Author Topic: Stratolaunch: General Company and Development Updates and Discussions (Read 1052172 times)

jongoff · « **Reply #100 on:** 12/13/2011 07:05 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 12/13/2011 07:01 pm

Burt says home made sats?

Home made *payloads*, not sats... Think self-loading cargo...

~Jon

david1971 · « **Reply #101 on:** 12/13/2011 07:06 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 12/13/2011 07:01 pm

Initially this will be unmanned cargo, not to the ISS. NASA have strict Visiting Vehicle requirements.

What's the definition of cargo here?

Jim · « **Reply #102 on:** 12/13/2011 07:06 pm »

Quote from: Lee Jay on 12/13/2011 07:03 pm

Quote from: Jim on 12/13/2011 06:15 pm
Quote from: mr. mark on 12/13/2011 06:11 pm
I'm hoping that this takes off from Spaceport America. What a great idea that would be and would get them into hosting orbital operations. If this can be modified for a manned Dragon then I see Virgin Galactic jumping aboard SpaceX Dragon operations. Too soon to tell.

I hope KSC and VAFB. no need add more duplicate facilities.

Do you think Vandenburg's runway is wide enough for this thing? The wingspan is over twice the runway width.

Same as KSC

The_Ronin · « **Reply #103 on:** 12/13/2011 07:09 pm »

Well, if anyone can build a bird like that, it would be Rutan.

I am a bit puzzled on the WHY even as Allen makes his case. I'm not even sure VAFB could handle this bird. KSC has the runway to make the first case, but then where? New Mexico?

Seems like a lot of risk for such little payoff.

I was really hoping to hear something about Bigelow... one day soon (hopefully).

I'm starting to believe we will never see a BA330 or BA2100 in orbit.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #104 on:** 12/13/2011 07:09 pm »

Burt troubled by it becoming more expensive to put people into orbit than in early days.

Pulling the safety card out on Shuttle.

Paul Allen pauses about flying on one of his own vehicles! Opps. Wants to do cargo before talking about crew.

Burt tries to convience him.

Wants a large number of flights before he goes on one. "I'm a very conservative guy".

Don't think that was in Branson's PR playbook.

Nathan · « **Reply #105 on:** 12/13/2011 07:11 pm »

Quote from: edkyle99 on 12/13/2011 06:23 pm

Quote from: apace on 12/13/2011 05:09 pm
Launch everyday from everywhere: stratolaunch.com! The new project by Mr. Allen.

http://Http://www.stratolaunch.com

Flying with a cryo bomb, first of all, gives me pause. Will they have to dump propellant to land in case of abort? There will be aborts.

The cost seems dicey. SpaceX will have to build and prep a two stage rocket nearly as costly as a full-up Falcon 9, but then will only be able to get 60% of a Falcon 9 payload to orbit.

Maybe someone sees other needs for a supergiant aircraft. How else could this pay off?

- Ed Kyle

Using five engines instead of nine has to work out cheaper. Video though said 13500 pounds to orbit which is 6.1kg. Can't figure out if this is payload within the dragon capsule or includes the capsule itself. If latter then dragon not that useful.

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #106 on:** 12/13/2011 07:13 pm »

Well one thing is for sure, this wont be for DoD payloads (Payload will be horizontal, DoD needs them vertical)

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #107 on:** 12/13/2011 07:14 pm »

Make a big deal about flexibility of payload, launch site and orbit in the closing comments.

Gets a bit crazy at the end as the company people start clapping and he doesn't get to end his statement

And that's over. Can't help thinking it's a massive Pegasus, basically.

hyper_snyper · « **Reply #108 on:** 12/13/2011 07:19 pm »

What does air launch buy you again? A little bit of performance? But most of the delta v needed to get to orbit is horizontal so it doesn't help that much. You still need the same amount of ground support complexity plus now you have a huge airplane to maintain.

I don't get it at all. This is just like one more launch site for F9. But launch sites already exists for Falcon 9. I'll read more into it when I get home.

