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Jeff Bezos's Space Company Reveals Some Secrets
An anonymous reader writes "Jeff Bezos's commercial spaceflight company, Blue Origin, has kept its plans secret to better compete with rivals such as Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic. But in order to build its launch facility in West Texas, it has revealed some details of its future operations: Blue Origin's Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) will carry three or more passengers on suborbital, ballistic trajectories to altitudes in excess of 325,000 feet above sea level. It will launch vertically and land vertically, and will use hydrogen peroxide and kerosene as propellants. It will operate autonomously under control of on-board computers, with no ground control. Blue Origin plans a maximum rate of 52 launches per year."
I don't know about this one. "Culberson County, we have a problem" just doesn't have a good ring to it.
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Look for life insurance policies to have a new clause added to explicitly exclude coverage in the event of a spacecraft mishap (if they don't already have such a clause).
The NSA: The only part of the US government that actually listens.
will use hydrogen peroxide and kerosene as propellants. It will operate autonomously under control of on-board computers, with no ground control.
No problems what so ever. Sounds incredibly safe to me.
As long as the passengers after the flight are reusable too, it should be a workable, safe plan. However, could we claim spaceflights under the "Amazon Prime Plan", which claims "Unlimited shipping privileges cost just $79 per year"? After all, it all boils down to being shipped by Amazon.
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
Apparently, the interface for the vehicle will be a single button with the word "click" stenciled underneath it.
I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
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I suggest a compromise with these "unmanned spaceflght zealots". We send each of them up in a manned spaceflight. At some pre-determined point, the spacecraft is programmed to become unmanned due to explosive decompression of the passenger compartment. Then, the flight continues on, unmanned. Everybody's happy.
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
"The TANG was stale"
"Space captain farted in airlock and refused to provide refund"
"Unsecured lunch lockers: tribbles ate my sandwich"
"I am a smoker, and was told that smokers had to step outside during spaceflight. Do NOT buy!"
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
at one launch per week, it wouldnt take more than a year or two to send prety much everyone i dont like into space. ^_^
I guess weekly launches aren't unattainable, as long as there's no requirement for an equal number of landings, and a large supply of launch vehicles.
S
However, it more or less has to be computer controlled descent; the timing is a bit critical.
The description I heard was:
-WolfWithoutAClause
"Gravity is only a theory, not a fact!"clarification: one Silicon Valley house mortgage.
"A witty saying proves nothing." ~Voltaire
"d'Oh!" ~Homer
Would he have a one click launch sequence?
Would he patent it?
Just because it CAN be done, doesn't mean it should!
This thing is supposed to land vertically? That sounds more like a crash to me.
Will it have parachutes?
The Internet is full. Go Away!!!
"WTF do you want us to do about it, all the guidance computers are on your ship!"
Ironically, the word ironically is often used incorrectly.
You are going to have to have an awfully slick sales pitch to get over the fact that the flights always end with 600 mp/h impact at former Soviet Union strategic targets. Other than that, it's a great flight, man!
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
Exactly US $TOOMUCH. Don't know exactly what that is in Euros, though.
€5,64. Gotta love the current exchange rates!
"I'd rather go to hell than texas."
It's just a bit further down the road, just keep goin'.
Yup...and he has already patented the "One-Click Launch Sequence"
Yes, but you would have to go first.
You're still in Texas. Sheesh! I though the idea was to escape.
Some mornings it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints to get out of bed.
"It will operate autonomously under control of on-board computers, with no ground control..."
This could certainly add new meaning to the phrase "Blue Screen of Death."
I'll wager that they'll never get guv'mint approval to operate without at least one human pilot.
Keep the peace(es).
Bruce Lane, KC7GR,
Blue Feather Technologies
You are so right. It is a very bad example, like "ape going ugly".
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.