It hasn’t been that long since Copenhagen Suborbitals successfully launched its Sapphire rocket. And in August, we kick-started the development of the next launch in 2014.

Next summer, we will return for another mission, this time with a scaled-up capsule on top of our HEAT2X rocket. We'll launch with a full burn that will take the capsule towards space and give us an actual atmospheric re-entry. (Editor's note: Below, you can download the specs for the capsule that will be riding atop next summer's rocket launch!)

Now, besides working on the up-righting system – using a full-scale capsule mock-up – and getting prepared for launching the two small LES-capsules, I am currently doing what I like best: Designing a capsule! Woohoo!

Needless to say, there are tons of input for the capsule, launch vehicle and the operation itself, which is why we have weekly meetings with representatives from all the different subsystems groups (FIDO, guidance, communication, avionics, structure, explosives, operations, AAU, recovery etc). It’s a natural, iterative process with decisions being made that have an impact on production and future coming decisions.

It is during these processes that you can tell Copenhagen Suborbitals has grown. I like the group process. No one is entitled to make their own ego-centric decisions because it will hold back progress, eventually have to be re-made, and waste the money of the organization.

The development document following the process of the 2X-mission, constantly being revised by Steen Andersen, is for download here. This will give you an insight into all the electronic subsystems of the 2X-mission.

In short, the HEAT2X-launch vehicle will take the 2X-capsule to app 70+ km (apogee kind of changes every week). HEAT2X is our pressure-fed LOX/Alcohol Bi-propellant engine and the total diameter of the rocket is app 640 mm. The complete engine is being tested live ultimo December – this year. Hold on to your hats and trousers.

The 2X-capsule has been chosen to meet certain requirements and to perform certain tests - which we are not capable of doing elsewhere.

2X-capsule testing priorities

Re-entry dynamics testing (the capsule will perform atmospheric re-entry like the full scale capsule if having the same ballistic coefficient – requiring the small 2x-capsule to have a mass of app 80 kg.)

Ballute testing (the capsule is stabilized during supersonic re-entry when having a ballute deployed).

Thermo-data (the capsule will be fitted with thermo-couplers on the inside to measure energy impact of the capsule from top to bottom during the entire mission).

Heat shield (We will conduct heat shield testing on top of the capsule, for the ascent-phase, and bottom, for the descent phase. As always we are using cork for this).

2X-capsule construction

General construction made from aluminum for better calculation energy impact and distribution (final capsule is being from aluminum as well).

Open fitting architecture. (The large amount of electronics and avionics such as GPS-antenna, comm-antenna, cameras, batteries, sequencers etc. are still not totally known. We have created a main structure which provides an easy way to install this later.)

All cover plates created for easy change and removal.

Unpressurized

Main diameter 630 mm and 80 kg total mass.

2x-capsule subsystems list

Ballute (supersonic re-entry drogue for stability)

Drogue (deployed in lower part of the atmosphere until splashdown at app 11 m/s)

Float-bladders x 4 (making the capsule float post splashdown)

Cameras x 2 (recording the event and providing life coverage during flight. Installed in top part of capsule to avoid aerodynamic heating)

Com-antennas x 4 (for up- and downlink of data, video and commands)

Avionics main box x 4 (for all internal electronic controls of capsule systems)

Battery NiMH x 2 (2 main pack of batteries for all systems installed in the bottom)

GPS-antennas (for general positioning)

Chute-gas (gas-tank and inlet for inflating chute-chamber in order to deploy ballute)

3-ring-system (classic 3-ring system to release ballute and deploy drogue)

Launch vehicle interface (3 lower structures for holding the capsule to the launch vehicle)

Thermocouples (for internal point temp measurement)

2X-capsule subsystems sketch. Image: Kristian von Bengtson

The main structure has already been shipped off for laser cutting, and the team has been notified that Rene and I intend to have the main structure of the 2X-capsule ready for December 1, after which it will be much easier for the electronics dudes to go crazy on future development.

You can download the 2X-capsule main structure here (as STL)

2X-capsule main structure. Image: Kristian von Bengtson (SolidWorks)

There is one thing I haven't figured out yet.

What should be the name of this test capsule? Do you have a suggestion? If so, post it here and let’s see if anyone comes up with something cool.

Ad Astra

Kristian von Bengtson