Official Armadillo Q&A thread

No, they're brand new, the stainless one or a successor will fly on the third tube rocket.

I posted this a while back https://twitpic.com/6khnfr unfortunately it screws up the aspect ratio.

The convergent part is a frustum with radii, the nozzle is actually parabolic. Most of Armadillo's nozzles have been conical, the parabolic nozzle is a bit of weight savings when you get into larger expansion ratios for higher altitude vehicles.

Behind the nozzles is a carbon fiber fin test part for Stiga.

I don't know if Phil will see it here, but the XRS-2200 linear aerospike engine overweight issues were one of the problems with the X33.

But, for a SSTO, if the problems can be solved, it seems a good candidate.

@ Kansan52 (or anybody else actually)

Do you have any good material on the (X)RS-2200 programs or aerospike engine development in general?

They fascinate me since I first read about them because on one hand they seem to be such a "simple" and elegant solution to a problem while on the other hand they seem to be largely neglected by the aerospace community (worldwide).

I would like to learn more about them and why they haven't had their breakthrough moment yet.

Cooling is a problem in normal rocket nozzles. Aerospikes have far more area for the same thrust or throat area, thus cooling is much more difficult. It's why they're all hydrogen or ablative.

This i fairly old but seems to be a good primer:

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/design/aerospike/main.shtml

Hello everyone from Argentina! Long time no see forum activity. Before there were more news, I mean, it was more dynamic. Is there a problem with the team armadillo? I hope not. The last thing that appears on the site armadilloaerospace.com is the year 2010 (Space Access 2010).

Other sites that I can see fresh news Armadillo Aerospace?

Thank you very much everyone for share news! Best regards!

Enzo.

There have been 4 updates in 2011, so you can't say there are no news at all

http://www.armadilloaerospace.com/n.x/A ... /Home/News

Nowhere near the weekly (or even monthly) updates that we've been spoiled with.

Thank you WarKosign!
I apologize if I offended you or anyone else. Yes, I have seen that news. I'm just eager to hear the engines again =)

there are some images and video's to be found on twitter and youtube of recent developments:

https://twitter.com/#!/ID_AA_Carmack/me ... 2Fh78cmzoj

https://twitter.com/#!/wikkit/media/sli ... m%2F7b5xqd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VhHyPDN ... ture=g-all

Stig-A has been launched!
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2011/12/06/ ... t-america/

video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOT2am5VWlk

Congratulations Armadillo! Great to see Stig's second flight go all the way. This is one of your most significant milestones yet.

Awesome to finally see the edge of the atmosphere in an Armadillo rocket-POV video!

What's next? And can we hope for an armadilloaerospace.com update before end of year?

Is that the nosecone with the drogue coming down separately?

The footnote on the U Tube posting for the Stig flight mentions that there will be more details at the website.

Congrats