Author Topic: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle  (Read 108146 times)

Offline Oli

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #40 on: 10/05/2013 10:06 pm »
Quote from: ChrisWilson68
This may be more like a letter of intent that a firm order with financing to back it up.

Its safe to say both companies have to survive and S3 has to be able to offer launch at the contracted price and date. Both are not given.

Quote from: ChrisWilson68
What's the rest 245kg of the predicted capacity?

Good point. I guess Spacepharma could launch 5kg for less than ~$10m on another launcher, so I doubt they'll pay for the full launch.

Personally of course I doubt the minisat business alone will pay for the development of that reusable shuttle and the required infrastructure. We'll see.


« Last Edit: 10/05/2013 10:35 pm by Oli »

Offline Danderman

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #41 on: 10/05/2013 11:26 pm »
In general, Europeans don't do many space projects unless ESA is behind it.

Offline Oli

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #42 on: 10/06/2013 02:41 am »
Quote from: Danderman
In general, Europeans don't do many space projects unless ESA is behind it.

Right, because the satellite industry has nothing to do with space at all. And of course, NASA is totally not financing Orbital's Antares or SpaceX's Falcon. If you take NASA and the DoD out of the equation there is not much of relevance left except Virgin Galactic (which is somewhat British) and XCOR.

That said, S3 is backed by relatively big players in the aerospace industry, otherwise I would not put much faith in it.
« Last Edit: 10/06/2013 02:46 am by Oli »

Offline holgar5

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #43 on: 10/07/2013 08:08 pm »
It seems to be they are aiming now for spaceports in Canada, the US and Spain. Does this mean that launches from the Payerne airport in Switzerland are now ruled out?
http://news.yahoo.com/space-junk-cleanup-satellite-launching-swiss-space-plane-114452327.html

Offline fatjohn1408

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #44 on: 10/08/2013 08:29 am »
That said, S3 is backed by relatively big players in the aerospace industry, otherwise I would not put much faith in it.

Oh are they?
They could just be putting up a logo on their site as a technical advisor as soon as they had a phone conversation with someone in some institution are company.

Offline holgar5

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #45 on: 10/08/2013 09:39 pm »
Swiss Space Systems plans to operate from the US as a MOU with the spaceport of Colorado was signed: http://www.s-3.ch/en/home/2013/10/08/spaceport-colorado-and-s3-sign-memorandum-of-understanding .

Offline jongoff

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #46 on: 10/08/2013 10:27 pm »
Swiss Space Systems plans to operate from the US as a MOU with the spaceport of Colorado was signed: http://www.s-3.ch/en/home/2013/10/08/spaceport-colorado-and-s3-sign-memorandum-of-understanding.

While I'm glad to see the news, and would be stoked to see suborbital and orbital launches out of Denver, an MOU is only a very early step in the process towards a system this complex. Two risky (but hopefully successful) ventures signing MOUs with each other doesn't really reduce the riskiness of either of the ventures, unfortunately.

~Jon

Offline Lurker Steve

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #47 on: 10/09/2013 11:41 pm »
What is it about Colorado that attracts so many aerospace companies ?

I know the weather is a bit milder than what we get in Chicago, but it's still a Northern climate.

Offline QuantumG

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #48 on: 10/09/2013 11:58 pm »
What is it about Colorado that attracts so many aerospace companies ?

It's not California.
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Online Eric Hedman

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #49 on: 10/10/2013 12:11 am »
What is it about Colorado that attracts so many aerospace companies ?

It's not California.
That is probably reason number one if California is a bit much for you to take on a regular basis.  There are several others reasons including the cost of living being less..  I've been to Colorado many times and it is a beautiful state.  It also reached a critical mass with the number of aerospace workers.  There is a good local talent pool.  It also has the advantage that it isn't that far from California compared to anything east of there so it's not that difficult to work with California companies.    Denver is also a major airline travel hub so it is fairly easy to get anywhere from there.

Offline Lars_J

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #50 on: 10/10/2013 12:21 am »
So has there been any more information released about the technical aspects (like stages) of this? Putting a winged RLV on top of a commercial jetliner sounds great in theory, although you quickly realize that your orbital payload shrinks to something veeeery small - if anything.

Offline Rocket Science

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #51 on: 10/10/2013 12:28 am »
What is it about Colorado that attracts so many aerospace companies ?

