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Open Source Spaceships Anyone?

Bobby Travis

Open Source Spaceships Anyone? Copenhagen Suborbitals | 40Tech

Forget the internet. Forget a fancy new smartphone or crazy new tablet. I want a rocket. You read me right. A rocket. Apparently civilian spaceflight is all the rage these days and I want in!

The latest development in firing regular folks into space happened Friday afternoon at about 3PM Danish time, as the non-profit, OPEN SOURCE group, Copenhagen Suborbitals launched a rocket into space. There was nobody in it — this time — but there could have been, and they are now one giant leap closer to that day.

The launch wasn’t all roses. They had some engine problems in the beginning, and some parachute problems at the end — overall, though, it was a huge success. Read on for a few images and a video of the launch.

Tycho Brahe Single Occupant Test Rocket | Suborbital Civilian Space Flight

Copenhagen Suborbitals | Civilian Spaceship Rocket Launch 1 Copenhagen Suborbitals | Civilian Spaceship Rocket Launch 2 Copenhagen Suborbitals | Civilian Spaceship Rocket Launch 3

Copenhagen Suborbitals | Civilian Spaceship Rocket Launch 4

Launch Video

The video drags a bit, as most of the conversation is in what I presume to be Danish, and you lose visual on the rocket early on. I have to say though, when that thing accelerates to supersonic — it’s pretty frickin’ cool!

All said and done, it’s not as fancy as the Virgin feathering-spaceship, but the fact that Copenhagen Suborbitals did all this on what was comparatively a shoestring budget hints at good things in the near future.

Personal rockets, man! Personal rockets!!!

What do you think?