Rocketplane XP

[GF3]

chicco - 4/4/2007  11:46 AM

I believe that safety of passengers will play a key role in the development of suborbital space tourism market.
Some suborbital players are building their spacecarfts with built-in safety modules or escape systems (Blue Origin, Canadian Arrow just to name few of them).
What about Rocketplan XP? Is there any specific safety modules present on the XP (maybe I'm too curioius...)?

There are a lot of safety features built into the XP vehicle. I am not the safety tech for the vehicle so your asking the wrong person. This answer is above my head in technical knowledge.

[meiza]

GF3 - 16/3/2007  4:29 PM

its quite easy actually.... You have to talk to like the associated press and when they are doing article that would have you and your competitors in it for some money they can leave them out.

for example you will get a sentence like this.

Obviously, experience with the Japanese system will be extremely useful when the time comes to use SpaceX’s or similar COTS-derived systems.

But I am not making accusations at any specific company. I don't know who does this type of strategy.  But this is a dead subject, its a alternate way for the media to make a little extra money.

It's not impossible, maybe you should start doing some under the counter PR work too... Perhaps Elon learnt a trick or two on how to get attention in his dotcom days when exposure was such an important thing. For example, I've heard that Ebay used lots of PR agents (and a lot of money of course) to inject stories and mentions to newspapers before it was as well known as it is today. It's not a crime or anything.
You can read about professional PR work here: http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html

[bad_astra]

AP usually just uses local reports. I don't think there's a big wire service conspiracy to shut Rocketplane out. Fact is, SpaceX has built hardware. They rolled a Falcoln 1 through DC. They've also been updating those of us on the mailing list for years. Armadillo keeps people up to date monthly on their progress and they compete.

Whereas Kistler's been sitting at something% complete for years and not once have I ever seen any progress updates, videos or anything more then full scale mockups of Rocketplane hardware. Reporters (as someone that lives with a reporter, I hear this quite often) want to do stories about things that exist. That's what gets readers interested. With Blue Origin, I think the opposite has been true until recently. People were interested because everyone knew a lot of money was being thrown at something, but what that thing was exactly wasn't clear. Now that they are flying hardware that just makes it that more interesting.

I think if you asked any of fans, for instance, of Armadillo (and I certainly am one) you'd find we're slightly nuts for Carmack's efforts not because they are done part time in a shop. Keeping up to date get's you emotionally commited by proxy. There's more groups doing that than anyone knows about, it's because they keep people up to date about things they are actually doing, failures and successes. I understand if Rocketplane Kistler doesn't want to discuss what it's done so far or what it's currently doing. I understand that completely, but it would be silly to assume that the press is avoiding RpK. They just don't have anything to talk about.

[gladiator1332]

bad_astra - 5/4/2007  10:15 AM

AP usually just uses local reports. I don't think there's a big wire service conspiracy to shut Rocketplane out. Fact is, SpaceX has built hardware. They rolled a Falcoln 1 through DC. They've also been updating those of us on the mailing list for years. Armadillo keeps people up to date monthly on their progress and they compete.

Whereas Kistler's been sitting at something% complete for years and not once have I ever seen any progress updates, videos or anything more then full scale mockups of Rocketplane hardware. Reporters (as someone that lives with a reporter, I hear this quite often) want to do stories about things that exist. That's what gets readers interested. With Blue Origin, I think the opposite has been true until recently. People were interested because everyone knew a lot of money was being thrown at something, but what that thing was exactly wasn't clear. Now that they are flying hardware that just makes it that more interesting.

I think if you asked any of fans, for instance, of Armadillo (and I certainly am one) you'd find we're slightly nuts for Carmack's efforts not because they are done part time in a shop. Keeping up to date get's you emotionally commited by proxy. There's more groups doing that than anyone knows about, it's because they keep people up to date about things they are actually doing, failures and successes. I understand if Rocketplane Kistler doesn't want to discuss what it's done so far or what it's currently doing. I understand that completely, but it would be silly to assume that the press is avoiding RpK. They just don't have anything to talk about.

I agree. I am a fan of the Rocketplane XP, however it is not easy to be one without any updates. I know there are some things that need to be protected from the public and competitors. Once flight testing begins though, I hope there are more updates.

[kevin-rf]

Musk has the whole public relations thing down pat. He is an internet 'success' story that was part of a household product name 'PayPal' that the press is familiar with. He chose a simple name SpaceX. He shoots off his mouth more than he should. Unless you are a hardcore space reporter you have never heard of Rocketplane XP, or Kistler, or rPK. A tech reporter has heard of PayPal and maybe Elon Musk.

Your problem is writers like to add a human interest side to things and his story is familiar and easy to write.

I'm not suggesting you start generating press for press's sake, but you guys should have really played up how small space is. Like when your sister modeled with Branson. Not to late, that pic. in GQ (or equiv.) with a human interest story of who is who and what a small world it is. Another thing you could do is give a few reporters a personal tour in hopes of generating some good articles in the likes of pop sci., time, wired, wall street journal, ect.

Think about it, the wall street jornal has an article about alpaca farming on the font page today...

[GF3]

kevin-rf - 5/4/2007  9:56 AM

Musk has the whole public relations thing down pat. He is an internet 'success' story that was part of a household product name 'PayPal' that the press is familiar with. He chose a simple name SpaceX. He shoots off his mouth more than he should. Unless you are a hardcore space reporter you have never heard of Rocketplane XP, or Kistler, or rPK. A tech reporter has heard of PayPal and maybe Elon Musk.

Your problem is writers like to add a human interest side to things and his story is familiar and easy to write.

I'm not suggesting you start generating press for press's sake, but you guys should have really played up how small space is. Like when your sister modeled with Branson. Not to late, that pic. in GQ (or equiv.) with a human interest story of who is who and what a small world it is. Another thing you could do is give a few reporters a personal tour in hopes of generating some good articles in the likes of pop sci., time, wired, wall street journal, ect.

Think about it, the wall street jornal has an article about alpaca farming on the font page today...

Pop Sci. http://www.popsci.com/popsci/aviationspace/40c1bb3e575bc010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html
 
We were just in a recent article in Wired as well. Nothing like the Pop Sci.

We have a little philosophy here that we don't release everything new on our progress. We will be having a HUGE roll out in New York in September so be ready for that. But again we don't like to release everything new because then when you change stuff its very public and makes you look like your not working in the right direction but in reality that is how evolution works.

I agree with the ideas you are having and you will be starting to see much more of us in the press coming up here.

[bad_astra]

We have a little philosophy here that we don't release everything new on our progress.

You can't expect real interest until you do. And no interest is fine as long as it doesnt interfere with generating business.

[Radioheaded]

GF3 - 5/4/2007  11:07 AM
Pop Sci. http://www.popsci.com/popsci/aviationspace/40c1bb3e575bc010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html
 
We were just in a recent article in Wired as well. Nothing like the Pop Sci.

We have a little philosophy here that we don't release everything new on our progress. We will be having a HUGE roll out in New York in September so be ready for that. But again we don't like to release everything new because then when you change stuff its very public and makes you look like your not working in the right direction but in reality that is how evolution works.

I agree with the ideas you are having and you will be starting to see much more of us in the press coming up here.

Honestly, (it is at this point I direct you to the signature that accompanies my posts )   IMHO I find this strategy refreshing.  Talk to me when you have something to SHOW me.  And I look forward to your "unveiling" (or whatever it may be) in September  

[kevin-rf]

Now if they where smart they would start early saying they will have someting cool in sptember to get the the most from the curiosity buzz...

[meiza]

I was just browsing the net and hit this:
http://www.abo.fi/~mlindroo/SpaceLVs/Slides/sld044.htm
Pretty familiar shape there, eh?

[gladiator1332]

GF3 - 5/4/2007  11:07 AM

kevin-rf - 5/4/2007  9:56 AM

Musk has the whole public relations thing down pat. He is an internet 'success' story that was part of a household product name 'PayPal' that the press is familiar with. He chose a simple name SpaceX. He shoots off his mouth more than he should. Unless you are a hardcore space reporter you have never heard of Rocketplane XP, or Kistler, or rPK. A tech reporter has heard of PayPal and maybe Elon Musk.

Your problem is writers like to add a human interest side to things and his story is familiar and easy to write.

I'm not suggesting you start generating press for press's sake, but you guys should have really played up how small space is. Like when your sister modeled with Branson. Not to late, that pic. in GQ (or equiv.) with a human interest story of who is who and what a small world it is. Another thing you could do is give a few reporters a personal tour in hopes of generating some good articles in the likes of pop sci., time, wired, wall street journal, ect.

Think about it, the wall street jornal has an article about alpaca farming on the font page today...

Pop Sci. http://www.popsci.com/popsci/aviationspace/40c1bb3e575bc010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html
 
We were just in a recent article in Wired as well. Nothing like the Pop Sci.

We have a little philosophy here that we don't release everything new on our progress. We will be having a HUGE roll out in New York in September so be ready for that. But again we don't like to release everything new because then when you change stuff its very public and makes you look like your not working in the right direction but in reality that is how evolution works.

I agree with the ideas you are having and you will be starting to see much more of us in the press coming up here.

