VSS Enterprise tests (Update)

[Dr Mordrid]

Popular Mechanics is reporting that Virgin Galactic will do its first SpaceShip 2 glide test today. White Knight 2-1, aka Eve, will lift VSS Enterprise to 44,000 ft and release her, after which she will glide to a landing at the Mojave Spaceport. After a few such flights VG will start a series of powered flights.

[Dr Mordrid]

She's in the air - currently at 42,000 feet.

National Geographic is filming as part of a new documentary.

[Dr Mordrid]

DROP!!!

7:53am PT: "Beautiful day to go flying" is the call from the cockpit. "We are armed, four three two one Release release release!"

7:55am PT: The three aircraft are directly overhead now. SpaceShip, StarShip and White Knight.

7:57am PT: "2g pull coming" is call from cockpit as White Knight comes around, turning back to the east.

7:58am PT: "What a beautiful flying airplane" call from the pilot.

8:01am PT: MotherShip, or WhiteKnight, is testing air brakes. Now at 13000 feet and descending.

8:06am PT: Wow. Spaceship touches down to cheers and Whistles "wheelstop. Great job" on radio.�*

8:08am PT: SpaceShip is on runway now. WhiteKnight is sweeping in for landing.�*

8:10am PT: Correction: WhiteKnight is doing 360s! Cool to see!

[Jammrock]

I hope they open the spaceport in Jacksonville. That would awesome to see some launches since I can't afford to fly.

[Dr Mordrid]

Press Release
==============

VIRGIN GALACTIC'S SPACESHIPTWO ACHIEVES MAJOR MILESTONE IN ITS PROGRAM TO BECOME WORLD'S FIRST MANNED COMMERCIAL SPACE VEHICLE.

VSS Enterprise achieves manned free flight from over 45,000 ft (13,700 metres) and successfully glides in 11 minutes to land at Mojave Air and Spaceport


10th October 2010, Mojave, CA. Virgin Galactic, the US company developing the world’s first commercial manned space flight system and tourism business, is delighted to announce the successful completion today of the first piloted free flight of SpaceShipTwo, named the VSS Enterprise. The spaceship was released from its mothership at an altitude of 45,000 ft (13,700 metres).

During its first flight the spaceship was piloted by Pete Siebold, assisted by Mike Alsbury as co-pilot. The two main goals of the flight were to carry out a clean release of the spaceship from its mothership and for the pilots to free fly and glide back and land at Mojave Air and Space Port in California.

Other detailed objectives of the flight were successfully completed, including; verification that all systems worked prior and following the clean release of Enterprise; initial evaluation of handling and stall characteristics; qualitative evaluation of stability and control of SS2 against predictions from design and simulation work; verification of performance by evaluating the lift-to-drag ratio of the spaceship during glide flight; practice a landing approach at altitude and finally descend and land.

Preparations for the milestone flight were extensive. The WhiteKnightTwo mothership (Eve) flew 40 times including 4 captive carry flights of spaceship and mothership mated together. The most recent captive carry was on Sept 30th. The most recent solo flight was on October 5th and demonstrated that all the systems required for a free flight by the VSS Enterprise were functioning correctly without any safety issues. Commenting on the successful flight Scaled Composites pilot, Pete Siebold, said “The VSS Enterprise was a real joy to fly, especially when one considers the fact that the vehicle has been designed not only to be a Mach 3.5 spaceship capable of going into space but also one of the worlds highest altitude gliders.”

Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, who was present during the first successful flight, added “This was one of the most exciting days in the whole history of Virgin. For the first time since we seriously began the project in 2004, I watched the world’s first manned commercial spaceship landing on the runway at Mojave Air and Space Port and it was a great moment. Now, the sky is no longer the limit and we will begin the process of pushing beyond to the final frontier of space itself over the next year.”

Virgin Galactic is now well on the way to becoming the world’s first commercial space line with 370 customer deposits totalling $50 million. Future commercial operations will be at Spaceport America in New Mexico where final preparations are taking place for a finished runway inauguration ceremony on Friday 22nd October 2010. National Geographic channel in the United States will be showing a documentary on the build up and preparation for the first flight of VSS Enterprise on Monday, 18 October at 10.00pm ET/PT.

George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic who was also present at the historic flight, added “To see the world’s first manned commercial spaceship landing on a runway is a sight I always dreamed I would behold. Now, our challenge going forward will be to complete our experimental program, obtain our FAA licence and safely bring the system into service at Spaceport America, New Mexico.”

