Author Topic: Virgin Galactic and SpaceShipTwo Master Thread (1) (Read 255450 times)

yg1968 · « **Reply #220 on:** 10/22/2010 07:26 pm »

On the subject of suborbital flights, Branson mentionned that the commercial flights should start in 9 to 18 months from now. When asked about what explained this large range by a reporter, he answered that they wanted to be able to give passengers a return flight from space... He then explained more seriously that they would have to do a lot of test flights in 2011 and that it depended on how the test flights went.

He also said that he will be on the first commercial flight. Likely with his parents. Burt Rutan will also be one of the first to fly. Branson's kids will be on another early flight.

neilh · « **Reply #221 on:** 10/22/2010 10:39 pm »

A snippet of information about the engine from Rand Simberg:

http://www.transterrestrial.com/?p=29985

Quote

Talking to George Whitesides briefly last night, he said that they’ve done full-thrust tests of the engine, but not yet full duration. I may have a piece on this next week.

yg1968 · « **Reply #222 on:** 10/23/2010 01:11 am »

http://www.space.com/news/spaceport-america-virgin-galactic-spaceshiptwo-101022.html

Quote

"Obviously, we want to move on to orbital after we've got suborbital under our belts, and maybe even before that," Branson said.

The company will aim to win a NASA contract to transport astronauts to the International Space Station, he said. The space agency plans to look to private space companies to take over this task once the space shuttle fleet retires next year.

"We plan to start work on an orbital program quite quickly," Branson said.

mr. mark · « **Reply #223 on:** 10/23/2010 01:28 am »

Well, he's not going to get there with his puny hybrid rocket motor. He has to face reality, Scaled has no experience with orbital flight and you can't scale up SS2 because none of it's systems are compatible with orbital spaceflight. Even SS2's flight systems are non hydralic, working on pully based systems. SS2 is basically stick and rudder. It's like a Cesna compared to a modern fighter jet only worse. Virgin's best hope is to tie it's star to either Sierra Nevada's Dreamchaser or maybe work with Spacex's Dragon.

docmordrid · « **Reply #224 on:** 10/23/2010 01:34 am »

Quote from: yg1968 on 10/22/2010 06:52 pm

Here:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=21895.msg650823#msg650823

It was live on a CNN web video feed. His words were something to the effect that Virgin Galactic intends to bid on commercial crew for NASA which is in the process of solliciting proposals (i.e. CCDV 2).

Lots of implications could be drawn from this. Wonder if they'll propose something like t-Space's capsule? IIRC Scaled designed it. If so, what launcher? Falcon 9's in the right range.

HMXHMX · « **Reply #225 on:** 10/23/2010 02:47 am »

Quote from: docmordrid on 10/23/2010 01:34 am

Quote from: yg1968 on 10/22/2010 06:52 pm
Here:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=21895.msg650823#msg650823

It was live on a CNN web video feed. His words were something to the effect that Virgin Galactic intends to bid on commercial crew for NASA which is in the process of solliciting proposals (i.e. CCDV 2).
Lots of implications could be drawn from this. Wonder if they'll propose something like t-Space's capsule? IIRC Scaled designed it. If so, what launcher? Falcon 9's in the right range.

To clarify, Scaled didn't design the t/Space spacecraft or launch vehicle, I did, along with my colleagues at t/Space, AirLaunch (air-launch architecture and booster) and HMX (LV propulsion system). Scaled would have built the carrier aircraft if the project had gone forward, along with certain structural elements of the re-entry vehicle.

yg1968 · « **Reply #226 on:** 10/23/2010 03:48 am »

More on Virgin's orbital plans:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69M08W20101023

Quote

"There's about four companies that are seriously looking at it (the NASA commercial crew program)," Branson told Reuters.

He said Virgin Galactic was currently in discussions with two of the companies about teaming up with them and would decide over the next month whether to do so or go it alone.

One way or the other, Branson said, "We plan to be in orbital travel within the next few years."

docmordrid · « **Reply #227 on:** 10/23/2010 04:14 am »

OK people, place your bets on who they'll team with.

guru · « **Reply #228 on:** 10/23/2010 05:41 am »

Maybe they're considering building a larger WK3 that could actually carry something like the original AirLaunch system.

Lars_J · « **Reply #229 on:** 10/23/2010 06:45 am »

Hmm, well a true RLV airlaunched two-stage system would certainly fill a most welcome niche. One would hope that is Scaled/Virgin's approach, and that they partner with the right people.

It would certainly be a lot more exciting than a craft on top of a Atlas V or F9.

Hauerg · « **Reply #230 on:** 10/23/2010 07:29 am »

Quote from: Lars_J on 10/23/2010 06:45 am

Hmm, well a true RLV airlaunched two-stage system would certainly fill a most welcome niche. One would hope that is Scaled/Virgin's approach, and that they partner with the right people.

