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Suborbital Spaceflight Update

Posted by Hemos on from the get-up-there-forest dept.

HobbySpacer writes "Burt Rutan's group has fixed a problem with the SpaceShipOne and recently carried out a successful drop test. Ground studies involved tests with CFD - "creative Ford driving" using a Ford-250 pickup truck. Other suborbital news includes the announcement of plans to follow the X PRIZE competition with an annual X PRIZE Cup event in which rocket teams will compete in an air show type format. In Japan the RVT (Reusable Vehicle Test) just completed its third short hop (in Japanese) within a week. (English reports on the first and second flights.) The liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen powered vehicle seeks to develop robust, reusable technologies for vertical takeoff and landing rockets. It and subsequent vehicles will gradually expand the flight envelope to high altitudes."

8 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. Gee, officer . . . by PIPBoy3000 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I wasn't speeding, I was using CFD!

  2. Sub orbital flight by stratjakt · · Score: 1, Funny

    Now technically, when I was a kid, and we'd build the big ramp at the bottom of the ravine, and I'd get probably 8 feet in the air on my BMX - was that not "suborbital" flight?

    --
    I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    1. Re:Sub orbital flight by kfg · · Score: 2, Funny

      Assuming your ravine was on earth yes, but you failed to specify. Sloppy work.

      If, for instance, your ravine were on Phobos you could have gone orbital with pedaling (which again you didn't specify). Be careful though, escape velocity is only about 22.5 mph, although the high cadence the average BMX bike requires to achieve that sort of speed would protect just about everybody but track racers.

      A very low orbit could be achieved at only several mph.

      "Duck Timmy! Joey's coming 'round again."

      KFG

  3. Flying subs by oniony · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hmm, I guess "suborbital flight" has nothing to do with flying submarines then. Shame, that was such a great image in my head.

    --

    Powered by onion juice.

  4. Its easy to get into space heres how. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    1. Have you amateur astronaut strap on a life support system (scuba gear)
    2. Outfit him with a controlled reentry device (parachute)
    3. Put him a lunch vehicle (catapult).
    4. PROFIT.

    1. Re:Its easy to get into space heres how. by Lumpy · · Score: 1, Funny

      3. Put him a lunch vehicle

      if you do that he will exceed the weight limits quickly!

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  5. Sined, sealed, delivered. by TheRealFixer · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ground studies involved tests with CFD - "creative Ford driving" using a Ford-250 pickup truck.

    Why am I having flashbacks to Buckaroo Bonzai?

  6. Oh, come on..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Every one knows if you're going to do a suborbital drop of a vehicle it has to be '62 (if animated) or '57 (if in non-animated panels) corvette.

    Note: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082509/