I am looking forward to the roll out. I understand the need for keeping things quiet, but I hope we get to hear the full story of the design process someday. One thing that is truly interesting about Project Orion is that we are watching Ares I go from paper to reality. We didn't get to see Space Ship One being built and tested until the Discovery Channel Special. Only then was I able to truly understand how great of an accomplishment SS1 was.
For now secrecy is ok, but someday I hope we see how Rocketplane was built and tested.

[GF3]

gladiator1332 - 6/4/2007  8:56 AM

GF3 - 5/4/2007  11:07 AM

kevin-rf - 5/4/2007  9:56 AM

Musk has the whole public relations thing down pat. He is an internet 'success' story that was part of a household product name 'PayPal' that the press is familiar with. He chose a simple name SpaceX. He shoots off his mouth more than he should. Unless you are a hardcore space reporter you have never heard of Rocketplane XP, or Kistler, or rPK. A tech reporter has heard of PayPal and maybe Elon Musk.

Your problem is writers like to add a human interest side to things and his story is familiar and easy to write.

I'm not suggesting you start generating press for press's sake, but you guys should have really played up how small space is. Like when your sister modeled with Branson. Not to late, that pic. in GQ (or equiv.) with a human interest story of who is who and what a small world it is. Another thing you could do is give a few reporters a personal tour in hopes of generating some good articles in the likes of pop sci., time, wired, wall street journal, ect.

Think about it, the wall street jornal has an article about alpaca farming on the font page today...

Pop Sci. http://www.popsci.com/popsci/aviationspace/40c1bb3e575bc010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html
 
We were just in a recent article in Wired as well. Nothing like the Pop Sci.

We have a little philosophy here that we don't release everything new on our progress. We will be having a HUGE roll out in New York in September so be ready for that. But again we don't like to release everything new because then when you change stuff its very public and makes you look like your not working in the right direction but in reality that is how evolution works.

I agree with the ideas you are having and you will be starting to see much more of us in the press coming up here.

I am looking forward to the roll out. I understand the need for keeping things quiet, but I hope we get to hear the full story of the design process someday. One thing that is truly interesting about Project Orion is that we are watching Ares I go from paper to reality. We didn't get to see Space Ship One being built and tested until the Discovery Channel Special. Only then was I able to truly understand how great of an accomplishment SS1 was.
For now secrecy is ok, but someday I hope we see how Rocketplane was built and tested.

I am sure this will happen.

[gladiator1332]

GF3 - 6/4/2007  10:24 AM

gladiator1332 - 6/4/2007  8:56 AM

GF3 - 5/4/2007  11:07 AM

kevin-rf - 5/4/2007  9:56 AM

Musk has the whole public relations thing down pat. He is an internet 'success' story that was part of a household product name 'PayPal' that the press is familiar with. He chose a simple name SpaceX. He shoots off his mouth more than he should. Unless you are a hardcore space reporter you have never heard of Rocketplane XP, or Kistler, or rPK. A tech reporter has heard of PayPal and maybe Elon Musk.

Your problem is writers like to add a human interest side to things and his story is familiar and easy to write.

I'm not suggesting you start generating press for press's sake, but you guys should have really played up how small space is. Like when your sister modeled with Branson. Not to late, that pic. in GQ (or equiv.) with a human interest story of who is who and what a small world it is. Another thing you could do is give a few reporters a personal tour in hopes of generating some good articles in the likes of pop sci., time, wired, wall street journal, ect.

Think about it, the wall street jornal has an article about alpaca farming on the font page today...

Pop Sci. http://www.popsci.com/popsci/aviationspace/40c1bb3e575bc010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html
 
We were just in a recent article in Wired as well. Nothing like the Pop Sci.

We have a little philosophy here that we don't release everything new on our progress. We will be having a HUGE roll out in New York in September so be ready for that. But again we don't like to release everything new because then when you change stuff its very public and makes you look like your not working in the right direction but in reality that is how evolution works.

I agree with the ideas you are having and you will be starting to see much more of us in the press coming up here.

I am looking forward to the roll out. I understand the need for keeping things quiet, but I hope we get to hear the full story of the design process someday. One thing that is truly interesting about Project Orion is that we are watching Ares I go from paper to reality. We didn't get to see Space Ship One being built and tested until the Discovery Channel Special. Only then was I able to truly understand how great of an accomplishment SS1 was.
For now secrecy is ok, but someday I hope we see how Rocketplane was built and tested.

I am sure this will happen.

Thanks for all of the info you have been able to give to us GF3. Please know no one on here is ridiculing your company, its operations, or the way it is doing things. We are all just extremely interested in what you guys are doing.

Maybe it is a good thing that you guys try to stay out of the spotlight. Rutan and Branson may be getting all of the media attention, but that could work for and against them. Every move they are going to make once SpaceShipTwo is rolled out is going to be scrutinized by the media. The media can help you and hurt you. If you have one problem they will immediately begin questioning the safety of the vehicle and private spaceflight in general.  

