nacnud - 6/3/2006 3:49 AMAviation Week & Space Technology has revieled what it knows about a possible TSTO space plane, if true this is amazing!QuoteOver active imagination. I'm not convinced by this report.
rsp1202 - 6/3/2006 11:20 AMAssuming the story has its facts generally correct, the chances of transferring black program technology, especially something that's flown, over to the white world is nil. The companies that developed it could not pass the national security gauntlet to use it in their proprietary programs that might be considered for commercial use.
vt_hokie - 6/3/2006 10:22 AMQuotersp1202 - 6/3/2006 11:20 AMAssuming the story has its facts generally correct, the chances of transferring black program technology, especially something that's flown, over to the white world is nil. The companies that developed it could not pass the national security gauntlet to use it in their proprietary programs that might be considered for commercial use.So, then we spend billions on STS-derived SRB launch vehicles and Apollo-style capsules while superior technology just goes to waste? That's insane!
Jim - 6/3/2006 11:30 AMIt can't go to the moon.
It is too small to go to the ISS. Enlarging it would destroy it's economics.
vt_hokie - 6/3/2006 10:37 AMQuoteJim - 6/3/2006 11:30 AMIt can't go to the moon.That is true, but neither can the CEV capsule without an independently launched Earth departure stage. That's really a separate item from the crew vehicle. QuoteIt is too small to go to the ISS. Enlarging it would destroy it's economics.Surely, if it is manned, it's at least got capacity comparable to a Soyuz capsule. Even Dyna-Soar was envisioned as a vehicle that would service an orbiting laboratory.
Super George - 6/3/2006 12:12 PMLooks very nice, but has no practical multiple uses for it to be in the comparison range of the STS and CEV.
darkenfast - 6/3/2006 11:53 AMThis sounds more like a variation on the old SR-71/Drone concept. I'm not sure what would be gained from the second vehicle being manned.Regarding the modified C-5's: does anyone outside of the "conspiracy theory" crowd know anything about them?
Chris Bergin - 6/3/2006 7:29 AMQuoteJamesSpaceFlight - 6/3/2006 1:23 PMWhat the hell? Have they been hacking into British Aerospace's computers? This has ruffled a few feathers here as that's a little bit too much like a couple of our old projects.Looks like Hotol and the front and Concorde at the aft, but can you say anymore on what you mean above?
JamesSpaceFlight - 6/3/2006 1:23 PMWhat the hell? Have they been hacking into British Aerospace's computers? This has ruffled a few feathers here as that's a little bit too much like a couple of our old projects.
RRP - 6/3/2006 2:12 PMI still think the XB-70 was the coolest looking airplane to ever fly. Awesome machine...imho. GLad to see it has other fans and a second life as well. Read the AWST article. I can't imaging how they could have had pieces for XB-70 number 3 in a warehuse for decades. How many other bits of aircraft/spacecraft programs do we have in unnamed warehouses? Reminds me of the the end to Indiana Jones #1
Jim - 6/3/2006 2:40 PMLooking at the other pics (not the planform drawings), I see XB-70 andSR-71 heritage vs Concorde and HOTOL. Must be that I am an American andnot a Brit.