[Dr Mordrid]

There will be a 4-part National Geographic series on Virgin Galactic starting Oct. 18, 2010 @10:00 pm on the National
Geographic Channel.

[Mehen]

Cool, I will have to watch that.

[Dr Mordrid]

Virgin Galactic posted this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDUVe3a496Y

[Dilitante1]

see

all that effort and you gotta love the smiley on the mounting lug it attaches to

[Dr Mordrid]

Statement by Burt Rutan via VG's FB page-

Virgin Galactic A statement from Burt on Sunday’s milestone

"I offer my congratulations to all those on our commercial manned sub-orbital spaceship program for yesterday’s milestone first flight of SpaceShipTwo.

Configuration/aerodynamic designer, Jim Tighe got it right the first time; our spaceship demonstrated impressive flying qualities right out of the box. Its flight test-measured stability and gliding performance exceeded the pre-flight predictions.

Systems that usually require post-first flight tweaking, like the unique Michael Fuchs-designed landing gear and the SS1-based flight-director/avionics system, developed by the Pete Kalogiannis-led team, performed to perfection. The flight control, electrical, pneumatic, ECS and launch systems were also flawless on the first flight, giving us confidence that we can move forward with the testing without major modifications. Scot Story’s team also deserves kudos for their work to develop a light, robust all-composite airframe structure.

Flown by both pilot Pete Siebold and co-pilot Mike Alsbury on the first flight, the test crew opened up two thirds of SS2’s required subsonic speed envelope, maneuvered it above 2-g, checked its dynamic and sideslip handling, exercised its flight-path control system and made a perfect landing; spot-on the runway target.

I congratulate Project Lead Matt Stinemetze, Mission Control Lead Brian Binnie and their team of talented engineers as well as Crew Chief Steve Losey and his team of fabricators who built and maintain the first commercial manned space system. There is not a better group of research and flight test talent in the world.

We at Scaled look forward to an aggressive flight test schedule. The fun started on 10/10/10 and will continue as we reach our goal of passing onto our customer a spaceship capable to provide the space experience to thousands of adventurers."

Burt Rutan

[Dr Mordrid]

VSS Enterprise did another successful glide test today. Details as they arrive.

[Dr Mordrid]

Test summary is up for the 2 glide of SS2:

Combined Flight Test Legend: CC = Captive Carry
L = Launch
G = Glide
P = Powered

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flight: WK2 Flight 44 / GF02
Date: 28 Oct 10 Flight Time: 10 min, 51 sec
WK2 Pilot: Siebold WK2 CoPilot: Nichols WK2 FTE: Tighe
SS2 Pilot: Stucky SS2 CoPilot: Alsbury
GS Crew: Binnie, Kalogiannis, Persall, Knupp, Inks, Bassett, Cassebeer, Story

Objectives:
Clean release
Evaluate stability and control
Expand flutter envelope
Roll evaluation
Land

Results:
All objectives achieved. Flew to more aggressive stall indication. Evaluated handling and stability through several maneuvers. Expanded envelope to 230 KTAS and 3g's. Roll evaluation. Full stop landing.

[Dr Mordrid]

SS2 tests have resumed -

Flight: 56 / GF05
Date:22 Apr 11
Flight Time: 14 min, 31 sec
SS2 Pilot: Siebold
SS2 CoPilot: Shane
GS Crew: Binnie, Kelley, Bassett, Tighe, Reid, Keller, Verderame, Maisler, Zeitlin

Objectives:

Clean release
Evaluate stability and control
Continued flutter envelope expansion
Pilot proficiency

Results:

Clean release at desired altitude. Glide test objectives complete without issues.

[Evildead666]

Those images from the 11th and 13th october are F-ing huge again Dr.
They take up the whole browser window, each!!!!

Good news though. thumbnails, or smaller, clickable please

[Dr Mordrid]

Big pic post deleted.

This flight was a lot longer than the last one (higher?), so maybe they're getting near the end of glide flights & close to powered flights. The engine has been tested so...

Flight: 57 / GF06

Date: 27 Apr 11
Flight Time: 16 min, 7 sec
SS2 Pilot: Stucky
SS2 CoPilot: Alsbury
GS Crew: Binnie, Kelley, Bassett, Tighe, Reid, Glaser, Inks, Verderame, Maisler, Knupp

Objectives:

Evaluate stability and control
Continued flutter envelope expansion
Pilot proficiency

Results:

Clean release at desired altitude. Glide test objectives complete without issues.