Happy New Year!
I have already had a couple of quiet days at our facility sketching space capsules and looking at the plans for 2013. As always we are aiming for a couple of major milestones and have plans for testing many interesting technologies.
Being an amateur DIY organization with approximately 45 people, all working “for fun and glory” without payment, has taught us that we should never officially plan too many launches because you apparently lose credibility if you do not perform them and because it is tough and expensive. If we suddenly perform extra tests or try out new technologies it is because we weren’t sure if we could make it in time, and chose to keep it for ourselves.
But for each year passed, I am personally amazed about the group momentum and how much we were capable of learning and testing. Just take a look at the 2012 development. Not everyone within Copenhagen Suborbitals believed 2012 was a great year. I totally disagree.
Today, our Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign, for the development of the basic pressure hull of TDSII, ended. I aimed for 10.000 dollars and thanks to everyone donating we reached the goal on the last day. Thanks you so much everyone!!
With an overwhelming change of changes, additions and cuts, this is the plan for Copenhagen Suborbitals in 2013.
- Sea-launch, Sapphire-1, active guided rocket
- Sea-launch, Sapphire-2, active guided rocket
- Possible introduction of new sea launch area by Sealand
- Static line parachute drop test of Tycho Deep Space 1 in Lithuania
- 2 x 1/3 scaled test model production, Tycho Deep Space 2
- Full scale boiler plate, Tycho Deep Space 2
- Full scale flight model, production start, Tycho Deep Space 2
- Solid propellant LES engine testing
- Sea-launch, 1/3 scaled capsule with solid propellant LES engine
- Turbo-pump development for liquid propellant engine
- Liquid propellant engine for HEAT-2X, production and testing
- HEAT-2X rocket development
- Refurbishment of mission control vessel Vostok
- Liquid cooling garment
I am sure I forgot many things and I am sure I will regret writing some of it. I can only say that 2013 will be yet another fun, exciting and great year for Copenhagen Suborbitals.
For now, please enjoy this video from the 3rd test of liquid propellant engine TM65 Dec 30, 2012. The interior of the nozzle collapsed during the burn due to high pressure difference in the double walled cooling system. Another great learning experience.
Ad Astra
Kristian von Bengtson
