Amateur Rocketry

The Black Rock Desert is a mecca for rocket launching enthusiasts.  Several amateur rocket clubs, including Aeropac, use the Black Rock Desert Playa as a launching site because of its remoteness, good sight distance and good weather. 

At least three different rocketry clubs conduct launches and campouts on the Black Rock Desert Playa each year. 

The current altitude record for amateur rocketry was set by the Civilian Space Exploration Team (CSXT) on May 17, 2004, when its “Go Fast” rocket reached an altitude of 72 miles (380,160 feet).  This was the first amateur rocket to cross the officially recognized threshold of space, which is 100 kilometers or 62 miles above sea level.