SPUTNIK (MOBILE LAUNCH PLATFORM)
In order to launch at sea we need an off shore launch complex.
To serve this purpose we have build a 13.7x12 meters steel catamaran.
From 2011 itīs twin 12x1x13.7 steel hulls each
contain one Kubota D722 diesel engine making the platform a self propelled sea launch complex.
The platform is designed for maximum stability - and minimum complexity in fabrication. All of the sheet
metal that forms the hulls are used almost uncut, directly as delivered. This makes the construction very simple.
The center of the launch platform has the 12 meter high 90 degree elevated launch tower. Its a steel rail that fits the launch vehicle, and guides its initial trajectory. After the rail is cleared the rocket will be
passively stable, due to the aft static fins. As airspeed increases the rocket is guided the planned trajectory.
The guide rail also functions as a access and service tower for the launch vehicle. Two access
bridges allows the rocket technicians to fuel the launch vehicle with its - 182 C cold propellants and to operate the spacecraft.
The Sputnik platform must hold all materials and equipment needed to service the rocket and spacecraft. That includes propellant storage tanks, electrical supplies, communication and tracking equipment.
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Photo: Steen Andersen
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The Sputnik platform essentially provides the same function for us, as the MLP / crawler setup used at Kennedy Space Center. The mission starts near the HAB facility in Copenhagen. Here Sputnik stand on shore.
The launch service structure has a build-in crane which is used to stack the entire rocket. Its comes as three sections - and a separate payload - the Spacecraft. After this a heavy transport vehicle is placed
under the bridge connecting the two sputnik hulls and the whole setup is lifted with hydraulic jacks. It then makes the two and a half kilometer land voyage to the harbor key and a mobile crane launches it into the
Copenhagen Harbor. Form here Sputnik sails on her own power to the launch site. Currently we use an area in the Baltic Sea east of Bornholm - but in principle the platform can launch from any open sea.
Sputnik is designed to be as stable as possible in any given sea state. The recovery of the burned out rocket booster and the Spacecraft needs fairly good weather, so the platform was designed to allow launch in fairly
nice weather. Typically we can operate in a wave hight of up to 1 meter. This happens many times in the summer season - but as any off shore operation we are heavily depending on calm sea for launch.
It is however not Sputnik that is the limiting factor. Launch is possible at up to eight degrees of lift - and the figure to the right shows how the platform responded to the one meter waves experienced in September 2010
at the launch site. As it can be seen we operated under conditions well within the eight degree launch constraint.
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