Author Topic: Space Ship Two - General Thread (Read 748634 times)

Garrett · « **Reply #820 on:** 04/05/2013 03:18 pm »

A few more photos of the April 3rd 2013 test flight, from the news section of the Virgin.com website.

http://www.virgin.com/travel/news/virgin-galactic-over-the-moon-with-test-flight
By Greg Rose - Apr 05, 2013

Edit: Photo credits:
Photo 1: unknown
Photo 2: Scaled Composites / Michael Fuchs
Photo 3: Scaled Composites / Niki Dugué

mrkmrsk · « **Reply #821 on:** 04/05/2013 03:25 pm »

Quote from: Garrett on 04/05/2013 03:03 pm

Quote from: JohnFornaro on 04/05/2013 02:17 pm
I have to ask, how could they have pre-positioned an aircraft to take that "moon shot" picture above? Quite a bit of precision flying and timing, eh? Had to be a planned operation. Just an elementary my dear Watson analysis.
or luck ...

or Photoshop...

Citabria · « **Reply #822 on:** 04/05/2013 03:47 pm »

Probably not Photoshop - lunar phase is correct for the date and the sun shadow angles agree between the moon and the ship. Just a lucky photo, I suppose.

Jason1701 · « **Reply #823 on:** 04/05/2013 04:42 pm »

Quote from: Garrett on 04/05/2013 03:03 pm

Quote from: JohnFornaro on 04/05/2013 02:17 pm
I have to ask, how could they have pre-positioned an aircraft to take that "moon shot" picture above? Quite a bit of precision flying and timing, eh? Had to be a planned operation. Just an elementary my dear Watson analysis.
or luck ...

I think it was taken from the ground as the spaceship was on final approach, as I've seen similar angles from many people.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #824 on:** 04/06/2013 09:11 pm »

Parabolic Arc reports rumours that the first SS2 powered flight will be this month:

Quote from: Doug Messier

The rumor mill in Mojave has it that we will be seeing the first powered test flight of Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo by the end of this month. One specific date that has been rumored is April 22, which would have marked the 69th birthday of the late businessman and adventurer Steve Fossett. [...]

Doug is usually well informed about events in Mojave.

jabe · « **Reply #825 on:** 04/07/2013 01:06 pm »

I am hoping that no video of the rocket motors have been released so "part 2" of the National Geographic VG special can have some exclusive video since NG have waited so long...
here is the promo for part 1 from almost 3 years ago

jb

Orbiter · « **Reply #826 on:** 04/07/2013 02:54 pm »

Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 04/06/2013 09:11 pm

Parabolic Arc reports rumours that the first SS2 powered flight will be this month:

Quote from: Doug Messier
The rumor mill in Mojave has it that we will be seeing the first powered test flight of Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo by the end of this month. One specific date that has been rumored is April 22, which would have marked the 69th birthday of the late businessman and adventurer Steve Fossett. [...]

Doug is usually well informed about events in Mojave.

That's awesome! I hope we get some live coverage of it.

mr. mark · « **Reply #827 on:** 04/12/2013 02:27 pm »

Final unpowered flight before powered flights is most likely happening today.
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/04/12/spaceshiptwo-flying-again-today/

Garrett · « **Reply #828 on:** 04/12/2013 02:43 pm »

Quote from: mr. mark on 04/12/2013 02:27 pm

Final unpowered flight is most likely happening today.
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/04/12/spaceshiptwo-flying-again-today/

If true then turnaround is picking up. Last glide flights:
11 Aug 2012
19 Dec 2012 (gap = 130 days)
03 Apr 2013 (gap = 105 days)
12 Apr 2013 (gap = 9 days)

Next expected flight (powered):
22 Apr 2013 (gap = 10 days)

Also, here's the test summary from the last glide flight:

Quote

Flight:   113 / GF24
Date:   03 Apr 13
Flight Time:   9 min
SS2 Pilot:   Stucky   SS2 CoPilot:   Nichols
GS Crew:   Tighe, Bourgeois, Glaser, Knupp, Bassett, Jaster, Bozarth, Verderame, Keller, Cassebeer, Zeeb, Gould, Colby, Withrow, Kroese

Objectives:
In flight nitrous vent test (on pylon)
Feather flight

Results:
Objectives complete.

