Virgin Galactic
Discussion
The feathering system lock was "unlocked" too early. This allowed the tail section to move into the feathered position whilst the aircraft was accelerating through the Max Q - the period of maximum dynamic pressure on the vehicle. This was enough to cause structural break up and loss of the vehicle.
Simpo Two said:
mybrainhurts said:
This is getting a bit too James Bond villainish for comfort....
It's an interesting move away from 'Government' to 'private enterprise'. We just assume such massive undertakings are done by country - but as Governments lose interest or run out of money or give it to the starving Africans, private enterprise steps in...All very good points.
The issue that concerned me seemed to be the very narrow speed window within which it was unsafe to unlock the feathers and then the point where they deemed it prudent to unlock them.
That could be a design fault.
And testing is what highlights where design faults might lie.
The issue that concerned me seemed to be the very narrow speed window within which it was unsafe to unlock the feathers and then the point where they deemed it prudent to unlock them.
That could be a design fault.
And testing is what highlights where design faults might lie.
No machines are perfect and sometimes all one can do is work around those imperfections as best you can. The Shuttle is a classic example of a very imperfect vehicle. They got it to work - not as well as they would have liked - but work none the less.
Sometimes it is only through testing that some of these issues come to the fore.
Sometimes it is only through testing that some of these issues come to the fore.
All aircraft have to be tested by test pilots before passengers can be carried. There are lots of examples of early versions of airliners or civil aircraft having problems that were sorted out in test before entering airline service.
Are you saying because there has been a problem they should give up?
Are you saying because there has been a problem they should give up?
You can quote all you like. Spaceflight is still in its early stages as far as launching people on the end of rockets is concerned. After 50 plus years of manned launches, we've still done it less than a thousand times - and the launch phase of each mission barely lasts ten minutes - so the total number of HOURS of manned launch experience is still tiny.
Even if you add in the various rocket plane programmes - such as the X-15 (which is the only really comparable programme to Virgin Galactic) - you are still only adding a further couple of hundred hours - which is not much in aviation terms.
Compare this to the MILLIONS of flight hours that were accumulated over the first 50 years of heavier than air flight.
Although it shares a common heritage, space flight is different in many ways to air travel - and we are still learning.
Even if you add in the various rocket plane programmes - such as the X-15 (which is the only really comparable programme to Virgin Galactic) - you are still only adding a further couple of hundred hours - which is not much in aviation terms.
Compare this to the MILLIONS of flight hours that were accumulated over the first 50 years of heavier than air flight.
Although it shares a common heritage, space flight is different in many ways to air travel - and we are still learning.
You've obviously got a very negative opinion of the project so no matter what I put to you, you will counter with a string of negatives. So, what is the point of further discussion?
If the guy wants to have a go doing this, let him do it.
If people want to have a go on his craft - let them.
If you don't like what he's doing and think it's risky - don't buy a ticket.
Rather than continually trawl up reasons (real or concocted) as to why he shouldn't be carrying out this project, can't we chat about the technical aspects in a more sensible, neutral way?
If the guy wants to have a go doing this, let him do it.
If people want to have a go on his craft - let them.
If you don't like what he's doing and think it's risky - don't buy a ticket.
Rather than continually trawl up reasons (real or concocted) as to why he shouldn't be carrying out this project, can't we chat about the technical aspects in a more sensible, neutral way?
I'm all for interesting and exciting.
And this project is interesting and exciting - if a bit dodgy.
I'm all for dodgy too - although I may not be a volunteer
Let's just see if it pans out. It may turn out to be a bit of a dud. Or it could be the first chapter in a new form of travel. Who knows.
I'm prepared to give it a chance.
And this project is interesting and exciting - if a bit dodgy.
I'm all for dodgy too - although I may not be a volunteer
Let's just see if it pans out. It may turn out to be a bit of a dud. Or it could be the first chapter in a new form of travel. Who knows.
I'm prepared to give it a chance.
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