Which vehicle holds the current pinnacle altitude record for civilian rocketry teams?
Answer
Aftershock II
The University of Southern California's Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (USCRPL) established the current highest altitude record using their vehicle named Aftershock II. This flight, launched on October 20, 2024, from the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, successfully reached an apogee of 143 kilometers. This achievement utilized solid-propellant technology and was notable not only for the altitude but also for demonstrating advanced thermal protection systems necessary for handling the stresses associated with hypersonic re-entry conditions following the ascent.
Related Questions
What distance above sea level is the Kármán line, the accepted boundary for conventional aerodynamic flight?Which vehicle holds the current pinnacle altitude record for civilian rocketry teams?What was the specific apogee reached by USCRPL's Aftershock II during its record flight?Which amateur rocket achieved the first recorded space flight outside the United States in April 2025?Which liquid rocket, utilizing a Jet-A/Liquid Oxygen blow-down system, recorded the highest amateur apogee?Why do solid-propellant amateur rockets generally surpass liquid rockets in achieving Kármán line altitudes?What is the total liftoff mass limit preventing a rocket from being classified as a Class 1 Model Rocket under FAR Part 101?Under what condition can an FAA-recognized Amateur rocket reach a maximum technical altitude of 150 kilometers?Which altitude ceiling is frequently cited for drones and RC airplanes that often causes regulatory confusion with Part 101 rockets?Which earlier student vehicle was the first confirmed to pass the Kármán line in April 2019?