To infinity and beyond!

[dando]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/29/us-space-virgingroup-idUSBRE93S0X520130429


(Reuters) - A six-passenger spaceship owned by an offshoot of Virgin Group fired its rocket engine in flight for the first time on Monday, a key step toward the start of commercial service in about a year, Virgin owner Richard Branson said.

The powered test flight over California's Mojave Desert lasted 16 seconds and broke the sound barrier.

:thumbup:

I will graciously accept PayPal donations for a flight. :gomer:

-Kevin

[gjc2]

What is Virgin’s definition of space flight? Orbital velocity is something like 17,500 mph and to attain that speed without burning up requires an altitude of at least eighty miles (over 400,000 feet). Is the Virgin ship going to be capable of that performance?

[dando]

What is Virgin’s definition of space flight? Orbital velocity is something like 17,500 mph and to attain that speed without the burning up requires an altitude of at least eighty miles (over 400,000 feet). Is the Virgin ship going to be capable of that performance?

IIRC, I believe it's been defined as sub-orbital (ala X-15), but it's the edge of space.

-Kevin

[dando]

The spaceship and its carrier aircraft, WhiteKnightTwo, took off from the Mojave Air and Space Port at 7 a.m. PDT (10.00 a.m. EDT), heading to an altitude of about 46,000 feet, where SpaceShipTwo was released.

Two pilots then ignited the ship's rocket engine and climbed another 10,000 feet, reaching Mach 1.2 in the process. Additional test flights are planned before the spaceship will fly even faster, eventually reaching altitudes that exceed 62 miles.

62-mile high club. :gomer: :D

-Kevin

[dando]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceShipTwo

[G.]

I wouldn't fly on any aircraft named "White Knight".






:jonestown