Please use this topic to discuss Virgin Galactic and its SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane.
sthomas9999 Member
Posts: 79 From: Johnson City, TN Registered: Jul 2003
posted 12-01-2009 02:04 PM
When will SpaceShipTwo finish testing and begin taking people into space?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 12-01-2009 02:12 PM
According to the December issue of Wired Magazine ("Virgin Galactic's Space-Grazing Aircraft Is Ready for Liftoff"), "in a year, maybe two -- barring any test-flight glitches -- people who have the right financial stuff will be rocketing daily into space for a few minutes of sensory overload and ego gratification."
SpaceShipTwo flight tests are "slated to begin flight tests in early 2010."
The spacecraft will make its debut on Dec. 7. collectSPACE will be represented at the press preview and unveiling, and will have photographs and details to share.
ASCAN1984 Member
Posts: 1049 From: County Down, Nothern Ireland Registered: Feb 2002
posted 12-08-2009 03:47 PM
Is there a feather configuration with SpaceShipTwo? Quite hard to see where it would be.
328KF Member
Posts: 1234 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 12-08-2009 03:57 PM
Yes...the hinge line can be seen in that very first photo to the rear of the wingtip. It does not appear to have as much of the wing chord oriented vertically as SpaceShipOne did, but Rutan says that the low-wing configuration will be more stable than the high-wing of the first vehicle.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 12-08-2009 04:24 PM
This model of SpaceShipTwo (with full scale model of SpaceShipOne outside in the background) was on display at the unveiling, showing the feather configuration.
Credit: Robert Pearlman/collectSPACE.com
albatron Member
Posts: 2732 From: Stuart, Florida Registered: Jun 2000
posted 12-09-2009 09:38 AM
Eerie how it resembles the X-20 Dynasoar, yet has aerodynamic differences.
MrSpace86 Member
Posts: 1618 From: Gardner, KS, USA Registered: Feb 2003
posted 12-09-2009 10:41 AM
Was Mike Melvill not present at the unveiling? Did he officially "retire" from the program? If anyone has experience, it would be him.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 12-09-2009 11:09 AM
Mike Melvill was at the reveal and was introduced along with Brian Binnie, Doug Shane and Peter Siebold (all skilled SpaceShipOne test pilots).
Melvill, 69, won't be able to serve as a commercial pilot for SpaceShipTwo due to the Federal Aviation Administration's age restrictions.
He retired from Scaled Composites as vice president and general manager in 2007.
328KF Member
Posts: 1234 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 12-09-2009 04:03 PM
That is one COOL looking flying machine!
Rutan once mentioned the fact that when his team won the X Prize, his flight was the only U.S. manned spaceflight that year.
It seems that this will once again be the case for several years once the shuttle retires, even if the COTS program progresses to flying crew members in the near future.
I can't justify $200K, so I guess I'll have to go work on my glider skills and polish the old resume...
dogcrew5369 Member
Posts: 750 From: Statesville, NC Registered: Mar 2009
posted 12-10-2009 03:33 PM
Is "VSS Enterprise" actually on the ship and does anyone know the reasons for christening SS2 Enterprise? Interesting that it will be the first "spaceship" named Enterprise. One day the Star Trek namesake may end up being a self-fulfilling prophesy! The future is here.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 12-10-2009 04:43 PM
You can see that the name VSS Enterprise appears on the ship in this photo of its nose art.
Will Whitehorn, president of Virgin Galactic, spoke about choosing the name at the press conference preceding the unveiling.
We had to find a name for our first SpaceShipTwo to take up and test the experimental mantle of this unique commercial project. But there was only one choice of name...
Two hundred fifty years ago, little did the sailors who captured the Frenchmen onboard called the Entre know the consequences when they added the English word 'prize' at the end. She became the Enterprise in the Royal Navy.
Nor did the U.S. Navy realize when they used the name Enterprise for a flagship and eventually an aircraft carrier that it would one day end up on one of the world's first space shuttles that was used in the early test program.
