Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

VSS Enterprise tests (Update)

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • VSS Enterprise tests (Update)

    Popular Mechanics is reporting that Virgin Galactic will do its first SpaceShip 2 glide test today. White Knight 2-1, aka Eve, will lift VSS Enterprise to 44,000 ft and release her, after which she will glide to a landing at the Mojave Spaceport. After a few such flights VG will start a series of powered flights.

    Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 10 October 2010, 07:37.
    Dr. Mordrid
    ----------------------------
    An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

    I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

  • #2
    She's in the air - currently at 42,000 feet.

    National Geographic is filming as part of a new documentary.
    Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 10 October 2010, 07:58.
    Dr. Mordrid
    ----------------------------
    An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

    I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

    Comment


    • #3
      DROP!!!

      7:53am PT: "Beautiful day to go flying" is the call from the cockpit. "We are armed, four three two one Release release release!"

      7:55am PT: The three aircraft are directly overhead now. SpaceShip, StarShip and White Knight.

      7:57am PT: "2g pull coming" is call from cockpit as White Knight comes around, turning back to the east.

      7:58am PT: "What a beautiful flying airplane" call from the pilot.

      8:01am PT: MotherShip, or WhiteKnight, is testing air brakes. Now at 13000 feet and descending.

      8:06am PT: Wow. Spaceship touches down to cheers and Whistles "wheelstop. Great job" on radio.�*

      8:08am PT: SpaceShip is on runway now. WhiteKnight is sweeping in for landing.�*

      8:10am PT: Correction: WhiteKnight is doing 360s! Cool to see!
      Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 10 October 2010, 08:26.
      Dr. Mordrid
      ----------------------------
      An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

      I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

      Comment


      • #4
        I hope they open the spaceport in Jacksonville. That would awesome to see some launches since I can't afford to fly.
        “Inside every sane person there’s a madman struggling to get out”
        –The Light Fantastic, Terry Pratchett

        Comment


        • #5
          Press Release
          ==============

          VIRGIN GALACTIC'S SPACESHIPTWO ACHIEVES MAJOR MILESTONE IN ITS PROGRAM TO BECOME WORLD'S FIRST MANNED COMMERCIAL SPACE VEHICLE.

          VSS Enterprise achieves manned free flight from over 45,000 ft (13,700 metres) and successfully glides in 11 minutes to land at Mojave Air and Spaceport


          10th October 2010, Mojave, CA. Virgin Galactic, the US company developing the world’s first commercial manned space flight system and tourism business, is delighted to announce the successful completion today of the first piloted free flight of SpaceShipTwo, named the VSS Enterprise. The spaceship was released from its mothership at an altitude of 45,000 ft (13,700 metres).

          During its first flight the spaceship was piloted by Pete Siebold, assisted by Mike Alsbury as co-pilot. The two main goals of the flight were to carry out a clean release of the spaceship from its mothership and for the pilots to free fly and glide back and land at Mojave Air and Space Port in California.

          Other detailed objectives of the flight were successfully completed, including; verification that all systems worked prior and following the clean release of Enterprise; initial evaluation of handling and stall characteristics; qualitative evaluation of stability and control of SS2 against predictions from design and simulation work; verification of performance by evaluating the lift-to-drag ratio of the spaceship during glide flight; practice a landing approach at altitude and finally descend and land.

          Preparations for the milestone flight were extensive. The WhiteKnightTwo mothership (Eve) flew 40 times including 4 captive carry flights of spaceship and mothership mated together. The most recent captive carry was on Sept 30th. The most recent solo flight was on October 5th and demonstrated that all the systems required for a free flight by the VSS Enterprise were functioning correctly without any safety issues. Commenting on the successful flight Scaled Composites pilot, Pete Siebold, said “The VSS Enterprise was a real joy to fly, especially when one considers the fact that the vehicle has been designed not only to be a Mach 3.5 spaceship capable of going into space but also one of the worlds highest altitude gliders.”

          Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, who was present during the first successful flight, added “This was one of the most exciting days in the whole history of Virgin. For the first time since we seriously began the project in 2004, I watched the world’s first manned commercial spaceship landing on the runway at Mojave Air and Space Port and it was a great moment. Now, the sky is no longer the limit and we will begin the process of pushing beyond to the final frontier of space itself over the next year.”

          Virgin Galactic is now well on the way to becoming the world’s first commercial space line with 370 customer deposits totalling $50 million. Future commercial operations will be at Spaceport America in New Mexico where final preparations are taking place for a finished runway inauguration ceremony on Friday 22nd October 2010. National Geographic channel in the United States will be showing a documentary on the build up and preparation for the first flight of VSS Enterprise on Monday, 18 October at 10.00pm ET/PT.

          George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic who was also present at the historic flight, added “To see the world’s first manned commercial spaceship landing on a runway is a sight I always dreamed I would behold. Now, our challenge going forward will be to complete our experimental program, obtain our FAA licence and safely bring the system into service at Spaceport America, New Mexico.”
          Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 13 October 2010, 16:16.
          Dr. Mordrid
          ----------------------------
          An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

          I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

          Comment


          • #6
            There will be a 4-part National Geographic series on Virgin Galactic starting Oct. 18, 2010 @10:00 pm on the National
            Geographic Channel.
            Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 10 October 2010, 21:13.
            Dr. Mordrid
            ----------------------------
            An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

            I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

            Comment


            • #7
              Cool, I will have to watch that.
              Q9450 + TRUE, G.Skill 2x2GB DDR2, GTX 560, ASUS X48, 1TB WD Black, Windows 7 64-bit, LG M2762D-PM 27" + 17" LG 1752TX, Corsair HX620, Antec P182, Logitech G5 (Blue)
              Laptop: MSI Wind - Black

              Comment


              • #8
                Virgin Galactic posted this....

                Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
                Dr. Mordrid
                ----------------------------
                An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

                Comment


                • #9
                  see

                  all that effort and you gotta love the smiley on the mounting lug it attaches to
                  Better to let one think you are a fool, than speak and prove it


                  Comment


                  • #10




                    Statement by Burt Rutan via VG's FB page-

                    Virgin Galactic A statement from Burt on Sunday’s milestone

                    "I offer my congratulations to all those on our commercial manned sub-orbital spaceship program for yesterday’s milestone first flight of SpaceShipTwo.

                    Configuration/aerodynamic designer, Jim Tighe got it right the first time; our spaceship demonstrated impressive flying qualities right out of the box. Its flight test-measured stability and gliding performance exceeded the pre-flight predictions.

                    Systems that usually require post-first flight tweaking, like the unique Michael Fuchs-designed landing gear and the SS1-based flight-director/avionics system, developed by the Pete Kalogiannis-led team, performed to perfection. The flight control, electrical, pneumatic, ECS and launch systems were also flawless on the first flight, giving us confidence that we can move forward with the testing without major modifications. Scot Story’s team also deserves kudos for their work to develop a light, robust all-composite airframe structure.

                    Flown by both pilot Pete Siebold and co-pilot Mike Alsbury on the first flight, the test crew opened up two thirds of SS2’s required subsonic speed envelope, maneuvered it above 2-g, checked its dynamic and sideslip handling, exercised its flight-path control system and made a perfect landing; spot-on the runway target.

                    I congratulate Project Lead Matt Stinemetze, Mission Control Lead Brian Binnie and their team of talented engineers as well as Crew Chief Steve Losey and his team of fabricators who built and maintain the first commercial manned space system. There is not a better group of research and flight test talent in the world.

                    We at Scaled look forward to an aggressive flight test schedule. The fun started on 10/10/10 and will continue as we reach our goal of passing onto our customer a spaceship capable to provide the space experience to thousands of adventurers."

                    Burt Rutan
                    Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 13 October 2010, 15:59.
                    Dr. Mordrid
                    ----------------------------
                    An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                    I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      VSS Enterprise did another successful glide test today. Details as they arrive.
                      Dr. Mordrid
                      ----------------------------
                      An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                      I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Test summary is up for the 2 glide of SS2:

                        Combined Flight Test Legend: CC = Captive Carry
                        L = Launch
                        G = Glide
                        P = Powered

                        --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Flight: WK2 Flight 44 / GF02
                        Date: 28 Oct 10 Flight Time: 10 min, 51 sec
                        WK2 Pilot: Siebold WK2 CoPilot: Nichols WK2 FTE: Tighe
                        SS2 Pilot: Stucky SS2 CoPilot: Alsbury
                        GS Crew: Binnie, Kalogiannis, Persall, Knupp, Inks, Bassett, Cassebeer, Story

                        Objectives:
                        Clean release
                        Evaluate stability and control
                        Expand flutter envelope
                        Roll evaluation
                        Land

                        Results:
                        All objectives achieved. Flew to more aggressive stall indication. Evaluated handling and stability through several maneuvers. Expanded envelope to 230 KTAS and 3g's. Roll evaluation. Full stop landing.
                        Dr. Mordrid
                        ----------------------------
                        An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                        I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          SS2 tests have resumed -

                          Flight: 56 / GF05
                          Date:22 Apr 11
                          Flight Time: 14 min, 31 sec
                          SS2 Pilot: Siebold
                          SS2 CoPilot: Shane
                          GS Crew: Binnie, Kelley, Bassett, Tighe, Reid, Keller, Verderame, Maisler, Zeitlin

                          Objectives:

                          Clean release
                          Evaluate stability and control
                          Continued flutter envelope expansion
                          Pilot proficiency

                          Results:

                          Clean release at desired altitude. Glide test objectives complete without issues.
                          Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 22 April 2011, 16:22.
                          Dr. Mordrid
                          ----------------------------
                          An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                          I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Those images from the 11th and 13th october are F-ing huge again Dr.
                            They take up the whole browser window, each!!!!

                            Good news though. thumbnails, or smaller, clickable please
                            PC-1 Fractal Design Arc Mini R2, 3800X, Asus B450M-PRO mATX, 2x8GB B-die@3800C16, AMD Vega64, Seasonic 850W Gold, Black Ice Nemesis/Laing DDC/EKWB 240 Loop (VRM>CPU>GPU), Noctua Fans.
                            Nas : i3/itx/2x4GB/8x4TB BTRFS/Raid6 (7 + Hotspare) Xpenology
                            +++ : FSP Nano 800VA (Pi's+switch) + 1600VA (PC-1+Nas)

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Big pic post deleted.

                              This flight was a lot longer than the last one (higher?), so maybe they're getting near the end of glide flights & close to powered flights. The engine has been tested so...

                              Flight: 57 / GF06

                              Date: 27 Apr 11
                              Flight Time: 16 min, 7 sec
                              SS2 Pilot: Stucky
                              SS2 CoPilot: Alsbury
                              GS Crew: Binnie, Kelley, Bassett, Tighe, Reid, Glaser, Inks, Verderame, Maisler, Knupp

                              Objectives:

                              Evaluate stability and control
                              Continued flutter envelope expansion
                              Pilot proficiency

                              Results:

                              Clean release at desired altitude. Glide test objectives complete without issues.
                              Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 27 April 2011, 22:24.
                              Dr. Mordrid
                              ----------------------------
                              An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                              I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X