Copenhagen Suborbitals
Copenhagen Suborbitals is a Danish non-profit amateur spaceflight organization developing rocket engines and recoverable capsules for crewed suborbital flight, supported by volunteers, donors, merchandise, tours, and education services for spaceflight enthusiasts and learners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersCopenhagen, Denmark
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Copenhagen Suborbitals does
Copenhagen Suborbitals is a Copenhagen, Denmark-based private non-profit amateur spaceflight organization founded in 2008. It develops suborbital rocket and capsule systems with the stated goal of flying an amateur astronaut into space, serving a community of spaceflight enthusiasts, volunteer engineers, donors, supporters, visitors, and education or consultancy customers rather than a conventional enterprise customer base.
Its core program is Spica, a next-generation suborbital rocket system comprising the Spica Engine and Spica Capsule. The underlying technology includes ammonium perchlorate composite propellant rocket engines, a recoverable crew capsule for suborbital flight, the BPM-17 test engine and injector used to prepare the test stand for larger Spica engines, and a nitrogen-heater pressurization system tested at Refshaleøen. The organization has previously conducted multiple rocket missions, including HEAT-1X, Smaragd, Tycho Deep Space, Sapphire, HEAT-2X, Nexø I, and Nexø II.
The operating model is community-led and volunteer-driven. Revenue and support mechanisms include one-time donations, Support Club memberships, bank-transfer donations, Zazzle merchandise sales, guided tours, lectures, and teaching and consultancy services. Public pricing, revenue, customer logos, institutional funding rounds, and investor backing are not disclosed in the available data.
Copenhagen Suborbitals firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Copenhagen Suborbitals
- Legal name
- Copenhagen Suborbitals
- Website
- https://copsub.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Copenhagen Suborbitals is a Danish non-profit amateur spaceflight organization developing rocket engines and recoverable capsules for crewed suborbital flight, supported by volunteers, donors, merchandise, tours, and education services for spaceflight enthusiasts and learners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Copenhagen Suborbitals industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Amateur Suborbital Spaceflight
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets (IMABACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Reentry, Descent & Landing Systems (Capsules, Heat Shields, Parachutes) (IMABACAL), Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control (IMABACAF)
Keywords
Where Copenhagen Suborbitals is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Copenhagen
- HQ country
- Denmark
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Copenhagen Suborbitals business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations and Support Club Memberships: Copenhagen Suborbitals relies primarily on donations from supporters. They offer a Support Club membership option and accept one-time donations via bank transfer. The organization sends bank account details upon email request for bank transfer donations.
- Merchandise Sales: The organization operates online shops through Zazzle (EU and US storefronts) selling branded merchandise including apparel and accessories.
- Teaching and Consultancy Services: Copenhagen Suborbitals offers teaching and consultancy services, generating revenue through educational engagements and expertise sharing.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels11 records
Copenhagen Suborbitals product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Copenhagen Suborbitals is a volunteer-driven non-profit amateur spaceflight organization that designs, builds, and tests crewed suborbital rocket systems, with the current Spica program aimed at carrying an amateur astronaut into suborbital space. The organization also sells branded merchandise and offers paid guided facility tours and rocketry-related teaching and consultancy services.
Product overview
Copenhagen Suborbitals is a Danish volunteer-based amateur rocketry organization developing suborbital rocket technology with the goal of flying an amateur into space. Their core product is the Spica rocket system, comprising the Spica Engine and Spica Capsule. The organization has a history of mission vehicles including HEAT-1X (2011), Smaragd (2012), Tycho Deep Space (2013), Sapphire (2013), HEAT-2X (2014), Nexø I (2016), and Nexø II (2018). Beyond rocket development, they offer educational services including guided tours and teaching/consultancy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Spica Suborbital Rocket System The Spica program is Copenhagen Suborbitals' primary suborbital rocket project, designed to carry one amateur astronaut on a suborbital trajectory. The system consists of an ammonium perchlorate composite propellant rocket engine and a compact, recoverable crew capsule with splashdown landing.
