Author Topic: Space Ship Two - General Thread (Read 769147 times)

cheesybagel · « **Reply #240 on:** 09/21/2010 02:06 am »

Quote from: sdsds on 09/04/2010 08:39 pm

Quote from: cheesybagel on 09/04/2010 08:31 pm
[Rutan] probably does not care as much since the company was bought by Northrop not very long ago.

Do you have any basis for that speculation?

Rutan always comes across as someone motivated purely by a desire to do the cool stuff, not by who "owns" it.

If I were going to do totally inappropriate wild-ass speculation about a living person, I'd suggest it was more likely the July 2007 accidental deaths that chilled Rutan, not the acquisition of Scaled by Northrop Grumman.

It is just that. Speculation. Many creative types dislike being managed by someone else because it increases their administrative workload. Try having to justify any and every design or whatever decision. Plus when problems happen, like that accident, yes you have further increased pressure.

Alpha Control · « **Reply #241 on:** 09/27/2010 09:26 pm »

SpaceShipTwo captive-carry flights to resume:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/asd/2010/09/27/06.xml&headline=SpaceShipTwo%20To%20Resume%20Captive%20Carry%20Flights&channel=space

James Pioneer · « **Reply #242 on:** 09/28/2010 03:21 pm »

Sounds good.

So how many more captive carry flights do you think before they move onto the next milestone: drop and glide tests of SS2 on its own?

EDIT: To answer my own question slightly, there were only two months between first captive carry and first glide flight for SS1. Given that SS2 is more complex it will probably take longer. But still, I guess we can expect the first glide by the end of the year.

=== SS1:

20.May.2003 - first captive carry
07.Aug.2003 - first glide test
17.Dec.2003 - first powered flight
21.Jun.2004 - first space flight

=== SS2:

22.Mar.2010 - first captive carry
15.Jul.2010 - first crewed captive carry
??.??.2010 - first glide test

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #243 on:** 10/02/2010 06:00 pm »

Launcherone seems to be falling through

Quote

LauncherOne's manager has departed and the space tourism company's chief executive is talking only about future possibilities for the rocket.
The rocket would take satellites weighing up to 200kg (440lbs) into low-Earth orbit for $1-2m.
LauncherOne was to be air-launched from Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo aircraft.
This is the same plane that will also launch Sir Richard Branson's tourist carrying SpaceShipTwo spacecraft.
In July 2009, Abu Dhabi-based Aabar Investment offered Virgin Galactic $110m for LauncherOne development, if further studies proved the business case.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11453390

The small rocket business has not been doing to well lately (see the lack of Pegasus launches) with a ton of new LV's coming online recently (Falcon 1, Minotaur IV, Vega) so does not look like too much of an open market.

jabe · « **Reply #244 on:** 10/02/2010 11:51 pm »

Scaled.com posted an update on latests SS2/WK2 flight

Quote

Flight   WK2 Flight 39 / CC-04
Date:    30 Sept 10   Flight Time:    5 hr
WK2 Pilot:   Stucky   WK2 CoPilot:   Kalogiannis   WK2 FTE:   Persall
SS2 Pilot:   Siebold   SS2 CoPilot:   Alsbury

Objectives:
SS2 systems evaluation
TM performance
SS2 flutter evaluation
Pilot proficiency
SS2 approach evaluation

Results:
All objectives achieved. Rehearsal mission to evaluate team and systems for early glides was performed. Simulated SS2 mission was flown to low approach. WK2 systems functioned as desired to support SS2 glide mission.

jb

Nomadd · « **Reply #245 on:** 10/03/2010 12:39 am »

Quote from: Ronsmytheiii on 10/02/2010 06:00 pm

Launcherone seems to be falling through

The small rocket business has not been doing to well lately (see the lack of Pegasus launches) with a ton of new LV's coming online recently (Falcon 1, Minotaur IV, Vega) so does not look like too much of an open market.

What's a Pegasus now days? $30 million or so? The F1e is suppose to be a 2,000lb launcher at $11 million. Maybe. There might not be a demand, because there's not a practical service. 400lbs in orbit for $2 million could create whole new markets. Not having to launch from Canaveral or Gilligan's Island could be one heck of an advantage cost wise.

jabe · « **Reply #246 on:** 10/06/2010 12:21 am »

looks like drop tests are coming soon.. the scaled site
has an update already from todays flight.

Quote

Flight:    40   Date:    5 Oct 10
Flight Time:    2 hr
Pilot:    Siebold   CoPilot:    Alsbury
FTE:   Tighe

Objectives:
SS2 release dry run
Glide flight practice
SS2 approach simulations
Crew proficiency
ECS testing

Results:
All objectives achieved. Rehearsal SS2 mission performed. Four simulated SS2 approaches. One touch and go followed by a full stop landing.

jb

aquarius · « **Reply #247 on:** 10/06/2010 01:03 am »

As I understand, this latest test flight was not a Captive Carry flight. So how can they perform SS2 release dry run and approach simulations without SS2 being attached to WK2?

jabe · « **Reply #248 on:** 10/06/2010 01:18 am »

for my 2 cents on the issue...WK2 has similar flight characteristics and cockpit as SS2 so they can do approaches as if they are flying the SS2 to get a better feel then in the flight sims. and a release dry run is easy...get to height and actually hit the release button.

jb

aquarius · « **Reply #249 on:** 10/06/2010 01:21 am »

Now I got it.

Thanks, jabe.

aquarius · « **Reply #250 on:** 10/06/2010 01:27 am »

Also, does anyone know how many captive carry flights are they planning before moving to glide tests? Are 4 CC tests enough?

Thanks.

Alpha Control · « **Reply #251 on:** 10/06/2010 06:35 pm »

Quote from: aquarius on 10/06/2010 01:27 am

Also, does anyone know how many captive carry flights are they planning before moving to glide tests? Are 4 CC tests enough?

Thanks.

Don't know for sure. It's of course up to the Scaled folks, and how well they feel the CC flights are going. So far, it certainly looks like they are going to plan.

Scaled's history of SS1 development showed a steady envelope expansion in all phases of flight test. They are following the same careful path for SS2 (which is what a good flight test program is all about).

The short gap in these last two flights (six days) makes me optimistic that we'll see the first glide flight before the end of the year. And a DVD of the first SS2 glide flight would make a very nice Christmas present for the ticket holders: "Your SpaceShip takes flight!"

vt_hokie · « **Reply #252 on:** 10/09/2010 07:12 am »

Quote from: Ronsmytheiii on 10/02/2010 06:00 pm

Launcherone seems to be falling through

Has there been any more talk of using some derivative of SS2 for point-to-point transportation? I'd be very curious about what they have in mind!

Hauerg · « **Reply #253 on:** 10/09/2010 07:30 am »

"One touch and go".
I have a hard time imagining an SS2 touch and go.
(Has been changed now on scaled website.)

Jim Davis · « **Reply #254 on:** 10/09/2010 06:29 pm »

Quote from: vt_hokie on 10/09/2010 07:12 am

Has there been any more talk of using some derivative of SS2 for point-to-point transportation? I'd be very curious about what they have in mind!

What two points did you have in mind? Space Ship 2 range is very small. White Knight 2 by itself would be a far more practical point to point transport at those ranges but unable to compete with existing aircraft.