Copenhagen Suborbitals

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Copenhagen Suborbitals
Non-profit, non-open source, amateur, all-volunteer organisation
IndustryAerospace
Founded1 May 2008; 12 years ago (2008-05-01)
FoundersKristian von Bengtson
Peter Madsen
HeadquartersRefshaleøen, Copenhagen, Denmark Coordinates: 55°41′29.1″N 12°37′1.21″E / 55.691417°N 12.6170028°E / 55.691417; 12.6170028
Key people
Chairman: Carsten Olsen

Executive Officer: Niels Johansen

Communication Director: Mads Wilson

Space Strategist: Thomas Pedersen

Space medicine: Niels Foldager
Number of employees
55[1] (all volunteering)[2]
Websitecopenhagensuborbitals.com
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Copenhagen Suborbitals is an amateur crowd-funded, non-open source human space programme. Since its beginning in 2008, Copenhagen Suborbitals has flown five home-built rockets and two mock-up space capsules. Their stated goal is to have one of the members fly into space (above 100 km), on a sub-orbital spaceflight, in a space capsule on the Spica rocket. The organisation was founded by Kristian von Bengtson and by Peter Madsen, who was convicted of the murder of Kim Wall in 2017. Peter Madsen was excluded from Copenhagen Suborbitals in 2014.[3] The organization successfully launched its Nexø II rocket in summer 2018.[4][5]

As an amateur organisation, the 55 members use their spare time on the project, while at the same time having regular day-jobs. At the annual general assembly, they elect a chairman and boardmembers. Currently (2019), the chairman is Carsten Olsen.[6]

History[edit]

The crew gathered in front of the static rocket test setup in November 2011

Copenhagen Suborbitals was founded in 2008 by Kristian von Bengtson and now-disgraced Peter Madsen (who was later convicted of murdering Kim Wall) as a non-profit, crowd-funded project where important aspects of the operation were described in detail on blogs[7][8] and lectures.[9]

On 23 February 2014 the board of Copenhagen Suborbitals announced that Kristian von Bengtson had left the group, after falling out with Madsen. In June 2014 Madsen also left the group, after years of disagreement with the other members of the group. Since then Madsen has had no connection with Copenhagen Suborbitals.[10]

Rockets and engines[edit]

Spica[edit]

In 2014, Copenhagen Suborbitals settled on the basic design for their first crewed rocket and space capsule. The rocket will be named Spica, and will stand 12–14 m tall with a diameter of 950 mm. It will be powered by the BPM-100 engine class, using liquid oxygen as oxidizer and ethanol as fuel, producing 100 kilonewtons of thrust. It's likely to feature pressure-blow-down tanks, optimised by a dynamic pressure regulation (DPR) system, but turbo pumps are also a possibility, although they are difficult to build. Flight control will be thrust vectoring via a gimbal engine. The rocket will be fully guided by home-built electronics and software. Most of the systems and technology will initially be tested on the smaller Nexø class rockets in 2016/18. The space capsule will be of a tubular design as its predecessor Tycho Brahe, but its greater diameter will allow the astronaut to assume a sitting position during launch and re-entry, in order to withstand the G-forces.

BPM-2 and BPM-5[edit]

In 2014/2015 the group designed, built and tested a series of smaller engines with a nominal thrust of 2 and 5 kN. The BPM-5 class will fly on the Nexø I and II rockets in 2016/2018, paving the way for the much bigger Spica rocket and engine. The purpose was to validate the performance and operation of the group's new engine design direction. The tests were highly successful, with results exceeding expectations. Different fuel additives (such as TEOS) as well as different jet vane material were also tested. The BPM engines are bi-liquid rocket engines using LOX and ethanol, regeneratively cooled by the ethanol fuel. The spring/summer 2015 test firings used passive pressure blow-down, and in winter 2015/2016 will see the test firings continue with a dynamic pressure (DPR) regulation system, which then will fly on the Nexø II rocket in spring 2018.

