Author Topic: Virgin Galactic and SpaceShipTwo Master Thread (1) (Read 255453 times)

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #520 on:** 06/28/2013 11:49 pm »

Virgin Galactic Appoints Doug Shane as Executive Vice President

and General Manager of The Spaceship Company

MOJAVE, Calif. - Virgin Galactic today announced the appointment of Doug Shane as Executive Vice President and General Manager of The Spaceship Company (TSC). Shane joins the company after a 31 year career at Scaled Composites LLC (Scaled), where he served as that company’s President for five years. He will report directly to George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic and TSC.

As the company progresses through its successful test flight program and approaches the start of commercial service with SpaceShipTwo, Virgin Galactic has tapped Shane to oversee its manufacturing company, TSC, which has already begun the construction of the second set of SpaceShipTwo spaceships and WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft. TSC began as a joint venture between Virgin and Scaled, until 2012, when Virgin Galactic acquired full ownership of the venture.

“Doug’s unmatched background in the design, build and flight test of new aerospace vehicles, and his deep experience with our Spaceship program, make him the perfect person to take on this leadership role to manufacture our fleet of spacecraft,” said Whitesides. “I would also like to recognize the achievements of Enrico Palermo, TSC’s VP of Operations, who took TSC from a bare hanger to the thriving organization it is today, and who will continue in his senior leadership position supporting Doug.”

Following a distinguished career at Scaled Composites, Shane brings to TSC an intimate knowledge of both the SpaceShipTwo program and its predecessor, SpaceShipOne. While at Scaled, Shane conducted the first flights of eight different aircraft, maintained a perfect aviation safety record, and led Scaled’s acquisition of an FAA Commercial Launch License for SpaceShipOne, the first ever crewed commercial licensed launch. In addition to serving as Director of Flight Operations, Shane served for many years as VP of Business Development, increasing Scaled’s revenue more than tenfold. Shane became President of Scaled following the retirement of company founder and aerospace legend Burt Rutan. Shane has also served as President of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP).

Shane said, “I am truly excited to join TSC at this critical stage of its growth and capabilities, and look forward to helping enable Sir Richard Branson’s vision for space.”

Shane holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering from The University of Kansas and numerous awards, including the Iven C. Kincheloe and James H. Doolittle awards from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, as well as the Robert J. Collier Trophy.

About Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic, owned by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and aabar Investments PJS, is on track to be the world’s first commercial spaceline. To date, the company has accepted nearly $80 million in deposits from approximately 610 individuals, which is approximately 10% more than the total number of people who have ever gone to space. The new spaceship (SpaceShipTwo, VSS Enterprise) and carrier craft (WhiteKnightTwo, VMS Eve) have both been developed for Virgin Galactic’s vehicle fleet by Mojave-based Scaled Composites. Founded by Burt Rutan, Scaled developed SpaceShipOne, which in 2004 claimed the $10 million Ansari X Prize as the world’s first privately developed manned spacecraft. Virgin Galactic’s new vehicles, which will be manufactured by Virgin Galactic in Mojave, Calif., share much of the same basic design, but are being built to carry six customers, or the equivalent scientific research payload, on suborbital space flights. The vehicles will allow an out-of-the-seat, zero-gravity experience with astounding views of the planet from the black sky of space for tourist astronauts and a unique microgravity platform for researchers. The VSS Enterprise and VMS Eve test flight program is well under way, leading to Virgin Galactic commercial operations, which will be based at Spaceport America in New Mexico.

About The Spaceship Company

Headquartered at Mojave Air and Space Port, The Spaceship Company is the aerospace production company, founded by Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites, which is building the world’s first fleet of commercial spaceships (SpaceShipTwos) and carrier aircraft (WhiteKnightTwos)intended to make regular, commercial, manned space travel a reality. TSC’s operations now stretch over 150,000 square feet in three separate facilities and its team has grown to over 145 individuals.

simonbp · « **Reply #521 on:** 07/01/2013 07:05 am »

Quote from: thydusk666 on 06/28/2013 07:48 pm

I'd be curious to know if they plan flying from Europe. Thanks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaceport_Sweden

fans0902 · « **Reply #522 on:** 07/01/2013 01:23 pm »

Powered flight two months.

docmordrid · « **Reply #523 on:** 07/01/2013 01:40 pm »

That long? Are we talking another Angels 50 burp or a high Mach elevator ride?

