The Reaction Engines Skylon Master Thread (1)

[lkm]

This spaceshow is quite old but Mark Hempsell discusses the test program in it among other things: http://www.thespaceshow.com/detail.asp?q=1203

[flymetothemoon]

http://www.planetaryresources.com/

I have been thinking about these guys and their amazing proposition. They will potentially need a high rate of flights to orbit. I can't understand it since so many people keep telling us there can't be any market for high flight rate because there has never been any market for high flight rate.
 
Been wracking my brains to think if there was anything that might help them get a straighforward, affordable and regular flight rate to orbit. Would be incredible if there was something in the pipeline.

Just haven't come up with anything. Wondered if anyone had any ideas?

[Archibald]

I am hoping Baldusi will see this response and let us know anything more about the 'D4' 20 ton revision?  Do you have any links? Thanks.

Indeed this is rather intriguing. And there's something else
http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/images/skylon_pax/new-configs_s.jpg

Is that a "pilot cabin" I'm seeing ? I thought Skylon was unpiloted ?
Is there some limited manual control,perhaps  only for passengers flight ?

[lkm]

I am hoping Baldusi will see this response and let us know anything more about the 'D4' 20 ton revision?  Do you have any links? Thanks.

Indeed this is rather intriguing. And there's something else
http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/images/skylon_pax/new-configs_s.jpg

Is that a "pilot cabin" I'm seeing ? I thought Skylon was unpiloted ?
Is there some limited manual control,perhaps  only for passengers flight ?

A Skylon flight is fully automated, the pilot's role is basically that of a steward when passengers are being transported. He serves the drinks and tells everyone to keep calm in the event of an accident.
Another topic covered by the Space Show.

[flymetothemoon]

Maybe they have made subtle updates. I wouldn't know. I don't trawl their site all that often. I would think probably not though. I am expecting a big update when they tell us about the D revision, although I am not expecting that any time soon necessarily.

I think they have always suggested there would be a "pilot" for manned flights, but if you listen to Mark Hempsell in lkm's excellent post above, he actually goes as far as to say that the pilot would really be more of an expert steward role, being the person versed in all procedures for normal situations and emergencies etc. Skylon doesn't need any actual "pilot".

P.S. Thanks for that link lkm. Never heard that before and it's a great interview.

[Alpha_Centauri]

Skylon SABRE test makes the front page on BBC,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17864782

Key tests for Skylon spaceplane project

UK engineers have begun critical tests on a new engine technology designed to lift a spaceplane into orbit.

Will also be on the 6 and 10 o'clock news.

[flymetothemoon]

Skylon SABRE test makes the front page on BBC,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17864782

Key tests for Skylon spaceplane project

UK engineers have begun critical tests on a new engine technology designed to lift a spaceplane into orbit.

Will also be on the 6 and 10 o'clock news.

Ha! You beat me to it!

[flymetothemoon]

Skylon SABRE test makes the front page on BBC,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17864782

Key tests for Skylon spaceplane project

UK engineers have begun critical tests on a new engine technology designed to lift a spaceplane into orbit.

Will also be on the 6 and 10 o'clock news.

Ha! You beat me to it!

...but there is a David Shukman article too!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17851603

[Alpha_Centauri]

Good going too considering I was half-stunned for a few minutes seeing the precooler wondering if I was actually looking at the right page...

Yeah I saw the other article but it seemed a bit more dumbed down.

I especially like,

"We intend to go to the Farnborough International Air Show in July with a clear message," explained REL managing director Alan Bond.

"The message is that Britain has the next step beyond the jet engine; that we can reduce the world to four hours - the maximum time it would take to go anywhere. And that it also gives us aircraft that can go into space, replacing all the expendable rockets we use today."

 

Just need to prove it works first...

[flymetothemoon]

So I seem to finally have it confirmed then that they are only testing cooling ambient air to minus 140ish. I hate to bring up a negative(!), but surely this is quite a different proposition from proving cooling air at 1000+ degrees to those low temperatures in a fraction of a second?

On the other hand we hav been told this will once and for all prove the technology. Can anyone tell me how, without the extreme high input temperature test, we won't have a big question left unanswered?

[simonbp]

Honestly, the bigger question (as identified in the ESA report) was not whether it would cool the hottest air, but whether it would cool troposphere air with becoming covered in ice. And that's what they're testing right now.

[lkm]

So who thinks that we'll see David Willetts and Kevin Holleran announcing full phase 3 funding at Farnborough this July?
This level of publicity coupled with stating that they'd actually like some public money to leverage private finance suggests that it's already sown up and they're just laying the groundwork for a summer good news story for the government.

[flymetothemoon]

Honestly, the bigger question (as identified in the ESA report) was not whether it would cool the hottest air, but whether it would cool troposphere air with becoming covered in ice. And that's what they're testing right now.

Honestly, the bigger question (as identified in the ESA report) was not whether it would cool the hottest air, but whether it would cool troposphere air with becoming covered in ice. And that's what they're testing right now.

You're right. They are clearly taking things in priority order and the frost control system is THE big thing to prove. It was only discussed a few pages ago in this thread how air is most humid and problematic down here, not at the latter stages of the air breathing mode at higher altitude.

As per their faq, this is their key, revolutionary technology:

http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/faq.html

11. How does your frost control technology work?   
 Very well, thank you! (We aren't giving everything away!)
 

[flymetothemoon]

So who thinks that we'll see David Willetts and Kevin Holleran announcing full phase 3 funding at Farnborough this July?
This level of publicity coupled with stating that they'd actually like some public money to leverage private finance suggests that it's already sown up and they're just laying the groundwork for a summer good news story for the government.

Ahem. I have stoppped myself exactly saying this, but i do hope you're right! Although to be fair, with their requirements, I am at a loss to suggest what else it could be unless it's the best kept secret in space tech.

[Moe Grills]

So who thinks that we'll see David Willetts and Kevin Holleran announcing full phase 3 funding at Farnborough this July?
This level of publicity coupled with stating that they'd actually like some public money [snip!]

 A minority government in the UK opening up its purse to this project?
The British Chancellor of the Exchequer in a generous mood?
Hmmm.

Not to be skeptical, but to be encouraging, I say that those of you involved in the project should take a page from history (Von Braun
developing the V2 in wartime; Korolev developing the R7 for the Soviet
military) and approach the British DoD (or NATO in general) an
push the SABRE engine's/Skylon's military applications...and eventually you may get civilian applications (just like the V2 evolved into the Jupiter satellite launcher; R7 into the Sputnik launcher).

 Of course if you are or you are not, you aren't saying.