Space Ship Two - General Thread

[vh5150]

When considering that the FIRST PAYING CUSTOMER who is killed on a SS2 flight will likely result in a long-term delay in operations if not cancellation of the entire program, I'm ok with VG taking their time on all aspects of development/flight testing.  Even if the hybrid motor ends up being swapped-out for something else resulting in long delays, so be it...

[Chris Bergin]

Absolutely. No big fan of the Branson PR machine, but I am a fan of Mr Whitesides' leadership, so they'll do it right.

[Celebrimbor]

That said, the pace does seem to be picking up - two glide flights within 24 hours!!


Flight: 65 / GF12 
Date: 15 Jun 11  Flight Time: 10 min, 32 sec 
SS2 Pilot: Stucky SS2 CoPilot: Nichols
GS Crew: Bassett, Reid, Glaser, Binnie, Keller, Tighe, Inks, Kelley, Bozarth

Objectives:
Continued flutter susceptibility envelope expansion

Results:
All objectives achieved. Second flight in 24 hours!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flight: 64 / GF11 
Date: 14 Jun 11  Flight Time: 13 min, 18 sec 
SS2 Pilot: Siebold SS2 CoPilot: Shane
GS Crew: Nichols, Bassett, Kalogiannis, Reid, Glaser, Keller, Tighe, Inks

Objectives:
Flutter susceptibility envelope expansion

Results:
All objectives achieved.

[Jason1701]

Flight:    66 / GF13
Date:    21 Jun 11    Flight Time:    8 min, 55 sec
SS2 Pilot:    Siebold    SS2 CoPilot:    Nichols
GS Crew:    Tighe, Persall, Verderame, Bassett, Glaser, Reid, Knupp, Inks

Objectives:
Continued flutter susceptibility envelope expansion

Results:
All objectives achieved.

This is by far their shortest glide flight yet. That shows just how much they're expanding the envelope.

[JSz]

The next glide flight:

Flight:    67 / GF14
Date:    23 Jun 11    Flight Time:    7 min, 33 sec
SS2 Pilot:    Stucky    SS2 CoPilot:    Nichols
GS Crew:    Tighe, Verderame, Persall, Bassett, Glaser, Reid, Knupp, Inks

Objectives:
Continued mach and airspeed flutter susceptibility envelope expansion

Results:
All objectives achieved.

[mr. mark]

Looks like they are testing the vehicle every other day getting as much  info as possible. Can't wait for the first powered test flight.

[JSz]

However, the first suborbital flight wil be in about a year's time, according to last Branson's talk to CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2011/06/16/exp.nr.branson.space.tourism.cnn.

I remember earlier promise from last autumn was 2011/2012.

[Garrett]

However, the first suborbital flight wil be in about a year's time, according to last Branson's talk to CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2011/06/16/exp.nr.branson.space.tourism.cnn.

I remember earlier promise from last autumn was 2011/2012.

He said that in a year's time he should be on his first suborbital flight with his children. The first suborbital test flight would need to occur long before that. I would guess that a first suborbital test flight in December would put them on schedule for their first commercial flights in June 2012.

Everything appears to be hinging on the rocket motor, which rumor has it is having serious vibration issues. Hopefully those rumors are been exaggerated, otherwise there's no hope of commercial flights in 2012.

[docmordrid]

Have RM2 vibrations been confirmed, or are we still at the conjecture stage? Seems to me any such problems would have also cropped up in the RM2 tests for Dream Chaser and been documented in the CCDev 2 document dumps.

[Garrett]

Have RM2 vibrations been confirmed, or are we still at the conjecture stage? Seems to me any such problems would have also cropped up in the RM2 tests for Dream Chaser and been documented in the CCDev 2 document dumps.

Nothing has been confirmed as far as I'm aware, otherwise I wouldn't have referred to the issue as a rumor. So yes, we are still at the conjecture stage.

I do not know much about the rocket being used for Dream Chaser. Are they intending to use RM2 as well? I would have thought different spacecraft = different rocket characteristics. I don't see why the problem with RM2 for SpaceShipTwo should indicate systematic problems for all SNC projects.

[docmordrid]

Have RM2 vibrations been confirmed, or are we still at the conjecture stage? Seems to me any such problems would have also cropped up in the RM2 tests for Dream Chaser and been documented in the CCDev 2 document dumps.

Nothing has been confirmed as far as I'm aware, otherwise I wouldn't have referred to the issue as a rumor. So yes, we are still at the conjecture stage.

I do not know much about the rocket being used for Dream Chaser. Are they intending to use RM2 as well? I would have thought different spacecraft = different rocket characteristics. I don't see why the problem with RM2 for SpaceShipTwo should indicate systematic problems for all SNC projects.

FWIW - http://www.parabolicarc.com/2010/10/21/sierra-nevada-reaches-major-engine-milestone-dream-chaser/

>
Editor's Note: Sierra Nevada is the main contractor for Scaled Composites' RocketMotorTwo, which will power SpaceShipTwo on suborbital flights. Both vehicles are using the same propulsion system. This probably explains why Scaled Composite and Virgin Galactic officials are predicting powered test flights of SpaceShipTwo in 2011.
>

[HMXHMX]

Have RM2 vibrations been confirmed, or are we still at the conjecture stage? Seems to me any such problems would have also cropped up in the RM2 tests for Dream Chaser and been documented in the CCDev 2 document dumps.

