Posted on 10/11/2008 6:37:26 PM PDT by BenLurkin
MOJAVE - Following multiple flights by XCOR Aerospace's rocket-powered airplane last week, the Mojave Air and Space Port now holds the unofficial record of more than half the manned rocket-powered vehicle flights in the 21st century. Following the XCOR flights, the facility has accounted for some 59 manned, rocket-powered vehicle flights, suborbital and orbital, or 51.3% of such flights worldwide since Jan. 1, 2001.
The worldwide total includes 22 space shuttle flights from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and 15 launches from Russia's Kazakhstan-located facilities, Baikonur, according to company officials.
Mojave's total includes SpaceShipOne's three suborbital flights in 2004 and earlier test flights, as well as a series of flights by XCOR's first-generation rocket plane, the EZ-Rocket.
The EZ-Rocket also flew before air show crowds in Oshkosh, Wis., and in New Mexico.
"There is only one way XCOR could establish these records - reliability and a dedication to safety," company CEO Jeff Greason said.
"The firm has logged all these flights and more than 3,500 test fires of various rocket engines without a single lost-time accident due to these operations."
A series of seven XCOR rocket plane flights on Oct. 1 logged the necessary flights to put the Mojave Air and Space Port over the halfway mark, and also broke an informal record for the most flights of a single manned rocket-powered vehicle in one day, according to XCOR officials.
"One of the keys to safely flying that number of times is our well-rehearsed rapid turn-around process for the aircraft," said Andrew Nelson, XCOR's chief operating officer.
"We have refueled the kerosene, liquid oxygen and helium pressure tanks in under 8½ minutes, which is less time than many people spend just filling their car up at the local gas station."
(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...
BIG difference between putting a Routan aircraft up up to 62 miles while carrying one man and some M&Ms, and the space shuttle which carries 7-10 people and 25 tons of payload up to 240 miles high.
Goddard’s stuff didn’t fly that high at first either, and Von Braun’s early efforts barely crossed the English Channel.
BINGO! don't know the number of times I have said that. When Routan makes a reentry ping me. Mean while I will not hold my breath.
“Goddard’s stuff didn’t fly that high at first either, and Von Braun’s early efforts barely crossed the English Channel.
“
Minor difference between Goddard and Routan. Goddard was doing it for the first time and the science was unknown.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.