Tomorrow is yet another fantastic day for Copenhagen Suborbitals. In cooperation with Lindoe Space Test Center and Blue Water Shipping will be performing a drop-test of Tycho Deep Space.
The purpose is to validate how the capsule will react to water impact when landing with three large main parachutes. The parachutes are designed to create a final terminal capsule velocity of app 10 m/s and we expect app 5 m/s of winds, as mission criteria. In order to simulate both velocity directions we will perform a pendulum swing (without parachutes).
Since Lindoe Space Test Center has a fantastic 110 meter tall gantry crane with a lift capacity of app 1000 tonnes it is no problem to drop a 500 kg capsule, even though dropping stuff from cranes are normally a no-go. However, we will not be using full height.
The capsule will be hung in a 20 meter “rope” app 5.1 meter above sea level and pulled back app 7 meter. This pull-back line will be dropped using a quick-release which makes the capsule swing forward. When it has reached the bottom of the swing a top quick release will be activated using a pyrotechnic squib. SPLASH!
We will also be testing the uprighting bag system. If the capsule decides to go into a stable-2 position (bottom up) we will inflate our four 220 liters uprighting bags which are designed to turn the capsule around in a correct orientation (stable-1). We have been working day and night to get this system working and finally we got it installed just before craning the capsule on a small hired truck.
It is fantastic to see the capsule undergoing different tests.
Tuesday we performed a separation test of the LES tower system which needs adjustments in the electrical system and a new designs from the department of explosive bolts. More about this later. For now you can enjoy the separation test video by Claus Mejling.
Wednesday the capsule Tycho Deep Space was given its name. Tycho Deep Space is a classification like “Gemini” or “Mercury” These spaceships also had individual names. During a special ceremony by Danish TV and Radio-guru Mikael Bertelsen the capsule was named “Beautiful Betty” after pin-up star Betty Page.
Tomorrow night or Sunday I hope to bring a lot of videos and images about the drop test…
P.S. our facility is currently in the backstage area of a heavy metal festival called CopenHell. I can ensure you that you work a lot faster when Anthrax is playing just 100 meters away from you…
Ad Astra
Kristian von Bengtson
