Rutan hits 200k feet! Almost there!

"B2431" wrote in message
...
From: "Casey Wilson"

"Thomas J. Paladino Jr." wrote in message
. ..
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4970837/


Exciting stuff!

Rutan's SpaceShipOne hit 200,000 feet today over their Mojave test
site.

Won't be long now I guess.

Only 120,000 more feet straight up and they've made the first
qualifying flight for the $10 million X-Prize. The rumor I heard was
they
only put on half a load of propellant, today. My guess is they will go
all
out within two weeks.

Close, but no cigar. Besides the error in your math the X-prize requires
that 3
people be in the vehicle in both flights and that the flights be no more
than 7
days apart.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

Is there any other group with comparable results or a "close second"?

Larry

From: "Larry"

Is there any other group with comparable results or a "close second"?

Larry

There are a few other in the works. I don't think they are anywhere near SC.
There were a few hopeful starts like the Clipper that used rotors to slow
descent. They had a few successful partial scale flights before the thing fell
over on landing.

One thing's for sure Rutan doesn't mind strange looking vehicles. This one
looks like something out of Flash Gordon.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

"B2431" wrote in message
...
From: "Larry"

Is there any other group with comparable results or a "close second"?

Larry

There are a few other in the works. I don't think they are anywhere near
SC.
There were a few hopeful starts like the Clipper that used rotors to slow
descent. They had a few successful partial scale flights before the thing
fell
over on landing.

One thing's for sure Rutan doesn't mind strange looking vehicles. This one
looks like something out of Flash Gordon.
Yes it does.

I was admiring the tail- it's fully functional, yet does the job with a lot
less 'structure' than other aircraft.

Larry




Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

From: "Larry"
Date: 5/14/2004 12:06 AM Central Daylight Time
Message-id:


"B2431" wrote in message
...
From: "Larry"

Is there any other group with comparable results or a "close second"?

Larry

There are a few other in the works. I don't think they are anywhere near
SC.
There were a few hopeful starts like the Clipper that used rotors to slow
descent. They had a few successful partial scale flights before the thing
fell
over on landing.

One thing's for sure Rutan doesn't mind strange looking vehicles. This one
looks like something out of Flash Gordon.
Yes it does.

I was admiring the tail- it's fully functional, yet does the job with a lot
less 'structure' than other aircraft.

Larry

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

The portholes are a tad strange too. If it works more power too him. All I
want to know is can I get a ride?

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

"Thomas J. Paladino Jr." wrote in message
.. .
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4970837/


Exciting stuff!

Rutan's SpaceShipOne hit 200,000 feet today over their Mojave test site.


That last third of the flight is going to be tough. It took 55% fuel just to
reach 211,000 feet. Most of the remainder will be needed just to carry a
full load of fuel that high. Plus, there was only one person on board. To
get the X Prize, they have to carry three people.

Not only that, they have been managing only one Spaceship One flight every
couple of months (lately about one a month). They have made only three
powered flights. What do they need for the X Prize -- something like one
every two weeks, isn't it?

It may take a little while for them to get it all together, but they do
appear to be a lot closer.

C J Campbell wrote:

That last third of the flight is going to be tough.

I'm sure the first two thirds will be pretty tough as well.

It took 55% fuel just to reach 211,000 feet. Most of the remainder
will be needed just to carry a full load of fuel that high.
Plus, there was only one person on board. To
get the X Prize, they have to carry three people.

Don't worry about their mileage Mr. Cambell, I'm sure Burt Rutan
has a better idea of the fuel requirements than you do.

Not only that,

Gaaaaasssssssp....... You have more comments.

they have been managing only one Spaceship One flight every
couple of months (lately about one a month).

So what. Will NASA be able to match that this year

They have made only three powered flights.

So what...... That's three more than you will ever make now isn't it.

What do they need for the X Prize -- something like one
every two weeks, isn't it?

Beats me but I'll bet that Burt Rutan has a much better handle on what
the requirements are than you do..... So don't sweat the little details
that you will personally never have to be responsible for.

It may take a little while for them to get it all together, but they do
appear to be a lot closer.

How condescendingly generous you are.

From: Shiver Me Timbers
Date: 5/14/2004 2:38 AM Central Daylight Time
Message-id:

C J Campbell wrote:

That last third of the flight is going to be tough.

I'm sure the first two thirds will be pretty tough as well.

It took 55% fuel just to reach 211,000 feet. Most of the remainder
will be needed just to carry a full load of fuel that high.
Plus, there was only one person on board. To
get the X Prize, they have to carry three people.

Don't worry about their mileage Mr. Cambell, I'm sure Burt Rutan
has a better idea of the fuel requirements than you do.

Not only that,

Gaaaaasssssssp....... You have more comments.

they have been managing only one Spaceship One flight every
couple of months (lately about one a month).

So what. Will NASA be able to match that this year

They have made only three powered flights.

So what...... That's three more than you will ever make now isn't it.

What do they need for the X Prize -- something like one
every two weeks, isn't it?

Beats me but I'll bet that Burt Rutan has a much better handle on what
the requirements are than you do..... So don't sweat the little details
that you will personally never have to be responsible for.

It may take a little while for them to get it all together, but they do
appear to be a lot closer.

How condescendingly generous you are.


Do you have a point to make or do you just feel like criticizing?

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

"C J Campbell" wrote in message
...

"Thomas J. Paladino Jr." wrote in message
.. .
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4970837/


Exciting stuff!

Rutan's SpaceShipOne hit 200,000 feet today over their Mojave test site.


That last third of the flight is going to be tough. It took 55% fuel just
to
reach 211,000 feet. Most of the remainder will be needed just to carry a
full load of fuel that high. Plus, there was only one person on board. To
get the X Prize, they have to carry three people.

Not only that, they have been managing only one Spaceship One flight every
couple of months (lately about one a month). They have made only three
powered flights. What do they need for the X Prize -- something like one
every two weeks, isn't it?

It may take a little while for them to get it all together, but they do
appear to be a lot closer.

http://www.xprize.org/

The news over here (UK) said it may be achieved some time later this year,
maybe August or September. It said the Rutan project was the leader, but
there are another two not too far behind.

Starchaser Industries weren't mentiond in the leading three, so I don't know
if they've fallen behind.
http://www.starchaser.co.uk/

Paul

Rusty Barton wrote in message . ..
On Thu, 13 May 2004 20:30:08 GMT, "Thomas J. Paladino Jr."
wrote:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4970837/



SpaceShipOne re-entry - Flight 13P



Speaking of Re-entry ain't the front of the craft a bit unprrotected
in that department?

"Shiver Me Timbers" wrote in message
...
C J Campbell wrote:

That last third of the flight is going to be tough.

How condescendingly generous you are.

Somebody step on your tail? It really is going to be tough. If Rutan were
attempting something easy, it wouldn't be worth all that attention, would
it? What, are you trying to belittle his accomplishments or what he is
trying to do?