scaled composite's space craft reaches 40 miles
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scaled composite's space craft reaches 40 miles
Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites's SpaceShipOne achieved 40 nm (211 odd thousand feet) on the 13th May. Pretty impressive feat!
Something I don't understand:
If other orbital/suborbital craft need ablative coatings &/or high performance insulating tiles, how come this one seems not to need them?
Is it that as a suborbital craft, lacking orbital velocity, lack the kinetic energy to disipate? What about the early suborbital Mercury capsules? I thought they needed an ablative shield?
If other orbital/suborbital craft need ablative coatings &/or high performance insulating tiles, how come this one seems not to need them?
Is it that as a suborbital craft, lacking orbital velocity, lack the kinetic energy to disipate? What about the early suborbital Mercury capsules? I thought they needed an ablative shield?
Last edited by Tinstaafl; 23rd May 2004 at 02:43.
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Mr. Rutan designed the Spaceship to have a very low re-entry speed by making it have very high drag - the glider literally folds up to come down steeply and (relatively) slowly. Since they haven't gone to orbit, the speed can be low.
There is a minimum of ablative material as the heat build up is relatively low, at least in comparison to the Shuttle or 'normal' space capsules.
But what is equally impressive and can be seen in the photo of the interior, is the interesting artificial horizon.
There is a minimum of ablative material as the heat build up is relatively low, at least in comparison to the Shuttle or 'normal' space capsules.
But what is equally impressive and can be seen in the photo of the interior, is the interesting artificial horizon.
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I just visited their internet site, impressive stuff but one question: Where they have lost a nose gear?? Or did they run out of money in desinging one?? Anyhow, it could be a pretty bumpy landing with that kind of nosege....or whatever it might be. Let's hope it'll all go well.
Just a note: but the top photo is the carrier aircraft White Knight, not SS1. You can tell as the reg is on the panel.
Shawn thanks for pointing out the speed difference. I was trying to get my head around that fact as well but had missed that bit of info so far!
Let's hope it goes well for them.
Shawn thanks for pointing out the speed difference. I was trying to get my head around that fact as well but had missed that bit of info so far!
Let's hope it goes well for them.
Likewise, best of luck, hope it all goes well - you deserve every success.
For everybody else, there's a live newsfeed (video + audio) at http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsa/n5ctrl/live/now1.ram
G
For everybody else, there's a live newsfeed (video + audio) at http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsa/n5ctrl/live/now1.ram
G
Last edited by Genghis the Engineer; 21st Jun 2004 at 13:50.
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Private rocket plane successfully punches into space
MOJAVE, Calif., June 21 (Reuters) - SpaceShipOne
successfully punched beyond the earth's atmosphere on Monday in the world's first attempt at manned commercial space flight.
The privately funded rocket plane was released from a
larger plane called the White Knight and ignited its rocket
engine to enter space 62 miles (100 km) above the earth.
The distinctive white rocket plane took off from a runway
in the Mojave Desert in California, about 100 miles north of
Los Angeles, and was expected to land back there.
MOJAVE, Calif., June 21 (Reuters) - SpaceShipOne
successfully punched beyond the earth's atmosphere on Monday in the world's first attempt at manned commercial space flight.
The privately funded rocket plane was released from a
larger plane called the White Knight and ignited its rocket
engine to enter space 62 miles (100 km) above the earth.
The distinctive white rocket plane took off from a runway
in the Mojave Desert in California, about 100 miles north of
Los Angeles, and was expected to land back there.
Well, that seems to have gone jolly well - many thanks to the BBC for the video feed, which stopped me doing any work for the last couple of hours
Hearty congratulations to the whole team at Scaled, that was a fantastic effort. Best of luck with the next launch - and if any of you fancy posting on here about how it has gone, you'll have a ready audience.
G
Hearty congratulations to the whole team at Scaled, that was a fantastic effort. Best of luck with the next launch - and if any of you fancy posting on here about how it has gone, you'll have a ready audience.
G
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SpaceShipOne future
Apart from the following:
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches...ss_040621.html
have not heard much about the future plans for Rutan's space ship.
Is it grounded for repair/design change? Do they plan to fly again soon?
The report in the link suggests that there is very significant risk in this project, which is not surprising. Many have said that safety standards will have to be relaxed to allow private space travel. However, there is, in today's risk averse society, a low limit on the risk organizations will be allowed to take.
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches...ss_040621.html
have not heard much about the future plans for Rutan's space ship.
Is it grounded for repair/design change? Do they plan to fly again soon?
The report in the link suggests that there is very significant risk in this project, which is not surprising. Many have said that safety standards will have to be relaxed to allow private space travel. However, there is, in today's risk averse society, a low limit on the risk organizations will be allowed to take.
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