feather configuration - Jets Insider.com Forums

bitonti · 05-23-2011, 06:56 PM

Richard Branson might be a Bond villian. He might be Hank Scorpio.

But the man knows how to make a spaceship.

This "feather" configuration is pure genius.
with all previous space craft... hitting the wrong angle at re-entry meant disaster... if this thing really works... seriously reduces the risk...

[quote]

[IMG]http://www.eaa.org/news/2011/images/SS2_Feather.jpg[/IMG]

With SS2 attached to the center spar, the mothership WhiteKnightTwo (WK2/VMS Eve) took off at 6:43 a.m. PDT. Scaled Composites test pilots Pete Siebold and Clint Nichols were in the spaceship as Mark Stucky, Brian Maisler, and Brandon Inks manned the mothership. Forty-five minutes later SS2 cleanly released from 51,500 feet, established a stable glide profile, then deployed its re-entry feathered configuration by rotating its tail section upward to a 65 degree angle to the fuselage. [b]It remained at a level pitch for approximately 1 minute, 15 seconds during a near-vertical 15,500 fpm descent.[/b]

As designed, SS2’s drop was slowed by the drag created by the raised tail section before the pilots reconfigured the spaceship to its normal glide mode around 33,500 feet and glided back to Mojave for a smooth landing. Elapsed time from its release to the ground was about 11 minutes, 5 seconds.

[url]http://www.eaa.org/news/2011/2011-05-04_ss2.asp[/url]

[url]http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2384923,00.asp[/url]

[url]http://science.howstuffworks.com/spaceshipone4.htm[/url]

[/quote]

southparkcpa · 05-23-2011, 08:25 PM

[QUOTE=bitonti;4035089]Richard Branson might be a Bond villian. He might be Hank Scorpio.

But the man knows how to make a spaceship.

This "feather" configuration is pure genius.
with all previous space craft... hitting the wrong angle at re-entry meant disaster... if this thing really works... seriously reduces the risk...[/QUOTE]

Wait....the private sector doing this? Really?

Jet_Engine1 · 05-23-2011, 09:09 PM

[QUOTE=southparkcpa;4035127]Wait....the private sector doing this? Really?[/QUOTE]

Awesome! Now lets fire the Army and let "Xe" take over!!

Lets mothball the Airforce and let Lockhead build and field a "private sector" Paramilitary Air Brigade!

Lets have Lykes Lines arm their ships and take over for that overpaid U.S. Navy!!

Lets sack all those greedy, filthy rich, pension whore Cops and Firemen and have the Private Sector Wackenhut fill the void by hiring a bunch of 20 year olds and 70 year olds and paying them $9.85/hr!!!

It'll be great!! :rolleyes:

Way to miss the point....oh, and that Ship looks great! Hopefully there will actually be feasable, affordable "Space Tourism" within the next 10 years....while NASA continues to do that stupid research and exploration crap....

JetPotato · 05-23-2011, 09:19 PM

[QUOTE=Jet_Engine1;4035152]Awesome! Now lets fire the Army and let "Xe" take over!!

Lets mothball the Airforce and let Lockhead build and field a "private sector" Paramilitary Air Brigade!

Lets have Lykes Lines arm their ships and take over for that overpaid U.S. Navy!!

Lets sack all those greedy, filthy rich, pension whore Cops and Firemen and have the Private Sector Wackenhut fill the void by hiring a bunch of 20 year olds and 70 year olds and paying them $9.85/hr!!!

It'll be great!! :rolleyes:

Way to miss the point....oh, and that Ship looks great! Hopefully there will actually be feasable, affordable "Space Tourism" within the next 10 years....while[B] NASA continues to do that stupid research[/B] and exploration crap....[/QUOTE]

Seriously. What would we do without Velcro?

Jets Things · 05-23-2011, 09:48 PM

Does Richard Branson know how to make a spaceship or do the engineers and rocket scientists he hired know how to make a spaceship? Guy's a savvy businessman, nothing more.

32green · 05-23-2011, 09:51 PM

[QUOTE=Jets Things;4035175]Does Richard Branson know how to make a spaceship or do the engineers and rocket scientists he hired know how to make a spaceship? Guy's a savvy businessman, nothing more.[/QUOTE]

I agree...but more than 40 fargin years after we walked on the moon...Nasa sucking up billions since...and we are still trying to figure out how to not blow up Space Shuttles and re-enter our own fargin atmosphere?

:dunno:

southparkcpa · 05-24-2011, 08:55 AM

[QUOTE=Jet_Engine1;4035152]Awesome! Now lets fire the Army and let "Xe" take over!!

