Quote from: manboy on 07/29/2012 01:45 amQuote from: Rocket Science on 07/29/2012 01:36 amQuote from: Jason1701 on 07/29/2012 01:34 amQuote from: Rocket Science on 07/29/2012 01:28 amQuote from: zt on 07/29/2012 01:27 amHow can the Dream Chaser be transported back to the launch/processing site after landing at some random airport? It can't take off on it own, it doesn't fit on a truck (is that right?), and AFAIK it doesn't have a special transporter plane and mounting harness.WK2That would likely require a special agreement with Virgin, as all WK2s should be in regular use by the time DC flies. I wonder if one will be forthcoming.Skycrane then...Skycrane doesn't have the range to transport it across the Atlantic.Once again WK2...
Quote from: Rocket Science on 07/29/2012 01:36 amQuote from: Jason1701 on 07/29/2012 01:34 amQuote from: Rocket Science on 07/29/2012 01:28 amQuote from: zt on 07/29/2012 01:27 amHow can the Dream Chaser be transported back to the launch/processing site after landing at some random airport? It can't take off on it own, it doesn't fit on a truck (is that right?), and AFAIK it doesn't have a special transporter plane and mounting harness.WK2That would likely require a special agreement with Virgin, as all WK2s should be in regular use by the time DC flies. I wonder if one will be forthcoming.Skycrane then...Skycrane doesn't have the range to transport it across the Atlantic.
Quote from: Jason1701 on 07/29/2012 01:34 amQuote from: Rocket Science on 07/29/2012 01:28 amQuote from: zt on 07/29/2012 01:27 amHow can the Dream Chaser be transported back to the launch/processing site after landing at some random airport? It can't take off on it own, it doesn't fit on a truck (is that right?), and AFAIK it doesn't have a special transporter plane and mounting harness.WK2That would likely require a special agreement with Virgin, as all WK2s should be in regular use by the time DC flies. I wonder if one will be forthcoming.Skycrane then...
Quote from: Rocket Science on 07/29/2012 01:28 amQuote from: zt on 07/29/2012 01:27 amHow can the Dream Chaser be transported back to the launch/processing site after landing at some random airport? It can't take off on it own, it doesn't fit on a truck (is that right?), and AFAIK it doesn't have a special transporter plane and mounting harness.WK2That would likely require a special agreement with Virgin, as all WK2s should be in regular use by the time DC flies. I wonder if one will be forthcoming.
Quote from: zt on 07/29/2012 01:27 amHow can the Dream Chaser be transported back to the launch/processing site after landing at some random airport? It can't take off on it own, it doesn't fit on a truck (is that right?), and AFAIK it doesn't have a special transporter plane and mounting harness.WK2
How can the Dream Chaser be transported back to the launch/processing site after landing at some random airport? It can't take off on it own, it doesn't fit on a truck (is that right?), and AFAIK it doesn't have a special transporter plane and mounting harness.
Quote from: Rocket Science on 07/29/2012 01:47 amQuote from: manboy on 07/29/2012 01:45 amQuote from: Rocket Science on 07/29/2012 01:36 amQuote from: Jason1701 on 07/29/2012 01:34 amQuote from: Rocket Science on 07/29/2012 01:28 amQuote from: zt on 07/29/2012 01:27 amHow can the Dream Chaser be transported back to the launch/processing site after landing at some random airport? It can't take off on it own, it doesn't fit on a truck (is that right?), and AFAIK it doesn't have a special transporter plane and mounting harness.WK2That would likely require a special agreement with Virgin, as all WK2s should be in regular use by the time DC flies. I wonder if one will be forthcoming.Skycrane then...Skycrane doesn't have the range to transport it across the Atlantic.Once again WK2...A stock 747 cargo plane could carry it.
Quote from: Downix on 07/29/2012 02:18 amQuote from: Rocket Science on 07/29/2012 01:47 amQuote from: manboy on 07/29/2012 01:45 amQuote from: Rocket Science on 07/29/2012 01:36 amQuote from: Jason1701 on 07/29/2012 01:34 amQuote from: Rocket Science on 07/29/2012 01:28 amQuote from: zt on 07/29/2012 01:27 amHow can the Dream Chaser be transported back to the launch/processing site after landing at some random airport? It can't take off on it own, it doesn't fit on a truck (is that right?), and AFAIK it doesn't have a special transporter plane and mounting harness.WK2That would likely require a special agreement with Virgin, as all WK2s should be in regular use by the time DC flies. I wonder if one will be forthcoming.Skycrane then...Skycrane doesn't have the range to transport it across the Atlantic.Once again WK2...A stock 747 cargo plane could carry it.I don't know if this is possible, but if the wing/fins can be removed after flight the body should fit into many cargo aircraft.
