Gallery: Wired Readers' Space Capsule Hatch Designs
01diy-space-capsules
[Some time ago I asked the Wired readers if they would like to contribute in the design process of the Tycho Deep Space space capsule hatch](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/suggest-a-hatch-design-for-space-capsule-tycho-deep-space/) . After receiving so much great work on the uprighting issues by Wired readers I thought it might also be the case for this job. I thought it would perhaps bring me a few ideas, but I was literally bombarded with fantastic sketches and ideas. How amazing is that!? So, to everyone who did send me ideas and drawings: Thank you so much! Also, it is never too late to send me more stuff. Inspirational sketches and ideas are always welcome and I love the process of opening up the project and letting people hit me with their two cents. There are many great minds out there and surely they are very much represented among the Wired audience. I have received about 30 ideas so far, and in this gallery I show some of them. If your idea is not represented here please accept my apologies and know that your idea was received and considered here at Copenhagen Suborbitals. I also got a lot of explanatory text with all of the ideas, which is impossible to present to you in full, so I will either make a quick summarization on the basics or let the drawing do the talking based on the text added to them. Please enjoy and study the work…
02christian-merrild
Concept 1 --------- [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/wired-readers-space-capsule-hatch-designs/christian-merrild_01/) *Ideas/Images: Christian Merrild*
03jordan-larson
Concept 2 --------- *Video: Jordan Larson*
04jeppe-norsker
Concept 3 --------- *Idea/image: Jeppe Norsker*
05pedro-alegria01
Concept 4 --------- *Idea/image: Pedro Alegria*
06cliff-williams-wired
Concept 5 --------- Two identical plates for inside and outside. Locked with electromagnets. *Idea/image: Cliff Williams*
07michael-ryan
Concept 6 --------- [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/wired-readers-space-capsule-hatch-designs/michaelryan02/) [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/wired-readers-space-capsule-hatch-designs/michaelryan03/) [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/wired-readers-space-capsule-hatch-designs/michaelryan04/) [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/wired-readers-space-capsule-hatch-designs/michaelryan05/) [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/wired-readers-space-capsule-hatch-designs/michaelryan06/) *Ideas/images: Michael Ryan*
08tommy-poulsen
Concept 7 --------- Translation: Vacuum door with outer and inner door plates. [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/wired-readers-space-capsule-hatch-designs/tommy-poulsen02/) Translation: Attach both sides and create a vacuum to hold door in place and for sealing. [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/wired-readers-space-capsule-hatch-designs/tommy-poulsen03/) Translation: Hatch release done by venting (can be done from both sides). *Ideas/Images: Tommy Poulsen*
09simon-barnard
Concept 8 --------- [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/wired-readers-space-capsule-hatch-designs/simonbarnard01/) *Ideas/images: Simon Barnard*
10bjoern-larsen
Concept 9 --------- [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/wired-readers-space-capsule-hatch-designs/bjoern_larsen_spaceship-hatch-sketch-02/) *Ideas/images: Bjørn Larsen*
11bruno-balmes
Concept 10 ---------- *Above and below: Hatch as one big bolt. Left: outside handle, middle: inside handle.* All of the ideas are in many way useful, either as a general idea in whole or as small hidden concepts which are interesting when used in various combinations. Right off the bat I really like ideas like Jeppe Norsker´s double flange, providing an opening option from both sides. However, this is still complex to create when your hatch is not placed on a flat surface, but a cone. The cone itself probably provides the biggest challenge because the hatch will be handmade in the end, even though many parts will be laser cut. We still flipped through all of the concepts given to us and there are no real conclusions yet. But, we will naturally share this process with you soon and hope you have enjoyed participating so far. There will most likely be more challenges for the readers later on. Stay tuned. Your brain might just save the day -- or a life! __Thanks to the contributors:__ - Cliff Williams - Bjørn Larsen - Jordan Larson - Christian Merrild - Tommy Poulsen - John Aarts - Pedro Alegria - Bruno Balmes - Sid Clinton - Dave Howes - Andrew Hsia - Matthew Latimer - David (Tomakali) - Michael Ryan - Dion Dixon - Jeppe Norsker - Jens Lindhard - Aigar Rullinkoff Ad Astra Kristian von Bengtson [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/wired-readers-space-capsule-hatch-designs/brunobalmes_06/) [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/wired-readers-space-capsule-hatch-designs/brunobalmes_07/) [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/wired-readers-space-capsule-hatch-designs/brunobalmes_05/) *Ideas/images: Bruno Balmes*
