Author Topic: XCOR and the Lynx rocket (Read 620880 times)

dcporter · « **Reply #260 on:** 04/02/2012 04:10 pm »

This got off-topic. My question was regarding gotoMars' assertion that XCOR would be competing with airlines rather than VG, which I thought only made sense if he thought XCOR was ahead of VG. If VG gets to p2p (an admittedly questionable destination) first, XCOR will be in direct competition with VG as well as airlines.

krytek · « **Reply #261 on:** 04/02/2012 06:04 pm »

I don't know where this p2p talk is coming from.
XCOR has a pretty much stated goal of eventually going orbital.

jongoff · « **Reply #262 on:** 04/02/2012 06:25 pm »

Quote from: dcporter on 04/02/2012 02:00 pm

XCOR is closer to suborbital point-to-point than VG? VG talks about doing it on the next iteration of its vehicle. At that point, yes, whoever is doing p2p will be trying to make inroads into business class travel.

I think anyone who thinks suborbital point to point is in any way near-term is misinformed, or knows something I don't. After straight-up suborbital, nano-/micro-sat launch with a reusable first stage, and then small scale orbital RLVs are the obvious next steps. Suborbital p2p just has way too many technical, regulatory, and market challenges to be realistic anytime soon. IMO.

~Jon

Robotbeat · « **Reply #263 on:** 04/02/2012 06:37 pm »

Quote from: jongoff on 04/02/2012 06:25 pm

Quote from: dcporter on 04/02/2012 02:00 pm
XCOR is closer to suborbital point-to-point than VG? VG talks about doing it on the next iteration of its vehicle. At that point, yes, whoever is doing p2p will be trying to make inroads into business class travel.

I think anyone who thinks suborbital point to point is in any way near-term is misinformed, or knows something I don't. After straight-up suborbital, nano-/micro-sat launch with a reusable first stage, and then small scale orbital RLVs are the obvious next steps. Suborbital p2p just has way too many technical, regulatory, and market challenges to be realistic anytime soon. IMO.

~Jon

Agreed. I think that once reusable suborbital vehicles and small reusable orbital (or near-orbital) vehicles become relatively common and flying very often, you'll start to see more experimentation with point-to-point. Because it can be done at a smaller scale (and because it is being developed for other purposes), there's more chance for it finding a profitable niche than something like Concorde. Though I suspect that if something like Lynx does end up being profitable for high-speed point-to-point (absolutely no guarantee of that), you'll see a renewed interest in supersonic air-breathing transport as well, since it is inherently more efficient.

go4mars · « **Reply #264 on:** 04/02/2012 07:34 pm »

Correct me if I am wrong:

1) XCOR thinks it can do a gas and go operation that will cost about $900/suborbital flight.

2) They are planning to sell the units rather than host passengers.

3) They are too small for significant sonic booms.

If those are correct, then why wouldn't people with enough loot to buy and maintain one be able to do so? It doesn't have to be to extremely distant destinations. What if a Bel Aire billionaire's girlfriend wants to go for dinner in Vegas, but its already 4:30PM?

jongoff · « **Reply #265 on:** 04/02/2012 07:36 pm »

Quote from: go4mars on 04/02/2012 07:34 pm

Correct me if I am wrong:

1) XCOR thinks it can do a gas and go operation that will cost about $900/suborbital flight.

2) They are planning to sell the units rather than host passengers.

3) They are too small for significant sonic booms.

If those are correct, then why wouldn't people with enough loot to buy and maintain one be able to do so? It doesn't have to be to extremely distant destinations. What if a Bel Aire billionaire's girlfriend wants to go for dinner in Vegas, but its already 4:30PM?

The downrange capabilities of the suborbital vehicles would be very short. Maybe 100miles or so. And they are regulated as rocket vehicles, not as airplanes. Just isn't going to happen the way you're imagining it.

~Jon

Robotbeat · « **Reply #266 on:** 04/02/2012 07:49 pm »

I'm sure XCOR would be happy to sell you one. Jon is right, though. There's not a heck of a lot of sense in using it for point-to-point.

go4mars · « **Reply #267 on:** 04/02/2012 07:57 pm »

Could they be sold in Canada?

A_M_Swallow · « **Reply #268 on:** 04/02/2012 08:57 pm »

In a world where you have to arrive at an airport 3 hours before departure the flight has to be very fast to save a significant amount of time. This will only happen over long flights which means long distances. So we are talking New York to Los Angeles or California to China.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #269 on:** 04/02/2012 09:00 pm »

Quote from: A_M_Swallow on 04/02/2012 08:57 pm

In a world where you have to arrive at an airport 3 hours before departure the flight has to be very fast to save a significant amount of time. ...

Or target the "chartered jet" market which doesn't have the same constraints.

go4mars · « **Reply #270 on:** 04/02/2012 10:13 pm »

Quote from: Robotbeat on 04/02/2012 09:00 pm

Or target the "chartered jet" market which doesn't have the same constraints.

Exactly. Roll out of bed, walk over the hangar, back onto the runway, some wake up G's, float for a few minutes while sipping coffee in a bag and watching the sunrise over the earth, chill out for 10 or 15 minutes, land at the landing strip next to "work", reflect on what a nice commute that was as you walk in.

er. something.

D_Dom · « **Reply #271 on:** 04/02/2012 10:37 pm »

Two words, "fractional ownership".

Blackjax · « **Reply #272 on:** 04/02/2012 10:54 pm »

Quote from: cygnusX1 on 04/02/2012 10:37 pm

Two words, "fractional ownership".

Interesting thought.

neilh · « **Reply #273 on:** 05/03/2012 06:49 am »

XCOR's been dropping a number of hints on their twitter account about a new project they're working on. Any guesses?

https://twitter.com/#!/XCOR

Quote

Coming soon: A new project from XCOR. Hint #1: No rockets required. More pics to come. http://pic.twitter.com/mtl1p4ti

Clue #2 to our new project: We passed this along the way. http://t.co/24qwpGQx

Hint #3 to our new project: No wings. http://t.co/QdJT8e1u

Final hint: Look into the background.

QuantumG · « **Reply #274 on:** 05/03/2012 06:55 am »

Any big motorcycle races or events going on in New Mexico?

Confusador · « **Reply #275 on:** 05/03/2012 02:09 pm »

Shooting for a land speed record? In any case, it seems odd that it wouldn't be a rocket powered vehicle, but they certainly have the aerodynamic knowledge to do interesting things at high speeds in dense air.

QuantumG · « **Reply #276 on:** 05/04/2012 02:41 am »

QuantumG · « **Reply #277 on:** 05/04/2012 03:04 am »

And here's the press release: http://xcor.com/press-releases/2012/12-05-03_XCOR_motorcycle_hits_the_road.html

docmordrid · « **Reply #278 on:** 05/04/2012 06:50 am »

Test bearings on a high-end test stand, or put them into a motorcycle & take a road trip to do the same test?

Hmmmm....lemme think about that a minute

baldusi · « **Reply #279 on:** 05/04/2012 05:36 pm »

I had speculated that they would test the piston engine that they talked about for the ACES development. Might be the next step. A LH/LOX motorcycle... mmm.