Earth from space…

…as seen by Brian Binnie on 4 th October 2004 from SpaceShip One

Brian Binnie 4 th October 2004

Louis Paulhan : Daily Mail £10,000 prize London to Manchester in 24 hours

Charles Lindbergh : Orteig Prize $25,000 New York to Paris non-stop

2004: Ansari X Prize $10 million First privately funded, manned spacecraft, flown into space twice in 2 weeks.

Burt Rutan

some of Burt’s designs….

getting into space - some of the challenges Ground launch - penetrating the lower, thicker atmosphere

returning from space - some of the challenges

getting into space - some of the challenges The cost. –Discard most of the vehicle.

getting into space - some of the challenges The cost. –Discard most of the vehicle. → Environmental cost.

Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design Air-launched from a mothership.

Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design Air-launched from a mothership. –Above most of the atmosphere at 45,000ft. –Very short duration rocket burn (just over one minute). = less fuel = smaller, lighter vehicle

Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design Air-launched from a mothership. –Above most of the atmosphere at 45,000ft. –Very short duration rocket burn (just over one minute). = less fuel = smaller, lighter vehicle Effectively a two-stage rocket, using very efficient air-breathing (jet) engines in a completely re-usable first stage.

Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design A fully re-usable ‘first stage’.

Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design Air-launched. A winged spaceship.

Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design Air-launched. A winged spaceship. –Advantages of wings? Control during launch and atmospheric flight. Create drag for re-entry to slow the vehicle down. Fly to a runway. Execute a controlled landing.

Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design Air-launched, winged spaceship.

Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design Air-launched, winged spaceship. Lightweight materials.

Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design Air-launched, winged spaceship. Lightweight materials. A simple, controllable hybrid rocket motor.

Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design Air-launched, winged spaceship. Lightweight materials. A simple, controllable (hybrid) rocket motor. Feathering wing for re-entry.

SpaceShip One – feathering wing

Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design Air-launched, winged spaceship. Lightweight materials. A simple, controllable (hybrid) rocket motor. Feathering wing for re-entry: –Presents the vehicle in a stable, very high drag attitude. –Hands-off, carefree re-entry handling.

Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design Air-launched, winged spaceship. Lightweight materials. A simple, controllable (hybrid) rocket motor. Feathering wing for re-entry. KEEP IT SIMPLE design philosophy.

Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design

‘throw it all away’ launchers

Burt Rutan’s X-Prize design (bring it all back)

flight trajectory air launch take-off

flight trajectory air launch boost take-off

flight trajectory air launch boost take-off

flight trajectory air launch boost take-off enter space

flight trajectory air launch boost apogee: 110 Km take-off enter space

flight trajectory air launch boost apogee: 110 Km re-entry take-off enter space

flight trajectory air launch boost apogee: 110 Km re-entry glide take-off enter space

flight trajectory air launch boost apogee: 110 Km re-entry glide landing take-off enter space

Mike Melvill collects his astronaut wings……..

“So, Mike…….. exactly how many M&Ms did you scatter around my spaceship???” ……whilst everyone else collects Mike’s candy

Virgin Galactic’s aims Make private space travel affordable for thousands of people.

Virgin Galactic’s aims Make private space travel affordable for thousands of people. Do it successfully.

Virgin Galactic’s aims Make private space travel affordable for thousands of people. Do it successfully. Do it SAFELY.

the Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 Based on the tried and tested SS1 design. Incorporating the same key features: –Feathering wing. –Hybrid engine. –Simple design.

SpaceShip 2

the WhiteKnight2 design Based on the tried and tested WK1 design philosophy, but evolved into: –Twin fuselages to simplify mounting the much larger spaceship underneath. –Four pylon-mounted engines for performance.

the WhiteKnight2 design

what’s happening now……

simulator

WhiteKnight2 under construction

SpaceShip2 under construction

SS2 cabin

centrifuge training for passengers

what’s happening next…. First test flights of WK2 - July to 18 months of testing but...“It’ll be ready when it’s ready.” Initial flights from Mojave, California, then Spaceport USA, NM.

Spaceport America, New Mexico

the dream is alive…………….