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European Launch Site For Virgin Galactic
syguy writes "Sir Richard Branson's sub-orbital space tourism venture, Virgin Galactic, is considering a second launch site in Europe. Already committed to Spaceport America near Upham, New Mexico, USA, Virgin Galactic has signed a deal with the Swedish company Spaceport to investigate providing sub-orbital flights from Kiruna airport, Sweden. This is one of the northernmost commercial airports in the world. Branson is attracted by the possibility of offering flights through the Aurora Borealis. Flights could begin in 2011 or 2012." From the article: "The company said last year they would be conducting research into the safety of such a flight. Scientists have little information on how the storms that produce the northern lights affect spacecraft. [The] joint NASA-Canadian Space Agency THEMIS project will launch five satellites into space in February to monitor the northern lights..."
How long will it take to make something like this available beyond just the super-wealthy?
European Launch Site For Virgin Galactic
If the galaxy has to lose its virginity somewhere, it might as well be in Europe.
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Flying directly through what's essentially a planet-sized cathode ray tube? Isn't that, you know...
Ah forget it, let Darwin sort things out.
Chicken, Fish, or LSD sir?
It's only a model.
Can you even imagine what a sight that would be? Suborbit to see infinite stars already sounds amazing, but dancing lights would make the millions worthwhile. Check out the view from the ISS http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/63/Auro ra_Borealis.jpg/ (640k link)
That said, count me surprised if flying an extraordinarily complex spaceship through ionic storms, but maybe I'm overestimating what it exactly does, despite glancing through the wiki article on northern lights.
While the price tag is enormous (around +$200,000 USD), it would be one in a lifetime for you to see outer space, and not to mention the "dancing lights" aurora borealis Mr Jazzizle mentioned.
Then get excited
Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
What truth?
There is no dupe
Branson is attracted by the possibility of offering flights THROUGH the Aurora Borealis.
>>Auroras are now known to be caused by the collision of charged particles (e.g. electrons), found in the magnetosphere, with atoms in the Earth's upper atmosphere (at altitudes above 80 km). These charged particles are typically energized to levels between 1 thousand and 15 thousand electronvolts and, as they collide with atoms of gases in the atmosphere, the atoms become energized.
>>As well as visible light, auroras emit infrared (NIR and IR) and ultraviolet (UV) rays as well as X-rays (e.g. as observed by the Polar spacecraft).
So they are paying 200k+ to get radiated, gj virgin!
Going by past record, =aAnything that virgin announces has to be tempered with a dose of reality. The fact is that Branson is a master in using PR publicity as marketing. In fact he has been often quoted in interviews saying that a headline and a newsworthy article is worth more than ad dollars (and he's right). Virgin Galactic is a good long term indea. It also makes for great news. Right now he has had "agreements" with launch sites. Let's see how much money he puts on the table, let's see some test flights and then we can judge.
Ok, interesting, but how does this space launch site compares to the previously slashdottly discussed Nova Scotia site? (yes, already in other comments, but no links provided as far as I could find)
While we're at it. The Sweden launch site on Google Maps.
"This provides us with Europe's first obvious place for suborbital space flights," said Susan Newsam, spokeswoman at Virgin Galactic, who adds that "flying into the aurora borealis has never been done before."
Ok, I don't get it. What's the point? I thought the closer to the equator the better (less energy required to reach "space"), thus ESA's space launch site at Kourou, French Guyana.
Animoog.org
" . . . flights THROUGH the Aurora Borealis."
I hope Branson screens his passengers carefully, because everything I know about Science and Comics says they're going to come back with super powers.
Is the world ready for Team Virgin and assorted super-villains?
Closer to the equator minimizes the amount of energy you have to put in to get something into orbit, since the earth's rotational velocity at the equator is maximal, and the distance from the center of gravity is greater (planets bulge at their equators).
But keep in mind, we are not talking about rockets and putting stuff into orbit. These craft are still more aero than space and the aren't being boosted into high orbit. Also, convenience for the target audience (rich people) is at a premium, not fuel.
I've got a bad attitude and karma to burn. Go ahead. Mod me down.
The guy who inflicted Hungarian Notation on us gets to fly in space.
There is no justice.
I wonder what flying a spacecraft through an aurora would do to the aurora?
I am reasonably certain that flying a spacecraft through an aurora would do something to it. But would it amplify the aurora for those of us on earth, or kill it?
There is a fine line between recklessness and courage... -- Paul McCartney
I happened to read the autobiography of Richard Branson titled "Losing my virginity" which makes a fascinating read. And this book provides a peep into the kind of turbulent life he led in his younger days. So I find it really funny that he had to name his company "Virgin".
But I admire him for his active participation in adventure sports - such as his endeavor to circumvent the globe in a hot air balloon. And how he made his billions through his slew of virgin companies including a music store chain (Virgin records) and airlines company.
So it is no surprise that Richard has now set his eyes on outer space.
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I doubt it was Kiruna's commercial airport that attracted. While little known outside Sweden, and definitely unheard of in USA, Franse, and Russia, Sweden has launched space rockets since 1966 in a station called Esrange. They apparently hope to sky rocket their already impressive launch list.
Hmmm... flying through high energy plasma caught in bounce motion in the magnetosphere. Doesn't sound like fun to me.
Furthermore, if you're launching from a high inclination you need a lot more fuel to get up to orbiting velocity. Why do you think everyone else launches their rockets from the equator?
Dekker Dreyer
I wonder why they said in the article "Scientists have little information on how the storms that produce the northern lights affect spacecraft." Scientific research on the Aurora Borealis has been ongoing at the Poker Flat Research Range, located 30 miles north of Fairbanks Alaska, for almost 40 years where they have been routinely launching sounding rockets into the Aurora Borealis to study it's characteristics. http://www.pfrr.alaska.edu/ .
BTM
That was the turning point of my life--I went from negative zero to positive zero.
They'll get stuck in the past and the Langoliers will eat them up!
Either use Optical cabling for their control system or have good shielding, and wear lead underwear if you are gona fly through the aurora borealis :)
I've been through Kiruna a few times to go walking. It's a big, sparsely populated mining and forestry town in the Saami (Lapp) area of the north of Sweden. The air connection has to be subsidised by the government, and it's a long flight from Stockholm Arlanda in a very small plane. The air crew come round to ask who would like a taxi called for them at the airport. When you arrive, there's a single small luggage carousel and a large stuffed bear in Arrivals.
While watching the news here in Sweden I got the impression of that the deal had already been struck, they even showed fancy 3d rendered simulations of the flights and stuff, probably from virgins website.
The people of Kiruna are not only space exploration experts, they are also good at moving houses.
Terrorists can't threaten a country's freedom and democracy. Only lawmakers and voters can do that.
Outer space means outside of the solar system, at least.
This Virgin Galactic thing is a joke, and it is more wishful thinking and an advertisement than something that brings humanity to a new era of space flight.
And personally, as a Star Trek fan, I find it appauling that the USS Enterprise can travel the solar system in 1 hour, yet in reality all we can do is a few 100s kms above the Earth's surface.
Here is a link to an aerial photograph of the launch site, which is not inside the city of Kiruna, but close by. http://tinyurl.com/2d6qna
Customer: I would like to go on a tour of the Galaxy please.
Virgin Galactic: SUre no problem that's £20,000 and it will last 2 days including training.
Customer: The whole Galaxy in 2 days, wow!
Virgin Galactic: Not exactly.
Customer: Huh what is this 'not excatly'?
Virgin Galactic: Well, we send you up in a rocket, it flies around a wee bit and then you come back.
Customer: Some fscking Galaxy! I bet the toilets stink as well (Virgin Rail joke)
He said he was giving the profits from the next few years (~$3 billion) into ecological research/technology I think.
So I guess sending up people on the most wasteful use of natural resources is a good idea? Currently in the UK there's a lot of argument around the tax exemption airlines get on fuel, which is playing a large part in CO2 emmissions. This sounds like it's going to undo a lot of hardwork if the flights become popular (say 5+ per week). If someone does the maths I'm sure it will work out as many orders of magnitude worse than air travel, and this isn't even going to transport people but be used for leisure.
"Scientists have little information on how the storms that produce the northern lights affect spacecraft." - I'd like some consideration of how spacecraft will affect the Aurora Borealis. It would be terrible if this wonderful display was disrupted or ruined for everyone.
www.abstractec.co.uk
Don't choose the fish!
I noticed that yahoo has picked up this story with their own article.
"European launch site for virgins"
Langaliers. That is all.
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It's now almost 3 years since a private company got a human into space. These are the guys who said NASA didn't have the right stuff and private startups were the future. Where are those private startups now?
"The company said last year they would be conducting research into the safety of such a flight. Scientists have little information on how the storms that produce the northern lights affect spacecraft. [The] joint NASA-Canadian Space Agency THEMIS project will launch five satellites into space in February to monitor the northern lights..."
Sounds like this ride could be the perfect culmination of a Fantastic Four experience fantasy camp.
These "aspects" do not apply to Molniya orbits because you typically want your satellite in some exact position over the Earth. Thus, you don't get to pick the orbit to minimize delta-v. The info you've given doesn't apply to polar orbits.
Patrick Doyle
I mod down every jackass who puts his moderation policy in his sig. Oh, wait a sec....
The info you gave does indeed apply to polar orbits (for the same reason as the Molniya orbits. What it doesn't apply to is sub-orbital flights. Those are all about altitude and vertical speed, not horizontal speed.
Patrick Doyle
I mod down every jackass who puts his moderation policy in his sig. Oh, wait a sec....