Photo of the balloon that Stratofox found on Monday. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 2258K) (500x333 45K) Photo of the balloon that Stratofox found on Monday. This is the last shot before it was picked up to remove litter from the landscape. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(1536x1024 1527K) (500x333 27K) Later the Stratofox search teams have broken up into three groups. The picture was taken standing on Ian's truck, which is Stratofox 1. Others parked in the foreground from left to right are Will Galloway's van as Stratofox 4, the Pinnacle Media Group crew in the black SUV, and Dave LeFevre of BLM in the white pickup. In the background, the Palmer family's RV as Stratofox 5 is approaching, whom we had stopped to wait for. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(640x480 36K) (500x375 20K) One of the search teams including Stratofox members and Merlin Systems does a DF (direction finding) sweep over the valley to double-check data from the helicopter. (photo by Jay Lawson)

(1536x1024 988K) (500x333 18K) This is part of a panoramic series which was taken in case it was needed for further analysis. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(1536x1024 1021K) (500x333 19K) This is part of a panoramic series which was taken in case it was needed for further analysis. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 954K) (500x333 19K) This is part of a panoramic series which was taken in case it was needed for further analysis. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(1536x1024 999K) (500x333 20K) This is part of a panoramic series which was taken in case it was needed for further analysis. As it turned out, the nose section of the rocket was found the next day near the top of one of the mountains just left of center in this photo. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(1536x1024 1022K) (500x333 20K) This is part of a panoramic series which was taken in case it was needed for further analysis. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 1189K) (500x333 22K) Taken from the same point as the previous panorama, this shows Stratofox members and others who travelled with us setting up a telescope for a closer look at the mountains where the radio direction finding equipment is pointing. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(3072x2048 1853K) (500x333 16K) This is the direction the DF gear is pointing. This is also where the helicopter got the strongest signal. And what do you know... this is where it was found the next morning. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(2048x3072 4300K) (500x750 91K) Stratofox member Will Galloway AE6EY with his telescope. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(640x480 37K) (500x375 30K) Will Galloway AE6EY returns from searching on his mountain bike. (photo by Jay Lawson)

(3072x2048 1975K) (500x333 19K) After Steve Palmer KA6DHU and Randy Palmer WA6LCD hiked to the canyon, they thought this smaller side canyon had the strongest signal. Even though the sun is getting low and getting in the way, this picture was taken to record where to begin the search on Tuesday. It was taken when Ian got there in his truck to pick them up to get them off the mountain before dark. The next morning their guess would be proven correct. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

[picture]
(3072x2048 2343K) (500x333 21K) Another shot of the canyon which is one location where we'll continue the search on Tuesday. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(1536x1024 897K) (500x333 23K) The Stratofox teams are assembling back in the valley to go back to Gerlach. Everyone is taking an interest when a gentleman drove up who has turned out to be a former owner of the land we want to search in. He knows the current owners and is certain this will be OK with them. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

Back up to Stratofox's CSXT SpaceShot 2004 pictures

(1536x1024 1063K) (500x333 19K)	The helicopter takes off for the initial search. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1275K) (500x333 23K)	After the helicopter returned with some estimates of the area, Stratofox leads a convoy of 10 vehicles to begin the ground search. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 2348K) (500x333 51K)	We found someone else's balloon. In standard Stratofox style, we photographed it before removing it in case anyone has any questions later about how we found it. This looks recent - the colors are still bright. But it wasn't one of ours. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 2315K) (500x333 48K)	Photo of the balloon that Stratofox found on Monday. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 2258K) (500x333 45K)	Photo of the balloon that Stratofox found on Monday. This is the last shot before it was picked up to remove litter from the landscape. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1527K) (500x333 27K)	Later the Stratofox search teams have broken up into three groups. The picture was taken standing on Ian's truck, which is Stratofox 1. Others parked in the foreground from left to right are Will Galloway's van as Stratofox 4, the Pinnacle Media Group crew in the black SUV, and Dave LeFevre of BLM in the white pickup. In the background, the Palmer family's RV as Stratofox 5 is approaching, whom we had stopped to wait for. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(640x480 36K) (500x375 20K)	One of the search teams including Stratofox members and Merlin Systems does a DF (direction finding) sweep over the valley to double-check data from the helicopter. (photo by Jay Lawson)
(1536x1024 988K) (500x333 18K)	This is part of a panoramic series which was taken in case it was needed for further analysis. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1021K) (500x333 19K)	This is part of a panoramic series which was taken in case it was needed for further analysis. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 954K) (500x333 19K)	This is part of a panoramic series which was taken in case it was needed for further analysis. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 999K) (500x333 20K)	This is part of a panoramic series which was taken in case it was needed for further analysis. As it turned out, the nose section of the rocket was found the next day near the top of one of the mountains just left of center in this photo. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1022K) (500x333 20K)	This is part of a panoramic series which was taken in case it was needed for further analysis. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 1189K) (500x333 22K)	Taken from the same point as the previous panorama, this shows Stratofox members and others who travelled with us setting up a telescope for a closer look at the mountains where the radio direction finding equipment is pointing. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 1853K) (500x333 16K)	This is the direction the DF gear is pointing. This is also where the helicopter got the strongest signal. And what do you know... this is where it was found the next morning. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(2048x3072 4300K) (500x750 91K)	Stratofox member Will Galloway AE6EY with his telescope. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(640x480 37K) (500x375 30K)	Will Galloway AE6EY returns from searching on his mountain bike. (photo by Jay Lawson)
(3072x2048 1975K) (500x333 19K)	After Steve Palmer KA6DHU and Randy Palmer WA6LCD hiked to the canyon, they thought this smaller side canyon had the strongest signal. Even though the sun is getting low and getting in the way, this picture was taken to record where to begin the search on Tuesday. It was taken when Ian got there in his truck to pick them up to get them off the mountain before dark. The next morning their guess would be proven correct. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 2343K) (500x333 21K)	Another shot of the canyon which is one location where we'll continue the search on Tuesday. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1536x1024 897K) (500x333 23K)	The Stratofox teams are assembling back in the valley to go back to Gerlach. Everyone is taking an interest when a gentleman drove up who has turned out to be a former owner of the land we want to search in. He knows the current owners and is certain this will be OK with them. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)