Copenhagen Suborbital kick off campaign - July 27-29

Copenhagen Suborbital kick off campaign - July 27-29 by Morten C. on 10 Jul, 2012 17:28
Copenhagen Suborbitals will kick off their 2012 launch campaign starting with the first launch window July 27-29.

This year campaign will see the launch of:

Tycho Deep Space pad abort test
~~Friday the 27th July 10:00 to 15:00 CET~~
10-12 August
http://copenhagensuborbitals.com/tychodeepspace.php
http://copenhagensuborbitals.com/bigles.php

SMARAGD
~~Sunday 29 July 10:00 to 15:00 CET~~
Friday 27 July 10:00 to 14:00 CET
http://copenhagensuborbitals.com/smaragd.php/

SAPPHIRE
http://copenhagensuborbitals.com/sapphire.php

The Copenhagen Suborbitals Support group have been working on a video live feed that will be online for the event and can be found here:

http://www.livestream.com/csscph

Read more at:
http://copenhagensuborbitals.com/index.php
http://copenhagensuborbitals.com/campaign2012.php

YouTube channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/CphSuborbitals

Picture gallery
https://profiles.google.com/copsub/photos

or in the Copenhagen Suborbitals general thread

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=28926.0

Regards
Morten
#1 by mr. mark on 10 Jul, 2012 17:39
I underestimated this company and their abilities. I'm gladly eating my words. Love the sounding rocket and further work on the manned suborbital capsule and engine design. Hoping for a positive future outlook.
#2 by pberrett on 13 Jul, 2012 02:16
Ummm

The Danish authorities have been happy to let these guys play with their rockets for the time being but if they ever actually get to the point that they are going to put a live person on a rocket and shoot them int space will the Danish authorities let them?

Isn't Denmark like every where else where there is a mountain of red tape to go through?

cheers Peter
#3 by QuantumG on 13 Jul, 2012 02:19
Quote from: pberrett on 13 Jul, 2012 02:16
Ummm

The Danish authorities have been happy to let these guys play with their rockets for the time being but if they ever actually get to the point that they are going to put a live person on a rocket and shoot them int space will the Danish authorities let them?

Isn't Denmark like every where else where there is a mountain of red tape to go through?

Apparently the nannys have already tried to have them shut down. They quickly approached their local representative, gave him a tour, told him their plans and got some political support.
#4 by kch on 13 Jul, 2012 02:35
Quote from: QuantumG on 13 Jul, 2012 02:19

Apparently the nannys have already tried to have them shut down. They quickly approached their local representative, gave him a tour, told him their plans and got some political support.

Good for them!

Thank you, Morten, for the information -- much appreciated. Will be watching (and hoping for the best).
#5 by Morten C. on 13 Jul, 2012 08:43
Quote from: pberrett on 13 Jul, 2012 02:16
Ummm

The Danish authorities have been happy to let these guys play with their rockets for the time being but if they ever actually get to the point that they are going to put a live person on a rocket and shoot them int space will the Danish authorities let them?

Isn't Denmark like every where else where there is a mountain of red tape to go through?

cheers Peter

Well in Denmark, like most other places, if there is not a law or regulation
against something, then it is allowed (To be honest don't think anyone even
imagine, that someone would come up with the idea of launch themself on a
rocket ).
Ofcause there is the safty of third party, that have to be addressed, but that
is the case with most things in life. If rocket parts start to rain down on
people and their property, things will change fast.

Copenhagen Suborbitals adresses these issues partly by launch far away from
everything plus wanting to control the rocket and spaceship. Test this year will
see how far CS is. SMARAGD 1 and 2 will be a test to see if they can keep
contact with the rocket at high altitude, so they can send shotdown and abort
commands, if needed. SAPPHIRE 1 and 2 will test active guidance, to make sure
they can keep inside the designated area.

