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Back in 2009, Peter and I had to take a radical solution of leaving the nest, from where Copenhagen Suborbitals was born. We started out at Illutron, in the south harbor of Copenhagen, with a few square meters, crazy ideas, a welding machine and some iron.
Soon we had to move to have room enough for our dreams and get our own place with own tools - not to be shared and sought after every day.
We invaded the building we have today - called HAB at Refshaleøen – giving us app. 3 weeks to come up with the finances for a deposit and initial rent. This was a risk because we did not have the money - but we learned in that process, that taking chances and showing the world that we are very serious about our project, actually created the supporting finances and we managed to pay up and are still here today.
As always the finance came from dedicated supporters who believe in the project - but also with a bit of personal left over cash.
Being at HAB is still amazing and placed on this last industrial island in the middle of the Copenhagen harbor area provides everything we need: clear skies, water for our launch armada and a private place to test rocket engines. You also have to consider that Copenhagen is the country epicenter for crazy thoughts, innovative people and high brain momentum.
This downtown rent is not cheap (app $3,000/moths) and some say it was the most expensive decision made by Copenhagen Suborbitals. I completely disagree. It was the cheapest and best. By being here and having the capability of attracting amazing brains and having radical people and sponsors “showing up” the project has become what it is today. That was not possible if we were placed in a suburban area. Call me a hipster – but I believe it’s the truth.
I will never leave this island and Copenhagen unless it is being locked down and we will still continue to rent HAB as long as possible but we also have to realize that our rockets and space capsule are beginning to stick out the gate, permanently, due to the sheer size of it.
Our rockets and capsules has simply become too large and there is no room left to move around. Ship hulls and larger structures are now made outside (in the rain).
Some time ago we announced that we are expanding to another building – just across from our street. This building is a rare opportunity and we have to strike before it will be rented out to someone else. This island and the many attractive sites are otherwise all rented out.
The new building is almost 8,000 sq. ft., have straight walls and 10 meters to the ceiling. It does not snow inside (like HAB) and will give us the space we need. It is just perfect and with a large wall divider we can have both the capsule and launch vehicle production inside, plenty of storage for materials, production machinery and offices - while keeping the old place for huge ship hull, service tower and structure production.
So, Peter and I have taken yet another radical decision. The building is ours from Dec 1.
Like 2009, we have to identify the rest of the finance to make it happen. We have discovered that taking next steps create more happy faces and more expectations for future goals and more momentum.
The decision was not taken without any backup. Our dear friends at Copenhagen Suborbitals Support (CSS, the support association financing the project) has reached almost 900 members and the increasing support has given them reasons to believe they can support this additional monthly fee of app $6,000.
I don’t know what we would be doing without these guys. They are the reason we are happening.
We still need to pay 3 months’ rent in deposit and have identified one month. So, we are busy talking to sponsors and must find the remaining $12,000 within a couple of days!!.
I’m not nervous – not more than normal. I’m sure we will manage to find the money and being out there - hanging to dry - gives you extra incentives to be creative and find radical solutions.
Withins Smart Activity Monitor
One thing we're seeing at CES this year is a deluge of connected personal sensors specifically designed to track your activity — counting your steps, measuring your calorie burn rate, and so on. The first one of these we encountered is also probably going to be one of the better ones to come out of the show: the Withings Smart Activity Tracker.
Slip it in your pocket and carry it around with you all day, and it will track your movements and level of activity. Stay sedentary too long, and it will send an alert to your phone (iOS or Android) to tell you to get up and move your junk around the room. At night, slip it in an armband and it records the quality and duration of your sleep.
Most interestingly, if you hold your thumb up against it, it will track your heart rate. You can use that in all sorts of situations, but it's really meant to capture your resting heart rate — a huge indicator of your overall fitness level, especially as it changes. Withings' little chip has a bright, clear, touch-sensitive display that shows your step count, the number of stairs you've climbed, the distance you've traveled and calories burned. It sends data to your phone automatically via Bluetooth, and has a two-week battery life. Pricing and availability haven't been announced yet. — Mat Honan
Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired 
We have decided to create a "wall of sponsors" inside the new facility displaying the names of those who made it happen like CSS, dedicated people and companies.
If you would like to see your name on the wall – let us know!
Our tiny amateur manned space program has never been moving faster and have never been seeing better times. It is sometimes difficult to understand that this is really happening. Cannot wait to get those keys and invite you all for a tour to share our excitement and dreams!
And remember – A minimum of 50% nay-sayers may be your best indicator for your future success!
Ad Astra
Kristian von Bengtson
