Author Topic: Space Ship Two - General Thread (Read 748620 times)

craigcocca · « **Reply #940 on:** 04/29/2013 03:03 pm »

Perfect landing. My goodness that is a beautiful (air)spacecraft.

craigcocca · « **Reply #941 on:** 04/29/2013 03:04 pm »

Landing:

Orbiter · « **Reply #942 on:** 04/29/2013 03:04 pm »

That's that! Job well done SS2 and Virgin Galactic - a day many years in the making.

Orbiter · « **Reply #943 on:** 04/29/2013 03:07 pm »

Well, she's defiantly not the shuttle!

simonbp · « **Reply #944 on:** 04/29/2013 03:09 pm »

Hey look, a spaceplane!

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #945 on:** 04/29/2013 03:12 pm »

WK2 still turning around....

Orbiter · « **Reply #946 on:** 04/29/2013 03:15 pm »

Coverage ended.

Falcon H · « **Reply #947 on:** 04/29/2013 03:17 pm »

Wow, I still can't believe they did it

, they went supersonic, finally! I can't wait to see SS2 fly to space, we have been waiting for years.

yg1968 · « **Reply #948 on:** 04/29/2013 03:26 pm »

Here is a video of the takeoff:
http://www.turnto23.com/news/local-news/watch-live-spaceshiptwo-test-flight

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #949 on:** 04/29/2013 03:26 pm »

Quote from: Falcon H on 04/29/2013 03:17 pm

Wow, I still can't believe they did it , they went supersonic, finally! I can't wait to see SS2 fly to space, we have been waiting for years.

I checked some sources - back in 2005 Sir Richard et al. were saying 2007 for test flights......

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #950 on:** 04/29/2013 03:27 pm »

Oh and:

Virgin Galactic ‏@virgingalactic
Pilots Stucky and Alsbury confirm: SpaceShipTwo exceeded the speed of sound on today’s flight! Photos, video, and details to follow.

yg1968 · « **Reply #951 on:** 04/29/2013 03:36 pm »

https://twitter.com/virginchoi/status/328893770168950784/photo/1

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #952 on:** 04/29/2013 03:42 pm »

Many congratulations VG! Fantastic day

Richard Brandon is happy: http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/momentous-day-for-space-travel

Quote

This is a momentous day and the single most important flight test to date for our Virgin Galactic program. What a feeling to be on the ground with all the team in Mojave to witness Virgin Galactic go faster than the speed of sound.

It marks the moment when we put together two key elements of our spaceflight system - the spacecraft and its rocket motor, which have both been tested extensively by themselves over several years - and start the phase of testing that will demonstrate our vehicle’s ability to go to space (hopefully later this year).

It is a tremendous achievement and a testament to the hard work and meticulous preparation by everyone involved.

Like our hundreds of customers from around the world, my children and I cannot wait to get on board this fantastic vehicle for our own trip to space and am delighted that today’s milestone brings that day much closer.

By Richard Branson. Founder of Virgin Group

Edit: added small pic from blog

yg1968 · « **Reply #953 on:** 04/29/2013 03:46 pm »

CSF is happy:
http://www.commercialspaceflight.org/2013/04/csf-president-michael-lopez-alegria-statement-on-first-powered-flight-of-spaceshiptwo/

Orbiter · « **Reply #954 on:** 04/29/2013 03:53 pm »

First pictures of the flight.

yg1968 · « **Reply #955 on:** 04/29/2013 03:54 pm »

Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 04/29/2013 03:42 pm

Many congratulations VG! Fantastic day

Richard Brandon is happy: http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/momentous-day-for-space-travel

Quote
This is a momentous day and the single most important flight test to date for our Virgin Galactic program. What a feeling to be on the ground with all the team in Mojave to witness Virgin Galactic go faster than the speed of sound.

It marks the moment when we put together two key elements of our spaceflight system - the spacecraft and its rocket motor, which have both been tested extensively by themselves over several years - and start the phase of testing that will demonstrate our vehicle’s ability to go to space (hopefully later this year).

It is a tremendous achievement and a testament to the hard work and meticulous preparation by everyone involved.

Like our hundreds of customers from around the world, my children and I cannot wait to get on board this fantastic vehicle for our own trip to space and am delighted that today’s milestone brings that day much closer.

