More SpaceShipTwo Video... Cuz It's AWESOME!

So. Much. Wow.

Video screenshot: SpaceShipTwo under rocket power!

Video: Another Supersonic SpaceShipTwo Test - Commercial Flights In 2014!

 AirPigz is all about avgeek diversity, which is why I can go from antique airplanes in the two previous posts to aerospace sub-orbital supersonic testing in the next. My theory has always been that a real love for flight finds the same fascination in both extremes. I hope you agree : )

 Virgin Galactic is moving closer to commercial service, now planning to start sometime in 2014. Get your deposits in asap my friends as there are apparently over 600 passengers booked ahead of you!

 Here's the Virgin Galactic update on yesterday's successful flight:

Company Demonstrates All Technical Mission Phases in Single Flight for the First Time, Confirms On Track to Commence Commercial Service in 2014

September 5, 2013 – MOJAVE, Calif. – Today, Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial spaceline owned by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and Abu Dhabi’s aabar InvestmentsPJS, successfully completed the second rocket-powered, supersonic flight of its passenger carrying reusable space vehicle, SpaceShipTwo (SS2). In addition to achieving the highest altitude and greatest speed to date, the test flight demonstrated the vehicle’s full technical mission profile in a single flight for the first time, including a high altitude deployment of the unique wing “feathering” re-entry mechanism. All of the test objectives were successfully completed.

At approximately 8 a.m. local time from the Mojave Air and Space Port, the company’s WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) carrier aircraft took off carrying SS2 to an altitude of 46,000 feet. Virgin Galactic Chief Pilot Dave Mackay was at the WK2 controls, assisted by Scaled Composites (Scaled) co-pilot Mike Alsbury and The Spaceship Company Flight Test Engineer Scott Glaser. Upon release from WK2, SS2 pilots Mark Stucky and Clint Nichols, both of Scaled, ignited the rocket motor for the planned 20-second burn propelling the spaceship to 69,000 feet. During this time, SS2 achieved a maximum speed of Mach 1.43. SS2 landed in Mojave at 9.25 a.m. local time completing the flight test with the pilots reporting a flawless flight.

Chairman of aabar Investments PJS, H.E. Khadem Al Qubaisi, commented: “This flight milestone represents a key step forward for the Virgin Galactic team. The successful completion of all major aspects of the flight mission demonstrates that we are very close to achieving one of Galactic’s key goals: commercialising access to space for the broader public. I would like to congratulate the whole team on their continued success.”

“We couldn’t be more delighted to have another major supersonic milestone under our belts as we move toward a 2014 start of commercial service,” said Virgin Galactic Founder Sir Richard Branson. “It was particularly thrilling to see for the first time today the whole elegant system in action during a single flight, including the remarkable feathering re-entry system. It was this safety feature more than anything else that originally persuaded us that the overall design of the system was uniquely fit for purpose. Everything we have seen today just confirms that view. Congratulations to all involved!”

“Today, we expanded the SpaceShipTwo rocket-powered flight test envelope with a longer burn duration and robust testing of the feather mechanism, supersonic aerodynamics and wing lift structure,” said Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides. “Each powered flight of SpaceShipTwo yields cumulative progress that builds the foundation for safe and exciting commercial space flights.”

Composite screenshot: under rocket power / in feathered descent / in glide flight descent

Video: Virgin Galactic And SpaceShipTwo Supersonic On First Powered Flight Test!

(click pic for hi-res) SpaceShipTwo first powered flight on 4.29.13 (photo: Virgin Galactic)

 Great success was achieved yesterday (April 29, 2013) in Mojave California as Scaled Composites and Virgin Galactic flew SpaceShipTwo Enterprise on their first powered flight ever. After release from the mothership at 47,000 feet, the SS2 crew fired the rocket motor for 16 seconds propelling them up to 55,000 feet and Mach 1.2 - supersonic!

 The test flight appears to have been completely successful. Congratulations to all involved in achieving this major milestone!

read the full Virgin Galactic report here 

(click pic for hi-res)  Enterprise during first rocket burn test flight (photo: Virgin Galactic)  

Did You See This Awesome SpaceShipTwo 'Cold Flow' Glide Test Pic? Wow!

(click pic to enlarge)  SpaceShipTwo leaving an oxidizer trail during 4.12.13 glide test

 It's old news now since this Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo glide test took place on April 12, 2013, but this amazing pic showing the first glide test to include letting the nitrous oxidizer flow thru the nozzle is sure worth seeing... whether you've seen it already or not! Just to be clear, this is NOT a powered flight, the trail exiting the nozzle isn't providing thrust. However, the first actual powered flight could be happening ANY day now - some info out there suggests it will be this Monday the 29th.

 I suggest you keep your avgeek (spacegeek?) eyes and ears open for this historic event... it is truly a brave new world!

check out the Scaled Composites SpaceShipTwo test summary page

Mojave Fly-In April 20th (Tomorrow) - Experimental Oasis In The Desert!

Chip Yates will have his electric Long-EZ at the Mojave Experimental Fly-In April 20th

 As if having the world's most fascinating collection of aerospace companies gathered together on one California desert airport wasn't enough, the Mojave Air & Spaceport will also be attracting a very sweet collection of experimental aircraft tomorrow April 20th for the Mojave Experimental Fly-In. Chip Yates and his fast (over 200 mph) electric-powered Long-EZ will be there along with many other unique and impressive homebuilt and race aircraft from the past, present, and future. Race aircraft like the biplane speedster Phantom and the amazing over 400 mph Nemsis NXT will be there, along with Burt Rutan's Catbird, and a wide range of other great aircraft... you can get a better idea of what's expected to attend by checking out mojaveflyin.com.

 In addition to the extremely cool aircraft to look over (and their pilots and owners to talk to), Scaled Composites will have reps at the event as well as Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company. 

