Copenhagen Suborbitals shooting for human in space
This ain't no SpaceShipOne. Copenhagen Suborbitals is a Danish group of maverick researchers hoping to launch a human being into space on a rocket booster vehicle. The nosecone holds one astronaut in an upright position, "with a full view through a polymer plexiglas-dome to experience the entire ballistic ride." From the Copenhagen Suborbitals mission statement:
Copenhagen Suborbitals (Thanks, Jens-Martin Skibsted!)We are currently developing a series of suborbital space vehicles - designed to pave the way for manned space flight on a micro size spacecraft.
Two rocket vehicles are under development. A small unmanned sounding rocket, named Hybrid Atmospheric Test Vehicle or HATV and a larger booster rocket named Hybrid Exo Atmospheric Transporter or HEAT, designed to carry a micro spacecraft into a suborbital trajectory in space.
The mission has a 100% peacefull purpose and is not in any way involved in carrying explosive, nuclear, biological and chemical payloads.
We intend to share all our techninal information as much as possible, within the laws of EU-export control.
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For a pretty awesome and detailed account of a very similar system in fiction, you can pick up Neal Stephenson's latest novel, Anathem.
"not in any way involved in carrying explosive, nuclear, biological and chemical payloads"
Unless the passenger has just eaten a batch of chili.
"maverick researchers"
I hear they're using base twelve math just to stick it to the stuffy old scientific establishment.
They'd better triple check the design of their G-Suit for you to be able to "experience the entire ballistic ride" when your blood rushes to your feet in blast off.
Uh, yeah. A ballistic rocket is a weapon; the rocket used to launch Sputnik was the RK-7 strategic nuclear missile. The rocket the Russians use to lunch Soyuz down to this day is a variant of it.
"The nosecone holds one astronaut in an upright position, "with a full view through a polymer plexiglas-dome to experience the entire ballistic ride.""
It figures. Once the paying tourists start shelling out money, everyone wants to get in on the business. True space tourism will never become popular until someone works out how to install a jacuzzi in the capsule.
Well, I wonder what they are doing about the G forces, considering that you need to attain about 11km/sec to go out of atmosphere. I wonder what kind of plexiglas they are using for the view screen, considering that it will need to survive re-entry. Speaking of re-entry, I wonder how the whole thing is insulated against the heat. But in any case, good luck to them :)
For some reason, the first thing I think of when I see that is Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.
"Surpass the impossible and kick reason to the curb!"
Damn! That was gonna be my new band name.
Hmm, IANARS, (I am not a rocket scientist, but this seems like it would put alot of pressure on your groin area on liftoff. I would not be looking forward to several Gs to the nads.
From the sketch, I do not think the buttocks support supports what they think it supports.
I wonder how you get the guy back down.
the sketch looks a lot like a man inside a Weiner
I do not think the buttocks support supports what they think it supports.
I believe the caption says 'buttsex support' and refers to another facet of space tourism.
Volunteers?? Hello? Anyone, please?
Schwarzgerat?
I'm with Markheck @12. The comedic implications of a little man standing up in a microcraft phallus called HEAT are potentially endless. 100% peaceful purpose, indeed.
I believe the caption says 'buttsex support' and refers to another facet of space tourism.
Good catch. I didn't consider exactly whose buttocks are being supported...
It's considerably less than that; 11km/s is the escape velocity of the Earth. The minimum orbital velocity is roughly 8km/s (it depends on things that vary, like the atmosphere), while you can get to 100km -- the official edge of space -- and then drop straight back down with as little as 1 km/s.
Scaled Composites is saying SpaceShipTwo will do it with 1.1 km/s, for example.
bah! In my day, HEAT stood for High Explosive Anti Tank!
Meh - the passenger gets a view of the empty blue/black sky on the way up, and then a few minutes partial view of the horizon, then a view of the underside of the parachutes on the way down...
Ficht Nicht Mit Der Raketmensch!
From the diagram, its clear they have thoroughly worked out the details...
What could possibly go wrong?
BTW, even although they say its for 'peaceful purposes', I'm certain Sweden is shitting its pants right now.
They have the passenger positioned optimally to black out and not appreciate the ride.
Poor little rocket man.
David,
Just wanted to tell you Wolfie and me both love A is for Astronaut. So much information! A very good challenge for a 2 and a half year old.
Wolfie also really likes this song we have on a Sesame Street CDROM called "In the Neighborhood." Don't you remember that song from the oldschool Seseame Street episodes?
Anyway, one of the people in the neighborhood is an astronaut. Wolfie kept screaming for the ASTRONAUT! ASTRONAUT! So "A is for Astronaut" was a big hit as you can imagine.
Is the rocket numbered 00000, perchance? And who ordered this thing anyway? I thought Captain Blicero was dead.
A screaming comes across the sky. It has happened before, but there is nothing to compare it to now.
The perfect zombie delivery device for all your cold war needs.
What's Denmark's position on assisted suicide?
That question aside, that thing looks like a rocket-powered vibrator.
I get claustrophobic just looking at the picture.
Oh man I had to re-read this title like 10 times. I kept seeing it as a super-mangled version of "Copenhagen Suborbitals for shooting humans into space" and couldnt fathom how it had gotten so badly mangled. I get it now, but I was awfully confused for a while. :p
Damn, sign me up!
@nanuq #5, jacuzzi in the capsule is not a bad idea at all - it'd mostly solve the G-force problem. The downside would be the mass of the water, though that can be ameliorated by making it somewhat form-fitted. Or just charging extra.
You know those companies that offer to take your ashes, and send them into space...
They should've called it the "SC2000" as an homage to the UCB.
"It's a.... space coffin"
"...2000"
"Nooooooooooooooooo!"
Where is the heat shield? This thing looks like it would burn up during reentry. The dome is at the top, so from where does the parachute deploy? From the bottom? Did they even think to include a parachute? Plus the previously mentioned G-force to the nads issue...
I'm not a rocket surgeon but I think they need to do some serious redesigns on this one.
Reminds of "The Mouray's Keep" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_repaire_de_la_mur%C3%A8ne), where they build a similar looking submarine.
Go Denmark!
With #35, where's the heat shield and parachute?
Maybe this thing won't actually have a problem with re-entry (and heat)?
"Economy space travel" - an idea that's as good as it sounds.