Takeoff--WhiteKnightTwo & #SpaceShipTwo are now in the air for another test. Today is 5th flight for VSS Unity, 218th for WhiteKnightTwo.
Release! VSS Unity has cleanly detached from WhiteKnightTwo, and is flying freely for the first time ever! #SpaceShipTwo
VSS Unity has landed. Vehicle and crew are back safe and sound after a successful first glide test flight. #SpaceShipTwo
This was the 1st ever free flight of our new spaceship—the 1st ship built by our in-house manufacturing team @TheSpaceshipCo #SpaceShipTwo
Pilots for today’s flight: in #SpaceShipTwo: Stucky and Mackay. In WhiteKnightTwo: Masucci and Ericson, plus flight test engineer Mosher.
VSS Unity glides for the first time, after being released from WhiteKnightTwo (VMS Eve). Taken today. #SpaceShipTwo
Speaking only for myself there's something about the appearance of this flight article that signals how very safe the experience of riding aboard it will be. I think it is probably the updated paint scheme.I would put a smiley face here, but I'm actually being serious: the aircraft just looks aerodynamically sound.
Quote from: sdsds on 12/04/2016 12:46 amSpeaking only for myself there's something about the appearance of this flight article that signals how very safe the experience of riding aboard it will be. I think it is probably the updated paint scheme.I would put a smiley face here, but I'm actually being serious: the aircraft just looks aerodynamically sound.I still see it as fragile.
Quote from: meekGee on 12/04/2016 10:44 pmQuote from: sdsds on 12/04/2016 12:46 amSpeaking only for myself there's something about the appearance of this flight article that signals how very safe the experience of riding aboard it will be. I think it is probably the updated paint scheme.I would put a smiley face here, but I'm actually being serious: the aircraft just looks aerodynamically sound.I still see it as fragile.I entirely agree. When I look at that thing, I see the load path from the horizontal stabilizers to the fuselage, which is torturous to say the least.
As for hinges on wings, look at every Navy aircraft.
Quote from: PhotoEngineer on 12/05/2016 10:31 pmAs for hinges on wings, look at every Navy aircraft. Don't the SS2 wings pivot around a single pivot-point rather than fold along a hinge line?
Which kind of adds up, since even minor damage to the aerodynamics on the way up (and it's just CF) will be an issue on reentry and the flight down. And there's no "inspection in orbit" possible or any of that...
And this is a brand new engine on each flight, and fired only after release.
Quote from: meekGee on 12/05/2016 12:23 amWhich kind of adds up, since even minor damage to the aerodynamics on the way up (and it's just CF) will be an issue on reentry and the flight down. And there's no "inspection in orbit" possible or any of that...OTOH, while there's no inspection in orbit, the heat loads are far, far less than a reentry from orbit. The maximum speed of SpaceShipOne was about Mach 3, closer to fast jets than orbital spacecraft.Quote from: meekGee on 12/06/2016 06:26 amAnd this is a brand new engine on each flight, and fired only after release.The entire engine is replaced, not just the fuel grain?
Of course, but damage from propulsion on ascent is independent of heat loads during reentry.
I don't know how much if the engine they replace, but fuel and nozzle, I'm pretty sure.