Virgin's SpaceShipTwo Gets Green Light for Powered Tests
6/14/2012
The SpaceShipTwo commercial spaceship and its launch vehicle, WhiteKnightTwo, shown here in glide test flights, have received FAA permission for experimental, rocket-powered, suborbital launch tests. (Source: Virgin Galactic)
Another important step in space exploration and in cultivating a commercial market. Is the testing of the aerodynamics of the SpaceShipTwo primarily done in simulation? I would imagine there is some heavy duty CFD processing going on.
You may be correct about the CFD processing going on Beth, but these guys may also be at the stage where they just need to light off rockets and see if they can avoid blowing up.
It is good to see the commercial space business making progress. With SpaceX and Virgin Galactic making progress we can finally get the government out of this. I worked for many years in the business for a contractor. We would be much further along if privatization had come along much earlier.
Beth, it's unlikely that Scaled Composites is still at the stage of testing aerodynamics, especially since there were predecessor prototypes for both the spaceship, SpaceShipOne, and the launch vehicle, WhiteKnightOne. As naperlou says, these new tests are to ensure it can fly under power.
Ok, that makes sense given where they are in the development cycle. But in terms of testing aerodynamics, it's pretty late in the game to make major changes, so this is all about minor adjustments and proving out the structural design.
Ann, It seems extremely likely that Spaceshiptwo has been having some aerodynamic work done. Its last flight was in Sept, and it departed controlled flight. Normally a long delay like this would imply some significant issue(s) had to be addressed.
silveradocyn, SS2 may well have some re-engineering being done for aerodynamics, but it seemed to me that, as Beth said, it's pretty late to be doing major changes to the structural design. I had originally said it therefore seemed unlikely that it Scaled Composites would have gone all the way back to the heavy-duty CFD that Beth was originally suggesting. Do you have other info you can share with us?
Here is a link to an article from a reporter who had a tour, and first hand report of some of the changes she saw on SS2.
You will find she describes the new "Mega Strakes" that were added, and she mentions that the added mass of the additional areodymanic components is triggering other adjustments...
Ann, Cryogenic is a type of rocket engines which uses fuels in liquid stage (Compressed gas) at a very low temperature (Below -200 degree Celsius). The main advantages of cryogenic engines are it can carry more pay loads. Booster rockets are multi stage rockets, which can be used for a short duration with small pay loads. Normally they are used in initial stage of space vehicles, to create extra thrust against the gravitational forces.
My question is about what types of engines are using in virgin space ship (Is it a cryogenic based or only with booster rockets)
By refining topologies and using new fluid technology, Moog's new peak sine drive controller increases available power without increasing controller volume.
Two new introductions in the world of motion drives for automation are moving toward use of standard Ethernet communications, eliminating the use of custom hardware.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 3
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
1 