Jim · « **Reply #109 on:** 12/13/2011 07:22 pm »

Can't use Spacex's holddown before launch PR spin

KEdward5 · « **Reply #110 on:** 12/13/2011 07:23 pm »

Thanks for the notes Chris. Excited about this?

Can we maybe have a poll?

mr. mark · « **Reply #111 on:** 12/13/2011 07:23 pm »

I'm curious about payload performance. Can a standard Dragon capsule be launched using this system or will it have to be modified. Some of Griffin's comments seemed a bit brief when it came to discussing payload to ISS. If they plan on using a Dragon for cargo to ISS i'm not sure what the requirement differences would be on the Dragon?

hyper_snyper · « **Reply #112 on:** 12/13/2011 07:24 pm »

Quote from: Jim on 12/13/2011 07:22 pm

Can't use Spacex's holddown before launch PR spin

HAHA now that's a funny image.

Would be a heck of a ride before the wings snap off.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #113 on:** 12/13/2011 07:24 pm »

Quote from: KEdward5 on 12/13/2011 07:23 pm

Thanks for the notes Chris. Excited about this?

Can we maybe have a poll?

All rockets are exciting

Poll on if it's exciting?? Err, maybe later. It's only just been announced.

Space Junkie · « **Reply #114 on:** 12/13/2011 07:24 pm »

Quote from: The_Ronin on 12/13/2011 07:09 pm

Well, if anyone can build a bird like that, it would be Rutan.

I am a bit puzzled on the WHY even as Allen makes his case.

Maybe you answered your own question. Allen is interested in space travel. His friend Burt builds vehicles with wings.

If you're holding a hammer...

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #115 on:** 12/13/2011 07:26 pm »

I cant say that I am getting excited for the project in that I dont really forsee it going through. Even Orbital is getting away from air launch, and going with Taurus/Minotaur that use Pegasus stages and a zero stage rocket instead of the L-1011.

mtakala24 · « **Reply #116 on:** 12/13/2011 07:27 pm »

It will get somewhat exciting when they have some hardware to show. And popcorn-time will come with flight tests. For now, it only causes some tingly feelings.

strangequark · « **Reply #117 on:** 12/13/2011 07:30 pm »

Like Chris said, all rockets are exciting. That said, I was really hoping, given the location, that this was going to involve Blue Origin, and funding for a two-stage fully reusable.

Zed_Noir · « **Reply #118 on:** 12/13/2011 07:31 pm »

Quote from: Jim on 12/13/2011 07:06 pm

Quote from: Lee Jay on 12/13/2011 07:03 pm
Quote from: Jim on 12/13/2011 06:15 pm
Quote from: mr. mark on 12/13/2011 06:11 pm
I'm hoping that this takes off from Spaceport America. What a great idea that would be and would get them into hosting orbital operations. If this can be modified for a manned Dragon then I see Virgin Galactic jumping aboard SpaceX Dragon operations. Too soon to tell.

I hope KSC and VAFB. no need add more duplicate facilities.

Do you think Vandenburg's runway is wide enough for this thing? The wingspan is over twice the runway width.

Same as KSC

As long as the total width of the landing gears fits on the runway, it should work. It's like an A3 Sky Warrior or an A5 Vigilante catapulting off a carrier.

Lee Jay · « **Reply #119 on:** 12/13/2011 07:31 pm »

Quote from: Jim on 12/13/2011 07:06 pm

Quote from: Lee Jay on 12/13/2011 07:03 pm
Quote from: Jim on 12/13/2011 06:15 pm
Quote from: mr. mark on 12/13/2011 06:11 pm
I'm hoping that this takes off from Spaceport America. What a great idea that would be and would get them into hosting orbital operations. If this can be modified for a manned Dragon then I see Virgin Galactic jumping aboard SpaceX Dragon operations. Too soon to tell.

I hope KSC and VAFB. no need add more duplicate facilities.

Do you think Vandenburg's runway is wide enough for this thing? The wingspan is over twice the runway width.

Same as KSC

The SLF is twice as wide.