Earth from space… …as seen by Brian Binnie on 4 th October 2004 from SpaceShip One.
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Earth from space…
…as seen by Brian Binnie on4th October 2004 from SpaceShip One
Brian Binnie4th October 2004
Louis Paulhan
1910
1906: Daily Mail £10,000 prizeLondon to Manchester in 24 hours
Charles Lindbergh1927
1919: Orteig Prize $25,000 New York to Paris non-stop
2004: Ansari X Prize $10 million
First privately funded, manned spacecraft,flown into space twice in 2 weeks.
Burt Rutan
some of Burt’s designs….
getting into space - some of the challenges
• Ground launch - penetrating the lower, thicker atmosphere
returning from space - some of the challenges
getting into space - some of the challenges
• The cost.
– Discard most of the vehicle.
getting into space - some of the challenges
• The cost.
– Discard most of the vehicle.
→ Environmental cost.
Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design
• Air-launched from a mothership.
Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design
• Air-launched from a mothership.
– Above most of the atmosphere at 45,000ft.– Very short duration rocket burn (just over one
minute).= less fuel
= smaller, lighter vehicle
Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design
• Air-launched from a mothership.
– Above most of the atmosphere at 45,000ft.– Very short duration rocket burn (just over one
minute).= less fuel
= smaller, lighter vehicle
Effectively a two-stage rocket, using very efficient air-breathing (jet) engines in a completely re-usable first stage.
Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design• A fully re-usable ‘first stage’.
Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design
• Air-launched.
• A winged spaceship.
Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design
• Air-launched.
• A winged spaceship.
– Advantages of wings?• Control during launch and atmospheric flight.• Create drag for re-entry to slow the vehicle
down.• Fly to a runway.• Execute a controlled landing.
Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design
• Air-launched, winged spaceship.
Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design
• Air-launched, winged spaceship.
• Lightweight materials.
Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design
• Air-launched, winged spaceship.
• Lightweight materials.
• A simple, controllable hybrid rocket motor.
Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design
• Air-launched, winged spaceship.
• Lightweight materials.
• A simple, controllable (hybrid) rocket motor.
• Feathering wing for re-entry.
SpaceShip One – feathering wing
Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design
• Air-launched, winged spaceship.
• Lightweight materials.
• A simple, controllable (hybrid) rocket motor.
• Feathering wing for re-entry:– Presents the vehicle in a stable, very high drag
attitude.– Hands-off, carefree re-entry handling.
Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design
• Air-launched, winged spaceship.
• Lightweight materials.
• A simple, controllable (hybrid) rocket motor.
• Feathering wing for re-entry.
• KEEP IT SIMPLE design philosophy.
Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design
‘throw it all away’ launchers
Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design (bring it all back)
flight trajectory
air launch
take-off
flight trajectory
air launch
boost
take-off
flight trajectory
air launch
boost
take-off
flight trajectory
air launch
boost
take-off
enterspace
flight trajectory
air launch
boost
apogee: 110 Km
take-off
enterspace
flight trajectory
air launch
boost
apogee: 110 Km
re-entry
take-off
enterspace
flight trajectory
air launch
boost
apogee: 110 Km
re-entry
glide
take-off
enterspace
flight trajectory
air launch
boost
apogee: 110 Km
re-entry
glide
landingtake-off
enterspace
Mike Melvill collects his astronaut wings……..
“So, Mike…….. exactly how many M&Ms did you scatter around my spaceship???”
……whilst everyone else collects Mike’s candy
Virgin Galactic’s aims
• Make private space travel affordable for thousands of people.
Virgin Galactic’s aims
• Make private space travel affordable for thousands of people.
• Do it successfully.
Virgin Galactic’s aims
• Make private space travel affordable for thousands of people.
• Do it successfully.
• Do it SAFELY.
the Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2• Based on the tried and tested SS1 design.
• Incorporating the same key features:– Feathering wing.– Hybrid engine. – Simple design.
SpaceShip 2
the WhiteKnight2 design
• Based on the tried and tested WK1 design philosophy, but evolved into:
– Twin fuselages to simplify mounting the much larger spaceship underneath.
– Four pylon-mounted engines for performance.
the WhiteKnight2 design
what’s happening now……
simulator
WhiteKnight2 under construction
SpaceShip2 under construction
SS2 cabin
centrifuge training for passengers
what’s happening next….
• First test flights of WK2 - July 2008.
• 12 to 18 months of testing but ...“It’ll be ready when it’s ready.”
• Initial flights from Mojave, California, then Spaceport USA, NM.
Spaceport America, New Mexico
the dream is alive…………….
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