Author Topic: Germany is studying a mobile launchpad for satellites in the North Sea (Read 4088 times)

SciNews · « **on:** 09/08/2020 04:03 pm »

BBC - Germany eyes space satellite launchpad in North Sea
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54070759
"The German government is studying a proposal from German industry to create a mobile launchpad for satellites in the North Sea.
Under the plan, small satellites weighing up to one tonne would be launched with German-built rockets.
No site has been chosen yet, but it would be in Germany's economic zone."

Welsh Dragon · « **Reply #1 on:** 09/09/2020 07:53 am »

That'll be polar sun/sync only then.

SciNews · « **Reply #2 on:** 09/09/2020 12:33 pm »

Map from pdf https://bdi.eu/artikel/news/strategische-chance-deutscher-weltraumbahnhof/

olemars · « **Reply #3 on:** 09/10/2020 09:57 pm »

I'm sure they've kept this in mind but that launch corridor is dotted with oil rigs and busy shipping lanes that don't want rocket bits dropping anywhere near.

This map is just for the norwegian sector. British and danish waters are similar:

SciNews · « **Reply #4 on:** 09/11/2020 07:59 am »

Small launcher companies mentioned in the presentation
HyImpulse SL1 https://www.hyimpulse.de/en/projects/5-project-3-mini-launcher
Isar Aerospace Spectrum https://www.isaraerospace.com/spectrum.php
RFA https://www.rfa.space/launcher/
Three options: "Like an oil rig, it could be a platform anchored firmly to the seabed. Until 1988 Italy operated such a facility off the coast of Kenya with the San Marco platform. Alternatively, the small rockets could also be launched from floating islands that could be pulled by a ship to the desired location at sea - that's what China did last year. The third option is a construction ship, which can stabilize itself on the sea floor with the help of large supports in rough seas."
Translation from German https://www.weser-kurier.de/bremen/bremen-wirtschaft_artikel,-wie-raketen-aus-der-nordsee-starten-koennten-_arid,1919976.html
Related
"Start-up begins rocket production
A spaceport in the North Sea could serve small rockets and be privately run with state assistance"
https://www.deutschland.de/en/news/start-up-begins-rocket-production
In German - "A German spaceport is feasible - and doesn't even cost much" https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/raumfahrt-ein-deutscher-weltraumbahnhof-ist-machbar-und-kostet-nicht-mal-viel/26162108.html

Rik ISS-fan · « **Reply #5 on:** 09/13/2020 10:52 am »

I guess this studie is part of the ESA Boost! part 2, launch site studies.
Personally I think CSG, Spaceport Norway, spaceport Azores (/UK launch sites) are preferable above this mobile launch zone in the North Sea. The North Sea and the airspace above it is AFAIK used far to much to use it for launches. Just travel a little further to one of the land based launch sites. (just my opinion)
[side note, I'm against Esrange for orbital launch, the requirement to overfly Norway prohibits it, in my opinion.)

Edit to add:
To the west of this area, in the Netherlands sector of the north sea, the drogersbank is designated as nature reserve.
A little bit further to the west in the UK sector, giant windturbine farms are planned.

CorvusCorax · « **Reply #6 on:** 10/20/2020 07:57 am »

https://www.heise.de/news/Bundesregierung-prueft-Konzept-fuer-Raketenstartplatz-in-der-Nordsee-4932590.html

According to the article, the German government is in discussion with three smallsat companies:
- Rocket Factory Augsburg
- Isar Aerospace
- HyImpulse
For both subsidees and legislation to allow launch licensing and a launch corridor for commercial polar launches from a ship-based launchpad in the north sea, in the north-western corner of German territorial waters, 460 km from Bremerhaven. The launch pad/ship is supposed to be operated by a separate, commercial entity and cater to multiple users.

The idea is to load fully integrated launch vehicles horizontally on the ship on shore, then transfer to the launch location, where the launch vehicle is to be erected and launched - remote controlled from a second ship - quite similar to sea-launch.

The concept is based on a design study based on the German industry association BDI, earlier this year.

I found more info in English here. This article however has a strong focus on a potential military use aspect, which is however at this point seems highly speculative at best.

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/10/08/german-industry-pushes-for-space-launch-site-in-the-north-sea/

Germany never had it's own orbital launch facilities. Suborbital launches were conducted from the island of Peenemuende in the baltic sea during the world war 2 period for Wernher von Brauns's rocket development program. Later spaceflight efforts were focused on European collaboration (ESA, Arianespace) with launches from Kourou in French Guayana - while optimal for large payloads to equatorial trajectories, those are not well suited for small sat polar launches.