This month's AE presenter: David
Date of presentation: 23 Apr 2018
Subject: The Stratolaunch Aircraft
Description: David gave a presentation this month on the Stratolaunch
aircraft. The Stratolaunch is similar in concept to Spaceship One's
mothership, the White Knight. It is a twin-boomed airplane used to carry
satellite boosters to approximately 50,000 feet. The booster is then
dropped for launch to low earth orbit. The Stratolaunch is the largest
airplane by wingspan, with a 385 foot wing, longer than the wing of the
Spruce Goose. Gross weight is over 1.3 million pounds, with a 500,000 pound payload. The airplane's six engines and many of the flight components
were salvaged from two Boeing 747s. The Stratolaunch is currently
undergoing high speed taxi testing. Its first flight is expected to be in
2019.
Showing posts with label SpaceShipOne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SpaceShipOne. Show all posts
23 April 2018
13 May 2014
Presentation: May 2014
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.
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.
27 April 2014
Aerospace Bulletin Board
On 14-Apr-2014, David set up an AE bulletin board with a display on Burt Rutan's SpaceShipOne. The display highlights the record breaking flights and emphasizes the spacecraft's innovative technology.
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