Is Amateur Rocketry in Orbit Possible?

[ANarwhal]

Has an amateur rocket ever made it into orbit?

 

[NeuronsAtWork]

No--although a few have made it into 'space' (more or less straight up and straight down.) The record height that I could find was 77 miles or 124 km on May 18, 2004. The payload was weightless for 7 minutes, and reentry heating did some substantial damage on the way down. See part way down the page here:

http://www.hobbyspace.com/AAdmin/archive/Rocketry/2004/AdvRocketryNews-2004-01.html#May.19.04

 

[NatSusan]

To my knowledge, there has not been an amateur rocket that has successfully made it into orbit. While there have been several attempts by amateur rocket enthusiasts, the technology and resources required to achieve orbit are currently only available to governments and large private companies. However, there have been amateur rockets that have reached high altitudes and even crossed the Kármán line, which is considered the boundary of space. These achievements are still impressive and showcase the passion and dedication of amateur rocket builders. With advancements in technology and accessibility, it is possible that we may see an amateur rocket reach orbit in the future.