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Ibadan, 25 April 2023. – Evolution Space has announced the successful completion of its first space mission, Gold Chain Cowboy. The rocket reached apogee at 124.5 kilometers (408,456 ft), 24.5 km past the Kármán line – the internationally recognized boundary of space – at 8:12 am on Saturday, April 22nd, 2023. This consequently marked a significant milestone for the Company and the greater space launch industry. Furthermore, the success also sees the Company become the 9th privately funded US company to pass the Kármán line and reach space.
The mission occurred at the Company’s Mojave Desert launch site and saw the launch of a 10-inch diameter, 22-foot tall, 900-pound solid rocket vehicle with Evolution Space’s proprietary solid propulsion and flight systems. The rocket subsequently reached a maximum altitude of 408,456 feet at Mach 5.2.
Speaking on the successful mission, Steve Heller, Evolution’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Today is a very proud moment for Evolution Space. Our team has worked tirelessly to develop and test our technology, and this successful space mission is a testament to their hard work and dedication.” Heller also added, “We are happy to achieve such an exclusive milestone, and you can expect more great things to come.”
Likewise, Wyatt Harris, Ph.D. and Evolution’s Director of Flight Systems, added, “Our initial data indicates that the flight phase of Gold Chain Cowboy was excellent; the vehicle reached hypersonic speed and crossed the Karman line by a wide margin. We’re incredibly excited about this success and look forward to applying what we learned today to our future efforts.”
