Space Ship Two - General Thread

[MadameConcorde]

How many people can Space Ship Two carry on a commercial flight?

[Jorge]

How many people can Space Ship Two carry on a commercial flight?

http://www.virgingalactic.com/overview/spaceships/

[thomson]

According to Officials at Virgin Galactic [1], powered test flights were supposed to begin last year (2010). What is the primary reason of the delay? I read somewhere that full time ground hot fire tests were completed.

[1] http://www.space.com/9313-spaceshiptwo-tourist-joyrides-launch-year.html

[neilh]

According to Officials at Virgin Galactic [1], powered test flights were supposed to begin last year (2010). What is the primary reason of the delay? I read somewhere that full time ground hot fire tests were completed.

[1] http://www.space.com/9313-spaceshiptwo-tourist-joyrides-launch-year.html

Where did you read that "full time ground hot fire tests were completed"? I was under the impression that no such tests had yet occurred, and that engine development was still the long pole in development.

[Downix]

According to Officials at Virgin Galactic [1], powered test flights were supposed to begin last year (2010). What is the primary reason of the delay? I read somewhere that full time ground hot fire tests were completed.

[1] http://www.space.com/9313-spaceshiptwo-tourist-joyrides-launch-year.html

Where did you read that "full time ground hot fire tests were completed"? I was under the impression that no such tests had yet occurred, and that engine development was still the long pole in development.

Here's an article discussing the 6th live test fire of the engine:
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2011/04/04/scaled-completes-sixth-test-firing-spaceshiptwo-rocket-motor/

[Jason1701]

According to Officials at Virgin Galactic [1], powered test flights were supposed to begin last year (2010). What is the primary reason of the delay? I read somewhere that full time ground hot fire tests were completed.

[1] http://www.space.com/9313-spaceshiptwo-tourist-joyrides-launch-year.html

Same reason for any delay in an engineering development project: the real world is not totally predicted by theory.

[kevin-rf]

Same reason for any delay in an engineering development project: the real world is not totally predicted by theory.

Nah, 9 times out of 10 marketing gets involved and mucks up the whole project, from unrealistic timelines to holding day long meetings to define the pantone for the color black 

...And with that I am off to my standing 8:30 meeting with marketing... or as I like to call it, the 12.5% I never get back!

[vt_hokie]

According to Officials at Virgin Galactic [1], powered test flights were supposed to begin last year (2010). What is the primary reason of the delay? I read somewhere that full time ground hot fire tests were completed.

[1] http://www.space.com/9313-spaceshiptwo-tourist-joyrides-launch-year.html

Same reason for any delay in an engineering development project: the real world is not totally predicted by theory.

And this is for a relatively simple suborbital system.  To me this just becomes more historical precedent to suggest that commercial providers for orbital flight cannot be expected to meet current schedule or cost projections.

[Jason1701]

According to Officials at Virgin Galactic [1], powered test flights were supposed to begin last year (2010). What is the primary reason of the delay? I read somewhere that full time ground hot fire tests were completed.

[1] http://www.space.com/9313-spaceshiptwo-tourist-joyrides-launch-year.html

Same reason for any delay in an engineering development project: the real world is not totally predicted by theory.

And this is for a relatively simple suborbital system.  To me this just becomes more historical precedent to suggest that commercial providers for orbital flight cannot be expected to meet current schedule or cost projections.

Do you think government providers can be expected to?

[Danderman]

According to Officials at Virgin Galactic [1], powered test flights were supposed to begin last year (2010). What is the primary reason of the delay? I read somewhere that full time ground hot fire tests were completed.

[1] http://www.space.com/9313-spaceshiptwo-tourist-joyrides-launch-year.html

Same reason for any delay in an engineering development project: the real world is not totally predicted by theory.

And this is for a relatively simple suborbital system.  To me this just becomes more historical precedent to suggest that commercial providers for orbital flight cannot be expected to meet current schedule or cost projections.

Since NASA's recent large human spaceflight projects have invariably been wildly late, ie Shuttle, ISS, CxP, you name it, the comment above translates to:

"providers for orbital flight cannot be expected to meet current schedule or cost projects", which is probably true. Everyone is late, and costs almost always exceed budgets.

Space is hard.

I should add that the commercial Nanoracks system was produced and deployed on time, on budget. 

[vt_hokie]

Do you think government providers can be expected to?

Absolutely not.  That's why I think ISS is in big trouble, being dependent upon a smooth transition when in reality the gap is only likely to grow.

[jabe]

Test flight data now up

Flight:    57 / GF06
Date:    27 Apr 11   Flight Time:    16 min, 7 sec
SS2 Pilot:   Stucky   SS2 CoPilot:   Alsbury
GS Crew:   Binnie, Kelley, Bassett, Tighe, Reid, Glaser, Inks, Verderame, Maisler, Knupp

Objectives:
Evaluate stability and control
Continued flutter envelope expansion
Pilot proficiency

Results:
Clean release at desired altitude. Glide test objectives complete without issues.

jb

[Jason1701]

That glide was a minute and a half longer than the previous one. Probably at a higher altitude, maybe the final one.

[jabe]

That glide was a minute and a half longer than the previous one. Probably at a higher altitude, maybe the final one.

as well..checking out stall speeds multiple times..that will really slow descent I think...
an Aviation week article talks about upcoming SS2 with engine in...
pace is really picking up...
jb

[Space Junkie]

From the above Aviation Week article:

Scaled, which has a firm contract with Sierra Nevada for 50 RM2 engines...

Interesting. Have they said anything about the timeline for building additional SS2s? I assume they would be able to at least begin manufacturing some of the parts before testing of the prototype is complete.

[Jason1701]

They broke ground on the new spacecraft factory (TSC) back in October, IIRC. They'll build the other four+ SS2s there, and at least one more WK2.

[jabe]

Scaled, which has a firm contract with Sierra Nevada for 50 RM2 engines...

50 RM2 doesn't get you too far past test phase... what options will they have if the motors "suck" for lack of a better word... go liquid?

jb

[kevin-rf]

Scaled, which has a firm contract with Sierra Nevada for 50 RM2 engines...

50 RM2 doesn't get you too far past test phase... what options will they have if the motors "suck" for lack of a better word... go liquid?

jb

You assume the delays they have been experiencing in this project are not from them retiring the risk of them sucking? At this phase I assume they know, they won't suck!

[jabe]

You assume the delays they have been experiencing in this project are not from them retiring the risk of them sucking? At this phase I assume they know, they won't suck!

I knew suck was a bad word to use...
but the # of the contract seems small... I figured this motor was it for them for the long term just like the SSME is/was for the shuttle..
jb

[neilh]

Scaled, which has a firm contract with Sierra Nevada for 50 RM2 engines...

50 RM2 doesn't get you too far past test phase... what options will they have if the motors "suck" for lack of a better word... go liquid?

jb

I also imagine that RM2 prices might potentially go down depending on what happens with DreamChaser in the next couple of years, hence the more limited contract.