- Guided Tours Paid on-site guided tours of Copenhagen Suborbitals' facilities at Refshaleøen, Copenhagen, giving visitors direct insight into the organization's rocket and capsule building operations.
- Teaching and Consultancy
Quantifiable outcome
- Fifteen minutes from ignition to splashdown in simulated flight profile
Companies that use Copenhagen Suborbitals
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Copenhagen Suborbitals technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Copenhagen Suborbitals partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Copenhagen Suborbitals competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Rocket Lab: Small-launch-vehicle manufacturer developing Electron and Neutron rockets; comparable in product category (small orbital/suborbital rockets) but operates as a commercial prime rather than non-profit.
- Blue Origin: Suborbital and orbital human spaceflight provider with New Shepard serving private passengers, directly addressing the same amateur/private-astronaut use case Copenhagen Suborbitals targets.
- SpaceX: Dominant global commercial launch provider whose Falcon 9 and Starship programs directly set the competitive bar for any suborbital or orbital amateur spaceflight endeavor.
- Virgin Galactic: Commercial suborbital human spaceflight operator pursuing the same end-state mission (private citizen suborbital flight) as Copenhagen Suborbitals, but at vastly greater scale and capital intensity.
Emerging players
- Astra: Small-launch-vehicle company developing the Rocket series for commercial smallsat delivery; overlaps with Copenhagen Suborbitals as a suborbital-to-orbital small launch player.
- Skyrora: UK-based small launch vehicle startup developing the Skyrora XL rocket; operates in the same European ecosystem and suborbital/orbital small-launch category as Copenhagen Suborbitals, though on a commercial footing.
- Firefly Aerospace: Small- and medium-lift launch vehicle developer (Alpha, MLV) comparable to Copenhagen Suborbitals in mission category (small rockets reaching space) though fully commercial.
Others
- Reaction Engines: UK advanced propulsion company developing SABRE engine and related rocket technologies; adjacent to Copenhagen Suborbitals' propulsion R&D, especially its novel propellant and pressurization systems.
Direct peers
- Reaction Research Society: Long-running amateur rocketry club that designs, builds, and tests liquid- and solid-propellant rockets. Comparable to Copenhagen Suborbitals as a non-commercial, member-driven experimental launch organization.
- JP Aerospace: All-volunteer amateur near-space organization that designs and flies high-altitude vehicles, sharing Copenhagen Suborbitals' grassroots, donation-funded ethos and DIY crewed spaceflight ambition.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Copenhagen Suborbitals social profiles
Digital presenceCopenhagen Suborbitals financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Copenhagen Suborbitals leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Copenhagen Suborbitals funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Copenhagen Suborbitals M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Copenhagen Suborbitals
What does Copenhagen Suborbitals do?
Copenhagen Suborbitals is a volunteer-driven non-profit amateur spaceflight organization that designs, builds, and tests crewed suborbital rocket systems, with the current Spica program aimed at carrying an amateur astronaut into suborbital space. The organization also sells branded merchandise and offers paid guided facility tours and rocketry-related teaching and consultancy services.
Is Copenhagen Suborbitals a public or private company?
Copenhagen Suborbitals is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Copenhagen Suborbitals founded?
Copenhagen Suborbitals was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Copenhagen Suborbitals based?
Copenhagen Suborbitals is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the Europe region.
How does Copenhagen Suborbitals make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Support Club Memberships are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales and teaching and Consultancy Services.
Who are Copenhagen Suborbitals's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Rocket Lab, Blue Origin, SpaceX and Virgin Galactic. Emerging players are Astra, Skyrora and Firefly Aerospace. Reaction Engines is listed as an others. Direct peers are Reaction Research Society and JP Aerospace.
Does Copenhagen Suborbitals have an API?
No public API is recorded for Copenhagen Suborbitals.
What industry is Copenhagen Suborbitals in?
Copenhagen Suborbitals's product category is Amateur Suborbital Spaceflight. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAA, Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets, with a secondary code of IMABACAL, Reentry, Descent & Landing Systems (Capsules, Heat Shields, Parachutes). Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.