Nothing has been confirmed as far as I'm aware, otherwise I wouldn't have referred to the issue as a rumor. So yes, we are still at the conjecture stage.

I do not know much about the rocket being used for Dream Chaser. Are they intending to use RM2 as well? I would have thought different spacecraft = different rocket characteristics. I don't see why the problem with RM2 for SpaceShipTwo should indicate systematic problems for all SNC projects.

FWIW - http://www.parabolicarc.com/2010/10/21/sierra-nevada-reaches-major-engine-milestone-dream-chaser/

>
Editor's Note: Sierra Nevada is the main contractor for Scaled Composites' RocketMotorTwo, which will power SpaceShipTwo on suborbital flights. Both vehicles are using the same propulsion system. This probably explains why Scaled Composite and Virgin Galactic officials are predicting powered test flights of SpaceShipTwo in 2011.
>

To my knowledge, and I am happy to be corrected, the milestone motor hot fire performed by SNC for CCEV1, was in fact, an SSO motor, not an SS2 motor. 

[Garrett]

FWIW - http://www.parabolicarc.com/2010/10/21/sierra-nevada-reaches-major-engine-milestone-dream-chaser/

>
Editor's Note: Sierra Nevada is the main contractor for Scaled Composites' RocketMotorTwo, which will power SpaceShipTwo on suborbital flights. Both vehicles are using the same propulsion system. This probably explains why Scaled Composite and Virgin Galactic officials are predicting powered test flights of SpaceShipTwo in 2011.
>

Thanks for that link. Though it does only say they are "using the same propulsion system", which could be referring to the hybrid technology and not necessarily the exact same rocket.

HMXHMX's post also makes me doubtful that it's the exact same motor for both craft. Of course, now I'm interested in knowing if HMXHMX can shed some light on where he picked up that info?

Just came across this file (maybe this has already been discussed on the Dream Chaser thread).
For the Dream Chaser, SNC performed three firings in one day. Doesn't sound like RM2 to me.

[docmordrid]

I *think* all 3 of those firings were off 1 fuel load, simulating a flight profile.

[HMXHMX]

FWIW - http://www.parabolicarc.com/2010/10/21/sierra-nevada-reaches-major-engine-milestone-dream-chaser/

>
Editor's Note: Sierra Nevada is the main contractor for Scaled Composites' RocketMotorTwo, which will power SpaceShipTwo on suborbital flights. Both vehicles are using the same propulsion system. This probably explains why Scaled Composite and Virgin Galactic officials are predicting powered test flights of SpaceShipTwo in 2011.
>

Thanks for that link. Though it does only say they are "using the same propulsion system", which could be referring to the hybrid technology and not necessarily the exact same rocket.

HMXHMX's post also makes me doubtful that it's the exact same motor for both craft. Of course, now I'm interested in knowing if HMXHMX can shed some light on where he picked up that info?

Just came across this file (maybe this has already been discussed on the Dream Chaser thread).
For the Dream Chaser, SNC performed three firings in one day. Doesn't sound like RM2 to me.

One public source is the SNC SAA, redacted, of 3-29-2011:

"The DC retains the HL-20 outer mold line and center of gravity. HL-20 design was refined with 1,200+ LaRC wind tunnel tests, hundreds of piloted flight simulation hours, and five (four orbital) flights of the HL-20 predecessor, the Russian BOR-4. SNC improves the LaRC development work by using new composite structure with modern construction techniques and materials, and an SNC-developed hybrid rocket motor design that was used on SpaceShipOne. The upgraded hybrid rocket motor will perform orbit adjust, deorbit, and abort maneuvers. Figure 1-2 shows the successful CCDev milestone rocket motor test at our Poway test facility."

[yg1968]

A bit of an update:
http://www.space.com/12073-spaceshiptwo-virgin-galactic-private-spacecraft-test-flights.html

[docmordrid]

If you zoom in on the nose of SS2 in that pages pic you can see the new winglets.

Landing pic....

+ Crop, Zoom & Contrast pic....

[douglas100]

If you zoom in on the nose of SS2 in that pages pic you can see the new winglets.

Are you sure about that? It looks to me like that it is just a continuation of the black TPS material over the wing root.

[Confusador]

If you zoom in on the nose of SS2 in that pages pic you can see the new winglets.

Are you sure about that? It looks to me like that it is just a continuation of the black TPS material over the wing root.

I can see it both ways, so you got me curious enough to check.  My conclusion is that it's hard to tell, since they keep changing the paint job!  There are a lot of versions, but this one could match what you describe.  I think that's a lot more likely than a design change like that at this point.

[HMXHMX]

If you zoom in on the nose of SS2 in that pages pic you can see the new winglets.

Landing pic....

+ Crop, Zoom & Contrast pic....

I think there is something rather more significant than winglets, which I frankly don't see.

SS2 has acquired a hump.  Maybe three, actually, but clearly one on the top centerline.  My guess is it is a scabbed on cover for a pressure gas bottle, one of the fixes suggested by Scaled in the post-accident report to fix the Nitrous problem.

Edit:  I'm pretty sure the wing root feature has always been there, but not the centerline hump.