Copenhagen Suborbitals rocket left standing in cloud of smoke

THE first launch attempt of a homemade rocket built by two Danes has failed due to a technical glitch.

Eccentric engineer Peter Madsen founded Copenhagen Suborbitals with Kristian von Bengston two years ago with the aim of building the world's largest amateur space rocket.

The pair raised more than $71,000 through online donations and used volunteers to build the HEAT1X rocket and the micro spacecraft it was supposed to launch, called Tycho Brahe-1.

Tycho Brahe-1 would eventually carry one human passenger, in a half-seated position, into space and back down again.

Unfortunately for Copenhagen Suborbitals, live footage of the launch off the Baltic island of Bornholm yesterday appeared to show brown smoke coming out of the rocket after the countdown.

Experts interviewed by TV2 News said the likely cause was a failure of the ignition system.
After an inspection, the builders of the rocket decided against a second launch and did not set a date for a new attempt.

Mr Madsen and Mr von Bengtsson intend "to show that with little financial means anyone can send a rocket into space, which is a privilege not just reserved for rich countries".

The launch had been delayed several times because of bad weather.

The prototype contained a mannequin and was aiming for an altitude of between 10 and 30km.

The duo hope to send a person into space within three or four years, which would make Denmark only the fourth nation to do so.