Lets mothball the Airforce and let Lockhead build and field a "private sector" Paramilitary Air Brigade!

Lets have Lykes Lines arm their ships and take over for that overpaid U.S. Navy!!

Lets sack all those greedy, filthy rich, pension whore Cops and Firemen and have the Private Sector Wackenhut fill the void by hiring a bunch of 20 year olds and 70 year olds and paying them $9.85/hr!!!

It'll be great!! :rolleyes:

Way to miss the point....oh, and that Ship looks great! Hopefully there will actually be feasable, affordable "Space Tourism" within the next 10 years....while NASA continues to do that stupid research and exploration crap....[/QUOTE]

Please change your "INTERWEB NAME" to "The enlightened one".

What a brain incubator you must belong too....:rolleyes:

PlumberKhan · 05-24-2011, 11:17 AM

[QUOTE=southparkcpa;4035354]Please change your "INTERWEB NAME" to "The enlightened one".

What a brain incubator you must belong too....:rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

At least one of his brain's hemispheres isn't solely devoted to a single subject....

Sourceworx · 05-24-2011, 11:33 AM

[QUOTE=JetPotato;4035160]Seriously. What would we do without Velcro?[/QUOTE]

and PCs,
and satellites,
and cellphones,
and cordless devices
and GPS,
and prosthetic limbs,
and insulation for your home,
etc, etc, etc.

Yeah that space program was real f*cking worthless........

Trades · 05-24-2011, 02:24 PM

[QUOTE=sourceworx;4035509]and PCs,
and satellites,
and cellphones,
and cordless devices
and GPS,
and prosthetic limbs,
and insulation for your home,
etc, etc, etc.

Yeah that space program was real f*cking worthless........[/QUOTE]

You forgot the most important one...

Tang!!!

JetPotato · 05-24-2011, 04:13 PM

[QUOTE=Trades;4035652]You forgot the most important one...

Tang!!![/QUOTE]

Poon?

Warfish · 05-24-2011, 04:33 PM

[QUOTE=sourceworx;4035509]and PCs,
and satellites,
and cellphones,
and cordless devices
and GPS,
and prosthetic limbs,
and insulation for your home,
etc, etc, etc.

Yeah that space program was real f*cking worthless........[/QUOTE]

Thats an interesting list. Can you supply a source as to how the Space Program created these things, as I'd enjoy reading that.

Personally, I am a supporter of NASA, even if I may not always agree with their choice of missions, or the choice of missions of their political masters.

Sourceworx · 05-25-2011, 09:10 AM

[QUOTE=Warfish;4035733]Thats an interesting list. Can you supply a source as to how the Space Program created these things, as I'd enjoy reading that.

Personally, I am a supporter of NASA, even if I may not always agree with their choice of missions, or the choice of missions of their political masters.[/QUOTE]

[URL="http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/"]http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/[/URL]

Some of the items the Apollo missions gave us:
[URL="http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/apollo.htm"]http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/apollo.htm[/URL]

bitonti · 05-25-2011, 09:58 AM

this thread has turned into a 'public' vs 'private' debate but really there's room for both. Nasa makes the robots and space telescopes... but they pay Richard Branson or someone else for the delivery. it's cheaper than providing the delivery themselves.

Buster · 05-25-2011, 10:16 AM

[QUOTE=southparkcpa;4035127]Wait....the private sector doing this? Really?[/QUOTE]

To accomplish this "the private sector" stood on the shoulders of NASA engineers and scientists

Warfish · 05-25-2011, 10:47 AM

[QUOTE=sourceworx;4036016][URL="http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/"]http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/[/URL]

Some of the items the Apollo missions gave us:
[URL="http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/apollo.htm"]http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/apollo.htm[/URL][/QUOTE]

Much thanks Source, i'll enjoy checking it out when I have some readin time.

[QUOTE=bitonti;4036052]this thread has turned into a 'public' vs 'private' debate but really there's room for both.[/QUOTE]

I fully agree with this statement. Scientific research and development is something that suits both private business, and public investment. The needs of the people as a whole will not always be in line with the needs of a for-profit enterprise, but both needs need to be met.

