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Rutan's SpaceshipOne Hits 200,000 Feet

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the i-can-see-my-house-from-here dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Burt Rutan's privately-built SpaceshipOne is one step closer to winning the X-Prize after zooming to what witnesses say was somewhere around 200,000 feet on only its third powered flight. (See also the partial update from Scaled Composites.)"

8 of 292 comments (clear)

  1. Sounds like... by brejc8 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Rutan's SpaceshipOne Hits 200,000 Feet
    As it launched it turned 90 degrees and skimmed along an inch off the ground through the croud.

    --
    Mouse powered Chips, Open source Processors and Lego
  2. Not the best way to determine altitude by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    after zooming to what witnesses say was somewhere around 200,000 feet ...

    Witnesses looking up into the sky:
    "Wow, that looks like, what, about 100,000 ..."
    "Nah, looks more like, I'd say 200,000 feet to me."
    "Ya, about 200,000 feet looks right."

  3. Re-launch? by Gunfighter · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I skimmed the article and didn't catch anything about the re-launch within the given time period. Are they going to try and reuse the vehicle anytime soon? This, IMHO, is one of the most interesting requirements of winning the X-Prize.

    Anyone who's ever been on the tours at Kennedy Space Center knows that the space shuttle launches don't begin with the countdown. Rather, they begin when the space shuttle touches down and the crews start preparing the shuttle for re-launch. Given that it takes (took?) NASA a helluva long time to get the shuttles prepped for re-launch, I'm wondering how these teams in pursuit of the X-Prize are doing with their plans to quickly refuel and relaunch the craft(s) within the alloted time period.

    --
    -- Stu

    /. ID under 2,000. I feel old now.
    1. Re:Re-launch? by at_kernel_99 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The technology of WhiteKnight / SpaceshipOne is radically different from that of the shuttle. Largely due to 2 things: 1) Burt et al are only going for 100,000 meters rather than orbit. 2) Advances in technology since the 70s, when the shuttle was designed.

      Personally I expect that they'll be capable of relaunching within hours - well below the two weeks allowed by the contest organizers.

    2. Re:Re-launch? by robbymet · · Score: 5, Interesting

      It takes the Shuttle to so long to relaunch because the entire craft needs to be recertified before relaunch. That is because the design has virtually no margin, so under normal operating conditions there are components that are on the verge of failure. These components must all be inspected and potentially replaced before another flight can occur. A small, reasonably designed vehicle should be able to hit a two week turn around no problem. DARPA's RASCAL and FALCON programs require a 24-hour turnaround.

  4. Photos... by arashiakari · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here are links to the photos from the flight directly off their servers. Shot of earch in background... Apogee

  5. Info from Scaled Composites by TyrelHaveman · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here is the actual information release from Scaled:
    "Launch conditions were 46,000 feet and 120 knots. Motor light off occurred 10 seconds after release and the vehicle boosted smoothly to 150,000 feet and Mach 2.5. Subsequent coast to apogee of 211,400 feet. During a portion of the boost, the flight director display was inoperative, however the pilot continued the planned trajectory referencing the external horizon. Reaction control authority was as predicted and the vehicle recovered in feather experiencing 1.9M and 3.5G's. Feather oscillations were actively damped by the pilot and the wing was de-feathered starting at 55,000 feet. The onboard avionics was re-booted and a smooth and uneventful landing made to Mojave." - Scaled Composites LLC

    So it looks like it went to 211,400 ft. Those witnesses knew what they were talking about.

  6. Mojave Spaceport.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    A most interesting titbit in that article that I don't see anyone else has mentioned is that they've applied for a licence to allow Mojave airport to also become an inland commercial spaceport.

    Like an airport.. but FOR SPACE! Wow! ;)

    This is amazingly cool news and almost could be straight out of the pages of a science fiction book. Perhaps in a few years it will be major center for space traffic and commerce?