Copenhagen Suborbitals is a sea launch organization. Early in the process of this entire endeavor, we decided to launch from the ocean knowing that getting land-launch access would probably be much harder than getting a sea-launch infrastructure to work. I still believe this is true.
Our launch platform Sputnik and Space Port Nexoe at the island of Bornholm, next to sea test range ESD139, are cornerstones in this operation.
When launching rockets you will always have to face weather constraints cutting off hours or days from the launch window and especially when launching from the ocean the amount of constraints pile up. To give ourselves a reasonable chance to get something into the air we have decided to launch in the summer season only.
This entire setup is quite a challenge since we basically only get 10 months to finish all of our rocket and capsule manufacturing, including operation planning, before the launch windows opens up and closes again, soon after.
During the summer launch season we are in close collaboration with the Naval Home Guard who provides the mission control ship, perform range safety operation and recovery operation together with our team.
Each year in spring time we will ask the Naval Home Guard for all their available slots in the summer season. These slots will have to be cross-referenced with the availability of test range ESD139 in the Baltic Sea through the proper authorities. This way we are pretty much given the specific dates where we will be able to launch.
We also have to check these launch dates with all key personnel from Copenhagen Suborbitals to make sure they are not on vacation, at work, becoming a father or whatever happens in life during this period. To avoid too much interference with everyone working, we have decided to launch during weekends only.
The result is 4-5 potential launch weekends which might end up in 2-3 weekends due to typical Danish no-go weather conditions.
This summer we have also presented three different rocket launch campaigns but we are well aware that all of the launches will probably not happen in 2012, but will continue in 2013. At times, this entire operation setup can be very confusing and most people are having a hard time understanding these premises. Tension and frustration are easily being built up during the season when launch windows are postponed due to technical reasons, weather conditions or the lack of a sound mission planning. I do not blame anyone. I find it a bit frustrating myself.
It is very important for ourselves, as a sea launching rocket organization, to accept these difficult terms and find a way to optimize the ways we are planning each launch season. We are still in the learning process of this and might change strategy each year until we have found the best way to go about it.
Sometimes building your own space rocket seems damn easy compared to the operational side of it.
So far, Sputnik has arrived at Space Port Nexoe and we are almost ready for the SMARAGD-1 launch July 13-15, if the ocean, skies, waves and winds are kind to us.
It is a difficult puzzle, but we will conquer space… eventually..
Ad Astra
Kristian von Bengtson
