WhiteKnightTwo / SpaceShipTwo

[Salo]

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/10/22/333823/pictures-whiteknight-twos-spoilers-get-holes.html

DATE:22/10/09
SOURCE:Flight International
PICTURES: WhiteKnight Two's spoilers get holes
By Rob Coppinger

Scaled Composites has added holes to the inboard spoilers of Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnight Two mothership prototype Eve.

Photographed on 15 October during its twentieth test flight that lasted around 4h, the carrier aircraft was performing high angle-of-descent approaches during a sequence of touch-and-go manoeuvres.

Scaled Composites and Virgin Galactic have declined to explain why the holes have been added, but these modifications would reduce the degree of drag the spoilers provide and are the latest in a series of changes to the WK2's control surfaces this year.

 Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnight Two carrier aircraft performs a touch-and-go manoeuvre at Mojave air and spaceport and deploys its inboard spoilers with the new holes

The mothership had not made a test flight since its 1 August return from the EAA AirVenture air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, a 10-week hiatus that is the longest since its maiden flight on 21 December 2008.


The changes to the spoilers follow a series of structural modifications to WK2's rudders earlier this year including the addition of extra control cables just before the Oshkosh air show. At the air show Scaled's chief engineer and founder Burt Rutan explained that WK2 had had an "unstable rudder".

As for the spoiler modifications, Virgin Galactic president Will Whitehorn says: "This innovation is to prepare WK2 for [the SpaceShipTwo] captive carry flights by what [Scaled Composite president] Doug Shane calls 'a continued refinement of the spoiler geometry to optimise loads and buffeting levels'. The first [SS2 captive] flights will be in early 2010."
 
 The mid-wing section of Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnight Two carrier aircraft showing the new holes and possible evidence of additional work for the SpaceShipTwo attachment system

In the pictures the results of what is likely to be preparatory work on the WK2 wing for the attachment system for mating SpaceShipTwo can also be seen. There are dark stripes on top of the wing and the underside, which also has white stripes. Eve made its second public demonstration at Edwards AFB's Flight Test Nation 2009 air show on 17 October.

[Chilik]

Salo пишет:
 http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/10/20/333603/whiteknighttwo-could-air-drop-dream-chaser-prototype.html

WhiteKnightTwo could air drop Dream Chaser prototype

Написано занятно, кроме одного маленького момента: что по этому поводу думает Рутан и нафига ему такое надо.

[Alex_II]

WhiteKnightTwo could air drop Dream Chaser prototype

Написано занятно, кроме одного маленького момента: что по этому поводу думает Рутан и нафига ему такое надо.

А что собственно мешает? Х-37 они уже возили и вроде бы бросали, почему бы им и Дрим Шазер не повозить? За деньги-то?

[Петр Зайцев]

А что собственно мешает? Х-37 они уже возили и вроде бы бросали, почему бы им и Дрим Шазер не повозить? За деньги-то?

Для X-37 к WK1 сделали специальный пилон поддержки. Это было возможно потому, что программа Tier One была окончена и аппарат освободился. А Eve сейчас нужен (или нужна ?) для программы разработки SS2. Так что DreamChaser-у придется подождать пока SSC не начнет серийное производство WK2 для VG, а это еще когда будет. Заметим, что это так даже если (!) DreamChaser будет вешаться прямо на существуюшюю подвеску разработанную для SS2.
-- Pete

[Salo]

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/11/04/334386/virgin-galactic-considers-new-satellite-design.html

DATE:04/11/09
SOURCE:Flight International
Virgin Galactic considers new satellite design
By Rob Coppinger

Virgin Galactic's proposed LauncherOne rocket may orbit a new mini satellite designed specifically for the launch vehicle to increase the payload's useful mass for power, propulsion or instruments.

In conventional rockets adaptors integrate a spacecraft with the launcher but that means useful payload mass is reduced. A decision about a LauncherOne specific satellite could come following internal studies or Virgin Galactic's expected mid-2010 request for industry proposals.

A previous Virgin Galactic study concluded an all-composite two-stage rocket, air launched by the WhiteKnight Two carrier aircraft, could orbit a 200kg (440lb) satellite.

Whatever the decision Virgin Galactic's target launch price is $2 million and the spaceline's president Will Whitehorn told the International Astronautical Congress in Daejeon that the service could be operating a year after his suborbital tourism was up and running.

Over the next six to seven months Whitehorn's new general manager for small satellite launch, Adam Baker, will develop a business plan. Speaking to Aerojet, Northrop Grumman and others Baker will investigate whether the rocket is outsourced or produced in-house, what type of launcher it will be, if its expendable or reusable, and if its payload will be designed specifically for LauncherOne.

He will also examine possible co-operation with small satellite companies Virgin Galactic has worked with, Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL), Sierra Nevada and Swedish Space, all of which could also be future LauncherOne customers.

Baker started work for Virgin Galactic on 2 October, moving from SSTL after eight years.

If the business plan is approved LauncherOne's development will benefit from $100 million from Abu Dhabi's Aabar Investments. An earlier satellite launch market study was produced for Aabar with the help of SSTL.

The Arab investment company announced a $280 million investment in Virgin Galactic's tourism venture on 28 July.

Whitehorn also told Flightglobal that the Virgin group's joint venture with Scaled Composites, The SpaceShip Company, was now employing a person every week in a recruitment drive and a tender had been released for building its second hangar at Mojave air and spaceport. This is where future WhiteKnight Twos will be manufactured.

[чайник17]

Интерсно, придёт ли Рутан в чуство и откажется от своего гибридника?

Крайне неудачный выбор - безопасность оказалась мифом, а цена (одноразовая шашка) и неудобство в эксплуатации осталась.

Гораздо разумнее ЖРД c вытеснительной подачей...

[Петр Зайцев]

Интерсно, придёт ли Рутан в чуство и откажется от своего гибридника?

Крайне неудачный выбор - безопасность оказалась мифом, а цена (одноразовая шашка) и неудобство в эксплуатации осталась.

Гораздо разумнее ЖРД c вытеснительной подачей...

Это всем понятно, но ему гордость не позволит. Кроме того, уже испытания ДУ прошли, поздно что-либо менять. По меньшей мере несколько лет придется летать на закиси с ластиком.
-- Pete

[Петр Зайцев]

Кстати, зацените картинку:

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/hyperbola/2009/11/exclusive-pictures-virgin-gala.html

Ну и здоровая же дура получается. На глаз может быть жирнее Пегасуса. Зато всего 2 ступени.

-- Pete

[Старый]

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