Quote from: mr. mark on 09/17/2010 04:27 pmExcuse me but, I don't see where all of this is going. Spacex is already next year going to be delivering cargo to the ISS. Boeing's CST-100 is conceptually way ahead of this project and should be ready to put people in orbit around 2015. Virgin Galactic's Spaceship 2 is a much safer ride as far as passengers and is farther down the line than this. So where does this research fit in? I can see Lunar and possibly planetary lander possibilities but other than that? It seems their program needs more focus and direction as far as a ultimate destination. Sounds like they have corporate management problems and a need to communicate their ideas to the public better. As far as I can see they are in the same class as Copenhagen Suborbitals. Their launch was canceled by a hair dryer.If they aren't launching a capsule on an expendable rocket, what's the point? Is that what you are saying? If you *bothered* to do some research, you would know that orbital is a long-term goal of theirs. Once they gain confidence and experience with suborbital space hops, they have written about plans to put an expendable 2nd stage on top for orbital launches, and then take it from there.But who needs low-cost RLVs, right? EDIT: Now I remember you - you're the same guy who complained that 'Copenhagen' was not valuing human life enough... I should not have bothered.
Excuse me but, I don't see where all of this is going. Spacex is already next year going to be delivering cargo to the ISS. Boeing's CST-100 is conceptually way ahead of this project and should be ready to put people in orbit around 2015. Virgin Galactic's Spaceship 2 is a much safer ride as far as passengers and is farther down the line than this. So where does this research fit in? I can see Lunar and possibly planetary lander possibilities but other than that? It seems their program needs more focus and direction as far as a ultimate destination. Sounds like they have corporate management problems and a need to communicate their ideas to the public better. As far as I can see they are in the same class as Copenhagen Suborbitals. Their launch was canceled by a hair dryer.
One thing I see here is a potential lunar lander.A suborbital VTOL RLV is pretty close to what you'd need for a lunar lander.
twitter: ID_AA_Carmack: We repeated the rocket flight this morning with the addition of having it land offset from the liftoff point and some other changes.
twitter:ArmadilloGadget: after 5 rocket racer runs we are about to pull out for a couple mod tests.again?!!? they must have a bulk discount on lox...
Armadillo (and Masten, etc) have a very important role. Have you noticed how SpaceX, while still cheaper in some respects than ULA, still are around the same order of magnitude in cost?We still have a long way to go. Arguably, work like that which Armadillo is doing is more important than what SpaceX is doing. Armadillo is practicing reusing rockets over and over again, focusing on a quick turnaround concept of operations. We aren't going to get truly cheap and reliable access to space without that capability. We just aren't.{snip}
I was watching sportscenter this morning, and what did I see? An ad for BlackBerry? With some sort of strange, gnome-shaped hovering rocket?
As part of its NASA-funded research, the firm plans to launch two flights this fall in Oklahoma and a third one later in New Mexico. Armadillo is aiming for an altitude of about 9 miles for the first two flights and 25 miles for the third...The team hopes to launch a manned flight to space by late 2012, said Plano resident and Armadillo co-founder Neil Milburn.
very small update on Armadillo plans.QuoteAs part of its NASA-funded research, the firm plans to launch two flights this fall in Oklahoma and a third one later in New Mexico. Armadillo is aiming for an altitude of about 9 miles for the first two flights and 25 miles for the third...The team hopes to launch a manned flight to space by late 2012, said Plano resident and Armadillo co-founder Neil Milburn.I had sort of expected their schedule to pick up a lot after the LLC completion, and the research grants.
More firing on the 4k alcohol engine, boy is that thing loud.
Via hobbyspace and Ben Brockert comes this bit:QuoteMore firing on the 4k alcohol engine, boy is that thing loud.Hm .. where are they using that ? Rocket racer ?
I'm also very curious to see what that cluster is for... the start of multi-stage runs?
