Quote from: jongoff on 07/06/2016 03:31 pm(snip)But going back to Comga's point, VG is going to have no lack of launch airport options. Even if they insisted on loading LOX into the rocket right at their hangar, the number of airports that could probably accomodate that is still well more than the 3-4 they actually need. The bigger question is why in that situation are they primarily flying out of traditional launch ranges when supposedly one of the benefits of air launch is not having to be tied to said ranges?PreciselyMany states are supporting spaceports and others are trying to create them: Florida, Virginia, California, New Mexico, Texas, Georgia, Colorado, ...Airborne launch would seem to be able to locate in any of them with costal access. Why tie LauncherOne to existing range AND limit their versatility?There must be a technical or regulatory reason.
(snip)But going back to Comga's point, VG is going to have no lack of launch airport options. Even if they insisted on loading LOX into the rocket right at their hangar, the number of airports that could probably accomodate that is still well more than the 3-4 they actually need. The bigger question is why in that situation are they primarily flying out of traditional launch ranges when supposedly one of the benefits of air launch is not having to be tied to said ranges?
Quote from: Comga on 07/06/2016 04:21 pmQuote from: jongoff on 07/06/2016 03:31 pm(snip)But going back to Comga's point, VG is going to have no lack of launch airport options. Even if they insisted on loading LOX into the rocket right at their hangar, the number of airports that could probably accomodate that is still well more than the 3-4 they actually need. The bigger question is why in that situation are they primarily flying out of traditional launch ranges when supposedly one of the benefits of air launch is not having to be tied to said ranges?PreciselyMany states are supporting spaceports and others are trying to create them: Florida, Virginia, California, New Mexico, Texas, Georgia, Colorado, ...Airborne launch would seem to be able to locate in any of them with costal access. Why tie LauncherOne to existing range AND limit their versatility?There must be a technical or regulatory reason.I have a guess combining some inside knowledge I have with posts here steering VG away from commercial airports. I happen to know that an engineering firm headquartered in Jacksonville got VG permits to operate out of an old Navy airbase that is now Cecil Commerce Center, in west Jacksonville. That was in 2009 or early 2010, when Virgin Galactic was only about their own commercial passenger flights. So maybe they don't want satellite launches going on near their commercial passengers either? Also, Richard Branson's ego comes to mind, or not giving the impression of being as much part engineer as Elon Musk is, maybe he just feels safer staying close to the most expert in satellite launching.
Virgin Galactic @virgingalactic 1h1 hour agoOur #LauncherOne structures team met their 2016 goal of building tanks, interstages, and aft skirts for 4 launch vehicles. Well done, teamVirgin Galactic @virgingalactic 1h1 hour agoAnd our #LauncherOne liquid propulsion team is really rocking now. Completed multiple long-duration, high thrust firings of our enginesVirgin Galactic @virgingalactic 1h1 hour agoWe're running full, operational tests of our #LauncherOne boost & upper stage Newton rocket engines. Thanks to @barbernichols for pump work.Virgin Galactic @virgingalactic 1h1 hour agoLots more great progress on #LauncherOne happening behind the scenes, too. We are looking forward to a very productive 2017!
Anna Stark, NASA Venture Class Launch Services project mgr: targeting December 2017 for VCLS launch of Virgin Galactic’s Launcher One.
Jeff Foust – @jeff_foustStark: overall, pleased with progress VCLS companies are making; knew going it unlikely all three would be successful, though.
Whitesides: really excited to get into LauncherOne test flights before the end of the year. #CST2017
Aiming for 1st test flights of LauncherOne before end of the year, will be mounted under port wing of 747 inboard of inner engine. #cst2017
Our #LauncherOne team continues to advance our rocket engines work. Here’s a recent long duration, full thrust NewtonThree test. 73,500 lbf!
More than 200 Virgin Galactic employees there will now be part of Virgin Orbit, and Whitesides said the new company is continuing to hire additional staff. Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company have more than 500 employees, primarily in Mojave, California.
Whitesides said Virgin Orbit is still on track for an initial test launch of LauncherOne by the end of this year. “We’re well through development of all major subsystems,” including the engines that will power the two-stage rocket, the vehicle’s structures and other major elements of the vehicle. Modifications of the 747, being done by L-3 Technologies in Waco, Texas, should be complete in the next few months.
Look at that @Virgin_Orbit made the front page!
But spinning of Launcher One ops to its own company doesn't exactly make it seem like they are confident about the success of Virgin Galactic.
Wow, nice pictures of the hardware. Very exciting! How does the scale of Launcher One compare to Falcon 1? They seem very similar in size.