Author Topic: Space Ship Two - General Thread (Read 748609 times)

Garrett · « **Reply #1100 on:** 01/10/2014 01:44 pm »

Quote from: Bubbinski on 01/10/2014 01:04 pm

... and I hope it breaks the Karman line!

Don't expect anything like that today. Last flight got to 20km altitude. They might just do a short powered flight to test out any new modifications.

Bubbinski · « **Reply #1101 on:** 01/10/2014 02:24 pm »

White Knight 2 just took off.

Skyrocket · « **Reply #1102 on:** 01/10/2014 02:32 pm »

Any info on the crew for this flight?

Garrett · « **Reply #1103 on:** 01/10/2014 02:33 pm »

https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/421664067707609088

Quote

Virgin Galactic @VirginGalactic
#SpaceShipTwo and sunrise this morning, shortly before takeoff. #VirginVoyage. (Credit: @jdivenere) pic.twitter.com/0sEjJJ3B3I

Artyom. · « **Reply #1104 on:** 01/10/2014 02:41 pm »

Virgin Galactic ‏@virgingalactic
SpaceShipTwo just after takeoff on today's test flight.

Artyom. · « **Reply #1105 on:** 01/10/2014 03:10 pm »

Virgin Galactic ‏@virgingalactic

SpaceShipTwo looks great with reflective coating on her tails. It doesn't just LOOK cool, it helps regulate the vehicle’s temperature.

Nickolai · « **Reply #1106 on:** 01/10/2014 03:14 pm »

Virgin Galactic ‏@virgingalactic
#SpaceShipTwo has once again lit her rocket motor in flight! We love this part! Photos and video coming soon.

Alpha Control · « **Reply #1107 on:** 01/10/2014 03:15 pm »

Excellent! looking forward to the details.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #1108 on:** 01/10/2014 03:20 pm »

Quote from: Skyrocket on 01/10/2014 02:32 pm

Any info on the crew for this flight?

Not sure about the other members, but...

Virgin Galactic ‏@virgingalactic
Our favorite part of today's rocket-powered #SpaceShipTwo flight? Our chief pilot, Dave Mackay, is flying today. Go Dave! #VirginVoyage

Garrett · « **Reply #1109 on:** 01/10/2014 03:20 pm »

https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/421677637153464320

Quote

Virgin Galactic @VirginGalactic
Chief Pilot Dave Mackay and crew fired the #SpaceShipTwo rocket motor for ~20 seconds on today's supersonic test flight, as planned.

Artyom. · « **Reply #1110 on:** 01/10/2014 03:21 pm »

Virgin Galactic ‏@virgingalactic
Chief Pilot Dave Mackay and crew fired the #SpaceShipTwo rocket motor for ~20 seconds on today's supersonic test flight, as planned.

Garrett · « **Reply #1111 on:** 01/10/2014 03:22 pm »

20 seconds, same as Sept 2013 test. Not surprised, they've probably made some important mods, notable the reflective coating on the tails.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #1112 on:** 01/10/2014 03:23 pm »

Yes, my guess too (ie confirming the reflective coating on the tail is doing its job).

Suggests the data from the previous flight(s) suggested that SS2 might get too warm with a longer/full duration burn?

Edit: typo correction

Garrett · « **Reply #1113 on:** 01/10/2014 03:24 pm »

If the tweets are anything to go by, then it only took an hour, probably less, from WK2 take off to SS2 release. That seems much quicker than previous tests. Hopefully somebody can confirm?

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #1114 on:** 01/10/2014 03:24 pm »

No, I think 40 mins to an hour is usual. SS1 used to take about an hour to get to altitude.

Artyom. · « **Reply #1115 on:** 01/10/2014 03:28 pm »

Virgin Galactic ‏@virgingalactic
Today’s test flight helped us gain some key experience for our Chief Pilot, who joined Scaled’s Mark Stucky to fly #SpaceShipTwo.

Virgin Galactic ‏@virgingalactic
Pilots Mark Stucky and Dave Mackay have landed #SpaceShipTwo safely after another great test flight. Pics, video, details coming soon.

Artyom. · « **Reply #1116 on:** 01/10/2014 03:39 pm »

Virgin Galactic ‏@virgingalactic
Key stats from today's #SpaceShipTwo test flight: 20 sec rocket firing, reached Mach 1.4, 71,000 ft. All were as planned.

Garrett · « **Reply #1117 on:** 01/10/2014 03:44 pm »

Quote from: Artyom. on 01/10/2014 03:39 pm

Virgin Galactic ‏@virgingalactic
Key stats from today's #SpaceShipTwo test flight: 20 sec rocket firing, reached Mach 1.4, 71,000 ft. All were as planned.

Nice. A tad higher (2000 feet) than the September test. Could this be the beginning of regular (weekly/monthly) test flights?

ChefPat · « **Reply #1118 on:** 01/10/2014 04:21 pm »

My inner nerd wants details on the altitude. The fist Spaceshipone flight that cracked the Karman Line only did it by about 400 feet. So we know they can provide details.

GraniteHound92 · « **Reply #1119 on:** 01/10/2014 05:03 pm »

Parabolicarc.com ‏@spacecom
Virgin Galactic press release says they tested thermal covering on tail booms and RCS maneuvering system