Copenhagen Suborbitals is a DIY organization trying to launch a passenger into space on a suborbital ride – on a homemade space rocket. As described numerous times on previous blogs, we are working low cost and low complexity solutions but this summer it becomes rocket-science (perhaps for the first time).

Since we are launching from sea we have already reserved the use of military test range ESD 139 in the Baltic sea through Danish and Swedish authorities for weekends:

June 22-23

June 29-30

The mission during these potential launch windows is the firing of active guided rocket Sapphire. The purpose of the test is to verify correlations between the inertial guidance system and the reaction induced by the four jet-vanes (adjusting the path). The trajectory during the flight is less important and it really does not matter how it flies – as long as we get initial data on the brain-to-control system during flight.

If you are more interested in the guidance system please go this previous blog and watch the last video of guidance lead Flemming Nyboe.

Claus Mejling is doing a last video of the preparations by the Sapphire team, which will be released soon.

Copenhagen Suborbitals is a transparent project and we like showing you as much as possible. Besides blogs, website, twitter, facebook, Reddit we always provide live streaming directly from our launches at sea included mission steps and recovery operations.

This year a team of radio and software experts has really been working hard to provide a HD stream from a distance of 30 km to land and directly to your computer. It’s no easy task holding a steady link to land taking into account Earth curvature and rocking boats.

The team behind this year’s HD-stream are Alexandru Csete, Peter Scott, Peter Maersk-Møller and Max Tobiasen. They have all been doing an amazing job and stay tuned on our website prior to the dates listed above for live streaming.

Last weekend we performed a launch rehearsal at sea – outside of Copenhagen – going through the entire launch operation. Testing out the steps and identifying problem during the operation is important. We have tried before to “wing it” and we will never do that again! As Flight Director of the operations I aim to keep a tight operation during all launches and months of preparations and rehearsal are key to a successful launch.

A correct flying rocket executed badly is worse than a bad flying rocket executed correct.

The mission steps for the launch of Sapphire can be downloaded here. A full document also containing PAX-plan (the movement of personnel at sea) and mission rules (contingencies, what if?) will be released later.

Sapphire has almost everyone at Copenhagen Suborbitals involved so I am guessing everyone will have high adrenalin volumes in our veins.

Please join us for the live launch, soon!

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Kristian von Bengtson