Senior Coyote engineers recount the tale of how they helped Brian Barnett and Solstar Space make the first commercial tweet from orbit -- and how one of their signatures is now in the Smithsonian.
"Outside, it was kind of a carnival atmosphere," describes Ian Kelly, a senior member of the Coyote team.
The bright Texas sun shone down on the gathered spectators -- journalists, space aficionados, and a handful of local food vendors -- who had all gathered to watch the Blue Origin rocket launch. They had gathered to be witness to a launch that culminated in the first commercial tweet being sent from space.
Well, the food vendors were there to sell food, but everyone else was there to see the launch.
Inside the secure launch facility, the Coyote team had already seen their cargo roll off to the runway.
"That was a really fun project," says Charlie Whetsel, another senior Coyote team member involved with the Schmitt Space Communicator SC-1x, from Solstar Space. "One of the things I love about newspace startups is that there is never a dull moment," he says with a grin. "There is always something new popping up."
Coyote team members had been working closely with Brian Barnett and the rest of the Solstar Space team for many months. Building the prototype, writing the software, and integrating it all had required close collaboration between senior Coyote team members and the principals from Solstar Space.
The New Shepherd launch went off without a hitch, and soon Coyote and Solstar were hunched over keyboards in mission control, setting up the connection to the Schmitt Space Communicator.
"It was really something else," Charlie shares. "I mean, rocket launches are always exciting to me, but there's something special about knowing that a thing I helped build is getting sent into space."
And finally, after over a year of work, the moment of truth was upon them.
"It doesn't matter how many times I do something like this," reminisces Ian. "It always inspires me -- to know in my own small way, I'm helping us get to the stars."
And of course, when the craft was recovered, so was the Schmitt prototype. With Ian's signature on it. Unfortunately, Charlie did not have a chance to sign it before it went up.
And now, it's in the Smithsonian.
And no, Charlie isn't jealous.
You can watch Solstar Space's video of the launch experience here: