This month's AE presenter: David
Date of presentation: 12-May-2014
Subject: Burt Rutan's SpaceShipOne
Description: In February, David talked about the career an accomplishments of aviation pioneer Burt Rutan. May's presentation was a in-depth look at his crowning achievement, SpaceShipOne. SpaceShipOne is the first privately funded manned spacecraft. Tech mogul Paul Alan funded the project, the objective wast to compete for the Ansari X-prize. The spacecraft successfully crossed the recognized threshold of space, 100km, two times in two weeks carrying a pilot and sandbags to simulate two passengers. Innovative technology was used including wings and engine. The wings folded upwards to 65deg to allow for a slow, controlled re-entry. This negated the need for extensive heat shielding. The engine was a hybrid, with liquid oxygen as the oxidizer flowing over a core of solid rubber as the propellent. This combined solid rocket motor stability and safety with the ability to stop and restart normally associated with liquid fuel motors. SpaceShipOne made three flights, and now hangs in the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum.
