The novice-to-orbit experiment

From zero to orbit

I've never launched a rocket. I'm on a mission to become the first complete beginner to build a rocket and put a satellite in orbit — documenting every step, every setback, and every launch along the way.

Follow the JourneyRead the Mission
Phase 01IN PROGRESS

First Flight

Reach 1 km altitude with a class H motor.

Max altitude11%
111 m/ 1,000 m

Best altitude to date · target 1 km

T-0 · LAUNCH1 km≈ 3 km100 km≈ 400 km
3
Rockets launched (so far)
1
Satellite, the goal
99.9 km
Still to climb to reach space
∞
Things left to learn

Launches

Every flight, as it happens

Flight videos, altitudes and what went wrong — straight from the ground station.

Next launchAvio Flight 1Targeting 28 October 2026Details
See all launches

The Approach

A beginner's blueprint for reaching space

No shortcuts and no pretending I know what I'm doing. Just a clear method, applied relentlessly.

Learn in public

Every tutorial watched, every calculation botched, every part ordered — documented openly so anyone can follow (or fix my mistakes).

Build from scratch

No aerospace degree, no team of engineers. Just first principles, off-the-shelf parts, and a workshop that's slowly filling with rocket motors.

Fail forward

Most of these launches will end in a crater. That's the point — each failure is a lesson logged on the road to orbit.

The Roadmap

Four phases to orbit

Each phase is a giant leap in complexity. I'll only move on once the last one actually works.

Phase 01

First flight

Reach 1 km altitude with a class H motor — and bring it back in one piece.

In progress
Phase 02

High power

Level-1 certification, bigger motors, onboard telemetry and a parachute that actually opens.

Up next
Phase 03

The Kármán line

A two-stage amateur rocket aiming for 100km — the edge of space.

Planned
Phase 04

Orbit

The big one. A satellite, a launch vehicle, and a lot of things that have to go right.

The dream

Come Along

Don't miss a launch

One email when something blows up, lifts off, or gets one step closer to orbit. No spam — just the journey.

Milestones, setbacks, and launches — straight to your inbox. No spam.