It would certainly be a lot more exciting than a craft on top of a Atlas V or F9.

True, but that would make them the last of the pack to enter the market. And by a wide margin. (Remember how long it took them to scale SS1 to SS2.)

Celebrimbor · « **Reply #231 on:** 10/23/2010 09:50 am »

Quote from: neilh on 10/22/2010 10:39 pm

A snippet of information about the engine from Rand Simberg:

http://www.transterrestrial.com/?p=29985
Quote
Talking to George Whitesides briefly last night, he said that they’ve done full-thrust tests of the engine, but not yet full duration. I may have a piece on this next week.

I don't think this has happened in flight yet though. But then again, things are moving fast at VG! It's hard to guess when they'll take the next step of... ahem "lighting the candle" in flight.

docmordrid · « **Reply #232 on:** 10/23/2010 05:50 pm »

My bet is that Scaled is a lock for one partner because of their shared history, and that either SpaceX or Orbital will provide the launcher.

IF they do use a conventional booster and a capsule is the form factor then something akin to the t-Space CXV S1 makes sense; it was to be built by Scaled and another partner was Northrop Grumman, who now owns Scaled.

That said, you can never rule anything out with Scaled - a spaceplane sure would draw a lot more attention.

neilh · « **Reply #233 on:** 10/23/2010 08:20 pm »

Quote from: docmordrid on 10/23/2010 04:14 am

OK people, place your bets on who they'll team with.

Have Elon Musk and Richard Branson ever been in the same room with each other? Were they best buddies, or did they have to be held back to stop them from clawing at each others throats?

Considering the sizes of their egos, I could see either happening...

Hauerg · « **Reply #234 on:** 10/23/2010 09:03 pm »

If VG actually wants to bid for Commercial Crew and not just offer commercial manned flights this would rule out Falcon/Dragon. Developing a 3rd manned orbiter for the Atlas V does not seem likely either. So something new to put on top of Taurus II?? This would have to be very light. In oder to succeed they would need a partner who is great in this field. Hm....

mmeijeri · « **Reply #235 on:** 10/24/2010 01:51 pm »

Quote

He said Virgin Galactic was currently in discussions with two of the companies about teaming up with them and would decide over the next month whether to do so or go it alone.

He's talking about two of the CCDev companies, so that narrows it down. In particular it also excludes SpaceX and Orbital, though they may still be the ones who provide the launch vehicle. I think they are talking to people who are working on a spacecraft, so that would be Boeing, SNC or Blue Origin. So which one aren't they talking to? Boeing might prefer to go it alone, but only if they are confident they will get a contract. If not, then collaboration with Virgin may be interesting for them too. Still, I'd guess they're talking to SNC and Blue Origin.

mmeijeri · « **Reply #236 on:** 10/24/2010 02:20 pm »

Hmm, on closer reading Branson is saying there are 4 companies that are seriously looking at commercial crew, so it looks as if he wasn't limiting things to the CCDev 1 awardees specifically. In that case Orbital is still a plausible candidate.

beancounter · « **Reply #237 on:** 10/25/2010 01:36 am »

What about partnering with SpaceDev and airlaunching their Dream Chaser vehicle from WK2. Dream Chaser is designed to operate in atmosphere and glide back to a runway landing, just like SS1 and SS2.

If that's at all feasible, wouldn't it short-cut the development time and I would think lower the cost considerably from the proposed Atlas V launch vehicle. What it needs of course, is increased propulsion capability for Dream Chaser.

SpacexULA · « **Reply #238 on:** 10/25/2010 01:48 am »

Quote from: beancounter on 10/25/2010 01:36 am

What about partnering with SpaceDev and airlaunching their Dream Chaser vehicle from WK2. Dream Chaser is designed to operate in atmosphere and glide back to a runway landing, just like SS1 and SS2.

If that's at all feasible, wouldn't it short-cut the development time and I would think lower the cost considerably from the proposed Atlas V launch vehicle. What it needs of course, is increased propulsion capability for Dream Chaser.

White Knight 2 can carry Dream Chaser to 60,000 feet and about Mach .72 ruffly.

That would mean Dream Chaser could need an extra boost of 1,330,000 more feet and 34.28 more times the speed of sound to get to oribit.

White Knight 2 cannot carry the mass it's going to take to carry a rocket capable of safely carrying a passenger to orbit. much less any type of LAS, which FAA is likely going to require them to have.

docmordrid · « **Reply #239 on:** 10/25/2010 02:08 am »

What are the odds of them building a very light, mostly composite (incl. the pressure hull) spaceplane for launch on an F9 class launcher? IIRC Blue Origin's going with a composite pressure hull, and so does SS2.