Robotbeat · « **Reply #524 on:** 07/01/2013 02:48 pm »

I'll be at another Virgin Galactic talk in a week and a half, this time with Markusic, and I'm pretty sure I'll be able to ask more questions. So, keep 'em coming!

Garrett · « **Reply #525 on:** 07/01/2013 03:35 pm »

Quote from: Robotbeat on 07/01/2013 02:48 pm

I'll be at another Virgin Galactic talk in a week and a half, this time with Markusic, and I'm pretty sure I'll be able to ask more questions. So, keep 'em coming!

Thanks for giving us the opportunity!
Questions:
1. What is their expected commercial flight rate (with a single SS2)? Slow at first and then ramp up, or constant rate from the get-go?
2. Will flights with participants be always full (i.e. six participants) or have some customers paid to fly in smaller groups?
3. How long will the participants be allowed to unbuckle and float. Will the protocol be similar to zero-g flights or radically different?
4. Will participants be allowed to bring items on board? Trinkets? Cameras? Micro-experiments?
5. Progress report on second set of SpaceShipTwo spaceships and WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft?
6. How ready is the hangar in Spaceport America for the arrival of SS2 and WK2? First flights from SPA?

Cheers!

docmordrid · « **Reply #526 on:** 07/01/2013 06:00 pm »

Progress on and engine details on LauncherOne? Hydrogen,kerosene or ?? Timeframe for SS2 liquid engine upgrade?

Robotbeat · « **Reply #527 on:** 07/01/2013 06:06 pm »

Quote from: docmordrid on 07/01/2013 06:00 pm

Progress on and engine details on LauncherOne? Hydrogen,kerosene or ?? Timeframe for SS2 liquid engine upgrade?

These are good questions for Markusic, who I think works on propulsion.

sublimemarsupial · « **Reply #528 on:** 07/01/2013 07:39 pm »

Quote from: docmordrid on 07/01/2013 06:00 pm

Progress on and engine details on LauncherOne? Hydrogen,kerosene or ?? Timeframe for SS2 liquid engine upgrade?

LOX/RP1, around 60 klbf since it should be substituted for the hybrid "RocketMotorTwo" that SS2 is using now.

Heard that they originally just wanted to buy Merlin 1Cs from spaceX and Elon told them no. So I would expect that this new engine should be pretty similar in performance to the M1C.

Jason1701 · « **Reply #529 on:** 07/02/2013 06:09 am »

Quote from: sublimemarsupial on 07/01/2013 07:39 pm

Quote from: docmordrid on 07/01/2013 06:00 pm
Progress on and engine details on LauncherOne? Hydrogen,kerosene or ?? Timeframe for SS2 liquid engine upgrade?

LOX/RP1, around 60 klbf since it should be substituted for the hybrid "RocketMotorTwo" that SS2 is using now.

Heard that they originally just wanted to buy Merlin 1Cs from spaceX and Elon told them no. So I would expect that this new engine should be pretty similar in performance to the M1C.

But isn't 60k less than half of a Merlin?

simonbp · « **Reply #530 on:** 07/02/2013 08:19 am »

Well, Merlin 1C-Vac was ~90 klb, so a bit closer.

sublimemarsupial · « **Reply #531 on:** 07/02/2013 01:27 pm »

Quote from: Jason1701 on 07/02/2013 06:09 am

But isn't 60k less than half of a Merlin?

Original Merlin 1A was 77 klbf, turbopump upgrade was what boosted 1C up past 100 klbf, so if VG wanted to use 1Cs they would probably have just detuned the pump to drop the chamber pressure a little bit

Step55 · « **Reply #532 on:** 07/02/2013 03:14 pm »

Quote

Heard that they originally just wanted to buy Merlin 1Cs from spaceX and Elon told them no. So I would expect that this new engine should be pretty similar in performance to the M1C

So they basically wanted an air launched falcon 1 with wings ?

ClaytonBirchenough · « **Reply #533 on:** 07/03/2013 04:03 pm »

Quote from: sublimemarsupial on 07/01/2013 07:39 pm

Heard that they originally just wanted to buy Merlin 1Cs from spaceX and Elon told them no. So I would expect that this new engine should be pretty similar in performance to the M1C.

Any source or you just "heard"?

ClaytonBirchenough · « **Reply #534 on:** 07/03/2013 04:06 pm »

Quote from: Garrett on 07/01/2013 03:35 pm

2. Will flights with participants be always full (i.e. six participants) or have some customers paid to fly in smaller groups?

