VSS Enterprise

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VSS Enterprise
A SpaceShipTwo (probably VSS Enterprise) carried by WhiteKnightTwo VMS Eve
Type Scaled Composites Model 339 SpaceShipTwo
Manufacturer Scaled Composites
Construction number 1
First flight 10 October 2010 (manned gliding flight)
Owners and operators Virgin Galactic
In service 2013?

The VSS Enterprise (Tail Number: N339SS[1]) is the first of five commercial suborbital spacecraft being constructed for Virgin Galactic by Scaled Composites.[2][3] It will also be the first ship of the Model 339 SpaceShipTwo class, based on upscaling the design of record-breaking SpaceShipOne. The VSS Enterprise's name is an acknowledgement of the USS Enterprise from the Star Trek television series.[4] Entrepreneur Richard Branson, head of Virgin Galactic, offered William Shatner, the actor who portrayed Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek series, a free ride into space on the inaugural space launch of the VSS Enterprise, with a retail value of $200,000. However, Shatner turned it down, and said, "I do want to go up but I need guarantees I'll definitely come back."[5] It was rolled out on December 7, 2009.[6] SpaceShipTwo made its first powered flight in April, 2013. Richard Branson said it "couldn't have gone more smoothly".[7]

Contents

Flight test program [edit]

 It has been suggested that portions of SpaceShipTwo be moved or incorporated into this article. (Discuss)

Projections by Virgin Galactic in 2008 called for test flights to begin in late 2009 and commercial service to start in 2011.[8][9]

In October 2009, Virgin Galactic CEO Will Whitehorn outlined the flight test program for SpaceShipTwo. The test program includes seven phases:

  1. Vehicle ground testing.
  2. Captive carry under White Knight Two.
  3. Unpowered glide testing.
  4. Subsonic testing with only a brief firing of the rocket.
  5. Supersonic atmospheric testing.
  6. Full flight into suborbital space.
  7. Execute a detailed and lengthy appraisal process with the FAA/AST to demonstrate the system's robustness and eventually obtain a commercial launch license to begin commercial operations.[10]

On 22 March 2010, the SpaceShipTwo vehicle VSS Enterprise underwent a captive carry test flight, with the parent White Knight Two aircraft, VMS Eve, performing a short flight while carrying the Enterprise.[11] A second test flight was made on 16 May 2010,[12] reaching SS2's launch altitude (51,000 feet) and lasting nearly five hours, in order to facilitate "cold soak" testing of SS2's avionics and pressurization system. Thereafter, "a simulated spaceship descent/glide mission was made from [launch] altitude."[13] Between these two flights, the SpaceShipTwo airframe was modified by the addition of two interior fins, with one fin being added to the inside (rocket-side) of each of the craft's twin vertical stabilizers.[14]

On 15 July 2010, VSS Enterprise made its first crewed flight. The craft remained attached to VMS Eve as planned, and underwent a series of combined vehicle systems tests. The flight lasted a total of 6 hours and 21 minutes. A second, similar crewed flight of VSS Enterprise and VMS Eve was carried out on 30 September 2010, lasting approximately 5 hours. Among the objectives of these flights was the improvement of pilot proficiency, and the results of the flights were deemed to show that the systems were capable of supporting future glide missions.[12]

On 10 October 2010, VSS Enterprise made its first manned gliding test flight. It was released from VMS Eve at 45,000 feet and glided to a safe landing at the Mojave Air and Spaceport.[15][16][17] A second gliding test flight took place on 28 October 2010[18] and a third on 17 November 2010.[19] As of December 2010, Scaled reported that the flight test program is exceeding expectations.[20] The fourth test flight took place on 13 January 2011,[21] while the fifth and sixth glide flights occurred on 22 and 27 April 2011, respectively.[22] Following this, the feathered reentry configuration was tested in flight on 4 May 2011,[22] with weekly test flights continuing through the end of May.[22] On 9 June 2011, SS2 failed to separate from White Knight Two during its 11th planned glide flight due to a technical problem.[23] Testing resumed with five successful glide flights in June 2011.[22]

In July 2011, after 15 successful glide flights, flight testing of SS2 was halted for two months while planned revisions to the spaceplane were made.[24] Flight tests resumed in late September 2011, although the 16th glide flight – on 29 September – was marred by a brief loss of control aboard SS2, forcing the crew to utilise the feathered wing configuration to land safely.[25][26] This test was followed by another hiatus, during which some of the spacecraft's engine components were installed.[27] In June 2012, Scaled Composites received an FAA permit to conduct rocket-powered supersonic test flights.[28] SpaceShipTwo flight tests resumed in June 2012.[27][29] These tests will include both further aerodynamic drop tests and full-scale rocket-powered demonstrations.[30][dated info]

Future [edit]

Virgin Galactic aims to become the world's first commercial space line. The test-flight program is expected to continue through 2011, and future tests will focus on rocket motor testing and powered flights. Eventually, the rocket plane will be taken 60,000 feet above the Earth by its carrier and fire rockets to propel itself into space. A total of 370 customers have already placed a deposit (totaling $50 million) for a place on the flight, and about 80,000 people have placed their names on the waiting list. The trip will cost about US$200,000, and passengers will experience a few minutes of weightlessness during the suborbital flight.[31][32]

The passenger-carrying commercial launches will initially occur at Virgin Galactic's launch pad at Spaceport America, near Upham, New Mexico.

