Ansari X-Prize Launch Live Thread (Update: LANDING SUCCESSFUL!)

09/29/04

[KevinDavis]

This is going to be a live thread for tomorrows launch of Spaceship one...

[Moose4]

Boy that was an exciting flight. This is sub-orbital barnstorming folks, not your typical passenger jet flight.

Well-put. How many men died trying to cross the Atlantic before Lindbergh did it and won his prize in 1927? This is dangerous stuff, and will be for a long, long time to come.

}:-)4

[Mike Fieschko]

continuing with video from the ground. haven't heard altitude now. now video from SS1

[Jonah Hex]

The X-1A had an uncommanded roll due to roll-coupling with Yeager aboard and lost 30k' before he brought it under control.

Of course, Mike Adams bought it in an X-15 when it went out of alignment prior to reentry. Some blamed it on pilot vertigo, while others blamed it on the stability augmentation system.

[Dead Dog]

That's right, that was a PIO wasn't it? That would be a control problem.

They also had one blow up on the engine test stand. The pilot in the cockpit (Crossfield?) claims fasted man from 0-60 feet.

[Robe]

Damn....that roll had to be 360* per second at least...

Pucker factor = 150* +

One hell of a pilot !!!

[TomGuy]

Sort of resembles Capt. Kirk's Starship Enterprise.

[Hand em their arse]

"That uncommanded roll had to be a sonuvagun!!!"

Did anyone else hear Mike over the radio yelling during the roll, "THIS IS GEORGE BUSH'S FAULT"??? I'm pretty sure that's what I heard, though I might be wrong... :)

[lainie]

"wow what a clear day" ??

Must be up there, but it's not clear out here at ground level.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

Just did a victory roll!

[Odyssey-x]

Now some annoying french guy is speaking on the Nasa feed.

[B4Ranch]

Roughly 900 feet per second is the speed of sound. Go faster and there is a boom, like a bullet makes, just different frequency. A deeper noise.

[norton]

Didn't Yeager get all twisted up in NF-104 ?

[null and void]

Now some annoying french guy is speaking on the Nasa feed.

Is there any other kind?

[Brett66]

Argh, looks like the space.com website is overloaded, much less the live feed.

[asgardshill]

Bet you Crossfield was uninsurable for a long time after that one :)

[gopwinsin04]

'Nice roll, beautiful..' on the scanner!

[Lx]

They had an X plane show on Discovery wings and the only accidents I remember them mentioning for the X-15 was the exploding engine on the test stand and the one that cracked on landing.
Anyone else see the show, did I miss something?

[Mike Fieschko]

Niel Armstrong got put into the spin cycle in an X-15 once.

Neil Armstrong's reentry skip.

[Stars N Stripes]

Just after engine cut-off Mike exclaimed, "got a little weird there at the end!"

[lainie]

"Pretty sporty!"

"Nice roll."

"Happy landing."