Copenhagen Suborbitals Launch Fails Due to Frozen Liquid Oxygen Valve/Hairdryer Mishap
September 7th, 2010Via: Copenhagen Post:
The dreams of the first Danish rocket in space were shot down this weekend, as the Heat-1X/Tycho-Brahe rocket failed to lift off.
Rocket builders Peter Madsen and Kristian von Bengtson confirmed last night at a press conference that it was their by now infamous hairdryer that resulted in the rocket not achieving lift-off. The pair, along with a team of volunteers, had kept the country in suspense all weekend as they sailed the rocket off the coast of Bornholm using their self-built submarine.
The hairdryer, one which they bought in Føtex for under 100 kroner, was supposed to have kept a valve for the liquid oxygen hot, so that it did not freeze and become stuck. However, due to some necessary last minute alternations, the power to the hairdryer was cut off, Madsen stated last night.
The project has now been postponed till next June.
I wasn’t aware of this team effort to reach space. A quick look at their official website (http://www.copenhagensuborbitals.com) shows that they really look like a bunch of amateur who are serious about sending a man to space. That would be a good slap in the face to a lot of nations if they can succeed. I wish them good luck.
I wish them good luck.
I sent them money.
I’m kind of surprised to be learning about this here. I think I’m posting to inform folks that this is not the first, and definitely not the only commercial space program. Not that I don’t think this is a worthy cause (nor did anyone actually say this was the first and/or only), I simply have a bit of firsthand knowledge to share.
Scaled Composites, headed by Burt Rutan, succeeded in sending the first non gov’t man into space in 2004.
http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/spaceshipone_flies_again_within_14_days_-_wins_10m_x_prize
I’ve been a big fan of Burt Rutan’s work since I was a kid, and when I heard he was entering the X-Prize competition, I had a feeling he’d be winning. He did. Spent $20 million of Paul Allen’s money for a $10 million prize (most of the other competitors spent far more and failed). I wouldn’t be surprised if the Copenhagen group was one of the competitors for the X-Prize.
Regarding the comment that they look like amateurs… I think they should. New ground has to be broken by someone, and they aren’t going to be stuffy professionals.
The craft these guys are building looks a bit rough. I know it’s a first try, but will space tourists really want to be stuck in a rocket tube with their heads poking out the top? Probably not, when stuff like this is the competition:
http://www.virgingalactic.com/
I think it’s fantastic that these groups are trying to bring space travel ‘to the people’ as it were. At least to the people that have the $10,000 for a ticket for the first few rounds.
On the other end of things (I can’t be on only one side of the fence), I’m not a big fan of Richard Branson, and I’m terribly upset that my hero’s company Scaled Composites was recently acquired by Northrop Grumman. Pity.