Gosh, I tried to find a source, but couldn't. I seem to remember something about customers paying to fly in a smaller group on SS2...

Vultur · « **Reply #535 on:** 07/04/2013 10:00 pm »

Quote from: mr. mark on 06/24/2013 02:46 pm

Wondering out loud, what is the hold up with the next powered flight test? Didn't think it would take this long to get SS2 back in the air.

I agree... especially since, weren't they talking about first commercial flight Christmas 2013? Not that I actually expected that, but ...

Quote from: fans0902 on 07/01/2013 01:23 pm

Powered flight two months.

Where did you find this? Not doubting, just wondering if there's more info...

fans0902 · « **Reply #536 on:** 07/05/2013 09:11 am »

Quote from: Vultur on 07/04/2013 10:00 pm

Quote from: mr. mark on 06/24/2013 02:46 pm
Wondering out loud, what is the hold up with the next powered flight test? Didn't think it would take this long to get SS2 back in the air.

I agree... especially since, weren't they talking about first commercial flight Christmas 2013? Not that I actually expected that, but ...

Quote from: fans0902 on 07/01/2013 01:23 pm
Powered flight two months.

Where did you find this? Not doubting, just wondering if there's more info...

-------------------

I'm sorry, I said that from the first to the present

Echo1 · « **Reply #537 on:** 07/07/2013 03:27 am »

Quote from: Garrett on 07/01/2013 03:35 pm

Quote from: Robotbeat on 07/01/2013 02:48 pm
I'll be at another Virgin Galactic talk in a week and a half, this time with Markusic, and I'm pretty sure I'll be able to ask more questions. So, keep 'em coming!
Thanks for giving us the opportunity!
Questions:

6. How ready is the hangar in Spaceport America for the arrival of SS2 and WK2? First flights from SPA?

Cheers!

Number 6 is a good question. It will give some indication of Virgin Galactic's commitment to Spaceport America. In addition to the hangar, aren't they supposed to have a training center and simulator for passengers? Or is this just going to be a 2 hr carnival ride?

In January 2013, VG started paying $85k/month lease to SA under protest. Protesting that there wasn't an Informed Consent law for suppliers. As an operator, VG already had informed consent protection in NM. In April, NM passed the law for suppliers. Is VG still paying lease under protest?

Space Junkie · « **Reply #538 on:** 07/09/2013 07:50 pm »

Quote from: Garrett on 07/01/2013 03:35 pm

1. What is their expected commercial flight rate (with a single SS2)? Slow at first and then ramp up, or constant rate from the get-go?

Has it been established that this SS2/WK2 pair will definitely be used for paying customers? I remember someone suggesting here a while back that the first pair would only be used for testing.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #539 on:** 07/10/2013 06:50 pm »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 10, 2013

STEVE ISAKOWITZ APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF VIRGIN GALACTIC LLC

MOJAVE, Calif. – George Whitesides, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Galactic, today announced the appointment of Steven J. Isakowitz as President of Virgin Galactic LLC. Isakowitz has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer since he joined the company in 2011. He will continue to report directly to Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company.

“Steve has been an invaluable leader for our team since he joined the company,” Whitesides said. “This new position will enable him to take a wider role in company responsibilities as we progress through the final phases of the development program, expand in preparation for commercial operations, and build our small satellite launch service.”

Virgin Galactic is on track to become the world’s first commercial spaceline. The company’s vehicles have been extensively tested and SpaceshipTwo recently completed its first rocket-powered flight that broke the speed of sound. Since joining the company in September 2011, Isakowitz has played a key role across a range of areas, and led the development of LauncherOne, a revolutionary orbital launch system for small satellites.

Isakowitz said, “Virgin Galactic is a transformational company and I am honored to take on this new role. As we chart an exciting course into the future of commercial space travel, I could not imagine a better team with which to do it.”

Prior to joining Galactic, Isakowitz served in several senior positions in the federal government, including NASA, where he served as Deputy Associate Administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate and received the agency’s Outstanding Leadership Medal. Isakowitz also served as Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Department of Energy through two presidential administrations. Previously, he served as Branch Chief of Science and Space Programs at the White House Office of Management and Budget, and as an aerospace engineer and project manager for space launch vehicles at Lockheed Martin.

Isakowitz holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is the author of the well-known International Reference Guide to Space Launch Systems.