Fly me to the moon! Why the future of space exploration will be crowd-funded

Arion McNicoll, for CNN
Updated 9:56 AM EDT, Thu August 15, 2013
Copenhagen Suborbitals, a crowd-funded Danish aerospace organization, is hoping to put a person in space by 2020. In 2011 the team successfully launched the HEAT 1X Tycho Brahe rocket. The ship lifted off perfectly, but only managed to ascend to an altitude of 2.8 km, because Mission Control had to shut the engine off after 21 seconds.
We have lift off —
Copenhagen Suborbitals, a crowd-funded Danish aerospace organization, is hoping to put a person in space by 2020. In 2011 the team successfully launched the HEAT 1X Tycho Brahe rocket. The ship lifted off perfectly, but only managed to ascend to an altitude of 2.8 km, because Mission Control had to shut the engine off after 21 seconds.
Courtesy Copenhagen Suborbitals
Copenhagen Suborbitals' Emerald rocket is a 5.7 meter two stage rocket (employing two engines for different parts of the mission) weighing 160 kg, intended to reach an altitude of 8 km. It was used for testing various technological aspects of the operation. All the not-for-profit organization's funding has come from small-scale donations from across the world.
Surface to air —
Copenhagen Suborbitals' Emerald rocket is a 5.7 meter two stage rocket (employing two engines for different parts of the mission) weighing 160 kg, intended to reach an altitude of 8 km. It was used for testing various technological aspects of the operation. All the not-for-profit organization's funding has come from small-scale donations from across the world.
Courtesy Copenhagen Suborbitals
Copenhagen Suborbitals was founded in 2008 by Kristian von Bengtson and Peter Madsen. Von Bengtson is responsible for the design and construction of the team's space capsules. Peter Madsen is in charge of rocket engine development.
Rocket men —
Copenhagen Suborbitals was founded in 2008 by Kristian von Bengtson and Peter Madsen. Von Bengtson is responsible for the design and construction of the team's space capsules. Peter Madsen is in charge of rocket engine development.
Courtesy Copenhagen Suborbitals
The Tycho Deep Space capsule was developed by Kristian von Bengtson. The first version of the capsule, nicknamed 'Beautiful Betty' was tested in 2012 off the coast of Bornholm.
Splash down —
The Tycho Deep Space capsule was developed by Kristian von Bengtson. The first version of the capsule, nicknamed 'Beautiful Betty' was tested in 2012 off the coast of Bornholm.
Courtesy Copenhagen Suborbitals
The Copenhagen Suborbitals team pulls Beautiful Betty from the sea. The capsule is two meters in diameter, and is built to house just one passenger lying horizontally.
Space. Ship. —
The Copenhagen Suborbitals team pulls Beautiful Betty from the sea. The capsule is two meters in diameter, and is built to house just one passenger lying horizontally.
Courtesy Copenhagen Suborbitals
Copenhagen Suborbitals spacecraft are powered by a hybrid rocket that uses liquid oxygen (LOX) as an oxidizer. The group has performed more than 30 tests of various engine types at their rocket engine test facility at Refshaleøen.
More power to you —
Copenhagen Suborbitals spacecraft are powered by a hybrid rocket that uses liquid oxygen (LOX) as an oxidizer. The group has performed more than 30 tests of various engine types at their rocket engine test facility at Refshaleøen.
Courtesy Copenhagen Suborbitals
Copenhagen Suborbitals' rocket holds the record for being the most powerful amateur rocket ever flown and the first amateur rocket flown with a payload of a full size crash test dummy. Kristian von Bengtson estimates that if funds continue to increase, they will be able to launch a manned mission into space by 2020
Test flight —
Copenhagen Suborbitals' rocket holds the record for being the most powerful amateur rocket ever flown and the first amateur rocket flown with a payload of a full size crash test dummy. Kristian von Bengtson estimates that if funds continue to increase, they will be able to launch a manned mission into space by 2020
Courtesy Copenhagen Suborbitals
Another crowd-funded project -- KickSat -- will launch in December, aiming to send a hundred 'Sprites' or micro satellites into low-altitude orbit. The project achieved full funding from online donations within two months of its launch.
Micro satellites —
Another crowd-funded project -- KickSat -- will launch in December, aiming to send a hundred 'Sprites' or micro satellites into low-altitude orbit. The project achieved full funding from online donations within two months of its launch.
Courtesy KickSat
Each micro satellite is the size of a couple of postage stamps. In spite of their size, each one will have solar cells, a radio transceiver, and a small computer on board, with memory and sensors. KickSat's inventor, Zac Manchester, says: 'This first version can't do much more than transmit its name and a few bits of data - think of it as a shrunken down Sputnik - but future versions could include any type of sensor that will fit, from thermometers to cameras.'
Small but perfectly formed —
Each micro satellite is the size of a couple of postage stamps. In spite of their size, each one will have solar cells, a radio transceiver, and a small computer on board, with memory and sensors. KickSat's inventor, Zac Manchester, says: 'This first version can't do much more than transmit its name and a few bits of data - think of it as a shrunken down Sputnik - but future versions could include any type of sensor that will fit, from thermometers to cameras.'
Courtesy KickSat
One of Zac Manchester's former research partners, Michael Johnson, is working on a crowd-sourced space program of his own called Pocket Spacecraft. Johnson hopes to 'create low cost, open source, open access, mass space exploration system that anyone can use.' His first mission will allow space enthusiasts around the world to send their own small spaceship to the moon.
Destination moon —
One of Zac Manchester's former research partners, Michael Johnson, is working on a crowd-sourced space prog