Virgin Galactic

[Eric Mc]

Dragon has not carried a single human being yet. And it won't be carrying "paying passengers". It's going to be a functional, working orbital craft taking astronauts and cargo (not tourists) to the ISS and other orbital facilities that may emerge over the next decade or so.
It's a different kind of vehicle designed for a completely different purpose.

I am totally convinced that Virgin Galactic will work. And that is nothing to do with Richard Branson but everything to do with Burt Rutan.

[annodomini2]

IF SpaceX were to launch tourists on an orbital jaunt.

I doubt it would $250,000 either.

[Hilts]

Eric Mc said:

Wow - great "spot".

I'm sure Burt Rutan knows what he's doing.

Saw something else out of Scaled Composites I think but it was quite high, about 7-8000 feet. It had three sets of wings along the fuselage, strange looking craft, maybe a prototype.

[annodomini2]

This:



http://www.scaled.com/projects/advanced_technology...

[Hilts]

I think that's it although the tailplane looked more like another wing from the ground or maybe I just need glasses

[MrCarPark]

I'd not seen the Stratolaunch before

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgJFKUiuDBE&fea...

http://www.stratolaunch.com/

[MrCarPark]

An interesting article today:

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/feb/21/jon...

Branson going up with his family on the first flight "this year"

[Hooli]

Alapeno said:

What if Justin Bieber dies on it!?

Worldwide rejoicing?

[qube_TA]

Rumours on-line that SS2 had blown up on a test flight!

https://twitter.com/chrislintott/status/5282491100...

[MartG]

Reports that parachutes were seen after the explosion - hope the crew got out OK !

[MartG]

[dudleybloke]

not good.

[qube_TA]

1 casualty confirmed

[andy873]

Now changed to a fatality.

[qube_TA]

First flight with a redesigned motor and fuel:

http://spaceflightnow.com/2014/10/31/virgin-galact...

[MartG]

BBC reporting co-pilot killed, pilot seriously injured

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-29857182...

[MartG]

Reports are saying that the rocket motor was found intact, but the fuel tank appears to have failed.

Pilot ejected and was seriously injured, co-pilot's body found still strapped in his seat

[CrutyRammers]

Bit of a bad week for space

[anonymous-user]

Fuel tank failure? wow, that just suggests a hurried dev program and not enough ground running doesn't it???


(i assume pressure fluctuations in hybrid motors are one of the big issues, ie combustion stability etc?)

[IanMorewood]

Does anyone know how long the burn was? Hence the change from rubber to nylon. My guess if it was a longer burn it either shook itself loose or melted a joint or something similar. Anyway tragic incident and its a good job it wasn't carrying passengers.