Neither, of course, did they realize that the name Enterprise would be honored in science fiction as well, and would become a watch word for the very concept of the human endeavor in space for generations to come.
So today I think it is fitting that our distinguished guests will be naming our first SpaceShipTwo the VSS Enterprise.
Now officially, VSS Enterprise stands for 'Virgin Space Ship Enterprise' but given the ambition of this project, I think that we will one day be calling it 'Virgin Star Ship Enterprise.'
parg1 Member
Posts: 16 From: Wales Registered: Dec 2007
posted 06-25-2010 03:37 PM
Given the approach of WhiteKnight Two test flights, who are the likely crew?
From the flights of Spaceship Two, most Pilot - Co-Pilot flights have been by Siebold and Stuckey, with Nichols also a contender for WK2; however we also need an experienced flight crew in SS2 so we may well have a pilot-flight engineer crew on WK2 which would probably include Kalogiannis, Stinemetze or Maisler and one of the three pilots above.
Would some one like to play Rutan instead of Deke with this one?
parg1 Member
Posts: 16 From: Wales Registered: Dec 2007
posted 10-06-2010 04:42 PM
With regular flight testing of WK2 and SS2 occuring; the time when SS2 enters glide testing cannot be far away. Looking at crewing of past flights of WK2 and the two manned attached SS2 flights I would suggest that the likely crew for the glide tests are Pete Siebold (pilot) and Michael Alsbury (co-pilot). They have conducted both the manned attached SS2 tests and flown several missions together to harmonise crew proficiency on WK2 prior to the SS2 tests. The probable pilots for the WK2 launch crew are Mark Stuck (pilot) and Peter Kalogiannis (co-pilot) with Brian Maisler as Flight Test Engineer; although with the pool of available experienced Flight Test Engineers presently numbering 10 predicting the FTE for the first glide flight is open to question.
To date none of the British or American Pilots named for SS2 pilot training have been involved in any test flights, their participation probably commencing once sub-orbital testing is completed.
gliderpilotuk Member
Posts: 3398 From: London, UK Registered: Feb 2002
posted 10-11-2010 06:35 AM
Looking at the video and at the hot and steep approach and high round-out it must have the glide ratio of a brick.
cspg Member
Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 10-11-2010 08:58 AM
Oh, I just looked at the photos and said to myself, if that's not a lot like the shuttle's Approach and Landing Tests... A brick is a brick.
gliderpilotuk Member
Posts: 3398 From: London, UK Registered: Feb 2002
posted 10-11-2010 10:01 AM
What's the strange animal sound at 2min 20secs in? Is that a goat on the runway?
ejectr Member
Posts: 1751 From: Killingly, CT Registered: Mar 2002
posted 10-11-2010 11:07 AM
It's someone saying... "Wow... wow!" in a very sedate voice.
Jay Chladek Member
Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
posted 10-11-2010 02:34 PM
If I ever get the funds to ride one of these (not likely), I am going to quote Bill Paxton's line from Aliens just before the drop ship launched: "We're on an express elevator to hell... going down!"
And of course, I'll do it right before launch.
SpaceAholic Member
Posts: 4437 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-12-2010 01:02 PM
Interesting to see the gear are deployed on the WK2 at VSS release... additional drag needed to decelerate for the drop/separation clearance between the two vehicles?
tegwilym Member
Posts: 2331 From: Sturgeon Bay, WI Registered: Jan 2000
posted 10-12-2010 02:11 PM
I like that. I guess if you can see that happy face, the spacecraft had released and it was a happy day!
GoesTo11 Member
Posts: 1309 From: Denver, CO Registered: Jun 2004
posted 10-12-2010 10:16 PM
quote:Originally posted by Jay Chladek: I am going to quote Bill Paxton's line from Aliens just before the drop ship launched: "We're on an express elevator to hell... going down!"