It's not California.
That is probably reason number one if California is a bit much for you to take on a regular basis.  There are several others reasons including the cost of living being less..  I've been to Colorado many times and it is a beautiful state.  It also reached a critical mass with the number of aerospace workers.  There is a good local talent pool.  It also has the advantage that it isn't that far from California compared to anything east of there so it's not that difficult to work with California companies.    Denver is also a major airline travel hub so it is fairly easy to get anywhere from there.
The U.S. Air Force Space Command was the center of operations during the Cold War at Peterson Air Force Base. Convair built their missiles in the state bringing in a large talent pool.
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Offline fatjohn1408

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #52 on: 10/10/2013 02:44 pm »
where are they going to launch in Europe? Have they made that info public yet?

Offline R7

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #53 on: 10/10/2013 06:56 pm »
So has there been any more information released about the technical aspects (like stages) of this?

Nothing much except the promo video and flight plan. The winged 'orca' is suborbital and deploys apparently expendable upper stage.

About the Colorado MoU, what are the chances that actual orbital launches are allowed from central US ? The danger zone paints across the continent, unlike up'n'down suborbital joyrides.
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Offline RanulfC

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #54 on: 10/10/2013 09:27 pm »
So has there been any more information released about the technical aspects (like stages) of this?

Nothing much except the promo video and flight plan. The winged 'orca' is suborbital and deploys apparently expendable upper stage.

About the Colorado MoU, what are the chances that actual orbital launches are allowed from central US ? The danger zone paints across the continent, unlike up'n'down suborbital joyrides.

Actually does it? You have a pretty postive "controlled abort" operation all the way to the expendable stage seperation point. Up then you can always "glide" back if there is a failure, and if the staging point/velocity/trajectory is right any failure of the expendable stage could dump in the ocean or away from populated areas so your risk is much less.

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British physics, old chap. It's undignified to belch flames and effluvia all over the pad, what. A true gentlemen's orbital conveyance lifts itself into the air unostentatiously, with the minimum of spectacle and a modicum of grace. Not like our American cousins' launch vehicles, eh?

Offline Robotbeat

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #55 on: 10/11/2013 01:26 am »
What is it about Colorado that attracts so many aerospace companies ?

It's not California.
...and isn't Texas.

Colorado is a wonderful place. I recommend it.

Sunbelt states are over-rated. ;)
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Offline simonbp

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #56 on: 10/15/2013 06:34 am »
The U.S. Air Force Space Command was the center of operations during the Cold War at Peterson Air Force Base. Convair built their missiles in the state bringing in a large talent pool.

Martin, you mean. Convair Astronautics was in San Diego, and Atlas production didn't move to Denver until after Martin bought Convair Astro from General Dynamics in 1994.

Offline Lurker Steve

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #57 on: 10/15/2013 12:35 pm »
I knew that LM has a large presence in the Denver / Boulder area. SNC is there also, correct ?

I was really wondering why companies like Altius Space Machines open shop there. Jon could have just opened up show down the road from Masten, and not needed to relocate, right ? What makes the environment attractive for startups like Altius and Swiss Space ?

Offline simonbp

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #58 on: 10/16/2013 04:54 pm »
Getting way OT, but just to finish the thought. Denver was an aviation hub back in the pre-war era (more aircraft were built in Colorado in the 1920s than in the rest of the country), which led to Martin-Denver being a rather large concern after the war. When Martin-Marietta decided to focus on non-aircraft aerospace, Martin-Denver in turn focused on space stuff (e.g. Titan and Viking). Also, the USAF set up their Space Command just north of Denver. This then built up a supplier base, some which became prime contractors in their own right (e.g. Ball and SNC). Boulder has more traditionally focused on the space science side, because that's where the University is.
« Last Edit: 10/16/2013 04:55 pm by simonbp »

Offline Oli

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Re: Swiss Space Systems - reusable air-launched vehicle
« Reply #59 on: 02/02/2014 02:08 pm »
I've seen a presentation of S3's CEO on youtube (in German with thick French accent, ).

Shuttle will go to Mach 10.

50 employees in October 2013 (date of presentation), each month around 10% more. In addition 200+ employees at other companies. Also he showed which companies are working on which parts of the system. Seems like development is well underway.
« Last Edit: 02/02/2014 03:49 pm by Oli »

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