Amateur sends a rocket to near-space

Amateurs sending rockets and balloons to the edge of space isn't unusual, but that doesn't make the launches and the images and data they return any less awesome. Derek Deville, an iReporter and 15-year amateur rocket enthusiast, sent his rocket to 121,000 feet before it parachuted home. The rocket, called Qu8k, was competing for the John Carmack prize, which awards $5,000 to the team able to send a rocket to over 100,000 feet and recover it.

Deville says Qu8k reached the required altitude, but that on-board GPS failed to record the data as the competition's rules require.

See the full iReport, including a link to on-board video.