Author Topic: Virgin Galactic and SpaceShipTwo Master Thread (1) (Read 255447 times)

HMXHMX · « **Reply #380 on:** 07/30/2011 05:52 am »

Quote from: baldusi on 07/29/2011 08:13 pm

Quote from: HMXHMX on 07/29/2011 06:38 pm
Quote from: baldusi on 07/29/2011 05:15 pm
Excuse my ignorance, but when you say pressurization you mean the turbopump, one way valves and pressure regulators? Or you add all the plumbing from each tank? Do you also add the repressurization system for tanks, too? And the start up pressure (via hypergolic, pyros, hellium or whatever)? Do you also mean the pressure drops an plumbing for a regeneratively cooled chamber?

For pressure-fed systems, the pressurization subsystem includes the propellant tank(s), all plumbing and valving up to the engine interface, the pressurant gas(es) and their storage vessels, regulators, heat exchanger if required, control computer and sensors, and the overall thermochemical and thermodynamic behavior of the integrated system.

Pump-fed systems will also have a pressurization subsystem, to maintain Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) inlet pressures to the turbo-machinery, but these are generally less complicated to design than propulsion system that rely upon tank pressure to supply the engine chamber pressure.

From this I have to understand that a pressure-fed system is a bit more complicated than one feeding a pumped system?

Different beasts, different risks and benefits. But a pressure-fed system, especially with cryogenic propellants, is not trivial. Too many folks think it is.

docmordrid · « **Reply #381 on:** 08/05/2011 05:33 am »

Virgin Galactic has chosen its first flight ops pilot -

Link....

Quote

Test pilot Dave Mackay, who grew up in Helmsdale, is set to make history as the captain of the world’s first commercial flight into space.

The 54-year-old recently took up the post of chief pilot with Sir Richard Branson’s commercial space venture, Virgin Galactica.
>

aquarius · « **Reply #382 on:** 08/05/2011 10:39 am »

What a surprise, I thought it'd be Siebold or Stucky.

Skyrocket · « **Reply #383 on:** 08/05/2011 11:42 am »

Quote from: aquarius on 08/05/2011 10:39 am

What a surprise, I thought it'd be Siebold or Stucky.

Siebold and Stucky are not employees of Virgin. Operational SS2 flights will feature Virgin Galactic pilots.

Garrett · « **Reply #384 on:** 08/05/2011 01:07 pm »

Quote from: Skyrocket on 08/05/2011 11:42 am

Quote from: aquarius on 08/05/2011 10:39 am
What a surprise, I thought it'd be Siebold or Stucky.
Siebold and Stucky are not employees of Virgin. Operational SS2 flights will feature Virgin Galactic pilots.

Indeed. MacKay will be "the captain of the world’s first commercial flight into space."

Scaled Composites pilots, such as Siebold or Stucky, will likely be the first to fly SS2 into space during testing.

I wonder how training for MacKay will work? Will he be involved in the SS2 testing, or will he be trained only after SS2 has been certified? I would presume the latter. By training I mean practical training. I assume Scaled/The Spaceship Company have a simulator.

Edit: Just checked to confirm there is a SS2 sim:
(go to 4:29 mark, sorry if this vid was posted elsewhere before)
Nice

And I forgot for a moment that the WK2 and SS2 cockpits are designed to be imitations of one another.

Jason1701 · « **Reply #385 on:** 08/05/2011 01:12 pm »

I guess we'll have to wait for the testing logs to see where MacKay shows up. Many videos have shown Branson and Rutan flying TSC's simulator.

Danderman · « **Reply #386 on:** 08/10/2011 03:17 pm »

http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/nasa-selects-virgin-galactic-for-suborbital-flights/

NASA selects Virgin Galactic for Suborbital Flights

"Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial spaceline, owned by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and Aabar Investments PJS, has been selected by NASA to provide flight opportunities for engineers, technologists and scientific researchers to fly technology payloads into space. This arrangement marks the first time that NASA has contracted with a commercial partner to provide flights into space on a suborbital spacecraft, and represents another important endorsement of the value of regular commercial space access for a wide range of science and educational applications."

"To best serve NASA and the research community, Virgin Galactic assembled an expert team of partners to provide payload integration and flight services. This team includes: Southwest Research Institute of Texas; NanoRacks, LLC of Texas; SatWest, LLC of New Mexico and Spaceflight Services of Washington. These partner organizations bring extensive experience flying scientific experiments on high performance jet aircraft, suborbital and orbital rockets, and the International Space Station. Researchers flying experiments onboard SpaceShipTwo will be able to work with these companies directly when desired to allow for the quickest paths to flight."

simonbp · « **Reply #387 on:** 08/16/2011 04:03 pm »

Quote from: docmordrid on 08/05/2011 05:33 am

Quote
The 54-year-old recently took up the post of chief pilot with Sir Richard Branson’s commercial space venture, Virgin Galactica.
>

Wait, Virgin Galactica? Does Branson have some Battlestars he's not telling us about?

Jason1701 · « **Reply #388 on:** 08/19/2011 03:44 am »

SS2 flight testing is halted while the engine is being installed, but WK2 is still flying:

Quote

Flight:    69
Date:    11 Aug 11    Flight Time:    2.1 hr
WK2 Pilot:    Stucky    WK2 CoPilot:    Nichols    WK2 FTE:    Reid
GS Crew:    Tighe, Glaser, Persall, Siebold, and Inks

Objectives:
Engine fuel inlet cooler performance testing
Flutter susceptibility data collection
Anti-Skid operational check and data collection

Results:
All objectives achieved.

docmordrid · « **Reply #389 on:** 08/19/2011 06:25 am »

If they're installing the engine then it sounds like any issues, if any, are largely resolved.