05-23-2011, 06:56 PM	#1
bitonti searching Hall Of Fame Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Philly Posts: 38,786	feather configuration Richard Branson might be a Bond villian. He might be Hank Scorpio. But the man knows how to make a spaceship. This "feather" configuration is pure genius. with all previous space craft... hitting the wrong angle at re-entry meant disaster... if this thing really works... seriously reduces the risk... [quote] [IMG]http://www.eaa.org/news/2011/images/SS2_Feather.jpg[/IMG] With SS2 attached to the center spar, the mothership WhiteKnightTwo (WK2/VMS Eve) took off at 6:43 a.m. PDT. Scaled Composites test pilots Pete Siebold and Clint Nichols were in the spaceship as Mark Stucky, Brian Maisler, and Brandon Inks manned the mothership. Forty-five minutes later SS2 cleanly released from 51,500 feet, established a stable glide profile, then deployed its re-entry feathered configuration by rotating its tail section upward to a 65 degree angle to the fuselage. [b]It remained at a level pitch for approximately 1 minute, 15 seconds during a near-vertical 15,500 fpm descent.[/b] As designed, SS2’s drop was slowed by the drag created by the raised tail section before the pilots reconfigured the spaceship to its normal glide mode around 33,500 feet and glided back to Mojave for a smooth landing. Elapsed time from its release to the ground was about 11 minutes, 5 seconds. [url]http://www.eaa.org/news/2011/2011-05-04_ss2.asp[/url] [url]http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2384923,00.asp[/url] [url]http://science.howstuffworks.com/spaceshipone4.htm[/url] [/quote]

05-23-2011, 08:25 PM	#2
southparkcpa I see the 88 to 97 period all over again. Jets Insider VIP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NC Posts: 15,926	[QUOTE=bitonti;4035089]Richard Branson might be a Bond villian. He might be Hank Scorpio. But the man knows how to make a spaceship. This "feather" configuration is pure genius. with all previous space craft... hitting the wrong angle at re-entry meant disaster... if this thing really works... seriously reduces the risk...[/QUOTE] Wait....the private sector doing this? Really?

05-23-2011, 09:09 PM	#3
Jet_Engine1 Stictly an observer. All League Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West Palm Beach, FL Posts: 3,855	[QUOTE=southparkcpa;4035127]Wait....the private sector doing this? Really?[/QUOTE] Awesome! Now lets fire the Army and let "Xe" take over!! Lets mothball the Airforce and let Lockhead build and field a "private sector" Paramilitary Air Brigade! Lets have Lykes Lines arm their ships and take over for that overpaid U.S. Navy!! Lets sack all those greedy, filthy rich, pension whore Cops and Firemen and have the Private Sector Wackenhut fill the void by hiring a bunch of 20 year olds and 70 year olds and paying them $9.85/hr!!! It'll be great!! :rolleyes: Way to miss the point....oh, and that Ship looks great! Hopefully there will actually be feasable, affordable "Space Tourism" within the next 10 years....while NASA continues to do that stupid research and exploration crap....

05-23-2011, 09:19 PM	#4
JetPotato fermenting Hall Of Fame Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 12,209	[QUOTE=Jet_Engine1;4035152]Awesome! Now lets fire the Army and let "Xe" take over!! Lets mothball the Airforce and let Lockhead build and field a "private sector" Paramilitary Air Brigade! Lets have Lykes Lines arm their ships and take over for that overpaid U.S. Navy!! Lets sack all those greedy, filthy rich, pension whore Cops and Firemen and have the Private Sector Wackenhut fill the void by hiring a bunch of 20 year olds and 70 year olds and paying them $9.85/hr!!! It'll be great!! :rolleyes: Way to miss the point....oh, and that Ship looks great! Hopefully there will actually be feasable, affordable "Space Tourism" within the next 10 years....while[B] NASA continues to do that stupid research[/B] and exploration crap....[/QUOTE] Seriously. What would we do without Velcro?

05-23-2011, 09:48 PM	#5
Jets Things All Pro Join Date: May 2003 Location: 742 Evergreen Terrace Posts: 9,484	Does Richard Branson know how to make a spaceship or do the engineers and rocket scientists he hired know how to make a spaceship? Guy's a savvy businessman, nothing more.

05-23-2011, 09:51 PM	#6
32green neerg23 Board Moderator Jets Insider VIP JetsInsider.com Legend Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The depths of Despair. Posts: 37,719	[QUOTE=Jets Things;4035175]Does Richard Branson know how to make a spaceship or do the engineers and rocket scientists he hired know how to make a spaceship? Guy's a savvy businessman, nothing more.[/QUOTE] I agree...but more than 40 fargin years after we walked on the moon...Nasa sucking up billions since...and we are still trying to figure out how to not blow up Space Shuttles and re-enter our own fargin atmosphere? :dunno:

