Homemade Astronauts is a television show on Science Channel (Discovery Science USA) and Discovery+ that debuted in 2021. It featured DIY wannabe astronauts, who design and build their own equipment, in an attempt to reach the edge of space. The people are average Americans building on their farms, ranches, garages, and backyards.[1][2][3]
History
Mike Hughes reached 1,875 feet (572 m) altitude in a manned steam rocket in 2018, filmed for the series, setting a record for an amateur manned rocket.[4][5]
Discovery Networks gave the greenlight for full series production in 2019, for airing on The Science Channel in 2020.[1]
In February 2020, during filming of an attempt by Mike Hughes to reach 5,000 ft (1,500 m) or 1 mi (1.6 km) in altitude, the steam rocket crashed on landing, killing Hughes.[4][6][7]
In March 2020, the show filmed an attempt by Kurt Anderson to break the world ice speed record in his rocket sled Arctic Arrow using a peroxide rocket, with the Rocketboys team. The attempt resulted in a crash that destroyed the dragster sled, reaching 241 mph (388 km/h), short of the record of 247 mph (398 km/h).[8]
Season 1 began airing in May 2021, having been filmed over 2.5 years, for a total of 4 episodes.[9] Season 1 carries a dedication 'This series is dedicated to Michael "Mad Mike" Hughes 1956-2020', and uses the title crawl "The newDIY space race is here. Tech giantsEveryday people are making history. They're using their billionscredit cards to fund their dreams."[10]
Mike Hughes, professional daredevil, wannabe astronaut
Waldo Stakes, vehicle designer; builder of Hughes' manned rocket
Stephanie, Waldo's daughter and team member
The Rocketboys (Team Michaelson/Anderson)
Ky Michaelson, SFX artist and stuntman and amateur rocketeer, who in 2004 built the first amateur rocket that reached space at a zenith of 72 mi (116 km);
Kurt Anderson, Rocketboys mechanical engineer, and Arctic Arrow rocket sled dragster pilot, wannabe astronaut
David, Rocketboys electronics engineer
Buddy Michaelson, son of Ky, Rocketboys parachute expert
Pacific Space Flight (Team Smith)
Cameron Smith, doctor of anthropology and archaeology, Portland State University anthropology professor and wannabe astronaut, who built his own spacesuit, wanting to go to the edge of space
The Rocketboys: (Team Michaelson/Anderson) using a solid fuel rocket; attempting to build a manned space rocket to reach the edge of space (50 mi (80 km)), the McDowell Line[NB 1]
^McDowell Limit: 50 miles up, the edge of space recognized by the U.S. government, by USAF/FAA/NASA, and used by Virgin Galactic as the edge of space
^Kármán Limit: 100 km up, the edge of space recognized internationally by the FAI, and used by Blue Origin as the edge of space
^Armstrong Limit: FL630, the edge of the atmosphere where pressure suits are required to prevent bodily fluids from boiling; used by balloon-based space tourism companies as the edge of space
