Author Topic: Virgin Galactic and SpaceShipTwo Master Thread (1) (Read 255435 times)

js117 · « **Reply #420 on:** 09/22/2011 02:10 am »

This article does say something about 50 - 100 flight to get
certification.
Earlier comments by Rutan suggest the latter phases could cover 50-100 flights before certification. dated in 2010

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/asd/2010/10/12/05.xml&headline=Flawless%20First%20Flight%20For%20SpaceShipTwo

Jason1701 · « **Reply #421 on:** 09/22/2011 05:32 pm »

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/asd/2011/09/21/04.xml&headline=SpaceShipTwo Maker Opens For Business&channel=space

Had no idea the project was this far behind. More glide tests later this year (then what was this big downtime being used for), integration next year. Powered flights next fall, more than a year from now, which I'd guess will slip to 2013.

Garrett · « **Reply #422 on:** 09/23/2011 06:46 am »

Quote from: Jason1701 on 09/22/2011 05:32 pm

Had no idea the project was this far behind. More glide tests later this year (then what was this big downtime being used for), integration next year. Powered flights next fall, more than a year from now, which I'd guess will slip to 2013.

It's "far behind" because they were too optimistic and/or gave too many promises that they couldn't keep. People like Jeff Greason from XCOR are trying not to make the same mistake as VG.

8900 · « **Reply #423 on:** 09/23/2011 07:59 am »

Quote from: Garrett on 09/23/2011 06:46 am

Quote from: Jason1701 on 09/22/2011 05:32 pm
Had no idea the project was this far behind. More glide tests later this year (then what was this big downtime being used for), integration next year. Powered flights next fall, more than a year from now, which I'd guess will slip to 2013.

It's "far behind" because they were too optimistic and/or gave too many promises that they couldn't keep. People like Jeff Greason from XCOR are trying not to make the same mistake as VG.

spending 10 years to work on a suborbital spacecraft? ridiculous
Remember the development of the space shuttle which is orbital takes approx. 10 years too, and its complexity is order of magnitude greater than the VG craft. Also please consider how long spaceX took to build a Falcon 9 with Dragon spacecraft.
I must admit I'm terribly disappointed with VG

Garrett · « **Reply #424 on:** 09/23/2011 08:14 am »

Quote from: 8900 on 09/23/2011 07:59 am

Quote from: Garrett on 09/23/2011 06:46 am
Quote from: Jason1701 on 09/22/2011 05:32 pm
Had no idea the project was this far behind. More glide tests later this year (then what was this big downtime being used for), integration next year. Powered flights next fall, more than a year from now, which I'd guess will slip to 2013.

It's "far behind" because they were too optimistic and/or gave too many promises that they couldn't keep. People like Jeff Greason from XCOR are trying not to make the same mistake as VG.
spending 10 years to work on a suborbital spacecraft? ridiculous
Remember the development of the space shuttle which is orbital takes approx. 10 years too, and its complexity is order of magnitude greater than the VG craft. Also please consider how long spaceX took to build a Falcon 9 with Dragon spacecraft.
I must admit I'm terribly disappointed with VG

I did'nt realize that there was a precedent for how long it should take to build a privately financed suborbital spacecraft. Oh wait, there isn't!
I am disappointed in the false promises, but ultimately I'm not disappointed at how long it is taking simply because I have no right to be: this is the first time any privately funded company has attempted to set up a regular passenger carrying spaceline.

You cannot compare the Space Shuttle with SpaceShipTwo, neither can you compare Falcon/Dragon with SS2. Different purposes, different technologies, different finance sources, different customers, different regulations, different workforce sizes ...

Look at the other companies that want to do the same: XCOR, Armadillo, Masten. They're not flying customers into space yet either. That's a good indicator of just how difficult it is.

manboy · « **Reply #425 on:** 09/23/2011 08:52 am »

Quote from: Garrett on 09/23/2011 06:46 am

Quote from: Jason1701 on 09/22/2011 05:32 pm
Had no idea the project was this far behind. More glide tests later this year (then what was this big downtime being used for), integration next year. Powered flights next fall, more than a year from now, which I'd guess will slip to 2013.

