# Can a Regular Joe Shmoe Launch Himself into Space? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 26, 2001, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898 "2001-07-26T22:07:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chubbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Chubbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chubbs)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2001, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/1 "2001-07-26T22:07:00Z")
Or do they have to go through NASA? ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2001, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/2 "2001-07-26T22:56:44Z")
As far as I can tell, the problem is more one of money and resources than anything else. Here’s a story about a guy who’s building a rocket that he intends to strap himself to. It’s only supposed to go up about 35 miles, halfway to space. He seems to be having a little trouble getting FAA clearance to launch, but it doesn’t sound like anyone’s going to stop him otherwise. [http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/space/07/23/rocket.man.ap/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/space/07/23/rocket.man.ap/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2001, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/3 "2001-07-26T22:57:51Z")
Well, if you’ve got your own launch pad, first you need a license to operate that. In the US, this is usually issued by the state in which it operates. You’d have to check your local laws. I imagine if your launch pad was a vehicle, you might be able to avoid it. Then, for each vehicle, all you need is a launch license from the FAA. Since you’ll be travelling thru US air space, you need thier approval, and they need to know in order to keep traffic away from the area. And sure, it’s easy for any schmoe to launch himself into space. The real problem is getting back alive! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2001, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/4 "2001-07-26T23:00:01Z")
The problem with really getting into space is that there is a layer of trash circling the globe. You have to plan to miss all of it, and that’s one of the many considerations taken into account. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2001, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/5 "2001-07-26T23:07:55Z")
I’m sorry, I must correct myself. It is the FAA that issues a launch site license, also. And for both the site license and the launch license, it isn’t like qualifying for a driver’s license or a SSN. You have to show your downrange area is a safe area, demonstrate your range safety qualifications, make an environmental impact report, get local authorities’ blessings, etc., etc. But technically, if you’ve got a match and a fuse, nobody’s going to stop you from launching… although once Bush gets his Star Wars up and running, you may have a few lasers or kill vehicles headed your way. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2001, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/6 "2001-07-26T23:20:48Z")
But you **can** launch a goat. 🙂 [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=41020](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=41020) ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/7 "2001-07-27T04:07:42Z")
A St. Louis organization is sponsoring the X Prize, $1,000,000 to any group or individual who can make two flights past the outer limit of the exosphere in a vehicle of their own design without government money or support. (Whew, that was a mouthful.) So far, no one has claimed the prize. -Brianjedi ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/8 "2001-07-27T04:24:44Z")
Why not fly on by to [http://www.thriftyspace.com/](http://www.thriftyspace.com/) ? Those guys will send you into orbit (with the power of camping gas!) ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/9 "2001-07-27T04:41:42Z")
A curious fellow: [Jim Bennett](http://www.transnational.net/JamesC.Bennett.html). And there’s [The Artemis Project](http://www.asi.org/). Also, I ran across this [discussion of private space ventures](http://www.transhumanist.com/volume4/commentary.htm) that includes the following: > [@](#): > > …there is the provision of international law that mandates that all space activity be controlled by a government agency. That is, private exploration of space has been outlawed under international law! I can’t speak to the law to which the author refers as I know nothing about it. We _did_ have a group down here in Texas who tried a launch from Mustang Island a few years back - it was unsuccessful, and I imagine they ran all the bureaucratic traps beforehand. ---
**Author:** ![City\_Gent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a87d85/32.png) [@City\_Gent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/City_Gent)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/10 "2001-07-27T06:04:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bob Scene \* > \*\*As far as I can tell, the problem is more one of money and resources than anything else. > > Here’s a story about a guy who’s building a rocket that he intends to strap himself to. It’s only supposed to go up about 35 miles, halfway to space. He seems to be having a little trouble getting FAA clearance to launch, but it doesn’t sound like anyone’s going to stop him otherwise. > > [http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/space/07/23/rocket.man.ap/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/space/07/23/rocket.man.ap/index.html) \*\* If his rocket ignites, he is going to die. ---
**Author:** ![FarmerOak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@FarmerOak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FarmerOak)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/11 "2001-07-27T09:17:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by brianjedi \* > \*\*A St. Louis organization is sponsoring the X Prize, $1,000,000 to any group or individual who can make two flights past the outer limit of the exosphere in a vehicle of their own design without government money or support. (Whew, that was a mouthful.) So far, no one has claimed the prize. > > -Brianjedi \*\* Important clarification: It must be ONE, reusable, vehicle, not duplicate vehicles of identical design. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/12 "2001-07-27T10:51:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by beatle \* > **A curious fellow: [Jim Bennett](http://www.transnational.net/JamesC.Bennett.html).** Funny you should mention Jim. I worked for him at AMROC in 1990. Brilliant man. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/13 "2001-07-27T12:25:19Z")
> [@](#): > > If his rocket ignites, he is going to die. Since his rocket is not designed to ignite, I’d say if he’s strapped in and it does your right. IIRC his rocket is going to use a catilytic reaction with hydrogen peroxide and the fuel. I didn’t go into the chemistry and calculate the energy released but he claims that he will have ‘more thrust then weight’. ---
**Author:** ![FarmerOak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@FarmerOak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FarmerOak)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/14 "2001-07-27T12:29:01Z")
I used to have more thrust than weight… **SIGGHHHHHHH…** ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/15 "2001-07-27T14:59:52Z")
> [@](#): > > peroxide and the fuel that should be peroxide **as** the fuel ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/16 "2001-07-27T15:50:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FarmerOak \* > Important clarification: It must be ONE, reusable, vehicle, not duplicate vehicles of identical design. And I believe that the two trips have to be fairly close together - I seem to recall it being 2 weeks, but could be wrong on the specific amount of time. But it is short enough to stress the “reusable” designation. ---
**Author:** ![malaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@malaka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malaka)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/17 "2001-07-27T16:29:47Z")
[http://www.rocketguy.com](http://www.rocketguy.com) ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/18 "2001-07-27T17:01:25Z")
Go Go Rucketguy! Coolest thing I’ve heard of since the guy who took a weather balloon trip in his lawn chair. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/19 "2001-07-27T17:12:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by brianjedi \* > \*\*A St. Louis organization is sponsoring the X Prize, $1,000,000 to any group or individual who can make two flights past the outer limit of the exosphere in a vehicle of their own design without government money or support. (Whew, that was a mouthful.) So far, no one has claimed the prize. > > -Brianjedi \*\* Can’t find a link for it, but I could have sworn that NASA was offering a $10,000,000 dollar reward for getting into space, comming back, and going right back up within a week. Is this a different challenge? or did you forget a 0? Or, even worse, did they change the prize amount. (cheap bastards) ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898/20 "2001-07-28T06:26:56Z")
Nope, it isn’t sponsored by NASA. Brian was correct, it’s a group located in St. Louis. check out the X-Prize’s web site: [http://www.xprize.org/](http://www.xprize.org/) The big problem is so far they don’t have the ten million in prize money. Until they actually have it, none of the teams are willing to put much money into building their vehicles. Eric [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-regular-joe-shmoe-launch-himself-into-space/73898.md?page=2)