Another problem is your common person does not understand how difficult it is to build a spacecraft. When you are in the spotlight and then have to scrub a launch for a small problem you do come under scrutiny. Immediately people begin thinking that you are a farce. Look at all the fire SpaceX had to take after the first Falcon failure. Now hopefully the XP will not have a failure, but as with all programs, there will be bumps along the way. If you keep CNN at bay, there is a chance that the public will not be fed all of the overly-dramatic bull that the media loves to put out.

[GF3]

gladiator1332 - 6/4/2007  11:50 AM

GF3 - 6/4/2007  10:24 AM

gladiator1332 - 6/4/2007  8:56 AM

GF3 - 5/4/2007  11:07 AM

kevin-rf - 5/4/2007  9:56 AM

Musk has the whole public relations thing down pat. He is an internet 'success' story that was part of a household product name 'PayPal' that the press is familiar with. He chose a simple name SpaceX. He shoots off his mouth more than he should. Unless you are a hardcore space reporter you have never heard of Rocketplane XP, or Kistler, or rPK. A tech reporter has heard of PayPal and maybe Elon Musk.

Your problem is writers like to add a human interest side to things and his story is familiar and easy to write.

I'm not suggesting you start generating press for press's sake, but you guys should have really played up how small space is. Like when your sister modeled with Branson. Not to late, that pic. in GQ (or equiv.) with a human interest story of who is who and what a small world it is. Another thing you could do is give a few reporters a personal tour in hopes of generating some good articles in the likes of pop sci., time, wired, wall street journal, ect.

Think about it, the wall street jornal has an article about alpaca farming on the font page today...

Pop Sci. http://www.popsci.com/popsci/aviationspace/40c1bb3e575bc010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html
 
We were just in a recent article in Wired as well. Nothing like the Pop Sci.

We have a little philosophy here that we don't release everything new on our progress. We will be having a HUGE roll out in New York in September so be ready for that. But again we don't like to release everything new because then when you change stuff its very public and makes you look like your not working in the right direction but in reality that is how evolution works.

I agree with the ideas you are having and you will be starting to see much more of us in the press coming up here.

I am looking forward to the roll out. I understand the need for keeping things quiet, but I hope we get to hear the full story of the design process someday. One thing that is truly interesting about Project Orion is that we are watching Ares I go from paper to reality. We didn't get to see Space Ship One being built and tested until the Discovery Channel Special. Only then was I able to truly understand how great of an accomplishment SS1 was.
For now secrecy is ok, but someday I hope we see how Rocketplane was built and tested.

I am sure this will happen.

Thanks for all of the info you have been able to give to us GF3. Please know no one on here is ridiculing your company, its operations, or the way it is doing things. We are all just extremely interested in what you guys are doing.

Maybe it is a good thing that you guys try to stay out of the spotlight. Rutan and Branson may be getting all of the media attention, but that could work for and against them. Every move they are going to make once SpaceShipTwo is rolled out is going to be scrutinized by the media. The media can help you and hurt you. If you have one problem they will immediately begin questioning the safety of the vehicle and private spaceflight in general.  

Another problem is your common person does not understand how difficult it is to build a spacecraft. When you are in the spotlight and then have to scrub a launch for a small problem you do come under scrutiny. Immediately people begin thinking that you are a farce. Look at all the fire SpaceX had to take after the first Falcon failure. Now hopefully the XP will not have a failure, but as with all programs, there will be bumps along the way. If you keep CNN at bay, there is a chance that the public will not be fed all of the overly-dramatic bull that the media loves to put out.

EXACTLY

[gladiator1332]

The only downside to unveiling the XP in New York in September is I will be back in Kent, Ohio at that time. I DEMAND that you roll out the XP when I am home from college and back in NJ!  :bleh:

GF3,

I was wondering, (if you are allowed to answer this), where are you going to get the pilots for the XP? Are they ex-NASA?....ex-Military?...ex-Corporate pilots?

[CentEur]

gladiator1332 - 8/4/2007  2:29 AM

GF3,

I was wondering, (if you are allowed to answer this), where are you going to get the pilots for the XP? Are they ex-NASA?....ex-Military?...ex-Corporate pilots?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Herrington

[GF3]

CentEur - 8/4/2007  3:53 PM

gladiator1332 - 8/4/2007  2:29 AM

GF3,

I was wondering, (if you are allowed to answer this), where are you going to get the pilots for the XP? Are they ex-NASA?....ex-Military?...ex-Corporate pilots?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Herrington

Yes John Herrington is our pilot. But he is also in charge of flight operations. He is in charge of setting the standards for pilots. as well as hiring. i know he has outlined requirements but off the top of my head i am not familiar with them.