SpaceShipOne flies again :) (11 MAR 04)

Flight 43L / 11P
Date: 17 Dec 03

Flight 49L / 12G
Date: 11 MAR 04


can't argue with that. they MAY have had ss1 up, but i doubt it. no reason to keep it secret. seems pretty straightfoward that they flew wk 6 times but this is the first ss1 flight since then.

The neat thing is SpaceShipOne has made several manned flights already. That's more than anyone else--in fact, no oe else HAS.

Of course, within the next few months, I expect we'll see several other teams doing test flights. The race, as they say, is starting to heat up.

... I hope.

--Ralph

You can be sure it IS heating up
More people is getting intrested (but still not much.. most will come when the xprize is actually proven (first sub orbital flight), atleast that's my opinion.) and the xp-cup.. that would generate a LOT of intrest arround the globe.



Yes, as example john carmack http://www.armadilloaerospace.com , I expect him to start testing his vehicle in some weeks.
(but I don't expect it to be manned very soon )

Flight 49L / 12G
Date: 11 MAR 04 Flight Time: 1.3 hours / 18 mins 30 secs
White Knight Pilot: Binnie White Knight Copilot: Stinemetze
White Knight Flt Engineer:
SpaceShipOne Pilot: Siebold
High Chase-Starship Pilot: Karkow
Low Chase-Extra Pilot: Melvill / Coleman

Objectives:
The twelfth flight of SpaceShipOne. . . .

Flight 43L / 11P
Date: 17 Dec 03 Flight Time: 1.2 hours / 18 mins 10 secs
White Knight Pilot: Siebold White Knight Copilot: Bird
White Knight Flt Engineer:
SpaceShipOne Pilot: Binnie
High Chase-Starship Pilot: Karkow
Low Chase-Extra Pilot: Melvill / Coleman

Objectives:
The eighth flight of SpaceShipOne and first powered flight. . . .

These quotes are copied directly from scaled's site. There is clearly a jump from flight 8 to flight 12 in the test update section of their site. Why is there any doubt that they flew SpaceShipOne without reporting it on their website. They are also very clearly a secretive team (compared to many others). Why were the flights secret? I don't know, but I'm sure they have their reasons. Personally I'm very happy to see that they've flown several times since December.

Damn ... you're right... Didn't noticed it.. thanks

Flight 30L / 03G
First glide flight of SpaceShipOne.

Flight 37L / 06G
Third glide flight of SpaceShipOne.

Flight 49L / 12G
The twelfth flight of SpaceShipOne.

on the earlier ones it says the xth glide flight. there were 2 captive carrys before the glides started being flown, and there was one that was aborted and then run later, explaining the 3 flight separation. in the new one i think that clearly means 12th absolute flight, which it is, not the 12th glide flight.

More interesting than the numbering system for past flights is the numbering system for future flights. This flight was labeled 12G, and according to a picture caption on Rutan's website, the next flight will be called 13P. Since P stands for powered, that means that the next flight of SpaceShipOne will be another rocket-powered flight.

And although Rutan's clearly in the lead, don't count the others out yet. Armadillo's engines seem to be finally ready for flight.

woa.... that's great. looks like they'll be able to start with their full scale model soon. xprize attempt (or just suborbital flight) in november anyone?

Here's an interesting quote about Rutan's competition from a local California paper (link):

Also nearing a try for the prize but playing it "close to the vest" is American Astronautics in Oceanside.
"Don't be surprised if Rutan gets a surprise," hints team leader Bill Sprague. "We'll be flying (people) before the end of the year. No question about it."

Was there a flight today? Any news? Spacedev stock shot up in price and volume which is what happened on the last powered flight.

Unfortunately not. Space Dev just inked a new contract with the Missle Defense Agency for $43m. See http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040401/15551_1.html for more details.

Although there haven't been any SpaceShipOne flights since March 11, the White Knight carrier aircraft has racked up a few more flights:

Flight 51
Date: 31 Mar 04 Flight Time: 2.0
White Knight Pilot: Binnie White Knight Copilot: Melvill
Objectives: SpaceShipOne Flight 13P launch rehearsal, avionics checkout and landing practice

Flight 50
Date: 30 Mar 04 Flight Time: 2.0
White Knight Pilot: Melvill White Knight Copilot: Binnie
Objectives: Avionics software evaluation, launch release rehearsal and landing pattern practice.

awesome! i'm looking foward to it. maybe i should get some spacedev stock right now before the launch.......

What's stopping them from flying the X-Prize flight now? Doesn't it just involve burning the engine on SS1 for a longer period? Is this untested?

The sooner we get suborbital, the sooner we can move on to planning for obital flights.

It's called reliability and safety testing.



Granted. But if Rutan announces that he's going to launch for the X-Prize, kicks the SS1 engine to full throttle, and the engine "undergoes a catastrophic structural failure" (in other words, blows itself to hell and back), then Rutan's set back a spaceship and crew, and both Rutan and the X-Prize lose a *lot* of respectability. Such events don't look good on the 6 o'clock news.