Engines and propellant 2008 - 2014[edit]

From 2008 to 2012, the group based the work on a hybrid rocket, using liquid oxygen (LOX) as oxidizer. Originally, the HEAT-1X rocket was to be fuelled by paraffin wax, but a ground test 28 February 2010 revealed that some of the paraffin wax had only partially melted, instead of evaporating. The result was that HEAT-1X had less power than expected. A ground test firing of HEAT-1X-P (P for polyurethane) was conducted 16 May 2010. It was positive, the polyurethane had the right power but showed heavy oscillation. Until 2011 the group had performed more than 30 tests of various engine types at their rocket engine test facility at Refshaleøen. In fall of 2012 a concept engine using white fuming nitric acid and furfuryl alcohol was tried using a static test setup.[11] In 2012 it was decided to switch to bi-propellant, liquid-fuelled engines running on liquid oxygen and ethanol.

HATV[edit]

Static test of the HATV at Refshaleøen 2011

The HATV (Hybrid Atmospheric Test Vehicle) was a 220 mm diameter hybrid booster, used for testing purposes, it is one third the size of the HEAT rocket. It produces approximately 12 kN thrust within a combustion time of 20 seconds.[citation needed]

HEAT-1X[edit]

Main article: HEAT 1X Tycho Brahe

HEAT 1X (Hybrid Exo Atmospheric Transporter)[12] was the rocket booster module, intended to launch the Space capsule Tycho Brahe into space, the combination being known as HEAT-1X TYCHO BRAHE. The rocket design was the result of numerous static-booster tests of the solid fuel epoxy and the liquid oxidizer nitrous oxide. A combination which was also used in the scale-down test rocket HATV (Hybrid Atmospheric Test Vehicle) which was only one third the size of the HEAT. Stabilization of the rocket was by rollerons, a mechanism also used to stabilize missiles. The rocket was successfully launched 3 June 2011 but the test was aborted at an altitude of 2.8 km.

Drawing of the stacked rocket, with HEAT at the bottom. Compared with the final rocket

TM-65 and TM-65 IIA and TM-65 IIB[edit]

Main article: TM65

TM-65 and TM6-5 IIA/B were liquid propellant engines using 75% Ethanol and liquid oxygen (LOX) as oxidizer. These engines produced about 65 kN thrust.[13] First static tests were conducted in May 2012. One TM65 II engine was for HEAT-2X and one was for HEAT-1600 LE. The TM-65 engine passed the test undamaged, and was fired at up to 50% of its rated thrust. The group planned to repeat the test with higher thrust levels, until the TM-65 class in 2014 was abandoned in favour of the BPM-100 engine concept.[14][needs update]

HEAT-2X[edit]

The HEAT-2X was a rocket built for flight-testing the TM-65 engine. It was planned to carry a 1:3 scale, 80 kg space capsule mock-up, TDS-80, into the stratosphere.

The rocket was not flown as it suffered an engine fire during a static test in the summer of 2014. The rocket nozzle imploded and a welding seam opened resulting in the expulsion of all the ethanol fuel (some 500 L) in just three seconds resulting in a large fire which damaged the part of the rocket. The engine failure and subsequent fire was filmed[15] up close with a high-speed camera, which although burned on the outside, survived the inferno enough for the film to be recovered.

HEAT-1600 LE and HEAT-1600[edit]

The HEAT-1600 LE and HEAT-1600 (after the 1600 mm diameter of the rockets), were the biggest rocket concept by the group, and was in pre-production in 2013. However, the 1600 mm diameter rocket and capsule concept was abandoned in 2014, in favour of the 950 mm diameter Spica rocket and capsule. HEAT-1600 LE was to be a full size version of the HEAT-1600 with only one TM-65 engine. The HEAT-1600 was planned to fly with a single 260 kN engine or a cluster of 4 x TM-65 engines fed by turbo pumps on a single stage.[16]

Space capsules[edit]

Tycho Brahe[edit]

Main article: HEAT 1X Tycho Brahe
Tycho Brahe being stacked.
Sketch of the Tycho interior

The micro space craft (MSC), named Tycho Brahe after the Danish astronomer, has a steel pressure hull, with room for one passenger. The passenger would be able to view the outside through a Perspex dome.[12] The occupant would fly in a half-standing/half-sitting position, in a specially designed seat, and wearing anti-G trousers to avoid blackout. Another compartment contains both the high-speed drogue parachute and the low-speed main parachutes for deceleration. The sheer volume of the MSC will provide the buoyancy in the water upon touchdown.

