Earth from space… …as seen by Brian Binnie on 4 th October 2004 from SpaceShip One.

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…………….