Further information about the space program and high-resolution photographs are available at the Scaled Composites website: www.scaled.com.Commercial Manned Space Program Unveiled by Scaled Composites
Scaled Composites today unveiled the existence of a commercial manned space program. This previously hidden, active research program has been in the works at its facility for two years. This program includes an airborne launcher (the White Knight), a space ship (SpaceShipOne), rocket propulsion, avionics, simulator and ground support elements.
Scaled Composites Reveals SpaceShipOne
- Thread starter zakur
- Start date
-
- Tags
- composites reveals
fishbob
Seasonally Disaffected
The only time I ever got to the Smithsonian, I saw their plane that flew around the world, non-stop, without refueling. It was on display in the Air and Space Museum, on an upper gallery, behind where the X-1 was hanging from the ceiling.
I checked out their web site. They have been doing some pretty cool things for a long time.
I checked out their web site. They have been doing some pretty cool things for a long time.
It Will Fly!
I've met Burt Rutan while I was in college. I did a senior project that heavily envolved composite materials and he allowed me to use his manufacturing facilities. From my conversation I got the sense that one should never bet against him and Scaled Composites. When it comes to aircraft design I think he is a genius. I look forward to his attempt to claim the X-Prize.
Doesn't SpaceShipOne kind of look like the spaceship that Space Ghost used in the 1960s cartoon?!!
http://www.tntie.com/ashleys4jc/sginphantcr.html
I've met Burt Rutan while I was in college. I did a senior project that heavily envolved composite materials and he allowed me to use his manufacturing facilities. From my conversation I got the sense that one should never bet against him and Scaled Composites. When it comes to aircraft design I think he is a genius. I look forward to his attempt to claim the X-Prize.
Doesn't SpaceShipOne kind of look like the spaceship that Space Ghost used in the 1960s cartoon?!!
http://www.tntie.com/ashleys4jc/sginphantcr.html
neutrino_cannon
Master Poster
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2002
- Messages
- 2,574
Go Burt Rutan! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! I assume this is his revenge for the beech starship selling so poorly, though I have seen those things once or twice, oddly being tailed by an Avanti...
I suppose it's those durned aliens again.
I suppose it's those durned aliens again.
davefoc
Philosopher
Good link, I wanted more details but I poked around with my dial up connection and eventually got frustrated and gave up.
A few thoughts:
1. I always thought that this two plane approach looked like a good idea. There was a guy proposing the use of a 747, but NASA rejected it as one of the configurations they were going to study. Maybe they know something.
2. I like the idea of a small passenger capsule. The idea of getting cargo up into space on a manned craft appears to be obsolete. It's more expensive, more risky and not as adaptable as the unmanned robot rockets the Russians are using.
3. Certainly guys that can design an airplane to fly around the world on a single tank of gas must have the ability to do at least rough feasibility studies on this idea, so maybe they know something.
4. I understand the notion of the rocket equation (you have to lift the fuel, for the fuel, for the fuel,....,.to get off the ground) so multi stages are really good. But how much can the mother airplane really help. So it gets you to 40,000 feet and gets you going a 1000 miles an hour. You've still got to get to 15,000 miles an hour for a low earth orbit. Can they really do that with the small craft they seem to have in mind?
5. Why would a private company do this? The profit potential seems really remote. Is this funded by a rich guy that might buy a football team as a hobby, but he decides to buy a space ship instead?
edited to add:
Definitely two V-1's mating, saw it right away.
I know its for the X-prize and they're not trying to get into orbit right now. But isn't that the long term goal of something like this?
A few thoughts:
1. I always thought that this two plane approach looked like a good idea. There was a guy proposing the use of a 747, but NASA rejected it as one of the configurations they were going to study. Maybe they know something.
2. I like the idea of a small passenger capsule. The idea of getting cargo up into space on a manned craft appears to be obsolete. It's more expensive, more risky and not as adaptable as the unmanned robot rockets the Russians are using.
3. Certainly guys that can design an airplane to fly around the world on a single tank of gas must have the ability to do at least rough feasibility studies on this idea, so maybe they know something.
4. I understand the notion of the rocket equation (you have to lift the fuel, for the fuel, for the fuel,....,.to get off the ground) so multi stages are really good. But how much can the mother airplane really help. So it gets you to 40,000 feet and gets you going a 1000 miles an hour. You've still got to get to 15,000 miles an hour for a low earth orbit. Can they really do that with the small craft they seem to have in mind?
5. Why would a private company do this? The profit potential seems really remote. Is this funded by a rich guy that might buy a football team as a hobby, but he decides to buy a space ship instead?
edited to add:
Definitely two V-1's mating, saw it right away.
I know its for the X-prize and they're not trying to get into orbit right now. But isn't that the long term goal of something like this?
davefoc said:
There are separation problems (airflow around a big airplane is turbulent, you want a clean separation). Rockets have an incredible thrust:weight ratio; you need a huge airplane to loft something a middlin size rocket can carry.
Yes. The shuttle could only have been economical if it flew several flights a month; in order to achieve that flight rate it had to be able to do everything.
I believe Rutan designed the airfoil for Pegasus.
The mother ship is basically to get the parasitic craft out of most of the atmosphere--it contributes very little speed. The reason to get out of the atmosphere is twofold--one, it cuts atmospheric drag, two, it allows you to use a more optimal rocket exhaust.
There's probably also some EPA and range safety advantages to an aerial launch (if you're launching to a polar orbit, it's a lot easier to move your airplane than your launch pad).
If you read the fine print, you'll see that his parasitic vehicle is not an orbiter--it's only fit for a sub-orbital ride to fulfill the requirements for the X-Prize. He plans to use the mothership to launch other vessels as well, including a Pegasus-like microsatellite launcher.
Oh. 18,000 miles/hour.
I think pride has something to do with it. He has backers with big pockets, and he'd like to claim another aviation first. It's an interesting challenge.
It's possible that he could make some money on the satellite launcher end. I doubt there's much money to be made flying manned subortial missions.
Questioninggeller
Illuminator
- Joined
- May 11, 2002
- Messages
- 3,048
Cool.
evildave
Unregistered
E
Ooh. Happy-looking airplane.
I hope it works.
I hope it works.
Paul G Allen , 50
Source: Microsoft
Net Worth: $20.1 bil
Home State: Washington
Marital Status: single , 0 children
Washington State University, Drop Out
I presume this is the same Paul Allen? Bill Gates' shadowy partner? If so, I don't think we need worry too much about his bottom line. Good to see that Microsoft money do something interesting.
Source: Microsoft
Net Worth: $20.1 bil
Home State: Washington
Marital Status: single , 0 children
Washington State University, Drop Out
I presume this is the same Paul Allen? Bill Gates' shadowy partner? If so, I don't think we need worry too much about his bottom line. Good to see that Microsoft money do something interesting.