Wait... Denmark Has an Amateur Space Program? | 166

Wait... Denmark Has an Amateur Space Program? | 166

July 7, 2026 · 35 min

About this episode

This episode explores Denmark's unique amateur space program led by volunteers from various backgrounds.

Most people think sending someone to space is something only governments or billionaires can do. In Denmark, a group of volunteers disagrees. In this episode, Derek and Conrad are joined by Jørn Skyt, from Copenhagen Suborbitals, the volunteer-run organization working to become the first amateur team in the world to launch a human into space. We talk about how nearly 80 volunteers from all walks of life - engineers and welders to artists and teachers - are building rockets in their spare time, one ambitious step at a time. This episode is about more than rockets, it highlights one of Denmark's most unique cultural strengths: the power of foreninger (voluntary associations), trust, and the freedom for ordinary people to pursue extraordinary ideas together. Along the way we discuss: 🚀 Why Copenhagen Suborbitals exists 🇩🇰 How Danish association culture makes a project like this possible ⚙️ What it actually takes to build a rocket on a volunteer budget 🌍 Why people from around the world contribute to the project 👨‍🚀 Who will eventually become Denmark's first amateur astronaut Learn more about Copenhagen Suborbitals, support their work, or book their workshop tour through the…

People in this episode

Host: Derek Hartman

Guest: Jørn Skyt

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Copenhagen Suborbitals

Places: Denmark, Copenhagen

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