I sure am looking forward to see this launch!In general, this type of launch configuration is risky. There are sensitivities to flow separation points and unsteadiness. Things which a WT can not model due to Re and Mach and CFD is totally unreliable for. Points which previous projects I have had the joy to be involved in, such as HXLV, have driven home.So it will be a first! Dyna-Soar can not really be used as a model for it. Definitely very researchy. I like it. It will be interesting to see how well their models match up with flight.
So every launch of an Atlas 5 then sort of serves as a test flight for the Dreamchaser booster.
Didn't ASSET fly un-shrouded - or am I missing the point?
Going forward, I'm concerned as to whether Dream Chaser will get a 'fair hearing' for CCDEV-3. (And I say that with no accusation and no malice). All the comments coming from NASA have implied "1 or 2" concepts will likely be selected. The most mature concept is SpaceX's Dragon and Falcon, and unless they flat-out screw up, it would not be surprising if they were selected. But, I'm concerned that there might be 'pressure' - from within NASA, by the old guard, and also from without - to ensure that an 'experienced' company (code word for Boeing) is also selected, regardless of what is in the nation's' long-term interest. If the above conjecture is true, it would leave possibly the most innovative proposal - and one that has been worked on much longer than Boeing's - ie SNC's, out. And that would be unfortunate.
Quote from: Dave Huntsman on 01/27/2012 03:11 amGoing forward, I'm concerned as to whether Dream Chaser will get a 'fair hearing' for CCDEV-3. (And I say that with no accusation and no malice). All the comments coming from NASA have implied "1 or 2" concepts will likely be selected. The most mature concept is SpaceX's Dragon and Falcon, and unless they flat-out screw up, it would not be surprising if they were selected. But, I'm concerned that there might be 'pressure' - from within NASA, by the old guard, and also from without - to ensure that an 'experienced' company (code word for Boeing) is also selected, regardless of what is in the nation's' long-term interest. If the above conjecture is true, it would leave possibly the most innovative proposal - and one that has been worked on much longer than Boeing's - ie SNC's, out. And that would be unfortunate.The "old Guard" issue - is an issue and Boeing has a way of getting into things by hook or crook (r.e. they have really good lobbyists). On the other hand, SpaceX will go it alone regardless of government funding - or so Elon says, so why put money into the Falcon/Dragon when it will be done regardless. Clearly I am biased towards the lifting body, hope springs eternal!
I sure am looking forward to see this launch!So it will be a first! Dyna-Soar can not really be used as a model for it. Definitely very researchy. I like it. It will be interesting to see how well their models match up with flight.
Do you mean a lifting body from orbit or launching without a shroud.Others have mentioned ASSET but I was also going to mention PRIME as a lifting body. Likewise the HL-20 was based on photos of the sea recovery of the UUSR Spiral design from orbit.So several plane and lifting body designs *have* been recovered from orbit but I'm not which (if any) were launched without a shroud, which would be new territory.While you might be excited by the trip into the unknown it is *precisely* that unpredictability in such matters (and the potentially disastrous effect on heating) that make the people who fund projects *very* cautious. It's doubtful this project would have happened without SN being a private company and the long test history of the baseline HL20 design. I'll note it's cross range is impressive. It's amazing what you can get if you relax the abort-once-around restriction and just say land-on-CONUS. It may never be used but that *flexibility* could be a major selling point, especially if they've designed it to be light on specialist resources following an emergency landing.
I don't think Dreamchaser will launch uncovered.It just looks good in the pics.I suspect some sort of arrowhead fairing that slopes around the wings.