It's "far behind" because they were too optimistic and/or gave too many promises that they couldn't keep. People like Jeff Greason from XCOR are trying not to make the same mistake as VG.

Which explains why they had the Mark I flying in 2010

Garrett · « **Reply #426 on:** 09/23/2011 09:13 am »

Quote from: manboy on 09/23/2011 08:52 am

Quote from: Garrett on 09/23/2011 06:46 am
Quote from: Jason1701 on 09/22/2011 05:32 pm
Had no idea the project was this far behind. More glide tests later this year (then what was this big downtime being used for), integration next year. Powered flights next fall, more than a year from now, which I'd guess will slip to 2013.

It's "far behind" because they were too optimistic and/or gave too many promises that they couldn't keep. People like Jeff Greason from XCOR are trying not to make the same mistake as VG.
Which explains why they had the Mark I flying in 2010

I said trying, not necessarily succeeding

AFAIK, they're no longer giving official indications of when they hope to be flying.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #427 on:** 09/23/2011 03:07 pm »

Quote from: Garrett on 09/23/2011 09:13 am

Quote from: manboy on 09/23/2011 08:52 am
Quote from: Garrett on 09/23/2011 06:46 am
Quote from: Jason1701 on 09/22/2011 05:32 pm
Had no idea the project was this far behind. More glide tests later this year (then what was this big downtime being used for), integration next year. Powered flights next fall, more than a year from now, which I'd guess will slip to 2013.

It's "far behind" because they were too optimistic and/or gave too many promises that they couldn't keep. People like Jeff Greason from XCOR are trying not to make the same mistake as VG.
Which explains why they had the Mark I flying in 2010
I said trying, not necessarily succeeding

AFAIK, they're no longer giving official indications of when they hope to be flying.

Yeah, the official word is "it'll be ready when it's ready."

Danderman · « **Reply #428 on:** 09/23/2011 04:28 pm »

Quote from: Jason1701 on 09/22/2011 05:32 pm

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/asd/2011/09/21/04.xml&headline=SpaceShipTwo Maker Opens For Business&channel=space

Had no idea the project was this far behind. More glide tests later this year (then what was this big downtime being used for), integration next year. Powered flights next fall, more than a year from now, which I'd guess will slip to 2013.

I wonder how much of the lengthy development period is due to capital raising issues, ie they are funding this based on ticket sales, and this limits activity.

yg1968 · « **Reply #429 on:** 09/25/2011 03:18 pm »

Watch Virgin Galactic TSC FAITH opening:
http://www.virgin.com/travel/news/watch-virgin-galactic-tsc-faith-opening

Lewis007 · « **Reply #430 on:** 09/26/2011 07:04 am »

I don't think this news has been posted before (except for the selection of MacKay).

Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Galactic today announced an agreement whereby pilots flying for Virgin Atlantic could become astronaut pilots of the future.

Three Virgin Atlantic pilots have already been handpicked on the basis of their experience and skills. Steve Johnson, currently a training Captain with Virgin Atlantic and an ex-Red Arrows pilot, will become the chief astronaut pilot for Virgin Galactic, having overall responsibility for the pilot astronaut workforce.

Alistair Hoy, also a Virgin Atlantic training captain and an ex-Red Arrows pilot, will be the chief training astronaut, responsible for training all of Virgin Galactic’s astronaut pilots.

Captain David MacKay, currently a line captain with Virgin Atlantic, will be Virgin Atlantic's test pilot and is already working with manufacturer Scaled Composites in the development process of SpaceShipTwo.

Source: http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/allaboutus/pressoffice/pressreleases/news/pressrelease29march.jsp

Olaf · « **Reply #431 on:** 09/26/2011 10:08 am »

Quote from: Lewis007 on 09/26/2011 07:04 am

I don't think this news has been posted before (except for the selection of MacKay).

Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Galactic today announced an agreement whereby pilots flying for Virgin Atlantic could become astronaut pilots of the future.

Three Virgin Atlantic pilots have already been handpicked on the basis of their experience and skills. Steve Johnson, currently a training Captain with Virgin Atlantic and an ex-Red Arrows pilot, will become the chief astronaut pilot for Virgin Galactic, having overall responsibility for the pilot astronaut workforce.

Alistair Hoy, also a Virgin Atlantic training captain and an ex-Red Arrows pilot, will be the chief training astronaut, responsible for training all of Virgin Galactic’s astronaut pilots.

Captain David MacKay, currently a line captain with Virgin Atlantic, will be Virgin Atlantic's test pilot and is already working with manufacturer Scaled Composites in the development process of SpaceShipTwo.

Source: http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/allaboutus/pressoffice/pressreleases/news/pressrelease29march.jsp

IIRC these statement is dated by 2004 and not really up-to-date.
But, as we have learned Mr. MacKay is still on duty.
http://www.scaled.com/projects/whiteknighttwo_flight_test_summaries
http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/captain-mackay-takes-to-the-sky/

Olaf · « **Reply #432 on:** 09/28/2011 09:43 pm »

Here an interesting article about Virgin Galactic crews.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/asd/2011/09/28/10.xml&headline=Virgin Galactic Nears Spaceship Crew Choice

yg1968 · « **Reply #433 on:** 09/29/2011 02:13 pm »

Quote from: Jason1701 on 09/22/2011 05:32 pm

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/asd/2011/09/21/04.xml&headline=SpaceShipTwo Maker Opens For Business&channel=space

Had no idea the project was this far behind. More glide tests later this year (then what was this big downtime being used for), integration next year. Powered flights next fall, more than a year from now, which I'd guess will slip to 2013.

2013 is not that far away. It sounds like good news to me.

Your link is broken. I fixed it for you:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/asd/2011/09/21/04.xml&headline=SpaceShipTwo Maker Opens For Business&channel=space

zaitcev · « **Reply #434 on:** 10/04/2011 04:43 pm »

I'm surprised that nobody seems to care about the little wild ride due to the tail stall at altitude on October 29. That must've been exciting. Anyone wants to speculate if anything can be done or should be done to address this behaviour? Larger area tails, perhaps? Note that the nose strakes apparently do nothing (like goggles).

Robotbeat · « **Reply #435 on:** 10/04/2011 04:45 pm »

Quote from: Prober on 10/04/2011 04:39 pm

Dream is over for Virgin Galactic space tourist

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=post;topic=19356.420;num_replies=433

Talk about an over-reaction. (your link doesn't work, by the way)

kevin-rf · « **Reply #436 on:** 10/04/2011 05:18 pm »

The AP article he is refering to: http://news.yahoo.com/dream-over-virgin-galactic-space-tourist-073153281.html

Prober · « **Reply #437 on:** 10/05/2011 02:49 am »

Quote from: kevin-rf on 10/04/2011 05:18 pm

The AP article he is refering to: http://news.yahoo.com/dream-over-virgin-galactic-space-tourist-073153281.html

thx for the fix. Poor guy waited so long to get into space. Guess his age said he couldn't wait anymore.

yg1968 · « **Reply #438 on:** 10/08/2011 04:03 am »

Update:
http://www.newspacejournal.com/2011/10/01/virgin-galactics-upcoming-spaceflight-plans/

Jose · « **Reply #439 on:** 10/14/2011 10:36 pm »

http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/virgin-galactic-signs-deal-with-nasa-for-research-missions-on-spaceshiptwo/

"...provide the Space Agency with up to three charter flights on SpaceShipTwo, under a contract with a value of up to $4.5m."

Dunno how new this is. Looks like a semi-repeat of their Oct 10 news item, maybe with a few more details.