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Some VG facts:
- Space trips with Virgin Galactic are currently being retailed at USD 200,000 per passenger.
- More than 400 passengers have already placed deposits some having paid the full fare in advance.
- All of the existing air and spacecraft associated with VG have multiple names and designations:
- The launchcraft which carries the spacecraft to launch height is known as WhiteKnightTwo and also as the VMS (Virgin MotherShip) 'Eve'
- The spacecraft known as SpaceShipTwo, carries the Scaled Composites designator '339' and was named the VSS (Virgin SpaceShip) 'Enterprise'
- Two WhiteKnight launchcraft and five SS2 spacecraft have been ordered by VG from The Spaceship Company, a joint venture between the Virgin Group and Scaled Composites
- The SS2 spaceship employs a 'feathering' system which basically creates additional drag during the spacecraft's re-entry:
Once out of the atmosphere the entire tail structure of the spaceship can be rotated upwards to about 65º. The feathered configuration allows an
automatic control of attitude with the fuselage parallel to the horizon. This creates very high drag as the spacecraft descends through the upper regions of the atmosphere.
The feather configuration is also highly stable, effectively giving the pilot a hands-free re-entry capability, something that has not been possible on spacecraft before, without resorting to computer controlled fly-by-wire systems. The combination of high drag and low weight (due to the very light materials used to construct the vehicle) mean that the skin temperature during re-entry stays very low compared to previous manned spacecraft and thermal protection systems such as heat shields or tiles are not needed. Following re-entry at around 70,000ft, the feather lowers to its original configuration and the spaceship becomes a glider for the flight back to the spaceport runway.
.. just amazed they get it past the CAA.
Not really
that amazing. There is (according to the available publicity) a comprehensive test programme which will involve an as yet undisclosed number of sub-orbital test flights and re-entries to test the design and reliability of the SS2. The licencing authority is not the CAA but the FAA.
VG's home base
Spaceport is in New Mexico (not far from the White Sands missile test centre) and all their air/spacecraft are US registered.
The Spaceship Company's SS2 the 'VSS Enterprise' N339SS will be the first of five SS2's offering commercial passenger space flights
Virgin Galactic's New Mexico Spaceport which is nearing completion
The SS2's 'feathering' system for 'low speed' re-entry
I recall seeing a photo in the late 70's of a pair of Rutan
VariEze's with the caption "Looking more like interceptors from Star Wars .." Incredible to think that this home-build composites hobby junkie has ended-up leading the design and technology on the world's first commercial passenger service. Bravo!
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