Gallery [edit]

  • Virgin Galactic VSS ''Enterprise''

  • Enterprise in flight slung under VMS Eve

  • Enterprise under construction and under wraps in 2008

  • A 3-vue of the SS2

See also [edit]

External links [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "FAA N Number Registration for "VSS Enterprise"". Retrieved 2008-07-28. 
  2. ^ "Virgin Galactic to Offer Public Space Flights". Space.com. Associated Press. 27 September 2004. Retrieved 2008-08-12. 
  3. ^ "Scaled Composites PROJECTS". Scaled.com. Retrieved 2010-03-19. 
  4. ^ "SpaceShipTwo". SpaceTourism.ws. Retrieved 2008-08-12. 
  5. ^ "Captain Kirk reveals he won't go boldly into space". Daily Mail (London: dailymail.co.uk). 6 September 2006. Retrieved 2008-08-12. 
  6. ^ "SpaceShipTwo Roll Out". Virgingalactic.com. 8 December 2009. 
  7. ^ "SpaceShipTwo makes first powered flight". 3 News NZ. April 30, 2013. 
  8. ^ "Coppinger, Rob, "SpaceShipTwo's mothership maiden flight", Flightglobal.com, December 21, 2008". Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 2010-03-25. 
  9. ^ Schwartz, John (January 23, 2008). "New Tourist Spacecraft Unveiled". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-12. 
  10. ^ Will Whitehorn (2009-10-27). International Astronautical Congress 2009: Civilian Access to Space (video, comments at c. 20:00). Daejeon, Korea: Flightglobal Hyperbola, Rob Coppinger. 
  11. ^ "Maiden flight for Branson's SpaceShipTwo". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 2010-03-23. 
  12. ^ a b WhiteKnightTwo/SpaceShipTwo Test Summaries, Scaled Composites. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
  13. ^ SpaceShipTwo Flown To Launch Altitude, Aviation Week, 2010-05-20, accessed 2010-05-21.
  14. ^ SS2 modifications. HobbySpace.com, 21 May 2010. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  15. ^ "VSS Enterprise Completes First Manned Glide Flight". Virgin Galactic News, 10 October 2010. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  16. ^ Cosmic Log — SpaceShipTwo flies free for first time, accessed 2010-10-10.
  17. ^ SS2 Test Moves Virgin Closer to Goal, Aviation Week, 2010-10-21, accessed 2010-10-23
  18. ^ "Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Spaceliner Completes 2nd Glide Flight". Space.com, 29 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  19. ^ David, Leonard (2010-11-19). "Virgin Galactic's spaceship aces 3rd glide flight". MSNBC. Retrieved 2010-11-22. 
  20. ^ SS2 Glide Tests Exceed Expected Progress, Aviation Week, 2010-12-23, accessed 2010-12-24.
  21. ^ Virgin Galactic - News
  22. ^ a b c d Test Summaries. Scaled Composites. Updated 11 August 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  23. ^ WhiteKnightTwo flight test summaries. Scaled Composites. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  24. ^ David, Leonard (2011-07-28). "Private Rocket Ship for Space Tourists Takes Break from Test Flights". SPACE.com. Retrieved 2011-07-30. 
  25. ^ "Private spaceship briefly hurtled out of control". MSNBC, 17 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  26. ^ "Virgin Galactic's private spaceship makes safe landing after tense test flight". Space.com, 17 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  27. ^ a b "SpaceShipTwo to resume flight tests as early as June". Flightglobal.com. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012. 
  28. ^ "SpaceShipTwo Gets Thumbs Up for Rocket-Powered Flights". Flying Magazine. 1 June 2012. 
  29. ^ "Virgin Galactic successfully completes SpaceShipTwo glide flight test and rocket motor firing on same day". SpaceRef.com, 28 June 2012.
  30. ^ "Virgin Galactic to Launch Passengers on Private Spaceship in 2013". Space.com. 8 June 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012. 
  31. ^ "Virgin Galactic's spaceship makes solo flight". BBC News. 2010-10-10. 
  32. ^ "Virgin Galactic successfully tests VSS Enterprise". CNN. 2010-10-16. 
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