Q: When did the project start?
A: In May 2008, when Kristian von Bengtson and Peter Madsen met and decided to do this full time.
Q: What is your goal with the project?
A: To be able to launch human beings into space. We are starting out with suborbitals spaceflight, but are also thinking about doing LEO mission.
Q: How long will it take, to get a person into space?
A: As long as it takes. We are designing and building our own rockets, spacecraft, hardware and software, performing tests to
learn more. Until we find it to be safe and reliable we are flying a crash test dummy.
Q: Are you trying to be the first Danes in space?
A: No. We dont believe in such a competition and done care about it.
Q: Is Copenhagen Suborbitals a company?
A: No. It's a non profit association. No one is hired and no one can be paid.
Q: Can I buy a seat for a rocket as a "space tourist"?
A: Probably not. We are not a company and are not doing this for profit. We do this for fun and to inspire people around the world.
But we do hope our project can help moving the space tourism industry along.
Q: Can I as a private person join the project, apply for a job or an internship?
A: At the moment no. We are pretty much fully booked in all technical areas. Also, we are not able to hire anyone for a paid job. We do have internships once in a while. In general, we are always happy to hear from you if you are interested in being a part of the project. We are mostly looking for people with a blacksmith background, rather than academic degrees.
Q: Isn't it dangerous to fly a home made rocket?
A: We guess so. Life can be dangerous, but we believe you should spend the one life you have well, doing things that gives you pleasure
and push yourself to the limit. Also, we dont believe it is more dangerous to fly our rocket than the US space shuttle.
Q: How can you afford such a project and who is paying for this?
A: We dont have a very high budget. App 60.000 dollars a year, so far. This is possible because we use simple materials, normal
production methods (milling, laith, anvil), a small group and no payrolls. The project is financed by supporters from all over the world.
Q: Do you have special R&D dogmas?
A: Yes. We always want to keep it simple. We try to cut a way systems, rather than adding more. We like to use mechanical solutions rather than
electronic. We keep most work in house, so we easily can copy our work independently.
Q: Why was Peter Madsen chosen to be the first pilot, and not Kristian von Bengtson?
A: Well. It was an internal discission. Peter Madsen wanted to fly first, and Kristian von Bengtson will rather wait to fly the LEO missions.
COPENHAGEN SUBORBITALS 2012 - ABSOLUTELY NO RIGHTS RESERVED
