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Virgin Galactic To Unveil New Version of SpaceShipTwo (wired.com)
New submitter Asep Saepuloh writes: Today, Virgin Galactic will unveil SpaceShipTwo, a vehicle the company hopes will one day take tourists to the edge of space. Just over a year since a test pilot was killed in a crash, Sir Richard Branson's reveal of the newest craft is set to happen in California late Friday at California's Mojave Air and Space Port, where it was assembled. The team behind the latest suborbital spaceplane includes leaders from NASA's mission control and astronaut corps, the militaries from three nations and from high-profile personnel from the aviation and transport industries. Virgin Galactic said: "We've charged them with developing a plan to safely test and operate a reusable spacecraft." The company claims that they have "done their homework" and hope that this time their journey into space can be a success.
Because they don't have to ask your permission? And why is "space" in quotes? Do you think it's really just a big black tarp with some holes poked in it?
In light of recent regrettable events, I'm waiting for SpaceShipThree, thanks.
Now with Economy Comfort (tm)
So the wired link doesn't like my ad-blocker. So I said to myself "screw them" and went and found another link.
Virgin Galactic to unveil new spaceship
Yes it does have horrible auto play video that comes with an ad at the start, but I'd rather sit through that than be treated like Wired treats me.
I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
Please refrain with the wired.com sources until they remove their adblock policy. Until then... FT;DR (Fuck Them, Didn't Read)
Sorry, Wired.
My adblocker is here to stay and I'm not whitelisting you. Nor are you worth $1 per month. Get proper adds and we'll see about whitelisting you.
anyone have a link to the story that doesn't flow through Wired ?
If only we could fall into a woman's arms without falling into her hands
Why are TV corps allowed to broadcast "reality TV" ? Same reasons.
Wait. Actually, there's a better case for banning reality TV than space projects.
If only we could fall into a woman's arms without falling into her hands
Because going 100km up isn't much further away from the ground compared to the size of the universe.
Because it isn't about space. It's about corporate welfare.
Unfortunately, they've already lost. It's a cute idea that they have, giving 'spaceflights' to tourists with a wad of cash burning a hole in their pocket, but considering SS1 only just got to space and SS2 killed someone and has yet to get there, I don't see them as a competitor. The only reason they're on the map at all is because they just barely got a private astronaut to space. Their competition is running resupply flights for NASA and launching the satellites they claimed they would be doing by now. This is just the desperate wheezes for attention by a company still trying to pimp their vaporware.
If it's a new version, shouldn't it be called SpaceShipThree?
Compared to the size of the Universe, nothing is anything.
Virgin Galactic can reach "space" (a 100km boundary) but it can't stay in orbit. And this is what actually matters.
Nice that no one can be bothered putting the guy's actual name in the story.
Being a commercial astronaut is a different gig I guess.
When a corporation wants as little negative publicity as possible you need to accept that you'll just become a footnote if things don't "work out".
If he's not ready for piloting spaceship, how can be ready to pilot a country?
Try this bookmarklet: https://gist.github.com/joepie... Don't set a precedent by walking away to another website. You have a right to keep your computer secure from unwanted scripts.
And this is what actually matters.
Matters to whom? Apparently it matters enough to them to spend an obscene amount of money on it. If it doesn't matter to you why are you on this site leaving comments about it? There are plenty of SpaceX articles on here if LEO is what "actually matters" in your eyes.
Matters to anyone who wants something more than an expensive joyride. SpaceX can be used as a building block for further space exploration and Virgin Galactic can not be used for anything more than it is right now. We don't put articles here about super-exclusive $100000-per-seat cruises, do we?
I think you'll find that the universe pretty much covers everything. (Shut up, woman, get on my horse!)
I would argue any endeavor that does something that hasn't been done before is worthwhile. If nothing else, we as a race have have a higher understanding of ballistics, aerodynamics, material science, etc as a result of this.
Almost all practical applications of going into space require reaching LEO (low earth orbit). This requires forty (40) times more energy than reaching 100km altitude.
Why does it have to go to space to provide value? You can't possibly see an alternate use for a vehicle that can travel at 4000km/hr? That's nearly twice the speed of the Concorde. How much do you think high-powered business people would pay to be shot across the Atlantic at that speed? I'm not saying that is the goal Virgin is trying to achieve, but if there isn't someone out there thinking of how to put the technologies being developed to a practical use their ought to be.
the company’s service agreements stipulate a minimum height of at least 50 miles, or 80 kilometers. Whitesides said that has been the case since Virgin Galactic first began selling rides on SpaceShipTwo about nine years ago.
Given their engine troubles, it is not known if it will reach 100km, and they are not required to.
Definitely not $250,000 per seat.
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In what way? Virgin is entirely funded by Richard Branson (and the many people who have provided deposits for future flights)
Shut up, woman! Get up my horse!