Author Topic: Space Ship Two - General Thread  (Read 737531 times)

Offline yg1968

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Offline yg1968

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Re: Space Ship Two - Updates
« Reply #621 on: 06/21/2012 03:54 am »

Offline JBF

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Re: Space Ship Two - Updates
« Reply #622 on: 06/21/2012 12:53 pm »
Summary of hybrid motor test of today:
http://www.scaled.com/projects/rocketmotortwo_hot-fire_test_summaries

Quote
First full scale firing of a rocket motor at Scaled’s test site under full control of the spaceship’s Rocket Motor Controller (RMC). All objectives achieved.

Sounds like they are getting close
"In principle, rocket engines are simple, but that’s the last place rocket engines are ever simple." Jeff Bezos

Offline Alexsander

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Re: Space Ship Two - Updates
« Reply #623 on: 06/21/2012 01:16 pm »
Summary of hybrid motor test of today:
http://www.scaled.com/projects/rocketmotortwo_hot-fire_test_summaries

Quote
First full scale firing of a rocket motor at Scaled’s test site under full control of the spaceship’s Rocket Motor Controller (RMC). All objectives achieved.

Sounds like they are getting close

Finally. After 8 years, I was beginning to think they would be swallowed by competition or forced to lower the price earlier than predicted.

Offline spectre9

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Re: Space Ship Two - Updates
« Reply #624 on: 06/22/2012 12:39 am »
The idea is perfect control coming back down from 100km with no TPS just a folding wing.

Since when wasn't that the hard bit?  :P

Offline QuantumG

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Human spaceflight is basically just LARPing now.

Offline sdsds

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Re: Space Ship Two - Updates
« Reply #626 on: 06/25/2012 03:57 am »
Furthering the point being made by Doug Messier, the report from Scaled includes neither the intended nor the achieved duration of the test firing.

Have there been descriptions of what kind of flight the smaller "starter" engine would enable? Will it e.g. take the vehicle supersonic? Or is it more just a matter of, "See we did powered flight!"
— 𝐬𝐝𝐒𝐝𝐬 —

Offline spectre9

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Re: Space Ship Two - Updates
« Reply #627 on: 06/25/2012 06:50 am »
Suggesting that they might start testing with an engine that can't make it to 100km?

I am very concerned about the reentry more than anything really.

This is much heavier than SS1 so it hits the atmosphere with lots of force. I'm thinking they want to take it very easy here and will do lots of testing well below 100km which is why they might not need a full fat RM2 at this point.

Offline QuantumG

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Re: Space Ship Two - Updates
« Reply #628 on: 06/25/2012 11:03 am »
Suggesting that they might start testing with an engine that can't make it to 100km?

They already said they were going to do that.

Human spaceflight is basically just LARPing now.

Offline Jason1701

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Re: Space Ship Two - Updates
« Reply #629 on: 06/29/2012 02:45 am »
Now it's out that the firing at Mojave was the full RM2. Also, there's been another glide flight (the first since last September) and a SN RM2 firing.

Offline QuantumG

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Re: Space Ship Two - Updates
« Reply #630 on: 06/29/2012 02:48 am »
Yep, really does seem like they're pushing ahead.
Human spaceflight is basically just LARPing now.

Offline yg1968

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Re: Space Ship Two - Updates
« Reply #631 on: 06/29/2012 04:56 pm »
Now it's out that the firing at Mojave was the full RM2. Also, there's been another glide flight (the first since last September) and a SN RM2 firing.

Here is the link to an article on the June 26th test with a retraction for their blog about the June 20th test:
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/06/28/spaceshiptwo-completes-glide-test-rocketmotortwo-fired-twice-in-one-week/#more-40342

See also the results of the June 26th test:
http://www.scaled.com/projects/rocketmotortwo_hot-fire_test_summaries
« Last Edit: 06/29/2012 04:59 pm by yg1968 »

Offline Olaf

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Re: Space Ship Two - Updates
« Reply #632 on: 06/30/2012 06:43 pm »
It seems, that Mr. Mackay has carrying out his first flight on SpaceShip Two.
http://www.scaled.com/projects/spaceshiptwo_test_summaries
Quote
Flight: 88 / GF18 
Date: 29 Jun 12  Flight Time: 13 min 
SS2 Pilot: Stucky SS2 CoPilot: Mackay

Offline QuantumG

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Re: Space Ship Two - Updates
« Reply #633 on: 06/30/2012 11:32 pm »
It seems, that Mr. Mackay has carrying out his first flight on SpaceShip Two.
http://www.scaled.com/projects/spaceshiptwo_test_summaries
Quote
Flight: 88 / GF18 
Date: 29 Jun 12  Flight Time: 13 min 
SS2 Pilot: Stucky SS2 CoPilot: Mackay

mmmkay.

