Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo has successfully broken the sound barrier during the first in a series of powered flights for the suborbital craft. The spacecraft, built by Scaled Composites took off from Mojave Air and Space Port, carried underneath its mothership, WhiteKnightTwo at 7am local time on April 29th. At 7:50am, after climbing to an altitude of 14 630 meters, SpaceShipTwo [...]
Post Tagged with: “Suborbital”
Is the AXE/Apollo Campaign Sexist? The Resentment Builds Up
It’s been a couple of weeks since I spotted the first poster advertising the Axe – Apollo competition in London. Yes, I am talking about that competition that promises to give 22 people from the whole world an opportunity to join a suborbital flight on XCOR’s Lynx space plane. As everyone in the space community, I had already heard about [...]
Are You Healthy Enough for Commercial Spaceflight?
None of the private space companies planning to offer commercial human space flight opportunities have started their operations yet, however, discussion has been going on regarding the medical constraints limiting the possibilities of an individual to join either a suborbital or orbital space trip. So far it seems that authorities would prefer less strict medical requirements in order not to [...]
SpaceShipTwo Completes First Glide in Powered Configuration
Virgin Galactic issued the following notice on December 19, 2012: SpaceShipTwo today undertook its 23rd glide flight in the pre-powered portion of its incremental test flight program. This was a significant flight as it was the first with rocket motor components installed, including tanks. It was also the first flight with thermal protection applied to the spaceship’s leading edges. It [...]
New York to Tokyo By Way of Outer Space
Imagine the flight New York to Tokyo and you probably think of being cramped in an airplane seat for the better part of a day. Well according to an interview between XCOR and the Huffington post this image might have an expiry date. The California based company XCOR is foreseeing the possibility for flights between New York and Tokyo via [...]
Blue Origin Completes Pusher Pad Escape Test
On October 19, Blue Origin completed a test of its pad escape system. The system uses a pusher escape motor that launched the empty crew capsule to a 703 m altitude, safely away from the launch pad, before riding a parachute to a soft landing. The escape system was designed for use at any time during the ascent phase of [...]
Federal Aviation Administration to Hold Talks With Commercial Space
The US Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) is charged with registering and regulating commercial spaceflight. When it comes to commercial crew ventures, such as the plethora of suborbital tourism companies that have sprung up across the US, AST has been charged with a hands-off role. Taking a watch and learn approach, AST is merely responsible for [...]
Big Bang Theory Gives Lynx Ride to Lucky Fan
ComicCon just wrapped up in San Diego – the annual convention of comics, video games, science fiction, and their fans. This particular ComicCon delivered a big surprise to Big Bang Theory fan Mercedes Becerra: a suborbital spaceflight ride aboard XCor’s Lynx vehicle. “We are so proud and grateful to be part of this adventure,” said Chuck Lorre, the television series’ executive [...]
Space Expedition Corporation to Sell Lynx Suborbital Flights
Source: XCOR With the Tom Sachs space-themed art exhibit, “Space Program: Mars“ as a backdrop, XCOR Aerospace named Space Expedition Corporation (SXC) as the new General Sales Agent (GSA) for the XCOR owned Lynx Suborbital vehicle flying from the Mojave Air and Spaceport. SXC was previously announced as the first wet lease customer for a Lynx production vehicle with planned [...]
Hermes Spacecraft Seeks Kickstarter Funding
Do it yourself spacecraft are becoming more common, but the Hermes is the first to show up on Kickstarter. STAR Systems is looking for $20,000 to build and test a full size hybrid rocket motor for the suborbital spacecraft. The Hermes is a project from STAR Systems, founded by engineer entrepreneur Morris Jarvis who first conceptualized the Hermes in 1978. Not to be [...]