 I had planned to make the trip to Mojave to soak up all this fabulous experimental avgeekery and bring back a boatload of pix to share with you, but my regular work schedule got in the way again and I won't be able to get there. Hopefully I'll still be able to fetch up some great images from some sources out there for a sweet follow-up post.

 If you're deeply interested in cutting-edge aerospace design and manufacturing on the fringe of the future, Mojave is definitely the place to be!

Celebrate Independence Day With A New Spaceport America Logo & Website

All new Spaceport America logo gives a great look to the future of reaching into space

 I'm a logo freak (possibly a snob) so anytime a new logo emerges I'm very interested (and usually disappointed) - wow, not this time! I love this all new Spaceport America identity named 'Spirit'. I think it perfectly embodies the emerging efforts here in the United States to reach for the final frontier. Its release is also well timed to go along with Independence Day... I hope you catch the spirit : )

(check out this recent Virgin Galactic update)

Spaceport America hangar with Virgin Galactic mothership and spaceship inside

Press Release announcing the new logo and the launch of their new website:

(Las Cruces, NM) - Spaceport America, the world’s first purpose-built, commercial spaceport, has launched a new look for its brand on Independence Day. "Spaceport America is helping a new American Revolution take place in the commercial space industry, and what better time to showcase our new brand than the Fourth of July," said Christine Anderson, Executive Director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA).

Spaceport America’s new look was unveiled in time for Independence Day on July 4, 2012, simultaneous with the launch of an all-new website (http://www.spaceportamerica.com) on that day, marking the beginning of a new marketing effort to introduce Spaceport America to the world.

The new identity, named "Spirit", represents two stars coming together; the collaboration of innovative efforts to propel man's reach into space. The Spaceport America identity is created from the colors of our nation with red symbolizing energy, strength, and power and blue symbolizing trust, loyalty and wisdom. It reflects Spaceport America’s core commitment to the spirit of exploration, the promise of human potential, and the powerful combination of vision and courage as it launches the next generation of space.

Also this week, the NMSA announced it has obtained a temporary Certificate of Occupancy from the New Mexico Regulations and Licensing Department for the Spaceport Operations Center (SOC), a dome-shaped building adjacent to the Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space that will support operations. The design of the interior SOC fit-out is underway and final build out construction is expected to begin by the end of 2012. When complete, the SOC will house NMSA staff and their primary contractors that will handle facilities operations, security, fire and EMT service.

"Our new identity emphasizes our dedication to the highest level of service to both our launch customers and the hundreds of thousands of expected annual visitors from around the globe," said Anderson. “We look forward to soon adding access to the newly finished SOC facility to our guided ‘Preview Tour’ this summer.” Anderson continued, "Once Phase Two construction is completed in 2013, we will have created a whole new kind of visitor experience, and the new Spaceport America brand identity and website are key steps along the path of offering the world an invitation to space."

Preview Tour days, times and reservation information can be found by going to: www.ftstours.com.

Virgin Galactic: On Track For Powered Flight By The End Of 2012

SpaceShipTwo glide test yesterday in the very blue Mojave sky  (photo: facebook)

 Virgin Galactic is progressing nicely toward the first powered flight of the suborbital space transport system by the end of 2012. Yesterday, a successful glide test with Virgin Galactic chief pilot Dave Mackay as co-pilot marked the first time a non Scaled Composites pilot has flown the SpaceShipTwo prototype, also known as VSS Enterprise. And a few days earlier on June 26, 2012, VSS Enterprise completed a glide test in addition to the team completing a full duration test firing of the rocket motor for the spacecraft - the first time these two large tasks have been conducted in one day.

Awesome front view of the gliding SpaceShipTwo from yesterday  (photo: facebook)

 The rocket motor firing was performed by Sierra Nevada Space Systems, the prime contractor for the RocketMotor2 (RM2) system. The 55-second test was the thirteenth full-scale flight design RM2 hot fire. All objectives were completed. In addition to this test, on June 20 a full-scale RM2 test firing took place for the first time at Scaled Composites’ test site in Mojave California, under full direction of the spaceship’s Rocket Motor Controller. This firing provided an end-to-end test of the rocket motor systems – a critical step in preparation for powered flight.

Virgin Galactic chief pilot Dave Mackay after his first flight in SS2  (photo: facebook)

 The tasks and goals to be achieved are huge in this test phase for the entire system of mothership, spaceship and rocket motor, but tremendous progress is being made with great success. It sure appears that it won't be long before an actual powered flight takes place which will bring this commercial space venture much closer to putting paying passengers in the cabin of SS2 and giving them the ride of their life! Godspeed Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites!

Scaled Composites Rocks! (The Music Video)

Scaled Overview from Scaled Composites on Vimeo.

 This fresh in-house video from the cool people at Scaled Composites shows a wide range of the unique flying machines they've built over the years... and it also gives you a good feel for the excellent camaraderie that the people working there experience.

 I know if I was young and working toward my engineering degree (like I should have been) I'd be doing everything I could to get my foot in the door! What could be better than loving the experience of being part of the team that designs and builds some of the most fascinating aircraft in the world?

Screenshot from the video that shows the past and the future at Scaled Composites

Video: Virgin Galactic Shows More Of SpaceShipTwo In Flight

 Here's a recent showreel video from Virgin Galactic with some stellar views of both WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo in flight. Impressive stuff... and fun to watch : )

 

Video screenshot of SpaceShipTwo looking fabulous in a glide test

Stellar Video Of SpaceShipTwo First Feather Flight - Wow!

 Here's an amazing video of the recent Virgin Galactic feathered re-entry glide test - your opportunity to see how well the flight went is absolutely fantastic - awesome video! Congratulations all around to Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites for their great work and such excellent results!