Human spaceflight is basically just LARPing now.

Offline Alpha Control

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Re: Space Ship Two - Updates
« Reply #634 on: 07/03/2012 10:22 pm »
Update from Aviation Week today.

Note to UK residents: A full-scale replica of SpaceShipTwo will be on display at the Farnborough air show in England next week.

http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:04ce340e-4b63-4d23-9695-d49ab661f385&plckPostId=Blog%3a04ce340e-4b63-4d23-9695-d49ab661f385Post%3a664b86e0-dfbc-4a8a-8905-84aaa027a2e2

It is noted in the AW news item that Scaled has modified the tail strakes:
"...the change is important for countering a tail stall condition uncovered during tests last September."  There are photos in the news item.
Space launches attended:
Antares/Cygnus ORB-D1 Wallops Island, VA Sept 2013 | STS-123 KSC, FL March 2008 | SpaceShipOne Mojave, CA June 2004

Offline nacnud

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Re: Space Ship Two - Updates
« Reply #635 on: 07/03/2012 11:03 pm »
I'll be at Farnborough. I'll try to take lots of pictures :)

Offline Alpha Control

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Re: Space Ship Two - Updates
« Reply #636 on: 07/04/2012 01:53 am »
I'll be at Farnborough. I'll try to take lots of pictures :)

Great! Thanks so much! They will be enjoyable to look forward to. It will be interesting to see if they have the cabin open for visitors or not. Either way, it will be nice to see any photos that you can get.

A little OT: My father was an exchange student at the nearby Empire Test Pilot School in the 50s, and years later was a regular attendee at many of the  Farnborough airshows. I think he will enjoy seeing pictures of a soon-to-be space flying machine from the same airshow. :)
Space launches attended:
Antares/Cygnus ORB-D1 Wallops Island, VA Sept 2013 | STS-123 KSC, FL March 2008 | SpaceShipOne Mojave, CA June 2004

Offline yg1968

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Re: Space Ship Two - Updates
« Reply #637 on: 07/04/2012 03:34 pm »
A bit of an update can be found on the Spaceport America website:

http://spaceportamerica.com/happenings/newsletter-2/

Quote
Anchor tenant Virgin Galactic announced the return of Spaceship Two to flight status after its down time for a few months for upgrades.  Upgrades were necessary so that the vehicle can transition from subsonic glide flights to supersonic, rocket-powered flights.  In late May, vehicle supplier Scaled Composites was granted an Experimental Permit by the FAA to conduct these rocket powered test flights.
« Last Edit: 07/04/2012 03:34 pm by yg1968 »

Offline Moe Grills

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Re: Space Ship Two - Updates
« Reply #638 on: 07/04/2012 08:18 pm »
A bit of an update can be found on the Spaceport America website:

http://spaceportamerica.com/happenings/newsletter-2/

Quote
Anchor tenant Virgin Galactic announced the return of Spaceship Two to flight status after its down time for a few months for upgrades.  Upgrades were necessary so that the vehicle can transition from subsonic glide flights to supersonic, rocket-powered flights.  In late May, vehicle supplier Scaled Composites was granted an Experimental Permit by the FAA to conduct these rocket powered test flights.

Doesn't really explain if a functional, full weight rocket motor has FINALLY
been integrated into the SS2 for drop-glide tests.

Offline Alpha Control

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Re: Space Ship Two - Updates
« Reply #639 on: 07/06/2012 09:43 pm »
Another Aviation Week article today, in advance of next week's Farnborough Air Show.

The article includes comments on flight test resumption & envelope expansion, RM2 testing, and brake modifications because of the heavier weight of the propulsion system.

http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_07_09_2012_p0119-470458.xml&p=1
Space launches attended:
Antares/Cygnus ORB-D1 Wallops Island, VA Sept 2013 | STS-123 KSC, FL March 2008 | SpaceShipOne Mojave, CA June 2004

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