CSXT SpaceShot 2004 - First Amateur Launch to Space

Found it!

A little after 11:30AM, Jeremy Cooper KE6JJJ's voice was heard on the Amateur Radio saying, "This is DF 1. Please clear the channel for an announcement."

After a pause and hearing no other traffic, he continued. "This is DF 1. The nose cone and payload have been found. It is completely intact. I repeat - it is completely intact." CSXT Member Matt Murphy KB0VUE, acting under the tactical callsign of "CSXT Relay" from a terrain position which could see both the search area and Bruno's Motel in Gerlach, passed the message to the remainder of the CSXT team there. We didn't need our radios to know how loud they must have been yelling.

Upon locating it, we immediately began referring to the nose section as "the spacecraft." It includes the payload and avionics. It was found in rugged mountainous terrain. The nose cone was embedded more than 3 feet into a talus field (loose boulder/rock slope.) Everyone waited for others to arrive - it was a spontaneous celebration up there which got bigger as more people arrived.

When all the pictures had been taken, then the spacecraft was removed from the mountainside and taken to the nearest road (a 4x4 trail) about 1/2 mile away in uneven terrain, but all downhill.

[picture]
(1536x1024 1603K) (500x333 32K) 		The landing site of the world's first amateur rocket to space, minutes after it was found, 24 hours after it landed. Though under parachute, it impacted hard enough to embed itself nose-down more than 3 feet into a talus field (loose boulder/rock slope.) From this point on, we began referring to it as "the spacecraft". (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(3072x2048 4287K) (500x333 36K) 		Closing in on the landing site... (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(3072x2048 3842K) (500x333 41K) 		The Pinnacle Media Group documentary crew, Scott and Dana, approaches the landing site. They had sponsored the 2002 launch which failed, so they're now getting the video of a successful flight which will make their documentary complete. And they're here just in time to record some history, (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(3072x2048 4975K) (500x333 57K) 		More people arrive at the landing site. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(3072x2048 3268K) (500x333 39K) 		Scott and Dana can hardly contain their joy as they approach the landing site. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(3072x2048 4346K) (500x333 46K) 		The video shots begin... (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(3072x2048 4277K) (500x333 47K) 		CSXT Project Leader Jerry Larsen arrives at the landing site. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(3072x2048 4347K) (500x333 46K) 		Jerry inspects the nose section, which is in amazingly good condition considering what it's been through. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(3072x2048 3835K) (500x333 41K) 		More people arrive. The crew tells them what they've found. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(2048x3072 3863K) (500x750 84K) 		Jerry waves for the camera. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(2048x3072 3644K) (500x750 66K) 		A vertically-oriented view of the terrain covered to reach the landing site. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(3072x2048 3620K) (500x333 26K) 		A look down the canyon we climbed to reach the landing site. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(3072x2048 4148K) (500x333 42K) 		More CSXT members arrive. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(3072x2048 3563K) (500x333 38K) 		Scott from Pinnacle takes video of Ian taking a picture of him. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(3072x2048 3135K) (500x333 39K) 		Ian's on the Discovery Channel again. (Well, that's where everyone is assuming this documentary will air.) This time Dana is behind the camera. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(3072x2048 4048K) (500x333 39K) 		The crew at the landing site and a view of the surrounding terrain. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1584K) (500x333 43K) 		Everyone is leaving the spacecraft alone until all the pictures that everyone wants to take are taken. Look how deep it's in there. Note that the nose cone is over 3 feet into the rocks. Soon we'll find that it got scratches on impact but was otherwise undamaged. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1676K) (500x333 46K) 		Bruce Kelly reaches the landing site and touches the spacecraft. Considering all that he has done to promote and protect high-power rocketry as a hobby, it's fitting that he should be here to see and touch this. If anyone here has actually earned this experience, Bruce has. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1453K) (500x333 40K) 		Scott and Dana pose for pictures with the spacecraft. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1352K) (500x333 33K) 		A different angle of how deep it's embedded in the rocks. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1515K) (500x333 39K) 		More people arrive... (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1860K) (500x333 48K) 		Those who arrived first are standing out of the way for new arrivals. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1024x1536 1273K) (500x750 87K) 		A different angle of how deep it's embedded in the rocks. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1437K) (500x333 39K) 		Amateur Radio operators patch in Ky Michaelson to talk with Jerry Larson at the landing site. The documentary crew records the conversation. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1966K) (500x333 54K) 		A Stratofox group photo at the landing site. (photo by Jerry Larson, using Ian's camera)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1932K) (500x333 53K) 		A Stratofox group photo at the landing site. (photo by Jerry Larson, using Ian's camera)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1760K) (500x333 48K) 		A Stratofox group photo at the landing site. (photo by Jerry Larson, using Ian's camera)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1765K) (500x333 48K) 		A Stratofox group photo at the landing site. (photo by Jerry Larson, using Ian's camera)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1758K) (500x333 48K) 		A Stratofox group photo at the landing site. (photo by Jerry Larson, using Ian's camera)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1872K) (500x333 52K) 		A Stratofox group photo at the landing site. (photo by Jerry Larson, using Ian's camera)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1843K) (500x333 41K) 		The Spacecraft has been removed from the mountainside and brought to the nearest 4x4 trail. The spacecraft is now being presented to Ky, who has led this effort for years. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1807K) (500x333 38K) 		The spacecraft is now being presented to Ky. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1711K) (500x333 41K) 		The spacecraft is now being presented to Ky. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1554K) (500x333 33K) 		The spacecraft is now being presented to Ky. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1225K) (500x333 36K) 		The spacecraft is now being presented to Ky. Dana captures the event on video. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1024x1536 1101K) (500x750 67K) 		The spacecraft is now being presented to Ky. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1355K) (500x333 32K) 		Ky and Jerry pick up the spacecraft. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 841K) (500x333 25K) 		Ky marvels at the good condition of the nose cone. After impacting in the boulder field, it's scratched but not dented. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1730K) (500x333 40K) 		The whole team circles around to watch and photograph the presentation of the spacecraft to Ky. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1189K) (500x333 32K) 		Dana gets remarks from Ky for the documentary. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1308K) (500x333 32K) 		The whole team circles around to watch and photograph the presentation of the spacecraft to Ky. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1370K) (500x333 33K) 		Jerry carefully hands the spacecraft to Ky for pictures. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1738K) (500x333 40K) 		Jerry carefully hands the spacecraft to Ky for pictures. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1261K) (500x333 28K) 		Jerry carefully hands the spacecraft to Ky for pictures. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1181K) (500x333 31K) 		Jerry any Ky make statements for the documentary and hold the spacecraft for pictures. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1405K) (500x333 31K) 		Jerry any Ky make statements for the documentary and hold the spacecraft for pictures. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1547K) (500x333 35K) 		Jerry any Ky make statements for the documentary and hold the spacecraft for pictures. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1252K) (500x333 28K) 		The pictures at this spot are done. They begin carrying the spacecraft to the vehicle that will carry it down the hill. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1163K) (500x333 32K) 		Now it's Ian's turn to gush with emotion... His truck was selected for the privilege to be the first vehicle to carry the spacecraft - the world's first amateur rocket to space. Though CSXT people could have chosen any of their own vehicles which had made it up that far, Ian's friends on the Stratofox team had let others know that this would be a dream come true if they'd allow this. And they graciously did so, in recognition of the entire Stratofox team's efforts that located it. Ian thanked Jerry and Ky numerous times before and after this photo. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1240K) (500x333 32K) 		Crew and photographers pile into the truck to come down the mountain with the spacecraft. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1462K) (500x333 35K) 		The spacecraft has been carried down to Jerry's truck. A toast is made there to the successful recovery of the spacecraft. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1344K) (500x333 36K) 		Sponsor GoFast makes a statement for the documentary about why they supported the launch and that they really enjoyed doing so. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
[picture]
(1536x1024 1614K) (500x333 37K) 		Sponsor GoFast makes a statement for the documentary about why they supported the launch and that they really enjoyed doing so. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

Back up to Stratofox's CSXT SpaceShot 2004 pictures