Search
  • Videos
  • Windows 10
  • 5G
  • Best VPNs
  • Cloud
  • Security
  • AI
  • more
    • TR Premium
    • Working from Home
    • Innovation
    • Best Web Hosting
    • ZDNet Recommends
    • Tonya Hall Show
    • Executive Guides
    • ZDNet Academy
    • See All Topics
    • White Papers
    • Downloads
    • Reviews
    • Galleries
    • Videos
    • TechRepublic Forums
  • Newsletters
  • All Writers
    • Preferences
    • Community
    • Newsletters
    • Log Out
  • Menu
    • Videos
    • Windows 10
    • 5G
    • Best VPNs
    • Cloud
    • Security
    • AI
    • TR Premium
    • Working from Home
    • Innovation
    • Best Web Hosting
    • ZDNet Recommends
    • Tonya Hall Show
    • Executive Guides
    • ZDNet Academy
    • See All Topics
    • White Papers
    • Downloads
    • Reviews
    • Galleries
    • Videos
    • TechRepublic Forums
      • Preferences
      • Community
      • Newsletters
      • Log Out
  • us
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Europe
    • India
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    • ZDNet around the globe:
    • ZDNet France
    • ZDNet Germany
    • ZDNet Korea
    • ZDNet Japan

Privately-funded, 'open-source' rocket lifts off (photos)

1 of 16 NEXT PREV
  • 01tycho-brahe-booster-sonny-windstrup.jpg

    Copenhagen Suborbitals is a self-described Danish open-source, privately-funded, non-profit organization with a mission to launch humans into space. On Friday in a major test, it successfully launched a rocket and prototype spacecraft from a platform in the Baltic Sea to about 1.7 miles (2.8 kilometers) above the Earth.

    The Heat-1X rocket - pictured above prior to launch with engineer and co-founder Peter Madsen inspecting the main oxidizer valve - is the second launch attempt by the team. A liquid oxygen valve failure stymied the previous attempt, made in September. The valve failed because of a power cut to a 100 Krone ($19.70) hairdryer being used to keep it hot.

    The rocket held a crash dummy inside a dummy of the Tycho Brahe spacecraft, which is designed to carry one person on a sub-orbital trip into space. The craft is named after a 16th-century Danish nobleman who came up with remarkably accurate astronomical observations for his time.

    According to legend, Brahe was also notable for keeping a clairvoyant dwarf named Jepp as a jester, and having an elk that died after falling down the stairs drunk. The nobleman also wore a fake nose made of gold and silver after losing his real nose in a duel.

    Copenhagen Suborbitals says it intends to share as much technical information as is possible within EU export control laws. According to the New Scientist, the firm built the rocket for around $70,000.

    Captions: David Meyer, ZDUK and Andy Smith ZDNet U.S.

    Photo credit: Sonny Windstrup

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • launchpad.jpg

    Here's the Heat -1X rocket with the orange test capsule called Tycho Brahe sitting on top at the launch pad located in the Baltic Sea. It was 31-feet tall and weighed more than 4,400 pounds.

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 03tycho-brahe-antenna-sonny-windstrup.jpg

    Above, radio specialist Thomas Scherrer adjusts the telemetry antenna array.

    The array provided two-way data links with the spacecraft, including continuous video.

    Photo credit: Sonny Windstrup

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • sketch.jpg

    The Tycho Brahe spacecraft originated from these sketches. The actual spacecraft is 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) long and weighs 661 pounds.

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • drawingcapsule.jpg

    Here's a more detailed diagram of the space capsule.madison

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • RocketFueling_Launch2011.jpg

    The Tycho Brahe test craft sits atop the rocket while a technician makes last-minute adjustments. This test capsule is a little smaller than the planned final version.

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 02tycho-brahe-kristian-peter-bo-tornvig.jpg

    Engineers Kristian von Bengtson (left) and Peter Madsen are the founders of Copenhagen Suborbitals.

    When the real Tycho Brahe spacecraft becomes operational, Madsen will be the first to fly it, while von Bengtson will wait until the first proper low-Earth orbit (LEO) flight.

    Photo credit: Bo Tornvig

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 05takeoff.jpg

    The countdown reaches "0" and the rocket begins to lift off.

    Photo credit: Bo Tornvig

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 06tycho-brahe-launch-thomas-pedersen.jpg

    The rocket leave a wake of steam and water.

    Photo credit: Bo Tornvig

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • launchsplash.jpg

    The rocket leave a wake of steam and water.

    Photo credit: Bo Tornvig

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 07tycho-brahe-flight-thomas-pedersen.jpg

    The Heat-1X rocket, shown here in flight, was actually supposed to reach a height of 16km (10 miles) but the flight was cut short when the rocket began to veer to one side. No reason was known.

    Photo credit: Thomas Pedersen

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • capsulefloat.jpg

    The test capsule parachutes back to the Baltic Sea where it is rescued.