Garrett · « **Reply #829 on:** 04/12/2013 02:50 pm »

Just came across this photo of the nitrous venting.
(from http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/04/04/spaceshiptwo-flight-featured-nitrous-venting-and-vehicle-feathering/)

Caption: Nitrous venting from SpaceShipTwo prior to a glide flight on April 3, 2013. (Credit: Virgin Galactic)

Garrett · « **Reply #830 on:** 04/12/2013 04:58 pm »

Recent tweets:

Quote

@virgingalactic - Virgin Galactic
WhiteKnightTwo & SpaceShipTwo just took off for another test flight in prep for our 1st rocket powered flight. Stay tuned for updates.
6:25 PM - 12 Apr 13
https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/322747418909241344

Quote

@spacecom - Douglas Messier
WhiteKnightTwo took off with SpaceShipTwo attached for another glide flight.
6:33 PM - 12 Apr 13
https://twitter.com/spacecom/status/322749265267027968

Quote

@spacecom - Douglas Messier
SpaceShipTwo's third and final glide flight with the engine is taking place on the 52nd anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's spaceflight.
6:41 PM - 12 Apr 13
https://twitter.com/spacecom/status/322751410645110784

Quote

@spacecom - Douglas Messier
If things go like on April 3 flight, WK2 will take about 1 hr 15 min to reach altitude and release SS2. Take off was around 9:25 or so.
6:47 PM - 12 Apr 13
https://twitter.com/spacecom/status/322752959014375425

Quote

@spacecom - Douglas Messier
Prior to releasing SS2 on last flight, the spacecraft vented its nitrous oxide. A crew was seen loading the nitrous earlier this morning.
6:48 PM - 12 Apr 13
https://twitter.com/spacecom/status/322753188820295680

Quote

@spacecom - Douglas Messier
This is the third and final SS2 test flight with engine installed. If successful, they will go to a powered flight possible later this month
6:51 PM - 12 Apr 13
https://twitter.com/spacecom/status/322753802681860096

yg1968 · « **Reply #831 on:** 04/12/2013 09:36 pm »

SpaceShipTwo Advances Towards Powered Flight with Spectacular “Cold-Flow” Test:
http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/spaceshiptwo-advances-towards-powered-flight-with-spectacular-cold-flow-test/

docmordrid · « **Reply #832 on:** 04/12/2013 10:18 pm »

OK - the throttle works, LET'S LIGHT THIS CANDLE!!

Olaf · « **Reply #833 on:** 04/12/2013 11:13 pm »

This last flight is called CF instead of GF (Glide Flight).
What does it mean?
http://www.scaled.com/projects/test_logs/35/model_339_spaceshiptwo

Confusador · « **Reply #834 on:** 04/12/2013 11:29 pm »

Quote from: Olaf on 04/12/2013 11:13 pm

This last flight is called CF instead of GF (Glide Flight).
What does it mean?
http://www.scaled.com/projects/test_logs/35/model_339_spaceshiptwo

I would assume "cold-flow"

Rocket Science · « **Reply #835 on:** 04/12/2013 11:32 pm »

Quote from: yg1968 on 04/12/2013 09:36 pm

SpaceShipTwo Advances Towards Powered Flight with Spectacular “Cold-Flow” Test:
http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/spaceshiptwo-advances-towards-powered-flight-with-spectacular-cold-flow-test/

Nice pic yg, thanks for posting it!

QuantumG · « **Reply #836 on:** 04/12/2013 11:34 pm »

Wow, that's a great test!

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #837 on:** 04/13/2013 12:08 am »

VG have a small selection of photos on their FB page http://www.facebook.com/find-friends/browser/?rpix=1#!/media/set/?set=a.10151567118654297.1073741826.171270329296&type=1 but the cold flow test is by far the best!

Bigger resolution attached.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #838 on:** 04/13/2013 12:18 am »

Having looked more closely the carry photo from today's test is interesting. First time I remember seeing the nozzle from the rear. Is the bit in the centre purely for today's flow test?

Jason1701 · « **Reply #839 on:** 04/13/2013 01:12 am »

Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 04/13/2013 12:18 am

Having looked more closely the carry photo from today's test is interesting. First time I remember seeing the nozzle from the rear. Is the bit in the centre purely for today's flow test?

It's been there for the last few glide flights.