05-24-2011, 08:55 AM	#7
southparkcpa I see the 88 to 97 period all over again. Jets Insider VIP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NC Posts: 15,926	[QUOTE=Jet_Engine1;4035152]Awesome! Now lets fire the Army and let "Xe" take over!! Lets mothball the Airforce and let Lockhead build and field a "private sector" Paramilitary Air Brigade! Lets have Lykes Lines arm their ships and take over for that overpaid U.S. Navy!! Lets sack all those greedy, filthy rich, pension whore Cops and Firemen and have the Private Sector Wackenhut fill the void by hiring a bunch of 20 year olds and 70 year olds and paying them $9.85/hr!!! It'll be great!! :rolleyes: Way to miss the point....oh, and that Ship looks great! Hopefully there will actually be feasable, affordable "Space Tourism" within the next 10 years....while NASA continues to do that stupid research and exploration crap....[/QUOTE] Please change your "INTERWEB NAME" to "The enlightened one". What a brain incubator you must belong too....:rolleyes:

05-24-2011, 11:17 AM	#8
PlumberKhan HAIL SATAN! Hall Of Fame Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Van down by the river Posts: 21,081	[QUOTE=southparkcpa;4035354]Please change your "INTERWEB NAME" to "The enlightened one". What a brain incubator you must belong too....:rolleyes:[/QUOTE] At least one of his brain's hemispheres isn't solely devoted to a single subject....

05-24-2011, 11:33 AM	#9
Sourceworx Hall Of Fame Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Long Island Posts: 13,463	[QUOTE=JetPotato;4035160]Seriously. What would we do without Velcro?[/QUOTE] and PCs, and satellites, and cellphones, and cordless devices and GPS, and prosthetic limbs, and insulation for your home, etc, etc, etc. Yeah that space program was real f*cking worthless........

05-24-2011, 02:24 PM	#10
Trades Jets Insider VIP Join Date: May 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,570	[QUOTE=sourceworx;4035509]and PCs, and satellites, and cellphones, and cordless devices and GPS, and prosthetic limbs, and insulation for your home, etc, etc, etc. Yeah that space program was real f*cking worthless........[/QUOTE] You forgot the most important one... Tang!!!

05-24-2011, 04:13 PM	#11
JetPotato fermenting Hall Of Fame Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 12,209	[QUOTE=Trades;4035652]You forgot the most important one... Tang!!![/QUOTE] Poon?

05-24-2011, 04:33 PM	#12
Warfish JetsInsider.com Legend Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 35,000	[QUOTE=sourceworx;4035509]and PCs, and satellites, and cellphones, and cordless devices and GPS, and prosthetic limbs, and insulation for your home, etc, etc, etc. Yeah that space program was real f*cking worthless........[/QUOTE] Thats an interesting list. Can you supply a source as to how the Space Program created these things, as I'd enjoy reading that. Personally, I am a supporter of NASA, even if I may not always agree with their choice of missions, or the choice of missions of their political masters.

05-25-2011, 09:10 AM	#13
Sourceworx Hall Of Fame Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Long Island Posts: 13,463	[QUOTE=Warfish;4035733]Thats an interesting list. Can you supply a source as to how the Space Program created these things, as I'd enjoy reading that. Personally, I am a supporter of NASA, even if I may not always agree with their choice of missions, or the choice of missions of their political masters.[/QUOTE] [URL="http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/"]http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/[/URL] Some of the items the Apollo missions gave us: [URL="http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/apollo.htm"]http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/apollo.htm[/URL]

05-25-2011, 09:58 AM	#14
bitonti searching Hall Of Fame Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Philly Posts: 38,786	this thread has turned into a 'public' vs 'private' debate but really there's room for both. Nasa makes the robots and space telescopes... but they pay Richard Branson or someone else for the delivery. it's cheaper than providing the delivery themselves.

05-25-2011, 10:16 AM	#15
Buster not a rocket surgeon All League Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East of the Jordan, West of the Rock of Gibraltar Posts: 4,295	[QUOTE=southparkcpa;4035127]Wait....the private sector doing this? Really?[/QUOTE] To accomplish this "the private sector" stood on the shoulders of NASA engineers and scientists

05-25-2011, 10:47 AM	#16
Warfish JetsInsider.com Legend Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 35,000	[QUOTE=sourceworx;4036016][URL="http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/"]http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/[/URL] Some of the items the Apollo missions gave us: [URL="http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/apollo.htm"]http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/apollo.htm[/URL][/QUOTE] Much thanks Source, i'll enjoy checking it out when I have some readin time. [QUOTE=bitonti;4036052]this thread has turned into a 'public' vs 'private' debate but really there's room for both.[/QUOTE] I fully agree with this statement. Scientific research and development is something that suits both private business, and public investment. The needs of the people as a whole will not always be in line with the needs of a for-profit enterprise, but both needs need to be met.