Author Topic: New Rocketplane Global Spaceplane Video from RpK (Read 7125 times)

Chris Bergin · « **on:** 07/30/2008 07:21 pm »

Notice there's no claims about being "better" than Shuttle

Swatch · « **Reply #1 on:** 07/30/2008 08:11 pm »

Somebody's been playing too much Star Fox...

Also, I like the plot-twist at the end... turns out they're just making virtual reality home theater trips to space!

...but I joke...

Cool video! I wish them luck on that. I really like the nice ballet-esque backflip for the passenger's viewing pleasure.

edkyle99 · « **Reply #2 on:** 07/30/2008 08:41 pm »

If people are going to build rocket planes, why use them for joy rides? Why not use them to go somewhere? Los Angeles to Las Vegas in 10 minutes, etc.?

- Ed Kyle

marsavian · « **Reply #3 on:** 07/30/2008 08:52 pm »

Quote from: edkyle99 on 07/30/2008 08:41 pm

If people are going to build rocket planes, why use them for joy rides? Why not use them to go somewhere? Los Angeles to Las Vegas in 10 minutes, etc.?

- Ed Kyle

PlanetSpace are planning to do that with their Silver Dart.

bad_astra · « **Reply #4 on:** 07/31/2008 02:40 pm »

Quote from: edkyle99 on 07/30/2008 08:41 pm

If people are going to build rocket planes, why use them for joy rides? Why not use them to go somewhere? Los Angeles to Las Vegas in 10 minutes, etc.?

- Ed Kyle

People are going to have to watch the barnstormers before they're prepared to buy tickets overland.

AresWatcher · « **Reply #5 on:** 08/03/2008 11:59 pm »

Quote from: edkyle99 on 07/30/2008 08:41 pm

If people are going to build rocket planes, why use them for joy rides? Why not use them to go somewhere? Los Angeles to Las Vegas in 10 minutes, etc.?

- Ed Kyle

Not feasable unless there were scheduled flights each day.

The benefit of getting to Las Vegas in 10 minutes is otherwise negated by the cost and the lack of an ability to just turn up at LAX and get a flight the same day and taking just a couple of hours max.

patmamu · « **Reply #6 on:** 08/04/2008 02:06 pm »

I like how dramatic they make the takeoff of a converted buisness jet.

antonioe · « **Reply #7 on:** 08/10/2008 01:18 am »

Just a few notes:

1.- Shouldn't it be "RpG" instead of "RpK"?

2.- Love the reflection of the centerline markings on takeoff... I wonder what software package was used... but why the afterburners of takeoff? Are the jet engines really that low thrust?

3.- The pull-up appears to last about 1 second and turn about 30 degrees (0.5 radians), or a velocity vector turning rate of 0.5 radians per second. If the aircraft is going at, say, Mach 1 when doing that pull up (the rocket fired several seconds before the pullup, so I assume it's barely supersonic) it implies 340 m/s times 0.5 rad/s divided by g0 equals 17 g's... ouch!

4.- Ballistic reentry? It does not appear to have any appreciable angle of attack going down...

MB123 · « **Reply #8 on:** 08/15/2008 11:35 am »

anyone seen a movie called 'starflight one'

synchrotron · « **Reply #9 on:** 08/15/2008 02:34 pm »

Quote from: antonioe on 08/10/2008 01:18 am

Just a few notes:

3.- The pull-up appears to last about 1 second and turn about 30 degrees (0.5 radians), or a velocity vector turning rate of 0.5 radians per second. If the aircraft is going at, say, Mach 1 when doing that pull up (the rocket fired several seconds before the pullup, so I assume it's barely supersonic) it implies 340 m/s times 0.5 rad/s divided by g0 equals 17 g's... ouch!

At no extra cost, you get to find out what it's like to weigh as much as the Ferrari you drove to the spaceport...

8900 · « **Reply #10 on:** 08/17/2008 07:14 am »

pretty CG effect
but they don't even have the hardware built
so nothing interesting
at least VG got the WK2 rollout already

simonbp · « **Reply #11 on:** 08/18/2008 12:41 am »

Why do the afterburners go blue? Are they burning LH2 or CH4, as blackbody-emitting soot particles in kerosene usually outshine the blue H-alpha line...

Simon

nobodyofconsequence · « **Reply #12 on:** 08/18/2008 01:16 am »

Quote from: simonbp on 08/18/2008 12:41 am

Why do the afterburners go blue? Are they burning LH2 or CH4, as blackbody-emitting soot particles in kerosene usually outshine the blue H-alpha line...

Simon

H-alpha is red (656 nm). H-beta is blue (486 nm).

My bet is just to look cool.

tnphysics · « **Reply #13 on:** 08/18/2008 01:22 am »

I believe that is because they are air-rich.

This prevents soot formation unless mixing is poor.

marsavian · « **Reply #14 on:** 10/16/2008 04:00 pm »

http://www.journalrecord.com/article.cfm?recid=92969

“The problem is no longer, ‘is it feasible,’” said Faulkner, “it’s simply a matter of getting the money.” But considering the condition of the financial markets, there is no telling when the company will be able to get the funding needed to make the XP a reality.
Navigating the financial world has proven to be a lot tougher than rocket science for the heads of Rocketplane, who hold what is arguably the best design for a reusable, suborbital launch vehicle, but have been unable to raise the money to build it.
Even Herrington in his resignation made clear money was the only problem – but an insurmountable problem, nonetheless.
“The technical side of it is outstanding,” said Herrington, adding that the engineers had done remarkable work. “But if you can’t get investors to step up to the plate, you can’t build what you want to fly.”