VSS Enterprise completes first flight under its carrier aircraft

On 4/04/2010 11:15 AM, Pat Flannery wrote:
On 4/3/2010 6:55 AM, Neil Gerace wrote:

I don't know whether any airliners have escape systems for passengers
that can work while the plane is in the air. If this is so, I see no
reason for a passenger-carrying spacecraft to have them. Other than
politics.

The thing is, everyone seems to be thinking about it like a airliner or
a business jet.
It's nothing like those; it's a rocket-powered transatmospheric vehicle
that is air launched, flies faster than a SR-71, climbs out of and
reenters the atmosphere, and performs a glide landing.

And the SR-71 suffered many losses.

Sylvia.

On 4/4/2010 6:19 PM, Sylvia Else wrote:
On 4/04/2010 11:15 AM, Pat Flannery wrote:
On 4/3/2010 6:55 AM, Neil Gerace wrote:

I don't know whether any airliners have escape systems for passengers
that can work while the plane is in the air. If this is so, I see no
reason for a passenger-carrying spacecraft to have them. Other than
politics.

The thing is, everyone seems to be thinking about it like a airliner or
a business jet.
It's nothing like those; it's a rocket-powered transatmospheric vehicle
that is air launched, flies faster than a SR-71, climbs out of and
reenters the atmosphere, and performs a glide landing.

And the SR-71 suffered many losses.

Actually considering the small number built, yes it did.
http://www.wvi.com/~sr71webmaster/srloss~1.htm
With 20 losses out of 50 Blackbirds of all types built, loss rate was 40%.

Pat

In sci.space.history David Spain wrote:
If you go the compressed air route, you should take along some
cigarettes. If the leak is a slow one, (and assuming these are the
only kind that will be 'recoverable' from anyway) light 'em up when
you got a leak so you can find the hole and patch it.

Insufficiently zen! Bring incense - much more mellow. Or, if the
launch is from California, medicinal ganja...

rick jones
--
web2.0 n, the dot.com reunion tour...
these opinions are mine, all mine; HP might not want them anyway...
feel free to post, OR email to rick.jones2 in hp.com but NOT BOTH...