Now will it change once Peter Madsen take his seat in the capsule? Well I really
don't think so. It is not like it will come as a suprise to anyone, as they have
been open about, that this is their goal from the start. One can think this is
foolish or stupid, but there is no law against being stupid (Not that I think
they are!). I guess it is a matter of what kind of risk you are prepare to take
in your own life, as long it does not harm anyone else. That is a freedom you
have as a person. Peter once stated, he is aware of the risks, but if given the
choise, he rather die on top of his rocket, than die in a nursing home.

Another thing is they are not launching in Danish territory, but from
international waters, where Danish law as such does not apply. Ofcause if they
wanted to shut them down I am sure there is a way, but then again there is alot
of waters around the world.

Kristian touch the issue a little in these 2 blogs

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/02/when-did-we-all-become-such-wimps/
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/12/so-you-got-a-space-rocket-but-nowhere-to-launch-it/

Regards
Morten
#6 by Morten C. on 13 Jul, 2012 08:57
Quote from: QuantumG on 13 Jul, 2012 02:19
Quote from: pberrett on 13 Jul, 2012 02:16
Ummm

The Danish authorities have been happy to let these guys play with their rockets for the time being but if they ever actually get to the point that they are going to put a live person on a rocket and shoot them int space will the Danish authorities let them?

Isn't Denmark like every where else where there is a mountain of red tape to go through?

Apparently the nannys have already tried to have them shut down. They quickly approached their local representative, gave him a tour, told him their plans and got some political support.

Well back in 2009 before CS was well known to the public, the minister of transportation was in the area on some other business. At first he thought it was candy camera But after they gave him a tour he saw they are serious about it.

Other ministers have also aired their admiration, special after last year launch

Regards
Morten
#7 by Morten C. on 13 Jul, 2012 09:01
Quote from: kch on 13 Jul, 2012 02:35

Thank you, Morten, for the information -- much appreciated. Will be watching (and hoping for the best).

You are welcome.
This way I can give a little back to this site, other than stupid questions

Regards
Morten
#8 by Morten C. on 13 Jul, 2012 09:40
Quote from: mr. mark on 10 Jul, 2012 17:39
I underestimated this company and their abilities. I'm gladly eating my words. Love the sounding rocket and further work on the manned suborbital capsule and engine design. Hoping for a positive future outlook.

Company is maybe to stretch it a bit, as CS is not selling anything. CS is an open source non-profit project. They see themself as an amateur rocket group, that might take it a little further than normal.
Peter and Kristian do work fulltime on this project, supporting themself with lectures. Apart from an unpaid intern, the rest is part time specialists. Most of them is from Denmark, but there is people from New Zealand, Russia, France and think I remember talk about a guy from US that spend his vacation last summer in Denmark building rocket as well.

Regards
Morten
#9 by Morten C. on 18 Jul, 2012 17:41
Google translate from Copenhagen Suborbitals Support website at http://raketvenner.dk

Quote
Space Port Nexoe Update: Launch Schedule for 27th-29th July

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Jens Woeste

The following overall launch plan has been communicated from the Flight Director:

Tuesday 24 July

Equipment + vanguard departing from HAB with Space Port Nexoe as destination

Thursday, 26 July

Remaining personnel arrive at the Space Port Nexoe
Stacking of rockets
Refuelling of N2O

Friday the 27th July 10:00 to 15:00

LES / Tycho Deep Space 1 (aka Beautiful Betty) launched from ESD139

Saturday 28 July

Reconfiguration of the MLP Sputnik (SMARAGD start ramp installed, etc..)

Sunday 29 July 10:00 to 15:00

SMARAGD launched from ESD139

We will make sure to publish more detailed information on individual activities as soon as they become available.

There will in launches (Friday and Sunday) will be Mission Control in the Tycho Brahe Planetarium, as well as live stream TV CSS. We are currently working. on the final details about when the doors opened mm.

Stay tuned!
#10 by Morten C. on 19 Jul, 2012 10:29
Video about the SMARAGD rocket, where the first one going to be launch Sunday 29 July

SMARAGD 1 Episode 1 The Rocket
#11 by Morten C. on 22 Jul, 2012 21:35
Pad abort test postponed due to the LES propellant tank failed the hydrostatic pressure test.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/07/t-minus-5-days-capsule-test-postponed-two-stage-rocket-still-go/

https://twitter.com/KvonBengtson
Quote
LES propellant tank pressure test failure. LES/Capsule test postponed, next launch window in August. SMARAGD-1 rocket still go July 27-29..