    Photo credit: Bo Tornvig

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • capsuletears.jpg

    The test capsule did receive some heavy damage but was intact.

    Photo credit: Bo Tornvig

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • wearandtear.jpg

    Here's a look at some more damage to the capsule.

    Photo credit: Bo Tornvig

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • passengersurvival.jpg

    But most importantly, the crash-dummy passenger survived the ordeal. Let's hope it was not damaged psychologically.

    Photo credit: Bo Tornvig

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • mission.jpg

    Here's the mission statement of Copenhagen Suborbitals.

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

1 of 16 NEXT PREV
Andy Smith

By Andy Smith | June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT) | Topic: Innovation

  • 01tycho-brahe-booster-sonny-windstrup.jpg
  • launchpad.jpg
  • 03tycho-brahe-antenna-sonny-windstrup.jpg
  • sketch.jpg
  • drawingcapsule.jpg
  • RocketFueling_Launch2011.jpg
  • 02tycho-brahe-kristian-peter-bo-tornvig.jpg
  • 05takeoff.jpg
  • 06tycho-brahe-launch-thomas-pedersen.jpg
  • launchsplash.jpg
  • 07tycho-brahe-flight-thomas-pedersen.jpg
  • capsulefloat.jpg
  • capsuletears.jpg
  • wearandtear.jpg
  • passengersurvival.jpg
  • mission.jpg

Adventurers take a big step in their dream to launch a human into space without government assistance or interference.

Read More Read Less

Copenhagen Suborbitals is a self-described Danish open-source, privately-funded, non-profit organization with a mission to launch humans into space. On Friday in a major test, it successfully launched a rocket and prototype spacecraft from a platform in the Baltic Sea to about 1.7 miles (2.8 kilometers) above the Earth.

The Heat-1X rocket - pictured above prior to launch with engineer and co-founder Peter Madsen inspecting the main oxidizer valve - is the second launch attempt by the team. A liquid oxygen valve failure stymied the previous attempt, made in September. The valve failed because of a power cut to a 100 Krone ($19.70) hairdryer being used to keep it hot.

The rocket held a crash dummy inside a dummy of the Tycho Brahe spacecraft, which is designed to carry one person on a sub-orbital trip into space. The craft is named after a 16th-century Danish nobleman who came up with remarkably accurate astronomical observations for his time.

According to legend, Brahe was also notable for keeping a clairvoyant dwarf named Jepp as a jester, and having an elk that died after falling down the stairs drunk. The nobleman also wore a fake nose made of gold and silver after losing his real nose in a duel.

Copenhagen Suborbitals says it intends to share as much technical information as is possible within EU export control laws. According to the New Scientist, the firm built the rocket for around $70,000.

Captions: David Meyer, ZDUK and Andy Smith ZDNet U.S.

Photo credit: Sonny Windstrup

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
Published: June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT)

Caption by: Andy Smith

1 of 16 NEXT PREV

Related Topics:

Innovation CXO Digital Transformation Tech Industry Smart Cities Cloud
Andy Smith

By Andy Smith | June 7, 2011 -- 08:56 GMT (01:56 PDT) | Topic: Innovation

Show Comments
LOG IN TO COMMENT
  • My Profile
  • Log Out
| Community Guidelines

Join Discussion

Add Your Comment
Add Your Comment

Related Galleries

  • 1 of 3
  • Remote working, programming languages, artificial intelligence, and more: ZDNet's research roundup

    From the growth in remote working to the rise of automation and onto the demand for wearable devices, here's the research that matters from the past month in tech news. ...

  • Pitfalls to Avoid when Interpreting Machine Learning Models

    Modern requirements for machine learning models include both high predictive performance and model interpretability. A team of experts in explainable AI highlights pitfalls ...

  • Toshiba laptops through the ages

    Toshiba’s 35-year run in the laptop business is at an end, but what a journey it has been.

  • Innovative projects now online to combat coronavirus outbreak

    The spread of COVID-19 has a small silver lining: highlighting how innovative humankind can be under pressure. Here are our favorite examples.

  • Top programming languages, 5G worries, cloud computing, and more: Research round-up

    All the facts and figures that matter to you and your business from the past month in technology news.

  • Samsung Galaxy S20 first look: All the models and colors up close

    Here is Samsung's latest flagship range, in all its glory.

  • Google Maps turns 15: A look back on where it all began

    A timeline of Google Maps through the years since it was launched in 2005.

ZDNet
Connect with us

© 2021 ZDNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Privacy Policy | Cookie Settings | Advertise | Terms of Use

  • Topics
  • Galleries
  • Videos
  • Sponsored Narratives
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About ZDNet
  • Meet The Team
  • All Authors
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Reprint Policy
  • Manage | Log Out
  • Join | Log In
  • Membership
  • Newsletters
  • Site Assistance
  • ZDNet Academy
  • TechRepublic Forums