Province rocketeer is record-setting adventurer

By Fran Lyons

Historic. Supersonic. Near space flight.

Curt von Delius’ high-power rocketry project, PHX4 200000, is that and more.

The mission launched June 16, 2018, from an austere, “in the middle of nowhere” site in the Black Rock Desert located in northwestern Nevada. Von Delius’ two-stage PHX4 rocket attained an altitude of 244,000 feet, easily overshadowing the previous record of 120,000 feet for an amateur, two-stage rocket.

The max speed of Mach 3.53 is compared to a high-velocity rifle bullet. This type of launch classification also required military approval and permits.

After a first attempt at rocket launching failed, Curt was ready to take a break. A friend, “another rocket guy,” pushed him forward to continue his quest and supported the project with funding. It took five years of research, testing and construction to build the PHX4. The entire project, including design and components, was completed at his Maricopa home, in the garage.

Monica Daniels, Curt’s mission manager and life partner of 30 years, said, “He is passionate and puts his heart and soul into his work. His desire to take on a challenge is amazing.”

The rocket traveled 3.5 times the speed of sound and coasted to 46 miles above sea level. A camera onboard the spinning vehicle captured the curvature of Earth’s horizon. It touched down more than 6 miles away.

Von Delius felt the pressure of a real mission and the scientific payload that accompanies it. More than 22,000 people, including some of his rocket buddies, have viewed the launch on YouTube, and Mike Fisher commented, “Curt is a very smart dude and a heck of a nice guy. This does not surprise me that he built a rocket capable of this.”

Curt von Delius was born in Hollywood, California, and grew up in Montana and Washington state. He also lived in Hawaii. Daniels was born in Southern California. She traveled to Washington state to learn to become a pilot.

She met Curt, also a pilot, in 1989, when they flew single-engine aircraft and gliders together. They soon became a team and complemented each other’s dreams and goals.

They lived in Seattle and Port Townsend where he learned traditional boat building, being inspired by an 1893 Kingston Lobster boat.

“I fell in love with traditional boats. What draws me is the beauty of craft and working with my hands,” von Delius said. “It’s a talent that comes naturally.”

They decided to move to Lake Tahoe, where Curt began building high-end houses and Monica worked in property management. In 2005 they left their businesses and semi-retired. They moved to Maricopa and settled in Province to escape the long winters in Tahoe.

Always the adventurer, von Delius was triggered to return to water skiing, another great love. He was active in tournament slalom at Firebird Lake by the racetrack in Chandler. There, he made a friend who introduced him to the world of rockets – the most challenging objects to build and a quantum leap into design and engineering.

Von Delius became hooked and began studying NASA publications, technical theses and using his native inventive wisdom. The rest is history.

“The PHX4 Project was successful – I dreamed it, designed it, built it and moved beyond the challenges and obstacles of the launch. I met and exceeded my expectations,” von Delius said.

After 30 years of flying, building boats and houses and seeking new frontiers, Curt and Monica are taking an extended trip to relax and enjoy off-shore sailing in the South Pacific. Von Delius called it “back to roots – sailing as a reward for the soul.”

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This story appears in the February issue of InMaricopa.