Quote from: BrightLight on 07/29/2012 02:32 amQuote from: Downix on 07/29/2012 02:18 amQuote from: Rocket Science on 07/29/2012 01:47 amQuote from: manboy on 07/29/2012 01:45 amQuote from: Rocket Science on 07/29/2012 01:36 amQuote from: Jason1701 on 07/29/2012 01:34 amQuote from: Rocket Science on 07/29/2012 01:28 amQuote from: zt on 07/29/2012 01:27 amHow can the Dream Chaser be transported back to the launch/processing site after landing at some random airport? It can't take off on it own, it doesn't fit on a truck (is that right?), and AFAIK it doesn't have a special transporter plane and mounting harness.WK2That would likely require a special agreement with Virgin, as all WK2s should be in regular use by the time DC flies. I wonder if one will be forthcoming.Skycrane then...Skycrane doesn't have the range to transport it across the Atlantic.Once again WK2...A stock 747 cargo plane could carry it.I don't know if this is possible, but if the wing/fins can be removed after flight the body should fit into many cargo aircraft.There's also the SuperGuppy and Antonov An-124.
Guppy can't cross oceans and the 124 isn't that expensive. It is a frequent visitor to the Cape.
Quote from: Jim on 07/29/2012 02:53 amGuppy can't cross oceans and the 124 isn't that expensive. It is a frequent visitor to the Cape.Since when can't the Guppy cross oceans? Did it suddenly lose range since the 1990's when it was flown from France to Florida?Checking, unloaded, it's range is 3,211km, plenty to reach europe from the US. The cape to bangor. Bangor to iceland. Iceland to france. France to wherever the DC landed. Once loaded, would need two more stops, but still easily done.
Quote from: Downix on 07/29/2012 03:06 amQuote from: Jim on 07/29/2012 02:53 amGuppy can't cross oceans and the 124 isn't that expensive. It is a frequent visitor to the Cape.Since when can't the Guppy cross oceans? Did it suddenly lose range since the 1990's when it was flown from France to Florida?Which Guppy?
Quote from: Jim on 07/29/2012 02:53 amGuppy can't cross oceans and the 124 isn't that expensive. It is a frequent visitor to the Cape.Since when can't the Guppy cross oceans? Did it suddenly lose range since the 1990's when it was flown from France to Florida?
Quote from: Jim on 07/29/2012 04:17 amQuote from: Downix on 07/29/2012 03:06 amQuote from: Jim on 07/29/2012 02:53 amGuppy can't cross oceans and the 124 isn't that expensive. It is a frequent visitor to the Cape.Since when can't the Guppy cross oceans? Did it suddenly lose range since the 1990's when it was flown from France to Florida?Which Guppy?N941NA, the only one flying. While loaded to maximum, it's range is limited to 950 km, empty it's range is over 3200km, more then sufficient for the job. The SuperGuppy can lift over 24 metric tons. The DreamChaser is under 11 metric tons, which means that they will not be near capacity so would retain a good range.
Quote from: Downix on 07/29/2012 04:29 amQuote from: Jim on 07/29/2012 04:17 amQuote from: Downix on 07/29/2012 03:06 amQuote from: Jim on 07/29/2012 02:53 amGuppy can't cross oceans and the 124 isn't that expensive. It is a frequent visitor to the Cape.Since when can't the Guppy cross oceans? Did it suddenly lose range since the 1990's when it was flown from France to Florida?Which Guppy?N941NA, the only one flying. While loaded to maximum, it's range is limited to 950 km, empty it's range is over 3200km, more then sufficient for the job. The SuperGuppy can lift over 24 metric tons. The DreamChaser is under 11 metric tons, which means that they will not be near capacity so would retain a good range.The DC will require a pallet with tie downs and hence the mass will make the range and scenario unworkable.
You feel that the DC will need 12 metric tons of pallet and tie downs?
A new (?) youtube video of the DC CONOPSclearly shows the crew access tower and the latest drawings of the vehicle.
How can the Dream Chaser be transported back to the launch/processing site after landing at some random airport?
Sorry if this have been discussed before but there are to many pages to go through to see if it have been discussed before.Since DC will stay docked to the ISS for ~6 months its heat-shield will be exposed to MMOD strikes. Is this a concern for NASA? When the shuttle was docked ISS was flying 'backwards' to offer some protection to the shuttles heat-shield but this won't be possible for DC and it will be in front of the ISS and therefore fully exposed to MMOD strikes.