Author Topic: Virgin Galactic vs Blue Origin competition (Read 6024 times)

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #20 on:** 07/10/2021 01:04 pm »

Perspective of the author of the recent ‘Test Gods’ book on VG:

https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/richard-bransons-plan-to-beat-jeff-bezos-to-outer-space

Quote

Richard Branson’s Plan to Beat Jeff Bezos to Outer Space
The two billionaires have been duelling for years to make commercial space flights a reality. Now, on Sunday, Branson is going himself.

By Nicholas Schmidle
July 9, 2021

Article includes:

Quote

Branson’s employees know the game. “It was always important for us to be first and beat Blue,” a former Virgin Galactic executive told me.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #21 on:** 07/10/2021 02:03 pm »

https://twitter.com/spaceadventures/status/1413856507897204736

Quote

Why squabble over 100km vs. 80km? Space Adventures' clients ORBIT 400km above the Earth’s surface. Now that's a spaceflight!

DreamyPickle · « **Reply #22 on:** 07/10/2021 02:14 pm »

The term "astronaut" should be reserved for orbital spaceflight. Reaching the karman line at much less than orbital speed is completely meaningless.

New Shepard at least claims to demonstrate VTOL and a detachable capsule with an abort system but this demonstration would be equally valid at 50km.

It's also very likely that suborbital tourism will completely go away once Starship can offer cheap orbital tourism or flights across the Pacific.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #23 on:** 07/10/2021 03:50 pm »

https://twitter.com/richardbranson/status/1413886033330982915

Quote

Thanks for being so typically supportive and such a good friend, Elon. Great to be opening up space for all - safe travels and see you at Spaceport America! #Unity22 @virgingalactic

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #24 on:** 07/10/2021 07:29 pm »

https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1413942794943598594

Quote

Wishing you a great flight tomorrow @virgingalactic! instagram.com/p/CRKHsLENB-n/…

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #25 on:** 07/10/2021 08:43 pm »

Quote

The time has arrived! We’re at the start of a new era of human spaceflight, commercial suborbital rides to the edge of space! And what’s crazy is there isn’t just ONE company doing it, but two companies are entering service at almost the exact same time! Of course we’re talking about Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic and their SpaceshipTwo space plane and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin with their New Shepard vehicle.

So here's a little overview of what exactly suborbital spaceflight is, what you could expect on one of these rides, and then go over each system, comparing them side by side for the ultimate rundown.

Website version of this video - https://everydayastronaut.com/new-she...

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro
01:30 - What is Suborbital Spaceflight?
05:50 - Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo
12:45 - Blue Origin's New Shepard
20:50 - Side by Side Comparison
24:45 - Summary

Redclaws · « **Reply #26 on:** 07/10/2021 09:21 pm »

Quote from: DreamyPickle on 07/10/2021 02:14 pm

Reaching the karman line at much less than orbital speed is completely meaningless.

“Completely meaningless”. Gosh, I think some people might disagree with you about this! Huh, how weird.

vanbrua · « **Reply #27 on:** 07/11/2021 03:00 am »

If New Shepard is fuel rich (anyone know how rich?), they don't have a good case for no global warming potential. Hydrogen has about 4x the global warming potential of CO2. I think that will be a bigger effect than from producing hydrogen.

N2O has 265x higher potential than CO2. I'm not sure how much N2O results from SS2. It decomposes at high temperature and if the combination is efficient it should all be consumed. But, it (and other NO's) forms at an even higher temperature. So, SS2's CO2 probably isn't its only global warming product.

Redclaws · « **Reply #28 on:** 07/11/2021 03:05 am »

Quote from: vanbrua on 07/11/2021 03:00 am

If New Shepard is fuel rich (anyone know how rich?), they don't have a good case for no global warming potential. Hydrogen has about 4x the global warming potential of CO2. I think that will be a bigger effect than from producing hydrogen.

N2O has 265x higher potential than CO2. I'm not sure how much N2O results from SS2. It decomposes at high temperature and if the combination is efficient it should all be consumed. But, it (and other NO's) forms at an even higher temperature. So, SS2's CO2 probably isn't its only global warming product.

The global warming contribution of these rockets is truly minuscule…. Their total fuel loads (for these two) are much less than an airliner, and we fly just *a few* of those.