The first MSC was christened "Tycho Brahe 1" and its first flight was uncrewed using a crash test dummy.[17] A new aluminium MSC called MAX-1 named after Maxime Faget is under development.[citation needed] According to the group, development on this capsule has been abandoned due to the physiological problems associated with rapid acceleration of a human in standing position.[18] The craft is now on display in the Tycho Brahe Planetarium in Copenhagen.[19]

Tycho Deep Space[edit]

Tycho Deep Space during testing of the Launch Escape System

Tycho Deep Space is a space capsule developed by von Bengtson. The first version officially named "Beautiful Betty" by Mikael Bertelsen, the capsule's protector.[20] The uncrewed capsule was launched on 12 August 2012 at sea by a test Launch Escape System, off the coast of Bornholm. The launch did not provide enough height for the parachute to deploy and the capsule was partly damaged on impact with the sea. The capsule is 2m in diameter, allowing for an astronaut to be in a horizontal position relative to the acceleration during launch and landing.

Missions[edit]

The group originally focused on launching from a land based spaceport like Andøya, Kiruna or Iceland[21] The focus however turned towards a sea launch, just outside the territorial waters of Denmark. A permission to launch was given by Danish authorities, but the first option, the North Sea, a possibility suggested by Danish Civil Aviation Administration (Statens Luftfartsvæsen), was rejected in 2009 by the Danish Maritime Authority (Søfartsstyrelsen). They preferred another area and then gave a formal and written permission to launch from the military firing range ESD138/ESD139, which is located on the position 55°02′57″N 15°36′11″E / 55.04917°N 15.60306°E / 55.04917; 15.60306 in the Baltic Sea.[citation needed] It is just outside Nexø on the Danish island of Bornholm and is therefore nicknamed Spaceport Nexø. The CS then had to build a floating mobile launcher platform (MLP), called Sputnik after the Russian spacecraft which was the first artificial satellite to be put into orbit. Their launch campaigns includes the following ships:[citation needed]

2010: The first launch attempt[edit]

The first full-scale test-launch aimed at 30 km altitude was planned to be conducted off the coast of Bornholm between 30 August and 13 September 2010.[22] The vehicle carried a crash test dummy "Rescue Randy" instead of a human pilot, with crewed flight not planned for some years. The success criteria were the completion of the sea voyage and countdown with launch and recovery planned as a bonus.[23]

On Tuesday, 31 August 2010, the privately built Danish submarine UC3 Nautilus pushed the launch platform Sputnik carrying the rocket and spacecraft from Copenhagen towards the launch area near Nexø, Bornholm.[24]

A launch attempt was made on Sunday, 5 September 2010, 14:43 CEST,[25] but the motor could not be started due to a failure of the LOX valve which is assumed to be caused by insufficient heating of the valve. The design famously included a consumer hair dryer for defrosting the LOX-valve; in effect it was not the blow-dryer but its power supply that failed.[26]

The group promised to come back the year after to attempt the launch again.[27]

2011: First flight of HEAT-1X Tycho Brahe[edit]

HEAT 1X Tycho Brahe lifting off from MLP-Sputnik

Having done updates on the rocket, and the valve, and with MLP-Sputnik under her own power, and a support vessel, the group sailed again for Spaceport Nexø on May 28 at 4:50 a.m. They again met up with MHV Hjortø, a Naval Home Guard vessel that serves as mission control and recovery vessel. The second launch attempt was more successful and the maiden flight took place 3 June 2011, at 16:32 local time (CEST) (14:32 GMT). The HEAT-1X rocket lifted off and ascended to an altitude of only 2.8 km,[28] because Mission Control had to shut the engine off after 21 seconds.[29]

2012 missions[edit]

SMARAGD Flight[edit]

The two-stage Smaragd in the HAB, missing only electronics

The SMARAGD rocket (emerald in Danish) is a 5.7 meter[30] two-stage rocket weighing 160 kg, intended to reach an altitude of 8 km,[31] that was used for testing various technological aspects of the operation. On July 27, 2012, the team set out from Nexø towards the launch site, intending to launch the SMARAGD rocket.[32][33] After some initial problems with the remote launch control,[34] the rocket launched successfully just after 1 pm[35][36] and reached the maximum altitude of 8.2 km.[37] It was evident shortly after take off that the nosecone, containing electronics, broke off during launch, possibly due to the large acceleration of estimated 20 g.[38]

Tycho Deep Space / LES flight[edit]

