Another Commercial Space disaster, this one manned - Page 2

Stealhead · 11-01-14, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikalugin

I think that you still need to reach orbit in order to deliver anything there.

Meaning that the current space plane by Virgin has very little value apart from getting tourists into "space".

That said, maybe some one will make a working space plane, there were many projects (including ones by USSR/Russia) but so far all of them failed.

Example:

The US Air Force and NASA also experimented with such concepts during the early days of the space race. The original concept was for a spy type platform that would fly a "skip" pattern later they had the idea also to put nuclear bombs on them. Of course all this never went beyond the conceptual stage.

A Wikipedia page on the program.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-20_Dyna-Soar

I had not heard of it until reading a book on the development of the Space Shuttle which can to some extent at least trace it linage to this concept. Of course it was a German scientist who first had the idea the goal to make a bomber that could reach the US again of course it never went past the paper stage.

Of course this concept is workable in theory and I can see why it is popular again as it is a cheaper alternative.I think the primary issue as you said is that the craft must enter actual orbit to deliver something else in orbit and I doubt this concept can achieve that without costing the as or more than a more traditional method.

Platapus · 11-01-14, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cybermat47

Don't you think it's a bit too soon to be joking about this?

Good question.

Let me look at the United Nations Permanent Commission on When Humour is Appropriate after Accidents (UNPCWHAA). According to the Borat Agreement signed in Kazakhstan in 2006, my comment was just inside the acceptable time frame.

So no, not too soon.

Good question though.

Oberon · 11-01-14, 09:51 AM

Will have to bear that in mind the next time one of NASAs manned craft explodes.

Need Another Seven Astronauts.

Jimbuna · 11-01-14, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

Good question.

Let me look at the United Nations Permanent Commission on When Humour is Appropriate after Accidents (UNPCWHAA). According to the Borat Agreement signed in Kazakhstan in 2006, my comment was just inside the acceptable time frame.

So no, not too soon.

Good question though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

Will have to bear that in mind the next time one of NASAs manned craft explodes.

Need Another Seven Astronauts.

Can we call this one a draw?

eddie · 11-02-14, 05:48 PM

Looks like they were warned about the unstable fuel they were using,

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/vir...say/ar-BBcAgZ9

Gargamel · 11-03-14, 12:50 PM

Can't find a link, but Branson went on about how the engines were thoroughly tested before hand, and he had words for the media that were immediately placing the blame on the new fuel. He also said they aren't ruling it out either, but to place blame right now is not smart.

Bilge_Rat · 11-03-14, 03:43 PM

Semi-related, but I am currently reading Tom Wolfe's "The Right Stuff", nominally about the Mercury program, but the book also deals extensively with flight tests and experimental aircraft in the fifties and early sixties. Back then, test pilots routinely died, the odds were 1 in 4 of dying.

Testing new technology especially in an unforgiving environment has always been dangerous.

Jimbuna · 11-03-14, 03:52 PM

Branson is reported in the UK news this evening saying that nobody will fly in his craft until after he and his family have.

Platapus · 11-03-14, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Branson is reported in the UK news this evening saying that nobody will fly in his craft until after he and his family have.

That's putting your money where your mouth is. Good for him..... unless he does not like his family much.

Jimbuna · 11-04-14, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

That's putting your money where your mouth is. Good for him..... unless he does not like his family much.

Never gave the latter a thought

Oberon · 11-09-14, 04:02 PM

Branson is a decent chap, he's built his empire from the ground up, and I've heard he's pretty good to work for. The whole 'take as much holiday as you want' policy that he put out a month or two ago was very Google-esque.

Back on the subject at hand, it seems that pilot error was the cause of this terrible incident:
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2...iptwo-disaster

Gargamel · 11-10-14, 10:50 AM

The one article I had read said, yes, the one pilot prematurely engaged the feathering system, but only the first step to doing so. The second step remained untouched, so it shouldn't have deployed. There may be a mix of causes here.

ikalugin · 11-10-14, 12:40 PM

@Stealhead

Yes, that was one of the projects I was talking about. One of the others was the Spiral, however both of them were using a proper space booster if I remember it right.

However so far the only reusable space plane that flew on the regular bases was the Space Shutle, Buran-Energy although it did get into testing never survived the death of the USSR, even though the Energy space booster had a future (as it was actually cost efficient unlike most reusable space planes).

11-02-14, 05:48 PM	#20
eddie Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,023 Downloads: 99 Uploads: 0	Looks like they were warned about the unstable fuel they were using, http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/vir...say/ar-BBcAgZ9 __________________ Don't mistake my kindness for weakness. I'm kind to everyone, but when someone is unkind to me, weak is not what you are going to remember about me. Al Capone

11-03-14, 12:50 PM	#21
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,273 Downloads: 81 Uploads: 0	Can't find a link, but Branson went on about how the engines were thoroughly tested before hand, and he had words for the media that were immediately placing the blame on the new fuel. He also said they aren't ruling it out either, but to place blame right now is not smart. __________________ Luck is a residue of Design.

11-03-14, 03:43 PM	#22
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,855 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	Semi-related, but I am currently reading Tom Wolfe's "The Right Stuff", nominally about the Mercury program, but the book also deals extensively with flight tests and experimental aircraft in the fifties and early sixties. Back then, test pilots routinely died, the odds were 1 in 4 of dying. Testing new technology especially in an unforgiving environment has always been dangerous. __________________

11-03-14, 03:52 PM	#23
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Branson is reported in the UK news this evening saying that nobody will fly in his craft until after he and his family have. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

11-10-14, 10:50 AM	#27
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,273 Downloads: 81 Uploads: 0	The one article I had read said, yes, the one pilot prematurely engaged the feathering system, but only the first step to doing so. The second step remained untouched, so it shouldn't have deployed. There may be a mix of causes here. __________________ Luck is a residue of Design.

11-01-14, 09:51 AM	#18
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Will have to bear that in mind the next time one of NASAs manned craft explodes. Need Another Seven Astronauts.

11-09-14, 04:02 PM	#26
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Branson is a decent chap, he's built his empire from the ground up, and I've heard he's pretty good to work for. The whole 'take as much holiday as you want' policy that he put out a month or two ago was very Google-esque. Back on the subject at hand, it seems that pilot error was the cause of this terrible incident: http://www.theguardian.com/science/2...iptwo-disaster

11-10-14, 12:40 PM	#28
ikalugin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 3,212 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	@Stealhead Yes, that was one of the projects I was talking about. One of the others was the Spiral, however both of them were using a proper space booster if I remember it right. However so far the only reusable space plane that flew on the regular bases was the Space Shutle, Buran-Energy although it did get into testing never survived the death of the USSR, even though the Energy space booster had a future (as it was actually cost efficient unlike most reusable space planes).