By Richard Branson. Founder of Virgin Group

Edit: added small pic from blog

That picture is actually from a prior flight. See this link:
http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/spaceshiptwo-completes-first-glide-in-powered-flight-configuration/

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #956 on:** 04/29/2013 04:17 pm »

Mark Kirkman ‏@MarkKirkman (P.S. Is he still around at NSF?)
According to @virgingalactic SS2 reached Mach 1.2 at 55,000 ft during 16 sec burn. #SS2PF01

------------------------------------------------------------------------

EDIT: http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/virgin-galactic-breaks-speed-of-sound-in-first-rocket-powered-flight-of-spaceshiptwo/

29.04.13
VIRGIN GALACTIC BREAKS SPEED OF SOUND IN FIRST ROCKET-POWERED FLIGHT OF SPACESHIPTWO
Sir Richard Branson witnesses vehicle-proving milestone as company sets year-end goal for spaceflight

MOJAVE, Calif. – Today, Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial spaceline owned by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and Abu Dhabi’s aabar Investments PJC, completed the first rocket-powered flight of its space vehicle, SpaceShipTwo (SS2). The test, conducted by teams from Scaled Composites (Scaled) and Virgin Galactic, officially marks Virgin Galactic’s entrance into the final phase of vehicle testing prior to commercial service from Spaceport America in New Mexico.

“The first powered flight of Virgin Spaceship Enterprise was without any doubt, our single most important flight test to date,” said Virgin Galactic Founder Sir Richard Branson, who was on the ground in Mojave to witness the occasion. “For the first time, we were able to prove the key components of the system, fully integrated and in flight. Today’s supersonic success opens the way for a rapid expansion of the spaceship’s powered flight envelope, with a very realistic goal of full space flight by the year’s end. We saw history in the making today and I couldn’t be more proud of everyone involved.”

The test began at 7.02am local time when SS2 took off from Mojave Air and Space Port mated to WhiteKnightTwo (WK2), Virgin Galactic’s carrier aircraft. Piloting SS2 were Mark Stucky, pilot, and Mike Alsbury, co-pilot, who are test pilots for Scaled, which built SS2 for Virgin Galactic. At the WK2 controls were Virgin Galactic’s Chief Pilot Dave Mackay, assisted by Clint Nichols and Brian Maisler, co-pilot and flight test engineer, respectively, for Scaled.

Upon reaching 47,000 feet altitude and approximately 45 minutes into the flight, SS2 was released from WK2. After cross-checking data and verifying stable control, the pilots triggered ignition of the rocket motor, causing the main oxidizer valve to open and igniters to fire within the fuel case. At this point, SS2 was propelled forward and upward to a maximum altitude of 55,000 feet. The entire engine burn lasted 16 seconds, as planned. During this time, SS2 went supersonic, achieving Mach 1.2.

“We partnered with Virgin Galactic several years ago with the aspiration to transform and commercialize access to space for the broader public,” said His Excellency Khadem Al Qubaisi, Chairman of aabar Investments PJC. “Today’s test is another key milestone in realizing that aspiration. Our partnership goes from strength to strength, and is an excellent example of aabar’s desire to participate in the development of world class technologies that are commercially viable and strategically important, both for the company, its shareholders, and for Abu Dhabi.”

The entire rocket-powered flight test lasted just over 10 minutes, culminating in a smooth landing for SS2 in Mojave at approximately 8am local time.

“The rocket motor ignition went as planned, with the expected burn duration, good engine performance and solid vehicle handling qualities throughout,” said Virgin Galactic President & CEO George Whitesides. “The successful outcome of this test marks a pivotal point for our program. We will now embark on a handful of similar powered flight tests, and then make our first test flight to space.”

In the coming months, the Virgin Galactic and Scaled test team will expand the spaceship’s powered flight envelope culminating in full space flight, which the companies anticipate will take place before the end of 2013.

“I’d like to congratulate the entire team,” said President of Scaled Kevin Mickey. “This milestone has been a long time coming and it’s only through the hard work of the team and the tremendous support of Virgin Galactic that we have been able to witness this important milestone. We look forward to all our upcoming tests and successes.”

JBF · « **Reply #957 on:** 04/29/2013 04:22 pm »

BBC article on the flight. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22344398

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #958 on:** 04/29/2013 04:27 pm »

Great coverage guys. Might do a short article, if only to direct people to the coverage in this thread.

jabe · « **Reply #959 on:** 04/29/2013 04:30 pm »

great pic is here as well
http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/momentous-day-for-space-travel
edit:any thoughts on what we see regarding the rocket exhaust? i spot some mach diamonds...