Things are really moving ahead in full speed and lots of construction, tests and plans or being prepared and debated.

Copenhagen Suborbitals is an organization which has to be in a constant high-activity mode in order to prepare for future missions, economy and to satisfy our personal needs for action.

Armada Expansion

First, we are looking into expanding out Armada. We launch at sea and will continue to do so because of legal issues and to keep our options open around the world. So far, Denmark continues to be our battle ground and luckily we are a country of islands and LOTS of water.

If the old time Vikings of Denmark was capable of terrorizing and conquer the world in these waters we should be able to continue this madness and conquer space from the same spot.

We are looking to find the economy for a fantastic aluminum 19 meter SAR ship stationed in Norway. It was build in Germany and used to operate outside Iceland in the Atlantic Ocean. She is capable of running app 19 knots and has all the functions needed for supporting our operation at sea.

The initial price for the ship is $ 160K but Copenhagen Suborbitals has been offered the boat for $ 70K, because the owner is a big fan of ours.

The process of adding equipment within CS is normally just a matter of buying whatever you need or go identify and raise the money for it. However, buying a large ship, which also presents expenses every month, has raised some debate within the organization.

So far, it seems like we have been able to raise app 70% of the money within a few days based on our maritime foundation, hardcore personal sponsors and local Danish space buffs. If, you are interested in getting a piece of the action, do not hesitate to contact me.

Launch Escape System Test II

Some month ago we performed our first LES-test using a hybrid rocket engine and Tycho Deep Space-I. A test like this must be performed again until we have seen a stable trajectory.

Tycho Deep Space I will not be retired until its main parachutes has been fully deployed which didn’t happen during the LES test. All other systems on the capsule were tested with great success. However, I do not intent to perform another complex LES test with this capsule just to see the main chutes deploy. So, I hope to get hold of an Antonov 26 airplane in the spring and drop the capsule for main parachute deployment.

Future LES tests will be done based on the new capsule geometry, which is still unknown. Also, Peter has begun testing engine on solid fuel Galcit and so far with great success. His report on the Galcit engine can be found here.

This means that we are replacing the rather complex (compared to solid) hybrid engine with a solid rocket motor. By doing so we go from a 6 meter hybrid engine to a 1 meter solid engine, based on early calculations.

The main goal of the test is to observe a stable flight. For this test we don’t care about LES tower separation, electronics, downlink or parachutes. All these issues have been tried out many times and will only make this test very complex, time consuming and expensive.

As describes in my previous blog I will be constructing a boilerplate version of the new capsule, using plain carbon steel. It is simply a full scale aerodynamic model with a correct mass and mass-center. The LES tower will be welded on the capsule and off we go.

To avoid complete destruction during splash down we deploy a simple drag device from the bottom of the capsule to decrease descent velocity and to ensure a nose-first plunge into the ocean. The internal volume of the capsule will make it flow and we will recovery the entire system as one.

LES test II using solid rocket motor and boilerplate TDS-2B. Image: Kristian von Bengtson LES test II using solid rocket motor and boilerplate TDS-2B. Image: Kristian von Bengtson

Local Launch Sites

Our primary launch site is military test range ESD138 in the Baltic and this will not change. This area is great for big rockets during the summer but preparing and performing the operations, far away from HQ, is very expensive and time consuming.

At this moment we are looking into finding a local spot “near” Copenhagen where the test site at sea are close connected to land. Such a site provides many new features for smaller (low apogee) tests like LES or smaller rockets and even having mission control on land as well as better options for public spectators to enjoy the fire.

From what we know, so far, the authorities will grant us access to the official sites at sea if we ask, so we are looking around to find a place close to HQ. The first site we had our eyes on (EK R 46 Melby) has unfortunately been closed down.

My favorite site is the north-west par of Sealand (the island we are on right now). It is about 1.5 hours drive away from HG in Copenhagen and is called Odden which houses a military facility for live fire exercises into the ocean, called Gniben.

The waters just outside this facility have three official test ranges called EKR13, EKR12 and EKD351. One issue with these water is rough water because a couple of system are meeting on this spot and potentially heavy traffic, but the many positive aspects for such a local site may outweighs this.

Gniben military test facility. Image: Defence Command Denmark Gniben military test facility. Image: Defence Command Denmark

Sea based test ranges close to land at Odden. Image: Defence Command Denmark Sea based test ranges close to land at Odden. Image: Defence Command Denmark

I admit that this spot is just my personally favorite site and other members of Copenhagen Suborbitals might have a different opinion. But I am pretty sure we will find someplace more local and easy to access for smaller tests.

The coordinates for the Odden launch sites are as follows:

EK R 13,

560028N 0111656E - 560643N 0111026E -

561038N 0112326E - 560208N 0113136E -

555831N 0113056E - 560028N 0111656E.

EK R 12,

560028N 0111656E - 560358N 0111317E -

560438N 0111456E - 560423N 0112036E -

560138N 0112416E - 555930N 0112356E -

560028N 0111656E

EK D 351,

560643N 0111026E - 560918N 0110726E -

561048N 0111106E - 561038N 0112326E -

560643N 0111026E.

Off blog-topic….

Dont forget we have our 70kN TM65 engine test coming up in a few weeks. Also, the heat shields for the flight-model and boilerplate capsule Tycho Deep Space 2 are on its way.

Full speed ahead…

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Kristian von Bengtson