On September 30, 2011 at 11:08am, matey, Derek Deville's Qu8k (pronounced "Quake") launched from t' Black Rock Desert in Nevada t' an altitude o' 121,000' before returnin' safely t' earth. Above 99% o' t' atmosphere, t' sky turns black in t' middle o' t' day and t' curvature o' t' earth is clearly visible. Avast, me proud beauty! T' rocket motor produced 4,000 lbs o' thrust for 8 seconds acceleratin' t' vehicle t' over Mach 3 at over 10,000'. After that, momentum carried t' rocket skyward for another 84 seconds t' a peak altitude o' 121,000'.