Space Ship Two down near Mojave
- Thread starter gotWXdagain
- Start date
NewYorkophile
Fly Casual
Many don't really understand what "accepting risk" really means. It means acknowledging that you may die to accomplish something.
That risk is unacceptable in the airline world, and we should also expect that level of safety in civilian for profit transport in space.
This is not that. This is exploration. This is necessary risk taking. Stats are more useful for mitigating fears than justifying risk in progress. Anyone at NASA would tell you our space program was a phenomenal success, even with the "atrocious" safety stats.
That risk is unacceptable in the airline world, and we should also expect that level of safety in civilian for profit transport in space.
This is not that. This is exploration. This is necessary risk taking. Stats are more useful for mitigating fears than justifying risk in progress. Anyone at NASA would tell you our space program was a phenomenal success, even with the "atrocious" safety stats.
Seggy
Well-Known Member
Is Virgin Galactic in the 'exploration' category or the 'for profit transport' category?
Exploring the for profit category.
ZapBrannigan
If it ain’t a Boeing, I’m not going. No choice.
Since new technology is highly transferable all exploration is ultimately for profit. Whatever their motives they were breaking new ground in numerous areas from fuels, to composites, even as far as their recovery mechanics - the shuttlecock method vs the heat shield. If we sit at home waiting for someone so noble as to explore without motive for profit... Or sit home awaiting a zero risk solution... Then we are destined to remain earthbound until this rock is no longer habitable.
Space. The final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise, her continuing mission to seek out new life, no civilizations and to boldly go where no man has gone before.
Where do I sign up?!
Space. The final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise, her continuing mission to seek out new life, no civilizations and to boldly go where no man has gone before.
Where do I sign up?!
gotWXdagain
Polished Member
scooter2525
Very well Member
I love me some pineapple.
ComplexHiAv8r
Well-Known Member
That what she said.scooter2525 said:
thevideographer
Well-Known Member
Holy crap
I'm amazed one of the pilots survived that. No pressure suits, no ejection seats.
Murdoughnut
Well sized member
How do you get out? The hatch on bottom?
How do you get out? The hatch on bottom?
How do you see out?!
thevideographer
Well-Known Member
How do you get out? The hatch on bottom?
That is the inside of White Knight 2, not SS2.
T/O w/FSII
Well-Known Member
Which interestingly enough, share the same fuselage and a nearly identical cockpit that allows the crew to fly the same decent/gliding profile in WN2 as they would in SS2. A way to give the pilots more time flying approaches outside the sim.
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killbilly
Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
This is a good and interesting thread - I appreciate the discussion and firm opinions expressed with decorum. Collectively - thank you all for that.
I have a slightly different take on this...
We - as a group of tool-using primates - actually do know what we're doing up there. We understand the environment and the physics governing it. We are well-aware of proven methods to be able to achieve low orbit, geo synch or even translunar orbit. We even know enough about various methods to get to other planets.
What we're doing now is broadening the set of parameters we can work within to achieve the missions, and ultimately, make them profitable. NASA wasn't concerned with profitability or maximizing shareholder value, so they could focus on the engineering principles needed to get the mission done. We already know how to do this.
The envelope is getting pushed because resources are finite, and while Space is hard, there's a lot of ways to skin that cat, and we're trying to figure out the best ways because we have many more options than we used to. It's not that we don't know what we're doing; we absolutely do. We're just balancing the engineering against the needs and against the economics. You're seeing a subtle tug of war between those forces.
I have a slightly different take on this...
We - as a group of tool-using primates - actually do know what we're doing up there. We understand the environment and the physics governing it. We are well-aware of proven methods to be able to achieve low orbit, geo synch or even translunar orbit. We even know enough about various methods to get to other planets.
What we're doing now is broadening the set of parameters we can work within to achieve the missions, and ultimately, make them profitable. NASA wasn't concerned with profitability or maximizing shareholder value, so they could focus on the engineering principles needed to get the mission done. We already know how to do this.
The envelope is getting pushed because resources are finite, and while Space is hard, there's a lot of ways to skin that cat, and we're trying to figure out the best ways because we have many more options than we used to. It's not that we don't know what we're doing; we absolutely do. We're just balancing the engineering against the needs and against the economics. You're seeing a subtle tug of war between those forces.
Murdoughnut
Well sized member
Some new details in this article suggesting the "feathers" that induce drag were unlocked in the cockpit which is contrary to the flight plan.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/virgin-galactic-spaceshiptwos-braking-devices-deployed-early-ntsb/
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/virgin-galactic-spaceshiptwos-braking-devices-deployed-early-ntsb/
I watched the news conference last light. It's not a suggestion. There is video of the first officer unlocking them. Telemetry showing them coming unlocked, then s few seconds later, the thing comes apart.