On 12 August 2012 at 09:18, the space capsule Tycho Deep Space, was launched to test a launch escape system. However the parachute did not deploy properly and the capsule was damaged on impact.[39] Several media had misunderstood the schedule and proclaimed the launch to have been started prematurely due to an error.[40] The test was considered partly successful by the team, due to the successful rocket launch and the unsuccessful parachute deployment.[41] The launch could be followed live via live streaming from several video cameras, additionally high-speed cameras were mounted on the MLP.[42]

2013: Guidance system development[edit]

SAPPHIRE-1 Mission[edit]

SAPPHIRE-1, a modification of the HATV, was a 4.5m rocket whose main purpose was to test the active guidance system developed by Copenhagen Suborbitals.[43] It was successfully launched on 23 June 2013.[44]

Nexø I[edit]

Nexø I was launched Saturday, 23 July 2016, with inaugural BPM-5 engine. It was a partial success. The supply of liquid oxygen to the engine was insufficient due to partial premature evaporation.[45][46]

Nexø II[edit]

The Nexø II successfully launched on 4 August 2018, with slightly modified BPM-5 engine. It reached an apogee of 8-12 km and was safely recovered via parachute. [47]

Goals and records achieved[edit]

Copenhagen Suborbitals' achievements include:

  • Most powerful amateur rocket ever flown.
  • First amateur rocket flown with a payload of a full-size crash test dummy.
  • First Main Engine(s) Cut-Off (MECO) command sent to, received and performed by an amateur rocket.
  • Handling and orchestration of a sea launch, by a small-budget organization.

On 3 October 2013, Copenhagen Suborbitals was awarded the "Breitling Milestone Trophy" award by Fédération Aéronautique Internationale at a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.[48][49]

Support group[edit]

On 5 October 2010 an independent group of space enthusiasts founded the Copenhagen Suborbitals Support group (CSS). The main purpose of this group is to "support CS economically, morally and practically in their mission". Within two days after its founding, CSS reached 100 members. November 15, 2011 marked a major milestone for CSS as 500 members was reached. As of early 2014, around 1000 members were recorded.