Garrett · « **Reply #390 on:** 08/19/2011 10:29 am »

Quote from: Jason1701 on 08/19/2011 03:44 am

SS2 flight testing is halted while the engine is being installed, but WK2 is still flying:

Could you point us to a source for that important news? Or at least give us some indication how you came to know that info?

Cheers,
Garrett

Moe Grills · « **Reply #391 on:** 08/23/2011 06:34 pm »

Sir Richard Branson and his family came close to being killed
by a fire that destroyed one of his vacation 'homes'.

A near tragedy was avoided.

The head of VIRGIN GALACTIC , Mr. Branson probably now sees
what is really important in life.
But I'm glad that he and his family are safe; and that VIRGIN GALACTIC did not
disappear in flames with him.

That near tragedy, and it was a close call, could happen to ANY OF YOU!
It just goes to show that space travel is not the only deadly hazard
humans have to face.
There's a program on SPIKE TV called "1001 ways to die"....Indeed.
Indeed. Life is not safe nor guaranteed.

Nomadd · « **Reply #392 on:** 08/23/2011 06:46 pm »

Quote from: Moe Grills on 08/23/2011 06:34 pm

That near tragedy, and it was a close call, could happen to ANY OF YOU!
It just goes to show that space travel is not the only deadly hazard
humans have to face.
There's a program on SPIKE TV called "1001 ways to die"....Indeed.
Indeed. Life is not safe nor guaranteed.

Uh...Yeah. Everybody already knew that. But congratulations on your epiphany.

Moe Grills · « **Reply #393 on:** 08/24/2011 07:29 pm »

Quote from: Nomadd on 08/23/2011 06:46 pm

Quote from: Moe Grills on 08/23/2011 06:34 pm

That near tragedy, and it was a close call, could happen to ANY OF YOU!
It just goes to show that space travel is not the only deadly hazard
humans have to face.
There's a program on SPIKE TV called "1001 ways to die"....Indeed.
Indeed. Life is not safe nor guaranteed.

Uh...Yeah. Everybody already knew that. But congratulations on your epiphany.

Yea, right! Philosophy is not your cup of tea.

Anyways, Richard Branson is probably saying that it's good to be alive.

Virgin Galactic staff are glad that they still have a company to work for,
and their paychecks will not suffer due to Mr. Branson's material loss.

And all those space tourists who plunked down deposits must be rejoicing, knowing that the company is still there; that Space ShipTwo is being fitted out with a rocket motor now, after months of glide tests; and NM Space Port is nearing completion.

Any complaints? Send them, COD, to IDGAD and wait (if you are able) for a reply.

madmardy · « **Reply #394 on:** 08/26/2011 09:51 am »

Quote from: Moe Grills on 08/24/2011 07:29 pm

Quote from: Nomadd on 08/23/2011 06:46 pm
Quote from: Moe Grills on 08/23/2011 06:34 pm

That near tragedy, and it was a close call, could happen to ANY OF YOU!
It just goes to show that space travel is not the only deadly hazard
humans have to face.
There's a program on SPIKE TV called "1001 ways to die"....Indeed.
Indeed. Life is not safe nor guaranteed.

Uh...Yeah. Everybody already knew that. But congratulations on your epiphany.

Yea, right! Philosophy is not your cup of tea.

Anyways, Richard Branson is probably saying that it's good to be alive.

Virgin Galactic staff are glad that they still have a company to work for,
and their paychecks will not suffer due to Mr. Branson's material loss.

And all those space tourists who plunked down deposits must be rejoicing, knowing that the company is still there; that Space ShipTwo is being fitted out with a rocket motor now, after months of glide tests; and NM Space Port is nearing completion.

Any complaints? Send them, COD, to IDGAD and wait (if you are able) for a reply.

Richard Branson was NOT almost killed...he was not even staying in the property at the time

Moe Grills · « **Reply #395 on:** 08/26/2011 07:34 pm »

Quote from: madmardy on 08/26/2011 09:51 am

Quote from: Moe Grills on 08/24/2011 07:29 pm
Quote from: Nomadd on 08/23/2011 06:46 pm
Quote from: Moe Grills on 08/23/2011 06:34 pm
. Any complaints? Send them, COD, to IDGAD and wait (if you are able) for a reply.

Richard Branson was NOT almost killed...he was not even staying in the property at the time

Hey, chill. Yes, you're right! Initial news bulletins on DR and other
'news' sites were messy and without corroboration.
And those positives I posted (post facto) are still a good generic perspective and outlook.
regardless.
Thanks for the update though.

Peace.

jabe · « **Reply #396 on:** 08/31/2011 10:42 pm »

looks like SS2 motor has been through its paces..and we now know that a full rocket firing is 55 s. I wonder if it is possible with some guesstimations to do some reverse analysis to figure out some stats of the motor?
jb

yg1968 · « **Reply #397 on:** 09/05/2011 08:19 pm »

Update on this test:
http://moonandback.com/2011/09/02/spaceshiptwo-development-moves-forward-with-full-rocket-burn/

Danderman · « **Reply #398 on:** 09/07/2011 02:48 pm »

Quote from: yg1968 on 09/05/2011 08:19 pm

Update on this test:
http://moonandback.com/2011/09/02/spaceshiptwo-development-moves-forward-with-full-rocket-burn/

So, where is the motor being tested?

mr. mark · « **Reply #399 on:** 09/08/2011 09:45 pm »

If the engine tests are working out well, Virgin Galactic and Scaled is getting very close to the beginning of commercial suborbital spaceflight operations. We may be talking present tense very soon and not some far off future date.