SpaceShipTwo to be revealed

[Chris Bergin]

[Chris Bergin]

Nice one Duncan. That guy being interviewed sure was a bit excitable

[eeergo]

Mmm... the last thing the interviewer said about long distance superfast flights is quite interesting... maybe another use for suborbital flights? Is it feasible or just a cool possibility he added?

[Thomas ESA]

At least you get to die in a nice uniform. This system is not safe through terrible stability.

[nacnud]

The long distance flight comment is rubbish, you would need orbital velocity to get from the UK to Austraila in 30 mins. Most of what the BBC reporter said was inacurate.

The SS1 on display was a mock-up not the real SS1
He confused orbit with space.
The long distance comment.

[eeergo]

I see I just was under the impression SS2 couldn't have enough propellant to cover half the world in 30 minutes without refuelling... and now that I think it, how strange should a suborbital trajectory be to jump from one point of the globe to the opposite!

Love the suits and helmets - I hope no one vomits.

[simonbp]

eeergo - 28/9/2006  10:07 AM

I see I just was under the impression SS2 couldn't have enough propellant to cover half the world in 30 minutes without refuelling... and now that I think it, how strange should a suborbital trajectory be to jump from one point of the globe to the opposite!

There's nothing strange about it at all; it's called an ICBM trajectory (for obvious reasons) and does take about 30 minutes....

Simon

[Jim]

but at velocities of over 10,000 mph

[SimonShuttle]

Those suits aren't going to do anything other than make you look cool. Won't help with the g forces.

[CriX]

Looks like Apple designed the interior.  It's like one big iPod in there... including the costumes!  Very nice though.

[vt_hokie]

eeergo - 28/9/2006  10:22 AM

Mmm... the last thing the interviewer said about long distance superfast flights is quite interesting... maybe another use for suborbital flights? Is it feasible or just a cool possibility he added?

It would be nice to find some practical applications for suborbital hops.  Right now, the way I see it, SS2 is to an orbital transportation system what a roller coaster is to a high speed train.  The technology is cool, and it's fun to ride, but has absolutely no value beyond entertainment.

[CriX]

What about replacing the weight of the people and seats and pilots and attach an external (detachable) third stage?  100kg sat to LEO?

[Jim]

Pegasus

[CriX]

~443kg to LEO for ~US$30 million according Wikipedia.

An SS2 based third stage might compete with that.  The first and 2nd stages would be UAVs.

[David BAE]

Not economic. Vega will rip that market apart.

[NotGncDude]

simonbp - 28/9/2006  1:13 PM

eeergo - 28/9/2006  10:07 AM

I see I just was under the impression SS2 couldn't have enough propellant to cover half the world in 30 minutes without refuelling... and now that I think it, how strange should a suborbital trajectory be to jump from one point of the globe to the opposite!

There's nothing strange about it at all; it's called an ICBM trajectory (for obvious reasons) and does take about 30 minutes....

Simon

Jim - 28/9/2006  1:15 PM

but at velocities of over 10,000 mph

Yep, and re-entry at that velocity is a whole different business.

[Chris Bergin]

As Duncan mentioned, this was the BBC guy that was making the claims...the guy in question is a Welshman called Gutto - and he normally does politics.

[astrobrian]

My understanding was that these craft have not even been built yet and that this is just a 3d graphical of what is to be the final design. The exterior shots all look 3d to me and not real.

[hyper_snyper]

SimonShuttle - 28/9/2006  1:17 PM

Those suits aren't going to do anything other than make you look cool. Won't help with the g forces.

Yeah I know.  I bet that's not what they'll look like.  I have my doubts on some of the interior as well.  We'll see, I guess.