Just hope you don't follow it up with "Game over, man...GAME OVER!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-13-2010 11:44 AM
quote:Originally posted by SpaceAholic: Interesting to see the gear are deployed on the WK2 at VSS release...
From a Wired interview with SpaceShipTwo pilots Siebold and Alsbury:
Because of a recent landing gear issue with Eve that is still being resolved, the Scaled team elected to fly the mother ship with the gear down and locked throughout the entire flight. This limited the release height to 45,000 feet, the approximate ceiling of the aircraft in the gear down configuration at the weight flown on Sunday.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-13-2010 11:51 AM
quote:Originally posted by gliderpilotuk: Looking at the video and at the hot and steep approach and high round-out it must have the glide ratio of a brick.
From the Wired interview (linked from the prior post):
Unlike its predecessor, SpaceShipOne, this space ship has a belly mounted speed brake that can be used to control the glide ratio of the descent portion of the flight. SpaceShipOne had a lift to drag ratio (L/D) of 7:1 during the descent. The only way that could be changed was by lowering the gear, which was done just before touchdown as there was no way to retract the gear once it was down. With the speed brake, pilots of SpaceShipTwo will be able to adjust the glide during the descent to account for changing winds and other variables Siebold says.
"It gives a tremendous amount of flexibility where you can change the L/D in real time during the descent and not only use the turn radius of the approach."
328KF Member
Posts: 1234 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 10-19-2010 10:29 AM
Did anyone watch the first part of the National Geographic Channel series last night on SS2? This took the program from inception up to the first glide flight.
It highlighted some of the technical issues with both aircraft. The rudder oscillations on the first flight of WK2 looked pretty interesting from the cockpit. And it appeared that the nose skid did not indicate down onboard SS2 on the glide flight.
Siebold said he was going to use the emergency deploy, but someone on the radio (sounded like Mike Melvill) told him it looked good from the chase plane.
I hope they put the series together on DVD when it is all done.
328KF Member
Posts: 1234 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 04-04-2011 04:00 PM
The BBC has posted a unique behind the scenes look at SpaceShipTwo, including the interior of the ship. Also a quick tour around Spaceport America under construction.
Lewis007 Member
Posts: 102 From: Geldermalsen, the Netherlands Registered: Mar 2010
posted 04-19-2011 06:46 AM
SpaceShipTwo flew into San Francisco International Airport (SFO) with its mothership WhiteKnightTwo on April 6 to mark the opening of the airport's new Terminal 2, where Virgin America – a California-based sister company to Virgin Galactic – will serve as an anchor tenant.
The Virgin America aircraft "My Other Ride Is a Spaceship" accompanied the SpaceShipTwo and its carrier into the airport.
Following the event (featuring amongst others, Richard Branson and Buzz Aldrin), WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo flew back to the Mojave base the following day.
dabolton Member
Posts: 419 From: Seneca, IL, US Registered: Jan 2009
posted 05-21-2011 11:14 PM
That sure is dramatic when they do the feather. The attitude the pilots were in must have felt quite unnatural for a pilot. Quite gutsy flying in my opinion.
I saw White Knight 2 at OshKosh AirVenture 2 years ago; I wonder if both vehicles will show up this year. Do they have FAA permission to do a SS2 free flight test outside of Edwards? Could they do one at OshKosh?
gliderpilotuk Member
Posts: 3398 From: London, UK Registered: Feb 2002
posted 05-22-2011 10:07 AM
The deceleration looks dramatic but I suspect they bled a lot of the speed off first. Hard to tell without a reference point, bit I agree that it is gutsy (glider ) flying.
ilbasso Member
Posts: 1522 From: Greensboro, NC USA Registered: Feb 2006
posted 05-22-2011 10:22 AM
It oscillated when feathered more than I would have expected.
328KF Member
Posts: 1234 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 05-24-2011 02:07 PM
This article indicates that there may be some ongoing development issues with the engine program for SpaceShipTwo.
