SpaceShipOne completes fourth drop test

spacetoday.net ^ | 10/27/03

[KevinDavis]

SpaceShipOne (SS1), a suborbital RLV being developed by Scaled Composites, successfully completed its fourth unpowered drop test earlier this month, correcting a problem noticed in a drop test last month. The test took place October 17 in the skies above Mojave, California, as SS1 was released from its White Knight carrier aircraft at an altitude of 14,100 meters. According to the flight report on Scaled's web site, SS1 did not experience any problems with unexpected pitching up of the vehicle's nose; such a problem was experienced on the last glide test last month, causing the vehicle to briefly enter a roll until the pilot stabilized the vehicle. Scaled credited the improved performance to a series of ground tests performed with an impromptu wind tunnel: a pickup truck with the SS1 tail assembly mounted on it. Those tests were used to implement a number of aerodynamic fixes to the vehicle to correct the pitching problem. No problems were reported during the October 17 glide test, which also included a check of the rocket motor controller on the vehicle.

[KevinDavis]

Go Bert Go!

[KevinDavis]

Space Ping! This is the space ping list! Let me know if you want on or off this list!

[ElkGroveDan]

Scaled credited the improved performance to a series of ground tests performed with an impromptu wind tunnel: a pickup truck with the SS1 tail assembly mounted on it.

You gotta love private enterprise. If this had been a government project, the problem would have delayed the project 6-8 months and added $3.5 million in new costs.

[RightWhale]

a pickup truck with the SS1 tail assembly mounted on it.

How fast was that truck going?

[My2Cents]

[Hunble]

[Viking2002]

If you disband NASA, and dole out (as developmental grants) just 10% of what their annual budget is to the private sector, we'd be back on the moon in five years. And on Mars in ten. PERMANENTLY.

[hattend]

Bump what you said.

[stylin_geek]

Had to be interesting driving that truck with the tail assembly in front like that. Even more interesting, wouldn't the tail assembly, at a certain point, start to create lift?

[gonzo]

***Space Ping! This is the space ping list! Let me know if you want on or off this list!***

Please add my name to your Space-Ping list, Kevin. Thanks..........FRegards

[Ronin]

GREAT PICS!!!!

Wheeeee!!!! That last one is a keeper. God, I love private enterprise.

[Ronin]

Bingo!

[GeronL]

OK everybody, don't forget to visit the competition =o)

rocketguy.com and xcor.com/suborbital.html

Both are WAY behind Burt Rutan, but XCor's test pilot is Dick Rutan, sound familiar??

XCOR is way behind Rutan but theirs might carry a small payload of micro-sats (like the military and spy agencies use).

Burt Rutan is the first and the leader but by no means the last. This is a wave of the future!!

[GeronL]

More Pics from XCOR? see above...

XCOR already builds the EZRocket, this plane was their first step towards the future.

[irv]

Go Bert Go!

BUMP

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!