Author Topic: Personal Space Flight One Step Closer (Read 4505 times)

coach · « **on:** 12/20/2006 03:06 pm »

It seems there are increasing numbers of companies getting serious about space travel. Don't forget this one.

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Benson_Signs_Agreement_For_Phase_I_Development_Of_SpaceDev_Dream_Chaser_Spaceships_999.html

http://www.bensonspace.com/index.html

Coach

Jim · « **Reply #1 on:** 12/20/2006 03:33 pm »

The thread title is a little misleading

ApolloLee · « **Reply #2 on:** 12/20/2006 03:43 pm »

The race is truly on for who will be the first to send passengers to a Bigelow station...

Jim · « **Reply #3 on:** 12/20/2006 04:23 pm »

First, there has to be a Bigelow station

coach · « **Reply #4 on:** 12/20/2006 05:12 pm »

Considering that personal spaceflight (ie suborbital/orbital tourism) has never been accomplished, the title isn't that bad is it? What were you expecting?

What I find exciting is that there are increasing numbers of people getting involved in aerospace right now. I'll coin it the "Aerospace Renaissance." Fifteen years ago, I'm not sure anyone could have predicted this much involvement. Alt.space is still fragile with few real accomplishments but the accomplishments and the interest is growing (not to mention money). As long as that occurs there will be many more successes to come. One step closer at a time. Benson's company may be one of those important steps.

Coach

Jim · « **Reply #5 on:** 12/20/2006 05:47 pm »

The bensonspace news hardly qualifies for starting a thread with the title "Personal Space Flight One Step Closer"

HIP2BSQRE · « **Reply #6 on:** 12/28/2006 06:18 pm »

Does anyone think that his timetable is achiveable---flight tests 3/4 quarter 2007?

coach · « **Reply #7 on:** 12/29/2006 03:21 am »

It seems fast to me. The good news is that the design work has been essentially completed by NASA and the rocket motors are already developed. Can Benson raise the money to build and test it? If so, how fast can it be assembled? Wouldn't it be great if by 2010 SpaceDev, Benson Space, Bigelow Aerospace, SpaceX, VirginGalactic, Space Adventures, Armadillo Aerospace, Rocketplane Kistler and Blue Origin were all contributing to manned spaceflight with tested hardware? Let the games begin!

Coach

Jim · « **Reply #8 on:** 12/29/2006 12:33 pm »

Quote

coach - 28/12/2006 11:04 PM

It seems fast to me. The good news is that the design work has been essentially completed by NASA and the rocket motors are already developed.
Coach

not entirely true. The particular moter for dreamchaser have not been designed. The shape of the spacecraft has been subsonically tested by NASA but not hypersonically or during entry. Also all the systems inside the spacecraft are not designed

coach · « **Reply #9 on:** 12/29/2006 06:53 pm »

"not entirely true. The particular moter for dreamchaser have not been designed. The shape of the spacecraft has been subsonically tested by NASA but not hypersonically or during entry. Also all the systems inside the spacecraft are not designed"

Good points. This will definitely slow the timescale. Two years seems fast, even if the avionics and supersonic/hypersonic testing were done. The timetable might be unreasonable but I'll still root for them. If they are a year or two off, so be it. It's rare that anyone in aerospace is right on time and budget anyway.

Coach

simonbp · « **Reply #10 on:** 12/30/2006 01:01 am »

Quote

Jim - 29/12/2006 7:16 AM

Quote
coach - 28/12/2006 11:04 PM

It seems fast to me. The good news is that the design work has been essentially completed by NASA and the rocket motors are already developed.
Coach

not entirely true. The particular moter for dreamchaser have not been designed. The shape of the spacecraft has been subsonically tested by NASA but not hypersonically or during entry. Also all the systems inside the spacecraft are not designed

Not by NASA, yes, but by those other guys...

I don't think it's impossible that they could be flying by this time next year, but they'd be the first alt.space-type company to actually be on schedule if they did...

Simon

Jim · « **Reply #11 on:** 12/30/2006 01:04 am »

Quote

simonbp - 29/12/2006 8:44 PM

Quote
Jim - 29/12/2006 7:16 AM

Quote
coach - 28/12/2006 11:04 PM

It seems fast to me. The good news is that the design work has been essentially completed by NASA and the rocket motors are already developed.
Coach

not entirely true. The particular moter for dreamchaser have not been designed. The shape of the spacecraft has been subsonically tested by NASA but not hypersonically or during entry. Also all the systems inside the spacecraft are not designed

Not by NASA, yes, but by those other guys...

Not the same thing, especially if they can't get the data