Stories circulated that engineers at Sierra Nevada Corporation were having a hard time scaling up the hybrid engine system from the small, X-1 sized SpaceShipOne prototype to its business jet sized successor. Oscillations sufficiently severe that nobody would want to ride the vehicle.
The stories have persisted and, if anything, have grown stronger. The latest one circulating in Mojave is that the test in March didn’t go well, and that the propulsion team has decided to abandon the hybrid rocket for a liquid system. There is also a confirmed report that Virgin Galactic has formed its own propulsion team and hired the former director of SpaceX’s Texas engine testing facility — and an expert in liquid propulsion — as a member of it.
328KF Member
Posts: 1234 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 06-10-2011 12:53 PM
And just like that, follows a very different version from VG on the engine development story:
Mark Sirangelo, head of Sierra Nevada Space Systems, the prime contractor for the SpaceShipTwo motors, told SPACE.com that progress is ongoing regarding development of the hybrid motor propulsion for the SpaceShipTwo program.
"Recently we conducted a firing of the motor which extended the burn duration by 30 percent and validated several of the important hardware systems," Sirangelo said. "We are preparing to shortly conduct another firing of the enhanced motor which will extend the burn duration and incorporate several additional important advances in the design.
This firing is expected to lead to final design of the motors for flight testing," he explained.
dabolton Member
Posts: 419 From: Seneca, IL, US Registered: Jan 2009
posted 04-14-2013 01:52 PM
What is the current count of WK2 and SS2's that are completed or in production?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-23-2013 07:17 PM
Virgin Galactic has said it plans a fleet of two WhiteKnightTwo and as many as five SpaceShipTwo craft, though currently I believe only one of each exists (completed or in construction).
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-23-2013 07:19 PM
In an interview with the Las Vegas Sun, Richard Branson says SpaceShipTwo will make its first powered flight next week.
We're hoping to break the sound barrier. That's planned Monday [April 29]. It will be a historic day. This is going to be Virgin Galactic's year. We'll break the sound barrier Monday and from there, we build up through the rest of the year, finally going into space near the end of the year. I'll be on the first official flight, which we look to have in the first quarter of next year. We're doing a number of test flights into space first.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-29-2013 09:35 AM
WhiteKnightTwo with pilot David Mackay and SpaceShipTwo with pilots Mark Stucky and Mike Alsbury took off from Mojave Air and Space Port at 7:02 a.m. PDT (10:02 a.m. EDT; 1402 GMT) Monday (April 29) on what is expected to be SpaceShipTwo's first powered test flight.
The commercial spacecraft may go supersonic today but will not cross into space. The first space shot is expected later this year after more powered test flights.
Virgin CEO Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides and SpaceShipTwo designer Burt Rutan are in Mojave to witness today's milestone.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-29-2013 09:57 AM
Virgin Galactic reported on Twitter:
For the first time ever, SpaceShipTwo has lit her rocket engine in flight! A major milestone in human spaceflight. Photos, video, and details to follow.
On-site reports suggest the engine burned for 13 seconds and that SpaceShipTwo is now gliding back to a landing.
Updates from Virgin Galactic:
Wheels stop — SpaceShipTwo safely on the ground after a triumphant day in the sky. So proud of our team!
Pilots Stucky and Alsbury confirm: SpaceShipTwo exceeded the speed of sound on today's flight!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-29-2013 12:57 PM
Now, this is what I call a launch photo! From SpaceShipTwo's boom camera:
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member
Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
posted 04-29-2013 06:44 PM
Who's on the short list to pilot SS2 when it goes above 100 km on a test flight?
mode1charlie Member
Posts: 1169 From: Honolulu, HI Registered: Sep 2010
posted 04-29-2013 11:16 PM
quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: Now, this is what I call a launch photo!
No kidding. When I saw it this morning, I thought it was an artistic representation, not a real photo. If it weren't for the fact that it will soon (hopefully) be supplanted by even cooler images at even higher altitudes, I'd suggest that this one will become iconic.
posted 12-01-2009 02:00 PM
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