By paying a fixed monthly amount, the members of Copenhagen Suborbitals Support now covers most of the fixed costs for the project in addition to donating various forms of hardware.[50] By 2015, CS was supported with GB£12,500 per month.[51]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Dansk rumrakets motor imploderede - Ingeniøren". Ing.dk. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  2. ^ "FAQ copenhagensuborbitals.com". copenhagensuborbitals.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-29. Retrieved 2017-05-23.
  3. ^ Wilson, Mads. "Our statement on former Copenhagen Suborbitals member Peter Madsen – Copenhagen Suborbitals".
  4. ^ "Succes: Nexø II landet med faldskærm efter tur på 6.500 meter". Ingeniøren. August 4, 2018.
  5. ^ "I morgen sker det: Danskere affyrer 300 kg tung raket over Østersøen". DR.
  6. ^ "The Team - Copenhagen Suborbitals". Copenhagen Suborbitals. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  7. ^ "ROCKET SHOP". Wired.com. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  8. ^ "Rumfart på den anden måde". ing.dk. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  9. ^ "TEDxCopenhagen - Kristian von Bengtson - Danes in space". TED X. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  10. ^ "Our statement on former Copenhagen Suborbitals member Peter Madsen – Copenhagen Suborbitals". copenhagensuborbitals.com. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  11. ^ Madsen, Peter. "Spectra-testen". Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  12. ^ a b "Spacecraft". Copenhagen Suborbitals. Archived from the original on 6 September 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  13. ^ "TM65 Liquid propellant rocket engine". Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  14. ^ "En stor dag for suborbitals". Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  15. ^ [1] Gopro Hero 3 camera
  16. ^ Von Bengtson, Kristian (2013-05-11). "HEAT 1600 Concept Development – The Manifestation of Dreams and Ambitions (for Download)". wired.com. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  17. ^ Biliuti, Smaranda (24 August 2010). "Danish Manned Spacecraft Built by Volunteers". Softpedia.
  18. ^ Madsen Peter (August 18, 2012). "Store nyheder om store raketter". Ingeniøren. Archived from the original on August 21, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  19. ^ "Rumkapsel landet på planetariet". planetariet.dk. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  20. ^ Olsen, Jev. "Capsule protector Mikael Bertelsen naming the capsule". Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  21. ^ "Google Translate". translate.google.com. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  22. ^ LAUNCH CAMPAIGN SEP 2010 Archived 2013-10-21 at the Wayback Machine, Copenhagen Suborbitals
  23. ^ Andersen, Kasper Brøndgaard. "Experienced rocket builder doubts success (Danish)". Ing.dk. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  24. ^ Jensen, Mette Buck (1 September 2010). "Nyt fra raket-holdet: Vi når Nexø kl. 20.30". ing.dk. Archived from the original on 3 September 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  25. ^ "Raketten kom ikke i luften". ing.dk. Archived from the original on 8 September 2010. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  26. ^ Djursing, Thomas. "Powerless hairdryer stopped rocket". ing.dk. Archived from the original on 8 September 2010. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  27. ^ Kristian von Bengtson and Peter Madsen (6 September 2010). "Vi er stolte - vi er glade - vi gir aldrig op...(Danish)". ing.dk. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  28. ^ "Danish Team's Homemade Space Capsule Blasts Off". foxnews. 3 June 2011.
  29. ^ Astrup, Søren; Lindqvist, Andreas (3 June 2011). "Flyt jer lige lidt, Nasa: Her kommer Danmark" (in Danish). Politiken. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  30. ^ "Copenhagen suborbitals aktiviteter i 2012". Ingeniøren. Archived from the original on January 27, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  31. ^ Djursing, Thomas. "Smaragd-raketten gøres klar: Nu skal CS skyde højt…og ligeud". www.ing.dk. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  32. ^ Djursing, Thomas. "Alle skibe er på vej mod affyringsområdet". www.ing.dk. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  33. ^ Djursing Thomas. "Så står Smaragd skudklar: Se de sidste forberedelser her". www.ing.dk. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  34. ^ Djursing, Thomas. "Skuffelse: Raket affyrede ikke...men nyt forsøg kl. 12.50". Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  35. ^ Stage, Mie. "Smaragd er i luften". www.ing.dtu.dk. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  36. ^ "Danske amatør-astronauter har sendt en ny raket af sted fra Nexø". Politiken. 27 July 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  37. ^ Melzer, Jonas. (27 July 2012). "Danes launch homemade rocket". Ny Teknik. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  38. ^ Djursing, Thomas. "Næsekegle brød i stykker kort efter raketstart". Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  39. ^ Djursing, Thomas (August 12, 2012). "Kapsel er hårdt medtaget efter fejlslagen opsendelse". www.ing.dk. Archived from the original on February 12, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  40. ^ KROMANN, HANS CHRISTIAN (August 12, 2012). "Hov, hvad skete der? Dansk rumraket røg pludselig i vejret : Den danske raket blev affyret tre kvarter, før den skulle". www.politiken.dk. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  41. ^ Djursing, Thomas (August 12, 2012). "Kapsel hårdt medtaget efter for lav flyvning". Ingeniøren. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  42. ^ LES/TDS launch. Copenhagen Suborbitals.
  43. ^ Djursing, Thomas. "Ejection seat soon to launch". Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  44. ^ "Kæmpe succes: Raket fløj lodret over otte kilometer - Ingeniøren". Ing.dk. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  45. ^ "Nexø I – Copenhagen Suborbitals". Copenhagensuborbitals.com. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  46. ^ "Nexø 1 Guidance Navigation & Control – Copenhagen Suborbitals". Copenhagensuborbitals.com. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  47. ^ "The full story of the Nexø II mission". Copenhagen Suborbitals. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  48. ^ Carrera, Faustine. "2013 FAI Awards Ceremony". Fai.org. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  49. ^ Søren Munch. "Rakettur på 8 km belønnet med fornem pris Archived 2015-06-11 at the Wayback Machine" Jyllands-Posten, 7 October 2013. Accessed: 7 October 2013.
  50. ^ "The official Copenhagen Suborbitals support group". Copenhagen Suborbitals Support. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  51. ^ Smith, Julian. "How the final frontier just got democratised". Wired, 20 May 2015. Archived on 25 May 2015.

External links[edit]

External media
Images
Picasa Web album (many wikipedia compatible licences)
Video
HEAT1X-Tycho launch highlights on YouTube
Lecture by Kristian von Bengtson on TEDx
Today Show video
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