Windows in August
Week 32, Aug 10-12
Week 34, Aug 24-26

More about the LES/TDS pad abort test

Quote
T 00.00 sec: LES engine ignite. 80 kN thrust. Liftoff.

T +04.50 sec: LES motor burnout.

T +14.00 sec: LES-engine separation; explosive bolts fired

T +14.02 sec: LES-tower separation motor firing for 2 seconds with 10 kN thrust and remove LES tower.

T +16.00 sec: TDS topdome separation and drogue parachute unfolding

T +20.00 sec: TDS drogue parachute separation. Main parachute begin extraction within their deploymentbags.

T + 28.00 sec: TDS main parachute unfolded. Full-bearing after 8 seconds.

T + 28.00 plus: TDS hangs under the main parachute

T + 28.00 plus: TDS splashdown. Recovery started.

Information taken from

(Google translate) T-7 days. 2 x video premieres and lots of rocketnews!
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/07/t-minus-6-days-capsule-and-two-stage-rocket-launch-coming-up/

Regards
Morten
#12 by mr. mark on 22 Jul, 2012 23:22
I'm still very excited about their suborbital sounding rocket. Compared to where they were 2 years ago, this is a big step forward. This vehicle, in the long run, will provide more information potential than a suborbital tourist capsule.
#13 by Morten C. on 24 Jul, 2012 08:17
A small update from Peter Madsen on Raketvenner.dk (Google translate)

Looks like SMARAGD-1 is GO for Friday, July 27 between 10:00 and 14:00

LES/TDS was scrubbed because of the hydrostatic testing of the main engine nitrous oxide tank only reached 142%, supposed to 150%.
The deformation appeared in the common bulkhead. between the main engine tank and the seperation engine nitrous oxide tank. A new tank will be produced, and be ready in about a week. LES/TDS launch will be moved to next launch window 10-12 August.

Regards
Morten
#14 by Morten C. on 26 Jul, 2012 06:48
Yesterday the hardware was packed and shipped to Nexoe

T minus 3 days – We Are (Still) Go for Launch

You can see the nominal flight events and pictures of the result of the hydrostatic test of the LES tanks.

Today CS start to unpack and setup to be ready for a launch tomorrow.

Kristian have also released their mission plan:

T minus 35 hours – Mission Plan

Short summary:

05:00 CET MLP Sputnik departs
07:30 CET Rest of the fleet departs
09:00 CET All arrive at ESD139
10:15 CET T minus 30 min

MLP Sputnik can be followed when online at

aprs.fi
marinetraffic

Regards
Morten
#15 by Morten C. on 26 Jul, 2012 16:52
Info from Space Port Nexoe

^{Foto Thomas Djursing/Ing.dk}

Rocket is stacked and fueled

Gallery 1
Gallery 2

Google translate does not work on the galleries, as the text is embedded in javascript.
Might be too much to cut and paste all the text in here.

Article on ing.dk Smaragd rocket gets ready: Now CS shoot high ... and straight (Google translate)

Enjoy

Regards
Morten
#16 by Morten C. on 27 Jul, 2012 03:55
MLP Sputnik have left the port and is under way to the shooting range

Follow her here:
marinetraffic
aprs

Kristian von Bengtson on yesterdays work

T minus 11 hours – All Systems Go for Two-Stage DIY rocket
#17 by Morten C. on 27 Jul, 2012 04:12
Copenhagen Suborbitals Support (CSS) got the english site up and running yesterday:

Livestream from Sapphire launch starts 27.july 8.00AM UTC (9.00AM Copenhagen time, 02.00AM Central standard time)
Expected schedule (all times Copenhagen time, UTC+1)
7.30AM – Sputnik leaves Spaceport Nexø, heading for the launch site
9.30AM – Earliest possible launchtime
14.00PM – latest possible launchtime
17.00 – expected return to Spaceport Nexø.