#SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo are outside now. If everything looks good and the weather cooperates, today we go for a glide test flight
November 01, 2016Update From Mojave: The Next Phase Of Flight TestIn September, VSS Unity took to the skies for the first time. It was a fulfilling and emotional experience for our team—but even more so, it was an opportunity to collect great data. Using our carrier airplane, WhiteKnightTwo VMS Eve, as a ‘flying wind tunnel,’ we captured terabytes of extremely valuable data from a nearly four hour long flight.After thoroughly analyzing that data and completing other planned work on VSS Unity, we are nearly ready to move into the next phase of flight. The results from September’s test were encouraging enough that the team agreed that no further captive carry flights are needed. The next time VSS Unity takes to the sky, we plan for her to be released from the mothership and to glide home on her own for the first time ever.This test will be the first of a sequence of glide test flights. These flights will cumulatively allow us to test and prove the performance of the vehicle in a variety of conditions: both heavy (e.g. simulating the full weight of a load of fuel, oxidizer, and people) and light (with empty tanks) and in between, at a variety of flight path angles and airspeeds, and so forth.This testing of the “corners of the box” is designed to demonstrate how VSS Unity will perform as it returns from space, after the feather system is retracted and the vehicle becomes a glider and lands on the runway like an airplane. In addition, this phase of flight will also demonstrate and test our abort modes – which culminate in a safe glide back to the runway.Our team of flight test experts has developed a set of requirements for each planned test flight as well as detailing exactly what we need to test in order to be ready to proceed to the next phase of rocket powered flights. We will fly as many flights as we need to in order to achieve all these objectives.Our first glide flight will be focused on testing the fundamental performance and handling qualities of VSS Unity. For this first test, we will keep the vehicle at a light weight and will place a “speed limit” on the pilots (Mach 0.6). Once we analyze the results from this test, we will be cleared to go faster on subsequent tests.We’re excited to take this next step on our road to space. In the graphic below, you can see where this milestone puts us on that journey—a lot of hard work behind us and still a lot of important work yet to do.Please stay tuned to this site and our social media channels (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn) for more information as our flight testing program progresses. Although we will not livestream the upcoming test flight, we will post information on Twitter in real time.The Testing Road to Space - Infographic (attached)
Virgin Galactic @virgingalactic 54s55 seconds agoWheels up! WhiteKnightTwo & VSS Unity are now in the air. Photos coming soon. #SpaceShipTwo
Virgin Galactic @virgingalactic 6m6 minutes agoImages: VSS Unity and mothership VMS Eve shortly after takeoff this morning. Stay tuned for updates on today's test flight #SpaceShipTwo
Virgin Galactic @virgingalacticCrosswinds were high & gusty here in Mojave--which scrubbed the glide portion of today's flight. Still, valuable data gathered
Virgin Galactic @virgingalactic 2m2 minutes agoHoping to conduct another #SpaceShipTwo test flight today. Tuesday's flight went very well, but high winds prevented gliding VSS Unity
Virgin Galactic @virgingalactic 20m20 minutes agoWeather looking better today than it did last time around. Currently looking good for flight #SpaceShipTwo
Virgin Galactic @virgingalactic 2m2 minutes agoVSS Unity during pre flight checks. Now taxiing to runway. Will provide real time updates here! #SpaceShipTwo
Virgin Galactic @virgingalactic 15m15 minutes agoWheels up! WhiteKnightTwo & #SpaceShipTwo are now in the air. Photos coming soon.
Virgin Galactic @virgingalactic 9m9 minutes agoToday is 3rd ever flight for VSS Unity (216th for WhiteKnightTwo) #SpaceShipTwo
Virgin Galactic @virgingalactic 26s26 seconds agoMission control reports all is going smoothly. If they elect to go forward with release/glide, that should happen in ~10 mins. #SpaceShipTwo
Virgin Galactic @virgingalactic 4m4 minutes agoWe’re excited to glide, but the team wants another look at something, so headed back to land today as mated pair. #SpaceShipTwo
Parabolicarc.com @spacecom 1m1 minute ago Mojave, CA#SpaceShipTwo and momma bird now back on the ground.
Virgin Galactic @virgingalactic 34s34 seconds agoThe mated vehicles have landed for the conclusion of today's mission. We'll be back out again soon! #SpaceShipTwo
Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo Receives Performance BoostNov 2, 2016 Guy Norris | Aviation Week & Space TechnologyVirgin Galactic test pilots have developed new procedures that significantly improve takeoff and balanced field length performance of the fully laden WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) carrier aircraft. The new capability, which in some cases reduces takeoff distance by 40% or more, will give Virgin greater operational flexibility when launching heavy payloads such as the SpaceShipTwo (SS2) suborbital space vehicle for which the WK2 was originally developed. In particular, performance will be improved ...
This Aviation Week article sounds interesting. Clearly a bit of a PR drive on VGs part.As it's AV you need a subscription to view. Here's all that's visible on the public page:QuoteVirgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo Receives Performance BoostNov 2, 2016 Guy Norris | Aviation Week & Space TechnologyVirgin Galactic test pilots have developed new procedures that significantly improve takeoff and balanced field length performance of the fully laden WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) carrier aircraft. The new capability, which in some cases reduces takeoff distance by 40% or more, will give Virgin greater operational flexibility when launching heavy payloads such as the SpaceShipTwo (SS2) suborbital space vehicle for which the WK2 was originally developed. In particular, performance will be improved ...http://aviationweek.com/new-space/virgin-galactic-s-whiteknighttwo-receives-performance-boost
Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 11/03/2016 03:25 pmThis Aviation Week article sounds interesting. Clearly a bit of a PR drive on VGs part.As it's AV you need a subscription to view. Here's all that's visible on the public page:QuoteVirgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo Receives Performance BoostNov 2, 2016 Guy Norris | Aviation Week & Space TechnologyVirgin Galactic test pilots have developed new procedures that significantly improve takeoff and balanced field length performance of the fully laden WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) carrier aircraft. The new capability, which in some cases reduces takeoff distance by 40% or more, will give Virgin greater operational flexibility when launching heavy payloads such as the SpaceShipTwo (SS2) suborbital space vehicle for which the WK2 was originally developed. In particular, performance will be improved ...http://aviationweek.com/new-space/virgin-galactic-s-whiteknighttwo-receives-performance-boostOne of the main improvements was upgrading to physically stronger pilots. The limiting factor on takeoff trust was the torque induced if an engine failed. To counter this you need (strong) rudder input. By upgrading the pilot to be able to stomp on the pedal with 225 pounds-force (weight of 102 kg person) instead of a mere 150 pounds-force (weight of a 68 kg person), they were able to use a much larger thrust. This was a surprise to me - I thought these major strength requirements went out about WW-II.