A 21-foot rocket has boosted to more than 100 km (60 miles) altitude carrying the first amateur rocket and payload into space. The GoFast Team's rocket motor burned for 21 seconds and the vehicle spent several minutes in space before returning to Earth on two parachutes 26-30 miles downrange from the launch site in Nevada's Black rock Desert. Coming so soon after the Rutan team's Spaceship One boosted to 41 miles on its third powered flight and the Canadian Arrow team has their first full-power engine test run, it looks like private space exploration is "taking off" in a big way.

Read more here: Rocket Carrying Ham Radio Payload Reaches Space
Hat tip: Dean's World