The launch of Armadillo Aerospace's reusable suborbital sounding rocket Stiga. Fueled by liquid oxygen and denatured ethanol, the rocket reached 137,500 feet above sea level.
The rocket was launched from Spaceport America on December 4 2011 at around 11:30AM. There were some dents on landing, but the rocket can be refurbished for a second flight.
It appears that there is no exo-atmospheric attitude control system or any other guidance system for that mater. Unlike the other Armadillo rockets that had guidance and lander capabilities. Also I distinctly see that the parachute got tangled on deployment. It looks like a steerable chute. I also could hear servos whizzing. Maybe it was an attempt at steering the chute back to a landing zone. Hopefully more details on the flight will be released soon.
The rocket was launched from Spaceport America on December 4 2011 at around 11:30AM. There were some dents on landing, but the rocket can be refurbished for a second flight.
"Stiga" is Swedish for ascend or soar.
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